Birth Story Of Levi Avery

It was November 13th, three days out from my scheduled cesarean and I was starting to panic. As everyone knew, I wanted to have a vaginal birth...so coming close to my scheduled appointment was pretty terrifying. I had spent so much time worrying about all the possible crazy scenarios of spontaneous labor, i.e. my water breaking in public or at work, going into labor while at home with Timmy and having to get ahold of Drew at work and situate a plan to drop of Timmy, possibly driving while in labor through contractions...that I hadn't really given the possibility of having a repeat csection all that much thought...it crept up on me, as did the fear and panic.

November 13th was Drew's last scheduled day of work before his weekend, which would lead into his leave because of our our planned csection. That day, while lying down, I felt a couple contractions...real ones, that 'resting and getting off my feet' wouldn't subside (obviously since I was laying down)! I remember thinking to myself that maybe this baby would indeed try to come on his own...Oh happy day! Drew came home from work around 7pm and to celebrate his big-fat-super-duper-Friday, we ordered pizza. I continued feeling contractions on a regular basis, about 7-10 minutes apart, but nothing painful. I gave Timmy a bath and took a shower, contractions continuing. For the last month, Drew had been inquiring about contractions and 'signs' in hopes that we'd go into labor early and he wouldn't have to go to work...and each time I told him I'd had some, but nothing promising. During my shower, I got that feeling...that instinctual feeling that this is it, the real deal. Calmly, I told Drew not to freak out, but tonight's the night. We made the proper phone calls, dropped Timmy off at grammas, texted the people who cared, and off we went to the hospital.

Labor's a funny thing...the way the contractions come in waves, and the body shuts everything out during a contraction, only to release you back into the world with no consequence a minute or so later...leaving you to wait for it descend and overcome you all over again. Sure I'm a part of this conversation...but NOW I'M NOT AND STOP TALKING, YOU'RE ANNOYING AND UGLY AND IF YOU HIT ONE MORE POTHOLE I SWARE I WILL JUST HAVE TO BASH YOUR FACE IN JUST A LITTLE!!!...whew, I'm sorry, what were you saying..? It almost makes you feel like you're crazy or a faker...because one moment you're fine and the next you're very much in agony...but then you're just fine.

We arrived at the hospital and since it was past normal hours, we went through the ER. I asked the guy at the security desk for Labor and Delivery, and he asked if we were visiting someone...'no'...'oh, are you in labor?'...'yes.' He kind of gave me a look, cuz I looked just fine. We made our way to L&D and were immediately admitted and given a room, it was roughly 10:30pm. I changed and the nurse, (insert name here), checked me to see where we were at, progress-wise. I worried she would check me and surely say I wasn't even a little bit dilated and this baby's not even kind of trying to come out and ask me to stop wasting their time, pack up my shit, and go the f*** home..."you're at 4cm!" she informs me. Woohoo, I'm staying! My doctor came in and immediately had me sign a consent form, acknowledging my understanding of the risks of having a VBAC and the possibility that my uterus may rupture, resulting in me bleeding out, ending in the death of me and my unborn child. I initialed and signed said paper, with a slight cringe. The nurse started going through the question check lists about our birth plan and pain relief options. For a fleeting moment, I considered getting a birthing ball and jumping in the tub and going for that natural birth that I had always wanted...and once that moment fleeted, I promptly asked for the epidural. It had been a long day, following a long week, that tailed off a long pregnancy...I was exhausted and sore and had nothing to prove as far as pain tolerance goes...and was happily numb a little after midnight. I updated my FaceBook status: 12:12am Boil some water and rip up some sheets, think we're gonna have us a baby! Attempting a VBAC, wish us luck... :)

After that, we tried to rest, which I found difficult because I was uncontrollably shaking. Around 4am, things started feeling intense and I was getting the urge to push. The hospital was busy that night, and my doctor was being utilized in another labor/birth as well...one that wasn't going smoothly from my understanding. I started pushing, without the doctor in the room. Drew was by my side, and his face went white. The nurse asked him to go sit down, which he did reluctantly. He seriously looked like he was about to pass out! But after a little rest and an apple juice, he was back in the game, thank goodness. When my doctor had a moment to check on me, he determined it was still a little early to start pushing and to relax and let the contractions progress the head down on their own. By this point, the contractions were painful and crazy pressure...so not pushing was frustrating. From the hallway, I hear a woman screaming in agony, the kind of screaming you hear when a woman's in labor on a TV sitcom...I asked my nurse what her deal was. Even in the midst of labor, I'm still nosey as ever! "She just came in...and she's not very far along." After about twenty minutes, I started pushing again.

