Six months

Dear Mr. B-

This month you decided to FINALLY roll over! It took a while. You would go 95% of the way over, grab your toy, and go back... little stinker! I was certain you would roll from belly to back but you tricked us. You think it is lots of fun to roll from back to belly. Once you are on your belly, you refuse to roll from belly to back. We all know how much babies like tummy time too. It made for an interesting couple of nights. That is until you figured out that sleeping on your tummy wasn't so bad!

You are far too big for your swing. The poor swing struggles to move with you in it but you still love that thing! It puts you to sleep most days. Since we used the stroller in Mexico, you will also take naps if we go on a walk. We don't dare take you out but rather roll you right into the entry way and leave you there! 

You are growing like crazy! 18 lbs 9 oz and 27 1/3 inches long! You are barely still in 6 months clothes and we will be jumping into 9 month clothes shortly! At your 6 month check up, you were a champ at shots again! The first shot you didn't notice and the second one you let out a yell. Then I picked you up and you smiled at the nurse! Not sure what is wrong with you kid! You had your second cold this month and the Dr. said it was bronciolitis. You were wheezing, coughing, and all stuffed up. I felt so bad but it didn't seem to bug you much.

Thank you for being such a chill little dude! You are go with the flow and can nap anywhere! We try to stick to some sort of schedule but it is okay if we don't go by  it EVERY day. Thank you for smiling when you wake up and only crying if you are tired or hungry! 

We love you lots, MAMA and DADA

FIVE MONTHS

Dear Mr. B

This month I proclaimed to be the most fun so far along this journey! Your personality continues to shine more and more each day. You are a chatter box of babble and high pitched screams! The funniest thing you do is shake your hips back and forth... it kind of looks like you are itchy your booty! We call it your wiggle wiggle and you do it during diaper changes, any time you are naked, in the bath, or when you get excited! 

You not only experienced going on an air plane this month but we also took you out of the country! Your passport picture is adorable but it will not look like you in a month let alone 5 years from now. You rocked traveling and might be the best travel buddy ever! You slept 90% of our three flights there and back. You didn't cry or scream, which the people around us were happy about. You seemed to have fun in Mexico. You weren't so sure about the pool at first but once we found the warmer pool you loved it! You were confused about the sand and much to my surprise did not try to eat it! Because you were so good, we will be traveling again in June to NY. Let's repeat how great you were... okay Mr. B?

You have no desire to roll or crawl but would love to walk if you could figure out the balance. You did roll from belly to back once. You were on the floor next to daddy and he was doing push ups. I think he inspired you to use your muscles to roll! Keep up the good work little dude! My favorite part this month was hearing your giggles and laugh at the silly things we do. I realize just how dumb funny we look and it cracks you up! 

We are so proud to be your parents! 
Love, MAMA and DADA

** yes, I am a month behind... we've been busy!

Dedication

At Cornwall, we dedicate children, believing they are gifts from God. This follows Jesus’ example displayed in Mark 10:14 & 16: “’Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.” We dedicate and do not baptize children, believing baptism follows a person accepting Christ as Lord and Savior; our hope and prayer is that your child will someday make that decision when he or she is able.

This is also a parent dedication. We believe that God’s desired role for parents is a challenging one, requiring trust and dependence on Him to fulfill it. Deuteronomy 6:4-6 describes this role in this way: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

For your viewing pleasure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GikdMFEk6FE

until next time...

