Josiah Henry

The doctor tried to tell me to wait, don't push yet, hold on one more minute.  Sorry lady, no can do.  This 6lb 8oz child currently feels like a line backer in the 4th quarter of the most important game of the season.  He's coming right now whether you're ready or not.

I should have known.

He arrived just after noon on his due date.

I should have known.

Where his brother embraced practically every new food we threw at him, I'm pretty sure Josiah would have been content to live out his life on breast milk, given the opportunity.

I should have known.

Before he could even walk, he figured out how to give his brother a wet willy to get him to release any given wrestling move.

I should have known.

At 9 months old he could already climb the entire flight of stairs in our house.

I should have known.

At 10 months he took his first steps - determined to keep up with every move his big brother made.

I should have known.

I should have known this kid was filled with determination from the beginning.  I should have known he would always know exactly what he wanted and when he wanted It.  I should have known the sheer force of his will.

I thought will-power wasn't supposed to fully rear it's head until the second year of life.   Isn't that why they call it the terrible twos?

But this child, Josiah Henry, my beautiful surprise, with a gorgeous grin, expressive eyes, and precious cuddles, this child has been practicing the art of will-power from the very beginning.

And now he's one year old.  An entire year has passed since his birth.  Now I'm weaning him.  Now I'm moving past the stages of praying that tonight will be the night he sleeps through the night, carefully propping him up in case he falls over while sitting up, and pureeing all his food.

Infanthood is behind us and there is a little boy growing rapidly in front of me.

I should have known it would all go by too fast.

Happy birthday, baby boy!  I can't wait to see all that God has in store for you!

Without getting caught up on what was and loosing sight of the blessings of right now (this is something I must continually work on), I want to take some time to reflect on some of the highlights of the summer. Today I'll begin with something that is still going on right now. Over the last 2 months Josiah has grown and changed so much.  When we began the summer he was a total Momma's boy and we were convinced he was an introvert and would struggle with the number of people we would constantly be surrounded by while visiting family.  However, let me tell you, our toddler in the making is a whole new kid now.  It seemed like the more people he was around the more extroverted he became.  Now I'm worried he's not going to know what to do with just the four of us in the house most days.   I can't wait to see how he continues to grow and change in the coming months!  Thank you to everyone who loved on our little boy this summer and helped him to break out of his shell. In addition, when we began the summer this kid was an incredibly picky eater.  Getting him to consume any protein besides breast milk and yogurt was nearly impossible.  Suddenly, during the summer, he started embracing food whole-heatedly.  Now he rarely turns anything down and between  he and Eli I feel like I'm starting to get a small picture of what my grocery bills will be like in the years  to come (hijole!). Next, he speaks!  My grandfather who is Greek has taught all of his children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren to say "tota" (the Greek word for touch) while touching his pointer finger to theirs.  Apparently it's some sort of Greek tradition.  Anyone else ever heard of this?  Anyway, tota was Josiah's first word as he touched his finger to mine.  That's right my baby's first word was in Greek!  Watch out world this kid is going to be trilingual!  His second word was a slightly less impressive, but still incredibly cute "uh oh" (after dropping something), followed by "bye bye" and "hi."  It seems he only learns words with sort sort of gesture involved.  So, if I want him to say "mama" or "dada" I may have to start teaching him the sign language to go with it. Finally, this kid is on the move.  We will officially be calling him a toddler any day now.  He regularly takes three steps at a time and will be fully on the move and running around with his big brother any day now.  Terrifying! I can't believe my baby boy will be 1 year old in just two weeks.  Where did the time go? Ok, that's it for day 1 of highlights.  There are more to come and I promise the rest won't be me just gushing over my boys, but this proud Momma had to share a little.

Josiah turned 6 months old last week.  Oh how times flies!  Unfortunately, he, Dave and I were all sick that day (somehow Eli magically escaped the illness...sigh of relief), so there was no proper celebration of his achievement.  This kid is going to be on the move before I know it and I'm just not ready.  He's already quite the talented little roller.

I feel so blessed to have two amazing little sons who are healthy (most days) and growing and changing at such a rapid rate.

But oh, how life has changed...

In years past (they seem so long ago already!) Dave and I would have had friends over for dinner and watched the Ocars together.  This year I watched them while sitting on the floor, one hand helping the 2 year old put together a wooden train, the other hand helping the 6 month old grab his brother's toy cars that were just out of reach of his chubby little hands.

This morning when I poured myself a bowl of cheerios I also poured some in a small plastic bowl with a picture of a shark on the bottom.  During this seemingly simple and quick process I left the kitchen twice to make sure the 2 year old wasn't on top of the 6 month old who was playing on his mat on the floor in the living room.

