Monday, November 28, 2005

23 weeks

The first belly picture! Poor baby, with Sage we already had about one a month!

Setting up the Charlie Brown Tree

Sage helps daddy put on the lights. Drew is already teaching him the "man" jobs.
Putting on ornaments. Now it is hard to tell him do not touch!
The big finale!
It's a Charlie Brown Christmas tree!

Baby Update, Thanksgiving etc.

Weight: 154
Babies heart rate: 124

Everything is going well. I measured 24 but am 23 weeks along. I have been wearing maternity jeans for a little over a week and I try to not wear the shirts yet since most of them are huge still.

Thanksgiving was fun. It was different and we didn't stuff ourselves to oblivion like normal but we had a good time. We tried to set up our Christmas tree when we got home but our lights were all burnt out. We got an okay picture for our Christmas cards. I am hoping that they come in the mail today or tomorrow. I really need to finish the letter but am waiting for creative inspiration. Hopefully, it comes sooner than later!

Update on Sage staying dry through the night: If I put his overnight diaper on, chances are he won't leak. If Drew puts it on, chances are he will leak. I just figured this out with Drew being home for the past couple of days. So, which do I enjoy more, getting a break from putting Sage to bed or not doing as much laundry? I am going with the laundry at this moment. Ask me around 7:15.

Sage is officially ready for snow. A friend gave us some snow pants and we bought $10 boots at Wal-Mart. We are excited to get some fun pictures! He is really funny to watch walk around in the boots! Such a little man. He still isn't talking with words yet, but he babbles a lot and has a lot of influctuation. He also sings. And his dance changes with different forms of music. He bobs his head for rock and he sways back and forth for jazz. It is really funny. He will often point to the computer and bob his head. That is his way of asking for music to be put on. He has started to throw more fits lately. He will lay on the floor and scream. It is hard to know how to react to him. It seems like he always throws fits when Drew and I are getting ready to go to church. He is never happy when we are at church either. He doesn't cry the whole time or anything, he just isn't himself around people after we pick him up from the nursery. Normally, he is very social and smiley and waves at a lot of people but at church, he just gives them the cold stare.

I just noticed he is getting more teeth! He is getting some in the back of his mouth. What a big boy! He has 4 on top and 4 on bottom and on the bottom right side of his mouth he is getting 2 more! They skip a space and then 2 more have broken through.

He is especially whiny today because I had my dr. appt. He fell asleep in the car and stayed asleep in the umbrella stroller half of the time. Then he didn't sleep when we got home. Making for a grouchy Sage and a grouchy mommy!

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Everything is FREE!

Sooo tired! He didn't like it when the crowds cheered- he would cry! No pic of that, too bad.
Mommy and Sage enjoying the game!
"The Game" One t-shirt read, Harvard sucks, Princeton doesn't matter, The Game!
Handsome Dan and the fam!




Except for the $32,000 per year tuition.

I am talking about Yale. Drew is studying to get his masters in architecture. Saturday was the Yale versus Harvard football game. So, we went! It was so much fun!

Free parking, free burgers, free hotdogs, free cookies, free chips, free Coke, free water, free admission!

The weather was perfect, a little chily in the shade but no complaints. We took Sage and had so much fun! It was weird being at an Ivy League football game and realizing that it is a lot like a big high school. I mean nothing seemed better than the public university that I attended. The students that attended the game were still drunk and yelled obsentities. One chant was "School on Monday!" because Harvard has school Monday and Yale doesn't. I thought, you guys go to an ivy league school and that is the best you can come up with?

I will give Yale props though. They have made a sense of community within their colleges. Everyone lives in a different college, I think there are 11. And there is a lot of pride that goes into each college. It is neat to see. I compare it to a giant Greek system except these kids are more privalaged. Drew was telling me that they will have teas with very important people so the students can network and make connections.

I should mention that we spent a small fortune on Yale gear to wear to "The Game"! But we will get our use out of it. Sage's is a 2T so, next year it better fit also!

Friday, November 18, 2005

Different

I am feeling more pregnant. I feel the baby move more, even during the day which is exciting. My hips hurt when I sleep. I look more pregnant. And my maternity jeans are not falling down as much today! So, I can be comfortable without wearing sweatpants! My size bigger jeans still fit but by the end of the day, are not very comfortable. I will definitly wear maternity jeans to Thanksgiving dinner!

