The Last Bottle

It’s the moment I was dreading for a while… you see I’m the mom that weeps and wails as the end of the first year approaches because I’m not ready for it to be over. The are so many milestones that happen right around the first birthday and it just hurts my heart to know that it’s over and that I can’t go back, re-do, re-live, or slow it down. The moment that is the hardest for me is the last bottle—this is probably overly hard because thus far both of my boys self-weaned before the 1^st year marker that I was aiming for and without any notice, so I just soaked in those bottle and loved a good reason to curl up on the couch or my bed with a buddle of baby in my arms. Jack was never in particularly big hurry to finish a bottle, so I got to hold him for a long while, examine his face, his hair, his chubby hands, and of course smell him, ahhhhhhhh, delightful!

With Jack, I started giving him milk in a cup around 11 months, about once a day and cut down on one bottle. As we approached his birthday, he was drinking milk twice and only taking one bottle, and I knew we were on our last can of formula. When it was done, it was all done. So I secretly set aside the formula for the very last bottle, just in case I happened to miss when the can was empty. I warned Chad that he could have the second to last bottle but that I got the last- he didn’t seem to mind—actually he almost laughed that I was even worrying/ thinking about it.

And before I knew it- it happened… the formula ran out, and it was time to use my last ration. Oh I ached as I fixed that bottle—and this is as a mom who still hopes to have another child soon, Lord willing—can you imagine how I’ll be when we’re done done and close up the shop? Anyway, it was the morning of June 7- and luckily Max was still asleep. So me and my Jack cuddled up on my bed as I smiled at him and tried to etch it into my mind’s eye. Tears trickled down my cheeks and I loved every minute of it.

Although I’m SO sad that the bottle times are over and that he’s just going to get bigger from here, I am SO looking forward to all that is to come as well. One moment down….28273363655 to go J

When Mom's Away....

I headed out tonight for girls’ night with my favorite Porton Posse ladies—it is a night I SO look forward to every single month! Although I do love a batch of queso and margarita, more than anything I love the relationships in that group so each month I count down-- literally.

Well, when you’re a mom, there’s a lot more to “girls night” than just girls night—you have to think through an easy dinner option, I’m a nut and always write out bath and bed notes for my hubby who has been raising kids longer than I have! And usually there is some sort of angst as I head out the door—whether it’s a boy who is sad I’m leaving, a poor pass off between parents, or just bad timing—but tonight was another story.

Today was just an all around good day- full of fun, good naps, and good attitudes, so when it was time for me to head out, Chad was ready to take over the reigns and all the supplies for dinner and baths and beds were in place. I walked around kissing Chad, then Jack, then Max, then Gabe, shouted my “I love you’s,” got a chorus in return and headed out the door. Just as the door clicked shut I heard “BOYS NIGHT, WAHOOO” and they all got rowdy. Oh be still my heart!

There is NOTHING better than heading out for some “me time” and leaving behind happy people, a great daddy, and boys that wanted to be with him. Pure joy my friends, pure joy! I always have fun, but with a departure like that, it increased my fun by about 4474646262 times.

I was barely to the corner of our road though, when I got a text from Chad sayings “he’s looking for you” and this is what I saw:

My heart caught—proud that he loved me but so sad that I had left him. I contemplated turning around but before I could put two thoughts together, I got another picture. The caption said “over it”.

CRACK ME UP!! I laughed out loud over this… in my minivan… all alone.  

The Stomach Bug from Hell

I never thought it could be happen-- I had never heard of such a thing, but after "surviving" a really not so awesome week in the life of Max, I thought I should share...

It started on Sunday night (really Monday early morning around 3:30am) Max called me to his room which is really rare so I went in to settle him down and as soon as I left, he threw up everywhere-- like SO much. He had had a lot of sugar that day, so honestly I just thought that was it.

