"Trust"

Did you ever play the game "Trust" in elementary school or junior high? One person stands up with planted feet and purposely falls straight back without bending his/her knees, trusting that the person behind him/her will catch him/her. Well, sometimes when Nate is supposed to be napping but is standing in his crib instead, I go in to tell him to lie down. Now that he knows the routine, I have to make sure to get over to the crib quickly, because he knows to lie down. His way of lying down is just like "Trust": he plants his feet and falls straight back, regardless of what might be in his way (crib slats, etc.). I'm always there to catch him and help him lie down gently. It cracks me up!

My husband

I knew it already, but I'm realizing even more what a blessing my husband is. Lately, through random conversations, I have been hearing about what other husbands/dads are like around the house with the family. Some believe their only "job" is making money for the family, and any other responsibility falls on the wife. My husband is definitely not like this. He works hard to provide for our family, spends many hours each week doing school work (did I tell you? He started University of Phoenix a few months ago to get his BA), takes care of our cars, mows the lawn--you know, all the "man" stuff. Then he also plays with Nate, often gives him his bath, always puts him to bed, kills every bug or spider I ask him to, and always gets up during the night if Nate needs one of us. The thing that makes this so much of a blessing is that he does it naturally, without thinking he's doing anyone a favor. He really has a servant's heart, and I am so thankful for him.

10/30

I've been feeling the baby move quite a bit for the past few days! I feel it sometimes when I lie down, but usually when I'm sitting straight up in a chair. Feeling the baby move was one of my favorite things about being pregnant the first time, and it's the same now!

Nate went home with Grammy and Grampy from church yesterday, and then they took him to Disneyland for the rest of the day (they said he liked looking at the lights and sat back and observed on the couple of rides they took him on). He slept over at their house last night while Jon and I went with two friends to a Clippers season ticket holder appreciation night at Universal Studios. The event wasn't anything great (especially since Jon got carsick on the way up and then got really sick after going on a simulated motion ride), but it was just nice to get out and be together, and then to come home and sleep soundly without listening to the baby monitor!

I picked Nate up this morning. He's down for a nap right now, but I'm looking forward to playing with him after he wakes up--I missed him yesterday!

Video

Here's a new video I just uploaded:



And Nate in the back yard:

My energy returns?

Today is the first day I've felt like "getting something done" while Nate naps. I mopped! I did dishes! It's either that second trimester energy finally kicking in, or it's the half a can of regular Coke (my first this pregnancy other than a few sips here and there) I drank earlier.

I'm exactly 4 months along today. Oh, and I think I felt the baby move yesterday morning, but it's hard to be sure this early on. I have my next appointment tomorrow and look forward to hearing the heartbeat and getting a good report from the doctor.

Still no boy names have popped into my head. Feel free to tell me your favorite(s)--but I might steal it!

Morning walk

Nate and I go on a walk around the neighborhood each morning. He leads the way and always seems to stop at the same places (certain flowers, every sprinkler head he sees, certain walkways).

Precious times

There have always been little moments of joy with Nate since he has been born, but they seem to happen more and more as he gets older. This morning, Jon got up with Nate and let me sleep for another hour (a moment of joy in and of itself), and when I got up, we all were hanging out in the living room. Jon and I were standing near a doorway, and Nate was walking toward us, but not really watching. He walked into Jon and nearly lost his balance, but he righted himself. Jon and I both laughed, and as Nate was walking away, he let out a big guffaw too, so he could be part of whatever it was we were laughing at. That made us laugh harder. It was just so cute.

