More Son-shine

 

IT'S A BOY!

In case you can't tell what you're looking at in the above photo, picture that the baby has sat on a copying machine. His little bum cheeks are in the right corner of the photo, and his leg bone shows up bright white stretching out to the left of the photo. In the middle of the black area is his little manhood - no guessing, this is for sure a baby boy!

We woke up to four inches of snow on the ground on Wednesday morning. Even still, Joshua's preschool didn't close but simply had a one-hour delay. So, I took him to school and then raced Caleb over to Ma-maw's house and flew to my first doctor's appointment. I wasn't late, but they took me right back. Dr. Jones had no problems finding the baby's heartbeat and said it sounded good. The nurse had also noted that my blood pressure was low. Low is normal for me and normal for pregnancy whereas high can be a sign that something's wrong. So far, everything looks good. Dr. Jones answered my questions and told me that we'd schedule the c-section at my next appointment. Yeah!

You're looking at the baby's head in the middle of the photo above, with the dark circles being the eye sockets. His little back is on the left of the picture.

After my appointment, I drove over the Olive Garden, where I was supposed to meet Shawn for lunch. Unfortunately, my cell phone wasn't charged and died that morning. DOH! And unfortunately for me, Shawn's meeting went LONG and his message on my cell never reached me. Double DOH! So, I waited and waited and waited for him to come, hoping that he was okay on the snowy roads. As luck would have it, friends from our life group had decided to dine there that afternoon as well and upon hearing that I had been there 45 minutes waiting for my dear husband, they offered to let me use their cell phone to call and make sure he was okay. He was indeed fine but running extremely late and now stuck in traffic. Knowing he was on his way, I went and got us a table and ordered our lunch awhile, which came out right away. He arrived shortly thereafter, and he was extremely apologetic. While I was annoyed at first, I remembered before he got there about how much grace he always has for me, so I told him that it wasn't a big deal. It was just bad luck all around! And, we had a nice lunch together even though it was a quick one. Our service was excellent and we made it to our ultrasound in plenty of time. Shawn joked that my low blood pressure worked out to his benefit. Haaa!!! I was just glad he was safe and there.

This was my favorite picture from the ones given to us that day. While it's hard to see here from the scan, the baby is laying ever so peacefully almost on his stomach (how the rest of my boys - including Daddy - like to sleep). His little face is so dear in this picture!

We went right back to our ultrasound, but we had a different tech than normal. I liked the other one better, I'll admit. But, it's the doctor that's most important to me, and we got to see Dr. Bayliss. He told us that everything looks "in tact" with this baby. He's growing very normally, weighing over half a pound already. His brain looks good, his spine looks good, his lungs look good (he actually asked me to diagnose them, joking that I would know as well as anyone if they were healthy or not - this was for the benefit of a student who was shadowing him that day, I think), and his heart looks good. Dr. Bayliss also explained that the placenta is on the back wall. I asked him what that meant, and he said with c-section patients, sometimes the placenta can attach itself to the scar tissue near the incision, which can make it extremely difficult to get the baby out and causes a lot more complications for the mama. Instead, my baby is in a great position, right where he should be.

I thought the baby looked a little alien-esque in this photo, but you can really see his skull, nose, lips and jawline. 

Dr. Bayliss said the face is forming nicely, and he also joked that there's "no need for arrows on this boy's picture - you can definitely tell he's a boy." He also asked if we'd ever seen the show "My Three Sons." While I hadn't, I had heard of it. He joked around with us quite a bit (we talked about how sometimes ugly parents have beautiful children and vice versa) and then he explained to the med student that "The Good's and I go way back." I'm sure that comment was for our benefit, but we always enjoy seeing him. He explains things well and he also makes us laugh. While everything looks great, he said he wanted to see us back toward the beginning of our next trimester just to confirm that the baby's completely healthy (adding that Caleb is a good indication that this baby should also do just fine). We scheduled our appointment on a day where we should be guaranteed to see Dr. Bayliss again.

After hearing his comment on "My Three Sons" I was trying to think of other three's. Of course I thought of the Three Musketeers and the Three Amigos and smiled. Then I thought of the Three Stooges and shook my head. God is a holy trinity, but I don't believe my kids to be deity (even though I think a lot of their Daddy!). There's the three little pigs, and the boys love the story about the three bears (but that was a Daddy, Mommy and Baby so that one doesn't count). Anyway, I don't know if I'll think of more or not, but this was the start of my list.

The baby loves to have his hands by his face. In this photo, you can really see his arm and hand. Every time the tech wanted to see something, our little guy would put his hands right where she wanted to scan. He would also 'run away' as she put it. But, they got what they needed.

Joshua was extremely disappointed to hear that he wasn't going to have a sister after all. As Daddy said, we could always adopt some day. Either way, I know that he'll be thrilled when the baby comes. Caleb has wanted a boy all along, and he insists that we name the baby 'Mater.' Every time I ask him, that's his suggestion. Joshua says 'no, silly, that's a truck!' We laugh. The baby will not be named Mater, but we haven't officially decided on his name yet.

Here's the baby's development over the past couple weeks:

Week 18

Fetal Development

Our little one is nearly half a pound now and very human looking. Pads are forming on the fingertips and toes, and the eyes are looking forward rather than out the sides of the head. Meconium, the baby's first bowel movement, is accumulating within the bowel. If your baby is a boy, his prostate gland is beginning to develop. If you notice your belly making jerky movements in sync, don't panic; your baby may have the hiccups!

