A Happy Father's Day

It was a very special Father's Day for all of us, as JB got to spend Father's Day with his Daddy (which did not happen last year, unfortunately, proving we have such an understanding father.)  I also got to spend the day with my Daddy.  Lots of love and fun all around! 

We are down on the Texas Gulf Coast with all (and I mean ALL) my family, and I'll have beach updates galore later on in the week. But couldn't miss an opportunity to call our these special men in our lives and post a few sweet pictures of them with the littlest guy from the weekend. 

JB and his Gran Gran (my sweet Daddy)

Happy Father's Day!

JB Loves his Daddy! 

We are so lucky and so blessed. JB has some very wonderful men to look up to as he grows and, one day (many, many, like 30...maybe even 35 years from now) becomes a Daddy himself. 

Bumpdate - 28 weeks with Baby Girl

How Far Along: 28 weeks
Total Weight Gain (so far): 22 pounds

(Baby girl - there was a time when your Mama didn't look so tired.  I promise.)

Sleeping: I have found an oh-so comfortable position on my back, propped up with pillows and Phil, the body pillow, under my legs. Sometimes I wake up after 6 hours and haven't moved a muscle!
Eating: Anything edible, I don't really discriminate. With the move this month, I've had so much take out and restaurant food that I can't wait to cook something!
Craving: Vinegar. Not straight up vinegar, of course, but things like pickles, cucumber tomato salad, vinaigrette dressings, etc.
Wearing: Totally maternity.  And some of my Gap maternity shirts ride up and show the belly (really, already??)  I've been told by multiple people that I'm carrying "really big", but what can I say?  I grow big old bellies.
Feeling: Still tired all the time, but not as run down as before (thanks to iron supplements).  A little Pretty achy in my back.  But nothing too terrible, physically.  Emotionally still a bit unsettled with all the life transitions, but hoping things settle down so I can relax a bit.
Loving: Her hiccups!  I'm starting to picture what she'll look like and be like, and love that it's becoming more "real" by the day.
Missing: Being able to lift heavy boxes, climb step ladders, and run up and down the stairs with wild abandon.  Also missing those 70 degree temps from the Spring (this summer is shaping up to be brutal!)
Dealing With: Lots of Braxton Hicks.  Since they escalated to a hospital admission at 30 weeks last time around, I'm taking them very seriously this time.  Tons of water, rest (when I can), and the Belly Bandit, which seems to take some strain off my "irritable uterus" and keeps those bad boys at bay.

Best Moment of the Month: When my neighbor convinced me to ship off 2 weeks work of laundry to the neighborhood dry cleaners. Getting all our clothes back clean and nicely folded made this tired Mama's day!!  (Okay, I'm sort of joking about it being "the best"…but it was pretty awesome.)
Worst Moment of the Month: Moving in my present condition. It may not be the absolute worst time to move, but moving at 7 months pregnant in the summer has to crack the Top 5.
Looking Forward To: Breaking out the maternity tankinis - the Sassers are leaving for the beach this week!!

Previous Bumpdates:

• 16 Weeks
• 20 Weeks
• 25 Weeks

"Just a Virus"

I'm learning a few things as a relatively new mama - nearly 104.7 temperature is actually "not that high" (per the pedi) and "just a virus" brings both relief and frustration when you're dealing with that "not so high" fever.  

As I wrote on Monday, JB started running a high fever on Saturday.  What made me feel better about the whole thing was his demeanor - which didn't change that much.  Here is what 104 fever can look like: 

Still running the cow

Still being a stinker

Still running around like a madman

Still a happy camper

JB seemed quite pleased that his little illness meant no school and extra playtime at home. He used the free time to work on his golf game and run his Gia ragged.

FORE!

Now, this did not mean that JB was 100%. Especially as we approached time for the next round of Advil, my little bug wanted nothing more than some snuggles and his mama's lap. Since my lap is currently occupied, he had to improvise:

Snuggles

Asleep at the Park

Taking advantage of his "seat".  

Fortunately he was better by Wednesday, although  I didn't pass up the opportunity to go in, see our loved Pediatrician, and hear "just a virus".  Obviously so glad that it's nothing serious and he'll be better soon!

This was before he realized it's "back to school!"

Now today, Friday, he's still doing well.  All his crib friends have been washed and disinfected, though, because we don't want this nasty virus coming back!   

