Lachlan's 6 Month Check Up

One of the most stressful appointments ever because he wasn't feeling so great, but what are you going to do?  Mr. L started a fever Friday night that didn't seem to fully go away until Monday, leaving me wondering what was wrong with him until a rash appeared that evening at bedtime.  Well hello there, roseola.
Poor little guy also had to get THREE shots this time since he just hits the threshold for flu shots and I hate the flu so everrrrrryone gets a shot in this house.  Well, except the boys.  They get the nasal mist thing.
Timing works out pretty well though, because now we go back in a month for his second flu shot and he'll start his Hep B then too.
He is still a complete string bean, weighing in at 15 lbs, 15 oz, (about 20th %ile) and 27.56" (85th %ile).   At 6 months, Callum was 19 lbs and Everett was 18 lb 8 oz, so Lachie seems super super tiny to me.  Ev was also 28" long and I apparently didn't record how long Callum was...

and for funsies, here's mama and daddy at 6 months too:

Lachlan's 4 month check-up

I have a lot to blog and I keep forgetting to do it!

Lachlan had his 4 month check up on Friday morning before we headed down to the cities for a Twins game.  Besides the doctor taking FOREVER and the whole family being there because we wanted to meet this doctor and such.....it went fine.

My scrawny guy is 13 lbs, 9 oz (compare this to 15lb Everett and 15 lb 12 oz Callum at that age.) BUT he is 26.9" long (Everett was 25.75" and I apparently didn't record Callum's height).  So yeah.  Tallll and skinny.  These put him around the 25th for weight and 95th for height.

He also started rolling this week.  Only a couple times so far and only belly to back, but he's a strong little dude and I'm sure he'll figure it out soon enough.  No teeth yet, still nursing like a snacking machine (every two hours for five minutes), including through the night.
He laughs and smiles at his brothers almost every time he sees them (except when they're trying to lie on him or poke his eyes) and generally brightens everyone's day.
We are doing the same immunization thing we did with Callum and delaying Hep B, because 1. I think it's silly for a baby to get a Hep B vaccine anyway and 2. I don't want him getting poked 3 times every appointment at this age.

Today, he is sleeping and eating allll day so I'm guessing we're in for a growth spurt soon.  Maybe he'll put on some weight and try to catch up to his brothers.  :)

Week 24

June 7: This baby loves his big brother sooooo much!

June 7 again: and his mama too.  :)  This was one of our nursing breaks from packing.

June 8: We celebrated our 7th anniversary on Sunday and got a sampler from the brewery down the street

Lachie came with us

June 9: We went on a walk and got juice boxes and Everett asked me to take a picture of my two big boys

June 10: The eyes....

June 11: A day shy of 2 months old.   Excuse me while I cry in the corner now....

I'm totally missing June 12.  Oops.

June 13: 2 month check-up!

I'll actually write something here since I use this blog a lot to remember details about the boys and their growth.  haha.  Lachlan had his two month check-up yesterday and all was well.  Although he did get squished by Callum on Thursday and spent the next 24 hours with a goopy eye, he's even better from that now.
He weighed in at 11 lbs (24th %ile), 24" long (91st %ile) and his head is in the 50th or so.  So basically, one of our kids.  :)  Everett was 10lbs8oz and 23 1/8", Callum was 12 lbs (chunky butt) and 24 1/2" long.  Callum was born the biggest, so we will see if the trend continues.
We are doing the same vaccine schedule we did with Callum so he won't have to get more than two pokes/time except maybe once.  So he got pentacel (DTaP, polio, and HiB), pneumoccocal, and rotavirus.  So basically, we're just delaying HepB for a bit.  He HATED the shots and is still a bit miserable from them, so packing today should be....fun.