Maternal Changes

Feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint are normal during pregnancy. These symptoms aren't harmful unless they occur frequently or severely. "Postural hypotension" is low blood pressure due to a change in position and happens frequently in pregnancy because your cardiovascular system doesn't react as fast.

Inspirational Thoughts

If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much. ~Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Week 19

Fetal Development

Along with the lanugo, vernix caseosa forms on your baby's skin. Vernix is a white cheesy substance that protects your baby's skin from its aquatic environment ~ imagine how your skin would look if you sat in water for nine months! The placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby.

For us, knowing we'll have a c-section, this is the half way mark in the pregnancy! :)

Happy 1/11/11!

On Sunday morning, our family missed going to church for the second week in a row. Caleb had been coughing, and we didn't want to risk getting the other kiddos in his classroom sick. But, we were grateful to Grandma for agreeing to watch the boys at her house that night so we could go to life group. They enjoy playing in her finished basement! We enjoyed having time as a adults with friends. Our evening included a video by a guy (whose name escapes me at the moment) describing a day when he, his wife and his son were shopping at the mall. His son desperately wanted a toy that wouldn't be good for him, and he threw a fit right there at the kiosk, saying "but I thought you loved me!" The father scooped up his two-year-old and took him to the car as he was kicking and screaming. But, the parents knew that they were heading across the street to the sporting goods store, which they had already been planning to do. There, they let the little boy pick out his own kickball, and the little boy was thrilled! The point of the message was that God is the giver of all good gifts, and there are times we think that we want something - to the point that we're upset with God - when He has something even better in store for us. As a group we went around and discussed the questions that were included with the video. It was a good reminder that God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and we don't always see the bigger picture.

On Monday, my original plans were to take the boys to the mall to get Caleb's pictures that we had missed on Friday. But, he was still schnarky, so I called and rescheduled. Instead, Caleb fell asleep in my arms, and I played the 'question' game with Joshua. Cousin Jordon had given us a "Brain Quest" a long time ago that said it was for 5-6 year-olds that was to give children a 'smart start.' When we got it, it was a little too old for the Bean, but I pulled it out as we were reorganizing toys over the weekend, and I used that day to ask the first set of questions to Joshua. I was sincerely impressed that he knew 99% of the answers! The ones that he typically got wrong were dealing with money. I haven't taught him the value of the various types of coins, so he didn't know which ones would add up to 6 cents or would pay for a 35 cent toy, etc. But, the rest he did really well with. I was surprised. He enjoyed the questions game, and took it with him to bed when it was time for him to nap. We continued with the same theme into the evening, so Monday night was family game night at our house. We played Memory as a family, Dominoes, Chutes & Ladders, etc. The kids had a great time!

This date also started a week of palindromes. Each date would be read the same forward or backward. :)

I had been looking forward to Tuesday, January 11 for a long time. I recognized it as being 1/11/11, and I had scheduled a babysitter for that evening so Shawn & I could go out and celebrate (after all, 111 is a special number to me). It was also the start of the women's Bible study. But, the morning didn't go my way at all. Caleb was coughing so hard that he started vomiting. I called my sister, who thankfully took the Bean to preschool and brought him home. She also picked up my materials for me, but I hadn't gotten to go and participate that morning. Caleb was feeling better, but I wasn't sure if we'd get to go out or not. I was feeling a little bummed in general.

But, Grandpa Georgia said he didn't mind the cold that Caleb had so long as he wasn't still throwing up. He also said he didn't mind that the weather was calling for half a foot of snow that night. So, he came over anyway. And while Caleb was extremely pale, he did fine with Grandpa and ate some waffles for dinner (rather than the pizza I made for Joshua & Dad to eat). My husband brought home a beautiful bouquet of roses with him and we went to Carrabbas right down the street with my gift card from Christmas. While the roads were slick (Shawn slid once in the mile home), they were passable. We also ran into our next door neighbors at the restaurant. Great minds think alike! When we got home, the boys said "Daddy, Daddy, it's snowing! Merry Christmas!" We laughed. Silly guys! They were well behaved for Grandpa, who also slid on his way home. After the boys were in bed, Shawn & I started watching the second Narnia movie "Prince of Caspian." I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband. And I'm thankful to Grandpa for watching the boys and the boys for letting us go out and have a night to enjoy! Happy 1/11/11!

Classic Parenting Moment

This morning, I was dealing with Caleb's sickness (which I'll post more about in a bit) and Aunt Jen was coming to pick up Joshua. I knew that even though we had been up for a long time, we were going to be pressed for time to get ready. I asked Joshua to please get dressed while I took Caleb's sheets off his bed. He said "No. I want to play." I explained that we needed to keep moving, so he was all done playing if he wanted to go to preschool. I asked him to go to his room and grab his sneakers. Again, his response was "No." Next, I told him to take off his jammies so we could get dressed. He said "No" in his whiny voice. I was done with the No's. I sat him down and said in a very firm voice that we don't say "no" when Mommy asks us to do something. If he said "no" again, he was getting a time out (which he HATES! No toys and no interaction are torture for him!). I ended our talk with "Now, are you going to say 'NO' again?" He looked at me with big eyes and shook his head saying "Nuh-uh." I giggled. Had I set him up for failure or what? Haaaa!!!

Caleb Turns Two & a Half

Saturday, January 8, was Caleb's 30-month birthday. The night before when we were tucking the boys in bed, Joshua prayed that it would snow more overnight so that he could build a snowman. When he woke up and saw the big white fluffy flakes coming down, the first words out of his mouth were "Thank you, Jesus, for the snow!"

