Sharing with Mommy

Jude discovered the glories of a chocolate shake a couple weeks ago. He asked to taste mine and the rest of the meal kept coming back for more (who wouldn't?). We started playing a little game of trying to drink from the straw at the same time. I think I know where he gets at least half of his silliness from.

Happy! Happy!

My goal was to edit the video of Jude meeting Eli for the first time and get it posted before I posted anything else. Well, the video is still unedited so I am going to move on and then go back otherwise who knows when the next post will be.

We skyped with Tim's brother and his family on Saturday morning. Their daughter loves "If you're  happy and you know it". We all sang it together and Jude thought it was the greatest. To say the least we have been singing it ad nauseam for the last couple of days. He says, "Happy! Happy!" when he wants to sing it. It is actually really cute (the first couple of times). We have started asking him to start us off...here we are on our ride home last night.

It Happened One Friday Night...

I am not sure where to begin with all the thoughts mixing up in my head, but I'll do my best to tell the birth story of our second son, Elijah Ryan Whitacre.

As I have said before, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes about three months ago. It has been a trying journey in discipline, attitude and acceptance. One of the major concerns with the condition is the risk of a large baby - aka too large for the mother to deliver. Our OB wanted him out and about by 39 weeks to avoid this situation. At 37 weeks I was 70% effaced, 3cm dilated and the little one was sitting at zero station. By all counts he looked ready to go and the doctor didn't see any reason why he wouldn't come on his own. Then 39 weeks came and went and she started talking about induction. I was adamantly against it and she willingly heard me out and we continued waiting. I went in for a routine appointment on Friday (39 weeks, five days) and we had a "heart to heart" about the risks of waiting too long. We compromised as I agreed to have my membranes stripped to try to get things started on Friday, May 20th at 11am. I was already 5cm at this point. My water had been leaking slowly since noon on Thursday as well.

Contractions and some cramping started at noon. I put Jude down for his nap, took a shower, ate and laid down for a nap myself. Tim came home about 2pm and began getting our final things together for the hospital. After napping, we decided to start walking. With Jude and his tricycle we set out around the block. I was talking and walking through the contractions, but having a hard time telling when they were starting and ending. After the walk, I laid down again and the contractions slowed so we decided to get up and at it again. This time Linda, Tim's sister, was with us and we set out for a longer walk. Every few contractions, I would need to pause and breathe through but nothing that seemed "strong enough" to be doing much from my perspective.

On a random side note, we had Kona with us on the walk and a car drove by with two dogs in it that were barking their heads off at her. One of the dogs actually fell out of the truck window it was barking and leaning so hard. Tim helped the owner calm the dog and get it back in the truck. Maybe we should have known the drama was on the horizon with dogs falling out of trucks around us.

By around 7pm, contractions were continuing, but I was still working through them without much difficulty. At this point I was feeling discouraged and that there wasn't much more I could do to speed things along so I tried to come to terms with the fact that this too would be a long labor.

My mom arrived at about 7:20pm. At 8pm, I was officially discouraged and decided to go to bed. At about 8:35, Tim came in to check on me and I told him to tell my mom and Linda to get some rest. It was going to be a long night. While he was talking with them, everything changed.

My water broke with fury. I don't know how else to put it. It was very painful and sudden. I called to Tim and burst into tears. The tears were a mix of the surprise pain and disappointment that my water had broken and we were definitely headed for the hospital. At this point, things might start to get graphic so if you don't want details I suggest you stop reading. I can be very good at giving too much information.

Tim began talking me off the ledge as I was very upset. He got me off the bed and tried to get my now very wet clothes off and get me on the toilet. Then the contractions started with wild abandon coming one on top of another. I collapsed onto the floor shaking uncontrollably with my teeth chattering really hard. I think I kept saying, "I need to get a grip" and "breathe". Tim began trying to dress me so we could get in the car. I could not fathom getting in a car at this point, but had little to no ability to communicate what I was thinking. After another contraction on the floor I told him I needed to get on the bed to be more comfortable. If you have ever seen our monster bed, you know this is ridiculous. Doesn't matter. We got on the bed and I let out a very primal scream as I felt the unstoppable urge to push. Tim yelled for help and Linda ran in (Linda and my mom had been getting our things into the car and trying to take care of last minute details as quickly as possible). She assured me that I was having a bowel movement and it would all be okay. Yep, I am openly telling you that I pooped on our bed. Welcome to the land of childbirth. This is when Linda called 911. Another contraction hit, I grunted and pushed while digging my nails into Tim's arms and telling him not to leave me. Then I finally get out what I have been thinking for the last minute:  "He's here. He's coming." The next thing we know is Eli's head crowns and less than two seconds later the rest of Elijah followed caught by the steady, strong hands of his hero father at 8:55pm. Eli cried out right away to everyone's relief. The 911 operator said she could hear a baby crying in the background.