What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving? Ours will be different this year. We always went to my parents city and got together with 4 other families. We have been doing that for years. Ever since I can remember. It worked in our marriage to do Thanksgiving with my family and Christmas with his. But this year lots of things are different. We moved half way across the country and can't get back but even more of a change, one of the families that we got together with, moved to Kansas City. My parents are going to KC, my sisters family is going with her husbands family, my brothers family is going with his wifes family and my other brother lives in NC and will be with his wifes family also. So different! Selfishly, I am glad that none of my family will be together because then I don't wonder what I am missing. The other day was my sisters birthday and she had gone to my moms house to scrapbook all day and go out to lunch with friends while her husband took care of the kids. But they were all going to have dinner together and I just felt lonely. I wish I could go to stuff like that. Maybe someday. Anyway, we are going to a friends house for Thanksgiving. It will be small, just the 2 friends, their baby daughter, his parents and us. I am used to a lot of people around for Thanksgiving. 4 original families plus the kids getting married and then adding kids. Of course, not everyone could come every year, but that was the fun, getting to catch up with someone! We announced we were pregnant there 2 years ago and then last year got to bring Sage with us! Usually, they would do a thing where we would share what we were thankful for but it was very big that year and we didn't do it so, one of the "kids" asked me when Drew and I were going to start having kids and I answered actually, this July! My sister was sitting there and was like what, what did you say. Then my niece went running to tell Grandma (whom i told that morning). It was fun.

Anyone have any fun Thanksgiving traditions? Memories?

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Decisions

Nothing crucial, just trying to decide which double stroller would be the best. If I want to spend in the $500 - $600 range, Phil and Ted's Excellent Buggy would win without a doubt, but we could almost buy a new car for that price! I need to decide which is better, side by side or front and back. Everyone has a different opinion and the reasons all make complete sense. I like Phil and Ted's the best because when Sage is done riding in a stoller, it can be a single stroller very easily. I also like the sit or stand stroller but don't think Sage will be quite big/old enough for that. One of the criteria is that is be easy to take on the NYC subway system. Not that we go there a ton, but when we do, our Graco is a PAIN! Too bulky to carry. It seems like our best option is the Maclaren Twin Traveller. Most people give it a big thumbs up, but shopping with it will be difficult because of the side by side issue, stollers are hard enough to get around stores! Then I think, Graco duo glider. Huge, will it fit in our trunk? And HEAVY. So, do you understand my dilemma? Our car is a Saturn so everything will be a question of whether it fits in the trunk!

And a name! But we won't be revealing that until he is born, because we could change our minds and you already know it is a boy which narrows the name field down considerably!

I hit up an Old Navy store and got 3 packs of cute onesies for $4! That is like his whole summer wardrobe!

Any ideas on the double stroller, I would be glad to hear!

Sunday, November 13, 2005

What do you do all day?

Today is a day where I try to figure out what to do all day with Sage and myself. We went to church as a family, came home, made lunch, ate lunch, cleaned up from lunch, Sage went down for a nap, I cleaned up after Drew's closet cleaning and made the bed, "rested on the couch", and now we are both up and I am wondering what to do for the rest of the day. I try to take one day a week where I only do normal cleaning things like dishes. And I try to make that day Sunday but I get so bored since Drew is typically not around. Sage is currently eating a snack while I blog. And I would like to go someplace but that usually involves spending money and that isn't the best idea either. I thought about walking to see Drew but he is working on a group project so if we walked there, we would walk right back without really seeing him. So we have almost 4 1/2 hours until bed time and nothing constructive to do.

What is it like to have a "normal" family life? And what is "normal"? I think of normal as being a mom and dad and kids and the dad has a job working 40 to 50 hours per week and the mom stays home and takes care of the kids. I totally realize that this is not "normal" but it is the normal that I want for my family. But our "normal" is the mom stays home and takes care of the kids and all household duties minus taking the garbage out and the dad is in school. He goes to school by 7 in the morning and comes home around 6 for dinner and goes back to school around 8, after Sage is in bed. Fridays, he doesn't have class so he might sleep in and go to school around 10 and then it depends on what is going on in school if he will come home for dinner and go back or stay home. Usually, he stays home. Saturdays, he tries to go to school early again to get a head start and then come home for dinner around 6 and sometimes go back and sometimes stay home. Sundays, we sleep in (kind of), go to church at 10, come home, eat lunch and he is back to school until the wee hours of the night, usually midnight but a lot of times later. He just informed me today that this week is going to be especially bad because they have a review a week from Monday. Especially bad means that he will get home much later and still have to go in at the same time. So, the way our family is affected is that when he is home from 6 to 8, he usually will take a half hour nap. This is our "normal".

Please don't think I am ripping on my husband. He is a wonderful man and a wonderful father. He hates that he is gone so much and loves to spend time with us. But by working so hard now, he hopes to make a better life for us later by being able to get a better job and better pay. I love him so much and support him in all he does and in all his dreams. I want him to be successful and to feel success in all areas of his life.

I guess, right now I get lonely. We don't have family around that we can go visit and we don't have a ton of friends. And it is the same dilemma I face every weekend, people with families and jobs are home on the weekends and want to spend time with their families, not their wives frineds and kids.

