Blog Hold

Okay, I am not totally abandoning this blog- yet, but it is so much easier and faster for me to post pictures on Facebook. So, since at this phase in life leaves me with limited computer time, I am putting this blogging thing on hold. However, I will keep Facebook updated with pictures and videos!

Guardian Angel

Michael was listening to Relevant Radio this morning and found out an interesting little tid bit that I just had to pass on. Father Rocky was talking about guardian angels and explained that you can find out the name of your guardian angel. He said that all you have to do is speak to your angel and simply ask him/her what his/her name is. The first name that pops into your head is his/her name. Michael and I were both a little hesitant to do this for some reason, but we both simply said, "What is your name?" and we were both surprised by what names popped into our heads. The names seemed too random to not be real. For both of us the names came immediatly- almost like our guardian angels were so excited we finally asked! What are their names you ask? Well, Michael's guardian angel's name is Jeffery and mine is Nancy. Michael and I looked up the meaning of these names and Jeffery mean God's peace and Nancy means grace and favor. What is your angel's name?

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

The day has come! I have been patiently waiting for Weston to start singing songs, and Sunday night on our way home from Necedah he randomly started singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star really loud in the car. Michael and I thought it was the cutest thing! Today I caught him on camera singing to himself while eating his snack and playing with his cup. (You may have to turn up the sound at first, but he does eventually get louder.)

Big Brother, Little Brother

"Big brother, little brother, buddies true and strong. Life is truely twice as fun since he came along!" This saying from one of Weston's favorite books sums up our life perfectly right now:)

This and That

Well, Vancie (as Weston and I call him) is doing wonderful. His medicine is our little miracle and I am so grateful we get to enjoy such a sweet baby! Our pediatrician said he has not seen a truly colicky baby since they started diagnosing acid reflux and putting babies on omeprazole. Those poor babies (and parents)! Vance is a very sweet talker, rarely cries, smiles a lot, and has even let out a few "giggles" for daddy.

Since Vance can now tolerate being on his back, he is loving his baths just like his big brother does:)

Vance is also losing a lot of his dark hair and may be showing signs of being a redhead (or at least strawberry blonde). I guess time will tell:)

Weston continues to make us laugh everyday, and we feel like we constantly have to keep him challenged! He is always ready to try something new and loved mommy's newest summertime activity- painting with water on the sidewalk. This is a great activity for a toddler! I found that big brushes with long handles worked the best, so he could paint while standing up.

Weston has also recently taken his jumping skills to a whole new level. Check it out.

Finally, I had a great third Mother's Day. Yes, I was a mother when I was pregnant with Weston:) Until Weston and Vance are older and can do their own special things for the day, Michael is doing a great job of filling in for them and making the day special. Here is a little video he got of Weston for me:)

Acid Reflux

This blog is being written after a ROUGH couple of weeks that we are finally on the upswing from! In my last post I mentioned how Vance was a big spitter upper, especially when he was on his back, and he was not a good sleeper, except when he was being held upright crunched in a ball on his tummy. Well, after two weeks of getting what felt like no sleep and Vance only eating and crying we took him to the doctor and got our answer as to why we had a great baby the first two weeks and then a very unhappy baby. Vance was diagnosed with acid reflux. Apparently acid reflux babies hate their backs (check), spit up often (check), cry after they spit up (check), are soothed only by eating- even though they are not hungry (check), and have breath that smells like sour milk (check). The doctor explained that around 2 1/2-3 weeks is when a baby's stomach acid gets stronger and that is why he really didn't seem to show his discomfort until then. Vance was put on Prilosec and after a dose increase he is back to the extremely sweet baby he naturally is:) He has successfully slept flat on his back the entire course of the night for four nights now (something that he couldn't tolerate at all before- even if he was reclined on his back). Once he started getting better, however, it didn't end because I got mastitis, we all got colds, and Weston started cutting more teeth (causing him to wake up in the middle of the night too)! WHEW! I don't want to relive those six weeks! 

