Almost 2 - Little Bird's Year in Review

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To celebrate Little Bird's life, each year we put together a photo book and then let her close friends, family, etc. write a little note to her about what happened this year.

Trick Or Treat Weekend

 

This year’s Halloween activities were so much fun!  Despite the amazing year we had last year, who would have thought this year Little Bird would be so grown up?  Proof that parenthood just gets better and better.

We bought her a feedbag from Carmike’s Pumpkin Patch and walked around to see all of the animals.  She was afraid to let them eat out of her hand, but tried to be brave a few times.  Eventually, she would just put food in my hand or in her Grandma’s hand and tell us which animal she wanted us to give it to.

 

In September, we took Little Bird to her first Scottish Games, and the pony ride was TERRIFYING for her.  But just a few weeks later, she saw the horses, and decided she was going to ride them!  She jumped in line, and when it was her turn to get on, walked right up to the horse, climbed up, and held on like she’d been preparing for this moment.

She didn’t giggle hysterically, or smile from ear to ear, or cry, but she had a smug little smirk on her face as if she was very proud of herself.  We didn’t even have to walk beside her as they went around.  How did she get so big?

 

Halloween weekend we spent with our family.  Grandma helped Little Bird carve her first pumpkin by scooping out the guts.  Little Bird thought the pumpkins were “icky” and “eeewww” so she wasn’t too interested in helping her aunts, Grandparents, and mom and dad carve pumpkins.  Instead, she focused on filling a large bucket with all of the crab apple seeds and acorns she could find.  Then she dumped them out, and recollected.  We did have fun with the pumpkin carving.  In honor of this fall, I carved a squirrel and acorn for Little Bird and I’s pumpkins for all the squirrel chasing we’ve done.  Doc carved a tree, until he became fascinated with a corkscrew and decided to explore the art of tiny holes in pumpkin.  The rest of the family stuck to faces, with the exception of Aunt Meredith who made an awesome dragon.

		The Pumpkins VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The next night it was time for Trick or Treating.  Little Bird wore “mommy made it costume II” this year.  She was a peacock!  I had some extra ribbon from a wreath I made that I turned into a skirt.  Add some feathers and a little headband and viola!  We only made it to a few houses, but Little Bird LOVED getting to get candy from people and even though we didn’t get a “trick or treat” out of her, we got lots of “thank you”s and “bye”s.  I tagged along as “Supermom”.  I was surprised by how many comments I got from other parents about my costume.  Apparently, I should market the “Supermom” pregnancy costume.  We had a wonderful Halloween season and I cannot wait for next year when we need a wagon to take our TWO children out and about!

FLASHBACK: 1 year ago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLASHBACK: 2 years ago

 

(I’m the pregnant one on the right)

Preparing for a Hospital Birth

With Little Bird, I felt extremely confident in my ability to have the birth I wanted.  It would be just a few people, all people I knew.  We’d be at home, where I felt safe and in control.  I’d know where everything was, have access to my comforts, and work through whatever pains labor brought on.

Now, I’m packing a hospital bag, filling out paperwork to “preregister” for my epidural, and trying to think positively.

A natural birth for me and my Little Tree are not nearly as likely.  First, I’ll be in a hospital, so the access to medication and interventions is much more ready.  Second, Little Tree is not a “healthy” baby so any minor hiccup could escalate to c-section – things that you might not worry about with a “normal” kid.

So I am preparing myself to be okay with whatever happens.  My birth plan is simple.  I would like to forgo any medication or intervention that is not required for my son’s safety or my own.  However, I have had to be strong in so many other ways for my son, that should I decide that the pains of labor are not something I am capable of handling this round, I’m going to ask for the epidural and be okay with that. 

Without an epidural, I can go see my son in the NICU and possibly even be present for some of his testing.  With an epidural or any other pain medications, I have to wait until I completely regain feeling in my legs to go see him.  With a c-section – my recovery has to take a higher priority and it could be a few days before I get to see him, depending on how the surgery goes.

So I’m going in hoping for the best, but accepting that I’d rather have an epidural, or Pitocin, or whatever other things they might throw at me than a c-section.