Baby Spratling #2

Well finally, at 20 weeks, I am announcing that WE ARE PREGNANT! I don't know why it took me so long to announce it but I suppose it was that I wanted to make sure that everything was alright. Plus, I love to relish in good news and just think about it. Announcing it opens it up for everyone else to comment and I just wanted to be in my own little world with my thoughts and not everyone else's. Not that we haven't told people, we have. We just haven't announced it over social media until now. Also, I don't get embarrassed easily but I also don't like to seek out attention so posting a picture on Facebook or the Blog just seems like *begging* for congratulations. This is why I don't announce it in Relief Society. I just let people talk and/or see me start to show and figure it out for themselves (not that I mind AT ALL when other people announce it-I actually love it when they do. It just makes me, myself, and I feel a tad awkward). But now that I am posting this you do need to congratulate me in a comment because I am expecting it ;).

I also wanted to do it in some cute way and it took me until 19 weeks to finally get out and take some pictures of Ethan so that I could do it in the way that I wanted! So the above picture and these below were taken last week. I really wanted it to be Ethan who "announced" the pregnancy. He, however, didn't really like the idea of having to hold still while outside. Luckily, I got a few good shots. This one was taken right before he threw the paper to the side. That is why the rest are just of him playing ;).

 Riding the horse. I love his face in this one.

I just love the rocking motion of his head and face in these shots. He is pretty focused.

When we had our first appointment with Ethan at 13 weeks we got to listen to the heartbeat and we also had an ultrasound because the doctor didn't think my uterus was big enough to be that far along (Ethan ended up measuring 5 days bigger, which I thought was ironic). My point in telling you this is because we left our first appointment knowing for sure that we REALLY did have a baby.

In my first appointment with this baby, at 9 weeks, we didn't get to hear the heartbeat or see an ultrasound. I couldn't find anyone to watch Ethan (everyone I could think of was sick or out of town) so Trent took Ethan out while she gave me my exam and felt my uterus. She told me that my uterus felt like it was the right size (which confirmed to me that I was pregnant) and also cleared me for a VBAC (which I am SUPER excited about...more on that later). When I went out to see Trent he said, "So? Are we pregnant for sure?" I laughed because I felt the same way! It felt so inconclusive to have the only evidence be that my uterus was bigger than normal! I assured him that we were and told him that she had felt my uterus, even though I felt a little unsure myself.

Because Ethan came 6 weeks early though, my doctor recommended me to get an ultrasound that next week to confirm the due date (so that if I have preterm labor we know exactly how old the baby is). It was so comforting to see the baby on the sonogram! As soon as she started the ultrasound we could see the baby kicking and moving and I think we both breathed a sigh of relief that we were "really" pregnant. It was truly beautiful. The baby kicked and moved and made it hard on the sonographer but she came out with measurements that said the baby was a week farther along than we thought. She also said that it looked as though the baby might have a mass by the stomach which could be a gastroschisis. Gastroschisis is what Ethan was born with, where his intestines were outside of his stomach. You can kind of see what she is talking about in the picture below. You can see the baby's head from the top and two arms and there is a whitish/gray mass in between the arms. She told us that 10 weeks is too early to tell because technically the intestines could still be moving into the abdomen at this time and that if they were still out at 14 weeks then it would be a for sure thing. We were of course worried, but seeing as how we had been through it once before we knew that we could handle it and that babies born with this can and normally are completely healed within a few months. We decided to be happy that we were pregnant and try not to worry about something they may not even happen.

This is shot of the baby's back.

 

With Ethan I didn't start feeling movement until about 22 weeks, but with this baby I have been feeling it since 15 weeks! In the last three weeks though I have felt kicking just about every time I have sat or laid still. I love this part about being pregnant. It is like a constant reminder that I am carrying a baby and that he/she is doing okay!

And today we got to have our 20 week ultrasound! We did not find out the gender, so don't skip ahead to see what we are having ;). When the sonographer first started she said the baby was in a ball and unless it moved we wouldn't be able to see anything! Luckily, she got it to shift around and we were able to see how the baby is doing.

She took shots of his/her feet and spine (pictured below) and of all the organs, even the top lip.

