Benjamin has been spending even more time with Dada lately for obvious reasons. He loves to watch, help, and imitate Steven, especially when he is working on projects. Steven was testing one of our electrical circuits with these electrical tools (don't ask me their names!). Ben got a hold of them and hooked them up to the screen in our front door. He was very proud of himself!
Monday, August 06, 2007
Abigail 4 weeks
Abigail is now both 4 weeks and 1 month old. I'm still not sure when you start going by weeks vs. months, but now she's both. Not too much is new....she is eating well, sleeping pretty well, and smiling more and more. We haven't been back to the doctor, so don't know what she weighs, but we can tell she is getting bigger. She continues to squeak at night with her breathing, now that we know what it is and that it is not dangerous, we are sleeping better. She has been sleeping pretty well, napping much longer than Ben ever did, and wakes up 1-3 times per night (I love the 1 time per night nights best!).
Benjamin is acting as I would expect, especially for a 2-year old. He's a very good kid, he and I tend to have the most conflict right now. I can imagine its hard for him to understand the shift in my attention. He's acting out quite a bit with me, which I would also expect for his age. (I am not often as patient as I could/should be). Here are some examples: Today, I noticed he had marker on his shirt and nicely told him "we don't color on our clothes". He promptly went over to the markers and made another mark on his shirt. At lunch, he accidentally dropped his food on the floor...while picking it up, I noticed even more food raining down on me. At naptime, I left the room after spending a long time putting him down. A few minutes later, Ben says "All done sleeping, mama!" I went back in to remind him that he hadn't ever started sleeping and found his bed completely drenched by the water from his sippy cup. Having a toddler is so fun and so hard!!! He's a delight, too, and continues to amaze us by his language and his memory. He's very bright and loves to laugh! Its fun to see him interact with Abigail, he clearly loves her. We are thankful for both our children, despite the challenges, the joys far outweigh them all (most of the time!).
Benjamin is acting as I would expect, especially for a 2-year old. He's a very good kid, he and I tend to have the most conflict right now. I can imagine its hard for him to understand the shift in my attention. He's acting out quite a bit with me, which I would also expect for his age. (I am not often as patient as I could/should be). Here are some examples: Today, I noticed he had marker on his shirt and nicely told him "we don't color on our clothes". He promptly went over to the markers and made another mark on his shirt. At lunch, he accidentally dropped his food on the floor...while picking it up, I noticed even more food raining down on me. At naptime, I left the room after spending a long time putting him down. A few minutes later, Ben says "All done sleeping, mama!" I went back in to remind him that he hadn't ever started sleeping and found his bed completely drenched by the water from his sippy cup. Having a toddler is so fun and so hard!!! He's a delight, too, and continues to amaze us by his language and his memory. He's very bright and loves to laugh! Its fun to see him interact with Abigail, he clearly loves her. We are thankful for both our children, despite the challenges, the joys far outweigh them all (most of the time!).
Little Drummer Boy
Ben is into a drumming phase...he loves to hit anything on anything to make noise . Pretty adorable and sometimes annoying :)
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Congratulations to Heather and Aaron!
Steven, Abigail, and I attended Heather and Aaron's wedding this weekend and had a great time. Heather looked beautiful and was just beaming as she walked down the aisle. It was a beautiful wedding and reception. There were many Wheaton classmates, it was fun catching up with several. I'm so happy for you both, Congratulations!
Abigail was also great at this event, its so nice to have a portable baby. She's been everywhere!
Abigail was also great at this event, its so nice to have a portable baby. She's been everywhere!
Abigail's first date
Steven and I had the privilege of going on a date Friday night, we were celebrating the 5 year anniversary of our very first date! I know not many people celebrate such anniversaries, we haven't missed a year yet. It is a fun way of remembering and honoring our relationship. This year, we took Abigail with us :) We went to see "Hairspray" (the movie) which initially I wasn't excited about. Steven talked me into it (I wanted to see "No Reservations"--a chick flick). Usually I'd be the one wanting to see a musical and Steven would be resistant...as it had good reviews, I agreed to go. It was GREAT, had a very good message about racial issues, and was very entertaining. John Travolta is one of the leads, as a 400 lb woman. He was hysterical!!! I definitely recommend the movie.
Afterwards, we went to Cosi Cafe for some dessert. It was a wonderful date and Abigail behaved. Happy Anniversary, Steven! I love you!
