The news is out...well to those who have email, facebook, skype, etc. We are expecting baby #2! After my miscarriage in June, I became very anxious about being able to get pregnant again. With Sam, everything was so easy and textbook. Not a worry entered my mind with him. I just prayed everyday and moved on. It wasn't until after he was born that I began to hear stories of pregnancy complications/delivery complications. Now with all the knowledge of what "could" go wrong, I found myself scared. I didn't know if I could get pregnant again. And if I could, who's to say I wouldn't miscarry again? It was a lot of anxiety. I finally realized that I just needed to chill out (that was right around December...when many people are not chilled out). A couple of weeks into the month Patty called me and told me she had had a dream that I was pregnant with a girl and didn't even know it. At that point, I wanted to be pregnant and had already taken two pregnancy tests that turned up negative. My body had all the symptoms of pregnancy that they did with Sam, but I thought that my mind was playing tricks on me. That I wanted to be pregnant so bad that I was making up the symptoms and looking into everything. Well....on New Years Eve day I decided I had had enough with the guessing game. I needed to know. And guess what? Yep. It was positive! I was so excited to finally have some relief! I wasn't crazy after all!
Now I'm about 8 weeks in...and feeling awful! I'm grateful for the awful feelings but ready for them to pass. With Sam I was sick for about 2 weeks beginning around week 12. It always hit right after lunch. This go 'round I'm nausous all the time and I'm dizzy from the medicine the doctor has me taking. I'm taking the same medicine I had to take with Sam, but for some reason the side effects are way worse! Not to worry...I'm praying and moving on! By the nurse's calculations my due date is around September 5. Sam and baby #2 will be a little over two years apart (just barely).
I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about this little one. Right now we're in the midst of praying for a couple who's baby will not survive. The brain and skull are not developed and will not develop. Hearing things like that makes me grateful for all that I have with Sam and all that I'm going through with this little one as well. Pregnancy is truly a miracle and gift from God! I'm praying daily for a healthy and growing baby. Would you join me in this too? I will certainly keep you posted and am so relieved that I don't have to lie (or withhold the truth) about what's going on with me. Most days, I don't feel like doing much. And Jared has been amazing already! I just hope I don't feel this bad the whole time....poor guy is doing EVERYTHING right now. He's the best, and I'm so blessed to be his wife.
I hope this answers all the questions and curiosities. We're so excited and can't wait to meet our little one. Sam is going to be an amazing big brother. I can tell already. He loves to help, and plays with little babies any chance he gets. Such fun times are awaiting. God is so good.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Happy 17 months, Sam!
In recognition of Sam's 17 months of life in this world, here's a recap of what we've been up to lately:
1. Obeying: Thank you, Lord! Sam says the word "back" when we ask him to put something back. He'll even take his toys from the living room all the way to his bedroom! Wow...let's hope this continues. He knows how to close doors, throw things away, and try to get undressed (for bath time of course). He is quickly learning how to listen and do the things we are asking him to do, which is wonderful. Things we're working on: NO. He's not getting this picture. He is really obedient to do the things we ask him to do, but the things that are "no no's" he's not so much obedient. We are working through this daily, and it's probably the hardest thing about this parenting stage. If he could just learn that no means don't do it, then we'd all be great. How true that is in our own lives as well.
2. Development: Sam is loving books more everyday. It's not unusual for him to grab a book and plop in my lap, us read it, put it "back", and get another one at least 5 times before he's ready to move onto something else. Right now we're working on shapes and sounds. He knows that trucks/cars say "vroom" and cows say "moo". He can also say/identify "star" and we're semi ready to move onto other shapes like circle and heart. He can also sort shapes (which is a big deal bc he used to get so frustrated he would throw the blocks...yep, that's hard headed for ya). He's also learned to dance, which is the funniest thing ever! He just stomps his feet over and over...so cute!
