Oh Hunter...

I want to take a few minutes to write all about my Hunter baby! What a sweet happy baby he is, but what a handful! What a sleepless last 9 months too! Poor little guy has had constant ear infections since his 6 month check up. I believe that he has always had the pressure and that is why 1. He was not sleeping through the nigh and 2. Why he didn't fuss a lot, because he was just used to it. At his 6 month check up we found out about his ears and put him on an antibiotic. A few weeks later, it was still there. 3 antibiotics later, we went to the ENT to see about tubes. A week or so later we were getting him tubes and since, we really think he feels better and the pressure is released. He is a lot of drainage but at least it is not backed up behind his ear, causing the infections. Of course the weather is changing and his nose is runny and some chest congestion is there... so we went to his 9 month well check up and I make the hard decision of getting the children FLU shots! It has been easy up till now to say no to them for Hayden, but with daycare and school in the picture, and there is not just one child now.... I decided to go for the shot. I feel good about that decision, however, ever since Hunter has had a high fever off and on at night (though last night was better) and he just acts so achy, and tired since he has been losing sleep due to the stuffyness and the fever too. The night before the flu shot he slept ALL night, yep his 1st time sleeping 11ish hours! I was excited and looking forward to a good streak.... nope. Back to the wakings. I am praying that he will begin to sleep better though. It is time. I was always so afraid that he was in pain or hungry that I had not done much sleep training like we did with Hayden but now that his ears are good and I know he does not need to eat, this is when it begins. Other than that he has started clapping and loves it. He LOVES to put everything in his mouth and he squirrels them in his cheeks, haha it is funny, but not good. Hayden was never one to put much in her mouth. He has the same crib she had and after she had it it was still in great condition... now almost the whole thing has teeth marks and paint scuffed across it. (the paint is safe, although I need to get one of the rubber pieces for it) Speaking of teeth, he has 5 good ones and 2 more that just broke skin... maybe that is another reason for his interrupted sleep. He eats very well and eats a lot of good food. Loves vegetables and fruit and has now had chicken and beef. He loves table food! Let me show you what I discovered:

1. Babycenter Says on average this is a Baby’s First Year for food and diapers alone (minus the accessories):
   
   Disposable Diapers: $72/month = $864 year
   Formula: $105/month Name brand= $1260 year
   Baby Food: $57/month = $342 6 months
   TOTAL=$2,466
   
   Hunter's average first year:
   Cloth Diapers: $19/month (washing) $150 full stock = $378 year
   Breastfeeding: $0 7months
   ...

   Formula: (store brand): $325 (5 months)
   Homemade Baby Food: $25/month * 6 months= $150
   TOTAL= $578
   
   MY SAVINGS: $1,738.00 WHOOP WHOOP! ;)

   
   

   
   

   Isn't that awesome! So I had to remind Justin of how wonderful of a job I am doing. ;)

Vacation 2012

What a beautiful week we had in N Myrtle this past week! It was absolutely a perfect family vacation! Mom was able to  join us for the first weekend and we did some blue crab fishing which was pretty neat and fun. Justin actually steamed and ate them, and said they were rather sweet and tasty - - ew! He went back again later that week and caught more! We tied a chicken leg (or a fish head) on a string and just put it out in the water (marsh/inlet area) and would slowly pull it in once you knew there was a crab on it (and you would know) then you just net them. They have to be 5 in from point to point to keep. It kept Hayden entertained as well!! We were straight beach bums in the day though. Once the weather warmed up we headed out to the ocean. We were very fortunate to stay at my bosses beach house which is 2 blocks from the ocean so we would just walk to the water. Hunter of course ate some sand but he never got upset out there. He would crawl all over the beach -- I think he thought it was a really big bath tub! He had himself a nap out there too -- who couldn't ask for a better place to nap, in a tent ont he beach listening to the waves! Ahh, how relaxing! Mom and I went out there for a couples hours one day to try to do the same. Of course we like to talk a lot so I got about a 10 min nap when I realized I kept getting bit by flies. What? Never has that happened before! We had a shrimp boil for dinner and the rest of the week we either ate out or cooked in but whatever we did we made the best of it! The kids enjoyed their time, no fussiness (out of the norm at least) Justin and I enjoyed it too! Pictures to come tomorrow!

