Dear Matthew,
Where has the year gone? It feels like just yesterday you were sleeping in the blue basinet next to the chair in the living room while life went on all around you. You were, for the most part, a relaxed infant and really only got fussy if you were hungry (haven’t changed much since). You would lay and soak it all in, especially big brother.
Now, when you have kids and look back at the pictures and stories of your first year of life, don’t be mad. Wait until you have multiple children and you will understand. I am that second child next to your Uncle Brent. Your Grammie had a hard time remembering details about me too. But I understand now. I write this blog (albeit, less often that I would like but am going to put out best efforts in the coming year) to serve as a baby book or at least the resource to make a hard cover baby book one day. And hopefully to give you boys a glimpse into life when you were small.
For some reason, I have a hard time letting go of the idea that you are not an infant anymore. When you do something that has logic or purpose behind it or is physically challenging, it blows me away. I forget that you are starting to make sense of the world and to understand and manipulate what is going on all around you.
For 6 months (give or take) I worked during your first year, however, our lives are both about to change, as I am staying home full time as of now. I could not be more blessed and excited to get this opportunity. I look forward most to having more alone time with you. Although I cherish the time when all of us are together, John is having some struggles right now between sharing with you and helping you to grow up. He just wants to be able to play with you uninhibited by your lack of understanding and coordination. One day, my dears, one day too soon.
If I had to pick one word for your personality as of today, it would be relaxed. However, if you are hungry, WATCH OUT, as it literally comes to blows as you smack your mouth and my mouth with an open hand, which I think is your version of “eat” in sign language that we have been working on. You could hardly notice when John snatches things from you, as it has been happening all your life (although the last week or so, I think I see a change in this pattern). You will let anyone hold you, especially if I am not in the room. You never went through a separating anxiety phase. When you fall and get hurt, you fuss for a second, but then it is over. Your overall attitude is a little shorter, but even when you were/are teething I can hardly tell (outside the immense drool).
Your face and the expressions you have, make life worth living! Your favorite thing right now is to scrunch up your nose and squint your eyes. You do this to either make me laugh or it is the sign that you are trying to get worked up and mad about something, but it is not all that important to you. It makes me laugh EVERY time. The sad face you have when you really are upset about something could quite possibly be the most heart wrenching look I have ever seen. It feels like I can see your heart breaking and then the tears come, I kid you not, so sad! When you get mad or just want a little drama, you throw yourself on the floor face first and waller around a bit, every now and again you will tilt your head to the side with cheek on the floor to make sure I am looking. We ignore this one quite a bit and it stops as quick as it started. Another favorite is the “am I getting away with this” look. It is pretty blank for the most part, a very innocent look. I get this when you are headed for the unlocked gate at the stairs or reaching something on top of the table or climbing on something new, or thinking you have escaped out the front door (I let him do this when I get the mail). As you begin the “forbidden” task you pause and look back at me, almost to say “I am going to do it anyway, but I really want your permission first”. (side note: Grandparents that are freaking out right now about my parenting skills, I see all of these things and this in no way should freak you out. Your grandsons are safe)
It was hard to imagine having a second child and how we were going to share the love. However, it is so true and there is no better way to say than our hearts grew just for you. You have made this family and this world better just by being in it. I miss you when you sleep and look forward to that smiling face peeking over the crib every morning. You are my sunshine (my very early sunshine, but my sunshine none-the-less). The words “I love you” can not explain a parent’s love for a child, but know that you boys are forever on my heart and mind. KISS!
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Happy FIRST Birthday week (Matthew): When I picture you....
When I picture you at one year old....
I picture you holding anything that remotely looks like a phone to your ear and smiling.
I picture you stumbling towards me with hands in the air and giggling all the while.
I picture all the thousands of dimples in your sweet naked bum.
I picture you in a diaper and your pudgy belly leading the way.
I picture the scrunch in your nose when you try to make me laugh.
I picture the separation in your two front teeth, just like John had.
I picture you waving your arms like a duck when you want picked up or the food is not coming fast enough.
I picture cuddling in my lap while you drink your bottles.
I picture you playing with John in the living room.
I picture you bolting to the stairs if the gate is open, and looking back at me periodically to see if I am going to come close it.
I picture the kissing noise you make with your lips.
I picture the inevitable struggle on the changing table (grrrrrrr...).
I picture the speed crawl that your turn on when you hear the bath tub, and then trying to climb in fully clothed.
I picture all of the safety hazards everywhere we go and the wheels turning in your head on how you plan on climbing in, on or out of something.
I picture the serious look on your face instantly turn into a smile as you watch the coffee maker in action and then the coffee finally comes out (I feel the same way about coffee).
I picture you in the sock basket in the laundry room floor.
I picture you squeezing your little fist together almost violently when you are signing milk.
I picture your chubby face and that precious dimple in your cheek.
I picture the smiling face and jibber jabber coming from the crib when I come get you in the morning.
I picture you snuggled up in my neck as you are drifting off to sleep.
I picture you holding anything that remotely looks like a phone to your ear and smiling.
I picture you stumbling towards me with hands in the air and giggling all the while.
I picture all the thousands of dimples in your sweet naked bum.
I picture you in a diaper and your pudgy belly leading the way.
I picture the scrunch in your nose when you try to make me laugh.
I picture the separation in your two front teeth, just like John had.
I picture you waving your arms like a duck when you want picked up or the food is not coming fast enough.
I picture cuddling in my lap while you drink your bottles.
I picture you playing with John in the living room.
I picture you bolting to the stairs if the gate is open, and looking back at me periodically to see if I am going to come close it.
I picture the kissing noise you make with your lips.
I picture the inevitable struggle on the changing table (grrrrrrr...).
I picture the speed crawl that your turn on when you hear the bath tub, and then trying to climb in fully clothed.
I picture all of the safety hazards everywhere we go and the wheels turning in your head on how you plan on climbing in, on or out of something.
I picture the serious look on your face instantly turn into a smile as you watch the coffee maker in action and then the coffee finally comes out (I feel the same way about coffee).
I picture you in the sock basket in the laundry room floor.
I picture you squeezing your little fist together almost violently when you are signing milk.
I picture your chubby face and that precious dimple in your cheek.
I picture the smiling face and jibber jabber coming from the crib when I come get you in the morning.
I picture you snuggled up in my neck as you are drifting off to sleep.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Happy FOURTH Birthday Week: Interview
I love this idea and want to get it on video too, but in the mean time. I am going to put together a list of questions and ask them every year.
I learned from this excerice, that some of his "favorite" things are things we did that day and fresh on his mind. :) Some answers warranted follow up questions. :)
I learned from this excerice, that some of his "favorite" things are things we did that day and fresh on his mind. :) Some answers warranted follow up questions. :)
How old are you? “Four”
What is your favorite thing to do? “Play legos”
What is your favorite food? “Melon”
What makes you happy? “When Matthew is smiling”
What makes you sad? “Fevers”
Who is your best friend? “Garrett”
What is your favorite book? “How dinosaurs learn their colors”
What do you like to learn at school? “The months of the year in Spanish”
What do you like to do with your family? “Watch movies”
What do you want to be when you grow up? “A Fireman”
What kind of birthday party are you having? “Art party”
Why do you throw fits? “Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t” Why? “sometimes I want to be alone”
What do you like to do with Mommy? “Go upstairs and play”
What do you like to do with Daddy? “Roughhouse”
What is your favorite show? “Olivia”
What is your favorite song? “Laurie has a pig on her head” and “I know a chicken”
What do you like about Matthew? “I love him. Well there are two things. I like when he plays chasing games with me”
What is your favorite movie? “How to Train Your Dragon”
Where do you like to go? “McDonalds and Chik-a-filet” Where do you like to go for fun? “the toy store” (not a proud mom moment on either answer)
What is your favorite animal? “Giraffe”
What do you think about before you go to bed? “You” (mommy)
What do you pray about at night? "God and Jesus" What do you say to God and Jesus? "I love you God, Thank you God"
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Happy FOURTH birthday week: School, Friends and Activities
This year John is in Mothers Day Out at Stonebridge United Methodist Church (where we got married) 3 days a week. There are no tears this year at all, he loves school so much. His teachers are Ms. Kindra and Ms. Lia; he has taken to them both pretty equally. His best buddy is in his class and lives around the corner from us. This is SUPER convenient for everyone.
I think the main new skill from this year is writing his numbers and letters. He loves to practice writing and is really good at it. He has some "learn to read" type games and books. Think he is still pretty far (and rightly so) from reading, but he is building the foundation. He can spell John, Matthew, Mom and Daddy with no help. He will go upstairs and come down with a drawing of some kind that always has at least one name, if not all four of us on it. He surprises me sometimes with new words I didn't know he knew. For example, he came down a few days ago with a drawing of like 10 birds and the word "Rio" under it. Have to wonder if he saw the DVD up there? But either way, I like the effort. :) He likes to write EVERYTHING on his own and just asks for help in spelling it.