Afterwards, we went to Cosi Cafe for some dessert. It was a wonderful date and Abigail behaved. Happy Anniversary, Steven! I love you!
Abigail 3 weeks
We enjoyed a wonderful classical concert in the park last Wednesday. It was a beautiful night, despite the forecast of rain. The music and the company were wonderful! We enjoyed a picnic dinner of Subway sandwiches and relaxing on the lawn.
Abigail continues to be a really good baby overall. She's had a couple fussy days, which she is allowed :) Her breathing is doing well, still "squeaking" at night. Now that we know why, we have relaxed a little bit and aren't as worried. She's sleeping in 3-4 hour stretches at night, which isn't too bad. She definitely seems to be filling out and has outgrown the "Up to 7 lbs" clothes and is now in 0-3 month clothes. She's been smiling occasionally for the past week which is just so much fun! We love you, little button!!!
Abigail continues to be a really good baby overall. She's had a couple fussy days, which she is allowed :) Her breathing is doing well, still "squeaking" at night. Now that we know why, we have relaxed a little bit and aren't as worried. She's sleeping in 3-4 hour stretches at night, which isn't too bad. She definitely seems to be filling out and has outgrown the "Up to 7 lbs" clothes and is now in 0-3 month clothes. She's been smiling occasionally for the past week which is just so much fun! We love you, little button!!!
Fun with Granpa
This is a tunnel of foliage, also at the zoo. Granpa obliged Benjamin by running through this a few times in a row. Aren't Granpas the best???
Zoo fun
Benjamin loves water in whatever shape or form he can get it. We discovered a "stream" at the zoo this time which was a great find. He got to pick up rocks and splash them in the water, wade in the water, and walk downstream. Yippee!
Gramma and Granpa's visit
Steven's parents left Sunday morning after a one-week visit! It was so wonderful to have them here. Benjamin loved having (more) undivided attention and enjoyed having lots of time with Gramma and Granpa. He was always involved in some sort of project, usually involving water :) We had a lot of fun excursions while they were here: the zoo, Millennium Park for a free concert and playing in the fountains, out to dinner, Ben and Abigail's dedication. It was so much fun. We were so sad to see them leave, and look forward to seeing them when we go out East at the end of the month.THANK YOU for all that you did to help us from cooking, cleaning, playing with Benjamin, helping with house projects, and so much more. We love you!!!! (I'm having trouble posting multiple photos on one entry, so I'll have to post individual ones instead. As always, click on the photos to be directed to our Flickr site for even more photos!).
Monday, July 23, 2007
Princess Abigail
She did look like a princess in her white dress for the dedication. Unfortunately, we didn't get any family photos when we were all dressed up :(
Baby Dedication
We took the opportunity while both of our parents were in town to dedicate our children at church. It was a beautiful service and our pastor, Wayne, prayed for Benjamin and Abigail as part of the dedication. We wanted to make a public statement about our desire for our children to know and love God. It was very special to us and Pastor Wayne spoke some wonderful things to and for our children.
Abigail 2 weeks
Abigail is now almost 3 weeks old. Blogging has been almost non-existent....last week was my first week of going solo (how am I going to do this!?!?) and personal time is definitely dwindling. Napping has been taking priority. Fortunately, Abigail has been a pretty good sleeper! I think I am getting more sleep than I did during the last trimester of my pregnancy.
Abigail has been a delight, a really great baby. She cries at times, mostly when she needs to eat, burp, or sleep. She's eating well, is now up to 7#3oz as of our check-up this morning.
We did have a scare last week in which we went to Children's Memorial ER in the middle of the night. Beginning at about 1 week of life, she began to make a lot of noise while breathing, especially at night. She sounds like she is "squeaking" or wheezing, but is in no respiratory distress. Steven and I listened to her and worried about her, often for most of the night. I took her in to the doctor, who suggested it could be reflux or a structural problem. We tried her on reflux meds which didn't do anything. The ER visit was helpful, as they confirmed that there are no obvious structural problems, which reassured me quite a bit. It is still possible she has something called "Tracheal Malasia" which is basically a floppy or weak trachea. Most cases of this don't need any intervention, just time to grow and mature. We are being proactive about keeping her upright for at least 30 minutes after feeding and sleeping her in her car seat. We're hoping she'll be okay without any further testing or intervention. The good news is she is gaining well and otherwise happy!
We're so glad she's here and love her to pieces!
