One on One Time

I had some one on one time with Wesley on Monday, and yesterday I got some one on one time with Ryan. Wesley went to the zoo with Grandma and Grandpa P. so Ryan and I had the whole day to ourselves. To be honest, I thought I'd get more naps in than I did (I think I got about 20 minutes all day) but it was so nice to be able to focus all my attention on Ryan without worrying about making Wesley jealous. Plus I FINALLY got the laundry put away for the first time in two weeks.


In Wesley news, he is becoming quite the computer kid. Duane was tied up with someone from the cable company last night and I was feeding Ryan, so we let Wesley play on the computer. I got on noggin.com and turned him loose. He watched videos and played games and did online coloring pages. He must have been on there for an hour with only minimal help from us. It made me realize how big he is getting. I can't believe he'll be three in a couple of weeks!!

Busy Day

Today was the day Duane went back to work. I have had nightmares about this day, but I don't know why. I knew that Grandma H. was coming down to help me today and thank goodness she did. I didn't get too much accomplished (I wanted to put away some laundry and make the bed), but the day flew by none the less.

Of course, I got the most important thing done. Wesley and I went out to lunch together and took the car for a car seat check all by ourselves. Not that it wasn't a chore to get out of the house. Wesley insisted that he didn't want to go because he was too tired. Grandma and I had to force him into the car. However, once we got going and listening to some music, Wesley did great. We had a good time at lunch and even played ice cream truck during the car seat check. Add a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up milk and you have the most exciting part of my day. It was great to spend a little time with Wesley on our own!

I thought I'd add a totally unrelated picture of Ryan here. His swing is turning into a life saver and today allowed me and Grandma to finish the dishes. I know I'm biased, but isn't he cute!?

Family of Four Fun

The W. family had our first outing as a family of four yesterday. It wasn't horribly exciting, we just went to the grocery store, but I'm thrilled it worked out so well. Ryan slept almost the whole time and Wesley walked the aisles with us and put the food into the cart. He was a great helper!

After we got home, Cathy, Sho and Kei came over. Kei really wanted to hold Ryan. He was so gentle with him. According to Cathy, Sho and Kei have worked out a system - Sho makes sure Wesley has someone to play with (himself) and Kei takes care of Ryan.

The three older boys tried to beat the heat by playing in the sprinkler and water table for a while. They love to fill up little buckets of water and throw them on each other! It was even more fun when Duane got the hose out and sprayed them all down! We ended water time with
ice cream sandwiches outside. If that doesn't scream "summer" I'm not sure what does.

Aunt Melissa and Kierstin came by for a visit too. Melissa got to coo over Ryan while Kierstin played with the cats and their toys. Basically, it made everyone happy.

And now for some completely unrelated news. If anyone in central Ohio is looking for a fun and inexpensive afternoon out, consider going to Johnny Steiner's annual concert on August 24th at 2:00 in the afternoon. Johnny is a fabulous entertainer and a wonderful person to know. Tickets are $10 at the door. There are no reservations and the place will fill up fast, so plan to get there early. I promise, you will not be disappointed. For more information, check out www.johnnysteiner.com.

It's Been One Week Since He Looked at Me

Sorry...channeling a little Barenaked Ladies there.

Anyhow, we have returned from Ryan's one week appointment. It was fabulous! He was totally relaxed and really impressed the doctor. Here are Ryan's stats

Length (Height): 20 3/4 inches - that's 1/2 an inch longer than when he was born and it puts him in the 80th percentile.

Weight: Ryan was 7 pounds 6 ounces at birth and his hospital release weight was 6 pounds 15 ounces. He weighed in today at 7 pounds 10 ounces which made us and the doctor very happy! He's in the 40th percentile for weight.

In unrelated news, I thought I'd post a few new pictures

Wesley and Fluffy

Aunt Cathy and Ryan

Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

Mommy and Wesley read a book to Ryan

Who does the play gym belong to?

Sweet Nothings

Wesley has been romancing Mommy lately. I think it's his way of getting my attention, but it sure is cute!

I always tell Wesley he is my favorite 2 year old. The other night we were lying in his bed and he said, "Mommy, you are my favorite...What number?"

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Wesley was playing with my hair and said, "Mommy, you look beautiful with your hair." What? As opposed to being bald?

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Last night I was feeding Ryan while Duane got Wesley ready for bed. Duane opened the door to the nursery so I could hear Wesley asking for me. He was saying, "Mommy is my best girl and I love her and I miss her so much!" Guess that explains why I let Duane sleep in this morning and I'm downstairs with Wesley.

