All Things Baby

When you get pregnant, the first thing you want to do is pretty much EVERYTHING. Go out and pick out colors (without waiting to see whether its a boy or girl, and I promise, you'll change your mind 500 times), buy a neutral colored newborn onesie, and buy books that tell you everything you need to know about fetuses, pregnancy, baby names, and parenting. The first person I told when I got pregnant was my best friend Taylor who appropriately freaked out with me. A few days later, we went to Hastings and bought a baby name book and a pregnancy journal for me to write in every week. We sat in the floor at the store for probably an hour or so reading books and looking at horrifying pictures of babies going through the birth canal.

Soon after, my own sister gave me a couple more books, the well-known "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and "What to Expect the First Year," neither of which I ever read. My favorite book I read during my pregnancy was "You'll Lose the Baby Weight (And Other Lies about Pregnancy and Childbirth)" by Dawn Meehan. I recommend it for all pregnant women; but I'd read it before the baby starts putting too much pressure on your bladder.

Now if I could just remember where I was going with all this...

Oh, right... Well I've dug all these books out again. NOT FOR ME! Geez, I almost broke my keyboard trying to make that clear enough. I am giving these books away to Taylor's sister. But I couldn't just give them away without at least flipping through them again, right?

Well, out of the 30 names I'd underlined in the baby names book, you'll be pleased to know that NONE of them were "Jordan." I have no idea how we picked that name... ;) I did underline his middle name at least!

And, here are a few things that "What to Expect the First Year" says that little Jordan should be doing in his twelfth month (which he'll be in for another 6 days):

By the end of this month, your baby 
...should be able to:

-Walk holding on to furniture. Check! He can do this!!  


...will probably be able to:


-play patty-cake (clap hands) or wave bye-bye. He loves patty-cake. I'm pretty sure he thinks he's clapping for himself because we always shout "Yay Jordan!" He can also wave... like at 2 in the morning at GiGi's house, waving at the ceiling fan and telling it bye-bye. Seriously.
-drink from a cup independently. Like a sippy cup?? Because there's no way I'm giving him a cup without a lid on it. No way. 
-pick up a tiny object neatly with tips of thumb and forefinger. HA! Fuzz laughed at Jordan once because he was doing this and said it looked "dainty." It's a skill, Dad!!
-stand alone momentarily. He can stand for a long time, while holding a basketball, or pooping. Yeah...
-say dada or mama discriminately. I think we ALL know he can say DADA. He can say mama too, but he only does it when he's pretending like he's going to die if "mama" doesn't come rescue him from his crib!
-say one word other than mama or dada. I don't think he can do this yet. When he says "bye bye" it sounds and awful lot like "dada." Imagine that. 


...may possibly be able to:


-indicate wants in ways other than crying. He can do this too. Instead of crying, he throws things, too! "I don't want to eat my breakfast, so I'm throwing it all in the floor. You're welcome, Mom."
-"play ball" (roll ball back to you). He does this with his favorite basketball. Sometimes he holds it over his head and drops it on himself. Fun times
-stand alone well. Check!
-use immature jargoning. Yes.. he talks all the time. We'll just look at him and say, "Oh yeah? Is that right?" and he'll just keep going like we really know what he's talking about.
-walk well (3 out of 4 babies don't walk until well into 13 1/2 months, and may not until considerably later). As of a few days ago, he can walk! Not well, granted, but he can do it! Now everyone say, "Yay Jordan!!" and clap like a baby would.


...may even be able to:


-say three words or more other than mama or dada. Like I said, everything sounds a lot like "Dada" if you ask me...
-respond to a one-step command without gestures. HA! Really? Some babies do that? He responds really well to me saying, "No." He looks at me and starts laughing like I told a funny knock-knock joke, and then continues doing what he's not suppose to be doing. Just like his dad.


