Baby #2

With all that has been going on, poor baby number 2 has not been officially announced on our blog!

We found out that I was pregnant on August 24th and then were able to see the baby’s heart beat on September 12th.   Although, it really didn’t hit until I started to feel “the baby” move until 13 weeks. 

It is funny after being pregnant with Thomas it is interesting to compare how similar/different some things have been.  With both pregnancies I was very tired at the beginning, which is part of the reason the blog has been so behind.  Any time Thomas was asleep I was sleeping with him, napping during the day and going to bed early most nights. 

So far with both pregnancies I felt like I had a bad hangover (from what I can remember of being hung over) or just off for the first 11-12 weeks and then with Thomas I quickly began to love food.  With this little girl food has continued to be a struggle.  Some days I love something and other days I struggle to get anything in.

In the beginning both Mike and I thought she was a girl.  I had several girl dreams and then convinced myself the baby was a boy.  So when we went in for our 20 week ultrasound we both were excited to find out what she/he was going to be.  I have to admit I was a little shocked that she was a girl, even though I didn’t have a real gut feeling one way or the other.  The main thing however was that everything looks good on her anatomy scan and hopefully she continues to develop into a healthy little girl, to be born around May 6th, 2012. 

Since finding out she was a girl I have been eager to shop and start her bedroom.  Little girls dresses, bows, and all the frilly stuff is SO cute!    Thomas has been talking more and more about his baby sister and he loves to kiss the belly and he is practicing his big brother skills.

What a change we are all in for in a few months.   There are the typical fears that every parent has shared with me about how on earth will you love another child as much as your first.  I am fearful of balancing my still emotionally developing needs that Thomas has with a helpless newborn.   There are moments when Thomas seems so old, yet he is still so young, so it is going to be interesting. 

One day at a time is how we will make it through.  There are so many questions and it seems at this point not a lot of answers.  With Thomas now sleeping long stretches at night, I am trying to gear up my mind for the exhaustion and sleep deprivation that a newborn entails.  

After co sleeping for the last 21 months we are also exploring the idea of Thomas going into a big boy bed.   Even writing this brings tears to my eyes, I love him close.  I love waking up to my husbands arms wrapped around his son and all the littlest moments that we have shared in the last 21 months.

I am so surprised at just how quickly the time has passed and how all of a sudden it feels like we have blinked and we have an almost 2 year old.   What a journey our first son has brought us on and now with our little girl on the way I am sure the lessons are going to continue to be abundant! 

I am unsure if in the next few months Thomas will fully wean himself.  We are gently encouraging it but I do not believe in taking away nursing if he isn’t ready.   At this point, he is still not ready and one day he will be, it might be tomorrow or a few weeks or months from now, but not today.   He is still nursing down for nap and bedtime and 1-2 times in the morning.  If I am not around he will fall asleep with his Daddy and all is well there.   Another thing “I never thought I would do” is nurse 2 children at 1 time, but as her due date approaches and his love for nursing continues it becomes more of a possibility each day.   So I am also wrapping my head around that possibility and trying to prepare others for it as well.   One day at a time, as long as it works for all of us and we continue to have love and support from our friends and family we will figure out this journey.

More to come on Thomas and our baby girl….

Penguin Ornaments

Each year I am going to have Thomas, and future children, make an ornament for our tree.  This year I found some cute make it your own foam penguin kits and we were set. 

I have to admit that it was very hard not to “fix” his work as he was carefully placing each piece on the penguin.  He also made a snowman that night with Mike.  When all was said and done his penguins were perfectly made and will be a great addition to our tree!

Troy and Molly are Married

Wowwy…my little brother is married!  I can’t say I ever thought it would happen, not because he is not lovable, but rather because I have always looked at him as a “little brother.”  I am so thankful that he and Molly rekindled their romance after dating in and now married.

Their wedding celebration also started on a Friday with a few of the guys having lunch and bowling.  Molly, myself, and her other bridesmaids/attendants enjoyed lunch and then went for manicures/pedicures.

