Wordless Wednesday: Backyard Fun (who needs clothes?)

p.s. I'm thankful for sunshine, green grass, and 90 minutes at the pool today by myself!

The Beach!

Our week at the beach came at just the right time.  While we had recovered from the miserable symptoms of our stomach bug, Jackson's behavior after his illness was radically different from normal.  In fact, we were so worried we took him to the doctor to get checked out, but he was given a clean bill of health.  I guess three days of being held, feeling poorly, drinking Pedialyte, and watching television got him in a funk and spoiled him because he threw tantrums complete with laying on his belly like a toddler, cried to be held 90% of the time, and was just grumpy as could be for 5 days after his last symptom cleared up.  Needless to say it was distressing and exhausting, so the change of environment was the perfect distraction for him and his parents.

This year we vacationed on St. Simons Island, Georgia for the first time.  This was our second year of vacationing with Blake's father, step-mother, step-sister, brother-in-law, and niece (thanks to the parents' generous Christmas gift of paying for the house).  We were in a house this year (instead of a condo), and it gave us more room to spread out and was a lot easier with an active little boy.  I think the beach was initially a bit overwhelming for Jackson with all of the people, sounds, etc., but by the end of the week he was really enjoying it.  His appetite came back in full blast, and he spent much of his time on the beach eating.  He loved wondering around, particularly going up to people and trying to look through their bags and pull out their sunscreen and food.  The pool wasn't a big hit like last summer because he wanted to be exploring the stairs, chairs, etc. around the pool instead of confined inside of it. 

Eating fried shrimp, heavily battered french fries, and hush puppies at the Crab Trap (three times:) was one of the highlights of the trip for me.  I also loved my early morning walks with Blake and Jackson.  I'm thankful to have a tan too--sitting in the sun by a pool is one of my favorite things to do, and fortunately I got several child-free hours to do that.  I'm definitely still adjusting to "vacationing" as a parent because it's so much work and not exactly relaxing like vacations of the past, but of course, some of that adjustment is offset by seeing Jackson have so much fun.

p.s. I'm thankful for a fun evening with friends and my husband's delicious hamburgers.

Misery

I've been really thankful that Jackson has had such a healthy first 15 months in part because I hate to see him uncomfortable, and I anticipate illness being easier to deal with once he can communicate through means other than crying.  We had a busy week last week getting ready for Mother's Day (two moms, step-mom, and special aunt to think for) and heading to my hometown for an overnight trip to see my nieces play ball and take my mom out for an early Mother's Day lunch. Jackson was unusually fussy during lunch, and I had to get up twice with him at the restaurant (a first). Later that afternoon we took his temperature, and it was definitely in the fever range.

That evening we had Blake's step-mother and father over for dinner for her early Mother's Day celebration, and in the middle of dinner Jackson threw up...a lot.  He was whiny after that and actually started saying "mama" (first and maybe the last time he said it was after one year shots:) and reaching for me.  Thankfully he continued eating some and went down for bed like normal.

When he cried the next morning around 5:15 I figured I better check things out just in case, and he had thrown up in his crib.  Poor guy.  After cleaning up, I let him lay down with me, and right after he got settled he sat up and threw up all over me.  Turns out his father (and my mother) had been up half the night sick with chills and throwing up.  Thankfully Jackson didn't throw up again but was really pitiful all day long and pretty much cried if he wasn't watching television; other grosser symptoms developed too.  I seriously think he watched television for 90% of his waking hours on Saturday and Sunday.  We've never been so thankful for DVR and Sesame Street.

Fortunately Blake recovered Saturday afternoon about an hour before my symptoms began.  I had really hoped to somehow miraculously avoid infection since I'm 30 weeks pregnant and of course want to avoid dehydration (and had already done 3 loads of illness related laundry, taken care of both boys, hadn't had a shower, and was exhausted from such an early wake-up and busy week).  Once the symptoms were underway I was in absolute misery.  Moaning, praying, and sincerely thinking the virus was worse than childbirth.  Losing so much fluid so quickly set off constant Braxton Hicks contractions and stomach cramping, so even between the waves of nausea I was miserable and couldn't rest.  I couldn't help but worry about little Ella.  I finally called my OB's office and was advised to get my hands on some Zofran or Phinergan, which my good friend and neighbor graciously shared with me.  I won't bore you with the rest of the details, but suffice to say I'm soooo thankful to be on the other side of that virus.  Jackson's symptoms finally ended yesterday afternoon although he's nowhere near normal yet, and Blake was 100% yesterday.  It's a good thing that we're leaving for the beach this Saturday because this Mother's Day weekend wore us out!  Hope all of you had a much better Mother's Day weekend.

p.s. I'm thankful that Jackson was so cuddly in his discomfort and that he's on the upswing.

29 Weeks

We finally had another ultrasound last week & were delighted to see our little girl again.  Her feet are huge (just like her daddy and Jackson's feet), and she had a pouty bottom lip.  All of the potential health issues the doctor had mentioned after our 16 week ultrasound have resolved as expected, and everything looks great.  Ella already weighs over 3 lbs and is measuring 2 weeks ahead.  I've gained 18 lbs., although I haven't weighed since our weekend away which included cheesecake, cupcakes, Chipolte, and pizza....

The unfortunate pregnancy side effects of heart burn and indigestion have heightened to the point that Tums aren't very effective, so I've started eating dinner earlier and sleeping a bit propped up.  The last week I've felt really worn out, and while I still managed my two gym workouts I think we only walked one day and it was cut short by the rain.  I'm hoping my tiredness is more a reflection of the cold & wet weather we've had than of this stage of pregnancy because I'm a much less fun mom to Jackson when I feel so tired.  We took a walk last night, and again it was cut short because it started raining.  I'm sure I'm quite the sight--pushing a stroller, pregnant, holding Thatcher's leash, and running to avoid a downpour.  I have start feeling a lot of pressure and some swelling if I overdo it, and I've had a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions the last few weeks, especially when I'm exercising or walking.  I'm carrying Ella so much lower than Jackson, so I guess that may be why the pressure seems worse.