Then Tuesday (like over 24hrs after the throw up), we went to the zoo and he wasn't himself-- like real lethargic but nothing hurt and he didn't have a fever. That night at dinner time, he threw up everywhere again-- like major projectile. (AND Chad was home with the boys and had to handle it all on his own :( )

Wednesday, he was lethargic again, and I quizzed him all day, body part by body part if anything hurt, etc. And again, no fever. This kid is almost three but communicates like he's 10, so if there was something going on, he would be able to tell me that it hurt. Then last night (this morning actually) he threw up at 4am- same thing-- EVERYWHERE.

At this point, Chad and I were super frustrated-- we had changed sheets, given middle of the night baths, hosed off chunks in the yard, wiped, scrubbed, and mopped parts of our house that shouldn't be clean in that way, and there wasn't an "explanation".

So Thursday morning, I called his doctor, and they were stumped but said maybe a GI virus and to come in next week if he was still doing this or to come in earlier if he gets diarrhea. (His stools were looser than normal, but not diarrhea.) She was thinking strep or ears originally but since no pain and no fever she kind of ruled that out. 

And then Thursday night, he was in bed and came out for no reason so I let him sit on the couch with me, and he wasn't there 5 minutes when he threw up all over both of us. I was COVERED, as was our leather couch, and it just kept coming. This was on the heels of a completely bland diet for 2 days, and the elimination of dairy for 3+ days.

So naturally, as I worrier, I assumed he had some horrible disease or that something was eating his insides or that his body had suddenly changed and he was now allergic to milk, and wheat, and water, and air. Literally, I am praying at this point that God would help me capture my fear- you can't parent out of fear, fear is of the devil-- and that he would give me Mommy-intuition to know what to do and when to do it. 

That evening, after recovering from being covered in someone else's throw up, I contacted Laura from Moms on Call-- I've mentioned her 10000 times and I'll say it again- she is so wonderful and so encouraging and knows just what to say/ when to send you to a doctor, etc... she too thought it was just a virus, explaining that it can last about a week if he's only throwing up once a day, whereas someone who vomits 100 times in a day will be over it in 12 hours. 

On Friday, he threw up one more time, while at my parents, just a small amount, and then never again. He still never complained of pain, he never had a fever, and really, besides some whiny-ness, he was himself. THEN 4 days after the end of Max's virus, my Dad and my brother got it-- only Uncle Eli was like seriously knocked on his butt for a week and couldn't move-- he did the fever, the paleness, the whole nine yards. My Dad on the other hand was traveling for business and basically just didn't eat to avoid any "incidents" from happening in the presence of his customers. THEN an entire week, 7 whole days, after Eli's last day of being sick, my mom got it. She too had a fever, major tummy pain, and the stomach virus. Hers was quicker but she still didn't have an appetite for about 5 days. 

I tell you all this just to warn you that it is possible-- although we typically hear of stomach viruses thrusting themselves upon us with full force, making life hellish for a mere 24-48 hours, they can stick around, and wreak havoc slowly and steadily for a week, plus! How's that for fun?

Fun in the Sun (Toddler Style)

As I mentioned before, it’s pool time, and after some swim lessons, we were ready to go. Because Jack was SO tiny last year, this year was his first pool experience and he loved it and these pictures were from his first pool day! You can't even tell he's a rookie! Of course he prefers to be held… because he loves his mama!... but he’ll also float in his boat, play on the steps and splash A LOT.

Max is a little fish and just wants to swim to me, jump from the edge, and then swim back over and over and over and over and over! Both of my babies are so happy in the water and big brother Gabe has been a fish for as long as I’ve known him so you can go ahead and guarantee that we’ll either be pool side this summer, or home napping after our morning swim.  Between Anna’s pool, my mom’s pool, and our late summer beach trip, Jack may ever been swimming before it’s over! I kid, but really, we love it.

(And for all you who are “worriers” like me, don’t you worry, I coat us all with 70+ SPF each time we head out and the boys wear sun shirts and hats too. God gave them beautiful eyes, beautiful skins, and beautiful eyes—who am I to even think about putting that beauty in danger!)

