Friday, August 29, 2008
Stinky Feet
Anna is a sweaty girl. And one of the consequences of our little hothead is stinky feet! We kid her about this when we take her shoes off especially after a really warm day. Dave especially makes a big dramatic show of pretending to smell her feet and then making a 'stinky' face. She loves this and joins in the fun by bringing her own feet up to her nose to smell every time we take off her shoes or bring attention to her feet. She's quite the contortionist. Cirque du Soleil would be very impressed. Not only does she smell her own feet, but now she leans over really close to smell our feet when our shoes are off. It's too funny!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Labor Day
Back to my story telling. I was due March 11, 2006, but the day passed and nothing. But at about 3:15 am, March 12, I felt what I thought was my water breaking. It wasn't a gush that the movies tend to portray but a trickle, and according to my birth class, it could be just that.
I was sleeping in the other room on the futon because it was where I was most comfortable at that point in my pregnancy so I went in to see Dave. Since I had no other labor symptons, we decided to wait a little while to see what happened.
I couldn't sleep as I anticipated what was to come so I finished reading a breast feeding book I had taken out from the library. At about 5:30 am, I felt my first labor pain. I had been experiencing Braxton Hicks for the last six weeks or so and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between one of those and a 'real' contraction. But as soon as the first one hit, I knew the difference. It wasn't really painful, just uncomfortable. It felt like a cramp that started at the top of my belly and worked its way down. I started timing the contractions and took my temperature so I could report the news to the doctor.
Later that morning we called the doctor. Unfortunately he wasn't on-call so I had to speak to the on-call doctor. She said that if my water had broken that I needed to come in so Dave and I packed up and headed in. Once I settled in, the doctor came and said that even though I was having contractions, my water had not broken and suggested we go home.
We headed home and waited. I puttered around continuing to time my contractions. They were pretty irregular and although uncomfortable not unbearable. The doctor said not to come back until they were 5-7 minutes apart for about two hours so I continued to log them as the day ticked by.
As the day wore on, they became more frequent and more intense but still not regular. It was difficult to sit still at this point so I wandered around the house longing for a little rest.
My mom called at 8 pm and suggested I call the doctor. So I called, but she said that based on what I said I wasn't dialating and that the contractions needed to be more intense in order for me to dialate. More intense, what?!?!?!?!
So I continued to wander around the house every few minutes until the contractions passed. I finally took a shower for awhile, and although it provided some relief, there's only so long you can stand in the shower! It was around midnight at this point and we were both exhausted. Since I couldn't rest easily, we went upstairs to the guest room where we have a small tv and watched reruns. Dave suggested I lie next to him on the bed and squeeze his hand every time I had a contraction. But they were coming so fast that they didn't allow me enough time to get comfortable and rest briefly. Instead I continued to wander around the upstairs, briefly finding a comfortable position on the futon for a quick rest.
I finally called the hospital around 2 am and reached a nurse who worked with my doctor. She suggested I come in so they could check me since, by my report, I'd been in labor for 21 hours. So we headed to the hospital and settled in. The nurse came and reported that I was 8 cm! Dave and I high fived and quickly answered 'yes' when she asked me if I wanted an epidural. It had been close to 24 hours and I had barely sat, let alone rested, for the last 12 hours.
They sent Dave out of the room and the doctor came in to administer the epidural. They instructed me that I had to sit absolutely still while they gave me the needle. I asked how long it would take to start working, and they told me about 5 minutes. So I beared down on the pillow they gave me to hug and made like a statue!
I couldn't believe how quickly and well it worked. After the pain I experienced, I couldn't imagine that I wouldn't feel anything. I can't say I got much sleep, but it was nice to be able to finally lie comfortably in the bed while the contractions continued without notice for a few hours.
My doctor came in around 7 am to check me and I had only dialated about 1 more cm so I still had one more to go. My water broke when they examined me last, and by 11am I was ready to push, finally! Luckily the epidural hadn't completely worn off so although I felt pressure, it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. Of course, that could also be due to the fact that Anna never dropped. She was at -2 six weeks earlier and she was still there. After two hours, she was still at -2 and just wouldn't budge. Dr. Miller came in around 1 pm and said, 'what do you say we get her out of there?!' I quickly agreed.
They prepped me for a c-section while Dave went to call my parents. They rolled me into the operating room and told me I had to help them get me onto the operating table. I was so anxious for all of this to be over, I pushed myself onto the table with little effort. It all happened pretty quickly from this point on. Anna finally arrived at 1:49 pm.
They cleaned her up and brought her over to me, but frankly I was so exhausted at this point that I can't say I had that movie moment I was waiting for! I nodded and smiled with a small tear in my eye as they swept her away to the nursery with Dave following behind. They still had to deliver the after birth and stitch me up.
They brought me to recovery afterwards although I have no memory of this and I slept for awhile. I really have no idea to this day how long I was in there. I just remember shaking a lot and then finally hearing my mom and the nurse talking about knitting or something. When I heard this, I said, 'Have you ever been to the knitting store on Glen Ridge Avenue in Montclair?' From there, they took me to my room. Again they were very impressed with my ability to push myself onto the bed in the room after the long day and a half I had.
