Ten Months, Not-So-Itsy-Bitsy

Our baby girl is 10 months old today. As much as we celebrate every milestone she has been hitting lately, we know how very fast she will start to look and behave like a toddler. How sad :( Babyhood goes by so fast! Only eight weeks left of nursing, and walking is just around the corner...and maybe potty training? Not likely, but maybe.

On a whim the other day, I saw the cues on her face that she was going to poop, so I took her into the bathroom and sat her down. Within a few minutes she did her business. (*And here is where some of you will want to stop reading because (1) you're grossed out by poop of any kind, including baby or (2) you're going to judge me as a bad mom or just plain gross for posting this. BUT I like to keep the memories of my kids all in one place.) So here is Macy's first time on the potty in all of her cuteness! November 28th, just a week shy of 10 months.




And here is Macy's 1st MAN TURD! Good, Lord, what have we been feeding this girl???

A video clip of the deed in action to prove Jamie didn't do this:

And, yes, I'm sitting on the floor in a dress. Where was I going wearing a dress??? I can't even remember :/ Hope it was fun. Since then, as of writing this, Macy has pooped three times and peed twice in the potty. Again, not training, just watching her cues.

About 30 minutes after the potty escapade, Macy took her first step....singular, step. Then she took another step a few minutes later. Then another. As of today, she has yet to take more than one, but maybe by Christmas. You can never really predict these kinds of things. Who would have guessed it would take her 10 months to get her first tooth.

Speaking of which, Macy now has TWO half teeth sticking up from her bottom gums. Did I mention we get to wean her in eight weeks? :) Like razors, I tell ya! They're coming in rather slow, but you never know, she could get the top two before Christmas. Again, who can predict this stuff?

A few days after her first potty experience and first steps and first teeth coming in, Macy had her nine month check-up with Dr. Fam. As we suspected, her weight has most certainly slowed lately. We used to have to pull her rolls apart, when we cleaned her. Now, she only has 1/2 of a roll on one leg :( At any rate, here are her latest stats:

Weight: 17.1 lbs. (20th percentile)
Length: 27 1/2" (45th percentile)
Head circumference: 17 1/4 (50th percentile)

The funny thing is, she LOVES to eat, but only table food. She has never liked baby food or cereal, so it has proven a challenge to feed her, since she has also been so late getting teeth. Right now, her favorites are smoothies (made with organic berries, mango, yogurt, tofu and spinach (for iron, since she won't eat cereal), Annie's brand organic mac n' cheese, organic oats, organic American cheese, frozen organic broccoli (LOVES this!), and this morning I made her an egg yolk and spinach omelette. She also eats any other fruit or veggie that she can pick up with her fingers. She almost always turns her head or cries, when we try to feed her from a spoon. I'm telling you, it's a challenge sometimes to think of things to give her. We pretty much repeat the cycle every few days, and will until she gets enough teeth to eat more toddler-friendly food.

Macy doesn't like to watch videos much at all. The only time she even turns toward the TV is when she hears music, but even then she mainly just bounces up and down and keeps playing. Her notorious move is sitting on her knees and bobbing her head or bouncing her little butt. Jadon NEVER danced, unfortunately...he still doesn't. It is way too cute to have such a tiny baby dancing around the house all of the time :)

As for toys, Macy mainly just likes airplanes and cars. She does like the pop-up ball thing that was Jadon's (one of his favorites too), and pretty much anything Jadon likes. She is not into baby dolls just yet, and really I can't imagine that will happen anytime soon, but I could be wrong.

She is FUNNY with a capital F! She loves to imitate noises and laughs at all things silly. She likes watching Elijah through the sliding glass door, seeing her Gramma and Grandpa, and smiles from ear to ear, when she sees Jadon first thing in the morning. She gets excited about everything, kicking her feet and smiling with her tongue out 85% of the day. She loves life! Jamie and I always quote the movie "Elf" and say she "loves smiling...it's her favorite thing!" Oh, yes, and she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to do the motions, while I sing "Itsy, Bitsy Spider." I really need to get video of this. She will do it on cue anytime we want right now :)

For those of you who think I may sit around and FB or blog all day, FYI: This entry has taken me FOUR HOURS to write, so I'm fairly drained. We've had 1/2 of a naptime, playtime, dinner, cleaned up the living room, and bathtime...and I'm still not done!?!

I just remembered that I forgot to mention the fact that we opted NOT to get Macy's Hep B vaccine. Ummm...WHY didn't I do more research BEFORE??? I have no idea why I trust that my kids need vaccines that Jamie and I never had...things that my kids really won't be exposed to. Okay, I'm not going to get on this soapbox now (I'm trying to wrap this up now, remember?). Plain and simple: (1) Jamie and I have never been IV drug-users, nor had multiple sex partners, so we would not have passed Hep B onto Macy; (2) Macy is not going to even potentially be an IV drug user or be sexually active (ummm...EVER!), for many years; (3) 60% of Hep B vaccine recipients are no longer immune after 12 years. So why would I, why DID I expose my kids to a potentially dangerous (hello, Mercury!) injection to prevent them from getting an illness that is similar to AIDS? Well, when I explained my reasons for opting out this time, Dr. Fam said, and I quote, "Those are all very good points. I can't argue with that." Enough said. Let's just hope I can get over the Mommy guilt I have for exposing Jadon to so many unnecessary vaccines and Macy to the few she has already had :( Hindsight...man!

Shots, Round 3

Macy had a well baby visit on Thursday, 08/27. We didn't even attempt to take Jadon. We're just playing with fire taking him into a doctor's office, when we always seem to have to sit around in the tiny room for a minimum of 30 minutes. Ummm...they do realize we're dealing with babies/toddlers here, right???

Anyway, now that Macy is nearly 7 months old, she can be quite the little handful herself! She squirmed more than she ever has, going from sitting to crawling position on the table every 10 seconds. She went to war with the sterile paper too. The paper most certainly lost. I was ready to yell out the door and tell the doctor, I may lose my mind, if he took another five minutes! Good thing she's cute as a button :)

Here are her stats:

Weight --- 16lbs. 5 oz. (55th percentile)

Length --- 27" (90th percentile)

Head Circumference --- 17" (75th percentile)

I suppose it's sort of a tradition now for me to video my kids getting their shots. Hopefully there are no emotional scars later on...images of Mommy with a camera, as they lay on an exam table kicking and screaming :/ Ah well...here's the clip.

Just as we knew, Macy has "thinned out" lately. Each week seems to offer it's own varying degree of baby chub, depending on how much she's eaten and crawled. We were surprised to see that her head was so large because her face looks so tiny, compared to other babies. The nurse said it may be because she is more in proportion than other babies. Could be. We're happy. She's healthy, cute, sweet, smiley, growing, etc. We are thankful to God for all of these things, and ask for His continued provision. What more could we ask for than healthy, happy babies? Life is good :)

Tag Teamin'

We were so fortunate that our doctor's office was able to schedule both Jadon and Macy for back-to-back appointments today...Macy for her second round of immunizations and Jadon for his 2-yr-old well visit.

