Love You, Bye!

I was headed out the door this morning to run errands with my mother. I was saying bye to Leland when he said back to me "love you, bye". This is the first time Leland told me he loved me. Sweetest thing ever! Such a wonderful way to close out a wonderful year!
Wishing you all a blessed and happy new year. Wherever you are in your journey, the new year can bring lots of emotions. And whether this year has been the best or worst ever, I pray next year is better than ever!

Changes

This past week marked the end of many chapters in our life. We have been blessed with new adventures, but that doesn't make goodbyes any less bittersweet.

Leland had been accepted early into a Montessori program. We went in to discuss admission for the fall in their full day two year old program. They typically admit 18 month old children for only a morning program. After meeting Leland they said they thought he was ready for the full day program and offered to let him start in January (he will be 18 months January 3). Because of our cruise next week and the holidays, last Friday was his last day at the daycare he has been at since he was 12 weeks. This is such a great opportunity and we are so proud of his "early admissions" but leaving the security of the tiny church daycare is a huge step.

This past week was my last at my current job. I recently accepted a new job with a law firm. I will still practice juvenile law primarily, but from a different perspective. I still plan to go into my old office a few days after Christmas to wrap up files, but there will be no court hearings,  client meetings, etc.

Because my new job will be more demanding - and will pay more - I also quit my teaching job. I have been teaching at a technical college for the past four years in their paralegal program. I enjoy teaching and the extra money had helped, but with my new job I just won't have the time.

Also because of our job and school change, Friday marked mine and Leland's last lunch date for lunch time nursing. We will be together almost all day everyday for the next two weeks which eases the shock a bit, but come January we will only nurse mornings, evenings, and weekends. Sometimes I cry when I think about it, but I have faith that God had orchestrated this transition perfectly!

Finally.... if all that change isn't enough... as of last Monday, my parents reside in our basement. We have worked tirelessly to finish an approximately 1000 sq ft 2 bedroom apartment in our basement. It is finally complete and they are here.

I have had moments of pure anxiety this week. All of these changes are blessings but still change is scary. I have diligently tried to keep my focus on God and His plan for our lives.

And now...as I typed this on my phone... I am getting a pedicure is preparation for our cruise embarkation tomorrow!

A Season of Waiting

Advent marks the beginning of the new church year. It is the time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. It is a season of waiting.

 Two years ago at this time we were in a season of waiting. Infertility in generally is much a season of waiting. In 2010, just after Thanksgiving, we had received very strong Beta level results. Our levels were not only high but tripled during the 48 hours between Beta 1 and Beta 2. Our first ultrasound was scheduled for December 15^th. As we waited on the first ultrasound we prayed, we hoped and we wondered about the three precious embryos we had transferred. We wondered if those high numbers had resulted in two – or even  three – implantations. We worried that in spite of the blood levels that our first ultrasound could bring bad news. We were waiting and praying.

God used our time of waiting then to give me a whole new perspective on the season of Advent. I reflected a lot on how Mary must have felt waiting on the arrival of her son, of God’s Son. The magnitude of her waiting and her wondering really impacted me. For the past two years Advent has had a much deeper meaning for me and what it means to prepare our hearts, our minds, and our homes for the arrival for Christ.  

I have been planning and thinking for weeks on how to execute an Advent calendar with Leland in a meaningful, but age appropriate way. I searched online, and went to Pin*terest and Etsy for inspiration. And finally it has all come together. The first struggle was to find or make an advent calendar. All the ones I liked were too expensive and all the ones I could afford either didn’t have a big enough opening or were Santa themed. Finally, I found a beautiful wooden advent calendar with little doors for a great deal at TJ*Ma*xx (the boxes are about 2in x 2in).

 

The next challenge was to develop an age appropriate curriculum.  And to account for the fact that we will be on vacation (a cruise) from December 17-22. I saw these nativity stickers at the store this weekend and was finally inspired. I am cutting them up and putting a sticker in each day. I have also copied pages out of a daily Advent devotional (each devotional is really short with two Bible verses and a short paragraph) I got from church. I will tuck the copied pages (I shrunk them a bit) into the boxes as well. Finally, in addition the short devotional and talking about the new sticker as we add it to our nativity scene I hope to read a Christmas themed book each day at bed time.

