7 months - what's up?

Luke is a rolling machine. I put him down under his little activity area, walk out of the room, and when I come back he's halfway off the mat and pointed in a completely different direction. It won't be long before he figures out how to roll to actually get somewhere.

He's also getting close to cutting some teeth, he's always gnawing on something, usually his hands. I tried giving him a bit of cereal a couple of days ago (he still hasn't started on solids yet) but he was more interested in chewing on the spoon than eating the food. Plus I think he was just plain tired and cranky, so we'll try it again in a couple of days and see what happens. Going by Kellymom (http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-when.html) he's still not quite ready for solids, so I'm not pushing it.

He's also finishing up antibiotics for an ear infection - not sure if it's a new one or if the last one just never cleared completely (not finishing the Amoxicillin didn't help, I'm sure - yeah, yeah, I've learned my lesson). They gave him Ceftin this time and he tolerated it much better, no puking and the diaper rash wasn't near as bad. I don't want my kids to be like me, on antibiotics practically 24/7 for almost my entire childhood, so I'm trying to let things run their course before jumping to drugs (last time was a moment of weakness), but the poor thing was PITIFUL before he got meds, whining and crying and clingy. It just broke my heart! Poor baby :( But after a couple days on the antibiotic he was back to his old self. My parents had come to visit the day before I took him in, before he got really bad, and he wouldn't let anyone hold him and was a complete cranky-pants, so I'll have to take him down to see them now that he's better so they can get some cuddle time with him.

Adam is getting super-excited for Kindergarten. Registration is next week. He'll be Class of 2022. I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry...

He had his followup with ENT last week, and if the fluid in his ears isn't gone by March they want to put in tubes. He said 90% of cases will clear up on their own within 3 months, but the last 10% usually won't clear up no matter how long you wait. He also suggested taking out his tonsils at the same time because they're HUGE. And they really are, they're almost touching. He told me to listen to him while he sleeps because he'd be surprised if he didn't have sleep apnea. And lo and behold, I listened to him in the middle of the night and every once in a while he'd stop breathing. So come April we may be looking at surgery. There goes our tax refund. Ah well, the things we do for our kids.

Luke in his Jumperoo, taken last night (on my phone, sorry about the crappy quality). He loves that thing...

38%

38%

39%

$4740.00The Cadaver Calculator - Find out how much your body is worth.

15

26% Geek

Reverse cycling

So Luke wants his milk either straight from the tap or not at all. In order to achieve this, he is drinking the bare minimum possible during daycare (sometimes less than 12 ounces in 9 1/2 hours) and nursing all. night. long. Whee! Coffee is my friend.

Sickies

So Luke got his first ear infection. And his first Amoxicillin prescription. Aw, something to write in his baby book! That stuff ain't as great as I remember - he did NOT like it. Hated the taste (this can't be MY kid, that stuff was like candy to me when I was little!) and it made his tummy hurt. Plus it's given him an AWESOME diaper rash. His poor butt is so sore, it hurts just to look at it. So I threw away the antibiotic. Yeah, I know, he's supposed to finish it all, but screw it, it's not worth putting my baby through even more pain just to fix up an ear infection.

I also got a nice Amoxicillin prescription, but I got stupid pills, no yummy pink stuff for me. Thought I had strep, actually was convinced I had strep, but turns out it was bronchitis that was going on it's 4th week. Huh, alrighty then. And I also quit taking it, it makes my stomach hurt something awful. What the heck, I lived off of this stuff when I was a kid, would actually ASK to take it, and now that I'm an adult it gives me stomach cramps?

Some pictures

Jen and the kids were up this past weekend so we all went and got our pictures taken (Mom's been trying to organize this for years).

My husband, the radio personality

So Nicky-boy got a new part-time job at the AM radio station in Albert Lea. Right now he's learning the ropes, but eventually he'll be doing sports broadcasting (high school games and stuff like that). Way cool. I think there's talk of him having his own weekend show somewhere down the line, too.

I have to say, I'm loving the 4-year-old age right now (ask me that again when Adam's throwing a tantrum...) He is SO INTO Santa and Christmas. He loves seeing the Christmas lights on all the houses and buildings. He never lets me forget to add an ornament to our Advent calendar every day. He leaves drawings under the Christmas tree for Santa to see. It's so friggin' cute I can hardly stand it. Last Sunday he saw Santa at the Christmas party at the Eagles. I took the pictures with my phone so they kinda suck, but it's all you're gonna get right now.




Okay, and Photobucket sucks eggs because these shouldn't be sideways. Whatever.

Lukey-boy is still as cute as can be. He's been a little sick, he's got a cough and he's more fussy than usual, but he still shows off his big smile whenever you talk to him. I love to munch on his chubby cheeks. Pictures of him forthcoming (yeah, like you haven't heard THAT before...)

