If you had asked me 12 weeks ago when I went into pre-term labour if I EVER thought it was possible that I would successfully make it to 38 weeks, I would have looked at you as if you fallen off your rocker. BUT, here we are, successfully at 38 weeks, and with the build up over the past few months, all I want to do is get this baby OUT of my belly. I think I have tried everything short of Castor oil, but I continue to remain minimally dilated with very few contractions.
In other news, Caleb is talking up a storm. Over the past two weeks, he has gone from the very rare three word sentence, to mostly using 4 word sentences. The favourite of all of these words seems to be "my". "My daddy at work?" "Mommy change my diaper?" He is also repeating everything, which means we have to be extra careful. My favourite line yesterday: He was walking into the living room with a piece of chocolate, stumbled and dropped the chocolate and belted out"Oh my gosh!"
We have been trying over the past two weeks to do some things as a family of three - again, I don't know how much Caleb will remember, but it makes Scott and I feel better ;) We have been out for ice cream, down to the local "lake" to feed the ducks, and yesterday we went to Lititz to the Wilbur Chocolate factory. If you are ever in the area, Lititz is close to Lancaster, near Amish country and has the most charming little downtown area. I would highly recommend going and checking out the shops and little alley ways to more shops and restaurants. It was a little difficult exploring with a two year old, but overall, he was really well behaved.
Caleb has been a lot better about trying new foods lately. The best thing is that if he doesn't like something, he'll put it back on his plate rather than spitting it out on the ground! This is a major accomplishment at our house!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Life with my two year old...
I would hate to think that anyone reading this blog thinks that I take myself too seriously - or that I have grandiose opinions on my ability to parent. Here are some recent vignettes from our life.
After literally weeks of procrastination (I don't know who is more adept: Scott or I), we finally took Caleb to buy some new shoes. I had noticed that the soles on his shoes were wearing down, ummm, around his birthday, but I had neglected to take him shopping because a) I was on bed rest shortly after his birthday b) he wasn't complaining about his shoes and c) we were trying to clear up the ear/sinus infection. (Excuses are the biggest tool of the procrastinator!) A few weekends ago, we headed off to the speciality shoe store to try to find some shoes for his Fred Flinstone feet. If you haven't seen Caleb's feet in a while, they are about as long as they are wide and he needs a wide width shoe.
The shoes that he had been in were a New Balance 5 1/2 extra wide. When we got the store, they measured him and determined that he needed a 7 1/2. My jaw dropped. I had no idea that I had been cramming his little foot into a pair of shoes that were literally 2 sizes too small. Bad Mommy.
In order to appease my conscience about the amount of TV Caleb has been watching, I have been talking to him during the programs, particularly the movies that he loves to watch over and over again. We talk about feelings and what to do when you feel that way. We also talk about the characters' reactions and if they were "nice". It has really helped when I am trying to get him to treat the pets differently, or his friends at daycare.
We have also been doing what I call the "This or That" quiz while driving in the car. I have been trying to work on opposites like fast and slow, big and small, over and under, and stop and go. Things were going pretty well, I thought until we had this conversation.
Me: Caleb, the light is red.
C: Red.
Me: Do we go or stop on red?
C: Stop, Mommy, stop.
Me: That's right Buddy! We stop when the light is red.
(I sit feeling pleased that he has mastered this question and decide that I am going to challenge him on the next one)
C: Mommy, helicopter!
Me: That's right, Caleb! A helicopter. Does a helicopter fly or swim?
C: (Pauses for a minute, seriously considering question.) Fart, Mommy, fart.
So there you go. Stop at red and helicopters fart. I think I hear Harvard calling.
After literally weeks of procrastination (I don't know who is more adept: Scott or I), we finally took Caleb to buy some new shoes. I had noticed that the soles on his shoes were wearing down, ummm, around his birthday, but I had neglected to take him shopping because a) I was on bed rest shortly after his birthday b) he wasn't complaining about his shoes and c) we were trying to clear up the ear/sinus infection. (Excuses are the biggest tool of the procrastinator!) A few weekends ago, we headed off to the speciality shoe store to try to find some shoes for his Fred Flinstone feet. If you haven't seen Caleb's feet in a while, they are about as long as they are wide and he needs a wide width shoe.
The shoes that he had been in were a New Balance 5 1/2 extra wide. When we got the store, they measured him and determined that he needed a 7 1/2. My jaw dropped. I had no idea that I had been cramming his little foot into a pair of shoes that were literally 2 sizes too small. Bad Mommy.
In order to appease my conscience about the amount of TV Caleb has been watching, I have been talking to him during the programs, particularly the movies that he loves to watch over and over again. We talk about feelings and what to do when you feel that way. We also talk about the characters' reactions and if they were "nice". It has really helped when I am trying to get him to treat the pets differently, or his friends at daycare.
We have also been doing what I call the "This or That" quiz while driving in the car. I have been trying to work on opposites like fast and slow, big and small, over and under, and stop and go. Things were going pretty well, I thought until we had this conversation.