Abigail has been a delight, a really great baby. She cries at times, mostly when she needs to eat, burp, or sleep. She's eating well, is now up to 7#3oz as of our check-up this morning.
We did have a scare last week in which we went to Children's Memorial ER in the middle of the night. Beginning at about 1 week of life, she began to make a lot of noise while breathing, especially at night. She sounds like she is "squeaking" or wheezing, but is in no respiratory distress. Steven and I listened to her and worried about her, often for most of the night. I took her in to the doctor, who suggested it could be reflux or a structural problem. We tried her on reflux meds which didn't do anything. The ER visit was helpful, as they confirmed that there are no obvious structural problems, which reassured me quite a bit. It is still possible she has something called "Tracheal Malasia" which is basically a floppy or weak trachea. Most cases of this don't need any intervention, just time to grow and mature. We are being proactive about keeping her upright for at least 30 minutes after feeding and sleeping her in her car seat. We're hoping she'll be okay without any further testing or intervention. The good news is she is gaining well and otherwise happy!
We're so glad she's here and love her to pieces!
Nana, our lifesaver!
Nana was here for the first week following Abigail's birth. She was amazing and tireless, helping us with everything from cooking, cleaning, and most of all, playing with Benjamin. She was definitely the Energizer Bunny! Thanks, Nana, for all that you did! It was great to have you here!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
First trip to the Farmer's Market
Saturday was a SCORCHER and we all went to the market, ironically, for doughnuts :)
Big Brother Benjamin
Benjamin held his baby Abigail yesterday for the first time. He definitely loves her, and understandably has had a bit of a hard time adjusting. My mom is here and has been helping out so much. He is so sweet with her, kissing her, wanting to watch her nurse, and watching her. It is an adjustment for all of us...its hard to see him having a hard time. We will find our groove, it just might take awhile. We love you, Ben, so much!!!!
Announcing Abigail Louise
Abigail Louise arrived at 6:35am on Wednesday July 4th, weighing 6lbs, 1 oz, 19 inches long. Thanks be to God!
(for lots more photos, click on this photo to go to our Flickr account).
(for lots more photos, click on this photo to go to our Flickr account).
Birth Story
Last Tuesday (the 3rd of July), I began feeling irregular contractions and cramps. I wondered if it might be true labor, but as I was induced last time (2 weeks late), I didn't believe my body. I was excited that it could be labor, so I did many things to encourage it along. I took a LONG walk with Ben in the morning, another long walk in the pool in the evening, and ate spicy Thai food with friends. Things became more regular around 7 or 8, and by 10pm, I was having mild contractions every 5 minutes. I sent Steven to bed and folded laundry, finished a book I was reading, caught up on some emails. By now, I was pretty convinced this was the real thing...still had some doubts that it might all stop. At 1 am, the contractions were getting more intense. Steven woke up and we started to contact people (my midwife, my doula, a friend to watch Ben). At 3 am, my friend Karen arrived to stay with Ben. It was lightly raining after a strong thunderstorm earlier in the evening. Steven and I took a walk to try to speed things up. Ironically, my contractions spaced out and I became discouraged. I continued to think positively and pray against any negative thoughts which I knew could hold me up. My doula and best friend, Pam, arrived at 3:30am and examined me. I was 4cm and much more effaced than I had been at my appointment the day before. I got in the bathtub to relieve the discomfort and quickly began feeling the contractions become more intense. Around 5am, Pam checked me again and I was almost 5cm. I turned a corner at this point into more intense contractions. We decided to head in to the hospital. Since it was July 4th (and early in the morning), traffic was easy. We arrived at the hospital around 5:30am. In the car, I began to cry with the contractions as they were much stronger. I was worried that when I arrived at the hospital I would feel all the fears and apprehensions from my last labor. I just kept praying and remembering that my body was made to do this, that God is with me always.We checked in and began to get settled in the room. My nurse, Amy, is a nurse that I worked with frequently when I delivered babies. She was great, very accommodating to us. I wanted to use the hydrotherapy tub for pain relief, so we started to fill it up. By now, I was really uncomfortable and nothing was really giving me relief. Shortly after we arrived, I began to feel pelvic pressure and was pretty sure the baby was coming soon. My doula, Pam, was with us and she examined me. I was almost 8cm and the baby was much lower. I began to feel the urge to push. This was the hardest point for me. It was pretty painful and I was afraid that I couldn't do it. I had made a CD of music a month or so ago for my labor, mostly worship music. I kept crying out and asking for God to help me. I felt very shaken and didn't know how to get through this stage. At just the right moment, one of my favorite songs came on, reminding me of just what I needed to hear. God was so real to me in that moment. A few contractions later, the baby was crowning. I felt a little more composed and excited that I had made it to this point!!!! I reached down to feel the baby's head and could feel the bag of water, whichI then popped it with my finger. I pushed for a few contractions and then RELIEF when the baby's head came out. I instinctively reached down and pulled my baby onto my chest...a GIRL! She immediately began crying and so did I! I can't believe how good God is...I feel so thankful for this experience and the gifts of my two beautiful children. I am overcome with gladness.
