Thursday, October 30, 2014

Week 36 Year 1

Hello my little Trouper,

Phew! What a week! (I wonder how many letters I start this way?)

Another week of up and downs! I feel like I've learned a lot about you this week too!

You saw your heart doctor Friday morning and got the big thumbs up to have surgery! She said your murmur was a mere flicker and she didn't need to see you for another year! Great news! We do however need to stay very cautious of infections particularly from the mouth! The roller coaster started when I got a call from school on Friday that said you had a low grade fever. I didn't think much of it because well, a low grade fever isn't much to think about but when I went to pick you up, you were clearly not yourself. Once we got home, you weren't hungry, you didn't want to play and you just wanted to snuggle on the couch! I took your temperature about every fifteen minutes! It ranged from 99 to 101(ish) and you fell asleep in our arms (your dad and I took turns) around 6pm! Very unusual for you! We called the doctor but they didn't seem too alarmed so we decided to go with the flow! We put you to bed around 9pm and you slept hard until the next morning around 7am.

 However, the next morning you awoke a new child! You were hungry, full of energy and back to your old jolly self again! We had plans to go to the Franklin Pumpkin Fall Fest and it was the first time we'd get a chance to wear our Halloween costumes! We had fun getting ready! Since I call you "my little monkey" all of the time, I thought it might be fitting if you were Curios George and I (or sometimes your dad) was the Man with the Yellow Hat! Of course when it's the 3 of us; I'll be the balloon vendor!






Well let me tell you; the Franklin fest was PACKED! It was building to building people even at 10:30am! We made the best of it but both of us were struggling a little. It was warm, crowded and it just felt...weird. So hard to explain. We walked around for quite a bit waiting for our friends to join us. We went to the kid area and after playing in the corn (again) we spotted some PRINCESSES taking pictures! I was so surprised by your reaction! You kept saying their names over and over and you patiently waited to sit next to the infamous Elsa & Anna!
You don't look super excited but believe me; you were!

Then we found a secret little spot! (After we braved the crowds to find some snacks and a drink!) It was my most favorite part of the day. It was just the two of us. I sat on a little bale of hay and you played around me and climbed on a fence, ate a banana (seriously - how cute is that little monkey with a banana?) and we just bonded. It was a very sweet moment! 





Once we finished our snacks it was time to meet up with our friends and as we were walking towards where they were you actually requested....by words....to participate in a "game". You said, "jump" as we passed a bounce house! I questioned you several times to confirm that is was what you really meant..."jump!", you said! Okay! Let's jump! I had my doubts that you'd actually do it. I had my doubts that you'd actually wait in line but you did! You waited oh so patiently! You didn't wiggle, you didn't whine, you just waited for your turn to climb into that bounce house! "Who is this kid?", I thought to myself!!! You did great at first. You squealed. You jumped (sort of) and then you fell down. And all of a sudden, this sweet little girl came by and helped you up. She was so concerned about your well being. She encouraged you to jump on your own and held  your hand when you were scared. Then once she thought you felt comfortable, she let you jump on your own while she had some fun on her own but always kept one eye on you! I feel a little silly saying this but I got teary eyed. Suddenly, I envisioned you as this big little girl! No longer a baby. A new child! I just want to say "thank you" to that little girl! I mean I told her then but if I could tell her again I would or if I could somehow project my thanks into the future;  I would! What a sweet, loving and special little soul she was/is! 

Then after that, we met up with our friends, played a bit and headed home. While the festival was different and fun, I'd be fine with not going back again someday. It was a little "too" much! 

The next morning was the Titans vs. Texas football game! I had been working with you all week to say, "Go Titans Go" and "Touchdown". You aren't a huge fan of the word "touchdown" but you love to say "football". The game was fun! You were such a trouper! You were super chill during all of the walking and maneuvering our way through the crowds and you even took a nap amongst the crazy crowds, cheers and loud music!







After the game we decided to head to the mall for an early dinner and ended up shopping and riding the carousel! Thanks Daddy for taking such great special care of us! We're spoiled!

The next morning was ear surgery morning! Here we go! We got up super early and went straight to the surgery center. We filled out all of our paperwork and then had a wait. It seemed like it was forever! You were (once again) so patient! You only asked for food and water a couple of times and never really fretted when we had to tell you, no. 


