Blowouts, Dog Poop, and 9-1-1

Those of you with more than one child know this already, but traveling with more than one is, how do you say, CRAZY.  And hey!  Guess what!  Traveling is what we do, so to say I was a little nervous about how it would all go down is an understatement.

First of all, we started packing the day before, which is normal, but MY WORD the stuff.  Just watch.

  

Baby girl also had her 2 month shots that day, so she slept a lot.  But, luckily, she wasn't any more fussy than normal.

The day we left, it all started with a blowout.  Not tire, infant diaper.  So, we had an outfit change before the day even started.  We finally hit the road (only about 20 minutes behind schedule -- not too bad!) and made our way to Arkansas.  We drove about 1 1/2 hours before needing to stop for food/fuel.  

I was nursing in the front seat while the boys stretched.  And this was just before Oliver stepped in dog poop.  Good times.    

PSA.  People with dogs at truck stops, gas stations, and rest stops:  PICK UP THE POOP.  Thank you.

Diaper changing while standing up.  Keeping it classy.

All smiles.  For the most part.

New use for the boppy.  Haha!

Somewhere on I-40, I saw a brush fire on the side of the road.  I called 9-1-1 to report it.  I was all nervous, as it was my first 911 phone call.  The lady answered, "are you calling to report the brush fire on I-40 at mile marker 34?"  Yes I was.  So were others, apparently. 

Pit stops usually go like this:

- Trent goes in to use the potty while I nurse

- Trent comes out to get Oliver

- They either play, stretch, or go get lunch

- They come back out and by that time I'm usually finished

- Diaper changes

- My turn to go potty

- Repeat every 2 hours or so

We were scheduled to lead worship at Heritage UMC in Van Buren, AR and so we got to town on Saturday evening.  The plan was to set up and sound check then, to make the Sunday AM with 3 services go a little more smoothly.

We got to town, unloaded, checked in to the hotel, and headed to the church.  Trent got set up, Oliver fussed and wanted to go to the nursery, I went out to get a baby carrier so I could wear Amelia, we got locked out and no one heard us knocking, Trent finally came out and got us, we sound checked, Oliver cried and behaved like I've never seen, we finished, got dinner, and Oliver said, "sorry, Mommy.  I try to be a good boy" and that made us all emotional.  Yowza.  It. Was. A. Day.  But we DID IT.

Then came our first morning to get up and ready.  All was going well.  Until Trent had to load up all our stuff.  There was not a luggage cart to be found.  So, while I watched babies in the breakfast area, he made about 5 trips to load the car.  All while the front desk people just sat there.  No, "hey!  Let us try to locate another cart for you, sir."  Poor Trent was drenched before the day started!

Sunday AM at church went relatively smoothly.  We had a nice woman watch Amelia the whole time and she cried at one point, but Mama to the rescue with milk.  

  

After the 3 services, we quickly loaded up to head to Salado to see my fam.  But, not before Oliver had a blowout and I didn't have any wipes, so more good times.  

The drive took way longer than it should have because TRAFFIC and CONSTRUCTION and I-35.  Also, I've become the master at what I call, The Lean and Feed.  It's because Amelia doesn't take a bottle or paci and she needs to calm down sometimes and so I lean over and let her nurse.  It is what it is.

Killing time while Daddy is getting snacks.

First trip under her belt!  (Or dress, whatever.)

It was like we could finally breathe.  We did it!  And we had a great time at Heritage.  Stayed tuned for our next stops...

Amelia is 3 months!!!

Dear Amelia...

What a month! You are growing so fast and changing before our eyes and it's bittersweet.  People can't believe you're only 3 months.

This month you started standing, with our help of course. You have such strong legs and you love to straighten them and kick them!

You started grabbing things, kind of. You grab your blanket and like to snuggle it, chew on it, and rub it on your face. We've even started putting toys in your hands and Oliver thinks it's so neat. You also grab my shirt while your nurse. So sweet.