So there you have it, our baby is advanced beyond all recognition. HAHA Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating just a teeny bit. But going through these books makes me remember the joys of pregnancy: The little flutters I first felt around 18 weeks. Seeing his little heart beating for the first time. Finding out he was a boy. Picking out his name. Feeling his butt crammed into my rib cage. Going to the bathroom 20 times each night. Throwing up every morning, and afternoon, and evening. Finding out he had flipped flopped and that was no longer his butt in my rib cage but his head (which I had been poking at furiously for days, poor kid). Throwing up my breakfast on the day we found out we were having a c-section, also known as his birthday. The best memory of all was when I first told Fuzz we were having a baby and he lost ALL color from his face and then immediately rushed to Walmart to buy 4 more pregnancy tests. 


Can you believe that some people actually go through this more than ONCE? 

Christmas

Okay, so I'm a little late on posting something about Christmas, but HEY... better late than never, right!?

Our Christmas started with putting up the tree, which I have no pictures of. Sorry! And then the arrival our "Elf on the Shelf" made my kids light up. Well actually, it made Ali light up. Jordan really just wanted to put the elf in his mouth. Onward...

When Ali got home from school one day (I don't remember what day... early December-ish!), I told her to go look at the Christmas tree. There, hanging on to one of the branches, was a little elf. Ali read the book out loud and then it was time to pick a name. Rosie. Now, at first glance, Rosie looks like a boy elf. But apparently Ali saw something different, saw some kind of sparkle in that little elf's eyes, and deemed her a girl.
And so it began. 

Rosie appeared at the most random of places. The first morning, we found her in my makeup. So she's a girl after all! There was glitter all over her face (I'm pretty sure it never got cleaned off... oops) and she was wearing one of Ali's Christmas hair bows.

Rosie also appeared a lot in Ali's room. One night, when Ali was at her mom's, Rosie slept in Ali's bed. We once found her right in the middle of our Nativity, once inside of an ECU water bottle, and she even dug out the PlayStation guitar and rocked out with some of her friends. The next morning, Jordan tried to eat her. You're not suppose to touch the elf (so the book says) but I figure since he's a baby and didn't know that eating Rosie was a crime, it'd be okay!

We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve. Luckily, Santa got our letter just in time and was able to come early to our house. We woke up and there were so many presents! Santa Claus and Rosie both left letters for Ali. Jordan's favorite part was eating the wrapping paper. You'd think we never feed that kid...

After we opened presents, Fuzz went back to bed (after all, it was only like... 10 o'clock!). We spent the day playing with all our new toys. All in all.. it was a great day to be a mom.

Gymnastics

Strike a pose!!

   This past semester, I signed Ali up for gymnastics. Little cutie.. she's such a natural! Gymnastics was definitely different from when we signed her up for t-ball. Not once did she not want to go. With t-ball, we pretty much had to drag her out the door...

   They taught the basics for beginners. I wish I could have got out there with her, but I guess that would have been another $70! HA! They did balance drills on the trampoline... and the last day she even got to walk the balance beam! She didn't hold on to him at all, she balanced and walked it ALL BY HERSELF! They practiced back bends and started learning the basics for doing a back flip! Hopefully she'll teach me someday! :) Anyway, just wanted to share how amazing my daughter is. Here's a video of her on the balance beam: 

Will You Wait for Me?

Last night, I had the kids all to myself. I'm not going to lie, I was, at first, NOT looking forward to it. Jordan's been sick, Ali had homework, and I was already exhausted. All this on a Monday...

Luckily, it went nothing like I thought it would. Jordan was feeling okay, and he just followed Ali like a faithful little puppy dog, so I didn't have to carry him everywhere. Yay! I had time to make us dinner, and then we sat at the table, ate, and did homework. Then Ali wanted to play Twister:

Jordan went right to bed with only a little fussing, and Ali got in the tub. My kids were angels! When I got Ali out of the bathtub, we for some reason started talking about Jesus. I explained to her that we have to have Jesus in our hearts in order to go to heaven, and that He washes away all our sins. She asked how, and I explained to her that Jesus was the Son of God. And God sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. I told her that God loved us so much, he gave His only son so that we could live. Then I asked her if she could imagine me sending Jordan to die for the world, and it made her so sad. She asked if everyone had to die on the cross like Jesus did, and I said no. He died for everyone, and because of that, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and all our sins would be washed away.