Messy

I handed both of my boys a "pouch" which is like a smoothie of organic fruit and veggies, and ran upstairs to change out of my gym clothes. Max came into my room and said "Jack is wheally wheally wheally wheally wheally messy." I thought he was exaggerating, being funny perhaps, but in all actuality, he hasn't ever spoken a bigger truth:

Guess it's time for me to clean up- ay yi yi!!!

Jack's Birthday Day

 So way back in May, on Jack's actual birthday, we had a day of fun that must be chronicled... ok, it actually started out not so fun, but we pressed on towards the goal, and eventually fun was had, I'll start at the beginning.

We began his birthday with a trip to the doctor for his first year appointment, in his birthday outfit from my Mamaw, of course. I was already sentimental and sappy, and so dumb mom over here should've know WAY better than to schedule such appointments because those appointments equal shots :( BUT I messed up, and I paid for it. First of all, Jack got some shots and pricks that he hadn't gotten before and it seriously broke his heart and Max stood their screaming too because that darn doc had hurt his brother, and so I was trying to dress and console my two sad boys, while packing up, and carrying them both out to our car. I was sweating, like majorly, and like I said, my heart was already on edge, so it was all I could do to keep it together. I got everyone buckled in and climbed in, cranking the AC when Max announced he had to go potty. CUSS!

So I got everyone back out, we traipsed back into the doctor's office, I got Max on the potty, while balancing Jack on my legs to save him from bathroom germs, got everyone buttoned back up, and finally back to the car. The only thing keeping me going at this point was the donuts on the horizon. As per my tradition, I am going to take my boys for donuts on their birthday until I die. (Boys, I WILL show up at your dorm room, just be ready.) Which means we were headed to donuts after the doctor-- and not just any donuts but Sublime Donuts, aka the BEST in Atlanta... maybe the Southeast... maybe ever. And so we drive all the way into the city, only to pull in and be the only car....because they are closed on Mondays and Jack's birthday was a Monday. So at 10 in the morning, I'm already at strike 3 for the day-- it's not looking good. I drove around for another 40 minutes, all within a 3 mile radius where 3 different Dunkin Donuts were situated and get this, there weren't parking near any of them.

So we had to abandon the plan. No donuts for Jack's birthday. That was equal to like 827 strikes. So we called my mom, Jack's Annie, who was scheduled to meet us at the children's museum for some birthday fun, and she brought rations for us all-- yogurt, fruit, and such. As soon as we entered the museum, we found a little snack room and all scarfed down food-- because it was practically lunch time and I had been starving my children.

Luckily, the day turned around from there. First of all, the museum was a hit and my Mom bought us a family year pass- yay. And this pass gets you into all sorts of museum around the country, including a children's museum in San Antonio (where Chad's parents are!). Anna and her girls met us there too-- it was fun for all four kids and it will be a good destination for many rainy/ too hot/ all other days ahead! From there, we went to Johnny Rockets for lunch-- yummy hamburgers and shakes and then headed back to Annie's for naps.

BUT Jack doesn't like to nap in a bed at Annie, so my mom obliged (not just because it was his birthday... she always does!) and rocked him to sleep! When everyone was ready for dinner, we had Jack's cake-- chocolate panCAKES that is! Both boys loved it, and it was an easy dinner for me... because I didn't fix it :) My Dad was out of town and Chad was working late, so really, it suited everyone. After dinner, we left Max at Annie's for the  night and headed him to meet up with Daddy-- he needed us to bring him some clothes for a basketball game he had, and although the game started at 9:45, I decided to take Jack and go with him to the game... Jack feel asleep in my arms and I just couldn't help but look at his precious face, while soaking in every moment-- I think Jack was giving me that priceless moment to thank me for a year well done.

It was a fantastic first year for my baby Jack and I wish I could do it all over again-- what a baby-- what a blessing!

