Nurse Megan

An update in pictures AND Brody is 11 months old!

2012-01-28T13:36:00.001-05:00

Dear Brody, you are now 11 months old and as cute as ever. You are pulling to standing and starting to take a very few tentative steps along the furniture. You sing, dance and love to play the piano. You are getting bold and starting to assert yourself when you want to play with a toy that Weston is using. Sometimes this ends well and other times we get glimpses into what it will be like with the two of you as brothers. You really do love each other, but also know how to get at each other!

We’ve lost the sleeping-through-the-night bit due to some recent colds, but I am sure that will return. I have faith. I have to. This morning you did some dishes and made us some coffee. Thank you. That makes up for being up in the night with you!

You have words “Mamamamama and Dadadadadada” and usually say them well. You are doing a lot of mimicking of sounds too, trilling of lips and verbal sounds of agreement. You are a snuggly little boy and we love you very much. It is so hard to believe that soon you will be 1 year old. How has time gone so quickly?

We love you, Mom and Dad

Now for some other pictures. Weston, the photographer. Can you tell that his dad is an awesome photographer and Weston is learning from him?

Weston knows you have to get low to get a good angle.

And finally, our new bedroom furniture from Ohio Amish Country. It is beautiful, don’t you think?

A weekend of numbers

2012-01-16T15:37:00.002-05:00

The roundup of my family's illnesses from this recent cold:

3 cases of pink-eye (all boys)

1 bilateral ear infection (Weston- draining pus both ears- we can use drops)

2 sinus infections (Tom and Megan)

1 laryngitis (Megan)

4 days in a row that we've been cooped up

I'll take laryngitis over pink eye any day- but that is a disgusting roundup and what we've done this weekend....

Friday Night Leftovers- the Pink edition

2012-01-13T19:16:00.000-05:00

The pink, to clear things up right away, is pink eye. I know... ewww. Brody woke up from his nap yesterday with a slightly crusty eye that was a bit teary. Nothing too crazy and could have been due to wiping boogers into his eye during his nap- he has a cold. My intuition told me it was a bit more, however, and after a quick trip to the peds, pink eye was confirmed. Awesome. I called our daycare mom (she was far less than thrilled, but understanding) and told her we'd be home until after the MLK holiday. Weston had no signs of pink eye yesterday or last night. He was gloating at the peds office that he didn't have to be examined. This morning...both his eyes were crusted over. Poor guy. We've started drops in both boys and so far Tom and I are fine. KNOCK ON SOME SERIOUS WOOD.
We invited my MIL for a Pink-Eye party, jokingly, and to my great surprise- she didn't want to come. Ha!
Brody is teething. His upper centrals are making a race to break through. He actually bit my shoulder tonight.
We all stayed home today and played and stayed warm. It is frigid out. We don't have any appreciable snow- but it is chilly.
I am once again grateful for my stay at home job...I was able to work (sort of) and nobody knew I had 2 sick kiddos.
I am preparing my dossier for reappointment- sounds so grown up.
Brody slept through the night twice this week, but not last night. Neither did Weston. They are sick, however. We will get there.
I love my DVR and that we can watch our fav. shows on our own time.
Tom bought an antique desk on Craigslist. That site is so frustrating most of the time when deals fall through, but fun when they actually work. It looks great in our family room.
His new passion is finding good antiques for our house. We have a new, Amish-built just for us, bedroom set coming sometime in February- it isn't antique, but has partially spurred this desire for GOOD furniture.
His photos will be on exhibit starting a week from tomorrow. I'm proud of him.
I love our little family- these boys make me smile.

For more leftovers, please visit our nearly due host, Danifred.

Update on Brody- great strides!

2012-01-11T13:54:00.001-05:00

When last I wrote Brody had “made” a new years resolution to sleep through the night. We started with an hour of crying the first night, progressed to 45 minutes and further. Last night, despite his head cold (arghhh!) he slept through the night! He made a few whimpers- but he honestly slept through the night. I sincerely hope that this is a trend and we’ve all done ourselves a huge favor. “Knock on wood…”
Brody last night showed us a new trick- he can pull himself to a stand! Yeah Brody! Weston, Tom and I all gave great cheers as Brody repeatedly pulled himself to standing in his play pen last night as we folded laundry. This afternoon he wanted to go back into his playpen to practice some more.
My boys’ birthdays are roughly 1 week apart. Gestationally, Weston was born at 40 weeks 3 days and Brody at 38 weeks 5 days. Tom and I have noticed time and again, that Brody is performing his new skills/tricks 2 weeks after Weston, age-wise, but within a day or so of Weston when considering gestational age. Interesting, no? I think it is fascinating.
We all have head colds. Round 2 in less than 2 weeks. We are ready for some health!
Brody’s first birthday is coming upon us quickly, as is Weston’s 3rd birthday. I wanted to go to pinterist to start thinking about the party(ies), but had to ask for an invitation? How does this work. Anyone? I don’t have my invitation yet. Is this an exclusive club or will someone invite me?
Not to leave Weston out, although this is a post mainly about Brody, Weston has gone to bed and woken up most mornings since our travel back for the holidays, asking to go on the “busssss, pane (plane), and big wed twuck (my parents’ vehicle that we rode in while in Maine)”. He gets very adamant about doing one or all of these things each morning and doesn’t understand why we can’t just go hop on a plane to Maine at any whim. I wish… Too cute. My parents are loving that he is clearly articulating his desire to come visit them!

Another “big wed twuck” that we can’t seem to get enough of.

That’s all for now- naptime for the Mama!

Stopping the night feed

2012-01-03T21:25:00.001-05:00

I am incredibly nervous about going to bed tonight. I know, strange, right? I have spent more than 10 months not sleeping through the night once and usually getting up more than 1 time during these 10 months. I am “functioning” surprisingly well, I think, given that pre-children my goal was 9 hours of sleep a night. I am lucky now to get 6 or 7 with at most 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The reason for my disrupted sleep was expected initially and even at the 6 month pediatrician visit, I was told that Brody’s night waking's to eat were normal. At the 9 month visit, however, they looked at me strangely when I said I was still up with him 1-2 times a night, as though I wanted to get up with him.

It is a new year and Tom and I have decided that Brody is fully able to sleep through the night. Last night was our first night strongly encouraging him to sleep through. Last night, when he started crying at 1:30 AM, I went in to reassure him, handed him his blankie and went back to my room. After 1/2 hour of listening to him cry and feeling HORRIBLE, I went back to his room. He was kneeling in the corner of the crib closest to the door, waiting for me and wailing. He stopped as soon as I got there. I gave him his pacifier, told him I loved him and handed him his blankie again. Then I went back to the room and woke Tom up because I felt so horribly guilty. I have already won the award for worst mother of the year and the year is brand new. Brody cried for another 1/2 hour or so and then fell asleep. I didn’t fall asleep for an hour after that, my mother’s ears turned on, my heart broken.

Brody woke this morning at 6:15 or so. I rushed to his room and he greeted me with a smile. It felt to me that he was just glad I was alive, as though he was thinking “What happened last night mom? Did you forget me?” Tom thought the night had gone really well and reports only hearing Brody cry for 10 minutes or so. Maybe that is why when I was out of town, Brody “didn’t wake up” in the middle of the night…

This brings me to tonight… I don’t want to go to bed. It means that I will be awoken by crying and know that I need to reassure and then try to ignore. I would so much rather just hold my baby in my arms and cuddle him. I know he won’t be small forever (look at Weston), but also rationally know that Brody is playing me. He doesn’t need to eat at 2 AM anymore than I do. I need to start caring for myself.

But look at my sweet baby…what am I to do?! I am strong and know that we can do this, but oh my heart is broken. Tears are streaming now as I write this.

Please Baby Brody, make tonight better. Please understand that I am doing this out of love for you and for me.

Happy 10 Months Brody and Merry Christmas

2012-01-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

Dear Brody,

Last week you celebrated your first Christmas AND turned 10 months old. We started our celebrations with Grandma Kate and Bah in Maine. My favorite part of the entire time we spent in Maine was at the Christmas Eve family service at the church in which I grew up. You and Weston sang during each hymn/carol and it melted my heart. Weston quietly sang along to songs he didn't know, but matched pitch as well as possible. You, without any inhibitions, held your head back and sang your heart out. I LOVED it. Best Christmas Present.

Christmas day was great fun with Aunt Shayna, Uncle Sam, Uncle Mike, Grandma Kate, Bah and Great Grandma Jean. Santa visited before bed on Christmas Eve and you thought he seemed likeable enough that you sat on his lap and inspected closely. We had a great week in Maine and despite not sleeping well at night due to a cold, you impressed everyone with your mobility, vocal imitations and general sweet nature. Anyone was allowed to hold you and you would eat from anyone. It really gave me and Dad a break!

When we got back to Ohio, we had another Christmas, with the 4 of us. That, too, was great fun.

Shortly after our little Christmas, we packed up and drove to see Grandma Carol and Grandpa Den for yet another celebration. We were all tired at this point,but you were a super trooper. Your favorite gift from this Christmas? Elmo sings, and some new books.

We love you Brody- there is no doubt. Your smile lights the room. I must tell you tonight, however, that I am really tired. You have slept through the night less than a handful of times EVER. It is a new year. You are 10 months old. I know that you can do it. So, I am going to start the tough (probably harder on me than you...) process of breaking you from your nighttime feed(s). I hope you understand this and decide to just sleep through- but I know it will be a challenge. Please understand it is better for all of us... (says a guilty, weepy and exhausted feeling Mama).

We love you Brody, Mama and Dada

December, so far

2011-12-15T09:15:00.001-05:00

We started the month of December with Weston and strep throat. See evidence below. This boy was SICK. Thankfully antibiotics worked quickly and he recovered well.

Brody had lots of one-on-one play time while Weston slept on the couch. He even “snuck” Weston’s guitar. Somehow, miraculously, neither Brody, Tom, nor I got strep! Lots of good hand washing I tell you!

I had to go to meetings for a few days and Grandma Carol came down to hang out with the boys. They had a blast. That was the week that we had no daycare- if Weston had to get sick for a week, the week in which they were home anyway was a good one to do it.

After Grandma Carol left and the boys were feeling better, we made cookies for a Christmas cookie exchange party that Dad went to. Weston helped. Yes, he was better. No, he didn’t test until all the cookie dough was on sheets to be baked-but check out below, he really enjoyed taste-testing! Brody helped by playing the “pie tin” on the kitchen floor for our background music.

For the second child, it is not as easy to put up gates to contain him in one room or another, as we did with Weston. Weston wants and should be able to move from space to space, so that limits our gate-ability. We have made good use of play yards in the family and living rooms, but Brody is often able to travel “freely” from room to room. You can tell when he is on the move- you hear some giggles and scuffles as he army-crawls away, then a pause as he looks back to see if we’re watching, then more giggles as he goes faster. As with all things for our second child, I am much more relaxed about this. I am also grateful once again to have our new kitchen floor, clean except for cheerios.

Christmas is appearing rapidly. I don’t know how that happened.

I finished grading and submitting grades for my courses for this fall. I am still working though (shocker! I work even when students aren’t in session!) and am looking forward to my time off for Christmas. These boys are growing so quickly and are such a delight. They are so cute too- it makes the fact that Brody is still up 1-2 times a night more bearable…slightly.

To remember

2011-11-30T15:22:00.000-05:00

Weston is now repeating nearly everything that comes out of our mouths. It is refreshing. He also has lots of original ideas.

One idea that I hear on a daily basis is that we need to cook with eggs and he'll help you and stand on a chair, pour water, use spoon. (the italics are the words he says- and my fill-ins help with interpretation.) The problem is that I don't have things to cook with eggs as often as he wants to. Tom made a request for cookies. That request has been filled. We can only bake so much! If Weston were to eat any form of egg (boiled, scrambled or fried), I would gladly make them for him. He just wants to cook them...including opening the carton, counting them, taking them out and cracking them (with help), super cute. I'm glad he doesn't open the fridge himself yet.

I love that he loves to bake with me.

Today I made brownies. these are definitely my boys. Weston stuck his fingers in the batter after it was in the mini muffin tins for tastes and mmmm mmm mmm and Brody, whom I was holding at the time, tried to dive in. Silly boys, but definitely take after their dad and grandpa's!!

9 month stats

2011-11-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Brody's 9 month peds well visit. He is meeting all his milestones and developing beautifully. He has grown 1.5 inches since his 6 month visit for a total of 28.5 inches (65th percentile) but only grown 1 pound in 3 months for a total of 19 lbs 6 oz (35th percentile). I am feeling badly that he has sort of "plateaued" with his weight, but have been told by friends and family that it is because he is active. I know I'm not starving him and the boy EATS! but, the breastfeeding issue was brought up (like, why wasn't I doing it anymore) ARGHHHH and I left feeling significantly less confident as a mother than I did previously. That isn't the way it should have gone.

Happy 9 months Brody!

2011-11-27T14:02:00.001-05:00

Dear Brody,

On Friday you turned 9 months old. It is hard to believe how quickly time has passed, but at the same time it is difficult to remember life pre-Brody. You are a juice-drinking (by yourself with a straw cup thankyouverymuch), cheerio-eating, bubble-blowing, crawling, moving-to-a-sit-by-yourself, and all around loveable guy. You are adventuresome in eating- trying to sneak others’ food, and even scavenging the floor for dropped crumbs (ewww…). Thankfully you don’t mind the vacuum and so tolerate it when Weston and I “clean up, clean up”. You still wake once a night to eat, but knock-on-wood, it is only once a night. You still love your pacifier- thank goodness you are able to put it in your own mouth and find it at night. You now go to daycare 5 mornings a week with your brother and seem to really enjoy being with the other kids. I sort of miss spending that time with you, getting to take you to swim lessons, the zoo, etc., but know that you are having great fun and I am getting work done.

We spent your first Thanksgiving with your Grandpa Den and Grandma Carol and Uncle Tim. You smiled, were pleasant and thoroughly enjoyed your rice rusk as we enjoyed our turkey dinner. You still think Weston is a rock star and he is starting to really enjoy you too- playing with you and trying to make you laugh. You and Weston take your nightly bath together and we usually all wind up getting wet, with all the splashing you do!

On Tuesday you have your 9 month well visit- we’ll get your stats then.

Brody-boy, we love you.

Mama and Dada

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-11-18T14:20:00.001-05:00

We love our new DVR…no more missing shows!
Last night was a night during which I wondered why I tried to go to bed at all.
Brody was up twice to eat (yes, he still does that at 8.5 months) and Weston was up twice too. Weston was up once yelling “Help! Help!” His blankie was over the back of his bed. When I went in- I found him almost falling out of his bed- over the headboard- to get his blankie on the floor… The next time, a few hours later, he had to go potty. Once I got everyone re-settled, however, Tom had to get up at 4:55 AM to go to work. Thankfully, all boys fell back asleep for ~45 minutes before we really had to get up.
This week was the first week where I took the boys to daycare every morning. The anticipation and thought leading to this development were more monumental than actually doing it. They like the routine of knowing what each morning will bring, love playing with friends at daycare, and I feel like I have time to breath and do my work too. I even exercised twice this week- by myself- on my own time.
Our friends finally moved into their house in our neighborhood that they bought SIX MONTHS AGO. I can’t wait to see how it looks now.
My car “hit” 100K last week!!! It is a 2001, so that isn’t surprising, but it is a big deal.

Tom had a night this week where it was only appropriate that he wear the tiger hat to match his growling. Weston had to add his dino hat so that they could growl together.

Brody got his first “black” eye this week. He dove head first into a toy- silly boy. He is fine. Minimal swelling and when his eyes are open, not much of a mark is present.
As you might have guessed- Brody is on the move. He does an army crawl with his butt in the air and he tries to propel on his elbows. It is strangely effective- and means we need to be even more vigilant about what he is doing/ where he is exactly.
Next week is Thanksgiving. One favorite part of Thanksgiving in rural Maine, where I grew up, was the Merchant’s parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was and is awesome. I’ll miss it this year. Last year we were in NYC for Thanksgiving with my Grandma Jean and Weston was horrified at the giant balloons for the Macy’s parade. Looking at the pic below, giant Shrek, I can see why! It is hard to believe Brody wasn’t on the outside then- so fast time flies.

Visit Danifred for more pre-Thanksgiving leftovers.

Brody likes to eat!

2011-11-08T08:45:00.001-05:00

Brody’s most recent trip to a restaurant. He sat in a big boy high chair!

Look at those chompers- they are great for chomping cheerios, rice rusks and teething biscuits.

I love sitting on my dad!

Why yes, I do have yogurt all around my mouth and a cheerio in my hands. Why do you ask?

Same kid?

2011-11-06T20:01:00.001-05:00

What do you think?

I’m publishing from my Windows Live Photo Gallery. I like it. I can work on my pictures directly and then build a blog post.