Then we started talking about going to heaven. I told her I would go to heaven first since I'm older than she is, and she informed me (I'm assuming she heard this from Gmo?) that her great great great (she added several more "greats" on there as well) aunt lived to be 110! She said that she was going to live that long as well and then she'd be ready to go to heaven. And the kicker? She asked if I'd wait for her. OH MY WORD I almost started crying. The precious baby girl wants me to hold her hand when we walk through the gates of heaven. She said I'd be 112 when she's 110 (I'm okay with this tiny math discrepancy), and then we can both go to heaven together.

We then went to bed. I let her sleep with me since her daddy had to work super late. That didn't last very long; Jordan kept waking up and I was afraid she'd wake up too from all the noise, so I carried her to her own bed. Plus, she'd already elbowed me in the face twice and knocked a candle off our headboard (she is a crazy sleeper just like her dad!!).

I was up what seemed like all night long with Jordan. I think it's the medicine he is taking right now for his sinuses that makes him all jittery and unable to sleep. I woke up EXHAUSTED and frustrated. But when I think about last night and how awesome my kids were, it makes it all worth it. I woke up at 5:30 so that I could get me, Jordan, and Ali all ready for the day, go to Walmart to pick up baby food to send to the daycare, and show up to work on time, but really, what do I have to complain about?? I'm so blessed.

A Letter to Jordan

Dear son,

      I don't even know where to start! I guess we'll start at the beginning. The very beginning. Your dad and I met in the fall of 2008 at Ace Hardware where we both worked. I thought he was really weird at first. You know your father, he loves his shoes and hats and basketball. Back then, he was so skinny. All of his clothes were falling off of him, and he wore the same pair of wind pants almost every day! The reason why he dressed so weird is another story for another day. But after a while, your dad and I started talking a little here and there, mostly about work. You'd be surprised about how much Mom knows about tools and hardware! And then I met your sister! I fell in love with her and your dad at the same time, and it's all downhill from there. We got married in December of 2009 one week after he graduated from college. I graduated the following May, and guess what? We found out just weeks later that I was pregnant!

January 31, 2011

      I felt your first kick right around 20 weeks (you were very strong!), and at 24 weeks the doctor told us you were definitely a boy! You were the wiggliest little baby every. I would get sick to my stomach sometimes from all those somersaults you were doing in there! We didn't have a name picked out until a month before you were born. We chose Jordan after Daddy's favorite basketball player, Michael Jordan. And your middle name came randomly from a baby book. We almost named you Kristian! We decorated your bedroom in Noah's Ark (we even let Ali help paint some of the walls!) and got everything just right for the Big Day. On Monday, January 31st, exactly 6 days before our due date, we went to the doctor for a
regular checkup. Doesn't that day sound familiar? The doctor said you had performed some serious acrobatics over the weekend--you had flipped the wrong direction, silly boy! Due to a snow storm that was headed our way, the doctor felt it was best to go ahead and schedule a c-section. That night, at 7:01 p.m., you arrived in Valley View Hospital during a massive snow and ice storm. You weighed 7lbs 2oz, 18 inches long. Ten tiny fingers, ten tiny toes, and the most beautiful little baby I'd ever seen. And look at all that hair!

      Our first few weeks together were a blur. Daddy had to go back to work, so it was just you and me at home. Your favorite things to do were eat, poop, and sleep on Mommy. We had lots of visitors during that time, how blessed you are to have such a loving circle of friends and family! They brought us presents, food, and lots of hugs and kisses. 