Lachie weight check

I think it's been every time now that we've run into a little concern about newborn's weights.  Everett was the most traumatic one, losing a pound within 9 days of birth, a bad latch, etc.  I honestly don't remember if Callum ever lost much.  Lachlan was a tiny concern for a little bit.
He was born at 7 pounds, 14 ounces.  At 3 days, he was all the way down to 7 pounds, 6 ounces.  At this point, he should have started putting on weight, but at ten days, he was only at 7 pounds, 8 ounces.  Since that wasn't quite what we were expected, our midwife decided she would come back four days later to check again.  Now babies are SUPPOSED to be back at their birth weight by two weeks.  Obviously Everett was not, I think Callum was.  It was pretty clear to me at this point that Lachlan would not.  We were hoping to see him at 7 pounds, 10 ounces today.  So I drank tea, made lactation cookies, and had some pale ale in those four days to try and up my supply and made sure he was nursing frequently.
Today's weigh in?  7 pounds, 12 ounces!  We did it!  Only 2 ounces shy of birth weight and he gained an ounce per day this week.  We will take it.  :)

18 Month Check Up

We finally made it in for Callum's 18 month check up today (he's only 18 months, 2.5 weeks old).  Besides the boys being unbearably wiggly and loud, it was ok.  We were in and out.

Here are the stats:
Weight: 26.6 lbs, which is around the 50th percentile (was 25 lbs three months ago, so about a pound and a half gained)
Height: 34.5 inches, which is just about the top of the 95th curve (that's like nearly three feet, people!) (was 32.5" three months ago, so two inches gained)
Head: 19 inches

Vaccines: Last dose of HepB, first dose of HepA.  At his two year check, he'll get his second and finaly HepA and his first Varicella.  Then he'll be all caught up to the usual schedule and all while only getting two pokes/appointment and one instance of three pokes.

He screamed (through his nuk) for the shots but was immediately back to normal and excited to get his shoes back on and find a truck sticker.  Then we decided since it was the last hot day of the year, we needed to go to Dairy Queen.  It's so expensive, we very rarely go, but hey, shots deserve special ice cream, right?  The boys shared a mini M&M/brownie blizzard and I got a mud pie mini blizzard.  Mmmmmm.  Since we even managed to get Callum down for an early nap after our morning run and errands, we now have the whole afternoon to just play.  We maaaay have already had a treat outing today after our run, but hey.....it's hard to say no to these faces!

15 Months Old

Our little baby big boy is now 15 months old, and had his check-up and shots to prove it.

Our Cally bug measured in at 25 pounds and 32.5" (apparently they measured wrong last time and he hasn't grown much, height-wise).  So he's around the 75th for weight and 90th for height.  Sounds about right.  :)
Poor little boy had to get three shots today.  He's on an alternative schedule as discussed here, and this is the first time he's had to get three shots in a visit.  In three months, he'll finish out HepB and start HepA, and we might decide to do the Varicella then too.  Otherwise, he'll get varicella at 2 years along with another HepA.
He did really well with the shots though.  He turned BRIGHT red and sucked in his breath.  I nuzzled him until he breathed again and not 30 seconds later, he was totally fine.  Such a trooper.

Other than some seasonal allergies/eczema, this boy is the picture of health.  He's excelling at all the ASQ markers, except fine motor skills, but he's still doing well in that area too.  And really, look at his dad.  He still has poor fine motor skills.  Love you, Bri!  :)
Gross motor, however?  Yeahhhh.  See figures 1-3 below:

Climbing at El Dorado last night

Ya know, just riding a donkey.  He's going to be a pro at this.  Already holds on, keeps his balance, and loves it.

Riding the trike with our neighbor girl

Climbing in a tractor wheel.  Boys...

He's saying around 18 unprompted words now and copies many more.  The most recent words he enjoys are cheerios, poopoo, and out!

And of course, he's still adorable as always.

