Week one of being One

Anna's stats at age one...31 inches tall and 23 lbs. 4 oz.

Anna's stats at birth.....21 inches tall and 8 lbs. 4oz.

 

I find myself reflecting alot this week on both kids turning one. It's a special time. I remember my absolute favorite age of "babyhood" with Ian was age 15-18 months. He was so expressive, curious and mobile. He loved to play and was really starting to display his unique personality. I'm so excited to embark on that time of Anna's life, too. And I think it's already upon us.

I'll write about her birthday party in a separate post because there's a lot of fun photos and stuff to share.

But, over the past week Anna has, for lack of a better term, blossomed. She is just such a happy girl. She smiles, blinks and waves to people - from family members to the cashier at the grocery store. She not only took her first steps this week but is literally racing around the house and yard as of today in her little 'waddle' of a walk that all toddlers have in the learning-to-walk stage. She can walk from one end of a room to the other and sometimes from one room to the other end of the house if she's focused enough. Her gag reflex has calmed a bit, too, so she's been able to try new table foods like pieces of bread, bites of cheese, and crackers. Just shy of one week after her first birthday, she's making it clear that she's not a baby anymore!

Since I never did get around to posting about Anna's actual birthday party, I thought I'd include a few photos from her party in this post.

Broadening our musical horizons

It might just be my own desire for some nostalgia but I've recently pulled out some cds I haven't heard in months or years, to enjoy in the car. I like exposing the kids to various types of (appropriate) music and I was so surprised to learn that both kids enjoy the music from the 60's and 70s. - much like I do. I had the Forrest Gump movie soundtrack on a few days ago and Anna was kicking her legs and smiling - almost dancing in her car seat. Ian asked what the title of the song was and said he liked it. It was For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield - I love the guitar in that song. Ian now calls it his favorite song. He's too cute.

Ian doesn't like all of my music, though. There have been a few times where he will either ask me to turn it down because it hurts his ears (the song, not the volume) or he will just honestly say that he simply doesn't like that song and would I please put on one of his songs. If it were up to him we'd listen to Pop Goes The Weasel over and over from the moment the car leaves the driveway until we reach our destination. In fact,  there were many mornings in which that was the only way I could snap him out of a grumpy mood on the way to school. As soon as he heared that song start, he'd smile and say, "Thanks Mama. I love this song." And as soon as it was over his soft, sweet voice would say, "Can I hear it again?" And because I love to see him smile, I would gladly hit the repeat button over and over until we pulled into preschool.


Both kids have enjoyed music since they were newborn (and probably from the womb) and it's neat to see how they appreciate all types of music. But we'll let Daddy get the joy of introducing them to some other favorites....Billy Idol and Rush....when they're a little bit older. Ha!

One year ago today

One year ago today Mark and I were holding our baby girl in our arms for the first time and marveling that we were now a family of four. Anna turned one year old today and we celebrated with a fairly quiet day. She had some mini blueberry muffins with breakfast (she's sampling table food little by little due to a sensitive gag reflex) and had mixed reactions. It was a very rainy day so we stayed indoors. Anna was up most of the night (as was I) because of teething. She's cutting her seventh and eighth teeth (on the bottom) and it's quite painful this go-round. She ended up taking two, 3 hour naps today because the pain reliever finally helped her to rest.

The kids took a bath together because Mark is traveling for work and it's just easier to bathe them at once when it's just Mama in charge. They had fun and attempted to have a squirt gun fight. Anna just likes to hold the squirt gun - not sure what to do with it. And she was fascinated by the shampoo in Ian's hair. She couldn't resist hitting his head to smash the foaming bubbles. Anna is getting the hang of things - as of a few months ago, she'll just stand up and lift one leg in an attempt to get out of the tub when she's done with bath. Now she's getting so tall that she can almost get her leg over the tub!

Tonight we had some very threatening weather in our area. Thankfully we didn't get any tornadoes but I sure was concerned for a while. As I got the diaper bag and bed pillows into our safe room the kids were playing in the kitchen. This is what I returned to find....a straw and sippy cup explosion. They are trouble separately but together....yikes. :)

Here is what the sky looked like from the sunroom looking out over our backyard at about 7:30pm. Ian asked me if this was a 'nice storm'. I asked what he meant and he explained that every time I talked about storms coming, they are always called 'bad storms'. So he asked if this one was going to be a 'good storm' instead. ;) Because it ended up going north of us, it was indeed a good storm!

Ian is quite a good photographer, for a three and a half year old, and he loves to take pictures with my camera. He snapped a few photos of Anna and me tonight before the kids went to bed and they turned out pretty good.

Anna has her one year checkup tomorrow and I'm anxious to know her stats. She's so tall standing next to Ian so I'll be curious as to where she falls on the charts.

Happy Birthday Baby Doll!
We love you to the moon and back!

It's almost here

It's almost here. My baby (my last baby) will turn one year old on Wednesday the 19th. It's hard to believe that a year ago I was mentally preparing for a c-section, not realizing I'd experience an emergency c-section a day prior to the planned surgery. Anna is one baby who made her strong-willed personality known even before she was born. I had hoped to attempt a natural birth with Anna but she was a breech baby so a c-section was necessary. I was due to deliver her on Wednesday, May 20th, at 8am but she decided to arrive by emergency c-section on Tuesday night, May 19th. I saw my OB on Monday and he kept slipping and saying that he'd see me on Tuesday for my delivery. I reminded him several times that my delivery of Anna was scheduled for Wednesday, not Tuesday. (My Mom, Mark and I all laughed about this later, telling the doctor that he knew something we didn't know.)