Since it was snowing, we decided to work on indoor projects. The first thing we did that morning was organize our office/play room. We made a box of toys that Caleb has officially outgrown, which we will save for the next baby. Then we organized where we wanted the rest of the toys to go, finding space for the toys the boys had gotten for Christmas. This also required that Joshua take all the toys he had hoarded in his room (where most of the Christmas toys were) and bring them over for us to put away. When their room was empty, Shawn put Caleb's big boy bed up (we had just had him sleeping on his mattress close to the ground) and I put on sheets & a comforter set that we had bought for Joshua back in the day before finding his quilt set. While I like the quilt set better and still hope to find one for Caleb that's identical, this bedding works for now. Now we just need to put up his letters that he got for Christmas.

Speaking of letters, Caleb knows how to spell his name. If you ask him, he will say "C-A-L-E-B." He also spells Joshua, since the Bean says it when we ask. Caleb is a sponge these days. He picks up on everything! I hear him say things that make me think of Daddy & his older brother.

Caleb still has his sweet little voice, though, that melts our hearts. And he'll often cup our face with his hands and tell us "I love you." It is seriously the sweetest thing ever. He'll do it at night or whenever the thought strikes him. He also says "Josh-u-wa" so cute! We love how it sounds almost like a long 'o.' Caleb doesn't always do everything that the Bean wants him to, but Caleb definitely wants his brother nearby.

Caleb's potty training has been going well, I'd say. But, he's sick again. It started off with a barking cough on this special day and has gradually gotten worse and worse. Poor little guy! My guess is that he picked it up at his well check, but you never know. Please pray that he feels better!

Footprints in the Snow

Friday morning, January 7, we woke up to an inch or two of snow on the ground. Joshua wanted to make a snowman, and I told him that there wasn't enough snow to make Frosty. We made a few snowballs and then I asked them who's boot made a larger print, Mama's or there's? Joshua thought the idea of making footprints in the snow was great, so the boys walked all over the yard.

I always think it takes way more time to get them both dressed in their outerwear than it does to enjoy the snow, but it was worth it that day. I have a habit of asking the boys (and Daddy) what their favorite part of the day was, and Joshua said that making footprints in the snow was the most fun for him. I waited until it was a little warmer in the afternoon to take them out, and I think they enjoyed it more that way. They both had on a long-sleeve shirt and a sweater or sweatshirt over top, warm jeans and snow pants, a heavy coat, warm socks, boots, gloves and a hat. Joshua also had his scarf on.

That same afternoon, both boys climbed onto my lap to hear stories. We read bears books and Thomas books and all sorts of stories together. When asked, I said that was the favorite part of my day. I love cuddle time! One of my favorite things is snuggling with a little boy who smells like the syrup from his breakfast. :) :) :)

That night when Daddy came home, we decided to use up the last of our gift card to Joshua's favorite pizza restaurant. I had cooked all week long (spaghetti on Monday night, Chicken & mashed potatoes and a veggie on Tuesday night, Brown Butter noodles & beef with gravy and veggies on Wednesday night, pork & stuffing with a veggie on Thursday night), and I had asked Shawn what sounded good for dinner that night. He suggested we do the pizza restaurant and I wholeheartedly agreed. Joshua said that evening though he was really tired, he was game. :) Both boys ate extremely well. In fact, Caleb had four slices of Alfredo pizza besides some noodles, a bread stick, some peas and a sticky bun!

That week we had watched "Lady & the Tramp" as a family. I had forgotten how cute it was! I loved how Lady called her parents "Darling" and "Jim Dear." The boys loved it, especially with the puppies.

Friday night I gave Caleb Luke a quick bath - Joshua said he'd rather go straight to bed than take a bath, and Daddy agreed to wait until the next night. Then I read them a story (since the Bean was still awake), we did our typical bedtime routine of cuddling with them, singing and saying prayers, and then Daddy & I went downstairs to enjoy a movie since the boys got to bed in record time. It was a nice day overall!

2.5 Year Caleb Well-Check

On Wednesday, January 5, Caleb & I dropped Joshua off at preschool and then headed straight to the pediatrician's office for his 2.5 year well-check-up. We arrived early and went into the well child room. I explained to Caleb that the other room where most of the toys are is for kids who are really sick, and we want him to stay healthy. When other kids came in, he said a prayer for them, ending with "in Jesus' name, AMEN!" I thought it was so sweet. He so wanted to play with the other kids - here he is making a friend through the glass!

It took awhile for them to call us back, but eventually it was our turn to go see Dr. Tifft. First, they had him take off his shoes and step onto the scale. Afterward, they had him stand against the wall to measure his height. Even differences in how they take measurements remind me of how big my little 'Bluke is getting! Here are his stats:

Weight: 31 lbs (64.96%)
Height: 37" (72.7%)

So, my little guy is over three feet tall, and according to the doctor his BMI is 38%, which is good. Dr. Tifft said he's growing normally and looks healthy. Before he came in, the nurse was there taking his measurements and asking us the normal routine questions. As I heard how tall he was, I said "where did my baby go?" to which Caleb replied loudly "It's in your belly!" The nurse laughed, and I smiled. I said "why, yes, but I meant my baby Caleb... he's getting to be such a big boy!" Caleb smiled back. He loves to be a big boy!

