Jack: 6 Months and on the Move

Because Jack spent the first three months in his carseat (thanks to some reflux), I figured he would be slow in rolling, sitting, crawling, etc. Plus, he has a big sister who can bring him anything he wants. Ambree brings him things, but he is super-motivated to get to the stuff she doesn't bring to him, mostly dinosaurs!


Well, Jack has proved just the opposite. I've never seen a baby love tummy time so much, or roll all over a room so quickly. There are pillows lining all furniture in our living room and he still finds things to roll into. He has started rotating himself while on his tummy to reach for toys, and he lays on his side purposefully balancing to avoid falling backward or forward so that he can maintain eye-contact with Mommy or Daddy. His newest talent is rocking on his knees and hands. This takes practice, and I've found him with sleepy tears in his crib, fighting a nap so that he can get in a few more reps. He even practices while he's nursing or being held upright. Ambree, watch out! Those dinosaurs are about to be invaded!

Jack 21-23 weeks old

Jack has been the easiest baby I could imagine. He is calm and content most of the time, sleeps through the night 8- 7:30 with one dream feed at 11:30 before I go to bed, and smiles and coos nearly on command. For those of you with a fussy little one, hating me right now, I take all of the disdain in stride. I paid my dues with my first angel :) He is learning to sit by himself, though right now still requires the support of his arms before tumbling over, and he is all over the place rolling from one side of the room to the other. He loves holding toys and, of course, chewing on them. Here are some pics of our big guy!

Getting in the Christmas spirit. 11/26/10. 21 weeks old.

"I could get lost in this crib! How do you sleep, Sister?" J.

"Mostly, I don't!" A.

Playing in Ambree's crib. 11/29/10. 22 weeks old.

Getting better at this sitting thing! 12/05/10. 23 weeks old.

Dinosaur Puzzle!

Thank you, Aunt Kath for one of the most utilized gifts Ambree has ever recieved. The television has been off the past week, as Ambree tries to master her new Dinosaur puzzle! She loves it!Thanks so much!!

Loveys

Ambree is obsessed with her pink poodle lovey. She has had her first one since before she was born, as a gift from Sean's family. It was not my first choice for a lovey, since I had one picked out from long ago. But it is convienent because they still sell them at Babies-R-Us- it goes with her most places, and consequently needs to be replaced often. But, there are many times when she has MANY of these poodles to play with at once.

This dog has been with us everywhere, and for everything. The gym, church, resturants, parties, grandparent's homes. Sizzles was the theme for her first birthday party and her second Halloween. Here is the story of Sizzles, in pictures...

My chosen lovey for Ambree, LaLa Bear, which she couldn't care less about :) (Ambree at 14wks)

First meeting with Sizzles, 23 weeks

10 months, a trip to Babies-R-Us. No, we didn't buy them all

11 months, Easter nap

18 months, Dressed as Sizzles

Tons of Sizzles-s

The poodle is nothing, though, compared to many-a-object that has shared in the lovey spotlight for their own 15 minutes of fame...

13 months, Sean's Woodstock

22 months, A Hard, LOUD Plastic Turtle had to join us when it snowed in February

Probably the most ridiculous of loveys, the ceramic, nearly unbreakable elephant, that had to go with us everywhere for a few months, including church service. Until he started breaking internally, this was the lovey that caused the most concerned looks from onlookers, mostly I think because they were afraid that it would shatter at any moment.

Now her lovey can change from day to day, right now its a new turtle from Mexico from Grammy and BaBa. But should tears come, or we be halfway out of the driveway, Sizzles is still the one she cries for.

