Just because...

5 Months

Donny is 5 months old today - December 2, 2009. He's getting to be such a BIG boy! He's well over 17 pounds (I assume because he was almost at 17 at his 4 month check-up). We think he's starting to teethe...no actual teeth yet, but lots of drool and fist sucking. He's awake a lot more during the day and loves to play -- although, I'm sad to say that he's still not consistently sleeping through the night. We do take advantage of those nights though...Those are the mornings when 5:30 doesn't seem quite so early. :o)

It sure is fun being this little man's Mommy. I love taking these monthly pictures so I can see how much he's grown.

Purpose of Life

Four Months

Donny's 4 month stats:

Length - 26 inches
Weight - 16lb. 14oz.
Head - 42.7 cm.

He was in the 80-85th percentile for everything. He's a BIG boy! We started cereal this past weekend. He's not eating much of it, but we're doing it mainly to get him used to spoon feeding before we start fruits and veggies in a couple months.

Braelyn & Makayla 10/31/09

I can't believe these two are 3 years old! Where has the time gone? It's awfully fun to see these two girls grow up together. I hope this is a friendship that will last a lifetime.

How we spent our sick days at home...

Donny learned how to grab at the toys on his chair.

Braelyn threw a fit because she wants to go to Sunday School (cute, right?).Braelyn and I enjoyed some ice cream sandwiches.

Braelyn took a trip to the moon in her "rocket ship".

First Fever

Donny got his first fever last night. It's heartbreaking for this Momma to see him sick. :o(

There isn't much I can do except pump him full of Tylenol and pray that I haven't brough something really bad home to him from school. I'm REALLY REALLY hoping that it's just teething.

Oh, Baby...How you've grown

One Month 8/2/09

Two Months 9/2/09

Three Months 10/2/09

Two Months

On September 2, 2009 Donny turned 2 months old. Here are his stats:

Weight - 13 lb. 13 oz. -- Up from 7 lb. 5 oz. @ birth (90%)
Length - 23 1/2 in. -- Up from 19 3/4 in. @ birth (I think this was 75%)
Head - 40.1 cm -- (I think this was 60%)

I actually got reprimanded by the pediatrician for overfeeding Donny. OOPS! This mommy was just giving her baby what he wanted. Of course, I thought it was a lot, but he wasn't satisfied unless he got it. He was eating approximately 6oz. almost every 3 hours (except at night since he's skips a feeding while sleeping). The doctor said, "A baby at any age should not be eating as much as Donald." He told me that I needed to decrease each feeding by at least an ounce or else we would be on the road to obesity. For real? I didn't know babies could be obese.

Anyway, Donny does not much care for this diet and, frankly, neither do I! Hopefully, Donny will use this as motivation to sleep ALL through the night. The doctor says once Donny skips his other nighttime feeding that we can up the ounces again.

Other than my sweet boy being a fatty (and currently screaming for more food), he's HAPPY and HEALTHY! That's all this mom can ask for. :o)

Simply because I think they're beautiful!

What did I do?

Despite all the challenges that come with being a mother, I must have done something right along the way. Being a mother is BY FAR the best gift I could have ever received. Both my children are a blessing, and I am forever grateful for being able to care for them in this life. God is good.

We made it through the first "full" week

The new school year is upon us which means Mommy is returning back to work. This past week was the kids' first "full" week to be at daycare. I'm SERIOUSLY hoping that what we experienced this week is not what I have to look forward to for the rest of the school year.

Monday was fine. Don drops the kids off, and I pick them up. Those are our jobs -- as we have to explain this to Braelyn almost daily.

Tuesday started out just as well until...I get a call from the daycare saying that Donny threw up. What?! For real?! He's barely over six weeks old. What business does he have throwing up? I was told that he wasn't running a fever, but if he threw up two more times I HAD to go get him regardless. I assumed that it was probably just a lot of spit up at once, but it seemed that their biggest concern was that the 'vomit' had chunks. Well, what do you expect from milk after it's been in the tummy for a little bit? They also said that once they got him cleaned up he burped a few times and was fine. Anyway, I know how much this daycare cares for my kids and I'd most definitely rather them be more cautious than not. I left from lunch to pick Donny up after only throwing up once and took him back up to school with me.

