did you see...?

...that I'm under 100 days on my countdown 'till Baby Boy meets us in this world? Praise Jesus and whoa baby at the same time. So excited to meet this little one but honestly a little nervous about going from having a "child" to "children." Children is considerably more than child. Nonetheless...can't wait to meet your sweetness, little man! Last night I was rocking your sissy to sleep and you kept kicking her belly that was laying against mine...it made her giggle every time. Very sweet as it was the first time you 2 have really "met". She doesn't "get" you yet, but she will soon enough!!

sweet feet

don't they make ya smile?

Hippity Hoppity Happy...

SPRING!











Here's to bare arms and legs...even if your mama did make you wear socks and "sturdy" shoes!

Little Helper

Ug, today I was asked to do a Parents as Teachers interview from the parent's perspective and I fear what I said will make my child sound stunted, and underdeveloped...and will make me sound like a dull, clueless parent. You know those moments you have when you are saying something and know it's not coming out like you want but can't fix it? Here's the scenerio...
I'm giving this interview and the guy asks how PAT has impacted us...so I'm telling him how our PAT lady always has age appropriate and skill appropriate games for Natalee and always goes over milestones with us, etc. And I mention something about how nice it is to always have someone in your corner when you are concerned about a potential delay...and he asks what kind of delay, and you see where this goes. So now my child who talks like a dream and will walk someday (right?) is going to show up in the paper less than stellar...
in my defense I was hot, working actually really hard, wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt b/c it was casual Friday, and unfocused...but still...
So please don't judge me when you read it...I didn't mean it Natalee. I know you are stellar and super and all things wonderful. This video proves it...

Thanks for helping Daddy unload the dishwasher while I made supper...and thanks Daddy for being soooo patient and doing every piece of silverware individually so your helper could feel so big and important! Good job, team!

Uninspired Tuesday

Props to my husband who took care of the house last night while I went to bed at 7:30. I'd been to the doctor and turns out I have a yeast infection...I won't go into detail but let's just say--never had one, let it go to long (writing off the symptoms to "pregnancy symptoms), and had myself quite a mess...

so while my fever was raging at almost 101, Mike shooed me away to shower, take my meds, and collapse. And I did. And I feel better this morning. He did however leave me the gift of this laundry to be folded...
but that's not why I took a picture of it... (because truly I don't mind a little laundry and am grateful for him doing the supper, dishes, bath routine with Natalee)...

look closely...

do you see what I see?

that's right...behind that pile of laundry lies my dear daughter...who was very uninspired to be awake this cheery Tuesday. She dozed through clothes change and could not be awakened to be bothered with "beauty etiquette" like brushing teeth or hair...

and so, while we finished getting around, she dozed...in the clean laundry. If you know Natalee you know she sleeps no where but her bed...doesn't care much to be rocked, doesn't fall asleep at the table, on the floor, or on the couch. She is tired this morning...very tired. She went to bed on time, slept well, got in to snuggle with Mama around 3:00 but went right back out. But she's just tired...you know the feeling, right?

She woke briefly to be put in the car and then went back out like a light. She whimpered when we left her with Lora Jean but was too tired to care really, I think. (anybody else notice that her Daddy put her britches on backwards. I switched them before we left...)
Here's praying she livens up and isn't grouchy today, on this uninspired Tuesday!

Do You Love Her?

I wish I wanted to share her...but I don't. I love every smile, every laugh, every tantrum, every kiss--and all the big personality that goes with it. Here is her new Easter dress...enjoy the sweetness and GO HERE to see the rest of the pictures!

Natalee's Easter Pictures

Making Gains

Oh my Natalee...the leaps and bounds you are coming these last couple of weeks. You have finally figured out that you can talk...and you do. You are a little hard to understand--you have a little dutchiness to work out--but your words are so pleasing to our ears. Here is a list of the words/phrases I can think of that you are saying...

