I have two kids now!

At the rest stop on the way to Dallas. I'm amazed that I have two kids now! I'm praying that we are always a close family, despite any differences we have or will have. I love it!

Funny Words From Zachary

• This morning Scott made a comment about wanting to understand why the train puzzle that lights up and makes noise, does so when the puzzle is not complete and we flip light switches at that time. So I said, "howstuffworks.com or wiki how?"

Zachary says, "A wiki cow?"

• Zachary- "I have a beautiful joke!"

Just Lion Around

Adelyn can't build castles yet but Zachary sure likes kissing her head, singing to her, patting her back, pulling her fingers, and just hanging out near her. I'm so excited about watching them interact together over the years.

1st Gum Chewing

I told Zachary for some strange reason every time he asked for gum, that he could have some when he turned 3. I don't know why I picked 3. I guess it still sounded very far off. So of course he remembered. He brought it up all the time. "When I turn 3 I can have gum". Yes yes the time is approaching. So it happened. Zachary turned 3 and as I promised, he got gum. Here is his first attempt. He did pretty well! Much better than I expected!

Happy 3rd Birthday Zachary!

I had a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday party this year. We had Mickey Mouse decorations and a cake too! All of my friends got Mickey Mouse frisbees as a party favor. I'm really happy I got to spend the day with my family and friends. I told Mommy that I had a great time.



I also brought banana bread muffins to my class at school. Evan wasn't there that day but I got to share them with Sophia, Abby and Oscar. And my teacher Mrs. Angela.

Adelyn's First Trip to Sea World

Mommy and Daddy took Zachary and me to this place with lots of water and marine life. They call it Sea World. I don't remember any of it. I was asleep in the sling the whole time. Apparently I'm going to like it later on when I get bigger. Zachary showed us the map so we knew where to go :)

Biking With Daddy

Ride Your Bike- to the tune of Row Your Boat
Ride ride ride your bike safely down the street.
Wear a helmet, use the brakes and pedal with your feet.


I'm getting pretty good at my tricycle. Soon I will be like Daddy and go on long bike rides with him. And Mommy too even though her bike is more than half her age. Watch us ride!

1st Time Fishing

I've been asking Mommy if we can go fishing since last summer when we went to the lake. Well, Mommy, Adelyn, and I went and stayed at Gramsie and Paw Paw's house in April while Daddy was on a work trip and Paw Paw took me fishing!

I was a little bit afraid when the fish would bite my line, but Paw Paw showed me how to hook them and reel them in. Actually he helped me a lot. It was a lot of fun though and I've been asking to go again! I have a new pole that I got for my birthday and I can't wait to use it.

Adelyn's First bath at Home

Since I don't play in the dirt yet and I'm always hidden in the sling that Mommy wears, I didn't have a bath for a couple of weeks. I think Mommy was waiting for that cord to come off too. Gramsie and Mommy gave me a bath while Zachary had his own bath. I didn't like getting my tummy washed but I was happy to have the comfy outfit afterward. Zachary really wanted me to go in the big bathtub but I'm definitely not ready for that one yet!

Learning a Language

While stopping at Babies R Us in Katy on our way to The Woodlands, we looked at the toy section. Zachary stopped at every other toy and said,

"Oh How cute is this!". Even at the large refil pack of bubbles.

When arriving at Gramsie and Pawpaw's house and seeing his new room...

"Oh what a nice new room" (with drama in his voice) and seeing a toy bus he remembered...

"Oh a bus, how wonderful" (still with drama).

And while visiting Gramsie's classroom (otherwise known as Mrs. Sylvester's classroom) of boys and girls in second grade who were not following directions very well...

"Guys, wisten to Gwamsie", but upon no response marches to the front of the room and says again, "wisten to Gwamsie!!".

And while staying in the house found a point to blame a toy mess or something broken on his friends about 200 miles away back at home in San Antonio.

"Did you take this out?"
"No, Meredif (Meredith) did that".
"Here's your snack"
"Um, Awelwia (Aurelia) is not going to take it?"

Chanting 5 Little Monkeys

5 Little Monkeys jumpin on de bed. He fell off and bumped his head. Zachary called the doctor and the doctor said, "no more monkeys jumpin on de bed". And 5 Little Monkeys jumpin on de bed...

And singing "Splish Splash"

"Spwish spwash I was takin a baff. All on a Sa day night! Rub dub wewaxing in de tub. Finking evewyfing was awwight. Well I stepped a de tub and put my feet on de floor. Wapped towl na na na na na opened de door. And spwish spwash. I fogot about my baff. I went and put my dancin soes on!"

Firsts for Adelyn

I didn't do the best job of remembering "firsts" for Zachary for the first two months...sorry Buddy. I'm sure you win with pictures though...so I'm trying to keep up with Adelyn's.

On Sunday March 28th (day before the actual due date :), Adelyn went to the Olive Garden for her first outing at a restaurant. She rode in the zolo sling but didn't stay in the whole time. It was easier for Mommy to eat while Pop2 and Granna held her.

After the meal we went and had pictures taken in the bluebonnets next to autozone! The amount of rain in the fall sure paid off! San Antonio has beautiful wildflowers this year!

She had her second restaurant trip to the same restaurant for Gramsie's birthday on April 2 which also happened to be Good Friday and the weekend she came to visit for Easter.

Adelyn's first trip to church happened to be Easter Sunday on April 4 in La Coste at Fr. Paul's church. Gramsie and Marilyn also accompanied and it sure was nice to have all of those loving hands to help entertain our beautiful children :)

Her first trip to The Woodlands happened yesterday, April 12! Scott is in New York all week doing testing on software for his work trip. I was not intrigued with the idea of staying by myself all week so I made the trip with the two kids. I never would have even dreamed of traveling by myself when Zachary was born. We didn't make the trip without Scott until he was 7 months....ah, first born. I thought about also bringing Sandy, but then decided against it for a few reasons, one of them being I would have been crazy to think that I could do my first trip with two kids also with a dog sticking his nose in my face in the front seat. We stopped in the nice rest area with a playground just outside of Seguin and then again in Katy at the Babies R Us. Adelyn slept almost the whole time. Zachary listened and danced to music with me and read books for the first half of the trip. The second half he was playing restaurant with himself, his toys, and the imaginary animals and friends back there. Apparently his two close friends Aurelia and Meredith were with him back there as well. I love kids' imaginations.

More "firsts" to come :)

2 Week Update for Adelyn

Adelyn was two weeks on Tuesday the 30.

For the first week she pretty much slept. I had to wake her to eat and try to get her to eat for at least 10 minutes during a feeding.

She saw the pediatrician exactly at 1 week. She weighed 5 lb 9 oz which was one oz over her birth weight. We did find out through a second biliruben test that she had mild jaundice but the Dr. said the best thing was to feed her often to get the breast milk flowing through her system.

We took her in over the weekend b/c she had been stuffy sounding for a few days. No RSV or ear infection. Wasn't much we could do except give her the Little Noses saline. 6 lbs 2 oz!

We were back for her 2 week check up on Tuesday. 6 lbs 6 oz! Good growing! The Dr. thinks that since I'm not able to get any mucus out of her nose with the syringe and with a few other symptoms showing he thinks she has reflux. I've thought that too. She spits up on her back if we don't burp her. He wanted to try a few things before giving medicine. One I was already doing which is inclining her bed. We'll see... She goes back in 3 weeks. Other than reflux she's doing great!

Baby Adelyn's Arrival

Adelyn Sophia Miller
5 lbs 8 oz 19 in
March 16, 2010

Adelyn has finally arrived! We have a new sweetheart (or sweet pea as Zachary says) to love and enjoy.

