I've been enjoying my 1st week home with babies...both Rowan and Rigby have adjusted really well. Things are a little complicated still because I'm not supposed to pick up Rowan since I had the c-section. The complicated part comes when it's nap time or lunch time or she wants to be held or I need to change her diaper and she's kicking and squirming!
Rigby still sleeps a lot but manages to wake up for about an hour each night to see his daddy. I took a video of Derek holding him when Rig was only 5 days old...it's very sweet.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Rigby Michael Gora
Our precious baby boy has arrived! God blessed us with the birth of our 2nd child on Tuesday April 13th. Rigby Michael Gora was born at 6:05pm and weighed in at 8lbs 4oz & was 20" in length. He was born 12 days before his actual due date (April 25) but only 3 days before the scheduled c-section date (April 16). I guess I should have remembered the verse in Proverbs that says "A man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps"...so true and as always, so good to be reminded of :)
I ended up waking up really early Tuesday morning at 4am w/back cramps and a terrible tummy sickness. I laid there for hours trying not to barf or have other "occurances"...so lets just say I knew something wasn't right. I also felt like I had a fever and had a strange achey feeling, both of which I did not feel when I went into labor with Row. So I was afraid I was coming down with a bad cold or flu or something...I couldn't be in labor. Not today! We had big plans for our niece Sydnee's birthday party and packing and cleaning and just lots to do before the baby comes...
All morning I fought this thing, but just could not shake the pain. I kept thinking that there was no way I was in labor because if the pains were contractions they were way too long. I took a bath, sat on the heating pad, tried sleeping...and eventually, called the dr. He told me just to go into the hospital for a quick check and they'd send me home if it wasn't real labor. Needless to say, I was in labor and having contractions 1 minute apart for 7 minutes...then they would subside for 10 minutes and I would have a giant contraction and then the cycle would repeat. So there was no stopping it and the labor pains were getting rather familiar by then anyway...and although I was trying to NOT have the baby that Tuesday, things were just as they should be. Derek and both my parents were able to make it to the hospital just before I was wheeled back for the surgery...not bad for a 1 1/2 hour notice :)
So as always, it all worked out in the right time and the right way...and we're so glad little Rigby is finally here. He's so cute and so sweet...he never really cries or anything. He just likes to sleep and eat and sometimes to look around and make funny faces. What a life! I had forgotten how much newborns sleep...and how precious and helpless and tiny they are. Little miracles...
Derek wearing his favorite outfit...again
Rig and Mommy
Rig and Daddy
Rig and Row...somebody just woke up and could not WAIT to hold her baby brother :)
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Sox Opening Day
Rowan and Daddy "donned" their White Sox duds on Monday for Opening Day...don't they look cute?
Cozy Coupe
We decided since our child basically has no outside toys to speak of and only plays with mulch and landscaping when we go outside, that we would invest in a Cozy Coupe! Which has turned out to be a great buy, by that way. She absolutely loves it. We got the idea because she's in love with my friend Michelle's little play car, and it's something she can push around on her own or with our assistance. The new versions of this little car come with a floor that you can put in it so you can push them without tangling their little legs...very smart. Here are some pics & movie from the day we gave it to her...
Friday, March 26, 2010
Big girl bed
A month ago we decided to convert Rowan's crib to the toddler bed; which means we basically removed the front rail from the crib. We wanted to give her a head start on trying out this "big girl bed" before her brother arrives...which is now only 3 short weeks away. Our plan is to move the new baby into the crib after he's a month or so old and move Rowan into a regular twin bed at that point. I think it might have been a little early to start this process (she was 17 months old) but a lot of other mom's I know have had to do it...and even earlier than us.
I'm proud to say that Rowan made the switch without any major issues. Her very 1st night in the new bed I woke up to find her crying at the back door...she was crying because it was locked (thankfully) and she couldn't get it open. I think she was still asleep though because when I scooped her up her eyes were closed and she went right back to bed. ? Then about a week later she did the same thing with the back door -- who knows! But that night she did not go back to bed quite as easy...that ended up being one of those loooong nights where all she wanted to do was play in the middle of the night. Thankfully, we only had two or three of those. One night I ended up sleeping (not really of course) out in the living room so I could stop her at her door in mid-escape. She would open her bedroom door and say "Cole" or "poo poo" or "owe" ...she was trying all different tactics to get out of bed. Eventually I was even laughing because she was getting so creative. Then after so many spanks and me saying "no Rowan...it's night night time", she would just open her door and say NO NI-NIGHT and then slam it shut and cry! I think she finally got tired of the routine at 3:30 and decided to stay in bed.
