Oh 2009, What a Year You Have Been!

2009 brought some big changes in our lives...most notably a child and a move to a new city.Here are some of the highlights from 2009:

January - We rung in the new year with friends in Modesto. It was a good way to start the year.

February - Edinburgh was covered in a blanket of snow. Though it turned into a dirty slush, when it was fresh, it was beautiful and made for some great pictures.

March - I found out I was pregnant with my little man...of course I didn't know it was a little man for many a months!

April - We celebrated my birthday by heading out of town to an aquarium. It was a fun day. I also got a special birthday present from a local author with whom I share a birthday...a signed book. It made all my coworkers jealous.

May - May was a big month for us. We kicked off the month by announcing to the world that I was pregnant. We traveled back to California to celebrate my brother Jeremy's 30th birthday and to get in some time with family and friends. We also were confronted with a dilemma. We had to move...it was either back to California or up to Aberdeen, Scotland. After some thought, we decided to head up to Aberdeen.

June - Ian and I celebrated 6 years of marriage.

July - We hit up a large music festival in Scotland. It was quite the adventure.

August - August is always a busy and fun month in Edinburgh. The whole city is transformed for the festival. We took part in a lot of shows and activities that month. I also spent some time in the hospital with a UTI. It was the first hospitalization of my life. We also packed up all our belongings and moved them up to Aberdeen.

September - We celebrated Ian's birthday by heading over to Amsterdam for a few days. It was a fun trip. In the middle of the month I began my maternity leave and officially moved up to Aberdeen.

October - With a lot more time on my hands, I began cooking dinner every night, attending baby classes and preparing for the arrival of baby g.

November - 10 days late...10 DAYS! It felt like the longest 10 days of my life! Finally Connor made an appearance and our life hasn't been the same since! My mom came over 3 days after Connor was born and stayed for 3 weeks. It was very helpful and fun to spend some time with my mom.

December - We have taken many a trip already with Connor (three times to Edinburgh and once to Inverness). Ian's family came over for Christmas and are here to ring in the new year with us.

I look forward to what 2010 has in store for me...a visit home, time with Connor and hopefully some fun trips with Ian.

Bath Time

We have discovered a new favorite of Connor's...bath time. He used to be quite resistant to bath time, but this has changed. Bath time has become a favorite of Connor's. It could be because of the rubber duck he got for Christmas or the hot water that warms him in our freezing house or perhaps even because he enjoys being naked...whatever the reason, I can hardly resist the cuteness that is Connor chilling in the bath! I think you will feel the same way!

Merry Christmas!

Last night at church, I was struck by the parallel between the birth of Jesus and the birth Connor. Don't start laughing yet...I don't consider my child God. But...

I was remembering the anticipation of his birth. My whole life seemed to stop toward the end and all I could think about was this little person inside of me finally coming out (of course that could have been because he was 10 days late!). My family and friends were so excited about the pregnancy and this new little person. We prepared and wanted everything perfect for him.

Then I thought about Jesus and his birth. I thought about the promise He was to the world. How God had promised He would come and people had been waiting their whole lives for Him. I thought of the anticipation Mary must have been feeling about carrying the son of God. I thought about the excitement the wise men must have felt when traveling to see Him.

Thinking about all the excitement my little man gave me and everyone else...everyone must have been bursting with joy at the excitement of the Savior finally coming into the world. And here I am, a couple thousand years later, thankful for His coming. I am thankful that He came to save my little man, to bring him a future and a hope.

This Christmas, I am especially thankful for our King.

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Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful ( 1^st Published in: 1767!?!)

Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

My Sick Little Bug

Yesterday, Connor went to the doctor for a weight checkup only to discover that he hadn't gained any weight in a week. Given that this had been a problem that they had been monitoring, plus it being so close to the holidays, the doctor decided to refer us up to the hospital. Initially, Ian and I thought we were only going to be at the hospital for a couple hours with Connor. A couple hours turned into more than 24 hours. The doctors weren't sure if they felt something in his stomach, so they decided to keep him in overnight to observe him and ultrasound his belly in the morning.

In the mean time, they started him on new (and more intense) meds for reflux. They put him on the adult version of the reflux medicine he was already taking after each feed and added another medicine that he takes three times a day. After a few hours, we already noticed a difference. The doctors were unable to get a clear picture of his stomach during the ultrasound, but felt that nothing was there and decided to send him home...which Ian and I were happy about.

The little guy seems to be doing well and I look forward to him chunking up in the days to come!

