One month already!!!

Time just continues to fly by and I can't believe how much Grant is growing and changing in such a short time.  He has already started holding his head up for long periods at a time and seems to be unhappy unless he is being walked around to see everything.  And it's not about being held because you can hold him and sit and he's just as unhappy.  Why do my children insist on growing up fast and not being a baby!?!  At this rate, I know how the rest of this story is going to go; over quickly! 

We had a quick check-up at the doctor's office and he is growing like a weed!  So healthy all around that they couldn't even give us his percentile because as the doctor put it "he is off the charts" in ALL measurements.  He is now 24 1/4 inches long, 11 lbs 13 oz and 16 inches head circumference.  The doctor said just about the averages for a three month old.  And one of my favorites is his cute little beefy looking arms!  Our next visit is July 16th and it will not be a good one for mommy....we're going to be getting shots that day.  Cross you fingers that I make it through it  :o(

 

 

Madelyn  has been an amazing BIG sister.  She really has been so good and so incredibly helpful.  If I ask for her help she is happy to stop anything she's doing to help mommy.  She loves to talk to him and tell him stories.  She loved telling him the story of the "Three Little Pigs" and I could barely get the video on fast enough it was so cute.  And for anyone that knows Miss Madelyn, you know how important the "softie" is and for her to actually share it with little brother--WILLINGLY is a BIG deal.  Mr. Grant sure is lucky to have such a loving and wonderful BIG SISTER like her.

 

http://youtu.be/KQ8lvnR4VbE

 

 



He's now "awake", meaning he is no longer just laying there sleeping.  He's starting to "coo" and makes the most adorable noises as he's eating and sleeping.  This is probably my favorite video to help me capture this short baby time.  He even seems like he's trying to respond to you when talking to him; almost like he wants to talk already!  Boy oh boy are we in for a treat if we end up with two talkers....But speaking of awake--this little guy wakes up and he is ANGRY!  Reminds me so much of Ryan.  Just look at that knot between his eyes.  And there is no "getting" angry.  It's happy to mad in 60 seconds; maybe even less.  My favorite is when you pick him up or start feeding him after he has been crying, he will stop crying--but do this little grunt every so often.  Like he's trying to say, "Alright, but I'm not over it and I want you to know it".  I know every baby is different so I try not to compare; however, I will say there is definitely more crying in this house this time around.  And we are having quite the struggle with finding a pacifier and bottle that he will take.  Hopefully, once we find the magic key all will be better.  Keep your fingers crossed and we'll check back in next month.

 

http://youtu.be/YRPNiJ2EyXc







 

 

Welcome Mr. Grant Eubanks Tolle

I suppose I should start with how it was 2 days before my due date and I was beginning to panic that this baby may not come in time to have my mom with me for delivery and I was not prepared for a "Plan B".  In two days I had my 40 week appointment with a nurse instead of a doctor (which I was ok when scheduling thinking I wouldn't make it to my due date) & I had an induction scheduled in 9 days with my least favorite doctor (again thinking I wouldn't have to even consider).  That Monday and Tuesday my mother and I walked and walked and shopped and walked more, but nothing.  So the new "Plan B" became that the next morning, May 21st, my mom would wake up early and head back to work and be on standby for our call or for a doctor appointment update.  I was going to call my doctor office first thing in the morning to try to change my appointment to be with a doctor so we had a sound plan & next steps.  All in agreement, we went to bed.

And then I woke up with a little discomfort....a short cramp.  I looked at the clock and it said 3:05 am and I laid there very still and awake.  Soon thereafter, a second cramp came.  I was pretty sure I was having contractions.  I woke up Ryan and said "I think I'm having a contractions and this is the second one".  He laid back down and said "OK".  In a laughing way, I told him "I think this is happening now; get my mom".  Ryan went to my mom and kept saying "Miss Terry, it's Wendy" and she would respond "What" and then after a few rounds of that game everyone woke up and finally started moving around.  My mom threw on clothes and then started getting Madelyn up & moving.  Ryan started getting ready and grabbing packed bags while I tracked my contractions.  They were on average 1 & 1/2 to 2 minutes apart and about 1/2 minute long until about 3:35 am and then they were about 1 minute long.  No sooner than when we got to the hospital they had my mom and I into a delivery room ready to have this baby while Ryan was with Madelyn in the waiting room until my grandparents or his parents arrived.  The doctor actually asked if we needed to wait for dad, but I pretty much told her she was crazy if she thought I could wait.  Just kidding, I kindly told her it was ok without him.  Ryan & I previously discussed in the event someone needed to be with Madelyn that I would need my mommy and he would need to stay with Madelyn.  About 5 to 10 minutes before 5:41 am, Ryan walked into the room to see Mr. Grant enter the world & our lives and, of course, to cut the cord!  Whew!