You still eat a lot and every night is different. Sometimes you sleep 4-5 hours and sometimes you're up eating every two hours. But, something I've learned in my few years of mothering: don't let sleep be your God. And so, I soak up those moments with you.

This month brought your first Independence Day!  

You are starting to laugh when we say "boo" and tickle you and it's adorable. Also, you've started rolling onto your side! What?!?! So soon? So, your arms are officially out of the swaddle.

You like to bury your face to sleep when I'm holding you or wearing you. Freaks me out, but I move your face often.  You also like to blow spit bubbles and the drool is starting. Bibs it is!!

You love chewing on your hands and fingers.  Sometime to the point of gagging, so that's fun.  Still no paci, though.  I keep trying sometimes...you never know!

This month you had your first pool experience in Salado, you went to your first nursery in Oklahoma, and your first taste of the road life. And, on your 3 month b-day, we went to the beach!

You officially hit the road this month and that brings me to your states: AR, OK, MO, TX, GA, FL. Six states in one month. You'll catch up to big brother in no time.  You're handling the road very well.  Sometimes you get fussy in the car, but you're calmed with looking at a toy or having the window rolled down.

The road has brought with it your first times away from mama.  There have been some tears (from you and me both), but we're surviving!  Your first road trip deserves its own post, by the way because MY WORD.

You're getting stronger and stronger at tummy time!  Oliver thinks it's pretty cool...

You met more family this month and I'm sorry I didn't get pictures of all of them!  I can tell you this, though:  they're as smitten as we are.

  

We cannot express how much we adore you, Amelia.  We love you so big, sweet girl! Life has never been sweeter. Kisses and hugs.

May the stars always align for you...

Amelia is 2 months!!!

Dearest Amelia,

13 lbs, 13 oz

24 1/4 in

What in the world?!?  You've been with us for 2 months now and words cannot express our love for you!  Yes, you are hard work.  So is your brother.  But, our hearts are full.

This was a big month!  You did a lot of firsts...

Your first Musician's Corner in our hometown.  You slept the whole time except needing to nurse once.  You and I went to kids' corner with Oliver and I tried to hula hoop while wearing you and it didn't work.  Glad I didn't fall.  Ha!  (More firsts below.)

Your grunting is pretty much gone...yay!!!  Sleeping is improving, though you still eat all the time.  You're not taking a paci (STILL) and so sometimes that's all I know to do.  FEED YOU.  Hey, it works =)

I take a lot of pics of us during the night.  I don't want to forget those sweet, tiring moments.  Plus, I have to keep you upright for a bit after nursing or you'll spit up.  Sometimes PROJECTILE....eek.

You've started giving me a few longer stretches at night, so I thank you!  You're still swaddled, but you can get your arms out and suck on your hands.  Girl, listen to me...you'll love a paci!  I promise.

It's pretty fun to dress you.  Thanks to some friends, you have oodles of clothes.  So much that there are days I don't know what to put you in!  I call this picture: PATTERNS.  =)

We're still trying to get you to take a bottle.  Sometimes you'll take an ounce or so and other times you flat out refuse.  So, we'll see.

You love outside.  You're so calm and alert!  We'd go out more, but the mosquitoes are terrible.

We keep you with us at night, after Oliver goes to bed, and just hold you.  Now's the time to do that and we love it!

You've really started smiling and cooing this month.  It's THE BEST thing ever.  Oliver still yells because he likes to see you jump.  He's in a lot of time-outs because of that.  Bless.  He loves you so much!!  Always saying, "I need to touch Amena!  I need to touch her.  Put her by me!  I need to hold Amena!"  And the other day, he hugged you and said, "Amena, you my best friend?"  Your dad and I got emotional.

You go from totally happy to totally angry very quick.  When I do bedtime with Oliver, your daddy brings you downstairs and I can hear you scream.  He turns on the hair dryer and you stop.