Anyway, we had a few nights here and there of her crying and getting out of bed...but she figured it out and isn't giving us any trouble anymore. I'm still considering putting a baby gate up at her bedroom door though to make it a little harder for her to get out if she decides to go on another nightly stroll.
Here's a video of her playing in her new bed...which she absolutely loves to play in by the way. She goes in her room to play by herself a lot now and we'll find her sitting in her bed playing baby dolls. So cute...
Oh and the chair is in front of her bed so she doesn't fall out at night...
I'm proud to say that Rowan made the switch without any major issues. Her very 1st night in the new bed I woke up to find her crying at the back door...she was crying because it was locked (thankfully) and she couldn't get it open. I think she was still asleep though because when I scooped her up her eyes were closed and she went right back to bed. ? Then about a week later she did the same thing with the back door -- who knows! But that night she did not go back to bed quite as easy...that ended up being one of those loooong nights where all she wanted to do was play in the middle of the night. Thankfully, we only had two or three of those. One night I ended up sleeping (not really of course) out in the living room so I could stop her at her door in mid-escape. She would open her bedroom door and say "Cole" or "poo poo" or "owe" ...she was trying all different tactics to get out of bed. Eventually I was even laughing because she was getting so creative. Then after so many spanks and me saying "no Rowan...it's night night time", she would just open her door and say NO NI-NIGHT and then slam it shut and cry! I think she finally got tired of the routine at 3:30 and decided to stay in bed.
Anyway, we had a few nights here and there of her crying and getting out of bed...but she figured it out and isn't giving us any trouble anymore. I'm still considering putting a baby gate up at her bedroom door though to make it a little harder for her to get out if she decides to go on another nightly stroll.
Here's a video of her playing in her new bed...which she absolutely loves to play in by the way. She goes in her room to play by herself a lot now and we'll find her sitting in her bed playing baby dolls. So cute...
Oh and the chair is in front of her bed so she doesn't fall out at night...
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Jumping Bean
A few weeks ago we got Rowan's Jump-n-Go out of the crawl space so that Baby Haley could play with it. Rowan ended up taking full advantage before handing it over to her little buddy...just see the video below.
Rowan spent probably about an hour in this thing each morning while I cleaned up the kitchen. She's obviously a little bit too big for it, but I think that's why she loved it so much. She's going to have a blast once the baby swing and bouncy seat make an appearance again for her baby brother :)
Rowan spent probably about an hour in this thing each morning while I cleaned up the kitchen. She's obviously a little bit too big for it, but I think that's why she loved it so much. She's going to have a blast once the baby swing and bouncy seat make an appearance again for her baby brother :)
Random Rowee
Here I go again not keeping up with Rowan's blog...I've been busy and tired, you know the routine. There's work, the house and groceries and cooking and loads of laundry that live out their lives in baskets and on the floor, the new baby's nursery project, there's Rowan of course who loves to be held by momma and climb everything and empty cabinets and leave trails of toys and shoes all over, my hunk of a husband Derek who has achey joints and muscles that need rubbed from his new job, trying to keep up with Bible studies and our church groups, and then the whole being 9 months pregnant thing.
iy-yi-yiiii. Anyone want to trade lives? Actually the only part I want to trade away is the 1st item on the list...WORK. Oh how I'd love to concentrate all of my energy and heart on the more important parts of my life that seem somehow to get the least amount of my time...hmmmm.
On a lighter note...Rowan just had her 18 month appt with Dr. Lin and all is well. She's been stuck at the same weight since she turned one...about 26 lbs. Dr. Lin said she's following the growth curve just right however and that there is nothing to worry about. Rowan is a bit of picky eater though. She definitely has her favorites. I've found though that if I give her enough time, eventually she'll eat most of what is in front of her. I blame Derek -- he's a picky eater and passed his stubborn food eating antics on to his precious baby girl. I'm praying this next baby is a little more easy going when it comes to food!