Fun with leaves

2011-11-06T19:51:00.001-05:00

We have a lot of leaves each autumn that fall from our gorgeous burr oak tree. One big chore is to gather the leaves and take them to the front of the house. We have done several small clean-ups, but this weekend did a BIG cleanup. We had fun. Weston was a helper and we put a majority of the leaves into one big pile. You may see in the third pic below that Tom’s hand is raised out of the leaves. He dove in and the leaves were deep enough that he had to raise his hand so I knew where he was!!! So fun! Brody hung out in the frame backpack (my new favorite place to put him when we are out and about). Our tree is 99% empty, but our neighbors’ trees are not…so there will be more raking in our near future.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-11-04T20:20:00.000-04:00

I just put Weston to bed. Upon presenting him with a selection of books to choose from, he layed his head down and said "I tired...". I should have left then. I didn't. We still read a few books, ate another yogurt (he loves these) and then he said "OK Mom, bye bye. Night night." So sweet. I hope he stays asleep.
We went out to eat tonight as a family. It was really fun! I had a margarita. Mmm... Brody sat in the high chair and Weston ate next to Tom. We went out at ~4:45 so there were very few other patrons- and we left before things got too crazy. Perfect, for us.
I ordered a new computer several weeks ago. It came this week. It is now set up. I LOVE IT. Also, We got super-dee-duper extreme high speed internet this week (30 down, 5 up) and a HD DVR and HDTV. We are now part of the current era, technologically speaking.
Brody and Weston take baths together now. It is very cute. Tonight Brody wasn't quite ready for his bath when Tom put Weston in. Weston was asking "Boby? Boby? Bath?" When he came in, the two had some secret game going that Tom and I couldn't figure out, but it made the boys laugh. I think there will be a lot of that over the years.
It is the weekend and I am glad.
We bought our plane reservations to visit my parents in Maine for nearly a week at Christmas. :-)
Things are busy at work. Good busy, but busy.
I had an article accepted to a major peer-reviewed nursing journal. :-)
We have been raking bunches and bunches of leaves. Our city came and sucked up half the leaves from our front berm, but not all. Strange.
We are grateful that we have jobs.
Oh, yeah. I paid off my graduate student loan this month. WOOT! DONE! Our only debt now is our mortgage- which we are chipping away at month by month. :-) (See part about being grateful for jobs)

For more leftovers, visit Danifred and leave some love.

I'm going to go take advantage of our new DVR and watch this week's Top Chef. :-)

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T20:19:00.000-04:00

Carving the Pumpkin (I don't have the final product for some reason)

Pre-trick-or-treat nap

Brody is a pumpkin. He isn't as enamored with his costume as Weston is with his.

Weston the Dino, in action.

We ordered the hat from an etsy shop and everyone who saw us complimented us. I wish I could say I made it myself, but am just as proud to say that we supported a home business.

This last picture is for Grandpa Glenn and Uncle Tim, Weston's first Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

8 months

2011-10-29T19:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Brody, this week you turned 8 months old. I can't believe that time has passed so quickly. You are growing before our eyes. You still do not sleep through the night, but are a delight.

With your blue eyes and light, fuzzy hair, and rosy complexion, you definitely favor Mom's side of the family.

You love to swing, adore your brother, and have started to call me "Mama" with regularity. You especially use my name when you are hungry or upset (like when I take you out of the bath as the water starts to get chilly and you still want to splash and play). You are mobile- rolling everywhere and getting into everything. Your favorite places to roll seem to be under chairs and in tight corners.

You don't really like any solid food yet besides the baby purees and cereal. We've tried some cheerios (you make a gag face when you see them), rice rusks and teething biscuits. That's ok. You'll love solid food soon. I like that you are still my little guy.

I love to see you grow and learn and laugh.

Love, Mama

Wow- a whole month has passed

2011-10-01T19:56:00.000-04:00

Tom and I had our first date 6 years ago tonight- exactly. It was a Saturday. Who knew our lives would change, grow and develop so much? I was commenting to Tom earlier today that I am glad that we are settled in a home for both of our boys- their first memories will be in this home. His response? "Megan, we're established.". We are.

Last month we went to the beach for a week with my in-laws. We went to a town near the town in which I taught for a year, right out of college. We all had a great time and the drive wasn't too bad (thankfully)! We stayed right on the beach in a house that has withstood the test of time and hurricanes. The floors were all warped and you walked uphill from the front of the house to the back. It isn't a house that we'll stay in again until Brody is out of the bonking/putting-everything-in-his-mouth stage, but it was really neat. The palmetto bugs were not neat, but tolerable because I knew I wasn't "living" there with them...we were just vacationing with them. Here are a few pics of the boys from the beach.

Mmmm...Popsicle. Notice the asbestos tiles of the house behind Weston. The screened porch faced the ocean and we were able to listen to the waves, night and day.

Towards the end of the trip, high tide brought tidal pools. We let Brody play in the water in the tidal pools- he loved splashing!

It really was a great trip- we're trying to figure out when next we'll be able to go back.

I started my new position as director of the program in which I teach. Wow! Yeah- big deal.

Brody now goes to daycare with Weston- and as often as Weston does. It really allows me time to do my work and they are both tired and ready for naps when they get home.

Brody turned 7 months old...how is my baby more than halfway to one year old?! This week he has started rolling everywhere and now has 2 teeth. The first erupted on vacation and the second, this past week. I am glad the traveling behavior waited until we were back from vacation to start- the house was not ideal for a traveling baby!

Friday Night Leftovers- the home alone edition

2011-09-02T11:58:00.000-04:00

I'm home alone this morning. I can't remember the last time this happened...it has been MONTHS! That means, though, that Brody is at daycare this morning for the first time. He is 6 months old. Weston didn't start daycare until he was 18 months old. I'm dealing...and feeling guilty at the enjoyment of a quiet house, but knowing it is quiet because my baby isn't home. Deep breath...
Today, we have a 2 1/2 year old. That's right- Mr. Weston is 2.5 years old today! How time flies.
Tomorrow, Tom and I will have been married 5 years. Wow. :-) Tom's family is coming to watch the boys and we're going to go to lunch and then to a show. Can't wait!
My Dad had surgery on Monday- he has a "Go-Go Gadget" hip. Sounds like he is recovering well and will be chasing my boys around before we know it.
The silence here is deafening.
We are going to the beach soon, unless a hurricane decides to interrupt our lives for a second time this season. I hope that isn't the case! I am at the very early stages of thinking/packing. But, it'll happen. I haven't had a real vacation in a super long time, and don't remember staying on the beach for a beach vacation in an even longer time.
Weston's good friend, H, starts preschool next week. Weston has another year before he starts- and that is just fine with me!
Job promotion news is moving in a positive direction- nothing signed or official yet, but the contract is in my hands waiting for discussion.
My grades for summer quarter are all submitted! Woot!
On Sunday, I am going to enjoy a pre-beach pedicure with a friend. Sounds awesome, doesn't it?

Our Maine Adventure

2011-09-01T19:49:00.000-04:00

We spent the past week or so in Maine, visiting my parents and riding out Irene. It wasn't too bad for us- mostly a rainy, windy day and 12+ hours without power. We did lose the water pump and had no water for several days, but that was the worst of it! Here are some pics of our time visiting my family. Enjoy!

Bah with his boys- Brody wasn't crying, he was making zeberts with his lips. :-)

The weather fanatics looking at the ipad 2 for Irene updates

My paddle-boating boys!

Entertainment courtesy of Uncle Mike for the overtired Weston

Happy 6 months Brody

2011-09-01T19:39:00.000-04:00

Hi Brody, we are nearly a week past your 6 month mark, but time has been busy! We spent nearly a week in Maine with Grandma and Bah, Uncle Mike, Uncle Ben and Aunt Rachel, and the dogs. You survived your first hurricane, Irene, and didn't seem to mind the loss of power or water. You were a super traveler to Maine and lots of people on the plane commented how good/quiet you were.

You are great at sitting and love the chance to stand, holding onto someone's hands. One thing that you do that is quite endearing is, you seem to hug whomever is holding you. You wrap your arms around their neck or arms and really hold tight, squeezing them closer to you. You reach for my face and smile- like you are just bubbling over with love.

You are a great eater, opening your mouth like a little birdie. You currently eat 3 meals a day plus several bottles. Your foods include apples, pears, chicken, turkey, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots and barley. You are completely weaned from the breast- your decision- but you are thriving.

You smile adoringly at your brother- he is a rock star in your eyes! I can imagine how you two will play together soon. Tomorrow, at just 6 months and 1 week old, you will start going to daycare. I have mixed feelings about this, but I know you will be great. I pray you and Weston both come home tired and ready for good naps!

You aren't yet consistently sleeping through the night, but do it often enough (1/week) that I know you will be able to soon. You take a short morning nap and a longer afternoon nap- I think you are thriving on the schedule.

We love you Brody-

Mama and Dada

Feeling low

2011-08-21T13:50:00.000-04:00

I've been in a funk the last few days, feeling pretty low and lousy. I am trying to remain positive, but am having a hard time celebrating small joys- like the fact that Brody slept until 5:45 this morning without a midnight wake-up! We are entering the last week of my summer quarter- thank goodness!- and will get to visit my parents later this week. I am really looking forward to those things- but they aren't bringing a smile to my face. I feel like I have a gloomy cloud hanging over me.

Much of this stems from the possible promotion I mentioned earlier- the more I got excited about and got my questions answered, the less frequent the school was responding to my final questions or inquiries. I knew something was up- but because there was trouble of this sort (organizational, etc.) when I first got hired and administration has changed since then, I tried to take it all in stride. Then I received a phone call stating that "we are going in another direction." My heart sunk- I wasn't getting the job- through no fault of my own, but because they really are going in another direction. Whatever. I am still upset.

On top of that, though, I feel the mommy guilt. I would have had to travel a bit more with this new job and was sort of looking forward to it. Now that I am not going to be doing that traveling- I get to spend more time with my boys- which I am excited about- but also torn. It means I don't have the promotion...but...you get the idea.

Also, I am working on a lit review for a paper about the reason I was unable to fully breastfeed my boys, and it is tearing me up emotionally. Not much has been researched on this topic since the 1980s and it is very rare, but I may be too close to the topic emotionally. I don't know. I need to set it aside for a bit. I shouldn't be reading research articles and crying- I should feel proud of my accomplishments with feeding my boys despite this problem and should be objectively detached when reading articles. But I'm not.

There you have it. I'm feeling low.

Bonus Day

2011-08-16T20:19:00.000-04:00

Today was a bonus. I didn't have to answer a single work e-mail after 7:30 this morning because the power to the servers at my university went down...and are still not working. You would think there would be backup power for this sort of problem. So, instead of answering e-mails as they arose during the day- I didn't answer one. I couldn't. (BIG SMILE).

Instead, I took the boys to a friend's house, a relatively new friend, and they played for ~2 hours. Brody rolled on a blanket under a tree with a little girl just 3 days older than him and Weston drove a Little Tikes car and played with other things with a boy just 1 month older than him. This family was in our childbirth ed class pre-Weston, yet we didn't realize it until last night. Too funny. But, the boys had a blast and were worn out! I had a lot of fun too.

On the way home, another neighbor rode her bike up along side us and offered for me to go through her post-garage-sale boys clothes piles (sure!) before she donated them to goodwill. Weston played with her 3 year old while Brody and I selected a few things that will nicely get us through fall.

Because e-mail and the interface for my courses were still down at nap time, I actually took a nap with the boys and didn't wake up thinking that I needed to hop on the computer. Bonus!

The weather has been much nicer here recently- not soooo hot that it isn't safe to have Brody outside for long periods of time. So, we've been going on lots of long walks. It has been delightful. I'm a happy, if tired, Mama.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-08-12T20:09:00.000-04:00

This week seems like it took much longer than 5 days. Really. When I think back- we had a lot of activity around here!
The weather has been GORGEOUS this week. Highs in the 70's and low 80's and lows in the 50's and 50's at night. THIS is what I think of when I think summer. None of this super humid high 90's with heat indices in the 100's stuff...
Our insulation installation was a far-less-than-satisfying home improvement project. I usually take some pride in our home improvement projects, but this seems like a big scam. Hear me out: The energy companies (gas and electric) advertise energy audits whereby you pay an energy auditor to come into your house and take bunches of measurements. This person then tells you how bad your insulation is and provides a list of companies that will do the work. You will get rebates from the gas and electric companies to do the work, so it seems like it is a super great deal AND you'll have lower heating/cooling costs in the future. It'll pay for itself. That's what they tell you. Then you call 3 companies for bids on the work. 2 respond quickly. 1 never returns your phone call. Of the 2 that respond quickly, one is 3 times as expensive as the other. You ask some clarifying questions to the cheaper and place a phone call with the more expensive to understand the differences in price and service. The cheaper place answers the questions and can come the next day to do the work. The more expensive place doesn't call back until the day after the work is done. See this post about the work done. If we were to follow through with all the work as scheduled- it is likely our walls would have fallen in and then we'd have to hire a contractor to clean up insulation in our house and put up new walls and paint. Let's count the people who could potentially get money from this project: the auditor, the insulation company and a contractor to fix the walls. We didn't get to the point where our walls caved in, so we are not as energy efficient as promised- but our house is still standing. What a racket.
I was offered a potential promotion this week. Had all my questions answered today except the $$ question. The $$ needs to at least pay for the extra travel and potential daycare needs. I'm not going to volunteer for this huge project.
Not sure what the plans are for the weekend. Last weekend we went peach picking. AWESOME. I'd like to do it again but hubby will likely say he doesn't want to do that 2 weekends in a row, understandably so. But, he is eating ~7-10 peaches a day because they are so delicious. Perhaps he'll want to just for the yumminess to continue at lunch while peaches are peak! Other options include a walk to the farmers market or the zoo.
Weston is potty trained. One dipe a day (at night). SO PROUD! He has cut my diaper laundry in half. :-)
That's all for now- go visit Danifred on vacation for more leftovers!

Acknowledgement of Risks

2011-08-11T13:55:00.000-04:00

Prior to any medical procedure your provider reviews the risks and benefits and you typically have to sign your acknowledgment of the risks and benefits of the procedure. I am familiar with this. You likely are too. For many things one of the risks is something horrible like paralysis or death, because if the perfect storm happened, these horrible events could come to pass. Most often, they don't.

Today, we have workers in our house installing insulation. They have insulated the joists in the basement. (Did you know you had joists?) They have added 10 inches of insulation to the attic, doubling the 5 inches recommended. The risks that I had to acknowledge prior to performing these installations of insulation were dust, a bit of a mess, and some mild smell. I signed away carefree- no big deal. I am prepared to have to clean after they leave and don't need to use my laundry machines today.

Now, they are installing insulation in the walls. When the salesman came to give me the quote for the work he made it clear that one of the risks was that a wall could fall off from the pressure or that the vibration would cause things to fall off the walls themselves. He assured me that even if a wall did fall off, very rare, that they typically took care of it, although he couldn't say that in writing. Great. Unease. A known unknown- it is a risk and we don't know if it'll happen to us.

I miraculously got the boys down for a nap this afternoon- Brody in my study since his room has the attic access and is dusty, and Weston in his own room. Just as I am closing my eyes (I was up TOO MUCH last night with Brody), I hear the door open and a "Ma'am?". Great. The worker heard a "pop" and wants to know if I want him to continue. Seriously? What does that mean? Sure, I acknowledged the risks and benefits and he kept saying that the pros outweigh the cons but if a wall falls off- we have to pay to have it fixed. He won't do it. Super. The effect of the pop was not visible to me. A nail (maybe?) had popped from the drywall but wasn't even through the paint.

I called Tom to determine whether we continue or stop there. I suggested a conservative approach. I didn't want the contractors to continue their path as originally planned, but to move farther away from the "pop" and work a few more sections to see if there are more pops. Yes, I am taking the risk that the wall will fall in. Not a huge risk, but a risk. I suppose the worst that can happen is that we have to redo the living room and dining room (2 of the 3 rooms left undone since we have moved into the house) before we are ready and more expensively if we have to replace drywall...

Well- they just came back in having finished the north wall of the dining room (currently play room). A few more pops- but not as bad as the first pop. Nothing obvious to my eyes- even when they point it out I wonder if they are just noticing the imperfect paint job in that room. My choice at this point is to move to the west wall of the house and leave the rest of the north side (living room) alone. My rationale: we have some insulation. Some is better than none. More is better than less. But, a wall crashing in on our china and curio cabinets would put a huge damper on things. So- if we try the west wall, we aren't continuing to build pressure on the north side and can see if/how that works insulation wise.

Geesh...why can't this be easy?

Like I said earlier, I am really ready to be done with contractors in the house!

Tomorrow, I hope...

2011-08-10T15:36:00.000-04:00

I hope that tomorrow is:

The last day we have contractors at our house for a long period of time. This has been the summer of home repairs/improvements and I am really ready to be done with strange people tramping through my living space. Tomorrow we get our house insulated. Because we currently have no insulation. We need insulation. It will keep us warm and cool when appropriate.

To have insulation put in I have to take everything off the exterior walls of the house and clean out the closet that has the attic access. This is actually a good project. Some things were put there when we moved in and haven't been used since- they will be finding a new home and not returning to said closet.

A day after which Brody slept through the night. He has done this exactly 3 times. Nothing has been predictable or repeatable for sleeping through the night. I am eternally optimistic that TONIGHT will be the night and tomorrow I will wake rested (only to have contractors traipsing through the house at 8 AM).
As gorgeous weather-wise as it is today. Then at least I can be outside with the boys all day if necessary due to dust and vibrations. The afternoon nap may occur as a multi-hour stroller ride around the neighborhood should the insulating process be too loud. I just don't know how this all works. Anyone have experience with this?

