Thank you, Jesus

Great news! We just got a call from our pediatrician and Weston's bloodwork we had done last week came back completely normal. No indication of any enzyme deficiencies at all. They determined that the two previous tests were false positives so we, without a doubt, have nothing to worry about. And no need to even go to the geneticist. Thanks for your prayers for our sweet baby and Thank you Lord!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

While he should have been napping...

...somebody got a hold of the lotion & put it in his hair like Daddy's hair gel. LA Looks, anyone?




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

All the way from "oo-ii-oo" (Ohio)

On Wednesday, BFF Alisha & her son Ethan flew down to visit for a few days! Jackson has been stoked all week about "E" coming to play and of course I have been excited to see Alisha.

Trip highlights:
1. Yes, three carseats can in fact fit into the backseat of my car. Didn't snap a pic to prove it, but that just means we can have three kids without succumbing to a minivan.

2. Alisha gave me a Moby wrap as Weston's baby gift. This thing is AWESOME. Weston loves being so snug in it and I love how secure and truly handsfree it is. Thanks Aunt 'Lisha!



3. Fun day at The Children's Museum. Our zoo trip got rained out so we hit up the museum. Ethan & Jackson ran from exhibit to exhibit and had a ball. Weston snoozed in the Moby most the time.

Mixing up batter for a birthday cake...


This was pre-spanking. Jackson refused to come down for a good 15 minutes despite my threats. He knew what was waiting on him.






Wet heads....





4. Baby Weston's photo shoot attempt...which is nearly impossible with two 2-yr-olds and a cranky subject. I hoped to use Alisha's photography talent to capture pics of West for his birth announcement but not sure if any will work, mainly because of this distraction...






5. Naked playtime outside on a gorgeous fall day! (and in the front yard, no less)










Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

1 Month Old

As I did with Jackson, I plan to take monthly pictures of Weston throughout his first year. However, it seemed cumbersome to wiggle him into a white onesie then attach the number, so I redneck-improvised and just put him in a diaper and stuck the number on his bare chest. We snapped a few dozen pictures and then I realized that while this set-up was easier on the front end, I now had to attempt to painlessly remove a large sticker from my newborns tender skin. Rip it or ease it?
I kinda went 50/50 and got that sucker off with minimal tears. Kinda.

At his appointment, chunky monkey weighed in at 12lb 4oz. He's 23" long, both of which put him in the low 90th percentiles. We think he's built like his daddy and will probably outgrow his big brother!

As a couple of you may know, Weston had an abnormal result for one of the genetic tests that were part of his newborn screening. We had bloodwork re-done last week and got the results back yesterday at his check-up. Based on the results, he still shows a lower than normal GALT enzyme (normal is greater than 60...Weston's was 46). Basically, this test screens for Galactosemia which is a genetic metabolic disorder where the body cannot process lactose into galactose.
Based on having a borderline reading, Weston could possibly have a duarte galactosemia, which is much less severe than classic galactosemia and typically requires little or no dietary changes, and is asymptomatic. Our pediatrician has recommended we see a Pediatric Geneticist but he is fairly confident that if anything, he has a variation of classic galactosemia. I am continuing to breast-feed and we hope to see the geneticist in the next week or so.

As I write this, I'm sitting at the children's outpatient lab waiting for Weston to be called back for bloodwork. They hope to have specific enzyme tests done and results back for our appointment in a few weeks. Pray for easy blood draw & a happy baby this afternoon!








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I love my job

I love being a Mommy. I love being home with my little ones, rain or shine, good days and bad. I love waking them up with kisses and hugs, getting that first smile of the day. I love having special breakfasts on the couch while watching Curious George and I don't even mind the temper tantrum that is a result from not getting to have a special breakfast on the couch. I love wiping sticky fingers, stinky bottoms and drooly faces.
I had mixed feelings about giving up the job that I loved to be at home full-time, but I know with full certainty that this is what the Lord has called me to do. I would not trade this precious time for anything and I absolutely love this season of life.

Deliciously Local

I'm quite obsessed with Groupon lately and have made more than a few impulse buys, some of which I regret. However, last month I purchased a "Sweetness Basket" from a local company called Milk & Honey for $20 (normally $40). Basically, the company delivers a cooler full of fresh, organic, local produce to members on a weekly basis, along with recipes & a week-long meal plan for the goods.