Jack's Baby Dedication

We had Jack's Baby Dedication at church today. It is us asking our church family to hold us accountable and help us along in raising Jack in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Ambree was only 3weeks old at her dedication, and I remember being concerned that she might cry while we were up on stage in front of the congregation. She didn't steal the show back then, but she tried to today! She had a lovey with her, that we mistakingly allowed her to take on stage. While Pastor Juan was dedicating the three babies and their families, Ambree threw her stuffed toy toward Pastor Juan! Most people saw and laughed, including Pastor Juan, who picked it up and pretended to not give it back. My heart started to race a little as I pictured Ambree throwing herself on the ground because her lovey was 'stolen' from her! But Pastor Juan in all of his partenting expertise, gave the animal back before any more drama occured. Jack slept quietly in his sling, only is little toes showing. Jack's Baby Dedication Picture

In a warmer part of the world, Anna is marrying the love of her life today, Sid Bergeron. Congratulations, Anna and Sid! We are so sorry we're missing your wedding, but we are wishing a warm and blessed marriage from Texas.

My Fashionista and Jack's Fingers

Getting anywhere in the morning with two kids can be a challenge, so I often try to plan ahead and cut as many corners as I can. My latest corner was noticed, though.

Ambree has a couple of pairs of novelty socks that she usually wears to bed with PJs. Half-way to church one morning for Bible study, she yells, "NO! Not these socks! These socks [are] not for going out! These [are] nap socks! We have to go home!" This went on for a few more minutes, and it was the first thing she pointed out to the nursery worker when we got to church, as if to say, this fashion faux-pas was not of my doing!

On a less dramatic note, Jack has found his two fingers for self-consoling, the same two fingers on the same hand as Ambree. As many cons as there are to having a finger-sucker, it's adorable and infinitely more convenient than a pacifier.

Matt and Lauren's Wedding

This last weekend we were able to enjoy my cousin, Lauren's wedding. It was beautiful, and probably one of the most tear-inducing weddings I have ever been to, especially because the wrote their own vows! We pray great blessings for their marriage... and many more little cousins!


Beautiful! Lauren, you look so much like your mom here.



Time to cut a rug!

Jack

Here's a little update on our little guy...

Still sleeping thought the night 8-8, but waking up two times for feedings. He may just be getting ready for solids.

He loves kisses and having his face touched- he coos and smiles.

He still seems to have a laid-back personality (ie, he is happy to just sit and watch what is going on for a while). BUT, he can be pretty loud at times with his little squeals of delight and jabbering. And, he is pretty active.

In fact, the only real reason he sometimes cries is because he wants to be put down, so that he can roll and bat at toys. He can now roll from his back to his stomach, and successfully reach for toys with one and two hands.

He loves his sister! I had him in the nursing room at church and there was a one-year old little girl with blond curls, and he was pretty sure it was Ambree. He just laughed and smiled at her.

He is getting close to the age Ambree was when I put her in the church nursery, but I just so enjoy being with him (and he sleeps well in my sling), so I may hold off on that.

Here are some pics...

November 8, 2010

November 6, 2010

Sleeping Beauty

Daddy’s turn…

The anxiety of putting your firstborn to sleep as a new born was something I didn’t expect when Ambree was born. Is it too hot? Too cold? Is she swaddled right? Is she still breathing? Is that stuffed animal on the shelf going to somehow leap off in the middle of the night and get too close to the crib?

Those fears have given way to reality for the most part – but one habit that lives on is one last peak into both kids room before Katy and I go to sleep. 9 times out of 10, I can crack open a door, and if the breathing isn’t loud enough to hear from the hall, I can walk to the bed, put a hand on their chests, feel the slow steady breathing of deep sleep, and then sneak out unnoticed. Every once in a while Ambree will wake up, and she enjoys the last few minutes in the rocking chair before she goes back to sleep almost as much as I do.

Few things are as sweet as a sleepy little girl asking for one more hug and kiss before saying “Good night daddy, I love you too.”

So the other night, I crack open Ambree’s door, just like any other night, to make sure my little angel is sleeping peacefully. I get the door open a few inches, and pause to see if I can hear her loud breathing from the dark hallway. This time, she hears me come in, and gently wakes to say: “DADDY!!! GO TO SLEEP!!!”