He is super social and talks about all the other kids all the time. They have a system that the kids have to move their name down to a different color if they do something outside the rules, or they can move up to a different color if they do something extraordinary. John says he has not done either, and I can believe it. I think he is a rule follower when I am not around. His teachers seem to think he is about the sweetest boy that there is (or at least they make me think that :)). Not sure what their trick is. :)
He made a pretty special relationship with this little girl named Isla. I am so sad that she moved to Hong Kong during the year. I went to a birthday party with all of the classmates and saw those two in action. I can't quite put it into words, but they were beyond sweet and super good friends, holding hands, being so gentle and friendly. There is a picture of her in the slide show below.
Of course Garrett is top on his list. They like to be "copy brothers". Most all stories about recess involve Garrett. :)
Outside of school time with friends, we still have large play dates with the neighborhood kids at least once a month or so, and then small ones with my friends and their kids every now and again. The moms are still there for these, but typically the kids do their own thing for a couple of hours while we talk. The big change in play dates for John this year is the drop off play date. This is super fun for everyone. I like having them here and watching/listening to the boys interact and play. When I drop John off he is perfectly fine with it and tells me all about it when he gets home. He is such a big boy. And then there is always the random meet ups in driveways or at the park that are frequent in good weather.
We tried T-ball and swim school this year. Although it took some major warm up time with T-ball, he ended up liking it. Not sure he learned anything or picked up any skills for that matter, but I suppose it was an introduction to team sports. We were all ready for it to be over by the end. He loved swimming school. We went everyday for 4 weeks when Matthew was an infant. It drastically improved his skills and confidence in the water and I would recommend to anyone. Oddly enough, he says he wants to do T-ball again, but not swim school. So T-ball it is, and we are going to try a martial art in the summer and soccer in the fall.
a few pictures:
I think the main new skill from this year is writing his numbers and letters. He loves to practice writing and is really good at it. He has some "learn to read" type games and books. Think he is still pretty far (and rightly so) from reading, but he is building the foundation. He can spell John, Matthew, Mom and Daddy with no help. He will go upstairs and come down with a drawing of some kind that always has at least one name, if not all four of us on it. He surprises me sometimes with new words I didn't know he knew. For example, he came down a few days ago with a drawing of like 10 birds and the word "Rio" under it. Have to wonder if he saw the DVD up there? But either way, I like the effort. :) He likes to write EVERYTHING on his own and just asks for help in spelling it.
He is super social and talks about all the other kids all the time. They have a system that the kids have to move their name down to a different color if they do something outside the rules, or they can move up to a different color if they do something extraordinary. John says he has not done either, and I can believe it. I think he is a rule follower when I am not around. His teachers seem to think he is about the sweetest boy that there is (or at least they make me think that :)). Not sure what their trick is. :)
He made a pretty special relationship with this little girl named Isla. I am so sad that she moved to Hong Kong during the year. I went to a birthday party with all of the classmates and saw those two in action. I can't quite put it into words, but they were beyond sweet and super good friends, holding hands, being so gentle and friendly. There is a picture of her in the slide show below.
Of course Garrett is top on his list. They like to be "copy brothers". Most all stories about recess involve Garrett. :)
Outside of school time with friends, we still have large play dates with the neighborhood kids at least once a month or so, and then small ones with my friends and their kids every now and again. The moms are still there for these, but typically the kids do their own thing for a couple of hours while we talk. The big change in play dates for John this year is the drop off play date. This is super fun for everyone. I like having them here and watching/listening to the boys interact and play. When I drop John off he is perfectly fine with it and tells me all about it when he gets home. He is such a big boy. And then there is always the random meet ups in driveways or at the park that are frequent in good weather.
We tried T-ball and swim school this year. Although it took some major warm up time with T-ball, he ended up liking it. Not sure he learned anything or picked up any skills for that matter, but I suppose it was an introduction to team sports. We were all ready for it to be over by the end. He loved swimming school. We went everyday for 4 weeks when Matthew was an infant. It drastically improved his skills and confidence in the water and I would recommend to anyone. Oddly enough, he says he wants to do T-ball again, but not swim school. So T-ball it is, and we are going to try a martial art in the summer and soccer in the fall.
a few pictures:
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Happy Fourth Birthday week: A Week in the Life
As things are changing around here, this will be one of the last times that John's week looks like this....Going to be quick and dirty to get a full week in...
Monday and Friday Morning/Afternoon:
6:00 - 6:30 - I get out of bed either quickly or slowly depending on if MJ is awake yet, shower, dry hair (if there time) and make a bottle. (lets be honest, 50% of the time, this shower does not happen on my days home alone with the boys)
6:30 - 9:30 - bottle and then downstairs for coffee and living room play. John's up about 7:30, we all play for a bit and then breakfast around 8:00 (usuals include oatmeal, yogurt, toast, fruit, waffles, pancakes, cereal). Then we typically go upstairs and play until Matthew gets tired enough for nap #1. Play with all three of us typically includes stuffed animals, baby toys, trampoline, hide and seek with a toy, tickling Matthew, peek-a-boo, puppets, books, musical toys, CD dancing.
9:30 - 10:00 - Matthew gets another small bottle and then off to dreamland. He may talk a little bit before he falls asleep, but not much.
10:00 - 12:00 - This time varies from day to day, but we are on lock down, so we do stay at the house. We almost always do some sort of art and craft and a board/card game, snack and then he helps me (when he is in the mood) with my responsibilities which range from cleaning the house, prepping dinner and/or laundry. Sometimes he chooses to watch TV or play by himself during some of this time (we call this John time and mommy time). Luckily he limits his own TV and I really don't have to. When he plays by himself, it usually consists of remote control cars, going on hunts (monster, ghosts, dinosaur), crashing something into something else, coloring/drawing, play dough, Lego's, dragons, dinosaurs, pirates, etc.
12:00 - 3:00 - MJ gets up and we all eat lunch (usuals include PB&J, grilled cheese, turkey and cheese, eggs, fruits, cheese, carrots, leftovers from dinner, bean and cheese quesidilla, crackers, pepperoni, chicken nuggets, chic-a-filet, McDonald's) and bottle and then usually head out to run an errand or do something semi fun just to get out of the house. Come back for more play. I try to mix in some chores here too like laundry (while playing peek-a-boo while folding) or something in the kitchen (while John pushes Matthew around the house is chosen vehicle) or bathroom cleaning(while John sprays Matthew with a water spray bottle), etc.
3:00 - 4:30ish - Bottle and nap for MJ again. I try to set aside this time to totally engross myself if John and do whatever he wants. I would say 65% of the time, this happens; the other 35% is a mix of fun and responsibilities, again, depending on work and the to-do list.
See evening discussion below the Tuesday/Thursday
Tuesday - Thursday morning/afternoon:
6:00 - 6:30 - I get out of bed either quickly or slowly depending on if MJ is awake yet, shower, dry hair (if there time) and make a bottle.
6:30 - 7:00 - bottle and then downstairs for coffee and living room play.
7:00 - 7:30 - you declare yourself awake as your feet hit the wood floor downstairs. The three of us hang out (MJ has been awake for an over an hour at this point) in the living room and play
7:30 - this is GO time on school days. The rest of the morning must start at this point to fit it all in. I have it down to an art at this point. During the next hour we must get the following done (although the order varies on the level of cooperativeness of one or both boys): fix and eat breakfast, finish getting myself ready, get both boys changed and ready, fix and pack lunch and snack for school, pick up the kitchen, do any homework, go potty, do any dinner prep if I have time, pack my lunch, change diaper, and without fail something random (today it happened to be that I needed to take John's picture for the blog yesterday).
8:30 - I hear the door open and Johanna comes! I breathe a little easier every time I hear that. She takes Matthew and John and I pack the car and finish up last minute.
9:00 - I drop John off at school and head to work. See a separate post on school later in the week for more detail.
2:00 - 5:00 Johanna picks John up from school. They go home and play most days, but sometimes, in the 2 minute (no joke) drive home, he falls asleep. On those days, he curls up in our bed and takes a nap. Although it took him some time to accept that I was going back to work after Matthew, he now loves Johanna and they have a lot of fun. He loves it most when her daughter, Margie, is on school break and gets come play too.
Every Evening:
5:00 - 7:30: I get home and start dinner while John usually colors at the table or watches a show. We eat dinner (usuals include eggs, fruits, some sort of attempt at a veggie, avocado, hot dog, spaghetti'os, mac and cheese, meatballs, sandwich, crackers, noodles, cheese, sweet potatoes, fish sticks, pizza), clean up the kitchen and then head up stairs for bed. Lately Daddy comes home close to 7:30 on most days. After bath we play in Johns room because Matthew loves the blue chair in there.
7:30 - 8:00: John gets to watch a show and we go over the 2 rules "don't open any doors and come get mommy if you need her" (those assume that Daddy is not home yet). I give Matthew a bottle in his dark room and then lay him down and we do not hear from him until morning.