The nurses probably thought it was strange that I hadn't asked to see Anna, but I was so happy to not be in labor anymore that I trusted she was in good care and I enjoyed the relaxation of my room and the pampering of the nurses and my mom. Besides, I knew Dave was with her, and I knew they'd bring her to me when they finished all of their tests and routines.
Finally, I met my daughter. She was so beautiful! And I'm not just saying that! It was so amazing to finally see who I'd been taking care of for the last 40 weeks! She had lots of dark hair with a tiny little patch of blond that everyone thought was a bald spot. Everyone agreed she looked a lot like me as an infant.
Admittedly, I definitely felt some diappointment that after such a long labor I wound up having a c-section and a lot of the 'magic' that I had envisioned was probably just that, a dream. But now that it was all over, all that mattered was that she was here, she was healthy and it was over!
So there you have it. Anna Withington was born Monday, March 13, 2006, at 1:49 pm, weighing in at 8 lbs 4 oz, 20.5 inches. Welcome Anna! We love you!
I was sleeping in the other room on the futon because it was where I was most comfortable at that point in my pregnancy so I went in to see Dave. Since I had no other labor symptons, we decided to wait a little while to see what happened.
I couldn't sleep as I anticipated what was to come so I finished reading a breast feeding book I had taken out from the library. At about 5:30 am, I felt my first labor pain. I had been experiencing Braxton Hicks for the last six weeks or so and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between one of those and a 'real' contraction. But as soon as the first one hit, I knew the difference. It wasn't really painful, just uncomfortable. It felt like a cramp that started at the top of my belly and worked its way down. I started timing the contractions and took my temperature so I could report the news to the doctor.
Later that morning we called the doctor. Unfortunately he wasn't on-call so I had to speak to the on-call doctor. She said that if my water had broken that I needed to come in so Dave and I packed up and headed in. Once I settled in, the doctor came and said that even though I was having contractions, my water had not broken and suggested we go home.
We headed home and waited. I puttered around continuing to time my contractions. They were pretty irregular and although uncomfortable not unbearable. The doctor said not to come back until they were 5-7 minutes apart for about two hours so I continued to log them as the day ticked by.
As the day wore on, they became more frequent and more intense but still not regular. It was difficult to sit still at this point so I wandered around the house longing for a little rest.
My mom called at 8 pm and suggested I call the doctor. So I called, but she said that based on what I said I wasn't dialating and that the contractions needed to be more intense in order for me to dialate. More intense, what?!?!?!?!
So I continued to wander around the house every few minutes until the contractions passed. I finally took a shower for awhile, and although it provided some relief, there's only so long you can stand in the shower! It was around midnight at this point and we were both exhausted. Since I couldn't rest easily, we went upstairs to the guest room where we have a small tv and watched reruns. Dave suggested I lie next to him on the bed and squeeze his hand every time I had a contraction. But they were coming so fast that they didn't allow me enough time to get comfortable and rest briefly. Instead I continued to wander around the upstairs, briefly finding a comfortable position on the futon for a quick rest.
I finally called the hospital around 2 am and reached a nurse who worked with my doctor. She suggested I come in so they could check me since, by my report, I'd been in labor for 21 hours. So we headed to the hospital and settled in. The nurse came and reported that I was 8 cm! Dave and I high fived and quickly answered 'yes' when she asked me if I wanted an epidural. It had been close to 24 hours and I had barely sat, let alone rested, for the last 12 hours.
They sent Dave out of the room and the doctor came in to administer the epidural. They instructed me that I had to sit absolutely still while they gave me the needle. I asked how long it would take to start working, and they told me about 5 minutes. So I beared down on the pillow they gave me to hug and made like a statue!
I couldn't believe how quickly and well it worked. After the pain I experienced, I couldn't imagine that I wouldn't feel anything. I can't say I got much sleep, but it was nice to be able to finally lie comfortably in the bed while the contractions continued without notice for a few hours.
My doctor came in around 7 am to check me and I had only dialated about 1 more cm so I still had one more to go. My water broke when they examined me last, and by 11am I was ready to push, finally! Luckily the epidural hadn't completely worn off so although I felt pressure, it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. Of course, that could also be due to the fact that Anna never dropped. She was at -2 six weeks earlier and she was still there. After two hours, she was still at -2 and just wouldn't budge. Dr. Miller came in around 1 pm and said, 'what do you say we get her out of there?!' I quickly agreed.
They prepped me for a c-section while Dave went to call my parents. They rolled me into the operating room and told me I had to help them get me onto the operating table. I was so anxious for all of this to be over, I pushed myself onto the table with little effort. It all happened pretty quickly from this point on. Anna finally arrived at 1:49 pm.
They cleaned her up and brought her over to me, but frankly I was so exhausted at this point that I can't say I had that movie moment I was waiting for! I nodded and smiled with a small tear in my eye as they swept her away to the nursery with Dave following behind. They still had to deliver the after birth and stitch me up.