For our potty-trained boy, I will put the potty in the basket of the stroller and he can use it in the park or wherever, I suppose. Or maybe we'll show up on a friend's doorstep every 2 hours for bathroom usage.

A day that I'll feel good/better about a possible promotion that I have been offered. Maybe my questions will be answered about said promotion.
My chest won't hurt anymore (my breasts, actually, not my heart- no worries). Brody has weaned and my body is slow to take the hint...surprising since it was so slow to decide to lactate to begin with. Perhaps I won't need to wear ice tomorrow.
A day in which I don't get sad/tearful over my far-less-than-satisfying breastfeeding experience.

With that, this optimist is going to go fold diapers. :-) Since I have one in full time dipes and one in only a nightly dipe, my diaper washing/drying/folding has decreased drastically! :-)

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-08-05T15:05:00.000-04:00

After Weston came downstairs this morning, used the potty and got dressed, he walked around asking "Where Dada go?" When I answered he was at work, Weston walked to the basement door (where Tom's computer, etc. are) and said "knock knock knock" as he knocked on the door. When nobody answered he found some bubbles and said "let's use these". Super speech strides this AM! Woot!
I just glossed over Weston using the potty in the above bullet- because he is doing SO WELL! He has been dry every nap for 2 weeks except 1, was dry Wednesday night (lots of pee in the AM) and has been doing his #2's on the potty too. We are super proud of our boy!
I just went down to put the clothes from the washer into the dryer. When I grabbed a dryer sheet I noticed the worst thing ever- MOUSE POOP and TONS of it! I do laundry every day and didn't notice this yesterday, so last night there was a mouse party at my house. BLECH! I know Tom will set traps tonight and I am grateful that this is in the basement- but I do have to go get the clothes of the dryer before Tom gets home...Weston's blankie is in that load...
When I listen to Schooner Fare it makes me nostalgic for my childhood, riding in stuffy caravans that smell of cigar smoke (sometimes) with my family to Pennsylvania to visit my grandparents.
Atlas Butler. Do not use this company for your AC/Heating needs unless you want to have your cable torn out, have screws left on the basement floor, be mistakenly overcharged, overcharged again, have to ask several times for the refund, fail a city inspection based on their work and then have to have them come out to your house AGAIN to fix what they should have done initially. Sure, they are giving us a small bit of $$ for our "pain and suffering" but, avoid the pain and suffering in the first place. Don't use this company.
Brody is growing up. Fast. He has decided to wean and won't listen to any other suggestions. It hurts (physically and emotionally) for him to wean so quickly. I nursed Weston for 7 months with as little milk as I had. For Brody I have more, but this growing boy wants to watch his brother and the world and does not want to take the time to only nurse. Even at night. It makes me sad.
Brody has a new trick! He can sit up! He lasts for 10-15 seconds until he gets too excited and then he falls over. Our little boy is growing!
Brody is super cute.
Brody is not sleeping through the night consistently. He has done it exactly 3 times- one of which was Wednesday night. I was at a breaking point- with the non-nursing ouchiness and feelings of rejection (I know, I know he isn't rejecting me...just feels that way)- and he must have known. I had to replace the pacifier once that night- but other than that, he slept the night through. Tom commented on how cheerful I was after a night of sleep.
Brody has found his loud voice- his loud, yelling voice. Is he trying to compete? Or just being expressive? I'm not sure- but "Shhhh...beebee" as Weston says.
Do you use Ebates when you do your online shopping? If not- you should consider it. Once you log into their site you search for the online store you going to shop at. Connect to said store through the Ebates website and all of a sudden, you start to accrue money back on your purchases...Pretty fun, don't you think? And, if this is your first time at Ebates, when you sign up and make a $25 purchase at a store where you would normally be making such a purchase, you get a free $10 giftcard. Enough promotion- I just think it is cool.
Go visit Danifred for more!

Learned lessons

2011-08-01T15:56:00.000-04:00

We had a great weekend. It was hot and muggy, but unlike the previous weekend where we were stuck in the house with potty-training Weston, this weekend we got out. I learned several lessons this weekend- hopefully I'll remember them:

At the farmer's market, you are limited by how much weight you can carry. A stroller is actually a good thing to be able to carry more stuff home or to the car. Alternately, bring a cooler with ice in the car and go back for more.
For someone who is new to using toilets, much less toilets that flush automatically, seemingly at will, bring something to cover the infrared "eye" of the flusher...like a post-it note. Otherwise you will have someone about ready to pee successfully, scared too much to try that potty again.
If you are exhausted and want a nap, don't let your 5 month old nap all morning in the stroller at the fair. He will not nap in the afternoon.
If you teach in a distance-based graduate program, don't schedule exams or assignments to be due on the weekend...unless you have an iphone or the like with you. Otherwise, you may be looking at cows at the state fair and suddenly remember that you need to change exam permissions for the exam that starts in an hour. (slaps head!)
If you have sort of abandoned your ipod because you have a new smart phone or iphone, your toddler will enjoy watching elmo on youtube while he pees. Save your ipod for this purpose, but only allow its use on a potty without water- not on the actual toilet, lest it should fall in the water.
When you donate something to a large volunteer organization that comes to pick it up from the front of your house, don't go talk to the "volunteers". They may have lots of gold teeth and with a leer ask you if they can "use your bathroom." (creepy and NO!).

That's all for now. Did you learn anything this weekend?

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-07-29T20:48:00.000-04:00

We started potty training this week. It is going really quite well- with less than a handful of accidents since Sunday. I am still a nervous wreck when it has been a while since the last successful (read: productive) trip to the potty...the boy wants to play and does not want to be bothered with peeing. Who can blame him? Not I! That doesn't mean I'm watching his every move to interpret whether we need to run to the potty or have a towel ready! I know I am over-reacting...it is just something about humidity, 90+ degree days outside and free-flowing pee...
Weston is also getting his last 2 teeth- upper second year molars. In typical Weston style, they are not coming easily. :-(
We had an energy audit this week. We had called several months ago to schedule it and were put on a 3 month list. Our neighbors had one done and found they didn't have adequate insulation. When I finally felt as though life was getting back to normal after the birth of Brody, I made the call. We lucked out and got a combined electric company/gas company audit...only 1 of 250 offered. This means that we are eligible for TONS more rebates when we get the insulation added to our attic and put in our walls...because we have NO INSULATION IN OUR WALLS. Who heard of such a thing?! Crazy! I had one contractor out today to give us an estimate and will get the second estimate next week. The third company never called me back (strange way to do business). this will just add to our super house improvement month of July.
My summer quarter is more than halfway done. This makes me really happy... time seems to be moving in slow motion around here- except when I look at Brody and how fast he is growing.

Be sure to visit Danifred for more leftovers- who can cook in this heat anyway?!

Who is who?

2011-07-29T20:31:00.000-04:00

Our boys love to swim. Which is which? Guesses anyone?

Boy, they surely do look like brothers!

Happy 5 month day Brody

2011-07-26T10:14:00.000-04:00

Dear Brody,

Today you are 5 months old. In celebration, you were up A LOT last night to remind me how well you typically sleep now, or to remind me of what your labor was like. Thanks for the reminder. We can resume our normal 1-2 times up per night pattern now.

You have lots of new tricks, including holding toys in your hand and putting them directly into your mouth. You are drooling a lot, but I think that the toy chewing and teething has a lot to do with that. We've had a heat wave recently and maybe the drool cools you off? Just kidding- I do keep you clean and dry- but sometimes you are hard to keep up with! Another new trick is to sit in a "tripod" position, holding onto your feet. You can do this for several seconds before toppling onto the Boppy. You LOVE to be able to sit like this- you see your brother do it and really want to be just like him! You also delight in "standing". We help to balance you, but you put all your weight on your feet and think it is AWESOME.

Yummy foods for you: Oatmeal or barley cereals, squash, sweet potatoes, applesauce, pear sauce
Not so yummy: Bananas- I think this one will just take more time.

You are down to nursing only while sleeping- I think because there are fewer distractions. This means you nurse during naps (Mommy gets less of a nap) and then when we get up at night. I am glad you are nursing at all- but don't hold out much hope that it will last long. You want to seek, explore and learn about your world- not just eat.

At night you sit in your seat and watch Weston take a bath, put jammies on and listen to stories. You love to be a part of the bedtime routine, but if it takes too long you start to holler. You insist on eating when you want to eat- even if that is when Weston is getting ready for bed. It is a good thing that Mommy and Daddy can tag-team most nights!

It is hard to believe how fast you are growing and how big you are getting. Right now, we are just enjoying the snuggle time we get, because we know it won't last long.

We love you, Mom and Dad

Friday Night Leftovers- the potty edition

2011-07-22T20:51:00.000-04:00

First, please visit Danifred , our host, and wish her a safe, healthy and comfortable pregnancy. With the record heat much of the country has been experiencing, I am quite glad that my baby is on the outside right now- but know she is thrilled to be growing her munchkin.
We will officially begin potty training tomorrow. Weston has been using the potty here and there, with success with both #1 and #2, but hasn't been using it consistently. Tomorrow we will use the big boy underpants that he and I purchased and really try to help him know what the "I have to pee" sensation feels like before it is all over the floor, or couch, or wall for that matter. Wish us luck. I'll let you know how it goes once I know how we are doing.
Speaking of Weston, the boy who used to have ear infections all the time (I really hope I'm not jinxing us), but who hasn't had one since his tubes were placed in May... he hovered around 30-31 pounds for the last 8 months or so. I know this because we were always at the doctors for ear infections and they always weighed him. Tom and I have noticed his great increase in eating behavior (finally!) as well as an increase in strength recently- not that he wasn't strong before. I weighed him tonight and he is 33 lbs 10 oz! The boy has gained nearly 3 pounds since his surgery after not having gained in MONTHS! Awesome! This is a side benefit of getting the tubes placed, in addition to being more vocal, less frustrated, communicating easier and NOT SICK all the time.
Brody is also growing and changing things up. He and I had a routine down and he doesn't like that routine anymore. This morning I was trying to work and he didn't want to nap. It wasn't fun.
Last night he wouldn't take his bottle before bed until I finally offered it to him with him resting on my right arm so that his right hand had free movement to scratch his newly grown hair. It took forever to get him to go to sleep with much frustration for both of us. He had NEVER taken a bottle on my right arm- I always cradle in my left and feed with my right. (Breastfeeding is obviously a different issue and one that I'm not emotionally ready to talk about right now.) I was grateful to figure this out last night and get him to bed.
Tonight, he wanted more of the same. Onesie and sleepsack on. Bottle on right side, his right hand in his hair, scratching away. Strange. But- if I figured it out, at least for now, I'm happy. I just pray there will be sleep tonight.
So, while you are swimming in pools, lakes or sweating away, we will be enjoying our new AC (about which our neighbor commented his approval to Tom last night- loads quieter than the last one) and trying to get a 2 year old's pee pee in the potty.
It'll happen. I know. Elmo says so. Weston believes Elmo. That is all that matters.

Stop by Sippy Cups for more leftovers and keep cool!

Potty update

2011-07-20T20:37:00.000-04:00

We have not started officially potty training yet, but plan to do so intensively this weekend. Weston is showing all signs of readiness including pooping on the potty TWICE today. Once was by luck this afternoon before nap. Tonight after dinner, Weston and I took a special "Mama and Weston" trip to Target for some big boy underwear. We found the underwear, new shoes and a few things to encourage training this weekend. One of those "things" was a package of smarties, the other stickers and posterboard for a chart.

When we got home and were showing Brody and Dada the underwear I asked Weston if he wanted to try the potty. "Nope." No problem- that was fine with me. When he saw the smarties though, he wanted a "yum-my." I said he could, but only if he tried on the potty. He held one tightly in his hand while "trying" on the potty. When I walked back into the room several minutes later, my nose told me he had been successful. He earned 2 more smarties for that #2! I am really proud of him.

Tonight after I put him to bed, he called to me. When I went into his room, he asked for his "shhewwwsz" (his new shoes). He wanted to sleep in them. We'll see how that goes. If he actually falls asleep, I'll probably take them off when I top Brody off before bed. Weston is really making strides this week. More vocal. More understandable. Awesome on the potty.

I love my boys

2011-07-18T19:59:00.000-04:00

Just as Weston is thinking about leaving his diapers behind (he peed twice on the potty last night and made some attempts today, all of his own initiation), Brody is now eating solids such that I had to "dump" his dump from his cloth diaper. Gross- I know...but amazing how one kid flows into the next kid.

Weston has had a burst of talking the last 2 days- even last night in the middle of the night. He might be a sleep talker like me- which doesn't bode well for middle of the night awakenings. Pre- hubby and kids I was known to walk/talk in my sleep, especially when under stress. I had a friend staying in my living room once and she heard me dump my dresser drawer on the floor and then go back to bed. In the morning I wondered why my clothes were everywhere... Before I finished my PhD- ultimate stressor- hang in there Danifred!- but after I was married, I often said things to Tom while sleeping. He would relay my conversation in the morning and I would rarely believe him. My college roommate for 4 years can also attest to my sleep talking/walking.

Last night, I heard Weston shouting. So, barely awake at 1:30 AM, I went rushing to his room where he was sitting in bed. I asked him if he wanted a drink. "No." Blankie? "Gee! (his word for Blan-kie)...then a mournful 'No Gee" until I put his blankie safely in his arms. Usually his middle of hte night vocalization is just cries... I think he was asleep the whole time and I nearly was too. Just now, as I left the room with Brody and Tom got ready to read to Weston, Weston said "Love you Mom". Melt my heart!

Having 2 little boys is sometimes a major challenge, but I love them and now one of them is able to verbalize his love for me! Their hugs and smiles are more than enough when words don't come, but the words are precious.

Catch-up

2011-07-16T15:55:00.000-04:00

We've had a busy several weeks recently. I don't feel like we have done anything wild and crazy, but I've been worn out enough that I just haven't used those few extra minutes to blog. Since July 1:

We got our new couch delivered!! It is great! I actually try to find time to sit on it during the day rather than avoid sitting on the couch, as I did with the last one.
We got the wall mounted automatic garage door button working again- simple fix. It is frustrating how many things on this house were "simple fixes" that the previous homeowners didn't do or were oblivious to.
We lost our AC and our power. Power came back on. AC was working again- but when the repairman came out, he whistled and called it an antique. Our neighbors moved to the neighborhood in 1976 and recalled the same AC unit in place at that time...that means we were using a 35 year old machine. Wow!
So, yesterday, we had a new central air unit installed. So far so good! Interestingly, because of new government regulations, the bottom of the line AC units today were the top of the line 4 years ago. We went middle of the road for efficiency. I'm hoping to see major improvements in our electric bill in the summer.
Did you know that in the summer (or when you run your central air, if your machine is in the basement) you should have your fan on "on" all the time? That circulates the cooler basement temperature air. In the winter, have the fan on auto so that only when the furnace runs does the air circulate. I didn't know this- but also don't have much experience with central air AT ALL. (This is my first residence with central air!)
I turned 32. Is that possible? I suppose so. It was a nice, quiet birthday with my 3 (big and little) men. We ordered takeout from a nice fancy restaurant and were moderately pleased. The calamari was not calamari, however. Not sure what aquatic creature it was. If we had eaten there, we would have asked and probably sent it back. Disappointing!

Brody had his 4 month visit and was declared perfectly healthy! He was 16 lbs 4 oz (75th %ile) and 26" long- also 75th percentile. He is bigger than Weston was at this age- at least what he is wearing is bigger than Weston at this time. I had to go buy more summer onesies and jammies for our "little" guy.
Brody has also started on "solid" foods and is a master of oatmeal, applesauce, pear sauce and sweet potatoes. This has caused him to want less "mama-milk" which shouldn't surprise me, but makes me sad nonetheless. I'm trying some strategies to keep his interest up.

My courses seem to be going well and I continue to have the "normal" mother guilt about working and sending Weston to daycare. Currently I am trying to convince myself that daycare is like one big playgroup (of 3 or 4 kids) on a regular basis (but with no Mamas present). Last week when we had no air conditioning and it was 90+ degrees, Weston went for an extra day- and he was mad about that- but had fun once he was there. I couldn't deal with all of us being home waiting for the AC man to come in the heat.

This morning one of my best friends from graduate school came to visit with her husband. She is 21+ weeks pregnant after a trying journey of infertility and it was so great to see her after 5+ years! She got to see our house and meet all my boys. With her sister now working near our city, I hope I get to see this friend more regularly.
After my friend's visit, we went to a 3 year old b-day party of Weston's really good friend "H" down the street. It was a busy but really fun morning and now everyone is napping well. Except the Mama, who woke to feed the hungry Brody and then couldn't fall back asleep, even after Brody went back to sleep.
I can't wait to pick peaches at our orchard. I check on a daily basis to see if peaches are ready for picking yet. Weston would eat peaches for all 3 meals if we let him.

Big Day!

2011-07-07T14:24:00.000-04:00

It is a big day at our house today. I know that this is likely not a permanent thing, but Weston peed on the potty!

