1 Year of Little Blessings

I have regretted not writing up your birth story again after your dad closed the program without saving my 3 page write-up. I always thought at some point I would have some down time. Unfortunately starting school full-time hasn't left much free time. But I do want to have your story for the future, so let's see how much I remember.
I had hoped to go into labor on my own, but that's not how my life works. So after bravely facing and passing your due date, we scheduled an induction for Monday may 24th. Early in the morning I called the hospital right on time, but the response was one I remembered from when your sister was born, call back later. There was a snowstorm occurring and the weather can cause the onset of labor, apparently. I wouldn't know about that. I called back and was given a vet ho-hum okay to head in. It was nasty weather so the drive was slow, at least it was to me. When we got there, and walked up to the check-in desk, I was told to take a seat in the waiting room. I thought " this is it, they're sending me home" and we sat and sat and watched the nurses come to the waiting room for people that had come in much after us. After the news finished on the TV and Dr oz began, your dad was getting frustrated and finally went to the desk to see what the hold up was. I was sure that I was being sent home. Actually they had been waiting for me, wondering why I wasn't there yet, needless to say there was much apologizing from them. I was hooked up to machines and started on my IV and your father and I settled in for the long wait. We watched Have you heard about the Morgans? and waited while my contractions began. I tried to tough it out but after a few hours it was time for the epidural. This was the awful bit last time so I was nervous. When the doctor came in, he and my nurse were talking about gardening. They talked a out the topsy turvey pots and i found out they have one for strawberries! And then it was over. It hadn't been awful! Contractions were getting stronger and I was worried my mom wouldn't be able to make it from work. I started feeling sick and was started on oxygen. I was checked and had progressed a lot, I must have been in phase 2 of labor. I started to want to push and my doctor was called. To me everything happened so fast but maybe it wasn't from the other side, I don't think I pushed for took long, not at all like your sister who was turned all funny, you knew it was time to get out.
A few good pushes and you were here, so beautiful. After you were here, I felt great, probably some rush of endorphins or something. Your grandpa and grandma Bowen came by with your sister to see you. Hayley was very happy to finally meet you. Now it was time for me to start moving around. I was wiggling my toes for all I was worth so that I could get to the bathroom and show the nurses how well I was doing. Checking my bleeding I was kept in bed longer than I wanted to be there. Checking the bleeding requires the nurses to press down on my abdomen and seeing that my tummy had held a tiny person earlier that day, it didn't feel good. After awhile the nurses decided it was time to try the walk to the bathroom. Two nurses flanked me to help me make the short wall across the room. I was told to keep my legs locked and just shuffle the few feet. I started shuffling, the nurses didn't like my color, I made it to the bathroom, but I started to feel very sick. One nurse told me to keep my eyes open, so I focused on that. This is now according to your dad, with my eyes open, I passed out. One nurse said " she's gone" and the nurses called for backup. I then came to, it was like everything came back into focus. A group of nurses got me back into bed. They would now give me more medication and watch my bleeding even closer. I was transferred to a new bed and moved from labor to a recovery room. Here is when people started to show up, it seemed like hours that people were there. You were passed back and forth from all your aunts and uncles and grandparents. When my mom got there I started to feel a little better, I knew she would help me through this. I couldn't sit up in bed, so while everyone was there I was laying down, trying to be brave but I was getting so tired. My dad kept telling me about his trip to Vegas or something, showing me pictures he had taken on his cellphone. It was all very surreal.
Finally after everyone had held you and cooed over you, everyone left except my mom, they came to check my bleeding and all I could do was cry. It was so painful and while the nurses had thought the bleeding was slowing down, turns out it wasn't. You went to the nursery to sleep for the night. Your dad had taken his sleeping pill and was planning on going to his parents to sleep. But after the doctor came it was decided, I needed to go into surgery, there was something stopping the bleeding from slowing down. At this point I just wanted to go to sleep, surgery would let me sleep, so I was good and completely confident in my doctor. Your dad was freaking out though. He had his dad come back to the hospital so they could give me a blessing. I told your dad to go home with his parents since he had taken his sleeping pill already and surgery would take probably about an hour. I figured I was fine, my mom was here, she could stay with me and your dad could get some sleep since he was probably no good to me now anyway.
Of course your dad wouldn't have that. He was worried about me and possibility that realistically I could die, although that wasn't very likely. Everyone stayed. I was just happy that I got to get some sleep!
The anesthesiologist was an aging hippy dude. He told me that he'd heard I'd had kind of an exciting day. I felt very relaxed and a nurse had me hold her hand until I was out. I don't remember much of even being in the room, so it must have happened fast, then I was in a recovery area, half asleep, half awake. I kept wanting to ask the nurse if it was okay if I slept, but I never work up even to do it. I was wheeled back through the hospital to the women's center and in the waiting room, my family was there, and were told that everything went well and we were all good. Now I would get some more sleep right? It was about midnight and the rest of the night was ahead of me. Your dad stayed on a cushion on the window seat in my room, which seemed pretty crappy. I was so thirsty but also so tired, but probably because of a tube down my throat, every time I swallowed was slightly painful, so that would wake me up every few minutes. Then since your dad had not fallen asleep with his medication, he was up the rest of the night reading. Every time he turned the page, I would also wake up, so all in all, it wasn't a very restful night. During the night your dad had been been able to feed you a bottle and you went back to sleep.
The next day I felt like I hadn't had time to bond with you since you slept all night in the nursery and I hadn't held you much the day before. You made up for that with a vengeance. You were the cutest baby, and already so easy and patient. Everyone got to hold you and you were cool with everyone, mostly you slept, but you were awake for some good long stretches and barely cried at all. It wasn't as scary to bring you home as when we brought your sister home and we didn't know what we were doing. You slept like an angel from the start at night, which made me very grateful and you've been fairly consistent every since.
This last month has seen you scooting around on furniture, but still mostly crawling since you can do that super fast. You now have 2 little teeth on the bottom and spent your 1st birthday with a double ear infection, which you handled pretty well considering you must have been in pain.
You are such a happy little boy, as long we keep you dry and fed, you like to go to bed and take your naps and I love your little butt wiggle you do trying to get comfortable to sleep.
You also love to dance and Popcorn Popping is your new favorite song and you wave your little hands with me as I sing. Singing this I can get you to eat and drink a little bit more since your still such a small little boy.
This has been a great year, I'm so glad to have you in our little family.
Love you Forever,
Mama

