‘Little’ Leighton

My life is just busy and crazy now, with the wonderful addition of Leighton, what little time I have left is used to just sit, and since our laptop took a dump, blogging has taken a back seat.  Sad but true – It’s been months since I’ve put anything on here and I feel as though I am slighting my baby girl.  You all have to get to know her – she amazing!  Let’s catch you all up – here we go…

Since day one Leighton has been much more labor intensive than Tucker ever was.  I’m not sure if it’s a girl vs. boy thing but Leighton has NOT gotten the second child memo.  She loves to be talked to and is now chatting away back at you.  She requests LOUDLY to be held at all times – and holding while sitting is not an option unless she’s eating.    I’d say what makes Leighton different from every other baby that I know is her size…she’s a biiiiig girl.  Let’s do a weight check through the last few months -

• she was born 8 lbs 15 oz. on a Monday – Big but not off the charts
• when we left the hospital, on Wednesday, she was down to 8 lbs 7 oz. again nothing to write home about
• We went in to our pediatrician’s office on Friday and she was 9 lbs 4 oz!  Dr. Hankins said that she’s never had  a baby get back to their birth weight and gain another 5 oz so quickly…the super juice is working she said.  She didn’t need to see her again til she was a month old
• 1 month check up 12 lb 2.4 oz 22.5″
• 2 month check up 15 lb 3.4 oz 23.5″
• 4 month check up 19 lb. 15.8 oz 25.5″ 100% for weight
• 6 month check up 23 lb. 0 oz. 28″ over 100% for weight and height

She’s a lot to lug around – Tucker didn’t weigh this much til he was 18  months old.  Karma wooped me a good one poking fun of my girlfriend’s pudgy baby girl, and making comments like “seriously who carries their 30 lbs child in a bucket seat – this is nuts that they make bucket car seats for kids that big” eating my words we had to go out and buy one.  My friend Mel has had her triplets in size 6 diaper forever – and I on multiple occasions commented how she wasn’t using the right size diapers…6.5 months in both Leighton AND Tucker are in size 5 diapers!  All that weight is just more to love – I cannot wait for summer to come to the Midwest and put Leighton in rompers and show off those cute ‘little’ leggies, I actually feel bad trying to squeeze her leggies into pants! She’s moving through not only clothes faster than Tucker but milestones too!  By 6 months Leighton had 3 teeth in and one more on the way, she was full on rolling, and could just about pull her self to a sitting position.  She’s crazy strong and is one determined little lady.  The teeth are an issue that I am trying to work though but that’s a whole nother story my friends.

Here is Leighton over the last few months:

         

Our kids run the roost now, we try so hard but bed time gets pushed back for Tucker when Leighton’s off her rocker, and dinner is for the most part what Tucker will eat, I’m more concerned with his diet being balanced than mine.  There’s more TV time, more laundry and dishes that pile up in the day, more dirty diapers and time scrubbing out stains in the sink, more toys and things and a lot less room in our little house – but on the flip side there’s 2x as many smiles, giggles, and great memories.

Life is Good As a Gitter my friends…it’s just good.

Dear Leighton,

 

It’s been 6 months already that you’ve been part of our family and I can’t believe how fast it’s gone by and how much you’ve grown!  You’re such a wonderful beautiful baby.  It’s hard to even imagine what life was like before you came into our lives – it seems like it was a million years ago that it was just your dad and I and Bogey.  Along with all the hard work that leaves me feeling like I’m in the minority the majority of the time in our house – comes the extra smiles, hugs, open mouth kisses, and joy that you’ve brought into our lives.  I was worried that I wouldn’t connect with you being my second baby the way I did with Tucker, but Leighton we’ve found our own way to connect and at night after Tucker goes to bed it’s our time, just you and me.  I have dozens of pictures of you sleeping at night in my arms, some of my very favorite moments that I have with you is the peace that comes with you still in my arms.  I love the way that you light up a room – the sunshine theme nursery suits you to a tee! I’m so glad your here, so glad that God gave me the privilege of being your mom and so glad that there is more of you to snuggle and kiss than 99% of all other 6 month old babies!  You are my sunshine my only sunshine Little Leighton.

 

❤

mom 

And Baby Makes Four…

I can’t believe that it’s been 7 weeks since my last post…well obviously A LOT has happened, first and foremost we did it, we had a baby girl – a bouncing, cuddly, beautiful baby girl, but before that we had the last week of my pregnancy with her, a slow start to labor and delivery, a battle of name the baby, and a sobbing last night of putting Tucker to bed as an only child.  Let’s back this train up from where the last post left off…

Eric and I went into Liz’s office for my 39 week check up thinking that FOR SURE that the baby had made some progress…no none, well Liz said that she was in a good mood and she’d say that I had thinned out about 5% more.  Whoopdee doo daa.  I basically have been 1 cm and 50-55% effaced for a month, a month!  I sat there, pantless, thinking that she’s gonna make me do this myself, and she’s never gonna talk induction with us.  Low and behold, she asked what we thought about induction, and we again scheduled induction on her due date, October 15.

The week came and went and LeAnne made me “Happy Last Day of Work” cupcakes (my favorite funfetti) and had a great last day tying up loose ends, doing a maternity leave mailbox message, and putting in the out of office assistant on.  The day flew by and I went home for the last Friday night as a family of three.  And as fast as the last day of work flew by, so did the last weekend, we went to my parents house for dinner on Sunday night and I snuggled with Tucker, and didn’t want to leave.  I laid him down in his bed at my mom and dad’s and cried, hard – scared of what was coming, not delivery but beyond.  Would there be enough of me for Tucker to know that I still love him as much Sunday as I will on Monday when there is a new baby to care for too?  It’s really the first time I gave into these feelings and it felt good to let them out.  Eric and I got home, put the finishing touches on our hospital bag, carseat, and stuff that we wanted footprints on, packed them in the car and I slept like a baby.