Thanks to our Bradley class we had reviewed what to do in case of an emergency birth so we worked to make sure Eli's airways were clear and then we laid him on my chest and covered us with blankets. From there Tim spoke reassuringly to me until the paramedics arrived. I was in shock and remained in some state thereof for almost 24 hours. We took a ride to the hospital in an ambulance and were very well taken care of.

Tim, Linda, my mom and everyone did such an amazing job in a very surprising and stressful situation. All I can say is that everything literally changed in a moment's time. We are so thankful that both Eli and I were fine and there were no complications. That is without a doubt due to the grace of God.

To say the least, we have talked about the events of Friday night over and over and over again. Were we missing the signs? What should we have done differently? What the what?!?

Then there have been comical moments remembered like when Linda was frantically looking for something to wrap me in and brought out one of Tim's favorite flannels and I refused to put it on. I was in shock and not answering anyones questions, but I managed to refuse to mess up my husband's jacket - Ha!

I think that might top our list of  most exciting Friday nights. What's yours?

Jude and I hanging out before our first labor walk.

Walking

Wow, big mama.

Jude being silly on our walk.

Paramedics Team hard a work.

I have decided to shut out the world at this point.

Tim cutting the cord

Even in the back of the ambulance, there is no denying Nani's excitement that her grandson has arrived.

In the hospital hanging with my new man

7 lbs 9 oz and 20.5 inches long

Cutie Patootie

I heart heat lamps

I heart my Auntie Da

I double heart my goofy Daddy

First Easter Egg Hunt

Easter snuck up on us this year. I wish I could say that we did a great job of communicating the significance of Easter with Jude or that for the weeks leading up to it we talked about the amazing miracle of Jesus' resurrection. In so many ways, Easter is THE most significant of Christian holidays. Well...we didn't do a very good job, but I'm counting on the "there's always next year" saying in hopes of doing better.

At the last minute, we were invited to an egg hunt at some friend's house. They have an amazing, expansive yard that was perfect for the big event. I didn't really think Jude would get it or stay focused, but boy was I wrong. They split the kids up and the little kids hunted first. How cute is Jude in the line-up!?!

Second from the left - that's our boy!

 

He did great, as you can see for yourself in the movie. He caught on rather quickly and at one point was walking around signing and saying "more, more". We had a really good time and Jude scored some great candy! Too bad I can't eat any right now or it would all be gone. For now, we are rationing.

Post hunt photo op

After we got home, Jude went down for his afternoon nap and Tim and I commented that we didn't think he'd remember the eggs and candy when he got up. Once again, we were wrong. Upon exiting his bedroom, he spied his egg bucket and said, "egg. egg". Darn it. I guess we should have hidden it...and now we have.

Mom, this one shakes. I love eggs.

Mama, have you ever tasted this stuff before?! More, please.

We had a great Easter weekend and hope that you did too. It wasn't great because of egg hunts and cute kids, though we love those too. It was great because we were reminded of the sacrifice of Jesus and the breathtaking significance of His resurrection. He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Amen.

Differences

First things first, I am over and I mean O-V-E-R using Critter to reference our first born. That coupled with the thought of having to come up with and use a nickname for our second born tips me over the edge. I will be going back to using their tried and true given names. Since there are approximately three of you who read this anyways and I know where you live, I think I may have over dramatized the situation. I know, it's shocking.

With that said, I am feeling the final stretch of this pregnancy looming before me. It has been a good pregnancy and up until about eight weeks ago I would say that in a lot of ways it was better than my first. I remember a dear friend telling me during my first pregnancy to live it up. She called it the Queen Pregnancy because it was all about me and the baby. There was no toddler to chase, feed, change, soothe, engage, teach and train. It was just me and my belly bump kickin' up our feet and biding our time.

