Happy, Happy, Birthday Baby

Happy, happy, birthday baby/No, I can't call you my baby/Seems like years ago we met/On a day I can't forget.

My Gabriel will be 4 on Sunday. I can't believe it's here already. I know we've been planning this party for months. The theme is bowling, so not only is it at the bowling alley, all the party favors and decorations related to bowling. Even the cakes, which he helped my MIL make today.

It's just hard to believe that he's growing up so quickly. I mean, next year, he'll be 5, and ::shudder:: starting school. Trust me when I say that I will be bawling like a baby on his first day of school, and he will, no doubt, skip happily along to explore his classroom.

His big present this year is a twin bed. He's been in a toddler bed since about 18-months, when he figured out how to fall out of his crib, but now he will be in a big bed. We bought it a couple months ago from IKEA, and it's great, because it sits nice and low to the floor and doesn't require a box spring if you use those wooden slats. We let him pick out two sets of sheets for it - Handy Manny and Cars. Oscar is going to put it together Sunday morning while I take him out to breakfast.

I'll post an update, hopefully Sunday evening, about his party, but here's a look at my baby over the years:

Wild and Crazy Hormones

Nobody every fully explains just how many changes your body goes through during pregnancy and after. It isn’t just growing a baby for 9 months, and then maybe feeding them, possibly for another year. It’s not just about your stomach being softer or your boobs sagging. It really is more than that.

I’m sure it’s different for every woman, but for me, 16 months after having my second baby, my body seems to have reset itself. My body is acting like a teenager who just started getting her period. It’s irregular, and the cramping, OMG, the cramping. I never had cramping as a teenager, but apparently my body has decided to make up for that.

When my body suddenly started freaking out, and doing things it didn’t normal do, especially while on the pill, I went to the doctor. They did blood work and an ultrasound and declared me perfectly fine. I really was hoping there was a medical explanation beyond wild and crazy hormones.

It’s especially bad at night. After a day of working and taking care of my boys, I’m physically exhausted and more prone to high amounts of pain. Not much seems to help either – warm baths, heating pads, Tylenol, Advil, Midol…. It really sucks. I’m also a little emotionally unstable, the result, of course, of those wild and crazy hormones. They are partying hard core.

Unfortunately, the only advice the doctor can give is to go through a couple more cycles and schedule an appointment to discuss possibly change the pill that I’m on. Not really the diagnosis I was hoping for. However, I’m sure that the teenagers suffering through bad cramps hope for more too.

My Second Born

So, my goal of working out every day this week had to be nixed due to a medical issue, which hopefully will be resolved soon. However, I can still fulfill my goal of daily posting this week. So for today's entry I will same questions as yesterday for Nick.

My Second Born:

WAS YOUR SECOND PREGNANCY PLANNED?

Yes, we were ready and trying to have a second child.


WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?

I was surprised that it happened so quickly. We had only been trying for a couple months.

HOW OLD WERE YOU?

26


HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?

I was still feeling nauseated after I should have recovered from a stomach flu, so I took a test while Oscar was at work to confirm my suspicions.

WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?

Oscar - I called him at work.


DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?

Definitely. I wanted to know as much about my baby as I could.


DUE DATE?

April 1st, 2008


DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?

Not really. There were a few smells I couldn't tolerate, but that was it.

WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?

Pumpkin flavored things, Costco's Chocolate Muffins, Fruity Pebbles


WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?

No one really, although it was difficult dealing with a toddler while pregnant.


WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX?

Boy


DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?

A little bit, I had hoped for one of each, but I wouldn't change him for the world.


HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?

50 (ouch...)


DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?

Yes. My office planned one for me, which was so sweet.


WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?

It was supposed to be a surprise, but they sent a calendar invite to our boss, and since I was managing his calendar, I received the invite.


DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?

None until delivery. I chose to schedule an induction, and Nick started losing oxygen during contractions. Turns out the cord had a know on it that was compressed every time I contracted. I ended up having an emergency c-section.


WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?

Reston Hospital


HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?

About 6 from the time they started the pitocin to the time they did my c-section.


WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?

Oscar :)


WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH

Oscar was there with me. My mom was waiting outside the operating room.


WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?

Emergency c-section.

DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?

Yes - it was a requirement for the c-section.


HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?

7 lbs


WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?

March 24th, 2008


WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?

Nicholas Alexander


HOW OLD IS YOUR SECOND BORN TODAY?

16 months

Tummy time = sleep

My First Born

In addition to working out every day this week, I also would like to have a post every day this week. So far, I’m two for two

Of course I’ve decided to do a cheater’s entry and answer a bunch of questions about my first pregnancy. I know I’ve told the birth story of Gabe already, but here is some consolidated information. Tomorrow I shall submit one for Nick. I realize I still owe his complete birth story.

My First Born:

WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?

Sort of.


WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?

Yup, for a grand total of two weeks, a month when we found out.


WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?

I was surprised that it happened so quickly.

HOW OLD WERE YOU?

23


HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?

Went home at lunch and took a test.

WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?

Oscar, I had him come home at lunch too.


DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?

Definitely. I wanted to know as much about my baby as I could.


DUE DATE?

August 6th, 2005


DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?

Not really. There were a few smells I couldn't tolerate, but that was it.

WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?

Cadbury Cream Eggs (lots), Taco Time, and Pancakes


WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?

No one really, except my poor husband.


WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Boy

DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?

A little bit, but I wouldn't change him for the world.


HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?

30


DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?

Yes 2, Oscar planned one for me and then my office planned one (which was scheduled the day I gave birth, so I had after Gabe was born)


WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?

They were both a surprise.


DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?

None until delivery - Gabe that it would be fun to wrap the umbilical cord around his neck.


WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?

Bethesda Naval Hospital


HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?

About 14 hours from the time my first contractions started the day prior at work.


WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?

Oscar :) It was great - we lived about 45 minutes away from the hospital, as long as there was no traffic. Luckily this was super early in the morning.


WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH

Lots of people - Gabe went into distress right at shift change...


WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?

Do forceps count as natural?

DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?

Duh!

HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?

6 lbs, 13.9 oz


WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?

August 2nd, 2005


WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?

Gabriel Michael


HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?

4 (on Sunday)

Sleeping Angel

Bowling and Other Exercise

I really miss my house. So many of the weekends this summer have been spent at locations other than home. This weekend we went out to dinner on Friday, to the country house Saturday through Sunday morning, and then bowling Sunday afternoon. The important part is that the boys had a good time, which is really why we do all this stuff.

Gabe went up with my MIL to the country house Friday afternoon. I had to at a different location, so I wasn't close to home, otherwise we probably would have gone up Friday afternoon. Oscar entertained Nick until I got home and then we went out to dinner at the Blue Ridge Grill, which was were we ate the previous Friday when we went on our date. The food is excellent. Nick had a great time. We ordered him a grilled cheese sandwich, which came with french fries, and all he was asking anybody who happened along to dip his fries in ketchup so he could suck it off.

:::

On Saturday morning, Oscar made breakfast - blueberry pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Very good. Although Nick was more interested in the blueberries. After that we got in the car and drove up to the country house, stopping to grab caffeine - Diet Dr. Pepper for him and a Venti White Mocha for me. Oscar's primary reason for going up there was to continue work on his mother's shed.

I spent most of the day inside entertaining Nick. Between the rain and all the bugs, plus the power tools, it wasn't exactly safe for him to be outside. We did go out a little bit for lunch, and to blow bubbles, which he enjoyed. Gabe ran back and forth between the shed and the house depending on his mood. My MIL had set up an old electric typewriter for him to play with, which amused them both. Gabe had fun helping Nick "type". Nick also spent a lot of time coloring and having me read stories.

Unfortunately, even with his dad's help, Oscar only got the foundation finished for the shed. We'll be going up again in two weeks to [hopefully] finish it. We'd go up next weekend, but it's Gabe's birthday. We went out for dinner at the Golden Corral (or as Gabe likes to call it the Golden Gorilla). Since there is such a large variety of food, it is easy to find plenty of things for Gabe, he of the extremely picky eaters, to eat. Nick, of course, is easy. It's hard not to eat too much, even if you try to eat healthy, at a buffet.

