The very hungry cater-Will-ar

“One Sunday morning the warm sun came up and - pop! - out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar.” 

                                       Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar





And so our party planning began. We love this book. I could tell the whole story without even opening the first page, I have read it so many times. I love the colors. I love the little tiny caterpillar and then how fat he gets. I love how our copy is so worn and softened (even though it is a board book), that you can "flap" the butterfly's wings on the last page. That is Jack's favorite part too. That and the word pickle, that always makes him giggle. So I started on a Hungry Caterpillar Party mission. I thought it was fitting since our little Will seems to have the appetite of the caterpillar in the story too. The part that made me sad-I found so many great party ideas, but we had no one to invite. We chose a few things and went with those. Jack and I made a banner to hang up. I tried and perfected the cake. I made the outfit. DONE. In the end, I invited the kids that Jack plays with next door over just for cake and ice cream to  beef up the celebration. SUCCESS!

Jack and I painted this using paper plates. 

I made him his little outfit as one of my sewing projects when my mom was here at the beginning of the month. It has been hanging in the closet and I have been so anxious to get it on him. The weather cooperated and it was a warm and sunny day with temperatures reaching into the high 80's. We had our well visit in the morning which included 3 shots and made poor Will kind of cranky. He took a 3 1/2hour nap when we got home! When he woke up there was a surprise waiting-Uncle Brendan had arrived. He drove from Hilton Head that morning (part of a journey that is helping friends of our family to get their car from Hilton Head back to RI). We played in the kiddie pool. There were golf lessons on the lawn. There were sticky, drippy Popsicles. 

Playing with the new "activity garden"

Present time-As Will intently listens to the card, Jack is ready to pounce!

Quick side note: That present has been sitting on the hutch for a week waiting to be opened. Every morning Jack asks if it is Will's birthday "so we can open the present." The kid could hardly contain himself at this point.

"Let me just have that envelope to chew on"

Jack-"I'll help!" Will-"Give me the ribbon"

Just checking my email.

Business meeting

The boys and Uncle B

Classic "Jack Face"

My masterpiece!

After dinner, the kids from next door came over and helped us to sing Happy Birthday to Will and enjoyed some cake and ice cream. It was small. I know Tom and I were both missing our families. Wishing for Will the big celebration that Jack has gotten. We hope he felt the love anyway. We know he loved the cake. We watched the photo montage video that Tom put together. We watched the video montage video that Brendan put together. We skyped with Gramma and Poppa, who also had a cake for Will. It was such a wonderful celebration. 

"I'm Ready"

All the kids!

Jack and Bella are on a date. 

Please note the "play ice cream scoop" that he ate with. 

YUUUUMMMM!!

Happy Birthday Will!'

All last week, I kept thinking about and reliving the events leading up to Will's birth. It is so crazy to think that it was a YEAR ago!!

Here is a little stream of consciousness of those moments:

I worked my last shift that week on Wednesday. Part of me was surprised that I made it to my last day (even though it was a week and a half before my due date). We had been very busy at work, there was a lot of time spent on my feet and probably more lifting and boosting of patients than I should have been doing. Will was sitting INSIDE my bladder making it impossible to be comfortable.

Friday morning I had my last OB GYN appointment with my "favorite" doctor in the practice. He assured me that he would be assisting MY doctor on Monday for my C-Section-GREEEEAT I thought. That is exactly what I was hoping for. Everything looked great on Friday. I figured I was home free. See you on Monday morning Dr. M.  I then enjoyed a manicure and pedicure at Magnolia. I even got a surprise and spent most of the time chatting with Allie (Tom's cousin) who was in the salon to get her hair done. I raced from Magnolia to get Jack from school. Friday night we had our usual "Friday Night Dinner" at the Meehan's. We ate on the deck, but I don't remember what. I remember Mary and I sharing birth stories and how I still felt like if I went into labor, I just wouldn't know it was happening. This was a reoccurring theme throughout the last weeks of my pregnancy. Everyone assured me I WOULD KNOW.