Hunter and his milestones

This YEAR is flying by. With hunter being 6 months old already and quickly moving onto new milestones, I just cannot get over it! So..... he has now cut his first TWO teeth... at the same time, 3 days after his 6 month date. That was a rough night! A week or 2 before the teeth he started to sit up by himself! I got him a new toy and decided to sit him up in front of it and he just "caught on" to sitting that quick! I probably could have had him doing it sooner but just haven't thought of it. Now, just 6 months and 2 weeks old, he is on his hands and knees rocking.

I forgot to update this when I originally wrote it so now I am back and reading this and he is a month older and doing more things! He pulled up to standing at the dishwasher about 2-3 weeks ago (right at 7 months) and I just squealed! I wanted to push him right back down and tell him he can't be doing this yet!! I thought boys delayed their progress? I thought Hayden was just super fast and surely Hunter man wouldn't be the same.... NOPE! So now he stands up holding on to everything!!!! He will be walking soon I know it... and dread it!! He has his two bottom teeth that he got right at 6 months and the two top teeth have been working their way in for a few weeks.... popping fully in right at 8 months!

Nothing like wanting the first baby to hit all the milestones early and then the second baby you just hope they wait for everything. ;) I love my children! They are awesome I tell ya!

Hunter eats food like crazy, babbles all day long. He never sleeps  -- he doesn't want to miss out on anything so he chooses not to sleep and to fight it! I am interested to know what kind of personality he will have as he grows into his own little person! I can't believe that this Christmas he will be one! 

Stressing Here!

My mind was made up... I was going to start Hayden in 4K next year since her birthday falls on Aug 29th and the school cut off date is Sept. 1. We cancelled the screening she was supposed to do and we thought that was it.... until I get a 'Welcome' letter in the mail letting us know who her teacher will be beginning on Aug 29th, the first day of school!! WHAT? I called to ask about holding her back and they cannot say that there will be a space next year in the 4K program and we would need to sign up for Kindergarten. Well, I definitely do not want to skip the 4K process so we are sending her to school..... THIS August! I know there are a lot of ppl who would not understand why I would want to "hold" her back a year but if she were born 3 days later, she would not have had a choice for 4K this year. This being said, we will be going to the BIG meet the teacher day next Monday!! Ahh!! This also meant that I had to find a way to get her to and from school. My caretaker is a true God-send! I hate to have to find anything else esp after searching for so long for someone so wonderful. We found a daycare that does pick up and drop off at school so both Hayden and Hunter will be going to ..... daycare. There is really nothing wrong with daycare so I hate to feel the way I do about it but I just never thought my children would go so young (or wishfully, ever) Please don't strike me for this... I know there are good daycares out there and good people who run them and now I will just have to trust that I have found one that will be just that and more! I also hope that Hunter being so small still will not get sick from being with so many other little babies. 

This year has truly been the toughest, most emotional, and yet the most rewarding year of my life. I could not be more thankful for my family and my accomplishments. When I was pregnant I thought for sure I would have anxiety having two children if I did when I only had one. I was so 'afraid' to have 2 kids but I did not end up have any ppd! I thought that things wouldn't be as exciting as the first baby.... but it was like a whole new 'firsts' and just as exciting!! I struggled with cloth diapers with #1 and my baby boy has been in them since 5 weeks old! I did not go back to work for 9 months after dd so going back to work 6 weeks after ds was extremely difficult.... finding childcare for the 2 most precious jewels in your life is the hardest decision ever! I did it! I have just proved to myself that things really do work out the way they are supposed to and I have trusted God and give Him all the glory for "making it through" the past few months!! 

Breastfeeding has always been a "must" for me . I loved it for Hayden and just as much for this little one. I had my struggles with it as well. Right after ds was born my dad went in the hospital with lung cancer and that put a lot of stress on me (and my family) My milk supply had gotten very low and I was doing everything I could to keep up. That was even more stressful and very tempting to just "give up" I actually got off the mini pill and kept taking herbal supplements until my supply built back up. It is truly amazing how different your body is with each child. I had an abundant supply with the first and started my period back immediately. With this one I have had such a hard time with my supply yet no period yet. With this one I do not get let downs or leak or need nipple cream or breast pads, etc like I did with my first.

