tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51911398753053548182024-02-21T11:38:57.417-05:00Letting Our Light ShineMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-51210777230026771612014-10-10T08:23:00.001-04:002014-10-10T08:23:15.387-04:00Outside the Classroom<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So, I'm sitting here this morning, outside the speech teacher's room at the elementary school where Owen will go next year. I'm watching all the kids file in for the start of the school day and it's suddenly easy to imagine my beloved boy marching through these same halls in just a matter of months. But also, really difficult. Because I worry about him and how he will conform to all the rules of a "big kid" school. </span></div><div><br></div><div>Although he turned five this past summer (the age that the state of Georgia requires attendance in kindergarten, as I was repeatedly informed shortly after our move), his dad and I decided to stick with our plan of enrolling him in pre-k to give him the advantage of an extra year of growth and maturity. In order to do that, we had to find a private school (in our case, a preschool/day care facility) that would accept him in their pre-k program at the age of five. And despite my reservations, I've been pleased with the Georgia state-funded pre-k program and his teacher. It's a lot like the preschool setting he's familiar with, but it's five days a week, full days, and the curriculum seems to still challenge him.</div><div><br></div><div>So why am I sitting outside the speech teacher (or specialist?) office at the public elementary school? To be followed by an appointment with the "Instructional Support Teacher" (whatever that is) and later, the school psychologist?</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Because we're trying to get to the bottom of things. Of Owen's behavior problems. Of his emotional instability. Of his gross motor struggles. To name a few. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And as I type that out, it occurs to me that you might be thinking, "what five-year-old doesn't have difficulty with all of those things?" And that's certainly valid. But let's just say that I know - and have known for some time - that Owen's struggles go just a bit beyond the boundaries of what is normal for his age</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">After a turbulent summer, we have decided to pursue the assistance of occupational therapy to help address our concerns. We're starting there and will remain open to any/all suggestions, referrals, and outcomes. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The public schools offer free assistance with such matters, assuming he qualifies for the program (and a subsequent IEP), which is why we are here today. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">In addition to the individual assessments performed by the three persons mentioned above, his pre-k teacher and I have also filled out evaluation forms that asked us to describe Owen's behavior (on a scale of never/sometimes/often/always) with things like, "has a short attention span" (always), "disrupts the play of other children" (always), "seems to take setbacks in stride" (never), "is easily soothed when angry" (never), "seems unaware of others" (always), "has poor self-control" (always), "is easily distracted" (always), "annoys others on purpose" (always), etc. I could go on, but I just picked out a few that struck me (these were from his teacher's version) of the 100+ questions.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I also have an appointment with a private OT next week because, regardless of whether he tests into the school's assistance program, I still feel he can benefit from working with a professional. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I thought about posting some examples of specific behavior or situations that exemplify my concerns, but decided against it for now. And besides, most of my readers (if I still have any) know all about it and have likely even witnessed it themselves. (His explosive behavior leaves an impression on most who witness it.)</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">My prayer for Owen is that he would find peace within his own head, heart, and body. And that he would know that his mom and dad here on earth, and his Heavenly Father above, love him from the deepest parts of our hearts. And we always will. </font></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelfnb25om9Z4cFHwdJNIMtori2ik72bvVPlEuyHFbm0mV4cIV34HnW55doaIghGv-e6Ol2yZlHZ0EnRPux3e9QtdFey7taA4W8V0QvyZTTPd53UEGpROSspVywoo4QyU3fydKv_y4-0M/s640/blogger-image--1947289310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelfnb25om9Z4cFHwdJNIMtori2ik72bvVPlEuyHFbm0mV4cIV34HnW55doaIghGv-e6Ol2yZlHZ0EnRPux3e9QtdFey7taA4W8V0QvyZTTPd53UEGpROSspVywoo4QyU3fydKv_y4-0M/s640/blogger-image--1947289310.jpg"></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-15700749352566174342014-10-09T17:34:00.001-04:002014-10-09T17:34:45.218-04:00Who are those masked children?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ok, so keeping up with the blog again has proven to be more challenging than I thought. (Or maybe it's been exactly as I had thought, hence the two year hiatus.) Anyway, here's a couple cutie pics of the littles on this fine Thursday afternoon. They are wearing the masks I made for them at MOPS this morning. Fun times. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxCLnt8cM0exKnBeDeUl2bcoiv9d20d_QZTerNZth62eZK71P6nXlnGgIbNZ9bjzlIYtQcGBdjydgSebPSdtOM5f5fplclRdntTpr0LdKTU-9CzeXJAMWFGjj_6McraKcGG9Xli0t3Es/s640/blogger-image-69410978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxCLnt8cM0exKnBeDeUl2bcoiv9d20d_QZTerNZth62eZK71P6nXlnGgIbNZ9bjzlIYtQcGBdjydgSebPSdtOM5f5fplclRdntTpr0LdKTU-9CzeXJAMWFGjj_6McraKcGG9Xli0t3Es/s640/blogger-image-69410978.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNxD-2oHto724Eh7bY3BB3CyioE_PVog9FJFhw8BzjmBItg27MvR4xNio5mL2wlz9rluBhl4UrW31ClqLJarKQxe6zNZ6dhBzdAEIOMiWzxkxrd0UWOISL64mpogUUy5jjqa2n6ytegg/s640/blogger-image-801953039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNxD-2oHto724Eh7bY3BB3CyioE_PVog9FJFhw8BzjmBItg27MvR4xNio5mL2wlz9rluBhl4UrW31ClqLJarKQxe6zNZ6dhBzdAEIOMiWzxkxrd0UWOISL64mpogUUy5jjqa2n6ytegg/s640/blogger-image-801953039.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-19870380409393051242014-09-10T14:40:00.000-04:002014-09-10T14:40:06.799-04:00Life interruptedHello again, dear readers (if there are still any of you out there)!<br />
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I am here to announce that I plan to start blogging again. After Nora was born, life got (expectedly) hectic and I decided to give up on it (save for a couple of brief, photo-less posts), and eventually even took the blog down from public view. (I always kept it active, but only visible to me, in the hopes that I might get back to it someday.) Well, that someday appears to be now. I have been reading through the years' worth of posts the past couple of days and it was so much fun to go back and reflect on time gone by. It reminded me of how special it is to document the milestones and funny, memorable moments in my family's life. And how cathartic it is to just write again. It's been a couple of years since I've written anything substantial, but I'm feeling the pull to get back at it, so... here goes!<br />
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(And hopefully I can get photos to upload again. I was having issues with that...)<br />
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So, just to dive right in, we have moved. Again. We are currently living in Johns Creek, Georgia (near Atlanta) and have been in our new home for about six weeks. So far, I really like it here. There's a lot of things to do with the kids and the town we live in is pretty affluent, so public spaces are clean, schools are excellent, the people are friendly and educated, and life moves at the pace with which I feel comfortable. Things were beginning to feel a little stagnant for us in Muscatine and, although we loved many things about our life there (namely our friends, church, kids/moms groups, and proximity to family), we decided it was time for a change. So, here we are.<br />
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We bought a two-story house (which I've always wanted) and did so sight unseen (for me anyway). Ryan was here working out of a hotel since the beginning of June and, although I did come down for one house-hunting visit at the end of June, it wasn't until July that we found one we love. I got to "meet" the house for the first time only hours before we went to closing (a daunting task that really tested my faith in my husband!) and I am happy to say that I couldn't be more pleased with the house. It is lovely and we are having fun adding our own little personal touches. Hopefully I'll have more to share on that progress in the coming weeks.<br />
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Owen, who turned 5 in July, is doing very well in pre-K at a nearby preschool. There was a bit of a learning curve for me, adjusting to Georgia's school requirements (primarily their policy that if you're 5 by Sept. 1, you must go to Kindergarden), but we worked it all out and were able to "hold him back" a year, prolonging Kindergarden for another year. We struggle with lots of personality/behavior issues with Owen (these have been ongoing for the past few years), but he is certainly starting to mature and - although he's still quite hyper and LOUD most of the time - we enjoy more and more moments of intelligent conversation with our bright, and quite funny, little man.<br />
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Nora is 2 and is just as cute as can be. I am so sad that I haven't recorded all the milestones of her first couple years the way I did for Owen, but I suppose that's often how it goes for second (and subsequent) children. She is always smiling, plays quite well on her own (usually with baby dolls and princess costumes), and loves her big brother. Her vocabulary is superb, just like her brother, and we always get lots of "oohs," and "ahhs" whenever we go out because, I must say, she is absolutely adorable!<br />
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That's about all the time I have for now. Just wanted to get some of the basics out of the way. I hope to be back soon with lots more good stuff to share, here in Peterson land (coming to you now from hot and steamy Georgia.) Stay tuned...Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-6320674640538046812013-01-11T21:37:00.003-05:002013-01-11T21:38:02.024-05:008 months oldTime for another "dump post" of random milestones in Nora's development. She is currently 8 months old and sometime between my last post (at 7 months old) and now, the following things have happened:<br />
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She crawls! This momentous event actually started shortly (as in just days) after my last post, and has evolved from a "stretch for an object until she eventually reaches it," to a belly wriggle, to a combination army crawl / regular crawl. (And it's still evolving every day.) But one thing's for sure...this girl is on the move! She definitely gets where she wants to go, and relatively quickly! Just today I had to make a quick dash to pick her up before she made it right up to the top of the basement staircase. Time to invest in a good baby gate (the one we have is terrible for everyday use) and make sure the house is up to par on baby-proofing. She definitely keeps me on my toes!<br />
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She can also push herself back up to a sitting position now, so really, other than pulling herself up to standing (which I'm sure will be part of my next post!), she moves every which way she pleases.<br />
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Nora has already voluntarily given up her pacifier, just about a month or so earlier than her brother did as a baby. Neither one of them was ever a big user of it anyway, except at nap and bedtime. Both of them just started to reject it when I would offer it, so I decided not to push it. If she doesn't need it, why force it on her? She is not, however, the rock star sleeper that her brother was (and still is). While she <i>is</i> sleeping through the night (and thank God for that!), she often ends up crying herself to sleep (if she doesn't fall asleep while nursing) rather than lying quietly and contentedly in her crib like her brother did. And if she does wake in the night (or at nap time), it can be tricky to get her back to sleep. There's this odd balance of waiting to see if her crying will subside on its own, versus going in there and sometimes picking her up, other times just stroking her back and soothing her, and other times nursing her, that I'm still trying to figure out. On the nights when she does wake (which I'd say is about 50% of the time), I just dread it because I have no idea what is going to work! It's really just trial and error, I'm afraid.<br />
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She's been babbling for quite some time now and I'm not sure when we first heard her say that same first word that Owen said, "dada," but it was a while back. Anyway, it seems like it was a long time before Owen assigned meaning to that term, but I'm fairly certain that Nora actually knows who Dada is now. She starts saying it whenever Ryan walks into the room and even when she hears the garage door open when he comes home at lunch time. So cute!<br />
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Another greeting she learned recently was the wave. I don't recall trying to teach her this, so she must have just picked it up on her own, but she'll give me this cute little wrist roll when she sees me from across the room and I just die. Love it!<br />
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Nora LOVES her big brother. LOVES him! (And he loves her, too!) I could never have imagined how much they would adore each other at this stage. Both of them simply light up with joy at the sight of one another. And, while there is the occasional incident when I need to intervene, they actually play together pretty well. The other day, I witnessed her tackle him (in a sweet way) and climb all over him. And to Owen's credit, he is super sweet and patient with her when she does that kind of thing. He totally tolerates her pulling his hair and seems to understand that she is doing it as an act of affection, not violence. I just melt whenever they put their little faces right up next to one another (they both initiate this!) as if they are trying to hug and kiss one another. Heart melting!!!<br />
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And while I'm at it, here are a couple things going on in Owen's life these days...<br />