Now this is the part that I think I was pretty delusional about...pushing. So many women say they only pushed for ten minutes or only pushed twice and BOOM, a baby! And since I had an epidural, I kind of figured this birth was supposed to be a cake walk. Well, the epidural was wearing off, and the pushing was quite the orchestration. I was floating in a realm of primal awareness and aggression; "PUUUSH!!! deep breath and PUUUUSH!!! keep pushing!! you're doing great!!"...and then I was descending into a fuzzy, exhausted state and my eyes fell shut as Drew fed me ice chips..."alright, take a deep breath and PUUUSH!! keep pushing! dig down dig down!!! deep breath and PUUUSH!!!! that's it, you're doing so great!! one more time, PUUUUUSH!!!" That continued for TWO HOURS! I was beat, falling asleep between the contractions because my body was beyond spent. I started to lose hope..."I don't wanna push anymore..." I said...I can't push anymore. I figured the staff was gonna pull the plug on me soon, like they'd humored me and let me try to have a vaginal birth, but lets just go ahead and slice this baby out of you. I dug down and pushed harder...and the nurse and Drew started pushing my legs further into my chest as a result, giving me even more momentum. I started hearing excitement in their voices instead of the broken record of encouraging phrases that I'd heard for the last few hours. All of a sudden, the room got busy...people flying in and out, prepping this and that...and my doctor showed up (or maybe he was there all along, I don't remember!) and started putting down a tarp-like mat to 'catch the baby.' I closed my eyes...I was so tired. The contraction came, deep breath, and I bared down like I had to take the shit of my life! Drew started exclaiming, seeing the head and wow and all that goodness...and I just kept my eyes shut and pushed. "Alright! There he is!" Finally, he's here!! We did it...open you're eyes...open your eyes!!! In a state of elation, I opened my eyes...and there he was; perfect, little, and covered in blood and mucus...November 14th at 6:23am Levi Avery was finally here, weighing 6lb 13oz and was 19in long. I started laughing and smiling like a lunatic as they placed him on my chest and I looked into is beautiful face...WOW! They took him to clean him off and handed him off to Drew as the doctor finished up with me. I had a third degree tear, so he got busy stitching me up...but since my epidural had worn off, I started hollering at him. He argued that I shouldn't be able to feel it, and argued that I wouldn't be screaming if I couldn't feel it. He gave me a local anesthetic and I stopped yelling at him. 

After that everything blurs...I took a few pictures...people in the hall congratulated us as they wheeled us to the baby floor...they set us up in our room...and I just kept staring at the little face swaddled in a blanket...it looked like the little face I was introduced to two years ago when my first son was born, after I woke up proceeding my emergency csection...a face that was so perfect I was sure it couldn't have been what I created...but this time, I was there the entire time, and I knew this was the same little love that had been punching me around for the last few months. After nursing for a little bit, I fell into a deep coma-like sleep for a couple hours...and when I woke up, I was a proud, semi-rested mother of two strapping young boys!

So ready to do this! 39w 2d 

The lunatic smile we discussed! :)

Levi Avery

Proud momma!

Proud papa!

That face...

Family.

I was so proud of his cone head...and very disappointed when it was magically gone 3 days later.

Thankfuls

November 13, 12 [Tuesday]


Still pregnant...haha. This wasn't exactly what I was expecting...I really thought I was gonna go into labor around the 9th(ish). We're three days away from our scheduled cesarean, so I've kind of spent the day coming to terms with that possible reality...after initially realizing it at 5am this morning and not being able to fall back asleep because I started panicking. Three days, kid...that's all you have to try to do this on your own. Tomorrow I'm starting "Operation, Induce Labor and Evict Baby!" Ha. We'll see if it works.


In the mean time, FaceBook has been full of November Thankfuls, what with Thanksgiving coming up. I don't feel like boring everyone with my handfuls of blessings, but I figured it might be nice to read over them a few years down the road...so I'll write them here, for myself.


Day 1: I'm thankful for Andrew Southard. He's the only person in the world I don't get bored of...who I never want to be without and I appreciate the crap out of him. My life was a disheveled mess when I met him and became even more so when I tried to deny my feelings for him, but my world fell together when I finally accepted the simple fact that he was everything I wanted. I can truly count on him, and I love him with all my heart.