8:00 - John's bed time. Potty, diaper (hoping to stop that with this 4th birthday), teeth, book, prayer, song, cuddle, bed. He loves his shark night light. If there are days he is not tired, he is allowed to turn on his lamp and read 1 or 2 books and then lights out. He typically follows this without a problem. However, in the last week or so he is getting out of bed and coming downstairs A LOT. He sneaks down and sometimes we do not know he is there until he is hiding behind the couch. We are working on this delimma. :)
Monday and Friday Morning/Afternoon:
6:00 - 6:30 - I get out of bed either quickly or slowly depending on if MJ is awake yet, shower, dry hair (if there time) and make a bottle. (lets be honest, 50% of the time, this shower does not happen on my days home alone with the boys)
6:30 - 9:30 - bottle and then downstairs for coffee and living room play. John's up about 7:30, we all play for a bit and then breakfast around 8:00 (usuals include oatmeal, yogurt, toast, fruit, waffles, pancakes, cereal). Then we typically go upstairs and play until Matthew gets tired enough for nap #1. Play with all three of us typically includes stuffed animals, baby toys, trampoline, hide and seek with a toy, tickling Matthew, peek-a-boo, puppets, books, musical toys, CD dancing.
9:30 - 10:00 - Matthew gets another small bottle and then off to dreamland. He may talk a little bit before he falls asleep, but not much.
10:00 - 12:00 - This time varies from day to day, but we are on lock down, so we do stay at the house. We almost always do some sort of art and craft and a board/card game, snack and then he helps me (when he is in the mood) with my responsibilities which range from cleaning the house, prepping dinner and/or laundry. Sometimes he chooses to watch TV or play by himself during some of this time (we call this John time and mommy time). Luckily he limits his own TV and I really don't have to. When he plays by himself, it usually consists of remote control cars, going on hunts (monster, ghosts, dinosaur), crashing something into something else, coloring/drawing, play dough, Lego's, dragons, dinosaurs, pirates, etc.
12:00 - 3:00 - MJ gets up and we all eat lunch (usuals include PB&J, grilled cheese, turkey and cheese, eggs, fruits, cheese, carrots, leftovers from dinner, bean and cheese quesidilla, crackers, pepperoni, chicken nuggets, chic-a-filet, McDonald's) and bottle and then usually head out to run an errand or do something semi fun just to get out of the house. Come back for more play. I try to mix in some chores here too like laundry (while playing peek-a-boo while folding) or something in the kitchen (while John pushes Matthew around the house is chosen vehicle) or bathroom cleaning(while John sprays Matthew with a water spray bottle), etc.
3:00 - 4:30ish - Bottle and nap for MJ again. I try to set aside this time to totally engross myself if John and do whatever he wants. I would say 65% of the time, this happens; the other 35% is a mix of fun and responsibilities, again, depending on work and the to-do list.
See evening discussion below the Tuesday/Thursday
Tuesday - Thursday morning/afternoon:
6:00 - 6:30 - I get out of bed either quickly or slowly depending on if MJ is awake yet, shower, dry hair (if there time) and make a bottle.
6:30 - 7:00 - bottle and then downstairs for coffee and living room play.
7:00 - 7:30 - you declare yourself awake as your feet hit the wood floor downstairs. The three of us hang out (MJ has been awake for an over an hour at this point) in the living room and play
7:30 - this is GO time on school days. The rest of the morning must start at this point to fit it all in. I have it down to an art at this point. During the next hour we must get the following done (although the order varies on the level of cooperativeness of one or both boys): fix and eat breakfast, finish getting myself ready, get both boys changed and ready, fix and pack lunch and snack for school, pick up the kitchen, do any homework, go potty, do any dinner prep if I have time, pack my lunch, change diaper, and without fail something random (today it happened to be that I needed to take John's picture for the blog yesterday).
8:30 - I hear the door open and Johanna comes! I breathe a little easier every time I hear that. She takes Matthew and John and I pack the car and finish up last minute.
9:00 - I drop John off at school and head to work. See a separate post on school later in the week for more detail.
2:00 - 5:00 Johanna picks John up from school. They go home and play most days, but sometimes, in the 2 minute (no joke) drive home, he falls asleep. On those days, he curls up in our bed and takes a nap. Although it took him some time to accept that I was going back to work after Matthew, he now loves Johanna and they have a lot of fun. He loves it most when her daughter, Margie, is on school break and gets come play too.
Every Evening:
5:00 - 7:30: I get home and start dinner while John usually colors at the table or watches a show. We eat dinner (usuals include eggs, fruits, some sort of attempt at a veggie, avocado, hot dog, spaghetti'os, mac and cheese, meatballs, sandwich, crackers, noodles, cheese, sweet potatoes, fish sticks, pizza), clean up the kitchen and then head up stairs for bed. Lately Daddy comes home close to 7:30 on most days. After bath we play in Johns room because Matthew loves the blue chair in there.
7:30 - 8:00: John gets to watch a show and we go over the 2 rules "don't open any doors and come get mommy if you need her" (those assume that Daddy is not home yet). I give Matthew a bottle in his dark room and then lay him down and we do not hear from him until morning.
8:00 - John's bed time. Potty, diaper (hoping to stop that with this 4th birthday), teeth, book, prayer, song, cuddle, bed. He loves his shark night light. If there are days he is not tired, he is allowed to turn on his lamp and read 1 or 2 books and then lights out. He typically follows this without a problem. However, in the last week or so he is getting out of bed and coming downstairs A LOT. He sneaks down and sometimes we do not know he is there until he is hiding behind the couch. We are working on this delimma. :)
Friday, February 25, 2011
My new favorite room
Carl has out-done himself yet again! He has literally been up to 3:00 or so in the morning several nights in a row to pull this one off. He started on Saturday afternoon after John's birthday party and then by the next Thursday, it was complete and John was able to "open" it for his birthday. John was not allowed in the room during transformation, so he was super excited to see it.
The first picture is the "before" shot. Carl stripped the texture off the red wall and made it into a chalkboard, and the checkered wall is a super strong magnetic wall now. It is SO COOL!
The last picture is of the playdate group we had over here today, they broke the room in well!
The first picture is the "before" shot. Carl stripped the texture off the red wall and made it into a chalkboard, and the checkered wall is a super strong magnetic wall now. It is SO COOL!
The last picture is of the playdate group we had over here today, they broke the room in well!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
2 year birthday party!
We had John's Dinosaur themed birthday party with his little friends at The Little Gym. It was a huge success! I have to say that for a friends birthday party at this age, Sunday afternoon seemed to be a great time slot. Thank you to all of his friends for coming to share with us!
We sincerely missed our Oklahoma clan and LOVE them for thinking of John on his party day!
For the first half of the party John was a bit overwhelmed, which surprised me. I chose the Little Gym because he was so comfortable there and he could run around and play. It must have been all of the parents, or the chaos, or the new teacher, or something; but after he relaxed a bit, the thumb came out of his mouth! He had fun the whole time though!
The teachers led the kids through different activities and then some free time on all the equipment. Then we had cake and ice cream. The Little Gym employees did a great job! They set everything up, served, and then took it all down. I highly recommend going there for any one who has them in their area.
We did not open presents, as there was not enough time for John to enjoy it, so we did that later at home. He loved all of his presents, and favorites have come and gone since the party, but some big hits included: play dough, the slide, Diego bubble machine, legos, Junior Leap Frog, his monkey plate, a "Cars" cd player, cars and trucks, and a pretend doctors bag.
Here are some pictures from his actual birthday and party day:
We sincerely missed our Oklahoma clan and LOVE them for thinking of John on his party day!
For the first half of the party John was a bit overwhelmed, which surprised me. I chose the Little Gym because he was so comfortable there and he could run around and play. It must have been all of the parents, or the chaos, or the new teacher, or something; but after he relaxed a bit, the thumb came out of his mouth! He had fun the whole time though!
The teachers led the kids through different activities and then some free time on all the equipment. Then we had cake and ice cream. The Little Gym employees did a great job! They set everything up, served, and then took it all down. I highly recommend going there for any one who has them in their area.
We did not open presents, as there was not enough time for John to enjoy it, so we did that later at home. He loved all of his presents, and favorites have come and gone since the party, but some big hits included: play dough, the slide, Diego bubble machine, legos, Junior Leap Frog, his monkey plate, a "Cars" cd player, cars and trucks, and a pretend doctors bag.
Here are some pictures from his actual birthday and party day:
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Happy 2nd birthday week: Dear John:
Dear John:
Today you turn 2. You are no longer a baby, but a little boy all your own. It is hard to believe how fast the time flies. I have said this at every stage of your life, but again I say that this is my most favorite age, and I think yours too.
You take your time with new things and when faced with a new environment you would prefer to soak it all in for a few minutes until you decide how you feel about it. And MAN, if you do not feel right about it, Mama has learned not to push the issue because you are going to stand your ground. On the other hand, when you find something that you like, you go all in! Some of these things are a passing phase, but some things you fall in love with and can't get enough. These are the things that Mama and Daddy live for; because to see your face light up like it does is the best feeling in the world to us.
When you are at home and in your element, you have fantastic level of confidence, but are still very careful. I love this balance. You totally trust us to catch you or hold you, sometimes to the point that it scares us because we don't know your are going to jump! :) You are careful though and seem to know where the limits are when we are not right next to you.
You demand acknowledgement and will repeat yourself and/or get louder and louder until you get a response. But you also are quick to give thanks even when we are not sure what you are thanking us for.
