Other than being super exhausted all the time (seriously narcoleptic!), I feel pretty good so far. Pretty similar to my other pregnancies. No nausea or anything. A few uncomfortable symptoms sometimes, but nothing major. I was obviously pregnant, even to strangers by 12-14 weeks this time. Waaaay too early for me. I'd rather keep it on the down low for at least 4 months, lol. Anyway, I think I look about as big as I was at 20 weeks with Donny.
Everything looks good so far. Heartbeat is always strong. I started feeling movement way early this time, too. Usually, I'm not sure of movement till 16-18 weeks. This time I felt flutters at 14 weeks and definitely feel little taps regularly. I guess I'm more in tune with what it feels like now or something!
We are going to do an ultrasound at the beginning of January just as a diagnostic and to make sure we aren't missing any obvious deformities or problems. We have decided NOT to find out the gender this time. I figure it will be a fun surprise and we already have one of each, so it really doesn't matter. So, it will remain Baby Packard #3 till sometime in May!!
This post is going to be pathetically short on pictures. These are from almost 2 months ago. I just haven't taken any lately. Pathetic. Taking some this week so we can see what the boy looks like now!!
Stats at 15 months: 19 lb 7 oz (3 %)
31 in (44%?)
head 21 in. (99%)
Yes, he really does kind of look like a cartoon with those stats.
Actually, these stats are an improvement. His prior appointment, he had dropped off the charts in weight, was at the bottom in height, but top with his head. Since he started solid foods it was a fairly continual decline and I did start to get a little concerned. He was meeting all his milestones just fine and mentally and socially he was totally normal if not ahead. He wasn't getting sick and looked healthy. But, it became clear he might need a little help getting enough calories. The doctor recommended weaning him and putting instant breakfast in his milk. I was hoping for a better way, so I saw a nutritionist. She recommended the opposite! Human milk has the highest concentration of fat of any milk and that Nestle stuff is just sugar and artificial flavors. Instead, she recommended turbo protein shakes. Using a full-fat yogurt base, I put in avocado, wheat germ, whey protein, spinach, flax, carrots and strong fruits to give it yummy flavor. They are actually really good! He immediately started putting on more weight and I felt much better doing it with healthy, whole foods. I haven't weighed him lately, but I'm pretty sure he is over 20 pounds now. His appetite seems to have picked up quite a bit as well, so I'm no longer worried.
He still is a little bit of a picky eater, but he seems to definitely be getting enough.
On the subject of food, Donny did wean this last week. Well, actually it's been 5 days now so I'm calling it a done deal. Early in the first trimester, I was really disliking nursing. I felt touched out and just got annoyed with it. First time I have ever felt that way. I think it was mostly hormonal, but also cause he was going back and forth about wanting to nurse at night and I was SO done with the night nursing. Recently, it didn't bother me so much. Probably because the last couple months he only would nurse 1 time in 24 hours. Usually, it was early in the morning to get him to sleep a couple extra hours. He hasn't nursed before bed or naptime in quite a while, so that wasn't a problem to stop. So, he has been pretty close to weaning since soon after his first birthday. I never have a plan for how long I will nurse past a year, it's just whatever is working for us. I always assume I will nurse somewhere between 1-2 years since thats the recommendation from all medial associations. With Josie, she weaned naturally at 16 months when my milk changed to colostrum (I was pregnant ) So, I just kinda waited for him to do the same, rather than try to force wean him. And voila! It worked. I have no regrets, nursing him till a full 16 months and also don't regret weaning him. It worked out pretty well, I think.
Soon after he turned a year he got all four molars, giving him 12 teeth. Just waiting on those incisors.
He started taking steps at around 13 months, but it was just one here and there. At around 14 months, he could take several steps and walk from one thing to another, but still preferred crawling. Finally, right before he turned 15 months, he decided he wanted to walk. It was definitely a decision. He COULD walk much earlier. He just had to decide that it was less hassle and faster than crawling. He just started walking one day and pretty much didn't look back. I was a relief for me. It's a pain carrying him everywhere and he got SO dirty all the time. He can run pretty quickly now.
Words he says: apple, Josie, mama, dada, Buzz, moo, woof, baa, who-who (owl), this, that, trash, bath, water, yes (nods at the same time), no (shakes head as well), poop, diaper, cup, hat, uh-oh, woah, please, thank you, and several others I'm probably forgetting. He is constantly copying words we say or trying to communicate what he wants. I'm glad he is wanting to talk! It makes things so much easier.