Wednesday...OH Wednesday...We thought this was going to be just a normal day, too. Once again I get a call from the daycare. When I saw the number come up on my cell's caller ID I just knew they were going to say Donny had thrown up again. Boy, was I wrong! "Hi, Dewawn. It's *** at the daycare. Braelyn is throwing up. She's done it three times and you have to come get her." My response, "What? Are you serious?" I was thinking this was a joke. NOPE. When I picked both the kids up this time, Braelyn was acting fine. I talked to one of the daycare workers about how I can't believe we only made it through 2 days of daycare before getting sick. She told me she wasn't aware of anything going around in the class, but strep throat was going around in the toddler room a few weeks ago. I took Braelyn home thinking this was a fluke. Maybe she ate something bad? Maybe she overworked herself while playing outside? Maybe she's faking it? When we got home, I gave Braelyn some gatorade to help rehydrate her body. We sat around watching a little tv before naptime. Then she comes up to me and says, "Mommy, I have to spit up." I walk her to the bathroom and sure enough she starts vomiting like crazy! I feel so bad for her as I'm trying to hold her hair out of her face. I immediately call the doctor to make an appointment because everyone knows that once one kid gets sick -- the rest of the family gets it, too! I put everyone in the car as quick as I could and head to the doctor. Braelyn is in the back seat crying because she hates going to the doctor. Then she tells me that she has to spit up again. My daughter is quite the actress and milks everything for ALL it's worth. I, being the awful mom that I am, don't pull over because how could this child possibly have anything left in her belly after puking at the house?! WRONG! I hear the little burp, and then, yep, you got it. Vomit...all down her shirt, in the carseat, and then I pull over and let her finish puking in the street. We finally make it to the doctor. I have to help hold Braelyn down so the nurse can do the strep test and it comes back POSITIVE! My daughter made it through 2 1/2 days of daycare and ended up with strep throat. I called the daycare to let them know that it's definitely going around in that room.

Is anyone else thinking that maybe baby Donny was really sick, too? BAD MOM!

Thursday was relatively calm with the exception of vomit on Braelyn's comforter that had to be sprayed off with the water hose in the backyard (ha!). Donny went to daycare while Don stayed home with Braelyn so I wouldn't have to miss anymore work. I am still not really ready for kids to walk through my classroom door on Monday.

Friday was the second day this week that both kids made it through the ENTIRE day of school. YAY! So, will I be missing 60% of the school year due to sick kids? Is being a mom of two kids really this hard? Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade this for the world, but as my mom said to me this week, "Oh, the joys of motherhood."

Just a Preview

I can't wait to see the rest!!!

Check out the photographer's webpage:

http://www.lisafelthousphotography.com/

An imaginary Christmas sounds good to me.

Three year olds have an incredible imagination! Braelyn has recently adopted a few imaginary friends. I only know one of their name's...Harry Potter. Go figure. :o)

Today, Braelyn walks into the bathroom while I'm getting ready with her babydoll in the stroller. She asks for a bow so that she can make her baby pretty. I reach into the drawer and hand her a few different hair accessories. Her response to all of them was, "No, that's too big."

I got a little frustrated because she didn't want to take anything I had to offer, so I reach into the drawer and grab a big piece of AIR. I handed her this imaginary bow. Braelyn got the biggest smile on her face, and said, "Thank you, Mommy!" She put the fake bow on her baby and told her how pretty she looked.

Here's hoping this trend continues...maybe we can have some imaginary presents for Christmas. Ha!

(Yes, I know that I'm living in a dream world.)

Loving Two

I found this poem on another woman's blog, and I had to share it:


Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. Author Unknown

Cheese!

Donny is just over a month old, and we've been lucky enough to see a few smiles on his precious face. However, it's VERY challenging actually catching them on camera. This is actually the end of one of his smiles I got to see yesterday. Isn't he sweet? :o)

"I'm gonna pee on the carpet."

My beautiful 3 year old has come up with a creative way of telling us she needs to use the restroom. For the longest time, she would just say, "I need to go potty." That seems pretty normal to me.

Over the last couple weeks, she has stopped using that phrase. Instead, she tells us that she's going to pee on something -- depends on where she is. If she's playing in the living room, she says she's going to pee on the carpet. Yesterday, she told me she was going to pee on my kitchen table. She also told me she was going to pee on her bed.

Don goes crazy because he thinks she'll actually do it -- which she just might! We try to get her to the bathroom as quick as possible these days. We don't want her to regress with the new baby home.

Braelyn is a little bit nutty -- That's what makes her so loveable! :o)

How are you adjusting to the new baby?

God has blessed me with 2 wonderful children. I enjoy spending my days with them and, yes, even my nights.

Before Donny was born, I often wondered what my life would be like once I became a mother of two. I knew it would be different, but would it be harder? Would I know how to be an equally good mother to both of my children? Would they both get enough of me? It turns out, that you adjust rather quickly. There is no time to "figure things out." You just have to jump right in.

I was telling my mom the other day that I never imagined that it would be this way. What do I mean, you ask? Before you decide to add a child to your family, I assume that most mothers feel like they've finally gotten the hang of things and are ready to take on the challenge of another baby. It turns out, that they're right and they're wrong. They're right because the second baby is actually easier (at least in my situation). I'm a bit more relaxed. I'm not freaking out at every little hiccup, gag, or cry. I don't use the monitor nearly as much. In fact, we don't really use it at all. (Donny sleeps right across the hall...we can hear him just fine.) I really just try to go with the flow.