He wasn't going down well for his nap and somehow I knew he needed to go poo-poo. I went in and asked him. He repeated "poo-poo" and when I asked if he wanted to try the potty (why not?), he replied "potty". So, we went into the bathroom and sat on the potty. Weston looked embarrassed when some tooties came out but not much else happened. I praised the tooties. (When else will he get praise for tooties other than after a colonscopy?!) He played with some lotion bottles, brushed his teeth and still nothing. I suggested he push the tooties out on the potty, and low and behold, he peed on the potty! Woot! Celebrations!

Then we went downstairs with a dipe on and he proceeded to poo as we told Dad all about it. My big boy, are diapers not in your future for much longer?

June, a month in photos

2011-07-02T15:00:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe it is already July. The year is halfway done and we are on the upswing- when did that happen? I haven't had much chance to post our activities of late, so I am going to do a group month-long photo post. Enjoy!

The first part of the month we went strawberry picking. I am a strawberry loving girl and have never picked them before. We went to our favorite orchard that also has strawberry fields, and had a blast picking "yummies". In this pic, Brody is strapped to my front.

Later in the month, we went to Colorado for my brother's wedding. We spent a week in a condo with my parents and the boys really got some good Gram and Bah time in.

My mom swimming with Weston.

Weston on the "big-boy" swing! First time- he did great holding on with 2 hands!

While in Colorado, we celebrated my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. We thought it was appropriate since we were there for my older brother's wedding and a lot of family was in town. This picture shows everyone at the restaurant except Brody and I. Brody chilled in his carrier on the floor next to me. We had delicious food and drinks. Weston sat in his seat the WHOLE TIME and I think my parents loved it. They are the ones at the opposite end of the table. We missed my brother's wife Rachel, who was still working early in the week, but got to spend time with her later in the week.

Tom and Weston took several mornings to hike- just the two of them. Because I was still working that week- I needed quiet time to get my stuff done. They had a blast. This was a hike the 4 of us took-but I think the procedure was the same. Weston wore my little red LL BEAN pack from when I was little, holding diapers, snacks and drinks, and they checked out Rocky Mountain National Park. So fun.

Weston likes to sit and observe- when he isn't running and climbing!

A rare photo of Weston looking at the camera and smiling- he is too busy to be bothered with such things.

Brody was also busy- but in a different way.

Throwing rocks in the water.

I don't have any actual photos from the wedding- busy with a 2 year old and 4 month old, etc. Tom and I were tired of chasing Weston by the end of the week- but we had a great time and hope some photos spring up! :-)

Happy 4 months Brody!

2011-06-28T21:35:00.001-04:00

Dear Brody,

On Saturday, the day your Uncle Sam and Aunt Shayna got married, you turned 4 months old. How is it possible that time has flown so quickly? It seems even faster with you than with Weston. We don't have all the time in the world to just observe you at this point- you have a big brother who demands some attention too.

You love your big brother and love even more when he pays direct attention to you. Tonight, you were napping in the pram in the family room while Weston and I watered the garden. I heard you waking up/crying. I told Weston we needed to come inside to take care of you. We stepped into the house and I tried to get Weston to take off his muddy shoes. "Nope," was his reply. He walked right to where you were laying down, rubbed your belly and tried to give you a pacifier. You, of course, were smiling in pure joy that you brother was caring for you. I hope you two always will care for each other- perhaps not always rubbing bellys, but caring, nonetheless.

Recently you have been very drooly and I am scared to think that you might be teething. 2 teething kids makes me nervous- but your laid-back attitude makes me think we can handle it! You are also bring lots of objects- mostly toys and your fingers- to your mouth to chew. Your coordination has really developed in the last week.

After eying every bite I take and drooling over everyone's food, yesterday we started baby oatmeal. So fun! (silent thought: "What am I getting myself into? Having to feed 2 boys bite by bite?") I hope that more solid food will help you sleep through the night- which you have done exactly once so far.

At first, you weren't sure what to think.

Then you thought this might be fun!

There's my boy- We can do this!

You went on your first airplane ride last week and did great. We flew to Colorado for the above-mentioned wedding. You did quite well traveling and once we all got adjusted to sleeping in a new place/bed, you did really well. You loved spending time with your Grandma and Bah- who LOVED spending time with you too.

You're on the bottom in this photo- no flash from too far away, but you get the idea. Your proud "Bah" was pushing you and Weston around the condo complex the week of Uncle Sam and Aunt Shayna's wedding.

You are a big lad- wearing 12 month outfits. Crazy. But you are a smiley, happy young boy and if you grow faster than your brother, that means you'll get some new clothes of your own!

Brody, you are a joy and delight. All who see you love you and want to hold you. You readily comply. You are my baby and I love you.

Mama

Our boys

2011-06-12T20:10:00.000-04:00

Tom shared some great photos of the boys. I hope life slows down a bit this summer so that I have the time (and thought!) to take some photos too. I'm lucky to be married to such a great photographer.

Startling blue eyes- Serious Brody

Happy boy Brody!

All wet!

Such an athlete- this boy loves to run!

Yeah, I'm cool. I'm handsome. I'm chill.

I love Brody's eyelashes and profile in this pic...he looks like an angel.

A 3 month comparison- who is who?

2011-06-11T21:23:00.000-04:00

Wow, they definitely are brothers, aren't they? It is fun that they were born at the same time of year and I can do some photo comparisons in the same clothes at the same ages. Even in these pics I think you can see their personalities.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-06-10T14:22:00.000-04:00

This is a short post of some randoms.
I finally feel like I can breath.
I have finished grading ~150 final term papers...and survived! (thanks to my mother-in-law who came to watch the boys while I had NO daycare).
Weston has been sleeping through the night consistently x 1 week (woot!)
I have had time to stop and think about life, our family, our kids, our plans, etc. It is kinda crazy to not be in just go go go mode.
Brody is rolling over tummy to back consistently. :-)
We head out on vacation for my brother's wedding soon. I wish I wasn't going to be working while we are on vacation- but at least I will have friends and family around to be able to help. I wonder if some day we'll actually take a vacation when I am on break from school?
I need to get an outfit for the wedding...one that I can nurse in and one that is flattering for my 3month postpartum body that isn't quite where I want it to be. And, a bathing suit? Probably need one of those too...
That's all for now...going to take advantage of 2 napping boys and go Oxycise! :-)

Be sure to visit Danifred for more leftovers.

Finals week

2011-06-04T14:10:00.000-04:00

In undergrad finals week always took on a different flavor than the rest of the term. In spring, it was sunny and our schedules were very different than through the previous months. I had exams, projects and juries to perform, so I practiced and studied a lot. I studied in different places than usual- sometimes on the steps of the student center, sometimes in the student center, sometimes by myself, sometimes with friends. I almost always got a sunburn studying during spring finals week.

Right now I am in finals week for my place of employment. It reminds me of my college days because the weather is glorious outside, yet I am at my computer grading my brains out. I am on the other side of the equation (thank goodness! the anxiety of studying for finals was NO FUN), yet I find myself working my brains out at unusual times. I have 150 (!!!) papers to grade this week that are each 5-8 pages. For the last 4 days, today included, I have stayed inside and graded at least 8 hours each day. During the week this week I took Weston to daycare so I could grade. After a 5 minute snooze, I would get up and do it again while he was napping and then after he went to bed (which is a big joke itself). Today, Tom and Weston played outside, downstairs, wrestled, played guitar and trains while I graded papers. It makes me sad that I am missing a day with my family home so that I can work...but I am trying to convince myself it is worth it. This job is worth it. My family is worth the benefit of me working this hard...right?

Our usual daycare is on vacation next week so my mother in law is coming down for a few days to watch Weston so that I can grade my brains out. I would love to finish early in the week so that I can have a "break" before the quarter starts again for summer term.

Through it all, Brody is the super trooper, playing in a playpen in my office or sleeping in the weego while I work.

That said, I must get back to work.

Dear Brody

2011-06-04T13:17:00.000-04:00

Dear Brody,

You are 3 and a half months old. It is so hard to believe how fast you have grown and time has passed! Soon you will be starting solid foods. I remember this being a momentous occasion for Weston and am sure it will be great fun for you too. I measured you this morning: 15 lbs and 25 inches. You are growing really well!

The reason I am writing, however, is to share something so that we won't forget. I love it when you poop. You only go once every few days so when you do go, it is a lot. That is not what I love. I love that you eat REALLY well afterward and then sleep like a log. It wears you out. Thank goodness this doesn't happen to us as adults. That might be rather embarrassing if we all fell asleep right after our duty was done.

That said, enjoy your nap. I'm going back to work.

Love, Mama

Happy 2.25 years Weston

2011-06-02T10:56:00.000-04:00

Dear Weston,

When you turned 2, I stopped doing monthly posts. So much has changed in the last 3 months, however, that I needed to remark on some of it. We have been very busy around our house with our newest family member, Mom's job and Dad's job. You have been busy too:

You got two lower second year molars. Yeah! Now you are working on the top ones (if the grinding teeth is any indication).
You had tubes inserted in your ears and then went through the aftermath of an infected ear and clogged tube. That was NO fun for any of us. Hydrogen peroxide/water rinses were torture- but did the trick. We didn't have to go back to the OR to replace the tube. Yeah!
Since your tubes have been in, about 2 weeks, many have noticed big developments in your speech- which is great! I mostly have always understood what you are saying, but others get it now too.
You are growing like a weed- getting taller and if possible, more slim. You are super athletic- jumping, running and all things physical.
You aren't very interested in eating unless I feed you bite by bite. Sometimes you are hungry and will eat, but if I waited for that, I think we would be in constant meltdown mode. I know someday you will desire to eat foods by yourself on a regular basis- so I don't worry about it.
You are a super help with the garden. We are using are collected-rain water to water the garden that you helped plant. You LOVE it. Especially when the water splashes!
You are shy around strangers. We went to a Memorial Day parade recently and you tried to run away- not funny! When you could hide in your stroller, you tolerated it a bit more.
You are still my sweet cuddly boy- and I love you very very much. Your laugh is infectious. Your smile is glorious. So, when you have me up several times in the night and can only seem to sleep in bed with Dad and I, I have to remind myself that this won't last forever and to cherish these moments.

Love, Mom

Our Weekend

2011-05-29T19:49:00.000-04:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend- take some time from your BBQ's and parties with family and friends to remember what the weekend is all about. All through junior high and high school I marched in parades for Memorial Day and remember standing in cemeteries listening to speeches from American Legion and VFW members about thanking those who gave their lives for our freedom. Tomorrow we'll go to the parade in our community and teach our boys to say "Thank you."

It is lilac time in Maine right now. I miss it. We have lilacs in my community now, but NOTHING like where I grew up.
Weston had the best possible outcome from his ENT visit on Friday AM. His tubes are clear (yeah Mama and hydrogen peroxide/water) and there is no infection! I was certain we were destined for more surgery- but we are given the all clear and don't have to go back until November. Weston has a little cold right now, but compared to ear troubles, we can deal with the cold.
He is slowly getting back to normal as far as bedtime is concerned. For ~2 weeks he had been staying awake until 10 or 11 PM b/c of his ears. Now we are trying to re-pattern bedtime and nip this cold in the bud.
This morning our power went out ~6:30 AM. It came back on for 5 minutes around 8:30 and then after a series of loud pops/bangs and 4 fire trucks/EMS vehicles on our street, a transformer blew up. We had to wait for a construction crew to come to fix our power. It was 90 degrees today...with no power. I HATE not having power. It is almost irrational how I feel when the power goes out. It came back on during nap time. Everyone napped in dipes/no shirts. We finally got power on at 2:45 PM. In the meantime, we went to look at couches (no luck) and then out to lunch.
At lunch Weston got a helium balloon. After his nap he was very sad when the balloon had lost a significant amount of its float-ability.
I'm looking forward to having Tom home for another day tomorrow. :-)
I'm not looking forward to the 150+ papers that will be handed in this week with students eagerly looking for their grades. :/
I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...

Happy 3 month day Brody!

2011-05-25T15:20:00.000-04:00

Dear Brody,

Today you are 3 months old. Time seems to be flying sooo quickly. I must admit that I am really enjoying this slightly older stage of your newborn life. You are spacing your feedings a bit more at night and coo and smile at me whenever I come into your line of view. The stories you share are great! You are not quite sleeping through the night, but we get closer each day. You have almost found your thumb- right now you suck on your fist. Perhaps your fist is the best part of your hand, but I think you'll choose a digit eventually.

You are our laid-back boy. Your brother has had some trouble with his ears recently, requiring lots of love and attention and causing lots of screaming- you are a champ through this. Unless you want to be fed. At that point, you demand to be fed immediately. You are growing quickly too! My 3 month old is in 9 month clothes and well over 14 pounds.

You are not a huge fan of tummy time, but tolerate it. You love your tummy tub and try to stand in it. You are great in the car- I think this means that we may get to take trips eventually- when Weston's ears clear up.

We love you Brody boy,
Mom and Dad

An eary update

2011-05-24T08:50:00.000-04:00

Weston's poor ears still are not better... His right ear is fine- tube in place, no infection, inflammation, drainage, occlusion, etc. His left ear on the other hand is not fine. In the ENT's words yesterday "It looks awful." Great.

When Weston got his tubes one week ago today, he still had a left ear infection (leftover from the previous week- apparently the antibiotics didn't treat it). We were prescribed ear drop antibiotics and told to expect drainage. We administered the drops and got no drainage. On Saturday, Weston started hysterically trying to rip off his ear and scream with his drops. He also did not go to bed until after 11 PM and benadryl and motrin. The next morning he reacted the same way to the drops. We knew something was up. this was not behavioral.

The on call ENT ordered a new systemic antibiotic and said we'd be feeling better the next morning. After a rough Sunday night and no improvement per se Monday AM, I was on the phone to the ENT's office at 8 AM, demanding an appointment. The assistant had the nerve to suggest that since he was 2, it was quite likely behavioral and nothing was wrong.

In the mean time we'd talked to two pediatric health care friends- and both thought it sounded like an occluded tube. Mama Bear (me) asserted herself and Weston was seen at 9:30 yesterday morning. Surprise surprise- he has a grossly occluded tube- such that nothing could be done to it at the office to relieve the plug. We are trying twice daily peroxide/water washes. He. hates. them. I'm hoping to see a bunch of goop come flying out. It hasn't happened yet.

Last night was another night of Weston avoiding sleep...

I am on the edge- the edge of what I am not sure- but I just want my baby to feel better and his ears to be better. I feel guilty having to work when he is sick but don't really feel I have a choice.

In other news- Brody will be 3 months tomorrow...

Friday Night Leftovers- the tired and overwhelmed

2011-05-21T20:34:00.000-04:00

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short- that's life, at least around here these days!
This week seems like it has been INCREDIBLY long. Only 3 days ago Weston had surgery- seems like several weeks ago.
I thought that after 5 days post tube insertion and cipro ear drops he wouldn't have an ouchie ear anymore...tonight after his drops he wants to rip his ear off. Infection still? Just uncomfortable getting drops?
We are shaking up weston's bedtime routine. He had been a bath, teeth, dipe, jammies, yogurt and story kind of guy. For the last couple weeks, he has been awake after all of that for a few hours. Previously he fell asleep within 15-20 min. Tonight we brought him back down for a snack after bath/dipe/jammies. Then we did teeth and story, hugs. We'll see if it works.
I am glad the weekend is here and Tom will be around to help for most of it.
We went to the farmers market this AM and got some great stuff! Weston and Tom shared a cinnamon roll- we got some whole grain bread and lettuce and then a bunch of meants- brats, chops, chicken wings and chicken chorizo.
The downside to having a work-from-home job is that you are never away from your work. If you have a work ethic similar to mine, you find it hard to relax or do something you really would "like" to do when you have work to do. *Cue tired and overwhelmed Mama*

Today I got a treat- I went to the grocery store by myself for 20 minutes.

I will be really glad when this quarter is over.
I need a break
We are talking about a family vacation in Sept. to the Pawleys Island area of SC- anyone have a good lead for us?

For more- visit Sippycups

Grateful

2011-05-19T13:19:00.000-04:00

Today, I am grateful for many things.

I am grateful for my husband and 2 boys.
I am grateful that Tom and I both have jobs and that I can do mine from home.
I am grateful for our super-flexible and good daycare situation.
I am grateful Weston made it through surgery successfully and seems to be hearing more clearly. We have noticed improvements in his speech already.
I am grateful my cousin Katie had a successful delivery of a healthy baby boy and that her parents are with her during this first transition week.
I am grateful for our neighbors Rick and Shyla who graciously offered their car for me to go get Weston at daycare when our car was stuck in our garage with the power out. (not sure why the manual release didn't work). Shyla even offered to watch Brody so that I didn't have to transfer 2 car seats to their car.
I am grateful for friends near and far.
I am grateful for my family.
And while my 2 boys are asleep, I am grateful for a nap.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-05-06T15:33:00.000-04:00

The last 2 weeks have been busier and harder than any I've had in a LONG time. Last week I had no daycare-type help because Weston's daycare mother's father passed away. Very sad- but glad he is no longer hurting...lung ca. This week, Weston has ANOTHER ear infection. This really only disrupted the early-middle part of the week, but it is still hard nonetheless.
Due to this most recent ear infection, his peds office has decided to quit messing around. We see ENT on Monday. Tubes are likely in his future...