The Labor Story
Labor did not go as expected and was actually kindof abnormal. I had been 2.5 cm since I was 25 weeks. I stayed at that for many more weeks. I know for sure up to 31. As I progressed through the later part of the 3rd trimester I noticed a lot more soreness. As it turned out, I was 5 cm dialated at 37 weeks. I remembered contracting on walks just a little bit, but it had not been anything to put me into active progressing labor. I knew from my good friend that there are some women who walk around for a couple of weeks like this so I was only half way concerned about getting to the hospital on time when I did actually go into labor. The Dr. and I decided I should go into the hospital, but on the way I did some thinking (like a 2 minute drive) and decided it wasn't the right day for this and I wanted her to grow another week. Dr. was fine with this. Scott and I talked before my appointment the following week. If I was at a 7 or 8 we would go ahead and have the baby that day. I didn't think I had dialated any more although looking back I should have thought otherwise because I did experience more soreness especially after walking on the riverwalk that Saturday. So when I got to my appointment at 10:30 AM on March 16th, 2010 I found out I was almost 8 cm. I called Scott and drove myself to the hospital. Dr. has time to deliver babies in between morning and afternoon patients.

My mom was with Zachary which worked out nicely. She was on her spring break. Dad had driven in on his way home from Laredo the previous week but had taken off the day before to get some things done at his house which was quite understandable after not being home for 3 weeks.

At the hospital I had to park on the roof of the parking garage. Busy day in labor and delivery. That gave me time to start contracting some more. Dr.'s exam and the walking was enough to stimulate the contractions to put me into that active labor (finally). I buzzed into labor and delivery and they opened the doors for me to come in. I was assigned a nurse and immediately taken into a room. There were 2 nurses and one student nurse. One seemed to be in a hurry. I guess being nervous that I was almost to a 10?? I was given my hospital clothes. Afterward the hurried nurse anxiously tried to get me to sit down in the bed. I first, feeling a bit anxious myself, asked her if I could just walk around to progress a little more. She kept telling me no and that the best thing to do was sit down so they could get the IV going. When I finally got through to her that I didn't know what exactly the procedure was and that I would be a lot more comfortable knowing, she stopped and explained to me. So I grabbed my IPOD and while I was getting hooked up I started to feel frustrated because labor had not gone how I expected it thus far. My Dr. came in to check on me as I was tearing up. She rubbed my shoulders and told me it would be okay and thankfully the baby was 38 weeks. I've always been thankful for her encouraging words when I do need them. She stepped out to go next door to deliver another baby while I progressed. I knew it would be fine. I think I was getting more nervous about the pain getting suddenly bad after not experiencing any. The nurse told me to ask questions for anything.

Scott wasn't long before he arrived. I was very glad he was there to listen to me vent feelings. He was also encouraging with words and held my hand as the contractions progressed. He was also very excited because there was a monitor with data for the contractions! A computer with data. His second language. So he enjoyed himself saying, "that one was a 6! or that one was a 9!". It was also nice for me to have numbers to compare to pain. So good teamwork there. He and my IPOD were the best comforters. And the ice chips were nice to avoid that dry mouth which was definitely there.

The nurse asked if I wanted any drugs or epidural and let me know that it was the final offer. I was hoping to avoid a catheter. That was the main motivation for going natural however ridiculous some people may think that is. Last time I had the epidural and of course a catheter. Unfortunately I couldn't urinate for 6 hours afterward b/c of muscles spasms. That was extremely annoying. And I had three close friends who went natural and had very good experiences which was also another motivation. "So just so you know, if you're screaming at me later to give you something I can't" the nurse said. Yes yes...

Getting to a 9 was not so awful. Contractions to me feel like extreme gas pains X 10 that almost seem never ending but soon subside. I was able to bear it but going from that 9 to a 10 is the real questioner of why I thought natural might be a good idea. Pains change to jabbing sharp feelings that are almost constant. So I ask what I'm suppose to do as I move my head from side to side. It's at that point that you're like, "oh wait....how do those breathing techniques go? I think I'm suppose to be breathing". Next time I will request a reminder ahead of time. The deep breaths actually help. I guess they relax your muscle tension. I wish I would have remembered that when I first arrived. The nurse said I could push at a 9 1/2. "Do you want to push?" Did I want to? I didn't want to do much of anything at that point. "Am I suppose to?" "Tell me when you want to". "I don't know when I want to". "When you have a contraction" Well everything just hurt."Was that one?" "No" "Okay tell me when I have one". And none of my words were calm at this point so you can picture them more angry or frustrated. So the nurse gave me instructions. Over time pushing helped the pain slightly subside for a few seconds. I guess Adelyn was coming faster than she though b/c then at one point she said, "English don't push" which makes you want to kick them in the face. I'm sorry but at some point after you progress with pushing your muscles feel the contraction and automatically go. So the second time she told me not to push (b/c the doctor was not there yet!) I yelled "I can't help it!". And in my head thinking, I'm in a labor and deliver room in a hospital. Someone here has to be able to catch the baby. From what I understand my Dr. was finishing up and was running down the hall to come deliver Adelyn. She gave very good instructions to Scott and the nurse to help me push and also to me. When she was out the pain completely left and I could hear her beautiful little cry. And Proud Daddy Scott cut the cord this time. I was impressed. We had signed up for cord blood donation. There wasn't a lot but it hopefully will still be used for research.

The whole thing started at 12:00 and she was here at 1:52 PM.

We got to enjoy her for an hour before the nurse had to take her to the nursery. Scott asked to hold her before she had to go. He comforted Adelyn by singing to her and carrying her around the room. Mom and Zachary missed seeing her by about a minute. They looked through the nursery window. I got to spend time with Zachary briefly in the delivery room and then in our recover room upstairs. On our way upstairs the nurse grabbed my tray for lunch. It was pizza! "Oh yeah, it's pizza Tuesday isn't it?" I said. She laughed remembering that I had been here for 3 weeks in December.

Zachary had his new "Big Brother" shirt on. He was very anxious to see Adelyn. He also was very excited about his new "Big Brother present" he got. Harold the helicopter to add to his Thomas the train collection. I knew he wouldn't make it in my hospital room for 3-4 hours while Adelyn was in the nursery. Zachary shared my pizza lunch with me. Scott took him home in the evening and later the plan was when my mom got home he would come back for a bit.

I had 3 great nurses for recovery the whole time I was there. Kristan, Rachel, and Jennifer. It's especially necessary to have a good night shift nurse. Mom took lots of pictures while she was there after they brought Adelyn back. They had given her the first bath in the nursery. She looked very comfy swaddled in her hat. I thought she looked like Scott. My very good friends Mollie and Sally came by after their own children were in bed. It was great to have good company during recovery. It was especially helpful to ask all of those questions I had forgotten since I had Zachary. Scott came back while they were still there, but they left shortly afterward. It was nice for the three of us to have some quiet bonding time. Part of me wanted him to stay but part of me wanted him to go home and get a good nights sleep to help me the next day. Who can sleep well in a hospital bed let alone the fabulous pull out couch for the husbands/family?

That was the first day of Adelyn's life. We've begun our new journey as a new family.

Sling Practice

Words from Zachary's World

My friend Meredith came over to my house in January. Her mommy, Ms. Mowee (Mollie) brought over a sling for us to practice holding babies and amiales. I'm practicing for when Baby Adelyn comes out. What do you think? Am I doing a good job?

Scooter Practice

Words from Zachary's World

Watch my scooter riding. It's really fun! I'll tell you how I felt about it.

Come Back Bear!

Words from Zachary's World

In January my Mommy, my Granna, my two friends Aurelia and Meredith and their mommies came to the zoo with us. One of the first amiales we decided to see was the bear. He didn't seem very social that morning so we tried to coax him into coming back.




Come Back Bear!

37 Weeks

Looks like I haven't updated the pregnancy in a while!

We are 37 weeks! Great job little baby! Good growing!

As of 37 weeks and 1 day Adelyn weighed on average, 5 lbs 11 oz. Which means she gained one oz more than a lb in two weeks! Better than she had been. She's still moving and pushing on my hips to make herself more comfortable in there. I also found out at the doctor that I'm dialated to 5 cm now. I'm not contracting so there is no telling when the rest of the active labor process will begin. My round ligaments are definitely sore, especially in the morning.

It's all very exciting! I'm looking forward to meeting her face to face.

Zachary's Memory

Toddlers sure remember more than we would ever think. I have a couple of updated stories.