Thankfully (as we assumed) both of them are doing very well :) They are physically, intellectually and emotionally where they are supposed to be. They don't ask about the spiritual stuff, but we're working on area too ;) Parenting is one tough, all-consuming, 24/7 job, folks! Wow! The rewards are endless though and far better than ANY material possession, I assure you.

Here are the stats for Miss Bleubelle:

Weight --- 15lbs. 5oz. (75th percentile)
Length --- 25 1/2" (90th percentile)
Head --- 16cm (20th percentile) Beetle Juice, Beetle Juice, Beetle Juice!


I was a little worried about Jadon's reaction to being back in the office, before we left. He threw a minor fit, when he simply had to be weighed the last time. I'm sure it was odd for him to strip down to his underwear in front of complete strangers in an office with all sorts of weird equipment around. He did get a little clingy a few times, but overall did great (no tears at least!).

Here are the big man's stats:

Weight --- 28lbs. (50th percentile)
Height --- 35 1/2" (65th percentile)
Head --- 20cm (95th percentile HUUUUGE!!!) We definitely knew this one because we bought him a hat for summer a two months ago, and now it is too tight :/ Big brains, right? All the better to learn with, my dear ;)

I'm so in love with these two little people!

And what kind of mother would I be not to post a video of Macy getting her shots? Aweful, I know, but you never know, she might want to see them one day...when she is a mommy herself. I'll have to say, "I know it's hard, but see? I made it through all of this stuff with you and Jadon and (___fill in names of 3rd and 4th kids)." Haha :)

She actually did AWESOME! I was prepared for the same reaction as last time, but she SMILED at us, during the 1st shot and only cried for a few seconds with the 2nd (and that is the one that "burns").

Absolutely Aweful :(

My poor, poor unsuspecting baby was sweetly sleeping in the waiting room at the doctor's office today. Isn't she just precious?

We had to wake her, so she could be weighed and measured. She was happy, nonetheless :)

Maybe a little sleepy still...

I tried to tell her how sorry I was...

even though she listened very intently...


she really didn't grasp what was about to happen :(


and she broke her mommy's heart...

absolutely ripped it in two :(

Dreadful to watch isn't it? Imagine being her mommy? :( The GREAT news is that she had stats that were off the charts...as if we didn't already know that! Here they are:

Weight: 13lbs., 5oz. (97th percentile)

Length: 25" (over 100th percentile!!!)

Head: 15 1/2 cm (75th percentile)

Macy received the Hep B, Hib, DTaP, the pneumococcal conjugate, and rotavirus vaccines today. The rotavirus is a newer vaccine...so new that even Jadon didn't get it, less than two years ago! It is given orally, and even though they say it is "flavorless," Macy sure as heck didn't think so! She cried, as soon as the nurse put the dropper near her tongue. Unless it was the nurses hands, I swear it smelled like hand sanitizer too...yuck! I always stress every, single time my babies have to get a vaccine :( Soooo many vaccines in such a tiny, little body!

Maybe I shoudn't read all of the literature out there. I've been reminding myself to claim Philippians 4:6 today: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Yeah, in case you didn't know, motherhood makes me anxious :/ I'm trusting God will protect Macy from anything in the vaccines that could harm her...or at least doing my best to.

Immediately after her shots, I nursed her in the doctor's office, and then she fell asleep in the car. She slept in her carseat in the house for 3 1/2 hours. She didn't feel fevered at all, but did seem a bit fussy...possibly a bit of pain in her leg from the Tetanus shot, so I gave her a small dose of Tylenol. She has seemed much better, since then. Being a parent is so hard! Sorry I let them hurt you, Bleubelle :( I pray Mommy made the right decision :/

Sawduh, I don't feel good

Wednesday evening, we went to the mall and then needed to return something to Target. When we got to the mall, Jadon started yawning...at 6pm!?! This made no sense because he didn't wake up until 7:45am and had a 3 hour nap. He had just woken up at 3:30pm! Why was he so tired?

We strapped him in his carseat, and then he started crying that he had to potty, and obviously we weren't near a restroom, so I had to tell him it was okay to go ahead and pee in his pull-up. He cried because he didn't want to do it, but then finally did. Then he cried some more because I'm assuming he hated the feeling of sitting in a wet diaper, since he hasn't done that in months. Jamie gave him a quick change in the parking lot (yes, the parking lot because public restrooms are DISGUSTING!!! More on that in a later post, no doubt!).

I stayed in the car with a sleeping Macy (no surprise there), while Jadon went into Target with Jamie. They were back out within 10 minutes and within another 3 minutes, Jadon was OUT! He was exhausted...weird :/ So we let him go to sleep at 7:30pm. I know other kids his age do this on a nightly basis, but Jadon is NEVER asleep before 10pm. We were kind of sad because he hadn't had dinner, he hadn't had a bath, and he was dirty from riding those rides at the mall. But we put him in bed and thought he just might sleep until 7am???

Around 11pm, I was on the phone with my mom and asked Jamie to go check on him. I heard Jadon start crying, so I got off the phone. Poor, poor baby :/ He was definitely fevered...so much he was shaking :( I put him in his high chair, trying my best to get some fluids down him. He drank some juice and ate some mandarin oranges (one of his favorites), but he sort of freaked out when I tried taking his temp under his arm...I'm thinking the alternative is SO much worse, so I persisted. The best reading I could get with him squirming was around 101*F. I gave him Tylenol and cuddled and kissed him a lot, then let him play in a luke warm bath for about 45 minutes. By the time he got out of the tub, he seemed SO much better. In fact, I worried that he might now not go back to sleep until 5am. Thankfully, I was able to lay with him on the couch, and he was back to sleep by 1am.

Jamie and I talked about what might be wrong with him. He was SUPER irritable, tired and fevered...just not himself. For a few weeks now, Jadon has been pulling at his pee-pee. Sometimes, we think it's just a little boy thing that happens at this stage of exploration. Then other times, he will almost cry, when he pulls at it. Hmmm. Wednesday, we had seen more of this behavior out of him than ever before. In fact, he has said several times that he had to go potty, but would only sit there, then when he was taken off the potty, he would fuss and pull at his pee-pee again. Within 10 minutes, he was usually back on the potty, but would actually pee then...so weird!

This wasn't something that was happening everyday, and many times was a very isolated incident that would last 10 minutes. We got really worried, when he pulled at his pee-pee on Wednesday night and fell to the floor on his knees and kept fussing and was almost in tears. What in the world was going on???

Yesterday morning, I did my best to take his temp again. Only around 99*F, but I went ahead and gave him a second dose of Tylenol. I don't like giving any meds, but worried if it was some sort of urinary infection that he might also be in pain. Jadon was ULTRA-irritable yesterday morning, so I called and made an appt. with a doctor (requesting to see a female, so he wouldn't be freaked out as much, if they had to examine him). They said we could come and get a sterile cup to do a urine sample, if we wanted to have it with us at 4pm, so we did that.

Before we left the house, Jadon was doing the back-and-forth to the potty thing. He was fussy, seeming like he needed to potty, but couldn't go, once he was on it. Five minutes later, he finally sat down and peed. We were ready to see the doctor!