Hmmm. Well goodnight then :)

Boys and Girls

Ambree has just this week been able to consistently say whether someone is a boy or a girl, whether she is a sister or Jack is. It's been a confusing process to learn. But I inadvertadely added to the confusion by calling Daddy a pilot this week...

"Daddy is flying right now. Daddy is a good pilot."
"NO! Daddy is not a pilot! Daddy is a boy!"
"Well, yes, but he is also a pilot."
"NO! Daddy is a boy!"

This went on for a while and a couple of times each day this week as I tried to convince her that Sean could simultaneously be a pilot and a boy. Then today, as I was trying to teach her that a pilot is someone who flies a plane, she looked at Sean with sincere concern and inquisition...

"Daddy, you a pilot?"

Jack-to-date

I haven't really posted about Jack yet, and I need to. I should probably have this disclaimer before each post, but this blog is mostly for Sean and I to remember little things that happen everyday, things that may be easily forgotten, especially if we are blessed with more children. So I understand if this is dreadfully boring for even grandparents :)

He had a rough start at life. By day four, he had a staph infection and had to be put on antibiotics. It was terribly traumatic for me, as I worried about the possible implications for having to medicate such a young baby, not to mention the HUGE risks that exist with a staph infection. Fortunately, it was not a resistant strand, and he recovered quickly.

Then he had his first cold at 6 weeks, thanks to a loving sister, but that too resolved itself with a little nasal saline and lots of hand washing.

From the time I was pregnant, I had in my head that Jack would be my easy baby. I knew I needed that after so many sleepless days during Ambree's first months of life, and all of the crazy days since. And Jack did seem easier. Sure, I knew better what I was doing, and thankfully did not have to suffer through baby-blues this time, but he really was easier. Then about 5-6 weeks, maybe even sooner, what I thought was just gas, started to seem more limiting. He wanted to sleep all day like most babies, but kept waking and coughing, and seemingly gagging on spit-up, only sometimes spitting-up. After more observation, it seemed he had reflux. The second medication seemed to work, plus we took him to a cranio-sacral therapist, who really seemed to resolve some of his issues (we need to go back for a follow up visit). And I stopped eating chocolate, caffeine and tomato-based foods. By 10 weeks old, most of his reflux had been calmed by the above measures. I plan to try taking him of his medicine at 3 months to see if he's okay without it.

Now without any sickness and less reflux, he is doing great. He started sleeping through the night 8pm-8am at about 9 1/2 weeks, with one night feeding. And he does really well on a three hour schedule. I noticed even from the first few days that he seemed to prefer a schedule, or set himself to one on his own. And the last couple of weeks, he has been taking a LONG afternoon nap 2-5, right when Ambree naps! He still naps a little between each 3 hour feeding too.


He is easy to transport, usually content to stay in his carrier, unless he is really tired, and then he will fall asleep in his sling quickly. He loves being swaddled for sleep.

He found his hands about two weeks ago, and is remarkably preoccupied with sucking on his knuckles even when he is not hungry. In fact, this new "skill" sometimes requires practice during nursing.

He is happy to lay on his activity mat and watch a ceiling fan or his hanging toys now. This took a while, since we didn't really lay him flat for the first 2 months of his life because of his reflux.

Jack is very social. He likes to smile and is laughing out loud, especially at his sister. It is such a delight. Ambree was a very serious baby until about a year, so this is different.

He doubled his weight about a week after his 2 month mark, so he is a big boy. He gained a lot of weight early on, probably because of his reflux.

There is tons of mommy-guilt with two little ones, feeling like my time is split and I may be missing out things while tending to the other sibling. But I love having two babies. I pray this guilt will be absolved as I watch them grow to be playmates and friends.

So that's Jack in a quick blog-nutshell.

New Sayings

Ambree has a little tummy bug today. I remember when she was anywhere from 8-18months old, I hated for her to get sick, because it could slow down her development in the very short-run. Not that it could possibly matter, but as a first time mom, I wanted her to walk or say a new word when she was suppose to be able to, and not be limited by a cold. It was ridiculous. But today despite an absent appetite, diarrhea and vomiting, Ambree had all sorts of new things to say.