• utsat? (what's that)
• Lorn Lorn
• mommy
• dada
• mmm, good
• yum!
• doe, doe, doe (no, no, no)
  
• oooooo (moo)
• quack, quack
• Pop-Pop
  
• uv ya (love ya)
• ca (car)
• tuck (truck)
• cacker (cracker)
  
• eyo (hello?)
• grammanumanum (Grandma Num-a-Num--Gma Cindy)

You are also signing, more, dad, mom, milk, and a few other things. Daddy is your favorite sign and you always want to know where he is!

You are trying to repeat all kinds of things that we are saying. Every time you ask "utsat?" we try to label what you are asking about and it's paying off!

You are also getting soooo close to walking. You can stand for long periods of time all by yourself and walk with a push toy or with help from hands. You're almost there, girly! We're just waiting for you to put on that brave face and go...and we know once you do there will be no turning back!

You are starting to understand "jokes", like offering a bite of food to daddy and withdrawing it the last minute, blowing in our faces, and "getting" us--tapping or grabbing our clothes in an effort to tickle and wrestle. You kiss your hand but haven't gotten down the "blow" part of the kisses...you love to be outside and stand at the window when it's rainy or not time to go out just watching and looking.

Lately you've been come a bit of a mama's girl...and mama doesn't mind so much. However, you are starting to recognize your aunties and uncle, cousins, and grandparents as safe faces and loved ones and enjoy them so very much! And of course your daddy is still your hero and all you have to do is bat those baby blues and he melts!

When you are tired you lay right down, with little to no fussing. Lately you sleep with Scout (still!) and with one or two flannel butterfly blankies mama gave you (from my first sewing adventures), and of course a paci. Often you go to sleep with one color of paci and wake up with another...we still haven't figured out where you stash them! You've been sleeping like a champ for 10-11 hours at night and rarely wake to get out of your bed to snuggle with mama and daddy anymore. You still nap 2 times a day at a couple hours each time. You also eat like a grown man and have adjusted to dairy free living beautifully. Gone is the runny nose, most of the rashy skin, and much irritability.

And so, pretty lady, we are grateful for you each and every day and so proud of the gains you are making. Keep up the good work, pumpkin.

Love,
Mama

Playing on the Farm

Gma Cindy took Natalee out yesterday to see the cows (the "oooos") and baby calves. She was scared of the shed and the heifers in there but liked standing on the gate and looking at the ones in the lot. She makes a cute little farmer, doesn't she?

Farming and fresh air (and springing forward) wears little girls out!

Playin' Babies

We are trying to teach Natalee to "love a baby" so she's not in such shock when brother comes, and so she treats the little ones at Lora Jean's with kindness. Here she is "playing babies" with daddy and mommy. She wasn't so impressed that baby got a paci, too, but quickly discovered his wasn't as tasty as hers! Listen all the way to the end...her reply when I say, "love you" was a first for us and was so very priceless!

Playing with Natalee

Natalee is at such a fun (and sometimes sassy) age. In this video you can see her daddy blowing in her face and then pretty soon she attempts to blow back at him. His reaction gets her to giggling like no other! And then, of course, a couple of songs just so you can hear me sing!

Random Pics & Video

I have to tell ya'll how much I appreciate you commenting on my recent wordy posts. Rest assured I realize how disappointed you are every time you see I blog a new post and there are no pics of my darling, cutest daughter (who is 15 months old today!). So here you go...

First up we have pics of my sweetie enjoying the Scotland vs. Schuyler basketball game. Turns out, that with tubes in her ears she LOVES basketball. Think about it...a place where it's always appropriate to clap, shriek, and wave your arms. Yep...definitely her forte!

It was a tish warm in the gym and her Nannie took pity on her and stripped her down to the bare necessities... Do you love those thighs or is it just me?

(Feb 19, 2010)

Our second item of cuteness is this pic I snapped before heading off to Lora Jean's one morning. Remember when I used to do that every morning? I've outgrown that (somewhat) but still can't help myself once in awhile. Look at those wavy locks...long enough for a clippy!

