Wait…we’re having another baby?!

As the days draw nearer to the due date, I realize it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything about my pregnancy.

It’s going pretty good. The OB I see will only do one ultrasound (between 17-20 weeks) unless there are potential issues. Granted I probably could have asked for another one because of how things went with Justin but this time I have enjoyed just going with the flow. I have had a pretty uneventful pregnancy which has been nice. My belly is pretty darn large (see below) and gets in the way frequently when trying to pick up a child, bend over or when my children are pulling at my legs. The later is done quite frequently! And, when said child is trying to get my attention, my stomach keeps me from seeing them. I have to bend over to check out their faces. Fun stuff overall.

So here are some pics of me with my boys and just me at 37 1/2 weeks. How much longer will we wait for this baby to get here?! Only the good Lord knows!

See Brian’s beard? This started out as sort of a joke. See, I’ve practiced the “Bradley” method of childbirth. If you check out the suggested companion book, “Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way” was originally written in the late 1970’s. Let’s just say the photos haven’t been updated. We found that it was appropriate (in a comical way) for Brian to grow out his facial hair via a beard or mustache in order to follow along with the book. Here he is with the beard:

So yesterday I thought I was in labor, the real deal…it dissipated within a few hours but it sure did kick us into get ready mode! Brian shaved the beard in preparation because we thought we’d have a baby the next day. And he didn’t want a bunch of pictures with him bearing a huge beard. False alarm!

On another note, Justin did WONDERFUL with getting tubes yesterday. We may be reading into things more than normal but Brian and I both think he hears better. Only time will tell! Perhaps this is why I started having contractions? Although I had pure faith that everything was going to be fine, I’m sure I was stressed a little about my baby being sedated and having surgery. Glad it’s over!

Justin is Walking!

At 16 1/2 months, he started taking a few steps and one week before he turned 17 months old, he took 10+ steps! Yay!!! After working with him daily on taking steps and getting to the point of walking, this has been a HUGE milestone! Babies born with clubfeet walk at all different times. Some walk early (by a year) and others are older than two. To be in the middle is awesome for us! Praise for Justin and a huge accomplishment….oh, and he’s pretty proud of himself also.

Long story but he has kept fluid on his ears since after he turned a year old. This is all that we know – hearing tests aren’t being passed and the next step is tubes. Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, we’re going in and he’s getting tubes. Praying that this eliminates the fluid sitting in his inner ears and will correct any issues.

July….Part 4….Troy Swimming

Technically this belongs in May and June. But, here we are in July…

Anyway, Troy took swimming lessons from a local professional swimmer, Adam. He just happened to swim in the Olympic trials. Unfortunately he didn’t make it past the trials but just getting there is pretty remarkable. Adam will be in graduate school in Auburn this fall so there is a chance they’ll take lessons again. To say he was wonderful with Troy and his buddy P would be an understatement. Both boys cooperated at times and also acted like two year olds at times. Troy needed to go “potty” (#2) just about every lesson! Haha!

I thought it was hilarious. Troy is a VERY intense child. Almost two months later, he is doing awesome with swimming. He loves to jump off the side of the pool and swim back to the side on his own. He’s definitely on his way!

 

Adam gave both boys jelly beans after their last lesson. Yummy! Troy wasn’t that excited, can’t you tell?

July….Part 3

Since the Fourth of July fell the middle of the week, we headed to Grandy and Memama’s house the weekend before the 4th.

Troy LOVES the beach. Loves it….and would spend all day there if he could. He’ll randomly ask to go to the beach at the oddest times. Justin enjoyed eating the sand this time. Taking after his brother…

 

Yummy sand!

Both boys had a taste of their first ride on the carousel. To say they LOVED it would be an understatement.

Justin had his first trip to Baytowne. Troy was in awe of the zip line and thought he could ride it. Uh…maybe in a few years.

We also cooked crabs! This is one of my favorite things to eat after going to the beach. Something my family did each year during our trips to Gulf Shores. Although Brian lived on the coast growing up, I’m the one who taught him how to cook these yummy critters. So good! I had to convince Troy (again) that they aren’t spiders. The child has a slight obsession with spiders and spider webs. Don’t let him in your house if you have any…unless you want him to find them for you!