On our morning walk, she was in her stroller, and all of a sudden I heard, Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z... I said, "What did you say?" She repeated from the beginning, she skipped the letter E and it got a little hairy from L to O, but we've never tried to teach her how to sing the ABC's. I know she's heard it, but not from Mommy or Daddy. Then later, she asked, "Mommy, what are you saying?", like she didn't hear me only I know she did. It was just something new she wanted to try out.

With her tummy hurting, she had to find a new way to articulate that, too. She kept saying, "Mommy, my tummy is filling up." She said that right before she got sick. And to try to fix this pain, she kept saying, "I put on shoes, maybe I feel better," or "I go in living room, maybe I feel better." Bless her heart, she had no idea why she was hurting or how to fix it. When we were leaving GG's house, after the door was closed, she said, "See ya!" A new choice for saying good-bye.

It's so fun to hear her learn sayings that we use. We say them without thinking about it, but she's trying to figure out how she can work them into her vernacular. So, she says them over and over again, completely out of context, and then uses our reaction to gauge if she used it correctly or not. Last week, it was "Never again!" very emphatically with arms crossing her body at the same time. And since I returned from my weekend away at a women's retreat, she has been trying out "Mama." She knows I prefer Mommy, so its become a little game.

She's a sponge, so I'm trying to use this time to fill her up with God's word in addition to quirky jargon she is picking up. A memory I hope I never forget, is teaching her Psalms 31 in the kitchen as she "helped" me with dinner. She's taking a bite out of each strawberry I wash as quickly as I put them in front of her, and repeating, "My God is my Shepard, I will not want." What a sweet time for me with my little girl.

Rainbow

Okay, I haven't posted in two months and there is much to catch up on, but until then, here's a snip-it of Ambree's life.

Ambree has started watching "Dragon Tails," a PBS cartoon. If you've never seen it, don't. It's quite ridiculous. But dragons and dinosaurs are big in our house right now, so we watch it at least once a day. There is an episode we've seen many times with a star who is trying to use the assistance of the dragons and friends to find a rainbow, because she's never out when rainbows are, being a star and all. As you can imagine, she ended up getting to see a rainbow.

Well, on our evening walk yesterday, it had rained in the distance and a rainbow was filling the sky. It was Ambree's first time to see a real rainbow, and it was such a delight to watch her eyes light up when she finally saw what we were pointing to. Immediately, she smiled and said, "I can't wait to tell all of the other stars!"

[L and] D Day

So after trying to keep Jack in for about a month, I started working to get him out at 38 weeks. I was back at the gym, lifting Ambree and mowing the yard. On Friday (37weeks, 6 days), I put everything into overdrive because Kelly had come into town to try to be part of the labor and delivery. By this point I had had every pre-labor sign except consistent contratctions.

By 5:30pm the contractions started and now were what I would consider moderate; I had to stop what I was doing but they were still bearable. We had Antonio's Mexican resteraunt planned with my family, so we continued as scheduled, but threw the hospital bag in the car just in case. Throughout dinner I had contractions about 5minutes apart with increased intensity. My dad joked that he was eating his dinner quickly should we have to rush out of there.

I stayed home until about 10:30pm and only decided to go in the the hospital because of my first labor with Ambree, which had suddenly progressed very quickly. Really I should have probably stayed home because when I got to the hospital I was only 5-6cm.

So I labored at the hospital more- pretty boring stuff. Most of my pain was helped by rocking and resting on an exercise ball that was on the bed. It wasn't very intense, but I did have back pain, so I ended up laying in bed, which relieved my back pain but made it nearly impossible to find any relief from my contractions. At this point, I wish I had gotten out of bed. I remember asking for different positions and not really getting into one.