Friday night I went to bed and a stomach ache woke me up at about 2 in the morning. I couldn't get back to sleep. It would come and then it would go and it would come and it would go. I laid on the couch. I tried watching Mad Men (my obsession at the time), but I couldn't concentrate on the episodes. The time slipped by-yet my "stomach ache" kept coming back every 10 minutes. Every 10 minutes. Every 10 minutes. Oh my god, am I in labor? At 4am, I woke Tom up and told him I might be in labor as I rummaged through some papers the doctors office had given me with the "tell tale signs of labor" and "when to call the doctor." The contractions I had were not bad, just annoying. They were regular and they stopped if I moved around. Probably false labor I kept telling myself. By 5am, they were getting closer and stronger. I told Tom he better get in the shower, I was calling the doctor and my mom. I called the doctor and waited patiently for her return call. I called my mom next-trying to wait as long as possible, but not waiting her to have to drive like a nut to get to us. She arrived just after I spoke with the doctor. The practice I was using is pretty big and they share weekend and holiday call with another practice. OF COURSE it was my practice's weekend OFF. I got a doctor I had never talked to or met before. I tried to explain that I was in labor and that I was scheduled for a C section on Monday. She told me to wait until my contractions were less than 5 minutes apart for an hour before going to the hospital. I hung up, sort of confused. I thought I wasn't supposed to go into labor. That was why my C-Section was scheduled a week before my due date. Shouldn't I just go to the hospital? Tom kept saying the same thing. Meanwhile, the contractions got stronger, more uncomfortable and 4-5 minutes apart. We decided we were just going. By the time we actually left, drove to the hospital, parked and got inside, it would have been about an hour, right? Jack woke up just as we were getting ready to leave. I gave him an extra big hug and kiss. He was confused. Where were we going? Kay-Kay was here, so that was OK, but "I want to go too" he kept saying. I started to cry. My boy. What was going to happen to him? His whole life was going to change? Would he be OK? I was so worried about him.

The triage went smoothly. My blood pressure was up-I was a LITTLE BIT ANXIOUS and I was in a LOT of PAIN. I held tight to the plan-WE WERE HAVING A C SECTION. This was the moment I was so worried about. Would I change my mind at the last minute? would I decide i wanted to have a natural delivery instead? I stuck to the plan. Tom told everyone who came into the room that we were having a C-Section. My first check and I was 5 cm dilated. GO ME! The contractions were like clock work every 3 minutes. With each one, Will's heart rate would drop. I would get anxious. Tom would stare at the monitor and get more anxious. They put an oxygen mask on me. They took blood to run for the high blood pressure. I was in more pain. I wanted to have my C-Section, or get some pain meds. SOME ONE MAKE A DECISION! A student nurse joined us. Who was I to say no? I really didn't want her there, but it didn't matter anyway. She stood in the corner, silent. FINE.  I convinced the nurse that the half of a graham cracker I had at home a few hours earlier (and then threw up) was completely out of my system. I didn't want that holding things up. Finally, the doctor that was going to do my C-Section arrived. She was wonderful. A stranger, but wonderful. She seemed old enough to have had a lot of experience. She was confident with a great bedside manner. She put me at ease. At 9am, just 2 hours after arriving at the hospital, I was being wheeled into the OR. I got hit with a wall of emotions. I was so scared I told my nurse. I wanted to make sure Will was going to be alright. The dropping heart rate was weighing on me (even though it would come back up and they assured me it was OK). I wanted to see him and know he was going to be OK. It's the nurse in me.  They sat me up for the spinal-explaining everything as we went. I started to have another contraction and I swore I was going to pee all over the floor. The nurse hugged me and told me it was all going to better in a just a minute. She was MORE than right. As soon as the spinal was placed, I was numb from the chest down. It was amazing. I felt 1000 pounds being lifted off my shoulders. This was going to be OK. I didn't have to pee anymore. I didn't feel anymore contractions.

At 9:26 our second boy was brought into the world. He was 8lbs even, 21 inches long. He was perfect. He is perfect. The rest is sort of a blur. The recovery room with the most amazing nurse ever. That student still silent in the corner. Sharing our news. Going to our room. Jack coming to meet his little brother. He was so excited, so proud. He was great and instantly I knew we were all going to be OK. Jack was going to be OK.