You are the sweetest boy that I have ever met. You are free with your hugs and kisses and would sit and cuddle ALL day if we would let you. You rub our cheeks or play with our ears or chin while you cuddle or when you are tired. However, you have not said the words "I love you" quite yet; I know you will say it on your own terms and that day will live in infamy and melt our hearts. You love when we have group hugs. You love on Bailee and Kallie and your stuffed animals and you make sure that they kiss and hug each other too.
You are all boy and can be super rough, but also know how to be gentle ("easy"). You are a good listener and you totally know when you are doing something you are not supposed to; evidenced by the mischievous look on your face. You are very well behaved and we are so proud of you.
You are starting to really get an imagination and we love watching you play and be creative. You can find true enjoyment in the most simple things. I hope you keep this attitude throughout life.
Today, baby boy, we wish you the happiest birthday and pray that you enjoy life, as you do today, for all of the years to come. We love you more than words.
Today you turn 2. You are no longer a baby, but a little boy all your own. It is hard to believe how fast the time flies. I have said this at every stage of your life, but again I say that this is my most favorite age, and I think yours too.
You take your time with new things and when faced with a new environment you would prefer to soak it all in for a few minutes until you decide how you feel about it. And MAN, if you do not feel right about it, Mama has learned not to push the issue because you are going to stand your ground. On the other hand, when you find something that you like, you go all in! Some of these things are a passing phase, but some things you fall in love with and can't get enough. These are the things that Mama and Daddy live for; because to see your face light up like it does is the best feeling in the world to us.
When you are at home and in your element, you have fantastic level of confidence, but are still very careful. I love this balance. You totally trust us to catch you or hold you, sometimes to the point that it scares us because we don't know your are going to jump! :) You are careful though and seem to know where the limits are when we are not right next to you.
You demand acknowledgement and will repeat yourself and/or get louder and louder until you get a response. But you also are quick to give thanks even when we are not sure what you are thanking us for.
You are the sweetest boy that I have ever met. You are free with your hugs and kisses and would sit and cuddle ALL day if we would let you. You rub our cheeks or play with our ears or chin while you cuddle or when you are tired. However, you have not said the words "I love you" quite yet; I know you will say it on your own terms and that day will live in infamy and melt our hearts. You love when we have group hugs. You love on Bailee and Kallie and your stuffed animals and you make sure that they kiss and hug each other too.
You are all boy and can be super rough, but also know how to be gentle ("easy"). You are a good listener and you totally know when you are doing something you are not supposed to; evidenced by the mischievous look on your face. You are very well behaved and we are so proud of you.
You are starting to really get an imagination and we love watching you play and be creative. You can find true enjoyment in the most simple things. I hope you keep this attitude throughout life.
Today, baby boy, we wish you the happiest birthday and pray that you enjoy life, as you do today, for all of the years to come. We love you more than words.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Happy 2nd Birthday Week: Buddies
Another big part of our 2nd year was play dates and making buddies.
In the last year, John has gone from not even knowing other children are in the room - to standing back and watching them intently - to trying to play with them and make friends. Overall he is pretty passive when it comes to play dates, although if they are at our house he is more comfortable. He shares really well. He loves going to the park with his friends the best. I think it is because he is on neutral ground and he does not feel smothered.
There is one particular little girl that he is most comfortable around, Amelia. He hearts Amelia. :) It must be her gentle personality that he likes so much; he is super relaxed with her. They will play and laugh and run and share, all with no warm up time required.
He also loves all of his neighborhood friends and asks about them a lot. Again, there is one older little girl (4), Elyse, that John is fascinated with. He will follow her around, is always looking for her to "show" her things. She is so sweet to him and shares and plays with him so well. When it comes to his little boy buddies, he likes to run and swing and play with them too, but John is a few months younger than all of them. The age difference is pretty noticeable right now, but I think as he grows up a bit more and that age difference isn't prevalent, he will be asking for them all the time. Then I will have to adopt the "boys will be boys" theory.
When we see his cousins or friends we have not seen in awhile, he remembers them because we always go through pictures and talk about who people are and what we did with them the last time we saw them. He is enamored with his cousin Maggie, absolutely adores her! He talks about Brendan when we talk about swords or birthday parties. John and Brendan are going to be pretty fun as they get older!
He does not talk much to the other kids, but each time we see them he gets more comfortable and steps a little farther outside his comfort zone.
We are so blessed to have so many wonderful families in our lives and buddies for John to grow up with!
In the last year, John has gone from not even knowing other children are in the room - to standing back and watching them intently - to trying to play with them and make friends. Overall he is pretty passive when it comes to play dates, although if they are at our house he is more comfortable. He shares really well. He loves going to the park with his friends the best. I think it is because he is on neutral ground and he does not feel smothered.
There is one particular little girl that he is most comfortable around, Amelia. He hearts Amelia. :) It must be her gentle personality that he likes so much; he is super relaxed with her. They will play and laugh and run and share, all with no warm up time required.
He also loves all of his neighborhood friends and asks about them a lot. Again, there is one older little girl (4), Elyse, that John is fascinated with. He will follow her around, is always looking for her to "show" her things. She is so sweet to him and shares and plays with him so well. When it comes to his little boy buddies, he likes to run and swing and play with them too, but John is a few months younger than all of them. The age difference is pretty noticeable right now, but I think as he grows up a bit more and that age difference isn't prevalent, he will be asking for them all the time. Then I will have to adopt the "boys will be boys" theory.
When we see his cousins or friends we have not seen in awhile, he remembers them because we always go through pictures and talk about who people are and what we did with them the last time we saw them. He is enamored with his cousin Maggie, absolutely adores her! He talks about Brendan when we talk about swords or birthday parties. John and Brendan are going to be pretty fun as they get older!
He does not talk much to the other kids, but each time we see them he gets more comfortable and steps a little farther outside his comfort zone.
We are so blessed to have so many wonderful families in our lives and buddies for John to grow up with!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Happy 2nd Birthday Week: Language
In my mind the first year of life was all about survival and physical development. Obviously there is overlap, but the 2nd year has been more about language and personality development. Language development is such a big part of our lives right now. There for a while I was worried that John was not talking as much as he should be (silly Mama!), but then....he turned it on full force.
Just the other day he counted to twelve (replacing 11 with 7) which blew me away! I knew he could say the numbers and sometimes could put a few in a row, but had no idea he could go all the way to twelve. He starts the alphabet, but stops with D, unless you pause while singing it, he will fill in the blank wherever you are.
One of my favorite parts of the day is when I go get him from nap or night time because he is so talkative and says the most random things. I just sit and listen to him tell me a 5 minute story. I love it.
He can communicate pretty much anything he needs to tell us and it makes life so much less frustrating for us all.
His most common quotes:
"I did it"
"Mama do it"
"Daddy fix it"
"Get Kallie/Bailee tail"
"Mines"
"Chocolate milk"
"Play Diego"
"Watch Dido train"
"tickle, tickle, tickle"
"wipe my boogers"
"Daddy go work"
"I wanna draw"
"Play monkeys"
"Nana and Da coming?"
"Hawaiian Rainbow"
"ABC"
"get me, hold me"
"Mama/Daddy sit down"
"pease" (please)
"Thank you"
"feed dogs"
"stinky poopy"
"change my dap dap"
There are countless phrases, but these are the ones that I hear at least once a day.
Just the other day he counted to twelve (replacing 11 with 7) which blew me away! I knew he could say the numbers and sometimes could put a few in a row, but had no idea he could go all the way to twelve. He starts the alphabet, but stops with D, unless you pause while singing it, he will fill in the blank wherever you are.
One of my favorite parts of the day is when I go get him from nap or night time because he is so talkative and says the most random things. I just sit and listen to him tell me a 5 minute story. I love it.
He can communicate pretty much anything he needs to tell us and it makes life so much less frustrating for us all.
His most common quotes:
"I did it"
"Mama do it"
"Daddy fix it"
"Get Kallie/Bailee tail"
"Mines"
"Chocolate milk"
"Play Diego"
"Watch Dido train"
"tickle, tickle, tickle"
"wipe my boogers"
"Daddy go work"
"I wanna draw"
"Play monkeys"
"Nana and Da coming?"
"Hawaiian Rainbow"
"ABC"
"get me, hold me"
"Mama/Daddy sit down"
"pease" (please)
"Thank you"
"feed dogs"
"stinky poopy"
"change my dap dap"
There are countless phrases, but these are the ones that I hear at least once a day.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Happy 2nd Birthday Week: My favorite Things
To take a snapshot of John's life as he turns two, here are a few of things that light up his life:
Books: This was his first word and they continue to be one of his favorite activities. He will let you sit and read to him for an hour sometimes. He is not particularly stuck on one type of book, he still loves his Sandra Boynton books and can recite all of them to you by memory. He also loves books that have activities (pull tabs, touch and feel, sound buttons, etc.). Even if you have not read that particular book in months, he still remembers the words. Just recently he sat through a longer book "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" by Dr. Seuss. He really learns a lot from books, he understands and can apply it. I am hoping that this is beneficial when it comes time to potty train, and go to school, and any other issues that we might need a creative way to get something across to him.