At about 1:30am, I decided to let them break my water, knowing that things probably would start happening right away. And they did. My contractions became unbearable and every movement in bed brought them on. I couldn't move without having insane pain, but staying in bed was horrible. After about 30 minutes (maybe less, this part was a blur), I was screaming in pain without any way to find relief. I wanted out of that bed so bad, but I really couldn't move. I almost asked Sean to just lift me out of the bed. Even though I had gotten so far, and really wanted to try not using an epidural, I was begging for one at this point. The anesthesiologist was at home (about 10 minutes away), and I knew transistional labor was coming soon. Even before the anesthesiologist was there I felt the urge to push. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had much more to endure if I had had any desire to continue- but I did not. Just getting to sitting on the side of the bed was nearly impossible. I literally did not think it would be possible and rationalized in my head that if I just kept telling the nurses emphatically that I couldn't do it, that they would be able to find a new way to put in the epidural. Somehow I got to a sitting position and the doctor FINALLY got to the hospital.

After the epidural was placed, each contraction became more bearable, and minutes later they were back to back. As soon as I was on my back, they told me to push a couple of times, and then told me to wait for the doctor- Jack was ready! I only had to push through a couple of contractions because the doctor was able to ease him out. It was amazing and so much quicker and easier than with Ambree (which took hours).

I was able to help pull Jack out and he came immediately to my chest. He was perfect and I was in love.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Father's Day 2010

Ambree has really become a Daddy's girl the last few months. Monday mornings are the worst, after a weekend of growing clingy with Sean, she cries in the morning when she wakes up realizing that he is not home. It's pitiful. But so nice to watch her see the value in her Daddy. He really is such a great dad to Ambree.

From the time he gets home until he goes to bed, there is very rarely any down time for Sean, as he tries to take advantage of every moment with his girls. So he'll stand with her in a freshly filled, freezing wading pool while she swims around, take her on a trek to get the mail, go with her on an expedition in search of bugs, or just let her crawl all over him in the living room. The sound of the garage door closing in the afternoon means a brightly faced two year old is squealing down the hallway to hug "Daddy!"

I know statistically how important it is for Ambree to prize her Dad, and for Sean to be the main man in her life. So its such a joy to see Sean make the effort that it takes for this to happen. I think sometimes men don't know how to connect with children, maybe some women don't either, and I remember Sean seeming a little unsure during the first few months. I guess it takes a little fine tuning to find a rhythm in parenting for all of us. But Sean has it down now, and I'm so grateful.


Helping Sean with Jack's Room


Ambree 'fixing piggies' for Sean's Hair

38weeks, 2 days

Alright Jack. You are free to come out now :) You should be fully cooked, though everyday you stay put can help with digestion, nursing and respiratory development, which is of course good, too. But I just had the realization that I have not been able to enjoy the World Cup with a single beer. I think you have until July 11th, but the sooner the better in case I have to give you a bottle.

I am glad to have made it this far. Until just the last couple of nights, I've been pretty comfortable, and overall I would say this has been a really easy pregnancy. Hopefully that is indicative of the kind of labor I will have. At my last appointment last Thursday, I was 3cm so it could be any day, but we've been saying that now for a few weeks. Now, though, I can at least clean, organize or lift whatever I want, and I've been able to take Ambree back to the gym, which is nice for her so that she can run around with other kids in air conditioning in the Kid's Club.

I think Ambree may be wise to us now. All of a sudden she is a little more clingy and not wanting to go to sleep for naps or bedtime. I would prefer that it's her realizing something is about to change rather than the possibility of an upcoming cold- the typical reason for this type of change in behavior.

My Little Parrot

Ambree has increasingly become a little parrot. She says things like:

"I think..."
"I miss you, too, Daddy"
"Probably not"
"Um, Um, Um, Sure!"
"Excuse me"
"Good idea, Mommy"
"I'm proud of you, Mommy!"
[to friends] "I go first, you go play with other toy. Go on, boy" (The 'go on' part isn't her parroting something I say to her, but something we say to Chloe, the dog)

Anything that Mommy or Daddy say is quickly adapted to her vocabulary. Tonite, I gave her a kiss as I was putting her to bed. She said, "That's a good girl, Mommy!"