This all brings me to this. We are weaning from breastfeeding. I know that I am ready but it is still very emotional for me. Hunter doesn't seem to notice or "root" when I am holding him and it helps that he loves his bottle, lol it is actually kind of funny to watch him when he sees a bottle. But anyway, I have been slowing down a lot and just can't seem to remember how to eventually stop. I would like my morning feeding to be the last to go and so far that is what I am at right now but I still have to pump at night or I get really engorged. Actually today will be the first day that I will not be pumping during the day! :/

Sorry this is so lengthy, I told ya, I am still so emotional. But thank you for reading. 

Look at my two cuties in the tub! I love this picture!! 

Welcome to the world of TWO!

Hunter is 4.5 months old now!! At his 4 month appt he weighed 13.4lbs and was 26in long! I thought he would have weighed more than that but that is pretty long!! He is in the 75th percentile for his height and 25th for his head and weight. I hope he continues to be tall!! He was rolling over from belly to back at 3 months old but not yet from back to belly. He is very close though. He is such a happy baby. So content and all smiles! Hayden was a very happy baby as well and for that I am so thankful! I cannot carry Hunter around all the time since I am chasing an almost 4 yr old, all the while holding down the fort so he spends a lot of time in a swing, on his floor toy or elsewhere. I am glad that he is content! I carry him in a sling sometimes but still not as often as I had imagined I would. Being back at work after having him is such a change from not having to work after Hayden. It is a love/hate thing. I truly enjoy my job, getting away, money, etc but I feel rushed (almost everyday) whether it is getting ready in the morning, lunch breaks, and all the way to dinner time. That leads to the guilt I feel for not having “time” to play with Hayden like I should and do want to do. Don’t get me wrong, we play and we do lots of activities together, but she asks me to do more and I hate to have to say “I can’t right now, I am busy”. I know we all feel that way and we shouldn’t feel guilty but that is easier said then done, right? We just put the crib up this week, so the kids are sharing a room now. AH!! We had been talking to Hayden about it before doing so, she was thrilled and couldn’t wait so we were thankful for how smooth that worked out but now her room is so jammed up it isn’t funny. I am looking forward to more space one day!! Right now Hayden goes to bed earlier than Hunter and he wakes up to eat and ends up in the bed with me earlier than when she gets up so she really doesn’t realize that he is even in there. Before too long, I am hoping to get him on a better schedule. Right now he eats, plays, sleeps. Everyday that can be predicted however, the timing can change. He is a cat napper whereas Hayden loved her sleep, took great naps, and slept all night early on…. Hunter does not do this! He naps a couple times a day maybe 20 mins, maybe an hour. And doesn’t go to bed until 10-11pm! That means right now I am not getting enough sleep at night to function in my next day chores and work, of all things. He is still eating every 3 hours, DAY and NIGHT! Phew!! Also it means that there is not a lot of “down time” for me (alone) I sit down with him (when I actually do sit down) but that is with him, if he “lets” me. I do enjoy our time after Hayden is in bed, we need that, but it makes me end up going to bed even later b/c once he is in bed, I finish up whatever needs to be done, dishes, laundry, a shower, etc and I want to wind down before closing my eyes. This makes for a loooong day. We put the crib up hoping this will change his night schedule and allow him to sleep longer at night but 2 nights down and nothing has changed L I will continue now to try other things. I hadn’t cared much for a set schedule yet only because we are always on the go so this has worked but I think it is time for some changes. Also I just started to give him oatmeal hoping that would work at night and it hasn’t yet. Maybe he is ready to eat 2x a day? Maybe veggies?