I'll try to post again later today. Ryan has his one week doctor appointment today, so I'll want to give you all the update.

Surprise! A Second Post!

I don't know if I just got my second wind, or if that Starbucks from this afternoon finally kicked in, but Wesley's watching a dinosaur movie, Ryan is sleeping and I actually feel pretty awake, so I figured a quick post was in order.

This afternoon with Grandma H. didn't quite go as planned. First of all, Wesley was VERY jealous of any attention she paid to Ryan. It's funny because Wesley doesn't seem overly bothered when Duane or I hold the baby - but forget about sharing Grandma! Despite his possessiveness though, Wesley declined all offers of going to COSI, the toy store, the park or the big library. At one point we tried to get him out the door, but he started crying and said he wanted to stay home with Mommy. So, Mommy handed the baby off to Grandma and Wesley and I read a couple of books.

I've really been craving a change of scenery today, so while Grandma was in Ryan heaven, the rest of the W. family piled into the car for a visit to (hold your breath - this is so exciting) the post office!!!! Amazing, huh? Actually, just getting out of the house for a little bit was great! We made a trip to the Starbucks too so I could indulge in a little caffeine. Sorry Al, but Duane and I have rediscovered the joy of caffeine after a couple of sleep deprived nights. But don't worry, I'm still only drinking one caffeinated beverage a day. Of course, I did pump shortly after the iced coffee. Guess Ryan will have a shot of rocket fuel later!

That's all the excitement for today. Stay tuned for tomorrow's update. We're going to try to go to Target. Can you stand the suspense?

Settling In

Well, it's day 5 of Ryan being with us and we're starting to settle in a little bit. I won't lie and say we have any kind of routine going, but we're muddling through - mostly because of every one's kindness. I don't know what we'd do if we didn't have our family and wonderful friends around. The grandparents are still helping so much with Wesley! He's going to do something special with Grandma H. today and I think he's going to the fair with Grandma and Grandpa P. on Thursday. And what will Daddy and I do while they are gone? SLEEP!!! Although I'm dying to take a little walk today.

Ryan is really a very good baby. He's a terrific eater and is already taking bigger bottles than Wesley did at this age. He sleeps for an average of 3 hours at a time - sometimes more, sometimes less. If we could just get my pumping and his feeding times coordinated, Duane and I might not look like the living dead. Thank goodness Wesley sleeps like a rock!

Wesley has been so good about the addition of his brother. Yesterday when Ryan was fussing in the cradle, Duane said, "I'll get him." I was up, so I said, "No, I'll get him." Wesley went running over to the cradle and stated "No! I'll get him!" He's tried to help feed Ryan too. What a great big brother!

Pictures of Ryan

Here are of pictures of Ryan. Wesley thinks his baby brother is "so cute" and loves to touch his nose. We got through last night OK and Wesley completely slept through all the noise every time Ryan needed fed. I have some cute little stories I'll share later.

Welcome, Ryan Kenneth!

Ryan Kenneth was born at 2:10 today. He was 7 pounds 6 oz.

Mother and boys are doing well. Ryan is smaller than Wesley and has a head of dark curly hair.
More news to follow... and pictures.

(This post comes compliments of Kate who was at work when the call came and is now trying to remember everything and what she should have asked...)

Not the Dogs!!!

As many of you know, Wesley has been very busy being a puppy for at least part of every day. Well, Grandpa P. took the dog thing one step further and introduced Wesley to "Who Let the Dogs Out" EEKKK!!!!

Photo Update

I may be spending most of time in bed and chain reading, but Wesley has been having a lot of fun this week. He spent a day with Sho and Kei, went swimming with Grandma and Grandpa P., went to the zoo with Grandma H., Cathy, Sho and Kei, had dinner and a water party with Colin. WOW! What a busy kid!

Baby Bear

I love watching how Wesley copes with his impending sibling. For the last few days Stinky Bear has been doing double duty as a baby. Wesley will put him to bed in the crib and tell us all to be quiet because the baby is sleeping. He talks very sweetly to his baby and makes sure it has enough to eat. I think Grandma H. and I might go out and look for a toy baby bottle today so Wesley can feed his baby bear. BTW, Duane isn't exactly thrilled with that idea, but he's willing to go along with it. The other night Wesley even tucked the bear up the front of his shirt so he could have a baby in his tummy like Mommy!

8 days until the real thing!

Boring Blog

I feel like I should warn everyone that this is probably going to be a pretty boring blog for the next couple of weeks. I'll post when there's something to say, but considering that I'm starting my leave after tomorrow and am "taking it easy" there's just not a lot going on. I spend most of the days in bed reading - although I did make it until 4:00 at work yesterday. I guess I could always post book reviews!