All Clean!

(And, it should be noted, these are the only crib friends that are acceptable to JB.  The impostors while these were in the wash caused all sorts of drama.  From l-r: his pink piggie, his lamb, his blue elephant, and his Texas armadillo that Daddy got Mama from the Houston Airport back in 2006 when we first started dating.)  

Happy Birthday to our Gia!

Our Gia has a very big birthday today!  I won't say the milestone, but it's a big one.  And she doesn't look a day over the last big birthday a decade ago.  :)

I don't know what we would do without our Gia.  For example, she is spending her birthday week at our house so that she can watch little JB during the day (who is still sick) and help us with our move on Saturday.  She spends her day chasing an active toddler, and her nights packing crystal and china. It was her first week out of school, and she's practically working full time for our family.  With our schedules and lives, we could not make it all work without her commitment and support.

But, more importantly, we are grateful that JB has such a strong, special relationship with her.  He absolutely adores his Gia, and they have a sweet bond.  It will melt your heart!  

Happy Birthday, Ms. Leron!  We Love You!!!

Weekend Fun (and Weekend Drama)

I know on Friday I said I needed a quiet, low-key weekend…and, well…that did not quite happen.  But we are ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES!!  And I  can't complain too much, though, because we're still alive. That is the main goal each and every day, right?  God has blessed us with another day.

We spent a lot of time at home this weekend, and a lot of time kicked out of our home with showings and re-showings.  (On the house front, we had a crazy 48 hours.  PURE. UNADULTERATED. CRAZINESS.  But I won't say the outcome or next steps at this point because I've learned my lesson - not gonna do it.)

After JB's rough week at school, we felt lots of cuddles and fun and family time should be on the weekend's agenda. And we got in lots of those!  We even visited a new neighborhood park (after JB got a haircut and aged 2 years.)  Mamarazzi was there to capture all the fun.

It's amazing how anything new is just so much fun to a toddler.  You can't imagine all the squeals as new wheels and slides were discovered.

There was also a lot of silliness.  And spitting. The spitting is something new, and any advice to teach that spitting is for OUTSIDE and not INSIDE (except the sink) is appreciated.  We're working on that one...

We had a quick ice cream at the park, got home and played some more outside, and then my super active boy took my hand to go inside.  Total shock (usually I'm dragging him inside kicking and screaming.) Then he led me to his rocker and pointed at me to sit down.  Then he got in my lap.  That's when I noticed he was burning up!  Rectal thermometer read 104.7!!  The Children's Healthcare of Atlanta nurse line calmed me down and some Tylenol perked JB back up to his normal-ish self.  Even today he's still running 102 temps, but doing well (until it's time for another dose of meds, then he's puny again.)  Poor little dude!  

Okay, now, let's get serious, Sassers, and have a somewhat calm, quiet week, OKAY??  :)

And We're Done

(With this week, that is).

Trying to muster up all my strength and excitement to say "yeaaaah, Friday", but it's pretty weak.  Man,  oh man, what a week.  This Mama is completely emotionally spent, and ready for a quiet weekend with lots of cuddles with my boys.

First, let's start with JB's transition to school.  Every single person who said "it will be very hard", well, they were not lying. It's been very, very hard. The moment he hears "school" or "car" he starts whining.  As soon as we walk in the door to school, he starts crying.  The second the teacher opens the door - FULL MELTDOWN.  And even pick-up isn't a magical time. If he's playing or distracted in the room, the second he sees me he's in tears - I think to remind me "you did this to me, Mama".   JB is hoarse, too, from "all the crying", the teacher says.    (The teachers do tell me that he is fairly good during the day, and even eats and naps well.  Even plays!  On good days I believe them, and on bad days I question if they are sugarcoating it for me.)

"I'm getting us the heck out of here, Mama"

And at home it's not much better.  The tantrums have increased, he falls apart over the littlest things (like the fact he didn't get to take the graham cracker out of the box himself - that led to 20 minutes of massive tears), and he's very, very clingy to Mama.  I've carried him through the grocery store while pushing a cart twice this week.   The bedtime routine that served us so well for so many months is now something JB rebels against.  Last night, as I got him out of the bath, he refused to get in the towel and threw it in the corner.  When I said "let's get PJs on", he violently grabbed the diaper from my hand, and threw it out the door of the bathroom.  He then grabbed his PJs and threw them out the door, slamming the door and closing us in the bathroom.  I had to hold him, naked, for 10 minutes before we got him dressed (took us both).