Really relaxing nights watching tv with my husband now include something like this:

There is rarely a moment that I get to spend entirely alone in the bathroom.

Oh, and I typed a portion of this with one hand while breastfeeding and watching Max and Ruby on Nick Jr. (in Spanish to top it all off).  My multi-tasking skills have increased exponentially since becoming a mom!

Yes, life has changed.  I wouldn't trade any of it for a different life, but I certainly have my moments where I consider how different things are now.  Here's to many more changes to come...

So unlike Abby I am on the once a year blog post plan :)

As I'm sure many of you know first hand, having small kids in the house often means waking up in the middle of the night.  We have been blessed with a three month old who rarely sleeps less than 9 hours a night... but recently our 2 year old has been a different story.  Multiple times a week Eli has been waking up in the middle of the night crying or calling out "Mommy!... Daddy!".  Bad dreams... he wants water... his diaper is wet... he can't find his blanket... the reasons vary.  Hopefully this is a phase he will grow out of soon :)

Last night we got a baby sitter for the first time since Josiah's birth.  Despite the language barrier, Netty was great.  She took meticulous notes on when the boys should eat, get milk, go to bed, etc.  She handled Eli without breaking a sweat and seemed right at home with Josiah.  She was well versed at making bottles and changing diapers.  We felt great about leaving our boys with her and enjoying a night out (Happy birthday Lauren!).

Like most baby sitters, nannies, and maids here in Mexico City... Netty lives in a much less nice part of town than the people she works for.  Public transportation doesn't go to her neighborhood after 10, so she asked if she could stay at our house last night.   She slept in our extra bedroom and was out the door before the rest of us got out of bed this morning.  Once again, totally normal here in D.F.

So... last night when Eli had his 2am "Mommy!... Daddy!" call Netty ran into his room, comforted him, and helped him fall back to sleep.  I barely woke up and Abby missed the whole thing.  I definitely appreciated the chance to get a little more sleep... but this morning I've been thinking.  Abby and I currently live in a culture where it is very common for middle class families to have live in nannies.  Have you seen "The Help"?...  this cultural dynamic is still very normal here.  I wonder how many parents never get to comfort their scared 2 year old at 2am.  I wonder how many working dads relinquish all of these moments to the moms.  Eli generally wants hugs and kisses and to be told everything is all right.  Somehow I make everything all right.  And then he says "love you" and goes back to sleep.

Maybe I don't want Eli to totally grow out of this phase so soon.

Since we commemorated Eli turning 1 month here I thought it was only appropriate to do the same for Josiah.   He wasn't super thrilled with being my model, but here he is:

I can hardly believe that it has been a month already! What a blessing this little guy has been.

It's official...on August 21 at 12:37PM Josiah Henry was born and we became a family of four.  As an only child, I've never been a part of a family of four before.  It still sounds a little strange for me to say.  

However, so far, being a part of a family of four has been a wonderful experience.  From the beginning Josiah has done his best to make life pretty easy for us.  Yes, he's only 2 weeks old now and I have yet to spend a day alone with two kids (thanks hubby, mom, and mom-in-law for making this possible), so we have a long way to go, but so far life is good.

Here's a quick ( not at all graphic) run down of the birth experience and life with Josiah so far:

Contractions started at regular 7 minute intervals at 2 am on my due date (seriously, how many babies actually arrive on their due date?) and increased to a steady 5 minutes apart over 3 hours.  This was actually ideal for us, as it meant that Dave was home and my very pregnant sister-in-law was off the hook for driving me to the hospital while Dave was at work.  Plus, that early in the morning is a pretty low traffic time here in Mexico City, which relieved the stress of the 45 minute plus commute to the hospital.

My doctor arrived at the hospital as we were checking in and was there for almost the whole time I was in labor.  The whole time I was in labor at the hospital amounted to a grand total of 5 hours - so much better than the twenty hours I went through after I was induced a week after my due date with Eli.

Everything progressed quickly.  I turned down an epidural knowing that last time I had made it a full 10 hours without one and it had largely worn off by the time I actually gave birth.  Although, I realize that it is no great feet to give birth without anesthesia, people in Mexico (including my doctor) seem to be amazed that I did so.  Apparently it's practically unheard of here.

After three quick pushes (so much easier than the 1 hour plus of pushing last time) out popped our healthy, 6lb 8oz. 19.5in. little boy.  My doctor has since likened the experience to being on a roller coaster with her driving and me on the accelerator.

Since then he has been amazing.  He breastfeeds without any problem and pretty much just sleeps or quietly looks around when he's not eating.  He already regularly gives us 5-6 hour stretches of sleep at night.  Seriously, Eli wasn't a difficult baby at all.  How did I get SO blessed this time?