For me there have been some distinct differences between the two pregnancies. Some are positive and some are less than positive, but I am so thankful that I get to be pregnant again and that we get to grow our family and welcome our second that I am "content" (struggling) to handle each difference as it comes.

1. I can't seem to remember exactly what week I am at. Last time, not only did I know the week, but each week I read the current chapter in the baby and me book. 
2. I am chasing a toddler which is much more active than sitting at a desk. I didn't think it was making too much of a difference until about a couple months ago when my back and hips started complaining. 
3. I get to take naps! This is a big plus and one of the benefits of having the first two so close together. Jude takes an afternoon nap and if I'm tired I can usually sleep longer than him!
4. I "showed" much earlier and in the past month have been asked repeatedly by strangers if I'm due "any day now?". Ummmm....no.  But then I get to watch the pure tactless shame was across their face, so it's cool.
5. I feel prepared in some ways and in other ways, I've heard myself say "He'll live" if there is something that we don't have or haven't considered for the baby. And...it's true. There is so little that a newborn needs aside from Mom and Dad that I know I don't need my ducks in a row to feel calm about this guy coming.
6. It is known and by "it" I mean a few different things. The labor "it" meaning I know what a contraction feels like and I know it is going to be hard, but I also know what "hard and pain" mean in context. The baby "it" meaning that I'm excited to meet him, but it is not a blissful and naive, "my baby will be an angel that nurses like a champ and sleeps through the night at six weeks" delusion. It is an excitement based in reality, but that doesn't stifle our joy in any way. If anything it makes it more authentic.
7. This round I have gestational diabetes. This has been hard and at (many) times driven me to tears. I want to control it and make it better, but it doesn't work like that and my wonderful OB continues to remind me of the same. I might have more to say about this later, but right now I don't feel like getting into it.
8. Round one I stopped work a month before Jude's due date and literally spent almost every day taking a relaxing walk, swimming laps and lounging by the pool. That will not be happening this time and I will not be a golden tan color when the baby arrives. 
9. I feel like I am nesting more this time. For example, last week I cleaned behind the fridge. Enough said.

That's all I've got for now. I am so thankful to get to do this again - pregnancy and child birth. I cannot wait to meet him and begin to discover this little boy. He's moving and groovin' in my tummy as I write. His ears must be itching:) I love you, little man.

 

Forty Eight Hours

It has been seventeen months since Tim and I went anywhere or did anything for a more than a few hours sans Critter. To be honest, it hasn't felt like a huge loss or something I was sorely missing. I think more than anything that speaks to the timing of Critter's arrival into our lives and marriage. We were "ready" for him. We wanted him (in most ways) to turn our lives upside down...and he did.

With that said, last weekend we broke our record and went away for two whole nights. Yep, that's right. We were away from our little man and free as birds for almost 48 hours! This was all made possible by my wonderful Mamasita. She came and hung out with Jude so we could take time away together before son number two arrives and turns our lives upside down once again.

smiles of two free birds

Saturday was a beautiful day. It was so gorgeous I even got a little too much sun. We started out with a scenic drive with lots of ooohhhs and aaaahhs. It doesn't matter how many times I have seen different Central Coast areas, I am rarely without amazement at the beauty of this region. Next, we headed down to Rincon, a surf spot Tim and I have surfed in the past. It was more of a lake than the ocean, but was redeemed by the fact that there were about ten dolphins playing nearby. We sat and took in the serene and glorious creation before heading back to town.

Not Rincon, but still beautiful

Perfect day for learning to paddle board

We later walked the pier, rode cruiser bikes (I might have just been self-conscious, but I think I got some silly smiles from people noticing a very pregnant biker), ate delicious Italian and then shopped State St a bit. By about 5:30pm, I was starting to feel all the walking and biking so we headed back to the hotel for a little chill time before dinner.

bff

cruisin' with the belly

Earlier in the day, some locals had told us that a Mexican restaurant was having an anniversary menu with dinner for half price for just that weekend. Uhhhh...we're there. Sure enough, we showed up and downed delicious burritos for less than $15!