After the nurse left when we were in the room all by ourselves, Caleb looked at me and then pointed to the instruments on the wall and said "I don't want them in my ears!" I knew that they would check his ears, but I just started playing another game with him. Dr. Tifft came in shortly thereafter and asked me all sorts of questions. He seemed legitimately surprised that Caleb knew his entire alphabet and their sounds already, as well as his numbers. I explained that we have an older son, too, and the doctor reminded me that while older brother may help, truly it has to be Caleb's capacity to learn the information. He noted how intelligent our little guy is. :)

He also asked me if he's developed a hand preference, and I replied that he typically uses his right. Dr. Tifft said that most children show their preference by age 3, so that makes me think that Caleb's a righty and Joshua is most definitely a lefty. (Daddy prayed for a left-handed pitcher, so we'll see!) Dr. Tifft also asked us how potty training was going, and I said we were just starting to have major success in that area (he's been keeping dry other than nap times and overnight - or when we put a diaper or pull-up on him to go out - but those are times that he chooses to do his official business, too.) Dr. Tifft said that the average age for a boy is 3.5 years, so it's fine to start working on it if Caleb shows interest and it's fine to wait if he loses interest. I'm hoping we'll just keep the momentum going!

Dr. Tifft noted that Caleb rubbed his cheek and it turned red and scratchy. He gave that condition a name (which I promptly forgot and much to my dismay is not written on my paperwork). He asked if Caleb had any allergies, and I responded that there are none to the best of my knowledge. The doctor said that sometimes skin like this is a sign of allergies, but it doesn't have to be. If we see any changes, we can contact the office. Otherwise, it's nothing to be concerned about. In fact, he said that Caleb is a healthy little guy who is growing nicely.

He asked me about his temperament and then he started his evaluation of my Bluke, telling him to sit on my lap rather than making him get onto the table. Caleb climbed up onto me and put both his hands over his ears. Dr. Tifft chuckled and said "I'm taking it that you don't want me to look into your ears today." He listened to his heart and breathing, checked his eyes, checked under his pull-up (when Caleb's hands left his ears!), and then told my little one that he had to look in his ears. He explained to Caleb that if he didn't move, it wouldn't hurt at all. The more still he could be, the easier it would be to see, and there would be no pain involved. So, Caleb cooperated and I asked him afterward if it hurt, and he said no.

Then Dr. Tifft let Caleb pick out a sticker and told him to get one for his brother, too, which I thought was sweet. Caleb picked one for himself that said "SUPER!" and another one that said "OH YEAH!" I told him what both of them said, and he kept them apart, knowing which was which when it came time to give one to his big brother. Joshua was thankful for his sticker and gave Caleb a big hug for getting it for him. It was a good check-up!

The Last Day of Winter Break

Monday, January 3, was Joshua's last day off of preschool for the winter break. Since Daddy didn't get a day off for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day (because it landed on a Saturday), he also had some time on Monday to spend with us. We went to the mall to make a return, and we took the boys downstairs to eat lunch and play at the playground. They had a blast! I love when they get to run and burn off energy in the winter. It was a fun day together.

I must share a story about how 'old' my beloved Joshua is getting. As we were all sitting at the little table and the boys were enjoying their chicken nuggets, he got up and said "I'll be back in a minute." Um... excuse me? I said "Where are you going?" He replied "I have to go potty." He was fully intending on going by himself! While he goes on his own at home, there was no way I'd let him go to the mall bathrooms alone. So, I explained that he'd have to go with one of us. I'm so glad that the mall has family bathrooms, too. I dread the thought of him going to the men's room without me some day!

Another 'grown up' moment this week: I asked Joshua why his teacher wanted him to bring in gloves or mittens to class one day. The explanation we as parents got was "have your student bring them to class; they will be returned to you at the end of the day." I didn't know if she had explained to the kiddos what they were doing, so I asked the Bean. His response? In a very matter of fact voice, he looked at me and said "I don't know - we'll see!" The way he said "we'll see" sounded SO adult that I giggled. He is getting bigger by the day!

But there are also times that I'm reminded of just how little he is. We called Daddy's cell phone one night, expecting that he would be on his way home. Instead, he was still busy at work. I had our phone on speaker, and Joshua said "Daddy, it's dark now, so it's time for you to please come home. We're missing you!" The way he said it in his little voice made my heart melt. I'm sure Shawn felt the same way. He promised to leave ASAP and come home to us. :)

'P' is for Potty

On Monday, January 3, Caleb finally had his first real success in the potty. And he's been going ever since! We've had a couple accidents where he told us he needed to go and we didn't quite make it, but we've had more success than not overall. If we put a pull-up or diaper on him, he goes in it immediately. But he seems to grasp that he should keep his big boy undies dry. Please pray for continued success!

We gave him one M&M for doing such a great job. Each time he goes, he gets one. He LOVES them! While this reward system never really worked with Joshua, Caleb looks forward to his tiny piece of chocolate, and his favorite color of M&M is blue. I think how he says M&M is adorable. He keeps asking for his "M's." He'll say "I need an M!" Love it! Shawn & I both think it's so cute. Great job, little buddy! Let's try to be potty trained completely before the baby comes! :) :) :)

Yeah, Buddy!

Cousin Jess told us about a website that will print your blog in book form. I finally figured out how to format the pages (which takes a LONG time!), and it costs a small fortune (my first book of years 2006-2007 cost $65 to print with a coupon). But, I was thrilled that I could print out the memories that I've been recording. After all, I haven't done a great job with keeping up with the baby books, but I do try to get many things into the blog when I have time.

