Hopefully we go home on Wed!

I never write on the blog but here it goes! Susan is doing pretty good. She didn't start using pain medicine until her uterus started to really shrink. She is not a fan of the pain. She is up and moving around pretty good. So good it is a complete surprise! Caleb seems to enjoy his new world. He does not cry much or loud. I am worried we won't wake up for his quiet whimpers. He is pretty cute though and still does not want to get out of the fetal position with his feet. The hands and arms are another story. They go everywhere! He holds up his head pretty well and is overall pretty strong. I have been pretty fortunate about being able to spend time with Susan. Work has been pretty understanding. It is unfortunately time to get back in the swing of things though. Susan's Mom came into town and has been a huge help. She will be around for a couple of weeks and I am extremely grateful that my father-in-law (Steve) has allowed us to borrow her. Susan and I have both been blessed with wonderful parents!

Below is a picture of Caleb getting his grove on!

Here is a picture of Paul being a good big brother! He is giving Caleb a good "honk honk" squeeze on the nose.

He's Here!

Our newest family addition, Caleb Oliver, arrived at 8:10 Sunday night (Oct 12). He weighed 6lbs. 5oz. and was 19.5 inches long. I went into labor on my own, but did a c-section anyway. I wasn't progressing fast enough and I was in a lot of pain. Everything has gone smoothly since. Paul and Caleb look very similar as newborns. Paul quickly started to look like he does now after a month or two, so I assume the same thing will happen with Caleb. Caleb definitely has more meat on him, but that's because he cooked 3 weeks longer than Paul. Anyway, my point was that I keep calling him Paul because they looked so similar. I feel bad when other people have to correct me in saying my own son's name. Here are some pictures of him. In the family photo he doesn't really look like himself, but you can see his mohawk hair.

A Tribute to Paul

Since the baby is coming in less than a week (my c-section was moved up to this Friday) I thought I would do a post with some of Paul's baby pictures. I am sure there will be a lot of new baby pictures soon, and I wanted to look back and remember Paul as a baby. He is still very baby-like to me, but I have a feeling when the new one comes Paul will all of a sudden seem huge and more kid-like.

Two More Weeks

So I have two weeks left. I have a scheduled c-section for the 20th. I have mixed feelings about having two kids, and about having a second c-section. I was hoping I would go into labor by now and have a better chance at delivering normally, but the bigger the baby gets the more apprehensive I am about doing it that method. Part of me is very excited for this pregnancy to be over with and for Paul to have a playmate eventually, but another LARGE part of me is very nervous. I am nervous about how Paul will react and adjust. He loves babies, but I have observed in other children that that characteristic can fly out the window after the baby doesn't go away. Paul has been very easily provoked into Paul The Ferocious lately which also has me concerned. I could use all the advice I can get! I feel so overwhelmed by him.

We recently made the transition to the big boy bed. He is doing well with it, but he likes to get into the crib to play/jump. We rearranged the bedroom to fit the changing table along with everything else that was previously crammed in the room. I am glad we rearranged a month ago instead of right before because with each new arrangement we find a flaw. With the first arrangement Paul could reach the light switch and door knob. With the second arrangement Paul could climb from his bed onto the changing table and into the crib too easily. I could just see Paul stepping on the baby's head in the middle of the night. With this third arrangement we had to put Paul's slide in storage and he looks out the window while he supposed to be napping, but it's as good as it's gonna get.

I bought a cradle off of Craig's List and we'll keep the boys separated until the new little one is sleeping through the night. I need to find a way for the cradle to be stationary (so it won't rock). Paul has already proven himself too good of a helper, and for that same reason we will not be getting a swing.

And to add on top of all my anxiety, there's something wrong with our kitchen plumbing. Our dishwasher smells rancid and we had a flood in our kitchen. It has been over a week and the maintenance still hasn't come to fix it (I've called several times). Can you picture an eight months pregnant woman doing her dishes in the bathtub? It's quite the site I am sure.