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He seems to be doing well in preschool and his teacher appears to really enjoy him (which is fortunate!) He also started his very first gymnastics class today at the Y. It went ok — he has A LOT to learn, not the least of which is to pay attention to his teachers! — but I think it will be good for him. He tried peeing while standing for the first time today. (Sorry if that's TMI. This is my life, folks.) Although he led me to believe that this is the way he does it at school, so perhaps he learned that one (by watching the other boys?) on his own.<br />
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And something interesting I finally tried this week (I've been meaning to do it for some time) is to organize all his toys into a "toy rotation" plan, where I only leave out some of his toys to play with until he grows tired of those and then I pack those up and bring out some other ones. The idea is to 1.) contain the clutter, 2.) eliminate toy burn-out (getting tired of the same old toys), 3.) create a sense of fun and excitement when the old toys come back out (like getting new toys!), and 4.) create space and opportunity for him to fully enjoy the toys he already has. I used <a href="http://thelittlestories.com/how-to-rotate-toys/" target="_blank">this link</a> to help get me started, but then I kind of just winged it (<i>is that the correct past tense of that phrase? Or is it, "wung it?" LOL!</i>) to make it work for us. We'll see how it goes, but so far, I have to say that he <i>does</i> seem to be getting much better use out of the few toys I left out. And I do mean "few." I was a bit apprehensive at first because, despite what Ryan always says, he really doesn't have <i>that</i> many toys, so I was afraid that only having out a dozen or so playthings at a time would be boring for him. But we've gone downstairs (where I have officially moved <u>all</u> of his toys) every day since doing this and he has played with almost everything that's out — some of it stuff that he hasn't touched in months! It will probably also be a good way to weed out some of the things that he really never plays with (Goodwill, here we come). And other than a minor meltdown when he saw me packing the other 2/3 of his stuff away in Rubbermaid containers (I had planned to do this during naptime, but it wasn't long enough that particular day), he hasn't missed his other toys at all. He's not asked about a single thing that's packed away yet. It's only been about three days now, and I don't know yet how often I will switch things around, but I think we'll just play it by ear and see how he does with what he's got and go from there.<br />
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That's it for now. Still haven't looked into the maxed out photo storage issue yet, so I'm sorry to report there will be no photos again this time (which is really too bad because I've got some good ones!) One of these days maybe I'll figure it out.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-19771322803068117102012-12-07T11:17:00.000-05:002012-12-07T11:17:33.264-05:00An apology to my daughterIt's no secret that I've been terrible at keeping this blog updated since Nora was born. But sadly, I also have been remiss in my documentation of her milestones elsewhere. She doesn't even <i>have</i> a baby book. And I am pretty sure that some day, she's going to be disappointed in that fact. So, this post isn't much, but I wanted to at least take just a moment to document a few quick things that she's done recently. And apologize. I'm so sorry, baby girl. You are SO loved! But I have been spending much more time enjoying you (and your brother) than writing about it.<br />
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At six months (sorry I don't have specific dates, sweetie), Nora was able to sit up on her own. This has been a huge relief to me because it means that when I set her down (although she still much prefers to be held!) I don't have to lay her on her back. Now she can sit up and play with toys within her reach. She is also starting to reach out beyond her immediate area and grasp for toys just beyond her reach. This sometimes results in her toppling over, but it also makes me believe that she's not far from learning how to crawl. (Although, as I recall, I thought the same thing about her brother and he ended up being a late crawler, so who really knows.)<br />
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She also started officially sleeping through the night (as in, no longer getting up one or more times before 6 a.m.) at around six months. Not to invest too much time in comparisons with her brother, but Owen was a rock star sleeper and had this down muuuuch sooner. But she's so sweet, I just love her anyway!<br />
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She's been spending much less time breast-feeding and has an increasingly growing appetite for other foods. I've made and fed her all kinds of fruits and vegetables and, with the exception of bananas and avocados (which I intend to keep trying), she likes just about everything.<br />
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And just yesterday (at 7 months old), I discovered her first tooth poking through. Just like her big brother (and right about the same time), it's just a sharp, jagged little thing on the bottom gum. You can't even really see it, but I can feel it. (I'm getting a little nervous about breast feeding someone with teeth, but I'm sure it will be fine...right?) I wouldn't be surprised if some other teeth aren't far behind this first little guy because she's ALWAYS got her hands in her mouth and you can just tell she needs to gnaw on something, like, all.the.time.<br />
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Ok, that's all I can think of for right now. I'll try to dump this kind of info on here every so often as new stuff happens, but don't hold your breath for regular updates, y'all. I'll do my best, but.....<br />
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I was planning to put a few photos on here, too, but apparently I've run out of storage space for images, so I will need to look into that before I can post anymore photos. Bummer. Who has time for that???Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-66046861300328602602012-09-17T15:53:00.000-04:002012-09-17T15:54:10.610-04:00Back in time...Last night was our first official photo shoot as a family of four. Our photographer, of course, was our beloved <a href="http://jackiepetersenphoto.com/" target="_blank">Jackie Petersen</a>. I can't wait to see how they turned out!<br />
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In the meantime, however, it occurred to me that I never posted any of the pics she took of us from our last shoot as a family of three. So, let's all take a step back in time and enjoy the following from a few months ago...<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-85213689187657455372012-09-15T17:00:00.001-04:002012-09-15T17:00:31.743-04:00Farewell Fond FriendI have postponed sharing this news for the past week because I think I've been in denial. I keep thinking that he can't <i>really</i> be gone. But...it's time I face the facts. We have lost a dearly loved member of the family.<br />
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<b>Mr. Lion.</b><br />
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(You may recall hearing about him in <a href="http://lettingourlightshine.blogspot.com/2011/08/little-leaky-lion.html" target="_blank">this</a> previous post.)<br />
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I'm saddened to report that Owen's most loved stuffed pal, Mr. Lion was inadvertently left at the park last week (at least, that's what I <i>think</i> happened to him). I remember Owen asking if he could bring him with us and I told him he could, but that he had to stay in the car. (That was pretty commonplace, actually.) And I am certain that our friend did not come with us (knowingly) into the park. But sadly, he never made it home. So, my guess is that he must have fallen out of the car as we were getting in or out of it, and none of us noticed.<br />
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I called Ryan immediately once I realized he was gone and he did a quick drive-by of the parking lot to search for him. And I also drove back there that afternoon (after the kids had napped), but alas, he was nowhere to be found. I even called the parks department after a few days to see if anyone had turned him in, but that was a dead end, too.<br />
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I'm pretty sure that I am far more upset about this loss than Owen is. We have misplaced Mr. Lion quite a bit in the past, so O's been pretty understanding about going to bed without him on occasion. And now that he's gone for good (gah!), he's really only asked about him once or twice and has seemed perfectly fine with our answer: "We lost him at the park, buddy. He's gone." (Sniff, sniff...)<br />
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As it turns out, Owen has two other stuffed lions that seem to have replaced (in my opinion, the <i>irreplaceable</i>!) Mr. Lion as his favorites. So, maybe it was time for Mr. Lion to fade out of first place anyway.<br />
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But when <i>I</i> lie in bed at night and think about the fact that we'll never open up a box of Owen's special memories and pull out raggedy old Mr. Lion someday...well, it just makes my heart ache. I'm serious, y'all. I may or may not have actually shed a tear over this.<br />
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I really am still in denial. I keep hoping that we will miraculously find him stuffed inside some random box somewhere (also commonplace) and will all laugh at how we thought he was gone forever, but here he is...back with us once again! Oh, how I hope that happens... <br />
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In the meantime, let's all take a moment now to remember the good times (in reverse order) that we shared with our dearly departed pal, Mr. Lion.<br />
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R.I.P. Mr. Lion (2010-1012). You will be missed.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-63489521508804322092012-09-08T15:07:00.000-04:002012-09-08T15:07:28.366-04:00Jesus is importantIt simply warmed my heart this morning when I walked into Owen's room where he had been playing independently (halleluiah!) for several minutes as I cleaned up the breakfast mess. I asked him what he was doing (it sounded like maybe he was "reading" one of his books). He told me that he was talking to his stuffed animals about Jesus. Wow! I wished I had my camera to record this moment in time, but instead I decided to sit down and find out more. I asked him what he was telling them about Jesus. He said that "Jesus is important." And then he went on to define "important" for me as, "...going on an airplane." After a bit more probing, I discovered that Jesus is <i>important</i> and that He travels by airplane to "airports and baseball games." Oh, that Jesus! He's such a jet-setter!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-24791" height="312" src="http://weburbanist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/forced-perspective-jesus-and-the-plane.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="forced-perspective-jesus-and-the-plane" width="468" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Photo via <a href="http://weburbanist.com/2010/10/25/fauxtoshop-15-phenomenal-forced-perspective-photos/" target="_blank">weburbanist.com</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-52195595244682951792012-09-07T15:43:00.000-04:002012-09-07T15:43:27.669-04:00Different as night and dayBefore I had children, it never really occurred to me that the personalities of my kids might be vastly different than my own personality. Our personalities might actually clash, even. The truth is, I never thought about my future children's personalities at all. But if I had, I probably would have concluded that they would be similar to my own, or at the very least, their father's.<br />
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Only recently have I begun to think that perhaps some of my current struggles with Owen are due to just how different he and I are. Of course, there's the obvious — he's a boy, I'm a girl. He's three, I'm thirty...<i>something</i>. But there's more.<br />
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I'm pretty sure that as a child, I did not play the way that Owen plays. Again, I have to take into account that he's a boy, so his preferred toys are things like cars and action figures, whereas mine were baby dolls and Barbies. I liked to cradle those babies, and comb their hair, and dress them up, and (perhaps this is a little TMI) pretend to breast-feed them like I saw my mom and aunts doing with their babies. Owen, on the other hand, loves to crash everything (and I mean <i>everything</i>) into the couch, the walls, other toys, the legs of adults standing nearby, etc. And he's SO LOUD! And, something I find particularly disgusting, he spits a lot, on account of all of his crashing and bashing sound effects.<br />
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Ok, so you say he's a boy, that's how boys play. You're probably right. But some boys are also into quietly sitting still to read books, or color and draw, or even watch an age-appropriate movie or television show. I know I liked to do all of those things as a kid. Not Owen. Well, to be honest, he <i>will</i> sit for a few select shows (the 20-minute Disney variety, that is) and, depending on his mood (and how many times he's already seen it), some movies, too. But he is not one who enjoys coloring or art projects, much to my great disappointment. I used to LOVE to color as a kid and was really hoping to share in that activity with my son. I recently moved his little table and chairs out from his bedroom into the living room and put some crayons and coloring books out for him to access whenever he wants. (This was a big leap of faith and I'm still waiting for the day that I find the walls covered in scribbles!) But I was hoping that having easy access to those materials might inspire him to make use of them more often. Instead, he just likes to walk around the house with the bucket filled with crayons and dump them out from time to time.<br />
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And speaking of destruction, this child has a nasty way of breaking just about all of his toys in some fashion or another. I distinctly remember being a very careful child. I hate when things break. I take great pride in keeping my possessions neat and tidy. I can recall my mom saying that she didn't have to replace my shoes, for example, nearly as often as my siblings' because I just wasn't hard on stuff. Even to this day, I'm hesitant to lend anything out to anybody because I worry that they won't take as good of care of it as I would. So that's all probably a sign, sadly, that I'm more materialistic than others, which I guess isn't something to boast about.<br />