About a week and two days ago we were driving on Loop 1604 to someone's house for playgroup and we rarely ever go that far up the loop. I missed my exit for Bitters and had to make a U-turn. Zachary was asking if we were almost there so I told him that I had made a mistake and missed my exit. We got there though.

Two days later we coincidentally happened to be driving up that part of the loop again on our way to New Braunfels. Scott was with us this time. "You missed your exit" Zachary said when we passed the Bitters exit. I was impressed. Scott didn't have a clue what he was talking about.

"He's right" I told Scott. "We were driving up here Friday and I missed the exit and had to make a U-turn. "Great job Zachary" I told my son. I was proud and impressed that they can remember landmarks so well. Little ones are so observant.


Tonight Zachary was playing with two whales in the bathtub. One was a Shamu style whale that we got at Sea World. The other was a beluga whale.

"Where did we get this?" Zachary asked me holding up the beluga whale.
"We got that at a toy store in Austin" I told him. That was about a year ago.
"With Brian and Kevin?" (Scott's brothers)
"Yes" I told him. Well, actually Kevin wasn't there but now we always see them together so it's assumed.
"And then we got ice cream afterward?"
"Oh....yeah....yeah we did" I told him remembering.

He was two or barely two....yeah, I'm impressed. I'm learning a lot about little kids.

Isn't this the Cutest Thing?

Well since we're preparing to have a baby and all, I put a lot of emphasis on how Zachary was once my baby and was inside my tummy and had "Mommy Milk" and all of that so he knows that I once did all of these things for him too. And then I always say, "and now you're a big boy so you can help and do big boy things like play with trains, ride scooters, etc".

Zachary found a picture of him from when he was about 1 or 2 weeks old. He's sleeping in the bassinet in a sleeper and a blanket pulled up half way with his arms above his head. He very excitedly said, "Look Mommy! I was a baby once! I slept in that bed! And I drank Mommy milk! And now I'm a big boy!". He said it all with so much enthusiasm.

And to conclude his sweet acknowledgment he then pointed to his picture and said, "Isn't this the cutest thing?"

Rockwall You're Making a Mess!

Maybe we should consider writing all of the Rockwall stories down to compile into a children's book :) I'm continuing to enjoy Zachary's imagination with his brown kitty.

Yesterday morning Zachary got up and came into our room. We asked him what Rockwall was doing this morning. He said, "Um, he's in the kitchen". He then sprung to his feet and said, "And he's making a mess!". Zachary ran out of our room and shouted, "Rockwall, stop that! You are making a mess! Oh no!". When he returned to our room a few moments later he explained to us the kitchen dilemma. Rockwall made a mess and was throwing food from the cabinets.

He also seems to be an outdoorsy kitty. We are often told that he is outside in the backyard. Sometimes even playing with Sandy. I'm glad. Everyone knows how I feel about animals shedding around the house :)

Stay tuned in for more adventures with Rockwall and Zachary.

34 Weeks!

My bedrest has been lifted to a new level. I'm allowed to get out a lot more and do some walking around. My legs and ligaments have been very sore from all of the lack of exercise. So I'm walking around the block a few times a week starting this week of course. I feel so much better. I've been stretching every day throughout the pregnancy and I would probably have felt awful if I had not been. The walking is really helping a lot. And it's not making me contract either :)

Adelyn will be weighed again next week. If you ask me, she's had her own exercise routines down for a while.

3 weeks till full term! 3 more weeks after that till the due date! If we make it to the due date :)

Zachary's Kitty

My 2 1/2 year old now has his own kitty. No, it's not a living one and no it's not stuffed either. One day out of the blue he told Scott and I that he has a kitty. We didn't see one. We knew he didn't have a stuffed one either. We then realized after looking at his empty yet opened hand, that his kitty was imaginary.

So I asked him what it's name was. "Rockwall", he said as if he'd known for ages. Very creative name. You would expect him to say "Kitty" or something. My only guess as to where he came up with that name is from gymnastics. They have a mini rock wall that they climb there.

I've also learned that Rockwall is brown, very soft and likes to play with our real dog Sandy in the backyard. He also prefers to sleep on the couch as opposed to Zachary's bed. Some nights I am even asked if I can put Rockwall on the couch with me after I tuck Zachary in bed.

Zachary also allows me to pet his little kitty which I am delighted to do because as many know, I'm highly allergic to cats. I'm one of those people who can walk into someone's house and know they have a cat without seeing it. I start to itch all over, get a stuffy nose, sometimes a headache, and itchy throat and sometimes sneezing also. Depends on how hairy and how much dander is hanging out in the house. So perhaps Zachary, knowing that we will never own a real kitty, has come up with his own way to enjoy cats.

I'm not sure about all of Zachary's imaginary origins but I sure enjoy hearing about them and participating in them. :) I would post a picture, but well, yeah don't have one of this kitty.

Who Dat!?????

I've been waiting to see the Saints make it/win the super bowl since I was about 4 years old. I remember Dad watching on TV and saying, "they lost again". Nice job boys. We're proud and glad for the city of New Orleans. It just makes gumbo taste so much better. Hope to see you there again next year.

33 Weeks!

We are now 33 weeks and 7 weeks left till the due date!

Today the appointment went great. I ate all morning long and Adelyn kicked and turned during her non stress test so they could get good readings while I relaxed in the recliner with the monitors strapped to my stomach.

I next got to relax and watch her on the sonogram with the technician who herself was quite amused at Adelyn's constant movements which included her waving her hands in front of her face. It actually looked like she was trying to get them in her mouth.

I'm getting a lot of sono pictures since we are doing these things once a week! Zachary is getting more excited by the day. He says, "I miss Adelyn. I love her". We put the infant seat in my car and he's thrilled that she gets to sit next to him :)

Mommy You Leaved!!

Saturday night, Scott and I went to a friend's wedding here in town. It worked out well that my mother was still here b/c Zachary wasn't feeling that great. He preferred to play with her anyhow.
So I ask him if it's okay if we go to a wedding while he stays to play with Gramsie. He says "yes".

We leave at 4:00 PM, attend the wedding and a good chunk of the reception, and arrive home again at 9:00. It was a nice date for us.

Zachary was still awake when we got home. He was sitting with my mom. When we got him settled into bed, sang a song, and was about to do prayers he said, "Mommy I was mad at you. You leaved".

As content as he had been with my mom I guess he still missed me. And that makes my heart melt. I'm so glad he is learning to verbally express his feelings. He told me another time. We discussed me leaving after I told him I was leaving. We also talked about how I always came back. Just like at Mom's Day Out and after I used to work. He was eventually satisfied and went to sleep.

Getting the Most out of Winter

Mommy found this cap in a box of my old baby clothes. My Uncle Brian and my Paran (Uncle Berchman) wear caps like this too sometimes so I thought it would be good to wear it. Especially now because it's still cold in San Antonio. We usually don't have much winter but this year we are having a lot of rainy and cold days. Cold being relative...all of those people that live north of the Panhandle seem to think we've never seen winter here.

Don't I look good?

I Think I Can!

If you are turned off my stories about nostril mucous and such, this blog entry is not for you.

The other day Zachary wanted to read "The Little Engine that Could". We've had this book since he was about two months old, but he's never picked it up much to read which is surprising considering his love of trains.

This past week while my mother in law and I were sitting with him in the game room he decided that it was time to read the story. We have a regular sized copy, but my mother gave us one of those large books that are half our size. Zachary sat through the whole story and we emphasized the line "I think I can, I think I can" as a good lesson in self-esteem.

After we were finished Zachary was playing on the floor and decided that he needed to remove a few things from his nose. He also decided to relocate them in his mouth.

I looked at him, made a face and said, "Zachary that's not healthy and it's not polite. It's yucky to do that. Please don't put boogers in your mouth".

He looked at me and said, "I think I can I think I can".

I guess it's nice to have children with confidence.

While Mommy is on Bedrest

My sister Adelyn is coming out soon, but not yet. It's too early and she needs to grow more.

While Mommy is on bedrest I've had my grandparents to come and play with me. Mommy has a wheelchair to be with me outside and still does things with me while sitting, usually on the couch but I have someone to help me do big things.