Your brother had strep and I was scared you got it, due to some of your behavior, so I took you to the ER for the first time.  Luckily, it wasn't strep, but you did get your first cold.  Sorry, sweet girl!  Lots of germ sharing is gonna happen around here.

I mean...

We go on walks and as long as I'm moving, you're happy!  And now, you're even looking around and taking it all in.

That cold took us to the doc.  I just wanted to be sure all the flem wasn't in your lungs.  And it wasn't!

You had your 2 month visit and got your shots.  So sad!  But you were calmed instantly by sweet mama milk.  

The doc that saw you (not your usual one) was going over your stats with me.  He pointed to your weight and said, "she's 95th percentile which is a little heavy for her age.  It's pretty normal for breast babies to do that so we aren't going to put her on a diet."  Instead of telling him off and saying, "my girl is perfect and healthy and how dare you say the 'D' word in her presence.  We use words like strong and healthy," I chose to practice restraint and just nod. 

I know he didn't mean anything by it, but I've had issues in the body department, just like most women, and let me tell you something, Amelia...the world will try to tell you you aren't good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, stylish enough, flirty enough, etc.  The list will go on and on.  My prayer for you, since the moment I knew you were you, is that you will find your worth in Jesus.  That you will have confidence in Him and through Him. 

We love you so big, sweet girl.  May the stars always align for you..

    

Oliver and the Paci Fairy

Oliver loves his 'da.'  That is the name he affectionately gave his pacis.  He took to it as a baby and I kept it going.  They have helped get him to sleep and stay asleep.  They have helped him calm down. They have also shaped his teeth.  And I had no intention of taking it away.  I figured, "hey!  He won't get married with it!"  

Then, Memorial Day morning, we drastically decided to get it done.  We were upstairs and I told Trent, "I don't know which to do first...paci or potty."  In typical Trent form, he responded with a, "Let's just do the paci today.  Get it done." 

*Gulp*

We can do this, right?  We can do hard things.  How bad can it be??

Enter the paci fairy. 

A quick google search provided many fairies but I chose her.  Oliver was instantly interested in leaving his das for the fairy so she could take them to babies in need.  What really got him was the promise of a new toy she'd leave him.  

We talked it up all morning.  He was on board!!!  This will be so easy!!!

Nap time came around and he willingly put them in a bag.

 (Excuse the sheets from the 80s...I was washing his strep infested sheets.)

He willingly walked to the porch to leave them.  

He was so excited!!!  This will be easy!!!

Mommy and Daddy cried at this point.  A visible sign of a growing boy.  I'm getting teary typing.  Ugh.

Then came time for me to put him down for nap and oh my word.  SO HARD to see his tears and hear his pleas for his da.  "Mommy, I can't have my das anymore!"  "Mommy!!  I need my das.  I need them."  He was even telling his stuffed animals about his pain.  I cried with him.  I calmly explained and reminded him about the fairy and how he'll get a new toy for being such a big boy!

I had to go back up with him and sing until he was asleep.  He woke up after only an hour (he normally sleeps for 2-3 hours) and was very sad and fussy.  We walked him to the porch to see what the fairy brought: 

That night was way better and each sleep time gets easier and easier.  He's still sleeping through the night and not screaming.  Falling asleep seems to be a little more difficult for him, but he's doing it!  We're on day 4 and I'm so impressed and proud of him.  He still asks about his beloved das.  Like a, "hmmm...where my das go?"  It's sweet and sad all in one.  Just like parenting in general.  His mouth seems to have already taken on a more big boy look and it's crazy.  

He's always been an adaptable little one, probably due to our lifestyle.  I'm so thankful for that.  I'm also so thankful for Trent.  Without him, I'd be a smother and not a mother.  I'd have major problems being able to pull the trigger on all things growing up.  

Also, just a tip, don't blog about a growing child while listening to sentimental music.  Not smart, mamas.  Not smart.