11 Months of Wonderful

Well this crawling thing is old hat to you, you're a speedy little guy always on the move, but now you're all about standing. You would like to walk, but you haven't figured that out yet. You do stand for long periods of time, I believe that you get stuck, since you'll get tired and lay your head down on whatever you are holding onto for support, when you could just sit down, but you're stubborn that way. Very stubborn, that comes from your father's side. But I have to watch you like a hawk now, no more sitting on the bed and I have to shut the door to your room if I have to switch out the laundry since you're likely to make a bee-line to the stairs. I've also had to master the baby gate, since you want to go up every set of stairs you can wiggle your way to. You can make it easily up the short 4 steps, but you get tried trying to make it up the larger steps.

Eating has been very hit and miss. Formula is something that you only want very sparingly and now the baby food isn't cutting it for you half the time. If it's big people food or you can feed yourself, you're all about it. The problem comes from you not having any teeth and that makes just giving you our meals a little tough on me since I have to put everything into bite size tiny pieces. I also have to pace you since if it'll still fit into your mouth, you'll stuff it in. You adore chicken nuggets and pasta of any kind. Our new thing is making you buttery Parmesan noodles that you can fit yourself with minimal mess, you'll end up eating about as much as your big sister if that's your meal. I got you some bananas since I figured that would be good finger food, but you don't really care for them (I totally get that, I'm not a banana person myself) but strawberries are the bomb. You have expensive tastes already, you won't eat the bananas at 69 cents a pound, you want the berries are over 2 bucks a pound. You're a big pizza and french fry fan, you love oatmeal and scrambled eggs, but apparently hard boiled eggs are not for you as of this morning. It's two bad I made almost 2 dozen for Easter thinking that you would love them.

Sleeping has lost some of it's pattern. Your naps still come at regular intervals usually, but you will sometimes sleep for hours or 45 minutes without rhyme or reason, days I think you'll take a long nap end up being super short which is a pain for getting homework done. This month you also had some kind of illness and for about 3 days, you slept almost constantly, up for only an hour or so at at time then taking 3 hour naps, when you got a rash I took you to the insta-care but they said it was just a virus and you'd be fine.

Today is Easter and you spent some time exploring the grass, seeing the neighbor's dogs and having a having good time, I can't wait for the summer to more outside activities. You also took your first nose dive off the pew at church, you'll be fine, but there is a little bump. When you are determined to go somewhere, no matter how much i try to stop you, it's likely you will success. But don't worry, I'll be there to scoop you up and kiss it better.