3. Talking: I'm so thankful for Sam's talking. I was so stressed for the longest that he wouldn't talk, but now it seems everyday he is mimicking more of what we say. Here's a list of what he's saying so far:
mama, dada, snack, more, back(for put it back), back back (for back pack), star, light, bye, stack, bath, moo (for cows), vroom (for any loud vehicle), yo (for both Yo Gabba and yogurt), book, night (for night night), door, nana (for both banana or Nana), Maw (for Memaw), Paw (for PawPaw...we're still working on Gran), ball, Jesus, baby, and dog. I think that's about it. It's crazy when you sit down and try and think of all the things he says. The next thing we're working on is please, thank you, and Amen. The cutest thing to see is when we pray before meals or before bed how his face lights up. I wonder what's going on in that little mind of his, and I can't wait to watch him grow in the Lord. I pray every night for him...that He would love and serve the Lord all the days of his life.
4. Playing: Sam's favorite things to do in no particular order would be reading books with Mama, throwing balls with Daddy, drawing with who ever will let him stand on their legs to reach the tipsy top of the easel, playing basketball (more like dunking with Daddy), scooting on his giraffe bicycle, playing with the talking ear thermometer (he sleeps with that thing....weird), and last but certainly not least the refrigerator. I remember when we got our fridge wondering why there was a lock button on the ice and water....now I know. We have to make sure every single time we use it that we lock it back, otherwise there will be a giant puddle all over the floor right beside a soaking wet toddler! Oh, the joys! :)
What an amazing gift God has given us with our little Sambo! I never could have possibly imagined how great our life would be with him in it. Happy Birthday, buddy! Mama loves you!
1. Obeying: Thank you, Lord! Sam says the word "back" when we ask him to put something back. He'll even take his toys from the living room all the way to his bedroom! Wow...let's hope this continues. He knows how to close doors, throw things away, and try to get undressed (for bath time of course). He is quickly learning how to listen and do the things we are asking him to do, which is wonderful. Things we're working on: NO. He's not getting this picture. He is really obedient to do the things we ask him to do, but the things that are "no no's" he's not so much obedient. We are working through this daily, and it's probably the hardest thing about this parenting stage. If he could just learn that no means don't do it, then we'd all be great. How true that is in our own lives as well.
2. Development: Sam is loving books more everyday. It's not unusual for him to grab a book and plop in my lap, us read it, put it "back", and get another one at least 5 times before he's ready to move onto something else. Right now we're working on shapes and sounds. He knows that trucks/cars say "vroom" and cows say "moo". He can also say/identify "star" and we're semi ready to move onto other shapes like circle and heart. He can also sort shapes (which is a big deal bc he used to get so frustrated he would throw the blocks...yep, that's hard headed for ya). He's also learned to dance, which is the funniest thing ever! He just stomps his feet over and over...so cute!
3. Talking: I'm so thankful for Sam's talking. I was so stressed for the longest that he wouldn't talk, but now it seems everyday he is mimicking more of what we say. Here's a list of what he's saying so far:
mama, dada, snack, more, back(for put it back), back back (for back pack), star, light, bye, stack, bath, moo (for cows), vroom (for any loud vehicle), yo (for both Yo Gabba and yogurt), book, night (for night night), door, nana (for both banana or Nana), Maw (for Memaw), Paw (for PawPaw...we're still working on Gran), ball, Jesus, baby, and dog. I think that's about it. It's crazy when you sit down and try and think of all the things he says. The next thing we're working on is please, thank you, and Amen. The cutest thing to see is when we pray before meals or before bed how his face lights up. I wonder what's going on in that little mind of his, and I can't wait to watch him grow in the Lord. I pray every night for him...that He would love and serve the Lord all the days of his life.