Saw the doctor, a female, which didn't make any difference because she was no nicer than a male doctor, seeming to not want to listen to what we had to say and in a hurry get her last patient (Jadon) seen and out the door by 5pm. So annoying! We explained everything we had seen in him recently, and that we really weren't concerned until Wednesday night because he had a fever and then the potty stuff seemed to be getting a bit worse. I also told her that Jadon had pulled at one of his ears quite a few times in the last week, like it was itching inside, but he didn't seem in pain from it.

She checked his urine...all clear. She checked his blood counts...just fine. She looked in his ears...a tiny bit of clear fluid in one, but nothing to worry about at all. Lastly, she felt his belly and groin area...notta. Don't get me wrong, I'm SUPER THANKFUL that Jadon seemed to be fine to the doctor and she checked him off as having a clean bill of health, but c'mon! Nobody knows a baby like the parents...nobody! We're telling you, lady, this kid not only has a fever, he's acting REALLY, REALLY different. She said not to even give Tylenol (which, in some ways, I really appreciate). So we're left with a big question mark. No clue what's going on with him. I mean, we definitely pray it's done and over. I'm assuming if it was some sort of issue with his male parts (i.e. an infection, a blockage, etc.), we would see more of this behavior more frequently, and I'm doubtful the fever would wane, which is seems to have done. Ahhhh (big sigh)...maybe we're crazy. Thankfully he is okay!

Our yesterday was not so much fun, that's for sure. It was pouring down the rain, cloudy ALL day, and we had to drag two fussy kids out in it. To top it off, Jadon likely caused us to appear like abusive parents to the doctor and nurses. I've told you before that he is genuinely apologetic, when he does something to Macy or is defiant, but he also apologizes for things he shouldn't. We are constantly telling him, "You don't have to be sorry, buddy. It's okay." Guess he doesn't get it because he kept telling everyone he was "sawduh" yesterday. Apparently he thought he was being punished by the doctor and nurses. What the??? He only gets a time-out for discipline anyway for cryin' out loud!!!

Why would he think we'd want someone to poke and prod at him as punishment??? It broke my heart...and Jamie's :/ It was aweful to hear him repeat, "Sawduh," a million times, while he was (1) being weighed in (that hurts???), (2) getting his ears checked and (3) getting blood drawn (yikes!). It was as if he was begging us for mercy. "I promise, I'll never do it again...just don't let them hurt me anymore." Oh my! I seriously question my ability to do this job any more. I pray I never have to see my babies suffer. I'll fold...close up shop...I can't do it!

Thankfully we don't have to take him back for shots for a few years. I need to be able to verbally communicate with Jadon, before that happens again. This face breaks my heart in so many ways, every single day...honest to goodness!


Sawduh you had to be put through that, Jadon :/ Sawduh you got a fever and didn't feel good for a few days :/ Sawduh Mommy and Daddy don't always know what you are saying and that you can't communicate somethings to us yet :/ Sawduh you had to get your blood drawn and get a "boo boo." Sawduh, baby. Momma's sawduh.

If it's any consolation, I did allow you to have a ton of grape juice, a popcicle, and anything else you wanted for 24 hours...somehow that ended up including Jelly Bellies jelly beans.

As fast as they'd go in, "Geen, yeddow, duhduh (purple), red, awich (orange), doo (blue)." If you get any cavities, I'll be really sawduh!

Two Week Check-Up and Breastfeeding

Well the doctor's appointment today went better than the one last Monday. We didn't have to wait nearly as long :) Our chunky monkey has gained almost a pound in two weeks. She's now up to 8lbs. 14 oz. and has grown 1/2" (now 21 1/2" long!). Her weight is in the 75th percentile and her length is in the 90th percentile! That all makes a breastfeeding mommy feel kind of proud ;)

Speaking of breastfeeding...I have failed to post my experience with it this time around. Let me just say that giving birth to Macy was MUCH EASIER than nursing her was for the first two weeks. Warning---graphic content follows---you've been warned! Just as a reminder to myself and to anyone else who has or will nurse their baby (only with the best intentions do I say this), but nursing Macy for the first two weeks can be described as such---someone took a curling iron and burned my nipples (OOOOUCH!) and then took a pair of pliers (yes, pliers) and squeezed them :) Think of a sunburn with blisters and then someone with long fingernails scratches you. Nice, huh? I kid you not, EVERYTIME she would latch on (for TWO ENTIRE WEEKS!), I would cringe, sometimes kick my feet, and most of the time cry :( Jamie would cringe too, and say, "Sorry, Mommy. I'd help you, if I could." It was AWEFUL!

Sometime in the last few days, it just got better, and now it is completely normal (Thank you, God!). It did take about six weeks for it to become normal with Jadon, but the type of pain I had was different. With Jadon, I had swollen milk ducts...like knots that could only be relieved from him eating enough and me massaging at the same time. With Macy, I haven't had any of that.

While I was experiencing this pain, after I came home from the hospital, sleep-deprived, overweight, bleeding for DAYS, constipated from the epidural, nipples cracked and bleeding...just feeling SO icky and yucky about myself (as pregnancy and labor/delivery will do to all normal women...not Heidi Klum, you understand), I said to my mom and Jamie that I was going to write a book about motherhood. I haven't started yet, but the title still stands: Motherhood Would Be Wonderful, If Only My Nipples Weren't Bleeding and I Could Poop! I think it would be a best-seller! You'd buy it, wouldn't you? ;)

Taking Two Under Two

So on Monday Macy had her follow-up doctor's appointment, after being released from the hospital on Friday. It is routine for all newborns to check their weight, make sure they are pooping and peeing enough, etc. She was born weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz. and she weighed in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. at the doctor, which was great, especially considering she has been pooping up a storm!!!

Maybe it is too much info, but it's reality...all of the stool softeners, etc. they gave me (because of the oh-so-necessary, but oh-so-constipating epidural) were definitely effecting her, even though they swore it wouldn't. Poor baby was up a MAJORITY of the first two nights she was home with terrible gas and 2-3 bowel movements :( All is better now, as I decided to just not take anything to help me. The comfort of her little belly and bowels matter much more to me...and also more sleep is nice :)

Oh yeah, and they also checked Macy's bilirubin level to make sure the slight case of jaundice didn't require light therapy, and it didn't. Over the weekend, we kept exposing her to lots of sunlight through our windows, and thankfully that was enough to keep her from needing anything further. Thank you for your cooperation, sunny South Carolina weather ;)

Paging, Dr. Famm...any day now!

Anyway, I have to say what a SUPER challenging experience the doctor's visit was, and how I CANNOT imagine doing it without Jamie's help! It is just way too soon for me to feel like I can handle a breastfeeding newborn and a near-terrible-twos toddler :/ It did not help matters that the incredibly seemingly inconsiderate doctor was just outside the exam room door talking it up with a medical equipment/pharmaceutical rep person for...oh 30 minutes!!! (That's another story about how I'm SO changing pediatricians VERY SOON because the guy has seen Jadon like 4 times, and he introduces himself to us every stinkin' time! Like, "Hello for the hundreth time, Dr. Famm!" He didn't even say hi to Jadon! I think a parent should feel like their kid is memorable to his/her pediatrician, don't you? Oh if only Dr. Nicol's office wasn't 45 minutes away, we NEVER would have switched to this GAH-HETTO office...blah!)