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But Owen on the other hand, is just so rough with things. Here are two examples just from this morning of things that he's destroyed.<br />
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Poor, decapitated Jessie. All the other toys are cowering in fear, I'm sure.<br />
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Remnants of a small notebook I had given him to draw in. (See, I told you he's not much of an artist!) This was done while I showered today.<br />
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And here's one that I happened to photograph last week that's just gross.<br />
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Yes, those are raw chicken trimmings that Owen pulled out of the kitchen garbage (among other trash) trying to find a toy that I told him his dad had thrown away (because it, too, was broken). <br />
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I think I might start to photograph all of the broken items he brings me just to document how destructive he is. Perhaps we'll all look back on it someday and laugh. Perhaps.<br />
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I love my son dearly. (I hope that is evident on this blog.) All of the above is in no way meant to rag on him and I am certainly not seeking advice or calling out for pity here. And it should be noted that there are <i>LOTS</i> of positive ways in which he and I differ. (He wakes up in the morning beaming with enthusiasm, whereas I am grouchy until I get a shower or, these days, at least a cup of coffee.) I just wanted to take a moment to share the realization that I had recently about why he and I have been butting heads so much. I truly think it's because our personalities are so different. But I think I'll keep him anyway!<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-51726259881208837622012-08-30T23:09:00.000-04:002012-08-30T23:09:44.359-04:00Preschool PrayersI recently made a list of the "things I wish I had time to do" since I feel like I just don't have enough hours in the day to do it all. The list looks something like this:<br />
<ul>
<li>Exercise (and lose this baby weight)</li>
<li>Blog — capture, in writing, all the thoughts that flood my head every day (maybe I should journal?)</li>
<li>Read — stacks of books and magazines I hope to get to <i>someday</i></li>
<li>Study the Bible / daily devotion time</li>
<li>Spend quality time with Ryan — date nights?</li>
<li>Small household projects — kitchen valance, growth chart (more on that later!), organize closets, basement, etc.</li>
</ul>
There's more, but you get the idea. So, all this is to say that I appreciate those who still check in on my little blog here from time to time. I realize that since I post so sporadically, it's likely that most of my followers (do I have any of those?) have given up on me, but I assure you, I think about stuff I want to share on here ALLTHETIME! Unfortunately, sitting down to do so doesn't happen nearly as often.<br />
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SOOOOO, I have a ton of things I want to talk about, but think that I will focus this post on what is currently banging around in my head (and heart) — Owen's first experience with preschool this week.<br />
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All summer long, I've fretted mostly about how Owen will manage to use the toilets at school without any assistance (he still struggles to pull his pants back up after the job is done). And I also thought a little about how he doesn't like to sit still or pay attention to most things for very long, but that is one of the major reasons why I decided to enroll him in the 3-year-old program — in hopes that he will get better about that. Mostly, though, I was just excited about getting a few hours twice a week to myself! And that's pretty much where my concerns ended, until three days ago. <br />
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We attended the open house at Owen's school, held the evening before his first day, this past Monday. The idea was just to introduce the kids to their classroom and (I thought) their teacher, too. The school we chose just hired a new 3-year-old preschool teacher only a couple weeks ago, so she is new. (New to this school, but not new to teaching preschool.) I will not use this platform to spread negativity about any individual, but let's just say, I was completely underwhelmed by our first meeting with her.<br />
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That night, I sat down with the paperwork that was sent home with us and tried to fill out the "getting to know you" form that asked questions such as, "what are your child's strengths/weaknesses?" and "what do you hope your child will learn this year academically/socially?" I had a tough time filling out that form. As I read through it initially, my head flooded with examples of Owen's weaknesses. But when I put pen to paper, I stopped to really think about how I wanted to answer that question. It was important to me that I listed just as many strengths as weaknesses. I didn't want my negativity to show through on this form and end up influencing his teacher's opinion of him right off the bat. So I enlisted Ryan's help. In the end, I shared that Owen has tremendous language skills, he learns new concepts quickly, asks great questions, plays well with others (<i>keep this one in mind for later</i>), is sweet and very funny, and loves music. However, I also explained that he struggles with focus, can be quite wild at times, tends to be a "copycat" of other kids, and is often difficult to discipline. That all seemed accurate and fair. And the night only ended in a few tears. (I'm telling you, that form was extremely hard for me to complete! Why in the world did they give that to us the <i>night</i> before his first day???)<br />
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So, Tuesday morning, I dropped Owen off with excitement and optimism. He seemed in good spirits and he smiled for all my pictures, so things were going well, I thought.<br />
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I thoroughly enjoyed my time at home while Nora napped and I baked banana bread and read from my book (one of my checklist items above! Woo hoo!) And I prayed for him while he was away. I prayed that he would be good and that God would guard his little heart (from fear, from embarrassment, from getting hurt).<br />
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When I picked him up, I casually asked his teacher how he did, not really having given any thought at all to what her answer would be. In hindsight, I think I just assumed I would get the same report I usually get when I pick him up from Sunday school or other nursery programs like MOPS — "he did fine." Instead, I heard something like this: "Well, he had some struggles today." <i>Oh, like what?</i> "Well, there was some hitting." <i>As in, </i>he<i> was hitting?</i> "Yes." <i>Oh.</i> "But it's just the first day." <i>Yes, I suppose so. Was there more than that?</i> "Well, yes. He didn't really do very well following directions either." <i>Ok.</i> And in the chaos of all the other parents waiting to sign out their own kids, that was pretty much the abrupt end of our conversation. I felt like an inflated balloon that had been pricked by a pin and all the air rushed out at once until I was a wrinkled, broken mess on the floor. That's how I <i>felt</i>. The huddled mess on the floor didn't actually come until later that day.<br />
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The more I thought about what happened, the more upset I got. I certainly don't deny that any of what the teacher said was true. (I'm well aware of my son's poor behavioral tendencies.) I think I let myself get hung up, instead, on his teacher's defeated tone of voice and unhappy facial expressions as she shared her report — which, incidentally, didn't include one single positive thing about Owen's three hours with her. I started to question whether this teacher was a good fit for Owen. Should I enroll him instead in the other preschool that I had my eye on last spring? Would they have teachers that were more enthusiastic and optimistic about kids with poor behavior on the first day?<br />
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I still actually don't know the answer to that. I'm considering the other school. But I wanted to give him (and his teacher) another try. So, today was day two of Owen's school career. Unfortunately, when I dropped him off, I discovered that his teacher was out today due to a family illness and he had a substitute. So, I wasn't able to reassess the attitude of his teacher or talk to her anymore about what happened on Tuesday. That was disappointing.<br />
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When I picked him up today and asked again how he did, the teacher's aid said, "he did better today." She also went on to say, though, that he scratched a little girl on the playground because she was headed up the ladder and he wanted to go up ahead of her. Ok, so <i>that's</i> better? He <i>only</i> scratched someone today? And that's better? Just how bad was he the other day??? A friend of mine was there to pick up her son right after me and I overheard the aid report, "he did great!" about little C. And my heart shriveled up. Right there, I felt immense jealousy that my friend's son has received two good reports and Owen has received two bad ones. In fact, all the other reports I overheard were positive. Is my kid the only troublemaker in class? How did all these other parents do such a great job prepping their 3-year-olds for the classroom and how (oh, HOW!) did I fail so miserably?<br />
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More questions flood my head today. Is Owen not ready for school yet? Does he need another year at home to mature? But would keeping him home help him with his socialization issues or would being in a classroom with other kids help him more? Should we try this other school? Is that really going to be any better? Can I honestly blame my concerns on the teacher's less-than-enthusiastic attitude? Isn't it really that I'm worried Owen is the only one in the class that causes his teachers (and classmates) headaches? And that they'll label him the "problem child?" And truly — if I'm really honest with myself — aren't I actually worried that either, A.) I am doing a horrible job parenting (and disciplining) this child, or B.) there might be something wrong with him? High functioning autism? ADHD?<br />
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<b>Worry. Fear. Anxiety. What does God say about these things? This...<i>this</i>, is what he says: </b><br />
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"<i>When anxiety was great within me, your consultation brought joy to my soul.</i>" (Psalm 94:19)<br />
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"<i>Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.</i>" (1 Peter 5:7)<br />
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"<i>He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.</i>" (Psalm 112:7)<br />
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"<i>Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.</i>" (Philippians 4:6)<br />
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"<i>When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.</i>" (Psalm 56:3-4)<br />
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"<i>I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.</i>" (Psalm 34:4)<br />
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<b>And one of my personal favorite verses:</b> "<i>Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.</i>" (Psalm 25:4-5)<br />
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So I'm praying now. I'm praying hard for the Lord to reveal to me some answers. Praying that he will continue to hold Owen in his loving care and help me decipher the right paths for him here on earth. Praying for wisdom to know how to parent and discipline this child and for the strength and real faith to place my full trust in Him.<br />
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I don't know yet what the future holds for Owen or where (or IF!) he will be attending school next week. But I'm confident that God will reveal the right choices in time, so long as I seek Him.<br />
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<b>Show me your ways, O Lord, <i>teach me your paths</i>; guide me in your truth and <i>teach me</i>, for you are God my Savior, and <i>my hope is in you</i> all day long.</b>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-38876252895125735382012-07-19T13:56:00.004-04:002012-07-19T13:57:18.658-04:00July musingsIt's high time for an update on life here...in a very random (and photo-laden) manner.<br />
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We celebrated Owen's 3rd birthday this month with a small family gathering and a Toy Story-themed party. Here's the invitation I designed. (I'm pretty proud of this one, particularly the "Owen is 3" logo I created from scratch!)<br />
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Lots of pictures, courtesy of Aunt Jackie (at <a href="http://jackiepetersenphoto.com/" target="_blank">Jackie Petersen Photography</a>).<br />
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I scattered all of O's Toy Story figurines around for decorations and created a couple of banners using a fun font and images I found online. I even attempted a party game (pin-the-parts-on-Mr. Potato-Head), although the birthday boy only played with it for about two minutes and then it just laid in a crumpled pile on the floor for the remainder of the party. And, oh yeah, I drew all those parts free-hand, 'cuz I'm awesome like that! (Ha!)<br />
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As you can see, the Batman costume was a big hit! <br />
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My alien cupcakes managed to melt in the July humidity (even in my air-conditioned house) so they looked much better the day before the party than they did that day. But they still tasted pretty alien-y and Owen didn't seem to mind at all.<br />
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We had fun posing for silly family photos with mustaches. Well, Ryan and
I did, anyway. Owen was kind of cranky about it and Nora just seemed
indifferent.<br />
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Oh, and here's a little interview with the lad (idea via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/146367056610136495/" target="_blank">pinterest</a>) that I hope to do with him every year just to see how his answers change. Some of them this year were pretty funny. (Like, this one — What makes you happy? "Green things." Um, ok.)<br />