July continued….Part 2

More time with the cousins. We took a day trip to my mom’s house (KK) to visit with my sister Mary who had her children over there again. I was around 33 (or s0) weeks pregnant. Saying that it was hot outside is an understatement. But, we had a lot of fun.

Mary, KK and I went to Wetumpka’s little (or big) park at the Riverwalk and let Troy and Colt run around. Troy likes to “perform” in that he will hold anything resembling a microphone in his hand and make announcements. It usually goes something like, “ladies and gentlemen, it’s kitty cat!” Or he’ll announce a person. Not sure where this came from but he first did it at the zoo. If he can find something that looks like a stage or is a raised area, he uses it as a stage and will make announcements and sing.

We went walking a good bit and when Troy said his legs were “tired”, I was so grateful when my sister Mary and my Mom took over and carried him. Awesome Brian stayed at home with Justin and Addie so they could take naps. How awesome is HE!?!?!

Here is Troy making announcements and both boys checking out the ducks.

Here are both boys…randomly wearing outfits KK made.

Troy…..and KK trying out the zip slide thingy.

July continued….Part 1

As the unknown “day” approaches, I realized I need to get caught up on old pictures!

I’m going to recap (for the two people in my family who actually look at this blog) what we’ve been doing over the last month (and almost month and a half).

My sister Mary came to see us and brought her kiddos. It’s sufficient enough to say that Colt and Troy, at 4 months apart, play and fight like twins. Justin and Addie play like babies who don’t care (yet). The two of them are less than 9 months apart so I imagine they’ll fight one day when they care who plays with what toys. The boys and Addie played a good bit at home, rode the gator, colored and went swimming.

They look so sweet and innocent here, don’t they?!

And swimming…..think someone is shopping from Shrimp and Grits Kids?!

These two had the best time together. 2nd pic- hilarious!

 

Little J got sleepy…………………and my belly has overcome being able to see my child pulling at my legs!

July?

Happy 4th of July and the whole darn month of July!

More coming later…..mama is tired (and still pregnant)!

Oh, and thanks to brownpaperpackages for the flag idea – super easy and cute.

Status Report June 2012

With my work, I send status reports on the files I handle. Yes, I have a job, by the way. The non-paying job, however, is full of status reports. I find it easier to rely on others to help me out with what the boys are up to lately. In an effort to keep track of the little munchkins, I've signed up for weekly updates through various online websites. While I believe their ulterior motive is to lead me to click on a link and purchase some sort of new-fangled product, I’ve found that the updates are somewhat helpful. These started when I was pregnant with each child. Today I found it interestingly amusing to see my current status. Here goes:

I am 30 weeks pregnant - If you think I'M big, you should really check out my 30-week womb-piggy: they're now nearly 4 lbs and 16 inches long! My little porker is getting cuter and cuter as they pile on the pudge to their wee arms & legs, thanks to ever-growing layers of subcutaneous fat. Grow baby grow!

-uh, okay

Justin - When your toddler throws a full-blown screaming fit in the middle of the grocery store, you may want to hide behind the toilet paper display – but rest assured that other parents feel your pain. The most useful response is to take your child out of the store (even if it means leaving a cart full of food behind) and sit with him until he finishes crying. Staying calm and offering lots of hugs and kisses can help. Remember that your child is still learning how to communicate and will eventually outgrow this behavior.

Troy - Numbers Game
If your child can count to ten or higher already, is he a budding genius? Well, he certainly has a good working memory. Two-year-olds are just beginning to gain an understanding of numbers; they often learn to count by reciting the names of numbers from memory long before they understand the relative quantity of three or nine. Basically they start knowing the difference between "one" and "anything more than one." But hey, it's an important start!

So basically, I’m FAT, my unborn baby is fat, my 15 month old is starting to throw tantrums and my 2 year old wants to count but can’t yet.

Let’s see, that’s fairly accurate. I feel large (and in charge), my 15 month old is beginning to get frustrated or, more frequently, irritated and easily gets his feelings hurt. My 2 year old can count to 25, sometimes higher but can only count objects up to 5 at a time. He also says four is “fourve”.