And she assured us that this baby definitely does NOT have gastroschisis. I had told myself that it would be okay if it did, and better us than someone else who didn't know what a relatively easy defect it is to fix. We also decided that I would probably do a c-section again for the baby, just to make sure its intestines were okay. And even though I had convinced myself it would be okay, I was so relieved to hear that the umbilical cord had a nice strong connection to the stomach and there was no chance of that birth defect. We discussed with the sonographer how most people look forward to a 20 week ultrasound because they will get to find out the gender of their baby. She said that it always seemed a little more like a miracle when a couple who had a previous child with a birth defect, like us, came in and were able to find out that this new baby was healthy. And when we thought Ethan was fine at 20 weeks we were grateful, but knowing now that this baby appears healthy means so much more. It is amazing all the little things that can go wrong, and yet somehow, most of the time, they all seem to go just fine. Also the baby is right on track, measuring at 12 ounces.

I LOVE these 3D shots where you can see the baby's face.  Trent says it looks like a boy ;). We didn't get any of these with Ethan and although I have always thought these were cool, it just seems that much more beautiful to see one of your own baby. It kind of makes me emotional.

And before you get excited about some of these pictures and think you see some boy parts, just let me tell you that the sonographer assured us she hadn't seen anything to make her think it was a boy and a girl and that for most of the ultrasound the baby's umbilical cord was wrapped between his/her legs. Just letting you know ;). You can also really see in these pictures that the baby is curled into a ball and has his/her knees up by his/her face.

Well, we should see be seeing this baby's face for reals in about 20 weeks!

Hiking at Tent Rocks

We are trying to take advantage of the neat things to do in and around Albuquerque so went for a fun little hike this past weekend at Tent Rocks National Monument. It is a little under an hour from Albuquerque and right next to a little lake, which we didn't realize-so next time we are bringing our swimming suits! It is called Tent Rocks because there are rock structures that are in the shape of cones or "tents". You can kind of see them in the picture below.

It is just a short little hike, probably about 3 miles if you hike the whole thing, which we did not because Ethan was ready for his nap. But we hiked about 2 miles and it was awesome! We went on one of the legs called Slot Canyon and it was so cool, we were literally sandwiched between two walls for a lot of it. Ethan was a great hiker and walked/ran most of the way. We got several comments from parents carrying older children and we just said that we had started training him young when he actually wanted to walk!

You can see the sides of the canyon in some of these shots.

We were amazed at the conditions the trees were able to grow in. This tree below started to grow before the ground was washed out from under it. Its roots somehow became super strong and are holding it up! Pretty crazy!

Trent kept climbing everywhere and Ethan just wanted to follow him.

 Being a trooper and even carrying his own water! ;)

The token picture of me. I guess that's what I get for carrying the camera. 

Next time I'll make Trent do it more.

Here you can kind of see how narrow the path got sometimes, 

and sometimes it was even smaller and we were squeezing sideways!

Showing off muscles and taking a water break.

 They wore themselves out so much that they crashed on the bed together! 

I ♥ my boys!

Story Time

I just have some stories that I need to share about Ethan. Some of them are from a few months ago but I don't want to forget about them.

Trent is making me include this for posterity's sake and if you know Trent then you will know why. We went out to eat at a Chinese restaurant and of course we got three little fortune cookies at the end of our meal. As I opened mine I saw that on the back in addition to lucky numbers they had an English word and a Chinese translation. I can't remember what mine or Trent's said but Ethan's word was BASKETBALL. Trent was all excited and thought it must be a sign. Go figure!

Now that we FINALLY have a bathtub in our apartment Ethan's shampoo is actually sitting out on the edge of the tub. In about February we were both in the bathroom (NOT taking a bath and I look over at Ethan to see him grab his shampoo off the side of the tub. He turned the bottle upside down and shook the bottle as if to pour out some shampoo on the floor. None came out as the bottle was closed, but he then carefully set the bottle on the floor next to him, reached down to where the non-existent shampoo had 'fallen' and wiped his hands over it like he was scooping it up. I wondered what he was doing when he stood up and started "washing" his hair. It was one of the few times that he had played make believe and so was exciting to watch. I really laughed though when he got done rubbing his hands in his hair and reached over to wipe them off on the towel! It amazes me the little things that kids pick up on!

Ethan is NOT potty training yet, but Trent thinks it is fun to put him on the toilet and let him try. The first time he put Ethan on his toilet seat Ethan thought it was awesome. He immediately reached around behind him to grab a book off the tank of the toilet and sat there pretending to read. Hmmmm. Wonder where he learned THAT one!