Here we are a year later. Jack is an amazing big brother. He loves Will to pieces. Sometimes, he "loves" him too much. They are buddies. I can start to see their friendship growing. I love it.

Will-
At one, he is a walking machine. I love seeing his little drunken steps that have started getting faster and faster. I love watching him maneuver over tricky terrain. He is a pro on the grass now, in and out of the sandbox. He navigates the playroom floor and all it's 'booby traps' like a pro. His forehead is still littered with bruised of different stages. He and Jack chase each other. He says "Hi Dad", "Daddy," "Momma,"
"JAH(Jack)," "Hi"(with a wave), "Bye" (also with a wave). I swear he said "Cheese" the other day, as he held up a slice of cheese. He is always smiling. He loves to eat. He is a pro at drinking with a straw. Jack didn't master this until he was like 2. He claps, he dances, he 'snaps', he mimics everything we do. He loves to stand at the windowsill and yell hi to Jack and "the kids" from next door when they are playing in the yard.

We had his one year well visit Monday. He weighed in at 23 pounds and is 29 1/2 inches tall. He and Jack have almost identical stats. So crazy, because I have consistently seen Will as bigger (Jack was 23lbs and 29 1/4inches tall).

Will-1 year old

We are so happy to have been blessed with these two wonderful boys. We can't wait to see what the next year brings us. I am still amazed everyday at what Will does and is learning. It is truly amazing to see so many changes that occur in a year.

There is a photo montage of his first year that is supposed to go here. I am having some technical difficulties. I will try to repost it soon. 

Swim Lesson Star and The Little Bruiser

Last weekend was Jack's last swim lesson. We skipped the week before due to the thumb injury (he is all healed up and back to his normal activity). I had low expectations for this final lesson. He hadn't made it off the step yet, and now with a skipped week-I hoped to just get him into the pool. We suited up and headed to the pool area. Jack sat cautiously on the step waiting for the lesson to start. He had a new teacher (for the first 10 minutes) and I thought that would throw him for a loop as well. Oh well, I thought, maybe we need to come back in a few months or after the summer and try then. I wasn't trying to be negative, but more realistic about his learning needs and attention span at 3 years old. And then he surprised me, I looked up and he was out in the middle of the pool with the teacher. There was a huge smile plastered on his face! He was making "ice cream scoop" hands and everything. I was so excited...FOR HIM! He even participated in doing the "spider crawl" along the edge of the pool to the deeper water and then jumped off the edge 3 times to Miss Ana!!! It finally clicked! I was so happy and so was he. Miss Ana made a point of coming up to him after class and telling him how proud she was of him for swimming and jumping in. After a quick chat, she encouraged me to sign him up for the next session, reminding me that it sometimes takes young kids a number of weeks just to get acclimated to the surroundings and that it has little to do with them having been comfortable or not in the water in the past. She also said that she really liked Jack and hoped to get to see him in more classes. We headed straight to the main desk after our lesson and secured the last spot in the Saturday morning class. Sorry no pictures (it is too hot in there and the camera gets all steamy).

10 Months old and ready for action!

Will is on the move. He is a crawling maniac, lifting his belly off the floor most of the time and resorting to the army crawl when he sees an opportunity that he needs to 'pounce' on. He pulls himself to standing on everything and anything in his path. He is fully cruising along furniture, windowsills and toys. Amazing what a difference a month makes. With all this increased activity, there has been an increase in injuries as well. We have grown accustom to a reoccurring bruise and egg combination that finds a home on his forehead. I hate to see him all battered, but I also know he needs to explore and figure out his balance for walking. He has walked pushing my kitchen stool, his push walker (both inside and out) and the wagon. At 10 months old he is such a happy baby. He loves following Jack around and even calls for him when he can't see him. ADORABLE! They play "camp out" together in a tent in the play room. Will loves to crawl in and out of the tent "chasing" Jack as Jack squeals and screams. Just the other day, he figured out how to climb stairs and I found him up 2 stairs hanging on with just one hand, looking at me and laughing. I had a minor heart attack as I lunged forward to catch him before he leap from the stair.  He still has just 2 teeth on the bottom, but boy are they sharp! He continues to eat everything in site.  He loves to play peek-a-boo and will cover his ears when you say "Will, go hide". Once you re-position his hands over his eyes, he puts them there on his own too. He LOVES peek-a-boo and will go into a fit of giggles when you pop out from behind your hands. If you say to him "Will, call Daddy", he puts his hand up to his ear, like he is on the phone and starts saying "dada" "dada". It is hysterical. He claps his hands to the Pat-a-cake song and will clap yours for you if you let him hold them.