Work is going well. Every since being back from maternity leave I am almost always late. I do not like to be late, at all!! I am usually getting the kids ready alone. When Justin is home he helps of course but his schedule doesn’t allow this to happen much. I drop Hunter off at Nana’s and Hayden at preschool. I pick her up at 12 and then him and go home fix a super quick lunch, rush her to eat, tend to him and then load up and head off to Mrs. Linda’s and then I am late returning to work. I went to my boss about it and apologized several times, offered to make it up and even have worked some extra without pay. I just feel awful, really! I am looking forward to June because they will both be going to Mrs. Linda’s all day Mon and Fri (my 2 full work days) I am not putting Hayden in preschool this time but will sign her up for Pre K NEXT fall! I don’t think she is ready this fall although she could go since her b-day is right there on the line. That was a tough decision to make. I know that when I was in school, I was the youngest in my class. I was not yet able to do some of the things the others could do and that I hated. I do not want Hayden to go through that and I definitely want her to be ready for school. Maturity and all. I think she is super smart and I don’t want to put her in now and her get “bored”. Plus, I really really  like Mrs. Linda. I am so thankful to have found her!! She worked with me on the weekly pay since I do not work full time. She is registered with the state so I fill this on my taxes as a write off. She has more patience than anyone I have met and she truly enjoys these kids. She can have 6 in her home and she handles them so well. She is Christ-centered and what more could I ask for? They have craft time and read books and they learn there as well so I wasn’t upset making the decision not to put Hayden back into the preschool program. Hayden enjoys being there too, at Mrs. Linda’s. It helps that she is right up the road, she is cloth diapering Hunter with me, and she is so easy to talk to and will listen when I say things about how I raise my children, etc. However, she is wiser than I so I would listen to what she has to say as well. Can you tell I am happy that I found her as our childcare provider?

Hayden is such a good big sister, I truly could not have asked for a better age difference, although I would not ever know if one is better than another. I love to see them interact and I know it is only going to get better and more fun. She loves to make him laugh and he LOVES watching her. He likes anyone to show their face to him. He smiles from ear to ear! It is heart melting!



I count my blessings that is for sure!

Great Cloth Diaper Change

Saturday April 21, 2012 marked the second Great Cloth Diaper Change where parents around the world attempted to break the Guinness Book of World Record™ for most cloth diapers changed simultaneously. There were an estimated 300 locations located in 17-18 countries. Some parents even woke up their babies to change them at 6:30 am! I was so glad to be a part of this event! It is encouraging to see so many cloth diapering advocates. Hunter was so good and has helped set his first record at only 4 months old! I hope to make it to the next couple years while lilttle man is in diapers! 

My friend and cloth diapering momma, Kerry, met me up at the event with her little almost 1 year old Mason!  (This is him in the picture laying down) Kerry has truly helped me with learning 'all there is to know about cloth diapering'! We both enjoyed the event and got some freebies out of it as well. Just for signing up we got a gift as walking in which was a couple samples of detergents.  I also walked away with a new pockey diaper! They had vendors set up with information on other cloth options from diapers and/or wipes themselves to cloth snack packs. Another supporter was Dirty Diaper Laundry which works out of Charlotte and does your laundry for you. Interesting right? I learned more about some products I can also use to help increase my milk supply and that being a stress in my life right now, meant so much! My next blog will be on making "Milkin' Cookies"! Tune in!

A New Milestone

I have picked up a new hobby, running! It is bittersweet. I love what the end result is but I honestly dislike the thought of going for a run. I heard that changes as you stick with it. So far, that is proven true. I started the beginning of March and was doing over 15 min miles. Mid/End March was about 13 min miles and yesterday was a 11.5 min mile run! I definately see progress and finally seeing a difference in my body size and endurance. Now, all these results are so NICE! I love being able to "break away" and just go and I think that once I get my rythm right and breathing right, I really think I may actually enjoy running. I have only done 3.1 miles but I want to push for a 10K eventually. I am running in my first 5K tomorrow! Wohoo!! I got my friend, Emily, to sign up and run too! She has also been training for 5K's.

Honestly - I just want to cross the finish line! ;) I am pushing for a 34 min run so we shall see. I have only gotten to a 35-36min run. I think running along side others will push me to do better. I am looking forward to it and I believe it will encourage me to keep up the running. I started running to train for this 5K that my boss at work is "over" and running in also. It really gave me something to set a goal for and actually get to work on my fitness. I need something that I can steadily do. We plan to join a gym but running is an all around good way to stay fit! I have to say that I am extrememly proud of my running accomplishments and I hope I stick with it! I will report with how the run goes tomorrow!

Tensions high?