Ironically, my midwife walked in right after Abigail Louise was born. My friend Pam (and I) delivered her, which was also a great gift. Pam is a long-time friend and was my maid of honor. It was a honor and privilege to have her attend our birth. Thankfully, the doctor that was the back up at the hospital allowed her to do so. If it had been anyone but this doctor, they would not have permitted it. There were so many little details like this that was evidence of God's handiwork. It was my dream labor and birth, very healing for me.
It is remarkable how much better I feel this time than last time. I had an epidural last time due to a long induction and difficult birth. Although this labor was painful, it was only about 1 hour of intense pain and I loved being mobile. It was also very empowering to me, both physically and spiritually. I have bounced back much more quickly afterwards also. To anyone who is considering natural childbirth, I support you! Yes, it is hard, and it is so worth it! I know that it is not for everyone...I believe it is worth the challenge!
Pedicure with Pam
Pam and I pampered ourselves with a pedicure. It was wonderful! Afterwards, we went to my favorite REAL Mexican food joint for some wonderful Avocado/cilantro tacos and spicy salsa! (both activities were an effort to provoke me into labor, neither worked until a week later...)
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Affirmations
I'm 1 week from my due date and am trying to remain as positive as possible. Its tempting to backslide into feeling fear and apprehension about my upcoming birth, especially since my last experience was pretty traumatic for all involved. I had a good cry yesterday and reminded myself how out of control of this experience that I am. I cannot decide when it will happen, how things will go, or how I will handle it. This is where the rubber hits the road with my faith: an amazing opportunity to trust more and rely on God to carry me, no matter what happens. One of the verses that has been in my mind is this: "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." I have been recently learning the power of positive thinking and talk. During my pregnancy I have been saying and reading positive statements. I made a small flip chart that I look at almost every night with reminders and scripture to this end. I was just browsing the internet to find more pregnancy affirmations and found the following:
Only I can give birth to this baby and I accept that challenge.
Babies are born when they are ready, not when doctors, midwives, or anyone decides.
I deserve to have the birth I desire.
I embrace the concept of healthy pain.
I truly do believe that I am going to have a great birth. I hope it comes soon. In the meantime, I am going to stay in the positive and REFUSE to hear or accept any negativity from anyone.
Only I can give birth to this baby and I accept that challenge.
Babies are born when they are ready, not when doctors, midwives, or anyone decides.
I deserve to have the birth I desire.
I embrace the concept of healthy pain.
I truly do believe that I am going to have a great birth. I hope it comes soon. In the meantime, I am going to stay in the positive and REFUSE to hear or accept any negativity from anyone.
Omie
Omie (we think) is an imaginary friend that Ben has. He talks about him/her frequently and asks to pray for him/her before bed. We have no idea where he came up with the name and are trying to just go with it :)
Sweetness
Steven and I woke up this morning to our son shouting: "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Ben all done sleeping!" What a great way for a non-morning person to wake up....chuckling :)
Monday, June 25, 2007
2 years old
Last week our little Ben turned 2! Unfortunately, on his actual birthday, he was quite sick with a high fever and ended up going to urgent care with an ear infection. He's on the mend now, and loves the way his medicine tastes :)
He is looking and acting older these days, its hard to believe he is growing up. He is extremely verbal and expressive, which is wonderful! Lately, he seems to know that something is changing. He's more attached to both Steven and I, especially Steven, and cries whenever he leaves either one of us. He keeps saying "take the baby out!" It will be interesting to see how he responds to the new one, I think he will be great. I know it will be a big adjustment for him as he is used to getting all of the attention. I am a little over a week from my due date, and getting excited!
Benjamin loves water and playing with it. If we let him, he would play with the hose, a water bottle, or the sink all day long! He's enjoying the pool more and more each time we go.