They brought me to recovery afterwards although I have no memory of this and I slept for awhile. I really have no idea to this day how long I was in there. I just remember shaking a lot and then finally hearing my mom and the nurse talking about knitting or something. When I heard this, I said, 'Have you ever been to the knitting store on Glen Ridge Avenue in Montclair?' From there, they took me to my room. Again they were very impressed with my ability to push myself onto the bed in the room after the long day and a half I had.
The nurses probably thought it was strange that I hadn't asked to see Anna, but I was so happy to not be in labor anymore that I trusted she was in good care and I enjoyed the relaxation of my room and the pampering of the nurses and my mom. Besides, I knew Dave was with her, and I knew they'd bring her to me when they finished all of their tests and routines.
Finally, I met my daughter. She was so beautiful! And I'm not just saying that! It was so amazing to finally see who I'd been taking care of for the last 40 weeks! She had lots of dark hair with a tiny little patch of blond that everyone thought was a bald spot. Everyone agreed she looked a lot like me as an infant.
Admittedly, I definitely felt some diappointment that after such a long labor I wound up having a c-section and a lot of the 'magic' that I had envisioned was probably just that, a dream. But now that it was all over, all that mattered was that she was here, she was healthy and it was over!
So there you have it. Anna Withington was born Monday, March 13, 2006, at 1:49 pm, weighing in at 8 lbs 4 oz, 20.5 inches. Welcome Anna! We love you!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Anna the Artist
Anna has become quite the artist. She loves to color and finger paint. She uses every color she can get her hands on and has a very good attention span for it. Plain palates seem to be her favorite medium. I gave her a coloring book the other week and she didn't like it as much as the blank paper she had been using. Stifles the creativity, I guess! She also seems to really like different textures. She loves to color on her little table as it provides a contrast to the smooth paper. And when she's coloring on the easel, she loves to continue off the page to the white board underneath and the wood border on the side.
The other day I gave her some shaving cream to finger paint with, and she was enjoying that so much we added some actual finger paint into the mix. Unfortunately it all smeared together so nothing very pretty came of it, but she had a blast. It's a great range of motion activity for her arms and hands too!
For something a little different, I dyed some macaroni and helped her glue some down on paper, but she wasn't as interested in this activity. She did, however, enjoy the playdoh I made, but she kept pinching off tiny pieces and making a bit more of a mess than I wanted to clean on a regular basis so for now, we'll stick with the crayons and finger paint.
The other day I gave her some shaving cream to finger paint with, and she was enjoying that so much we added some actual finger paint into the mix. Unfortunately it all smeared together so nothing very pretty came of it, but she had a blast. It's a great range of motion activity for her arms and hands too!
For something a little different, I dyed some macaroni and helped her glue some down on paper, but she wasn't as interested in this activity. She did, however, enjoy the playdoh I made, but she kept pinching off tiny pieces and making a bit more of a mess than I wanted to clean on a regular basis so for now, we'll stick with the crayons and finger paint.
Hats
For someone who seemed utterly annoyed by anything on her head at this time last year, Anna can't get enough of them now! She's been happily wearing Dave's and my baseball hats and quickly returns them to her head whenever they fall off. The other day Dave found a red skull-like cap and everytime is fell off, she quickly requested its return. Last night I found an old beach hat of mine that shrunk in the wash so it fits her pretty well. She loved it and was actually angry with me when I refused to put it back on her as bed time approached. I'm happy she wants to wear a hat since we still have the rest of the summer to get through but I could do without the small tantrums she throws when she has a hard time getting them back on her pumpkin head!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Mommy
Back to present day. Anna has started saying 'mommy' rather than 'momma'. She must have picked it up this past weekend at the family reunion. There were a lot of older kids who call their moms 'mommy' so I wouldn't be surprised. It is so cute! After nursery school today, she started saying 'momma' again, but after a quick reminder from me, 'mommy' was quick to come back. I can't hear it enough!
I Love This Picture
Anna's first Christmas (I made the dress!). By this point Anna was 9 months old. We had seen the neurologist the month before and had scheduled an MRI. We were already seeing a PT and OT and doing lots of therapy on our own at home. Anna was improving but slowly. Belly time was still torture but she definitely seemed more interested in toys and was trying to use her right hand.Our pediatrician felt she had torticollis, which affects babies when they get stuck in one position for a long time inutero. This would explain the stiffness of her right arm, neck and torso but not any stiffness in her right leg however less significant it was. So we celebrated Christmas with her MRI only days away hopeful that the tests would come back negative and torticollis would be everyone's conclusion.
She was a big hit all in red Christmas Eve - it was nice to have a baby in the family again. Lauren and Patrick have grown up too quickly! Anna was a big hit smiling away for everyone and willingly going from lap to lap. And when bedtime came, she gladly retired to the guest room for a little while allowing the rest of us to celebrate downstairs. Everyone couldn't get over how easy she was and loved her even more for it.
When it was time to go home, we figured she'd fall back to sleep on the way home. Instead, she grinned at Grandma and Mommy the whole way home only to welcome her crib as soon as we got home and sleep until 7:30 am the next day! Couldn't ask for a better Christmas gift!