35 weeks, 5 days

Just saw the MD today, and despite a week of very low activity level, Jack is still progressing. I am 90% effaced, -1 station and 2 cm dialated. The doctor thinks he will be here in the next week despite anything I do or don't do, so I am off bed rest. When I asked her about my activity level, she said it was up to me. I told her, I need my house to be clean before this baby is here! Family and friends have been offering to help me nest, but its ridculous to ask family or friends to do the things I want to do to this house. Most sane people don't care about baseboards in their laundry room or street trashcans been hosed out. That said, my parents are coming over tomorrow to help set up so furniture for Jack and maybe some normal cleaning to help me catch up, which I really appreciate.

The doctor also said that Jack has a 97% chance of having fully developed lungs and the risk of developmental delays was gone a few weeks ago. While they will try to stop or slow the labor should it happen before 37 weeks, she doesn't think it will be too effective if he wants to come. So its nice that we can start getting excited about his arrival without worrying as much about complications. What an answer to prayers. We still, of course, covet your prayers that he is a strong and healthy boy, ready for birth whenever he decides.

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

Swimming with Daddy


Ambree and Jaxon, "I give you kiss, now"

Swimming

Ambree has been practicing swimming in the bathtub for a while now. She can kick her legs and swim with her arms and blow bubbles, but definately not any of those things at the same time. Her first experience in the pool this year, mostly involved her going up and down the steps. But her second time in, Daddy just pulled her off the steps into the water. After a moment of fear, she was very excited and tried 'swimming'. By the third trip to the pool, she was asking Daddy to let go of her, jumping off the edge to Daddy, and swimming all over.


05-22-2010 at GG's


05-29-2010 at the Roger's


Sunbathing


05-31-2010 at GG's

34 weeks, 5 days

I just had my 34 week appointment for Jack. Because of all of my contractions, my MD decided to do an extra ultrasound, which was a real treat. It's crazy to see how big he is! He's in the 78th percentile, already weighing as much as 6lbs 9oz. The ultrasound technician said that her measurements can often make the baby seem bigger than they really are, but still! At this rate he will be about the same as Ambree was (8lbs, 1oz) or bigger. Unlike usual, though, he was pretty sleepy and didn't move much for us.
The MD also did an exam to see if I am having effective contractions, and unfortunately, I am. I am 50% effaced, -2cm, and 1cm dialated, and consequently on strict activity restrictions. Everything I asked her if I could do, she responded with a swift NO! Not until at least next week, but probably 37weeks, does she want me doing much of anything. I don't really know how this is going to look. I'm not on bedrest, I don't think, but it is going to be nearly impossible not to clean the house with this crazy nesting instinct kicking in, and I really have no idea how this will work with my 30lb toddler.
I don't want to miss out on the last opportunities I will have with Ambree as my only child, but I definately want Jack to stay in the belly as long as possible. Awww, Mommy Guilt! I am blessed to have a three day weekend coming up, so Sean can help (mind you he is still recovering from knee surgery), and then I have a friend who already offered to help on Tuesday. In all of this helplessness, I am left with prayer. That's probably the best place to be.