Day 2: I'm thankful for Timothy James Southard II. My incredible son has opened my eyes to a world of splendor and wonder. Watching him discover the world, step-by-step, makes you appreciate all the little things all the more. He gets so excited about slides, fruit snacks, Elmo, Thomas the Train, the alphabet...all the simplest of things can make or break him...and I love him and wouldn't want him any other way! ((November 17, 12 [Saturday]

Well, I got interrupted by that darling son of mine...and then, low and behold, went into labor that night!! We welcomed our little Levi on November 14th at 6:23am.))

Day 3: I'm thankful for my easy, yet financially adequate job. It allows me to stay home with Timmy (and now Levi) four days a week, while still sustaining enough income to pay bills, save up for my kids, and buy a new shirt once and a while.


Day 4: I'm thankful that we have a lovely roof over our heads, and that this home allows for our family to grow here. I do regret the neighborhood, but I really do love the house.

Day 5: I'm thankful for coffee. Even though I haven't had more than a cup a day for what feels like years, it's nice to know it's there for me when I need it...and once I'm done being pregnant and breastfeeding, I can have as much as I want!!

Day 6: I'm thankful for my iPhone. It keeps me entertained throughout the day and sleepless nights, which helps me keep my sanity...especially with another little one on the way!

Day 7: I'm thankful for space heaters...helping us save on our electricity bill.

Day 8: I'm thankful for Pinterest. Not just a way to kill time, but a creative outlet that gives me new craft ideas, like picture transfers onto wood, which is going to be a big hit for Christmas this year!

Day 9: I'm thankful for already having everything we need, ready and raring for our new addition.

Day 10: I'm thankful today for the chance to sleep in and then having breakfast made for me!

Day 11: I'm thankful for the health of my family, my health, and thereby the health of this unborn baby. I'll be thankful for my good immune system too, since I rarely get sick.

Day 12: I'm thankful for the indoor play area at the mall, giving us moms a free, safe, fun place to bring our kids to play while we moms get a few minutes to catch up.

Day 13: I'm thankful for my second son's amazing timing. After Drew came home from his last day of scheduled work before our planned csection, I went into spontaneous labor! Here I am bitching on this blog about still being pregnant and how worried I am...all the while, everything was already laid out and planned perfectly.

Day 14: I'm thankful for the incredible little boy that we brought into the world today, at 6:23am! Little Levi Avery Southard is worth all the work, and has already stolen our hearts with his little face and cute mouse sounds. I look forward to all the years ahead of us, to watch him grow and become his own person!


Day 15: I'm thankful for all our wonderful friends and family who have taken the time to stop by and meet our new little guy. He's so blessed to have so many people who care about him.


Day 16: I'm thankful for our ability to have a successful VBAC, and not having to go through with my scheduled csection today at noon. Many women who have had prior csections, have been forced, convinced, or encouraged to have a repeat csection. My doctors tried that with me, but I stuck to my guns and planned to have him vaginally if possible. The first thing my doctor did after I was admitted into Labor & Delivery was have me sign a waver noting my consent to the risk of possibly sustaining a ruptured uterus and bleeding out...ultimately killing me and baby. But after 10 hours of labor, I pushed him out, without killing him or myself. The healing alone has been so much easier, being up and around the next day, going to the store the next day, it's just been incredible. But most of all, the beauty and magic of seeing this little person actually come out of me was just the coolest thing in the world, and all I ever wanted out of my pregnancies!


Day 17: I'm thankful for my friend Erin. I've been having some rough nights, as one can expect a mother to having just added another to her little clan. She's been so great, listening and offering sound advice and encouragement in some of my low points. I don't know what I would do without her.



Day 18: I'm thankful for my awesome breasts!! As beautiful as they are when I'm a milk making machine, the simple fact that they are finally fulfilling their true purpose is truly incredible...and I'm thankful for that bond that I can forge with my son just by nourishing him.

Day 19: I'm thankful for Netflix, keeping me somewhat current on the popular tv shows.

Day 20: I'm for this life...every day...even the exceptionally hard ones.

Day 21: I'm thankful for the warm aroma of pumpkin pie and a glass of red wine on this perfect fall day.

Day 22: I'm thankful for my wonderful fiancé being a marvelous cook and putting up with my crazy family for the holiday season.

Day 23:  I'm thankful for Slotomania, a gambling app on my phone...I like to gamble (probably more than I should), so this allows that vice without me losing actual money.