Dinosaurs: I think this must have started one day when Granddaddy was watching a dinosaur movie with Brendan and John, because before then the obsession had not started. Since then, my house is full of roaring (loudly) and stomping dinosaurs. He calls them "didos", although he can identify and say "t-rex" and "triceratops".
Park: Going to the park is a favorite of mine and his. I love to get him outside. He likes to take his "bikacycle" that Nana and Da got him for Christmas. He plays on the big toys, and swings, but a lot of his time is spent people watching. The other kids at the park are fascinating to him. I have to remind him to go play. He also likes to walk across the big field and play down on the trails.
Bath: This took some time, but ever since he could sit up on his own, he has loved the bath. There is NEVER a fuss to go take a bath with bubbles. He does not like to rinse his hair, but other than that, he would stay in there for hours if you let him. In fact, that is the only frustrating part - getting him out. He lays down and pretends to swim, he plays with his fish and talking frog and his little tug boat. Although is favorite thing is the plastic cup and bowl that he can fill and empty 1000 times.
Playing chase: This it the cutest thing. He and Daddy will run around the house chasing each other. If Daddy is chasing him he says "hide, hide" to himself; or he will scream "Daddy get me, Daddy get me". If he is chasing Daddy he screams "I get Daddy, I get Daddy". With a HUGE smile on his face. And as Daddy gets close to him or touches him he go limp and lets out a belly laugh. It is so funny.
Lights/Dark: Taking a lightsaber, ray gun, flashlight or a head lamp into a dark room might be the coolest thing ever. He loves to be in a dark room (we have emptied his closet for this very activity) with any type of light and play and run. He has discovered shadows which makes it even cooler!
Animals: Another items he has loved since day one is animals of ANY kind. Live animals, stuffed animals, plastic animals, movies and books about animals, drawing animals, you name it, he loves it. He feeds them, sleeps with them, plays with them, talks to them, reads to them, takes them with him in the car, again, you name it, he does it. I could write an entire entry on just his love for animals (in fact maybe I will later), but for this purpose, just know that he would be a-okay with getting lost in the jungle to be raised by the animals.
Foods: Well, I am going to back up 2 weeks and take a snap shot of that, as ever since he got sick, he has been PICKY. Some of his favorites: chocolate milk, applesauce, chicken and french fries, jello with whip cream, cheese, hot dogs, fruit of any kind (peaches, strawberries blueberries, bananas, oranges, etc.), fruit snacks, M & M's.
TV/Movies: Backyardigans, Go Diego Go, Zobamafoo (i.e. "animal show"), Garfield, Dinosaur Train, Jungle book.
iphones: He loves to play on our iphones. Particulary "monkey preschool lunchbox" and "peek-a-boo barn". I really think those application helped to teach him colors and shapes. He can navigate the iphone better than most new users :). He also likes to find the pictures on the phone and scroll through them and name everyone.
Books: This was his first word and they continue to be one of his favorite activities. He will let you sit and read to him for an hour sometimes. He is not particularly stuck on one type of book, he still loves his Sandra Boynton books and can recite all of them to you by memory. He also loves books that have activities (pull tabs, touch and feel, sound buttons, etc.). Even if you have not read that particular book in months, he still remembers the words. Just recently he sat through a longer book "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" by Dr. Seuss. He really learns a lot from books, he understands and can apply it. I am hoping that this is beneficial when it comes time to potty train, and go to school, and any other issues that we might need a creative way to get something across to him.
Dinosaurs: I think this must have started one day when Granddaddy was watching a dinosaur movie with Brendan and John, because before then the obsession had not started. Since then, my house is full of roaring (loudly) and stomping dinosaurs. He calls them "didos", although he can identify and say "t-rex" and "triceratops".
Park: Going to the park is a favorite of mine and his. I love to get him outside. He likes to take his "bikacycle" that Nana and Da got him for Christmas. He plays on the big toys, and swings, but a lot of his time is spent people watching. The other kids at the park are fascinating to him. I have to remind him to go play. He also likes to walk across the big field and play down on the trails.
Bath: This took some time, but ever since he could sit up on his own, he has loved the bath. There is NEVER a fuss to go take a bath with bubbles. He does not like to rinse his hair, but other than that, he would stay in there for hours if you let him. In fact, that is the only frustrating part - getting him out. He lays down and pretends to swim, he plays with his fish and talking frog and his little tug boat. Although is favorite thing is the plastic cup and bowl that he can fill and empty 1000 times.
Playing chase: This it the cutest thing. He and Daddy will run around the house chasing each other. If Daddy is chasing him he says "hide, hide" to himself; or he will scream "Daddy get me, Daddy get me". If he is chasing Daddy he screams "I get Daddy, I get Daddy". With a HUGE smile on his face. And as Daddy gets close to him or touches him he go limp and lets out a belly laugh. It is so funny.
Lights/Dark: Taking a lightsaber, ray gun, flashlight or a head lamp into a dark room might be the coolest thing ever. He loves to be in a dark room (we have emptied his closet for this very activity) with any type of light and play and run. He has discovered shadows which makes it even cooler!
Animals: Another items he has loved since day one is animals of ANY kind. Live animals, stuffed animals, plastic animals, movies and books about animals, drawing animals, you name it, he loves it. He feeds them, sleeps with them, plays with them, talks to them, reads to them, takes them with him in the car, again, you name it, he does it. I could write an entire entry on just his love for animals (in fact maybe I will later), but for this purpose, just know that he would be a-okay with getting lost in the jungle to be raised by the animals.
Foods: Well, I am going to back up 2 weeks and take a snap shot of that, as ever since he got sick, he has been PICKY. Some of his favorites: chocolate milk, applesauce, chicken and french fries, jello with whip cream, cheese, hot dogs, fruit of any kind (peaches, strawberries blueberries, bananas, oranges, etc.), fruit snacks, M & M's.
TV/Movies: Backyardigans, Go Diego Go, Zobamafoo (i.e. "animal show"), Garfield, Dinosaur Train, Jungle book.
iphones: He loves to play on our iphones. Particulary "monkey preschool lunchbox" and "peek-a-boo barn". I really think those application helped to teach him colors and shapes. He can navigate the iphone better than most new users :). He also likes to find the pictures on the phone and scroll through them and name everyone.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Happy 2nd Birthday Week: A year in pictures
Here is a month by month pictorial of John and how he has changed over the year.
March
April
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January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
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September
October
November
December
January
February
Friday, February 19, 2010
Happy 2nd Birthday Week: A day in the life....
6:45 - Carl gets up
7:00 - I get up
7:30 - Carl is out the door and I head to the kitchen to make coffee, feed dog, pick up kitchen, check email, etc.
8:10 - John finally starts waking up. First words out of his mouth "I have boogers, wipe my boogers". :) We rock in the chair for about 10 minutes and talk about our day and cuddle.
8:30 - Downstairs for breakfast, toast sticks and strawberries and cream oatmeal. I pull out all the tricks, but the kid is NOT eating these days. A few bites and some chocolate milk later, we are up and rushing around to get out the door.
9:30 - Little Gym. He was SO brave and independent today. Had a great time.
10:30 - Ran by the bank and then headed home for snack. Milk and Dinosaur fruit snacks with a few goldfish thrown in there. While he snacks he typically stands at his tower and reads a book or plays with something, so it takes a good 20 minutes.
11:00 - Upstairs to play. Today this consisted of Diego train, drawing on the easel, and playing with all the stuffed animals.
12:00 - Downstairs to watch "Dinosaur Train" while I cook lunch and work.
12:20 - sit down to lunch of meatballs and perogies. 25 minutes later he has about 1.5 meatballs down him, 2 pieces of perogie and half of a cup of milk. He insists that that giraffe is finished (his animal choice of the day) eating. He is spitting out anything I put in his mouth and will not look at me. So we get down. This has been a battle for about a week... hoping it is just a phase.
12:45 - he finishes watching the Backyardigans and plays with giraffe while I work.
1:10 - lay down for nap. Falls asleep by 1:25 or so. I work the whole nap which is sort of out of the ordinary, but there is a project going on.
3:15 - I hear him waking up, so I run around and start some laundry and the dishwasher. I go up there and he plays with this dog blanket, orca whale and giraffe in his bed while I put away his clothes. Then I get him out and we lay on the rug in his room and let his animals listen the music that this little baby Einstein toy has.
4:00 - Dogs bark - AHHH - Daddy is home early!!!! Downstairs for a quick snack of graham crackers and peanut butter and cake. :)
4:15 - Daddy and John disappear into the bathroom for a little hair cut. I blog and do laundry.
4:35 - They emerge from the bathroom and John's hair looks great. I wish we could take him somewhere, but he HATES scissors and he will tell you all about it. Daddy is able to maintain his hair with that clipper thing. We may try again with the hair cut in a few more months?!?!?!
4:45 - this is sort of 'play around and do whatever he wants' time. Carl and I switch off depending on where John is and what he wants to do. This time he sat with Carl and played "monkey preschool lunchbox" on the iphone and I cooked dinner and did some more house stuff.
5:45 - sit down to dinner, John had a hot dog, broccoli and cheese, applesauce and some BBQ beans. I should clarify, this is the meal I put in front of him. Again, only a few bites in and he starts refusing. Daddy makes a deal with him if he has 3 more bites of hot dog and 1 more bite of beans that he can get down. I stayed quiet, fully anticipating that we would never leave that table. Pleasantly surprised, John did it and got down.
