Spring Break

Tanner and I have been enjoying our time together while on Spring Break. He has started saying "mama," but mostly when stressed or he needs something. "Dada" was officially his first word.

Tobin took us on a Sunday Drive last weekend and we ended up taking Tanner to see his first creek! He loved watching the running water. It was kinda bright, but he won't keep his sunglasses on, nor his hat. We can't wait until he is big enough to enjoy the outdoors like we do!

We are going to visit Grandpa Tucker and Frances today. My dad has open heart surgery next Wednesday. I am taking the day off despite it being the first day of MAP testing. My principal luckily agreed with me that dads outrank the state tests! My sister, Tricia, and her son are going with us, so it should be great family fun! Hopefully both boys sleep on the hour drive!

Tanner is crawling all over the place! He especially likes to pull up on anything nearby, even if that object isn't so stable. He will only stay in his pack n' play for about 10 minutes before he gets bored. Therefore, it is the jumper, the walker, or constant watch over Mr. On-the Go!!!

I am afraid he is going to be a climber too. He always tries to get to the top of the couch to pull on the blinds or pulls up to the window to look outside. He also loves to chase to dogs or cats in his walker! He giggles and giggles if he gets close to one of them.

He is still a good sleeper...goes to bed about 8:45 and gets up around 6am. Sometimes we will hear a whine here and there, but it stops in less than a minute. Thank God (and Cindy) for the video monitor! We did have to move it higher on the wall and completely move his electronic fish tank. Since he can pull up to a standing position in his crib, anything within reach is fair game.

Pregnancy is going well. I might be out of the nausea/vomiting stage. GEEZ. It was was worse this time than with Tanner. Still exhausted, but that is a variety of things and probably shouldn't be blamed solely on the pregnancy! Gotta go get ready for my day!

Whoa Nelly!

No, that wouldn't be a good name...but, what would be a good name for a...GIRL????? Yes, that's right, we are officially having a girl in August, assuming I can keep this baby inside that long. This news is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. Having a son and three nephews, I have absolutely no experience with baby girls. I also have nightmares about middle school girls and their behaviors, dress code, morals.....and some of those have been raised by very well-meaning morally sound people that appear to be doing all the right things! The whole idea scares me. But, nevertheless, that is what we are having.

I found this out at 15 weeks and 5 days. Quite early, huh? My regular OBGYN sent me to a high-risk perinatologist due to the pre-term labor with Tanner and my age. They primarily want to keep track of my cervix size so they have a baseline measurement and can keep track of any changes this time. This doctor does EVERYTHING via ultrasound practically. Her machinery is top-of-the-line and I didn't even have to drink any water. There was a flat screen straight across from me that showed me WAY more than any ultrasound I had with Tanner. I saw measurements of most bones, all three vessels in the cord, the bladder, stomach, both hemispheres of the brain, and all fingers and toes! Then, of course, when Tobin wasn't there, they showed me the obvious female parts which made my mouth fall ajar until the tech said. "Honey, are you OK?" I do very much wish he had been there, but we had no idea that we would find out the sex so early. Who knew her equipment would be so much better? I was very fun telling him when I got home though. I stopped off at Target and bought a little pink blanket and handed him the bag when I got home. His face was priceless!

The really cool thing about this visit was the level of counseling and one-on-one Q and A. She was able to access the medical records concerning the lab work that studied the placenta and cord blood from Tanner. No abnormalities or infections were noted which was wonderful news. That was something that I had not thought about, yet does affect this pregnancy. I was informed that I have to have not one, but two Glucola tests for gestational diabetes during this pregnancy. Apparently there is a big difference in the way your body processes or makes insulin at weeks 24 and 30. I am to have a bedtime snack every night because the baby cannot go for more than 8 hours without calories. No one mentioned that during the whole pregnancy with Tanner! She talked me into a cystic fibrosis blood test which will tell me if I am a carrier of that gene, but she was not successful in convincing me that the amniocentesis was crucial. She did inform me that there is a 30% chance of delivering early again.

Tanner and Tobin are doing well. Tanner is crawling now and pulling up on the furniture. He is eating pureed meat in combination with something else, all baby jar food so far. I still have my annoying post-nasal drip, but the high-risk doc prescribed Singulair which has been a big help with the cough. The daily nausea and loss of at least one meal has not let up whatsoever.

Oh yea...forgot about me...

Mom pointed out that I didn't refer to my current pregnancy at all, so here goes.

I am completely exhausted, but rarely get a chance to nap. This makes me quite irritable. I have only gained 2 lbs in 14 weeks because I throw up at least once everyday, sometimes more. Without giving any more details on that note, it isn't a shock to me at all that I'm not gaining. I am positive that I will more than make up for it in the next few months, so I am not worried. I am in the 2nd trimester, so this should be ended any time now!!!! I am still wearing my jeans from before I was pregnant the first time, but with the old rubber band trick or a belly band. I haven't noticed any cravings per say, just food in general and lots of it. I have an appointment with a specialist this week to check cervical measurements via ultrasound. This is all because I am high risk due to the pre-term labor last time (and my age) and we want to make sure this baby stays in as long as possible! Tobin and I have come up with some names, but nothing is set in stone yet. We are currently figuring out how in the world to best make room for baby#2 when we are already out of space as it is and our budget is stretched beyond thin!

Speaking of budgets, Tanner is about to make a change in his formula. We have always bought him the Enfamil A.R. 24 oz, but he is drinking enough to account for a can per week! That is $23 per can IF we have a coupon!! So, I did some checking around and decided to switch him to the Sam's Club version of GentleEase. It is $26 too, but you get 48 ounces! I don't think he needs the added rice anymore. We actually took him off of the Axid well over a month ago and haven't noticed any repercussions. Maybe he isn't an acid reflux baby anymore!!