So, for all who have looked at us with concern as we have prepared to have a baby in Mexico, do not be concerned at all.  We had a wonderful birth experience and received great care during our stay at the hospital.  My biggest complaint would be the amount of moving around they made me go through during the birth process. Four different rooms and five different beds seemed a bit excessive, but certainly not a reason not to have a baby in Mexico.

So here we are, getting used to life as four:

To my second son,

Sorry, we have not decided on your name yet, so I cannot address this to you more specifically.   You are expected to arrive 3 months from today (however, your big brother had no desire to arrive in a timely fashion, so I will not hold it against you if you follow in his footsteps).  Time has flown by since we first found out that you were joining us.  We are very excited to meet you, to see your sweet face, to know the touch of your skin, the color of your eyes, the warmth of your smile, and to gradually discover your precious personality.

I admit I am a little intimidated at the thought of raising two boys, two kids in general really.  I grew up as an only child, so sibling interactions are not exactly my specialty.  However, you are a precious gift to this family and I know that, somehow, God will prepare me for all that is ahead of me.  Please be patient with me, as I am sure there will be a bit of a learning curve.

Your big brother is just starting to get the idea that something is happening in Mommy’s tummy.  He saw you at my last ultrasound and was not quite sure what to make of the whole thing.  He’s probably going to be a little jealous of all the time and attention you get for a while, but it is my prayer that the two of you will come to be good friends.  He’ll have lots of lessons to help teach you and he’s very good at giving hugs and kisses.  We will continue to work on making sure they are gentle enough for you.

Most importantly you need to know that your Mommy and Daddy love you so much already and are looking forward to your arrival. 

Love,

Mommy

"Like newborn infants long for pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation - if indeed you have tested that the Lord is good."
1 Peter 2:2-3

I keep wanting to say that I'm all grown up. I have a bachelors degree and a masters degree. I've been married for going on 7 years. We own a home. I have a son and another baby on the way. But none of these things make me grown.

I cringe when older individuals still talk to me like I'm a child (I look younger than I am, so it happens more than I would like). But the truth is many of these people have many years of knowledge and spiritual growth ahead of me. Despite all of this, as Christians, we're all still growing into our salvation. I believe that's a big part of why everyone who is living on this earth is still here. We're still growing, still learning, and still in need of spiritual milk.

When I was breastfeeding Eli I saw his longing and need for milk (and the kid still has a little bit of milk obsession). It's an amazing feeling to know that you are the only one who can provide that kind of nourishment for your child. As much as I was ready for Eli to be weaned after a year, there is a growing longing in me to have those same precious moments with my next child.

Teach me, God. Teach me to long for you in the same way a newborn child longs for milk. Teach me to understand that I need you and your Fatherly guidance just as much now as I did as a child. I need to keep growing. I need to keep maturing. It's a lifelong process. Thank you for your willingness, Lord, to patiently walk with me every step of the way. Thank you for loving me even when I act as a stubborn, ungrateful child.

Well, today Dave took a sick day from school because he has pink eye.  We decided that this is probably the best sick day scenario for a teacher.  He doesn’t really feel that bad, it takes a full 24 hours for the eye drops to clear it up enough that he’s no longer contagious, and he’s required to stay home from school until the contagious period is over. Yes, there's plenty of hand washing etc. going on, but overall it's pretty benign.

                                                        

We took advantage of our unexpected day with Daddy and finally made another trip to the ecological park near Xochimilco.

We fed the ducks, 

 soaked in some more of that wonderful sunshine,

walked around the park,

 and played with sticks in the dirt.

It was a wonderful way to spend a Monday afternoon.

Dear Eli,

In a few short months you are going to be a big brother.  I’m not going lie, your life is going to change pretty drastically.  You will not have nearly as much one-on-one time with me and Daddy.  However, this in no way means we love you any less.  In fact, the amount of love we have for you will never decrease - I have a feeling it’s only going to continue to grow. 

For the past 14 months you have been an amazing delight.  We continually thank God for the blessing you are in our lives.  You are an astoundingly happy little boy with an infectious smile.  We are enamored with your thirst to learn and experience new things, and we pray that you keep that thirst throughout your life.  You’re already an adventurer who fears almost nothing (sometimes I wish you had just a little more fear as you dive off the couch headfirst or shove your hand inside the dog’s mouth).  I know that you can take on this next challenge with the same gusto.

I am looking forward to seeing you learn to be a big brother with the sweet, adventurous spirit that has made you such a joy already.  More than one person has said that our next child has a lot to live up to, and they are right, you have set the bar high. 

In the short time you have been alive you have already experienced drastic changes to your little world.  You have traveled and moved from place to place like a champ.  You make each new person you meet your friend in practically no time.  You have adjusted to this new life in Mexico more seamlessly than the rest of us, and for that we are so thankful.  Yes, your life is going to go through another drastic change in just a few months and you’re probably not going to like all of the changes, but I am confident that you can handle it.  I am confident that you are going to be an amazing big brother.