Jack

I haven't posted about my pregnancy much mostly because I would either just be complaining or it would be boring. The first trimester, I had sworn off procreation, but God was gracious, and I have forgotten how bad it was. Then my second trimester was fairly uneventful except for fairly consistent early braxton hicks contractions due to an irritable uterus (they started at about 6-8 weeks). I felt him kick at 15 weeks, and a week later Sean could feel him. Third trimester has been more of the same, but at 28 weeks I started requesting that I be checked for dialation because my contractions were so intense at times. At 28 weeks, I was 1cm.
Then last Thursday night (33wks, 4days), Sean and I snuck away for a dinner together and then planned to run errands while my mom babysat. Because my nesting instinct has kicked in, I had been polishing the kitchen cabinets and mopping the floors earlier. While I was getting ready to go out, I knew I was having fairly regular, mild contractions, but I was busy and didn't pay much attention to it. Then on the way to dinner, I decided to start counting how far apart. They were about 3-5 minutes, sometimes seeming back-to-back, but still very mild.
When it was time to order for dinner, it had been a couple of hours of contractions pretty close together, so we called Ed and I texted a friend who use to work as an OB nurse. Both of them said to get home, rest and drink tons of water.
Turns out I was probably just dehydrated (since then I've up'd my water intake to 12 glasses), but over all the episode last about 4-5 hours. The next day I had a scheduled appointment and I wasn't dialated more than before so they had all been false contractions. All I could think during it though, was NOTHING is ready- his room isn't set up, the house is not deep cleaned, baby clothes haven't been cleaned and he doesn't even have a middle name!
At this point, we don't have any reason to think Jack will be early, and I have been reduced to minimal physical activity, but all of this has me excited for his arrival. Another baby! We can't wait, well we want to wait for at least 4 more weeks.

Congrats Craig and Gretch!!

This last Saturday we celebrated the marriage of Sean's cousin, Gretchen and Craig. The ceremony and reception were in hotel/resort place in Lakeway, so the scenery was beautiful. It was a wonderful wedding and so great to see Sean's extended family, including two of his cousin, Chris's girls, Sadie and Elise, 3 1/2yrs and 2yrs. All three toddlers opened the dance floor as soon as they saw it. No one had to tell them what the wooden floor, lights and music were for. They knew someone had set it up just for them.


Ambree only took breaks from dancing to raid a dish full of M&M's that she found. She also found the AC floor vents along the edges of the room and delighted in letting her dress poof up while she cooled down.




That night the only protein she ate at dinner was chocolate milk- a new treat. She danced until passed 10pm, and then with the hour long drive home, she was in bed after 11!

It has been a long time since I posted. Since then we have had a few cute/quirky Ambree-isms develop. I love this age and getting to see her personality more and more.

Problem Solving. She has started showing higher-level (I say that like I know, but in all my mom expertise, that is what I will call it) problem solving skills. A few weeks ago one of her mylar balloons got wrapped up in our ceiling fan. Immediately she said, 'Get Daddy's ladder!' I was humbled when she wanted a ladder to fix another problem later that week that could clearly not be solved with a ladder. I would tell you what that situation was, but I cannot remember, and neither can Sean. I'm pregnant and he is a guy. But today, while watching a new episode of the Wonder Pets, she figured out how to help the Itsy Bitsy Spider before the Wonder Pets did. Granted the Wonder Pets are fairly predicable and not more than fairly intelligent, but she's just two!

Bed Time Songs. Over the past month she has started requesting songs that do not exist at all in an attempt to delay bed time. "Sing Som" she says. Many of her requests do exist at this point because they have so frequently been asked for, including the smash hits 'sky som,' 'ground som,' 'bengal tiger som' and 'bubbles som.' One hit wonders include the 'door som' and 'elephant som.' While singing the Bengal Tiger song I was thoroughly corrected when I messed up the song plot line by saying that Raji the mouse pulled the thorn out of the tiger's paw- "NO Mommy! The Wonder Pets help!" And we're back to the Wonder Pets.

Miss Bossy. Ambree has also decided that she is in charge of everyone that is at her height level or lower. She bosses passer-byers around at church, our home, the store, really anywhere. Telling them "BE Careful!!", "No Fussing! Need nap.", "Come Here to Ambree!" Poor Jack.

Life Skills. We spent most of the first year of Ambree's life teaching her the life skill of sleeping, and the second year trying to catch her. Now it's rewarding to teach her more seemingly basic, but ultra rewarding life skills. One we've been focused on is eye-contact. When she sees someone her immediate response is to look away, and sometimes she's done this just to show you that she is ignoring you. So now when we see someone we say, "Look at eyes" and she is pretty responsive and jumps out of her shyness quickly. A new one, of this last week, is "Calm Down." As taught on the Wonder Pets when the baby monster is throwing a fit, sometimes we need to take deep breaths and count to three. It is hilarious to watch her close her eyes, take a deep breath and then count- she's been skipping 2 and 4 lately, so its 1-3-5-6, and so on. She thinks its pretty funny too so it usually helps her come out of her fit. It is amazing to me what I can just teach her to do now.