We have rollage!

Luke rolled over front to back AND back to front the other day at daycare! Haven't seen it for myself yet since by the time we get home all he wants is a boob and a nap and isn't much for floor time, but I bet he'll perform for us during the long weekend.

I also got him to laugh for me, a real 2-part belly laugh, not just the cute little baby giggles. He's never laughed this much, though:

This is a little girl from my due date club (I'm on a message board where a bunch of us all due in July formed a little club).

Three months!

Blogger's being mean to me, the pictures look cut off but if you click on them they'll come up full-screen.

Adam had just finished some gummi snacks so his teeth are kinda gnarly:

Yes, I actually did take these pictures on Luke's 3-month birthday, I just haven't been able to upload or post them until today.

Halloween pictures to come soon, and Adam had his first hockey practice last Sunday so I'll have some pics from that, too.

Better late than never...

Luke Nicholas was born 07/24/08 at 10:03 p.m. I was in labor all day at work but didn't know it (I was feeling the contractions but they weren't in any pattern and I didn't think they were doing anything). He came fast and easy (the midwife almost didn't make it, she got there about 15 minutes before he was born, and I never did get to go in the birth pool), the contractions hurt some but it didn't "really" start to hurt until about 9 p.m., and then I understood why women ask for drugs. But I'd do it all again in a second, and if there is a #3 he or she will be born at home, too.

1 day old:

Brotherly love:

2 months old:

Angry pumpkin:

Yes I'm still pregnant.

Had contractions all afternoon on Friday. Real ones, too, not just Braxton-Hicks. Don't know how far apart they were or how long they lasted because I didn't have my watch on and we were outside all day.

Don't get too excited, though - haven't had a single one since then.

Here's your chance to name our baby!

We are in desperate need of name help. We haven't agreed on a single name, everything's more of a "maybe", so I'm calling on everyone to hit us with your best name suggestions! There are only 2 rules: 1) It has to be a BOY name (duh). and 2) It has to have 4 letters (or can be shortened via nickname to 4 letters). GO!

I nested!

Okay, being 2 weeks farther along now than I ever got with Adam, this is all new to me. I nested yesterday! I completely cleaned Adam's room, rearranged all his toys, got rid of the "storage" and random junk that was piled up by his closet door, and cleared out the clothes from his dresser that don't fit anymore. Now the kid can actually play with his toys, the only stuff in his room is HIS stuff (well, and the baby's), and his new clothes will fit in his dresser! Gotta still go through the stuff hanging in the closet, though... Ooh, and I got the crib ready to go, all I have to do is wash the sheets and set up the mobile, but I lowered the rail and got the mattress up to the highest setting.

Saturday we spent the day at the Mall of America at Nickelodeon Universe with some of the Semples for Adam's birthday. He got to see Grandpa Steve, Aunt Denice, Aunt Judy, Aunt Kim, Melissa, Matthew, and Olivia. Rode as many rides as they could get on! Nick had to chaperone the boys because they were too small to ride most of the rides by themselves. And get this - they rode the log flume. And LOVED it! I was so surprised, I thought for sure Adam would get freaked out, but he came running out of the exit afterwards asking to do it again! We should have bought the picture they take of you on the ride, Matthew is holding on to the seat in front of him for dear life and Adam has a look of complete horror on his face. But they loved it and rode it again before we left.

If anyone is wondering what to get Adam for his birthday, one word - Legos. Denice bought him a bucket o' Legos for his birthday and they are a HIT. Though he did lose his Lego priviledges yesterday because he decided he didn't want to pick them up when he was done playing with them. So yeah, Legos are "it" right now, you can never have too many Legos (ask me that again when the baby starts to crawl). He also got a big pack of Matchbox cars and a carrying case, much better than the plastic grocery sack he's currently using to haul all of his cars to daycare every day, and a giant firetruck floor puzzle, one of the reasons why I was so gung-ho to get his room cleaned yesterday. And Grandpa gave us some money to go pick out a new Twins hat, his old one is getting a little small for his noggin, and it's pretty spiffy.

As far as the baby's concerned, no news is good news. Still head-down as of last week, still squirming around, no signs of coming out anytime soon. Haven't had an ultrasound since 22 weeks so no guesses on his weight, but my belly measurements are right on track every week. I'm expecting at least an 8-pounder, though 9 would be better (yes, I want a BIG baby! I want a rolly-poly chunker monster!).

Can you hear that?

Shhhh, listen carefully... Do you hear that... It's the sound of Nick, washing dishes...

IN OUR NEW DISHWASHER!! AKA my new best friend. It's not pretty, it's just jerry-rigged up to the water supply and sitting in the middle of our kitchen, but by golly it washes dishes just fine! Be still, my heart...

