Greta's Story

Well, it's been seven weeks since this sweet baby girl joined our family and our hearts overflowed yet again. I'm honestly still in disbelief that I have a daughter because I so did not see her coming. I was sure she was a he and didn't even entertain the thought of having a girl. The boys in the house weren't convinced, though, and had started predicting pink several months ago.

The date was picked way back in May. December 14 it would be. On December 12, Dameon had a jazz band competition out of town and I knew I'd be pretty jittery so I asked my mom to 'move in' that day. She would then stay through Christmas. The kids were so excited to see her come and we got a room all ready for her. We spent the next two days getting organized for the week ahead...planning meals, doing laundry, wrapping Christmas gifts (and birthday gifts for Henry), and making sure our hospital bags were ready to go. It was hard to remember what to pack because it seemed like it had been so long since we had done this. And it seemed unreal that it was actually happening!

Sunday night we tried to go to bed early, since our alarm would be going off at 3. I think I got a couple hours of sleep but no food or drink after midnight made the heartburn extra difficult to cope with. Plus baby was wide awake :). Saying goodnight (and goodbye) to the boys the night before was a little difficult but I was glad that part was already over because I was feeling pretty emotional as we were gathering our things and heading out the door. I snapped a few pictures so I could remember...

The view from here

The boys' clothes laid out for the morning

Last belly photo: 39 weeks

The imitation Uggs that got me through all three pregnancies when my feet couldn't fit into any other shoes. I think I paid $15 for them in 2008!

A note for the boys

We arrived at Iowa Methodist hospital at 4:30 a.m. And had a little time to kill since we didn't need to check in until 5:15. The nurse led us to our room and we got settled before beginning all the admission procedures and starting the IV. I wish I would have snapped a few photos at that point but I guess my mind was a little distracted! 

Before they can take you to the OR they have to get a good read of the baby on the monitor. About the time they got the monitor situated, I started contracting really regularly and the nurse said this might have been the day Baby was ready anyway! It was about this point in time that my brother, Brad, and his wife, Katy, arrived. They wanted to see us and spend a little time with us before the delivery.

I hope I never forget how special this time was (and was with the two boys, as well). So much anticipation that 9 months has led up to! My doctor arrived shortly there after and then things started moving very quickly. The four of us had a chance to pray together and Brad and Katy quietly sang a song which I vividly remember repeating to myself as fear was starting to overcome me. Then Dameon suited up and we were on our way down the hallway to meet our baby! It's a very strange feeling to hold your IV bag and walk yourself to the operating room. All three times I've been surprised I actually made it there as I'm feeling like I just want to crumble with fear.

Next was the point where Dameon and I had to separate. He's not allowed in the room while they are prepping me and it's one of the hardest parts. The next ten minutes or so we're spent getting my spinal (ouch!) and waiting for that to take effect and also getting draped and hooked up to oxygen. My anesthesiologist was great and encouraged me to communicate with him all the way through if I felt like I was having any issues. Throughout my pregnancy I battled fears about this very moment and over and over I turned to Psaln 91. The Lord comforted me so much through those verses. I had worked to memorize parts of it and was praying I'd have the mental clarity to remember them now. I can't tell you how much I felt Christ's presence in every detail in that operating room! My fears were washed away!

Dameon was allowed in the room and was seated right next to me as the surgery began. It's always shocking to me how quickly the baby is born. Before we knew it they were delivering Greta and Dr. Lehman told Dameon to look over the drape and make the announcement. I couldn't see her but I could see him and his face said it all! After a brief pause (which he says was him scanning for parts and making sure he wasnt missing something!) he exclaimed, "It's a girl! Honey, it's a girl!" Then I heard my doctor say, "Well, hi princess!" And I was in such a state of shock that I just started laughing and laughing. Unlike when the boys were born, I was able to opt for a new procedure called a gentle c-section. This just meant I was able to have Greta lay on my chest right away instead of her being taken to a warning bed. There aren't even words to describe how incredible that was.