I revise Callum's stats

I saw a post on one of my forums recently with a little boy's one year stats that were smaller than Callum's but with higher percentiles.  So I went and plotted his info on the CDC growth chart and I got that he is in the 80th percentile for weight and the 95th for height.  Now THAT sounds more like my boy.  :)

Callum's one year check-up

On Friday, Everett and I took Callum in for his one year check-up.  To day that he impressed the doctor and nurse might be an understatement.  They couldn't believe how big he was and how well he was walking (running) and jabbering.  What can I say, I have a genius child, right?
The official measurements actually put him at quite a normal size.
He was 31 1/4" tall (75th %ile), 23.5 lbs (75th %ile), and host head was18 1/4" (again, 75th %ile).
He got his first HepB shot and his first dose of MMR.  He was a total champ.  I just held his arms, the nurse gave him the shots, he yelled at us and then was back to himself.  Poor baby is also cutting his fourth tooth right now.
Oh, and excluding last night, he has been sleeping through the night since mid last week!  My little baby is growing up.  I feel no more rested but am missing my baby snuggles.
Such is life though, eh?  Babies grow up.   Dang it.

Two check-ups in one appointment - done

I took the boys in to the clinic this morning for Everett's 3 year check-up and Callum's 9 month check-up.  Since I have to take time off daycare to do so, I stuck them both in the same morning to open daycare back up by 11.  And now my little girl is napping so I get a little extra time before she gets here.
I'm very glad that Brian showed up at the appointment to help since Everett was being....well, he was being 3, and Callum was wiggling and crawling and standing and getting ever closer to needing a nap.  We got everything done that needing doing even though Everett didn't get any shots (which he had oddly enough requested....weirdo).  Callum was the lucky one today and got the second dose of flu shot.  He held his breath and screamed and then snuggled and forgot all about it.
So the fun part.  Stats.
Everett - he's now growing at such tremendous amounts anymore.  He's now at the 84th percentile for height at 39" and the 65th for weight at 34 pounds.  He used to be a little higher on the chart for height (around 90-95th) but has always been about 50-60th for weight.  He checked out just fine even though he was being a stinker and not listening to the doctor and nurse.
Callum - our little linebacker.  I can't believe this kid.  You know how I said he eats more than Everett?  Yeah. He is at the 97th percentile for height at 30" and weighs in at a whopping 22 pounds, which puts him in the 90th percentile.  Everett was never in the 90th for weight!!!  I don't know what I'm going to do when this boy hits the teenage years....buy stock in the grocery stores?  At least he's proportioned well though!  Tall and heavy. Now I'm really curious what my other little daycare boy weighs because I'm pretty sure he's heavier than Callum!
Anyway.  Everett is being a royal stinker, so I should probably do something about it.  sigh.

No Helmet!

Early this morning (9am Ha!), I took Callum in for his Physical Therapy evaluation.  And as you can see from the title, no helmet will be required!  Hooray!  The PT did immediately see and identify the problem - a flat spot on the right side of his head.  She doesn't think it's bad enough to warrant a helmet though, and hopefully we'll be able to work everything out through PT, massage and stretches at home.  After talking, we decided this likely started from his crib's position in relation to my bed.  Since he likes to face me, he continued to lie on the right side of his head, creating a flat spot.  Once that side was flatter than the other, it became easier for him to just stay there, making it worse.  He has some tightness in his neck, but it doesn't appear to be true torticollis since he likes to tuck his chin down onto his right shoulder.  So we got a sheet of instructions on massage and stretches and we're to encourage him to face the left more often.  He'll be going to PT weekly for a few weeks and then re-evaluate.
In some me news, I've decided to join a couch-to-5K team run by out local outdoor clothing/supply store, Solstice Outdoors.  It costs $20 for the 8 week program, but you get a t-shirt and if you complete the program and 5K race, you get $20 store credit!  Awesome, no?  So this will be my real intro to running and I'll have a group and program to keep me going.  And I'll do my first race!  Which means I can hopefully train enough to do the 10K at Whistlestop.  Hooray me!  :)