Gramsie (Mommy's Mommy) taught me about a new set of books. Llama Llama Red Pajama and Llama Llama Mad at Momma. We learned how to act out scenes from the book. We also built a zoo with blocks.

Granna (Daddy's Mommy) took me to the zoo with my friends. She pushed us all around and up and down. We saw an elephant presentation there.



Pa-pa (Mommy's Daddy) taught me to play tennis in the garage with the parking ball on a string. He also let me help him garden and taught me to ride a scooter.




Pop2 (Daddy's Daddy) talks to me on the computer and web cam. I was asking if he is coming, but he will get to come later when Adelyn comes!

Even 2 yr olds Tease!

The other day I was sitting on the couch (of course, what else am I doing these days) and Zachary picked up my cell phone.

"Who are you calling?" I asked.
"Gramsie"
"Do you want me to help you call her for real?"
"yes"

So we dialed the number, I put the phone to his ear and she answered. He told her hi and she was of course excited to hear him. She very enthusiastically told him hello and asked him what he was doing. I figured he would have picked something we did this afternoon like, "we watched football" (saints and cardinals) or "I played my computer game".

Instead he proceeds to tell her, "We went to the store to get snakes!". Snakes! I have an extreme dislike towards snakes and my mother does too.

My mother says, "What?!"
"Do you like snakes Gramsie?"
"Oh gross no!" she says. "Snakes are yucky".

I was a little floored myself that he had come up with such a tale.
I know we've discussed this with him. He knows he shouldn't touch them and that we DO NOT like them. He remembers back in October when a baby copperhead came in my parents house when Mom opened the door one morning. He remembers I guess what a big deal that was and he also told all of the teachers at my mother's school about it.

So somehow that was in his head during this random phone call one evening in January. 2 yr olds understand so much more than I realize sometimes. He definitely knows how to tease.

30 Weeks!

Well my Dr. was way excited at my apt since I've now reached 30 weeks. She is breathing much easier. I am too for that matter. I think I'll be even better at 34 weeks. Well, like I said before, every day is less stress. At 34 weeks my Dr. thinks that although I need to still take it easy I won't need anyone at the house to take care of Zachary and all. I will still be sitting to cook and do other chores.

Can't wait to have my sciatic nerves not hurt anymore! Stretching, specifically the yoga "pigeon" stretch, helps a whole lot. If I do this stretch a few times a day they hurt a lot less. It's amazing what 60 seconds on each leg can do.

I'm a little nervous as I start to think about getting a new baby to nurse. I had a tough time with Zachary. I didn't enjoy it at all until he was at least over a month old. Maybe even a little older. He couldn't suck well. He needed to develop the muscle more. He was able to take a bottle and use the nipple shield though so that worked for a while. He got better at it over 1-2 weeks. Although it took him four months to nurse without the shield. At that point I enjoyed it much more. Hopefully we won't have too many problems with Adelyn. At least this time I know what to look for and I know how to pump and all of that jazz. I'm glad I will not be learning all of these extra things that I was at a first time Mom like all first time moms.

Dad helped put up the changing table today that I had taken apart a few months ago upon realizing that we weren't using it and it was taking up space! But today Dad set it up in our room and I got a few baskets of clothing items on there. Zachary put his babies up there and used a step ladder to reach. I think he'll be a great big brother :)

Could be 8 weeks...could be 10 weeks! We're getting ready.

30

29 Weeks!

Adelyn has stayed in for another week! Every day counts! I'm so thankful. I'm at the stage where I wonder how we can stretch any more than we already are. Especially after eating....I ate twice tonight. We had my family over this evening- Brian, Kevin, and Chrystal. And then I just couldn't pass up food at bunco.

When I walked back in the doctor's office this week at my weekly check up, my doctor saw me and said "29 weeks!!" Apparently I'm the only patient she currently has memorized right now on number of weeks, meds, etc. I know she put a lot of thought into my situation. I'm glad she has her heart in her job.

I know that every day she stays in is important and that I should not take one day for granted. I really try to stay sitting/lying down throughout the day. It still is a little harder than when I was at the hospital, but I think I'm doing a fairly good job.

I do come to the table to eat meals with the family. I still do yoga/stretching which makes a huge difference in how my legs and arms feel throughout the day. It also helps my circulation at night while sleeping. I do sit on the floor to play with Zachary. I do try to keep our activities to me on the couch and him with me or at the little table we pulled up to the couch. We read stories, make crafts, do puzzles, play potato heads, tools, music, and more. At night I play the piano after Zachary is asleep and also when he is at MDO. I'm loving the piano time that I ignored while working. I'll need to pull the guitar back out more consistently. Now that I've been home I've gravitated to the piano instead.

The wheelchair passed around Scott's family has been wonderful. Priscilla took us on a stroll around the neighborhood when the weather was nice one afternoon. I could sit and watch Zachary play outside for a little while too.

Our small church community was so generous in bringing us meals this week. I just began getting to know them in October and they were so generous to treat me like they've known me for years. They took time to cook and drive down here for our family and I really appreciated that. We have plenty of left overs for the weekend. Which is nice because Priscilla is leaving tomorrow pretty early.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout this time. I have so much to be thankful for. I'll pray that we continue to grow and do well throughout the pregnancy.

Home for Belle

Well we found Belle a great home. Actually SNIPSA found Belle a great home. Thank you Ginny for telling me about SNIPSA. They were a great organization. They got a good picture online, gave us food, heart worm meds, got her shots, and spayed, etc. It was a great deal. We just had to pay a small amount to get her into their organization.

The family taking her is a very sweet family, perfect for Belle's personality. There are five adorable children and the very friendly and very easy to talk to parents. The dad has had a dog most of his life with the exception of a few months here and there in between dogs. They lost their previous dog recently. The children are very exited and even the girl who is cautious when meeting dogs voted in favor of Belle. I think the dad is a pastor. I really enjoyed meeting their family.

I will miss my Belle very much. She captured my heart but I know she will be in wonderful hands. I'll need to take a few pictures before she goes on Tuesday. I'll miss her but I know having one dog will be easier to handle especially when the Baby Adelyn comes. We did discuss keeping Belle and giving away Sandy (don't tell him), but I'm attached to him despite his difficulties and he wouldn't be adopted easily anyhow :)

If you want a dog SNIPSA is a great place to go.

Home at Last

I'm home and it's amazing. I had made the hospital my temporary home and I miss the good company of the great nurses I had but it's so wonderful to be back with family. Zachary apparently has been doing better following directions and just seems back to his normal self. He is still enjoying the company of his Granna and probably more so now that I'm home and he feels his comfort zone return.

I'm glad that my life is slower right now. I loved work but I was tired. I love the activities I do with mom's group, ASL, grocery shopping, etc but now I don't have to drive somewhere all the time and I'm happy to feel like I'm free to do what I want right now.

I'm loving my time on the couch doing crafts with Zachary. We've pulled his table up to the couch so we can sit together and work on them. I'm about to run downstairs and play a few songs on the piano that I've missed before I go to bed. I love the break from cooking even though I enjoy that too. Life is full of many things to do and love. A break sometimes is very necessary.

Love you Adelyn. Can't wait to see you. Love you Zachary, you're going to be a great big brother and I'm glad we are still doing all kinds of fun things. Love you Husband dear. thanks for your support through the times.

Tomorrow is the Big Day

I can hardly believe Monday is a few hours away. I knew I would make it through mentally. I had stuff to entertain myself and I knew that the time was working for me. The clock kept ticking and Monday Jan 4 had to come. I hope I can sleep tonight. Test at 5:00 AM. Looking back, the day I came seems like so long ago, but time went by.

Keep Going Until Monday the 4th

Well, it's Tuesday December 29. 29th right?? I keep a calendar near but I haven't looked at it today. At least I know what day of the week it is. I guess when you're counting down you can't forget the week day.

I'm enjoying my free time to sleep in (although I am awakened at 6:30 to put the baby on the monitor), read, eat quietly, watch movies, play Rush Hour, play guitar, work on the blogs, and geez what else? That makes for a full day! I've learned to enjoy my hobbies and interests while I'm here since obviously I don't have control over going home or running the house. It has been hard to not be in control of those things and I really miss being with my family. I'm so glad Zachary is and will continue to be in good hands over the next couple of months.