Yesterday, Casey came over with her one-month-old boy, Bennett. Bennett was in his carseat on the floor, and Nate walked up to him. I said, "Be gentle," and Nate used one finger to poke Bennett in the forehead. It might have been a little rough, because Bennett made a funny face. Nate hasn't had much (any) exposure to newborns, but I think he knows what I mean when I say to be gentle; that's what I say when he touches flowers when we go on our walks. A moment later, Nate came back to Bennett, and I told him again to be gentle. This time he bent over and used one finger to stroke what little hair Bennett has--just like he touches flowers. :)

Pumpkin patch: then & now

Nate at the pumpkin patch last October:


Nate at the pumpkin patch this October:

PT update

Nate's physical therapist is pleased with his gross motor skill development. His walking now puts him where most 15 month olds are (he is 17 months old). Now, though, she recommends he have a speech evaluation, since most kids say at least a few, if not 15-20, words by now, and he doesn't say anything (not even "no" or "uh-oh"). I know I shouldn't worry, but it's hard not to. I just keep reminding myself that I have a happy, contented son, which is what matters most at this point.

Back to normal

It took Nate all the way until Saturday to feel better. That was the first day he ate more than three bites of food at a meal without crying (because I think it was hurting his stomach). Now he's back to his cheerful, chipper self. We spent yesterday together playing around the house. One of his favorite things lately has been to wrap himself up in the curtains and hide while I ask, "Where's Nate?" and come tickle him. His laugh cracks me up.

My parents were here from Friday night until Tuesday morning for a quick visit. It was really nice to have them. We all went down to Laguna for a few hours on Saturday to walk around and have lunch. Nate put his feet in the ocean for the first time (I think it shocked him). On Sunday, we all went to church, and it worked out perfectly that I had been scheduled to play flute for special music, so my parents got to hear/see that. I think it was Sunday afternoon that my dad took Jon to Home Depot to buy him a new toy--an air compressor (how exciting!). We went to dinner at CPK that night. On Monday, my dad dropped my mom and me off to get pedicures while he took Nate with him to Home Depot to teach him about the different kinds of wood. ;) On Monday evening, my parents stayed home with Nate while Jon and I went out to a lovely, relaxed, long dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, the Sundried Tomato (though we've only been there twice). It was great!

Now it's back to the real world with cleaning, errands, and meetings!

Mimi = fun

Nate and my mom spent some time in the back yard this weekend. Here he is making sure she is chasing him around the table:



After a minute, he would laugh while he walked right to her to be tickled:

Better

Things are a lot better in the Varela household today. Jon stayed home from work on Monday to recover, but he was back at work and nearly back to normal on Tuesday. Nate, on the other hand, has taken a while to recover. He got sick on Friday and is still not himself today. He's fussy and clingy and doesn't want to eat (shocker!). I'm praying he is back to his chipper self by Friday, though, because that's when my parents are coming. They will be here for a quick visit (until Tuesday morning), and I'm really looking forward to it. Of course, I have completely neglected the housework this week (just like Sara when her boys were sick this past weekend--I love the baked potato part), as nearly every waking minute has to be devoted to Nate, but I'm sure my parents won't notice since they'll be too caught up with Nate.

I have my 12-week prenatal appointment today and will get to hear the heartbeat--yay! I remember the first time around, when I was pregnant with Nate, I thought about it all the time (at least once an hour)--how big the baby was that day, what was developing that week, what we should name him/her, when and where I should register, etc. But I'm finding with this pregnancy that I've sometimes forgotten I'm pregnant (if I'm not having morning sickness)! I guess I just don't have time to think about it. I receive weekly e-mails about the pregnancy and how the baby is developing, but I have time only to skim them (before, I'd read them in-depth and click through all the links).

Oh, and about names: I absolutely cannot think of a boy name I like. I've mentioned a few to Jon, but he has voted no on them, which is fine because I'm not really attached to them anyway. With Nate, we didn't know if he was a boy or girl, and I couldn't settle on a girl name. Does this mean I just need to think harder or does it mean I'm having a girl? :)

My boys

Now my poor husband is really sick. This is no fun at all. He feels terrible and I wish there were something I could do to help! My poor boys!