4. Playing: Sam's favorite things to do in no particular order would be reading books with Mama, throwing balls with Daddy, drawing with who ever will let him stand on their legs to reach the tipsy top of the easel, playing basketball (more like dunking with Daddy), scooting on his giraffe bicycle, playing with the talking ear thermometer (he sleeps with that thing....weird), and last but certainly not least the refrigerator. I remember when we got our fridge wondering why there was a lock button on the ice and water....now I know. We have to make sure every single time we use it that we lock it back, otherwise there will be a giant puddle all over the floor right beside a soaking wet toddler! Oh, the joys! :)
What an amazing gift God has given us with our little Sambo! I never could have possibly imagined how great our life would be with him in it. Happy Birthday, buddy! Mama loves you!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Lessons learned from the doctor's office
On Thursday afternoon I took off of work early so that I could take Sam to the doctor in Beaumont. He had been sick for a few days with a runny nose that turned into a bad cough which in turn led to a sad wheezing noise which broke my heart. We made his appointment for 3:00 hoping that we wouldn't have to wait long. Yeah right. We, along with many other sick children, filled the waiting room. We were in there trying to contain our little bundle of joy for an hour! Now before I go on, I need to make a confession. Sam is a super sweet kid, and most of the time a funny, curious one at that. BUT...when he is sick, he turns into the crazy kid. He's whiny, clingy, and, worst of all, a biter. Yes, I said it. I have a biter on my hands, people. I'm not sure where he picked up on this, and he doesn't do it to many people (except those that he loves dearly) but when he gets mad he bites things or people. Sometimes it's the couch, on that day it was his daddy's leg, and once we got into the exam room the doctor's spinning chair. We've gone past the swat on his hand, the firm "no", and now we are in the full fledged "pop your bottom hard" business. And can I just say, IT'S. THE. WORST. It takes all I can do not to cry too when he does. Anyway, for an hour we're trying to corral our son with books and trucks and looking around, but to no avail- he is awful! We finally had to pop him right there in front of everyone! It was so embarrassing that we were the ones with "that kid". I hate being that person. After we waited for an hour in the waiting room to see the doctor, we then go in through the doors where Sam immediately starts crying and wailing like he remembers the torture from last time! Step on the scale to find out our big boy now weighs 27 1/2 lbs! Wow! After that, we then wait another 30 minutes in the room. At this point we are all tired, Sam needs a nap, and let's be honest...those rooms are so small! So what do we do? Well....Jared starts blowing up the hospital gloves to make balloons, that's what! After two of those broke, we then taught Sam how to spin the doctor's chair. At this point, we'd do anything to keep him occupied. Finally the doctor comes in and more wailing and clinging begins. The prognosis was bronchitis for which he gave us many prescriptions, and now I think Sam is on his way to recovery. BUT...let me share with you some lessons I've learned from this experience:
1. I downloaded this app on my phone called Zoodle last night. It is age appropriate interactive videos and games for kids to use. All I did was type in Sam's birthdate and it found all these things for him to do. What's cool is that as he gets older the games will update with him. AND it locks him into that setting so he can't go on other parts of my phone or facebook or call China. We will definitely be using this next time. They also have this available to download for your computer in case your little one also enjoys "your" computer time. :)
2. Bring crayons. The covers of the examining table are basically paper and they throw them away wafter each use, so we can color all over them. A friend of mine gave me that tip AFTER I had mentioned how awful our experience was! We will also be packing those for next time!
3. The Sneaky Chef cookbook. This is one thing that our pedi recommended. When he said Sam was growing like a big boy, I smarted off that I didn't know how because he certainly wasn't eating like one. He told me about how they do things like sneak spinach into brownies! Certainly worth a try since our son literally lives off of breakfast bars and yogurt.
I hope these tips help you the next time you find yourself waiting for LONG periods of time with a restless toddler.
Feel free to share any other tips you may have! I'm sure this won't be our last waiting experience!
1. I downloaded this app on my phone called Zoodle last night. It is age appropriate interactive videos and games for kids to use. All I did was type in Sam's birthdate and it found all these things for him to do. What's cool is that as he gets older the games will update with him. AND it locks him into that setting so he can't go on other parts of my phone or facebook or call China. We will definitely be using this next time. They also have this available to download for your computer in case your little one also enjoys "your" computer time. :)
2. Bring crayons. The covers of the examining table are basically paper and they throw them away wafter each use, so we can color all over them. A friend of mine gave me that tip AFTER I had mentioned how awful our experience was! We will also be packing those for next time!
3. The Sneaky Chef cookbook. This is one thing that our pedi recommended. When he said Sam was growing like a big boy, I smarted off that I didn't know how because he certainly wasn't eating like one. He told me about how they do things like sneak spinach into brownies! Certainly worth a try since our son literally lives off of breakfast bars and yogurt.
I hope these tips help you the next time you find yourself waiting for LONG periods of time with a restless toddler.
Feel free to share any other tips you may have! I'm sure this won't be our last waiting experience!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