** I was going to insert a few photos here from her birth but my iCloud is being inpossible so I'll have to publish them separately or this post will continue to sit here in limbo!**

The first thing I noticed about her was how much she looked like newborn Henry but with a little less hair. Then we soaked in all her other details...dimples, plump lips, and super long fingers and toes! Our little Greta Kaye was finally here and I kept trying to imagine Henry's and Warren's reactions when they would soon learn the news that they got a baby sister!

warren's words

(This post should have been published in January)
I love this photo. I think it will forever remind me of this stage of Warren's life. He has become the biggest Momma's boy ever. It's funny because he didn't start out this way. If anything, he was partial to Dameon back in the day. Or, what seemed like "partial" to us since all we had to compare to was Henry and we thought he was stuck on Mommy. Warren blows Henry out of the water! He almost always wants to be held ("Can I hold you?") and often asks to snuggle ("I snuggle you.") To be honest, I fight feelings of frustration pretty regularly because it's really hard to get anything done. But I know, like all moms, this stage won't last forever and I'll miss it when it's gone.

Our almost-two-year-old (how did that happen?!?!) is full of opinions and is fully able to make them known.

warren turns 2

We had a great time celebrating our little guy's second birthday. It fell on Dameon's spring break again this year, so that allowed for two full days of birthday fun! His actual birthday is March 18, which was on Wednesday. We spent that day in Coralville at the Iowa Children's Museum. We also took in the carousel and the Build A Bear workshop. Grandma Joyce, Grandma Paulette, and Grandpa Chris also got in on the action. We did the carousel first, and Warren was very interested in looking at it and noticing all the horses. When it came time to ride, however, he was terrified. We got through it but for the next thirty minutes he repeatedly told me he did not like ponies anymore. oops. Next we ate lunch at the new pizza restaurant by the food court. It was good but took a really long time to get our food, which resulted in a free kids' meal for Henry. We then headed to the museum which both boys absolutely loved. Henry's favorite part was the grocery store and Warren's was probably ImagineAcres. We took a quick break for Whitey's Ice Cream and then headed back in for more fun. After the museum we made our way to Build A Bear. Henry picked out a Dalmatian dog which he named Pongo. Warren had selected a nice (cheap) simple brown bear, but before he was properly stuffed he had been swooned by the Applejack pony standing atop the shelf in all her Western-wear glory. (not cheap.) Dameon and I exchanged a look and both agreed we couldn't tell the boy 'no' on his birthday. But there was no way we were going to pay to accessorize that girl. Enter Grandma Joyce and she now proudly sports boots, bridle, saddle, and hat. Warren couldn't be prouder. After a light supper at Panera and a homemade pony cake (thanks, Grandpa Chris!) with presents, we headed home with two very tired boys. It was a very fun day with many adorable moments, thanks to the two kiddos. Probably the most precious was Warren wishing everyone else a happy birthday all day long. :)
Saturday was his birthday party with family. We met at High Bridge Horse Farm in Boone. Anne, Libby, and their staff provided a great time with horse rides for everyone. We were hoping Warren would forget the carousel incident and ride a horse, but as he was meeting all the ponies one of them sneezed on him and that about sent him over the edge. For the next hour he told us over and over that he 'don't like it when da pony says a-choo.' At one point I forced him to sit on the smallest pony for a quick photo, but that was all he did. The funniest moment was when my mom mounted her horse while telling her guide that she is very comfortable riding because she grew up on horses and then proceeded to lose her balance and face plant into the mane of the horse. Those of us who only caught the end of that whole sequence thought she was giving the horse a hug. Ha! We all got a good laugh out of that one. After the ride, we went to my parents' church for pizza, cupcakes, and presents. Thanks to everyone who made the trip to Boone to help us celebrate our Warren! (Sorry the pictures are all out of order here. They came from dropbox and my phone and I don't know how to sequence stuff.)

Warren's current stats:

• He is teeny tiny. He hasn't had a well-child check up for a long time but we entered his weight and height into an online growth chart calculator and it said he's below the 5th percentile in both categories! I think he's 23 pounds currently.
• He wears size 4 diapers and has for almost a year. He talks about going potty on the potty chair but I'm not in any hurry. We've tried a couple times but he doesn't get it quite yet.
• He takes one afternoon nap each day which usually lasts about two hours. He usually sleeps through the night unless he's sick.
• He has had a few hair cuts by now. His first one was in November and he has had two since then. His hair color is similar to mine and his eye color is Dameon's. (hazelish brownish)
• He says every word and speaks in full sentences with lots of inflection and expression with his eyebrows (which he calls "eyebrowns"...Henry said that too)
• He can identify all 26 capital letters and several numbers. 
• He knows all his colors and 5 shapes (circle, square, triangle, heart, star)
• He's a pretty good eater. Loves fruit and most veggies. Especially broccoli! He's not as much of a sweet tooth as Henry. He also loves milk but can't have it very often because it makes him constipated.
• He is a major cuddle bug and momma's boy. He calls me his best friend.
• He loves ponies more than any other toy. Ever. He likes the My Little Ponies the best but will accept the "boyish" ponies if other options aren't available. He still frequently totes his Blue Horse around.

current obsessions

I must admit the title of this post is a little misleading. Particularly the word "current." This post should have been published about six weeks ago. Oh well. 

