Big Brother School

The hospital where I will deliver offers a "Big Sibling Class" for ages 3+ on the last Wednesday of each month.  I am glad we squeezed it in before it was too late!  Lane went to "Big Brother School," as we called it on Wednesday, March  26, 2014.  

Looks ready to me!

 

The instructor suggested each child bring a doll or stuffed toy to "practice" on.  When Kori was born, she "gave" me this doll so I'd have a realistic looking baby of my own.  It was lovingly called "Rubber Baby" growing up, because it is made of soft rubber.  I figured Rubber Baby was perfect for Lane to take!

Looking like a proud Daddy and cradling baby like a pro!

 

Ready for class in front of the hospital!

The class was held in one of the actual labor/delivery rooms so the kids could see where their Mommy would actually deliver.  The nurse that led the class was so nice and really great with the kids.  She spread out a blanket and offered graham crackers and apple juice.  Lane's only other classmate was a little boy named Matteo, who was born March 3, 2010...just 2 days before Lane!  They were fast friends.

Matteo brought an Elmo doll to practice on, so they practiced putting a diaper on him and the nurse talked about diapers and why babies need them.  First, she asked where diapers go and put it on Elmo's head as a joke!

 Look at Lane's face!!  I think she had just asked if he will help change the poopy diapers!

Helping velcro the diaper on.

 

Next, they measured their babies.  She showed them the nasal aspirator, nail trimmers, and other little items and tools that parents might use on a newborn.  

They each got a baby hat to put on their babies and talked about how babies need to stay nice and warm.

Lane's favorite part (besides the free snacks and juice,) was playing with the baby bassinet and taking the babies' temperature.  The nurse gave him some purple latex gloves, so he was pretty excited!

 

He loved pressing the buttons to turn on the lights and heater.

Showing the boys the thermometer.

They colored a picture for their new baby siblings while the nurse answered questions and chatted with the parents.  Then, she read them a book outlining some important rules for big brothers about newborn babies.  

Overall, it was such a cute little class!  Lane already knew a lot of the key points from being around Evin when she was tiny, but the important thing is, he got to see the hospital and the room I'll be in.  I think it will definitely make him more comfortable when he has to come there with us!  He is officially ready to be a BIG BROTHER!

Firstborn

In 6 short months my firstborn will go from being an only child to a big brother.  Part of me can't wait, but part of me is incredibly sad that things will be different for him.  He is my best friend, my buddy, my "favorite boy" as I call him.  (And he calls me his favorite girl.)  

 

We do EVERYTHING together, except for the times when he is at school.  We even end up sleeping in the same bed almost every night.  Let's hope his fear of the dark eases up before the baby comes or we will be some EXTRA tired parents.

I love our Mommy/Son dates.  

To the movies...

 

Out for ice cream...

 

Out to lunch... 

 

 

Our weekly Wednesday night dinners at Jason's Deli after swimming lessons...

He accompanies me to the car wash...

 

Is my shopping entertainment...

 

 

 

And he does it all with a SMILE on his face!!!!  (Most of the time...)

I know that Lane will be a great big brother.  I see him with his cousin, Evin, and get giddy thinking about him and his brother or sister interacting in the same way.  It isn't their relationship I worry about, it's our relationship.  I love him so much I could burst, and I know he feels the same way about me.  He is always telling me he loves me, that I'm the best Mommy, and that I'm gorgeous, a genius, and the sweetest Mommy.  Yesterday he said "You're the perfect Mommy for me!"  He showers me with hugs and kisses and loves to snuggle.  I know he won't always be this sweet, but I want him to feel the same about me even when there is another little being who I love just as much around.  