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Now that he's three, I thought I would try to officially assign Owen a few simple household chores. He has started to express interest in putting coins in his piggy bank and is beginning to grasp the concept that you need money to buy things (like toys), so I thought I'd seize the opportunity to start teaching him the value of money. I also plan to set up three jars — give, save, spend — to instill in him the importance of those concepts as well. Anyway, here's the VERY basic chore chart (idea via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/146367056610256256/" target="_blank">pinterest</a>) that I created for him. (In all honesty, I would have loved to have gone all cutesy/crafty with the chart, but this is about all I can manage at this stage of life.)<br />
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His chores currently include making his bed, feeding the dog, taking the recycling out to the garage, and an opportunity for a bonus chore (at Mom & Dad's discretion), but over time this list will obviously evolve. He understands that he gets a "check mark" whenever he completes one of his chores, but we haven't actually paid him yet (I thought I'd do that once a week — maybe a nickel per check mark?), so the poor boy doesn't truly know the value of a check mark yet. But he sure does get excited about getting one anyway. "Pleeease, can I have a check mark???"<br />
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He tried to complete one of his chores (feeding the dog) all by himself the other day. This was the result. (Smile!) At least Kinnick won't be going hungry!<br />
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I'm also working on a list of Family Rules that can be posted where Owen can see them (not that he can read yet!) and where I can point to them to remind him when he breaks one. So far, the list includes:<br />
<ol>
<li>Listen and obey</li>
<li>Be polite and respectful</li>
<li>No unapproved words</li>
<li>Say "please," "thank you," "you're welcome," and "excuse me"</li>
<li>Be honest</li>
<li>Say your prayers</li>
<li>Pick up your messes</li>
<li>Wash hands after going potty and whenever you're asked</li>
<li>No whining or complaining</li>
<li>No throwing toys</li>
<li>No hitting, kicking, biting, or spitting</li>
<li>Ask for help when you need it</li>
<li>No quitting — keep trying! </li>
</ol>
I went through the rules with him once and he seemed to understand...I guess. As much as a 3-year-old can understand these things. But I figure, you've gotta start sometime, right?<br />
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Both kids had check-ups at the doctor last week (Nora's 2-month and Owen's 3-year). Their stats are:<br />
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Nora — 11 pounds, 7 ounces (60th percentile); 22.5 inches (70th percentile)<br />
Owen — 34.5 pounds (80th percentile), 39.25 inches (or 3 ft., 3.25 in., and 85th percentile)<br />
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Nora is still sleeping in the bassinet next to our bed (we moved Owen to his own crib after just a few weeks) mainly because it's more convenient for me when she wakes in the night, but also because I'm worried that she's more likely to wake Owen from her room which is right next door to his. She still gets up once during the night, but that's usually sometime between 6-8 hours after the last time I feed her for the night, so I'm good with that.<br />
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She's a very happy baby, smiling all the time. And she's usually very content most of the time. I haven't pushed too hard to establish a formal routine with her yet, but on a good day, things go generally like this: She eats every 3 hours during the day (though I'd like to see that increased to every 4 hours) and then goes to sleep about two hours after that. She does seem to need help getting herself to sleep (rocking, etc.) instead of settling herself to sleep on her own, but we're working on that. And her nap times vary from about 30-90 minutes, depending on the circumstances. At home in her bed, it's usually the former; out and about in the car or stroller, the latter.<br />
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I recently thought for the first time since moving into this ranch-style home two years ago that I wished we lived in a two-story house so that I can better separate her from the household noise (i.e., her VERY loud brother) when she's napping. As it is now, she is currently napping in her bassinet in my bathroom with the exhaust fan running and the door closed. Hey, it's working.<br />
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She seems to be hitting her milestones much sooner than Owen did. For instance, she was smiling by 3 weeks old (if not sooner) and has already rolled over in both directions. She's gone from tummy to back several times starting at 7 weeks old (actually earlier than that, but I forgot to write it down so we'll go with that). And just last Friday (at 10 weeks), she rolled from back to tummy! She has also been batting at and even pulling toys into her mouth for several weeks now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwlRW2uGxLliZVapMYIjWlQ7FZpGVH8X2IYnYRITAQ3NIgdi4RPSiiKtzW35r0JeTJAWnYpWupbr7AOq9wkjXLTZgtwLOaRWVlIjofLVKQLvVpqD1JLB-ZAmeUag23EbJzuVJdPCm0GY/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwlRW2uGxLliZVapMYIjWlQ7FZpGVH8X2IYnYRITAQ3NIgdi4RPSiiKtzW35r0JeTJAWnYpWupbr7AOq9wkjXLTZgtwLOaRWVlIjofLVKQLvVpqD1JLB-ZAmeUag23EbJzuVJdPCm0GY/s640/IMG_0954.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Owen truly loves his baby sister and is very sweet with her (most of the time). He insists on "petting" her (i.e., stroking her hair) constantly. And whenever he talks to her, he uses this cute, high-pitched voice to say things like, "Hello baby gurrl," "Ohhh, she's so cute!," "What's wrong baby sister?," and "You laughin' or cryin'?" I think he's really looking forward to when she's old enough to actually play with him. He wants a buddy!<br />
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Here's another random photo dump. Sorry for the immensity of them — this is what happens when I don't post anything for an entire month! (Although, if you follow me on Instagram and Facebook, you've probably seen most of the following.)<br />
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This is what productivity looks like in my house.<br />
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Banana popsicles!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDb-u3dNu02L3rozSCEf4X7Jjyh5NSG-SYl45zWHQmbuB26q1-ekGD6OwMNuDGw6m2XpDp6DKAwhFWVzp6B2uwmj9BF_OpNncZhccoHoVRqch7metXBIFDIvVUUv6-4IpD-CWu0UZd2A/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDb-u3dNu02L3rozSCEf4X7Jjyh5NSG-SYl45zWHQmbuB26q1-ekGD6OwMNuDGw6m2XpDp6DKAwhFWVzp6B2uwmj9BF_OpNncZhccoHoVRqch7metXBIFDIvVUUv6-4IpD-CWu0UZd2A/s640/IMG_0616.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Art in the backyard. <br />
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Nora at 1 month — June 2, 2012. <br />
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Tummy time + a running vacuum = napping in the wrong position. But she looks too comfy cozy to flip over.<br />
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Zoo day! <br />
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Big brother, baby sister. <br />
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Art in the backyard, day 2. Sidewalk chalk paint. <br />
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Picnic in the park. <br />
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Finger painting (literally).<br />
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Forgot to bring swim trunks to Grandma and Papa's house, but it's ok...we worked it out.<br />
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Happy Father's Day, Papa!<br />
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Summatime! <br />
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Friday night at the pool. We're all smiles! <br />
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Someone found her thumb! <br />
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Feeding the animals some "delicious, brown beans" (aka. "Don't Spill the Beans").<br />
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Nora at 2 months — July 2, 2012. <br />
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Hot, hot day at the 4th of July parade with cousin Brody. <br />
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Snuggling with this sweet bundle of love makes Monday morning a little easier to bear. <br />
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I love that all kids, regardless of generation, understand the joy of flipping over and playing with an upside-down Big Wheel. <br />
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My little super hero. <br />
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Love these people!!! <br />
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Good times in the crib. <br />
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Those lashes! <br />
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More pool-time fun! <br />
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Staying cool in the shade. <br />
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Lazy Saturday morning cuddles. <br />
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Baby socks!<br />
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Since I rarely get to finish an entire cup of coffee while it's still hot, I have been enjoying <a href="http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/08/04/diy-light-frappuccino-recipe/" target="_blank">these</a> delicious mock-Frappacinos lately (found on Pinterest). I highly recommend. Yummmmm! (I told you this update was going to be random!)<br />
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We are looking into buying a mini-van. Actually, it's a sure thing that we're getting one...it's just a matter of finding a good deal at this point. I was against the idea initially, but now that I've experienced getting around town with two kids in a Toyota Camry for a couple months, I'm fully on board the mini-van train. I can't wait!!!<br />
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I guess that's about it from clan Peterson for now. Here's hoping I get the next update out much sooner next time...but let's face it. It will probably be another month or so. Sigh. This should tide you over in the meantime, though. Petersons...out!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-89640602880523806862012-06-17T15:00:00.000-04:002012-06-17T15:00:01.820-04:00We love you to pieces!I'd like to share a simple little craft I did for each of the dads in my life (and my kids' lives) — my husband, my dad, and my father-in-law.<br />
Here are the materials I used:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Three 1-quart "cracker" jars from Walmart (I think they were about $4 a piece, but you could probably find something similar at the dollar store)</li>
<li>Reese's Pieces candies (I ended up needing about twice as much as what you see pictured here to fill all three jars)</li>
<li>Brown ribbon</li>
<li>Scotch tape</li>
<li>This awesome free <a href="http://www.nothingbutcountry.com/2011/05/fathers-day-love-you-to-pieces/" target="_blank">printable</a>, found on Pinterest (which is where this idea came from, of course!)</li>
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And here's the finished product:<br />
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The process is pretty self-explanatory. I just dumped the candy into each jar, stuck some brown ribbon around the outside (using simple Scotch tape), and then taped on the little tags that I printed and cut out. And voila!<br />
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One for Daddy (Ryan)...<br />
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One for Grandpa (Ryan's dad)...<br />
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And one for Papa (my dad)...<br />
(There wasn't a "papa" option on the free printable sheet, so I just went with this generic one for him.)<br />
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All three of these men have a bit of a sweet tooth, so I think they are going to love them! Happy Father's Day, everyone!<br />
<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-64162956483971067972012-06-01T15:42:00.002-04:002012-06-01T15:42:25.889-04:00Nora's Newborn PortraitsJust a quick photo dump today...<br />
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Here are a few of my faves from a recent photo shoot with our little lady, Nora, courtesy of <a href="http://jackiepetersenphoto.com/" target="_blank">Jackie Petersen Photography</a> (of course!) These were taken a few weeks ago when she was about 10 days old (or thereabouts). Can you believe she'll be 1 month tomorrow??? <br />
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My little peanut! Love her to pieces!!!<br />
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P.S. In unrelated news, I came down with a nasty case of mastitis (again) over Memorial Day weekend. I had it with Owen, too, though with him it was earlier on and much worse. (And was part of the ultimate demise of my breast-feeding days with him.) Anyway, I'm half-way through my course of antibiotics and things seem to be on the upswing again. Nora's a great nurser!<br />
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And it's June today!!! My favorite month! Yay!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-60790865470408085082012-05-24T15:25:00.000-04:002012-05-24T15:25:35.291-04:00To all my mom (and mom-to-be) readersAt 3 weeks in, I'm glad to say that the "baby blues" seem to have missed me this time around. But I can still remember <i>vividly</i> the first few weeks and months of Owen's life as being a very dark time for me. I just stumbled across the article below and it struck such a cord that I had to share. It really put into words the indescribable emotions that I recall feeling when I first became a mother and then provides a gentle, but positive reminder that...things will get better! Definitely worth a read...<br />
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<a href="http://www.mom-ology.org/page.php?pageid=3149" target="_blank">Postpartum Depression: What They Don't Tell You</a><br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-37931419928888482902012-05-20T16:51:00.001-04:002012-05-20T16:51:39.411-04:00Nora's DebutSo, it's been nearly three weeks since Nora Cecilia's actual debut into this world and things have been pretty busy around here. I've actually sat down to draft this post no fewer than a half dozen times and have managed to put it together in bits and pieces. But I really wanted to get all the details of the big day right...mostly for my own keepsake. And it just seemed easiest to format it as a timeline of the day (with a bunch of pictures and random commentary smattered throughout). So anyway, here goes...<br />