4 month check up

It's been a while.  Life's been a whirlwind since last Tuesday when we found out Brian's grandpa died in a bicycling accident.  I'm still not ready to write that post, so you'll just have to skip forward in time for now and I'll revisit it later.
Callum had his four month check up today.  Poor kid had to get shots on top of having some nasty allergy congestion.  Luckily, he only gets two shots at a time per our schedule, so it wasn't so bad.  That little boy turned as red as a summer tomato after the second poke and I swear wouldn't breathe for at least ten seconds.  He was quickly over it though, sucked on his nuk, and promptly went to sleep (see that Oxford comma there?  That's right.  I love them.  They shall never die!).
Our little guy has leveled out on the height chart which leads me to believe that we're probably in for a big growth spurt soon (see how I don't worry?  I've learned.).  He's still right up in the 50th for weight (15 lbs, 12 oz) and his head is following the curve nicely too.  He must just look gigantic because I'm the one holding him.  :)
The doctor decided that Cally likely has allergies too as he didn't show any other symptoms of a cold or infection.  Poor baby got more than just looks from me.  Even the nurse commented today that Callum is looking less like his big brother now.  Don't get me wrong, the two look like brothers for sure, but Callum is starting to get his own look, which is more like my side of the family.
Now, since you know I'm always right (heehee), this won't come as a surprise to you, but I was right.  Since before Callum's two month check up, I've been a little concerned about his head shape.  He doesn't have a flat spot as much as his head just seems sort of misshapen.  Brian told me I was imagining things and at the 2 month check up, the doctor said it would probably still even out.  Well, lo and behold, today the doctor decided his head was not a normal shape and we got a referral to physical therapy where there is a therapist who is knowledgeable in head shape and issues thereof.  I really hope my babe doesn't end up needing a helmet during the hottest time of the year, but I'd really like to make sure he's a-ok too.  That appointment is in two weeks, so for now it's just waiting time.
In Everett news, we have been bestowed with some massive fits the past few days.  Granted, the kid is probably a bit sleep deprived and out of whack from a long weekend of traveling, meeting new people, traveling, staying in a hotel, traveling....but the fits.  They are doozies.  Right about dinner time every night, he's just had it.  Nap or no nap, he is done.  One night, it was because he couldn't decide if he wanted to sit in the highchair, next to daddy, mommy, grandma, or someone else altogether.  Oh, and he had to pee.  (Life's hard when you're two, you know.)  Last night, after I told him no, he continued to try and get Auntie Christy's phone out of her purse to play games, in the process dumping the entire contents of said purse and just COULD NOT say sorry.  For about a half hour of screaming, wailing, crying, and begging for "mommy uppy up!" I just shook my head and tried to very succinctly tell him that I would hold him all night AFTER he said sorry to his Auntie.  He finally did and all was well with the world, but OMG toddler fits are something to behold.  I try to follow the advice in The Happiest Toddler on the Block (still haven't finished it, but I'm slowly gleaning).  I try to show Ev some respect and let him know that I'm listening by repeating back what he is screaming about.  I let him know that yes, I will do/fix/get that thing, but first _______.  It's slow going, but he does seem to respond much better when I do the repeating and try "time-ins" rather than "time-outs."  This means that I remove him from the situation, but I go with him.  This is the time that I do the repeating and try to communicate to him what we need to do to move on from the tantrum.  That Karp guy isn't totally nuts.  His advice, and the way he writes, sound crazy and stupid, but apparently he knows more about toddlers than your average joe.
So now.  Everett is likely missing nap time while spending time with his grrma and gunka, aunties and new best friend, Guillaume (Auntie Janelle's boyfriend from France), on the boat.  It was so different to run errands and go to the doctor with a baby and not a baby PLUS super energetic, must push all limits to see juuuust how far they stretch toddler.  And now baby is sleeping off those nasty shots and I have a quiet house.  Besides the fish tank....which needs it's water changed....and the house needs picking up....and vacuuming....and dusting.....grrrrr.....I think I need a nap!  :)
Here are a few shots from our trip to Ohio this weekend.