I hope our "dates" continue to be special, even though there will be a baby tagging along.  I hope he won't feel left out or jealous when I am having to give the baby my attention.  And I hope that he always knows that I love him with all my heart, even though I will have to share my love with his sibling.  In a few weeks we will find out if he is getting the sister he is hoping for, or the brother who I know he will be best buds with.  And for the next 6 months I will pack in as many Mommy and Lane memories as I can before our world changes...for the better!

big brother

FINALLY!!!!  The post I have been waiting to write for a very long time is here!  After a long wait, Kyle and I are thrilled to announce that we are expecting a new baby, due April 14, 2014.  Lane is going to be a BIG BROTHER!

 

*Picture taken in Laguna Beach 8/15/13*

We always knew we wanted more than one child, but waited until the timing seemed right to us and began officially trying around the holidays last year.  I had an IUD put in after I had Lane, and had it removed at the beginning of November.  We decided we wanted to try for a "fall" baby, so in December we started the process of trying for baby #2.  :)  Well, month after month, it wasn't happening.  

**Back when we decided we wanted our first child, we basically didn't even have a chance to "try!"  I found out I was pregnant with Lane the month I got off of birth control, so this waiting thing was new to me!**

I expressed concern to my doctor at my yearly checkup in March, and she seemed to think it would happen soon.  We had only been trying for 4 months at that time, and already had one child, so she thought it was bound to happen.  We continued on with countless ovulation predictor kits, tracking my basal body temperature every morning, monitoring monthly symptoms, and still, no baby.  This made me so sad for the people who have tried for years for a baby, and for those who can't even have children of their own at all.  After about 7 months, I called my doctor again and she had me come in for some blood work.  I did a day 3 blood test on the 3rd day of my cycle to test a number of things, and went in again on day 21 for a progesterone test to make sure I ovulated.  My cycles were kind of all over the place each month, sometimes being as short as 22 days and sometimes as long as 28.  The first blood test came back inconclusive.  We tried again the next cycle, and this time my blood work came back normal, indicating that I did ovulate, but proving that my ovulation time each month was unpredictable.  We had Kyle tested, and everything with him was normal, so at this point my doctor suggested I try Clomid to jumpstart ovulation and try to get me back on track.  I decided to wait one more month before resorting to drugs, and after another disappointing negative pregnancy test, Kyle and I decided to give it a try. 

I started my first round of Clomid on July 11, 2013.  I had heard all kinds of horror stories about side effects, and also was aware of the increased chance of multiples.  It was risky it seemed, but Kyle and I both agreed we wanted another baby, whether it meant one or two.  (or MORE!)  Yikes!  I had a couple of minor hot flashes while taking the medicine and felt a little off, but it wasn't as bad as I had heard it would be.  I took the medication once a day from July 11-15th.  

According to all of my monthly charting, I had predicted I could take a pregnancy test the first week of August and it would be a reliable reading.  Of course, I couldn't wait, and decided to take one on Monday, July 29th.  It was almost like my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw the faintest line ever.  I had experiences with "evaporation lines" in the past, so I didn't think anything of it.  The next morning, I took another and the same VERY faint line was there.  I really began to think "Could this be it??"  I dropped Lane off at Vacation Bible School, met a friend for coffee, and kept thinking about it all morning.  I stopped by Walgreen's to get a digital test, picked up Lane, and rushed home.  I had one more line test left, so I took it first, and that faint line had gotten a little darker!!  My heart was racing as I took the digital test and when the words "pregnant" popped up on that screen I was shaking with excitement!!

*I took this exact same picture when I found out I was pregnant with Lane.  Here is the post from my old blog from when I found out!*

The first person I told???  LANE!  I filmed me telling him and got some good footage of him asking some funny questions and making funny comments!  He immediately said there were 2 babies, a boy and a girl.  He named them Firefighter Bob and Police Girl.  We planned to surprise Kyle when he got home from work, and Lane was going to wear a "Big Brother" shirt.

I was so excited to tell Kyle!  Lane got his big brother shirt on and we waited and waited for him to come through the door.  It took him a second to catch on to the shirt, but when he did he said "Alright!!!" and we hugged and high fived.  :-)

Running to hug Daddy!

 

I just know Lane will make a GREAT big brother!