Anyway Macy was SCREAMING to eat. I fed her with Jamie's help covering me with a blanket, so the doctor didn't get a show, when he walked in...and Jadon...oh Jadon! He was ALL OVER the tiny room, opening cabinets, opening the door, throwing mini whining fits because Jamie kept re-directing him away from things. I mean, he was acting like a 20-month-old because he is.

I know if I HAD to do it, I could, but MAN would it have been a pain :/ Thankfully I know what I'm in for next time, in case I am by myself. The good news is that when Jadon and Macy start playing sports and being involved in other activities, we will likely feel like it is easier that they are at the same school, church, soccer field, etc. Among other things (like how cute they are in pictures together while they're both so little), that's the bright side of this kind of challenging time in parenthood :)

One of the few 60 second periods that Jadon sat still:

Week 39: Officially Served!

Okay, Miss Macy Bleu, Mommy is officially giving you an eviction notice, my dear. It is now less than six hours before your due date, and well, if you haven't heard...WE'RE READY!

On Thurday evening (around 4pm), I started having a lot of pressure and then some cramping. Honestly I swore I was going into labor! I called my mom, and she drove from work 3 1/2 hours away and everything! Obviously it was a false alarm. I went into ultra-nesting mode, and told Jamie we needed to run to the store to buy another pack of diapers and some Burt's Bees brand bath stuff for Macy, and it would also help me to walk around anyway. By the time we turned out of our development, the cramping ceased :/ I thought for sure it would start again...at least within a few hours, but nothing! :/

We went to our scheduled doctor's appointment on Friday at 2:15pm. Since my mom was home from work, she wanted to go too. She swore I was going to be dilated to 4cm. I knew I wasn't, and I was right :/ If you want to say I "progressed," I suppose you could, but being dilated to 1cm is like someone telling me I'm pregnant...duh! And it's taking FOREVER! Jamie keeps saying he feels like I'm only 6 months pregnant. It's like nothing is happening. Nothing is changing. She's not moving down. I'm no more uncomfortable, physically, than I was months ago. At least with Jadon, I KNEW things were changing. I felt him drop. I couldn't sleep well at all because I felt like I had a bowling ball between my legs...not so with Macy (which is kind of a good thing). This pregnancy is just so much more emotionally draining. The anxiety! The waiting! I think mainly because I have two big concerns: (1) my mom now works out of town throughout the week (this week 3 1/2 hours away) and (2) I have a toddler to care for and wonder, "Who will be immediately available to care for him? Will I be able to tolerate him running around, when I'm in labor at home for several hours, or will he drive me crazy, and I won't have Jamie's attention to stay focused on my contractions?"

So here is where we stand nearly 5 hours before your due date, Macy Bleu...If you are not born within the next three days, Mommy and Daddy made the executive decision that we will go to the hospital on Wednesday, February 4th at 5:30am and make you come out :P I'm kidding about it being that simple of a decision or that simple of a process, of course. Mommy is beginning to swell and have a lot of water weight gain(uh...like 10 lbs), so I just want to keep us both safe, and I can't really imagine going more than four days past your due date would be okay (even though my blood pressure and urine are perfect). I pray you wiggle your way down and Mother Nature takes over, so we can meet you this weekend, and Gramma will be home, be in the delivery room, and Jadon will be cared for. If not, Gramma will come back home Tuesday night, Jadon will stay all night with her, and then they can come to the hospital early Wednesday morning. I am guessing (?) we will definitely meet you by Wednesday evening (?)

P.S. Although Mommy wants you "out," it has nothing to do with you, and it doesn't mean I am any less thankful or see any less of a miracle in what is about to happen. Surely everyone knows and understands that. If you've been pregnant, and sat around waiting for a baby on your due date or after, you surely should remember what that is like. We'll keep you posted!

Week 38: "...a baby by lunchtime."

We had another doctor's appointment on Wednesday, and well, obviously it wasn't time to have a baby. The only thing my midwife said is that (TMI) my cervix is "very, very soft." She said if they "(PIT)ted you (gave me pitocin/induced me) in the morning, you'd likely have a baby by lunchtime...that's how soft your cervix is." Hmmm. So that brought us to our next conversation about me possibly being induced. I have what is supposed to be my final appointment this coming Friday (January 30th). If we decide to go with an induction, she said to call and re-schedule for Wednesday or Thursday, and I could have the baby whatever day I choose.

I REALLY don't want to be induced :/ Even more, I REALLY don't want to choose Macy's birthday. That's so odd to me. I know millions of women do it all of the time, but to me, it's messing with the whole Psalm 139:16 verse:

"...your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be."

I know we can argue this point, but it really does seem weird to me to choose the day...way to much control over Macy's life for me. It's kind of like reverse euthanasia or something to me. I don't want to play God or Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

So anyway, that's where we stand right now. Alhtough I'd LOVE to have our little girl here in our arms, rather than in my belly (I mean, it's just not fair to Jamie...I mean me fair to me...at this point), I think we'll hold out until our appt. this coming Friday and see what happens. Last night, I did start to feel a lot of pressure and some very, very minor cramping, which excited me, but also scared me a little too.

Am I, are we, really ready for this? Not that we have a choice, and of course, we are so excited to have another baby...but do we have a clue how to balance two babies under two? Of course we don't! We're still winging it with Jadon sometimes. I mean, who would have thought he would tear tiny pieces of paper out of his lift-and-flap book the other day and put the paper in his ear??? And for whatever reason these last few weeks, he decided it would be super fun to dump potting soil from our plants in the foyer onto the floor...like every hour or so. And can someone tell me (other than the obvious brushing!) how to get rid of cat food-scented, toddler breath? Yucky!

Ah parenthood. You really have to laugh at the things you deal with as a parent that you never thought of when you were in your 20s, running around the mall, shopping at American Eagle and Abercrombie, grabbing a Starbucks on your way to work, going to the gym afterwards, hanging out having lots of adult conversations with other people who didn't have kids...good times, I tell ya! But you know what is better and even more fun than all of those things...and has a whole lot more meaning? Sitting here blogging about being pregnant with a baby girl, while my 19-month-old baby boy with fishy toddler breath lays his head on my chest, yawning and watching his Baby Einstein video, while my husband prepares yet another thing to take to the hospital (our video camera), so we don't miss one second of the BEST years of our lives :)

Week 37: A Whole Lotta Nothin :/

Just got back from our nearly 38 week checkup, and well...NOTHING! Macy is still enjoying the warmth and coziness (???) of her mommy's womb. What the heck? I mean, it's okay that she hasn't been born yet, but it would be so encouraging to hear that my cervix has thinned or that I am dilated to like...oh I don't know...a ONE? Nothin'! She is still WAY up in there. I do keep reading that the second baby usually doesn't "drop" until a few days to a few hours before labor, whereas the first baby drops like two weeks before labor, which I believe was the case for Jadon...already hard to remember, but I do remember feeling like I was carrying a bowling ball between my legs for a few weeks with him, and I don't feel like that with Macy. I'm not thrilled at the thought of having her head between my legs, but if it means she will come within days, if not hours, from that time, then so be it!