Love you,

Mama

Months 9 & 10 Pass in a Blur

Can I just admit here that I really thought I would have more time for things without working full-time. Turns out that trying to do homework and take care of two needy children makes less time then if you have 8 hours a day at a job where you may or may not be terribly busy.

This month and last have seen you growing in all kinds of ways. First, rolling around became your main mode of transportation, but now? Now you're doing some (not very much) actual crawling! Although you want to walk more than anything, so we'll see how long I can keep you somewhat stationary.
You have very low strangers anxiety, in fact at church when we had to squeeze in next to an older lady, you practically jumped into her arms after she smiled at you. She held you for about 10 minutes before you decided you should return to your family.
With the pronouncement from the doctor that you're only in the 4th percentile for your weight you decided that you don't like just anything anymore. Your palate has become more refined and vegetables that are not sweet potatoes? They are right out. And the doctor wanted me to start putting olive oil in your food, yeah, you hate that. I still try to put a little in there sometimes, but not if it's something fruity that you're going to want anyway. You still want to eat big people food and it's all I can do to keep your sister from feeding you choking hazards. But some favorites are mac and cheese and peanut butter bread. Your sleeping schedule is pretty solid most days, unless I really need you to sleep so I can do homework, then your usual 2 hour naps shorten to 1 hour. Amazing how you know when that is.
You're still pretty happy and smiley unless you're hungry, tired or poopy. You also need lots of attention, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since your sister is such a drama queen.
All and in all, I'm grateful for the time we get to spend together , but I'm already missing that tiny baby who will too soon be a toddler,

Hearts,
Mama

8 Months of Binkie Finding

The biggest change this month has been on your level of self reliance. You can sit up like a champ, you rarely fall on your face except when you over reach to get things that you probably shouldn't have in your little hands.

Food is still the bomb, you love your solid food, but you're okay with the bottle now, I'm hoping that you're going to quickly put on weight, but weighing you every week, so far you've not fattened up too quickly.

Now that I'm home a little more , it's nice to get you into a schedule and spend more time with you.

7 Months of Wonder

Your 7th month-day past us by because it was Christmas Eve and that was a little bit of a crazy day. You are now a rolling fool. You roll back to front, front to back and twist and can pretty much bonk your little head on anything within a 3 foot radius of anywhere we put you down. As much as i want you to learn and grow, I'm not anxious for you to be mobile yet.
We finally made it to your 6 month check up, and found out what I had already suspected. You are not fat, your not average, you're only in the 6th percentile for weight. But you're in the 60th for height, so you're a tall skinny kid. I'm grateful for the tall part. I was worried that you weren't growing. You are still crazy about solid food and I try to give you some item of food that we are eating for dinner too. Last night it was spaghetti noodles, but three have also been real carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato salad, crackers of all types and basically anything that you can gum to death and swallow. And if you had your way, you would eat everything. I'm surprised you haven't willed your teeth to come in so we'll give you more food.
You are still such a happy child, I hope this temperament is permanent. If you could be the little ball of sunshine to offset your sister's little temper rainstorms.
Christmas was fun, you stayed awake and you could almost start to unwrap your presents, if your sister would have had the patience to to watch you open your gifts, instead of needing to "help" you open them. It's a good thing you adore everything she does.
it's been fun, I'm looking forward to spending more time with you this month. Fingers crossed.

love ya,
Mama

6 Months of Squirmy Delight

This month has really shown the difference between you and your sister at this age. You started solid food. Your sister didn't love it, barely tolerated it. You can't get enough of it. You don't want milk, you want pizza! You may pull a face at a new taste, but other then meat paste, you are game for anything mushy enough to swallow. You eat carrots and applesauce with equal vigor. I'm so impressed.

Your 6 month check-up is postponed a month, since apparently your doctor is also a rock star, so you have to schedule 2 months in advance, so I have no idea how big you are, or if you're average or not. I think you're growing, I'm starting to remove the smaller 6 month sizes from your clothes and put you into the 9 month stuff. I am a little disappointed because I know there are some things you've worn only once and a few that you didn't get to at all. At least they were mostly free. If I spent money on it, you wore it as much as I could stuff you into it.

You roll over all the time, which is great, but also bad because that means you're getting more mobile and that's not good for me. But luckily you haven't rolled off anything yet.