Day 24: I'm thankful for my mom, who loves my son so fiercely...because at this time of transition for him, it's nice to be able to send him to gramma's and know he's getting that one on one attention that he has had for the past two years that came to a screeching halt with Levi's arrival.

Day 25: I'm so thankful for my cozy pj's and oh-so-soft robe, which I've pretty much been living in since having baby...ha...who am I kidding, I've been living in them since my doctor forced maternity leave.

Day 26: I'm thankful for my brother's wastefulness, thus him having an expensive, hardly ever used camera that he let me borrow to take newborn picture of our Levi. 

Day 27: I'm thankful for having modern medicine and amazing doctors, taking care of us and our boys...today will be rough, with Levi's circ and PKU, but his health is our ultimate goal.

Day 28: I'm thankful for the gift card that I received at my baby sprinkle...helping us get a new car seat since our brain dead cats pee'd in our original one. I am not thankful for the cats...

Day 29: I'm thankful for Facebook, allowing me to keep in touch with loved ones near and far.

Day 30: I'm thankful for my incredible genetics...25lbs of baby came off quick, cuz today I fit right back into my favorite jeans!

Baby Countdown

November is finally upon us! It's crazy how short this pregnancy has felt, as well as how long it's felt in retrospect! At our last two appointments, my blood pressure has been elevated, and it seems high blood pressure is a concern, so I had blood-work done and had to do a 24-hour urine collection. Worse case, I'd have to have an immediate birth, resulting in a cesarean...but we got the results in today and all is normal. They said the last two blood pressures were probably just flukes...but regardless, they recommended I stop working; so today is my first official day of maternity leave. I was only planning on working through this weekend anyways, so it's not a big deal to me...and I got through my whole pregnancy without calling in sick once! Very proud of myself. I really just wanted to hold on through Halloween so I could compete in the employee costume contest, haha.

Zombie and Zombie Baby!

At our follow-up doctors appointment this morning, we scheduled ourselves in for an elective repeat csection for Friday November 16th. It'll be two days before my actual due date, which I chose because my chances of a successful VBAC decreases after my due date and I don't want to have a csection on the 19th (hospitals don't like scheduling elective cesareans on weekends) because that'll have me in the hospital on Thanksgiving (I refuse to be pregnant or in the hospital for Thanksgiving if I can avoid it). I also prefer the doctor who will be on-call that week, Dr. Wood...who even said they could get rid of my old scar, which healed pretty gnarly. Honestly, I don't think I'll last until the 16th...my guess is the 9th...but we figured we'd get this all situated, in case Levi wants to cook up until the end. If we go into labor before the 16th, we'll go ahead with our plan to attempt a VBAC. I'm nervous, but I want to do what's safest for my child, and at this point a vaginal delivery is still the safer, healthier option. Either way, we'll have our newest addition here in two weeks or less! Crazy thought... :)

37 weeks 4 days

Our little Hulk.

Trick-or-treating! :)

Coming Soon: Birthdays and Babies!

Wow, my last blog really sounds like I'm on the edge. What can I say, sleep deprivation and stressed out paranoia take their tolls! :)

I've been working my regular 3 day work weeks, with a few extra shifts here and there. My only goal as far as work and pregnancy is concerned is not calling in sick for my shifts. I've kept up well, but with every extra shift, I swear, I feel like throwing in the towel. This week the regular bartender was on vacation, so they put me in her shifts and nobody in mine...which just goes to show how essential my position is in the first place. When I'm scheduled to bartend, my supervisor avoids me, ignoring my calls on the radio for a break. I'm pregnant...you can't just not let me pee! Ugh. Too bad momma needs the money and the extra vacation/sick time to accrue, otherwise I wouldn't put up with it...but I gotta keep my eye on the prize, come on November!!

I got a cute carseat cover for new baby which I just piled into the spare bedroom with all the wedding decor and other random items that have no true place in our home. But after I finally got around to putting it all on, I just filled to the brim with anticipation and excitement. We're going to have a new baby! He's going to be small and sweet and smell just perfect...I can't wait! I've definitely had issues with planning the wedding and planning for his arrival and which should be taking more precedence. I mean, the wedding thing I've never done before, so it's overwhelming in it's own right...but another baby...that's HUGE! Our children will double in November, as will our responsibilities. Timmy's had it really good the past two years, but his 'only-child' status is about to be revoked...and I couldn't be more scare and kind of sad. I know they say you'll just magically have more love for your next child...but I don't want it to at all dwarf my love for Timmy, and I'm scared I won't be able to spend as much time as I would like to with him. I don't want to ever be unavailable to him...but I know that's unrealistic with a newborn. :'(

