March '12 - so far

We were blessed with the help of my mother, who took time off to come help us with the kids while we moved in and got things settled. It was a busy couple days but our place looks more like a home instead of a box landfill.

We've been getting to know our new town, checking in to a local church last Sunday, dining at a couple local eateries, and enjoying the ridiculously nice weather we're having!

Too grown

Can you tell how she feels about hats?

My family

Here is a sneak peek of our new home now that things are a bit settled:

Living room into the dining room

Dining room

Dining room looking at the kitchen

Kitchen

Playroom / Sunroom

And here is little Ham at 1 month:

Baby wearing dad

Faux-hawk

February '12

Tristan had been in talks with a couple of different golf course superintendents regarding assistant positions for a few weeks and we were just in limbo to hear back from the courses. Each one represented a different adventure. There was just so much up in the air: When is the baby going to arrive, which course is going to offer him a job, how soon will be have to move?

After what seemed like forever, the right offer came our way, from Prestwick CC in IL. Two days later, our little Ham joined us on the 9th. All the worrying and questions were finally answered, though many more surfaced. I was in a kind of planner's heaven though, because now I could get down to the details of things, like where to move, when we were going, booking movers and shipping pods, changing addresses, and all that fun (!) stuff.

After Ham was born, we took a couple days to relax at home and just celebrate and recover as a new family of four. Bird loved on her little brother and we loved on the both of them.

The following Thursday we headed on a home hunting trip to IL, complete with our 2 year old and 1 week old. Some may think we're crazy, spending 2 nights in hotel room with these kids so soon after welcoming an addition to the family. All I say to that is, the clock was ticking and we had to find a home sooner than later. We spent a day checking out places we'd found online, through referrals, and using a realtor. Lucky for us, the weather was great and the kids did amazing with all the in and out of the car and being off schedule. We ended up finding a great place, in a pretty cute location and got all the paperwork taken care of all in 2 days.

We came back, and with the help of our great family and friends, we packed up, said our goodbyes and moved to Joliet, IL on March 1st! I was and still am amazed at the outpouring of help from everyone, from meals, to lending a hand with the packing to just stopping by to hold little Ham for a couple hours. We were surrounded by the most amazing people who care for us.

Pre-labor

Ham - 2/9/2012 | 8 lbs. 11 oz. | 21 in. | 12:52 pm 

One-eyed glance | Standard

So in love

"Eye!"

Sister & Brother

Knocked out at the hotel

Father & Son

Uncle time

Where I've been

Here's the deal: at the end of my pregnancy, I was no fun to be around, including on the internet. So I saved everyone the trouble of having to listen to my laments via written word and just hunkered down and waited for the funk to pass and our little boy to get here.

Well, the funk has passed indeed and our little boy is finally here. Albeit, I'm writing about this after he's an entire month old. Don't fret, I shall be recapping the best parts of the time that I wasn't around, including some fun right before our little Ham was born, his birth, and our recent move (!) and new home.

To tide you over, here is a lovely shot of him sleeping this morning, allowing me to write this short post!

Drum roll...

I can't believe I waited a whole week to post this, but on Monday we found out that our ever anticipated second child is a...

BOY!

I won't shame him already by posting the proof of his little bits on the web, but he is indeed a HE and we are ready for the adventure of raising a son in addition to our beautiful little girl.

Going into the ultrasound appointment, I was really nervous and a little scared (I don't know why!) and after the tech told us, I shed a tear of disbelief and happiness and continued to say "We're having a boy!" for the rest of the week at random intervals of time.

Now any recommendations for "boy" clothes, toys, etc. can be sent my way immediately. I can't wait!

The mundane

I have missed this little space in all the time that I took off and was sick. Even though I feel better now, I still have trouble with what to let out on my little blog.

Lately, things have been really standard around here: walks, ice cream treats, early bed times, busy summer at work for T, playground and zoo trips and general, lazy fun summer for me and Bird.

The mundane always seems so silly to share but that is basically what is going on around here.

Here's some shots of our days to brighten things up around here:

1. shopping for new baby | 2. salon day and new haircut | 3. shoe shopping | 4. craft show booth

The big return

I know I know.

I've been gone.

And with good reason. We're expecting our second child!