My son, the future midwife (midhusband?)

Sorry for not updating sooner, there's just been nothing to write about. Baby's fine, really active, and I feel fine. My lower back hurts a little bit but I heard my stepsister has sciatica so I'm not complaining too much.

We're now down to visits every 2 weeks. I'm officially in the 3rd trimester! As of today I'm 28+5 weeks. I had an appointment last Thursday and everything was peachy. No swelling, not spilling protein or glucose, and I'm measuring right on target. We're starting to talk a little bit more about the birth and what to expect now, what's normal and what's not normal, stuff like that. I'm going to have to make Nick a little cheat sheet for labor because the poor guy is going to be completely out of his element. Props to him for humoring me about my "crazy homebirth" ideas, though. He's taking everything in stride.

No new updates on the name front, Nick is nonplussed about the whole thing and thinks we have plenty of time to decide, whereas I'm chomping at the bit ready to name this kid already! Nickolas (notice the spelling) is a maybe, Braden is a maybe, Aiden is a maybe, other than that we can't narrow anything down. Nancy just suggested Cole, to keep with the 4-letter name tradition (Nick, Lisa, Adam), so I'll run that by Nick to see if he vetoes it or not. It's the name of a character on one of his favorite soaps, though, so I'm not sure how it's going to go over. On the other hand, his girl name (Hope) is also a soap name, so you never know.

So, on to my future midwife. At my appointment last week Adam was bouncing around and showing off as usual. About every 5 minutes he'd interrupt and ask if it was time for him to squeeze the black thing yet (he gets to squeeze the bulb of the blood pressure cuff when Rachel takes my vitals). So we're winding down our visit and Rachel starts getting things out to check on the baby. Of course she lets him squeeze the bulb, which he does an awesome job of. I lay down so she can check on the baby's heartbeat and he gets a tissue ready to wipe off the blue goo they use for the Doppler. Now that the baby's bigger Rachel is using a fetoscope to check on the heart rate (http://www.allheart.com/om13fetal.html) and always brings 2 with her, one for her to listen and one for the mother to listen. Well, she has her fetoscope on my belly and is trying to hear (the heartbeat is still kind of soft at this point), and while she's doing that Adam grabs the other one, sticks the earpieces in his ears, and puts the thing on my belly. It was all I could do not to bust out laughing! I kept looking at him and giggling, and apologizing to her because every time I laughed it made my belly move and she was trying so hard to listen, but then I'd catch a glimpse of Adam listening intently to my belly and I'd start laughing again. I so wish I'd gotten a picture, but I was kind of indisposed at the moment and Nick was outside working on the house. It was just the cutest thing I'd ever seen! She finally got a good read on the heartbeat and let me try to listen to see if I could hear, but I couldn't. Maybe next time. So she starts packing up her stuff and Adam asked where the blue stuff was, with the tissue still clutched in his hand, so she fell victim to his cuteness and broke out the Doppler so he could hear the heartbeat and help wipe the goo off my belly. Such a good little helper.

And now for something completely different

Puppies!!

Yeah, sorry they're sideways, Photobucket sucks. Gertie had her puppies on Tuesday morning, and 4 girls and 2 boys made it through the night (one girl died).

He MAY have turned...

I don't know for sure, but babe might be head-down now. I got a few kicks to my upper abdomen this morning.

Place your bet!

Someone hooked me up with this cool website where you can set up an online baby pool!

http://www.expectnet.com/games/sempbabypool

Two hints - It's a boy (duh) and as of yesterday the ultrasound gave a weight of 1 pound 3 ounces.

It's a...

boy! And a very healthy boy at that! He has absolutely no modesty, unlike his brother, who made us go down to Mason City for a 4-D ultrasound to find out gender, this one gave up the goods right away! I do have pictures, but we don't have a scanner; my mom has a scanner but no internet, so it may be a few days before I can get anything posted.

I can see why this OB is so popular, he had an awesome bedside manner. He was completely nonplussed about the whole midwife thing, told us if we had any questions or needed anything to let him know, and to come right in if there were any emergencies. During the ultrasound he told us exactly what he was looking at and why he was looking at it, which my last OB didn't do. In the abdomen we could see the stomach bubble, which means the baby can swallow and urinate, which rules out a specific birth defect, and it was below the heart so there's no diaphragmatic hernia; the skull was nice and round so there's no anencephaly; and the cord insertion was normal and there weren't any organs floating on the outside, so he doesn't have gastroschisis or omphalocele. And, oh yeah, did I mention it's a BOY?! His measurements were right on, I'm due July 23 and the measurements via ultrasound put the due date at July 19, so close enough.