6:15 - run around and chase Bailee and Kallie and stop for a quick poop.
6:30 - diaper change with Mama; and then bath time with Daddy while I clean the kitchen and type this blog. :)
6:50 - John stands in his tower and draws and drinks orange juice out of a big boy cup. He is pretty whiny tonight. After he has had all he can handle, I sit down on the couch with him and we watch the recorded 'Survivor' together.
7:50 - Daddy scoops him up and it is off to brush teeth and read books. After hugs and kisses for Daddy, I rock with him, sing a song and say our prayers. He quietly rolls and kicks around quite a bit, but is asleep by 8:45 or so.
7:00 - I get up
7:30 - Carl is out the door and I head to the kitchen to make coffee, feed dog, pick up kitchen, check email, etc.
8:10 - John finally starts waking up. First words out of his mouth "I have boogers, wipe my boogers". :) We rock in the chair for about 10 minutes and talk about our day and cuddle.
8:30 - Downstairs for breakfast, toast sticks and strawberries and cream oatmeal. I pull out all the tricks, but the kid is NOT eating these days. A few bites and some chocolate milk later, we are up and rushing around to get out the door.
9:30 - Little Gym. He was SO brave and independent today. Had a great time.
10:30 - Ran by the bank and then headed home for snack. Milk and Dinosaur fruit snacks with a few goldfish thrown in there. While he snacks he typically stands at his tower and reads a book or plays with something, so it takes a good 20 minutes.
11:00 - Upstairs to play. Today this consisted of Diego train, drawing on the easel, and playing with all the stuffed animals.
12:00 - Downstairs to watch "Dinosaur Train" while I cook lunch and work.
12:20 - sit down to lunch of meatballs and perogies. 25 minutes later he has about 1.5 meatballs down him, 2 pieces of perogie and half of a cup of milk. He insists that that giraffe is finished (his animal choice of the day) eating. He is spitting out anything I put in his mouth and will not look at me. So we get down. This has been a battle for about a week... hoping it is just a phase.
12:45 - he finishes watching the Backyardigans and plays with giraffe while I work.
1:10 - lay down for nap. Falls asleep by 1:25 or so. I work the whole nap which is sort of out of the ordinary, but there is a project going on.
3:15 - I hear him waking up, so I run around and start some laundry and the dishwasher. I go up there and he plays with this dog blanket, orca whale and giraffe in his bed while I put away his clothes. Then I get him out and we lay on the rug in his room and let his animals listen the music that this little baby Einstein toy has.
4:00 - Dogs bark - AHHH - Daddy is home early!!!! Downstairs for a quick snack of graham crackers and peanut butter and cake. :)
4:15 - Daddy and John disappear into the bathroom for a little hair cut. I blog and do laundry.
4:35 - They emerge from the bathroom and John's hair looks great. I wish we could take him somewhere, but he HATES scissors and he will tell you all about it. Daddy is able to maintain his hair with that clipper thing. We may try again with the hair cut in a few more months?!?!?!
4:45 - this is sort of 'play around and do whatever he wants' time. Carl and I switch off depending on where John is and what he wants to do. This time he sat with Carl and played "monkey preschool lunchbox" on the iphone and I cooked dinner and did some more house stuff.
5:45 - sit down to dinner, John had a hot dog, broccoli and cheese, applesauce and some BBQ beans. I should clarify, this is the meal I put in front of him. Again, only a few bites in and he starts refusing. Daddy makes a deal with him if he has 3 more bites of hot dog and 1 more bite of beans that he can get down. I stayed quiet, fully anticipating that we would never leave that table. Pleasantly surprised, John did it and got down.
6:15 - run around and chase Bailee and Kallie and stop for a quick poop.
6:30 - diaper change with Mama; and then bath time with Daddy while I clean the kitchen and type this blog. :)
6:50 - John stands in his tower and draws and drinks orange juice out of a big boy cup. He is pretty whiny tonight. After he has had all he can handle, I sit down on the couch with him and we watch the recorded 'Survivor' together.
7:50 - Daddy scoops him up and it is off to brush teeth and read books. After hugs and kisses for Daddy, I rock with him, sing a song and say our prayers. He quietly rolls and kicks around quite a bit, but is asleep by 8:45 or so.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Happy 2nd Birthday Week: This month
Well, it is that time of year again! Today kicks off John's "birthday week". join me each day for a new blog entry.
Today will be the normal monthly entry of new milestones and memories for the 24th month of life:
- Had his first real sickness. In the past his colds have been minor and controllable with one dose of medicine. This month we had a doozy! 4 days of fever an awful cough and did not eat enough to keep an ant healthy. He is not a "vomiter", but there was one night that he repeatedly vomited until there was nothing left. This may have been the worst thing I have witnessed, broke my heart into 1000 pieces, but he was totally fine with it. As Carl would say - someone forgot to tell John he was sick! If it was not for the fever and the outward symptoms, you would have never known. He is a tough boy!
- Ordered him a bunch of 2T clothes for the Spring - still a bit too big. He is still in his 18 - 24 month size. But wears a size 6 diaper (the biggest they make). Something does not add up?!?!
- He learned my first name (thanks to Daddy) and has started to call out "Jamie" when he is in the other room and wants me to come where he is... hmmmm????
- Switched back from Johanna to Kara on Thursdays. It is going well, he has shown no signs of anxiety with it.
- Slept like a champ this month, sometimes until 9:00 in the morning and 3 hour naps every now and again. His nap has crept to 1:15 and sometimes later. He still goes down at 8:00 at night, but some nights we can still hear him rolling around until about 9:00.
- Dallas had a record setting sow storm this month with prime snowman making opportunities. Unfortunately, John was in the thick of his sickness and could not enjoy it outside. Luckily, he had not played in it before, so he did not really know what he was missing. Daddy made him a small snowman and put it on the front porch so he could look out the window at him....oooohhhh...so sad!
Okay, so this was sort of short as I am going to expand on other things in the upcoming posts.
Today will be the normal monthly entry of new milestones and memories for the 24th month of life:
- Had his first real sickness. In the past his colds have been minor and controllable with one dose of medicine. This month we had a doozy! 4 days of fever an awful cough and did not eat enough to keep an ant healthy. He is not a "vomiter", but there was one night that he repeatedly vomited until there was nothing left. This may have been the worst thing I have witnessed, broke my heart into 1000 pieces, but he was totally fine with it. As Carl would say - someone forgot to tell John he was sick! If it was not for the fever and the outward symptoms, you would have never known. He is a tough boy!
- Ordered him a bunch of 2T clothes for the Spring - still a bit too big. He is still in his 18 - 24 month size. But wears a size 6 diaper (the biggest they make). Something does not add up?!?!
- He learned my first name (thanks to Daddy) and has started to call out "Jamie" when he is in the other room and wants me to come where he is... hmmmm????
- Switched back from Johanna to Kara on Thursdays. It is going well, he has shown no signs of anxiety with it.
- Slept like a champ this month, sometimes until 9:00 in the morning and 3 hour naps every now and again. His nap has crept to 1:15 and sometimes later. He still goes down at 8:00 at night, but some nights we can still hear him rolling around until about 9:00.
- Dallas had a record setting sow storm this month with prime snowman making opportunities. Unfortunately, John was in the thick of his sickness and could not enjoy it outside. Luckily, he had not played in it before, so he did not really know what he was missing. Daddy made him a small snowman and put it on the front porch so he could look out the window at him....oooohhhh...so sad!
Okay, so this was sort of short as I am going to expand on other things in the upcoming posts.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Happy Birthday Baby Boy!
1 year ago today:
1:30am - I have a super painful contraction that wakes me from a deep drug induced sleep. I guess it was instinct, but I immediately jumped out of bed just in time for my water to break (SO glad about that).
This is where it goes fuzzy for me again - I only remember bits and pieces.
Carl and my Dad had just gone to bed after watching a movie, so they got VERY little sleep (as if I got more). Carl went to wake my mom and then I insisted on getting in the shower; even in the state of mind I was in, I knew it was imperative to be clean before going to the hospital (you taught me well Mom!). Carl called his parents and they headed up to the hospital.
The next thing I remember is my Dad taking some pictures and then we were in the truck. The ride to the hospital was painful, I felt every bump in the road as if I was being dragged behind the truck. When we got to the hospital it was after hours so we had to go through the emergency room. THEY MADE ME CHECK IN AND SIGN PAPERS STANDING UP! To this day I still have trouble believing that I had to do this. I remember tying my jacket around my waste because apparently your water does not just break once, but it keeps coming (too much information for some of you, I know, but you'll survive). Please note the series of pictures of this event - and notice the lady in behind the window - it sure looks like she is telling me to calm down, doesn't it?
Then I jump ahead to getting in bed and getting all hooked up, only to find that I still had not made any progression. I asked for the epidural and then I think after I got comfortable and we knew there was no hurry, we sent the grandparents home to try and get some sleep.
They brought Carl a cot and we both tried to get some sleep - not much luck, knowing what was ahead.