With that came the sickness. Not normal morning sickness. Hyperemesis gravidarum. Three trips to the ER. A 2.5 day stay on the Labor & Delivery floor.

Things are much better now (prayers are always welcome for continued health) and we are "over the moon" excited to become parents of two!

Because I can't not talk about it

We found out March 6^th. Very early but very clearly.

In a matter of 10 days, things went from normal to awesome to normal again. But a different normal. A new normal.

One day, it was there. And now its not.

You were wanted. We miss you already, but we'll be OK. A different OK, forever changed -- but OK.

I choose to talk about it because I know this is normal. Not a great situation, but far more prevalent than people wish to acknowledge. I know I'm not alone. That I am one of many that experience, this but I won't do it quietly. I know we are not the only family that is going through this or will go through this. So I talk, when I'm ready. And I listen to others and their stories because that is what we need. To talk and to be listened to.

For the rest of the afternoon, after the news sunk in, we played with Bird, so so grateful that we have her. All her laughter, smiles, giggles, curls, steps, kisses, everything, made it feel OK. We are so very blessed and know that God has an amazing plan for our little family. His plan, His timing.

We are ready for the ride.

Ease into the week - more bits

Bird and I were under the weather this weekend, so we relaxed and were tended to by Nurse T. It was not easy to take care of two sick ladies but he managed very well. There was lots of napping, many movies on Netflix, fun foods to make us sickies feel better and lots of hugs. T is now sick himself.

***

We did get a chance to go visit Enomhen, who was in town for a surprise visit to meet her little sister Vikki's 2 week old baby girl, Johanna. How I missed my little Bird when I held teeny Johanna!

Aunt and niece - via Enomhen's flickr

***

I'm really looking forward to feeling better this week, working on some shop updates, having play time with friends (for Bird and me!) and being that much closer to Spring! I had a great mail weekend, receiving my new biz cards (photos to come!), tons of hoops for new orders, and new item labels. I'm chomping at the bit to get creative but I'm trying not to be too ambitious this week as I'm still recovering, so it might just end up being a "play time, all the time" and "don't get the house too dirty" kind of week. Wish me luck.

***

Tomorrow we celebrate T's 30th birthday, so leave some love for him and I'll let you know how the celebration goes. I can't believe he's going to be 30. Where did it all go? I still remember us in college, the early twenties, and now...30, already? That means I'm not too far behind, but I'm still behind for now and enjoying my last few years of the twenties. I think I found him the perfect present too but you'll just have to wait and see.

***

Did you happen to catch my guest post over at Good Times Never Seem Sew Good? Caroline took a little vacation and a few of us stormed the blog with goodness in her absence. Take a peek!

happy monday!

What I wore Wednesday...and why

Lots of bloggers show off what they wore on Wednesdays and I thought I'd jump in and show you what I wore in my hair today and why.

Don't mind the smudges in the mirror, c/o Bird

I have a serious love in my heart for children, babies especially, as anyone who knows me can attest to. Becoming a mother was one of the greatest joys of my life and I love the moments I get to share with my little Bird.

One of my new blog friends, Crystal has been writing about her best friend that just lost her baby at 23 weeks gestation and about another friend that lost her 4 month old the same day. I cannot begin to imagine the heartache these mothers and families are going through right now. I'm crying just typing this out.

The Staats, that lost their little girl Maddie, asked for people to wear bows today in honor of Maddie to remember her on the day of her burial service. I didn't really have any bows, but today I adorned my hair and the hair of my daughter with rosebud pins to remember Maddie and all the other kids that we lost too soon; the pins became little reminders to pray and be thankful of the time we have with each other and here on earth to do God's will. It was just such a little thing but it kept me prayerful all day, kept me thankful and reminded me to extend grace because you really never know what someone else is going through.

 Bird's hairpin - via Flair in Her Hair (my friend Andrea's shop!); my hairpin - via heart of light

Because I never told the story

She arrived on the scene at this time last year.

This is Bird's birth story - might be a little TMI for some, just a warning.

January 17th 2010, I was just trying to hold it all in. Literally. We were at my parents house to celebrate my oldest brother's 36th birthday with a family dinner before he returned to Philadelphia on a flight the next day. I apparently looked like I was struggling, my mom told me later. It had been a kind a rough day already, with my tummy seizing up, regularly but not painfully, over the past couple weeks and especially the last 12 hours.