The next day I woke up with contractions, as usual. I kept my journal and they seemed to be sporadic as before. I had experienced strong, consistent contractions off and on since my 36th week of pregnancy and was put on medication and bedrest because of it so this was nothing new to me. But, by mid-day the contractions didn't slow down. At about 3:45pm I called Mark and told him that he should head home because I was starting to feel painful contractions. I then called my Mom to come be with Ian. Mom got there quickly and Mark and I then left for the hospital right away.

By 5:20pm we were getting checked in at labor and delivery. I was joking around, talking, and breathing through the contractions so well that the nurses didn't believe I was truly in labor and told us that I might be going home. Little did they know! :) As they walked us to an exam room I suddenly felt the urge to push and began to lose blood. Upon a quick exam it was apparent that I was already 10cm dilated and Anna was ready to be born. (I suddenly realized just how close I'd come to getting my wish of a natural birth because had Anna not been breech, it'd been too late for any pain medication and it would have been a very fast labor.) But back to reality. This was critical because Anna was breech and could not enter the birth canal on her own or it'd be very serious.

From that point on the entire experience of birthing Anna was on fast forward. I didn't even have time to sign the hospital waivers and paperwork. They hooked me up to all sorts of monitors and started prepping me for an emergency c-section. They had to get Anna out before she descended into the birth canal on her own. Ironically, one of my attending nurses was the same nurse who saw me through Ian's delivery almost three years prior (and I have a photo of her and I together as a keepsake). It was so comforting to see a familiar face and know that I was in such good hands. They wheeled me to the OR at top speed within minutes of check-in and I was terrified the entire way there. As we entered the OR I prayed for Anna's safe delivery, a healthy baby, and safety for myself.

All my fears were washed away as I heard a familiar sound. The Lord, in His often creative way, let me know that He was right there with me. Tears of joy were brought to my eyes when I heard the song that my Dad and I danced to at my wedding, Rod Stewart's "Have I Told You Lately", was playing in my operating room. From that moment on all I could think about was how excited I was to meet my baby girl...a day early. At 6:22pm Anna Lynn made her grand entrance into our world weighing 8 lbs. 4 oz. and 21 inches long. She was healthy, beautiful, and all ours!

Mark got to assist the nurses with getting her stats, diapered her and got to hold her. He brought her over to me and I got to kiss her and our faces touched. I was released from the hospital on Thursday, which was also Ian's last day of preschool. Mark brought Ian to the hospital to pick us girls up. He wore his 'big brother' t-shirt and was so proud to walk through the hospital telling everyone who passed that Anna was his new baby sister. As soon as we got home he got to hold her on the couch and he beamed with pride and joy. The two of them have had an awesome bond since her first day with us.

Anna's first year was filled with ups and downs as she battled colic, a very sensitive digestive system and gagging issues. Through all the difficult times of Anna's first few months with us, Mark and I both bonded so strongly with Anna in our own way - and that is priceless.

Despite being a very strong-willed and short tempered Little Miss, Anna has grown so much, emotionally and physically, in her first year and is such a happier girl now.

Anna loves to wave (but she waves with the palm of her hand facing herself instead of out), she blinks to greet people, will touch faces to get to know someone or to show acceptance, she has a fake cough she uses to get attention, she is a Daddy's girl - giving him big kisses often, she loves to play with Ian (she adores her brother and he's been an amazing big brother to her) and she attempts to do whatever he is doing, she loves to climb, she loves to dance to music, she loves watching Little Bear, Jack's Big Music Show and Blue's Clues on tv, her favorite thing is her Monkey lovey blanket that goes everywhere with her, her favorite food is Mac N' Cheese baby food, and she is fascinated by our dog Coal and the birds and squirrels who frequent our backyard.

On May 11th she took three steps on her own from the ottoman in the living room over to me and Ian to get her Monkey blanket. As of this past week she also gets quiet and presses her open hands together, holding them up when we pray at meals and bedtime in an attempt to do as we do. She has two teeth on the bottom and four more on the top. She's growing into quite a magnificent baby girl and we are very proud of her.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a very special day because I was able to celebrate with both my babies and Mark. Last year at this time Little Miss was preparing to be born. This year Ian picked out a really cute black and white apron with green bow as my gift. I loved it and have used it several times already.

We went to church and then picked up our favorite after-church-lunch (Taco Bueno) to eat at home as a family. Then, late afternoon we met Mark's family out for dinner. Let me say that I never quite realized just HOW busy restaurants were on Mother's Day...until now.

With a party of ten, including four kids under the age of four, our group was not to be missed. It was an interesting evening and one that taught us fairly "new" parents a valuable lesson. Never dine out on a Hallmark holiday. It's simply crazy.

We've already decided that Father's Day will be celebrated at one of our homes with a casual cookout or potluck dinner so the kids can run wild and all us parents can relax. Overall, it was a nice day and one Mother's Day we will forever remember - with laughter.

In His Time

A while back Mark and I were both quite excited about and ready to make a land purchase early this summer on which to build a home in the next few years. And suddenly, we both began having doubts about that decision. Not only is it a major purchase, it commits us to one specific neighborhood when we aren't entirely thrilled with any particular neighborhood right now.

And upon thinking about our life realistically today and in the next few years, the house we are currently in is all we truly need...and all the square footage I care to keep clean. Or attempt to. Ha! So we have opted to put the entire issue of land and building a home on hold until we are certain that is what God' plan is for us. We know that everything good and right in life is according to His time, and this is turning out to be no different. So we'll wait patiently for His call to wherever He wants us to be. And I'll be happy to retain the convenience of a four minute commute to preschool and church, and a house we call home.