:::

As soon as we were all up Sunday morning we packed and got ready to head home. We stopped in Front Royal to grocery shop, since we wouldn't have time later due to bowling. Oscar and I always get two carts, so that we can strap both boys in. Gabe, even at [almost] 4, is difficult to manage if he is not secured in a cart.

The boys were happy to get home and run around. Our house is much safer than the country house, not as many dangerous or breakable items sitting around. We put Nick down for a nap shortly after we got home, since he refused to nap on the way, and needed it before we went bowling.

We met up with our friend K. and her two boys, [almost] 5 and 9. They all had a great time. Oscar and I tried out our new bowling balls and I sucked. I didn't break 100 either game, and in fact did worse the second game than I did the first. It was very frustrating, especially since I was trying to bowl and pay attention to both boys and succeeding at nothing.

:::

Bowling made me very self-conscious, and not just because I was doing so poorly. I've put a little weight back on, so my stomach is definitely more noticeable, plus I was wearing baggy jeans and an ill-fitting t-shirt. K., on the other hand, looked great in a short skirt and fitted t-shirt. People were definitely noticing. I've been meaning to get back to working out, and that was definitely motivation.

This morning, as a result, I got up early and restarted Slim in 6 (again), so my work out was about 25 minutes. I plan to work out again this evening, this time doing 30 Day Shred. I also have to be much more careful with what I eat. As I've shown, I quickly put weight back on when I eat poorly and don't exercise.

I know Oscar thinks I look fine, and I love that he does. The problem is, I don't think that I look fine. I also know I've put on a lot more pounds than I should have, because my skirts and pants are feeling tight. It's very frustrating. I had been doing well, and now, not so much. Hopefully I can stick to my exercise program this time.

Bedtime Routine and Other Things

Most nights we follow the same bedtime routine with the boys, which usually works well for getting them to sleep without any problems. Then there are nights, like last night, when we mess with their routine, and they are a little more difficult to go to sleep than usual.

Usually I get home between 3:30 and 4:00 with the boys. They play a little bit and we have dinner around 5:00. After dinner they play until bath time, which is usually at 6:00. Bath time consists of using the potty for Gabe, as well as flossing and brushing, in addition to a bath or shower. After they are both in their pajamas, I read stories, two for Gabe unless it’s a really long story, and one for Nick. Then at 6:45 Oscar, the taxi, takes Gabe into bed and I take Nick. Nick gets a bottle of milk, and then calls Oscar in to brush his teeth. After that he gets a drink of water and goes to bed. They’re both usually out within 10-15 minutes.

Last night we decided to skip their bath and go for a car ride instead. They both seem to be coming down with colds, and Nick was a little cranky. Unfortunately, they seemed to energize each other and neither of them fell asleep in the car. Nick really wanted to play and Gabe wanted to ask questions about everything. Nick didn’t seem to want to relax until we were back home and I was rocking him in his room. He finished his milk bottle and had some water and then was asleep. Gabe was out shortly after getting into bed.

I guess that just goes to show that small children really are creatures of habit. We rarely mess with their routines, but when we do, it usually ends up taking them much longer to go to sleep than it normally would. We try to limit when we make changes, although we are going to the country house this weekend, so they will probably be a little challenged in going to sleep. Especially Gabe. He loves being up their so much that he has trouble winding down.

:::

Speaking of stories. We have some new favorites. Right now Gabe is very into both Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein, even if he doesn’t understand all the humor in the stories. I’ve mentioned before, I think, that he loves The Giving Tree, but we read Giraffe and a Half on Tuesday, and he like that very much. As for Dr. Seuss, he is very into both Green Eggs and Ham and The Lorax. Nick still loves his touch feely stories, with Little Feet Like... being his favorite of those. But, he’s also become attached to the class Goodnight Moon, which he likes to be read over and over and over again.