I've not contracted except for those normal braxton hicks. If my test comes back negative next Monday I can go home to bed rest. I am allowed to sit up, stretch, shower, all that. So I do plan to have meals at the table with my family again, fold laundry sitting on the couch, do crafts with Zachary, play music, and enjoy being at home without being a crazy Mommy as I was turning into before entering the hospital.

I just had too much on the schedule for both Zachary and I. Not that I didn't enjoy the schedule. I was loving it. But I will definitely enjoy the time at home relaxing. Whomever is with Zachary will still have to help him do his baking projects, pick him up for anything he needs, help him go potty, take him to gymnastics and such. Mom's day out will still happen two days a week so they can have a break.

On another positive note, my glucose test came back fine so I don't have gestational diabetes and I got the rogam shot because of my negative blood type. So I'm getting things accomplished while being here. Might as well while I'm lying around!

Christmas Eve!

I didn't picture myself having such a fun time at the hospital on Christmas Eve. Having the family here for food and presents made the evening very exciting. The nurses were very accomodating, loaning us a cart to bring things inside the room. There's not a lot of patients on antepartum and they allowed them to stay as long as they wanted. It is still a memorable Christmas Eve celebrating family, love and life.

Christmas Eve at the Hospital

It's Christmas Eve and today was a very peaceful and relaxing day. Acceptance really makes all the difference in the world. I took my time eating/listening to music, praying and getting myself ready for the day. I did yoga and relaxed with a good book and was plenty entertained until lunch arrived. It's nice also knowing how to take myself on and off the monitor. I enjoyed my guitar for a couple of hours this afternoon. I'm going to make a lot of progress if I keep practicing this much. Something I've not made time for between my home duties and work. There were some carolers who came by today too. It was nice to hear the cheerful sounds of "Hark the Harold" in the hallway which is one of my favorite Christmas carols.

I was grateful that my dad's plane from Lafayette/Houston made it in this afternoon. There was some rainy weather and a delayed plane coming in to take him. But even though the flight was late he made it to the hospital by 5:15 or so. He arrived safe and sound without many problems and he got to spend time with his family there. Mom, Scott, Zachary and Marilyn made it here about 6:30 and we had a wonderful meal that they brought and opened our presents while listening to Christmas music. The atmosphere was beautiful and the nurse loaned us a cart to help bring things in. I didn't know I would enjoy my Christmas Eve this much at the hospital.

My nursing staff has been wonderful to me and I'm thankful for their positive spirits each day, especially on Christmas Eve.

The Best Gift to Adelyn

I'm reading the book "Day's In Waiting" by Mary Ann Mccann. This is an excellent resource for anyone who is on bedrest. She offers her story, questions, things to consider, emotional support, exercises and more. A great friend loaned it to me.

It brings up a point that a good friend of the family, Trisha (a tertiary nurse) and a nurse practictioner from the nicu told me too.

Every day you buy your baby one more day. Right now you are doing all of the development work for the baby. If she is born she will have to learn to do it herself. Every day in the womb is a gift to our baby and every day I need to do everything I can to keep her growing in there.

It puts into perspective that nothing else is a priority. My son and my husband are important but I have family at home to help love and care for them too.

Coming to Acceptance Every Day

Every day here at the hospital presents challenges but also has moments of me being okay and finding many positive things.

I've created a schedule for myself. Wake up when they put the baby on the monitor at about my usual home wake up time. Wait until they take her off while I pray and think. Listen to music while eating breakfast. Shower, yoga, read, project for the day, parents visit with Zachary, lunch, read, etc. I played my guitar after dinner tonight for two hours. It's good practice and I was entertained. I need to watch my sign language dvds too while I'm here. Husband visits at night currently to fit his work schedule. It gives us time to ourselves too even though I love Zachary with all my heart and want to be with him all the time.

Some moments I think the next two weeks will be very long and I just wish my doctor would tell me she's changing her mind. But it's okay. I have a lot to do here and I have wireless, wow! That's amazing to me and I feel so much more connected to everyone with my phone and computer.

I also have access to the daily readings to prepare myself for Christmas and thinking about a real meaning of the season. I remember that Mary didn't have the comfortable Inn she probably wanted to give birth in. She made it work (not that I'm giving birth but you know, being in this place I don't want to be in). I think of the attitude she would take.

Today's readings were helpful to me also. Hannah presented her son Samuel to the Lord after the Lord gave him to her. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
I hope to be grateful to the Lord that I am here, healthy, with a healthy baby girl still in my womb. He gave her to me when I so wanted a child.

I want to teach my children the symbols of advent- hope, peace, joy, and love just as the Lord is those things and gives me those things.

The magnificat is also in the reading of today's Gospel. And at the end it says that Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months. This reminds me again of myself today. I have three months left to remain and wait for our baby Adelyn Sophia. A perfect fit for the season of advent when we are waiting for Jesus and I must learn to wait.

I know now when they happened

I'm in the hospital now for pre term labor. I'm dialated 2.5 cm. My fetal fiber nectan test came back negative which means I'm not delivering in the next two weeks. I've had no contractions. I've been pondering here for the past 5 days how I contracted and what it felt like and I tied it to one event.

I've just discovered that I'm wrong. I remember now. I had the stomach bug the first weekend of December. I threw up 6 times and was feeling very dehydrated telling Scott that maybe I needed to go to urgent care. I started holding down the fluids and we didn't go. I was so sore afterward and I noticed in the bathtub. That was it. I know it was.

For now, I'm suppose to be here during Christmas for two more weeks. My doctor wants the very best for me. And she's made her decision. But maybe this piece of info can change things. I don't want to hurt the baby and I want a full term baby. But I know that was it....I can't believe I put it out of my mind.

Stay in there Baby Adelyn Sophia. I'm excited about you but we want a full term baby. Can't wait to meet you outside the womb in March.

I'm Pretending Mommy! I'm Pretending Daddy!

Last week sometime on a weekday morning, I was delighted to find out from Zachary that Cookie Monster spent the night in our guest room. I had not expected this. I didn't even know he was coming, otherwise I would have fixed up the room and left him a midnight cookie snack by the bed.
And wouldn't you know, when I finally did find out this information, Cookie Monster had already gone downstairs to the garage to help us fix the cars. I'll have to tell Zachary to invite him over more often. I'm sure if I keep enough cookies in the house it shouldn't be a problem.

Zachary's imagination has really grown in the past few months. Sometimes it's a problem when he's scared at night. Like when there are monkeys and airplanes in his room at bedtime, but most of the time it's delightful to hear about and participate in. He even told both Scott and I today that he was pretending by saying, "I'm pretending Mommy! I'm pretending Daddy!".
It's nice to know that he has learned to understand the concept.

About two weeks ago on a Thursday or Friday morning, Zachary took me to see the Wiggles at SeaWorld in our kitchen. We got the front row chairs closest to the refrigerator. Zachary was a star performer! He rode his tricycle and requested an audience member to sing some of the Wiggles' songs for him. And I was the lucky winner of course! So we delighted in singing, "Big Red Car", "Fruit Salad", "Hot Potato", and "Do the Monkey". I can't wait to find out what else our kitchen might have in store for us.

There are other moments that he's informed me of his outings or adventures in his mind.

Riding his tricycle he says "I'm going to the Zoo!" or "I'm going to Sea World!"

It's also nice to hear him singing songs. I'm excited to know that he is coming along in his development of audidation of pitch and rhythm. It's not perfect of course, but I can see the progress. Favorite songs that I hear him singing are:
"Do You Know the Colors of the Rainbow"
"The Rainbow Song"
"Itsy Bitsy Spider"
"Wheels on the Bus"
"Bob the Builder"
"5 Little Monkeys"

Tonight after we finished singing "Do You Know the Colors of the Rainbow" and saying prayers, I began to pull the sheets up for Zachary and he began singing, "Daddy's gonna take me to the zoo tomorrow. Zoo tomorrow. Zoo tomorrow".
Well, I'm going to have to talk to Scott about this! I certainly didn't know he was taking off of work to go to the zoo! And if he is, I'd like an invitation!