Now that Vance is a much happier baby he has started cooing and smiling more and more. I have tried to capture his smile for quite some time now, but this is the best I have gotten so far.

Weston is also enjoying his baby brother more now that he isn't always eating or crying. He likes to give Vance kisses and his latest thing is wanting to carry Vance. I can't leave Weston alone in the same room with Vance or he will try to pick him up on his own!

Speaking of Weston, he is turning into quite the comedian. He knows when he is doing something funny and will keep doing it to get a laugh. Today during lunch he decided to wear his bib as a hat and kept saying "Mommy hat" and then he would give me his fake laugh. He proceeded to eat the rest of his lunch this way:)

Along with Weston's increased ability to understand things is his increased capacity to remember things. We have come to dread hearing the "b" word- bubbles. He will repeat this word over and over may times through out the day and always wants to blow bubbles! It is no longer a case of out of sight out of mind.  Here is a video of him and his latest obsession.

Finally, since I have been terrible at posting toddler activities, here is an amazing book for anyone looking for ideas on what to do with their toddler and beyond.  Many of the activities are still too old for Weston, but there is still lots that he can do and some activities can be adapted for his age.  It is put out by Publications International, Ltd.

Baptism, Easter, and Rolling

Here is a little update. We are a month into adjusting to life with two kids! Those that told us going from one to two is the hardest- I believe you! While things have gotten a little smoother over the past four weeks, we are still waiting for it to get easier. One thing is for sure- my parents and sisters have been our life savers- we would have gone crazy by now without them!!Michael and I are adjusting (at times better than others) to little sleep. On a good night we get about five to six hours of interrupted sleep. Vance is not a very good sleeper (unless he is being held) and seems to have his days and nights mixed up. He is also a big spitter upper, so the whole "back to sleep" thing is a challenge because when he is on his back he spits up more and wakes himself up. On a positive note we ADORE him and truly feel BLESSED to have him- lack of sleep and all!! Weston is also loving his brother:) He is getting very good at being gentle and gets a huge grin on his face when we tell him he is being such a good big brother:) Here are a few pictures since my last update and a few videos I have been meaning to share.

On Palm Sunday Vance was baptized

Michael's brother Jacob and his wife Tamie are Van's godparents

Claimed for Christ!

We enjoyed some beautiful weather for Easter Sunday

Aunt Chrissy gave Weston a bubble gun that he absolutely

loves- even when he is shooting himself in the face:)

Weston loves to lay next to Van when I have him on the floor

One month old!

Vance first rolled when he was only ten days old and

has been doing it almost every time he is on his belly since.

I thought this little moment was cute when Weston

was trying to share his jelly bean with Vance.

2 Weeks Old

I am trying to do this blog with the little free time that I have, so I will leave you with pictures and hopefully in the near future I will have some time to write a few things. 

One of Weston's favorite things about having a new brother at home is this giant jug that came home with him.  Weston has enjoyed drinking from mommy's hospital jug that is almost the size of him!

Weston likes his new brother "Bance" but he prefers to poke him rather than hold him.  We are working on gentle touching and after two weeks he is starting to catch on.

First Bath

Snoozing any chance we get!

Gianna loves her new baby cousin:) 

 (Notice Weston in the background could care less about holding Vance)

This is a very common face when Vance is sleeping:)

He's Here!

Well, Vance Michael joined the world on March 7th, 2010 at 8:53am.  He caught us a little by surprise because we thought we had at least another week, but the date he ended up being born was special because it was my dad's birthday!  He weighed in at 6 lbs 12 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long.  The labor and delivery went well and I was so happy to be able to successfully do a VBAC. 

Almost 37 Weeks

Well, here is the photo asked for by some. I will be considered 37 weeks this Saturday, and that means if Vance arrived any day from that point he would be considered full term.