Me: Caleb, the light is red.
C: Red.
Me: Do we go or stop on red?
C: Stop, Mommy, stop.
Me: That's right Buddy! We stop when the light is red.
(I sit feeling pleased that he has mastered this question and decide that I am going to challenge him on the next one)
C: Mommy, helicopter!
Me: That's right, Caleb! A helicopter. Does a helicopter fly or swim?
C: (Pauses for a minute, seriously considering question.) Fart, Mommy, fart.
So there you go. Stop at red and helicopters fart. I think I hear Harvard calling.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
And now we exhale...
Our weekend was unexpectedly and blissfully boring.
Haha! Gotcha! I live with a two year old, remember?
Friday night I had a series of weird dreams, the last ended at 1:27 AM and I was awake until 4:00. Saturday morning, I woke to a little voice in the next room saying "Mommy. Mommy? Mommy!" I went in and had my morning ritual with Caleb.
(Set scene: 6:22 AM, Mommy and son on opposite sides of door. Mommy has really interesting hair and t-shirt borrowed from Daddy that advertises beer, hockey or both and mismatched bottoms. Son has equally interesting hair, but is matched impeccably.)
Me: I'm coming sweet boy.
C: Mommy?
Me: Yes honey, I'll be right there.
C: Mommy? (as I open the door)
Me: What do you need Angel-bug?
C: Mommy? Poop.
Me: Okay sweetie, let's get you changed. (I lay him down on the change mat - there is never a poop by the way, for those he likes to walk around the house until he becomes so malodorous that Scott or I notice)
Does that feel better?
C: Better. (Long lashes blink in agreement that make my heart melt) Mommy? Daddy?
Me: Daddy is at work/sleeping, Cay-man.
C: Oh. Work/Sleeping. Hugs Mommy?
Got to love the sweetness of being two.
***************************************
Let's start off with how my husband saved us $1000.
When Scott and I first moved in together 5 and half years ago we were hesitant about making BIG decisions together. Don't get me wrong, we had talked about getting married A LOT, even talked about having a family together. And yes, we had dated for over two years, but most of that had been long distance. We had had the discussion many times that it was easy to be whomever the person needed you to be for a weekend, or even a week, but that the true test of our relationship was going to come when we actually lived in the same city. After living together for two months (the first month of which was NOT pretty, but that is a different entry for a different time) we finally decided to make a large purchase together. We went to Sears, selected a washer and dryer, and at that moment, cemented our commitment to each other. (I know, I know, there is nothing more romantic then buying household appliances together...) We were in it for the long haul, or until the warranty ended. ;)
Over the past week and a half our dryer has been slowly dying. We have been having to dry things 2-3 times in order to get them less moist - not even bone dry. Scott discovered on Wednesday that the dryer vent hose had water in it. He later discovered that our outside vent needed to be resealed, but he was unable to do it because it rained EVERY day this week. The laundry ritual has been comprised of Scott putting in a load, emptying the hose/duct thingy, and on really good days, me going down to re-set the dryer after re-emptying the hose/duct thingy.
Finally, on Saturday morning, there had been no rain, but the hose was still full of water.
"The dryer is on the fritz," he said with a slightly stressed out look.
We had a long discussion about whether to call someone to repair it or to just go and buy a new dryer. We finally opted on a new dryer, thinking that in the long term an energy efficient one would save us money. (Note: We also discussed buying a clothes line, but thought if we had another week where it rained every day that this would not be a great option, plus new baby = LOTS of laundry.)
So, my sweet husband went to detach our dryer hose and made an interesting discovery: at the top of the hose, where it connected to the exterior wall, there was a bird's nest. The water that was trapped inside the hose thingy was the moisture from our clothes that couldn't escape because of the block! Hooray! Money saved, and crisis averted!
After a quick trip to Lowe's we are the proud owners of a new duct/hose thingy and a vent that won't allow birds to get in.
Haha! Gotcha! I live with a two year old, remember?
Friday night I had a series of weird dreams, the last ended at 1:27 AM and I was awake until 4:00. Saturday morning, I woke to a little voice in the next room saying "Mommy. Mommy? Mommy!" I went in and had my morning ritual with Caleb.
(Set scene: 6:22 AM, Mommy and son on opposite sides of door. Mommy has really interesting hair and t-shirt borrowed from Daddy that advertises beer, hockey or both and mismatched bottoms. Son has equally interesting hair, but is matched impeccably.)
Me: I'm coming sweet boy.
C: Mommy?
Me: Yes honey, I'll be right there.
C: Mommy? (as I open the door)
Me: What do you need Angel-bug?
C: Mommy? Poop.
Me: Okay sweetie, let's get you changed. (I lay him down on the change mat - there is never a poop by the way, for those he likes to walk around the house until he becomes so malodorous that Scott or I notice)
Does that feel better?
C: Better. (Long lashes blink in agreement that make my heart melt) Mommy? Daddy?
Me: Daddy is at work/sleeping, Cay-man.
C: Oh. Work/Sleeping. Hugs Mommy?