(Feb. 24, 2010)

And last we have the video of us telling Natalee that a brother is invading our (girly) lives...
Okay, who are we kidding?...we're not that girly! We welcome you, brother!

(Feb 12, 2010)

Flip Flip...

I do not remember this much activity with Natalee at almost 23 week pregnant. I'm sure she was busy, but I also know for a fact that she was a calmer (lazier) baby than this one! This little man also sits much lower than Natalee did. Natalee was in my ribs...this little babe is in my "gut." It's just a totally different feeling...

If you saw my Baby Countdown to the right this week it reads that the baby is busy with workouts and playing somersaults. I laughed when I read that because it is sooo right. No particular time of the day...just anytime, all the time, often. In comparison, Natalee was usually very calm when I was teaching--up and walking around in my classroom. Not this guy...I can be in the middle of a spelling lesson and he'll deliver a swift kick to the gut! Did I mention he's sitting lower than I'm used to? (translation--nearer my bladder!).

My babies are opposite of the wive's tale that a fast heart rate = girl; slow heart rate = boy. Natalee was always slow...130-140. This little man is so fast compared to hers...160-180. It's fun (and scary) to think about what that means about his personality. Sometimes when I'm reading books or snuggling with Natalee, little brother kicks and jumps around. She notices, but I'm not sure what she thinks...perhaps that mommy has some bad indigestion!?

What started out as a terrifying journey is becoming more and more real. I'm getting excited to think about what lovely friends my 2 young children shall become and what a wonder it is to watch our little family growing like this before our very eyes. I'm struggling already with thoughts about treating each "fairly" but as I was trained in my special education schooling I must remember, "fair and equal aren't always this same." Keeping in mind individual needs, love languages, and personal feelings is where I am determined to focus my attention...not making sure both kids get a treat at the store or that this 2nd dear one has all the exact things our firstborn got.

It's a thrill and a privilege to be on this leg of our journey. We are now crib shopping and double stroller shopping (translation=tax return is coming & that's what we budgeted part of the refund for!). Natalee is also getting a bigger girl booster seat for the kitchen table as she will be giving her high chair booster to the baby. She's keeping her crib, however, as we bought it with the intention of it following her to teenage years and will do the same for this baby.

Fun things to come...did I mention I'm "sewing" creations now? Nothing too big--a burp cloth here, receiving blanket there...maybe some curtains!

Dairy Free Update...

...about the time I'm ready to write it all off, I notice change. We started the dairy free on Tuesday full force. The only dairy by-product that I'm knowingly giving Natalee is a whey product in margarine b/c it's the least amount of dairy in margarine/butter I can find so far. Up until yesterday we hadn't noticed much, except that a patch of eczema on her wrist was drying up. We still battled a runny nose and the likes. However, Natalee did have the flu on Friday night and a high temp last night so in the middle of this dairy journey she's been sickly in other ways. That makes it hard to know if the runny nose is sickness or runny allergy nose.

This morning her nose has been pretty dry (and her temp is going down from being sick). And as I had her in the highchair mid-morning feeding her vegan soy yogurt (hey, she likes it!)I realized that her face looks almost porcelain. So clear and, well, baby-like. She never had major face skin issues but would occasionally show up with a patch here or there (like in her 1 year photos next to her mouth) and did have small red bumps frequently and dry skin.
So then I really started looking...the patch on her wrist is all but gone...her ankle, which was almost to the point of cracking and bleeding (it was flaming red) is very dry and just pale pink. The back of her neck, behind her knees, on her back...all disappearing. And to top it, her fingers, which I had always blamed on her sucking them at night, are not red, flaming and scaly...they are sweet and almost soft little baby fingers. A little of me was hoping she wouldn't clear up...just because a dairy free life style is quite a commitment, and life most people, I'm selfish. But children are a commitment, aren't they? And so it is very worth it...