For Warren, life is all about horses and Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? Both interests began sometime around late October. The horses with a trip to our friends' house where they have lots of My Little Ponies and the book with a trip to my parents' house where he caught onto that story. He can now recite the whole thing and has named his pony "Blue Horse." He often has difficulty eating or playing with any other toys because one hand is always occupied. And be prepared for battle when dressing him. Trying to pry Blue Horse from his tiny grasp in order to fit his arm through a sleeve is pure torture. He especially likes to take Blue Horse around town and introduce him to anyone who will listen. He will say, "Dis is my horse! It's my PONY! He has a big hoof!" Recently Blue Horse went missing for an entire week. He had a couple meltdowns about it but then seemed to forget a little bit as the days went on. But last Sunday he found him laying in the basket of hats and mittens and, oh my, the look of pride on his face! Nevermind that in the meantime Dameon and I had scoured the internet searching for another one (which we learned has been discontinued). Thirteen dollars later we have a back-up hanging out in the basement.

Henry's latest interest has been writing the alphabet and trying to put words together. (Yes, this makes my teacher heart soar with pride!) He spends lots of time working on his Magna Doodle. In fact, he almost always wakes up before me in the morning and will just find his way to the couch and write on his Doodle until I get up. He has been particularly interested in writing "Disney D" and will take the opportunity to practice on any scrap of paper he finds. We often find them laying all over the house:

The funniest part of Henry's letter learning is when he makes a mistake and doesn't quite form a letter correctly. Then he'll say, "Whoops. I wrote that one in Spanish."

are you sending him to school?

This was the question of the hour last spring when preschool registration rolled around and many parents of three-year-olds had to weigh out this decision. Since Henry was born, I've always pretty much thought I would do preschool at home. For one thing, I didn't think I would be ready to be away from Henry. But then little Warren came along and, believe me, there have been days where I am READY. So Dameon and I had several conversations about what we felt would be best for everyone. We even did a little research on the program in Pella and checked to see if they had any open spots, but we ultimately decided homeschool preschool was best for us. Here are a few of the reasons why:

1. Our move. At the time registration was needing to happen, we didn't know when we would be moving or where we would be living. We knew that some time during the summer we would go through a big transition and needing to have Henry in Pella at a certain time on a certain day added an extra level of stress we really didn't want. Also, we didn't feel like we would be setting him up for the best possible school experience if he had to start school right after moving to a new place and not knowing anyone yet.                                                                                        

2. PEACE. Pella has an awesomely huge homeschool co-op called PEACE. It's Christ-centered and very well-established and a great way to connect with other families.

3. I kinda sorta feel called to at least explore the homeschool route...I think. I have nothing (and I mean NOTHING) against public school. Obviously. Dameon is a public school teacher and I was one for five years. Homeschooling is something I never never never thought I would even consider. Until I had a child. Sorta like being a stay at home mom was something I never never never thought I would even consider. Until I got married and started thinking about having children. But now we think about homeschooling a lot. We don't have any conclusions, really. And we don't need to yet. We just know that it's an option on the table. And we will take things one school year at a time.

4. I have a lot of school stuff. You can ask my father-in-law, if you don't believe me. He has now moved it to three different towns. One plastic tote and awkwardly-shaped easel at a time. (I owe him.)

5. Henry is only three. He has the rest of his whole grown-up life to not have simple days at home with me. I don't want to rush that if I don't have to. Homeschool allows us a lot of flexibility we wouldn't otherwise have.