5 AM came early, oh wait that IS early.  And I got up, showered, dried my hair, and put on my last HUGE maternity clothes and we were out the door by 6 am.  Here is  picture of me in the morning just before we left.  Even Bogey couldn’t believe how big I was!

We checked into the hospital and I was hooked up to an IV and the check in nurse was getting all our vitals and info.  Liz came in and checked me and to my surprise, there was still barely ANY more activity.  I was 1 cm and 75% effaced, high cervix and not softened.  Bummer.  But my contractions were less than 3 minutes apart – but I couldn’t feel them.  Liz told me that there is a chance that if this doesn’t work, they would have to send me home and come back when real labor began.  The though petrified me.  She inserted the first dose of Cytotec (yes yes I know it is controversial to use for induction – I did my research but this was the path that Liz and I decided upon) around 7:30 am and I was told to lay down and sit still then I was to pace the hallways and get my labor moving.  At 10:30ish I was checked again and was 100% thinned out, 2 cm, softened and forward cervix!  Yahoo! I got the second dose of Cytotec and again told to lay down for a while and continue power walking the halls to progress labor.  I continued to progress slowly and around 2 pm Liz came in I was 3 cm and she then broke my water…that moved things quickly.  I was no longer smiling, talking, or laughing the contractions were coming fast and were painful.  The anesthesiologist was paged and he put in the first step of the two step epidural.  It was pretty instantanous and life was good again.  Here is a picture of me after it took effect…

Eric and I walked a little bit more, and I was told to let Liz and Nylene know when I was feeling pain or pressure again because the second part of the epidural takes about 20 minutes to take effect.  We got about 3 laps in before I told Eric that I was feeling some pressure, he told me to tell Liz, to which I replied – “I don’t want to be a whiner” Eric’s response – “Ahhh, news flash you’re having a baby you’re not a whiner”  He told Liz when we passed her in the hall and she said she’d check me, low and behold I was 9 cm and we were almost ready to push, and I still needed the next part of the epidural.  I was given the second epidural and bed ridden, and at 4:14 began pushing, at 4:18 the epidural kicked in, and at 4:20 pm, our baby girl was born.  She was a screamer at 8 lbs 15 oz and 21.5″ long.  She was placed on my chest and was 1 of the 2 most perfect people in the whole wide world.

We were totally in LOVE with her the instant we met her.  Every thought, fear, flutter, worry, doubt, everything went away and God filled my heart with unwavering love for this tiny (okay well tiny compared to her brother) new life that we created!  My blessings overflowed, and all was good with the world.  She looked just like Tucker – chubby cheeks, little button nose, and had hair – even more than Tucker.  Liz and Nylene (her midwife student) fixed me all up down under and the rush of family entered into the room to meet Baby Girl Gitter (that was her name for another 5 hours).  Everyone oogled and snuggled her, took pictures and then the nurses checked her vitals again, she was running a temperature of 101, and then dropped to 97.4  they suggested that we do skin to skin for a while to help regulate her temperature, it worked, right from the start she just needed her mommy.  Later that night my sister and brother in law came to meet her.  We were discussing names, we liked Mollie – Kenzie – Lily – Annabelle – Abilene – Quinn…but NONE of those were her.  I thought she looked like a Leah and Eric thought she looked like a Lucy…so finally after a while of discussing we had common ground her name should start with an L.  I suggested Leighton – LeAnne and Matt both liked it and our general manager’s at the Sandals Resort we stayed at in January (do the math people 9 months before) was named Leighton (LAY-TON)…we thought it fit, BUT Eric was hesitant.  So, not annoying at all, I pointed out every 3 or so minutes that I like Leighton, I like Leighton, I like Leighton.  I grabbed the birth certificate form and the three of us all told Eric how much we liked Leighton, when he was on the phone, and he finally caved in and came to the right decision.  So our Mollie-Kenzie-Lily-Annabelle-Abilene-Quinn became Leighton Annette.  She was a great sleeper that first night, but the nurses kept waking us up to check on me and her and nurse every 2 hours.  We had a plethora of visitors that came and went in the 3 days we were in the hospital, we are so blessed with so many family and friends.  My friends Mel and Mandy stopped in and gave us some of the coolest gifts…Leighton was all the rage with the wand in her bassinet!  I love how the Buschke’s stayed with the yellow sunshine theme!!!

Tucker came up to the hospital…he would not pose for any pictures he was too busy pushing buttons, but did once acknowledge the Baby one time, then he was done.  That has pretty much been his approach – likes her when he likes her and doesn’t really care the other times.  My mom said that’s nice, I HAD to help with everything when my sister was born and it was hard to keep me away from LeAnne.  She’s right, I do have it good.  My life is good as a gitter my friends.

I’d like to introduce you to Leighton Annette Gitter, who has us all wrapped around her little fingers.  Thank you McManigal Photography for her beautiful pictures!

Dear Leighton,

 

Welcome to our family.  We are beyond thrilled to have finally met you.  I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t quite sure if God really knew what he was doing – could I handle 2 kids under 2, 2 in diapers, still working full time…yes I can – God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.  He knew exactly what he was doing when he gave us you.  I fell head over heels in love with the second they put you on my chest – even gooey and bloody you were still so beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to start this journey with you, my precious daughter.  You came into this family just at the right time, we all needed to see the physical face of God’s grace in you, after Auntie’s diagnosis…just like when I was born after Papa died, you my daughter, show us that life is a brutiful and fragile thing.  I know that getting to snuggle you in Auntie’s arms was the blessing that helped to take her mind off of life for just a few minutes…and she didn’t even have to change your diaper – boy life is good!  I stare at your little button nose, your full sweet lips, your big slate colored eyes (quickly turning brown like all the rest of ours), and smile knowing that our family is complete with you now.  I love you with everything I have, even though I didn’t know if I could love you and your brother both as much as you guys needed – God doesn’t give us a shortage in love.  Our new journey is just beginning, you’ll soon learn how good life as a gitter really is Leighton! 

 

❤

mom

My Yellow Labor of Love

There just simply is something different about this pregnancy and the bond that I feel with this baby vs. carrying Tucker.  By 32 weeks Tucker’s nursery was ready, shelves were hung, clothes were washed, hospital bag was packed, and everything was ready to go and we concentrated on LeAnne & Matt’s wedding.  But this time, we’ve been so wrapped up in working with Tucker to get him ready for this life changing time, that I haven’t really stopped to really coddle this time with our growing girl.  It dawned on me this weekend, that I haven’t given her time with just the 2 of us – I haven’t felt connected the same because for the most part all of the preparations for her, Eric has done…they really have all been moving furniture and installing this or that, I’ve done a little bit of shopping but God only knows how this little girl will get spoiled rotten upon delivery.  There was so much hustle and bustle with my pregnancy with Tucker, baby showers and putting things together and hanging clothes etc., and it was just me, not me pregnant chasing a toddler around, I’m sure that’s it.

But this weekend was different, it was my labor of love for her.  To truly understand how much of a labor of love painting is for me, one must understand that I DO NOT do painting, and have NEVER found it to be something that I enjoy – thank goodness there are people out there who do, I’ve paid them to do it for us.  To be quite honest I try but am just not good at it, God gave me other talents that make me shine.  But I had a dream early in my pregnancy when Eric and I were discussing the ‘theme’ for her nursery, which was supposed to be Pirates – until 3 lines showed up on the Ultrasound!  We thought about jungle animals, we thought about princesses, we thought about owenge, but none of them inspired me, until I was deep in slumber and I woke up begging Eric for a sunshine nursery.  In my dream there was one wall with Yellow chevron stripes, and a huge 3d sun on the ceiling, and you just felt warm and happy when you were in there, rocking her back to sleep even in the middle of the night.

Finding the energy to do this was a daunting task, when I found out my due date I knew that it was going to be rough, Eric’s job requires long days at this time of the year, and I feel bad asking him to do things around the house after a 15 hour work day, and he gets upset and I get overwhelmed trying to move and lift things myself.  Not to mention that Tucker isn’t a docile kid, if he’s not strapped in a seat or sleeping he’s going 90 mph.  But this weekend my friend Mel came over and helped me make my dream a reality.

We made a few adjustments, and did straight lines rather than chevrons, and Eric and I found a 3d sun ceiling light at IKEA a couple weeks ago and it’s all coming together  amazingly!  Mel was my catalyst to get moving on it, she came over and helped me to straighten out my lines, which I swear were straight, but alas she was right and they looked more like a wavy horizon than straight lines.  I found a great article about painting straight lines on Knockdown and it worked pretty awesome – http://livingwithlindsay.com/2011/06/paint-perfect-stripes.html if I do say so myself…although I’m not too picky.  We left the paint on after 2 coats of Crayola Yellow to see how it would look in the sunlight, and boy was it different.  I got Tucker down for his nap and threw on my painters shirt and shorts and all by myself, I grabbed a paintbrush and began painting and the more I did the more I smiled, I stopped rubbed my belly and talked to her and told her about what I was doing, and how beautiful her room was going to be and how happy she made me.  For the first time, my labor of love translated into an outpouring of emotions for this little girl I love so much already.  The yellow is beautiful, although there are quite a few more projects that need to be done in there, it’s ready for the most part, we’re ready, I’m ready, and I can’t wait to meet her and introduce her to the outside world.  I love how yellow makes me feel, so warm, cozy, and enlightened – all by myself with my stripes of yellow and a dream coming true.  I’m such a lucky girl, blessed beyond belief – Thank You God for all you give to me, and help me to appreciate and always give thanks for everything.  Amen.

Dear Baby Girl,

 

This weekend was the first extended  time that was all about you, it was wonderful to concentrate on you and think about bringing you home and showing you your beautiful nursery that Daddy, Auntie Mel and I painted for you.  Your brother even helped out, he learns things so fast, but I can only imagine how fast you’ll learn things when you watch him.  I dream about the two of you playing and growing up and what our life will be like, and I can’t wait.  You are a Child of God and He has given me a great responsibility to bring you into this world, you need to stay put for a little while longer and grow big and strong like your brother, but don’t grow quite as big as he did (:

I love you so much, and I know that my heart is big enough to love you all and know that you, Tucker, and your dad are the centers of my universe.  Mind you, you all will take turns being my favorite, and Bogey have have that honor some days too, but I will love you everyday forever and ever.  Grow baby girl, and when the time is right we will welcome you with open arms and open hearts! 

♥

mom

Gitter Family Update – 22 weeks preggers and 18 months old!

I can’t believe that I’m nearing the end of my 22nd week of pregnancy and that Tucker turned 18 months yesterday! It’s all gone by so quickly! I haven’t been very good about keeping up with all that is changing in our lives lately – for the 2 of you that read this but more importantly for me to remember exactly where we, The Gitters, were on June 14, 2012. So here it goes…

Tucker

Our little stinker pot is talking up a storm trying to keep up with his favorite girl in the world, his cousin E – who moved in 2 doors down a few months ago. E is almost three and honestly I don’t think he could love her anymore. Yesterday Jim told me that Tucker wouldn’t let her go through until she gave him a kiss. so, adorable! One of my pregnant epiphanies was creating a Step 2/Little Tikes playground in our backyard for the kids…it has come to life and a few weeks ago we added the Naturally Playful® Front Porch Playhouse by Step2 – I got a good price and free shipping, and I know the resale value on this stuff is great if kept in good condition. They LOVE it, it took a couple of times out in the yard, but they are so funny in there now. We have a little swing and slide set from Eric’s cousins, a see-saw, the Step2 Clubhouse Climber, a picnic table and umbrella, and of course some of Bogey’s toys. They’ve been having a blast between the Step 2 community and the kiddie pools, sprinklers and the water table they love to live outside!

He’s gotten crazy fast on his feet and is just a tank of a kid and will push you out of the way to get where he wants to be. We are working on manners, and waiting your turn – he’s not so good at those yet. We’ve been experimenting with potty training, which he responds well to, we offer and he says yes or no, with yes he races to the bathroom, and when he says no we just let it be. Before bath we sit on the Elmo seat and if he goes, great if not he’s still pretty little. He’s talking a ton – some of it is still pretty gibberish, but he speaks VERY well for an 18 month old boy. A married couple, and friends of mine from high school own their own photography business, McManigal Photography and have taken all of Tucker’s pictures since he was a newborn – Chris was out at my parents house this past week trying to capture Tucker at 18 months…well it was a challenge to say the least. He was constantly moving, didn’t want to stay anywhere, and wouldn’t laugh at my ridiculous singing and dancing (which I paid for with a very sore pelvis the next day!) . He never sits still anymore and keeps me on my feet – but I must say he and Eric looked SOOOOOOOOO handsome! their outfits were the only thing that turned out how I wanted, we will see if the pictures depicted what I saw in my head- thanks for the lil boy tie Auntie Melly! (:

Tucker has no idea what life has in store for him, we’re working on body parts and he knows mouth, nose, 1 eye 2 eyes, hair, ear, cheek, toes, and fingers. We’re learning belly and trying to explain that the baby is in my belly but he just doesn’t care, and when we’ve tried to get him to gently pat the baby he pounds on my belly like bongo drums. So we will have to try a new approach to the upcoming changes in his life. We have a babysitter who comes to the house on a regular basis now, and we couldn’t LOVE her more! She’s fantastic and Tucker adores her. He has no issues with me leaving in the morning when Katherine is there, he calls her Kath-Kath and he is sufficiently tired after a day with her. We count our blessing everyday for having found her.

Here’s a few recent pictures of Tucker – they are not as numerous as they once were…

Baby Girl Gitter:

She’s a growing girl! I had my first u/s a couple weeks ago, and got a call a couple days after from my midwife’s office suggesting that I do a follow up ultrasound because her femur bone is 20% of her head circumference. Apparently the normal range is 17%-19%, my midwife wasn’t too concerned but per the recommendation of the radiologist we made another appointment for 2 weeks later (tomorrow already!) to check again, I was told it could be a couple of factors – it could be that she’ll be tall, which over all she’s much bigger than Tucker at 20 weeks (Tucker was 49.8% and she is 68.9% but Tucker was born in the 98% weight and 99% height), that she was in a strange position and the measurement could have been off. I couldn’t help but google it, and I couldn’t find anything bad about that – and to be quite honest, it wouldn’t change how much we love her or that God chose us to be her parents, she’s ours as long as God will allow it. So tomorrow we’re going in to see her again on the U/S and watch her twist and turn. I have a serious baby bump going on now – I think looks bigger looking down than in the mirror, but I can still fit into all my heels and I’m not a swollen whale, yet. I am considering a maternity belt, this one sits in my back and causes crazy pain when she lies in a certain spot, and she’s a stubborn one to move, totally my girl! But we’re on the downside of the maternity hill, with less time left than we’ve put in – that’s a good feeling.

A few other milestones in our lives – after we got back from the Bahamas and we Photoshopped a few pictures for our memory book Eric, Matt, LeAnne and I decided to do weight watchers, then I found out I was pregnant and stopped paying the monthly dues but Eric, LeAnne, and Matt all downloaded an app called iTrackBites for $2.99 and have had AMAZING success with it. We no longer have to Photoshop their pictures – Eric is down almost 50 lbs and is the skinniest he’s ever been and LeAnne has lost close to 20 lbs and Matt has lost over 20 lbs! I’m so proud of the three of them, they look so great and are fitting into clothes they haven’t wore in years! At my last appointment with my Midwife, her and her nurse were ooogling over how great Eric looked, and I’m not gonna lie – I was annoyed when she asked how I’ll handle it when our weights criss-cross going in opposite directions, not her most nurturing moment – but I still LOVE her!

We’ve been busy busy keeping up with the great weather, doctors appointments, and Eric’s INSANE summer work schedule! We’re surviving and thriving – some days there is more love than others, but at the end of the day we give thanks to God for all that we have and all He’s done for us. Life is Good as a Gitter my friends!

Dear Tucker & Baby Girl Gitter,

We have been so busy and summer is just beginning! Tucker I LOVE where you are right now – you are so inquizitive about everything, and are starting to figure everything in life out, you’re a massive bundle of energy but for every ounce of GO you have in you, there is an equal amount of snuggles, love, and kisses. You light up our lives in a way that only you can…honestly, out of all the little boys in the whole wide world how did we end up getting the VERY best one?? I can’t wait to enjoy more summer with you at this stage. And baby girl – you need to take it a little bit easier on my body that you are currently residing in, your brother was a lazy fetus and I very much enjoyed that, although I am really loving that your dad can be more involved earlier and feel you squirming and doing martial arts in my belly! We will continue to work on not lying on the bottom of my tailbone, and getting to feel you grow in my belly. Be nice to your mommy – she’s too busy to stop and take a breather these days! The days are moving so fast and I’m making a vow to use the expensive camera that I HAD TO HAVE to capture more of our moments this summer! I love you both so very much, thank you for all the memories you’re giving me (:

♥

mom

It’s a…

So today was the day. The baby looked great and healthy and it we found out it is a…I’ll let Tucker tell you…

It’s a girl!! We’re the qinessential American family. Just need the white Pickett Fence! He’s decided that we need to have a baby girl every night if he gets pink cake and balloons!

We’re thrilled and got her a Little Sister outfit it was so foreign shopping in the girls department. Now a girl name, and some shoes!

Have a good holiday weekend!

Today’s the day

When I was in the shower this morning I thought about my day.  It’s a big day for us, it’s our 20 week ultrasound.  I knew so early that I was pregnant that the half way mark seemed soooo far away, and now it’s here just a few hours away.  So, I’m a planner – I want to know what this baby is.  I know a handful of my friends who decided not to know and it was a magical experience for them, but it’s just me – I want to know and so does Eric.  But he’s so awesome about it, just like when we were here a couple of years ago Eric told me he wanted what I wanted.  He’s so great, I’m so lucky to have him.

So we go in today to the ultrasound at 10:45.  It’s a room that carries so much weight.  All we really ask for is a healthy baby, it’s what the ultrasound is actually for, but that’s a given.  I flash back to hearing the news of our best couple friend, who received heartbreaking news about their first baby in a room similar to one we’ll be in today.  Or the book, I Will Carry You by Angie Smith where they were in a room similar and were given devastating news about their little girl too.  I think about the season finale of Private Practice, I can’t remember crying so hard at a TV show.  I actually have goosebumps as I type this, thinking about that episode.  These thoughts enter my head, but don’t consume like I thought they would.  I think I wouldn’t be normal if they didn’t cross my mind.  My God is with us, I feel him all around me today.

The baby is squirming around right now jabbing the right side of my belly, and I smile thinking about getting to meet our little boy or girl on the screen today.  I’ve been asked quite a few times about what we want…I first answer the obvious answers – a healthy human baby…insert chuckle…and then I tell them if I could choose I’d want another boy.  Most people are surprised by my answer, they assume that I would want a girl to finish off the idea of a perfect American Family.  I love having a boy and the kids will be 21 months apart and there is something to be said about bunkbeds and best friend brothers, I want that.  I have 2 princess nieces a football field away from our house who I LOVE spoiling with girly girl things.

I feel like it’s another boy.  This pregnancy is so much like when I was pregnant with Tucker.  But we will see in a few hours.  I’ll be back with an update and some kind of fun revealing picture.  Have a good Friday morning!!

Karma…the ultimate parenting kick in the a$$or

I can’t count how many times I have judged someone for a parenting choice they made before I had Tucker.  Maybe a million, or a jillion times I said, “When we have kids I’m never gonna do ________”  or “my kids will be looking good all the time, they won’t have snot dripping or googey hair and their clothes will match when we go out in public.”

Man almighty, I can’t even tell you how many times these words have bit my butt in the last 16 months.  It really hit me when I was volunteering at a Little Warriors Event and I saw a little boy (maybe 4) running around in cowboy boots, a baseball cap, plaid shorts, a superhero t-shirt and a weird belt.  Pre-Tucker I would have raised my eyebrows at the parents and commented that OUR child will never leave the house like that…fast forward to now – I wouldn’t say that, and now I think “she picks her battles and this obviously isn’t one of them.”  I’m really working on not judging but watching.  Although my current battles are not what Tucker is going to wear, but more so what he cannot have, he cannot have the remote or knives or our glasses full of liquids.  He cannot watch ELMO 24 hours a day, he cannot climb on the dishwasher door, he cannot hit the dog and he cannot have cookies for every meal.  These are my battles I face daily (well we (Eric, the babysitter and grandparents depending on the day) face daily).  I hope that someday a mom can look at my kid dressed array, or eating cookies, and realize that wasn’t the battle I chose today.

Although there comes a point where I have to choose the battle that Eric and I deem important.  I got a daily parenting tip from one of my favorite websites iMOM.  Inconvenience the Price of Good Parenting.  I feel like enough homage cannot be paid to my parents…I never paid it growing up, but I never knew how smart they were until I was a grown up.  They didn’t do everything right all the time, but they chose their battles, and battled each of us as a united front.  We also grew up in a very close knit family – our whole family.  Here is a picture of us – heading out on our second Disney family vacation and our first Disney Cruise.  I’ll never forget that trip, I had spaghetti every night, and Giuseppe cut it up so fast and so cool, I just had to see it done again and again.  And yes that is me the ‘star’ in the front middle…I loved to be me!

Eric and I have talked about family trips in the future with the kids, Disney is a must, I loved Disney and I want our kids to have a life as wonderful as we both did.  I chatted with my mom and asked why we never did anything like a timeshare and more far distance family vacations, (we went up north to our family cottage every year and did Six Flags, and other things) and she very promptly explained that we we drove them nuts at home and local vacations fighting for much less money.  Why pay for something if we weren’t going to enjoy it, your father and I chose vacations that we enjoyed and you guys were you guys wherever we were – always at eachother’s throats.  She was right, a key point in my Maid of Honor speech at LeAnne’s wedding was about how there were at least 3 babysitters sitting in the audience who I can’t believe went on to have kids after babysitting for us (: hehe!

I ponder what my mom said, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s a pipe dream to think that this perfect little family we’re almost done creating can live happily ever after and enjoy wonderful family vacations together and they will be perfect angels and we’ll just float around loving our little perfect family vacations?  The reality is: Yes Patty that is a pipe dream…this is what your future holds:

Reality, karma, they’ll never stop kicking my butt – but if they did, what would I blog about?  Here’s to choosing our battles and planning vacations that Eric and I enjoy – and hoping that our enjoyment will spread to our kids the way it did for us.

Dear Tucker,

 

You sure are growing up fast!  Your dad I are learning everyday about how strong willed, determined, and smart you are.  Those darling brown eyes will only work on this tough mom for so much longer (:  I think I might be a mean mom, but my favorite face you make is your pouty one – the one you give me when you don’t get your way or you’re in bogey’s food again.  It’s the cutest little face with so much expression, I just can’t help but giggle…I need to work on tough love parenting!  You’re getting faster on your feet everyday, and although you have no idea what to think about this baby growing inside my tummy – you always get a big smile when someone asks you if you’re going to be a big brother.  I adore that smile too, that pure, sweet, contagious, effervescent smile – it’s contagious we can’t help but smile right back at you!  You’re a treasure to us, and we love you so much my little monster.  

♥

mom

The grossest mom event ever…well let’s face it yet.

Wow, yesterday was a day.  A few weeks ago a friend of mine from high school invited us for a playdate at Flabbergast (an indoor play place for kids).  I took off work and invited a few other of my girlfriends and their kids along, the more the merrier.  Well one group of my friends’ kids all take naps around 12 so the 12:30 time wasn’t gonna fit for them, so she asked if we could meet at 10:30.  I figured that I’d go for group one, get lunch and go back for group two.  When Tucker is tired he’ll just pass out on me and I could socialize with my friends then.

So the morning went AWESOME!  It was so great to see my friend who’s daughter is just a bit older than Tucker and son is a bit younger than Tucker, her SIL and her son, and as a bonus I got to see another friend from high school who I haven’t seen in at least 5 years, quite possibly more and got to meet her 2 daughters.  It brought back a rush of memories from the training room and a ton of others.  It’s funny how much things have changed and how we’re all moms and working girls now too.

Tucker was on and off cranky and he was farting like no one’s business, and I mean the smelliest farts he’s ripped yet.  I actually took him to the bathroom at least 3 times to check for poop.  Poor guy I knew he had to go.  All the kids were getting a bit cranky, we went across the way to Subway and Tucker was eating kinda slowly (unlike him) and then I could smell it, sphincter success.  So I went into the bathroom, no changing station, super.  So I laid my diaper changing caddy on the floor (thank goodness Taylor picked out the diaper caddy for Tucker – can’t tell you how many times I’ve NEEDED it!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and undid the smelly diaper.  A very mushy pile of poop was found in the diaper.  I had a funny feeling that he wasn’t quite done yet, so I waited about 2 minutes before I removed the diaper from his rear and disposed of it.  I noticed a bit of diaper rash, so I cleaned him up and put a healthy dose of desitin on his hinder, and then all of a sudden Tucker let out this insane scream and then……….

I find this picture to be a very good representation of the next 3-4 seconds, with the volcano being his butt and the lava being shit.  It erupted and was all over the changing station, floor, wall, my pants, up my arm, on his bib, clothes, hair, you name it poop was on it.  My friend happened to have the girls with her when she heard Tucker scream and said, “Everything okay, we heard Tucker scream.”  me: “Um, no not really we had an incident.”  Friend:  “open the door” Me: “we’re okay” Friend: “open the door.  let me help, what happened?”  I unlocked the door to the horror of poop, and her 2 year old daughter, “Wow, Tucker pooped EVERYWHERE!”  Yep kiddo you hit the nail on the head!  My friend got our other friend to take the girls into the boys bathroom and got my diaper bag, we got Tucker as cleaned up as we could with wipes and Johnson & Johnson cloths.  (and THANK YOU Kristin for the Johnson & Johnson cloths that you gave me eons ago!) She took Tucker with his paci and blankey to the table while I removed my pants and sweatshirt cleaned them the best I could gathered all our stuff and headed home…Sussex isn’t too far from home, but NO JOKE, the longest ride of my life with poop soaked pants on me.

Who thinks to pack clothes for the parents in the diaper bag of an almost 15 month old?  I mean I actually did used to have an extra shirt in my diaper bag when Tucker was an infant, blowouts were quite common, but now he’s a big boy eater and pooper apparently.  I guess I should keep an old t-shirt and sweats in the trunk for emergencies in each car.  Wow the wonderful world of motherhood.  Oh, and by the way, Tucker felt much better after exploding and even took a long afternoon nap.  Poor kid, rough life he lives.  On the bright side, I laughed about it, until I called my mom – then sobbed and then laughed again at the end of the conversation, I mean what else can you do?  Be mad at the baby, cause it’s so his fault, right?  Shit happens, literally.

It’s funny to think that this friend has been there to help me clean up Tucker for the second time.  The first one was much more fun, let’s clean up cake again next time! Oh, and we did never make it back to meet up with my second group of friends, super sad about that – but we’re putting something on our calendars soon!  Sorry girls, totally bummed that our pooptastic adventure ruined our afternoon plans, hope you and the kids had a blast!

If you’ve had a wonderful adventure like this, let me know so I can feel better knowing that I’m not the only mom to fill the subway garbage with shit and clean the bathroom the best I could with baby wipes.  I’d love to hear your pooptastic adventures too (:

Dear Tucker,

 

Oh my kiddo, do you know how to keep me on my toes.  You can never ever give just a boring afternoon!  You so belong with your dramatic father and your dramatic mother.  I love that we have only had you for 14 1/2 months and we already have endless stories to tell about our life with you.  What did we do before we had Tucker stories and answered questions like you, (Yessshhhh)?  I just had to laugh at this, your Lala would have died, thank you for doing this for me and not when she’s watching you – she’d never come back to babysit you alone again!  I’m glad that you felt so much better after you erupted, it was nice to have my smiley happy boy back, but next time do it for your dad (:  hehe!  I love you and all the adventures we get to share together – the good ones, the rough ones, and the gross ones! 

 

♥

mom

Vacation and my irrational fears.

So as Eric would say, I was a bit, well, emotional about leaving for our trip to the Bahamas.  A trip that we as a happily married couple desperately needed.  Time away to remember why we are together, without having to discuss who will be driving before we go out, watching what we drink, or ‘discussing’ who will get up and take care of the baby or who’s turn it is to take out the dog.  We got a week of pampering, warm sunny weather, and  millions memories that we’ll never forget.

Before we left, for at least 4 months, when the trip was mentioned my pulse would race, and I’d have chest tightness, the thought of leaving my baby for an entire week was petrifying to me.  I felt guilty, I’m a full time working woman and mom, and I already feel like I don’t get enough time with Tucker, and to take 8 whole days off of work and not spend ANY of that time with him, well, made me feel awful.  And without even knowing – my feelings were being projected onto Eric, and he was feeling that I just didn’t want to getting away with him.  *BTW not the case at all*.  There didn’t seem to be much that I could do to subside these feelings and make Eric understand the maternal working mom in me.  I gave up and a week before we left I had our monthly church council meeting.  At the end we break up into groups and ask Jesus to help with something that we are struggling with in our lives, Pastor was in our group, and I asked for calmness about our upcoming trip and peace knowing that Tucker is well taken care of with my mom and dad and Eric’s mom and dad.  Pastor Jay said something that hit me and helped me to find peace, “Help Patty to see that the Union that You created between her and Eric is the most important because it was made in your eyes.”  I may be paraphrasing here, but he’s right, God created our union, and from that beautiful union created and sealed on February 24, 2007 – came Tucker, another one of God’s wonderful creations.  But he’ll be grown up someday and find a woman to share that union with that was created by God, and I hope he puts all he has into it, the way his dad, papa, and grandpa does.

So one of my fears is that we would leave and after 8 days come back and Tucker would look totally different, talk in full sentences, be running around, and I guess do so much that we would have missed.  Since he got so big, he wouldn’t remember that Mama is his favorite person in the world, and everything would just be different.  I am sure I am not the only parent to have these crazy irrational fears.

So 8 days in paradise, overindulging in food, alcohol, sun, water, fun and my husband we got home late and I HAD to wake up Tucker.  He didn’t look different, and he opened one eye, looked up at me, and said “mama?” a big smile and then a squeel, “MAMA!” he got right up and I swooped him up and gobbled all the kisses he attacked me with.  He was different, he learned a few new words and mannerisms, he wasn’t walking yet, and I was still his favorite.  It didn’t take long to get right back into the swing of things, but it was so much easier to do with a tan.  Our vacation that ended 8 days ago already feels like years ago and normal is back.  Everyday of our vacation from the moment we stepped on the grounds of Sandals Emerald Bay I got to forgot about being a mom, a dog owner, and became a wife, a book reader, a tanning beauty, a swimmer, and let loose.  I can’t imagine that when we do another trip away from Tucker, I won’t have some anxiety but it’s good to know that I can do it, I can have a great time with my husband and not feel the weight of mom guilt hang over me.  I am grateful that God gave us the financial and physical means to take a trip like this.  We are blessed.  Life is good.  Being a mom is great, but being a wife is amazing.

Dear Tucker,

 

I made it through leaving you, and you know what?  I’m a better mom for it.  I absolutely loved having time away with your dad, it’s something that we really needed to be a better mom and dad.  You had such a good week and your Granny and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa LOVED having you all to themselves.  Papa told me that they got to know you so much better and had such fun watching you learn all sorts of new things.  Grandma told me that you loved having sleepovers at the Bear’s house and you were such a good boy.  They both told me what a good sleeper you were for them.  I love that you’re such a good boy for them, now we will work on the good sleeper thing for mom and dad, you’re not bad but there’s always room for improvement.  (like going down better for naps).  We love you in spite of your reluctance to take 2 naps anymore.  You make me smile and make my heart melt Tuckey-roo.  I love you.  

 

♥

mom

Whada Weekend!

This was a crazy busy exhausting inside and out kinda weekend.  I had the day off on Thursday and made a day to get things done with Mel and the triplets…it was the first Little Warriors Event on Saturday.  It was a much busier day than if I would have been at work, we did errands with all three babies, and Mel was a Buy Buy Baby virgin so we HAD to stop there.  Then we went back to the house and she helped me work on some craft Christmas presents from Tucker.  I was EXHAUSTED after my day ‘off’ (:

On Friday I had a really busy day at work and my niece came over for an unexpected visit, which we LOVED and E, Tucker and I played cars on the kitchen floor for a while, it was so fun.   Tucker got up around 11:40 pm or so on Friday night and played the up down game in his crib and was finally down until Bogey heard a coyote outside and began barking incessantly to which Tucker leaped up in his crib and yelled out Boooooggg Booooogg (which is how he says bogey) it was so funny that I could not resist getting him.  He decided to party for over 2 hours until I decided that it was no longer safe for me to be ‘watching’ him so sleepily and I put him in his crib after a bottle 2 diaper changes and a lot of playing.  He eventually passed out THANK GOD!