Your sister is still the best at making you laugh and she loves to do that and while as a four year old, she's pretty self-absorbed, she still helps to take care of you. She's the best binkie-finder and if she's not too distracted, she can be counted on to sing you a song if you're upset.

The doctor told me that babies crying peaks at about 2 months, but I think they are wrong, you cry now more then you ever have before, although I think most of it still stems from hunger/tiredness or messy pants factors, you are less patient and more demanding as to when you need things taken care of. But you're still good for everyone else. I think it's just me.

You still love your tummy time, but it ends up being rolling time, as you don't stay too long my your stomach before you roll over and then we have to roll you back. You haven't quite gotten the hang of the other way around, but it's getting really close. Any day now you'll be rolling all over the place.

It's been a great 6 months, although sometimes it seems like it's been much longer and something it seems like you've only just come to our family. Either way it's going to be a fun ride.

Love you,

Mama

5 Months of Toothless Grins

This month had you getting a round of shots and let’s just say you took it better than your sister did. I was worried that you would be sore and upset for days, but you were mostly fine. After the initial shock wore off, you seemed fine after eating and sleeping. Your sister couldn’t walk for 3 days without complaining about how much pain she was in. You measure about average, but you don’t weigh as much. You’re only in the 33rd percentile, which surprised me. Your sister always came up either average or a little more, I wonder if it’s because I’m not eating as much butter and chocolate with you. If that is the case, I’m sorry, but I was not able to wait 12 months to be able to fit back into my jeans, besides, I do my best to make sure you get the daily recommended amount of cookie dough. The things I do for you.
I’ve also officially joined the ranks of Mothers Who Worry. Thanks to your grandma who announced that all my siblings were moving and crawling at around 5 months old. And now you’ve also given up on rolling over. You have not done that in a while. You know that if you just cry, you’ll get turned over by me sooner or later, so why should you roll yourself over like a sucker? While you are great at tummy time and you love to kick your feet forever and ever, there is no scooting around. But as grandma said after telling me that you aren’t as mobile as you could be, you are incredibly smart. I concur on that one. You are the worlds smartest baby, that’s just how it goes. Sorry other smart babies, you don’t compare.
You are also very good natured. We had a bit of hiccup with who was watching you for 2 weeks, I had to scramble to find replacements when your grandparents went out of town, but all the different people that took their turn with you said what a good baby you were. Even your Grandpa Kurt says that all babies should be a good as you are. I know that I’m very lucky with you. You sleep at night, you’re happy most of the time, and you’re as cute as a button.
You were able to go with us to the zoo for your sister’s birthday and you had a great time. You loved being outside and you would squeal for joy. It was hilarious. I don’t think you were really aware that there were animals around us, but you definitely like going for long walks. There is one animal you are aware of, our cat Link. You love to reach out for him, and he’s attention starved enough that he’ll let you tug on his fur because he may get a few pets out of it, lucky for us, he’s very patient and just sits while I remove your chubby little fist from a clump of his fur.
I’m so happy to be able to watch you grow and learn, and here’s to making less mistakes with you, then I made with your sister! Being the 2nd child is the best!
Love you,
Mama