I know all of you would love to see a big belly photo but it ain't happin'. I am just going to avoid all comments such as: "Wow, you really look ready!" and "You look pretty good considering how far along you are." and "You are all baby, I swear!" Well, that's that for now and any advice about a Terrible Two son would be appreciated.

Caution: Wet Floor and Kid

So Paul and I took an unexpected trip last week to Boise. Patrick was out of town again, and for some reason this time him being away was too much for me. I am pretty sure it had to do with being pregnant and having unstable hormone levels. My parents flew Paul and I to Boise so we wouldn't be alone. Thanks mom and dad.

While we were there Paul made a discovery. We were in Walmart one day and I was paying attention to something other than Paul. I turned around and saw a kid with a Caution: Wet Floor sign over his head. At first glance I thought, "Where is that kid's mother?" Then I realized it was my kid. So Gross! This incident happened on other occasions while we were in Boise, and I finally gave in and got my camera out.

I Love Snow Cones

One of my favorite treats are snow cones. It can't be just any ol' shaved ice either (Icee and big chunks of ice cones don't make the cut). Growing up in Boise there were snow cone shacks everywhere, and it was heavenly. Once I moved away from Boise I haven't come across a city that compares. Rexburg, ID for example is colder than Siberia, and not many people crave snow cones when they have frost bite. Hence, there was no shack. While living in Provo, UT I did find a snow cone shack in Lindon, (a neighboring city) but I wanted one every other trip to the grocery store a block away. Here in Denver I have yet to see a snow cone shack. They do sell snow cones at The Rockies games and at the Rodeo, but for an arm and leg. I want a snow cone shack for a song and a dance just around the corner. When I was pregnant with Paul snow cones were my #1 craving, and we'd have to go to a Baseball game in order to get one.

So, at the beginning of this summer Paul and I took a trip to Boise and every day we were there we had a snow cone. (I forgot my camera while we were there and that's why there isn't a post before now) My favorite shack in Boise sold flower looking cup holders for kids, and they work great for keeping spills down. Anyway, here is a picture and a video of Paul trying to get the last few drops of his snow cone from his cup to his mouth. On the trip we took to Boise last week the shacks were closed for the winter. :(

Paul's 2 Year Portraits

Nonfat Dry Milk

We have a cupboard in our dining room that we hold food in because we don't have enough cabinets in our kitchen. So Paul will often go shopping in the cupboard, not to say it would be any different if it was located in the kitchen cabinets, but he frequently finds items from the cupboard and will come and find me. His three favorite things to bring me out of the cupboard are Grits, Nonfat Dry Milk, and Chicken Bouillon. For some reason the packaging on these products always seem to catch his eye and he wants whatever is inside. So the other day instead of trying to convince Paul for the hundredth time that he won't like the Nonfat Dry Milk if I open it, I just gave him some to hopefully get him to stop asking for it. The only problem is, is that he liked it! He was asking for more! On the upside, if we ever have to live off of food storage items I know that Paul will at least eat the Dry Milk. I am looking forward to the next time he asks me for the Chicken Bouillon...

Water World

So this is our last trip to Water World this summer. I finally remembered to take our camera. Paul loves the kiddy sections. They have quite a bit for younger kids there. Paul can go on a number of the adult tube rides as well. I have loved this summer not having to go to camp, and having Pat home for most evenings. I am sad that it is almost over. I still have a couple months before the snow to enjoy the fabulous fall weather.

Nothing Much

I haven't taken any pictures in a couple weeks, and nothing new has happened. I feel bad if I let my blog go too long without an update, so here are a few insignificant events to share:

The carpet cleaners came last week to our upstairs neighbors (the smoking ones that I referred to in the previous post). I can only assume they just signed another year lease because they didn't move out. Thanks for all the optomistic vibes though.

I rearranged Paul's bedroom and set-up the baby's changing table. I am hoping that the transition of having a roomate will go smoothly for Paul. I am nervous about it.