Little Mommy

Ambree has spent the last 30 minutes (and continues as I type) pretending that a little 3inch stuffed bear is her baby. This includes changing his diaper with wipes and all, giving him nasal saline and blowing his nose, brushing his hair, sitting him on the potty, reading him a book in her rocking chair, strolling him around and playing patty-cake. Everything we say to her is repeated in a higher pitch to this little bear. "Change diaper, stay still." "No fussing, time for bed." "Last book, then have to go to bed." And it goes on. Little does she know how she will be helping to care for a real baby soon...

Complications

Sean's left knee has been bothering him since about November, when he stood up from 'criss-cross-apple-sauce'-style (that's Indian style for old-schoolers), holding Ambree without uncrossing his legs or using his arms. I finally convinced him that it was probably just his meniscus and that a repair would be easy and quick, ie, he could probably still play in spring softball with the church.

So he was scheduled for surgery 4/22/10, and went in like scheduled. My mom graciously offered to drop him off at surgery and Sean's dad was planning to pick him and bring him home. At about 11:00 am though, I got a phone call saying that Sean was doing fine presently, but that he had fluid in his lungs after coming out of anesthesia that was causing him to not get enough oxygen; he would have to stay over night so they could watch his O2 levels and he would be transferring to a room within the next couple of hours.

I was in the middle of making lunches for Ambree and myself, so I just kept making lunch. Things are different with a third member of the family. You can't just drop everything. But half way through lunch I was starting to worry, and knew he would want someone there with him, so I jumped in the shower and then asked Ed to come watch Ambree for the rest of the day until my mom could take over for the night. I threw random things in a bag and put Ambree down for a nap.

The whole time I was at home with Ambree I was sad for Sean who was by himself. Sean's a big boy, and I'm sure he was incoherent enough to where this wasn't even an issue. But I was anxious to get to him. Then right as 45 bridges over to MoPac, my emotions transferred to Ambree. She was without either of us, and would be all night- a BIG first. Granted, she loves her BaBa and MeMe, and I knew she wouldn't even think anything different because she is babysat so often by them both, but I guess my pregnancy hormones needed something to worry about so they went to Ambree.

Sean was fine when I got there. He was just being transferred upstairs, and looked good. He still had to stay on O2 because his O2 levels were too low on just room air, and he was coughing a bunch anytime he took in a deep breath. The pain medicine was still making Sean really sleepy, so he tried resting. They checked his vitals every 30 min at first, and then every 2-3hours. Breathing treatments and pain medicine were every 4 hours, but not at the same time- that would have been too convenient. And there were also, of course, nurse shift changes, that Sean seemed to want to extend by re-informing the new nurse of everything that had happened.

We did not sleep at all.

With all of the interruptions, a glowing light coming out of a vent in the wall- I don't know why-, Sean snoring despite the fact that he had oxygen flowing into his nose, and a pillow that incessantly slipped out from under my head, there was no sleep.

But Sean was doing much better, and in the early morning I convinced him to try taking the oxygen off. He was being well monitored and it was getting easier to take deep breaths. His knee looked good with just minimal swelling and good quad strength and range of motion.

The doctors ended up saying that either he had aspirated some drainage or he had caused negative pressure in his lungs by either his tongue or vocal cords blocking his air passage, either of which would have caused his lungs to have fluid in them. They don't think this episode will have any further consequences for Sean, and he seemed to be recovering from it well.

So what was suppose to be a simple day surgery, turned into a lot more, but it was nice to be there for Sean- I am so grateful for our family stepping in to help and so many others who offered to help. And it was a good dry-run for leaving Ambree when we have Baby #2. Most importantly, Sean is okay and back to just dealing with a post-op knee.