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At my 41-week appointment on Tuesday, May 1, an ultrasound revealed that my amniotic fluid level (AFI), which had been holding steady in the 7-8 cm range over the past few weeks, was down to 4.5. Initially, I was so disappointed (think, crying uncontrollably in the ultrasound chair) when they told me the AFI number because I assumed it meant I would have to go have an immediate c-section, just like I did with Owen. (You can read more about that story <a href="http://lettingourlightshine.blogspot.com/2009/07/welcome-to-world-owen.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) Instead, I was assured that we could still try to "induce" labor to the extent possible, given the risks for a VBAC (more on <i>that</i>, <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_vaginal-birth-after-cesarean-vbac_1420895.bc?page=2#articlesection4" target="_blank">here</a>), <i>AND</i> that I could wait until the next day to actually head to the hospital. (One doc even said that I could wait it out until the end of the week to see if maybe I'd go into labor on my own, but I felt a little uncomfortable with that and opted instead for the "tomorrow" plan.)<br />
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So, as Jack Bauer might say, "The following takes place between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, 2012." Ha ha!<br />
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<b>6:00 a.m.</b> — Drove to the hospital (after backing into our neighbor's mailbox and denting the back of our car...oy vey!)<br />
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<b>7:00 a.m.</b> — Checked into the hospital, dilated 1 cm (same as the past couple weeks).<br />
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<b>10:00 a.m.</b> — Midwife Jenny (love her!) broke my water and I started having contractions, but nothing too strong.<br />
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Sitting around, waiting for the show to get on the road. Ryan enjoyed keeping track of each and every contraction as recorded by the monitors, while I enjoyed a popsicle!<br />
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<b>12:00 p.m.</b> — Checked my cervix, dilated about 3.5 cm. Yay! Progress!<br />
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<b>2:00 p.m.</b> — Started pitocin and checked my cervix again, this time dilated 4 cm. (Yay! More progress!) Contractions started coming on stronger after this point.<br />
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Mom came to visit while things were still "fun," as I later remarked. Notice all the smiles.<br />
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<b>4:00 p.m.</b> — Checked my cervix, still dilated 4 cm, increased pitocin slightly. And by "increased," I mean bumping it from 1 mU/min (and I have no idea what "mU/min" actually means, but that's what I found when I googled the unit used to measure pitocin) to 2 mU/min. This is compared to the maximum dose of 20-30 mU/min that they would eventually give someone who wasn't doing a VBAC and running the risk of uterine rupture. 2 mU/min was as high as anyone was willing to go in my case.<br />
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Both my sisters arrived around this time, just as the contractions started getting much stronger. I asked Rachel to help me pull my hair back. She failed. (Ha!) But then, after these photos were taken, the trained cosmetologist (and photographer!) sister, Jackie, stepped in to help.<br />
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I love this photo, taken mid-contraction, and wish I had more like it. Unfortunately, as Jackie was about to snap another, I barked something about not wanting any photos right now and she politely obliged. Darn it if painful contractions don't make you say things you'll regret later!<br />
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Something that struck me throughout the labor process was that when I wasn't mid-contraction, I actually felt really, really great! Having never gone through it before, I don't know what I was expecting, but as you can see in the picture here, I was perfectly fine and dandy only moments (seconds, really) after the above picture of intense pain. Such an odd thing. <br />
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Me on the birthing ball with nurse Stacy checking my blood pressure. She was awesome and so sweet!</div>
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<b>6:00 p.m.</b> — Checked my cervix again, still dilated only 4 cm. Blerg! I should mention here that apparently you need to dilate at least 1 cm every two hours to be considered making forward progress. And since I had been stuck at 4 cm for 4 hours at this point, the consulting doctor on call advised against going any further and wanted to do the c-section right then. But my awesome midwife, Jenny knew how badly I wanted to keep trying and managed to talk the doc into letting us go 2 more hours. However, I was extremely worried about the need to be put under full sedation in the event of a uterine rupture and emergency c-section, so we started discussing getting an epidural at this time.<br />
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<b>7:00 p.m.</b> — Got the epidural, partially to prevent the need to be put under sedation in the event of an emergency c-section, but also because of the pain I was in at that point. It got <i>real</i>, people!<br />
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<b>8:00 p.m.</b> — Checked my cervix again and, much to everyone's disappointment, I was still only dilated 4 cm. So after 6 full hours of no forward progress and a recommendation against increasing the pitocin any further, it was clear at that point that a c-section was the appropriate plan of action. I'm not gonna lie, I cried a little at this point. Maybe more than a little. But I was not going to jeopardize my baby's health (or mine, for that matter). I just needed a few minutes to mourn the loss of my final opportunity to birth a baby on my own. And then...we started prepping for the c-section.<br />
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This is possibly the least flattering photo ever taken of me. And check out Ryan's crazy hazmat-style get-up!<br />
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I think the look on my face in the picture below says, simply, "nervous." An intense moment lying there on that operating table. One other thing I remember feeling was cold. It seemed <i>freezing</i> in there! Not sure if it was the epidural making me so cold or if it really was frigid in that room, but I remember just wanting to be warm. <br />
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<b>8:42 p.m.</b> — Nora Cecilia Peterson was born! (Although, she was not officially named until the following morning, so she was just "baby girl Peterson" at that point.) She weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20 inches long. But the thing I remember noticing first when they held her up over the screen for me to see was all her dark, dark hair. It was such a shocking sight since Ryan and I have fairly light hair.<br />
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Love at first sight. I couldn't <i>wait</i> to get my hands on her!<br />
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The funny thing about these next three photos is that my whole body was
still so numb from the epidural that I could tell I was falling over to
my left side, but I could not actually do anything about it. I kept
saying, "could somebody please prop me back up?" I actually didn't even
have the strength to hold my new little bundle very securely. I also
wanted very badly to nurse her ASAP, but when I finally did get the
chance, my hands and arms were so locked up that I wasn't able to. So
frustrating!<br />
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The grandmas! Grandma V (my mom) first, followed by Grandma J (Ryan's mom). I cannot tell you how sweet it was to know that we had a waiting room full of loved ones anxiously waiting to get their hands on our new babe. What a completely different experience from Owen's birth out on the West coast, with nary a single family member present.<br />
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Auntie Rachel adoring her new niece.<br />
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The rest of these were taken the following day, when big brother Owen came to meet his little sister. </div>
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We heard him outside the door before he came in <strike>saying</strike> shouting, "we brought you a balloon!" He was so proud!<br />
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Some other stuff worth mentioning...<br />
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I had stated in a previous post that I was kind of concerned about the "baby blues" that I experienced very strongly when Owen was born, but I am so pleased to share that I have not really felt them at all this time around. In fact, at one point, I wondered aloud what I had been so afraid of three years ago. Granted, Nora seems to be a much calmer and more content baby than Owen (so far!) and I now have nearly three years of parenting experience under my belt. But honestly, I feel like things are falling into a nice little groove and I am just <i>loving</i> how precious and sweet our newest family member is. I'm just so in love with her and don't wish away a single moment of this newborn stage.<br />
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Part of that sense of peace is surely related to the fact that breastfeeding is going SO.MUCH.BETTER this time around! Nora is a great nurser and my milk supply seems to be doing well at this point, too. No sore nipples to contend with (praise God!!!) and based on her weight at her 2-week doctor appointment, she seems to be thriving. The goal is for a baby to have at least gained back to their original birth weight by two weeks, which for her, was 8 lbs, 2 ozs. Instead, she was 8 lbs, 14 ozs! So, yeah, I'd say it's going well!<br />
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Physically, I'm feeling very good after the repeat c-section. I was concerned about how recovery from surgery was going to go with not just a newborn, but also a 2 1/2-year-old in tow, but as of this week, I feel absolutely great!<br />
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A big thanks (as always) goes out to the great <a href="http://jackiepetersenphoto.com/" target="_blank">Jackie Petersen Photography</a> for many of the amazing photos in this post. And here's a few more photos from the past few weeks...<br />
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Papa Vern meeting Miss Nora (his first granddaughter) for the first time.<br />
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Squishy, squishy cheeks! <br />
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First day at home... <br />
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Cuddling with Daddy on her first night at home. <br />
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First trip to the grocery store. (She slept the whole time.) <br />
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Tummy time... <br />
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First trip to the park with big brother, Owen. (Again, she slept the whole time.) <br />
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Mother's Day (and Nora's baby dedication at church)... <br />
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So squishy! <br />
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I am so grateful for all the help we've received from family and friends in these first few weeks. And I know Owen appreciates all the extra special attention he's received, like this fun trip to the park with Grandma V. <br />
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Baby smiles! <br />
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Since life has been hectic enough that it has taken me almost three whole weeks to get this post published, I think I will probably take a brief hiatus from blogging so that I can fully enjoy my new family and not stress myself out about keeping up with regular updates. If something comes up that I can quickly post (or share photos of), I will sure try to do that, but in the meantime, just assume that we are all enjoying one another's company and living life to the fullest. Oh, and hopefully doing some of this in our downtime...<br />
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<br />Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-15627381477971437752012-04-30T15:35:00.000-04:002012-04-30T15:35:49.914-04:00Pom Poms and suchToday is the LAST day of April. And my April baby is not here. All along, I've thought that I was having a baby in April and now it's clear that her birthday will be in May. I'm not sure why it matters, but I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around that one. But, anyway...<br />
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As promised, I am posting some pictures and a few words on the last little design details that I was able to get accomplished in the baby's room — since I acquired all kinds of extra time that I hadn't planned on.<br />
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The first is actually something I had nothing to do with. A very lovely, very talented, and very generous woman with whom I am acquainted through a Bible study group at church offered to paint what she called a "baby name mural" on one of the walls in the nursery. It was her gift to me (and all the other expectant mommas) at a group baby shower held a few weeks back. But, since I already have plans to affix a vinyl print of the baby's name on the round mirror above the changing table (you can read more about that and the rest of what we did in the nursery <a href="http://lettingourlightshine.blogspot.com/2012/04/nursery-pics-and-status-update.html" target="_blank">here</a>), I didn't feel like we needed to also have her name painted on the adjacent wall. (Not to mention the fact that she doesn't officially have a name yet. We have it narrowed down to two and are waiting to meet her — as we did with Owen — before we decide on one.) So, instead, I searched around on Pinterest for other interesting images that might work in the sad, empty wall space above the crib. After a quick consult with Davella (she's pictured below) to address size, space, and color issues, here is the finished product.<br />
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How sweet is that, right? The phrase printed on the larger bird, "I carry your heart in my heart," is a spin off of the E.E. Cummings poem, "i carry your heart with me." Here is the artwork shown to scale above the crib.<br />
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And, of course, here is the lovely artist herself, Davella Santiago.<br />