He has a great sense of humor and loves being silly. He's learning how to jump (another favorite), although rarely gets much air off the ground :)
He loves to figure things out and discover how things work. He's good at pushing buttons and setting up and running our DVD player.
He brings us so much joy. Its hard to imagine what our lives were like without him. Happy Birthday, my beloved son.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Ben's 2nd Birthday Party
This weekend we celebrated Ben's birthday with a party on Saturday morning. We had a great time with many good friends and family present. The kids played in the kiddie pool, we showed off our new basement, and had breakfast foods and CAKE. His actual birthday is tomorrow, but we don't want to confuse him too much and probably won't really celebrate it. I'll post later about my musings on Ben's 2 years of life. Enjoy these photos from the party. There are more photos on our Flickr site (which you cannot access by clicking on these photos).
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Our Basement is DONE!!!!!
After many long hours and late nights, we finished our basement on Tuesday night. Our carpet got installed Wednesday. It looks STUNNING, like a totally different space. Ben loves running around on the carpet. I think it will be a space we really enjoy. The colors are warm and comforting, and its cool on hot days. It iwll be a great relaxation space as well. Steven and I are both pretty exhausted and are excited to be able to now use our space. We have a few little projects to fully complete it, none of which are urgent. It was worth it, I hope, we have doubled our living space and have definitely added to the value of our home. Now we can focus on getting ready for the baby. I am hoping we have a couple of weeks to relax, reconnect, and spend time together as a family. You can see the before photos here and the after photo with our carpet. It looks GREAT! YIPPEE!
The Choo Choo (again)
We visited the Choo-Choo again with our friends Amy and Caden. It is a great diner nearby where the food is delivered by train to the table. Ben loved it even more this time (his third trip). Kids get a free meal during the month surrounding their bday, so that was a bonus, too! Ben liked his bday cupcake with train whistle, but wasn't quite ready to blow out the candle :) We had a great time!
On our drive there, we went through a couple areas heavy with Cicadas. They were EVERYWHERE, running into our car, covering tree trunks, and making quite the racket! It was really great to see. So far, we have missed them completely at our house. Although I think they are fascinating, I am relieved we don't have to deal with their mass quantities.
On our drive there, we went through a couple areas heavy with Cicadas. They were EVERYWHERE, running into our car, covering tree trunks, and making quite the racket! It was really great to see. So far, we have missed them completely at our house. Although I think they are fascinating, I am relieved we don't have to deal with their mass quantities.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
36 weeks and 23 Months
I don't have any great photos to post of either Ben or I right now, so have to use this one.
I am now 36 weeks pregnant and seeing the final stretch in front of me. I feel surprisingly GREAT, which is a big treat because last pregnancy at this point I felt like a bloated sausage. I can't decide if its the impact of a) less of a crazy work schedule b) feeling more relaxed c) gaining less weight or d) taking Omega-3 fatty acids (which have been proven to lower blood pressure and increase mood among many other health benefits). My energy level is good, I even painted our entire basement this weekend, military grade gas mask and all. I have been having some irregular contractions and feeling pressure, all of which I am taking to be a good sign. I'm getting excited for this birth, praying a LOT, reading many verses and affirmations, and staying positive about our upcoming birth. My last experience was really difficult, and I am believing that this experience will be different and healing.
Steven and I are both exhausted with trying to complete our basement project. We had hoped to be done by June 1st, and will be done the middle of next week. These things always take much longer than we expect! Steven is doing a fabulous job, we both think he could be an electrician now, he has done so much rewiring in our basement (and many minor plumbing repairs also). We were remarking the other day how much we have learned through this experience, although we both have different take home messages. For me, it has convinced me that I never want to own a home that needs major work again. For Steven, he's ready to jump into the next big project with both feet (mostly because he has a lot of great tools now!). The basement is going to be beautiful, much worth all the effort.
Benjamin is well over 23 months, and I have again neglected to write about him. He is so much fun right now, becoming so independent, and is very verbal. It is delightful to communicate with him as he understands so much. He loves to do many things by himself and enjoys the accomplishment when he does: "Ben DO IT!" His gifts are definitely in pushing buttons and in discovering how things work. He loves water and anything to do with water :) Ice Cream (aka "special treat") is becoming his weakness. He's shy in groups, very playful and verbal with his friends. He's becoming more particular about sharing, and usually does well when given choices or options. He seems to know he's going to be a big brother, they other day grabbed my abdomen and said "take the baby out!" He's very tender and snuggly, and also playful. The other day I had two pigtails and he giggled and pointed saying "SILLY!" He loves to play peekaboo, especially when we pretend we can't see him. His giggles light our world. I can't believe in a few short weeks, he will be 2 years old. Time sure does fly when you're having this much fun.