Is it bad that we are listening to Christmas music already? And I want to start a countdown of when we leave to visit family? Today is the 13th, we leave the 17th. Okay, maybe I should wait until it is at least one month.

Pregnancy update: 21 weeks I feel the baby move now but not a ton. Mostly when I am laying down. And I am not wearing maternity clothes yet, well some shirts because they are longer but I have always had that problem. But not my jeans yet. I have tried, don't get me wrong, they are just too big and I am constantly pulling them up and I have a major saggy butt when I stand up after sitting. And I noticed yesterday that I have some braxton hics. Usually when I wake up in the morning or after a nap. I need to take a picture of my belly so I can post it and so that I can have it for the baby book!

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Napping, Showering and Laundry!





Sage slept for 2 hours after going to Rascals Gym and 2 hours yesterday afternoon. The thing both days had in common was that he slept in the car for about 10 minutes in the morning and then went down for a nap about 1. Today, no car ride so we will see if his nap lasts as long.

Drew and I went on a date last night! Our friends watched Sage at their house and even put him to bed successfully in a pack-n-play! We ate at Arby's because we were trying to catch a movie. We saw the movie about Edward Murrow. It was interesting and we both really liked the black and white effect. Then we went to Starbucks and got hot chocolate. It was so nice to hang out with Drew and really be able to talk instead of having an interruption to tell Sage to do something or stop doing something.

This morning was kind of lazy. I did a load of laundry and showered and that is about it. Drew got sick during the night so hung out at home this morning instead of going to studio to work. Again, so nice to have him around even if we were both kind of doing our own thing. Sage went into the bathroom while Drew was showering and acted like he wanted to get in so Drew agreed. He screamed and screamed hating the shower. I washed him while Drew held him and then took him out, but I did get one picture!

And Sage helps me with the laundry and Drew got the pics and a movie to prove it! It is so cute!

And apparently, I haven't figured out how to put the pictures where I want them yet! The laundry pictures go from the bottom up.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Rascals Gym

Sage and I went to a gym class this morning. We went for free since we were trying it out. We both had a lot of fun! And I learned how coordinated Sage is! He climbed up ladders and bounced on a trampoline holding onto a bar, both things I didn't think he would be able to do. I also let him hang by himself from a bar and I would catch him while he dropped although I missed the last time because he dropped so quickly! Oops. There was a giant mat to soften his fall and he didn't even cry! He was not impressed with circle time. It was kind of a beginning and ending time with some songs and "stretches". He was more into running around and playing.

I would like to join for the cold winter month but it will have to be a discussion since it is kind of pricey although I heard that it is one of the cheaper kids gyms. Tomorrow morning, we are going to tour the YMCA and look into membership and swimming lessons.

And I have friends! I joined a Mothers and More group. I found it on the internet and there is a local chapter just starting so I decided to check it out. I have been to 3 events and then this girl invited me for this morning and to go to a museaum this afternoon! And we went to McDonalds for lunch! It is fun to have friends with kids about the same age so we can do things together!

I need to get some stuff done while Sage naps, he was exhausted!

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

So sweet

Sage is the sweetest little boy. As he plays during the day, he will often come to me for a quick hug. Those hugs always brighten my day and bring a smile to my face. I hope that I never forget those sweet little hugs during the day. I am sure there will come a time when he is embarrassed to hug his mama. And much to soon for me!

This morning, after he waited patiently for me to drag myself out of bed to get him out of his crib, he signed to me that he was hungry. I asked him if he wanted milk first, he shook his head yes and started signing milk. I asked him if he wanted milk in a sippy and again he shook his head yes. This is the first morning in almost 16 months of life that he hasn't nursed or taken a bottle first thing in the morning. My little boy is growing up! The night time bottle is a different story. I don't think I am ready to give that up. It is such a sweet time to cuddle with him.

I sometimes wish that we had gotten Sage used to sleeping in our bed. I long for the time when he wants to come jump in our bed with us. Right now, he sees it as play time. And on the other hand, I am glad he is an independant sleeper. I wish I could have the best of both worlds!

Yesterday, we went to a new park. It was so nice. Sage had so much fun climbing, sliding and exploring the wood chips and sand. None was eaten, that I saw. He is so independant and doesn't care if he wanders far away from me. And he isn't intimidated by anyone. He just looks at them and sometimes waves and goes on his way. Often in the store while my back is turned, he will wave at someone. It is fun to have such a sweet boy who can bring a smile to other people.

I love Sage.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Houston, we have a climber

Sage just conquered his first chair climbing! He is so proud!

Saturday, November 05, 2005

A few rants and updates

So, we moved to CT in May. Here are the things that I have a hard time getting used to and frankly, don't really like. In no particular order.