At the beginning of this week I was ready for Vance to come anytime, but then Tuesday afternoon I got a call informing me that my doctor fell ice skating with his kids and broke his shoulder and won't be back until April. This put me in a panic because I really liked my doctor, and now I have to have a different doctor deliver Vance. As far as another doctor goes, I basically just had to go with the only doctor who had an opening this week that fit my schedule. Well, needless to say, he didn't win me over in our first visit, and at this point I feel like there is no time to meet with other doctors until I find another one I like. So, I will just stick with the one I got and hope that his obvious experience will be exactly what I need to do a successful VBAC. I also have to trust in Our Lord's guiding hand and know that He will never leave me and Vance through this whole experience.

As far as the pregnancy goes, I think my nesting phase has ended or has been put on hold. Now, I just feel the need to take naps in the afternoon while I still can! I am experiencing the practice Braxton Hicks contractions quite often now with some of them being on the verge of painful and leaving me feeling like I can't get enough air. Other than that, I really don't have much to complain about except the typical tiredness, frequent bathroom breaks, and trouble staying comfortable at night.

Speaking of nights, Michael and I feel even more prepared for Vance to get here now that we have successfully taught Weston to fall asleep on his own and sleep through the night. We hadn't done it sooner because I was under the impression that the only way to accomplish this was the "cry it out" method and I just didn't feel right about this method. Up until this point, our bedtime routine was so peaceful and positive, but the waking up at night was getting tiring. Well, after some good advice from his doctor and my own intuition, we developed our own process that in the end left Weston feeling safe and secure to fall asleep on his own without any fuss. As a result, we (well, at least Michael because he doesn't have another baby keeping him up) are getting a good night's rest because Weston isn't needing us to help him fall back to sleep in the middle of the night. I think I was the only one sad in the end because I didn't realize how much I would miss having Weston fall asleep in my arms! I think I was more addicted to it than he was:)

Happy Birthday "Bichael"!

Thursday we celebrated Michael's 27th birthday! In the evening my parents, his mom and his brother joined us for dinner, cake, and presents. However, we almost didn't have a birthday celebration because Michael forgot about his own birthday and scheduled an appointment that evening. Luckily, it was one that he could easily reschedule and he was able to join us for his birthday:) Weston enjoyed helping Daddy blow out his candles and would have put his face right on them if Michael didn't hold him back.

In fact, Weston liked the candles so much that he insisted on eating his cake using the candle instead of his spoon. A little wax never hurt anybody, right???

Michael's birthday, of course, is right before Valentine's Day. This means that I have to plan for two special occasions right in a row. I never used to be the Valentine's Day planner in our relationship, but this time last year I attended a book study to help me grow in my role as a wife, and it was at one of these meetings that my friend Mary's mom, Elaine, shared some information that really made so much sense to me. She told us how in their relationship she planned Valentine's Day every year because she enjoyed doing it so much and liked surprising her husband. Up until that point I had it in my head that it was the man's job to plan Valentine's Day, but (not trying to insult Michael here) this almost always lead to some disappointment. It wasn't until this meeting that it hit me that I too enjoy, and have more fun, being the surpriser rather than the surprisee! So, last year I planned Valentine's Day and it worked out wonderful for both of us. I had so much fun planning the day and Michael enjoyed having a pressure free Valentine's Day that he got to simply enjoy and not plan:) This year, I again had a blast planning Valentine's Day and was so excited I could barely wait until the day got here! This year, the highlight was playing a game I created. Michael and I are both big game people, so it was very fitting for us. The game involved answering questions, like those found on the Newlywed Game Show, or competing against each other to do certain tasks. We laughed lots and had a good time learning more about each other. (Yes, we still have lots to learn about each other after 5 1/2 years!)