It is just me or are these updates extremely helpful. Especially lately!

Justin at 15 Months

Is still such a baby to me. Perhaps this happens with the second (and subsequent) child(ren)?

He surprises me each day. Learning new things, playing and interacting more. The child seems to have his own little language. His words are few: mama, dada, ight, da (dog), titi (kitty), A-ugh (amen), ah duh (all done).

Justin wakes up happy…..until his diaper is changed. He’d much rather be roaming around on the floor. He seems very content crawling and cruising around on things. We work with him everyday on pushing things around and he’ll do it – just to pacify us. He couldn’t care less about walking.

As a parent of a child born with clubfeet, I can honestly say that I didn’t know if he would be doing what he’s doing now. Speaking of pulling up to stand and cruising around, I can’t be more proud of the progress he’s made. This kiddo was in casts for the first 3 months of his life, then in braces full time for the next 3. Of course he still wears his braces at night. It’s become a way of life for us. No, it isn’t my favorite thing to do and I’m sure he’d be happier without them but he knows no different and is happy nonetheless.

Okay, so he’s still sleeping through the night. In his mouth are 4 teeth on the top with two chompers on the bottom. And, I felt 4 molars in the back. Considering his first tooth came in at 11 months, he’s also tolerated teething quite well! A few random nights he did fuss but nothing to cause us any concern. He eats like a champ and is generally a loving child.

The most recent development is an attachment to his Mother! Where did this come from? He loves to lay his head down on ones’ shoulder and tuck his arms underneath his little body while being held. But, he loves his mother so much! Gotta admit it’s not something I push away from, instead I welcome it with open arms.

He admires his brother. His brother – the one who runs everywhere and is high strung. Yep, that one. If Justin hears Troy running down the hall, Justin takes off in the opposite direction and is so excited when Troy “catches” him. I can see the sweet bonding taking off right before my eyes.

Although not the most flattering picture, you can see J’s long face here. He still has the dimple in the middle of his nose. It makes him, well, Justin! He has large feet for a clubfoot child with big hands and long fingers. He also has puffy lips which are just precious.

On his right foot, one toe overlaps the other. It’s ever so slightly now. Used to be more pronounced. When he stands, all toes are flat. I suspect this is a temporary overlap.

Stats:

24 pounds (might be closer to 25) – 75th percentile

32.2 inches – 85th percentile

Head – 18 inches – 20-25th percentile

Precious in every way!

The Zoo! The Zoo! June 2012

A very last minute decision and we were off to the zoo. On the way there, Troy told me that I would see the tiger, his daddy would see the rhino and he would see the farmer. Um…how many farmers are there at the zoo? Anyway, I figured we would work that out when we got there. We walked through the ENTIRE zoo – a first time thing for us (post children). Troy had a blast, Justin was as happy as could be and KK came to see us!

KK has been helping me get the boys’ rooms ready (more on that another day) and while her plan was to finish the painting on the beds, our plans to go to the zoo got her off the hook and over to the zoo (it’s less than 10 minutes from her house). Troy and Justin love their KK! So glad she came…and she brought some fun clothes to boot!

Troy was obsessed with seeing a Rhino. What the hey? Then, once he saw one, he was less than thrilled. The train passed about the same time and he had a new obsession. Our goal was to see the tiger and then get on the train. He could hardly wait to see the tiger and get on the way to the train! He’s a VERY active and on-the-go boy! Always several steps ahead of us so we have to constantly call him back to get closer to us. I realize that we need to be better about making him stay close. On a side note, my mother said I was the same way….no wonder I got lost in Disney World! What are we going to do?!?!

With the flamingos and my (almost) 28 week belly – looks more like 40 weeks! Ha!!! Surely I’m having a huge baby, right?!

KK with Justin……and Troy.

Checking out the elephants. Relaxin’ in the stroller.

Before and after lunch, Troy got on the stage and “performed”. Literally, he got on the stage, started stomping one foot, pretended he had a microphone and was singing. Then he began announcing, “wadies and gentewmen, here comes the big kitty cat”! Where did he come up with this?

And Justin watched and danced ~~