I scheduled my delivery for this week & could not be more impressed! The granola who delivered the produce came in and unpacked the cooler for me, explaining the optimal storage for each item. The items keep coming...romaine lettuce, baby spinach, an eggplant, crimini mushrooms, bartlett pears, ginger gold apples, a bunch of grapes, bananas, a handful of red potatoes, roma tomatoes, some sugar snap peas and ginger. All of it amazingly fresh and blemish-free (they boast about hand-picking the items). Check out these goodies....





Now all I need is to cook up these yummies in order to convince Ben to let me subscribe to weekly "Sweetness Baskets"!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

OCD?

While one would never know it from taking a peek into my house on any given day, I am a very organized person and like everything to be in its proper place. I like my closet to be arranged by color, then sleeve length; my sewing room has fabric neatly folded in baskets; shoes are to be lined up on shoe racks with their mates; the broom in the pantry must be propped against the left wall, never the right.

And isn't it amazing how much kids pick up? Jackson has developed a love for all things orderly & organized. He lines up his matchbox cars in rows, in a very specific order. Don't dare mess with them once they are in place or a meltdown will ensue. He fanatically puts his shoes in the closet as soon as he takes them off and is greatly disturbed if his shoe cubby is occupied with another pair. His pacis must go in the metal tin on his dresser immediately upon waking up to avoid panic. The fridge magnets must be lined up just so, and left that way. And if his hands get dirty & cannot be immediately wiped clean, be prepared for major chaos. Over the weekend, I made him a "parking lot" on the deck for his riding toys. He LOVED having a place for each of them.

Potty Training -- Epic Fail!

So inspired by Jackson's sudden interest in peeing in the potty after waking from his afternoon nap, I decided to bite the bullet & put him in his Lightening McQueen "Big Boy" underwear.  I made a huge deal about keeping Lightening McQueen dry and we went downstairs to play.  Silly me.

Dry Underwear #1:  We headed outside to check the mail.  Of course he can't reach the mailbox, so I had to pick him up and when we got back inside, I noticed my shirt was wet.  It took me about 10 minutes to realize why.  Off goes the wet Lightening McQueens and on goes....

Dry Underwear #2:  A pair of "bulldozer" underpants.  I discuss how we don't want to get our bulldozers wet and if he has to potty, to tell Mommy.  "Okay, Mommy!"  So  we go outside to play....and about 10 minutes later (before I can even mention trying to go potty), he is squatting on the deck and making a puddle.  So we move on to...

Dry Underwear #3:  Blue stripes.  Some friends stop by to bring us dinner so we are playing inside when Jackson comes to me briefly, and denies having to pee when I ask him.  Shame on me for not making him go sit on the potty....because about 15 seconds later, the is standing at the coffee table playing with his cars and he starts trickling, ON my rug.  A puddle. Splashing. We race to the little potty (against his screaming protests) and try to summons at least another drop of pee so we can do the "Potty Dance."  Weston's screaming in the background, Meredith & Parker are probably thinking we are nuts.  No pee in the potty, followed by me practically wrestling him to get a diaper on him. 

So I need a strategy.  I need patience.  I need to wait until the timing is a little better and I can devote myself to teaching him rather than expecting him to teach himself.  I need to order more size 5 diapers.

Happiness...

Clearly still learning the proper use for big boy underwear.




And still learning...




Hanging out with Poppy & cousin Parker




Snoozing in the Bjorn...Successfully dismounted this contraption without waking him up.




Pretending to be Daddy



Love these two!




Weston's first real bath




Pretending to have a sleepover...




"I'm not choking him, I promise!"




Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My Sunshine

"You are my sunshine,
my only sunshine.

You make me happy
when skies are gray.

You'll never know, dear
how much I love you;

Please don't take
my sunshine away."

Ever since Jackson was an infant, I've always sang this song to him every night.  I wanted to create a memory for him so that in years to come, whenever he hears that song, he'll think of me.

Earlier this week, as I was singing to him at bedtime, after I sang, "You'll never know dear, how much I love you", he looked up at me and said, "I love you too, Mommy."  Melt my heart.  He could tell that I loved hearing him say that and how much it meant to me because now every time I sing our song to him, he tells me that he loves me too.  I love being a Mommy.

Labor Day Weekend

As we have for the past 7 years (with the exception of the years we got married & had Jackson), we spent the long Labor Day weekend with Dad & Linda. We used to hit up the beach, but the past couple years have been at their mountain house in Blowing Rock.

