Still hearts mama milk!

Will told me he ran into my favorite NICU nurse ever yesterday! Miss Carrie! She was so awesome with breastfeeding help, and I think it was no mistake she was our nurse at that critical window of opportunity, and so willing to just encourage us and strengthen my nervous weakened self esteem.

I sit here with my nearly 16 month old now walking toddler with 8 solid teeth and 6 more barely peeking through his gums...nursing. You know you are nursing a toddler when he is driving a race car across your chest and trying to say "broom-broom" while he eats! I just had to smile knowing he is slowly but surely dropping many of his nursing sessions all on his own. He's down to nursing only a couple times at night now...I think...I tend to sleep through it, but I'm trying to keep track just for curiosity sake! I know I will look back and miss these days even though at times it seems like it's been forever, and there are moments when I have to tell him "all done" and button up for my own sanity. Someday I will miss his little starfish hands on my chest, the rolling eyes and the sweet soft snuggly skin.

I don't know if Miss Carrie will read this blog or not, but if you do Miss Carrie...thank you! You were a bright spot during a trial from hell for us, and I'm fairly certain without your encouragement we'd not have gotten off to such an excellent nursing start. "Tube to Boob" skipping the bottle step was our goal, and we did it!

I'd love to enclose a pic of the race car nursing session, but well, Will took the camera to work and besides it would involve my boob. Enough folks have seen that lately even if the baby is awfully cute!

...I'm being brought my shoes, all of them, one at a time....I think it's time for some recess before the weather heats up today...

off to play!
Randi Fay

nosy...

OMG is this adorable or what? I had to post it! Check out my other blogsite for some more pics of the whole fam including our cutie patootie miracle baby :)

http://www.withnakedfeet.blogspot.com/

Amost 14 months!

Finally broke down and took Oliver into the Doctor. Something was nagging at me and I finally listened to the committee in my brain.

I'm glad I did. Ollie has anemia. Blame it on my detest of red meat. I can't stand it. Nothing containing iron except tuna really appeals to me, and one can only eat so much (read: once a week if lucky) tuna before it becomes nasty too. So, iron supplements here we come. Doc seemed a little worried about the low levels and wants a lead test anyway so off we go to the lab today for some fun with needles. Hear the joy in my voice. Cause I love the word needle and Oliver being in the same sentence. *sigh*

We also discovered the "eczema" on his little leggie that has persisted beyond two weeks is in fact fifths disease. It's not supposed to be a big deal unless one is pregnant. It goes away on it's own, it's caused by a virus and there really is no treatment for it. Since we aren't pregnant, we have no worries. Until I got home and read that it can cause anemia as well. For cryin out loud....this child of mine....

So that's the update on my little monkey boy for now. He's a whopping 23 pounds and 31 inches...above average for his age, so he's obviously not hurting for nutrition! He made a point of showing off to the Doc and saying "hi" "dog" "dada" and of course the all time favorite spammed word in my house "ball." Doc was impressed with the clear vocabulary. And then Oliver looks at me and does baby signs for milk clear as can be and we start nursing. Doc smiled and said he was communicating quite well! I of course was all full of pride. As we left Ollie gave a nice loud (and still with that southern accent) "Bye" as he waved! I just have to giggle at the cute personality that is emerging from this child.

He started giving kisses on demand last night. The tongue hangs out and the mouth stays open, but he does them every time you ask. He gets a kick out of it too. I asked him last night to give me kisses while he was nursing and he stopped nursing to climb up to my face and give me a nice fat wet one!

Oh the love for that ball...tis like no other!

Even more.

I just posted on my other blog. We went to San Fran for the day and I put up a bunch of pics. Just thought I would cross post over here if anyone wanted to go see all the boys-the rest of the fam-at the museum. Was a blast!
Here's a link:
www.withnakedfeet.blogspot.com

~RF

A special post...

TO MY SPECIAL WOO
There is more similarity than just his name.
This is proof positive that this child has Masten in his genes!

(There's a second and much longer post after this one, packed with pics, but this...this deserved it's own place of fame...)