Speaking of two years...two weeks until Timmy hits the big 0-2! I can't even believe that he's been around for almost two years now, and yet life felt nonexistent before he came along...funny how that works! We don't have a party or anything planned for this particular birthday...I'd blame it on poor timing with my birthday and the baby sprinkle coming up and then new baby...but unfortunately, it's simply because he wouldn't enjoy a social gathering of any sort. He hates to be center of attention and panics when he is...even in our own home, if one of my friends come over and tries to hug him or directs any affection at him whatsoever, he cries. So we think we'll have a Timmy Day and take him to the park or Chuck E Cheese or Jump'n'Play and just enjoy him enjoying himself. I love that kid, he gets more incredible by the minute! He's growing so fast and amazing us with the things he learns...like his alphabet and numbers...a couple random words (ball, apple, car, weee)...owning all slides on any playground...he's just astounding.

Overload

I've been meaning to blog for a while...and now that I finally get a chance, my mind runs a blank...figures.

Life has been progressing, as life tends to do, and I have been doing my best to situate myself and find stable ground, all the while it continues to shift and complicate itself. I'm growing increasingly nervous...about having another baby, about planning a wedding, about work and my growing distain for it, yet absolute need for it...but that's a constant struggle, hah.

Let us start with the baby. I'm never going to get to sleep...never, ever again. I fight with Timmy now as to whether I've earned a full night of sleep, and usually he wins. How am I supposed to fight with a momma's boy toddler, while nursing and caring for a new born? Am I going to be able to have the vaginal birth I so desire to have and am a candidate for, yet still considered high-risk...or am I going to have to succumb to my doctors wishes and have a repeat cesarean? And if I do end up being hacked open again, how am I going to handle my duties as a mother in those first few weeks...I mean, newborns are small, so carrying one won't be too hard, but my Timmy is not so small. How am I going to cuddle him and hold him, when it's a gut-wrenching pain to so much as laugh? Of course doctors and hospitals are scared to attempt VBACs, because they don't have control over the situation, it will be labor and will follow it's own course and have a slight 1 in 2000 chance that my uterus will hemorrhage and I'll bleed to death in a matter of minutes...which is a complete possibility during a regular birth without prior cesarean history also. Other than diapers and maybe a few new things, we have everything we need for baby #2: got the garage door opener, so I can park there instead of the street and safely haul in my kids--got the annex cleared out, cleaned up, and it's nearly ready for Timmy to move into (still waiting on outlets and for it to cool down because the annex get's very hot...next year, we'll need two ACs upstairs for sure!) I do still need to sort through Timmy's old clothes and decide what we'll want to reuse, and what isn't something worth keeping around. I suppose that kind of gives it away, we're having another boy! I was heartbroken at first, having wanted a girl...but now consider myself incredibly lucky to be having a boy. It makes it a little easier...not needing to buy a whole new wardrobe for a girl and concern myself with the differences of raising a strong little girl as opposed to a well-behaved little boy. I'm not sure if anyone's going to throw a baby shower or sprinkle for our new little man, and I don't want to throw one for myself, because I don't want people to think I'm trying to score a bunch of free stuff when I already have everything I need...I guess I don't want to be tacky. Plus, everyone I know is already so  busy with life and kids of their own, that I don't wanna trouble them for a party...I feel like a burden lately.

Then there's wedding planning. I need to get addresses and print out labels and send out Save the Dates; that's the step I'm currently on...but I feel so socially awkward lately, like why would anyone want to come to my wedding? And after going to a friend's wedding the other day, I don't know if I could handle having that much attention focused on me for an entire evening. Of course I'll be able to drink, so that will definitely help take the edge off my nervousness...but at the moment, I just feel like an obligation.

I'm sure it's just the hormones that are making me feel so worthless and overwhelmed...but that doesn't make the feelings vanish or any less real. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited for our new addition coming in November and thrilled to finally marry my best friend...it's all just a lot. I'm so glad I have 6 months in between welcoming our new son and actually getting married...so I don't have to have it all figured out now.

Jet Lag

We're coming home from Thailand today! It's been a trial, to say the very least. I used to love traveling...the airports, the feeling of free-flowing emotion, the culture-change shock, the freedom of being able to go aboard a metal box of sorts and exit it in a whole other world. I mean, it's romantic, right??