One of each!

We are having a baby girl!

We will now have one of each! From everything visible on the ultrasound, she is healthy and in the 52 percentile as far as weight. She's currently 15 oz. That is amazing that they can figure out weight! She was a little stubborn as far as trying to get her to flip over on her back so we could get a good look at her face. She went as far as her side and no more. Maybe she's going to be a tummy sleeper :) She's also active like her brother was in the womb. She won't have any problem keeping up with him!

Zachary is very excited about the baby coming and is still asking a few times a week if "the baby is coming out yet?" 4 more months. I know the Christmas holidays will fly by but it might feel really slow in January. Now we just have to pick out a name.

Cute and Funny Sayings

I'm trying to recall all of the cute and funny things Zachary has said in the past 3 days. There were several "I need to write that one down moments". So here's my list.

As we're eating lunch on Friday, Nov. 6 and Zachary is trying to get a baked bean on his fork.
"C'mon bean".
He finally gets it.
"There you go bean".

On our campout he is running through the sand and falling over with his friend Meredith.
He falls down and says "That's amazing!".

As we are on a hike during the camp out he points to the trees and says
"That's the chicka boom boom tree".


As I think of more I'll add to the list.

Is the Baby Coming Out?

I love that Zachary is excited about the baby and that he understands. He asks me quite often, "the baby is coming out now?"

I tell him that it still needs to grow but that he can talk to the baby and pat my tummy. He likes to do that. Sometimes he then tells me that Theodore came out (my friend's adorable baby) who we see pretty often.

So I'm pretty sure he gets it! Well, as much as a two and 1/2 year old can.

I feel Baby kicking quite a bit now. More than tiny twitches now. I'm not really sure how to describe this feeling of more than just little butterfly kicks, but not quite whale movements. It makes the experience very real.

I am much less tired than before but still going to bed pretty early. I hope that continues to improve. In two weeks we find out what the baby is!

Jesus' Birthday is Coming Down

A Perspective From Zachary

I saw these boxes wrapped in this very colorful and pretty paper. It felt smooth and I really wanted to rip it open like I did for my birthday. I had a feeling there might be a nice surprise in there. There sure was! Some trains! James the train! So I went to find Mommy.

"Mommy you open this?"

She didn't seem very happy. She was not smiling.

"Zachary, you're not suppose to open that yet. It's for Christmas".

"Open it!" I told her. "My trains!". I guess that wasn't the best thing to say because she didn't change her mind. In fact, she went and put it somewhere else where I could not reach it.

"You can have it at Christmas time when we open presents together as a family".

At Christmas time. Christmas is Jesus' birthday party time. His birthday is coming. It's coming down soon!

So just to be sure Mommy remembers, I ask her every day or sometimes just every other day,
"When Jesus' birthday comes down I can have my trains".

Mommy smiles at me and says, "yes, at Christmas, Jesus' birthday, you can have your trains".

Sculptures

I just love when little kids ask you to sculpt something for them. Especially when it's something way out of your league like an owl or power tools. My owl that I made at my friend Mollie's house turned out to be more like a bat and that was confirmed when she suggested that that's what it looked like. I guess it's at least good that it looked like something with wings instead of a dinosaur or something. Or an abstract design with two circles :)

We have not yet gotten to the stage where I'm being asked to carve shapes and animals in a sandwich. A friend I have here in San Antonio was asked to carve a hamster in a ham sandwich. I hope that day doesn't come :) Zachary's going to be disappointed. I think I can handle the basic shapes....circle, triangle, square, rectangle....rhombus might be pushing it.


On a side note, that pentel brand eraser sure is living up to it's standards of erasing crayon from just about anything. You might want to stock up on that or add it to your registry if you are pregnant :)

Pregnancy Irritations

I guess it's nice that you do forget all of the physical irritations we get while being pregnant. The sickness is so much better this trimester.

I thought the tiredness was getting better, but uh... the past 2 weeks have just been crazy! Sometimes when I put Zachary to bed at 7:30 I go sit on the couch and before I know if I've fallen asleep until 8:30 or 9. And then I'm struggling to wake up to do something productive or for me before bed.

At that point I'm too tired to do my stretches which I NEED to do every day or my legs just hurt especially after I wake up in the morning. It's hard to do unless I do it in the morning when my legs are still stiff, at naptime when I have millions of other things to do or at night when I'm falling asleep. So I guess it's just hard to do! Someone call me and make me do it!

The sciatic nerve hurts too if I don't stretch. That's just plain annoying. It's not unbearable. Just an annoyance that creeps into the routine of doing things. Especially cooking while I'm standing up. Bring out the cooking stool!

The last thing I can currently think of is the random aches you suddenly feel or the soreness of stretching in the hips, lower back or lower stomach area. I'm thinking my previous epiziotamy (how do you spell this procedure??) had something to do with some soreness of now stretching out again. Bring out the cooking stool!

Oh well. These things aren't unbeareable or things that make me non-functioning. Oh, well, I guess sleeping kindof does that. Maybe, doesn't make me unavailable to the routine during the day. It's dealable. I'm still very excited about the next baby although nervous about the first two weeks. I know it will be more difficult having two instead of one (I very much admire my friends that are able to do everything with multiple children) but I was such a disaster after Zachary was born for a few months that I don't see how this next baby could make my life that crazy again. And I already know how to nurse, change diapers, make a schedule, puree foods...I know more people here...it's easier somewhat right??

Zachary is very excited. I'm expecting some out of character actions when the baby comes...just because I'm not convinced that all jealousy will be put aside, but he does ask when it's "coming out" and he talks about playing with it and helping me. He loves Baby Theodore and doesn't seem to mind as much when I hold him. I guess we shall see!

Riding My Tricyle!

A Perspective from Zachary

Hey this tricycle is pretty fun! I figured out how to use the petals. You push on them and then you can go! Sometimes I have to push from the ground first. I'm very good at going down hill. We go down a small hill to the mailboxes and sometimes we go to Grandma Marilyn's house. She always gives me cranberry grape juice, a special treat cuz Mommy and Daddy never give me any. After I have my juice, play with my work bench, and do a puzzle, we go back home to cook dinner. We have to go up the hill to get home so Mommy helps boost me up the hill. Sometimes I think about getting off before we get home but Mommy never seems to be interested in carrying my tricycle the rest of the way home so I get back on and ride with her helping me. You can watch me below!

Why this blog title and our new blog!

I think some people are slightly curious as to why I chose this blog title back in the day a couple of years ago. Here's why.

Scott and I had some discussion when I was pregnant with Zachary about job titles at work. He has the title "research engineer" at Southwest. I thought it sounded cool and wanted one for myself as well. Although I do have my title as "music therapist" which is nice and I'm glad to have it with the nice letters MT-BC I was hoping for one for my other career at home as well. (Some people have this idea that as music therapists we are experts in selecting nice music and playing it while doing some type of guided imagery or discussion to make people happy about life. Or think that we give happy music lessons. And this problem is a whole other blog posting itself but anywho...)

So aside from "music therapist" Scott and I thought of all of the names of stay at home moms: "Stay at home mom", "House wife", "home maker"... and came up with a few more.

"Domestic Engineer"- (I think this is Aunt Ann's title)
"House Engineer"
"House Researcher"
"House Professional"
"Domestic Professional"

I liked that last one the best with a "specialization in research and development". So that's what I went him.

Domestic Professional: Research and Development :)

I, in no way, thought of myself as an actual "expert" or "professional" at this field being a newly wed and now pregnant with my first child. And I'm still not...with a two year old and pregnant with my second child. We haven't raised a child to adulthood yet. I know that I still have much I can learn from others about parenting and living life. I just like the sound of the job title.

My friends and I are beginning to do "Tot School" with our toddlers at home. Sometimes we get together to do projects and we definitely share ideas. Tot school is having fun at home and learning at the same time. We chose a theme each week and base our activities, songs, crafts, and field trips based on that theme. To read more about our tot school at the miller house check out:

http://domesticprofessionaltotschool.blogspot.com

This new blog will be for the tot schooling activities. Other adventures of Zachary growing and my thoughts will still be at this blog.