We headed home after handing out hugs and receiving a quick, "Don't have that baby on my birthday!" and tried to get some sleep. T and I thought we were going to bed early, calling 10-10:30 pm early for those days when sleep was evading me, and therefore the both of us.

Around midnight, I just couldn't sleep anymore and I didn't know why. About half an hour of tossing and turning on my part left me with one answer. I had to go. #2. That's right.

I was feeling a few pains and thinking they might be contractions but didn't want to wake T for nothing, so I went to do my business and kinda kept time on my own. After some "success" but still feeling a pressure to produce and some pain still cycling through, I thought I better wake T up. I didn't get to say "It's time!" or anything that dramatic but I did shake him and mutter something to the effect of, "I think this is it." This was around 1:30 am.

We started to really time things out and all the while I just wanted to stay in the bathroom, on my special seat and never leave, because the pressure was really getting to me. We waited until they were so many minutes apart regularly and then waited an hour from that time (around 2:30 am) before we decided it was time to call the doctor and head out. There were walks around the living room, bags to finish packing, and coffee (yes coffee, that I am now thankful that T stopped for!) to be made. About 3 am we called my doctor and told her we were heading in and that I was in labor. Lucky for us the hospital was 7 minutes away and it was the middle of the night. There were definitely a few red lights run. We got to the hospital and T parked and helped me walk inside, which was a feat in itself, with the snow and ice covered parking lot and my contractions growing closer and stronger every minute.

It was 3:30 am when I finally got up to the triage, they checked me and I was already at a 6. The nurses were surprised and began to get me ready for my delivery. I was asked what I wanted to do about pain management. I told the truth: I'm not good with pain but I really want to try a natural birth. I would regret that in about an hour, but when all was said and done I'm happy I had a drug free birth.

For the next two hours it was a roller coaster of breathing, focusing, vomiting, back rubs, position changes, groans and grunts, and calming words from T and my amazing nurse Mary. I can honestly say I never imagined myself in half the "positions" I was in for comfort, with so much of my person exposed, but in the moment I think you cease to care about modesty!

Around 5 am I really felt the need to push and my doctor still wasn't there. I was asked if I wanted to wait for her and thought to myself, "I don't think that is up to me, I think you should ask this little person who wants out. I don't care who catches them, but they are ready to say hello!" Within minutes of that, my doctor showed up, swooped in, I was in position and pushing.

About 20-25 minutes later, I was asked if I wanted to look down at my daughter. I was so confused because a) this whole time I thought I was carrying a boy (just a guess) and b) I was too focused on pushing to want to check anything out. But there she was.

January 18, 2010, 5:30 am, 19.5 inches, 7 lbs. 2 oz.

T cut the cord and he brought her to me and everything else kind melted away as the doctors finished up their work down below and T just smiled at me holding our little lady.  As the staff faded out of the room and they periodically came to check on me before moving us to our recovery room, it got so quiet and our little family of 3 could just be, before the phone calls and announcements and congratulations.

It was just us. Three birds.

No sleep

After three days of sleeping off and on all day long following my wisdom tooth extraction, my sleep patterns are all messed up.

Last night I was up until about 4:30 am without a single yawn. I finally shut everything down and attempted to sleep and then T was up half an hour later to get ready to go to his conference out of town today. Bird woke up with him.

I was finally able to get her back to bed, T on the road and myself back to sleep by 5:30 and Bird let me sleep in until 9:30. Mini victory.

Right now, I'm lusting after this bedding to hopefully lull me back to a normal sleep schedule

Found via papernstitchblog.com - martin bedding in citrus by unison on nest living

4 less teeth

2 days post op and all I want to do is this:

Available here

T has been such a lifesaver these past couple days taking on full care of Bird and myself. He's been doling out my meds, making us all our meals, keeping Bird on schedule and sneaking a nap or two for himself along the way.

About the whole getting my wisdom teeth out situation: I made a big deal out of nothing. I'm recovering fine and despite the nausea from the pain meds, which seems to be cured by sleeping (darn!), things are pretty normal around here.

--

In other random news, we finally have a walker! Not as early as we first predicted, but our little Bird has surprised us and started toddling around on her own the last couple of days. Add to that her ever adventuresome nature and want to climb and jump off of chairs and I really have my hands full over here.

