Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Tigers, Temperatures and Toots

I just love January and February down here.  It's so much easier to handle when you're still able to go outside and get in the sun.
Hinckley is doing just great!  At his appointment laaast month he was a whopping 13 lbs 6 oz (80th percentile!) and was in the 50th percentile for his height (his head was a wee bit small.)  He did have some trouble with his shots, but no fever the way Atticus always did.

He is blowing bubbles like a champ, holding his head well, and is just the sweetest little smiler.  This month he started laughing- it's a cute little gasp laugh.

He also rolled over on the 26th and 27th in two different directions.  He did it a few times so I thought it would stick, but he seems to have let it go for now.


He is still really gassy and I think I might have to devote the month of February to finding some answers (I'll start with giving up dairy.  NOOOO!)  It hits hardest in the evening, in the morning around 4 AM and usually in the afternoon around the time Atticus is trying to take a nap.

A reason we don't have as many pictures in this post is because Dane and Atticus both got the flu.  It was easily the worst part of the month.  

Atticus had one of the worst and longest night terrors he's ever had.  After sleeping for a few hours, he woke up screaming, again.  He had taken all of his clothes off because he was hot, including his diaper.  He'd then woken himself up by wetting the bed.  We knew something was up and were worried this was a fever, but the next day he was perfectly normal.

After a normal evening, he woke up around 5 and threw up in his bed.  It was official- he was sick!  Later that day, Dane came down with it, as well, and it hit him hard.  We took his temperature and he definitely had a fever.  He missed three days of work and spent most of the that time in bed.  After he was swabbed and we had it confirmed that he had the flu, we tried to keep him away from the boys, especially the baby, as much as possible.  

While I knew that such a course was wise, it sure made it hard on an already sleep-deprived momma to have to watch two boys nonstop.  Furthermore, I could feel my body starting to fail.  I became congested and so incredibly tired.  

I'll spare you more details (Atticus's boredom and my meager attempts to satiate his thirst for adventure were something, let me tell you!) but there were nights that felt very, very long (the baby became congested, too, which made sleep difficult for both of us!) and days that, sans playdates and a lot of outside play, were also very long.  I felt downright sorry for myself on multiple occasions.  

But there were, of course, miracles wrapped up in the week.  

First and most noticeable was the fact that Hinckley and I avoided coming down with the flu.  While he's a big boy for his age and he's getting older, we were very afraid for our little 2.5 month old.  And I was simply terrified at the prospect of being sick and having to care for our family while being down.  I did have one evening when I started to feel the effects (I had a temperature, felt like I'd been hit by a truck, etc.)  But after laying down on and off for a few hours, I felt the fever lift and the symptoms wear off.  I don't want to sound too cheesy, but I'm certain that our prayers (and those of so many others!  Thank you!) were being answered so that I could continue to care for our family.

Another miracle was the wonderful outpouring of love and support we received from neighbors and friends.  We've been trying to reach outward ever since our move here (we were so dependent on others for help!) and it was a little discouraging to feel so needy again.  But my goodness, were people kind while we were on the receiving end.  One friend brought us a bunch of Dane's favorite soup.  Another brought us homemade soup.  McKay brought us oranges.  And so many kept checking in on us.  The Lord really does use us as His hands to minister to one another.  

A final, less noticeable miracle that occurred to me while this was all going on was the perspective that time gives you.  As tired as I was, as frustrated as I felt on many occasions, I couldn't help comparing this to the summer when Atticus got roseola, or to other times of stress and sleeplessness.  Every time I wanted to complain, I was reminded that I'd been through something similar before and that I was strong enough.  It would pass and I could do it.  It was still really hard, but didn't feel quite so unendurable as before.  

A week later, I was feeling particularly grouchy in the morning (see the quotes below for a few Atticusisms) and I don't think it was coincidental at all that we were reading in Alma 26 where, in verse 27, it says, "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us...and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

Last night I experienced this firsthand.  I had FINALLY gotten the boys to bed and I laid down to sleep.  At 2:30 Atticus woke up and started talking to himself (the result of missing a nap and going to bed too late).  I started to get really angry but, instead of storming in, just tried to lay and relax.  A couple minutes later, the baby started farting.  These were not little high-pitched, infantile toots, mind you.  They were surprisingly manly and loud (which is typical for him during the day, I might add).  But he didn't stop.  He kept on farting for almost ten minutes!

By the end, I wasn't nearly as angry- I was laughing at poor little Hinckley and left shaking my head at the whole situation.  Here were my two boys struggling with what, for now, is their greatest difficulty or affliction!  I was only seeing myself as being afflicted with taking care of the two of them.  For Atticus, settling down and sleeping are just about the hardest thing in the world.  For Hinckley, he desperately wants to sleep, but he's too gassy to do so.  Recognizing that they were both wrestling with their affliction helped me show greater patience for mine.