Got to love the sweetness of being two.
***************************************
Let's start off with how my husband saved us $1000.
When Scott and I first moved in together 5 and half years ago we were hesitant about making BIG decisions together. Don't get me wrong, we had talked about getting married A LOT, even talked about having a family together. And yes, we had dated for over two years, but most of that had been long distance. We had had the discussion many times that it was easy to be whomever the person needed you to be for a weekend, or even a week, but that the true test of our relationship was going to come when we actually lived in the same city. After living together for two months (the first month of which was NOT pretty, but that is a different entry for a different time) we finally decided to make a large purchase together. We went to Sears, selected a washer and dryer, and at that moment, cemented our commitment to each other. (I know, I know, there is nothing more romantic then buying household appliances together...) We were in it for the long haul, or until the warranty ended. ;)
Over the past week and a half our dryer has been slowly dying. We have been having to dry things 2-3 times in order to get them less moist - not even bone dry. Scott discovered on Wednesday that the dryer vent hose had water in it. He later discovered that our outside vent needed to be resealed, but he was unable to do it because it rained EVERY day this week. The laundry ritual has been comprised of Scott putting in a load, emptying the hose/duct thingy, and on really good days, me going down to re-set the dryer after re-emptying the hose/duct thingy.
Finally, on Saturday morning, there had been no rain, but the hose was still full of water.
"The dryer is on the fritz," he said with a slightly stressed out look.
We had a long discussion about whether to call someone to repair it or to just go and buy a new dryer. We finally opted on a new dryer, thinking that in the long term an energy efficient one would save us money. (Note: We also discussed buying a clothes line, but thought if we had another week where it rained every day that this would not be a great option, plus new baby = LOTS of laundry.)
So, my sweet husband went to detach our dryer hose and made an interesting discovery: at the top of the hose, where it connected to the exterior wall, there was a bird's nest. The water that was trapped inside the hose thingy was the moisture from our clothes that couldn't escape because of the block! Hooray! Money saved, and crisis averted!
After a quick trip to Lowe's we are the proud owners of a new duct/hose thingy and a vent that won't allow birds to get in.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Good Report
I had a good report at the doctor on Tuesday - the baby was moving well, I hadn't had any pre-term labour and my blood pressure was where it needed to be. I was a little surprised to find out that I had begun dilating - 2cm already! I am taking this with a grain of salt because I hung out at 1-2 cm for THREE weeks with Caleb before my doc finally decided to induce me.
I am also really thrilled to say that I went to the BEST consignment sale last Friday. I was able to get Caleb's entire summer wardrobe for $56 - including a rain jacket! The best part was because I went early, I was one of the first ones in the Boys 2T section and scoped out all the cute GAP stuff. ;) My little guy will be well dressed this summer!
As for bebe #2, s/he will be decked out in plenty of yellow, white, green and orange and various duck patterns for the majority of the summer. The nursery didn't get completed (despite my earlier post about laying down the law) because Scott had a stomach virus Thurs-Sat. My doctor's appointment has lit the proverbial fire under his butt, and he promises to have things DONE by the end of this weekend.
We also had our hospital tour yesterday, 10 waddling moms to be and the bedrest queen in her wheelchair. I didn't realize that Harrisburg Hospital was SUCH a big facility. There are 36 mother and baby rooms, not to mention 12 labour and delivery rooms and 3 O.R. suites dedicated to C-sections. It was reassuring to know that there is a neonatologist available at all times, but I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see the NICU. My MD keeps telling me that if bebe comes before 36 weeks that there is a good chance that s/he will be in the NICU and I wanted to have that visual of where the baby may be going. Scott told me that it was probably a good thing that they didn't include it on the tour because it might freak some parents out. I can see his point, but....
I am also really thrilled to say that I went to the BEST consignment sale last Friday. I was able to get Caleb's entire summer wardrobe for $56 - including a rain jacket! The best part was because I went early, I was one of the first ones in the Boys 2T section and scoped out all the cute GAP stuff. ;) My little guy will be well dressed this summer!
As for bebe #2, s/he will be decked out in plenty of yellow, white, green and orange and various duck patterns for the majority of the summer. The nursery didn't get completed (despite my earlier post about laying down the law) because Scott had a stomach virus Thurs-Sat. My doctor's appointment has lit the proverbial fire under his butt, and he promises to have things DONE by the end of this weekend.
We also had our hospital tour yesterday, 10 waddling moms to be and the bedrest queen in her wheelchair. I didn't realize that Harrisburg Hospital was SUCH a big facility. There are 36 mother and baby rooms, not to mention 12 labour and delivery rooms and 3 O.R. suites dedicated to C-sections. It was reassuring to know that there is a neonatologist available at all times, but I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see the NICU. My MD keeps telling me that if bebe comes before 36 weeks that there is a good chance that s/he will be in the NICU and I wanted to have that visual of where the baby may be going. Scott told me that it was probably a good thing that they didn't include it on the tour because it might freak some parents out. I can see his point, but....
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