He is sleeping so much better these days. Not long after he turned a year, he started sleeping better. Part of it was coaxed by Kevin and I. His waking was obviously habitual, however, he also seemed to need the night nutrients at the time. Because he had dropped off the charts and it happened after I stopped nursing as much, obviously I was nervous about cutting it back even more. After getting him on a better eating schedule and making sure he was getting extra calories during the day, I started feeling more comfortable with the night weaning. So, it began. Actually, it wasn't that hard. I just had Kevin go in when he woke up. He hated it, but after a while he got used to it. There were some tears, but he was fine. So, he started cutting out wakings one and a time and is now on a very reasonable schedule. He goes down like a dream at 7ish, sleeps till about 5 or 6ish, wants milk, then back down till 6:30 or 7 (sometimes 8). It's a little early for me, but I can deal. I also dislike giving him milk in his crib in the morning, but at this point, it's whatever works. I never did that with Josie. Eventually, we will switch him to only water in bed. Maybe when I'm not so tired all the time (like that will ever end, lol) and he is sleeping better, I'll make him skip that morning milk and just get up with him. He takes a regular 2 hour nap and goes down easily for that, too. Fortunately, he goes to bed very easily with absolutely no fuss and has been doing that for a long time. He even waves to me as I leave the room, lol!
Man, this kid has a personality!!!
He is not shy at all. He loves smiling and "talking" with other people and likes being especially silly around strangers. Josie never really cared about strangers, so he is definitely more outgoing so far. He doesn't really seem to be afraid of anything or anyone, but he is NOT cool with us leaving. He is fearless while mom or dad are around, but he still cries quite a bit if left by one of us. Understandable at his age. He will be going into nursery in a couple months, so I'm sure he will get better at dealing with this. He actually does really well with babysitters, especially if Josie is around.
He ADORES Josie and copies everything she does. She sneezes, he pretends to sneeze. She dances, he dances. She laughs at something, he concocts a crazy fake laugh. It's so awesome and cute. She's a perfect example to copy, so I hope it continues. : )
He loves shoes and clothes. He would wear shoes do bed if I let him. He is always bringing me shoes and holding his foot up so I can put them on him. Same with jackets and hats.
He's just such a funny kid! I think he is sillier and funnier than Josie was, and she was pretty funny! I need to post more videos! Oh, and a bazillion pictures!!
But for now, here's just a little snippet. This is "mellow" Donny. I know, our TV room is super dark and messy. : )
I miss the old Office episodes. It was so much funnier then.....
P.S. UTI symptoms gone. Looks like my body got rid of it before I got my antibiotic prescription. I'll probably take them just in case, but after a good nights' sleep and some cranberry pills I'm feeling better already!
So literally 10 mins after posting about how heathy I am, my midwife arrived for my prenatal appointment. During the routine questioning, I mentioned that I felt like I was peeing way more this pregnancy. She saw my flushed face and immediately handed me a cup for a sample. Her suspicions were correct. My very first UTI!! Oh, boy. Nothing like blogger jinxes, lol!!! At least it's something mild and treatable.....
I know I haven't said anything about Thanksgiving and being grateful for the million things I have to be grateful for. I plan on posting pics from our feast and visit from family, but I just wanted to share something that I have been especially grateful for lately. I am increasingly aware of just how blessed we are to be so healthy in our family. It's to the point where it's a little freaky actually, and I wonder if it will just all cave in someday and we all end up with debilitating illnesses or something.
My whole life, I have been extremely healthy. I've never broken anything, been hospitalized, had a super high fever, or even had the flu (except stomach flu) since I was old enough to remember. Very healthy. I have super easy pregnancies (comparatively) and anytime I get tested for anything, it always comes back that I have amazingly heathy levels or numbers of whatever it is. I'm sure this is a big mix of good genetics (my extended family is very healthy, too), lifestyle choices, and straight blessings from God.
I seem to have passed this all onto my children. Neither of my kids have even had a bad diaper rash! No fevers above 100, no throwing up (other than stomach flu a couple months ago), no ear infections, nothing! When Josie was younger, she was in the ER twice, both for things that ended up being nothing (nurse-maids elbow and clogged tear duct). They have never been to the doctor except for well-visits. They don't even seem to get colds very much. These kids just never get sick!!
Can we say seriously blessed?
Not only have we saved a ton in medical bills, it's nice to not have to see them suffer or have to keep them home from things.
I know I need to do a lot of catch-up on here, but I just wanted to post that really quickly.
Oh, and if our situation ever changes, thank goodness for modern medicine!!!