Today's big excitement will be a trip to Babies R Us with Grandma H. We both want to pick up a couple of things so we feel more prepared for 2.0. I want to get some BPA free bottles (it never hurts to be on the safe side) and Wesley is going to help pick out a special cuddle toy for his little brother. I'll let you know what he picks, although it sounds like he has his heart set on a bear.

OUCH!

I'm still having a lot of ligament pain. On Monday I tried to drive Wesley to Grandma and Grandpa P.'s so I could go to work, but wound up having to pull of the freeway and have someone come pick me up because I couldn't drive. Poor Wesley must have been pretty freaked out, because he asked "Mommy, are we going to the hospital?"

I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday afternoon. Her recommendation is to start my leave early and we'd induce as soon as we could. So, I'm officially starting my leave on Monday the 14th (although I'll probably only do part days this week) and it looks like we are most likely going to induce on the 24th. Well, I did say wanted 2.0 to be born in July.

Sorry for the short post, but I really need to head back to my bed.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations to our friends Keith and Cheryl in Florida. We just found out that they welcomed their baby girl, Alexandria, into the world on July 4th!!! She was 8 pounds 10 oz and 21 inches long! YAY!!!!!!

Guilt Trip Now Boarding

So, here it is, 8:00 on a Sunday morning and I am already on a guilt trip. I just feel so useless and like I'm not providing any fun for my little guy this summer. All week I wanted to take him to the zoo today. However, yesterday I left work in tears because I was in so much pain. Duane even had to come pick me up because I didn't think I could drive. I spent all afternoon or evening on the couch or in bed with a heating pad and varying levels of pain (not contractions yet). So Duane said he didn't care how good I felt today - I was NOT going to the zoo. I tried telling him we could rent a wheelchair and he could push me around. Wesley could just sit on my lap when he got tired of walking, but I don't think he's going to go for that.

I've been trying to think of fun things Wesley could do around here today. Go to the park (without Mommy), get the water table out, turn the sprinkler on, buy a bigger inflatable pool so I could soak with the boy - but I worry that none of those things will be fun for him by himself. I so wish he had some little friends around here. The couple next door has their grandchildren over often, but the fence has never been crossed. I just feel like I'm short changing my kid. And there's no way he's starting preschool this fall. The child will not pottty train. So I'm feeling guilty about that too.

Then there's the fact that I've let my child become a super picky eater and I HATE it!!!! I can't get him to try new things and I feel horrible that he isn't getting a varied and nutritious diet. I read Laura's blog and know she's going through the same thing, but it doesn't really make it easier.

I'm also stressing about the fact that the nursery needs a good cleaning before 2.0 arrives, that I'm using up sick time before my leave, that my uncle is in the hospital and very ill and I can't go visit, that we need to move before Wesley starts kindergarten (in two years) and so on and so forth. Is it normal to get this stressed out at the end of a pregnancy??

Your mission, dear readers is to comment on the blog with lots of reassuring words so I stop freaking out. Please take pity and give me some sympathy.

Independence Day

We enjoyed another soggy Fourth of July around here, but the day wasn't a total "wash."

Wesley kicked off the holiday with a dinosaur party in his room.

We headed to the Historical Society for their Grand Ol' Fourth (a la 1895). It's been years since I went and I can tell you, it's much more fun when it's not raining. Still, it was good to get out of the house and Wesley seemed to enjoy it - even after falling backwards into a big puddle. We sampled ice cream, saw the women in the farmhouse making an apple pie in the fireplace, checked out the general store and the historic baseball display. We even sat in on the reading of parts of the Declaration of Independence, historic tableau's, and sang My Country Tis of Thee. Kind of nice on the 4th! Maybe we'll try it again some year when it isn't raining.

Wesley playing one-handed checkers in the general store, while munching on a red, white and blue cookie.

Similar to the first picture, Wesley churning butter in the general store, while munching a red, white and blue cookie.

Daddy and Wesley singing in the rain.

Wesley making a patriotic ribbon for Mommy to wear.

Later in the afternoon we headed to Aunt Melissa's for the annual 4th of July Party. As usual, we ate too much and had a wonderful time!

Scrapbook time!

Wesley and cousin Mark play cars.

Grandma W. and the grandkids.

Mark and Kierstin enjoying the candy bouquet Aunt Judy and Uncle Doug brought.

Aunt Judy and Wesley creating a sticker masterpiece.

Our gracious hosts, Kierstin, Uncle Mark, Aunt Melissa and Mark Robert.

Everybody Say BOOM!!!