 Ethan still uses a pacifier. Don't judge me, I have my reasons. We do only let him use it during nap time and bed time so he doesn't walk around all day with it. Shortly after waking up Ethan will set down his pacifier and beloved blanket in some random place in the apartment and when he is not looking I will pick them up and hide them so that he doesn't ask for them until the next sleep time. I have always assumed that Ethan didn't notice where he left them and therefore didn't know where they went, or at least didn't know that I was hiding them from him. The other day however Ethan left is pacifier on the floor and after I had picked it up and hid it he asked, "Binky go?" I lied, "I don't know, where did you put it?" Looking back at me and pointing to the exact spot it had been he said, "On the ground!" Shocked that he remembered where it had been I then said, "well where did it go?" He looked around a little bit, then looked back up and said solemnly, "Mama hide it." As if he realized it was a lost cause he distracted himself and forgot about it. I am learning more and more that toddlers and smarter than I give them credit for!

Some more photos:

Trent stopped shaving as soon as he got done with his last BYU final. I think he is enjoying the freedom.

Here is my stud husband while we were ice skating on my birthday.

Yes. Ethan put that on the couch all by himself. And then climbed on it. 

And then jumped with up and down with it repeatedly.

Again. These next three were all by himself. He is a pretty active little thing.

Happy Mama's Day

Ethan is a teaser. And he knows it. This morning we did one of my favorite Sunday morning rituals (that I even did when I was a kid). Everyone gathers in Mom and Dad's bed and we talk and laugh and play around. Trent said to Ethan this morning: "It's Mama's Day. Can you say Happy Mama's Day?" Ethan's not a big talker so I prompted him. me "Happy", Ethan "happy" , me "Mama" Ethan: mischievous grin "DADDY!" of course, I thought, but Trent and I both laughed. When we didn't protest against Ethan's replacement word, he smiled, gave in, and said "Mama". I wonder how at such a young age he knows how to tease!

As a side note, I love to be called Mama. I know that Ethan can say Mommy, but I don't want him to, I love hearing him say Mama too much.

So today was Mother's Day. My third. All of them have been special and have been good days to reflect on the great blessing I have to be a Mom. When I was a girl I knew that I wanted to be a mother, but I had no idea how wonderful it would be. Ethan is the love of my life. I cannot express it. I know all mothers love their babies but I can't help but think they would love them more if their child was Ethan (I know its not true-but to me he is just that wonderful).

I once heard of a lady who had a child who she loved so much that she never wanted to have another baby for fear that she wouldn't have enough love for a second child. I used to think she was crazy. Or heartless. Of course you could love two babies. Now as a mother of one I know why she thought that. To me it seems impossible that I could love another child or person like I love Ethan. I know that I can, but it is really hard to imagine. He is everything to me. I cannot believe how all my actions and thoughts revolve around him without my consciously thinking about it. No wonder children think they are the center of the universe!
I am so grateful for my mother who had enough love for me. Who was selfless and serving. Who was always the perfect example for me (even if it was sometimes a bad one ;). I hope to be as good as a mother to Ethan and my future children. I might not naturally be as good, but I know that through the teachings of Jesus Christ I can learn to be more charitable, forgiving, and supportive.

I love being a mother. It is truly the best calling in life that there is.

Two. Today.

I have a two year old. A TWO year old! How crazy is that?!

So some info on the two-year-old. He talks like crazy, mostly gibberish but a lot of new words every week. Even words that we haven't said in awhile pop up in his vocabulary. The other evening we were at a friends house for dinner and he pointed up in the sky and said "moon!". He had never said that word before and I hadn't said it to him in a few weeks so I thought he was just making sounds. Our friend looked up and said, " Yeah! That is the moon!" Sure enough there in the clear, blue sky was the moon. I was so surprised. How did he remember that word when he had never said it before?

We are always asking Ethan to point to things and people. The other day Trent said, "Where's Caitlin?" He whipped around and pointed to me. I was shocked! So I said, "Where's Trent?" and he pointed to him. Of course Trent and I call each other be our first names but I had no idea that Ethan paid attention to it.
Ethan notices EVERYTHING. He knows which key opens the mailbox and which one opens the apartment. He puts the dirty dishes in the sink, except for the silverware-he puts those in the silverware drawer because he knows that's where they go. In the morning and after nap time we hide Ethan's pacifier and blanket so that he doesn't carry them around all day. We have to find new spots to hide them everyday because he will have us carry him around searching in all the 'usual' spots.

He is totally a Daddy's boy. He usually wants me when he gets hurt but in every other situation he wants Trent. He's funny though because if we are both at home he wants us all to be in the same room together. If either one of us leaves the room he asks where they went and wants them to come back. It is pretty sweet that he loves our little family so much.