They're wrong because that 1st child that they thought they had finally figured out turns into a completely different child. Braelyn, my almost 3 year old, is now the tougher of the two. She's no longer sleeping through the night (this is the biggest adjustment as she started sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old)!! She does just about all that she can to get some attention. Yes, she even screams, "Look at me! Look at me!" Ha! My patience has definitely been tested to say the very least. Let this be a warning to you all. Just kidding. I wouldn't trade any of this for the world!

I love my precious babies and can't even begin to imagine what life would be like without them. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be their Mommy.

I'll leave you with a few pictures.

I am so in love...

Some Random Good Things

While out getting things done after our well child check-ups this morning, we came across some random good things.

First, we found these really cute piggy banks for the kids. Braelyn already had a piggy bank, but it was very small and just about FULL. We found them at Target - if you're interested.

We also stopped by the daycare to make sure everything was all set for Donny to start in August. Did you know that it costs almost $200 per week for an infant to go to daycare?!?! I'm sure we could find something cheaper, but we've been very happy with this daycare. I love that Braelyn has made so many friends at school and that it seems every teacher ADORES Braelyn. Even if they don't, they sure make you think they do. :o)

Anyway, we found out that the daycare provides formula for the infants. WHAT?! That was news to me. The only negative to that is that they provide Parent's Choice (Wal-Mart brand), so we'd have to switch to that. Don and I are all for that anyway because it's cheaper, and let's face it...We'll be paying more in childcare than for our house payment. We need to save money any way we can! This will "save" us about $25 per week (even though I consider this as money built into the daycare payment).

Well Child Check-Ups

Both kids (I'm getting used to having more than one...lol) had appointments this morning for their well child check-ups. I was a little worried about having to take them both in by myself, but my wonderful husband took the day off so that he could go with us.

Donny's stats:

2 Weeks Old

8 lb 6.5 oz (50%)- Up from 7 lb 5 oz @ birth

20 1/2 in. long (50%)- Up from 19 3/4 in.@ birth

head - 36cm (25%)

Donny is eating 3-4 oz @ each feeding and eats about every 3 hours. He still spends much of his day sleeping, which is fine by me...but I sure am looking forward to some awake hours so long as they're during the daytime. :o)

Braelyn's Stats:

2 weeks shy of 3 years old (Aug. 1)

31.4 lb - Up from 6 lb 7 oz @ birth (lol...if you're interested)

37 inches long, OR 3ft 1in TALL - Up from 20 in. @ birth

Braelyn seems to be excelling with her development. The doctor asked about recognizing colors, motor skills (pedaling a tricycle), putting words together in sentences, and whether or not we could understand at least 75% of the words she says. Braelyn has been able to do most of that for quite some time, so I like to think she's very bright!

Don and I have been blessed with two, special kiddos. We are looking forward to watching them continue to grow and learn. This, by far, is the best journey I've been on so far!

Back to Tennessee

Mom left this morning to go back to Tennessee. She was home for 2 weeks, and most importantly she was here when Donny was born.

I don't know if her leaving the first time or this time is harder. I'm leaning towards this time. We aren't sure when she's coming back, but I'm sad that she won't be able to see the kids every weekend and watch them both grow with us.

Of course, I'll be taking MANY pictures to send to Mom.

Mother of 2

On July 2, 2009 I became a mother of 2. Donald Louis Wiest arrived at 9:49am weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. He's absolutely perfect, and as you can tell we ALL love that he's finally joined our family.

I am one happy and blessed Momma!

How I spent my Friday afternoon...

Yes, that's right. I was sent to the hospital for observation. When I went to the doctor for my regular weekly check-up, apparently they recorded my blood pressure at 150/90. Of course, that's ridiculously high for anyone - especially an expecting mom.

First, notice the very FAKE smile on my face. I was not happy to be where I was. In fact, I was quite scared at first. I called Don home from work (which he's still not happy about), and I was on my way to the hospital with Braelyn in tow.

I had more lab work done (the same stuff they did a month ago due to high blood pressure) and was monitored with those belts you see wrapped around me for a few hours. EVERYTHING came back normal. At one point, the nurse came in and said my blood pressure measured at 103/64. SERIOUSLY?! I figured due to my being so worked up over being at the hospital that it would be even higher than it was at the doctor's office. It was checked repeatedly while I waited and waited to get to go home. Every time, it came back normal. The nurse came in again later and joked, "If your blood pressure gets any better, I'm going to have to give you some medication to raise it back up."

Anyway, all seems to be fine for now. As much as I'm ready for this baby to be here, there are still just a few little things I need to get done first. He's scheduled to make his appearance on July 2nd, and it would be just perfect if he would hold out until then!

Where has the time gone?

Oh, Baby Girl, where has the time gone? In just 16 days you will no longer be the baby in the family. I know you're going to be a great big sister, but I can't help but worry about how your life is about to change.

You have been such a blessing to our family, and I can't imagine you not being here with us! I'm looking forward to watching you grow for many more years and seeing you teach your little brother who's boss. :o)