She was equally as good Christmas day staying awake for the presents and lunch and then happily going down for her afternoon nap at Grandma's while everyone arrived for the day's festivities. She happily took in all of the excitement and then once again cooperated when it was time to go to sleep allowing us to celebrate for the rest of the evening while she slept contently upstairs. Merry Christmas to us!
Christmas is a three day affair for our family so the day after Christmas wraps up the holiday. Anna went with the flow waking up at Grandma's and playing with her cousins while Dave and I lazed around at home. When I arrived she was gladly going about her routine surrounded by her 'new' family members. Grandma graciously agreed to babysit while the cousins went to the movies. She welcomed us once more as we came back for one last dinner with the whole gang. Anna was slightly less happy about going to bed that night but she quieted down quickly and gave us one more night to visit with everyone before everyone returned to their routines the next day.
December 27 came too quickly and it was time to say goodbye. It's always sad, but this year was even more so since no one wanted to say good bye to the smiling baby happily eating her lunch in the corner of the kitchen. Aunt Bev even shed a tear or two! Until next time everyone! We'll send pictures because you won't recognize her next time you're around!
Sitting Up
I decided to take a break from the story of Anna's entrance into this world and skip to about 7 months. Anna had learned to sit up and I was told that the spitting up would slow down a bit once this happened. But as you can see from the picture, no such luck. We had a bib on her most of the time and used the burp cloths as back up frequently. If it hadn't been fall, I think I may have kept clothes off her since all we did was cover them up anyway. But it was a bit too cold for that idea.Up until this point we were concerned that Anna didn't seem too interested in toys (this is pre-diagnosis). Her interest started to grow once she started to sit up but still mostly with her left hand. But it wasn't as though she never used her right hand so even though the doctor said we could see a neurologist or PT if we were concerned, we didn't rush for an appointment.
By the time Anna was close to 8 months, we had seen some improvement in her right hand when she was sitting and playing. But she didn't try to transition from sitting to lying down and vice versa, she despised being on her stomach and still leaned to her right with her hand fisted at times. It was time to make an appointment.
Third Trimester
The third trimester passed quickly with showers and people making a fuss everywhere I went. It reminded me of the weeks before my wedding only the presents were pink instead of stainless steel!
It was a very happy time. The only problem was at about two months before my due date, I could no longer get comfortable in our bed. I was most comfortable, of all places, on the futon couch in our guest room. So from that point on Dave tucked me in and we slept in separate rooms. It was a little lonely but worked out well when I couldn't sleep and had to turn the light on and read for a little while.
The three months passed quickly and March 11 (a Saturday) was upon us. We went out for dinner that night at a pub in Maplewood and sat next to a couple with an almost one year old daughter. We smiled at this cute little one knowing that we would be in their situation soon enough. And when the couple asked when I was due, we laughed and said, 'today'! A hamburger and fries wasn't the best choice for my possibly last meal before becoming a mom, but it sure tasted delicious!
It was a very happy time. The only problem was at about two months before my due date, I could no longer get comfortable in our bed. I was most comfortable, of all places, on the futon couch in our guest room. So from that point on Dave tucked me in and we slept in separate rooms. It was a little lonely but worked out well when I couldn't sleep and had to turn the light on and read for a little while.
The three months passed quickly and March 11 (a Saturday) was upon us. We went out for dinner that night at a pub in Maplewood and sat next to a couple with an almost one year old daughter. We smiled at this cute little one knowing that we would be in their situation soon enough. And when the couple asked when I was due, we laughed and said, 'today'! A hamburger and fries wasn't the best choice for my possibly last meal before becoming a mom, but it sure tasted delicious!
Second Trimester
There's a lot more to tell about the second trimester. My morning sickness finally subsided and we went to my four month check up hoping to determine the sex of the baby. I was beginning to show and had finally given in to maternity clothes - at least pants.
We couldn't determine the sex 100% but the doctor had an educated guess that she was a girl. That was exciting news but we decided not to share it until we were sure.
We got thrown a monkey wrench when a blood test came back positive for the possibility of Downs Syndrome. We weighed our options and decided to do an amnio. The procedure was uncomfortable but gave me a day of rest and pampering as I wasn't supposed to do much afterwards.
We were told we would have to wait up to two weeks for the results. We tried to put it out of our minds but were having a hard time waiting it out. Luckily my doctor received the results a week later and called us with the exciting news that she was fine and, well, a she! We cried with relief and started making plans for our Anna.
It was fun to break the news of our baby girl and to start designing the nursery. We shared our scare with some but quickly moved beyond it - we had a lot to do and the holidays were quickly approaching and 2006 would be here before we knew it!
We couldn't determine the sex 100% but the doctor had an educated guess that she was a girl. That was exciting news but we decided not to share it until we were sure.
We got thrown a monkey wrench when a blood test came back positive for the possibility of Downs Syndrome. We weighed our options and decided to do an amnio. The procedure was uncomfortable but gave me a day of rest and pampering as I wasn't supposed to do much afterwards.