Two Mornings After

Thanks to my wonderful friend Trish, I was able to attend the James show October 5th. It was rushing all day for me, from kids doctor appointments to dashing to work, to dashing to the sitters, to dashing back home and thank goodness dinner was waiting. Then it was mad dash down town. I think we made it in record time. I was only brave enough to look at the speedometer once, but when Trish drives, you know you’ll be on-time, even if you left late!
It was first time ever going to the Complex, it apparently has 3 stages, and there was another show going on for the local disillusioned, angsty radio station and James. Most of the people we saw were headed to the other show, we only got there about 20 minutes before they opened the doors, but we managed to get a spot about 3 rows of people from the front just right of center. The room was long and narrow, and probably tinier then anything this band has played in a long time. In Europe they play huge stadium shows. Trish and I got our James shirts and settled in. The opening act was a singer/songwriter named Ed Harcourt, whose album I am strongly considering buying. He played the piano, and the guitar, sometimes in the same song and really wailed. Unfortunately the sound was pretty muddy, at least where we were and while I enjoyed the sound, it wasn’t the best place to decide if he was really awesome or not. We could barely understand what he was saying when he spoke. His drummer looked like a young Gregory House, he didn’t look like Hugh Laurie, the actor that plays house, but House, and the bassist chick reminded me of Kate Beckett from the show Castle. Ed was resplendent in his 3 piece suit, those Europeans sure are stylish. His set seemed long, probably almost an hour, but since he was the only opener, he may have been able to play as long as he liked. I made a mental note to check him out on iTunes and hoped to get my picture with him afterwards since he was adorable and I knew that if I did like his music, I would want a picture of me with him.
Just before James took the stage, some loud, noisy drunk joined the group just behind us. How is it that they always know when to come in and how do they always get these great spots when they walk in late? That’s always the way. He seemed like he was completely wasted and I was apprehensive about how his presence would affect the rest of us.
James came out, Tim Booth looked like a pirate with a knit cap, a dark black goatee and striped baggy pants. Almost “Hammer-esque” pants, but they didn’t taper. The first song was Seven and I knew that this was going to be an awesome show. Tim lost his cap quickly and I realized I had never seen him perform before. He likes to dance, and his dancing reminds me of the episode of Friends where Rachel takes Phoebe running in the park, crossed with a seizure. It’s good he’s a rock star, because dancing like that, he’d never get chicks if he wasn’t.
Next was She’s a Star, what a great song. Unfortunately I was getting pounded by the drunk. After several massive elbows to my skull, I turned around to confront. I’m not sure what I was thinking, there’s no way I could have done anything to hurt him, even if he could feel pain at this point, which I’m not certain he would. Luckily before my impulses took too much over, Trish grabbed me and switched spots with me. I shook it off, but this guy’s singing was so loud, that even with the huge speakers in my face, I couldn’t hear very well. After enduring 2 more songs near the man, Trish and I escaped stage right after I said I would rather be in the back then next to this guy. At this point we could really start enjoying things. The first song from the new album come up, 10 Below. It’s a great song and I was so happy that I had purchased this on iTunes and listened to it a bunch of times and it was followed up by the best song from the new album, Tell Her I Said So. Time says what a great setup we had here in Salt Lake, we could drop the “kids” at the concert next door and then the grown-ups could be at this show. Since they were going to be competing with sound, they would play some louder songs. Then my favorite moment of the night. Just Like Fred Astaire. One of my favorite James’ songs. Time mentioned that it was easier to play this song in America then in some other countries they have played since we were so happy. During Getting Away with It I was surprised that to this point, out of 8 songs, I knew all but one of them. I love James, but I don’t “celebrate their whole collection.” I have their best of, their vital album Laid, their new album The Morning After and a few songs from other albums.
At this point, I had seen the drunk guy get to the very front of the stage and push a girl who couldn’t have been more than 5 ft tall and stumble around probably whacking other people the way he had me, then the guy just in front of Trish went after him, I think the drunk guy pushed his girlfriend as well. Trish and his girlfriend were both holding him back, but Trish was doing all the work, maybe his girlfriend wanted him to beat the crap out of this guy. Heavens knows that I wanted him too as well, but I also was telling him it wasn’t worth it. From the stage Tim says, “Cool it guys” and the boyfriend weaves to the front and yells: he’s pushing girls! And Tim asks if there is any security, apparently there were none, so Tim told the drunk to get into the corner. Everyone clapped. And thank goodness he stayed out of the way the rest of the night, I’m sure he was ruining everyone’s experience that he was near. You know it’s bad when the band has to take measures into their own hands to keep the peace.
Next came some songs I didn’t really know so I watched the band. They had a person who mostly played the trumpet. A dedicated trumpet player, I hadn’t realized there was so much brass in most James songs, and a guitar player that also moonlighted as a violin player, and boy was he good! His name was Saul and definitely looked English. Several of the band members looked like someone’s grandpa you would meet at a family reunion. Bald and wearing spectacle-glasses. Only 2 members looked like they were anywhere close to their 30s. There were 3 songs I wanted to hear, I had already heard Fred Astaire, but then they played PS, which I had put on one of my mixes a few weeks ago and was once again in love with it. Often if Tim wasn’t dancing like a maniac or singing, he would stand with his eyes closed, smiling, enjoying the music. At one point, Tim said we were just as loud as a stadium. The crowd seemed really into it. I didn’t see anyone who didn’t look thrilled to be there. During Say Something Tim got off the stage and started walking through the crowd, Exactly where Trish and I HAD been before we moved to be away from the drunk guy. Luckily he spent quite a bit of time in the crowd and started heading our way. He stopped in front of the boyfriend and I saw him ask if he was okay and the guy thanked Tim. Then he was facing me. It was a vocal break in the song and he stood there, arms folded, looking at me. I wanted to take a picture, but I didn’t want to flash in his face, I wanted to hug him, but the man is imposing in a way you wouldn’t think someone so thin looking would be. I finally settled on touching his arm and moving on, embarrassed that I couldn’t think of anything better to do or say. Then they started their hit song Laid. I tried to take a video, but my camera wouldn’t have it. I had to settle for jumping up and down and singing along. I had worried that age was creeping up on Tim’s voice and it wouldn’t be as strong as it was in 1993, but I didn’t need to worry, he hit those super high notes with ease. They left and we clapped and cheered and our encore was awesome. The first song was the first off the new album, a song about a man whose been dumped staring at dust motes trying to forgive the ex-girlfriend. Since the show next door was over they could know play some quieter songs, so this one started out sweet, of course it got loud and vindictive, as it should. Then Out to Get you melted into Sometimes. The keyboard player moved to the front and had some weird handheld keyboard you blow into. Like a cross between a keytair and an accordion. The final refrains of Sometimes: Sometimes when I look in your eyes, I can see your soul” the crowd started singing at the end and then the band stopped playing it was just the crowd singing. Tim stood with his eyes closed and a huge grin on his face. Then it was over. We cheered for a bit, but no more encores. Trish asked one of roadies cleaning up for the set list that had probably been Saul’s. Several people took pictures of the list and we walked out. I was sad that we wouldn’t be able to stay and wait for the band, as I get precious little sleep as it is. But low and behold. There were 6 band members. The only one missing was Tim, but since we had the set list, we went down the line and got everyone’s autograph. I got a photo with Saul and Ed Harcourt was also there so I got that photo with him. He photographs well, I’m pleased with the result. Talking to Saul we found out that after their last album, they did play Salt Lake and we just missed it, so apparently the moral of the story is if there is anyone you would like to see in concert, be on some kind of mailing list. Then Trish and I left, apparently Tim did come out to mingle with fans, but I only got 5 hours of sleep as it was, so while I would have liked to stay, I’m glad I did get some sleep. It was an awesome night and I can’t thank Trish enough for an amazing birthday present!