He is so social. He smiles and says hi to everyone. He will even shout/scream at them to get their attention and them smile shyly. He loves any kid and thinks that he is as big as they are. He has stayed on the court/field playing dodge-ball, basketball, and baseball even though all the other little kids sat on the side and watched.

He's tricky. He thinks he is so clever. He knows he isn't supposed to go into Mom and Dad's room alone so he will casually walk by our door and 'accidentally' throw a ball in there and then give his question hands and say "go?" and then point. Translation: I have to go in there now so that I can get my ball. Of course he doesn't come back out unless he has some "help".

My mom, Ethan and I went to visit Natalie in Connecticut. We went to walk in the sand at the beach. Ethan was holding Nat's hand as they walked with their feet in the water. He let go, took a few more steps and then bolted into the water, face planting when a wave hit his chest. Natalie ran in, grabbed him and walked back on shore. He started crying-he wanted to go back into the freezing cold water!

Favorites:
Favorite Sport: Basketball. No question.
Favorite Food: Cookies. And ice cream. With Trent as his father how could it be any different? Luckily he loves most food including vegetables.
Favorite Place: Outside.
Favorite Color: No idea, but his favorite pajamas are orange and he either likes them because of the color or the monkey on them...
Favorite Animal: Doggie.
Favorite Song: Jump by Van Halen (because he likes to jump and headbang...)
Favorite Words: Daddy, truck, doggie, night-night

I never thought I could love anything like I love Ethan. Trent and I marvel every night at how much we love him. I am so grateful to be able to celebrate that he is healthy and happy for his second birthday.

Here is an update with pics from his little birthday party:

I made him a basketball cake in a bowl so that it would be roundish. It was a new endeavor, but turned out kinda cool!

We had friends meet us at the park so the kids could play and we set up his new basketball hoop! And Trent would have me note that Ethan made his first shot ever on this hoop!

This is a pic of a balloon that a lady at Smith's gave him for his birthday. Right as we walked into the store an employee approached us and just raved about how cute she thought Ethan was and that her boys were all bald until they were three. She was super nice and then asked how old he was. When I told her it was his birthday today she almost died! She kept telling him happy birthday. Then, after we had left to roam the store, we saw her running up an aisle after us-carrying this balloon! She said she couldn't NOT give him one and that she hoped he had a great day. He never wanted the balloon out of his sight! I seriously think it made his day!

Food=Mama's Job

So yesterday morning Trent, Ethan and I were all in Trent and I's bedroom. I was laying on the bed pretending to sleep while Ethan and Trent talked/played. After a few minutes Trent said to Ethan, "Want some food?" Ethan yelled "yeah!" and as he ran to the kitchen he yelled "Mama!" in such a way that it could only have meant: "Come Mama, it's your job to make us food!" I love how I wasn't even involved in the conversation but I was the one requested to make breakfast. I should probably make Trent start cooking more so that Ethan knows I am not the only source of food in this house!

The little naysayer

So within the past week Ethan has gone from saying "yeah" to every question we ask to saying "NOO" to every question we ask. How did that happen? As my way of coping I have started to call him the naysayer...trying to find humor where humor is nowhere to be found. And today we hung out with a neighbor boy for about an hour and suddenly Ethan learned "mine" and said it in the correct context and constantly for the next hour afterwards until nap time. Why is it that he doesn't learn the words I am trying to teach him? And what happened to my sweet, obedient boy? He has gone from darling to terrible twos right before my eyes...for some reason I expected this to be a gradual change not an all-at-once thing. Ahhh! Needless to say it is driving me crazy.

Here, however is a ridiculously adorable photo of the little naysayer. Multiple things add to that cute pose. First of all, this shirt has the name of my dad's business on it (Advantage Water Conditioning). This was my shirt when I was a kid. So cute. Also, hanging on the fridge is something that Ethan "colored" during nursery at church. "Heavenly Father Has a Plan for Me." They say he is really good at nursery. Even people who drop in to see their own kids comment to me how good he is. Well, at least he is polite to strangers.
Yesterday I saw Ethan playing make-believe for the first time. He handed me a cup from the table and then proceeded to pinch "something" (air) between his fingers and hand it to me. When I took it he laughed and did it again and again. Then I pretended to eat it. So he ate it too, and fed me some more. It is moments like this, and nap time, that make me still love the little monster.