When Linda extended the invitation to us in June, we declined since we'd have a newborn and could not fathom travelling. However, Weston proved to be such a good baby that we figured a weekend away would be good for all of us. And Uncle Michael & Aunt Jenn were going to be there and we all were excited for them to meet little Weston. Plus, Poppy & Nanny have lots of baby/toddler gear & toys so that significantly lightens our load of things to pack.







We headed up to the mountains on Saturday morning, stopping once to nurse in a church parking lot and then again at Pizza Hut for lunch. We had a relaxing afternoon playing at the house, and Poppy got Jackson on the 4-wheeler.




Sunday morning after breakfast, Poppy & Nanny took Jackson to Tweetsie to see the "choo-choos" he's been talking about all week. He saw cowboys & indians, got to ride lots of rides, got to ride Tweetsie and even got a bullet shell from the cowboy as a souviner. That afternoon we went to Bass Lake and strolled the boys around, looking at at wildlife, trees and enjoying the gorgeous weather. After dinner, we chilled on the back deck and Poppy taught Jackson how to use a cap gun (like the cowboys at Tweetsie) which we have mixed feelings about...












We came back to Greenville on Monday and spent the evening recovering. Now our new "normal" is here...no more house guests for a few weeks and no trips on the horizon. Just me and my boys hanging out all day, enjoying this precious season of baby cuddles, sticky hands & lots of kisses.

Time for Potty-Training?

As I was changing his diaper this morning, Jackson grabbed his wee-wee, said "I pee-pee on Mommy!", and  pretended to pee on me, complete with the 'psssss' sound effects.  I guess its time to start being hardcore about potty-training.  Tips?!??!

3 Weeks Old

Wow, how can it have already been 3 weeks since our precious Weston was born? We've adjusted pretty well so far and Weston is a chill baby, which is a great balance to our little 2-year-old tornado.

Last night, I weighed Weston on our baby scales and he clocked in at 10lb 5.5oz. That's nearly 3 lbs over his birth weight. He's holding his head up pretty well and can turn it from side to side when on his tummy. He's as strong as an ox and has quite a bit of definition in his quads, calves & biceps (sounds crazy but those itty bitty muscles actually look muscular).

We have had several diaper explosions, most of which required an immediate full bath, which is no walk in the park. We've also both been peed on, no surprise there.

Weston spent his first 3 weeks co-sleeping with us, which was awesome for my beauty sleep but terrible for my nipples which he was practical glued to all night. His first night in the crib he did fine. I, on the other hand, struggled all day after getting up twice to nurse rather than the "mainlining" it to him while dozing back off. Last night, on the other hand, was a struggle and I'm starting to remember the many sleepless nights a parent of an infant has. And since I'm at home all day and can nap (as if!), I try to manage the night-time diapering, soothing & rocking so Ben can get up and go to work well rested.

People always say their second (and following) children get the shaft in terms of pictures taken, entries made in the baby book, milestones noted, etc. and while I swore this wouldn't be the case with my child, it's proving to be so true! I have been terrible about documenting Weston's first 3 weeks of life and I'm regretful.
But its never too late to start!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Chore Boy

The time has come for Jackson to get his first chore. He currently knows how to clean up after himself, pick up toys, put his shoes in the closet, etc. However, these tasks are not chores but rather responsibilities he has. Ben & I have been discussing having J start feeding the dog, but we had yet to institute it as a new rule. We want to instill in Jackson that as a member of our family, he has the responsibility to contribute.

So after catching Jackson yet again sifting through Bella's dog food, I figured there was no better time than the present to train Him on his new chore. The novelty of the whole thing was quite exciting for J but I'm sure it'll wear off sooner than later.

So as of this Wednesday, Jackson is now a contributing member of this family.









- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Party Animals

Bebe came down on Wednesday and since her birthday is right around the corner, I decided we'd throw her a surprise "party". (I use the term "party" loosely, as it was really just us, but as my friend Sally says, if you put a fancy label on an ordinary activity, it instantly makes it special. So true!)

I talked it up all week to Jackson, and he & I baked a super special bday cake on Thursday evening. After dinner, we played with balloons, sang Happy Birthday, blew out candles & ate cake. He was so excited and it's awesome to see things through the eyes of a child.










Today, we decided to take the boys to the Greenville Zoo. We haven't been in several months and despite the heat, we knew Jackson would enjoy going back. He had a blast, and little Weston was an angel & slept almost the entire time.













- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad