Buck the Barber.

I think I've shared before that we go to an absolutely fabulous, amazingly patient barber named Mr. Eddie at Cahaba Plaza Barber Shop (I cannot recommend him enough!).  But, Buck shares barber duty often doing the in-between trims.  We are in desperate need of a Mr. Eddie special, but Buck has come to the rescue once again, to at least keep Fawn's hair out of his eyes.

And, a flashback to December 2009 (wow how Fawn's grown):

I'm hoping to sneak in a barber shop trip in the next few days because we are rapidly approaching the bowl cut look (which, while cute on some, isn't Fawn's best look...nor is it Fawn's happiest look -- he hates hair in his eyes, hates when his hair gets sweaty, and hates when it's wet after a bath).  So hopefully the next pictures you see of my precious pumpkin will show off his new do.

Not So Fast.

July 23, 2011

Okay...when I said I felt better, I did for a few days.  Now the morning sickness is back with a vengeance.  Coupled with exhaustion, and getting back into the swing of things at home and work after our beach vacation, this has been one rough week.  I feel like the past day or two might have been slightly better, so I'm hopeful that there are more good days in my future.


The ironic thing is that I was really starting to worry that I wasn't feeling bad. . . and then it hit me again.  While feeling bad is pretty terrible, it does take some of my worry away (rightly or wrongly, I'm not sure) because I view it as a reminder that the little one is indeed growing inside me -- I've got the side effects to prove it.

Here's hoping that the good days start to outnumber the bad and that I truly rely on God to ease my worries, rather than pregnancy side effects.

It's a ...

baby!  While we could have found out the gender last week at our ultrasound, we've decided that this bambino will be a surprise.  I was the one pushing the surprise route -- I think nothing will be more special than hearing Buck's voice say to me "it's a boy/girl" or "we have a son/daughter".  And, I can't wait to see the look on his face when he makes the announcement.  Buck, being the supportive spouse that he is, has embraced the idea of the surprise (though he's quite the planner) and even seems excited about it too.

Thank goodness we didn't want to know the gender because, frankly, this little one was so uncooperative at the ultrasound I'm not sure we could have found out if we'd wanted to.  He or she is very happy curled up in a heap on the left side of my body (has been for weeks, I can tell because that's where all the movement is).  At our ultrasound, it was no different.  We saw both legs (firmly squeezed together, not letting his/her secret out) and both arms (covering the face so we couldn't even get a profile or face shot).  But, really nothing more.  I wasn't disappointed at all -- I know February will be here before we know it and we will see this little one up close and personal.  We can't wait!

As for the stats:

Measuring for a 2/11 due date...so maybe early like Fawn (who knows, though!)
Heart Rate: 150
Weight Gain: yeah right...
Buck's Gender Prediction: Girl
Belle's Gender Prediction: Boy
Fawn's Gender Prediction: two babies -- a boy and a girl (not happening sweet thing)

Feeling Better.

July 17, 2011

It is a miracle -- I am feeling so much better.  While I don't think I'm all the way through with the morning sickness, the worst appears to be over (knock on wood).  No more Zofran for me -- thank goodness since it's so hard for me to determine if the nausea is worse or the side effects of the medicine!  I'm feeling like my old self again.  It's amazing how feeling bad can translate into so many other parts of your life.  And, I'm glad I can resume my wife, mom, worker duties with my normal attitude and excitement.  I am so thankful!

I still can't eat anything sweet (so odd!).  Even most fruits are just too much to handle.  I'm surviving on pasta salad, tomatoes and cucumbers doused in vinegar, spicy pimiento cheese, bagels with butter and Parmesan cheese, and cheese biscuits.  I'm trying to eat as healthy as possible for the sweet bambino growing in my belly.  And, it's true that good-for-me foods are the ones that taste the best and settle the best.  Meats are still a challenge, but a yummy veggie plate hits the spot for dinner.  The only beverage I can drink is water, but that's not a bad thing!

First Day of School.

My sweet boy has officially started pre-school.  I can't believe it and feel so blessed that our church has such a precious day school program.  Although I left him a couple mornings a week last year at a church close to my office, something seems very different about actually being in a pre-school classroom.  Fawn's getting big on me!  He seemed to really enjoy his first few days (he only goes twice a week) and I think he is in love with his teachers.  I tried to get some cute first day of school pictures, but Fawn was having none of it (surprise, surprise!).

We made a quick stop at Magic Muffins on our way to school.  I found out quickly this summer that the promise of a mini-muffin is the best way to get Fawn moving in the morning.  This is Fawn's new way of "smiling" for me -- he just leans in towards the camera.  Too funny.

So excited (and actually cooperating!).

Sweet little angel did great!  Momma shed a few tears once back in the private confines of my car -- all I could think about was pre-school leads to elementary school (sob!) and that Fawn will be in college before I know it.  Very realistic, I know, as we're still in the diaper-changing phase.  But as it has been said, time is a mother's enemy!

The Stats.

July 7, 2011

My first doctor's appointment for the growing bambino was last week.
Due Date: February 20.
Heart Rate: 147.  

I got to see the little one on an ultrasound, which is always so cool.  Very much tadpole like at this point, but still cool.

To say I'm not feeling well would be the understatement of the century.  The morning sickness never ends, and seems to actually intensify as the day progresses.  Puking is in full swing.  My sweet doctor prescribed Zofran which I've broken down and taken twice in the last week (I would take it more but it seems to replace puking with a pounding, dizzy headache which can't be a good thing when entrusted with a two-year old). 

Speaking of Fawn, he's been an angel lately as if he knows that Mommy feels like C.R.A.P.  He knows that there's a baby's in Mommy's tummy (but not in Daddy's "cause men don't have babies" -- very perceptive).  He put his ear up to my belly a couple days ago and reported that the baby said "I Wuv You".  That baby is going to love you sweet Fawn -- there's nothing not to love and I'm convinced you will be an awesome big brother.

As for Buck and me, we are in survival mode until I'm feeling better.  We've let the grandparents in on our secret -- they are overjoyed and have been a huge help with Fawn the past week.  Buck has definitely picked up the slack at home and on weekends, which I appreciate more than he will ever know.  For me, the sickness isn't so much a physical issue, but emotional one.  It makes me sad to know that I'm spending less time with Fawn because I'm sick -- I feel like I'm letting him down when we have such a limited amount of time left with just us.  I also feel sad for the new baby, because while I can't wait to hold a newborn and have our family complete, it's hard to be super-excited and positive while feeling so terrible.  So, I cross off the bad days and look forward to the good ones to come.  All the while trying to remember that the sickness is a sign of such a beautiful thing growing inside me -- a life that we so desperately wanted to add to our family.  And I remain thankful to God that we get to be parents again, and we can share with Fawn the gift of a sibling.

Big Tiger Football Game.

Though Fawn is most definitely an Alabama fan (as evidenced by multiple pictures of Fawn in his Alabama hat and his cute voice saying "Woll Tide"), I have taken him to Auburn to tailgate with my family every year.  He calls Auburn games "big tiger" games and Alabama games "big elephant" games. 

I grew up going to virtually every Auburn home game with my parents, and those memories are truly some of my most cherished from childhood.  Then we moved away -- first to Colorado, then a suburb of Chicago, and I ended up in North Carolina for college.  My ties to Auburn are certainly not as strong as my parents and brother (who all attended Auburn), but I love spending an occasional fall weekend with them -- it always takes me back to my childhood.  To yummy tailgate food, playing tag football, and seeing friends from all over the state.  And I love football -- I really don't care the name of the university on the jersey, I just really love the game for the game.  Hence, my eagerness to attend any game -- be it Auburn or Alabama -- and to make sure my son has the same experiences.  It's just part of growing up southern!  Not only did we tailgate with my parents but Fawn was determined to actually go watch football.  So he hopped on my dad's shoulders and off we went:

Even Fawn's beloved lovie -- "Chunky Bow-Wow" -- made it inside the stadium.  Fawn, Chunky Bow-Wow and I only stayed for one quarter (it was hot people! and he's two!), at which point he insisted that I let him ride on my shoulders back to the car and we headed back to the lake.  Very fun Saturday!  See you next year, big tiger!

In Full Swing.

June 25, 2011

Morning sickness rears its ugly head.  Again.

I was terribly, miserably sick with Fawn.  It was about all I could do to make it through a work week at which point I would literally curl up in bed for the entire weekend.  No joke.  It was pathetic.  And, it lasted about half the length of the pregnancy.

Going into this pregnancy, I knew that the sickness would appear, but I was trying to use the power of positive thinking to convince myself that it wouldn't be as bad this time around because my life is so different now.  While I do chase a two-year old around all day and work too, I don't work the crazy, insane hours I was working in my early pregnancy with Fawn.  I have to admit, it does seem a little better.  And, it's not really morning sickness at all (I can say with a smile on my face at 7:12 am).  It creeps up about 11 am and lasts until about midnight.  It's pretty terrible then, but I've already gotten to enjoy a fun-filled morning with my son (so I don't feel like it's affecting his life too much).

Plus, this time around, I'm asking for the drugs.  Doctor's appointment is in T-minus five days and I cannot wait to get a prescription of the anti-nausea medication.  Until then. . .

We (still) heart Railroad Park.

It's been a long, hot summer here in Birmingham.  So much so that we have virtually abandoned one of our favorite toddler spots -- Railroad Park -- for lack of shade.  The park is only a year old, so I know the shade will come as the trees grow.  But right now, it's all sun all the time, which doesn't work too well for a two-year old in 100 degree weather. 

Don't worry dear RR Park -- we're back.  Thanks to some semi-cool mornings and a nice breeze here and there.  And, Fawn's got a new favorite spot -- he calls it "the spider web" (it's really just a fun climbing contraption).

 

Pregnancy Brain.

I'm keeping a list of all the dingbat things I do while pregnant.  Thought it would make the blog a little more entertaining:

June 13, 2011: Left oven on for 3 hours after cooking Fawn's chicken fingers for lunch.

June 16, 2011: Ran the dryer with no clothes in it.  I cleaned out the lint tray and apparently decided that I should run the dryer for no reason.  When it buzzed I had no clue what was drying . . . oh wait, that's because nothing was drying.

June 18, 2011: Along with an assortment of groceries, Buck brought home a package of Sister Shubert rolls for later in the week.  I put up the rest of the groceries, but for some inexplicable reason (aside from pregnancy brain of course) I took the rolls out of the package, read the baking instructions, and proceeded to bake them.  Hmm...

Consignment Sale Madness.

I meant to do a post about all of the fabulous children's consignment sales in Birmingham last spring, but it never happened.  Many of the local churches around town, plus the moms of multiples and other groups host consignment sales in the fall and spring with children's clothes, accessories, and toys.  While I've always considered myself a bargain shopper, I've never really been into the consignment or thrift store thing. 

All that changed when I had Fawn and realized (1) how many clothes you need -- a lot, especially if your child prefers mud, water, dirt, outside play; (2) how quickly kids grow out of clothes -- blink of an eye; and (3) how hard on clothes kids can be -- between Popsicle stains, grass stains, and rips from sheer roughness Fawn's clothes can quickly go from pristine to better used as cleaning rags.  So, I frequent the consignment sales each season.  I generally look for good, cute play clothes, knowing that I won't be disappointed if they get ruined before they are outgrown.  Case in point, I went to the Birmingham Moms of Multiples sale in August and scored for Fawn four long-sleeved t-shirts (I'm talking nice brands like you could get at Lily Pad for $30 each), a cute pair of light brown pants, some camo hunting gear (for the farm per Buck's request), and brand new pj's.  I also picked up 6 gender neutral day gowns/sleepers for the growing bambino.  (When I had Fawn I used all borrowed newborn clothes, which have been passed on and on, current location unknown.  I literally have nothing in my closet for the newborn/0-3 month stage.)  Total cost: $24.50.  I kid you not!

I have some general rules of consignment sale shopping -- (1) try to go on half-price days, otherwise you really aren't getting the best deals; (2) don't buy cheap basics that you can spend very little on at Walmart or Target; (3) take a shopping buddy to help you really look over the clothes to spot stains, broken snaps, etc. (my mom has become an excellent consignment sale wing man); (4) take cash, set a budget, and stick to it; (5) look at clothes in the size above and below what you think your child wears because the items often get moved around; (6) have fun -- and be proud of the money you are not wasting on brand new clothes that will either get quickly outgrown or ruined!

Although I generally look for play clothes at these sales, I also look for great deals on smocked outfits.  Last spring, at one sale (on half-price day) I was able to buy 8 smocked john johns for $100.  They lasted through the spring and summer, after a mid-summer button adjustment.  I have also found some very nice church clothes with tags still on them.  The possibilities really are endless -- you just have to spend a little time digging.

I don't buy all of Fawn's clothes this way, but try to get what I can at these sales as long as the clothes are cute, I would buy them in a regular store, they are in great shape, and the price is right.  Happy hunting!

The Idea of You.

June 17, 2011

We found out we were expecting baby number two one week ago today.  We are ecstatic!  It's a different emotion than the first time around -- and I'm happy about that.  I don't want to compare my children or my pregnancies to one another, but because the experience so far is so different than with Fawn it feels more like apples and oranges and not so much of a comparison.


With Fawn, it was excitement, nervousness, giddiness.  With this sweet yet-to-be-given-a-blog-name, it is pure joy.  Now I know what being a mom means.  I know the joy of raising a child, of watching my husband be a dad, of falling in love with an infant. Each experience has been totally separate, and totally wonderful, in its own way (as I'm sure my children will be!).

I had grand plans of how I was going to break the news to Buck that we were expecting.  With Fawn, I wrapped up the pregnancy test and wrote him a sweet note to open.  It was so fun to see the look on his face when he opened it.  I wanted to create -- had planned to create -- a similar (yet different!) experience for him this time around.  But, it didn't happen.  After taking the pregnancy test, I was so overcome with emotions that I literally started sobbing in the bathroom.  Buck had run downstairs to let the dogs outside and when he returned to our bedroom to find me sobbing he didn't quite know what to think.  He told me later that he saw the pregnancy test in my hand but didn't know if I was overcome with joy at a positive or disappointment with a negative.  I shared the good news and he was elated.  (The elation was quickly followed by a classic Buck move: "I knew you were pregnant this time."  Easy to say now that we've taken a test buddy.)

We both have this peace about us.  We know what to expect this time around, and we want this pregnancy even more because we know how special it is to be a parent and what a blessing a child is to a family.  We are not worried about the "to do" list this time around -- we now know all you need are the basics.  There's no nursery to decorate (done in gender-neutral fashion for Fawn), no car seat or stroller to buy, and no books that absolutely must be read or you will fail as a parent.  As much as I enjoyed the excitement and build up to Fawn, it's refreshing to sit back and enjoy the ride a little more this time around.

We haven't shared our news with anyone yet.  For now its ours to savor and share.  Even Fawn doesn't know -- because if he knew, he would definitely tell.  So for now (and for as long as we can hide the secret) it's just between us (well us and the yet-to-be-given-a-blog-name peanut growing in my belly).

Already Washing Cars.

My car was disgusting.  As in no rain in weeks, white car, lots of grime disgusting.  As in you can't rub your white pants up against it disgusting.  We were putting off a good car-washing because we were supposed to go to the beach this weekend.  Unfortunately, our plans were derailed by a virus that Fawn caught that left him with a fever for four days and an ear infection.  Poor buddy.  I also got the virus part, but we both seem to have bounced back.  I feel like I get sick once a summer, so I guess it was just our turn.  Hopefully we can make it to the beach with some law school friends very soon. 

In the meantime, we did a little Sunday afternoon car wash (shirtless, of course).

For some inexplicable reason (aside from pure fun and joy) Buck has put Fawn in charge of the hose for car washes.  So, when Buck gets sprayed he has only himself to blame.

My very proud helper.  He earned two quarters for his efforts -- quarters are on of his favorite things right now because he loves feeding the fish at the zoo, for which quarters are needed.

He's actually pretty good with the hose.  And, I must admit was more help to Buck than I was.  Thanks boys -- my car looks much better!