We concluded our trip on Sunday by sitting at a coffee shop people watching and talking about baby names and other what nots. It was a low-key, lovely time spent with my best friend doing a lot of what we did when we traveled together in the past - chill, take in the scenery, eat and enjoy each other's company.

It was a blessing to "get away" although I am thankful for all we have to come back to in Critter. I missed him. I loved getting to see his chubby cheeks and ginormous belly on Sunday and hear him "talk" about this toy or that airplane.

One thing I realized was that this kid has got me trained. Critter loves airplanes.  His ear is tuned to the sound of an airplane engine. Every time he hears one, he points skyward, looks up and repeats the sign for airplane. If he's outside playing and hears one, he runs in and tells me that I must join him in looking for it in the sky and watching it in wonder. There were probably four or five times on Saturday morning that I heard an airplane, said something to Tim and pointed skyward. It became a little embarrassing, but also reminded both of us how much joy we gain from sharing in Critter's excitement and interests.

We are so glad we took the time to get away together. And are so thankful for supportive and sacrificial family that really made it even an option for us. Tim and I have always talked about wanting to prioritize our marriage and it felt good to take an active step in walking that out in a tangible way. I am anticipating that it will take more than seventeen months to do this again, but today I am thankful for the time we were given.

Fun with Scissors

"They" say never to cut one's hair while pregnant. I think it is because of the hormones and the possible overly dramatic reaction that may ensue. I said, "What the what?!" and went ahead with it because I couldn't handle the long, stringy stuff that was posing for hair on my head.

Here's how pregnant I am:

Seven Months

Here's how the cut turned out:

Here's how much fun my boy had with Auntie Da while I was away:

Baby Blues

My Boys

I love having a boy and the thought of adding a little brother to the mix is something I am looking forward to with anticipation...and trepidation.

Critter is so "boy" that I am wondering what our little addition will be like. Will he be like his big brother? I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

You can see what I mean in the video at the end. I love it! Boys are so fun.

Checking out the beach after having gotten soaked by the waves.

Watching a bird dive in the waves.

We were on our way to a friend's Mustache themed 30th Birthday - Creepers!

Just playing with his dump truck - Vaaroooom.

Studly trimming our front tree.

Studly's "mini me" holding down the trimmed branches.

Nothing stops Critter from getting outside.

Goofiness is apparently genetic.

Enjoying the ball pit at the Children's museum.

I've fallen and I can't get up. Mama, can you help me instead of taking pictures?

We had been at the park for all of three minutes when Critter dove into a puddle.

Riding home in just a diaper after puddle swimming.

Throwing Cans

If there is one thing I have come to understand as a mother it is that anything can be turned into a toy. A few months or so back, Critter was very interested in lids - taking them off, putting them back on and repeating twenty times. When I used up the breadcrumbs, I washed out the tin and put it in his room in hopes of gaining five minutes of uninterrupted self-entertainment.

This morning he discovered another way to use it - throwing it. Now this comes as no surprise because he has a tendency to throw everything like a ball. We are working on what can be thrown and what cannot, but that is not the point. Normally, he would throw said item (if it wasn't a ball), realize it wasn't bouncing or rolling and then move on to something else. When he threw the can, it boingggged on the carpet. He laughed and thought that was the greatest noise.

After a few minutes I realized that the grandparents, aunts and uncles might want to see this so I grabbed the camera and tried to get him started on it again. It isn't quite as good as the organic realization and throwfest, but when he tries to get behind the camera to see the video it pretty much makes up for the re-creation.

Thirty for Thirty

We met in our teens, dated and married in our mid-twenties, started a family in our late twenties and BAM here we are entering our 30's. Where has the time gone?