Rehearsal was Friday night and went smoothly followed again by dinner with family and friends.

Saturday started off early with the girls getting their hair done and then pictures.  With the ring barer still having a little wacky schedule, a 2 hour time change is a big deal, we were a little nervous about his wedding ceremony performance.  Thankfully, Mike was able to sneak him in a quick hour nap and he rallied for the wedding and part of the dance before crashing.  He took his duty as ring bearer seriously.  He wanted to hold the leash and was trying to boss Oliver, Molly’s dog, around. 

The wedding dance was a lot of fun although after spending a day in heels, my back was giving me a lot of trouble, so my dance moves were pretty tame.   Before it felt like we could blink the night was ending and we were headed back to my parents house.   That is when all the excitement caught up with Thomas and he was exhausted and he was sick with a tummy bug.

This is my favorite picture that was taken that day of the happy couple.  Mad Chicken Photography did a great job on their pictures.

Cloquet

After spending time with the Laschen’s Thomas and I were off to Cloquet to get in some more grandparent time and get ready for Troy and Molly’s Wedding.

There was very little snow which was unusual for it being the 2nd week in December.  So the little bit of snow that we did get we made the most of it.

Grandpa and Grandma took Thomas sledding for the first time.  He wanted to make sure that he tried to return the favor and gave his best effort to pulling Grandpa.  Grandma then had to take over and I was laughing hysterically at them trying to get the little sled to pull a grown adult and child.  

Thomas also had fun feeding the deer with Grandpa.  Every day he would go out and feed them.  He then, and still does a month later, tells you how to do it with words and gestures.  First you pour it, then you throw some, and then you go “up” with “Ban pa” and you pour it.  During the day when Grandma and Grandpa had to work Thomas and I would sneak up to give them a little mental break.  They both likes showing off their favorite (only) grandson.   Thomas even made his first trip to the bowling Alley for lunch with the boys.

Thomas liked building forts to play in in the basement with Grandpa and has him wrapped around his finger. 

 

Thomas also liked to play with the neighbor kids across the street.  They have a little boy a few months older than Thomas and 3 girls that are great big sisters. 

Hollidazzle Parade

On a chilly Minnesota night we were off to see the Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis.  Uncle Don, Grandma Laschen and Auntie Mo and Katie joined us to watch the parade. 

It was chilly but the parade was over before we had a chance to get cold. After the parade we went and grabbed dinner at the Newsroom before heading home.

Macy’s Santaland with Nana and Auntie Mo

Nana Kathy wanted to take Thomas to Santa Land at Macy’s as it was something she used to do with her mother and children as they were growing up.  With Thomas being so into his Elf this year it was right up his alley.   Auntie Mo and Emory also joined in the fun.

Each area had a theme and the elves were hard at work getting ready for Christmas.  Then we went to lunch, which besides the food was a disaster for a sleepy Thomas.  After pounding the butter and a few bites of food he wanted to be off and running.  After all the adults rallied around to try and get me a chance to eat we bailed.

Kathy and I then had to get a few things shopping  before disaster struck and I had my first experience with that kid in the story having a meltdown.  BOOO!  It was awful and I was feeling uber bad for pushing him too hard.  Once to the car it was only moments before he was off into dreamland. 

Play Date with the Erdalls

Trying to schedule time in when on different schedules and with life in December is difficult!  Thankfully, Tiffany and I were able to figure something out and spent almost an entire day together!  Thomas was still germy but he had a blast, so much so that getting him to squeee in a nap was a battle!

We started off the day by meeting Tiff and Hallie at the mall to play in the kids play area.  After surviving all the kids, a fire alarm and Thomas attempting to escape several times we were off to the food court for lunch. 