Weston after a nap with my Dad...the beginning of the ouchy ears...(and bright sun apparently)

My Dad came to visit (we had a great time!) last weekend. Today, Tom's mom was here. Weston loved having both here to play with him.

This really makes me wish we lived closer to my family. So good for Weston and Brody to hang with their "Ba" and me too.

I am not sure what to think of Mother's Day this weekend. I would really love a laundry/cleaning fairy that didn't require my help at all- but know I'm dreaming. I'd love to see my mom and Grandma for mother's day too- unfortunately, that's just a dream also.
One of the two courses I am teaching this quarter is taking a TON of time- way more than any other course I've taught in this program.
I had a good 1 year evaluation with this current job- go me. They didn't have any problems and I seem to be on the right track to keep my job. One of my friends just applied for a similar job, but in her clinical area. It is kinda neat that my friends are trying to have jobs like me (do they not realize how crazy/stressful it is?!)
Tomorrow starts the outdoor farmers market. I hope we have nice weather and can go.
It is Nurses' week this week- I miss this not working in the physical space of a healthcare or educational facility. I miss the week of free lunches and breakfasts and general appreciation. But, I do get to wear my PJs to work if I want to.
We have had a TON of rain recently. Yesterday was beautiful. Today the sun is trying to peek through.

Making the most of a rainy day!

Last night was Brody's best night of sleep ever. To bed at 8:30, up at 12:30 to eat, up at 4:30 to eat and then up at 7:30 to start the day. That is AWESOME. We had been doing Q2hours!
This little boy with ouchie teeth is going to be the ring bearer at my brother's wedding.

This little boy is just smiley and cuddly- growing so fast!

Stop by to wish Danifred a Happy Birthday and see more leftovers!

Happy 2 month day Brody!

2011-04-25T17:31:00.000-04:00

Hi Brody,

Today you are 2 months old and I can't believe how quickly time has passed. It is hard to believe that just 2 months ago you jumped into our lives. You are still eating very frequently, breast and bottle, but this week have given me a couple of 3 hour stretches as opposed to eating every 2 hours. This makes for a more rested Mama. You are growing like a weed and are well over 12 lbs. We'll see the pediatrician for your 2 month visit next week. You've already survived 2 mild colds courtesy of your big brother and did remarkably well.

You smile a lot, especially when Dada claps your hands together. That is apparently hilarious! (see video)

You also smile at your big brother Weston. He helps you by finding random pacifiers and bottles and shoving them in your mouth while you cry. You stop crying and look adoringly at your brother who helps you. I can only imagine the plots and schemes the two of you will develop as you get older.

In general you are a laid back kind of guy, unless you are hungry. Then, watch out! Your Dad and I can't wait to see how your personality continues to develop.

We love you,

Mom and Dad

That's a first...

2011-04-23T10:35:00.000-04:00

I feel worse after my pedicure...My feet feel great- don't be confused. I feel worse because I took an hour to sit and relax and hang with a friend and the overwhelming exhaustion took hold. I was no longer on go-go-go mode. My change in gears has caused complete exhaustion to win and I am beat.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-04-22T09:11:00.000-04:00

- Weston has a cold. Again. It is just a slight runny nose but last night he had a low-grade fever complete with glassy eyes... Poor bugger. He is kind though, he shared with is baby brother. :-/ I am hoping that we aren't headed to the pediatrician today or tomorrow with Weston and an ear infection...
- Sleeping seems to be going better at our house..."knock on wood!" With the bottle change I am able to get Brody to take breastfeeding and then 4-ish ounces of formula. He'll then sleep for 3-3.5 hours. Burps are still a MAJOR challenge...
- I divide my days into 2 parts- pre nap mornings and post naps afternoon/bedtime. It is amazing that we can have a terrific morning and horrible afternoon- but I am trying to take things in stride.
- I started Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred...I'm 2 days in and phew! I'm sore!
- Easter is this weekend...how has time flown so quickly? Seriously? We are just having our little family of 4 for Easter and I think it'll be nice. I hope. I love Easter with family and will miss not having family around- but we can only do so much right now.
- Brody is 8 weeks old today. See above point.
- My cousin is pregnant and due 1 week from Sunday- sending her happy labor thoughts!
- I am going with 2 friends tomorrow for a pedicure...so excited! I am crossing my fingers that all goes as planned with the boys and I can just relax while I"m there.

Things to smile about

2011-04-19T13:13:00.000-04:00

Today has been a good day- first time in a while I've felt **good**

I got the "all clear" from my CNM post delivery yesterday morning.
Last night, I had a 3.5 hour stretch of sleep!!! Can you believe it?!

This was partially due to some encouragement from afar from my mom, who suggested a change in bottles to possibly reduce air/burpiness...It worked. Brody took the breast and then 4 oz. formula at around 9 PM. Down at 9:30 PM, not up again until 1 AM.
Only a grandmother of 2 and mother of 4 would be able to come up with solutions like this and encourage and absolutely sleep deprived Mama. Thanks Mom.

Brody smiled several times at Weston this AM. Weston was absolutely delighted.
Weston got to "work out" with me in front of the TV this morning while Brody slept.
Weston continues to do well in speech and had a week of learning lots of new words.
I get to go take a nap now. :-)

Worn

2011-04-17T14:35:00.000-04:00

Well, I now know first-hand how sleep deprivation works as a torture technique. I'm there. I feel like I haven't slept well in months, and truthfully, I haven't. Even at nap time, just as I start to nod off, somebody needs me. I am now at the point where my "Mommy ears" won't let me nod off just in case I actually do fall asleep...I'll get startled awake by a scream. I drink a cup of coffee in the AM because I haven't slept hardly at all at night time- and then have a hard time laying down at nap time.

I can't wait for Brody to not need a pacifier anymore. I can't wait for him to decide that he can go longer than 2-2.5 hours between feeds. I wish my mom lived closer. I wish she was here to help me and spell me.

Just now as I sit and take 3 minutes to type this my 7-week-old and 2 year old somebodies are screaming for me. Great.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-04-15T15:30:00.000-04:00

Visit Danifred for more!

I won't apologize for not posting more frequently...down-time is at a premium at our house!
I have a seven week old baby. He likes to eat every 2 hours. Day and night. This means that I haven't slept for more than 1.5 hours at a stretch in nearly 2 months. I am TIRED.
I love my baby. He is sweet unless he is demanding to eat. Then he is very loud.
Despite my limited breastmilk supply, when I unsnap to get ready to feed him, he gives me a HUGE grin. It warms my heart and makes me know I am doing the right thing, trying to BF and then supplement.
I nearly have a system for household laundry down...it has grown exponentially since we've added our newest member. With 2 in cloth dipes and kid and adult laundry- I am ever-grateful for our laundry machine downstairs.
Weston started 3 mornings a week at daycare this week. So far, so good. Also, we are hanging in there on the no-ear-infection front. I pray it continues and we don't end up having to get tubes! Right now he is working on some molars that aren't very fun, but he is tolerating it well.
He loves his brother. He wants to decide when Brody gets a pacifier or bottle. I think they are going to start plotting against me. :-)
Last night I mentioned to Tom that Weston hadn't pooped in 2 days and we might need to resort to mandarin oranges (our softener of choice for Weston). This was just prior to Weston's bath. He must have heard. He pooped in the tub. He hasn't done that since he was just months old. Take note, however, that if there is poop in the water- you need to remove it sooner than later or it gets extra gross to clean.
I am REALLY ready for spring to stay!

6 Weeks Today

2011-04-08T18:44:00.000-04:00

My smiley boy- 6 weeks today. Look at those eyes!

Look who wanted to lay on the floor too. :-)

Well?

2011-04-02T18:36:00.000-04:00

Last night was Brody's first night in the crib in his room...I had great hopes that we would all sleep better. While I did sleep more soundly with the sleep I got, I was still up at the 11P, 2A, 4, 6, 7 and 8 AM hours... I am having serious self doubt about how to parent this child. At first he seemed to sleep well, eat well, every 3-4 hours. Now we are on an every 2 hour stretch. He wants to be held when he poos. This is in addition to the feedings... It is hard to have him settled for more than 30 minutes at a time unless he is in the front carrier (Weego- God-sent!)

At nap time today, he was once again in the crib in his room. At the complete opposite end of the hall, I tried to nap, with both our doors open. I coughed once and he heard me and cried. Tonight we will try to sleep with the doors closed. Are his ears tuned in so sensitively? I don't know... I wish he had some answers for me... It is especially hard with the sleep deprivation to figure out what he needs/wants.

Sigh...I know it won't last forever...

Big step...the crib

2011-04-01T13:09:00.000-04:00

After too many nights of being up almost all night with a baby who wanted to feed nearly constantly, or at least every 1.5-2 hours (allowing maybe 45 minutes or an hour between feedings), I just put Brody down for his first nap in the crib... Feeling sort of okay about it- doing a test run for tonight. I think we were waking each other up and if he was awake, he figured he might as well eat.

Needing some emotional support right now...

Another badge of motherhood...

2011-03-28T13:56:00.000-04:00

Today I took both kiddos to the pediatrician. by myself. for the first time. and Weston HATES the doctor's office. I did it. We did it. And when we got back in the car, I let out a big "phew" and Weston started clapping. I joined in. :-)

Brody had his 1 month well check today- he weighed 9 lbs 13.5 oz and measured 21" long. He is growing and doing great! I was able to explain to the peds about my BF situation- he was very supportive and interested. He thinks we are doing well with Brody and Brody is doing what he is supposed to do. He agreed that any breast milk is better than no breast milk and encouraged me to continue. Also- the doc remembered that I work from home and thought it was great that I can do that and be with my boys. Brody did get a shot today- and is now sleeping it off. Poor guy. To get the doc back, however, he pooed all over the place when the doc pushed on his belly. :-)

Weston also had an appointment. He wasn't just along for the ride- although I am sure he wished he was. He had 1 week ear recheck. Infection appears to be gone- but the fluid remains. Our doc, being more conservative and less inclined to head to tubes or surgery, recommended another month of antibiotic prophylaxis. I agreed. Let's keep Weston well for another month and then at Brody's 2 month check- we'll repeat today's visit. Weston was a challenge to check for the doctor- but he survived and was smiling when we left- probably because we were leaving!

Now, while the boys nap, I have a skype meeting with my university. I wish I had a nap included in my day- but I am so blessed to be home with my boys. Now, I just wonder where my spring break went...

Happy 1 month Brody

2011-03-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

Dear Brody,

For months I have written letters to Weston, detailing his accomplishments, tricks and how much we love him. Now it is your turn. You have enriched our lives for one month- it has incredible how fast time flies! You and I have experienced a few growth spurts with frequent awake and eating times. Somehow, the exhaustion didn't get the best of either of us. You came into our lives before we were quite ready (not really that early- but sooner than your nurse-midwife or I anticipated) and we continue to marvel at how well you fit into our family.

Weston loves you. We have to watch how much he loves you- he wants to pick you up, feed you and burp you. This is still too dangerous, however well-intentioned. Recently he has started mimicking you- wanting to "cry" like you, use your pacifier and hang out in the pram. He obviously knows how wonderful you are and admires you. Your dad and I love you. Your grandparents also love you.

We can't wait to continue to get to know you and watch you grow.

Love, Mama

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-03-25T19:15:00.000-04:00

Visit Danifred for more leftovers

I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging. With my baby a month old today (gasp!), I should be able to, right?
Tom was at a conference today and it was too cold to go outside and play today. So, I had the two boys cooped up inside all day. Weston desperately wanted to play outside, but with his ear infection and now cough, in addition to the chilly temps and a new baby, it just wasn't going to happen. He kept trying!
The big brother loves the little brother. A lot. Today he gave Brody his bottle and then made motions like he was going to pick him up to burp him.
Yes, I give my son a bottle. I haven't talked much about my BFing issues- but suffice it to say that I nurse as much as possible each feed and then give a bottle. I simply don't (and won't ever- no matter what I do) make enough milk to sustain my son. I do, however, make good immune system support. I am finally at peace with this and have come to terms with the fact that while some women make tons of milk and don't want to or care to and I really want to be able to only BF my son, I am doing the best I can. This includes taking lots of galactagogue herbs and consuming non-alcoholic beer to boost my supply. I also eat a ton of oatmeal. It isn't forever and I am doing the best I can.
This book really helped me come to terms with my anatomy and physiology and understand why I don't make enough. This experience will definitely help me as I care for patients in the future.
School starts up again on Monday. Also on Monday, I am taking both boys to the peds by myself for a 1 month well check and an ear recheck. I'm hoping that of the three of us, I won't cry!
I have increased my cloth diaper stash and am starting the Brode man on cloth diapers. The laundry seems to have exponentially increased at our house- with blankets, baby clothes and now diapers. That's ok- just amazing how that has happened!
Brody's one month post and pics soon- I promise!

How time flies!

2011-03-24T13:32:00.000-04:00

One month ago right now I had just put Weston down for a nap and was settling in to get some rest myself. Little did I, we or anyone know that Brody was about to make his entrance. We have tried to settle ourselves into a bit of a routine and are enjoying all the loves we get from our little boys. We truly are blessed to have 2 healthy little boys.

I will share some more photos later of a growing Brody- once he wakes from his nap and is ready for a photo shoot- but for now, will leave you with a video of Weston at dinner last night.

An update on us...

2011-03-16T19:21:00.000-04:00

Brody is integrating nicely into our family. Weston is starting to show real enthusiasm for Brody. This morning, after Tom left for his 1/2 day at work, both boys woke up at the same time. I had a moment of "oh great- how do I get everybody with a clean dipe, downstairs and fed at the same time?" Things worked out well. I brought Brody into Weston's room and placed him down on Weston's bed while changing Weston. It made Weston so excited to see Brody first thing in the morning, in his bed no less!

I am headed to the LC tomorrow for a "tune-up" and to see if I can possibly make more milk. If not, I am ok with what I am doing. If I can, I would like to. I am grateful for 2 healthy boys and know I am doing the best I can.

My quarter is nearly done. Students are taking their final exam today/tomorrow and I will submit grades this weekend. Then I have a week "off"! I can't believe it and I can't wait! Not having a real maternity leave from everything has been a challenge, but I am really blessed to have an at home job and a husband with extended leave so that I can do my at home job.

Now for some pictures:

Tom, Brody, Tiffany (my awesome friend and CNM!) and I, minutes after delivery. Brody is cheering. :-)

Weston and Grandma came to visit us at the hospital- Weston definitely needed some Mama time.

On Weston's 2nd birthday, the big wheel was a huge hit! Check out that determination.

Cute little hand hanging out of the pram.

Check out the baby grin! I don't remember Weston smiling this early. This could be gas, but it is still really cute.

Big yawn!

Proud big brother holding little brother's hand.

How things change...

2011-03-07T20:45:00.000-05:00

I realize it has been nearly 2 weeks since I last posted. This is not unheard of for me, but in the last 2 weeks, our lives have changed drastically. I will give more detail when I am done with my grading for the quarter and a bit more caught up on sleep (ha!), but a bulleted list is below:

Brody was born on Friday, February 25 after my water broke Thursday afternoon. I wasn't due until March 6, so this came as a surprise to us all, but we were ready. I think I was especially ready. I called my mom in Maine- she hopped the next flight- and was at our house by midnight. Tom and I left for the hospital at 12:30 AM and Brody arrived at 7:36 AM. 7lbs 12 oz, 20". Absolutely PERFECT.

I had an unmedicated labor and pushed for 2 contractions. I did have to have some pitocin because we stalled out around 5 AM...but it was just enough of a whiff of pit to get things going. If they increased it any more I was going to hit someone! (not really... :-) )
We are adjusting- sleep isn't really happening for me at night, but I am surviving. (Thank you Keurig)
My milk is definitely coming in more than it did with Weston, but it isn't enough to sustain a hungry Brody. I nurse, bottle supplement and pump nearly every feeding (and feed every 2-3 hours, sometimes every 1.5 hours). Tiring- but worth it for the immunity stuff. I'm trying to not get depressed about my lack of adequate supply despite all great intentions- and have to trust that I am doing the absolute best that I can.
My mom says that Brody's poop looks nearly like all breastfed poo- just a little thicker, thanks to the formula. So, he must be getting something.
I have the fenugreek stink. Know it? It'll be around for many months at our house.

Tom's Grandpa, Paul Thomas, passed away Saturday AM after a short illness. This was hours after his second great-grandson was born. He is already missed.
Weston turned 2 on March 2nd. He was able to celebrate with both of his Grandmas, his Grandpa Denny, Uncle Tim and Tom and I of course. He had a blast. Being a new big brother was hard- but the day was focused on him. His favorite toy? A big wheel and helmet. So fun.

So, until I am able to do more catching up on here, enjoy this pic of my 2 little guys. So much love.

My baby is almost 2!

2011-02-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

Weston had his 2 year check up today. I know it is before he is actually 2 years old (1 week early), but I have a little thing called a fetus who is waiting to make his/her entrance and I didn't want to risk missing Weston's appointment because the baby was coming. So...we had his visit today.

Weston's stats: 28.2lbs, 34.5" (standing for the first time!), 55th percentile for both.

Everything was perfect...except his ears. We finished antibiotics for his ears less and a week ago (Friday), and today, he has fluid in both of his ears. It breaks my heart that this little guy just has so much trouble with his dang ears! Perhaps that is why his speech is a bit delayed- although getting much better. We are starting low dose daily antibiotics today to try to ward off any ear infections until spring comes. I'm hopeful, but not naive. Our doc basically said he wouldn't be surprised to see us with a 1 week old and Weston with ear infections at the same time. Awesome. That is just what we need!

Anyway- he was great in every other aspect and we are dealing with the ears, so I really can't complain. It just makes me sad (that may be hormonal too).

Photo Update

2011-02-22T13:55:00.000-05:00

I am not so good at regularly putting photos on my blog, but thought I should put a few updated photos up today.

Here I am at 38+2 weeks (today). At my appointment yesterday, my CNM said that my baby already likely weighs 8 pounds...so, we are probably looking at a 9 pounder when we are all said and done! Yikes!

The next two are of Weston and Tom finger painting- they had a lot of fun!

Here, Weston is helping me make cookies. Notice the intensity with which he is considering the batter...Mmmm...

The final image is of Weston playing with his train set. So fun!

New eating rules

2011-02-20T19:49:00.000-05:00

For Weston- that is. He has apparently changed the rules and I have been the slow Mama to come around to understanding what they actually are. He went from being a eat-macaroni-and-cheese-at-any-opportunity kid, to only eating that which is served in an adult bowl or plate and with adult silverware. Seriously. Even if he was hungry, he would not eat from his dinosaur or truck bowls or plates...leading to waking in them middle of the night with a rumbly tummy because he was so hungry. If only he had told me...

The other night we had some baked pasta. Tom, Weston and I all had the same thing. Pasta, sauce, melted cheese, etc. Mine was much more appetizing to Weston in my adult bowl than his in his silly little plastic that's-for-babies bowl. So- I ate his and he ate mine. The light finally clicked in my head. Since then, I have been trying to serve all his food in adult bowls and plates. I fear that we have entered the stage of our lives when our tableware gets accidentally broken more than previously experienced...

Tonight, though, we had a major breakthrough. After having his nightly yogurt, but before I was ready to turn out the light, we were snuggling reading his machine book, a nightly ritual. He signed and said "eat eat eat". The boy was still hungry. I was SOOO proud of him for telling me BEFORE he went to sleep that he was hungry, rather than waiting until 3:15 AM, like this past morning or 11 PM like the night before. We went downstairs, had some banana bread, crackers, applesauce (from an adult bowl with an adult spoon) and water and then when I brought him back up- it was all he could do to keep his eyes open.

I know he is growing. He is filling his 3T jammies that we only started wearing the beginning of December. He has been sick, too, which made him not want to eat. So- with the catching up from being sick AND growing- the boy is hungry. I can't figure out how to get him to eat enough at one time downstairs, though. His attention span isn't long enough or perhaps his tummy is too little for all he really wants to eat. In any event, the boy communicated his hunger before he went to bed and we avoided tantrums. Who knows if we'll still wake tonight hungry, but at least we gave it our best shot!

New Phase?

2011-02-17T19:28:00.000-05:00

I think Weston is finally almost better- I think. He is on day 9 of antibiotics and we'll go to the peds next week for his 2 year "well" check. I hope he is well. He hasn't eaten well for me the last few days, waking to eat in the middle of the night. With this large belly of mine, I'm usually awake anyway, but don't want to encourage the habit. We try different things at meals, even reverting to the good old gerber cereal with pureed veggies on top. Today he woke up crying really hard after nap- I'm not sure what the problem was... Also this week, he cried the 2 times I left him at daycare- a place he loves to go. When I put him in his bed, he frequently pats the bed next to him, wanting me to come lay down with him. I am sure this is a remnant of when he was so sick and I literally stayed with him most of the night because he was so gunky and didn't feel well...but I can't do it anymore! Especially since a new baby is coming- it is getting harder and harder...

So...are we getting into the "2's" with change-up of eating/sleeping habits and separation anxiety? Or...is something going on? I really wish he could tell me in words how he was feeling. Perhaps we are starting our 2nd year molars? Tom looked tonight and didn't see anything, but maybe deep within his jaw things are moving around? I'm not sure.

He definitely knows there is a baby in my belly- whatever that means to him. He lifts my shirt and kisses my belly and then pinches it... We talk about being "gentle" with the baby and giving kisses and rubs, but not hits or pinches. I am already feeling sad about when I am in the hospital and he will be home. My mom is coming to take care of him and I trust her completely- he will be fine, great even, but I will miss him. I know I'll have a new baby to focus on- but he's my first baby and I know that when he visits me, it will be hard for him to leave (maybe harder on me!). The fact that he will be with my mom relaxes me. Also, Tom will sleep at home when we are postpartum and try to keep some normalcy at bedtime for Weston.

Perhaps the title of this post should be "rambling mess of a hormonal 37+4 week pregnant Mama of an almost 2 year old."

We'll have a baby at our house within 3 weeks- and I am physically and emotionally ready. Is Weston? Tom is ready too, I think. He said he wants to talk about labor techniques as a refresher- that's probably a good idea. All the stuff for the hospital bag is together- just needs to be put in an actual bag. The car seat is installed. In short- we are ready to go. For now, I keep busy teaching, taking care of the house and Weston and trying not to focus on the "when" of the delivery, knowing that it will happen when it is supposed to.

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-02-11T19:56:00.002-05:00

We have had entirely too much sick at our house this winter. Tom is in bed (and has been since 6 PM.) and I feel like I could, but have too much to do.

We have a little boy who got used to Mama cuddling him to sleep when he was really sick and had an as-yet-untreated ear infection, and now is trying to play that up. He's been on antibiotics for 3 days and hasn't had a fever in over 24 hours. I have been trying to get him to bed for 45 minutes. He usually goes to bed really easily... He absolutely refused his bath...fine...food in the hair is gross- but perhaps not to him. Perhaps not seeing Dad before bed, or just not wanting to go to bed has something to do with it. I gave him motrin for pain and benadryl to dry his congestion (per the MD) and have "elped" him pick his boogers...and read more stories... Now he is just wimpering every couple minutes...I'm going crazy- but he's in his bed and hopefully doesn't start really crying because that will make more mucus, boogers, etc.
**update**The boy who refused to eat much of anything all day or at dinner apparently needed 1.5 yogurts and a glass of water before he could fall asleep. As soon as I figured that out (duh Mom), he conked out...

Bullets are working strangely on here tonight.

I enjoyed some time to myself this AM- even though I worked the whole time.

Valentine's Day is Monday and Tom's birthday is Wednesday- I haven't figured out what to do for either since the "sick" is here. I want his birthday to be special- I am just running low on energy. His family is coming down next weekend and I have that figured out- cake and everything.

I have some students to whom you give an inch and they try for a mile...unreal. Some things that students ask for I would NEVER dare ask a professor for.

I haven't gotten to see my friend who is moving to Washington state in like 3 days...she is busy packing her house- we're sick and when she stopped by tonight (I think I heard her drop stuff off- but haven't been down yet to check), I was cuddling a boy who needed his nose picked and help going to sleep. sigh... I hope I get to see her before they move.

I put the infant car seat in my car today. That means I must be getting close! Crazy!

I sound whiny- perhaps I am. I'm going to put in our recorded Top Chef episode, finish cleaning up the kitchen and pray that Weston actually falls asleep. I may sleep in the guest room tonight if Tom is super sick and coughing...this "sick" has got to end.

For more leftovers- visit Danifred, our wonderful hostess.

So I don't forget...

2011-02-11T09:43:00.000-05:00

Weston has recently started using the word "help". It sounds more like "elp" but we know what he means and he uses it totally appropriately. Since he has had a runny nose, for the past 2 days he has asked for "elp" to pick his nose. Seriously. He says elp, then takes my finger and puts it up his nose to get boogies out. Poor guy- when his fingers just don't do the trick to get those boogies out, Mom's finger will come to the rescue. What I do for my son... :-)

Bad Mama or Two-Year-Old logic?

2011-02-11T09:01:00.000-05:00

I have been home with a sick Weston in the house except for OB and pediatrician's appointments since Saturday morning. We haven't gone ANYWHERE or done ANYTHING except talk to health professionals. That means that while I am still sick, I am going slightly stir crazy and need to get work done.

Weston has been on antibiotics for 2 full days and is feeling closer to himself- if I judge by his activity level. I decided last night that he could go to Laura's- his daycare- this AM. When I asked him yesterday if he wanted to do that- he slapped me on the head... Great...

This morning, I asked him and he repeatedly said no and then asked for "elp" (help) to play a Fraggle Rock DVD. We have watched so much Fraggles this week with this kid that I can't believe he isn't sick of them- but that is what he wanted. I talked more about going to Laura's and he looked like he would hit and then thought better of it (good move kid). So, after a not- so-well-eaten breakfast, I dropped him off. When I was getting him out of his carseat, he smiled and said "Yaya's" (Laura's). Did he really not want to go- or it wasn't until we got there that he remembered how much fun it was?

And yes- I did leave instructions for her to call me for anything if he wasn't doing well... In the meantime I have 120 students' worth of discussion board postings and projects to grade...obviously not happening in the 3 hours he'll be there- but maybe I'll have found a little sanity by then. Maybe?

AND IT'S A...

2011-02-09T19:23:00.000-05:00

Another ear infection...Ha! I wish we were at the point of announcing our new baby's arrival, but we have a few weeks of cooking time left.

In the meantime, poor Weston has another ear infection and I have his cold. Dad does too. :-( After a literally sleepless night (I got ~2.5 hours last night), I called the peds this AM and got an appointment at 10:20 to get Weston checked out. He was up all night coughing, gagging/puking up mucous and had a roaring fever despite tylenol and motrin alternations every 4 hours. Poor little guy! By 11:30 AM we were home with an antibiotic and the knowledge that this is ear infection #6 in < 12 months. That means that at his next visit, his 2 year well check, he is going to have a tympanogram in addition to the normal 2 year well-child stuff. At this point the doc I saw today is hesitant to recommend tubes in his ears and would rather try 6 weeks of daily low dose antibiotics until spring comes. I agree with this more conservative plan of care- but know that I can't rule tubes out. I just hope he literally outgrows this issue.

I just put my boy to bed and I am going to put my feet up. The house is a mess- I didn't make a great dinner and Weston isn't eating well at all. I hear his belly rumble but he refuses anything I offer him- including fruit, pudding, ice cream, cookies, etc. He is drinking his juice really well though- so I know we will catch up with the eating at some point. But, I have a giant belly (take my word for it) and with this cold, I completely lack the energy to do more than I already am.

So that's life for this nurse mommy. I hope you all are well and staying warm!

The good, the bad and the no longer funny

2011-02-07T19:34:00.000-05:00

First: The good

I am 36 weeks 1 day pregnant today. I saw my CNM and baby is measuring perfectly. I am doing well- baby is doing well and things seem to be on track for a normal end to this pregnancy in a month give or take. :-) It is hard to believe I am at the time in the pregnancy when weekly visits start! My CNM palpated my belly and estimated the fetal weight at 6+ pounds- that puts us in store for an 8+ pound baby at delivery. Weston was 8 pounds 3 ounces, so that sounds right to me!
My parents are in Puerto Rico relaxing and having fun with my Grandma. I think my mom is gearing herself up to come help us with Weston and the new baby in a month or so.
Also good, I am no longer sick...for the moment!

Second: the bad
Weston is sick again. A virus. I went to a midwifery conference on Friday afternoon and was supposed to stay until Saturday evening. Tom and my mother-in-law were here to take care of Weston. Tom called very early Saturday morning telling me that Weston was sick and I needed to come home. He is sick. He's had a fever on and off since then and is completely congested. Poor kid. He isn't sleeping great unless he is in a benadryl coma and even then he is still gunky. I feel really bad for him. This cold season has been AWFUL for Weston. I pray it stays a virus and doesn't turn into an ear infection or some other nastiness.

Finally: the no longer funny
I haven't had a nap in a week or so. I know- for some of you who don't nap, that isn't a big deal. But for this gestating mama of an almost 2 year old, naps are a necessity! I am up every 2 hours at night to go to the bathroom and rely on naps to catch up...between the conference that wasn't, the power being out last week and a sick kid, naps aren't happening. I suppose it is some great plan to get me ready for sleep deprivation when the baby gets here, but I'd like to go into this new baby thing with my sleep stores in tact. ha!

Sunday Senses

2011-02-06T19:11:00.000-05:00

Here is my next version of Sunday Senses, thanks to Rebecca.

Sight: My little almost 2 year old running around naked before his bath! I hope he doesn't pee in the baby's room again!
Sound: Superbowl Pregame on downstairs- Weston and Dad taking care of the bath issue. Weston asking if he can brush teeth first as the water gets cold. Daddy encouraging Weston to hop in the tub.
Touch: The feeling of squish as my baby belly gets bigger (36 weeks today). I wore a loose summer dress today with a sweatshirt- warm, yet unrestricting. not sure what I can wear in public... the comfortable computer chair tom got me for Christmas.
Taste: An oatmeal raisin cookie (one of my favorite varieties next to white chocolate macadamia nut) made by my MIL.
Smell: Not much- I have a cloggy nose.

Happy 23 month day Weston!

2011-02-03T13:55:00.000-05:00

Dear Weston,

Yesterday, on your 23 month day, you and I spent the day bundled up and without power. We didn't have power for 21 hours and the house was 50 degrees inside! chilly! In the morning we went to the pool and swam- you had so much fun holding a beach ball while swimming, and then we took a hot shower to warm up before heading home. Although you didn't understand why I couldn't turn on lights and the buttons on the vacuum cleaner and TV didn't work, you were a great sport. When the power finally did come back on, you were relieved and enjoyed some Fraggle Rock.

You are a bright boy who is quickly learning words and signs.You sleep in a big boy bed and eat from a booster seat- no more crib or high chair. You know there is a baby in my tummy and pay close attention when we read books about becoming a big brother. Don't worry- you'll be great. We have recently started playing with playdoh and you love to "pat pat pat" it. We can play for about 10-15 minutes before you start to lick it- then I must put it away. You continue to be a great dancer, loving music and even play your own "guitar" (a ukulele).

Weston, I love you and your Dad does too. So soon you'll be our 2-year-old. I'm not sure I am ready for that, I know that it will be great.

Love, Mom

Fun morning

2011-01-30T13:51:00.000-05:00

We had a nice slow start to our morning. Weston slept in until nearly 8 AM and Tom and I managed to sleep in too! After breakfast, Weston and I took a shower and while Weston was running away from Tom after the shower (to avoid getting dressed of course) he went into the new baby's room. He hid behind the rocking chair on the hardwood floor and assumed "the position", proceeding to pee on the floor. I saw it happen from the hallway. Is this how he feels about his new sibling? I don't think so- I just think he thought that would be a good place to pee... ahahahah Tom quickly diapered him and then Weston helped to wipe the pee up with a towel. Silly boy!

After that adventure, the three of us piled into the car and went to the Columbus Zoo. It wasn't too chilly out- in the low 30's- and we bundled up. I love going to the zoo when very few people are there. Weston ate a peanut butter sandwich while looking at bats and saying "bat bat bat" and we spent quite a bit of time with the rhino/elephant building and the tigers. The silvered langurs were all sleeping and Weston was yelling at them to wake them up- pretty funny. They seemed used to it- or they couldn't hear him.

A great morning. I am trying to really focus on quality time as a family of 3 before our life changes to slightly more crazy.

Friday Night Leftovers- the "Are we done yet?" version

2011-01-28T19:43:00.000-05:00

I'll warn you now, I'm nearly 35 weeks and extremely hormonal. At least- that is why I am telling myself that I am feeling the way I'm feeling.
I am much more emotionally prepared for baby 2 to arrive than for Weston to turn 2. Weston's birthday is 4 days before Baby 2's due date- so they will probably happen in the reverse order than I'm prepared for. I'm not worried about throwing a big party with tons of family, friends and a theme (not happening- no energy). Weston won't know the difference. He'll get cake and I think he'll love that. I think I'm not ready for my baby to not be the baby anymore and 2 years old somehow signifies that in my head.
I'm also ready to be done being pregnant (I know...I know...I have a month + to go and it isn't going to get better), but I feel like I'm carrying a load- a large load. A large -kicky- load the hormones from whose placenta makes my symphysis pubis grind, my bladder weak, my hips sore and my walk more of a waddle. I am grateful that this baby isn't riding as low as Weston was- but I also wasn't chasing a toddler last time.
It is strange with a second pregnancy how society (and friends and family) don't really recognize the pregnancy or offer as much encouragement or excitement as with #1. I'm not talking gifts- we don't need presents to show affection or care- I'm talking simple- "how are you? Are you ready? I'm excited!", etc. Is this why people think that #2 children have issues? They start in utero? Is the presumption that if you survived the first time you'll survive subsequent times?
OK. Enough whining. I am grateful to be pregnant with a healthy baby and a so far relatively uneventful pregnancy. I know time will fly between now and delivery.
My cousin is also pregnant- she is ~26 weeks. That is sorta fun to be pregnant at the same time as a family member- even though she lives in Canada and we never see each other and only communicate really via e-mail. I'm glad to be here for her questions.
I purchased my breast pump today. I know...I made a relatively big investment in a breast pump with no guarantee that I will actually even get milk- last time I had essentially enough for immune assistance but nowhere near enough for nutrition- regardless of what I did. I am trying to be optimistic. I am taking herbs already at the recommendation of a lactation consultant. I only want to hear positive support for my breastfeeding. I also ordered a couple nursing tanks today.
The purchase of said breast pump should have been easy- but I had a pretty typical experience (for me) at this store and remembered all over again why I really don't like this store. My purchase involved 2 confused check-out clerks and an assistant manager who wasn't much better.
I love how Weston has taken to his new big boy bed.
I cut Weston's hair this week and it is super cute.
I love Weston's new words and signs.
I am going to a professional conference next weekend- overnight- away from home. Tom and my MIL will be in charge...I will be fine...Weston will be fine... Right?
Tom came home today and said he is going to start writing articles for a publication at work. I'm proud of him.
We don't get out to the movies too often, any recommendations for movies to watch on DVD?