My wonderful Hubby turned thirty on Friday. To celebrate his milestone in the blog world, here are thirty things (in random order) I love about my One and Only:

1. His humility despite his incredible talents and abilities.
2. His love for people.
3. His dedication to his family.
4. The way he comes home from a long day and plays tirelessly with his devoted first son.
5. His generosity.
6. His tush (don't gag, it's true).
7. When he has to ask if something matches (not usually a good sign).
8. His sense of humor.
9. Integrity. Integrity. Integrity.
10. His love for music and that he will (hopefully) pass on his mad skills to our kids.
11. How he eats whatever I make, even though I'm always trying out random recipes.
12. That he chose to marry me.
13. His adventurous spirit.
14. His laid back, PNG infused demeanor.
15. His smarty pants brain.
16. His willingness to admit when he's wrong.
17. His willingness to fight with me, even when I'm not fighting fair.
18. His mad good looks.
19. His faith.
20. His dreams.
21. That he is completely himself in all situations.
22. He is a servant to those around him, including Critter and I.
23. His love of flight.
22. His creativity and thoughtfulness.
23. The fact that Critter hugs him for a full minute in the mornings at the thought of Tim leaving for the day.
24. The fact that if Critter wasn't taking up so much hugging space, I would do the same.
25. That the best part of our day is when Daddy comes home.
26. That when we were dating, Tim's friends would remind me what a stand-up, amazing guy I was with.
27. That we have spent countless hours laughing together.
28. It feels like we have always been best friends.
29. That he fixes things (even when I call him at work and complain that the internet is down).
30. That he is the only one like him in six billion and he is all ours forever and ever.

Blast from the Past (Christmas 2001)
Me, Tim and our good friends Andy & Stephanie 

Fun with Soup

One of the gifts Critter found in his stocking on Christmas morning was a set of "big kid" cups from his Aunt Kristy. I hadn't even thought of moving him onto cups yet and he has been excited about them since day one - Good call, Auntie.

Tonight after starring at our fridge contents for five minutes and unnecessarily air conditioning the kitchen trying to figure out what to feed Critter for dinner, I spied leftover tomato soup. Tomato Soup!?! Yep. Our sixteen month old eats almost anything especially tomatoes and olives. The only problem with soup is that he doesn't feed himself consistently with a spoon yet and the thought of spooning him food for the next half hour wasn't sounding pleasant. So, I slightly warmed the soup in one of the cups and he drank it up - yum!



To make the best use of my time, I proceeded to fill out some paperwork in the kitchen. When I looked up from my "to do" this is what I found:



Moral of the story: Tomato soup is good, clean fun (especially out of a cup).

Can I have another, please?

Thai Honey Peanut Chicken
 recipe and photo from www.thepioneerwoman.com

I realize that for most of you this is old news. I have heard friends talk about The Pioneer Woman for a couple years now. It took me this long to jump on board and actually peruse the website. I did so last night and kept interrupting Tim's thesis work to tell him about all the delicious recipes I was coming across. I thought he'd me more excited given the fact that it directly benefits him. So, now I share my excitement with you.

Tonight, I made Thai Honey Peanut Chicken and loved it - . It was so easy and delicious that I have decided to link to it in case a few of you want to try it. I roasted veggies as a side and it all came together quite nicely. Plus if you're a vegetarian, the recipe says you can substitute tofu and it works great as well. What I loved most is that I didn't have to go grocery shopping to try the recipe. I had everything I needed in my cupboard, freezer and fridge. That may be a cooking woman's dream come true.

For those of you who give it a shot, enjoy! I know we did.

Never Too Young for Chores

He loves to vacuum and sweep! He insists on "helping" whenever I'm doing either. We plan to encourage and foster his love of chores for a very long time.

Christmas in Nor Cal

Critter and I trekked it up to Nor Cal the Monday before Christmas to spend some extra time with my family. I was a little apprehensive because lately he has been very clingy, especially around "new" people. My family is not new to him by any means but I was thinking it would take him a day or two to warm up. Wrong. Thankfully and joyfully very wrong.

Critter went immediately to his Nani from the car seat and proceeded to give hugs all around to Grandpa and Aunt Kelly. It was wonderful and special as was the rest of our time with them.

For the most part, we laid low only getting out to run errands or go to the park between naps. Grandpa, Tim, and Uncle Ryan did take Critter on an adventure to Train Town one day. It was good to be with family and watch Critter play, interact and enjoy his Kimmel side.

Christmas Day was a blast. Critter was pretty good at tearing wrapping paper, clapping and screaming in excitement as gifts were opened or when he deemed it necessary to liven up the party. Grandpa and Nani surprised him with his first laptop. That's right, fifteen month olds with laptops! It works on the alphabet and phonetics, but Critters favorite setting is music and sounds. My extended family came over for dinner and an epic white elephant gift exchange in the late afternoon. My Nana (Critter's great-Nana) gifted him a very cool quad bike. Jude immediately got on it, pushed the button and rode into the sunset (actually, it was down the hall in my parents house).