Today's appointment could have been a mess, let me tell you. I thought for sure we were supposed to be there at 10am. After waiting for about 15 minutes, the receptionist informed me that my appt. wasn't until 3pm! She said they would try to work me in (thank God because it is 35 minutes from our house). Let me just say that, for a 19-month-old, Jadon was a trooper. Jamie and I did our best to plan for a long wait, taking cereal and a banana for a snack, two sets of flashcards, and a few other things for him to play with. Other than climbing on and off the couch I was sitting on about 30 times, he was REALLY good. Around 11am (yes, an hour after our arrival!), he fell down, but didn't hurt himself, instead he got embarrassed??? It was a delayed reaction, and he looked at me as if he couldn't stand the thought of seeing anyone else in the waiting room :/ His eyes welled up with tears, and I sat him on my lap.

Honestly, I wish I had taken a picture of what happened next. Jadon is not the kind of toddler who wants to be held. Although he is VERY affectionate, he's super independent. I think he has only fallen asleep on my lap twice in the last six months. He was so sweet in the office though. I could have cried about it, to be honest. The entire time he was laying against my chest (sitting up with one leg on each side of my belly), Macy was moving around like crazy. It was such an awesome moment for me as their mommy. I knew Jadon could definitely feel my belly moving against his face and chest. He was the calmest I've ever seen him in months. He let me stroke his hair and pat his back, and then he started to get heavy eyes. Ninety percent of the time, Jadon has to fall asleep with his hand down the neck of mine or Jamie's shirt (usually putting his hand in my armpit (who knows?), so that's what he attempted to do in the waiting area. It reminded me of the days I used to nurse him to sleep.... I just love being a mommy. I wish I could press pause and savor each moment I have with Jadon being so little still, yet I'm so very ready to meet our baby Macy.

I try not to think about how I'm not going to be able to give Jadon my undivided attention. It makes me sad sometimes to think that he will ever feel neglected or jealous of the attention Macy will require. I try to think of ways I will include him in nearly every task I have to do with her. I daydream of ways I will give him my undivided attention at some point each day, allowing Jamie to take Macy away, so we can play with his favorite flashcards or go kick a soccer ball together in the yard.

I've rambled enough for now...Macy, I hope you know how much I love you and can't wait for you to get here. You will soon become the "baby" of the family, and the dynamics will certainly change, which is fine. A new baby always brings such joy to a home :) Jadon, we love you more than you can imagine, and even though you won't be the "baby" of the family by age, you will ALWAYS be Mommy's baby, my first born, my big boy, my little man.

P.S. Macy, Jadon said that is the LAST time you will ever be able to kick him in the face without any retaliation ;)

And here are the ultrasound pics from our last appt. The top pic is a side view. You can clearly see those HUGE lips of Macy's in this pic...nose, then BIG lips! The bottom pic is a frontal view. If you haven't seen an ultrasound pic ever or in a long time, I know they can be hard to read...especially if you are not a Mama ;) The best way to see the face is to look for the black dots inside of the big, white image...those are the eyes, then you can hopefully tell from there :) (In the top pic, you can only see her left eye---side view. In the bottom pic, you can only clearly see her right eye---frontal view.)

"See You When I'm Two!"

Yesterday Jadon had his last shot (Hep A) until he turns four. Unless he gets sick, he doesn't even have to go back to the doctor until he turns two. We made it! Afterwards, we took him to the mall to play in the arcade for a while and have lunch at Chick-fil-A. The REAL reason to head to the mall was because it was raining, and I'm desperate to walk Macy outta this belly! No such luck, but we did have a good time spending the day out together :) Wish I had more updates to give, but nada :/ I do have a doctor's appt. on Friday. Let's hope that appointment really isn't necessary, since Macy will already be here??? :)

Week 36: Staying Put

On Wednesday, we got to see our little girl for the last time on the inside of her Mommy's belly. Obviously she has grown considerably, since we last saw her four months ago. Can I just say, "Look out Angelina Jolie!" This girl has some lips! Honestly, from the looks of the ultrasound, her lips are the size of Jamie's. She definitely will get that from her Daddy, which is fine. I suppose girls like having plump lips for lip gloss...oh brother! Makeup...jewelry...the clothes (oh, wait...I love that part) ;)

It was honestly SO AWESOME to see our baby girl on the screen. I mean, we clearly know this is really happening, and we are fully prepared for the birth of our DAUGHTER, but this made it so very real! She is ADORABLE! She was moving around, and even put her hand up to her face, as if to blow us a kiss, right at the end. Jamie said she was doing the sign for 'Thank You'...whichever...so, so, so, so cute! We did get it on video, but I can't get it to upload right now. Maybe later, maybe not. You may have to just trust me.

As for any progress? NADA! Man! Although I really was prepared to hear that my cervix had not dilated or thinned at all, it is still somewhat (okay, extremely) disappointing :/ I know I don't want Macy to come out, before she is good and ready, but I'll tell you, I am SO VERY TIRED of this heartburn!!! It's exactly the same as it was with Jadon's pregnancy. I actually had heartburn the entire way thru my labor and delivery, and it appears that will be the case with Miss Macy Bleu as well. Oh how I look forward to life without Tums again (not that they help AT ALL, at this point...I really don't bother anymore).

There have been times this week that I thought Macy had dropped, but the doctor shot that theory down quickly. She said she's, "Still way up there...looks like she's pretty comfortable right where she's at." C'mon! Gimme a break! It cannot be more comfortable all cramped in there than it will be, once you come out and get to be swaddled in a soft, pink blanket...right? I'll even rock you...sing to you...feed you real food...um...ANYTHING you want...just come outta there! I mean, look at this...does this look comfortable??? I think not! So let's get this ball rollin'! You're upside-down for cryin' out loud! Have I mentioned how ready we are to meet you??? :)

P.S. Thanks to Auntie Em for watching Jadon, so we didn't have to torture him in the small examination room for the ultrasound...or is that torture us?

Week 33: Smooth Sailing, Worrying, and Braxton Hicks

I had my 34 week checkup yesterday. Everything is perfect :) It was one of the quickest appointments I have had. It consisted of a weigh in (ugh!), a belly measurement, a check of Macy's heartbeat (in the 130s), and a scheduled appointment for my last ultrasound at 36 weeks. The midwife asked if I had been experiencing any Braxton Hicks contractions, and I did (a lot) on Thursday and Friday...lots of tightening in my upper stomach, making it hard to sit for long periods and making it harder to breathe...fun stuff, but it only means my body is getting ready for the big day. Daddy wasn't able to be at this appointment because he had a job interview, and Jadon stayed with Auntie Em (thank God!). We're moving right along, Macy Bleu!