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Based on <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/146367056609782638/" target="_blank">this original artwork</a> found on Pinterest (via Etsy), I couldn't be more pleased with it. It is so sweet and whimsical, which is the vibe I was going for in this room. And the colors are absolutely perfect! Way to go, Davella! I just love it!<br />
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See that odd, pink, poufy, ball-type object resting in the crib in the picture above? That brings me to the other project that I'm proud to say was completed before baby's arrival. Inspired by <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/146367056609653218/" target="_blank">this idea</a> (also found on Pinterest), here are the "pom poms" hung above the glider.<br />
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I would encourage you to click on <a href="http://jessicademaio.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-diy-pom-poms.html" target="_blank">this</a> direct link to the tutorial where these came from for more detailed instructions, but basically, these were made using three paper lanterns (which can be found at any party supply store) and a ton of inexpensive fabric. I guess I also used scissors and a hot glue gun, too, if you're keeping track of my supply list.<br />
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I couldn't find the exact size lanterns that the tutorial describes — these are actually much bigger, which I kind of like for the size of this room — so I just increased my fabric yardage accordingly. My lanterns were 8, 10, and 12 inches in diameter, so I purchased 3, 3 1/2, and almost 5 yards of corresponding fabric. (At $2.99/yard in fabric and $5 for the lanterns, this little project came out a bit on the high end at just over $40.)<br />
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Basically, I made a 4-inch circle template for the two smaller lanterns (I went with 4 1/2 inch circles for the largest one) and then traced and cut out a bazillion circles in all of the fabric. Then, I folded each circle in half, secured it closed with a dot of hot glue, folded it in half again (making a triangular shape) and affixed it to the lanterns (in alternating directions) with another dot of hot glue. I didn't do exact counts each time, but I would say I probably used between 250-350 circles for each pom pom. It was time consuming, but mindless, so I was able to complete the project in a few evenings while parked in front of the TV. Again, for the full details on how to do this simple project, click on over <a href="http://jessicademaio.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-diy-pom-poms.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Unfortunately, my camera doesn't take the gorgeous pictures that I dream of. And I've kind of been waiting for another sunny day to take advantage of better lighting. But this is April after all, and so the somewhat dark images you see here are the best I could do, I'm afraid. I assure you, though, that in person this room is really light and airy and exactly as I had hoped. I just can't wait to get that little peanut in there soon!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-89825629779795161462012-04-27T15:38:00.001-04:002012-04-27T15:38:25.263-04:0040 weeks and countingWell, my due date (April 24) has come and gone, and still there is no baby in my arms. Here is the latest after my appointment this morning...<br />
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I am still only dilated about 1 cm (maybe 2), 70-80% effaced, and baby is at about a -1 station. (None of that has really changed much since the last two weekly updates.) The ultrasound today revealed that my AFI reading has gone down slightly. It was only about 7 cm today, as opposed to the 8+ range of the past few weeks. So, although I didn't originally have one scheduled, they also did another NST today to make sure baby's movements were still good. Although her activity was a little less dramatic during that half-hour test than in previous ones, she still tested within normal ranges for movement and heart rate. And I had two decent contractions while I was hooked up, so that was fun to see.<br />
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Also, the ultrasound tech estimated the baby's weight to be about 9 pounds right now (yikes!), but she freely admitted that their measurements almost always come out on the high end — usually between 1/2 to 1 full pound off, in fact. The midwife, based on her assessment, estimated that she is more likely only about 8 pounds.<br />
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Although everyone is hopeful that it won't be necessary and I'll finally go into labor over the weekend, I did schedule my next appointment for Tuesday. That will put me at 41 weeks gestation and they want to do another full round of tests at that time (i.e., ultrasound, NST, and cervical check). That is fine by me because the thought of waiting yet another whole week before learning any new information seemed way too long to bear.<br />
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The midwife I met with today mentioned that very few women (she didn't give me a specific number or anything) go beyond 41 weeks without going into labor. I'm not sure exactly how precise of an assessment that is, but it is encouraging. She also felt that waiting until I'm fully 42 weeks along (which would be May 8), is probably too long. She felt that, for the safety of the baby, we shouldn't go past the end of next week without getting things moving one way or another. <b>That means that within one week from today, baby girl will be here!!! Yay! The end is in sight!</b><br />
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She did sweep my membranes again, as was done last week, and suggested taking an herbal supplement called evening primrose and drinking red raspberry leaf tea as possible natural ways to ripen the cervix and induce labor. The verdict is still out on whether these actually have any real impact, but I've already taken my first dose of the former and plan to purchase some of the latter later this afternoon. I figure, it can't hurt, I guess.<br />
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I am told (by two midwives now), that if I do, in fact, get to that point (41+ weeks), I don't necessarily have to have an immediate c-section. As long as my fluid levels and baby's heart rate, etc., are still ok, they can break my water (and possibly give me a low level of pitocin, depending on which doctor is on call when I come in to deliver) to give my body one final push to get things moving on its own. And of course, if that doesn't work, than it's off to the operating room I go. But I will be able to assuredly say at that point that I tried <b>every.last.thing.possible</b> to avoid that and it is just God's will.<br />
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On the bright side, the excruciating hip pain that I referenced <a href="http://lettingourlightshine.blogspot.com/2012/04/allow-me-just-one-whiny-post-please.html" target="_blank">here</a>, which had kept me fairly immobile for a couple of weeks (and didn't help in the progression of labor department either), has miraculously eased quite a bit this week. I would not go so far as to say that it's totally gone, but I am motoring around MUCH easier these days and with significantly less pain than before. Can I get a Hallelujah????<br />
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And stay tuned for another post soon on some additional design details that we've managed to get accomplished in the nursery over the past few weeks. (One small silver lining in this waiting game hand I've been dealt.)Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-33862919157664617992012-04-20T20:23:00.002-04:002012-04-20T20:23:53.359-04:0039 weeks and countingWow. Blogger is way different all of a sudden. (Or is it, "all of <i>the</i> sudden?" I see that phrase both ways and the latter always makes me do a double take. It just doesn't sound right to my ear.)<br />
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Anyway, I owe you all an update on the latest doctor's appointment today, so here goes. Basically, everything is pretty much the same as last week.<br />
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I got a call mid-week to say that they reviewed my chart again and <i>did</i> recommend coming in for another ultrasound check of my fluid levels after all (which I was kind of relieved about since I thought the initial recommendation not to check it anymore seemed a bit odd). AFI today was 8.4, which is consistent with last week's 8.8 and the time before that's 8.7. So, that's good. No c-section necessary today. They will continue to check it weekly as long as it stays at that level.<br />
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The midwife also checked me out to see what progress has been made down under and sadly, the answer is none. In fact, things have actually moved in the opposite direction. Bummer. Last week I was 70% effaced, 1 cm dilated, and baby was at a -1 station. This week, only 50% effaced, still 1 cm dilated, and baby is at a -2 station (which means her head is higher than before.) Ugh.<br />
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She did "stir things up" (those were her words for <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703499" target="_blank">stripping my membranes</a>), and I currently feel very crampy as a result. But here's hoping that helps my body take a real step in the right direction toward actual contractions and labor over the next several hours and/or days...<br />
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I also shared my tale of hip pain (which has gotten progressively worse with each passing day) with the midwife and she helped ease my fears about something being very wrong (read: broken or fractured) with my bones, and insisted that it is actually fairly common. She also felt pretty confident that the pain would go away soon after the baby is born and things start shifting back to normal, so that was a slight bit of good news.<br />
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I expressed my concerns that I haven't really been able to do much walking to help self-induce labor due to the amount of pain I'm in. She suggested focusing more on my positioning and mentioned that I wasn't doing myself any favors by sitting around in a reclining position (which is pretty much all I've done for the past week) as far as getting the baby into position and moved down in my pelvis.<br />
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Soooooo...I'm not really feeling very confident in anything I can personally do at this point to help move things along, which is immensely frustrating. And since she also indicated that they would let me go as late as 42 weeks into this pregnancy before resorting to forced measures (I had previously believed I could only go to 41 weeks), that means there could possibly be up to 2 1/2 more weeks of this torture! Ahhhhh!!!<br />
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So much for a "quick" update. And so much for trying to keep things positive on the blog. I'm just feeling kind of down today. And sick of the hip pain. And crampy. And just kinda "blerg." Sorry about that. But there's your update. Have a nice weekend.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-54877144361166121492012-04-16T18:09:00.000-04:002012-04-16T18:09:56.764-04:00Allow me just one whiny post, please.I would just like to post, as a matter of public record, an official apology for all of the times that I secretly (or not so secretly) judged mammas who complained about their pregnancies dragging on and who seemed so desperate to just get the kid out already. I very much had it in my head that these women were just big complainers who needed to have a little patience. I mean, how hard could another week or two really be? Jeesh! Suck it up and give that baby a chance to fully bloom in there, is what I thought, as I rolled my eyes.<br />
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This was based on my experience having a beautiful, very comfortable pregnancy that lasted only through 38 weeks with Owen. And still, with this pregnancy, I have felt so great, aside from the typical, but manageable discomforts. That is, until one week ago. One week ago, pretty much the very day I hit 38 weeks, everything changed. All of a sudden, this beautiful, healthy glow and decent amount of energy that I was feeling, crumbled around me and was replaced with pain and major fatigue.<br />
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The pain, for me, is in my hip. Well, to be exact, it's in my sacroiliac (or SI) joint and it produces a constant sensation of pain.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgk4rMIEx_Cw-SBN4aOxzO789AIWJG4n8tCcMRVv65FdgwVDXFb_JbMVOYKmV8XiZDiz6LOOiUU1urCiBGkQgIPXw0pvwJSGeb9khzV_eLtsgnXxIVEPYMH3xvyWeGIetnMR5WbAEX6M/s1600/220px-Sacroiliac_joint.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgk4rMIEx_Cw-SBN4aOxzO789AIWJG4n8tCcMRVv65FdgwVDXFb_JbMVOYKmV8XiZDiz6LOOiUU1urCiBGkQgIPXw0pvwJSGeb9khzV_eLtsgnXxIVEPYMH3xvyWeGIetnMR5WbAEX6M/s400/220px-Sacroiliac_joint.svg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacroiliac_joint" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I had low back pain when I was pregnant with Owen, which I attributed to sitting for long periods at my desk when I was working. And I even experienced what's known as sciatica with that pregnancy. But that kind of pain was treatable. I could go home and stretch it out. Or a good ol' back rub by the hubby would certainly help. The thing about this SI joint is that nothing I've tried seems to work to alleviate the pain. I've been seeing a chiropractor about this issue for most of this pregnancy, as it has come and gone throughout the past nine months. And I actually thought it had pretty much been cured since I was feeling so good the last few weeks. But one week ago, I was proven wrong.<br />
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Now, I wince with <i>every</i>. <i>single</i>. <i>step</i> I take. I mean that literally. I was walking through Wal-mart today to pick up maybe 5 things I needed and by the time I finally made it back to my car, I was sobbing and crying on the phone with Ryan, telling him that I can't possibly take up to two more weeks of this. If I am sitting or laying down, I am generally ok. But standing, walking, or any other kind of movement that even remotely involves my hips creates a very intense pain that just won't go away. After lying on the floor last night trying to find some kind of stretch that would relieve the pressure (I found none), I started to worry about how I could possibly manage labor and delivery of this baby when just lying on my back is so very uncomfortable.<br />