I’m glad they both really like books. I have such a love for them, that I would have been deeply disappointed if they were not interested in them. Unfortunately many of my favorite childhood series are probably ones they will never be interested in, to include Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, and the Betsy books. Oh well, I still enjoy them myself. Not to mention Little Women, The Little Princes, and The Secret Garden. Some they will like, including the Wizard of Oz series, and of course, the more recent Harry Potter series.

:::

Nick is really getting to be a toddler. I mean, he’s been walking and talking for a while, but he’s starting to get such a personality about it. His very words are mine and that. He will do something naughty just for the attention, and likes it even better sometimes, if you are telling him no while he’s doing it. Not to mention the tantrums if he doesn’t get his way. He also is even more curious about everything, but less likely to put it in his mouth.

I can’t believe how quickly they are both growing up. Gabe will be four in a week and a half. Four! I still can clearly recall the day he was born and he will be four. He’s looking forward to his party, which for once, will be held on his actual birthday. He and my MIL have already done a trial cake, and we have all the party supplies, as well as most of the replies for his guests. We’re going bowling Sunday afternoon, so he can practice before his party.

I love watching my boys grow up, I just can’t believe how quickly it’s happening. They were both babies, just yesterday, I swear! And yet, they’re not anymore. They are people, with their own minds, and likes, and desires. I love watching them grow and develop a stronger sense of self, even while I am nostalgic for the time when all they needed was a full belly and a clean diaper.

Small Town Life

Oscar and I currently live in a rented townhouse in a large planned community, which has 2 grocery stores, a McDonald's, a Ruby Tuesdays, a Starbucks, 4 pools, 3 elementary schools, and a planned middle school. We have short commutes to work. But we're not really happy here. Life moves too quickly. People are very materialistic. It's not really how we want to raise our children.

We've talked a lot about moving farther out, to a much smaller town. We still want to find a community to live in, but one that just has houses and 1 community center. Houses that are farther apart, with a little land. A much slower pace of life where you get your ice cream from a little stand rather than a franchise.

Oscar works with a number of people who live up there, as well as an old friend from high school, and they all love it. The commute, which would be about an hour, doesn't bother them. Many of whom have been doing it for 10+ years. The schools are pretty close to the level of where we live now, the home prices are much less, and the quality of life is higher. It sounds wonderful.

It's just a hard to make that decision. We're still a couple years off from buying a house, so we have time to decide. However, this decision isn't something we can undo once we make it. If we buy a house out there, we're committed. What if the commute wears on us? What if we don't like small town life after all? I don't think that will be the case, but there are a lot of what ifs.

We'd be trading convenience for a simpler lifestyle. I think that will make us happier. I think that will make our boys happier. I see all these teenagers that are as materialistic as their parents, and I don't want that for my children. I want them to enjoy simple pleasures, like a small-town barbecue, and a walk in the woods. I don't want them to be concerned with having the latest gadget or the most popular label on their clothes.

It really does sound like the best decision for us, but until we actually make it and move up there, we have no way of knowing for sure. I've suggested finding a place to rent up there, just to see if we like it, but Oscar doesn't want to go to the effort of moving unless we're doing it for good. That's a huge leap of faith. We really need to take the time to get to know the area, the people, the schools, and the neighborhoods.

I think we'd all be happier with a small town life.

Kid Movies

I'll admit. I like kid movies. Especially the animated ones. Plus most of them are in 3D now, which is really cool. I also love Harry Potter. So after those confessions it shouldn't surprise you that I saw both Harry Potter and Ice Age (in 3D!) this weekend.

Friday I took an early day from work and Oscar and I went out to lunch and then saw Harry Potter, which I really enjoyed. Yes, it doesn't follow the book exactly, but then movies based on books rarely do. It was still a very good movie. However, I have started rereading the book just to remind myself what was different and what was left out.

On Sunday we met up with a friend of Gabe's and her dad to see Ice Age. Nick should have fallen asleep on the way to the theater or even strolling to the theater from the garage, but he didn't. He also found the movie a little scary, so Oscar and I took turns pushing him around the theater. The parts of the movie I did see were cute. I would like to know where I can get a baby woolly mammoth for a pet, because she was really cute.