Our Valentine's Day also involved solving a mystery. For weeks now Weston has been saying "bichael" and we couldn't figure out what he was trying to say. He never said it pointing at anything and said it in different situations. Well, we were over at my parent's house for supper when it hit us what he has been saying. As he walked around the house talking on Daddy's phone saying "bichael" over and over we realized he was saying "Michael, Michael, Michael!" DUH!! Once we realized it, it seemed totally obvious! (And I am sure it looks obvious when I type the word out like "bichael".) Weston has heard me say Michael (especially on the phone) many times and was repeating it. I might also add that when he says this word, he usually says it loud and I am sure that is because most of the time when I use Michael's name I am trying to get his help from another room:) I don't think he understands that Michael and Daddy are the same person, but it sure is cute to hear him say it:) Oh, and after a couple times of emphasizing the "m" in Michael, he now says "Michael" and not "bichael":)

Colors

It seems like since Weston has turned 1 1/2 he is learning something new everyday! Michael and I are enjoying this stage very much and love to watch him absorb new information like a sponge:) He has been working on his colors and is beginning to recognize them:) He still gets confused, but definitely has a concept of what colors are. When he has to name a color on his own he mostly says orange, but he is getting good at picking out what color is what when we say it. Check it out!

Feeding Tory or "Toreeee"

Weston has a new favorite chore that he gets really excited about and that is helping feed Tory:)

Oil Heat

Michael and I were both unfamiliar with oil heating when we bought our house, but feel like we are learning lots about owning a house with oil heat.  Last week we learned an important rule- make sure the guage on your tank works so that you know when you are about to run out of fuel!  Our heat went out at night (which also happened to be one of the coldest nights this winter) and we woke up to the house being 50 degrees and dropping.  In the middle of the night we brought Weston in bed with us and we all stayed cozy under the covers, but when it got time to get out of bed it sure was cold!  Weston and Eli had no problem keeping on their winter hats and layers until the oil man could come and fill the tank.  I usually don't let the boys watch TV, except for 1/2 hour while I make lunch, but that morning I turned on some cartoons so they would sit on the couch under blankets.  Overall, I think they enjoyed having no heat until later morning:)

Luckily that was the only day Weston had to experience being cold inside the house, but I think he has a new appreciation for winter clothing after experiencing his first Wisconsin winter.  At the beginning of winter he wasn't to fond of his winter apparel, but lately he has liked putting on his boots, hat, and mittens.  When cousin Gianna was visiting he couldn't get enough of her boots and mittens either:)  Actually, most of the time Weston would wear one boot and Gianna would wear the other. 

Toddler Activity #2- Piggy Bank

This is a simple activity that has been one of Weston's favorites and he has yet to get sick of it.

Activity: Piggy Bank

Materials:

-clear disposable tupperware container with a slit cut in the lid (I put some tape on the sides of the slit so that it wasn't sharp and made the slit easier to see)

-poker chips

Skill/concept development:

fine motor development

hand/eye coordination

counting

Extension: The poker chips also make a great dump and fill material with cups.  Both Eli and Weston enjoy filling up a cup with the chips and then pouring them out.  Weston also really enjoys dumping them back and forth between two cups. 

If your container is big enough, you can also use an old deck of playing cards to put in the bank.  I found that this created a little more of a challenge.

Nesting

So, apparently I am "nesting." I don't remember doing this when I was pregnant with Weston, but I have these incredible urges to get things done before Vance gets here! Although his arrival is probably still at least seven weeks away, I feel like we are going to run out of time! I am tired most of the time, but somehow there is still some motivation to get things done. Here are some of our latest projects that we have intended to do since we moved in and have gotten done in the last two weeks.

1. Michael finally finished painting my paintings for the living room! No more empty wall space waiting to be filled above our couch- yeah! The the paintings symbolize the Trinity. (The pictures are not really crooked hanging on the wall- I am just a bad picture taker.)

2. We finally found and purchased a van to accommodate our growing family. We have been searching for one in our limited budget since we moved and we feel like it was worth the wait because we got a great deal on a good van:) Here is a picture of what my van looks like, but isn't a picture of my actual van. When I sat down to do this post I realized I had yet to take a picture of my van, and since it was dark and cold outside I decided this internet picture would have to do. It is a silver 1999 Chrysler Town and Country.