We were told we would have to wait up to two weeks for the results. We tried to put it out of our minds but were having a hard time waiting it out. Luckily my doctor received the results a week later and called us with the exciting news that she was fine and, well, a she! We cried with relief and started making plans for our Anna.
It was fun to break the news of our baby girl and to start designing the nursery. We shared our scare with some but quickly moved beyond it - we had a lot to do and the holidays were quickly approaching and 2006 would be here before we knew it!
First Trimester
At about 8 weeks the morning sickness (well, all day sickness really) set in. I had no appetite and ate a lot of saltines and drank a lot of seltzer. The heat of the summer didn't help either. I had gained a couple of pounds, nothing really significant but enough that combined with the nausea and heat made me uncomfortable.
We broke the news to some close friends but tried to keep it from the majority of family and friends until I reached three months. I was grateful for the end of the summer and a break in the heat thinking the nausea would end, but it would still be a few more weeks before I felt some relief.
But other than the nausea, there's not much to say about the first three months.
We broke the news to some close friends but tried to keep it from the majority of family and friends until I reached three months. I was grateful for the end of the summer and a break in the heat thinking the nausea would end, but it would still be a few more weeks before I felt some relief.
But other than the nausea, there's not much to say about the first three months.
Breaking the News
We got together with my family only two days after my pregnancy was confirmed to celebrate my mom's 61st birthday. We had dinner at a local Italian restaurant and headed back to my parents' house for birthday cake and presents. Dave and I had already taken my parents to see Cirque du Soleil the week before so she wasn't expecting anything from us let alone the absolutely best birthday gift ever!
After she opened my brothers gifts, I handed her a small box. Inside was a note that read, 'I'm pregnant'. My mom started screaming and jumping up to hug me and Dave as soon as she opened the box. My brothers couldn't imagine what was in the small box that got such a huge reaction. Quickly the news spread and everyone made their rounds of hugging and congratulations.
Dave and I had already picked 'Anna' for a girl and 'Jackson' for a boy but had decided not to share the names until the baby arrived (that didn't work out as planned, but that's a different story!). But our desire to keep the names a secret didn't prevent everyone (especially Michael) from trying to guess them. Of course, that turned into coming up with some rather peculiar names but fun all the same.
It was fun to talk about the baby but it still seemed rather abstract since I felt no different at this point and March seemed like an awfully long time away. But it was worth breaking the news short of the traditionally accepted first trimester, at least with my family. I know it made my mom's night, week and perhaps even her year!
After she opened my brothers gifts, I handed her a small box. Inside was a note that read, 'I'm pregnant'. My mom started screaming and jumping up to hug me and Dave as soon as she opened the box. My brothers couldn't imagine what was in the small box that got such a huge reaction. Quickly the news spread and everyone made their rounds of hugging and congratulations.
Dave and I had already picked 'Anna' for a girl and 'Jackson' for a boy but had decided not to share the names until the baby arrived (that didn't work out as planned, but that's a different story!). But our desire to keep the names a secret didn't prevent everyone (especially Michael) from trying to guess them. Of course, that turned into coming up with some rather peculiar names but fun all the same.
It was fun to talk about the baby but it still seemed rather abstract since I felt no different at this point and March seemed like an awfully long time away. But it was worth breaking the news short of the traditionally accepted first trimester, at least with my family. I know it made my mom's night, week and perhaps even her year!
March 11, 2006
I saw Dr. Miller on July 14, 2005, my mom's 61st birthday. I was about 6 weeks along and due March 11, 2006 - 34 weeks to go! He did an ultrasound and confirmed one baby. My fears of twins or even triplets due to the Clomid alleviated. Phew!
Getting Started
I had a hard time getting pregnant. I went off the pill in June 2004 with plans to 'try' in September since I was told it was better to get the pill out of my system first. By the beginning of October I thought I was pregnant. I couldn't believe my luck - first month trying and already pregnant. But it turned out I wasn't. A few months and a handful of pregnancy tests later, and still nothing.
So I went for my yearly check up and discussed the situation with my doctor. He said that because I have a long cycle, I probably wasn't ovulating and recommended Clomid, a fertility drug. Gulp!
After a conversation about Clomid, I took three months worth and went home. I was still a bit freaked out about the idea of a fertility drug regardless of its low multiples statistics so Dave and I decided to wait it out a couple of more months. But by the time April rolled around, we were ready to give it a try.
The first month, nothing, the second month, nothing but low and behold the third month rolled around and I was pregnant! It took a whole year from start to finish. It was now early July 2005.
The night of my positive pregnancy test my dad was being sworn in as the Bloomfield, NJ judge so we saw my mom, dad, brothers and aunts but decided not to say anything until I confirmed with my doctor. It was hard not to say anything since we had kept 'trying' a secret and were finally expecting. But we made it home without opening our mouths and waited for my doctors appointment just a few days away.
So I went for my yearly check up and discussed the situation with my doctor. He said that because I have a long cycle, I probably wasn't ovulating and recommended Clomid, a fertility drug. Gulp!
