Post Holiday Countdown

Happy New Year Family & Friends! So much to report regarding both of the babies in our lives. As many of you know, baby #1 broke his little leg just 4 days after my last post. Boys will be boys and after some rough and tumble play with my cousin Kyle and a long jag of crying, we discovered that Will couldn't walk w/o limping and knew there had to be something wrong. My aunt Karen and I took him to the hospital for x-rays. First of all, the staff at Unity in Fridley were so so wonderful and had all of the right moves in tending to a one and a half year old. The nurse came in armed with bubbles and stickers, the volunteers showed up with freezies and Will was for the most part very content as they checked him out. X-Rays were a little scary for him as his pregnant mama couldn't stay in the big dark room to comfort him. I cried at that point feeling just terrible. I was stronger for the second and third x-ray through his sobs because I knew they weren't doing anything painful to him. They splinted him up and sent us on our way. The following week Zach and I took him to the orthopedic doc in Princeton for his cast. He looked at the x-rays and decided that the fracture didn't warrant a cast and that the splint would keep Will's leg well enough protected. He moved around in it really well and with some effort was able to get up and walk on it. It was so cute, and a little sad all at the same time. In his little life, he hasn't been walking all that long, so I suppose he was a little confused when we had to keep putting him down to keep the weight off his leg that first few days. Poor little buddy. He is now 100% and rarely has a little limp; only when he is first walking on it after playing on the floor do we see a little stiffness. Those little baby bones sure heal fast!

Will managed to have a very Merry Christmas despite his immobility. Now that most of our family gatherings are before or after Christmas, the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve and Day travels have come to a stop. The three of us spent Christmas at home. We went to church in the morning, opened presents and played. Zach and I fondued while Will napped. It was so wonderful to spend time together before the next major adjustment.
We spent New Years at Zach's cousin Eric's in Foley playing games, drinking hot cocoa and watching the snow fall. We did not even attempt to keep Will up to ring in the New Year with us. Grown-up time thank you very much!
Will has so many new words and every day can mimic something new. He knows so many body parts and loves to point them all out. He loves looking at pictures of himself from baby days and can be occupied for hours with books and his new ride-on pony 'Lucky' who sings and whinnies to him. He's a finicky eater for me, but apparently eats well at daycare and will mostly eat well for Zach. What am I doing wrong?? Last night he would not touch his supper so I had to cave and give him something he would eat (crackers, peaches and string cheese). I never cave but he would not budge. I lost. He has a new nickname (little Snit) because he has a "fun" new game where he'll stick his nose up in the air and look away from you to ignore you. It is a joke to him and he thinks he's soooo clever. Little Snit! (not to be mistaken with Little S#it...more like Little SNOT)!! He laughs so much and plays so well, generally still so happy and delightful that I am hoping his adjustment to having to share mama and daddy will go smoothly. I try to talk to him about baby, but am certain he has no idea what he is in for! I really think because of his age, he will adjust well.

Despite Zach's overloaded job list he was able to relax and enjoy the holiday season. Now it's back to the grind stone. We had a guy come to mud, tape and sand our new room. He finished up yesterday so the next step is to clean up all of that sheet rock dust, paint the walls and move in. Once we get our stuff in, we can FINALLY start working on the nursery. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, but there are not enough hours in the day. Besides, we now know that a baby doesn't take up that much room, and if her clothes have to be in a laundry basket for a bit longer, so be it. I am absolutely stressed about this, but it is completely out of my control and she won't know any different anyway. I am hoping this weekend will be the big push to be mostly ready. Mom and Jim are coming to watch Will so we can work upstairs. I am tempted to go get paint (or samples) tonight but it is so blasted cold that I just don't want to take Will out unnecessarily. Besides, this mama is SO TIRED after work. This baby is wearing me out! Big surprise there huh?

Baby #2 stressed me out a bit last week when the doc discovered she was breech. Sometime during the last week she settled in head down and all is well for a normal delivery as of yesterday. I am 37 weeks and 4 days. I am going to the doc once a week and I will be checked at 39 weeks to see if I am advanced enough to induce. Both Zach and I are on board for this. With Will and Blaze and jobs and tasks, being able to schedule the whole thing would be really helpful. I hate surprises anyway, so let's just book it! Will was induced and it went so well, so of course I think this one will be exactly the same. I have to keep reminding myself that this is a different pregnancy, different baby, different personality...so I can't expect that same 1st baby bliss experience we had with Will. Doesn't hurt to think positively and hope for a baby as perfect as he was. :) The anxiety of potential collic, or what if she never sleeps, or hates the bottles we have or........you know, just all of those things that were never issues for us. Of course the delivery anxiety has finally set in as of yesterday when the doc brought up inducing. Yikes, there's no turning back and I really have to do this don't I? I guess it's go-time isn't it?! Deep breath...I'm ready...I think? Then of course we spend time with friends and family who have more than one child and watch the sibling dynamic. Zach and I are reminded of our lives with our siblings and wonder how long before Will won't share, or baby #2 tattles...LOL! One thing at a time right?? No matter, I am really excited to meet our baby girl and see that she is healthy and thriving. She is moving so much and all of her biophysical tests (breathing, moving, heart beat etc) are perfect. According to the ultra sounds everything looks great! The ultra sound I had last week (to do the bio physical work-up) showed lots of hair, which was fun to see. I fully believe the wives tale about heart burn and hair growth. Thank you Zantac and Tums!

I would imagine, as we are down to just days (about 13 or so) I probably won't update the blog until after baby unless there is something to report. Can't wait to share our Little Miss Sunshine with you!!!