WITH LOVE FROM DOT~

Long overdue pictures!

I hear when Jade has a red tip that it is very happy! I must be doing something right.

My mini roses. Will likes to buy me flowers that live a long time.

Blooms about to open.

Burrows Tail.

Now that I have subjected you to my green thumb...I will show you why all my plants are growing so well...a certain little boy insists on outside time every day which includes massive water play!

Learning to kick the ball.

Bath time fun!

This caused giggles and shrieking! For some reason it was hilarious to Oliver!

Toothy grins!

Guess what I have learned???

What do you mean "no no"??? Do you not understand who I am? I am Oliver!!!

First trip ever to McD's. Fries, germs and kid funked playground included. Great times!

BALLS!

Weighted with significance and symbolism, we planted a Corkscrew Willow Tree in our front yard. It's about the same height as Oliver. Dad and baby put it in the ground.

Brad trying to be funny showing off the height. That's my step-dad's Explorer in the background. We'll have to give it back to the dealership soon. It's been a nice go between as both our vehicles went out of commission at the same time! But it's time has come to go back soon.

Jacob Evan.

Nude gardening. He will water his own tree thank you much!

Half the time this works. Half the time it causes water up the nose and a huge fit.

I've no idea where Oliver learned to hose drink.

No idea what so ever.

We also are learning to Recycle!

I'm doin it!

Walking is coming.

A break at the park, for one of Olivers most favorite past times. Completely zoned out...

Ryan and a rather tired looking mama.

Standing up to scan for the ball, I'm obsessed with my ball...have you seen it? Anyone?

If I had half the energy of this child my pictures would be alot prettier!

Ryan Tyler

This only looks peaceful. Later came weight tossing around. It involved someone flying, someone near breaking an ankle, and some tears. I won't name names. This thing is not the fun teeter totter it appears to be.

Big kids are fascinating. I found my ball by the way.

Big brother holds me while mama waters the garden.

Romaine and "crinkly leaf" lettuce-home grown!

Dad harvesting amongst the weeds.

Baby corn.

The once a year bloomin cactus!

I love mamas exercise bands but she says this behavior has gotten me in trouble before and she took them away!! I had to climb so far under the bed to find these.

Cavorting with the "duhs" (dogs)

This is actually a baby sign language...it means "all done."

I'll feed myself thank you.

The preferred method of transportation. No knees. We call this four wheel driving. It has become quite efficient and mom must run to catch me!!!

A certain little boy most definitely has a water addiction...

Hose water

This is a combination of two of his favorite things water and ball....he's actually sitting here with his mouth wide open, just staring.

The spigot of power.

Will not get in the pool, but it's pure glee from the outside!!!

Oh yes. We have been busy. Growing and growing! Forth of July pictures coming soon!

Much love~

RF and O

Where am I???

I know. I'm awful. Here is where I've been in case you live under a rock and haven't found me yet... www.withnakedfeet.blogspot.com

Oliver is doing so well! His favorite babblings these days include (99% of the time) "Bah" which is translated to mean Ball. He's obsessed with it. He also says "Duh" --that means dog. Other commonly heard word "Abu" somehow this translates to mean he wants mama milk. ??? This is usually heard after a tumble which is common lately, or all darn. night. long....I tried to bargain with him last night, and explain that Abu was sleeping, but he wouldn't have it. He actually found daddy and woke him up and told him Abu with a teary eyed look, bottom lip sticking out and all until daddy made mommy give the coveted Abu so we could all sleep! Except me. Because my left side went entirely numb from not being permitted to roll over all night.

Next goal: night weaning. You know it's bad when the non bottle fed child has cavities. He is flat out addicted! I have also created a marvelous bed (on the floor) next to mine in hopes that moving the child away from the all night buffet will keep him from grazing. Not to mention he has had a few near fall off's from the big bed and I feel safer with him on the floor. We attempted a test run this morning of the "side bed", and he bashed his head into the desk nearby. So his floor bed is now surrounded by pillows. All he needs is a cute baby girl feeding him grapes and fanning him. Really. Or some lacy curtain type mosquito net. I pray for rest. I pray for Oliver to realize he has an Abu addiction problem. There must be some sort of 12 step recovery program for this.