I am feeling very sentimental about not having time alone with him anymore in a few weeks. Its hard to imagine that I will love the next child with as much depth as I do Benjamin. I know I will, its just hard to imagine. I'm treasuring each precious moment!
I am now 36 weeks pregnant and seeing the final stretch in front of me. I feel surprisingly GREAT, which is a big treat because last pregnancy at this point I felt like a bloated sausage. I can't decide if its the impact of a) less of a crazy work schedule b) feeling more relaxed c) gaining less weight or d) taking Omega-3 fatty acids (which have been proven to lower blood pressure and increase mood among many other health benefits). My energy level is good, I even painted our entire basement this weekend, military grade gas mask and all. I have been having some irregular contractions and feeling pressure, all of which I am taking to be a good sign. I'm getting excited for this birth, praying a LOT, reading many verses and affirmations, and staying positive about our upcoming birth. My last experience was really difficult, and I am believing that this experience will be different and healing.
Steven and I are both exhausted with trying to complete our basement project. We had hoped to be done by June 1st, and will be done the middle of next week. These things always take much longer than we expect! Steven is doing a fabulous job, we both think he could be an electrician now, he has done so much rewiring in our basement (and many minor plumbing repairs also). We were remarking the other day how much we have learned through this experience, although we both have different take home messages. For me, it has convinced me that I never want to own a home that needs major work again. For Steven, he's ready to jump into the next big project with both feet (mostly because he has a lot of great tools now!). The basement is going to be beautiful, much worth all the effort.
Benjamin is well over 23 months, and I have again neglected to write about him. He is so much fun right now, becoming so independent, and is very verbal. It is delightful to communicate with him as he understands so much. He loves to do many things by himself and enjoys the accomplishment when he does: "Ben DO IT!" His gifts are definitely in pushing buttons and in discovering how things work. He loves water and anything to do with water :) Ice Cream (aka "special treat") is becoming his weakness. He's shy in groups, very playful and verbal with his friends. He's becoming more particular about sharing, and usually does well when given choices or options. He seems to know he's going to be a big brother, they other day grabbed my abdomen and said "take the baby out!" He's very tender and snuggly, and also playful. The other day I had two pigtails and he giggled and pointed saying "SILLY!" He loves to play peekaboo, especially when we pretend we can't see him. His giggles light our world. I can't believe in a few short weeks, he will be 2 years old. Time sure does fly when you're having this much fun.
I am feeling very sentimental about not having time alone with him anymore in a few weeks. Its hard to imagine that I will love the next child with as much depth as I do Benjamin. I know I will, its just hard to imagine. I'm treasuring each precious moment!
Friday, June 01, 2007
First Cicada sighting!
Today we visited Morton Arboreteum with our music group which normally meets on Friday mornings during the year. In the summer, we do activities instead of music. The Arboreteum is gorgeous and has a wonderful children's garden. The Cicada infestation which has been predicted has yet to reach our area, the Arboreteum has LOTS! We got to see our first one up close and personal today. They are really a fascinating insect (which I might not say when they arrive in plague-like numbers), and I think their story is very interesting. More to come later when they come to our town....
Midwives UNITE
I had the privelege of attending the ACNM (American College of Nurse Midwives) conference this past week which was in Chicago. I have wanted to go for years, but its always been at either a bad time, or too cost/time prohibitive to consider going. It was a great conference with wonderful speakers, very inspiring!!!! It made me so proud to be part of such an amazing, talented, and intelligent group of women who are committed to listening to and supporting women.
Another great benefit of the conference was that I got to reconnect with former colleagues and friends (Pam, Kathleen, and Jennifer) who were in town for the conference. We had a wonderful time together. I love these girls!!!!
Another great benefit of the conference was that I got to reconnect with former colleagues and friends (Pam, Kathleen, and Jennifer) who were in town for the conference. We had a wonderful time together. I love these girls!!!!