Gabe is getting so much better about sitting through movies, he still gets a little restless, but usually he's enjoying the movie too much to get restless. Also, it helps having a friend there, since he tends to imitate their behavior. After the movie his friend wanted us to come over - her mom just had a baby a month ago - but it was too late in the day, plus her mom was sleeping, so we didn't want to intrude.

:::

I'm very frustrated with my exercise routine. I was doing good and then got side-lined with being sick, and really not the kind that you can work through with exercise. And of course, I tend to be one of those all or nothing kind of people. If I fall off the exercise wagon, I also tend to fall off the diet wagon.

Plus there are some nights where I'm so exhausted I don't have the energy to exercise and do my homework. Since my homework is not optional if I want to pass my classes, the exercise often gets skipped so that I can put together a semi-coherent sentence. Some times I wish I could just quit school, but I've made it this far, and then once I'm done I'll be so proud of what I've accomplished. And I know it will get harder as the boys get older. It's just really hard now.

I'm not getting much sleep, and in addition to working full time, I'm raising two small children and going to school. It's a lot. Some days it feels like too much. And on top of it I try to add exercise and eating healthy. I have tons of exercise videos, and a very nice treadmill. There's no reason I can't work out. I just often lack the motivation to do it. Sometimes I just want to relax. Curl up with a good book or a tabloid (personal fave: US Weekly) and relax.

Unfortunately those moments are few and far between. Plus, I still need to work in time to exercise.

Minor Setbacks

I had been doing good with my working out and eating healthy until Wednesday. Then I got bad cramps, and was more interested in curling up on the couch with a pint of Ben and Jerry's (mmmm....Phish Food) instead of doing my Slim in 6 work out.

Last night I still wasn't feeling good, plus we needed to run some errands when I got home from work, so we ate dinner at Chipotle. Then Gabe threw a major tantrum in the store, and by the time I got home I was not in any mood to work. Plus I needed to work on home work.

I could say that I'm going to definately work out today. I'd like to think so, but who knows. I still don't feel 100%, plus Oscar and I are going on a date today (to see the new Harry Potter!), so probably not.

It would be better if I could get up in the morning and get my work out done before the day filled me with excuses, but it is so hard to get up an earlier than 5:30. Especially after getting up at least twice, usually more, with Nick. I really wanted to be consistent this time, yet there is always a reason for an excuse.

Go Ask Grandma

Reasons I am glad my boys are watched by their Grandma:

• They are cared for by someone who loves them as much as Oscar and I do.
• They get plenty of chances to run outside and play.
• She takes them to the library.
• And to the fire station.
• And to feed the ducks.
• They get one-on-one attention.
• She does lots of craft projects with them.
• She makes them home cooked meals.
  
• They also get to spend time with their Grandpa and Aunt Re.
• They get to cook (today Gabe helped make pancakes, raspberry jelly, and a vanilla milkshake, which he referred to as a muscle milkshake).
• She is able to take Gabe to his weekly gym class and to summer camp.
• She can watch the boys earlier or later, if we need it.
• She has a sandbox and a water table for them to play with.
• She has lots of toys for them to play with.
• She reads to them regularly.
• She doesn't let them watch much TV (Gabe watches maybe an hour at the most, and only if the weather is bad).
• They regularly play with her neighbor's grandchildren who are around the same age.
  

There are probably a lot of other reasons that I'm just not thinking about now. I complain a lot about my MIL watching the boys to Oscar. And yes, there are a lot of things that bother me. But I don't want to forget that they are lucky to be watched by their Grandma. It's the next best thing to Oscar or I being able to watch them.

Of course, I wish circumstances were different, and I could be the one to stay home with them. And yet, I'm not sure that would be what was best for them. I need to work, I think. I need to have that adult interaction. That separate part of my existence. I don't know that I would make a good stay at home mom. I love my children very much, and I know I would do my best, but would my best be as good as Grandma? I don't know.