I considered back dating this post since it's all about July 3rd, but no one would believe that I was blogging at 11:30 PM. So I figured, I'd be honest about it.

Yesterday was the day that half the city and some of suburbs converge on downtown to watch Red, White and Boom. That means it was also the day that I take off work, so I'm not caught in all the traffic woes that surround the event since I live downtown.

Duane had to work yesterday, so it was just Wesley and I - both a good and a bad thing these days. We got our act together in time to go to the "big library" late in the morning. I wanted to take him to storytime, but he didn't have much interest in it. Instead, we spent over an hour in the Ready to Read center, playing with the kitchen and the train table and the early literacy letters and coloring. It was probably better for him than storytime, because we had to work on sharing the toys and crayons with the other boys and girls.


The only downside to having Wesley at the library by myself was being so pregnant. I couldn't sit on the floor with him very easily and I started having horrific ligament pain. Oh! And there was the moment when I had to go to the bathroom NOW (that's to 2.0 on the bladder) and had to carry Wesley into the bathroom with me because he didn't want to leave his toys. It wasn't exactly pretty, but he didn't scream and have a fit.

As soon as we left the "big library" Wesley turned into a puppy. This wasn't a problem in the car, but it was a problem when we stopped at the grocery store. It was raining lightly (4th of July holiday always means rain in central Ohio) and Wesley dropped to his hands and knees in the wet parking lot as soon as we got out of the car. As if that wasn't bad enough, he crawled over to a puddle and proceeded to drink out of it!!! YUCK!!!!

By the time Daddy came home at 4:30, I was BEAT and still in some pain. I had tried to lay down and get Wesley to take a nap with me, but it didn't work. Aunt Susan arrived to drop off a few things shortly after Daddy. I had to tell her the following story.

When Wesley woke up that morning, I told him that Ray and Krystal and Brett and Alyssa were coming down that night.
Wesley: And Uncle Kirk and Aunt Susan!?!?! Is it a party?
Mommy: No, Uncle Kirk and Aunt Susan aren't coming over.
Wesley: (very disappointed) Oh.

Then I told him that on Friday, we'd go to Aunt Melissa and Uncle Mark's. I told him that there would be lots of people there: Uncle Doug and Aunt Judy and Grandma W.
Wesley: And Uncle Kirk and Aunt Susan!?!?!?!
Mommy: No Pumpkin, Uncle Kirk and Aunt Susan won't be there.
Wesley: (very disappointed) Oh.

Well, when Aunt Susan heard that story, she knew that she had to stay at our house for dinner and the fireworks. She called Uncle Kirk and relayed the story to him and he arrived within half an hour. I'm telling you, my kid has the guilt trip thing down pat!!!! The picture to the right is of Wesley and his "Uncle" Ray.




We had a really nice time last night. We usually have a TON of people at our house because it's a convenient place to park and walk to fireworks and I love to throw a party, but it was wonderful to just have a handful of our friends over. We threw some brats on the grill and had picnic food. Wesley even helped cook! We ate and played dominoes and spoons until the fireworks started (Mr. No Nap fell asleep in his chair at 8:30) Since I was still having a great deal of pain, everyone decided to stay in. We turned the fireworks on a local HD channel, turned the lights off in the front room and watched the show on our big screen tv in air conditioned, cushioned comfort. We could hear the fireworks going off outside as we watched them on the screen which added a special dimension. And of course, Wesley slept through the entire thing.

It's so strange and exciting to think that we'll be a family of four at this time next year! Heck, at this time next MONTH we'll most likely be a family of four!

Sweet

This morning on the way to Grandpa's, Wesley asked me very nicely if he could please have a donut for breakfast. I'm a sucker for a cute kid with manners, so we stopped at Tim Hortons. After we placed our order at the drive thru, Wesley said, "Mommy, know what you are?" Fearing the worst I replied "What am I, Wesley?" His answer? "Sweet sweet." AWWWW!!!!

Cold Times Three

We've been working really hard with Wesley on sharing things. Apparently he has taken our lessons to heart and has graciously shared his cold with Mommy and Daddy. We both have killer sore throats and a bit of stuffiness. It'll be a Sucrets kind of day for Mommy. The good news is that Wesley is starting to feel a bit better. His nose isn't running much anymore and his attitude has been improving - perhaps that has something to do with the 2 hour nap he had yesterday followed by 10 hours of sleep.

In fact, Wesley is feeling so good this morning that he has turned into a puppy. He crawls around the house on all fours and barks. He even fetched the paper for me! Of course, he also licked my legs several times, so that kind of cancels out some of the cuteness.