Then it was off to the Erdall’s for Thomas’ nap (45 minute fight later) he was down for a quick nap.  Then it was up for some awesome play time with Ben and Hallie.  After a little bit, Tiff and I were able to go upstairs and chat while Jeff supervised and played with the kiddos in the basement.  Ever since becoming friends what Tiff and I have been able to do best is lounge around and chat, so our hour of lounging was just like the days before kids!  It was so much fun to chat and not be on the phone doing a billion different things…it was also a glimpse into what life would be like if we ever get to move back to Minnesota!

Listening to the kiddos in the basement giggle and have a good time was also fun!  Thomas loves “big kids” and just thinks that they are so cool.   Ben and Hallie are two of the nicest kids I know and they are both so good with him.  I can only hope that he will be as good of a big brother someday!  They shared their snacks with him, taught him how to wrestle, play the piano, and Ben even showed him an introduction into sword fighting!

Wrestle Mania with Ben and Hallie Erdall-sorry the video is sideways, if I record them with my phone sideways I don’t know how to flip them, do you?

I can’t wait for our next date with the Erdall family!

After we finished up there we were off on an adventure to find Troy and Molly’s apartment!  Thomas again had a blast rough housing with Troy and seeing “Ma hay.”  We got to catch up on their wedding plans and visit before heading back to the Laschen’s for bedtime after a long day of playing and visiting.

Snow Play with Daddy

Before heading back to snowless Seattle Mike bundled Thomas up and took him out for some fun.  Thomas still didn’t understand the need for mittens until he fell over and his hands got cold and wet and he was MAD! 

Other than that he loved walking around in the snow and played outside for about 25 minutes before coming in for a warm chocolate and lunch. 

Then sadly Mike was off to the airport to head home to take care of the house, pets, and work! 

Katie and Don get Hitched!

Don and Katie’s wedding weekend started off on Friday morning.  Kathy, Katie, Mo and myself went to get a manicure and pedicure before joining the rest of Katie’s bridal party and her mother in law to be to celebrate her at a bridal luncheon.  The boys had their own treat of lunch and bowling which Mike and Thomas were able to be part of.  Mike said Thomas loved bowling and his stories after showed he did too.

Friday night was the rehearsal followed by dinner.   It was a nice gathering of family and friends and another great way to start the celebration.

Saturday was the big day.  The wedding went off without a hitch and there was even some beautiful snowflakes to make the winter wonderland wedding that Katie and Don had envisioned. 

After the ceremony the bridal party and friends were able to ride the trolley to a bar in downtown St. Paul.  Mike hopped on and I headed with my mom to put Thomas to sleep.  We were able to meet up at the bar and enjoy some drinks and laughs before heading to the reception.

The reception, dinner and dance were all amazing.  Our little Pacific Time Dancer stayed awake until the end of the dance.  He had a blast dancing away with everyone and it was a great way to celebrate Katie and welcome Don officially into the family.

Week with The Laschen’s in Woodbury

We got into Minneapolis late on Thursday night.  Thomas had a great, totally awake, 3 hour flight.  By the time we got to Minnesota, Mike and I were exhausted! 

Kathy and Jeff picked us up at the airport and we were off to their house for the night.  Friday we were up and off to celebrate Katie and Don’s upcoming marriage, more on all those happenings in a different entry.  

Skip to Sunday and we were all exhausted from a big night celebrating Don and Katie’s Wedding.  I had come down with a cold and was miserable.  Mike and his parents took great care of me and Thomas so I could rest-homemade chicken noodle soup, tea and lots of sleep was just what the doctor ordered.

After I was better it was time for Thomas to get it, poor guy handled it pretty well, but yuck we both didn’t like being sick and on vacation!

Thomas loved snuggling with the puppies at Nana and Papa’s house.  He also was a very big helper helping Nana and Papa take care of the dogs and let them out to go outside and downstairs to bed.  They we also excellent snugglers when he was sick and just wanted to watch a movie!

More in upcoming posts on our events while in Woodbury, even sick we managed to fit a lot in and make a lot of memories.