Playing in the awesome water fountains in Lima.

At the COSI in Columbus

Love. water. table.

About to go on the centripetal generotor.  Ick.

My two things

"I help Callum look!"

2 month check-up

Child#2 had his 2 month check up today and while it took for.ev.er., it wasn't terrible (big brother, on the other hand, was.  Daddy had to take him out more than once.).

Stats for you!:
12 lbs even (that's absolutely naked), which puts him around the 50th %ile
24 1/2 inches long, which is, of course, around the 90th %ile
head was....something...which puts him around the 10th %ile

For comparison's sake, at 2 months, Everett was 10lbs 8 oz, 23 1/8", and I believe his head was around the 15th-20th %ile.  You must remember though, that Everett was born 8 oz lighter than Cally and lost a lot of weight (which Callum did not.  I think he lost around 5 oz compared to Everett's 15 or so.).

We got to discuss (me more than Brian) our concerns with the doctor (nothing bad.  Head a little flat on one side, sensitive skin, former eye lag), talk about pinworms at Ev's old daycare (family practice doctors who look after 3/4 of the family are awesome), and get the ok that Cal's a healthy little guy.
Callum also got himself started on a slightly delayed immunization schedule.  Since the clinic does one of the same combo shots that Everett got (pentacel), we couldn't really follow Dr. Sears' schedule without causing a fuss.  So I made my own schedule to delay HepB and varicella and make sure the little guy doesn't get poked more than twice in an appointment.  For your viewing pleasure:

2 months: Pentacel (HIB, DTaP, polio), Prevnar (Pneumococcal), Rotavirus 

4 months: Pentacel (HIB, DTaP, polio), Prevnar (Pneumococcal), Rotavirus 

6 months: Pentacel (HIB, DTaP, polio), Prevnar (Pneumococcal), Rotavirus 

9 months: Flu, Hep B

10 months: Flu, Hep B (nurse visit only)

12 months: MMR, Hep B

15 months: HIB, Prevnar (Pneumococcal)

18 months: Hep A, DTaP

2 years: Flu, Hep A

3 Years: Flu

4 Years: Flu, Varicella

5 Years: DTaP, Polio, MMR

12 Years: Tdap, Meningococcal

Callum's first check up!

Callum had his one week check up today.  Since our doctor went off ice-fishing or some silliness, we took him to see another doctor at the clinic; the same doctor who was on call this past weekend and checked on us in the hospital.
He is still down 5 oz, currently sitting at 7lbs, 14.5 oz.  This is a huge relief since Everett lost over a pound in his first nine days.  He is very slightly jaundiced too but the doctor was not at all concerned.  He is still eating very well except for the middle of the night when he would rather sleep and I try to force him to eat because it's been four hours!  He's also having plenty of diapers that need changing and we got to show two nurses and the doctor how to use a snappi on a little tiny prefold today.  Now he doesn't get seen again until the end of April!
Everett skipped out on the doctor's visit to hang out with Nana and Papa.  Much more fun for him, much easier for me!
Callum is daily becoming more alert and looking at things.  He really enjoys staring at the windows behind our couch with the leaded glass and mini-blinds.  (Nice contrasts.)  He has now been able to try out my Baby K'Tan and I just bought a used Moby wrap off ebay since the K'Tan is sized and Brian can't use it.  Brian loves baby-wearing but Cal's still too small for the Ergo without an insert and we haven't attempted the mei tai.  I've wanted a moby wrap for a while anyway.
Everett's being a very good boy recently.  Still a bit on the sensitive side and wanting to do everything on his terms, but that's just being two.  He's had some trouble going to sleep recently but today's nap he went down without a fuss, singing songs to himself.  He loves helping with and holding Callum and can run to retrieve nuks and blankets at lightning speed.
I would add some pictures, but I want a nap before Everett wakes up, so that will have to wait.