Thank you for all the ways you have blessed us already, sweet boy.  Thank you for making being your mother such a joy.

Love,

Mommy

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m excited to announce that in August our little family of three will become a family of four!  That’s right, we’re expecting another child and currently I’m feeling:

                                               A)    Thrilled about the news.

                                               B)     Incredibly blessed that we were able to get pregnant so easily this time.

                                               C)    A little nauseous.

                                               D)    Slightly terrified at the prospect of keeping up with two kids under two.

                                               E)     All of the above

Please send your guesses (and prayers) my way!

Happy Thanksgiving from Zihuatanejo, Mexico!

Today we are thankful for this precious little boy, a gorgeous vacation spot. and so much more!

Dave has been flirting back and forth with a cold for a few weeks now.  Eli has woken up with a bit of a cough.  I’ve been the healthy one.  I’ve been the one taking care of everybody else.  Yesterday the cold finally caught up with me and today I feel anything but fabulous.  The benefits of being a stay-at-home mom are amazing, but where are the sick days?

The perfectionist in me still wants to do it all and be a great mommy, but the truth is I’m just not feeling up to it.  So today we’ll stay in our pajamas a bit longer, the dishes may not all get cleaned, and Eli will play by himself a little more while Mommy rests on the couch.

And it will all be okay…

One year ago today marked the culmination of...

14 months of trying to conceive

41 weeks of pregnancy

and 

20 hours of labor.

One year ago today I finally got to meet this little guy face to face.

All of the waiting was more than worth it!

Happy First Birthday, Eli!

I am amazed at the little guy you have become in just one year and so proud to be your mom.

It seems that each time I go to the grocery store Eli has taken it upon himself to get wigglier in the shopping cart and make it a bit more difficult for me to get my shopping done.  Lately he has taken it upon himself to try to swipe things from the shelves as we go.  I’m afraid he may have inherited my go-go-gadget arms.  Seriously, I’m 5’3” and my husband is 6’2” - from shoulder to wrist my arms are as long as his.  But back to Eli…

If I had allowed him to do the grocery shopping this week we would have come home with:

2 bags of cotton balls

1 large package of tortillas

A few potatoes

A tabloid magazine

and

3 ring pops

Hopefully this isn’t a reflection on his future grocery shopping tendencies.

Eli has developed somewhat of a celebrity persona since moving to Mexico.  Everywhere we go women and men alike ooo and ahh over him.  They tell him how handsome and precious he is and Dave and I what a beautiful baby we have.  Don’t get me wrong, I think my baby is absolutely gorgeous and perfect too, but he gets extra notice here because he’s a white baby with blonde hair. 

Seriously, people stop in the grocery store and call their relatives over to stare at him.  When we walk around our apartment complex older women stop what they are doing to wave to him.  In Costco women come up and kiss him (this one the American in me has a bit of a hard time with).  On the subway men play peek-a-boo with him and light up when he smiles and giggles along.  The kid is not going to know what to do when we’re back in the states and the world doesn’t come to a halt to stare at him.

 

The apex came while my parents were visiting and we were touring the Zocolo (the center square of downtown).  A high school-aged girl came up and asked if she could have her picture taken with him.  When we obliged ten other high school students came over in a crowd and each took dozens of pictures with their cell phones.  Seriously, the kid has paparazzi!

...aren't toys at all.

I can't believe this little guy is 11 months old today.  I can't believe that in just one short month he will be a year old.  Almost a year ago this blog began as we impatiently awaited his arrival.  Time flies!

I'm so in love with this little face.

 

I'm how old?!

So let's start with the easier news: Dave has officially embraced his balding state and buzzed his hair.  I have to say it actually looks pretty good.  Pictures will have to come later though, because...

Last night, we had our second major rain shower with hail since we've been here.  Marble sized hail came pouring from the sky while we ate dinner last night.  Dinner ended when I looked down at the floor and saw water streaming in through the front door from the garage, across the living room, and into the dining room.  FLOOD!  At this point the garage was already filled with at least 6 inches of water and it was streaming into the house fast.  Lauren and I (with Eli strapped to me in the Baby Bjorn) went to work mopping water out the front and back doors while the guys frantically tried to save what they could from the stuff stored in the garage and the lower storage space under the stairs (the places most of our stuff has been stored while we're staying here).  Most everything has been salvaged, but several books (including a sweet copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and Eli's crib mattress have been ruined.  We'll be mopping, putting the downstairs back together, and assessing the damage most of the day today.

I have to say, at this point I'm pretty excited about the 5th floor apartment we'll be moving into this weekend....