Mama Fears

When we got pregnant, my biggest fear was miscarriage. Well, Mr. B is here and that did not happen. We then had our last ultrasound at 35 weeks and BOOM our little peanut was diagnosed with hydronephrosis. But we weren't looking at his organs... we were just suppose to be looking at how big he was. God had bigger plans for this 35 week ultra sound. He wanted to let us know that little man needed to be watched. B's first ultra sound at a few weeks old showed us that it wasn't just one kidney it was both! Ugh, it makes your heart sink. I never thought  our baby would have any problems. I thought once he was born we would go home and live happily ever after. I tried to let it go and not worry too much. His Dr. kept saying that most kids heal themselves within the first year. I tried to keep repeating that in my head. We went in to see if his kidney's were re fluxing. I prayed and prayed and prayed. If they were, it would mean antibiotics until 1 year old. His little immune system wouldn't be able to fight things off the antibiotics would. I imagined his second year of life as having cold after cold. I thought about how antibiotics affect the color of your teeth. (Yes, I am so picky about teeth! I would love him no matter what color his teeth though) He had an awful test performed and in true Mr. B fashion he didn't bat an eye at the catheter. NEGATIVE! No re flux! At his 4 month appointment, I begrudgingly reminded his Dr. that we needed to do a follow up ultrasound. I didn't want to have it done in fear of what we would find. I told myself not to worry it would be gone. This is just routine and we have to make sure it is gone. Well, good news and bad news. The right side has healed. The left side is improved. BUT... why is there always a "but"? His Dr. said that the radiologist thinks that his ureters are enlarged in the recent ultrasound. They were normal before but not now and his Dr. doesn't understand why that would be if he isn't re fluxing. This scares the begeebeeze out of me. A doctor doesn't understand how that could be? Did someone read the images wrong? Brayden's Dr. has been in contact with Children's Hospital throughout this entire ride. After his ultrasound on Monday, Dr. Ban called and said that Children's would like us to come down there. So, here I wait all week for Children's to call. I am still waiting for my phone to ring so we can make our appointment and head to Seattle. I am nervous but hopeful. These doctors are the best and they will know what to look for. I keep praying that Mr. B will outgrow it by his first bday. I also know this is one of the MANY fears I will have as this little man grows up. Being a mom can be stressful, but extremely rewarding! I wouldn't have it any other way! 

until next time...

four months

Dear Mr. B, 

You are now FOUR months old! You had a "wellness" check yesterday. It included some shots but you rocked them! You cry (no tears) scream for all of 15 seconds and then you are done. You did shoot the nurse a scowl afterward. You are in the 75% for height and weight and 70% for head. You weighed in at 16lb 14oz and 25 3/4 inches. Which means, six month clothes for you. You are a big boy "with good muscle tone" according to Dr. Ban. I told him you worked out and he laughed.

You would love to sit up on your own if you could figure out that balance thing. You've held your head up for as long as I can remember (less than a month old?) You enjoy standing but that is nothing new! You've liked that since the day you were born! You are getting very good at inching on your back. I have found you smashed into your bumper at the top of your crib lots of times. No, contrary to what you all might think I did not put him there when I placed him down for bed! The problem I have with this... you are rubbing your hair off on your bumper now! Please Mr. B keep it on your head! When I check the monitor to see what you are up to at night, often I find you arched to the left with your head crammed upward. You have now started doing this pose in your swing too. It must be comfy?

 I found you an old school walker and you have figured out how to fling yourself backward. However, you are stuck in reverse and haven't found drive yet. You also enjoy blowing spit bubbles. I mean REALLY enjoy drooling tons of spit bubbles! People keep asking if you are teething but I check every night. There are no teeth coming in just lots of drool! You try to eat anything you can find. Usually it is monster, buster, or monkey. You can get quite aggressive and shake your head fast while chewing their faces off! You have a full body wiggle down when we change your diaper. Sometimes, you even try to frustrate help us and lift your butt up in a bridge.

You attempted to bridge in your plastic bathtub...no good. You got in trouble and now we use the foam cushion in the real tub. You love it! Your feet slam down in the water and splash us good. Without fail, you try to shoot your daddy with friendly fire, pee. I think it is funny!

Thank you for all the smiles and laughs. We look forward to what each day will bring!