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The hardest part about the pain is that <b>a.)</b> I'm not sure when it will end, and <b>b.)</b> I have no plan of action for treating it. I'm hopeful that once this baby is born, my hips will realign back to how they should be — and quickly! — and that will be that. But my fear is that it may take a while for that to happen, or worse, they may be so severely damaged that there may really be something permanently wrong with my hips now. (That's the pain talking, ya'll.) And I am a planner, to a fault. I like to know the "how to" on solving all problems and, this problem, although I've researched it a decent amount online and put my faith in a chiropractor who doesn't seem to be helping much, does not have a clear-cut solution that I can see. And that, my friends, is scary.<br />
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The fatigue, I kind of expected. I mean, as of tomorrow, I'm 39 weeks pregnant. I'm gonna feel worn down. But I actually attribute my need for a nap almost every day this past week to the pain, more than the other general weariness of carrying around this extra 25 pounds in my belly. I'm not going to feel too guilty about taking those naps, though. I think it's my body telling me to take it easy.<br />
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I generally don't like to fill up the posts on this blog with complaints and negativity. But, it <i>is</i> a journal for me to record what's happening in life and unfortunately, right now, this is a <i>major</i> thing that is happening in mine. It is clouding everything else happening in life and serves as a painful reminder that I should never, EVER judge another woman in the late stages of pregnancy for just wishing that it would all be over. I can honestly say that this baby cannot come soon enough. Sadly, I'm even starting to consider scheduling a c-section just to have an official light at the end of the tunnel. For now, I'm trying to hold on strong, but each day, with the pain getting worse and worse, I am praying for God's hand to heal me, or just help me to manage the pain and get through another day. Please pray for me, too.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-34828035600374689282012-04-15T18:42:00.000-04:002012-04-15T18:42:39.502-04:00Wetting the bed (sort of)As an update to my last post, my AFI on Friday was 8.8, which is consistent with my fluid level earlier in the week. And the baby tested very well again during the NST, so the midwife (and consulting doctor) does not recommend any further testing at this point. That means I can go back to having regular weekly appointments, but no more need for ultrasounds or non stress tests. I was a little surprised by that recommendation and may still ask about testing the fluid levels again when I go back next Friday, but for now, I am breathing a sigh of relief and appreciate having the next week to just relax and take it easy. Oh, and keep drinking lots of water...just in case.<br />
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In other news, we had some pretty powerful thunderstorms combined with strong winds over the past 24 hours or so and last night, at 12:30 a.m., after waking for the first of several overnight potty breaks, I settled back into bed only to be woken moments later by a strange gushing sound. Huh? Then I touched my pillow and one corner of it was soaking wet. I was SO confused. I woke Ryan up and told him (probably in some incomprehensible way) that there was water falling on me. We eventually discovered that water was dripping in (after one initial big gush) from the can light fixture in the ceiling directly above my side of the bed. Since there wasn't much we could really do in the middle of the night and the dripping stopped after that one big storm passed (it only lasted maybe 10 minutes at the most), we just pushed the bed over about a half a foot so we could put a bucket on the ground to catch any more drips and went back to bed.<br />
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Ryan has spent some time today trying to figure out if we have a leak in the roof, but from the best we can tell, it seems like maybe the rain was just coming down sideways and came in through the gable vent that is just above the big window in our bedroom. The good news is that it doesn't seem like there is anything we can or need to do about it. But let me just tell you, it's pretty funny to be woken up by water dripping on your pillow! And truthfully, if it hadn't happened right there, we probably would have never known about it. If we had found some random wet spot on the carpet the next morning elsewhere in the house, I'm positive we would have blamed the dog for having an accident. Poor Kinnick!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-57640902457668573162012-04-11T15:27:00.000-04:002012-04-11T15:27:07.574-04:00Fluid levels on the rise...So, I owe you an update, huh? Well, truly most everyone who reads this blog already knows the latest through other means of communication, but for the sake of posterity, here goes...<br />
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Basically, I drank and drank and drank until I could drink no more water since my appointment last Friday in an attempt to get my amniotic fluid level back up to a safe range and it seems to have paid off. (That and lots of prayer!) At my appointment on Tuesday, my AFI (amniotic fluid index) was 8.7, which is up from the previous 7-something last week. And although that is still a little lower than ideal, it was a step in the right direction and much higher than the level of 5 (that's in centimeters, oddly) that would have resulted in an immediate c-section. So...YAY!<br />
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I still have to continue to get checked twice a week from here on out, so I go back on Friday. And I will keep on pushing the water and praying for the best each time because the longer this little babe can stay inside mommy, the better my chances of going into labor on my own and avoiding the dreaded C.<br />
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They also did an NST (non-stress test) to check baby's heart rate and movements and those results were fantastic. She's a mover and a shaker! And the midwife did a quick check of my cervix to see what's going on down there. Results were that I am 70% effaced, 1 cm dilated, and the baby's head is low (she estimated in the -1 station). So, there still may be a while to go before labor begins, but at least stuff is happening. Now, we wait...<br />
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Thanks to everyone for your prayers and kind words! I'll try to continue to keep posting updates as they occur.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-40599139112287728882012-04-07T20:57:00.000-04:002012-04-07T20:57:59.088-04:00Nursery pics and a status updateLet me first preface the nursery pictures you are about to see with a notation about my perfectionist desire to have absolutely <i>everything</i> done before I posted these. That is to say that there are still one or two more decorative details that I wanted to get done before baby arrives (and I still may), but decided that — just in case (more on that below) — I better just share with you the very nearly completed room as it looks today.<br />
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So, here you are. Again, point-and-shoot camera..., amateur photographer..., intense morning sunlight..., blah, blah, blah. Enough apologies. I actually LOVE this room and it turned out pretty much exactly as I pictured it in my head (which is really rare for me). I hope you (and baby girl!) enjoy it, too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-ESL_fIw28vM3h8jXOkwbn20ROSpcqLrWMTbxqJ-Qs5fCBjKqeCPuQvNy1Jd7Zbwt642GjLYMnlqfUkCpE3R-zlIEAwzo3ywKeYQhxbqaNjiZtZ8iOmp6DIHG96oTGhrIdcxo49NN2k/s1600/DSCN5442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-ESL_fIw28vM3h8jXOkwbn20ROSpcqLrWMTbxqJ-Qs5fCBjKqeCPuQvNy1Jd7Zbwt642GjLYMnlqfUkCpE3R-zlIEAwzo3ywKeYQhxbqaNjiZtZ8iOmp6DIHG96oTGhrIdcxo49NN2k/s640/DSCN5442.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The walls are a soft gray (I think it was Martha Stewart "Nimbus Cloud"), the furniture (which is the same as what Owen used) is soft white, the curtains and crib skirt (which I made myself...you can congratulate me, it's ok) are a charcoal gray and white damask fabric, and the crib sheet and changing pad cover (and just a few other small details) are soft pink. I also wanted to use the very comfortable, but not my favorite color, glider and ottoman from Owen's nursery, so I just covered it with a big ol' white throw blanket and pillow, hoping to hide the minty green flavor. Meh. And although the carpet has a weird pinkish tint to it in these photos, it's actually just the plain old beige plush that's found just about everywhere else in this house.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VUf4N3pKX0_SFG_shSZflD4DBTT7oynfO1vSSiKVL8ySiLgRVYz5w09ROcYnJWDZWfIncR6XMOthTJFqob6Lh3lDIqRgdiGr7B025p4NP25N8BQGDutXImYMwzqHHmHfXlfezsou7JY/s1600/DSCN5444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VUf4N3pKX0_SFG_shSZflD4DBTT7oynfO1vSSiKVL8ySiLgRVYz5w09ROcYnJWDZWfIncR6XMOthTJFqob6Lh3lDIqRgdiGr7B025p4NP25N8BQGDutXImYMwzqHHmHfXlfezsou7JY/s640/DSCN5444.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The wall right above the crib is one place where I hope to get an additional decorative element completed, but it will just depend on how much time I have before D-day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb_8MYULGHaGaazteA0dMcLaVwiQpqHkq7cJlarHqqFlNVcrbKS86fsQX4MDgsN7s31dJ8zkP5erAiUlr-WAgJQI-y8M-ncP2x2fAC-4CYTiB5Y-D4f830hBeEfeCmDq59ZnOSzLTV5w/s1600/DSCN5445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb_8MYULGHaGaazteA0dMcLaVwiQpqHkq7cJlarHqqFlNVcrbKS86fsQX4MDgsN7s31dJ8zkP5erAiUlr-WAgJQI-y8M-ncP2x2fAC-4CYTiB5Y-D4f830hBeEfeCmDq59ZnOSzLTV5w/s640/DSCN5445.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And this round mirror will eventually have baby's name applied to it (via some vinyl lettering I ordered), but that won't go up until after she's here and has officially been named. In case you're wondering — and I know you are! — we have two names picked out that we like equally well, but just as we did with Owen, we will wait until we meet her to decide which one fits best. So, yes, I ordered vinyl decals of <i>both</i> names. Ha!<br />
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Now, as for an update on my situation, here's the latest. As many of you know, I was (and still am) planning to attempt a "trial of labor" (VBAC) with this baby after having a c-section with Owen, who was breech. You can read more about my experiences last time around <a href="http://lettingourlightshine.blogspot.com/2009/07/versions-non-stress-tests-and-so-much_02.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://lettingourlightshine.blogspot.com/2009/07/welcome-to-world-owen.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but here's a brief summary for you. In the process of trying to get Owen to turn, I had lots of regular ultrasounds performed in the last few weeks of that pregnancy. And during one done at 37 weeks, they discovered that my amniotic fluid volume (AFV) was very low. (Does anyone else automatically think of <i>America's Funniest Videos</i> when they see the acronym AFV? I did!)<br />
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Anyway, they gave me a week to see if the fluid level would come back up, but it never did (in fact, it got much lower), so we ended up having to deliver him the very day they discovered that. Although he was considered full-term (38 weeks), and I knew I was facing a c-section (because he was breech), it was still a bit terrifying leaving the doctor's office and heading to the hospital that day.<br />
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So, fast forward almost three years to today where I find myself in a strangely similar situation. First off, the good news is that this baby is NOT breech. She is head-down, fully engaged, and has even "dropped." However, at my insistence, an ultrasound was performed yesterday (at 37 weeks) to check the AFV and, lo and behold, it is very low again. (I was told that just because that happened in a previous pregnancy, there shouldn't be any reason why it would happen again in subsequent ones, but for once, I am grateful for my neurotic request for additional testing because an ultrasound — which is the only way to measure AFV — would not normally have been performed at this point.)<br />
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Although none of this was actually explained to me by my practitioners, <a href="http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/lowamnioticfluidoligohydramnios.htm" target="_blank">here</a> is a link to some good information I found myself about this condition (called "oligohydramnios") by just Googling it today. Lots of stuff in there to freak me out. Good times.<br />
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Anyway, the plan of action at this point is similar to last time. They are giving me a few days to do what I can to bring the fluid level back up. The only advice I have received is to rest and drink lots and lots of fluids, so that's what I'm doing. Oh, and apparently that new-ish sugar substitute that's on the market now, called Truvia, has been shown to have the unintended side effect of increasing amniotic fluid in pregnant women (weird, huh?), so I bought some of that to add to my fresh brewed ice tea today. Can't hurt!<br />
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If the AFV continues to decrease to an unsafe level by my next ultrasound, scheduled for Tuesday, they will have to deliver the baby immediately. That would be fine — I'm totally ready to meet baby girl! But unfortunately, because of my previous c-section, they can't (and won't) induce labor. So, of course, that would mean another c-section delivery, despite the fact that everything else was looking very promising on the VBAC front. (<a href="http://lettingourlightshine.blogspot.com/2012/03/at-peace.html" target="_blank">Here</a>'s a bit more on my feelings about that, but let's just say, I was really, <i>really</i> hoping to be able to at least <i>attempt</i> to deliver this baby vaginally. Major bummer.)<br />
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I'm praying that my AFV comes back up to a safe range (and stays there!) for a couple more weeks to allow my body the time it needs to go into labor naturally. Alternatively, I would also be happy with going into labor before Tuesday and, to that end, I'm going to try some of the old wives tales recommended to induce labor. Oh, and pray some more.<br />
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But to be totally honest, I'm going into my next appointment on Tuesday with the assumption that my AFV will be even lower than it was and they will send me immediately to the hospital to deliver this baby via c-section. (Basically, exactly what happened to me with Owen.) In a way, that's exciting! There could be a new baby in my arms in just three short days! I'm so anxious to meet her! But of course, I would much prefer to wait it out a bit and see if we can't do things the old fashioned way and avoid the c-section.<br />