      You grew so quickly, we couldn't keep up with you! Here you are at three weeks old. Can you see how much you'd already changed? Our little baby was growing up already. You hated, and I mean HATED, bath time. This went on until you were about 6 months old, and then you liked it for a while, and then suddenly at 7 months you went to hating it again, and then at 9 months, you liked it again. Talk about picky! =) 

Look at your forehead!!

      When you were just 3 months old, we made our very first special trip to the emergency room! It was all Daddy's fault! Ok, really, it was all Mommy's fault; Dad was sleeping innocently in the bedroom. You had woke up very early one morning (like 5 o'clock early), and I decided to put you in your swing (you loved looking in the mirror on it!). So I put you in the swing (thinking you'd fall asleep) and went back to bed. Half an hour later, Daddy and I heard a loud "THUMP" and then the unmistakable sound of you crying. We jumped out of bed and ran into the living room to find you face down on the floor; you had WIGGLED out of your swing and bumped your head on the DVD stand! We rushed you to the emergency room (good thing we live two blocks from the hospital!) and, three hours and two x-rays later, the doctor told us you were absolutely fine. And guess what? This would not be our last visit to the ER!

Your first tooth!

      Shortly after that incident, several things happened. You got your first tooth AND your very first ear infection! Your teeth came in way early and you drooled on everything. You were about 4 months old by now, and I had taken you to work with me one day (I finally went back to work in April) and you were lying in the floor talking up a storm (jibber jabber this, jibber jabber that). You were supposed to be napping but, of course, you wanted to play. I was taking a picture of you to send to Daddy, and guess what? I got a snapshot of your very first tooth! I couldn't believe it! Although Dr. Metry told us that teething didn't cause ear infections, I still had my suspicions. Your first ear infection came at the same time as the tooth, and it was the most horrible experience ever! You would cry and cry and cry, and we knew it must be so painful. But after a few days of antibiotics, you were good as new. Unfortunately, this wouldn't be the last of your ear problems. You got another infection two months later, and then a double infection two months after that one. I guess this would be a good time to tell you about your second real visit to the emergency room...

6 months old

      At about 6 months old, when you had your second ear infection, Dr. Metry was on vacation and I couldn't find another pediatrician to see you. I knew something was wrong; you cried and cried like you were in a lot of pain. So Mommy took you to Urgent Care and they put you on some antibiotics. Four days later, you weren't any better and now you had broke out in a rash all over your body. At 2 in the morning, after several hours of crying, we headed back to Valley View emergency room. It turned out that you were allergic to the medicine, and instead of getting better, you were getting worse! So we changed antibiotics, and a week later, your ears were better and the rash was gone. Phew, what a relief! 

    Now, son, I'm leaving out a lot of stuff. When you're growing up as fast as you have, it's hard to keep up with everything. Like when you first went to daycare at 3 months old and Mommy returned to work; I cried everytime I dropped you off for two weeks! Or that your best friend, from the moment you were born, was your sister. You and Ali are two peas in a pod. You might not believe that someday, but trust me, I have the pictures and videos to prove it! Or like how you had to take medicine for colic, or how you had an umbilical hernia (that was actually your very first trip to the emergency room, but who's counting?). And your very first time to roll over, we were so proud! You started crawling when you were seven months old, and started pulling up just a couple weeks later. By this time, you had SIX teeth! Two on bottom and four on top. You started eating baby food at four months, and solids at six. You had so many teeth you could pretty much eat anything you wanted! And you hated eating things from a jar; you'd cry until Mom or Dad gave you food off our own plates (with a fork, because your spoon obviously wasn't good enough!). 

Halloween 2011

      In October, at 9 months old, you got to celebrate Halloween for the first time. Sister was a fairy princess (which she wanted to be every single year!) and you were the cutest little puppy dog the world has ever seen. We went trick-or-treating (sorry, we didn't let you have any candy!) and saw some really scary houses! You slept through the entire night, though, and Mommy had to carry you everywhere. 