Fun Being Silly

My Mom and Zachary have this joke going. He likes to tease her that the Tahoe she drives is "Pa-pa's car" instead of her car (Gramsie's car). Every time he rides in it he tells her, "Pa-pa's car!" and then giggles very cute like.

He decided to tease me about the cars that Scott and I each usually drive as well. He told me the Honda today was "Daddy's car".

So we continued our jokes with other topics throughout the days. After I picked him up from Mom's day out on Thursday, October 1st he said in all seriousness to review our day, "Mommy picked me up". I agreed with him and said that yes, he was correct. But then he started in with the teasing again and said, "Daddy picked me up". I put on my silly voice and said, "no silly! Daddy didn't pick you up". And then I threw in a "Sandy picked you up!". He just giggled and then I said, "No that's silly. Sandy can't drive". And he looked at me with a very serious face to agree with me and said, "Sandy doesn't have any fingers!".

Well...he's right. I guess that's a very good reason we don't teach dogs to drive. Smart boy!

Our Entertainment in the Backyard

See footage below for our entertaining K9 who lives in our backyard...and sometimes inside. He's very good at letting us know if there are any strangers, dogs, cats, neighbors, harmful leaves, unique rocks, or distasteful wind. Here he lets us know which toys are the best for playing.

Time Out for Fox

This weekend I had to put Fox in time out two whole times. Fox did not follow directions so I put him on the red time-out stool in the kitchen. I set the timer for 17 minutes and made sure he was staying in time out. Mommy was busy cooking in the kitchen one time so I took care of the situation myself. She thought I did a good job following through with his discipline.

So Proud of Mommy

Yesterday I brought Zachary on a trip to the library just to return a DVD and check out one more for him. He looked around with me and made a Curious George book selection to take home along with his new Signing Time DVD and Bear Snores on DVD since we have that book.

We walked through the parking lot and unlocked the car. I helped Zachary climb into his seat and then preceded as I always to do buckle him in. Well, he watched me put the buckles together and then all of the sudden exclaimed, "Thank you for buckling me in Mommy! I'm so proud of you!"

Isn't it nice to be acknowledged and appreciated :)

And now I am confident that I do tell him that often enough to where he repeats it. If you need a reflection of your own words/want to know what words you use most often hang out with a two year old.

7 Week Apt with Baby 2

I had an apt with my OB today at 10:30 AM. This is the first apt for the new baby. We had the pelvic exam, infection test and most excitingly the sonogram.

I dropped Zachary off at my friend Amanda's house. He was delighted to play with McCarole who just turned a year last month and of course the dog, Lily. I packed his lunch and back pack and hoped he would be on his best behavior. Which I found out later he was, however when I came back to pick him up he was off the walls at the site of me.

Dr. George-Mayo was very excited for me that I was back so soon after telling her at my annual in May that we wanted to have another baby. "Yep 3 tries" I told her. She congratulated me and genuinely seemed very happy for us.

At first she said "so you're 12 weeks" and I was really shocked and then realized that she had looked at the date at my last exam instead of cycle.

When the sonogram finally came I was very excited while waiting to see the screen. Even for the second baby, it just makes it so much more real when you see a picture or hear sounds. Dr. Mayo asked the nurse to turn it so I could see. I couldn't see the legs and arms on this baby as well as I could see on Zachary at 7 weeks but it was still exciting to observe.

She said Baby's development is all in line with my last cycle and that we are due March 29, 2010 which is the same date that the internet cite, www.mycycle.com told me. Wow technology! I was of course very relieved to hear that growth was "normal" so far.

The final and probably most amazing part was when I heard Baby's heartbeat for the first time. I wasn't expecting to be able to hear it today but it was there loud and clear at 160. Wow, there's really a real life growing in there. It just makes the experience of being pregnant so much more real. Sometimes it's easy to...well...not forget but maybe the phrase is "not pay attention to it" (besides the nausea) since I still look the same and feel the same (again besides the nausea and being tired). I know the more I grow, the more I see pictures, and here the heartbeat, when Baby starts kicking, and when I see the big sonogram at about 18 weeks I'll really be more in tune with what's going on. I'm sure back in the day before these fancy machines were around people still have very real experiences, don't get me wrong. I am very excited and can't wait to have our new family member outside of the womb with us.

Zachary has been playing with dolls and learning how to hold them. He's asked me if he can give the babies food and such so it's a good lesson time to teach him about what baby's eat and what not to do with them. Usually he carries them nicely but at our friend Mollie's house yesterday, he was carrying one upside down by the feet, yikes, but hey... he's working on it. I'm sure that will be perfected before March :) He also takes time to wrap the babies in a blanket and make them comfortable. He'll be a nice, nurturing, big brother.

Next apt in a month!
Grow Baby grow!

Mediterranen Diet

Scott and I are liking this idea of a Mediterranean diet. A lot less red meat but still a small amount, more fish, lots of fruits, veggies, and nuts, and using olive oil to cook (which I use anyway).

Here's a small article on it.

http://www.vitabeat.com/mediterranean-diet-may-stave-off-alzheimers-according-to-new-study/v/9646/

Mediterranean Diet May Stave Off Alzheimer's, According To New Study

February 11, 2009 - Topics study, diet, diabetes, vegetable and fish

A diet rich in fish, olive oil, yogurt and vegetables could help prevent mild cognitive impairments that could later lead to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by Columbia University researchers.

The so-called Mediterranean-style diet had been previously linked to good heart health and as a way to ward off diabetes, but now researchers say it could be good for the brain as well.

The study, published in the journal Archives of Neurology, looked at 1,393 people with healthy brains and 482 with mild cognitive impairment. Over four and a half years of follow-up, 275 of the 1,393 people who did not have cognitive impairments developed them.

Those who stuck closest to a Mediterranean diet had a 28-percent lower risk of developing brain impairments than those who strayed from the diet.

The study also found that people with mild cognitive impairments who switched to a Mediterranean diet were less likely to progress to Alzheimer's disease.

Learning to Grow Up Fast

I watched my Paw paw shave a couple of times. One time at his house and one time at my house. I don't usually see Daddy shave because he shaves in the shower. Mrs. Allison Brothers gave me my very own shaving kit for Christmas except it's not sharp like Paw paw and Daddy's.

Gramsie took a picture of me trying out some shaving stuff. They say the more you practice the better you are so I need to practice now.

What do Bears eat for Breakfast?

On Wednesday I decided I would take Zachary to the zoo for a Mommy and son outing. I decided we would go pretty early to miss the crowd and the heat.

So we did our regular morning routine which of course included breakfast. Every morning Zachary helps Scott put the ingredients in the blender to make a protein smoothie. It's got ice, frozen strawberries, milk, protein, flaxeed, and psyillim husk. We have other random things with it but we have made a habit of having a smoothie every morning since Zachary was born at least and now he's participating in drinking and making it.

So we did breakfast, prayers, yard watering (well like yard reviving), and all that and then we got ready to leave. If you have a pass you can get in to the zoo at 7:30 AM! Well, we definitely didn't get there that early but we did get there before 9. We started with the bears and the monkeys near the entrance of the zoo.

I guess since it was still early the animals had not had time to finish their breakfast. Zachary noticed right away that the first bear we saw, was eating. "He's eating" he pointed out. "Yes", I told him, "he's eating his breakfast".

Zachary's neurons put two and two together and then said, "he's having a smoothie?" which sounds more like, "he's having soomie?"

"Um, well, probably not a smoothie" I said, but after looking at the fruits, nuts and goolash compiled for the bear I said, "probably more like fruit salad".

Kitchen Helpers

I'm developing more kitchen stories of Zachary as he helps me more and more with the cooking and baking.