Last night after I had spent a couple hours working on the year 2008 (after the boys were in bed), it dawned on me that they may never read these books. The first one was almost 300 pages, and this next one looks to be even longer. Will they ever be interested in what they were doing as a baby enough to read them? Truthfully, I don't know. And then the thought occurred to me that God must feel the same disappointment I felt at that moment. After all, the Book He created for us to read is meant to help us on this journey of life, give us wisdom to make the right choices, and to know Him and grow closer to Him. I've read the entire Bible, but I can't say that I know it all. There's always more to learn!

I hope that some day the boys will want to read about their childhood when they have extra time. But, more than that, I hope that they want to read the Bible everyday, as it is God's inspired Word.

More Celebrations!

On New Year's Day (1/1/11 - cool number!) the kids woke us up early, even though they had stayed up late. The boys & I went to Aunt Jen's house to enjoy pork & sauerkraut for a prosperous New Year while Daddy stayed home in hopes of a nap. But, he didn't end up sleeping, I don't think, as I saw that he had adjusted the crib up to its baby height and did some other things around the house. He's such a good husband! The boys enjoyed playing with their cousins, and Joshua was devastated when it was time to go. He was so exhausted, though, that he fell asleep (as did Caleb) in Aunt Jen's driveway as she came out to look at our new ride. They also sent along some pork & sauerkraut with me and I devoured the leftovers the next few days. While I'm not normally a huge fan of sauerkraut (I don't hate it but I wouldn't say I love it), the baby must REALLY like it because I couldn't get enough. I was sad when it was all gone.

Sunday morning we headed up to Berks County for our last Christmas gathering. As we were wrapping our gifts the night before, we realized that two of them hadn't shown up yet - DOH! We hadn't worried about them since we knew we had an extra week for them to arrive, and then lo and behold we forgot until it was too late. So, we'll have to make a special delivery.

We enjoyed a nice big breakfast of scrambled eggs, waffles, grapes & bananas, biscuits & sausage gravy, potatoes and bacon. Everything was delicious. Poor Caleb Luke desperately wanted bacon, too, but we said no as it typically comes back up. Joshua didn't want to eat; he was there to play with his cousins! Once again, they enjoyed hunting down the kitty cat. Soon enough it was time to open gifts. Caleb got some nice trains and tracks (thanks so much!) and Joshua got a little Mac truck with a Lightning inside that he had asked for, along with Ham (or Evil Dr. Porkchop) and Jeremy the Airplane. He also got two new sweaters, one of which he's wearing to school today. I told Joshua to hold up his Ham to show me so I could take a picture, but he thought I said 'hand.' I giggled and took it anyway.

Both boys were still tired from not catching up on their sleep from the holiday weekend, so we left just before 2 pm and once again they passed out in the car before we even hit the street. It was a nice morning, though.

It's in the Bag

Joshua has been joined at the hip to 'bags' now for several months. We would hear "I want the bag" if we were handing out treats, crackers, fries or anything that can come in what looks like a bag. Thankfully, Caleb was okay with getting a pile and we could give Joshua his beloved bag.

Now the bag has turned into a carrying tool for his toys. He has become a bag lady, or man. He has been a hoarder of toys for some time now but as he collects more and more, they become cumbersome to carry around. So, he started putting small toys in a bag that his Cars toys came in. Then he moved on to the gallon-size baggies that carry more toys (I may have started those as I would pack suitcases for trips; I would organize toys into smaller bags for easy access). Then he received toys in gift bags at Christmas and he would load them up with more toys. Most recently, he has a GI-NORMOUS handled bag from Gymboree that stores his little Mac truck, his new Ham/Evil Dr. Pork Chop, his Jeremy the Airplane, his King & Chick Hix, various trains and cars, his Leapster, and more! Whatever it is that he can't part with that day goes into the bag, and he lugs it around with him everywhere, even taking it to bed with him. He was devastated when the bag ripped. It simply can't hold all his precious things. And while he doesn't mind sharing some things, he likes to keep his important stuff close to him.

Shawn & I just laugh most days about the bag. Our Bean will either grow out of this phase (and I'll be glad I have this record of the memory) or he will grow up to be on that show Hoarders that I've never seen but heard about. Silly Joshua! ;-)

New Year's Eve

The Bean woke up just before 5 am on New Year's Eve. He came over and hopped into bed with us, hoping for some snuggle time. But, much to his dismay, Daddy was getting up to get ready and leave for work. Joshua cried and cried that Daddy left before the sun came out. I explained that New Year's Eve is a busy day for Daddy at work, where they do inventory. He said "Christmas Eve?" Nope, but it's still another holiday. :) He cuddled with me for a little while and then asked to be carried back to his bed. I took him over and tucked him in, and he slept past 8 am that morning! In fact, Grandpa Georgia came over to see our new minivan, and it was the doorbell that woke him up (Caleb had gotten up before him but hadn't been up throughout the night). Grandpa enjoyed a cup of hot tea while Caleb ate his breakfast (Joshua was not interested in eating that morning), and then we showed him our new ride. After he left, we decided to venture outdoors because it was a gorgeous day out (for PA, that is).

It was sunny and the temperature was above 40 degrees, or perfect weather to go for a walk around the neighborhood. I always ask the boys to tell me what they see, and we often talk about the same things that they notice. But, Joshua pointed at one tree that was still hanging on to quite a few of its dead leaves. We had not noticed it before. He was sad that everything was brown and not green. Yes, my little love, winter is a rough season! When we got back from our walk, we played in the garage and driveway. Joshua wrote his name, and Caleb wrote a 'C.' Then Joshua finished Caleb's name for him, and they continued to draw pictures. Thereafter, they got in their cozy coupe cars and went to the 'store' to buy some milk & cookies (now that we know Santa likes them). They were having a blast! Eventually, though, we came in because it was time for naps. I made a quick lunch of leftover ham, easy mac 'n cheese and peas & carrots (since the boys love them) and they both ate a little bit before passing out.

Daddy got out of work a little earlier than I was expecting, but not in enough time to get a much-needed nap before the boys were awake and pouncing on him. He's such a good dad! Instead, we got ready and headed out to Joshua's favorite pizza restaurant, where we used our gift card. The kids ate relatively well, and the place was PACKED! From there, we headed up to Nonie & Poppy's house, and the boys were so excited to see their cousin Jordon (pictured with them - thanks for the photos, Nonie!). We dropped the boys off and left to go see a movie called "the Fighter." It was based on a true story, and while a boxing movie would not normally be my favorite, it was pretty good. Shawn loved it. He also enjoyed just relaxing after a long day at work. When the movie was over, we tried to stop at Starbucks for some caffeine, but they were already closed. So, we headed back to Nonie & Poppy's where we visited with them for awhile and their company. The boys were "trying to find the kitty" (as Caleb kept telling us). Their cat does NOT like the attention and runs and hides, so the boys kept looking for her, and when they would find her, she'd run off again. They thought this was a FANTASTIC game, which kept them occupied most of the evening. 

We changed Caleb into his PJs - Joshua got changed by himself in the bathroom - and since we could tell they were both tired, we said our goodbyes and headed for home. We walked in the door around 11:30 pm, and we tucked an already-sleeping Caleb into bed. We took turns snuggling with the Bean and tucked him into his covers, and by the time we got into our pajamas, it was close to midnight. We turned on the TV in our bedroom to watch the ball drop in Times Square, turning it off after wishing each other a Happy New Year and passing out from a long day. But, before we nodded off, I said "Oh my! We're going to have another baby this year!" And that was it before I heard the soft consistent breathing of my exhausted unconscious husband. Happy New Year!

2010 Comes to an End

The week before Christmas & New Year's is a bit of a blur. Caleb was still getting over the stomach bug for the first couple days, so we stayed at home. But, thankfully, the boys had LOTS of new toys to play with, so they were happy and busy! Joshua would carry around his new MAC and dancing truck, and both have slept with him in bed most naps and nights. Both boys play with Caleb's new laptop and love playing the letter games. Joshua also loves his Leapster and plays with it until the batteries die, which Daddy will charge up and replace. One of Caleb's new favorites is his Drako hamster (which squeaks and moves all around on the floor). He also enjoys his new puppy (the fake variety that barks and walks at the command of a remote), and his new Rex dinosaur. We've played dominoes and memory, and we've done lots of coloring and some of the various crafts we had bought the boys. And, we've heard the story of Christmas narrated by the Ginder's over and over and over again. The boys made me laugh over and over again throughout the week, but alas, if I don't write the things they say down right away, I forget.

That week, I started de-decorating. The boys were really sad that we were taking the ornaments off their Christmas tree. I mean really, really sad. I told them that Christmas comes every year, and we'll put everything back out next December. But, to a little guy, that seems like forever.

Wednesday morning, Mamaw came over to see the boys' toys. That night, she also watched the boys so Shawn & I could use up the rest of the gift card he had for Applebee's and I could exchange a pair of pants at Target. Thursday morning, we went out to breakfast with Grandpa Georgia since we had canceled on him on Sunday. We also gave him his Christmas gifts then. That night, he came back over to our house to watch the boys for an hour so we could go look at minivans.

We had been looking at them for awhile and test driven many different models. We ended up purchasing a 2011 Toyota Sienna that night in my favorite dark gray color. We had talked before going about what was important to us feature-wise and what was not a 'must have.' I had said that I MUST have power doors because I wanted the sensor that their hands wouldn't be broken in those heavy doors if one were to close (our babysitter's mom just had off for 6+ weeks from getting her wrist smashed in their minivan, which they have since gotten rid of). That feature is not standard in all vans but was important to me for the safety of our kids. The second feature that I wanted but wasn't a complete necessity was a back-up camera because again, I worry about the safety of our kids, particularly if they would be playing in our driveway, etc. When we went, this van that we test drove had both those features but not a ton of the other ones that we didn't care that much about. It did, however, have things like blue tooth and the buttons to program your garage door opener, an MP3 player jack, and other features that I'm sure I'll enjoy even though I wasn't looking for them. I also LOVE the amount of cup-holders it has, and the fact that it can seat seven or eight, depending on if you leave the sit in the middle of the captains chairs in the middle of the van. And again, not that it really matters, but it's also nice that all the seats can recline for comfort. While that won't happen with the car seats with our kids for awhile, adults would really enjoy this feature, particularly on long trips.

They gave us more on our trade than we were expecting (which we realize it's all a number's game and it's really about the bottom line), and we felt like we got a fair deal when all was said and done. It also comes with two years free maintenance (including oil changes, etc). We're happy to now have enough space to bring home the baby when it's time, and we're also happy that we won't have to worry about the one car we have that's big enough for our family breaking down. I think we'll have this vehicle for a long, LONG time!

Joshua loves the new ride (telling us that he'd like to have a minivan when he grows up), but he keeps asking where my car is. I realized we had the Escape ever since he was a baby, so it seemed strange to him that we wouldn't be traveling in it anymore.