Here are some random shots of Rowan over the past month...
Rowan with her favorite buddy Cousin Sydnee...their 1st sleepover together
iy-yi-yiiii. Anyone want to trade lives? Actually the only part I want to trade away is the 1st item on the list...WORK. Oh how I'd love to concentrate all of my energy and heart on the more important parts of my life that seem somehow to get the least amount of my time...hmmmm.
On a lighter note...Rowan just had her 18 month appt with Dr. Lin and all is well. She's been stuck at the same weight since she turned one...about 26 lbs. Dr. Lin said she's following the growth curve just right however and that there is nothing to worry about. Rowan is a bit of picky eater though. She definitely has her favorites. I've found though that if I give her enough time, eventually she'll eat most of what is in front of her. I blame Derek -- he's a picky eater and passed his stubborn food eating antics on to his precious baby girl. I'm praying this next baby is a little more easy going when it comes to food!
Here are some random shots of Rowan over the past month...
Rowan with her favorite buddy Cousin Sydnee...their 1st sleepover together
Playing with her baby doll's mini pack-in-play
Still in love with shoes of course...but has moved on to heels
Still in love with shoes of course...but has moved on to heels
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
no more desitin!
Late last week I think we discovered that Rowan is allergic to Desitin -- or at least the more powerful "maximum" strength version. Rowan has been having a bout with diaper rash over the last month. I really think it hasn't healed up because she doesn't respond well to certain diaper rash creams. The one that works the best for Rowee is the Aveeno brand -- which has been sold out at both Target and BabysRus for awhile now. How annoying!
I've been using Butt Paste (what a fabulous name) over the last month during the Aveeno drought, but her little bottom doesn't really respond to it. So anyway, last week I went out and bought some high octane Desitin with like 40% zinc oxide. I lathered her up before bed and put her ni-night. No problems...or so I thought.
The next morning I put some more on her before sending her off to the babysitter and then Jill called me in the morning asking if Rowan was sick or allergic to anything. She ended up getting a rash on her bottom, back of her legs, her feet and a little on her face. I was so worried! I wanted to leave work immediately but Jill put her down for a nap...which lasted 3 whole hours! Anyway, she woke up completely healed. Whew. Below is the photo Jill text'd me as "proof of life" afterwards.
Poor baby! No more Desitin for us that's for sure.
I've been using Butt Paste (what a fabulous name) over the last month during the Aveeno drought, but her little bottom doesn't really respond to it. So anyway, last week I went out and bought some high octane Desitin with like 40% zinc oxide. I lathered her up before bed and put her ni-night. No problems...or so I thought.
The next morning I put some more on her before sending her off to the babysitter and then Jill called me in the morning asking if Rowan was sick or allergic to anything. She ended up getting a rash on her bottom, back of her legs, her feet and a little on her face. I was so worried! I wanted to leave work immediately but Jill put her down for a nap...which lasted 3 whole hours! Anyway, she woke up completely healed. Whew. Below is the photo Jill text'd me as "proof of life" afterwards.
Poor baby! No more Desitin for us that's for sure.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Rowan loves Cole
One of Rowan's first words was Cole (and it's still one of her favorite things to say). She loves him so much! Cole is our cat by the way... "catdog" as Derek calls him.
Everyone morning when Rowan wakes up the first thing she says is "Hi Cole". She's always trying to hug and cuddle him or pick him up, feed him treats, and sometimes she even swats him around! Cole is such a good boy though. He cries when she cries and absolutely loves it when she comes over to watch him eat. For some odd reason, Cole really wants us to stand at his food bowl and watch him chow. That's probably why he is so fond of Rowan...she's only one who takes the time to indulge him :)
Rowan and Cole hugging
Rowan trying to teach Cole to color
Everyone morning when Rowan wakes up the first thing she says is "Hi Cole". She's always trying to hug and cuddle him or pick him up, feed him treats, and sometimes she even swats him around! Cole is such a good boy though. He cries when she cries and absolutely loves it when she comes over to watch him eat. For some odd reason, Cole really wants us to stand at his food bowl and watch him chow. That's probably why he is so fond of Rowan...she's only one who takes the time to indulge him :)
Rowan and Cole hugging
Rowan trying to teach Cole to color
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