The Great Outdoors

Out annual family hike this year was a little different. I couldn’t attend on the initial weekend, so Tee and Uncle Roger had to trek it alone the weekend before. Luckily for me, Troy could make it either and I was able to convince Harvest that she wanted to hike up the mountain, since she had never done it before. My morning began at ten to 4 after a frantic night of trying to get my sister navigate the correct way to my house after an evening of babysitting, then getting all the needed supplies to take us up and back down the mountain. I always stress out that I’m going to forget some necessity and we’re all going to be miserable the whole time because of it, maybe I channel my inner Jewish mother, but I make sure I pack everything I think we could possibly need. Because of this, I end up with a heavy load, but we always have snacks and TP.
We were just in time to pick up some Carl’s Jr for breakfast and head south to the 2nd tallest peak in the state. Since Troy was driving we were worried that we would take a wrong turn off in one of the mountain roads. It was also getting closer to dawn, and the parking lot is always insane. But lady Luck was with us, as we took the right turns and the parking lot was pretty dead. We easily found a spot and got ready to start. It was pretty cold, maybe in the 50s and still dark while we started.
We planned on getting as far as we could before we needed to turn back, Troy wanted to be home by 3, I wanted to be home as soon as we felt accomplished. The goal was the meadow, which is over half way to the top. We hiked hard and I’m a bit surprised, but I was the one dragging, but of course I didn’t want to be the one to slow us down too far, it wasn’t terrible, but I can see that my hour workouts weren’t enough to prepare me for an all day hike. I was huffing and puffing and my muscles burned. But we got up to the “sun line” where we finally got to hike in the sun, just before we got to the meadow around 10. We felt good and it seemed like it hadn’t been too difficult, so we pushed for the saddle, the point where you reach the crest of the mountain before you hike to the peak. You get a spectacular view of the whole valley. It’s especially nice with all the autumnal colors coming through. We had made it there about 11, since it was conference weekend a few people had their radios and while we couldn’t really hear it, it was almost like we were listening to it. Troy tried to talk us into going that last half mile up to the peak, but even if we weren’t trying to be fast, Harvest wasn’t doing so good with the height we were at, and the last stretch is so much higher and scarier, I thought letting harvest wait until next year would be a good idea.
We decided to hike back to the meadow for lunch, since we had all that extra time. Down was so much easier at first. I was cheerful, I smiled and talked to those hiking up the mountain, because in my mind, I was done. I got less cheerful, really fast. Time stretches so much longer on the way down. Parts of the trail that weren’t there before show up on the way down. I was lucky that my knees and ankles held up, but the bottom of my feet were killing me. We ran out of water, we weren’t sure how much further until the end, we were getting close but it still could have been another 30 minutes of hiking. We stopped and put some mole skin on Harvest’s blisters with this in mind. We were all thirsty and hoping to get a drink from the spigot at the bottom. After getting moving again, around the next corner and we see the end (really the beginning) of the trail. It was just after 2:30. We made it! Another year down and now I know what I should do to prepare for next year.
Things we talked about along the trail:
How you can eat mold because it’s too warm for it to survive in your body. But I disagree with that since everyone on House always is dying from rare spores.
If you plan random seeds throughout your garden, not only will it grow better, but it will also prevent weeds from growing.
Troy’s kids like to wonder about things being numbered a google-plex.
Harvest is really afraid of heights.
Running along the trail may or may not be easier then walking it.
Skiing down the glacier is a fast way down the mountain, but some of us may be too chicken to ever try it (Hey! I like my bones all in one piece!)