Grant weighed in at 8 lbs, 15.8 ounces, was a whopping 22.25 inches long, with dark eyes, and brown hair.  Madelyn was so excited that she told everyone she passed in the halls that she was a big sister.  She was a little bothered that we couldn't go home that day and told my mom "I want him home now"!  She has been a HUGE helper any time I ask and always wants to hold him.  That warms my heart so much and I remember how I cried in the delivery room as Ryan was holding her while they watched over Grant as he laid contently under the heat lamp.    This little guy is so amazing and adorable how much he loves the light.  As soon as he gets in the sunlight his whole body goes completely limp and he is fully content.  It is almost instantaneous when you put him in the sun.  And if you rub his back, feet, legs....pretty much anywhere--he is sooo ticklish!  All in all, Grant is a wonderful baby.  Sleeps pretty good-- eats good-- gains weight really good!  In only 6 days between doctor appointments, he gained just shy of 2 pounds (1 lb 11 oz to be exact)!  It was so unbelievable that the doctor actually requested that we do a second weight check to make sure.  Before he was born I noticed I didn't have any newborn clothes so I went out and purchased some.  Well, he wore them for all of one minute and then jumped right into 3 months by the time he was one week old.  So I basically gave birth to a 3 month old....I knew those doctors were all wrong (just kidding).

http://youtu.be/KQ8lvnR4VbE

 

A big welcome to our handsome little man, Mr. Grant.  I love my family!!!!

Impatienly Patient???

I don't even know if it makes sense, but I'm impatiently patient right now as I know the end is coming near for this pregnancy.  As I think about how I can't wait to meet my little man, I suddenly realize that this may be the last time I will have this large belly with a little someone saying hello from the inside.  And then I find myself trying to take in each minute to enjoy what might be the last.  UNTIL BAM!!!!!  I suddenly have a shooting pain down my left hip and leg that makes me cry out in pain and want to drop to my knees.....and everyone around me thinks I'm in labor....  Nope; just my son already being a pain in my.....just kidding.  But he is laying on a nerve that is causing the most discomfort that I've felt in----oh yeah I remember 3 years  :o)  Otherwise all is going very well.  At 38 weeks I weigh 148 pounds and measure exactly on track.  Even started to show some progress which gives me hope that hopefully he will be right on schedule like his sister.

This is the bottom line; he can't get any bigger because I am running out of space for him!

 

http://youtu.be/bD0cWSpUMYI

 

http://youtu.be/MFKvpgvU-kQ

 

 



We're Almost there!

Well, here we are nearing the end of this wonderful adventure.  All has gone well, but I'm much more tired than I remember being with Madelyn.  Although, it is different having a 3 year old to run around after while creating life!  But I am definitely the only one that is tired.  Just as I suspected in the beginning, we are going to have quite the active little boy on our hands.  It is crazy to see how much my stomach can shake, rattle and roll!  He has some strong little legs that are most assured to be residing on my right side.  And ever so many minutes I have a huge bulge that is poking out the right side.  He's gotta be stretching.  At 34 weeks I am measuring exactly on track and weigh a whopping 143 pounds.  He is starting to plump up and get cute for us  :o)  Well, we are all ready!  Luckily, all of Madelyn's bedroom and baby stuff was neutral colors (cream, browns, beige, etc), so all we had to do was pull some stuff out of the attic and wash everything.  So glad we did that because it has been really hard to find time to get everything prepared, so I'm sure we wouldn't be ready if there was anything more to do than that.

 

 

Get a look at these moves.....definitely didn't get them from his daddy.  Just kidding--he actually probably is just like his daddy from the stories I've heard.

 

 http://youtu.be/Lsx9eB51yTs

 

Miss Madelyn is still growing and ready for her little brother to come and play.  So, I'm thinking we are going to have a hard time understanding that he won't come out playing chase......  But I know that she is going to be my big helper.  She is always happy to help and we've already started to practice by climbing in to her car seat and buckling up or even getting her own snacks on her new snack shelf in the pantry.  Other than those updates, she is doing a great job in her new Preschool room.  She is doing an AMAZING job with her letters, both recognizing and writing them.  She is drawing lots of pictures that are now mostly of the family.  They are so cute with the happy face no body with the arms and legs coming out of the neck.  She even remembers to include baby brother.  I can't believe all that she is learning and don't even know of everything she knows.  One day at PaPa & GiGi's she just starting saying the pledge of allegiance.  I had no idea!!!  And a few weeks back she started telling me the months of the year--in English and Spanish.  I think my favorite part is when I drop her off and she is excited to find & show her name on the "job chart".  She's been "Line Leader", "Snack Helper", "Librarian" and "Weather Reporter".  There isn't a job for everyone each week, so the other night during bath time she told me in such a sad way that she "lost her job".  It was so funny! 

 

http://youtu.be/dlgA7xJMXv8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go ahead and call me crazy!