Ben's new bed
Here is Ben's new toddler bed which we found for a steal at Walmart. IKEA did not come through for us....almost $200 for the cheapest option!?!? Ben is doing great in his bed and so far hasn't wandered around the house in the middle of the night. He seems proud to be in a "big boy bed" and announces it to many who visit. We have the room re-arranged in preparation for the baby and it looks great. We will probably put the two kids together after a few months with the baby in our room. Our little boy is growing up....
Haircut breakthrough
We broke down and spent the extra $6 to get a super-deluxe (i.e. super-fun) haircut for Ben. Its at a store called "Kid Snips" which is a chain of mall stores which does haircuts for kids. Boy, are they smart (don't you wish you could have invented such a thing?). They have car chairs, videos of just about anything you can imagine, balloons, suckers, and toys to choose at the end, and GREAT hair stylists to boot. For the first time in his life of about 15 haircuts, Ben didn't cry. Watching Thomas and driving in his car chair definitely helped. It was such a pleasant experience that we might just have to go back.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Never a dull moment around here...
Over the last several months, I have enjoyed 15 minutes of solitude in the mornings while Ben happily played in his crib with a bottle of milk. (Solitude=quick shower and/or check email briefly). This morning, I put him in his crib as usual, and went next door to the bathroom to dry my hair. About 2 minutes into drying my hair, I hear a huge thud, knowing it was more than the items that Ben is habitually throwing out of his crib onto the floor. I run into his room and hear him try to cry, thinking he is gearing up for the "big cry" and nothing...he is lying face-down in stunned silence staring off into the distance. My heart stopped at this moment and I waited....about 10 seconds later (it felt like 2 mintues), he started to sob. I didn't want to pick him up as I was concerned he may have hurt his neck. He quickly got up and held onto me, and cried for a good 5-10 minutes. I immediately called the doctor and they reviewed head injury precautions and things to watch for (the second time I've called on a matter like this). Today, he has been acting normally, talking normally, and being as active as ever. I am so thankful he is okay. I swear, I'm going to have a full head of grey hair before I am 40 (which isn't too far off!).
Monday, May 21, 2007
Flu Bug, Ugh.
We were stricken (among many other affected friends and family nearby) with the flu bug this week. I guess I was due as I don't think I've had the stomach flu since I was a teenager. Ben came down with it last Wednesday, since then we felt great and thought we were in the clear. Yesterday Steven and I both got it. Not fun. Today I feel worthless: walk 10 steps and am short of breath and exhausted. I guess much of it has to do with not eating for 24 hours, losing anything I did have in my system, all while growing a baby. Fortunately, today, we all feel much better and my appetite is slowly returning. I'm glad we got it out of the way before the baby comes....
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Rain
Yesterday we had some strong rains and I opened the front door to show Ben. He is very into turning things (especially lights) off and on. He immediately said "Turn the rain OFF!" I tried to explain to him that only God can do that....how do you explain??? This morning when we waved to Daddy as he was leaving for the train, Ben said "Turn the rain ON!" Again, I reminded him that only God can turn the rain off and on. He looked at me thoughtfully and has been saying all morning, "God, turn the rain on, please??" Sweetness. I hope I remember these unbelievably precious moments when I have a pimply teenager who is taller than me and talking back :)
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Picnic with Dada
As I am in the final stretch of pregnancy, I am beginning to hit a wall and face my limits. My body just won't let me do what I want to do anymore. Its hard for me, but also good for me. It forces me to slow down (a little). Yesterday, I took Ben downtown on the train to meet Steven for a picnic in the park. It was a lot of walking and it hit me HARD when I got home later. It was worth it, though! We all enjoyed relaxing in beautiful Millenium Park, kicking off our shoes and feeling the grass between our toes, and basking in the sun. I stopped at Old Navy on my way down and got Ben this new hat. I love it! (As always, more photos on Flickr if you click on this photo).
Gramma and Granpa
Steven's parents came out this weekend to visit! It was so wonderful to be together again, Ben had a great time reconnecting, too. We had a pretty full weekend with working on the house, family cookout, church, a midwife appointment, and storytime. It went much too fast, we were sad to say goodbye. Thank you so much for coming out, we really enjoyed having you! We love you so much!
For more fun photos of the weekend, click on this photo to go to our Flickr site.
For more fun photos of the weekend, click on this photo to go to our Flickr site.