A while back, when Hunter was almost 4 weeks old, I had wrote this up but never shared it... I thought after reading it now that it may be helpful to share so that someone else may understand that they are not alone if they ever expierence the same thing one day! here it is:

Tensions are high in the house right now and I don't know if it is just me working things up in my head or if hubby feels it too. I am almost scared to ask him because of how emotional I am right now. I know I will need to talk to him soon though but right now I am here to vent. I love breastfeeding but note to my hubby: do NOT use that for every time you hold him and he fusses to say he is hungry! No he is not hungry!!!!!!! This is what he does, if Hunter fusses, he will get up and slowly follow me around (as if I don't notice) AND/OR he will say very loudly in a baby comforting talk "I don't have a boobie son" and I am like, really? I NEED to tell him this bothers me because the baby doesn't know what he is saying so since it bothers me this much, it just doesn't need to be said. That leads me to saying that I know for now this is my "job" and that my husband has a job as well that I understand he works his tush off at but I still need support and help. Why don't men see that? Esp when you have a new HUGE change in your life like a baby. That leads me to this... when he sees me upset or even sometimes when I totally am okay but he "thinks" I am upset, he knows that after Hayden I had anxiety and took zoloft so he will use that as a "crutch" for me as well and assume I should just take the medicine. He makes it sound like he is only trying to be supportive but to me it comes across as "I don't want to hear it, so just take this and calm down... than you can magically handle it all" Right???? I just want comfort, support, and help.... a little TLC please!! I know I need to just tell him how I feel but today has been a very emotional day.
But on a good reassuring note, I have felt wonderful and so different through this post pardom and truly have not felt any depression or anxiety. I think that is why it upsets me when those that knew about the ppd with dd, question my emotions already with this one, when in truth, this is perfectly normal for 3 week baby blues and rollercoaster hormones!

3 days later: I did have a chance to talk to him and I felt nuch better. At first he took it too personal (like I was attacking him) but I told him that really, it was me... things that bothered me and if I didn't tell him it would build up and yet he would have never known, so he was better about it then. In his mind he is just trying to be supportive and I thanked him for that but he just needed a little "guidance" lol.

Hunter's 2 month changes

My little man is 2 months old now! He weighs 11.1lbs and is 23.5in long. I honestly thought he was bigger than that and thought I was going to have a little chunck on my hands but looking back at Hayden's baby book, he actually weighs a few ounces less than her at 2 months. I also saw that she was sleeping a little better than him but he isn't doing bad. He is sleeping around 5 hours at night and just wakes up to eat. He still eats well, about every 3 hour during the day. One thing I LOVE about him being different than Hayden is that he is on an eat play sleep schedule whereas Hayden ate on demand whenever and usually fell asleep on the boob. I mean I didn't have anything better to do since I was a stay at home mom then but still that was very tiring. With Hunter he is so predictable and it is WONDERFUL! I am not going to deny him food if he truly is hungry but I seem to be able to "know" what his cries are and what he may want better than Hayden. I am back at work now and truly happy to be there. Yes, it is tough to not be at home with my babies and spend all day with them and always have the house in order and dinner on the table .... etc BUT it would never be that way if I did stay at home. I wouldn't have it alltogether like people think stay at home moms do. Plus, my little income does help. having a part time job allows me to have space without spending money that I am not making. I cannot just sit at home so I need to at least make gas money ;) haha! I am much more comfortable going out with them then I thought I would be. I feel like I have grown a lot as a mother since with Hayden. Don't get me wrong, there are some really tough times and times that I feel like I am a bit overwhelmed, exhausted, axious, .... need I go on? But in all reality... I am a normal mother and still only have an 8 week old at home. I have a feeling days, weeks, months are going to FLY by even faster having two little ones! Hayden is a wonderful big sister and this age difference is absolutely wonderful and the best choice we could have made for our family! I have my Jesus to thank for holding our hand through everything! And the all knowing God for doing exactly as He has planned for us!