I'm trying to remember to get a few bump photographs, and Jackson insists on getting in every single one.  He just keeps reaching up until I let him join in, and I don't mind having the photos taken nearly as much since I have some company. 

Thankfully I haven't had back pain in weeks, and I found some dresses on our shopping trip that will make maternity dressing easier this summer.  Two of the 3 dresses aren't even maternity, and while I don't usually wear maxi-style dresses, I figure I might still wear these after Ella is born and I'm not fitting back in my normal clothes.  They are so much more comfortable than belly panels and trying to find the right shirt that will cover the panel, etc.  Speaking of shopping, a lot of pink things have entered our home now....a pink Pottery Barn anywhere chair, Boppy cover, crib sheet, hooded bunny towel, and a navy & pink diaper bag.  I love it! Can't wait to meet this little girl, and if she's like her brother and comes early she should be here in 2 months.

p.s. Thankful for a great workout today with my friend Maggie. The elliptical is much less painful with company.

15 Months

Dear Jackson,

In a few days you'll be 15 months old, and I enjoyed writing your one year old post so much that I thought I would write another one.  I plan to print these and add them to your baby book, so you can read about what you and your life was like at a particular point in time.

Thankfully your days are beginning a bit later now with a wake up around 7:00.  We often begin the day slowly by watching Baby Einstein or Sesame Street, and then it's time for breakfast.  Your favorite breakfast foods are smoothies, scrambled eggs, whole wheat pancakes, and whole wheat blueberry waffles (no syrup yet). You can easily eat 3 scrambled eggs! Your dad and I take turns taking showers and getting ready for the day while you eat and we do various chores, and then your daddy heads to work.  I usually clean the kitchen and start some laundry while you play on your own or "help" me.  You like to play with the broom and Swiffer.  When the washing machine agitates you dance, and it cracks me up every time.  I glad you can hear a beat :)   Some days you're really amenable to reading, and we'll read as many as 15 books together before you wiggle your way out of my lap. 

You take a morning nap around 10:00 and sleep for an hour.  Thatcher and I usually nap while you do.  When you wake I start thinking about lunch because I am so hungry these days (probably because your baby sister is growing so much).  I usually start you off with a vegetable.  If it's sweet potatoes, you gobble it all up.  If it's peas, brocolli, cauliflower, corn, or carrots, your response varies.  After veggies, you may eat a peanut butter or almond butter sandwich, deconstucted chili or soup, pieces of grilled chicken, couscous, rice, or pieces of pizza.  You love grated cheese and pretzels, and sometimes I'll give you those just so I have more time to finish my lunch.  You often demand some of whatever I'm having and feed yourself 90% of the time.  You're still glad for me to feed you yogurt, applesauce, or baby food though.

After lunch we may run errands to Whole Foods or the library, but I usually don't go too far because I don't want you to fall asleep in the car.  You get drowsy in the car fairly easily and like to zone out.  You grin at people as we shop and love our little field trips.  If it's pretty out, we often take a wagon ride and let Thatcher come along. Some afternoons or evenings we play with Holden in his backyard, and you get so dirty.  You eat rocks, dirt, toilet paper, cardboard, and anything else you find on the ground, and there's not much we can do about it.  I'm hoping you'll outgrow this stage of putting everything in your mouth soon.  You laugh at much of what Holden does, and he's often rough with you but you don't seem to mind it at all.

You had your first (very slight) fever recently, and it only lasted a few hours.  You've had such a healthy life so far, although we think you had a few weeks of allergies.  The pollen has been awful and hard to avoid, especially since we enjoy being outside so much. 

Your afternoon nap is usually from 3:00 to 4:00, and afterwards we often go for a long walk with a friend or occasionally we'll go to the gym where you hang in the nursery.  You had a few rough weeks of separation anxiety when I left you with strangers (but you continued to do well with babysitters and family), so we took a break from the gym for about two months.  You eat an early dinner around 5:00, and then we have playtime outside or on the porch so you can get good and dirty before bath time.  When your daddy gets home, you two like to wrestle on our bed, and sometimes all 4 of us take a family walk.  You're finally able to stay up a bit later, so your bedtime isn't until almost 7:30.  If you're not melting, we read you a book or two, turn on the sound machine, and then put you down on your belly with a lovey or two.  You've recently become attached to your loveys and insist that when you get out of bed that we also get whatever animals you slept with as well as your blanket.  If we forget, you carry on almost hysterically.  You may be a bit spoiled :)  You've also started demanding that I read particular books. 

You're still such a pleasant child, giving out lots of smiles and hugs.  You walk and almost run very easily, especially if a door to a typically forbidden room is open.  Some days you're extremely verbal and sound like you're speaking a foreign language.  We've heard you say "Dada," "Mama," "Thatch," "bad dog," "hi," "hey," and several other words, but then you may go days without saying anything discernible (other than Dada which you say all the time:).  You love the remote control and are very proud when you change a channel.  You've figured out how to go through the doggy door and are so fast!  You haven't noticed my belly and have no idea that you'll be in a big brother soon.  You're an absolute joy, and I'm so thankful you're mine.

Much love for you,
Mommy

p.s. I'm thankful that we got to see baby Ella during an ultrasound yesterday. Jackson, she has your very long feet!

Wordless Wednesday: Friends

 

p.s I'm thankful for some time away with friends, good food, and safe travels.