Happy for Health

Perhaps it's the realization that in two short months, my little baby boy will be hitting that two year milestone.

Perhaps it is the realization that very soon I will be having another one of these:

Or perhaps just the fact that this pregnancy has rendered me sleepless most nights, and insomnia breeds sleep deprivation breeds over-the-top nostalgia, sentimentalism and emotions...

Whatever the case, as I was sitting here at 4am, scrolling through labor and delivery, birth, newborn and baby photos of my first (and yes, getting teared up once again watching the video feed (well actually listening to...it's soundbyte only, courtesy of my wonderful hubby) (and my, what a soundbyte it is :)) I realized I never did get around to the post I wanted to do of his well-child checkups at the pediatrican's office. Perhaps it is because I am a pediatric NP, or just a corny, cheesy, mushy mom (or both), I just love looking at these pictures, and seeing how he has grown and changed over his short little life.

VERY FIRST CHECK-UP AT 3 DAYS OLD

Little Helpless Newborn

Tired Helpless Daddy

Tiny...vulnerable...precious.

First exam by his awesome PNP while daddy watches

What's that? I can't even lift my head to focus on it

SIX-MONTH CHECK-UP

Super happy chubby baby

Is there something on my face? Hmmm..? What are man-boobs?

Mmm..vaccines. Those awful, life-saving, not-fun necessities

12-MONTH CHECK-UP

Someone has learned how to (pretend to be) shy

Oh but yes, still very happy. I miss that open-mouthed smile.

Do you think I will break the scale mom?

Can you teach me how to use this mom?

So thankful for a healthy, happy little boy.
As a former NICU nurse and health-care provider, I can honestly say that I do not take this perfect health for granted. I desperately appreciate it, and I am desperately sad for those parents out there who face medical challenges of all kinds. My heart goes out to you.

We're Baaaaack!!

And we have finally returned to the blogosphere!!

Yes, if I still have any readers left after this 2+month blog silence, I apologize for the silence. 

But, to make up for it, I have for you a blog post that is heavy on pictures and light on text (the way I know you all really like it)

We have been quite busy these past two months. The arrival of warm weather (finally) has taught me that, as the parent of a toddler, summer is a time even MORE worthy of all the anticipation that it receives in Chicago-land.

So what have we been doing with all of our time lately? I'm glad you asked. This little 18 month boy has been keeping us busy.

We've been...

Working in the garden

Swinging and snacking with Grampy

Bike riding!! (he still doesn't love that helmet)

 Making cheesy faces with Opa

Cooking (and eating!) with Mommy

 Sitting on the pot...and actually going in it!!

Climbing trees (Ok...not really...he is not THAT advanced for his age)

Brushing teeth (his favorite past-time these past two months)

Bathtime!! (another favorite)

Climbing on top of and underneath and all around things

Sliding down things!

Wrestling and playing with Daddy

Baking with Mommy

Playing with DINOSAURS! (thanks Auntie E and Uncle J for this great Christmas gift!)

Breaking in a new stroller

Yes, you are seeing it right - this is a double stroller. (Joovy Caboose Ultralight).
And yes, I am trying to tell you something.

This something explains for the past 2.5 months of blog silence.
It also explains the preponderance of vomiting...and pickle eating that was going on for a while in our household

(my wonderful hubby came home from work with this gift for me last month)

Oh, and how much sleeping I've been doing. But that could also be explained by how busy this toddler has been keeping me. Who knows.
Anyways. I'm feeling back to normal now, phew! (Well, I guess the 9pm bedtime has lingered).

16 weeks along and showing more this time around...alas, how I miss those abdominal muscles.

 Ah well.
I'm just so thankful that God has blessed us yet again with another little life.
Is it a lot of work? Yup.
Is it a lot of worrying? Yup.
Is it a lot less sleep? Yup.
Is it worh it?
So very much.
When I think about how much I love this little guy, I can't even begin to imagine that I will have room in my heart to love a second one just as much. And yet...I'm told it's possible. And probable.

Just don't know where I'm going to make room on this lap.

He doesn't seem to concerned about any of this. Just loving life. As usual.

Retro Bargains

Little William and I spent our day yesterday hunting down garage sales. (He slept, I hunted). I got some great buys...don't worry, I won't bore you with all the details. But I am pretty excited about some so I wanted to share them with you.

I got some great board books for 25 cents each. That's a bargain, especially when you consider that they are currently going for $8 each at the stores. A while back, I spoke of my desire to instill a love for reading in my children, so steals like this make me happy.

On to the next bargain...

This gem was discovered last year but I never got a chance to share it with you...
A while back I found this lovely little retro table and chairs

The middle-aged woman who sold it to me told me that it had been in her grandmother's basement for as long as she could remember...so I'm estimating it to be circa 1950's... I'll take it, it's so darn cute!

Then, what I'm so geeked up about today is...

Drumroll....

This great vintage high-chair I found for TWO bucks!

I love that it is collapsible. I love the retro-patterned vinyl seat coverings. I love that the tray is shiny metal. Makes for great pictures...

I love that the foot rest is just metal rails...and I love that my son's chubby feet are nowhere close to reaching it :)

I already have a nice high-chair, but for two bucks, who could resist this one? I'm sure I'll find a lovely home for it...maybe at Grammy's house...

At any rate, we had a great time yesterday breaking it in.

Slightly demonic grin, yes, but I love that you
can really see that tooth!

Happy Eating to you!!