Atticusisms:

  • "Why?" (again and again and again- just like the scene in Pinocchio...)
  • "You be Mary and I'll be Osanna." (After I look confused he grabs a tree branch and starts singing, "Hosanna, blessed be the name of the most high God."- he was reenacting the scene when Jesus enters Jerusalem and the people were waving palm branches.  I'm sure Mary was there... ;)  )
  • "You're protein!" (he meant to say guilty) "I'm gonna kill your body!"
  • "What is die?"  I explain it as simply as I can with the glove and hand analogy- "I don't want to die."
  • (While praying) "Thank you for Skye and Bowman" repeated 3+ times, "Thank you for Santa and his Reindeer..."
  • "Hold me," "I want to ride in the stroller,"  "Look at me!  I'm smiling, take a picture of me!"
    (All said in response to attention that is being given to Hinckley)
  • "You are the most stupid mom I ever saw!"
  • After I had had a VERY grouchy morning, "Mommy, we forgot to pray!"
    While praying, "Help Mommy to feel better."
    On the way to Joy School (after I had apologized), "I don't want you to scream and yell.  Next time, I want you to tell me, 'Atticus, Bowman is making a mess.' "  The kid was talking me through my own tantrum, just the way I talk him through his! 
  • "I'm a tiger"  
  • "What do we do with our hands when we pray?"

"This!"
The kids all laugh.
"And then we eat it!"





Wednesday, January 3, 2018

White Christmas

Atticus and Hinckley had a visit with the pediatrician at the beginning of December (his 3-yr-old appointment).  They both got a shot and both dealt with it fairly well.  Atticus is right on track- a little short (in the 20's for height) but is right in the 50th percentile for his weight.  The only thing we are worried about is colors, but the doctor said we really don't need to worry about it until kindergarten.  He's been doing better (thanks to the ninja turtles, as a matter of fact!) so we're not all that concerned.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OzhNKe9VGGNhLnT__HmjpJYakxGhj99K/view?usp=sharing
One exciting development for Atticus is his love of baseball.  He'll hit a ball, run to two bases (NOT three for some reason) and then run home over and over.  Santa brought him two bats and a tee.  The Belliston baseball blood runs deep in our family and we're hoping he follows in Nana's footsteps.

Hinckley is growing like a weed.  His 2-month appointment is tomorrow but he's about to outgrow his 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers.  He still loves head rubs and kicking.  He was really struggling with gas for the first two or three weeks of the month (we were alternating gripe water and mylicon and having to do a LOT of dancing!) but it's gotten less severe for the last week.  He really doesn't like to sleep on his back (he's an upright or tummy sleeper, for sure!) so hopefully the doctor doesn't rip us a new one tomorrow.  He spits up more than we would like (occasionally it's a shower, but most of the time it's not too bad!) and has started sucking on his fist.  We've just about given up trying to get him to take a binky.



Our favorite development for Hinckley, however, has to be his smiles.  He has become so smiley!  It all started when he met his Great-Grandma Zoe.  We LOVE it.


December was quite the month for our little family.  Early on in the month we had a ward party.  Atticus had a blast.  He met Santa and all Atticus could say was, "I want a candy cane."  I think he ended up saying it 6 or 7 times.

Poor Santa was a little confused, asking, "Now, what's your name?"

When he got off Santa's lap, he looked at me and asked, "Where's my candy cane?!"

Santa made up for it in a day or two, leaving a giant candy cane on the Christmas tree with a note for Atticus.  I wish I could end the story there, but that darn candy cane lasted the entire month.  Atticus would wrap it up and keep it in the refrigerator.  I think Santa felt a fair amount of regret over that present... ;)
 
Atticus also got to meet another favorite person: the Grinch!  A member of our ward puts up a huge display every year and dresses up as the Grinch.  Atticus was SO excited on the way there... but was terrified when we arrived. 

But the Grinch gave him a candy cane, so he was all smiles on the way home.  By the way, he can quote a surprising amount of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (and loves his Grinch beanie and gloves, much to my chagrin!- thank you Bobba and Nana!)

I was in charge of joy school on Dec. 19 and 21 and we had some fun learning about the letter N.  A friend of mine who teaches dance came and gave them a great movement experience about the "Night Before Christmas" on Tuesday.

Then, on Thursday, we had a live Nativity, went caroling and decorated sugar cookies.  
Atticus was a wise man and sang "We Three Kings" while following a star (his version of the song, anyway).  

Yes.  Atticus insisted on wearing is Batman mask when we went caroling.  Naturally, the snow boots and bathrobe had to be worn, as well.  Bah.  Three-year-olds.