Normal???  I knew he would have a hard transition, and we are (pretty) sure that this is the right thing for JB right now.  While I don't want to wish our life away, I'm ready to fast forward a couple of weeks to when people promise me JB will be a happier, adjusted kid.

And, second major stressor this week - THE HOUSE.  I think my last update was that we were in a good place, which just shows why you should never, ever write those words until you walk out the door at closing.   We had not one, but two very good contracts falls through at 11PM on the last day of the due diligence period.  For no fault of the house, but specific personal circumstances that came up for the buyers and required them to back out.  We found out about the latest failed contract on Monday morning, which led to quite a bit of scrambling.  Our closing date had been mid-June (!!!!!), so the house was already half in boxes.  House went back on the market, showings were scheduled, house was put back in "show" quality, landlord for the rental property was put on notice, and we tried (and tried and tried) to say as positive as possible. We've had lots of showings, are in a counter-offer situation with another buyer, and hoping for the best.  Still, emotionally it's been a total drain. And, when you're a preggo, silly things like this text can send you to tears.

No longer interested, waaaaaaah why not?!

I've only seen Finding Nemo once, but I keep hearing little Dory's voice saying, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming".  :)  And we will.  And since I can't use wine to recover from the week, Baskin' Robbins has been put on alert.

JB Starts "School"

When you're a family with two full-time working parents, there are all sorts of challenges and drama and stress that come from the sheer logistics of making sure your child is cared for during the working hours.  The options, the costs, the pros and cons, the decisions, the second guessing. Or maybe that is just these two working parents.  It's definitely something top of mind since JB was in utero.

JB has been at home with Nanny Y since I went back to work at 9 weeks.  It's been a great situation for Baby JB and Mama, and working from home meant I got to see him and kiss him during the day.  As he's gotten older, it's also meant that he knows where I am, is quite loud during the day, and a few of the "pros" became "cons".  Plus, there is some social interaction and learning that we felt would be good for him.  Even Nanny Y agreed, and started to inquire about school for JB this Spring.  

We discussed and looked at so many options and scenarios, from FT "school"/daycare to PT situations with a nanny.  Lots of part-time schools are - my personal opinion - not as easy for working mamas to juggle based on hours and schedules.  Plus, we knew that JB would have a little a big challenge adjusting.  The kid still has a hard time in church nursery for one hour, after fairly regular attendance the past year and a half!  We finally decided a full-time program best met our family needs, and (though difficult at first) would get JB used to a school environment quicker than a part-time program.  "Bootcamp" if you will….

Fall/Two years old seemed like a logical age to transition, but two is also bringing JB a baby sister. Maybe not the best time for any other radical changes in his life.  Also, anticipating that he would not exactly love school at first, we didn't want him to associate it with "this chick joined the family, and I got shipped off to school". (I don't know if toddlers think this logically - their behavior would tell me otherwise - but I didn't want to risk it.)  

This is a long set-up to report that, last week, JB started "school".  He's in a smaller Montessori school right down the street, in a class with kids ranging from 16 months to 2.5 years, and in a program and environment that we feel very comfortable with and encouraged by.  We are very excited about how he'll learn and grow!

But it doesn't make it an easy transition (on anyone).  First, we already miss Nanny Y, even though she is just down the street with our friends' new baby and we can still see her.  She was such a wonderful part of JB's life, and, hopefully, she'll remain part of our family in some capacity in the future. That's the hope!

Second…geez…the transition has been hard. I know everyone (including our pedi) told me to expect a hellacious two weeks.  Nearly halfway through that, it's totally true.  Drop offs will truly break your heart.  Even when I pick JB up and witness him laughing and playing through the window, the minute he sees me it's tears and tearing across the room as if I've abandoned him.  This Mama's emotions are fried.  

However, we're definitely staying the course. All the positive reasons for which we made the decision still stand, and I know it will get easier and he will do well, eventually.  Or we have different options in the future if it doesn't work out.   Part of a parent's prerogative - never stop stressing thinking about and planning for your kiddo's future.  :)