I was most worried about them (nurse or doctor) having to rip you from my arms in a hysterical fit to take you back to the surgery room. And when the moment finally came, our nurse Leann, came out and blew some bubbles. She also had a fun flashing toy wand. You acted like you didn't care for them but whenever she put them away you'd say, "more"! So finally I handed you to her and for a split second you make a whimper but Leann whipped out those bubbles and you were mesmerized. You disappeared around a corner and the quickest 20 minutes later you were back in my arms! Literally! It was 20 flying minutes! Your surgery went well! In my opinion it could have not gone better. You were a little groggy but we got you home, snuggled on the couch and you slept for a solid three hours. 
Once you finally woke up, you gently said, "food?" and we said, "yes!" You snacked and played and and we had a great afternoon! Luckily (knock on wood) you haven't had any drainage or adverse effects from the surgery! Your dad and I both think you already hear better! You certainly seem to feel better!

It's Halloween weekend and we've got lots of plans so next week will be another fun filled eventful letter!

You are growing up and changing in so many little subtle ways...

You are fascinating!

Love you so much,
Mommy



Thursday, October 23, 2014

Week 35 Year 1

Hey bebe,

I like to call you bebe! You often say "momma?" and I reply "yes bebe!" That's our little conversation. I am really enjoying the start of actual conversations with you. Of course right now I do most of the talking but I know you are with me!

We did more fun fall things this past weekend! Starting with the zoo on a whim! We met up with my old friend Emily and her two children, Peyton & Andrew at the Donelson Fall Fest but there wasn't anything for little ones to do so we headed to the zoo. Hey, that rhymed! It was neat! We're going back again this weekend! This time we'll dress up! The kids were so cute with you! The three of you walked hand and hand most of the night!


Saturday we spent the majority of the day at Street Theatre's yard sale then we did a lot of house cleaning! Big excitement...BUT we made up for it on Sunday!

We went to the Music & Molasses Festival just around the corner from us! We didn't even know that place existed! It was held at the Tennessee Agriculture Center! They had lots of things for little ones to do! You met an owl, pretended to be a farmer, rode a pony, petted a horse and walked through a hay maze!









The plan was to go early so we could get you home in time for a good nap but like Saturday you weren't having it! No nap for you and I tried everything! I even let you have some "quiet time" (aka cry it out time) for about 15 minutes. So after a good valiant effort for about an hour and half we decided to go to a dog festival thing at Centennial Park. Clearly not a well thought out plan! Both. you and the dog were in the worst mood. The dog was going crazy over the squirrels and was losing her mind and you were losing your mind with exhaustion! You didn't want to walk holding my hand and you didn't want me to hold you and you proceeded to throw one huge fit after the other. It got to be a little funny really. You would throw your pacifier on the ground and then throw yourself on the ground and you do this "spit" thing. It's like you can't get tears to come out of your eyes so you decided to let a bunch of saliva come out of your mouth. It's hard to explain but it's pretty funny. After quite the fight to get you to leave the park and get into your car seat, you finally passed out! I sat in the driveway with you and made the grocery list so you could get some rest.


Honestly I don't think you were feeling all that great. You won't let us wipe you after your diaper change. It seemed like you were hurting. So we went to the doctor (again) on Tuesday and it turns out that all of those antibiotics have given you a yeast infection. I'm sorry my love! How terrible for you! It such discomfort and not able to explain to anyone whats going on! We got you some medicine and hopefully that clears up quickly! (You're probably going to kill me one day for writing about this but I think it's important to document it all!)

After the doctor we went and had some fun at the park! Just you and I!


Such a big girl! Going down the slide all by yourself!

Speaking of all by yourself, we spent the better part of an hour today after your bath time putting on your shoes! You were very adamant about putting them on all by yourself and you did it! Not without a significant amount of frustration but with a little encouragement you kept going until you got them on! You were so proud and so was I!! Since I'm on a roll of embarrassing you, here are some pictures of this event!

They're on the wrong feet but I wasn't about to tell you! We'll approach the right and left foot thing later!

You're a nut and I love it,
Mommy


P.S. We have your ear tube surgery on Monday, so if our friends and family that read this blog would say a few prayers for us that would be great! God is Good!