Love, Mama and Dada

Digging deep

Once you have a child, the concept of family takes on a new meaning. B turns four months today and I have already learned so much about my new priorities. Those around me have exposed what kind of family member I want to emulate. I realize too late now the one time memories and moments we've missed out on because we had...other things to do, we have plans with other friends, we had to do something that day (no we could have done it another time), etc. Now that I have a baby, I realize these moments and memories are only made once. He is only a baby once and before we know it he will be a big independent man. My brother and sister in law have molded a new outlook for me. They don't know the impact and influence they've had. I appreciate their efforts and enormous amount of love they have for us. The only time they hesitate to make it to an event is to figure out how to make it work! They live very full lives and don't miss out. I realize my little man is going to recognize that. He is going to see that his Aunt and Uncle are always there and love deeply. No more excuses because it is time to make memories!

Thank you to our family and friends who have made an effort to genuinely be in Mr. B's life. To make it known to him, who they are. To travel without excuses and see him face to face! I apologize to those who we have not stepped up to and promise to do better.

until next time...

Someone Special

I have a favorite client at the salon. Her name is Dorothy Anderson and she is such an amazing woman! She is NINETY ONE YEARS OLD! Yes, you read that correctly. She still drives, she walks her neighborhood loop, she goes to yoga, she walks up the stairs to the salon, she recently was asked by UW to give a speech, she loves her family, she is a bridge fanatic, and she has touched me deeply. 

This spunky and sassy woman came into my life four years ago. She sat down in my chair grabbed her hair and said, "Can you help this?!?!" She instantly made me smile and laugh but she was serious! She referred to her old stylist as a natzi that "made me have this haircut and it makes me look like a horse!" Our friendship began that day, and it has flourished since. She comes in every other week to get a clean up and haircut. She is always dressed pristinely including accessories! She has stories attached to each piece of jewelry and every article of clothing. 

Last year, she turned 90! She threw herself this lavish party at her Condo complex. Yes, she still lives at her condo with no assistance! I was so honored to be invited. Ironically, she has family in Wenatchee that Nic knew! Her featured drink at the party was the "Dorotini." The woman loves a martini a day! I am not sure I would every make this drink again but I had to try one. One part Gin, one part Vodka, splash of lemon and lime.... blakkkk! I was thrilled to meet the family members she had talked so much about. I felt like I knew them all inside and out but had never met them. Each and every one of them was exactly how she illustrated them to be. Her favorite nephew, the bratty nieces, the adorable brother Corky, the evil sister in law, and so on but each one of them has deep love for her. 

When you meet Dorothy, you instantly fall in love with her. When I got pregnant she called Brayden "our" baby. "How's our baby?" she would ask. Every time she left the salon she said, "Now you behave!" When I left for maternity leave the girls fought over who would do her hair! She is that much fun! She is like family to me and I checked in to see when Dorothy had been in last. The computer said November and that isn't too out of the ordinary. I knew she was going to Arizona for Thanksgiving and she leaves for a cruise or Hawaii for four weeks during the holiday's. She hates to be home for the holidays' and doesn't mind being alone in  warm tropical places. She makes new friends on the cruises and plays bridge daily. I noticed she didn't have an appointment made in January and figured she was just waiting to find out when I was coming back in. When she hadn't called to make an appointment I knew something wasn't quite right. I worry about her all the time. She doesn't miss appointments because she turns into a Yeti... or so she says.

 I emailed her a few weeks ago to touch base and she told me she had gotten the "big "c" word." She hasn't told me what kind of cancer and said it is just life. I called her this morning to check in. She said, "but I don't have a hair appointment"... she is very mentally with it! I told her I was just calling to say hi and see if she would like me to come to her home to trim her hair. She said no thanks and that she wasn't doing well. I tried to tell her that I missed her and she must not have heard me and said, "Okay bye bye." She hung up and tears welled up in my eyes. My fear is that I won't see her again. I just want her to meet Mr. B, our baby! She comes to the dental office I work at as well. I called the dental office today and was informed she has an appointment next Thursday. She confirmed the appointment and I will go crash it next week! I hope she remembers it and is well enough to go in because I really want to see her. 

I just needed to get this all out in writing because I was having a rough moment. Getting old stinks!

**Update: She sent an email today that said "Hello- no visitors for a while." That was the entire email. I guess I won't be crashing her appointment and will wait it out. :(

until next time...