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. :)

Too cool

6:30 p.m.

I took this video about a month ago. It shows Nate's favorite time of day: when Jon gets home from work. I am looking forward to when Nate feels good enough again to laugh like this.

P.S. I'm feeling a lot better than yesterday.

Double sick

Nate and I are both sick now. He seems to be past the worst of it, as he woke up today without much of a fever (it was 102 on Friday night) but still had a very melancholy day... I guess I got this virus from him, but it is definitely affecting me differently (no cold or cough). I was up a lot last night and have felt achey and icky all day. Jon still went to church and to beach night tonight, since he did sound this morning and then spoke tonight at beach night (I am really disappointed to be missing it). So after a day of taking care of my sick boy and being sick myself, I am exhausted. I guess that's part of what being a mother is about.

Sick

Nate had his second physical therapy appointment today, but we didn't do very much because he is feeling really sick. I think it isn't just that his molars are coming in (ouch!), but he has a fever, a cough/runny nose, and that glossed-over eye look too. He didn't want to leave my arms while the physical therapist was here, so we did some cognitive things, and he did put his blocks back into a container and even put the lid on the container, which is a step forward.

My poor boy is definitely sick, though: he laid his head on my shoulder and rested there for an hour tonight, which is very unlike him.

Here is poor Nate sick last year (October 2005):

PT udpate

The physical therapist came this past Thursday, and I liked her. She watched Nate play for a bit and got down on the floor with him. We played mostly in his room. She saw that he pulls up and cruises along furniture and will even let go with both hands for a second. He doesn't like to take steps while you hold onto his hands. She also had him play with some of his toys that involve taking blocks out of a holder and putting them back in (he doesn't put them back in). All in all, she said he's doing wonderfully but still has some areas we will work on (like walking with me holding onto his hands and the putting objects back into a bucket, etc.). She is nice and I'm looking forward to doing the PT!

PT

I heard from the physical therapist who was assigned to Nate today, and she is coming to the house Thursday for the first appointment. I'm interested to see if she comes and decides to cancel the PT, since Nate is pulling up and cruising along furniture on his own, and those were the main goals listed in his evaluation. I would still like him to get the PT, though, since we have gone to all the trouble of getting the paperwork and evaluation done and since I think his fine motor skills are still behind. Last week, the caseworker told me we are approved for 4 months of therapy, one hour per week, and then Nate would be reevaluated. We'll see!

Video attempt

I don't know exactly how this works, but if you can view this video, it's very cute. :)

Playing in the fountain

:)

Happy Fourth of July!

My parents have a picture of my brother doing this exact same thing at this age. It must be a boy thing...

Nate (what else?)

Nate started pulling up to standing on his own this week. That means a lot more bumps and bruises!

(Look at all those teeth...and a haircut!)

Words

Starting yesterday, Nate's response to "What does a horsey say?"...

"Nnnnneh!"