      Thanksgiving came and went, and we were able to see lots of family during that time! You have so many people that love you! And then we got to celebrate your very first Christmas and the birth of our Lord and Savior. We were so lucky to be able to go to church that day and celebrate Jesus! Your first Christmas came and went too quickly, if you ask me.

December 2011

      On New Year's Eve, we had friends over to celebrate. We don't generally let you stay up late, but you seemed determined to be awake to say goodbye to 2011! And guess what? Mom got two New Year's kisses: one from Dad and the other from you!
 
     On January 1, 2012, you decided to start sleeping through the night, but this only lasted for about a week! Nonetheless, we knew you were just trying to give Mom and Dad a break--we got so much sleep that week! You also started walking. Daddy got to see you take your very first steps--you were trying to get your hands on his iPhone! Mom and Dad decided to become members of Community FWB Church around this time; everyone was so happy!

Eating your birthday cake :)

       And now we are celebrating your first birthday. I can't believe how much you've grown since that cold and snowy January night one year ago. Wasn't it just yesterday we were carrying you out of the hospital? Giving you your very first bottle? Your first bath? Taking you to the emergency room? You'll be walking, and then running, and before you know it, you'll be graduating from Kindergarten. Daddy predicts you'll win all kinds of awards for breaking state shooting records in basketball when you reach High School. I wonder what you'll be when you grow up. A basketball player? A scientist? A teacher? A dad? Just know that you can be anything you want to be, but nothing comes easy. Remember to work hard for everything you want in life, and to always give God the glory for everything you have. Life goes by so fast, Jordan. Treasure every single moment of it.

      I love you more than I can say. You'll always be Mommy's little boy. Always.

Love, Mom

    

      

Say "Mama!"

My son still refuses to say anything other than dada dada dada dada!! Sometimes, when he cries, I tell him, "I promise, if you'd just say 'Mama' everything would be all better." He doesn't listen though!

Ali even told Jordan the other day, "Brother... we're sick of you saying Dada all the time! Say Mama!"

So what's happening with my little tikes lately? Jordan is now crawling all over the place. His favorite things to do include: being outside, drooling, and chewing on electrical cords. I'm not even kidding. We have to watch him constantly or else he'll crawl to the TV and stick any cord he can reach into his mouth. Yesterday, Kris and Jordan stayed home. Kris said he left Jordan in the living room floor and went into the kitchen for something. When he came back, our little monster had ejected our P90X DVD out of the Playstation and was playing with it. He wants to get ripped too, Dad.

 He is 8 1/2 months old now and has already decided he doesn't want baby foods anymore. I guess that's a good thing since he's got a mouth full of teeth and baby food can get kind of expensive. He likes wheat bread, mashed potatoes, chicken pot pie, green beans... on and on. He'll eat just about anything.

Ali is now such a little grown up. I forget how little she used to be! And she doesn't really need us for much anymore. She can fix her own waffles, tie her shoes, give herself a bath (we have to run the water), brush her hair and teeth... On Saturday mornings, if she wakes up before everyone else, she'll go make herself a waffle, pour herself a glass of milk, turn on the TV, and watch Disney until someone else wakes up!

I dropped her off at school for the first time yesterday. Usually Kris takes her to school and I take Jordan to daycare, but I volunteered to take her since J's daycare was closed. She told me where to park. She held my hand and led me to the cafeteria. The door was locked, so she led me around to the other side of the building to a different door. She kissed me on the cheek and then went in ALL BY HERSELF. I asked her, "Don't you need me to take you to a teacher or someone?" She laughed! "No, Destiny, I go in all by myself, get my food, and sit with my friend Alexa." "Oh," I said, "But what if Alexa isn't here yet?" "Well, then I just get my food and find an empty seat. It's no big deal."

I just can't believe how big my kids are getting!

Ali Bieber

Under NO circumstances is anyone allowed to tell Ali I posted this! The first thing she said was, "This BETTER NOT go on Facebook!" lol