39/40 week check up

First I guess I should play catch-up briefly.  Friday night, I got sick.  Again.  I think Ev's daycare is polluting us with every stomach bug known to man.  I got hit hard and fast and was heaving until there was nothing left.  This triggered some nasty, constant contractions.  Like 30 seconds long and 2 minutes apart.  I knew I was extremely dehydrated and kept vomiting water so I told Brian I wanted to go into L&D.  I felt bad for calling everyone in, but I had no idea if this was going to segue into real labor or not.  So my mom and siblings came to watch Ev, the doulas drove into town, and we headed to the hospital.  I was monitored for a couple hours, managed to get some fluids in, and made no progress toward real labor, so went home. 

Saturday night, Brian got sick.  Then we knew for sure that mine had just been dehydration (again.  Man am I bad about the dehydration and contractions this time!).  We all stayed home in pajamas yesterday, resting and Brian took today off work too so that he could recover, not infect his office, and work from home.

Fast forward to today.  Yes, there is a "40" in that title.  I am 39 weeks, 5 days today.  After rushing to the clinic this morning because I realized my appointment was at 9, not 9:15, I was told the doctor had been called away anyway.  So I was rescheduled for 1:15.  Luckily, since Brian was home from work today, I could swing that time and go in while Everett napped.  I've gained a pound, everything is still a-ok BP-wise and such.  We didn't even do an internal check because really, what's the point?  As the doctor said, there's really no more progress to be made before I'm in labor.  He said he's giving me one more week.  He is open to inducing at any point, but since I think pitocin is the devil, I told him I really want to avoid induction.  So he'll allow me until next Monday.  If little boy here still hasn't decided to make an appearance by then, we'll be talking induction.  If baby were just like his big brother, labor would start tonight at 1am and we would be holding the little guy in our arms before 6am.  Who knows!  I'm extremely tired today, whether due to recovering from the bug or preparing for baby, I don't know, but I decided to just go with the flow and take two naps today.  I haven't decided if I'll go to work tomorrow or if I'll take the day off to be alone and sleep.  Right now, I'm leaning toward the sleeping.

Valentine's Day check up

Still here, still pregnant, and wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!  Ev and I had a busy morning of a doctor's appointment, a trip across the parking lot to the grocery store to get some "you were a good boy" donuts, a trip back across the parking lot to share them with daddy, and then a swing by the library to get new books and listen to grandma goose.  Then we came home, read all the new books, had lunch, and I took a nap.  The boy sat in his room for two hours and did not sleep.  Really, this whole "I'll nap for anyone but mama" thing is getting ridiculous.  I knew he was safely locked in his room (quiet you, it's what we have to do), the stairs were blocked off with a gate in case he DID get out, so I zonked while he played.

For the check up update.  Oddly enough, one of the first things dr. said to me today was ask if I had though about inducing.  Insert sideeye.  At 38 weeks, 5 days?  Of course I'm not thinking about inducing!  Although if he'd asked me on Saturday after not sleeping because of contractions all early morning, the sideeye may not have been so severe.  I just told him that I'd really rather avoid induction.  He apparently just wanted me to know that he's okay with the idea from here on out and I didn't feel like arguing medical reasons for induction with my doctor, soooo.....
Still sitting here at 4 cm, now 75% effaced, still -1 station.  So he is slowly making some more progress, but he's just going to be like his big brother.  Have mama be in "early labor" for a month and a half and then make his entrance when he's good and fat and ready.  And I'm okay with that.  I really am.  Sure, I am extremely uncomfortable, rarely sleeping well, finding food less and less appealing (excluding chocolate of all sorts and regular coke - caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, acid and all),  but that doesn't mean I am going to force my and little peanut's bodies into something they are obviously preparing for all on their own.  My body knows what's going on, baby's getting big (measuring 39.5" fundal height today), and things will happen when they are supposed to.  Oh, and Brian no longer has to leave town this week, so I'm much more relaxed.  Still working on picking the right name, but everything else is ready now.  I'm even alllmost ready to take care of a newborn again.  Definitely ready to be done working, but not quite ready for the paychecks to disappear.  So you know.... any day/hour now....
Oh and look at Ev's ticker.  Today he is 2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days old!  Cool!