As I thought about 2010 coming to an end, I thought about what a great year it was. We took two trips to Florida as a family, I celebrated my 30th birthday, we enjoyed watching our two little boys turn another year older and continue to develop healthily, I finished the draft of the book I was working on, we met new friends, and we conceived our third child. There's so much more we could celebrate, and we did all along the way! I am most blessed by my husband and children, our family and friends, and our Lord Jesus. With such a great year behind us, I'm looking forward to 2011!

A Sick Bluke

Saturday night into Sunday morning, Caleb came into our room with Joshua. He said "I'm all wet - I spilled." I was SO tired and incoherent, I wasn't grasping what he was saying. I got up and his jammies were indeed wet. We checked his sippy cup and realized that the sippy was still in the cup. Then it occurred to us what he was saying when we checked out his sheets. He was telling us he "spit" (or the boys word for vomit that my mom taught them). He was sick...EXTREMELY sick. He began to heave again in my arms, and I raced him to the bathroom to stand over the toilet. But, I think he was completely empty. I cleaned him up and got him fresh PJs while Daddy took care of the sheets (praise God for my helpful husband!). We got the boys back to bed and nodded off ourselves.

 

Sunday morning, we were supposed to meet Grandma Georgia for breakfast. I called him at 6:30 am to let him know that we wouldn't be there and why. Caleb continued to be sick that morning and took a morning nap - the first time in well over a year. I called Nonie & Poppy at 9:30 am to let them know that we wouldn't be joining them for dinner either that night. I prayed and prayed and prayed for my snuggly little Caleb Luke and that the rest of us wouldn't get his stomach bug. After nap time Caleb woke up and had a little color back and his eyes didn't look so glassy. He was thirsty, and thankfully Daddy had gotten some Pedialyte (at my request) while he was out at the store. We gave Caleb small sips of the drink, and he seemed to perk up. He even played for a little while. Then the diarrhea started. I don't remember ever seeing it this bad - thankfully it had been awhile since either boy had been sick. Caleb got several baths that night and the following two days, but thanks to God his vomiting was over. I called the pediatrician to see what types of food were safe for him to eat, and beyond bananas they suggested yogurt, bland cereal, and starchy foods like mashed potatoes. He had a little appetite the next day, and he enjoyed the Cheerios and bananas that we gave him (we also offered him the other things but he wasn't as excited for those). By the fourth day, he was completely better, and Joshua never got sick. Praise the Lord! I am thrilled to start the New Year on a healthy note!

Say My Name, Say My Name

At some point during the week of Christmas, Joshua told me that the baby's name should be "Minnie." He's been enjoying the movie "Twice Upon a Christmas" which features the different Mickey Mouse characters. I thought the name was especially cute, knowing that the baby is indeed "mini" right now! In fact, I decided that it's a great nickname for the little one. For, if it's a girl, Minnie works just fine (in fact, my mom's grandmother's name was Minnie). If it's a boy, "Mini" like "Mini-Me" from the Austin Powers movie also works. I didn't say much more about it, but every time we talk about the baby, Joshua tells me that the baby's name is Minnie. I just smile. He's so excited for the baby! And while it's sad that Christmas is over, I'm so glad that we have the ultrasound to look forward to on 1/12. :)

Here's what's been going on gestation-wise for the past couple weeks:

Week 16

Fetal Development

 Fingernails and toenails are growing too. In fact, some babies need their nails clipped right after birth!If you haven't already, you may begin to feel movement as the baby's bones harden. If you are somewhat overweight, have a thick uterus, and/or if this is your first pregnancy, you may not be feeling baby yet or feeling baby regularly. Don't panic! You will soon. The legs are now longer than the arms, and s/he is moving those arms and legs frequently, especially since there's still lots of room to move within the uterus.
Maternal Changes
Do you have a stuffy nose or nosebleeds? As mentioned before, your blood volume increases 40% - 50%. This affects your estrogen levels which in turn swells your nasal membranes. This increased blood volume also causes your heart to work harder to support your pregnancy. This isn't a problem for a healthy heart. Your ligaments continue to stretch, and you may be feeling achiness and pain in your abdomen.

Week 17

Fetal Development

This is a period of rapid growth as the fat begins to form underneath the baby's skin. Baby and placenta are about equal in size now. The tiny heart is pumping as much as 25 quarts of blood a day! The reflexes are probably in place now as the baby sucks, swallows and blinks.

Merry Christmas!

The boys came barreling into our room just after 6 am. They told us that they slept in their beds all night and even though they heard Santa, they didn't go downstairs. I have no doubt that Joshua waited until the sun came up to come get us, just to make sure it was officially morning. I'm teaching him how to tell time, but we haven't put an actual clock in his room yet. But, when the sun is up, coming over is fair game. They were SO excited to see if Santa had left them gifts.

So, they went downstairs and while the tree had nothing under it when they went to bed, they saw all the presents and were extremely pleased. Then they check to see if the cookies and milk were gone, and sure enough, there was an empty plate and glass waiting for them!

So, we let them open gifts, one at a time. Here's Caleb unwrapping one of his. Off the top of my head, he received a gigantic set of Mr. Potato Head pieces, a set of tools, a little zhu-zhu hamster named Drako, a remote-control car, a snow globe that his picture goes into, a new Connex set, a set of puzzles, some different craft activities, and a Cars wallet. I'm sure I'm missing some things, but these are the "highlights."