We got news soon after Hunter was here that daddy has lung cancer. It was (and still is) very heartbreaking. We have been goingback and fourth to the doctors and he has had several more tests to be sure that it was not in the bone, brain or anywhere else and thanks be to God that it is not anywhere else. The Dr is using these tests to determine treatment whether it be surgery to fully remove the cancer by taking the piece of lung infected and the lymphnodes that are infected or do chemo and radiation. We go again soon to find that exact answer out! We are fervently praying for healing and life changes. Like for him to QUIT smoking! We are all upset and trying to look at the best of things for sure. I will keep this updated as we find answers. I appreciate the thoughfulness and prayers of friends and family more than I could ever describe! Here is my favorite picture of dad and the kids! :)

Hayden's First Dentist

Today Hayden had her first dentist appointment. I have been trying to get her to the dentist for a while now and at first I could not find a pediatric dentistry to take our insurance and then when I finally found Young and Polite dentistry I had to make and cancel several appts before finally making one! It ended up working out perfect though because she was able to go to the dentist with me and see me not scared, then a dentist went to their school a week or so ago just to talk about brushing. This helped to prepare her for today. I really liked how the place was set up (like an under water adventure) and she gave us a tour then walked Hayden through everything she was going to do and what the tools were for, etc. Hayden seemed to be just fine but when asked to lay back she got really scared and cried a little. We were finally able to work her way down and she was good to go. I didn't like seeing her cry, I could tell she was really scared and the look she gave me made me feel like she was wondering why I would ask her to do something she was scared of. It was sincere. I had to make her do it though so she would know that there was NOTHING to be scared of and that it would end up being fun and exciting. After all said and done, it was just that! She got a prize for doing a good job and gets "points" toward a bigger prize each time! Pretty neat! Daddy sat by her side the whole time and held her hand. I was so glad I had him there since I pretty much had to hold Hunter the whole time! I hope she likes going to the dentist like I do. I know I'm weird! ;)

Hunter's Birth Story

We were scheduled for our induction for Dec 26th at 7:30pm. We would start the gel and the following morning we would start the pitocin drip. we decide to eat a good meal at Fatz (like we did before the birth of Hayden) and then we headed to Piedmont. We register, get in our room and have the best nurse! We get the gel about 8:30 or so and I am only about a cm at this point. Dr. Taylor was our doctor.
*Side Note* I truly enjoyed Dr. Taylor but he is family through a recent marriage so I purposely had not seen him at RH OBGYN so I thought it was pretty funny that he ended up being our delivery Dr... although he really has no idea who we are, or I don't think he remembered at least, but I sure did!
Okay so we have to wait an hour for the gel before getting up and once I was able to get back up I went to the bathroom and since the nurse had reassured us that the gel generally does not bring labor on any quicker and that we were looking at noon the 27th before birt, I get back in bed and take an ambien to get "a good nights sleep" Within 45 mins I am woken up by some heavy contractions. The nurse checks me and I am at 4 cm and decide I want the epidural (thinking if this is going to last until tomorrow and I'm in this much pain... so the anesthesiologist takes forever to get there and by the time he is I had dilated to 8 and I swore I was ready to push. I felt like I was about to have the baby any second but yet my water hadn't broken. I sat to the side of the bed to get the epi and my water broke. Felt like it went everywhere and that it was a lot but hubby said it was just a little puddle. I seriously could not hold my eyes open and was feeling loopy b/c of the ambien. RIGHT after my water broke I told them that I had to push NOW that the baby was coming. Sure enough, I pushed a few times and he came right out! I felt it all and it was a lot of pain but of course worth it all and I am so thankful that it happened "quickly". I am very excited to say that I had a "natural" birth but it was not something I was trying to achieve for any kind of goal ;) Hunter Cameron Timmons was born on 12/27/11 at 2:23am weighing 7.15lbs and 21in long. He came out with a perfect shaped head AND HAIR ;) , he nursed right away like a champ - WOHOO and he is less than 24 hours right now and has still nursed 8 + times with 4-6 BM and wet diapers! This amazes me at how well he is doing since dd was pretty opposite her first 24 hours! So here we are at the hospital with our new little boy and I am so excited to get him home and start all the "new adventures" we have ahead! Big sister is anxiously waiting for us to get home as well! She seems to be very excited for her baby brother!! Thank you for all the love and well wishes from friends and family! We are truly blessed and so thankful! Now off to get some rest! :)
**On a side cute note: I have a little snorter lol He snorts when he cries and sleeps. hehee

Justin had been by my side the whole time and such a good daddy :)