3. We painted Weston and, soon to be, Vance's room blue. Then, I wanted the same thing on the walls that we had in Weston's room in Texas. This time, however, we omitted the clouds. Michael wasn't too fond of them to begin with and I decided it would be too much on the wall space that we have now. We also added Vance's name to a plane:)

4. I made some valances for the windows in the boys' room. I wanted something similar to the bedding that is currently on the crib, but wasn't having much luck finding what I wanted. Then I thought, why not not just cut off that parts of the bed skirt that nobody sees and create great matching window treatments.

5. I finally got all of my photo albums updated. I only had to get almost 500 pictures printed to catch up! This means that I also finished updating Weston's album, which hadn't been updated since he was three months old.

In addition to these projects, I am also currently working on making a valance for the living room window. Then the only other big project I want to get done is painting our living room trim white. Oh, and ideally I would like to get Michael and my bedroom painted, but I think that may be a little too ambitious.

Michael's to do list is a little different than mine. Here is what he has felt an urging to do-

building a snowman with Weston:) I had a great time watching from the window:)

Merry Christmas!

Okay, so I have been a blog slacker lately, but I have good excuses! One, there was so much to do to get ready for Christmas; two, our internet was down for a couple days after Christmas; three, we still had lots of visiting/visitors the week after Christmas; and four, Weston got his first case of the stomach flu that he so lovingly passed onto me! In fact, I am still recovering as I sit here typing this, but at least now I have some time:).

Okay, with that off my chest, where do I begin? Our Christmas was busy, but nice. We had Santa come to our house on Christmas Eve morning and Weston was pretty clueless about the whole thing. One of my best presents, however, came that morning when I learned I passed the glucose screening test! I failed that test when I was pregnant with Weston and was sure the same thing would happen again. Needless to say, I was NOT looking forward to another 3 hour glucose test. However, the nurse called that morning to give me the good news and I was very happy:) (Oh, sometimes it is the simple things when you are a tired, uncomfortable pregnant woman.) After our little family celebration, we enjoyed seeing lots of extended family and didn't let the weather ruin our plans. We did, however, have to do some rearranging of celebrations, but in the end it all worked out. Christmas Eve evening we went to mass and then to my Grandma Luebke's house. Then Christmas Day, we started off at my parents house, then headed over to my Grandma Thompson's house, and finally ended the day in Necedah with Mike's family (I forgot my camera for the last two celebrations). Weston got lots of presents, but by the end he really didn't care about opening them. He was content with the first thing he opened. Next year, however, I am sure will be a different story.

Grandma Luebke's House

Christmas morning at Mom and Dad's house

After Christmas we got to see our friend Susan, who now lives in New York where she is a canidate to enter the Fransican Sisters of the Renewal (I think that is right). She seemed so happy and it was wonderful to see her! (Sorry, no pictures.) Andrea, Andy, and Gianna came back for the visit and Andrea and Gianna then stayed with us for a few days. Then, as they left Beth came back into town. I enjoy having my sisters around so much that everyday I wish they both lived in LaCrosse! At least, however, we aren't as far apart as we used to be:) Knowing how much I love having sisters, makes me very glad Weston will have a brother soon (only two months to go), and I truely believe one of the best gifts you can give your children is siblings.

Our New Years was nice, but us LaVoys are not big New Year celebration people and we were all sleeping at my parents house (where we went to bring in the New Year) before the ball dropped. In fact, I was out with Weston by 10:30pm. I will blame it on being pregnant, but I don't know what Michael's excuse was- oh, that's right, he is one hard working guy and he is taking care of a tired pregnant wife and a very energetic toddler!

Finally, Weston seems to be exploding in his use of language and he now tries to repeat lots of things that we say. Michael and I love his little voice! Here is a video of him saying "baby" for one of the first times. He loves to point out real babies to us and pictures of them on things and in books. What a great word association to know when he meets his new baby brother:)

Oh, and one more video just for fun. Before I started taping Eli was laughing at Weston everytime Weston threw the slinky down. When Eli stopped laughing out loud, Weston felt the need to fill in with his fake laugh.