I can tell these pictures are out of order, but here's the Bean opening one of his gifts. He received a Jessie doll, a Dora Leapster game, a craft suitcase that includes colored pencils (something he's been enjoying lately), a big Mac truck (since he begged and begged Santa to get him one, we knew that he'd be disappointed without it Christmas morning! And he was thrilled!), a Toy Story Memory game, the same types of crafts that Caleb received, a Cars wallet and more that I'm not remembering.

When Joshua opened his wallet, he exclaimed "Look! This is the best wallet EVER!" I laughed and snapped a picture of him with a very-tired-looking Daddy. He was all smiles, though. Our boys are just amazing to us!

I think this wallet that we picked up at the dollar store was one of Caleb's favorite gifts. I gave them each a dollar to stick in it, and Caleb carried his around all day, asking us to put it in and take it out of his pocket. He loves watching Daddy with his wallet, and he was extremely excited to have his own!

We were going to wait for Joshua's beloved Mac for the end of the presents time, but Joshua kept asking at each gift he opened whether or not Santa remembered. Finally, we decided to give it to him. He was ecstatic! Daddy opened it and put batteries in right away so he could play with it.

Caleb, in the meantime, LOVED opening gifts this year. He tore off the wrapping paper and was anxious to see what was inside. It didn't matter what it was, he would say "Oh wow! Look at that!" He highly enjoyed the opening portion of the morning. Here he is looking at the poster and markers set we had gotten for each of them (which we colored later that week).

And Caleb also enjoyed his little remote-control car. I didn't get a picture of them opening all of it since I opened my gifts from Daddy & the boys and Daddy opened his gifts from me & the boys. Among my favorites included a couple new bath towels that match our new ones, a gift card to my favorite restaurant, a yoga for pregnancy DVD and a new ice scraper with mitt. :)

Joshua LOVES his Memory game. In fact, later that week he said "Where is my Memory? Where is my Memory?" and I couldn't stop laughing. I knew he meant his game, and yet it sounded so like how I feel some days! We've played Memory fairly often since then, and I'm surprised how well Joshua understands the game and remembers where the cards are. I can tell he's growing!

After we were done opening presents, I made cinnabons which we enjoyed with milk. Then we got dressed up and headed to Grandma's house. After discussing back and forth for awhile, it seemed that Christmas lunch worked out the best for the schedule of all parties involved. We arrived first and my sisters and their families arrived not terribly long thereafter. In the meantime, I snapped this picture of Grandma & the boys. It was the one and only picture I took while we were there. As soon as the other girls arrived, we started opening gifts. Joshua got a new 'dancing' truck that he just loves as well as a new big boy bike, stickers with his name on it, and many other nice things. Caleb received a new laptop computer (the kiddo-variety), a Curious George coloring book, letters for his big boy room and many other great gifts. We had already received our rocker recliner, but she also got us both a pair of shoes (and I LOVE my new Walking Cradles - thanks Mom!) and some serving dishes and most everything off of Shawn's wish list. :) After we were done with gifts, we enjoyed a nice lunch including sandwiches, fresh fruit, veggies, shrimp, munchies, cheesecake and more!

The boys played for awhile but soon it was time to go home. After they were done napping, we played most of the rest of the evening away. We also relaxed and watched some episodes of the first season of Modern Family (one of Shawn's gifts). It was a nice day all around. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve

When the boys woke up from their naps on Christmas Eve, we started finishing up dinner. I had pre-made the pineapple stuffing, so we simply popped it into the oven. I had also made the 'extra good' mashed potatoes the day before, so they were in the crock pot. All we had left to heat up was the peas & carrots and the pre-cooked and spiral cut honey-baked ham. I set the table with my pretty plates and snowman plates for the boys, and I lit the candles and turned off the lights. The candles kept the boys pre-occupied, so they didn't eat much. In fact, the only thing that Caleb ate was his peas & carrots and a little bit of ham, while Joshua finished his mashed potatoes and peas & carrots. Shawn & I ate some of everything, and it was DELICIOUS! :)

When dinner was over, we cleaned up and then headed out to look for Christmas lights, another Christmas Eve tradition. We drove over to Longfellow, where a house was completely decked out, including a Santa display in the window that looked extremely real. The boys were impressed. Next we drove to another house on Route 23 in Leola that had a drive-through Christmas light display. Along the way, we saw lights, of course, and the boys enjoyed it. But, after an hour, we were all done being in the car. We went home, and I gave the boys baths and helped put them into their PJs. Then we headed downstairs, where they opened a gift from the Ginder's that was labeled 'Christmas Eve.' Inside was a book about the birth of Jesus narrated by Papaw, Mamaw & Aunt Erica. The boys loved it!

Next we opened our stockings, which always have useful items like toothbrushes and chapstick and also fun items like favorite snacks. The boys both munched on raisins and goldfish and drank their juice boxes as we watched one last Christmas video before putting them to bed.

We warned the boys that if they heard Santa Clause, they couldn't go downstairs. They weren't allowed to eat his cookies or drink his milk or he might be sad and not leave gifts. They needed to stay in their beds all night. They both agreed, and they helped me put out the cookies and milk on the special plate we had received from Great Grandma Good at her party (see the top picture). They were SO excited! And it was getting late. Both Daddy & I were exhausted, so as soon as we thought they might be asleep, we hurried downstairs to bring the presents out and put them under the tree. Then we cuddled into our bed and watched a very disturbing movie called "the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." It was based off a novel and while good, I wouldn't have recommended it on Christmas Eve. But, we enjoyed just spending time together. We got to bed around midnight, hoping the boys would sleep it...