The injured thumb.

Enjoying a graham cracker in the sun light. 

Peek-A-Boo

Give me that camera!

We have continued to go to the Y 3-4 times a week and Will is slowly getting more used to being there. He has grown to like Miss Phyllis and the other teachers and doesn't cry the WHOLE time I am gone. I have loved getting back into the routine of going to the gym. I feel so much better after I have gone. I love our little routine of getting up and getting there just as the nursery opens at 8am. I have even taken a few classes too.

February has gone by so quickly! We continue to enjoy days with lots of sunshine and temperatures reaching up into the 70's. Jack has played more and more with the kids that live next door and he gets so excited to see them outside and have someone to run around with. He talks like such a "big kid" when he is with them. It makes me so happy to see him find some 'friends'. The family next door just welcomed their 6th child this past weekend. One of the girls, Bella, is about 7 or 8. She and Jack are great friends. They play restaurant in her playhouse, pull each other in the wagon and make mud pies. When ever they are playing together, I stay close by to keep an eye on Jack. He says to me one day (while Will was inside sleeping for his nap)-" Mom, why don't you go take Will for a walk to calm him down." I replied, "Jack, Will is inside asleep." He came back with "Well, can you just go for a walk then, we want to play alone." Am I already that UNCOOL? :) TOO FUNNY!

9 Months Old

Love that Sweet Potato Hair Gel

9 Months old....where did the time go? I can't believe that Will is at this milestone already. We went Monday for his 9 month check up and here are the stats:

Weight: 20 lbs 6 oz- 65%

Height: 27 3/4 inches-25%

Head: 18 1/4 inches-86%

This was our first "well" visit at the new pediatricians and it went great! Will showed off all his tricks for the doctor and is officially-"right on track".

At 9 months, Will is crawling everywhere. He still prefers to be in the "army crawl" because he can move faster, but he is able to get up on all fours and rock a little and even take a few "crawls". He usually ends up dropping back to his belly to get right to where he wants to be. He is very fast and is quickly gone in a flash and "into trouble". He can pull himself to standing and has taken 2 cruising steps while standing at Jack's train table. He has only been doing this for about a week, but already he has gone from pulling himself up occasionally to doing it at every chance he gets. He loves to stand at the ottoman and band the remotes on the top or together. He continues to babble ALL THE TIME. It is so sweet to hear. In the mornings when I am nursing him in the rocking chair in our room, he will sometimes stop eating and start, in a whisper, saying "Dadadada". It is so sweet, as if he is calling Tom, but knows that it is still early. 

As you can tell by his weight, he is an eater. There is not a food that he has met that he doesn't like. I am definitely more adventurous in what I give him. With Jack I was terrified of him choking. I stuck to pureed baby food and that was it. I hated that there was no "set diet/menu" for me to follow. I felt lost. I needed someone to tell me what to feed and when. This time is so different. I love mixing up different things for Will and trying them out. If they don't work, oh well, I move on to something else. I give him mostly table food and very little baby food. I just chop everything up really small and make sure it is as mushy as possible. We got the ok from the doctor to try eggs and Will LOVES them. It is a nice change of pace and great new protein to add to his diet. This week he got Gramma's Mac and Cheese for the first time and couldn't get it in his mouth fast enough. 