It is still amazing to me that I have had NO PROBLEMS whatsoever with this pregnancy! I know I shouldn't speak so soon, since I still have 42 days to go, but I am truly amazed. I never had a spot of bleeding, not even in the very beginning. My blood pressure, glucose level, urine specimens, and thyroid function remain absolutely perfect with every passing doctor's visit. For all of these things, I am so very thankful...YET, unfortunately, I still worry about some things.

This week alone, I have had the following thoughts (crazy!): I may have preeclampsia/toxemia (because my ankles looked a little swollen a few times, after I had been standing too long); what if someone hits our car head-on and I die? the baby dies? Jamie or Jadon die? (this happens EVERYTIME we drive somewhere...even to my mom's 3 miles down the road!); what if Macy is born before she is 37 weeks, and her little lungs aren't ready?; what if I have some major problem during labor?; what am I going to do about Jadon's wild behavior, once Macy gets here?; How in the world am I going to survive the first 6-8 weeks of breastfeeding and sleepless nights with Jadon to take care of too? Oh, the list is nearly endless!

Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe I'm a worry wart. Maybe I think about morbid things. Maybe I don't trust in the Lord enough. I know to 'trust in Him with all of my heart'. I know not to 'lean on my own understanding'. I know not to 'worry about tomorrow'. I know all of these things, and I really do believe His Word. Maybe I'm just a mom though. Maybe I'm a pregnant mom. Maybe I'm even a typical mom.

Last weekend, while sitting at my mom's house, Jadon was sitting behind the couch playing with his toys. Jamie was in his zoned out place of "ah, finally some peace of mind and some other people to help watch him...I'm gonna watch TV." I was sitting with my mom at the kitchen bar, and I couldn't help but look back at Jadon every few minutes, just to make sure he was okay and not putting something in his mouth, etc. I said to my mom, "I can't wait until my kids are at an age that I don't have to worry that they are going to kill themselves accidentally...when I can relax a little bit more. What age does that happen...five, six?"

Her answer surprised me because my mom has NEVER appeared to be a mom who worries about me or Emily. She said, "It never ends. I mean, like tonight, I worry about Emily leaving the house, and something happening. I worry about her getting home safe. I will probably stay up until she gets home."

Then I asked her if she worries about me being pregnant, and she quickly answered without a doubt, "Well yeah, of course!"

"Do you worry I'll die during labor?"

I'm sure a small part of her (the worrying mom part) thought "yes," but she quickly reassured me that she didn't think that. She didn't share what she the specific worries she has about my pregnancy and delivery, but I am sure her worries are similar to my own.

And so is the life of a mom. We carry a lot of burdens for our kids. We think about everything from what our kids eat to their choice in a marriage partner...from small bruises as a toddler to parties in college...from fevers and vomiting to their decision to place their faith in Jesus (the MOST important by far)...from driving in a car at 16 to watching the birth of our own grandchildren. Jadon will one day be a dad???? Macy will one day be a mom???? Oh my! My babies will have babies...such a joyous thought, yet also another burden of worry I will somewhat carry because I know the feelings they too will have and the HUGE responsibility the Lord will have given them.

Everyday, when I see Jadon's chocolate brown birthmark, just above his chubby little butt, I think about the story I will tell him about where it came from. "Well, before you were born, God was eating chocolate. Then, He kissed you 'good-bye for now,' and gave you to Mommy and Daddy. Your birthmark is a reminder that He wants you to come back home to him one day."

From this day (and the writing of this blog) forward, I am going to work much harder at trusting the Creator of All Things with the well-being of my babies. They were, in fact, His, before they were mine. They have been in His hands, until this day, and shall remain there until He calls them back home...whenever and however He choses to do so. I do trust you, Lord, and I thank you for choosing me to raise these babies in particular. I pray I serve you well as their mommy.

" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD." ---Jeremiah 29:11-14

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you. ---Psalm 139:13-18

Week 31: Building

YOWZA! Look how big this girl is getting!

The suspense is building! As I type this, we have a mere 56 days, until Macy's due date. I'm thinking she's coming a little early...wishful thinking, I know...only after week 37, when she's full-term though ;)

Not much to report this week, other than our doctor's appointment yesterday, and still, not much to report. I have gained 30lbs. so far. If anyone thinks that's a lot, please do me a favor and click the little "X" at the top right-hand corner of this page. Thank you ;) I will NEVER be one of those people who only gains 25lbs. during a pregnancy...NEVER. Can't do it. Wish I could, but it's not gonna happen. And I'm guessing the grand total for this pregnancy will likely be 40lbs, if Macy makes it to her due date. Eight weeks away = eight pounds...add a few for Christmas dinner and leftovers, and there you have it. Oh well. I did take off 50lbs. from breastfeeding Jadon, so I'm hoping I have that on my side again.

In other, much more exciting news, Macy's heartrate was 140bpm and my belly measurement must have been on target because the midwife never said it wasn't. We LOVE our midwife! We knew her through Jadon's pregnancy, and she was supposed to deliver him, but was out of town for Memorial Weekend, when I went into labor :/ So I got stuck with Dr. Richmond (all business, no personality). Anyway Stacey, the midwife, is originally from Parkersburg, WV (which is why she has such an awesome personality). She went to WVU, just like us, and is a true Mountaineer :) We absolutely LOVE her, and feel confident she will deliver Macy, since there are no holidays at the end of January.

I think that's it. Getting bigger, more uncomfortable, more excited :) The suspense is building, especially with Christmas just a few weeks away. We have family coming to visit from WV...my mom's sister Suzy, her brother Chris, and my dad's sister Carla. Carla has never been to visit us in SC before...she's 65 and has honestly never traveled further south than Virginia. How sad is that? So we're excited for her to see something new :) The last time the three of them saw Jadon, he was 4 months old, when we Jamie and I went to WV. Boy are they in store for some changes! And this will be the first time any of them have seen me pregnant. I unpacked my Chrismas maternity PJs last night, just for the occasion :)

Eighteen Months

Ah I can hardly believe my itty bitty baby boy is 18 months old already! He had his 18 month well baby visit yesterday and got the last of his shots until he is FOUR years old...well other than one more Hep A (because he is slightly behind on that) he will get in January. Things have gotten much easier on Mommy, as far as shots go. I remember not being able to be in the room, holding my ears in the hallway, when he was just a few weeks old and had to get blood drawn from his tiny little foot :( Eighteen months later, I'm a pro at this Mommy thing ;) HARDLY! But honestly, I already know that I can handle all of those routine things that Macy will have to endure, even though she will be so teeny tiny too. Thanks for being Mommy's guinea pig, Jadon :)

Baby man boobs? ;)

Here are our big boy's stats:

Weight: 26 lbs!!! (50th percentile)
Height: 34 inches!!! (75th percentile)
Head circumference: 19 3/4"! (VERY large brain!)