The Cool of The Pool

This past week, we ventured into the world of swim lessons. Chad and I both love pools and water, and it’s a staple to being in our family, so naturally, it was time for Max to sink or swim… aka get thrown out of the family or swim like a fish… I kid, kinda :)

Anna and Lizzy used this lady named Autumn about 20 miles north of us last summer and had great results so I called in April to get Max on the list. I didn’t really mention it to him much because I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about it and I didn’t want him to have time to worry if it was going to go that direction. But I did ask my brother Eli, one of Max’s favorite people in the world and a swim coach of many years, if he would be the one to take Max. The kind of lessons we signed up for was a three days in a row “boot camp” of sorts and each child had to have an adult in the water with them. And honestly, I just didn’t think I was tough enough to do what had to be done—I’m a worrier, so I’d be saying “well just let him catch his breath” or “he doesn’t like that” or “that’s scaring him” and I’m pretty sure that would go against everything Ms. Autumn was teaching, ha!

Day 1:

So day 1 rolled around and Eli had an interview surface that he needed to go to so I had to call for back—Chad!  He had the worst job of all, taking Max on the first day. We he arrived, Ms. Autumn warned that it would be “B-A-D” but that they just all needed to keep doing what she said. Chad said that the entire time, every single child, like 10 of them, screamed and cried for the full hour. The parents had to push them under, helps them use their arms and bop for air, get out of the pool themselves, and learn to turn while treading water to get to an adult or the side of the pool, among other things. Ms. Autumn’s stance is to teach them to swim—knowing how to get help, get air, and get to the edge, which are obviously survival techniques, but that’s not her goal. So on the first day, after swallowing most of the pool and crying hysterically (THANK GOD I WASN’T THERE) Max literally threw up. In the pool.  I think is scarred everyone there, but Max quickly recovered, finished the first class and came home. His report to me was “It was a little bit hard” but he didn’t push back at all about going back the next day.

Look at that post-swimming, post-throwing up face!

Day 2:

So on Wednesday, Eli came and picked him up and took him to Ms. Autumn again. Day 2 was much better. Eli said he didn’t cry at all and although he was one of the youngers, he was pretty close to the top of his class. This wasn’t really surprising considering his athleticism and his work ethic (he does it until he gets it) but on the other hand, day 1 was so traumatic that no one expected it to go this well. I later found out from my mom, that after Chad had given Eli the scoop of Day 1, Eli said “I’m not going to push his face in and make him cry, I don’t care what they say.” I guess we’re all pretty wimpy when it comes to our Max! Thankfully, he was great for Coach Uncle Eli, and they both had a great time with great results. By the time they arrived home, both were pumped for Day 3.

Day 3:

On Thursday, I decided it was time I join in on the fun... from the side of the pool. I had asked both Chad and Eli to take pictures but of course they can't do that in the pool, and a mother needs documentation of such major events in one child's life. So me and Jack loaded up with Max and Coach Uncle Eli and we all invaded Ms. Autumn's for the last day. I was THOROUGHLY impressed by my little man. He did everything over and over and over-- he'd swim to the edge, climb up on the edge, and then jump in to Eli... he did all the drills, he put his face in like a champ, he worked really hard to have big arms and good kicking legs. 

Since this was the last day, she had everyone get in a circle with their child and each kid had to swim around the circle from parent to parent-- it made you not really worry about your child and made your child sink or swim... literally. This was traumatic for some, but not for my Max! He was full of smiles the whole class!

At the end of every class, all the kids get to jump of the diving board to Ms. Autumn who is treading, then if she thinks you're up for the challenge, she has you swim to one of her helper teachers in the middle of the pool, and then you have to go over to the last helper at the ladder. Not all kids get to do this, but Max did and he rocked it!

And now my boy is all ready for the cool of the pool all summer long! We might go visit Ms. Autumn again one feel later in the summer to learn some new skills, but we've got plenty to work on for now... along with his golf game and baseball mastery too of course!

P.S. Baby J loved swim lessons too....