• One day we were baking something, I can't recall what, but it required eggs. I had actually already cracked both of the eggs we needed and put them in. While I washed my hands and my back was turned to Zachary, and who else in the world would have turned their back to wash their hands while there was an egg carton 3/4 of the way full next to their son, I don't know, but I did and then I heard the "uh oh". When I do have the courage to turn back around I see that half of the eggs are dumped into our mixing bowl whole and half are on the floor in the carton. Oh I remember now, we were making French Toast. Scott was asleep in our room on a Saturday morning, Bill was asleep in his room for his first San Antonio weekend, and I was suppose to be making progress in the kitchen with a nice country style Saturday morning breakfast. Well, with all of my half way suppressed screeches I scared off any chances of anyone else waking up to come to the kitchen. Whose fault was it of course? Mine yes. I should not have assumed that Zachary had observed enough to know that you have to, first of all crack eggs open to use them and second, think that he should wait for me to do so. :)
• On July 8, 2009 we baked a chocolate birthday cake for Daddy, cooked spaghetti noodles, made a home made marinera sauce, and was in the process of making meatballs as well. I thought for some reason that it would be a good idea to leave the spices out on the island next to Zachary who was standing on a chair to help me prepare and cook. So while I was stirring the sauce, the noodles and flipping meatballs around Zachary thought he would make sure all of the pepper looked okay and test it out to also make sure it felt nice. When i turned around I saw that their was a lovely sculpted mound of pepper in the bottom portion of our mixer (the bowl had been removed). When Zachary realizes he's done something wrong he'll either put his little hand to his head or he'll cover his ears. It breaks my heart so as I smelled pepper I tried to just explain as calmly as my nose would let me. I think he got it, but it sure was fun so who knows if it will happene again.
• 
  

Cleaning up Crayon

I found out today a few tips about cleaning crayons during a time when I really wasn't in the mood to make that discovery.

For anyone that wants to know:

1. Crayon comes off of a flat screen computer with a Pentel brand eraser (usually white). And then a little rubbing alcohol cleans all of it up for a finishing touch.

2. It also works on magnadoodles.

3. I have some Mom on the web to thank for sharing with everyone and her kid to thank for doing it to her so I could learn.

Too many cute stories

I'm so irritated that our camera is broken. That's one of the 80 things that broke this week. I felt like I had the Midas Touch of Death! Car AC, house AC, Scott's engine oil, the clock, the camera, the TV system.....

In the mean time Zachary has been doing so many cute things of course, like every two year old does. I just wish I had my camera to post pictures with these things.

Well, I'm going to write these down so in 20 years we will have memorable moments remembering.

Two days ago Scott and I noticed Zachary carrying around a small guitar that belongs to my Snoopy Statue. It doesn't play music or anything and it's barely big enough to fit the strap over my hand.

I've really been trying to emphasize live music making with Zachary. I learned in my Music Together teacher training that we as humans have bonding receptors that go off when we make live music and dance with other human beings. I also learned that Primary Music Development happens at it's best between birth and age 9. Like a language it becomes more difficult to establish and music achievement concerning pitch and rhythm. It can be done of course but with more work.

Zachary is not able to hum songs exactly on pitch or hold a complete melody yet like some two year olds can. But I know he's taking things in. So two days ago he carried Snoopy's guitar around on and off throughout the day. I noticed him saying, "do do do, dah, dah dah do na na...".
And then I realized he was pretending to strum too. When I looked at him smiling and said, "oh you're playing the guitar! It sounds so nice!" he smiled SO proudly. I'm so thrilled!! I can't wait to start our own band :)


On our way back from the lake Zachary recalled many events from the week to us. We confirmed his thoughts and I enjoyed remembering the good times at the lake. He then picked up his toy camera and pressed button over and over saying, "cheese, Pop2!" I wonder what he had flashed at him all week.

Wednesday my Dad called me early in the morning. We were taking it easy and being lazy. It was nice to have our AC back after a very annoying and hot Tuesday without it. Zachary somehow knew I was talking to his Paw paw. Of course, they figure out everything it seems. He also heard me say "yeah come visit" or "yeah come see us".

So later Zachary picked up his very old play rotary phone and said, "Paw Paaaw, come visit Paw Paw!"

My silly dogs

I still consider the dogs at my parents house, "my dogs". One of them grew up with me, (Zara) and the other is new (Fiona), but still my family. They are both springer spaniels although Zara looks slightly unusual for a springer.

My very first dog was named Alicia, also a springer. She was so beautiful and sweet, yet feisty if she was hunting or securing the yard. A great bird and gecko hunter too. She lived to be 17 years and passed away when I was a senior in college. So not too long ago. She still has my heart.

Zara is 11 years old and her personality is sweet and lazy. She's also got to be touching you at all times, usually accomplished by sitting on your foot. Somehow she never misses; knows exactly where to aim. Her favorite game to play with Berch was hide and seek. She was always the seeker waiting in the laundry room until she heard Berch call for her. She used her nose and ALWAYS found him. Even when he was hanging from a door frame. She stopped underneath and was puzzled until she looked up. Her head is small and her body is quite large. She kept Alicia young and active for many years but she's definitely slowing down. Exercise is not on her list of "to dos".

Fiona, I wish I could get to know better but we're just not in the woodlands long enough. She has a very funny personality. Another one of those dogs who likes to hear her own bark. She's always got some mission she's on. If she's not inspecting the yard she's inspecting you.

I wish I would have written down all of the funny stories from my dogs. The latest one happens to be about Fiona.

Mom was cleaning the pool this past week. She used the net to fish things out. Fiona was going bananas on the side running back and forth around the pool, whining like crazy. Mom looked at her and then followed Fiona's eyes in the pool. Oh, a dead frog. "Okay, hang on I'm going to get it out" Mom said. Fiona paced back and forth a few feet here and there, finally just couldn't stand it anymore, jumped in the pool next snatched the frog and swallowed it whole. Mom was shocked. Nothin like raw frog legs.

Growing Memories

I just put my little monkey to bed in his new toddler bed for the second night in a row. He's done well so far b/c he's gone to bed late both nights and was so exhausted he didn't even take time to talk or babble before falling asleep after I left the room.

I have been enjoying tucking him into this new bed. It's so perfect that I can kneel down next to it and not have to reach over bars to give him a hug. So tonight I held his hand and then asked him if he had a good day.

The answer he gave me was, "no" as if he knew exactly what I was asking. So I said, "You didn't? Well what did you do today? Did you like the sea lions at sea world?"

Zachary proceeded to tell me:

Do dos (dolphins)
Pen-nuns (penguins)
Reh Ra sho yay(Aurelia's stroller....he got to push it)
Memay's Housh (Meredith's House)
Mahyee's Housh (Mrs. Mollie's House)
Baby's Housh (Baby Theodore's House...they all live in the same house)
Eat
Memay...sheepeen (Meredith sleeping)

(Mommy insert: Laughs and say, "Yes! Did you play with Merediths toys?")

Memay's toys
Ball

("Yes, what color was the ball?")

Wed (red)

(Mommy who is floored at all of the things he remembered without assistance: "Yes that's right! It was red!")

Yeah

(Mommy: "I had fun today too".)

Memay Re rah?

(Mommy: "Yes maybe we will see Meredith and Aurelia tomorrow")

Yeah

I of course have to verify every word that he says by repeating each word after he says it to let him know I'm getting it all.

I am definitely looking forward to more nights tucking sweet Zachary into bed and listening to the things he did during the day. I think he likes this new bed a lot. He seems to be proud of his independence of getting in and out by himself and maybe even less anxious about me leaving the room because of that also.

I surely know that he enjoyed jumping on the new bed after we put it together.

No more Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!

So my nickname that my parents gave me as a child was "Monkey". Maybe it's best that I don't ask how I got that name. I do recall several pictures of trees with me in them. And maybe that's why I'm so anxious to get more trees in our yard.

Anyway... my son is taking on the nickname "Monkey" as well. It's kind of developed after all of the moments I catch him:

climbing on the arms of chairs to reach the blinds handle or the lamp switch
hanging on the side of the stair rail just for fun
jumping from the upside down laundry basket on to the couch
swinging in the glider in his room so forceful that it smacks the wall behind him
wanting me to push him on a swing set for an hour
And of course...jumping in the bed

Thank you God, for our entertaining monkeys.