Playing Zorro with Daddy :)

In honor of Thanksgiving and you being 18 months old, your Daddy and I have compiled a list (in no particular order, and certainly with MANY things left out) of 18 things we LOVE about you. We had to limit ourselves, otherwise, I would be blogging all day and miss going to Gramma's for turkey and pumpkin pie ;)

1. Carrying you from the bathtub to your room every night, and smacking your chubby little butt...LOVE it! Your skin is so soft and squishy!
2. Hearing the way you say new words each day. Yesterday it was "shirt" and today it was "gross" when I changed your stinky, poopy diaper ;) Daddy especially likes it when you say "shoos" and "choo choo."
3. When you bounce up and down with excitement, when you're sitting down.
4. When you randomly play peek-a-boo. You wait for us to ask, "Where's Jadon? Jadon, where are you?" Then you pull your hands down from your face and say, "Hey!" You especially love to do this, when you are getting into and out of your car seat.
5. Anytime I say "who's here," you run to the window beside our front door and watch intently with excitement. Today when your Gramma and Grandpa pulled into the driveway, you said, "Gee!" Then when they walked in you had Grandpa pick you up and said, "Bye bye! See you later," to me and Daddy :)
6. You LOVE your videos! Every night, when we put one in, you sit on your blankie on the floor, and then wrap the edges of it around your legs like you're a burrito :)
7. Watching you crack up at certain puppets and characters on your videos. Honestly it's just not funny to anyone but you, but your giggle cracks us up!
8. When you lift up Mommy's shirt and jibber jabber like you are talking to Macy, then you end the conversation with a kiss. There have been many times lately that you have stood below me and tried to lift up my shirt, then I have to squat down to your level, so you can kiss my belly :)
9. Mostly you are a happy camper in the mornings, and you smile and say "Daddah," and hit Daddy on the back to wake him up.
10. Your bear hugs...saying "grrr" when you squeeze our necks now :)
11. Your kisses! It is really funny to watch how many you will give Auntie Em, when she demands them...like 20 over and over, as if you have no choice.
12. You want to share everything you eat with us, and you'll even pull chewed up food out of your mouth and give it to Ziggy.
13. The way you sniff things with a wrinkled up nose (candles, soap, etc.).
14. The way you pretend to put lotion on everytime you get ahold of a bottle. You do it EXACTLY the way Daddy does it :)
15. When you talk in your sleep. One night you laugh, the other night you "meouw" like a cat :) How funny is that???
16. Daddy loves that you keep your fists closed when you sleep still...like a baby :)
17. Sleeping next to you. You're good at snuggling :)
18. Watching you play outside with your bubble mower, build things with your blocks, and throw your football around the house (as if you are on a real field playing).
19. (I know, I know, can't resist...) The way you clap for Daddy, when he does tricks with your basketball, as if he is a Harlem Globe Trotter. Daddy's hoping you never find out he really isn't that good ;)

We are so very thankful for you Jadon! You make living a life of gratitude so very easy! Love, Mommy and Daddy :)

Week 28: Emo Much?

Actually it was last Sunday (during week 27) that I had a fairly big breakdown before church. I can't remember now what caused it, mainly because it was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, but I had decided that I just couldn't go. I was just too emotional. Jadon had a runny nose, so I didn't want to put him in the nursery and expose the other kids to his germs, and I also felt incredibly guilty for "shipping him off" to Gramma for a few hours, while we went. That's how I saw it..."shipping him off."

My mom literally lives three miles away from me, and the church is two miles away from our house in the other direction, so a 10 minute trip max. from the church to her house. For whatever reason, (1) I couldn't stand the thought of abandoning my sick little baby (honestly he wasn't sick at all, just a little runny nose, and clear snot at that!), (2) I felt just too uncomfortable in my skin...okay, my snug clothes to even bother getting dressed, (3) I felt super heavy and didn't even want to expend the energy to shower and get ready anyway, (4) I just knew church was no place for the world's worst wife, mommy, and daughter to be..."I'm a mean, irritable, horrible person right now...God wants nothing to do with me! How could He?"

So I did what any irrational pregnant girl would do, and I called my mom and had an emotional breakdown, nearly causing her to cry at my misery. MISERY? What in the world was wrong with me? She assured me that I was beautiful and that she loves taking care of Jadon, that he is never a bother to her. She reminded me how smart and handsome Jadon is and that Macy is sure to be just as amazing, but I didn't buy it. I mean, she's my mom. She has to say that stuff. But then, as I continued on with my self-pity, boo hooing about how I have "nothing to wear," she said, "Oh, honey, don't cry. It makes makes me sad to hear you cry." Then I heard her start to cry, and I thought, "What in the WORLD is wrong with you? Snap out of it, you lunatic! Now you're making your mom cry. Way to go!" So I had a short out-of-mind/body moment, and I thought to myself, "Now what was I saying all of that for? Why am I so upset?" Gramma and Grandpa picked Jadon up 15 minutes later, and off to church the bouncy pregnant girl went :) CRAAAAZY! COO COO!

So, yeah, that was last week, but I think I've been sort of irritable this week too. I can't think of any specific examples, but they surely had nothing to do with what I was grumbling about (i.e. Jamie leading Jadon to the potty, rather than picking him up, when we both knew he had a turd coming out...I mean, c'mon! Can you walk and hold your poop, when it has already started to come out? I think not!). I've had moments when I've been a sheer mess, but then there have been others of total bliss, like last night, when both Jamie and I were able to see Macy moving around underneath my shirt. She's getting sooo big now! Yes, my favorite part of pregnancy is upon us :) I can't wait to see her butt sticking out of my rib cage :) Sounds delightful, doesn't it? It truly is though :) I LOVE seeing a baby move all around from the outside of my stomach. It's so amazing, and it's then, if not before, that the baby seems like a REAL baby...like a small little human inside of me. WHAT??? So cool!

Although we had a doctor's appointment today, I really don't have a lot of things to say about it :/ Jadon wore his "Mr. Happy" shirt, and for the most part, he was :) Jamie had to take him to the lobby for a few minutes because he thought it was super fun to bang his sippy cup on the glass top table in the waiting area.
***And this is a totally RANDOM side note: I am listening to an apparently new Jeremy Camp song AND I FREAKING LOVE IT! When did this come out??? I listen to KLOVE every, single day...all morning our radio is on the John and Sherry Rivers radio show, and I haven't heard this? I'm inspired. It's like Jeremy Camp with a choir singing backup at the end. LOVE IT! Tiff, Tara, and Janine: we MUST go to a concert soon...like when I'm not pregnant or breastfeeding and Tara is out of med school, and Janine is not living in Africa, and Tiffany is not out vagabonding around. Do you girls know of this new Jeremy Camp? Why have you not shared? Jeremy Camp is bound to be retired, before we all get together again :/

Okay...back to the doctor. Pretty much, in a nutshell, I had a blood test for gestational diabetes...sure it's fine, but will know in a few days if anything is off. Jadon spun in the chair in the exam room. The midwife said we should just make babies and either (1) sell them??? or (2) sign them up as Gap models...little does she know I am in the process (sort of...Gap casting call results are Dec. 8th). Sweet of her to say :) So she then did the belly measurement and held the Doppler thingy on my tummy for like five minutes, while we talked politics (presidential race results and abortion, etc.). All the while, I should have been taping my adorable 17 month old being held by his daddy to my immediate left. They were listening to the heartbeat, Jadon enjoying mommy's shirt being up and seeing the smiley lady hold a thing on it. Jamie was telling him to listen to "Macy" and Jadon smiled from ear to ear. It was the only time he was still the entire visit :) Oh yeah, and Macy did some kicks, which could be heard by way of the doppler device thingy too :)

All in all, a great day. All in all, a great week...emotional roller coasters and all. To top it off, we drove Jadon to the airport to let him see the planes take off for a few minutes. His face said it all, "Why haven't we been here before? I LOVE this place!" I especially enjoyed watching him perched on Daddy's shoulders, as I stood there dreaming of the little life God is knitting together inside of me...I wonder if you'll like airplanes, Macy.