37/38 week check up

Males beware.  This post concerns matters involving the female body and its progression toward labor.  Turn away now if you don't want to know way too much about icky girl details. 

Well, we've made some progress towards outside baby, but not a whole lot.  At 37 weeks, 5 days, we're now sitting here at 4cm (yeah, that mark that is supposed to indicate active labor....4cm?  Not my boys....they like to make me sit around at 3-4 cm for weeeeeks before being born.).  50% effaced and a -2.  -2.  Seriously?  The boy is pushing on my cervix so much, it doesn't seem possible to be at a -2 station!  (FYI, -2 is like one step away from actively floating around in there.  Like, not really sitting deep in the pelvis yet.)  Just for comparison, at this point with Everett (1 day off, but hey), I was at a full 3cm, 80% effaced and a -1 station.  So way more effaced and low.  This child is not giving me hope that he'll decide to be born before 39 weeks, 6 days.  Probably because I still don't have a name fully decided on, the carseat is not installed, the curtain is not up in the nursery, and the wool diaper covers are not lanolinized.  Maybe once I get all of this done, he'll come.  Right?  Hmmm...

In other news, the packers won the super bowl, eh?  We went to a friend's house for a massive party and had a fantastic time!  Everett stayed up for the whole game, running around with all the other little kids.  He loved that everyone was wearing "huppa!" shirts (translates to football, obviously) and there were lots of yummy things to munch.  We only had a couple breakdowns and he zonked out as soon as we drove away in the car.  He was still tired today and fell asleep on the way to a playdate, and again on the way back and I managed to completely undress and rediaper him and put him in bed without him waking up.  And now he's still asleep.  Maybe I should have used this precious time to take a nap, but instead I sewed up a pair of wool longies and a wool soaker for new babe (to do lists, people!).  I did manage to get a full 8 hours of sleep last night since Everett was so zonked out, he didn't wake up knocking!  Glorious!  And now he's waking up, so I'd better go tend to him. 

How Did I Know

I went in this morning for the first of the weekly checks (technically only 35 weeks, 5 days today, but it's my 36 week check up).  Wouldn't you know - 3 cm.  Juuust like with Everett.  I knew I would be 3cm.  There is no way it could be less with the way this boy is pushing on me.  Pretty darn sure he's head down too, so no extra ultrasound, no external version, just more kicks up in the ribs.  I do have to give this boy some credit though - he's not nearly as mean as his brother with the whole "feet in my ribs at all times" thing.  In fact, he generally keeps his feet curled up nicely and just stretches out to kick me in the side sometimes.  Everett never let his feet leave my ribcage area.  So anyway.  Yep, still have to keep the butt in gear to get everything done in time.  I'm trying to finish up my day care course TODAY so I can schedule my exam before I have a newborn in arm.  I'm also scrambling to get everything done for the county to certify me.  I need to take a 2 hour SIDS prevention class, sign up for a shaken baby syndrome class, get the cats some rabies shots....I got a TB test started today and need to have it read on Wednesday and still have a bunch of paperwork to finish and checks to write.  I also need to make laundry detergent and banana bread today and call my doula to reschedule our missed appointment last week when I was dying.

In baby world, I still need to:
-put together the crib and see if we can't manage to side-car it in our room
-rearrange the bedroom and move the desk upstairs in preparation for more baby gear and daycare downstairs.
-prep all my new diapers
-MAKE some new diapers
-set up more storage in the baby's closet
-pack the hospital bag and an overnight bag for Everett (just in case)
-get and install the infant carseat
-make a winter hat for baby

EEK!  Yeah.  But first, I am le tired.  So I shall take a nap.  And then FIRE ZEE MISSILES!  ahem.  yeah.