4 Months of Chubby Cheeks

I know I missed month 3, I’m sorry. Working part-time during the busiest time of year for me meant that I couldn’t do a lot of extra-circular activities, and that extra time at home? Yeah, no idea where that goes. The past 2 months have seen you change from a new born to a real baby. You coo and chat and gurgle and giggle all the time now. You love to talk to us and to yourself. You laughed a real laugh at your sister. She kept saying “Boo” and every time you would laugh so hard! We could get you to chuckle, but only Hayley got a real laugh.
You are being a good boy for your grandma’s now that you are there full-time. You are eating like a champ. I think you’re getting close to having doubled your birth weight, but that could just be because I have to carry you around in that heavy car seat. You’re definitely taller, I’m just about ready to remove the second head positioner from the car seat since it seems to be squishing you a little bit.
You’ve rolled over sparingly from tummy to back, but you are enjoying your tummy-time more. You’ve gotten some control over your hands and can grab objects and bring them to your mouth, so you love to grab anything that I have and try to eat it. You’re also loving to really sit up, but you’re not so good at staying up yet. You tend to tip over one way or another depending on how we prop you up. Your arms have gotten so much stronger. You can prop yourself up during tummy time and those legs kick so much I think if you don’t start to crawl, you may try to fly soon.
You love to smile at us, and now matter what is going on, or how frustrated I am, I can’t help but smile at you and see you smile back. It makes my heart melt just a little every time. You slept through the night once this last week! Of course my night ends really early, I woke up at 4:50 and panicked that you hadn’t eaten, so I woke you up, but I wonder how long you would have slept given the opportunity. Mostly you’re up once during the night and then you go right back to sleep. I’m grateful for that, since it’s hard enough trying to stay awake at work as it is with being all sleep deprived.
It’s been fun watching you grow and learn, I’m glad that I have that opportunity again. It’s what makes being a mom and never getting to go to sleep or relax, actually rewarding. Of course don’t ask me when you’re a teenager, I may want to relax at that point, but until then, I’m loving getting to be with you as much as I can.Love you,
Mama