After a conversation about Clomid, I took three months worth and went home. I was still a bit freaked out about the idea of a fertility drug regardless of its low multiples statistics so Dave and I decided to wait it out a couple of more months. But by the time April rolled around, we were ready to give it a try.
The first month, nothing, the second month, nothing but low and behold the third month rolled around and I was pregnant! It took a whole year from start to finish. It was now early July 2005.
The night of my positive pregnancy test my dad was being sworn in as the Bloomfield, NJ judge so we saw my mom, dad, brothers and aunts but decided not to say anything until I confirmed with my doctor. It was hard not to say anything since we had kept 'trying' a secret and were finally expecting. But we made it home without opening our mouths and waited for my doctors appointment just a few days away.
Memory Lane Begins Here
Well, kind of! This is a picture of Anna when she was 5 months old on our first vacation with her in Weld, ME. I remember this moment quite vividly. I was cleaning bottles in the kitchen of the little cabin we rented on Webb Lake at the Kawahnee Inn and had placed her in her car seat so we could keep an eye on one another. I don't know what she was so happy about because there wasn't too much going on - she was just happy! I couldn't resist the precious grins, so I grabbed the camera and this is what came out. To this day, it's one of my favorite pictures. Anna is still usually this happy - unfortunately she is no longer as willing to show it on camera. But at least I have this blog to capture some funny anecdotes to reflect the happy toddler she is. Enjoy!Nostalgia
Anna is truly a little girl now - no longer a baby. But since I want this blog to reflect as much as her life as possible, I'm going to try and go back in my memory and post some entries about New Born Anna and Baby Anna - I hope you will enjoy the trip down memory lane regardless of how short it is!
Unfortunately, the pictures from this time period were posted on Yahoo! photos which no longer exists so I'm going to have to scan a few in order to share those with you. Luckily Dave's printer is also a scanner so I will do my best to at least share a few of my favorites over the next few postings. Until then. . .
Unfortunately, the pictures from this time period were posted on Yahoo! photos which no longer exists so I'm going to have to scan a few in order to share those with you. Luckily Dave's printer is also a scanner so I will do my best to at least share a few of my favorites over the next few postings. Until then. . .
Sweet Anna
The other night Dave, Anna and I were sitting on the couch. Anna was kneeling on my lap facing me so I asked for a kiss. Then Dave leaned in for one. Not only did Anna acquiesce once, but she went back and forth between the two of us kissing us several times in a row without hesitation of repeated requests from us. Then last night in the pool while Dave was holding her, I leaned in for a kiss and she started to do the same thing. It was so funny! I hope she never tires of indulging her silly parents, but I know that day will one day come. For now, we treasure every kiss from our sweet Anna.
Farmer Anna
We planted a small vegetable garden this year with strawberries, basil, tomatoes and beans. We've tried to engage Anna in the small garden by simply demonstrating how we plant, water and care for the plants as they grow and fruit. Well, last night Anna showed her interest in the garden when she started to pick the grape tomatoes and then proceed to throw them into the yard. I was impressed that she could get the tomatoes off of the vine. Unfortunately she didn't pick any ripe ones so we'll have to wait a couple of days for her choices to ripen a bit before eating!
Swimming
Anna continues to love the water. She's getting better at the dunking even though she still reaches for Dave every time I do it! She's definitely closing her mouth better and doesn't protest quite as much before and after the dunking. I've also taken to dropping her in the water from the edge while Dave catches her. She's not quite a fan but remarkably doesn't cry. She just once again reaches for Dave and says 'no' when she thinks I'm going to do it again.
In order to encourage a little independence in the water, we've taught her how to hang onto the edge of the pool. She even started to kick her a feet a little last night when prompted. I think most of her focus is still to hanging on for dear life, but it's still a good exercise for her arms, neck and back. So even if she doesn't kick at all, at least it's a different way to strengthen her core muscles. It also helps her get used to getting her face wet because inevitably she dips her mouth in before she musters up the strength to pull herself up.
Another great thing about the pool is that we've met a really nice family from First Mountain there. Their son Tate recognized Anna in the baby pool. And his little sister Sophie made quick friends with Anna by giving her some goldfish to eat. We've only run into them at the pool in time for a quick chat, but hopefully we'll get to know them a little better throughout the remainder of the summer.
In order to encourage a little independence in the water, we've taught her how to hang onto the edge of the pool. She even started to kick her a feet a little last night when prompted. I think most of her focus is still to hanging on for dear life, but it's still a good exercise for her arms, neck and back. So even if she doesn't kick at all, at least it's a different way to strengthen her core muscles. It also helps her get used to getting her face wet because inevitably she dips her mouth in before she musters up the strength to pull herself up.
Another great thing about the pool is that we've met a really nice family from First Mountain there. Their son Tate recognized Anna in the baby pool. And his little sister Sophie made quick friends with Anna by giving her some goldfish to eat. We've only run into them at the pool in time for a quick chat, but hopefully we'll get to know them a little better throughout the remainder of the summer.