The days following Christmas were spent wedding dress shopping for my sister, Kristy. Karl proposed to her on Tuesday, the 21st, up at Kimmel Vineyards on a swing (he built from a tree he cut down at the ranch earlier in the fall) that he hung from an oak tree lit up by white Christmas lights. To put it nicely, he rocked the proposal and we are excited for what lies ahead of both of them. To the point: Kristy found her dress! It is gorgeous and I can't wait to post pictures come June. Happy wedding planning.

Because I am terrible at choosing just a few photos, here's a slideshow and a couple movies of our week.

My amazing wife of 6 years

Wow,

6 years ago Jill and I were just about to start our journey together as husband and wife. We had dated for 3 1/2 years before I had finally gotten my act together and asked her to marry me.

A short 4 months later we were at the chapel of camp san luis about to say I do. The day was december 19th 2004, a mere 2 days away from the official beginning of winter. Unlike today, which is a wonderful day to stay inside and cuddle up next to a fire in order to stay out of the rain, 6 years ago there was not a rain cloud to be seen. It was a very crisp fall day which allowed us to take pictures outside.

I remember how surreal it was when the music (played by family and friends) started and the doors at the back of the chapel opened to the most beautiful woman in the world, my wife to be! The music was an instrumental I had heard on a surf movie (Fernie Apodaca and others from the Shelter soundtrack for those who care). Every time I hear it my mind and emotions go right back to that day with me standing as my beautiful bride walked down that aisle. Our ceremony was traditional, with the exception of the 500 carat diamond paperweight that I tried to pass off as Jill's wedding ring.

After the ceremony we took more pictures before heading over to the officer's club where the reception was just starting. We had soooo much fun at our reception.... so much that some might have even thought we were either crazy or drunk. The funny thing is I don't think Jill drank anything, and I only had a glass of wine. Our family and friends danced, laughed, danced, and ate our way through the evening with us. I love that we had sooo much fun dancing out our own wedding. We both look back to that day and are continually blown away by how blessed we were to have such a celebration to kick of our marriage. Our families and friends did so much to make that day special for us. Jill had put so much work into making sure that everything was not put off to the last minute, which allowed us both to truly enjoy that day. For all of you who know Jill, you know she is able to get things done. This is something that amazes me and I hope will rub off on me more and more!

Since that day years have come and gone, with a cat, a dog, a house, a kid joining our ranks. As I think about those six years I am overwhelmed with how lucky I am to have my best friend in the world as my wife. She puts up with me and my many quirks and dysfunctional ways in a loving way that I don't deserve. How she is still able to laugh at my attempts at humor is something that astounds me. Memories of camping next to trains, living next to trains, moving out to a vineyard where the trains followed us... Hmmm, I have never thought about this train theme in our lives. Anyways, that will be another discussion at some point. Back to my wife. We had the absolute best time in the world travelling for 2 months around the south pacific. Paradise living in Huahine, rainy day hikes in Moorea, minivan touring in New Zealand, hotel hopping in Vanuatu, and returning to my childhood home in Papua New Guinea all were made special because I was able to be with Jill.

The end of that trip marked the point at which we started adding to our family. Our son came in September of 2009 to deprive Jill from sleep for 8 months. He is soooo extremely lucky to have her as a mother. There have been many hard things about having a son but Jill has continually impressed me with her ability to love him through all of the sleepless nights, diaper rashes, and tantrums (both his and mine). Now I have the privilege of seeing his face light up at the sight of his mom. She is so fun, loving, caring, and wise with how she interacts with him. He knows he his loved beyond his imagination by his mom and that is such a gift to me.

So how do you truly let your wife of 6 years how thankful, grateful, and in love with her you are? I don't know. I do know that no matter what I do it will never really match how amazing she is.

I can say that it has been such a great journey thus far. Jill has been and continues to be the love of my life, my best friend, the mother of my children, my confidant, my better half, and I want you all to know how lucky and blessed I am!!!