Reunion
This Saturday we had a family cookout at our house. It was an especially fun gathering as we had many of us together who don't normally see each other. Pictured left is my Grandmother, Steven's parents, the Rothwells (my sister-in-laws parents), and my parents. We all enjoyed catching up over a brief visit!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
22 Months
Okay, so I'm a week or so late on my 22 month post. This is mostly for me, anyway, so I can remember the landmarks of my son growing up (I have a terrible memory).
Ben continues to delight us. His verbal skills astound us daily! Today we went to Costco (always an adventure with a toddler!) and got free samples of Jelly Bellies. He remembered and recalled to me that one of my friends gave him Jelly Beans several weeks ago when we joined her for lunch. WOW! It blew me away. How can I harness some of that???
He is full of energy, curiosity, and life! He lives life to the fullest, filled with wonder and delight at many new things. He loves to watch ants on the sidewalk, and usually ends up smooshing them. He loves to pick dandelions, calling them "flowders." The other day he picked a pansy that I planted (we might have to work on this one). He loves being outside, climbing at the park, taking walks. He's in love with his daddy...as soon as Steven gets home from work, they are attached at the hip, playing with the hose, digging for worms, rolling around in the grass.
His will is strengthening, and he knows EXACTLY what he wants :) This can be both frustrating and exciting!
He can count to ten (usually leaves out one or two numbers, often 9), knows many of his letters, can run our portable DVD player pretty well, likes to play with water in the sink, and loves to imitate us.
We can't imagine our lives without him, he has enriched life so much.
After learning of my acquaintances death, I just want to hold him tight, protect him from the crummy stuff this world has to offer, and capture this moment in time. I keep telling him how much I love him and tell him to never forget it. I hope he never does.
Ben continues to delight us. His verbal skills astound us daily! Today we went to Costco (always an adventure with a toddler!) and got free samples of Jelly Bellies. He remembered and recalled to me that one of my friends gave him Jelly Beans several weeks ago when we joined her for lunch. WOW! It blew me away. How can I harness some of that???
He is full of energy, curiosity, and life! He lives life to the fullest, filled with wonder and delight at many new things. He loves to watch ants on the sidewalk, and usually ends up smooshing them. He loves to pick dandelions, calling them "flowders." The other day he picked a pansy that I planted (we might have to work on this one). He loves being outside, climbing at the park, taking walks. He's in love with his daddy...as soon as Steven gets home from work, they are attached at the hip, playing with the hose, digging for worms, rolling around in the grass.
His will is strengthening, and he knows EXACTLY what he wants :) This can be both frustrating and exciting!
He can count to ten (usually leaves out one or two numbers, often 9), knows many of his letters, can run our portable DVD player pretty well, likes to play with water in the sink, and loves to imitate us.
We can't imagine our lives without him, he has enriched life so much.
After learning of my acquaintances death, I just want to hold him tight, protect him from the crummy stuff this world has to offer, and capture this moment in time. I keep telling him how much I love him and tell him to never forget it. I hope he never does.
Old Fence, New Fence
Here are the before and after photos of our yard with the demo of the old fence (GO STEVE, what a job!!!) and the installation of our new fence. It was great to come home today and see the transformation of our yard. It is like our own little haven now! We didn't want a tall fence, or a solid fence, as we didn't want to isolate ourselves from our neighbors. Hopefully it will be a happy medium of a little privacy and a little more safety without sacrificing the relationships with those around us.
Ben, Will and Drew
Yesterday we had a playdate with Kathleen and her two sons, Will and Drew. Kathleen and I were coworkers together at Midwest Midwifery, and Ben and Will were born only 17 hours apart. Kathleen and her family are moving to Tennessee, so it was great to have one last time together before they go. In the background, you can see Drew, 4 months old. We enjoyed the rare 80-degree weather on May Day :)
My parents
My parents (Nana and Papa) came to visit this past weekend to help me out with childcare. Ben absolutely loves both of them, and they had a great time together. Here they are singing a song "this Little Light of Mine" to which Ben got the giggles. Thanks to you both for all the ways that you help our family. We love you!!!
We're looking forward to a visit from Gramma and Granpa Bassett this weekend, too! Boy, are we spoiled!
We're looking forward to a visit from Gramma and Granpa Bassett this weekend, too! Boy, are we spoiled!
My Knight in Shining Armor Installed my (other) Knight in Shining Armor
We got a dishwasher. I must say in all my laziness that it is lovely. It has cut my dishwashing time in half and improved my quality of life!!!! Thank you so much, sweetheart, for the amazing gift....more time!
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