31/32 week check-up

Sorry, still no christmas pictures here, but I'll fix that tonight or tomorrow.

Unrelated - Brian took Monday off and got to accompany Ev and me to our first bi-weekly check-up.  We would have still been on the monthly schedule, but  my getting sick, losing two pounds, and having dehydration contractions made me schedule a two-week check up (since a lot of people are doing those already at this point).  Everything checked out just fine.  Baby will be staying put for quite a while.  I have a feeling it's going to be like with Ev though.  I'm currently about 1.5 cm and 20% effaced and we still have nearly two months to go!  Maybe we'll end up with a valentine's baby!

I am stuck at work this week, doing awesome work stuff.  Ev is off with Nana today because day care is closed all week and he'll be spending tomorrow with auntie Christy.  And I'll sit here, sporadically doing some work, eating some chocolate, and sipping some coffee.  (At least until someone else from my office decides to show up.)

Baby check-up

Ev and I trudged out in the freezing blizzard-left snow today for a 9 am doctor's appointment.  He actually was quite pleasant for most of the half hour (besides biting my arm and trying to push a button on the exam table - yes, that means a GOOD trip!).  He even stood on a chair by the table and held the doppler for the doctor today.  He commented on the measuring tape, the sound of the heart on the doppler, the goo for the doppler, and the baby kicks.  He loves that baby brother so much already and melts my heart.
Everything was still good at this appointment - blood pressure, weight gain is about 23 lbs, so we don't go in again for four weeks.  This pleases me since those every other week appointments always seemed quite silly to me.  So we'll have one more month break before we start the every other week and internal checks.  (blech.) 
After the appointment, Ev and I quickly bundled up and shoveled our heavily snowed on sidewalk before my doula and back-up doula came over to visit.  It was nice to talk with them again and in January we'll hopefully go visit the OB area at the hospital to see what kind of stuff they have there (I'm a bit anxious about not knowing exactly what I'll have at my disposal for pain management.)  I'm still reading my hypnobirthing book but I'm a little concerned since I have trouble with meditation too; my brain just doesn't like to turn off.  I am very excited that they have tubs here since in IN they only had showers and I had to be hooked up to the monitors the whole time.
Well, it's bathtime for a stinky little toddler, so I must go.

Meekow dark!

What does the title of this post mean?  You go ahead and guess.  I'll let you know at the end.

Ev and I spent our morning at the clinic today for my lovely glucose tolerance test.  Of course, it was fine, as was my hemoglobin (=no iron pills for me!).  Ev had a rough time sitting in the waiting room for so long but we survived with only a couple tantrums.  It's amazing how many we get per day now.  It's just a normal part of life to have your child suddenly throw himself on the floor and spin in circles while crying.  And I roll my eyes, grab him by the arm, and say, "we are not throwing a tantrum right now."  He can throw all the tantrums he wants at home, but they're still not going to get him what he wants.

Anyway.  Everything is still perfectly fine with the little nugget.  BP is good, weight is good (I think I measured an official 18. lbs up now, but I hadn't had any food before the weigh-in, so....).  Heartrate was good and strong.  Belly measured 25cm, which is just right.  Little guy is still moving around like crazy and has some violent rolls and kicks so the dr. is not concerned about baby being breech at the moment.  (Neither am I, but I'm still going to do my stretch every day - what's the harm?)

So back to the post title.  Everett has recently decided that he is afraid of the dark.  Not so much that he has trouble going to sleep at night, but enough that he refuses to go into a room without a light on.  Especially the basement, which really, can you blame him?  Dark basements are kind of creepy.  This evening, we were going down to the basement to add wood to the fire and he realized the light wasn't on and cried "meekow basement!"  Luckily, I know exactly what "meekow" means from our halloween trail walk at a friend's house.  Obviously, it means "spooky."  They sound exactly alike, right?  :)  It's when he says things like this that I just stop and laugh and laugh and he looks at me and smiles.