Shoes
Anna loves shoes. She especially loves to put my sandals on and slide around the house in them. She's gotten pretty good at getting them on too. Last night she came sliding into the kitchen with each of them on the correct foot. She even tries to put her own shoes on, but they have straps that need to be fastened so she's not quite there yet. But she assists when I put her shoes on for her, and I catch her now again sitting and trying with all of her might to figure them out. I love to see the thought process going on even if she's not quite successful at the task at hand.
Another cool thing about shoes is that she can say 'shoe'. Not an easy sound that I thought she'd master very quickly but she's quite clear - no one has mistaken it for anything but 'shoe'.
Another cool thing about shoes is that she can say 'shoe'. Not an easy sound that I thought she'd master very quickly but she's quite clear - no one has mistaken it for anything but 'shoe'.
Delayed Reaction
So Anna has cried the last three times I dropped her off at nursery school. Last week was her third week so I thought we were in the clear. No such luck. At the time I thought she may have cried because she had a slight cold. She was still a little stuffy this morning so it's still possible that once her lingering summer cold ends, she may look forward to camp once more, but I'm not holding my breath!
Last Tuesday was the first day she cried. Let's just say the three hours that followed were difficult for me. I kept wondering how long she cried for and if she'd be a mess by the time I picked her up. But when I arrived, she was no worse for wear. She didn't cry when she saw me. In fact, she acted like she didn't quite want to leave. So on Thursday when she cried, I didn't feel quite as awful leaving without turning back.
This morning was a little more difficult because she seemed a little upset before we even left the house. She's a pretty brave kid so she didn't get upset again until we pulled into the parking lot. I quieted her quickly by pointing out the playground to her, but she wasn't convinced when we went inside and I started to leave. And to make things worse, the door was open so she started to follow me out. Luckily Susan grabbed her quickly and there were only a few kids there so hopefully Susan was able to snap her out of her funk quickly. I'm sure she snapped out of it pretty quickly. Perhaps we're arriving too early. Maybe if I leave the house five minutes later, there will be more kids there when we arrive which will distract her more. We'll see. . .
I have to leave to pick her up in a little over an hour so I only need to distract myself for a little bit longer. Here's to endless gossip on the Internet! Just kidding. . . I think I'll get a little work done - that surely passes the time quickly.
Thursday is actually an open house for families so we're invited to come back at 11:30 am instead of 12:30 pm to spend an hour watching and participating, I guess. I'll let you know.
Last Tuesday was the first day she cried. Let's just say the three hours that followed were difficult for me. I kept wondering how long she cried for and if she'd be a mess by the time I picked her up. But when I arrived, she was no worse for wear. She didn't cry when she saw me. In fact, she acted like she didn't quite want to leave. So on Thursday when she cried, I didn't feel quite as awful leaving without turning back.
This morning was a little more difficult because she seemed a little upset before we even left the house. She's a pretty brave kid so she didn't get upset again until we pulled into the parking lot. I quieted her quickly by pointing out the playground to her, but she wasn't convinced when we went inside and I started to leave. And to make things worse, the door was open so she started to follow me out. Luckily Susan grabbed her quickly and there were only a few kids there so hopefully Susan was able to snap her out of her funk quickly. I'm sure she snapped out of it pretty quickly. Perhaps we're arriving too early. Maybe if I leave the house five minutes later, there will be more kids there when we arrive which will distract her more. We'll see. . .
I have to leave to pick her up in a little over an hour so I only need to distract myself for a little bit longer. Here's to endless gossip on the Internet! Just kidding. . . I think I'll get a little work done - that surely passes the time quickly.
Thursday is actually an open house for families so we're invited to come back at 11:30 am instead of 12:30 pm to spend an hour watching and participating, I guess. I'll let you know.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sorensen Family Reunion
Dave's Aunt Barbara and Uncle Nick celebrated their milestones birthdays this past weekend so we had a family reunion in Albany.
We headed up Friday and ran into a bit of traffic but luckily still made it in time to have dinner with most of the family. Anna was thrilled to see Mimi - she ran right to her Mimi when we ran into her and Grandpa in the hotel lobby as we arrived. Anna kept saying 'Mimi, Mimi' over and over again and she didn't want to leave her when it was time to go back to hotel for the night.
Dave went out with his cousins for a little while, and I went back to the hotel with Anna for the night since it was getting late and I was still battling my summer cold. Anna was sad to see the evening come to an end but she calmed down after a short while and went to sleep on her new inflatable bed. She was a bit restless later in the evening but did pretty well considering the circumstances.
By 7:30 am she was raring to go and chanting 'Mimi, Mimi' over and over again. We met Mimi and Grandpa for breakfast downstairs, and then after a bit of confusion, headed to Aunt Barbara's to meet up with the cousins. After visiting with everyone for a little while, the group went their separate ways for a little afternoon fun. Anna went back to the hotel with Mimi for a rest, and Dave and I spent some time with his cousin and his fiancee. Since we didn't have a lot of time before the party, we went for a walk through a local college. It was nice to catch up with Craig and get to know his fiancee.