It has been an interesting past couple of weeks, but what's life without a little excitement???  So my 28 week appointment consisted of Rhogram shot, DTap booster shot and 4 vials of blood taken for my glucose screening......after all that--I failed the glucose screening (testing for gestational diabetes).  I was heart broken and feeling so guilty.  This big "F" on my test resulted in a 3 hours test (after fasting all night/morning) to drink the disgusting sugary drink again and having my blood taken 4 times an hour apart (one before drinking the disgusting sugary drink).  Lucky me-- the first time I had trouble with my veins so I was poked and prodded 7 times  :o)  If that doesn't teach you to "do your homework" to pass the first test I don't know what will!  But results came back and all was good.  So the first test must have been just a bad day.  Overall I am measuring right on schedule and weigh in at 138 pounds (gain of 12 pounds-- I"m counting for you Nona!!!).  Only personal notes to share is that unlike the last pregnancy-- I'M HUNGRY!  LOL!  Definitely have an appetite....so it must be a boy right!  Below is 24 weeks to 28 weeks for a comparison.

So look at these pictures and then go pick up a 12 pound sack of potatoes and then walk around Disney for 10 hours....YUP that is what I elected to do all for the smile on one little girl's face  :o)  I probably wouldn't have done it, but she is SO into the princesses right now and I SO wanted to see that face light up when she got to meet them that I couldn't say no.  So we packed up and headed to Orlando for 3 days to celebrate Miss Madelyn turning 3!!!  The first day we went to Magic Kingdom and met Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella....rode Dumbo & other rides....meet everyone from the 100 acre wood...whew! was it a long day!  She got her picture with all of them and had them sign her autograph book.  But it was AWESOME!  Except when she told us her favorite part was feeding the wandering ducks at a pond near the castle.........just kidding--that was awesome too because she almost caught one.  Those ducks get fed too much and are much slower than I expected!  The second day we went to a character breakfast and met the Mickey Mouse crew.  They did really good coming by and spending time and literally goofing around with her.  Afterwards, we headed to Animal Kingdom and had a fun day with all the animals.  We met Mickey and Minnie, Chip & Dale, Baloo & King Louie, and did the Safari Jeep ride.  Our last day we had a Princess Tea Party that was really fun.  We had jelly sandwiches, fruit, cake & apple "tea" while each girl had one on one time with Princess Aurora!  She even gave each girl a special doll, crown, bracelet & wand.  Afterwards we planned on going to Epcot, but it was raining ALL DAY LONG  :o(  But we still had an amazing time and made lots of memories!

Baby #2 Is Growing!!

Nothing really big to report.  Just thought I would share side by side photo comparison from 20 weeks to 24 weeks.  He's just as active as Miss Madelyn was.....so I've been having nightmares where they are both climbing the walls and I can't catch them both.  Just Kidding, but I am worried.  Videos might be hard to see, but watch the right side.  We have been busy trying to get his room ready, which really means removing any and all girly things or pink stuff.  And we bought our first baby boy item....actually Ryan picked it out and I couldn't pass it up after her pointed it out!  Daddy is excited!!!!

 

 

 http://youtu.be/as4Zo3mfZEY

 

 http://youtu.be/clnsr1EPlqc

 

 

Here's to a New Year with Many New Changes!

So we announced over the holidays that we are expecting our second little Tolle addition.  Instead of announcing we were having a baby, we wanted to include Madelyn in a big way by announcing she would be a BIG SISTER.  We had a shirt made for Thanksgiving that said "BIG SIS MADELYN".  Didn't play out exactly how we expected, but we really wanted to just make sure Madelyn was excited about the news.



Up to this point this whole pregnancy has felt completely different.  Unfortunately, sick again this round; however, only all day and all night feeling of nausea and on the better side--never actually gotten "sick".  In order to help me eat, sleep and pretty much be able to function/work, my doctor put me on medicine to subside the nausea.  Feeling guilty, I only took half the dose each day and tried repeatedly each week to stop taking it as I waited to naturally feel better.  Finally, when 18 weeks hit I was feeling better.  I think the biggest difference is that I feel my internal organs feel way more "squished" way more soon.  Otherwise, all is going very well.  As of my 20 week appointment I've gained five pounds.  Only one pound more than what I did with Madelyn at 20 weeks.  Perhaps it's because they also noted that this baby is measuring larger than her at 20 weeks as well....Everything checked out as healthy and we found out we are having a BOY!  Daddy was hoping for a boy to "even out the numbers in the house" and Madelyn was proclaiming a sister.  She wasn't upset when we shared the news and pictures with her; however, ever so often she still talks about what her and her sister are going to do when she gets here.  We have names narrowed down to either Grant or Carter (we think) and we're thinking since Ryan and I are split we'll let Madelyn pick???  We'll have to see about this.



Up to this point Madelyn has still been in her crib.  We didn't even convert it to a toddler bed because she seemed content and we didn't want her getting out of bed and wandering in the opposite side of
the house in the middle of the night.  As we approached Christmas time, she began to talk about a princess house with a princess bed and lots of princess toys.  So, we talked through it and decided to have her ask Santa for a big girl princess bed--and that she did!  We were thinking this was a great opportunity to move her into her own room so that she didn't feel that the new baby was pushing her out.  So, "Santa" put in weeks of planning and days of work to bring her a special present for being such a good girl this year.  I think she loved it  ;o)

 

http://youtu.be/kZ2iOvKV5hs