Later that morning, grandparents come back and still no progression on my part. Dr. Sara Robert came in and explained that there was a window of 12-18 hours after the water breaks that the baby needs to be delivered or the risk of infection gets too high.
At this point John's heart rate would drop with every contraction. Due to this and no progression, the Dr. asked us if we wanted to have a c-section or wait a couple more hours and potentially have to have an emergency c-section. In the case of an emergency, Carl would not be able to be in the room. So the choice was clear; c-section it was. Although I was sorely disappointed, as I did not want a c-section. But, in hind site, his head is perfectly round and my recovery was super fast.
We get all prepped and they wheel me back. While they are prepping me for surgery, Carl had to wait outside. The anesthesiologist kept poking me with a pin around my waist and asking me if I could feel it - I kept saying yes. Although I think it was in fear that he would not give me enough drugs, I really don't think I felt it. I deeply regretted the amounts of medicine they gave me for the next 2 days.
I can not explain to anyone what a c-section is like. I was so nervous and was on so much medicine - all I could do was talk, I remember that I just kept talking. I don't really remember what I was talking about, but I just kept talking, and talking. There was no pain - but the pressure - OH THE PRESSURE - It truly feels like an elephant is sitting on top of you. It is the utmost, with out a doubt strangest feeling in the world. All the while, I am asking the Dr.'s to stop pulling my insides out for one second so I can lean to the side and puke in my little pink bucket (that pink bucket and I became very good friends)
Carl had the video going for some of this, and taking pictures during the rest of the time. He only peeked around the scary blue curtain a couple of times.
2:48 - Dr. Robert says "he has such big feet" and then... the most precious sound in the entire world - John's first cry. They brought him to me and then Carl says the Dr. nodded to the anesthesiologist to knock me out; he must have, because I really do not remember anything else until we wheeled out into the waiting room (although I think these memories are more from the pictures than my mind).
Next thing I remember is everyone standing in the hospital room and Carl handed me John for the first time - it was a moment that I will cherish forever and never forget. I cried, Carl cried, well, everyone cried except John. It was a moment of pure bliss. Then...enter pink bucket! UGH! It was constant.
The next memory I jump to is his first feeding - just a couple hours into this world - he latched right on like he was a pro. Breastfeeding is one of the hardest things a woman can do, but wow - that moment was incredible. Oh except I had to interrupt him and give him back to Carl several times so I could lean into the little pink bucket.
We stayed in the hospital just 2 more nights - and I remember it being SO HOT, we had broken our air conditioning and it was the first few days of hot weather in Texas, so the window did not help either. I remember not eating ANYTHING until about 4:00 in the morning, the nurse brought me some yogurt that I was able to keep down. Carl's cot was the most pitiful thing I had ever seen.
The day you were born was the most incredible day of our lives, sleep deprived, but running on pure love!
We love you!
1:30am - I have a super painful contraction that wakes me from a deep drug induced sleep. I guess it was instinct, but I immediately jumped out of bed just in time for my water to break (SO glad about that).
This is where it goes fuzzy for me again - I only remember bits and pieces.
Carl and my Dad had just gone to bed after watching a movie, so they got VERY little sleep (as if I got more). Carl went to wake my mom and then I insisted on getting in the shower; even in the state of mind I was in, I knew it was imperative to be clean before going to the hospital (you taught me well Mom!). Carl called his parents and they headed up to the hospital.
The next thing I remember is my Dad taking some pictures and then we were in the truck. The ride to the hospital was painful, I felt every bump in the road as if I was being dragged behind the truck. When we got to the hospital it was after hours so we had to go through the emergency room. THEY MADE ME CHECK IN AND SIGN PAPERS STANDING UP! To this day I still have trouble believing that I had to do this. I remember tying my jacket around my waste because apparently your water does not just break once, but it keeps coming (too much information for some of you, I know, but you'll survive). Please note the series of pictures of this event - and notice the lady in behind the window - it sure looks like she is telling me to calm down, doesn't it?
Then I jump ahead to getting in bed and getting all hooked up, only to find that I still had not made any progression. I asked for the epidural and then I think after I got comfortable and we knew there was no hurry, we sent the grandparents home to try and get some sleep.
They brought Carl a cot and we both tried to get some sleep - not much luck, knowing what was ahead.
Later that morning, grandparents come back and still no progression on my part. Dr. Sara Robert came in and explained that there was a window of 12-18 hours after the water breaks that the baby needs to be delivered or the risk of infection gets too high.
At this point John's heart rate would drop with every contraction. Due to this and no progression, the Dr. asked us if we wanted to have a c-section or wait a couple more hours and potentially have to have an emergency c-section. In the case of an emergency, Carl would not be able to be in the room. So the choice was clear; c-section it was. Although I was sorely disappointed, as I did not want a c-section. But, in hind site, his head is perfectly round and my recovery was super fast.
We get all prepped and they wheel me back. While they are prepping me for surgery, Carl had to wait outside. The anesthesiologist kept poking me with a pin around my waist and asking me if I could feel it - I kept saying yes. Although I think it was in fear that he would not give me enough drugs, I really don't think I felt it. I deeply regretted the amounts of medicine they gave me for the next 2 days.
I can not explain to anyone what a c-section is like. I was so nervous and was on so much medicine - all I could do was talk, I remember that I just kept talking. I don't really remember what I was talking about, but I just kept talking, and talking. There was no pain - but the pressure - OH THE PRESSURE - It truly feels like an elephant is sitting on top of you. It is the utmost, with out a doubt strangest feeling in the world. All the while, I am asking the Dr.'s to stop pulling my insides out for one second so I can lean to the side and puke in my little pink bucket (that pink bucket and I became very good friends)
Carl had the video going for some of this, and taking pictures during the rest of the time. He only peeked around the scary blue curtain a couple of times.
2:48 - Dr. Robert says "he has such big feet" and then... the most precious sound in the entire world - John's first cry. They brought him to me and then Carl says the Dr. nodded to the anesthesiologist to knock me out; he must have, because I really do not remember anything else until we wheeled out into the waiting room (although I think these memories are more from the pictures than my mind).
Next thing I remember is everyone standing in the hospital room and Carl handed me John for the first time - it was a moment that I will cherish forever and never forget. I cried, Carl cried, well, everyone cried except John. It was a moment of pure bliss. Then...enter pink bucket! UGH! It was constant.
The next memory I jump to is his first feeding - just a couple hours into this world - he latched right on like he was a pro. Breastfeeding is one of the hardest things a woman can do, but wow - that moment was incredible. Oh except I had to interrupt him and give him back to Carl several times so I could lean into the little pink bucket.
We stayed in the hospital just 2 more nights - and I remember it being SO HOT, we had broken our air conditioning and it was the first few days of hot weather in Texas, so the window did not help either. I remember not eating ANYTHING until about 4:00 in the morning, the nurse brought me some yogurt that I was able to keep down. Carl's cot was the most pitiful thing I had ever seen.
The day you were born was the most incredible day of our lives, sleep deprived, but running on pure love!
We love you!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Happy Birthday Week: The Day Before
I am sure I will tell this story for many years to come and I am sure that it will change a little bit every time. Hopefully I will look back and this and remember what REALLY happened (if it has not changed too much after just 1 year)
Note: John was born on a Sunday.
Saturday morning about 6:30am I woke up with some small contractions and I was extremely uncomfortable. It was not unusual at this point in a pregnancy to not sleep well, so I really did not think anything of it. I proceeded to get up quietly and go into the kitchen to start my routine. To my surprise, I was having the contractions pretty regularly; so. I started to count, sure enough they were about 10-12 minutes apart. I could not wait any longer, I woke up Carl; I had a special feeling.
I could only restrain a little while longer before calling to wake up our parents. My Mom knew too, she started planning and getting things ready for what was to come.
Carl and I tried to go about the day, but of course were too nervous and excited. Carl decided we needed another recliner THAT DAY, so he rearranged the living room furniture and off we went furniture shopping. Who does that?!
All the while, I have been jotting down the contractions on a piece of paper and they were consistently 10-12 minutes apart, but they were not getting stronger or faster.
My Mom and Dad got in the car and headed to Texas about 6:30 pm.
Around 9:00 I decided to call my doctor to tell her about the day. She had me go to the hospital right then.
This trip to the hospital I remember vividly. We calmly and collectively got the bags in the car, kissed the dogs goodbye and headed out the door. We went straight to labor and delivery as it was not past hours yet. They checked me in and I signed all paperwork while I was comfortably in a bed, what a great idea?!?!
I was not in a lot of pain, uncomfortable, sure, but not pain; so I did not even think abut drugs at this point. They checked me and I was not dilated at all. They kept us for 2 hours and then checked again, still no progress. My Mom and Dad were at the hospital by this point. The doctor gave me the option of staying or going, I opted to go (don't regret). They gave me an option of a sleeping pill or not, I opted to have one (regret).
This is where it all gets a little fuzzy and any reminders would be helpful.
The next thing I remember is Carl putting me in bed. It is about midnight on Saturday night.
To be continued....
Note: John was born on a Sunday.