I guess this was my old perception...the perception of a freer spirit, without real responsibilities and required reason...the perception of a twenty-something waitress, who rents a different apartment with a different roommate every few months, driving a beat-up run-down little go-cart of a car, who stringently puts away into a savings account without anything in particular she's saving for. Traveling for her was romantic and exhilarating...but me? I scoff at this girl of yesteryear, and I envy her all at the same time.  

I wish life was that easy sometimes. But the reward is worth all the struggle, and in my heart I know this, but I can't help but feel like I fall short sometimes...like just that simple wish of wanting it to be easier makes me feel like a failure. 

I doubt I'll be returning to Thailand any time soon...with the heat, the impatient child, an impatient fiancé, which leads to an impatient me, it was hard. Drew doesn't care for the food and I understand his frustration of not being able to do anything on our time, because everything is based on Timmy's schedule and nap cycles. But that pretty much led us both into sour moods most of the time, bickering for no real reason. Even now, the first of three flights, he's restless and annoyed. It makes it miserable to travel with him...this constant attitude. He does it regardless of where we are traveling, so I've learned. Even before we had a kid, hah. From here on out, I intend on sending him a day in advance, so that way I don't have to deal with the 'tude! But I'm not sure he'll want to return to Thailand....and that's fine, he tried it, it wasn't his bag, I can accept that. But never again will I travel with babies! They must be grown and understand the concept of time zone changes and that we sleep at night! :)

Baby Love

I spoke much too early with the last post....WE'RE PREGNANT!! Got our positive on March 8th, and all the appointments have come back with raving results! We're so excited! This pregnancy's been a lot more work than Timmy's...queasiness, exhaustion, bloating, acne. This baby's really making me work for this! Haha. Can't wait for the second trimester, I look forward to having energy again. :)

The Crud--To Wean or Not To Wean--Travel Plans

Life has felt very straining lately. Work has been more demanding, while our whole little household caught a bug that seems to be going around. Poor Timmy just runs up to me with his little sad face, and I feel so helpless and completely responsible for bringing this sickness into our home. :( I'm finally starting to feel normal after 3 weeks of fighting this crud...Drew keeps having good days and bad, I think because on his 'good' days, he over does it instead of resting, so the next day he's back to feeling crumby. Timmy's only been sick the last 4 days, and other than Vics Vapor Rub, the poor boys not old enough for medication. I hardly ever get sick...and I know everybody says that, but I get sick maybe once every four years or so. Drew says he never gets sick, but he gets sick three to four times a year, haha.

I've been trying to wean Timmy (who's 17 months) from his bottle, which hasn't gone well. After his last appointment, at 15 months, his doctor expressed concern that he's still drinking from a bottle...so I google it, and sure enough, I'm supposed to have started weaning him at 1 year. Oops. I honestly was more concerned with weaning him from nursing at the time, we went until 15 months, and then he practically self-weaned. I've tried tricking him by putting water in his bottle and milk in his sippy cup...but he'll just pound the bottle of water. I'm actually at the point where I don't even mind that he's still on the bottle, because I can tell it's a comfort for him, but it's not nearly as consistent as the use of a binky. I honestly think, when he's ready, he'll give it up...kind of like breast feeding. He also hasn't started using words, which according to milestone websites, he should. I've heard him say "uh-oh," "owie owie," and "bada" which is how he says bottle. He mostly just points and says "adah" at things that he wants or is curious about. I doubt this is a real concern, since every baby grows and learns at different rates. He babbles non-stop and understands simple instructions like 'go give this to momma' or 'make a basket' or 'lets go wake up dadda.' :) He's more physical than anything: running, jumping, climbing, stacking, and destroying. I can't wait until spring, so we can get him outside to run around and wear himself out. I want to buy one of those outdoor play slide things, so he can play with that while we try to garden. Still no new baby to announce, but I'm more content with it not happening now...there's plenty to keep me busy in the mean time. :)

We're planning a trip to Thailand in May! Got Drew and Timmy's passports and got the time off work. I'm excited, but of course worried about the long day of traveling. I'm encouraging Drew to start using his Vapor Cigarette again, because most airports don't have smoking areas available, which makes for a miserable day for Drew and anyone around him. I can't wait to actually be back in Thailand though, I love it there. It'll be weird though, because this will be the first time without my brother, and bringing my own family. My mom and dad are going also...so it'll be like traveling with a nanny! :) Hopefully we can get in some days of relaxation, with fruity drinks and sandy beaches!