Jack's new favorite show is called The Octonauts and is on Disney Junior. Will also seems to enjoy this show. Whenever it comes on he instantly starts flapping his arms around or clapping and squealing with delight. There is this one song that ends every episode called "The Creature Report". If he hears this, but can not see it, he drops whatever he is doing or getting into and starts frantically crawling towards the TV, so he can sit up and clap. It is hysterical! We rewind and replay "The Creature Report" over and over just to see his reaction. 

Our newest challenge has been separation anxiety. I know that this is the perfect age for it to set in, and I am sure that my watching Will 100% of the time does not help the matter. The past few weeks we have been going to the Y in the morning so that I can work out. I have been leaving Jack and Will in the nursery. At first, Will cried the whole time I was working out. Now he gets a little pouty when he sees me leaving, but Phyllis, the "teacher" knows just how to distract him and then he is fine. It was really hard for me at first to see him crying when I left and when I returned, but I know he is OK and I know that I am better after I get away for a little bit and blow off some steam. All in all he is adjusting well and I hope that after this week, I can extend my time to an hour so that I can take one of the classes that the Y offers. 

And here are some more pictures of our sweet little Will!

'Look Ma, No hands!'

Orange smile!

Stubborn

So I have come to see in the past few days that my little Will is as stubborn as they come. He is sweet, he is smiley, he is smart and boy is he stubborn! He knows what he wants and that is THAT! As I mentioned in the  last post, he took very well to our little middle of the night cuddle and nursing sessions and wanted to make them a regular part of our routine. Now that we can safely say that he is better it was time to toughen up and "let him cry it out." In the past, with Jack, I was pretty good at this. It would pull slightly at my heart strings, but I knew deep inside that it was what was best for him and for us. He is now a great sleeper and goes to bed very easily. With Will, it is actually harder for me for one reason- he and Jack share a room and a nightmare to me would be to have Will's desperate cries wake Jack up and then I have the 2 of them to get back to sleep. So we settled in the other night and I prepared myself and Tom on the game plan. No talking, No picking up, All business. We would give him 10 minute increments and then give him a little back rub and give him back his binky. The first night-he slept the whole night. I woke up energized after FINALLY getting a full nights sleep. The next night-he cried for 2 hours! Screaming at times! It was HORRIBLE. He was exhausted, but his stubborn side WOULD NOT LET GO. Just when we thought that he was falling asleep and silence would fill the house, he would let out a blood curdling scream. Thankfully Jack slept through the whole thing. At 4am, I had had enough, it was all I could take. I was terrified that if I let him keep crying, that at 5am we would all still be up and that Jack would then get up for the day and I would be a total zombie all day. So I caved and I nursed him and we both finally went to sleep. I felt like a failure. I thought-"Oh no, He is NEVER going to sleep through the night again. How are we going to keep going on like this?". In reality, it isn't that bad. He has had good nights with no waking up, he has had bad nights where he gets up once or twice. I have been able to get him back to sleep without having to nurse him, so I think we have broken the biggest "bad habit"  and are well on our way back to his old sleep patterns.

If you look closely you can see the 2 little teeth on the bottom! 

He hates being in the "seat", but loves being underneath. 

Brothers.

Since I have not been working since November, I have been able to exclusively nurse Will. It has been great. I still pump in the morning to help to replenish the supply of milk that I had to throw out after our drive down to SC and to use when I make him cereal. I like having some back up milk so that Tom can give him a bottle or sippy if I have run out. The other morning I went out for a few errands and I get a text from Tom-Will is refusing to take the milk in a sippy or in a bottle. Stubbornness prevails and he just wants his Mama! I am shocked. He drinks from a sippy at every meal with no problems, but it always has water in it. I have an overnight trip planned for a few weeks from now and I started to get worried that he wouldn't drink ANY milk while I was gone. A new plan has been put into action. I am going to give up my favorite feeding-the before bed one-to Tom so that Will can get used to taking milk from someone else. I will break this kid in! I also started giving him some milk in a sippy with his dinner. I switched the type of sippy we were using too. Both of these efforts have helped and I know my chubby bubby will not go hungry when I am away. Daddy will just have to figure it out :).

Until next time here are some new pictures of the boys.

Love.