Saturday morning about 6:30am I woke up with some small contractions and I was extremely uncomfortable. It was not unusual at this point in a pregnancy to not sleep well, so I really did not think anything of it. I proceeded to get up quietly and go into the kitchen to start my routine. To my surprise, I was having the contractions pretty regularly; so. I started to count, sure enough they were about 10-12 minutes apart. I could not wait any longer, I woke up Carl; I had a special feeling.
I could only restrain a little while longer before calling to wake up our parents. My Mom knew too, she started planning and getting things ready for what was to come.
Carl and I tried to go about the day, but of course were too nervous and excited. Carl decided we needed another recliner THAT DAY, so he rearranged the living room furniture and off we went furniture shopping. Who does that?!
All the while, I have been jotting down the contractions on a piece of paper and they were consistently 10-12 minutes apart, but they were not getting stronger or faster.
My Mom and Dad got in the car and headed to Texas about 6:30 pm.
Around 9:00 I decided to call my doctor to tell her about the day. She had me go to the hospital right then.
This trip to the hospital I remember vividly. We calmly and collectively got the bags in the car, kissed the dogs goodbye and headed out the door. We went straight to labor and delivery as it was not past hours yet. They checked me in and I signed all paperwork while I was comfortably in a bed, what a great idea?!?!
I was not in a lot of pain, uncomfortable, sure, but not pain; so I did not even think abut drugs at this point. They checked me and I was not dilated at all. They kept us for 2 hours and then checked again, still no progress. My Mom and Dad were at the hospital by this point. The doctor gave me the option of staying or going, I opted to go (don't regret). They gave me an option of a sleeping pill or not, I opted to have one (regret).
This is where it all gets a little fuzzy and any reminders would be helpful.
The next thing I remember is Carl putting me in bed. It is about midnight on Saturday night.
To be continued....
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Happy Birthday Week: Changes
John - you have changed and bettered our lives in so many incredible ways. The most important is how you have filled our lives and our hearts with a new kind of love and joy that only a parent can share with their child. Our days are brighter, our smiles are bigger, our love is stronger, and our hearts are yours!
Other life changes since you were born:
- I have much more sympathy for parents and patience for screaming kids (not sure Carl shares this change with me)
- I can not watch sad movies with children involved
- Showering is a luxury, not a necessity
- Sleeping is a luxury, not a necessity
- Laundry takes a lot longer after pre-treating EVERY baby shirt we own
- We never watch live TV so if there is a tornado, we will not know about it until the next day
- I can not sing - but I do it anyway (in public nonetheless) because the itsy bitsy spider makes you smile (again, Carl has not adopted the public part of this one either)
- I try to find the parking space NEAREST the shopping cart return thing.
- I can accomplish in a 30 minute nap what used to take me several hours
- In a 12 month period - I went through 3 bra sizes - and unfortunately the last and most recent is not the one I would have chosen!
- The house is much darker since you became mobile - no lamps (cords) or nightlights
- My homepage went from some news site to "babycenter.com"
- I put A LOT more thought into what we all eat everyday, you are a growing boy, but lately a picky eater.
- The carpet and rugs are wearing a lot faster, as it seems to be a natural tendency for everyone to sit on the floor these days.
- I do not see the outside world after 5:30 pm or so. I did not even see Christmas lights in our neighborhood this year.
- Eating a meal with only 1 sized spoon in my hand is an exception to the rule.
- I spend more on your clothes than mine.
I can not wait to see the changes the 2nd year will bring!
Other life changes since you were born:
- I have much more sympathy for parents and patience for screaming kids (not sure Carl shares this change with me)
- I can not watch sad movies with children involved
- Showering is a luxury, not a necessity
- Sleeping is a luxury, not a necessity
- Laundry takes a lot longer after pre-treating EVERY baby shirt we own
- We never watch live TV so if there is a tornado, we will not know about it until the next day
- I can not sing - but I do it anyway (in public nonetheless) because the itsy bitsy spider makes you smile (again, Carl has not adopted the public part of this one either)
- I try to find the parking space NEAREST the shopping cart return thing.
- I can accomplish in a 30 minute nap what used to take me several hours
- In a 12 month period - I went through 3 bra sizes - and unfortunately the last and most recent is not the one I would have chosen!
- The house is much darker since you became mobile - no lamps (cords) or nightlights
- My homepage went from some news site to "babycenter.com"
- I put A LOT more thought into what we all eat everyday, you are a growing boy, but lately a picky eater.
- The carpet and rugs are wearing a lot faster, as it seems to be a natural tendency for everyone to sit on the floor these days.
- I do not see the outside world after 5:30 pm or so. I did not even see Christmas lights in our neighborhood this year.
- Eating a meal with only 1 sized spoon in my hand is an exception to the rule.
- I spend more on your clothes than mine.
I can not wait to see the changes the 2nd year will bring!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Happy Birthday Week: They change so fast!
A picture from every month:
FEBRUARY 2008
MARCH 2008
APRIL 2008
MAY 2008
JUNE 2008
JULY 2008
AUGUST 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008
OCTOBER 2008
NOVEMBER 2008
DECEMBER 2008
JANUARY 2009
FEBRUARY 2009
.JPG)
FEBRUARY 2008
MARCH 2008
APRIL 2008
MAY 2008
JUNE 2008
JULY 2008
AUGUST 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008
OCTOBER 2008
NOVEMBER 2008
DECEMBER 2008
JANUARY 2009
FEBRUARY 2009
.JPG)
Friday, February 20, 2009
Happy Birthday Week: Daddy's Labor of Love
From the moment we found out that we were having a baby boy, Carl started planning the nursery. It truly was his labor of love.
He started with a blank canvas; a spare bedroom with carpet, white walls, standard lighting and ceiling fan. To even get to scratch, he ripped up the carpet, the base boards and the ceiling fan. Then he put down hard wood floors, hand scraped them (yes, you read that right) and stained them to match the downstairs floors. Then he put up white bead board around the whole room. Painting was next; he painted the stripes in the room by hand and they could not have beeen more perfect. Lighting followed, and proved to be a bit more labor intensive then originally planned. He hung a chandelier in the middle of the room and sconces on the wall where the crib was going to go. He had to drop and rewire the electricity in the room to get these both to work on independent dimmers. Pretty cool and very useful!
When the backdrop was done, it was on to furniture and bedding. I stayed out of the nursery (fumes, saw dust, etc.) up until this point. We made a 1st time parent mistake (although I think it was a pretty fun mistake) and spent WAY too much on bedding. We got it from "The Magic Moon" in Plano and had it custom made with monogramming and all! (Note: the bumper stayed on the bed all of 1 night, the crib sheet was uncomfortable, so that came off pretty quick and the skirt went into storage at about 5 months). We also bought extra material of all the different fabrics in the room and then Nana's labor of love started. She made us a blanket that has seen a lot of late nights. She also made the window valance which completed the room.
The furniture came from "Baby World" in Dallas. We searched high and low and went to every store imaginable but we kept coming back to this one set that only Baby World had. So we knew it was the one. The 2 recliners came from there as well. We decided on 2, thinking that there would be several times that we would both be up there at night and need to lay down. Uh... NO.... but it is still nice to have extra seating.
I am not sure why Carl and I started calling John our little "monkey", but that was his name from the beginning (and still is), so we decided to go with a monkey theme in the room for all the accessories.
See pictures below, although the pictures do not do it justice; it is an amazing room. It is incredibly peaceful and functional; what more could you ask for.
He started with a blank canvas; a spare bedroom with carpet, white walls, standard lighting and ceiling fan. To even get to scratch, he ripped up the carpet, the base boards and the ceiling fan. Then he put down hard wood floors, hand scraped them (yes, you read that right) and stained them to match the downstairs floors. Then he put up white bead board around the whole room. Painting was next; he painted the stripes in the room by hand and they could not have beeen more perfect. Lighting followed, and proved to be a bit more labor intensive then originally planned. He hung a chandelier in the middle of the room and sconces on the wall where the crib was going to go. He had to drop and rewire the electricity in the room to get these both to work on independent dimmers. Pretty cool and very useful!
When the backdrop was done, it was on to furniture and bedding. I stayed out of the nursery (fumes, saw dust, etc.) up until this point. We made a 1st time parent mistake (although I think it was a pretty fun mistake) and spent WAY too much on bedding. We got it from "The Magic Moon" in Plano and had it custom made with monogramming and all! (Note: the bumper stayed on the bed all of 1 night, the crib sheet was uncomfortable, so that came off pretty quick and the skirt went into storage at about 5 months). We also bought extra material of all the different fabrics in the room and then Nana's labor of love started. She made us a blanket that has seen a lot of late nights. She also made the window valance which completed the room.
The furniture came from "Baby World" in Dallas. We searched high and low and went to every store imaginable but we kept coming back to this one set that only Baby World had. So we knew it was the one. The 2 recliners came from there as well. We decided on 2, thinking that there would be several times that we would both be up there at night and need to lay down. Uh... NO.... but it is still nice to have extra seating.
I am not sure why Carl and I started calling John our little "monkey", but that was his name from the beginning (and still is), so we decided to go with a monkey theme in the room for all the accessories.
See pictures below, although the pictures do not do it justice; it is an amazing room. It is incredibly peaceful and functional; what more could you ask for.
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