Sick again

Nate woke up yesterday morning with some sort of stomach bug. He kept down a bit of liquid and a few crackers yesterday, but he had a hard night last night and a very rough morning this morning. We spent the day watching Little Einsteins episodes (we have about 10 saved on our DVR, and we watched all 10 of them and might have even repeated one or two), going on a few quick walks in the stroller, and just cuddling. Nate was super hot all day long but never had a fever. He kept down a few sips of 7up (which he had never tasted before and now hates), a few bites of popsicle, and a Saltine. He went to bed very angry because he wanted more water than what we gave him, which was only a little bit. I feel so terrible and wish he could understand why we weren't giving him what he wanted. Nothing else matters when your child is sick. :(

Tada!

Nate is walking! He started taking 5 or 6 steps at once last week, and a few days later would walk across a room. Now he's walking pretty well! :)

Pregnancy

I had my first prenatal appointment this week, and it went well. Nothing too exciting happens at the 8-week visit, since the baby is still too small (kidney beanish) to hear its heartbeat with the Doppler or anything like that. I do get to go back on Tuesday, though, for an ultrasound where they will verify my due date. I had an ultrasound with Nate at this stage, too; the baby looks like a little blob with arm buds and leg buds, but you can see the beating heart! That's pretty cool.

I've been feeling relatively good as far as morning sickness goes. I've pulled out all my old tricks I learned while pregnant with Nate (like keeping food by the bed and eating right when I wake up in the morning--ahem, I mean right when Nate wakes up--so that I have something in my stomach). I'm pretty tired and still feel somewhat queasy most of the day, but so far so good!

Fun

Announcement

I've been meaning to post the news for a few days but haven't had the time... We are expecting our second little Varela! :) I'm due April 10, and we're very excited!

New video

Nate is getting closer and closer to walking. He still will take a few steps toward outstretched arms. Here he is using a unique walker.

Missouri

We got back this past Tuesday from a quick trip to Missouri, where Jon's mom's side of the family lives. Jon grew up going there at least once a year to visit his grandparents and aunts and uncles (there are lots--Colleen has six siblings). He has lots of fond memories of playing with his cousins and making trouble at his grandparents' house in the tiny town of Eldon.

We flew out of Orange County on Thursday (yes, Thursday, the day the authories foiled the terror plot in London... We had a very long day and arrived in St. Louis over seven hours later than scheduled). We stayed at Jon's aunt Mary's house in Jefferson City. Friday was kind of a recovery day--I don't remember doing much on this day except going to get coffee at the Starbucks in the new Target store there. On Saturday, we drove about two hours back in the direction of St. Louis to attend Jon's cousin Jessica's wedding in Mexico, Missouri. On Sunday, we went to church at Fellowship Bible Church, where Jon's grandfather was the pastor before he died about 12 years ago. It was a little country church with a big, long basement floor where Jon says he used to run around and play games. After church, we went to the White family reunion, where I met some of Jon's grandmother's siblings and aunts and other relatives. (Weird side note: the reunion was held in the lower level of a Masonic temple!....) On Monday, we visited Jon's grandparents' house, where Jon pointed out the tree he used to love to climb, the fields and stream where he and his cousins used to run and play, the room he used to sleep in that used to be so big to him (it was tiny), etc. Monday evening, we went back to Aunt Mary's house and ate Colleen's tacos. Then we had to pack up to leave! Our flight was Tuesday afternoon out of St. Louis, and the security hassles were much more manageable.

This wasn't an extremely kid-friendly trip with all the driving, flying, and sitting, but Nate did well. He was very happy to be home on Tuesday, though. We got in the house, and he crawled excitedly to each of his toys and played with it for a minute before going on to the next one.

Oh, and while on the trip, Nate took his first steps! He still doesn't really walk on his own, but if you stand him on his feet, then move a foot or two away from him with your arms out, he'll walk three or four steps before planting his feet and leaning/falling toward you. :)