Random things

I am still waiting to see if Nate is the same today as he has been for the past week. So far, the day has seemed better. I just wish I knew what was wrong with him so I could fix it!

Yesterday, I watched my next door neighbor's daughter for her and took a picture of one of Nate's favorite things to do as of late: play with others' hair. I can tell when he's going to do it because he gets this cute look in his eye and does this high-pitched squeal/laugh/singing sort of thing. He doesn't pull the hair; he just moves his hands back and forth like he's washing it. He does it to me all the time and sometimes it actually feels good! Lately, the nursery workers at church have said that he goes around to each child in the nursery and does it to them.



Last night Jon took me out to dinner to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for my birthday. We had such a wonderful time and ate some really good food. Boy do I love my husband. And he got me a ring! I've always loved rings and am more likely to wear them than other pieces of jewelry (don't know why--maybe because I like my hands???). It's a white gold ring with a blue topaz (topaz is November's birth stone) and diamonds. It's a few sizes too big, but Jon knew it would be and is going to get it sized this week. He did a great job!

Who?

I got a box from Amazon.com today with two books inside, and I am so excited to read them! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time has been on my need-to-buy-and-read-this list for a long time. The thing is that I don't know who sent these! It is my birthday this week, and I have a very thoughtful friend who usually does things like this, so I think they might be from her, but I don't know! The box had no invoice slip or anything in it. Who wants to 'fess up? :)

Something's up

Something has been up with Nate for the past week. He just isn't acting himself... He's super fussy, unamused by activities he usually loves (e.g., going outside), not eating very much at lunch or dinner, taking very short naps (though that isn't very unusual), and generally just a big crank. He hasn't necessarily seemed sick except for one episode early last week, so I don't know what it is (more teeth coming in? He's never acted this bad about that before). Although I feel bad for him if something is wrong, it's just feeling more and more overwhelming for me. Son, I need just a little break!

In happier Nate news, he did have his 18-month appointment last week and is doing well. He weighs 25 pounds 8 ounces (50th percentile), is 33 inches tall (75th percentile)--or, as I like to say, he's 2 foot 9--and still has a big ol' head (90th percentile).

Little Injun

"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!