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Ultimately, however, my prayer is for a healthy baby, regardless of the way she is delivered. And I am learning, through all of this, to let go of my desire to control things that are truly outside of my control. I've said it a lot — that I put my full faith in God — but it's officially time to put my money where my mouth is and really do that. I assure you that I have not lost sight of just how blessed I am to be carrying this child and to finally get to hold her in my arms very soon. God is SO good!<br />
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Happy Easter, everyone!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-73198644830362879302012-04-03T10:46:00.001-04:002012-04-03T10:47:52.834-04:00"You mad at me?"It's been a while since I've posted any of the funny things that Owen says lately, but I assure you, he makes me laugh one way or another every single day. Recently, I've noticed that he has a unique way of gauging whether I'm upset with him after he's done something to get scolded. Here's an example from this morning after I got angry with him for wedging himself behind the piano.<br />
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<b>Owen</b> (after being scolded): "Mommy?"<br />
<b>Me</b>: "What?"<br />
<b>Owen</b>: "No, don't say 'what,' Mommy."<br />
<i>Pause</i><br />
<b>Owen</b>: "You mad at me, Mommy?"<br />
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His gauge is whether I answer his "mommy?" inquiry with "Yes?" which means all is good, or "What!" which typically means I am still upset and not ready to answer with patience and kindness. (Shame on me!) He can obviously sense my tone, but he focuses on the word I use. Because this usually makes me chuckle, it is a pretty effective method of diffusing the situation...smart boy!<br />
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Another funny phrase he says quite frequently is, "Hey, I want fumphin." This means that he wants a snack of some kind, but I love the way he pronounces "something." Cracks me up!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjoxmtXJ9sqaNq9pSVUtEeb4czOXJrU4Fj_C1z9dYg4agNZn8e9QVTvMcNXgB_9goBoF8RnwrwaadaYUsW9FyEmiAYzxWzw-_GRdKN-iyuG2tqb5YqUf260NrtCRUwRV21Fk7x95aFmM/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjoxmtXJ9sqaNq9pSVUtEeb4czOXJrU4Fj_C1z9dYg4agNZn8e9QVTvMcNXgB_9goBoF8RnwrwaadaYUsW9FyEmiAYzxWzw-_GRdKN-iyuG2tqb5YqUf260NrtCRUwRV21Fk7x95aFmM/s640/IMG_0372.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-64081474068989341262012-03-31T16:34:00.001-04:002012-03-31T16:38:33.921-04:00At peaceIt's been a while since I've posted anything here about my current pregnancy. Sorry about that! Good intentions, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, over the past week I began to think about what new information I could write about and, initially, I planned to share my reservations and fears about attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarian) delivery. You see, I met with a doctor last week to go over the potential risks and to sign a waiver/consent form thing. It was quite unnerving. However, after my 36-week appointment (back with the midwifes!) yesterday, I am feeling SO much more secure in my decision and most of my fears have been put to rest. And as I thought about that for a moment, I realized just how remarkably at peace I am with everything that's about to happen in the next few weeks.<br />
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If you know me at all, you know that I am a Nervous Nelly. I worry. A lot. About all kinds of things. And I often have a very bad tendency to err on the negative side of life, which is something I make a conscious attempt to correct each and every day. I don't <i>want</i> to be that way. But I just am. Anyway, if you really know me (which most of my readers do), you'll also recall that I struggled all the way through the first few months of Owen's life. I don't love saying that. But I am confident enough in myself today that I am <i>able</i> to say it. And this... In the beginning, I was not very happy with my new role as a mother. Yes, Owen was a difficult baby. But I believe now that I also may have struggled with some post-partum depression issues. Fortunately, all were resolved in time and on their own, and I have since grown to LOVE being a mother and genuinely enjoy my time with Owen! But at first, it was a very big struggle for me.<br />
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And so when we started planning for baby #2, I immediately began to worry and fret that I would go through many of those same struggles all over again. The question, "why am I doing this to myself again?" kept running through my mind. Over the past 36 weeks, I honestly haven't dwelled on it or worried about it much, but that nagging fear was always buried somewhere in the back of my mind.<br />
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And it's still there. Somewhere. Buried. But today, I feel that God has granted me a refreshing sense of calm and a peace of mind about this new baby. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I'm downright excited to do it all over again!<br />
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I'm honestly looking forward to going through the experience of labor and delivery. Some friends have told me I'm crazy. Why would I <i>want</i> to put myself through that pain and torture when I have an "easy out?" (It used to be said that "once a cesarean, always a cesarean," but modern medicine indicates that's just not so anymore...hence the VBAC. If you still don't know what I'm talking about, just look it up!)<br />
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Rather than worrying and feeling anxious about what might go wrong (which I was assured at my appointment yesterday is a very low risk anyway), I am instead filled with an overpowering sense of <b><u>gratitude</u></b> that I have this opportunity!<br />
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Having a c-section with Owen was devastating. Crushing. Very, very saddening. It was probably one contributing factor for my PPD, actually. And I've always felt like I missed out on a certain "right of passage" into motherhood. But more than that, I just felt like things were taken out of my control (which for this self-proclaimed control freak was tough). Ironically, I now have a greater sense that my life is never actually in my control (I have surrendered it all to the Lord), however, having the opportunity to physically work this baby out into the world (as opposed to the doctors doing all of "my" work for me) is so powerful. I just feel tremendously blessed that God put this baby in the proper vertex (head down) position. (Owen was in the footling breech position, therefore, the c-section.) And, although many hospitals won't even attempt VBACs (either due to staffing issues or the fear of being sued), I found myself with access to one that does and a team of midwives who are extremely supportive and encouraging about my chances.<br />
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Yes, gratitude. That is what I am feeling. Gratitude for this opportunity. Thanks to a God who is blessing me with another child...another opportunity. And I'm so excited for it!<br />
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I'm also feeling more comfortable about the challenges that lie ahead in life with a newborn baby and a busy toddler in tow. I'm not gonna lie... I'm also still anxious and worried about how well I'll handle that stress. But this feeling of being so, so, so blessed carries with it an uncharted attitude of "don't sweat it, just rejoice in it!"<br />
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"<i>Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.</i>" — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxesrTwf-UpohW22IIW9gGtGKn5hE2bu6R9Pw71v4s9452ispdufo2wHmqEnPeb4dkqFcUK6VZEgOLBIVUJGXsNgBePuqNI8rOY3-Lv5X0dCCngwUHT-1G_P9MwUmKJzzMwJI4ehHX-U/s1600/IMG_3939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxesrTwf-UpohW22IIW9gGtGKn5hE2bu6R9Pw71v4s9452ispdufo2wHmqEnPeb4dkqFcUK6VZEgOLBIVUJGXsNgBePuqNI8rOY3-Lv5X0dCCngwUHT-1G_P9MwUmKJzzMwJI4ehHX-U/s640/IMG_3939.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5191139875305354818.post-17672848647113715952012-03-27T15:28:00.000-04:002012-03-27T15:28:36.283-04:00Bedroom MakeoversAll three of the upstairs bedrooms in our house have been under a constant state of upgrade over the past several months. Obviously, we needed to get the former spare bedroom ready for baby girl (due in just 4 weeks!), which meant that most of the furniture pieces in Owen's room needed to be moved in there instead. And that, of course, meant that Owen's room needed some new (or, in our case, repurposed) furniture. When considering our options, we decided to pass down some of the old furniture (that wasn't in the greatest shape after several moves) from our room to O and used our tax refund money to buy ourselves a brand new, properly "grown-up" bedroom set! It's something we've wanted to do for a long time, but never seemed practical until this year. And there's nothing like getting brand spankin' new furniture for a room to make one want to finally get around to painting the walls in there and call the room "finished" (after 2 years of living in this house).<br />
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So, all this to say that I have two bedroom makeovers to reveal here today. The third (the much anticipated nursery) is nearly finished also and I vow to get pics of that up soon, too.<br />
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Let's start with Owen's room. Here is a shot of his room back when he still used a crib (which he's been out of since last September when we moved him into a toddler bed.) Would you believe I had to go back over a year and a half to get these photos? And I don't have any other angles to show than this, so you can't really get a good perspective of the room, but you get what you get.<br />
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Unfortunately, I don't have a good photo from when the toddler bed replaced the crib, but here's Owen helping to build it, last September. (I should really get better about taking photos of rooms — especially bedrooms — since they seem to change so frequently around these parts.)<br />
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again, but apologies for the bad quality of these photos. I really wish I were a better photographer and/or had a proper camera (these were all taken on my little Nikon Coolpix), but a trained photographer is not who I am, so this is the best I can do.<br />
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Anyway, here are the "afters" of Owen's room.<br />
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I did not want to repaint this room because I really still like the colors in here. They are kind of crazy and bold, but they totally work for Owen. And the crisp, white lines surrounding the horizontal green stripe always make me smile (I was pretty particular about that when I painted it two years ago).<br />
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Changes consist of a twin-size bed to replace the crib mattress/toddler bed (with a side rail for safety), new bedding (which I found for <i>cheap</i> at IKEA and loved because it actually matched the crazy color scheme in the room), one of the old white dressers from our room (to replace the changing table/dresser that went to the baby's room), a new art easel where the glider/ottoman used to sit (which also made it's way into baby's room), and some fun, bold green curtains (just because).<br />
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I still intend to hang three aqua blue picture frames above the dresser, which I plan to fill with some homemade artwork...if I ever get around to it. And the bed desperately needs a bedskirt (that blue box spring is just NOT cutting it!), but I'm not entirely sure what to do about that just yet. I'm sure this room will continue to be a work in progress, actually, since Owen's age will dictate the kinds of activities that take place in there. For example, he is not allowed to have crayons, markers, play-dough, etc. unless he is fully supervised because...well, because it would just be a total mess. But someday, when he's a bit more responsible, I would love to have a little art corner for him. Or a reading nook. Or maybe just more of his toys to play with on his own. But for now, he seems to enjoy his room, and for that, I am glad.<br />
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Now, onto our master bedroom.<br />
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Here is the ONLY "before" shot I can find of our master bedroom. This was from almost two years ago, shortly after we moved in, so it's evolved very slightly since then, but honestly, not much. And again, I only have this one angle to show, but whattaya gonna do?<br />
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It was beige, beige, beige (like the rest of the house when we first moved in), had old and broken IKEA furniture, and no headboard/footboard. Basically, blah. I've known for some time that I wanted to paint the walls a dark gray/blue color, which is one of my very favorite color schemes. And since it is a large room with white trim, light carpeting, and lots of natural light, I knew it could handle such a dark shade. There has actually been a big ol' paint swatch painted on one of the walls for quite some time (at least a year, I would guess), but finishing that room has just never been a very high priority for some reason. That is, like I said, until we got our new furniture. And then, all of a sudden, it lit a fire under me.<br />
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Since I really shouldn't be inhaling paint fumes in my condition — and because I wasn't really up to the physicality of painting a bedroom with tall ceilings at 35 weeks pregnant, my loving, awesome hubby took on the challenge all by himself this past weekend. He never complained once. Did I mention he's amazing?<br />
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So, without further ado, here is the finished room, as of today.<br />
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I still plan to hang some picture frames (probably a symmetrical line of four dark wood 5x7 frames I already own) above the bed, and possibly one more piece of art above the arm chair. Oh, and maybe some solid white curtains for the window if I can find any that are long enough. But in the meantime, I just lurrrrrve it in here! It's so sophisticated and exactly what I always dreamed it could be!<br />
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Next up, the nursery....!Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705406667714209252noreply@blogger.com4