Monday, October 20, 2014

20 Months

Happy 20th Month in this World!

 (this picture is 2 months old)

You are exploring your boundaries a lot! 

Your tantrums consist of the following:
  • "No, no, no, no, no!"
  • Throw whatever is in your hand or mouth on the ground
  • Throw yourself on the ground
  • Create saliva and spit it out of your mouth. I'm pretty sure you do this because you can't make yourself actually cry real tears yet. 
  • Get distracted and stop
You make us a laugh a lot!!

You say lots of words with soft endings:
  • Da-ee (Daddy)
  • Qwa-cka (Cracker)
  • I see ew (I see you)
  • Do do (Dog dog)
  • Se-sa (Stella)
  • Uhv-u (Love you)
  • Ank ew (Thank you)
  • Ga ka ka (You're welcome)
  • Na na (Pacifier)
  • Yesh (yes)
  • Cher (cheers)
  • Chi chi (chicken)
  • Che (cheese)
  • Da (that)
  • Ki-ca (kitty cat)
You say lots of words very well:
  • Bye Bye
  • Apple
  • Momma
  • No
  • Chica
  • Elmo
  • Oh no
  • Elsha (Elsa)
  • Anna
  • Go
  • Puff
  • Off
You also say things that we have no idea what you're saying:
  • Habish
  • Ha-pi-ta
You ask me to sing Let it Go from Frozen every night before you go to bed! This is my favorite thing you do right now!

You can say "oh no" and "off" but won't say "Olaf"! You call him Elsha. (These are characters from the Frozen movie)

You love to play in your playroom. You still love your ball tent, your kitchen, matching game cards and then random items like DVD cases, game cases and plastic containers.

You're obsessed with taking things out of something and putting them back in over and over! It doesn't matter what it is but this process fascinates you.

You don't like to color but you like markers

You love the "Baby Shark" song

You have a good grasp on snapping! Seriously; you've almost got it down!

You have seen the movie Frozen about 5 times (maybe more) but only a few times all the way through.

You are enjoying sitting on the couch more and you'll actually sit there longer than 5 seconds sometimes

You call all animals by their sounds: (except a cat is still a cat just a ki-ca)
  • Moo (cow)
  • Quack quack (duck)
  •  Neigh (horse)
  • Ba (sheep & goat)
  • You make the panting sound for dog
  • Rwar (bear or lion)
  • Tweet tweet (bird)
  • Bbbbaaawww (elephant)
  • Ooo ooo ahh ahh (monkey)
You grin a huge sheepish grin and cock your head to the side when you think you're being funny or have done something funny

You love Puffs!

You most always start to throw food on the floor when you're done eating. This is not one of my favorite things that you do right now! I'm glad we have a dog!

You love to "puddle" in the sink (play with the water with bowls & cups)

You're a great shopping buddy (most times) although you don't seem to like Trader Joe's. I think the crowds stress you out.

You make us play Ring around the Rosies a lot and we never deny you! We love to play it too!

You're not a huge fan of sitting in your highchair anymore. You need a big girl chair now!

You like to "cheers" and sometimes "cheers" with our utensils too!


I can't believe you're 20 months old! 20 months on the 20th! That's some sort of golden birthday I think! Actually I think it'll be when you actually turn 20 years old but hey you'll only be 20 months once; right?!

I love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love you!!!

- Mommy

Week 34 Year 1

Hey baby,

Just a quick photo overview of Week 34:

Bananas in the car on the way to school!


 Barktober Fest - We try to go every year!

Stella does not like having to ride in the back of our new minivan!

 Doggie snacks anyone?

 Stella will have some ice cream; please!
Although it was a bit dreary, the dog costumes brightened the day!

Oktoberfest 2014

Got my new rain boots on! Let's get muddy! Let's jump in puddles!

No mud, no puddles...how about a pony ride?

This has been our "spot" in the past! It's normally full of people listening to music but they changed the layout this year. It was a little sad but we still made the best of it! No mud! No rain!

What do you mean I can't jump in puddles??

 Okay! Let's ride a pony again!


And she's out!


Being silly on the way to school!

\The two of you got a couple of night to yourselves this week!

 You made art!

And puddled in water!

Sweet dreams my little monster!

I love you,
Mommy