If you should choose to read more leftovers, visit Sippy Cups now!

Sunday Senses

2011-01-23T19:19:00.000-05:00

This is a new blog post idea- we'll see how it works!

Sight- pitch black darkness outside and my computer lit up inside. I'm in my office and Weston is down for the night. Dishes I need to take downstairs from lunch yesterday.
Hear- a train in the distance...the white noise maker in our bedroom that Weston turned up really loud before he went to bed...Tom watching TV
Feel- my 34 week gestation baby moving in my belly...the cool desk against my overheated arms (body is warm in general thanks to the baby furnace)...congestion in my nose
Taste- nothing right now
Smell- also nothing right now- thanks to my lovely sinus infection. I am on day 3 of antibiotics and wish they would kick in quickly!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Thanks to the Captain's Wife for the posting idea.

Have to share

2011-01-22T12:58:00.000-05:00

I took down the crib this morning. Since Weston is completely transitioned to his big boy bed, we are moving Weston's big-boy bed to the other wall where there are no temptations (like the window). While Tommy was busy and I had some down-time before we moved all the crib parts to the baby's room, I decided to hop in the shower. As part of our normal routine, I plopped Weston in his large play pen in my study, put on a sesame street podcast and hopped into the shower with my study and bathroom door open. The rooms are across the hall from each other. Soon, I heard tiny feet and a head popped in the shower curtain. Yikes! I hadn't heard Tom yet- had Weston learned how to hop out of his crib? I called for Tom and he didn't answer. Shoot- Weston got out.

No- it was just Tommy being silly. Once Weston saw me in the shower, though, he decided he needed to take a shower to and proceeded to take off his socks and shoes and head into our master bathroom. Sooo cute... and yes, he did get a shower!

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-01-21T19:32:00.000-05:00

Weston is finally feeling better and that makes me sooo happy. Today, he definitely was catching up on his minimal food consumption over the past couple weeks. That boy ate good sized snacks every couple hours and ate his meals well too! He is back to running and dancing and waking up happy. It made me so sad when he was sick- and confirmed that he really only complains when there is something wrong.
Speaking of Weston- he is signing up a storm and learning new words every day it seems. Perhaps we've convinced him that talking is important? I don't want to jinx us- but we're making progress.
Speaking of sick...I have a sinus infection. This cold that has lasted 3.5 weeks- yeah- not a cold anymore. I started antibiotics this AM and hope they kick in soon! I want to run and sing and dance like Weston! (Actually- I just want to be able to breath through my nose).
I will be 34 weeks on Sunday. OB appointment on Thursday- all is well. Baby in a little over a month! Gah! Everyone I talk to says how fast my pregnancy has gone for them. They then ask if it has been fast for me too- I guess so? Hard to compare to a first pregnancy when you have the distractions of a toddler and a full-time at home job. I feel like things were slow initially and then have beat feet to get to the end.
I started bringing up baby-type items from the basement today (bouncy/vibrating seat, floor mat, etc). Weston explored them. I wonder if he has some memory of these items or if they were just something new to check out.
Weston is totally transitioned to a big boy bed and is perhaps too young to know that he can get out and explore. That's a good thing. The couple times I have set him in his crib to see if he wanted to nap or sleep there- he totally let me know that was not where he slept anymore. My big boy sleeps in his big boy bed- silly Mama!
We're taking down the crib this weekend. Outta sight, outta mind, hopefully. When we set it up for the baby, I don't want Weston to feel jealous.
We got ~5 inches of snow yesterday. It took Tom 2 hours and 17 minutes to drive home from work, when it normally takes him ~40 minutes. Sheesh... I was glad that I didn't have to drive anywhere. That said, my university closed early for snow- but since I work from home- I didn't "close early".
A good friend is moving with her family to the Northwest...far away! This reminds me that I don't have a huge circle of friends here... There is an active playgroup in our neighborhood- but the kids are all mostly a lot older than Weston and they meet on one of the days he goes to daycare in the AM. Maybe when the weather gets better we'll work something out...and not share too many colds.
My Grandma Jean is in Puerto Rico. My parents are going in a couple weeks. Seems crazy we were there last year- perhaps in 2012 with a 1 year old and a 3 year old?

For more leftovers, visit Danifred, our lovely host.

Big boy bed

2011-01-17T15:56:00.000-05:00

~~Last night~~ this morning I took Weston back to his room after a necessary 5 AM drink of juice. I convinced him it was still night night time and he and I fell asleep in his big boy bed. That was a first. We were both asleep- he much more deeply than me. Even though he still has an ear infection and isn't feeling great, I thought I would try for naptime in the big boy bed today. What's the worst that could happen? No napping and then switch to crib, right? I knew he was tired and I felt daring enough to try.

After he and I looked at his machine book (a must before bedtime and nap-time), he snuggled in and I left his room with the bed rail up. A few minutes later I heard the tell-tale sign of him getting out of his bed. I went in and he had a guilty look on his face- but like he didn't understand why. I put him back in bed, told him it was nap-time and left the room. The next time I went in, he wanted juice. The third time (I was being very calm about all of this), he wasn't sure he wanted to be in the bed. I lifted him to his crib and he really didn't want that. So, I handed him his machine/truck book and told him it was nap-time.

When I just went back in nearly 2 hours later, this is what I saw:

My sweet boy, sound asleep in his big boy bed.

Random post

2011-01-17T11:22:00.000-05:00

I know it isn't Friday- but I don't have coherent thoughts for one post- so more bullets:

I slept in 3 different beds last night (in my own house). How many did you sleep in? For the record, I wasn't comfortable in any of the beds and sleep was once again elusive.
Weston is getting better- but was up at 5 coughing. Poor bugger. After some juice and more vick's vapo-rub I convinced him we needed to go back to bed and he and I fell asleep in his big-boy twin bed. At least it is a real bed!
Some students are exhausting to simply talk to on the phone- I can feel the stress just oozing through the speaker on the phone. I wonder what they are like in real person? Yikes.
I went to the chiropractor this AM. I have been going every 2 weeks- this baby belly weighs heavily on my back. My back is still sore though. This likely has something to do with the 3 beds last night...
My parents are headed to Puerto Rico with my Grandma in 2 weeks. How I wish I was in a position to go sit on the beach right now. Right. Not happening anytime soon!
Yesterday we got the new baby's room fairly ready for the baby. I went through all the newborn and 0-3 gender neutral clothing and put them in the drawers, and arranged the furniture (with Tom and Weston's help of course). One nice thing about having a baby at the same time of year (or week) as last time is that the weather and sizing will likely be similar for baby clothes.
Holding up tiny baby clothes and dipes brought me right back to baby-land. How much Weston has grown since then! Hard to believe!
I still need to get a rug, lamp, black out curtains and curtain rods, but we are getting there. Grandma Carol is looking for a mobile since Weston broke his. Oops.
Having a space for the baby takes a huge load off my brain. Now- we need to bring stuff up from the basement- but I'm going to wait on that!
This morning I couldn't fit between our 2 cars in the garage to put Weston in his carseat (Tom is off for MLK day). We had to crawl in from the other side. Feeling rather large...
Even though my university is closed today- I am working and being productive. Now, back to it!

Friday Night Leftovers- wishing the sickness would leave!

2011-01-14T19:01:00.000-05:00

As Tom and I are at the tail-ends of our colds, Weston has had his for a week. Today he was diagnosed with an ear infection- poor bugger. This is #5 in less than 1 year. The doc said he is "allowed" to have 6 before they start to consider daily low dose antibiotics or a visit to the ENT. So- after this ear infection is done, I am praying he stays in the clear for at least a month or so to make it past that year point!
As far as Weston and ear infections go- I really do just need to trust my gut. My intuition is usually on with this kid. If I feel like he needs to go to the doc- he usually does.
When Weston is sick- my day gets completely flopped around. I had no idea what time it was this afternoon until I heard Tom open the garage door signaling he was home.
Weston fell asleep in the car on the way home from the pharmacy- so even though he is sick, he feels as though he doesn't need to nap. That couldn't be further from the truth! I am waiting him out...he'll crack soon...update- he did crack and we both got good naps.
When Tom feels yucky and is up coughing/clearing his throat, I don't sleep well. When I don't feel well, I don't sleep well. When Weston doesn't feel well- he doesn't sleep well, and guess what, neither do I. I am looking for a solid night's sleep-anywhere/anyway I can get it. It has been weeks. Maybe these antibiotics will kick in and we'll all get to sleep...soon... Maybe this is just getting me ready for an event that will occur in 7 or so weeks...(Gah!)
This weekend, MLK birthday weekend, is the weekend that 4 years ago we lost my Grandpa. It is hard to believe it has been so long and how much has changed since then.
We are nearly through 2 weeks of my winter quarter. With only one major technical glitch that has mostly been resolved- I think this is pretty good. That is one snafu with distance learning- you rely HEAVILY on technology and well all know that sometimes technology doesn't work.
I thought I recorded Top Chef on Wednesday- but it didn't work. Don't tell me who got kicked off. We're watching it next week.
~~Tonight~~ Tomorrow night we are watching "Inception" that I finally got on reserve from the library. Anyone see it? Is it good?
I went and saw a lactation consultant yesterday. She is in her 70's, has purple (really gray, but purple for dye?) hair and has been doing the lactation thing for 35+ years. She considers herself a maverick in the lactation world- that is what I need. After my breastfeeding experience last time (apparently I was too upset about my last breastfeeding experience to post about it- but trust me when I say it was not typical and did not go as expected), I need some new ideas and support. She has started me on several herbs already, 2 teas and several exercises. I am encouraged. That is as much as I can ask for right now. That, and my mom is super supportive, after having nursed 4 of us- she feels like she'll be able to help me too. I just have to let her.

For more leftovers, visit Danifred and leave some love.

Car musings

2011-01-10T08:55:00.000-05:00

I've noticed recently that Weston tries out a lot of new words and sounds when we're in the car, stopped or parked for longer than he would like. A few weeks ago we were parked waiting for Tom outside a rental car company (due to our accident in early Dec.) and Weston mimicked every single animal sound I made. Awesome! He did this trick again on a slow drive home in snowy weather last week. Tom got to see it that time and was very impressed.

Today, on the way to morning daycare, which we do 2 mornings a week, we were stopped in a long line of cars for a train. There was a bus up ahead, so I pointed out the bus and started singing the "wheels on the bus" song. Weston quickly said "Bu" several times- as close as we've gotten to "bus" and then did all the motions to the song. So proud of that boy! Apparently, he needs to be strapped in, bored, with no other stimulation in order to impress his mama with his verbal skills! Perhaps we should make more boring car trips. :-)

Friday Night Leftovers

2011-01-07T13:00:00.000-05:00

I am not even sure how to start this post- so I will just start in with my random thoughts. Isn't that what leftovers are about anyway?

Today is the last day of the first week of Winter Quarter. I am teaching a ginormous course with ~350 students online and then another nicer, smaller course. So far, so good. I am happy.
We all have head colds. Weston's is virtually non-existent (thank goodness!); Tom's is getting better, but the pregnant lady with a reduced immune system is still battling.
I haven't been able to nap this week. I like to nap every day if I can. I know it is a luxury- but with this pregnancy especially, I feel like I need it. Weston has been able to nap. There is a very good reason why I haven't napped.
We have had a painter here all week (Tuesday- Friday). He finished this AM before lunch. I don't feel comfortable napping when there is somebody in our house. Obviously. The good news is that the house looks GREAT! He painted the entrance-way, stairwell and upstairs hall, second bedroom for either Weston or new baby (likely new baby), and the downstairs bathroom. SCORE! It is done and looks great! I am so pleased- and also pleased with how quickly it was finished.
It is good to hire a painter and probably other indoor contractors in the winter- they don't have a ton going on and like the work.
We are now less than 2 months before I am due...really? Wow!
This baby gets the hiccups a lot- inside my belly.
We got 1 inch of snow last night. The city surrounding the small city in which I live does NOT know how to deal with any snow and neither do the drivers. Of course we had to drop Tom's car off for routine service last night during rush hour and said snow. We were fine- but it was treacherous. I would prefer driving in a foot of snow in Maine over what we drove through last night. That should have been nothing, but yeah...these drivers and road crews. Sheesh...
I feel like I haven't really seen my friends socially in FOREVER. It seems like it has been a long time since Christmas and the New Year (perhaps just in my head). Tomorrow, though, a friend and I are going to get our tips and toes done. Ahhhh... Thanks Tommy!
As life gets busy and we all add kid(s) to the mix, getting together takes much more effort. I need to expend some of that effort and make it happen.

Go visit Danifred for more Leftovers!

Last Friday of the Year Leftovers (the numbers edition)

2010-12-31T13:03:00.000-05:00

I’m using Danifred’s idea of a numbers-type post:

2010 in Review:

4: ear infections Weston experienced

3: trips to Maine

1: trip to Puerto Rico

1: trip to NYC

2: new jobs for Tom and I (one each)

2.5: major home projects (kitchen reno and new fence completed- foyer, stairwell and landing almost done)

31: number of weeks I am pregnant

20: a guesstimate of the number of times we had visiting family overnight

2: days Weston goes to daycare in the AM each week

2: days Weston LOVES daycare in the AM each week

5: crayons Weston tried to secretly munch on before we just took them away

3: toothbrushes Weston has permanently borrowed from Tom and I

45: times we have delighted in watching garbage trucks on Friday

1: month spent refinancing our home

1: new to us car purchased for Tom

365: days I was/am proud to be a wife to Tom and mama to Weston

In all, it was a great year with highs and lows. We have been blessed by family and friends.

Happy Days

2010-12-16T10:57:00.000-05:00

Today, my uncle, cousin and Grandma head to Lifou where they will visit with distant relatives over the Christmas break. It seems like a great adventure- but the amount of travel required to get there seems daunting! Check it out- it is further away than Australia! Also today, my brother Mike made it home from Haiti. He was working with an organization to help with the rebuilding process. Recent riots/ barricades, etc. over the presidential election made it questionable whether he would make it home- but he arrived at my parents' house last night at 12:34 AM. That is a Christmas present in and of itself.

Other than the glancing blow Tom's car received when we were heading home from church on Sunday, we are doing well. The car is in the shop and we are all fine. Really- we are ALL FINE. I realized I haven't posted much recently- I've been busy finishing up my course creation for Winter quarter (DONE- yeah!) and trying to get ready for Christmas. I've also been trying to not be exhausted...I've just entered our third trimester of the pregnancy. We are having Christmas at our house this year and so planning/prep is in full swing!

I hope you are finding time to enjoy you and yours this holiday season and not get too caught up in all the to-do lists. I know that is easy to do.

Illness update

2010-12-04T14:26:00.000-05:00

Weston was up again with fever last night, but after some ibuprofen, water, yogurt and snuggling, fell back asleep until 8:15 or so this AM. I really appreciated the extra sleep. He is a real trooper- trying hard to feel well even when I can tell he doesn't.

We went to Target this AM for a few essentials and he spied the wall of vacuums and his eyes grew wide. It was as if he was saying "Mom- forget anything else for Christmas, I want my own vacuum!". Forget Fisher Price- he wants the real thing! :-) I wonder how long this cleaning trend will last.

My sweet boy is napping and I am working on my lectures for next quarter. It is quiet, momentarily.