My plan is to do this for two week before going on vacation and then pick back up on December 24^th & 25^th with stickers of baby Jesus and the star.

Two years ago today...

I found out I was pregnant! On November 16, 2010 we transfered three beautiful embryos. We went on a cruise during the Thanksgiving week of our two week wait. I had packed a few HPTs and agreed with Robert that we would only test on Friday after Thanksgiving, the last full day of our cruise.
That morning, November 16, 2010, (10dp5dt) I took the test and saw that beautiful second line. I followed it up with a digital test and saw the wonderful word...PREGNANT. We praised God that day and rejoiced in His blessing.
Two years later we are still rejoicing in God's miracle gift to us.
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On a final note...I highly recommend cruising during the 2ww as it really helped me relax and kept my mind off of the wait. On the down side POI injections while the ship is swaying get a little bit tricky and painful!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day. I am so thankful for all of my blessings, especially my amazing husband and our miracle Leland. We had a wonderful day with family, including Leland's great-great-grandmother. And we even managed to get all four cousins to sit still for a picture!

Halloween Fun

Halloween was filled with lots of fun and great friends. Holidays really magnify the blessing God has granted us through Leland. We are so thankful for the joy he brings us!

15 Months

Last Friday we went for Leland’s 15 month check-up. It was a bit delayed due to his being sick with the stomach virus and a bump on the head (minor concussion) – we kept putting off the appointment until he is now nearly 16 months old. Leland weighed in at 22 pounds 1 ounce (13^th percentile) and measured 30.5 inches tall (21^st percentile). Leland is still in size 4 diapers and wearing 12-18 month clothing. He has moved up to size 5 ½ shoes.

This month we had our first significant injuries. On September 22^nd he fell at the pool and got a deep scrape to the forehead. Then on October 4^th he fell twice at the daycare, resulting in a very bruised goose egg about the size of a golf ball. I have never seen such a large goose egg in my life and was pretty worried when I arrived at the daycare to see it. We rushed to the doctor, where Leland was diagnosed with a concussion and I was given instructions for monitoring him over the subsequent 24 hours. Leland is “all boy” with no fear, so I am sure this is only the beginning of many bumps and bruises to come.

Leland is continuing to develop his verbal skills. Just this week I heard him combine two words for the first time: “my nose” (while touching his own nose). He says new words almost every day. He now says “night night” every night to daddy after we all read a book together and daddy is heading out as we start to nurse. He makes lots of animal noises – my favorite is his elephant sound. He is also “talking” not in long jabbering conversations that go like this: “jabber jabber jabber DAISY (our dog) jabber jabber jabber DADDY jabber jabber jabber SNACK”. Basically a long string of jabber with recognizable works spaced throughout.

Leland is loving playing outside more and more. Leland’s Grandpa really loves this. I bought him a playhouse at our community yard sale earlier this month and he is thrilled with it. We also take frequent walks to the park or even just around the front yard. Leland also has a strong love of balls. I think balls may be his favorite toy. He identifies balls everywhere we go (an orange at the grocery store) and loves to play with his balls around the house.

Leland had four teeth (his front four) at the beginning of the month (at 15 months), but now has almost 6 teeth (4 on top & 2 on bottom). We just bought him his first toothbrush this past week. Even though he didn’t get any teeth until after a year we cleaned his mouth and gums with a washcloth every night since he was born. With just a few teeth in his mouth we had continued with the washcloth method, wiping his teeth clean. Now with six teeth “wiping” the teeth is a perilous feat that often results in Leland clamping down (biting) our finger. So I bought him a toothbrush and he loves it. He knew just what to do with it and is really very cooperative with getting his teeth brushed.

Breastfeeding is going well. We are nursing first thing in the morning, after lunch (before nap), afternoon when we get home, bedtime, and then 1-3 times per night. My supply is definitely much less then it was months ago, but we are still hanging on and enjoying the wonderful bonding.

Overall it has been a very fun month with lots of fall festivities. We have been thoroughly enjoying our new home and community. Watching Leland grow, learn, and explore is like seeing the world again new though his eyes!