On Saturday I woke up tired but running on adrenaline and pure excitement.  Eric hung out with Tucker and fed him breakfast so I could shower and actually get myself ready.  I was out the door and ready to caravan over to the blue school for the first Little Warriors Christmas ornament drive.  Because I know Mel personally I know how agonizing it has been to decide how the money that has been given in Owen’s name should be spent and how she could organize something that would make Owen proud.  She has bounced a number of ideas off of me, and honestly I have loved them all…some more than others, but they have all been great ideas.  But the idea behind Little Warriors is her Picasso masterpiece.  When Mel & Doug made the decision to donate Owen’s organs they knew that his gift would multiply and help out many others.  This is the Picasso behind Little Warriors, to continue to help others in the capacity that they need.  In the book of Matthew, Jesus said, “I was hungry. And you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty. And you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger. And you invited me in. I needed clothes. And you gave them to me. I was sick. And you took care of me. I was in prison. And you came to visit me…’ “Anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”  Through each event everyone involved is making a difference and giving to someone who needs it, and being able to see the face of God through their good deed.  Families piled into Summitview Elementary school to work with their kids to make 5 different kinds of crafts for the 1300 low-income seniors and disabled adults that the Interfaith Organization of Waukesha serve.  We called them their grandfriends.  Each ornament went to someone who would most likely not have gotten anything this year.  Also it gave families an opportunity to do something fun and parents to teach their kids about what they are doing…as one blog reader of Mel’s said, “it was a big deal for my 5 year old to make something and leave it there”…what a great way to introduce them to giving and a gateway to show them how blessed they truly are.  Afterwards we went to Costco and grocery shopping with Mel and Jaden.  I had every intention of helping stuff OWENGE merchandise orders, but had to duck out after grocery shopping, I was exhausted and really missed my Tot, I know Mel was exhausted too.  I felt so blessed that I could watch Owen’s good work continue to unfold.  I am sure Mel’s gears are already in overdrive contemplating the next Little Warriors event and I will let you all (all 3 of you that read this) about it too, if you’re in the area come join us!

On Sunday Eric and I both went our separate ways to church…Tucker is what I call a God mutt, he was baptized Lutheran and my family is active in our church and the Gitters are active Catholics at their church, and Eric, Tucker and I worship at both churches.  But this Sunday I had Sunday School, Eric had off and Jim & Bunny were going in the morning, which worked out perfectly.  It’s been a while since I have gotten to listen, really listen to a sermon…Tucker is good in church, but he’s so darn cute you just can’t help but watch him, even if it’s just watching him sleep through the sermon.  and I went by myself and really listened, I swear Pastor Jay knows too much about me, cause his sermons speak right to me!  I know I’m not the only one who thinks this…but the sermon was about doing good deeds for the right reason, become a sheep not a goat, do not do things to gain ‘points’.  Do good with your right hand without letting the left know.  I was just talking to Mel about this very thing on Wednesday.  It’s my weak point…I want encouragement…I often find great pleasure in being praised…I wonder if if that means that I am doing it for the wrong reasons.  I have to pray that I open my heart up and work in the name of the Lord, because it’s the right thing to do and let that be enough.  These were great words to hear this weekend.

Also on Sunday it was my turn to assist with the 2nd grade Sunday School class.  This is a service that I really didn’t want to do, my brother begged me to help him out and split the last open volunteer spot.  I reluctantly agreed, and I am actually really glad that I did, I do really enjoy working with the SoTH youth.  And it is such a different atmosphere than Children’s Church which I have been helping out with for years.  But this Sunday was the first rehearsal for the Youth Children’s Christmas Program.  I am NOT let me reiterate NOT pregnant but was a blubbering emotional mess watching all these kids, who most of them I have seen grow up in front of my very eyes, singing, ‘acting’, and praising God.  I am feverishly planning Tucker’s First Birthday and it seems like yesterday we brought him home from the hospital!  I feel like I am literally going to blink and he’s going to be in preschool walking into the church as a farm animal in this same Children’s Christmas program.   A fellow council member said to me that with the first it goes so fast and the second you’re wondering why they aren’t able to do the things your first can do.  hahaha…i bet that is true!  I rolled home in the late morning for  a snuggle with the dog, played with Tucker got him down for his afternoon nap and went up to work to do a few things that needed to get done.

It was a busy busy weekend indeed.  I slept like a log Sunday night, and Thank goodness it’s a short work week…Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Dear Tucker,

 

This weekend was certainly a busy weekend, we were on the go a lot and you were such a good boy.  I love that God has brought so many opportunities into our lives that allow us to give to others.  No matter how we do, with money or time or crafts or smiles we are able to give others so much.  I am a Christian in the making and learning new things everyday just like you, I strive to be a near perfect follower of God but quite often fall short.  But that’s okay God doesn’t expect perfection from us.  But he does expect us to try our best, and your dad and I both feel the same way about you.  And if we expect it from you, then it is only right that we lead by example.  You’re growing up so fast, this weekend you’ve begun to communicate better what you’re wanting with words coupled with actions, and before you know it, you’ll be walking.  Life is changing so fast and getting better by the minute, you are wearing me out faster, but at the end of the day it’s just more adventures to give thanks for.  I love you Tuckey Tot, you’re the best boy ever!

 

♥

mom