I'm already learning tricks of the trade that make this dairy-free'ness' not so challenging. Thanks to a co-worker whose husband is a dairy-free man, I know a lot more than when I started. She knows how to make it mangable and not so costly and I'm grateful. It's also awesome that I knew I could message her/talk to her and ask her things like what kind of butter/margarine she uses and know that she's already been the guinea pig and I'll get an honest answer (she said Aldi's brand, in case you are wondering...just got to get myself there!). Sunbeam brand breads and also the bread from the Wal-Mart bakery (french bread) are dairy free, which will be much less costly than the "special" loaf I bought in the whole foods section at Hy-Vee. Bisquick baking mix is dairy free so I can make pancakes and biscuits using it and just use soy milk. It's not so hard...very manageable and we're very lucky to have a child as healthy as we do. I recently stumbled on a blog of a family who is losing their 2 year old to cancer...and I'm grateful for our dairy free girl.

We're praying the flu and high temp are it for sickness at this house. But to leave you with a funny...
just now as I was typing I noticed Natalee was very quiet. So I looked over to where she was sitting and noticed she had the temporal scan thermometer off the table was was sitting on the floor. You can use a temporal scan in 2 ways--to run it across the forehead or hold it behind the ear for 6-7 seconds. When we take her temp we usually do both to make sure we're getting an accurate reading. So there she sets, thermometer on the top of her noggin...and then pretty soon she put it back on her neck and was so very pleased with herself!!

The One Where We Go Dairy Free...

Let me specify "we" and assure you that it's only my poor blotchy skinned, snot nosed daughter who is indeed giving up dairy for lent. OR for the next 2 weeks, seeings how we aren't Catholic!

So Natalee's been sick...AGAIN...story of our lives. We deal with a continual runny nose and every 2-3 weeks it turns into an infection because there is just so much, well, snot. It settles in her belly, in her throat, and makes her miserable. So today my mom stayed home with her (thanks again, Grandma) because our sick days have been eaten alive at work this year and she took her to the doctor for me. Might I add how weird that was for me as we usually do everything together. I hardly ever even take her to the doctor without Mike b/c that's just how we roll so sending her with someone else was just strange....
but anyhow...

I asked mom to inquire with the doctor if she thinks a dairy allergy or any other factor could be contributing to this continual drainage and stuffy head. I mean, we did the tube thing, which I'm grateful for b/c at least her little ears are draining, but still, the snot. Always, the snot. And Krista said indeed dairy can cause thick mucus and that also the exzema on Natalee's hands, neck, and ankles is a big indicator that her body is fighting some kind of allergy.

Let's clarify--Natalee has never drank "real" milk...she went from breastmilk to soy formula to soy milk b/c straight milk gave her a tummy ache and diarrhea. But as I introduced other dairy and dairy by-products she seemed to do okay. No visible upset stomach, no loose diapers, etc. So we've been letting her eat yogurt and cheese and other dairy things.

Alas, we shall no longer. For the next 2 weeks we are on a STRICT no dairy diet. I'm the one making it strict because I want to know for sure whether it works or not. If she clears up then we will know she has a dairy allergy (you can't test until age 4). After that we can start re-introducing things again to see how much, if any, dairy she can tolerate. Maybe she can tolerate the dairy in a slice of bread...but maybe not.

It's exhausting, a little scary, pretty expensive, and a lot mind boggling to do this. I went shopping tonight (God bless Hy-Vee's whole food section) and bought staples...bread, soy cheese, vegan soy yogurt, a couple different "snack" type foods, mix to make pancakes, etc. It was an...adventure. Poor Natalee is going to have a lot less variety than she's used to for awhile while we figure this out. Please pray that our dear baby-sitter stays on board with us and that we all don't get terribly frustrated in the process of this learning adventure.

Any knowledgable tips are ALWAYS welcome. Also, I'd be curious to know this: if your child had an allergy that wasn't life or death, like this milk allergy, would you go to all this trouble? because let me admit that as I was reading labels at one point the thought crossed my mind that a perpetual runny nose wasn't really so bad...but then I felt guilty b/c we all deserve a chance to feel our best--even 1 year olds who can't tell us themselves!