24 Week Check-Up

I had a basic check-up at the doctor today. Nothing special, just a weigh in, belly measurement and a heartbeat check (150 beats per minute) :) Jadon did fairly well in the office...for Jadon, that is. Thankfully we only had to wait about 20 minutes to be seen. During the time we waited in the examination room, he found plenty of ways to entertain himself and us:

First, he discovered that there was a chair that spins:

Then he imitated Daddy by pretending to blow his nose:

And he showed us his "Happy Feet." (*See the entry for this date on his blog for video of that.) Afterwards we grabbed some Chick-fil-A, and then headed to the pumpkin patch in Litchfield. Those adorable pics can be found on Jadon's blog too...click here. Such a blessed day to see/hear my babies growing up :)

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice :)

Well those of you in the minority (28%) were correct! Yes, Jack is actually not a boy, afterall...hmmm...wonder when this is really going to sink in. Jamie and I are going to have a DAUGHTER in four months!!! I really can't believe Jack is a girl, and her name can't be Jack anymore! What the heck??? So I was wrong. Jadon will not have a brother who plays on the same sports teams with him, but I will have a son who will watch out for his little sister in school :)

I have tons of video and ultrasound pics, but am utterly too exhausted (after the doctor's appt., the car attempting to overheat on the way home, and a play date with Beka and her two kids after that!) to upload anything right now. You're going to have to trust me that there was no penis or testicles on the screen today ;) Guess we have some thinking to do, in order to pick out the perfect name for our little princess. I have no doubt, after one trip to Baby Gap, this will all sink in and one of Jadon's two closets will soon be filled with a glowing pink hue...with a little purple and some tiny flowers as accents :)

Yay! I just realized I get to shop for baby dolls :) Now that is a VERY fun thought for Mommy. And I'll FINALLY get to buy an Easy Bake oven!!! Oh how I wanted one of those all of my life. Don't feel too guilty about that, Gramma. I'll let you buy this one, if it will make you feel better ;)

Fifteen

SO many things have been changing with Jadon in the last month that I could have written at least 20 other blogs, but because he keeps me so busy watching him, I rarely have time to sit at the computer. Thankfully I can at least read my emails from my cell phone...sorry if I have not been so quick to respond, but I promise a return email will eventually come to those of you who have written me :)

Jadon turned 15 months old yesterday, and today he had his 15-month-old well baby visit, including his chicken pox and MMR vaccines. Daddy was able to go to the visit with us, thankfully, because Jadon nor his mommy were prepared for him to get his shots in the backs of his arms!?! Ouch! Things didn't start out so great, first of all, when the nurse had to do a follow-up finger stick to check his lead levels. I think we all know that Jadon is a VERY outgoing little boy, but we learned today that strangers must come on his terms only! He HATED the nurse touching him, and no sooner than his tears dried up did the doctor come in and invade his space way too soon :/ He laid Jadon down on the table to listen to his lungs, and that was bad enough, but when he tried looking in his ears...yikes! He cried so hard, he couldn't catch his breath...oh, brother!

In the waiting room:

"They're gonna do WHAT with that needle?"

So then another mean old nurse (not really) came into the room, just as he had calmed down (thanks to the mandarin oranges in the diaper bag). She told me to hold him because he would get a shot in the back of each arm...ouchy! Without a doubt, he cried more than at any of his other "shot" visits...hated it :/ But all is well, and our big-headed boy is taking a much-needed and well-deserved nap :) Here are his 15 month stats:

Weight: 24.04 lbs. (50th percentile)
Height: 31.5" (60th percentile)
Head circumference: a whopping 19"!!! (85th percentile!) I still don't think he looks like he has a big head...maybe I'm blinded by love ;)

So here is an update on all of the new and exciting (and sometimes very annoying, but cute) things that Jadon has learned to do in the last month:

A few days after Jamie's family left (around July 27th?), Jadon learned to climb onto and off of the couch...not our favorite past time of his, trust me! Four weeks later, he can now be found running across the couch! He also loves to throw the pillows onto the floor, then get off the couch and put them back, leading to hours of non-stop fun :)

Puppy training, I mean potty training is going well still. I would say that 95% of Jadon's poops are now in the potty and 1-3 pees/day, the other pees are hit and miss. We regularly attempt to pee in the potty, as soon as he wakes up in the morning and from his naps, which tends to work better than after meals, which is more unpredictable. He has done the sign for potty several times, just after he pees in his diaper to let me know it is time for a change...we're headed in the right direction, at least ;)

Jadon still LOVES the beach! Besides playing in the sand with his toys, he could pick up seashells and toss them back into the ocean for hours...LOVES it! Here are a few pics from our last trip last week (they are from my cell phone, so they aren't the best quality, but anyway...):
Although I know many babies start giving kisses very early on, Jadon REFUSES to perform on demand. He's always been that way...he still is. It's always on HIS terms. For whatever reason, he decided that Mommy and Daddy didn't get kisses, when they asked, but instead chose to give them to Auntie Em?!? Unbelievable! Not fair! It's still cute, and he does now kiss me and Jamie, but we have to pucker up right next to his mouth to get it, and trust me, he doesn't give them out in abundance either...so stubborn, that kid!

Jadon can identify several of his body parts, and has for a while, but his new favorite is his hair. I'm going to get a video or pic of this, when he wakes up...that is, if he'll perform on demand for me, but I doubt it :/ He LOVES rubbing his head with both hands. He's loves doing this so much that, if you ask him, "where's your nose/ears, belly, etc.," he will continue rubbing his hair, even though he knows lots of other body parts. Welcome to the stage of autonomy. "I am my own person, Mom! I make my own decisions!" Lord, help me!

But the good news is that I did have my trusty camera at Kroger the other night, when Jadon was loving to smell the scented soap bars :) A few of you got this pic that night from my cell phone. He is obsessed with smelling things that he knows are scented! He loves sniffing (blowing air in and out of his nose), and this is how he now identifies his nose, by scrunching his little nose up and blowing in and out rapidly :)

By now, nap time has been over for a while, and Jadon has pooped (once) and peed (twice) in the potty. Yay! So the rest of the updates will have to wait, but hopefully it will be accompanied by some pics. If only I can sneak the camera in, while his in performing mode...