Approaching the one year mark

Charley turns one year in one week. Time flies when you have kids. I was warned. So does it speed it up when you keep having them? Or does it stay at the same fast pace? He's taking a few steps on his own every now and then...when he feels like it. He said the word "cheese" which we are counting as his first. We haven't really experimented with as much different table foods as I would have liked by now but soon enough and he doesn't seem to be in any hurry. The word cheese came about because I have been eating LOTS of string cheese. I've been sharing with him and I ended up saying "cheese" every time. I wasn't really thinking about it and then he repeated it. Nice. He repeated it for Dad and several others. Now, let's work on the basics, i.e. hi, bye, milk...
He is on his fourth ear infection. Poor little dude can't catch a break. We visited with an ENT. We are opting to hold off as we are pulling him out of daycare in a month and are hiring a nanny/babysitter. Not only will it keep him from having to see the doctor every 2 weeks for antibiotics but we also save a good 60-80 dollars a week (that doesn't include all the co-pays for appointments and drugs) plus he'll still get to interact with another infant who is 4 months old. So we'll see how this works out.
I'm 12 weeks along. I haven't taken a picture because I haven't figured out how by myself and somehow making it decent. SO, that will have to wait a little while longer but it'll be coming. I'll be taking pictures every 4 weeks or so again. I've heard that you start showing sooner with subsequent pregnancies. I feel like I'm showing but have been "reassured" otherwise. Eh, whatever. I'm still getting sick at night which is better than ALL the time as it has been for the past 6 or 8 weeks. I wasn't going to put in pictures, but I'm going to delay posting this until I get my ultrasound uploaded. Yes it's from 4 weeks ago but it's still fun. :) The first picture is 3d which is why it looks blobbish. Apparently, it looks like Serendipity, the purple dragon...

Terrible soon-to-be auntie...

That I am. I've been meaning to post about my brother, Rob and his wife, Meg. They are expecting their first little one in February!! Yay! I'm totally excited! I'm going to be an aunt on MY side of the family, woot! It is a girl and her name is Avery. We are praying very hard for them as they are going through some tough news as Avery has heterotaxy. But she is being monitored very closely and regularly by specialists. We continue to pray that she grows and thrives. We look forward to having a new addition to the Norbryhn family!

I know, I know, I know...

the greater of the female population experiences morning sickness. I am not special. I know this. But I find myself frustrated and worn out. My first inkling that I was pregnant, was I was feeling sick. Just ill. Figured I should take a test, just to see. Came out positive. Well, at least I know why I feel so yucky. With Charley, I started getting the morning sickness at 8 weeks. Thought that it's probably the same with this one so I had to be at least 8 weeks. Made my appointment, had my ultrasound. Went a little like this...

"Oh, you are not even 6 weeks along."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, showing just over 5 weeks."

"I've been puking for 2 weeks...."

"Well, you are still very early."

Much to my dismay, I've had morning sickness since the day I CONCEIVED. I mean, seriously? With Charley, I was done with the sickness at 14 weeks. I'm scared with this one. What makes it worse is that I'm limited to what I can take because I'm still breastfeeding. I lost 5lbs in 2 weeks and really, I can't afford to be losing weight. I'll fall below the 100 mark if I lose anymore. This is all while taking Zofran. To top it all off, I only got a 9 day supply because I needed a prior authorization from my insurance which after 3 weeks I still hadn't gotten. I had one pill left and I was going to save it for when I absolutely needed it. I spent 3 days vomiting everything I ate until FINALLY, my doctor must've appealed the rejection because the PA was approved. I downed the last pill just so I could make it out of the house to get my prescription. MISERABLE. I was originally complaining about Zofran not really working. It took away some vomiting but I was still nauseous. But after 3 days of not having it at all...never again will I complain. I feel like a wuss, not being able to take this morning sickness. It really is thrilling at 5am while nursing my son in one arm and puking in a bowl in the other arm. I'll be very, very, very happy if this morning sickness ends...at all. I'd like to eat real food, other than rice, crackers, and toast. Ok, I am now finished complaining about my morning sickness.

So honey....

"I was trying to get a picture of Charley's smirk. I think I got it."

"Oh yeah? I want to see."

Hands camera over.

Yes, I know I'm not the most creative person on this planet (which I am totally okay with) but it's the only thing I could think of in a six hour time frame. Little Charley will be a big brother in July.

My Mini-rant

I know I have complained about it, over...and over...and over but stinking daycare. It's not that Charley doesn't enjoy the company of other infants in his age range, it's just that Mama doesn't like the fact he is in another's care. (That and it costs an arm and leg. What am I going to do with two children when the time comes?????) So I can see why working parents stop having children at 1 and 2. As much of a joy they are to have around, to watch grow, and bring us back to reality...how can anyone afford it? Now I'm just being bitter because I'm sure there are lots of families out there with both working parents, with daycare, and somehow making it work. Charley adjusted really well to being dropped off to strangers for 4 or 5 hours a day except the boy won't sleep when things are going on around him. So I pick him up, we go home, I put him to bed, and I won't see him until I wake him for dinner. We play for 45 minutes or so but then it's off to bed. I'm thankful for what little time I DO get to see him but seriously? I knew I'd have to adjust to this when they start going to school but he's 10 months old. Don't want to adjust. Denied. All I can say is boo.

Double boo.

He did get (the start) of his first double ear infection (he weighed a whopping 18lbs at that appointment). He recovered rather quickly and I'm just glad he lets us know when he's not feeling well. When I went to pick up his prescription, the pharmacist asked if I wanted to flavor the medication. I thought, "He's 10 months old, does he really notice these things?" I said no, paid, and went home. This kid thinks it's candy. Smells disgusting but he probably likes the fact he gets to suck on a syringe. I do miss him terribly during the day. I usually cannot leave fast enough to go pick him up. I'll tell you, I don't meander at work when the time comes to leave.

I thought I had more to talk about but apparently I don't. So I'm going to go make more fake hash browns fried in loads of butter and lots of salt because I know it is BAD for me (and it's not like we don't have real potatoes, we do, but I'm just too tired and lazy to peel and grate them...).

End rant

Visit from Papa

We were blessed with a visit from Papa. He flew out for 4 days to hang with his grandson...oh and a little bit of us (his son and favorite daughter-in-law). We had a grand time although way too short as it always is. I took 2 days off work and now I'm spoiled with spending time with my family. Papa spoiled Charley with attention.

Sigh.

We absolutely love seeing family and spending time with them. It is hard being so far away and only seeing everyone once or twice a year. After having Charley, it makes it all that much more difficult especially when you see other couples and their extended families hanging together. Perhaps in the future, ah-hem, NEAR future we can look at moving closer to the west coast. For now, we will relish in the memories of being with family. We do hope that Papa has a safe and quick trip home. We are SO glad you came and spent time with us.

Halloween

I realize it has been a week since Halloween. We didn't really do much but we did dress Bugaboo up as Tigger and did a tiny bit of trick or treating at the mall. He didn't mind the costume as I thought he was going to. I wanted to take him to the pumpkin patch but those plans fell through which I suppose is okay being as it he is only 9.5 months old. I'm sure he wouldn't remember it but now I have no pictures of him next to pumpkins...oh well. Bad parents.