--

I can't believe Bird will be 1 in 10 days. Trying not to freak out.

Black Friday

Bird hasn't been feeling well all day and with our ever growing distaste for large crowds, we opted to stay in for most of the day and just relax. The house got cleaned, Bird got cuddled, and we decided to get a new wireless router due to the wonkyness from the other night. Yea for Black Friday sales! We ended the night with a snot nosed baby and a mini marathon of True Blood.

happy weekend!

don't forget, 25% off in my shop til Monday night - GANDTBFCMBLOG

Teeth: eruption, extraction, correction

Bird is teething. No one is sleeping.

I am missing a tooth. 14 of my teeth have fillings. You do the math.

I got a new cavity filled yesterday in less than 30 minutes. I was stunned by the dentist's speed and accuracy. I took the numbing needle like an old pro (see above.)

I am getting my wisdom teeth out January 6th. Sympathy e-cards can be sent here. I'm practicing my counting down from 10 to make sure I get it right at surgery time.

SGS Dedication + present reveal

Last weekend we had the pleasure of seeing this little bundle get dedicated.

K and B reading a letter to SGS

Their letter to her was so touching and honest and it was an amazing moment to witness. Little SG behaved so well during the ceremony and looked so beautiful in her gown. Afterward, we were invited back to their house for food, drinks and good times with friends as we celebrated together. Of course there was cake and presents too! Here is a peek at the little gift I crafted especially for her:

Custom belt with matching pouch for all her baby bits and things

Cause she's always on my mind

Since becoming a mother in a great community alongside many of my friends that have also become first time moms, when I'm not thinking about my little Bird, I'm doting on, praying for, and wondering about my friends' little ones.

Little Julia Cook has been on my mind a lot since she first appeared on the scene in late September. And because of that I thought I'd share a little prayer request that her parents have for her.

Take a moment, I know I have.




Check out the Cook's blog to follow more of Julia's story and the adventure this amazing family is on.

Little bits

I am exhausted.*

Bird has been waking up in the middle of the night every night since we went to visit T's parents back in early October. I can't figure it out. She shouldn't be hungry. She knows how to get back to sleep on her own. But every night for weeks now it is like we're back to square one. It is affecting the rest of our day because Mom is no fun when she is tired/cranky/ready to snap from lack of sleep.

I'll get over it.

--

My teeth hurt. Again. I'm 49% serious when I say I'm thinking of getting them all taken out at 27. Either that or I can never look at Coke/candy/anything other than water again. It's that annoying. I'm almost jealous of Bird in that she has no teeth to rot away with sweet sweets. (side note: She still has no teeth! Where are they?)

I have a dentist appointment on Monday and I'm sure they will tell me about 5 of my teeth are rotten (have a cavity) but I think it is just so they can see Bird more often since she is my sidekick and accompanies me every time.

Again, I'll get over it.

--

Don't forget to enter the giveaway. No one has yet, so your odds are great for winning. Just pointing out the brightside.


*No I am not growing another person...yet.

Happy Halloween!

Our little Bird as a Halloween turkey! Hope the holiday was fun for you all as well.

1. Playing before church 2. On the windshield

The Lates

I was gone for about a month from this space and many things got accomplished in my absence, in no particular order (warning - most of these pictures feature Bird):

A visit up north to see Grandma + Grandpa W and a day trip to the Dow Gardens

Bird got her hair straightened in another fit of my boredom

We cheered on our alma mater against our rival U of M (still undefeated, so proud to be a Spartan!)

Our little Bird turned 9 months old!

I started an Etsy shop that will launch November 1st.

I had lots of outings with lady friends during the day, some baby bounce story time at the library, and a trip to the zoo

Also, T + I celebrated our 3 year anniversary in our college town and we got an offer on our house, now for the paperwork to start!


I definitely enjoyed my down time but I'm so glad to be back.

Silence, interrupted

I just had to share an "Amen!" moment when I read Jess's opinion post about the division and judgement that goes on between breastfeeding moms and non-breastfeeding moms. There has apparently been another social media explosion in the debate after Similac announced a recall on a small batch of their formula a few days ago. It's really sad how some mothers will get at each other when we are all just trying to navigate parenthood and make the best choices we can for our children.