4 Years of I Can't Believe You're How Old?

I can’t believe that four years ago, I was in the hospital about to meet you. This year has seen you learning and growing in all sorts of ways. Just yesterday you wrote your name all by yourself! I told you which letters to write and you did it! Of course your Y’s look like 4’s, but it’s still way better than I thought you could do it! I also recently showed you how to draw stick people and you are drawing them like crazy! You were upset because you couldn’t put the people you saw into picture form on the paper, but once you unlocked the secret of stick figures, you can draw all the people in your world. The last month has seen you attend your preschool full-time, every day. You love it, when I can finally wake you up in the morning, you are excited to get to school and see all your friends. Your first all-friend birthday party is this weekend. It was a trial to edit your list of friends down to 5, but since you picked your favorites from church and school, it’s all you can talk about. How So-and-so is coming to your party, and what’s-his-face is also coming. You even bless them all in your prayers. Which is good, because I’ve put a lot of work into your party myself, so I’m excited for you to get to enjoy it.
This year you finally have a sibling. Your little brother loves you and you are very good with him. With only occasional reminders to be careful and gentle, your interactions are adorable. You always talk about how cute he is and that he is our “squishy pants.” So far you are the only one who can make your brother really laugh. We can usually get him to chuckle, but full out laughs are only for you. You can usually talk and sing to him to stop him from crying and you’re my good little helper to put his binky back in when we’re in the car.
While today you are turning 4, sometimes it feels like 14. You can certainly push my buttons, you know just what to do to get me irritated, as your dad said, it’s only going to get worse. I can’t imagine you as a teenager. Of course you also know just when you need to be sweet and say nice things. You are prone to say “Oh thank you Mama! That’s so sweet!” and that melts me right then and there.
On Sunday you had a captive audience of great grandparents and you danced and sang and just kept going. I thought surely you would get tired after a little while, but hours later you were playing games with Aunt Kim, who can tricep-dip you over her head. I can barely carry from the car when you fall asleep in your booster seat. You are very big. I can’t wait to see how you measure up at the doctors. You seem so much taller than the other girls your age. Of course your still super skinny as eating sparingly will do that for you. I wish I didn’t care for food the way you do. Of course, given the opportunity you would still eat cereal for every meal, but I will only let you eat it at breakfast because I’m the meanest mommy. You are branching out and I’m pleased to note that although you will eat steak, you like chicken more and will eat more kinds of foods. I can also get you to try more foods then before, hopefully in Year 4 you will discover that I’m not always trying to poison you.
Your current favorite thing in Mary Poppins. I forced you to watch it when you really wanted to watch a cartoon and you fell in love. I also made the mistake of pulling out the soundtrack that your dad and I got at Disneyland on our first anniversary. Now that plays over and over in our car stereo and I have those songs in my head most of the time. I wake up humming Chim-Chimney and fall asleep with Jolly Holiday. But it’s so cute to hear you singing along. Especially to Sister Suffragette, that makes me chuckle.
You got your first really real haircut at a salon while your Aunt Harvest was finishing up school at Paul Mitchell’s. Boy, that was a long haircut for all of us. You were done playing with the toys we had brought you and you didn’t want to hold still, or look the direction you were suppose to. I finally had to let you play with my camera so that you could get your hair finished. I think the curl is leaving your hair, as much as I wish you could have that bouncy curl for life, most of your hair is just wavy. You have a bit of curl, but not as much as you use to have.
You had swimming lessons this summer as I wanted you to be able to swim in Papi’s pool. You had a ton of fun, but unfortunately swimming didn’t really happen. Of course floaties made you much more confident and we could all go swimming without having to carry you around the whole time. Forget learning to swim, we’ll just always have water wings for you.
I’m still impressed by how well you can navigate a computer. You can open the internet, find your favorite website and pick games all without being able to read! You love computers and you’re always trying to talk people into letting you play on computers. And we’re cutting down on your television time. Since you’re in school all day, you may get to watch a movie at night or on Saturday, but mostly we’re trying to keep the TV off, since I get sucked in too and right now there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done without watching TV. So lucky you, you get to be TV free with me!
You still pick up things from everyone around. Thanks to your Aunt Summer you say “Dang it! I mean Darn it!” and you like to parrot the words and phrases you hear that you shouldn’t say, but I guess it’s hard to figure out what others say that you shouldn’t. You also love to wish on stars, the moon and the sun. Your current wish is either for your party or to be a witch for Halloween.
I’m amazed that you are a little piece of me and humbled that I need to do as much as I can to teach you correctly. It’s a big job, I’m just starting to understand how big. But I wouldn’t trade you for all the cheese on the moon.
Love you Silly Girl,
Mama

2 Months of Cuteness

Darling baby boy,

I can't believe it's been 2 months already, and I can't believe it's only been 2 months. Your 2 months check up was yesterday, and, as I had suspected, you are perfect. Weighing in at 11 lbs 5 oz which is average, and you took your shots like a champ. You;re looking everyday, not only cuter, but much different from your sister. I thought you would look so similar, but that wasn't for very long.

You love me best, because I'm your mommy. You'll always smile for me and you're cooing. It's so cute because to make noises you wiggle your whole body, like the sound is coming from your toes.

I can finally see that you look like your daddy, your grandma thinks you look so much like him, that she wants to call you Michael. Everyone thinks you are adorable and I have to agree. You are the cutest baby ever, sorry Hayley, but my kids just keep getting cuter and cuter.

Love ya,

Mom