The Democratic National Convention is here in town this week. The crazies come out of the woodwork for things like this. I thought it was interesting that Denver gave all the downtown bums free passes to a day spa, the movie theaters, and the museums around town to temporarily get them off the streets. I am glad to see our tax dollars in good use (with a large amount of sarcasm).

Rain Storm

We had a torrential rain storm come through tonight. It was enjoyable to watch. We have a plastic tarp stapled to the roof of our patio because our upstairs neighbors don't bother to use an ash tray or a trash can. We occasionally get a cigarette butt when it melts itself through the plastic, but a vast improvement from before. Anyway, so we were sitting on our ottoman in the doorway of our patio with the door open listening and watching the rain. Paul got bored and started opening and closing the sliding door. All of a sudden the wind changed and a few gallons of water pooled instantly on the tarp and burst through, along with butts and ashes, and it covered the sliding door. We sat there with our eyebrows raised thanking a higher power for the door being closed. That was a close call. It is a running joke that Secret Santa will deliver an ash tray and trash can upstairs for Christmas. I wish they'd move instead though because I don't like confrontation.

The storm lasted for about an hour, during which Pat took Paul out in it to go look around. They discovered a lake between our apartments. The pit the water was pooling in was designed for overflow, but I couldn't imagine what it would look like in use until now. Here are a couple videos. The first is of the lake during the rain storm and the second is a video I took of Paul and Pat a couple months ago playing in the same pit (just so you get a little idea of how deep the water is.)




Crazy, huh?

Heat Wave

We had a heat wave hit Denver last week. It was too hot for me to go outside, but Paul didn't seem to care. He hung out in his diaper playing in the kitchen sink or out on the patio playing in a tub of water. I didn't want to leave the air conditioning.



Paul found a fun use for the bottle scrubber. I thought it was pretty clever of him.

Makeup Fetish

Paul has always enjoyed getting into my makeup. Ever since he has been able to climb on top of the toilet my makeup has been in jeopardy. I found Paul making himself at home putting on my makeup once again. I hope he grows out of it. :)

Summer Days

We went to the zoo last week with a couple of Paul's and my favorite people, Lily and Tracy. It was too hot for a couple of pregnant ladies, but the kids sure had a good time together. The must sees always include the elephants and monkeys, but when we got home and told dad about our day Paul remembered the snakes.

Lily and Paul enjoying the elephants.

He's no longer our cute baby. He sure makes a cute kid though. We'll keep him.

Paul petting a turtle.

This summer has been really nice with Patrick around more often and not being at camp. We've been to Water World several times. As I get further along in the pregnancy I have been able to see the progression of my abilty to be out in the sun decrease gradually. On our last visit to Water World I over did myself by quite a bit. The summer sure has gone by fast. Pat only has one more week of summer and then school starts up and the busy season begins.

Patrick had an interview at work that went very well, and we are hoping for a promotion here soon. We are undecided whether to stay in Denver for another couple of years or take a transfer to a different city. It is difficult for us to afford a home here so we probably won't make Denver our hometown, but we'll see what the future brings. There is a training Patrick needs to attend the week before I am due. It is not our most favorite timing, but my mom is coming to stay with me... just in case. We have a scheduled c-section for a couple days after Patrick gets back. Most people would like to deliver a week or two early, but in this situation I hope the kiddo stays put until the end.

Tiny Town

We visited Tiny Town on Saturday. It is a park in the mountains that has little buildings to look at and some you can play in. Paul loved the rocks on the playground. I hated those rocks growing up because all the school playgrounds had them and it was hard to run on. All the parks these days have that fancy rubber turf. Paul didn't seem to mind the rocks and much as I did as a kid.

There was a miniature train you could ride that circled the park. Paul loved that part! When we rode it I thought he would have gotten more excited, but it was like he was in awe. He was speechless. So, I am not quite sure what he thought about the ride, but he sure did enjoy watching it chug around the park. There was fire truck there also and the kids could put a building on fire out with the hose. I thought that was cool. Can I have a turn?