1. Bad Drivers!!!! CT is full of bad drivers! They must teach bad driving 101 instead of drivers education like the rest of the country. Lane markers are a suggestion and if you feel the need to cross over, go ahead. The car in that lane will move, don't worry. Streets are narrow and usually one way with parking on both sides but feel free to stop in the middle of the lane and put your flashers on to let someone in or out of your vehicle or sometimes just to chat with someone on the sidewalk. On a side note, honking at someone is like saying get going, helll-llo green light for .5 seconds now or i am going through this yellow more like red light so you better stay where you are.

2. Pedestrians and Bikers. They will walk out or ride out in front of any moving vehicle if they are within 5 feet of a crosswalk. The crosswalk will stay stop but they know that vehicles will stop for them. So, I sit at a red light waiting to turn right (no right turn on red) and when the light turns green if you don't gun it and get out there, you will sit through the green light waiting for the pedestrians to get out of the way!

3. Babysitters. We had our second paid babysitter for Sage this week. The first was in Iowa and I paid the highschool babysitter $2 per hour to watch Sage. She was also watching his cousins so she made out with $6 an hour. I asked our sitter how much she usually gets and I was expecting $5 - $7 an hour. She said $8 - $10!!!!!!! No freakin way! She is in college and I was ready to pay a college girl more, but $8 - $10!!!!!?????

4. Seagulls and fish smell. I can't get used to hearing and seeing Seagulls when I walk out of Target. And the fishy sea smell is right outside my door! It is just weird, nothing wrong with it.

Updates

Today we went to NYC to see the Statue of Liberty. This summer, we just saw it from Battery Park but didn't want to wait in the lines. Today, it was the only thing on our list. We took the ferry from Battery Park and walked around the Statue. Pretty impressive. Thanks France! Sage was so tired and crabby. I was holding him on the ferry and he was so crabby. Drew was happily taking pictures (he did offer to switch- sweet husband of mine) but I declined. As soon as we got off the ferry and put Sage in his stroller, he was out. It was amazing. Not a minute after being in his stroller. We got off at Ellis Island but then got right back on the ferry, I was starving and Drew was really wanting to go to Gray Papaya for hot dogs and papaya juice. Going to the Statue was a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of waiting. We got there at 9:30 and got to Liberty Island at 11, walked around for an hour and then waited for the ferry to take us to Ellis Island. I would have liked to walk around more at Ellis Island but my belly was growling! I would imagine that some friends will want to do this again so maybe we will tag along and see it more in depth. We got back to Battery Park about 1 and got on the Subway and made our way to Gray Papaya and surprisingly, I like the papaya juice and the hot dogs but Sage loved the papaya juice! He was slurping it down! We also went to McDonalds because Sage wasn't biting the hot dog very well and they were a in and out, no sit down kind of place to eat. Anyway, I also really needed to change Sage's diaper and was surprised when there was no changing table. So, I laid back the stroller seat and changed him in the womens bathroom while he proceeded to scream and thrash about the entire time. He is not usually like this during diaper changes but I had to take away the papaya juice to change his diaper and he was not happy about that at all. We fed him half the cheeseburger and then walked to Washington Park where he finished his burger while Drew went to get us Chipotle (yea!). And then we let him play/walk around for awhile. I have never seen so many $700 strollers (Bugaboo Frog) in one place before! I felt cheap and like a bad mama for pushing my son in his $100 Graco. That was our day. We made it home for dinner, Sage is in bed, dishes are done, and Drew is back at studio. And I am off to soak in the tub and call my mom and thank her for the calendar she sent me!

I h-e-a-r-t NYC!

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Halloween?





Drew was busy with school so I took Sage to a church fall festival party. He could have cared less that we were there. He was so happy walking around, picking up leaves and bottle caps and didn't care about anything else. We went through McDonalds for dinner and went to my friend, Jenna's house to eat and hang out since her husband was working late. We stayed too late and Sage was exhausted when we got home. Maybe that had something to do with no nap yesterday?! Surprise, surprise! I put him right to bed and picked up the house and did the dishes and went to bed myself. Drew crawled in around quarter to three!

Sage has slept through the night the past 2 nights! When Drew got home last night we heard Sage jumping in his crib through the monitor. We wonder if he is awake and jumping and then laying down and going back to sleep or if he is sleep jumping. If he is sleep jumping, that makes me a little scared to have him move to a big bed. Speaking of moving him to a big bed, should I do that before the baby is born? I am planning on having the baby sleep in the pack-n-play in our room for the first couple of months and then having them share a room. Would it be better to have Sage out of the crib and into a big bed before the baby comes and just leave the crib up in his room for when they share? I found a twin bed at Ikea today that I really like. It is only $109 and it is low to the ground, although I would still get one of those rails.

Enjoy the pics!