Our homeschool routine is hardly a routine right now. One thing I know about myself is that I have a hard time staying committed to things I'm not used to doing. I go really guns blazing at first and then I get distracted shortly thereafter. The good thing about our school so far, is that Henry LOVES it. That really helps me stay motivated. We usually do some "formal" school stuff when Warren goes down for nap. The moment we start, Henry starts referring to me as Teacher. The moment we end, he goes back to Mommy. Hilarious! I ordered the Before Five in A Row guide which encompasses lots of concepts and incorporates them into various children's books but I've had a hard time tracking down these books at the local library, so that's been a little frustrating. I recently purchased my friend's ebook called Preschool Journey and she has a super helpful and beautiful blog at teachingmama.org. I haven't started using it yet but I can already tell you I like the format of the lesson plans. In addition, as a part of PEACE we have activity day each month which is where all the kids gather and have a half-day of exploratory learning with the other children their age. This past Friday included school pictures, so I got to participate in the parent rite of passage that is writing a check to Lifetouch. Peeking around the corner to watch Henry get his picture taken is a whole other blog post just waiting to be written. Oh. my. Can't wait to see how those turn out! PEACE also has several family activities and field trips each month. Today there was a field trip to the vet clinic but it fell right in the middle of nap time and I knew Warren wouldn't make it through, so we opted out.

So, that's a bit of the rundown as far as our preschool plans. I'll try to get more on the ball about getting out the camera (the nice one we never use now that we have iphones) and capture some of our schooling to post here. Coming soon will be pumpkin painting and DIY fall window clings. Fun times!

tidbits

Honestly, after this extended vacation from the ol' blog I should have an extensive list of funnies from the boys. But my memory continues to get more and more horrible with each passing day. And my hair continues to get more and more frizzy? Correlation? Maybe. Anyway, after sitting here staring at the screen for a good five minutes, these are the ones I came up with:

• My mom was here for a visit last week and as she was leaving, she hollered out her farewell. Something like, "Bye, Henry! I love you!" To which Henry waved and hollered back, "Wish us luck!"
• Warren is toddling everywhere now and his personality is showing up more than ever. Kid's got spunk! This is new territory for Henry because now baby brother fights back. Gone are the days of grabbing any and every toy out of his hands and getting away with it. He comes after you and chomps down on your arm or pinches you with his tiny baby talons fingernails. The other day, the two were fighting over a Mickey Mouse notepad. Warren had a hold of it and Henry wanted it back. As they are in the heat of the moment, I'm trying to encourage Henry to take a better approach by saying, "Just tell him gently that the notepad is a no-no", but all I get out is, "Just tell him gently" and Henry starts shouting "Gently! Gently!" 
• Henry has recently been introduced to the concept of standing up to potty. I had been warned of all the...um...fun that would happen after we reached this point by my other mom-of-boys friends but, oh my, the reality is much worse. Now that he stands to potty in the toilet, he wants to stand to potty in lots of other places. In small containers, on rugs and carpets, in shoe boxes, on other people's rugs and carpets. Ah, life with boys.

we moved, volume 3

Yes, we know many people think we're crazy. We're fine with it. And maybe we are?? Here's a bit of the story: We weren't looking to leave Winterset, but it never fails that those spring job postings start to roll out and you just can't help but look. At first the Pella job looked intriguing but not to the point of drawing us there. It wasn't quite the right fit in terms of job description. But after further investigation/conversation it turns out it was the PERFECT fit! Pella has always been in the back of our minds as somewhere we could see ourselves someday. Since Dameon's dad and step-mom live here, it's been a place we've spent a significant amount of time over the years. We even got married here seven years ago! It's such a quaint little place and so super friendly. So we decided to break our "W" trend (Williamsburg, Waterloo, Winterset) and head east. And we LOVE it! Now I'm no perfect wife and I'm not in a perfect marriage, but I will say that Dameon and I have gotten better at making joint decisions together over the course of seven years. We realized that if we know what our family priorities and values are, when a big decision comes along we just line it up against those values and the decision becomes much easier. If it supports and promotes our values, we jump in! If not, we pass. At this point in life, we have three priorities: 1. Raise our children to know and love Jesus; 2. Raise our children at home; 3. Do everything we can to have Dameon with us as much as possible, while also having his income be our sole source
The move to Pella supports all those things! 1. For the first time since leaving our church in North Liberty, we have a church that feels like we've been there forever. Hard to describe that feeling, but if you're in a church like that, you know what I mean. And a Children's Ministry program that is just stellar! 2. Dameon's position as high school band director plus the hours upon hours he spends writing drill in the summer and running leadership camps allows us to keep me at home with the kiddos and Pella offers lots of opportunities for me and the boys during the weekday, which we haven't had before. 3. The job Dameon used to do alone is now divided up among five (I think) teachers, which means more family time.
Once I get around to snapping some photos, I'll write a post about the transformation going on around here with the house we bought. The before and after pictures are crazy! But for now, a quick snapshot of the boys on the front step.