I will be unloading the pictures from the camera today. Will put some up as this page is long overdue for some Ollie cuteness!

Much love
RF

About this time last year...

I woke up from that nap. My boys were playing out side and I waddled to the kitchen for a drink and discovered my water was broken. I had a laugh with my husband this morning. The day I went into labor, he was working with the same employer he is this very day. (He is a general contractor so that's not always how it is) It was also open house night at the elementary school. I will make it this year! And I have two classrooms to visit this year-one in Kindergarten and one in Fifth Grade! And our sweet baby will be in tow...

I just had Ollie on my lap a minute ago. He's so big, yet still so soft and small. So much has changed in the last year. I had gotten him a cup of goldfish crackers and he was sitting on my lap not willing to eat them. Can't let them go to waste. I began to nibble. He shoves his little finger in my mouth and demands I open for him to see. I just have to laugh as now he has great interest in the goldfish crackers. He gets a mouth full and kicks down to crawl out to where his brother is playing lego star wars...he takes over the controller.

I know he will be walking soon. He's growing teeth and hair at an alarming rate. He talks about things, although we don't understand it all yet, he has some things to say! He does say HI...in the most southern accent you ever heard. I've no idea where that came from.

This time last year was full of so much promise. Labor pains and an entire family anxiously awaiting, intrigued by the whole home birth idea. Food and Tea and wonderful relaxing things stocked up in my home for a babymoon (same idea as a honeymoon for those unfamiliar with the term). I knew soon I would lay in my own bed with my fresh-new baby scented-infant, the perfect picture of bliss. We had waited so long, had planned so much and eagerness was thick in the air.

The path we had to walk was not one which was planned. Are they ever really what you plan? Three weeks laden with tests, unanswered questions, frustration, fear, anxiety, a warped world within a world, seemingly heaving by at an astounding rate and yet at times standing still, with muffled sounds and far away voices, people moving as if in slow motion.

What ensued for us was in many ways another three weeks of labor.

What we brought home with us was nothing short of a miracle. A bullet dodging miracle.

It is all still so fresh in my mind. I sit right this minute in the very room, feet from-inches from the very space where he made the transition to become earthside. The very spot where he lay on my chest in the murky waters, blue as blue, and made not a move. My hard work was over, the sweat and agony still lingering in the stuffy and dark bedroom air. And yet my work was just beginning.

In this very room, in this very space, a miracle was born. One that completely rocked my world.
And we still listen to Enya. And we still watch for our trains. And we're planting a Willow Tree in our yard. For some reason God picked me of all mothers to be this little boy's mommy. I won't ever take that for granted. Each kiss and each snuggle has so much deeper meaning-for all my children. I still love him more than all the stars in the sky just as much as I did when we weren't sure of his survival. No, I love him more than that.

And so we walk around on this planet. Spiritual beings in disguise. A miracle and his mom. Doing whatever it is our Creator put us on this earth to do. Together. Today, I am grateful for the opportunity. For the whole ordeal. For the gift of life. Grateful beyond the expressions that words can make. Grateful.

Standing up!

My little monkey man stood up on his own today. Actually he was standing at the couch and let go with both hands to check out my hairbrush. Apparently it is fascinating. He stood a good two minutes balancing on his own.

It was a sweet blessing of a milestone in the midst of a storm going on in our lives right now. He's our little ray of sunshine.

He also got another top tooth-grand total of teeth now is 5. This is surely the reason for all the fussiness this last week argh! Teeth are so tough to grow ya know!

Life on lifes terms...

Forgive delays in posting for a while please. Dealing with a new blog... www.allandahlquist.blogspot.com my step dad

Pictures!

I found a egg!!!

Ryan found more than eggs!!!

Mammy, Jacob, Bunny, Bradley-and in front is Mama, Ollie, and Ryan

I like the fuzzy bunny...
Playin in the dirt in my "baby leggies"