Friday Night Leftovers- the stressed version

2010-12-03T20:13:00.000-05:00

"Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat". My parents have a bargain bin Christmas CD with an arrangement of this tune that starts with a tuba playing the melody. I LOVE it, but have never found time to "give" it to myself.
I want to do more decorating for Christmas than I already have but am having a hard time finding time. That's common, right? When to get the tree? Where to put the tree? When to clean the living room that is currently a staging area for home improvement?
We are staying home for Christmas this year- I will be too uncomfortable pregnancy-wise to travel any distance- so anyone who wants to see us is coming to us...which means we need to be reasonably put together. AHHHHHH!
Weston awoke from his nap today with a 102.6 fever! We made it to the peds before they closed- so far they think it is just a virus. I hope it runs through quickly. Poor guy.
We were up last night with what I thought was "terrible two" type stuff- but maybe he was feeling yucky then. He was only up 1 hour- I couldn't fall back asleep thanks to the baby in my belly, etc., and so was up for 4 hours. Tired Mama. Guilty- horrible feeling mama for thinking he was testing me when really he might have been sick last night. If anyone is wondering, I won the crappy Mom of the year award today- so you are off the hook.
Weston and I are on our own tomorrow. We had plans to see a friend and her 3 month old- but with a virus, we aren't welcome and really don't want to share. I hope it goes better than today.
I have ~3 weeks worth of my winter course to write and want to have it done in December. I know I will- but don't have any daycare next week- she's on vacation- so I am trying to figure out when it will happen. I might ask my M-I-L to come help out- she has graciously offered. Oh how I wish my mom lived close too.
I would love a glass of wine right now- but am using lots of self-control and restraint. Don't worry. No wine here. Or beer. Perhaps when this baby is here, however, a growler of Barley's raspberry wheat ale will make it to my house. I can hope.
I love online Christmas shopping.
Perhaps tomorrow Weston and I will make a gingerbread house. That might be fun (and tasty)- we'll see if he is up for it! (note that I tried to end on a positive note...I am stressed, but I can do this...I know I can.)

For more leftovers, visit Sippy Cups.

21 months

2010-12-03T19:57:00.000-05:00

Dear Weston,

Yesterday was your 21 month day and you celebrated by waking up at 5 AM. Yeah! I was so tired the rest of the day that I sort of forgot it was your 21 month day. Time seems to be flying so quickly- we are almost at your second Christmas.

Last month we visited Great Grandma Jean in NYC for Thanksgiving. You were NOT a fan of the Macy's Day Parade balloons. We stood on 72nd street near the Dakota building and you cried and yelled "bye" each time a balloon came into view. I can't blame you- they were huge objects floating above the heads of thousands. That was a Thanksgiving to remember, for sure. Here you are running on Grandma Jean's roof- so fun!

Since last month, you have cut all your canines (wow!) and have developed the recent desire to vacuum. That is, you like me to actually plug in the small dust broom that I use for our hard floors and you know how to use the buttons to turn it on. My family room rug has never been so cleanly vacuumed. Several times a day you take care of the dirt and crumbs. You may be more efficient, and certainly more cute, than a roomba.

You are bright, determined, cheerful and loving.

Love, Mom and Dad

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-23T19:48:00.000-05:00

A bulleted list:

We are 2 days away from Thanksgiving- that is crazy! Time flies quickly- even faster when you have kids it seems.
I am 25 weeks and change- meaning the baby will be here in 15 weeks. If that isn't enough to scare me silly, I'm not sure what is!
It is getting harder to sleep at night and I know we are just at the beginning of the sleeplessness of pregnancy. It is hard when it is opposite when Weston is awake- that makes double awake time for me. Add the baby- it'll be 3!
I am gearing up for my favorite parade of the year- the NYC Macy's Day Parade. I can't wait.
Weston finally cut his lower left canine- the right one is nearly there. I pray it happens tonight.
Weston was eating any and every "strange" food today- foods he's never touched: rice, ham, pizza- he was all over it. Is this a new leaf? Or a result of the tooth breaking through?
I spent this AM writing a course for this winter- I think it'll be a fun but challenging one. I hope the students learn and appreciate.

I am thankful for friends, family and a great job that allows me to stay home.

New for Weston

2010-11-17T19:36:00.000-05:00

This has been a week of new things for Weston- some are not completely new, but I haven't shared them here. Forgive the bullet points!

Weston has tried out the "big boy" bed in my study- twice in the last 2 days. He uses the stool to get into the bed, asks to be covered up and today even wanted his blankie. He is just pretending- but it is progress in a very good direction, given that somebody else will be using his crib this spring! He looks like such a big boy in this picture!
We have returned to using Johnson's bedtime bath and lotion. That means that Weston has had a bubble bath 2 nights in a row- he is in awe. He likes to put the bubbles on his face (in his mouth) and have me put them on his tummy. I am not going to say anything about the sleep effects that this pattern has brought because I don't want to jinx anything, but we will continue to use it!
Weston has started to gnaw on crayons. This morning he was exceptionally quiet in his playroom. We haven't had a crayon eating issue previously- so the crayons were out with the paper. No more. I found the boy guiltily gnawing on red, black and orange. You could tell by the look on his face that he knew better but just couldn't help himself. The crayons are now in a drawer.
Weston "helped" me make an applesauce cake this afternoon- my college roommate's favorite recipe! He pulled up the chair when he saw what I was doing, got himself a spoon and helped himself to a big spoonful of batter. Mmmmm! He is my child. :-)
I now keep my car locked in the garage because somebody (a 20 month old somebody) likes to open the passenger door, crawl across to the drivers door and "drive" the car. When I don't allow Weston to do this either by removing him from the situation or by having the car locked- we have a full out temper-tantrum. Even in store parking lots. Awesome...no.

My sweet boy is growing up right before my very eyes. It is amazing. The baby inside of me seems to be much more active than Weston was- but my placenta is also not in the front this time- so I can feel things more. Fatigue has set in this week- but I am managing. It is so hard to believe that next week is Thanksgiving- where has the fall gone?!

My job is going really well. I really like what I am doing and like my schedule. I feel blessed. I still feel like I need to "get away", but I feel blessed.

Grrrr...

2010-11-11T20:08:00.000-05:00

If I wasn't nearly 24 weeks pregnant, I would think I was PMSy...yep- that's how good I'm feeling right now. We were supposed to "get away" this weekend to Amish country with Weston and the in-laws. I was really looking forward to it. Tom even took tomorrow off work to extend the weekend. Yesterday, however, Weston was sick and was once again diagnosed with an ear infection. So- obviously, being the "good" mother that I am, we are home. I don't want to sit home, however, accomplishing nothing and wasting the time at our house when we have so much to do to prepare for baby 2's arrival. My feeling is that if we aren't going to "get away", then we should at least be productive. Anyone out there agree?

~~I won't gripe anymore.~~ My baby needs to go to bed so that he can get better. Bedtime has not been going well and tonight, despite motrin, antibiotics and ear infection, is no different. Unfortunately.

Perhaps my need to "get away" is even stronger than previously because I am a full time worker from home and a full time mommy. That is a lot and it is all from home! I love that I am home and can be home- but once in a while the need to get out of this place is overwhelming. I'm there. But with a sick kid, we can't be there. I feel guilty for even thinking about that. I'm being selfish. So- I'm turning to my driver-self and trying to get things done (or "drive" people who don't want to be driven).

Yeah. I feel great.

I nearly lost it when the woman from our bank, with whom we are refinancing our house, called our home phone TWICE during bedtime tonight despite being asked TWICE to e-mail as first mode of communication. I called her back and politely asked her AGAIN to e-mail as first mode of communication and tried to explain why. I was professional- but my nerves were firing quickly underneath the surface. Geesh...

Anyone want to get away with me? I need it. Even for an hour.

Happy 20 month day Weston!

2010-11-02T19:44:00.000-04:00

Dear Weston,

Today you are 20 months old. It is hard to believe- you are growing up so quickly. This month you had your 3rd ear infection, grew 2 new teeth (top canines), and went trick or treating as a scary tiger. We also took a trip to Maine to see Grandma Kate and Grandpa Glenn, including a visit to the Fryeburg Fair, and were visited by Grandma Carol and Uncle Mike. It was a busy month! You are going to daycare 2 mornings a week and are doing well with it. We are through the transition and things seem to be running smoothly (knock on wood!).

You are also going through a growth spurt currently. That means that if we don't feed you extra food RIGHT before bed, you must wake up at midnight demanding to eat. It was tiring until we figured it out. Some nights you just wanted to hug me (and kick) and the baby on the inside wanted to kick too- not fun for Mama! Last night you stayed up until 10 PM because you were still hungry- sometimes I just can't tell and you were being very pleasant sitting with us.

That is the truth. You are a pleasant, fun little boy. Climbing on top of things is a a joy for you. You love playing the electric guitar when Dad gets home from work. You say "Hi Daddy" whenever you see him. You also love to play the piano and sing, vacuum, mop and sweep. Your favorite place to "sit" is the baby car seat on base, that we brought up from the basement to try to fit in the car with your carseat for when your new brother or sister arrives. You don't know about your new brother or sister yet, but have noticed my tummy- you like to hug it, rest on it and pat it. You also like to poke my belly button.

Today, we celebrated by taking a trip to the zoo- we had a blast. It was chilly, but we were plenty warm in our coats and hats. It was fun going to the zoo and getting to spend time with the animals without a lot of extra people around- you could see and do what you wanted to do!

We had to wear our tiger pants to the zoo, obviously.

Roar!!!

The male lion was very close to the fence...Mom was nervous to go to the exhibit he was so close and huge!

Did you know that baby silver langurs are orange? Very sweet.

Happy Days Weston,

We love you!

Mom and Dad

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T19:53:00.000-04:00

I must say that we have the cutest little tiger on our block. When we took Weston upstairs this evening after dinner to put on his costume he was really confused. He really thought- it should be bath time- why are we putting on more clothes? And then, we put a hat on him and took him outside. "Seriously parents, what are we doing?" He got the hang of it after a while and we had fun. When we got home, he had a quick yogurt for snack and then fell asleep after 1 book. Tired boy! Here are some pictures from our day today- enjoy!

Helping Dad scoop goop out of his pumpkin.

Asking mom if he can use the knife on hers...please mom?

Jumping on his sandbox- he is a climber! (Notice our new privacy fence in the background!)

Ready to trick or treat! Isn't he a cute tiger? Roar! It was chilly out, but Weston was triple layered under his costume. He looked like a linebacker! We passed out toothbrushes- Weston was sure to pick his favorite color before we left the house...orange. :-)

Heading out with Mama! (Notice the big belly on Mom- 22 weeks today).

Brushing teeth after eating a candy corn pumpkin. He has no idea about candy other than two candy corn pumpkins from today. I think we'll keep it that way for a while.

Exciting things

2010-10-26T20:09:00.000-04:00

As I sit and type this, I am listening to Weston try to go to sleep. It has been an odd week for him and he isn't sure that he is ready to go to be and miss Mama and Dada (even though it is a full hour after his normal bedtime). He occasionally shouts out for Dad or squeals in delight. I am not sure what is so exciting, but boy, it must be great! I've already been in twice. Once to reiterate that it is really bedtime and the second time to give another drink of water, read one more book, etc. Tom is down for the count- fighting a cold- so I'm trying to hold the fort down until all are asleep.

Yesterday I went to my new place of employment 2 hours away. I had meetings all day, mostly centered around getting me all "hooked up" technologically speaking. Very exciting. I like my new computer set-up and I feel like the tech resources at said university are really great. They are definitely there to help me do my job- teach students. I also got to meet in person a lot of my new colleagues- I feel lucky to be welcomed into such a great team. After I got setup at the house here this AM, I got lots of work done. Great feeling.

Grandma Carol played with Weston all day yesterday- which was wonderful. We are lucky that she lives close enough and loves to come play when I have to travel for work. Because of my meetings, however, I only got to see Weston ~1 hour at bedtime yesterday and then today Weston went to daycare in the AM. I think he misses us? Not sure. Also, tonight is the first night in over a week that he hasn't had a runny nose or other visible cold symptoms. Perhaps he is feeling great and isn't sure he wants to go to bed!

Right now, a tinier munchkin is kicking me from the inside- wanting to get in on the action. When I feel such deliberate movement, not just the tickling or flutters of recent weeks, it reminds me how much is going to change how quickly. Sort of hard to believe- can't quite comprehend it yet.

Ok- now I am going in for a third time- I'm going to strip the boy down...is he wet? Is he hungry...I must get to the bottom of this!

Where to begin?

2010-10-23T21:03:00.000-04:00

I realize that it has been a very long time since I have posted...life has gotten very busy! I accepted a full time Assistant Professor job (distance learning) at a big college of nursing 2 hours from where we live. I only have to travel there a few times a quarter (one will be this Monday), but it takes a lot of my "free" time during the week. I love the professional fulfillment and the idea of blending my worlds. I am excited about the position and where it might lead! Weston is going to daycare two mornings a week and despite the head colds he has brought home, I think the benefits for him are worth it. The socialization, the realization that Mommy is coming back to pick him up, and the change of environment are all good. It has been a challenge for me- I like the time to do work- but deal with the Mommy guilt of being more relaxed to work while he is away and the guilt when I drop him off...but we are both doing better.

Life is also very busy because I am more tired than usual (although not more tired than this summer...). I'm growing a new family member and that zaps what little time/energy I have left beyond teaching and Weston. We're due in early March- right around when Weston turns 2. Yep, it was planned. Yes- I am pretty far along and didn't share until our recent 20 week u/s. Nope, we don't know whether the baby is a girl or boy and want to be surprised. This has been a very different pregnancy from my last one in some respects, but very similar in others. The differences are part of the reason we were wary to share until now. But, the baby is growing well and with all the kicking/swimming I feel, I can only assume that he or she is happy.

We went to Maine to visit my parents over Columbus Day weekend and nobody got sick! It was great! Weston didn't sleep through the night once while we were there (YAWN), but the days were great and fortunately he did nap well in Maine. We visited the Fryeburg Fair, the coast, enjoyed some fresh fish and had a fun time running around in the woods with Grandma and Grandpa. Weston wanted to be outside the whole time we were there- I think that was why he was up at night- he wanted to play. Couldn't figure out why everyone else was asleep where there were so many fun things to do! Sitting on tractors, pushing lawn mowers, brushing teeth, running in the yard with the dogs- all seemed to be on the front of his "to do" list at 2 AM. He did sprout a canine while we were there- and that was certainly part of it- but not all. The second canine should be here any day now- perhaps tonight is the night! :-)

Tom and I just finished working on Weston's Halloween costume. I'm lucky to have a creative husband. I had the idea and the materials and a general concept of how to do it- and he executed wonderfully. You'll have to wait for pictures.

In Tom's world- we bought him a new-to-him 2009 Subaru Outback last Saturday. It is great and has low mileage. Now we are just trying to sell his previous vehicle. Anyone in central Ohio interested? Check it out: http://superchargedcorolla.blogspot.com/

That's all for now- must go put my feet up!

Megan

Happy 19 month day Weston!

2010-10-03T20:16:00.000-04:00

Dear Weston,

Yesterday you turned 19 months old. That seems a lot older than 18 months...you are over the hump of a 1 year old and well on your way to 2! Last month you started "practicing" for being a 2 year old by giving us minor temper tantrums when things didn't go the way you wanted or you got frustrated with yourself. It seems that recently, you have fixed this frustration issue by saying bye-bye to everything, including inanimate objects. It gives you the control- I think. You say bye-bye to your toothbrush or the bathtub when we are done for the night- as opposed to crying because you want to brush more. That is fun.

This month you started going to daycare on a really part time basis, 2 mornings a week. I accepted a new work from home job, but need some good dedicated time to get things done, and so you go to play with Laura twice a week. You sometimes cry when I leave you, but by the time the door is closed, you are running to find fun toys to play with. You are a happy, well adjusted, confident child.

You have really started to enjoy your grandparents. You play with them, learn with them, definitely help them (especially Grandma Kate with cleaning) and are a joy to be around. You even let Grandma Kate bathe you and put you to bed. That is an honor! I think they delight in you as much as your dad and I do. It gives me special pride to know that we are doing well with you and teaching you the right things.

You are great with a spoon and fork- when you want to be. Recently you have started swiping your tray clean when you are done with dinner- this is frustrating to me...because of the mess it makes. We are practicing patience.

You throw balls with your left hand and color alternately with your left and right hands. Your favorite toys right now are cars. You lay on your belly on the floor and make car noises as the cars go forward- then you hand us a car to drive with you.

You are our sweet boy, growing bigger and more independent each day.

We love you Weston!

Mom and Dad

Thank goodness for Mothers. :-)

2010-10-03T20:02:00.000-04:00

My mom was here to visit this week and we were really productive! She had originally booked flights to come out because I was going to be busy with a work commitment on possibly Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. She was coming to take care of Weston. Well, the work commitment got canceled but she still came. We had a really nice time!

We completely moved my office from its old space to the larger spare bedroom so that we can renovate my old office. Now I have a window by my desk, a new bookcase, and a larger desk. We even framed my diplomas (a long time coming!) It'll be great when I get everything filed and organized...my job for tomorrow...
Tom and I got to go on TWO dates! Friday and Saturday nights! And...we had a few hours Saturday morning to look at/ test drive cars.
Mom is a very easy house guest- she makes herself at home, not really asking where things are and she helps to clean and put things away too! The good part is that since she raised/taught me- we have basically the same way of doing things. That is a very good thing.

She wanted to bring Weston back to Maine on the plane with her. I said no. :-) They had a great time together and I had no trust/worry issues when she was in charge and we were out and about. The good part is that we will all get to see my parents in a few days when we head to the 'Hills and the Fryeburg Fayuh! Can't wait! Weston won't know what to do with himself with all this grandparent time. A harsh reality will set in when we come back and he is with "just" mom and dad. :-)