 
Hinckley slept through the whole thing.  What an angel!

It required a LOT of prep but, my goodness, it was so worth it!

My birthday was the next day.  Some dear friends had surprised me with lunch the week before and Dane spoiled me with sushi (it was a very selfless move for someone who doesn't eat fish!)  32 is going to be a great year.

We decided last minute that we would go stay with family in Utah for Christmas and we are so glad we did!  We even managed to keep it a secret from Dane's mom and gave her a good surprise on Christmas Eve.

Atticus had the time of his life on this trip.  He is still asking to go back to Utah and back to the mountains, ha ha.  Poor little guy.

Christmas Eve was spent with Dane's family.  We went to church with them and Atticus surprised his grandparents by singing "Angels We Have Heard on High" at the top of his lungs (amusing many nearby ward members).  Marti actually got tears in her eyes, she was laughing so hard.  It was pretty cute.  He keeps surprising us with that memory of his.

We spent that evening with Marti's family at Aunt Paula's house.  They had a live nativity and Atticus was an adorable little wise man, again.

Here he is, singing Christmas carols with gusto at Paula's house.

 Hinckley got plenty of attention, too.

He was so excited when we got ready for bed that night.  We put out pumpkin bread for Santa and an apple for the reindeer (poor planning on our part) and snapped a picture of the boys in their matching PJs.

The next morning Atticus came to wake us up at 5:30 AM (Vegas time).  
"Let's go see if Santa came!" he said excitedly.  I couldn't get his pants on before he was up the stairs, looking at the presents under the tree.

We had fun opening them, but the best present that he got, by far, was a brand new blanket of snow.  It was perfect for packing and he had the quintessential Christmas morning.  We built a great big snowman and then he went hunting for bears and sledding with Bobba.

That evening we had dinner with my family.  We were able to spend more time with them on Wednesday, the 27th when my two sisters came into town from Texas and Alabama.  It was just a wonderful experience.

Atticus had so much fun! When he wasn’t looking for a snow camp site with Uncle Danny, he was shooting a nerf gun with Uncle Corky, snuggling with Ashton, sitting on Isaac’s lap, sledding down the hill with Noah, looking for monsters with Ellie, wrapping presents with Kennedy, or pretending to sleep in Uncle Danny’s bed with Natalie.  Hinckley was no less spoiled, being held by his Mimi, Grandma Terree, and all three of his aunts (it made my job relatively easy, ha ha!)


  
I never really got to know my cousins while growing up, and this really gave me a glimpse of how things could be if we lived closer to all of these awesome people.  The thought makes me a little sad, but I’m also just grateful we were able to make the trip up to see them.  It’s so important to form those ties- and the sooner you can do it, the better.
 
It was not easy to leave after having such a good time, but Dane had to get back to work.  A very sleepy Atticus made the rounds and gave everyone a hug.

Since getting back, Atticus has been enjoying many of his new presents, particularly his cowboy boots.  The second he opened them he grabbed his snow boots, put them in a bag with tissue paper and informed us he wanted to give them to Bowman.  I couldn/t believe my eyes- he was retiring his superhero boots for cowboy boots!  It was hilarious.


Finally, we rung in the new year by having a polar bear, hot tubbing swim.  We plan to make it a yearly tradition.  Dane was the only one brave enough to take the plunge.  Hopefully I'll be up for it next year.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JeFMjguqSBA218agb3nXpUo8ard0pQyG/view?usp=sharing
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!  Welcome, 2018.

 

 

 Atticusisms:
  • "This is so awesome!" (First said regarding sledding and now it's being used fairly regularly.)
  • "This is so much tool (cool)!" (said when opening his cowboy boots.)
  • "I don't want him to spit on me!"  This is said fairly often.  I'll let you guess who he's talking about.
  • "I don't want to go on a cross." (This statement seemed to come out of thin air, but it led to a good conversation about Jesus.) 
  • "I LOVE boollets!" (While playing with the awesome nerf guns Uncle Corky got all the grandkids.)
  • "Let's kill her!" (with Bowman, in reference to me... eek!)
  • "I'm gonna cut you open!" (with Bowman to his daddy...)
  • "Can you get a _____ show for myself?"  We love his constant use of "myself" and "yourself."
  • "Dumb monkey!" (This was said while he and Dane tore this poor toy monkey apart.  I hate to say it, but the monkey had it coming- it has frightened Atticus since he was an infant.)
  • "Sometimes... I do the wrong thing."  This was stated very thoughtfully and soberly after a frustrated mother was complaining over two or three messes he had made in a row.  I immediately apologized, letting him know that moms do the wrong thing, sometimes, too.  It was such a sweet, wise moment.  As CRAZY and LOUD as our little boy is, there is so much good (and potential for good) in that little (growing!) body.