The party was a lot of fun and Anna was a big hit. She wore her strawberry sundress and charmed the family with her big smile and cheerful 'hi'. After dinner, the balloons came down and Anna had tons of fun marching around with a yellow one. Whenever she got a little too far away, I was able to quickly find her by spotting the yellow balloon floating just above the table lines! She had fun watching all of the older cousins run around and her older cousin Natalie took a strong liking to her which provided Dave and me with a bit of adult time (thanks Nat!), but mostly Anna enjoyed marching with her yellow balloon, goodie bag and red sweater and, of course, getting lots of hugs and kisses from Mimi.
Saturday was a late night and Anna was not very happy about the party coming to an end. But after returning to the hotel just before 10 pm, she settled down pretty quickly. Of course, the late night didn't prevent her from popping right back up at 7:30 am chanting 'Mimi, Mimi' again. So we packed up and headed to brunch at Aunt Barbara's. One last chance to visit and say our final good byes before heading home again. Anna enjoyed some time with her cousins drawing with chalk on the driveway and loved climbing up Aunt Barbara's plushly carpeted stairs. She and Mimi also had a chance to visit one last time, which was definitely the highlight of Anna's trip.
A little before noon, we were all feeling tired from the busy weekend so we decided to head home. Anna was sad to see the weekend come to an end and was especially sorry to say goodbye to Mimi but she quickly settled down for a rest in the car. Even though her rest was short lived, she was happy to play with me in the back seat before we stopped for a yummy pizza lunch in Mahwah. And since we were so close to our friend Karen's house, we stopped in for a visit with her and her little dog Mia. Anna was feeling refreshed and was happy to get out of the car for awhile.
But all good things have to come to an end. We made it home just before 5 pm for some much needed relaxation. We were thrilled that the weekend went so smoothly but also glad to be home
for some time to ourselves before the busy week started all over again.
Happy birthday Aunt Barbara and Uncle Nick and thanks for everything Smith Family! It was great to see everyone. Balboa!
We headed up Friday and ran into a bit of traffic but luckily still made it in time to have dinner with most of the family. Anna was thrilled to see Mimi - she ran right to her Mimi when we ran into her and Grandpa in the hotel lobby as we arrived. Anna kept saying 'Mimi, Mimi' over and over again and she didn't want to leave her when it was time to go back to hotel for the night.
Dave went out with his cousins for a little while, and I went back to the hotel with Anna for the night since it was getting late and I was still battling my summer cold. Anna was sad to see the evening come to an end but she calmed down after a short while and went to sleep on her new inflatable bed. She was a bit restless later in the evening but did pretty well considering the circumstances.
By 7:30 am she was raring to go and chanting 'Mimi, Mimi' over and over again. We met Mimi and Grandpa for breakfast downstairs, and then after a bit of confusion, headed to Aunt Barbara's to meet up with the cousins. After visiting with everyone for a little while, the group went their separate ways for a little afternoon fun. Anna went back to the hotel with Mimi for a rest, and Dave and I spent some time with his cousin and his fiancee. Since we didn't have a lot of time before the party, we went for a walk through a local college. It was nice to catch up with Craig and get to know his fiancee.
The party was a lot of fun and Anna was a big hit. She wore her strawberry sundress and charmed the family with her big smile and cheerful 'hi'. After dinner, the balloons came down and Anna had tons of fun marching around with a yellow one. Whenever she got a little too far away, I was able to quickly find her by spotting the yellow balloon floating just above the table lines! She had fun watching all of the older cousins run around and her older cousin Natalie took a strong liking to her which provided Dave and me with a bit of adult time (thanks Nat!), but mostly Anna enjoyed marching with her yellow balloon, goodie bag and red sweater and, of course, getting lots of hugs and kisses from Mimi.
Saturday was a late night and Anna was not very happy about the party coming to an end. But after returning to the hotel just before 10 pm, she settled down pretty quickly. Of course, the late night didn't prevent her from popping right back up at 7:30 am chanting 'Mimi, Mimi' again. So we packed up and headed to brunch at Aunt Barbara's. One last chance to visit and say our final good byes before heading home again. Anna enjoyed some time with her cousins drawing with chalk on the driveway and loved climbing up Aunt Barbara's plushly carpeted stairs. She and Mimi also had a chance to visit one last time, which was definitely the highlight of Anna's trip.
A little before noon, we were all feeling tired from the busy weekend so we decided to head home. Anna was sad to see the weekend come to an end and was especially sorry to say goodbye to Mimi but she quickly settled down for a rest in the car. Even though her rest was short lived, she was happy to play with me in the back seat before we stopped for a yummy pizza lunch in Mahwah. And since we were so close to our friend Karen's house, we stopped in for a visit with her and her little dog Mia. Anna was feeling refreshed and was happy to get out of the car for awhile.
But all good things have to come to an end. We made it home just before 5 pm for some much needed relaxation. We were thrilled that the weekend went so smoothly but also glad to be home
for some time to ourselves before the busy week started all over again.
Happy birthday Aunt Barbara and Uncle Nick and thanks for everything Smith Family! It was great to see everyone. Balboa!
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