Snug as a bug in a rug...all wrapped up in his hospital bed

Exploring

Snow has made its way to northern Scotland and we couldn't be more excited! Our city is covered and it looks like a winder wonderland. It looks like we will have a white Christmas! We have never had one of those before!

This is the front of our house. Our front door is the bottom door.

Ian and I (well, and Connor) went on a little Scottish adventure this weekend. With Ian now off work until the 9th of January, we decided to do a little exploring before his family got into town. While exploring, we ran across a brewery that advertised free tours, so we followed the signs to the brewery. The signs took us down little one lane roads (that I don't know how we would have managed if we encountered a car coming the opposite direction) and to an adorable little brewery, complete with a dog to greet us at our car. An older lady was running the store and tour. She was smitten with Connor and even held him for a bit. The brewery is run out of a barn (though they are building larger facilities up the road) and it was neat to see where all the action happens.




Hopefully this is just one of many Scottish adventures we have over this next season. We really want to explore Scotland while we have the opportunity.

Connor's Birth Announcement

Since many of you have already gotten your birth announcements in the mail, I thought it would be safe for me to post it up here. For those of you that didn't get one, it either means one of two things:

1. I don't like you (just kidding...well, sort of)
2. I mailed it to your old address...I got tired of updating my address list and just started using people's old addresses.

For those of you that I do like, I hope your announcement got to you!

I would like to brag for a moment about Connor's announcement. I made it myself. I actually took the time to learn Photoshop (which I think is an unnecessarily hard program to use) and make it...I actually made a few different versions to choose from. Now I am sort of addicted...I didn't send out Christmas cards this year, but I am totally designing my own next year! Or so I say now...

Questions to Ask

So, before I had a baby, there were questions I didn't even know to ask about life with a baby. I thought I would entertain all of you with my question and answer time.

What do you do when your baby has been crying for hours, you have to pee and you are alone?
Apparently, just set the baby down, let it cry and run to the bathroom.

How do you shower when its just you and the baby?
Bring him into the bathroom with you and shower as quick as humanly possible.

How do you get ready when its just you and the baby? Oh, and the baby is screaming at the top of its lungs?
You don't! Well, you throw on your clothes and grab the baby...the hair can wait.

How do you get over judging yourself for not getting enough done around the house?
I haven't quite figured this one out. I try giving myself a reprieve, but then I see my laundry basket and try to figure out how I can get more done around the house while caring for my little man.

I thought you only leak milk when a baby cries...why do I seem to leak all the freaking time?!?
Well, the baby crying thing, I think that is only a myth. The leaking thing really means its time for my baby to eat!

Why can my baby sleep for like 6 hours at night, yet seem so alive in the morning?
Its all those freaking naps he takes during the day! The problem is, most of them are cat naps, making it virtually impossible for me to nap at the same time.

How is it that you can be exhausted from the baby screaming, but as soon as it stops and smiles at you, your heart is melted and you feel content?
Motherhood just can't be explained!

Connor just melts my heart. I can't believe how fast he is going to grow up and want to enjoy every second of it. He is so adorable and I hope everyday he knows how much his mom and dad love him.

The Weekend

Friday:

On Friday, Connor had two visits to the doctor. They discovered that he has only gained 2 ounces since birth (this isn't normal) and that he has severe acid reflux (hence the reason he hasn't gained weight). So, he got put on some medicine that I have to give him after he feeds. Getting Connor to take all the medicine is a bit of a challenge. We have to give it to him in a bottle and he isn't too interested in taking it after he just finished eating. But, the medicine works. He is barely spitting up at all anymore. We head back to the doctor on Thursday to make sure he is now putting on weight...I think he is.

Saturday:

I had my first solo trip out of the house since having Connor...and exactly 4 weeks after having him. Ian and Connor hung out with some of our friends while I joined my old work for their Christmas party. It was nice seeing everyone and catching up...also realizing how much my life has changed in 4 weeks!

Sunday:

We participated in the Great Scottish Santa Run in Edinburgh with some of our friends. This was a memory to last a lifetime. The run was for charity and was only two laps around a park. In many places it was so crowded with "santas" that you couldn't run anyway. We walked the "run" anyway so it really didn't matter. Oh, and they gave out medals to everyone at the end!

My Little American

Connor's US passport came in the mail today. That has to be in record time too...exactly a week after we applied for it! Who knew it could be done so quickly? Also, Connor's "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" came. Apparently, when we are in the states, this is what I am supposed to use as his birth certificate. This makes no sense to me, given that it isn't his birth certificate, but this is what the people at the consulate office told me. The certificate looks very official (way more official than my birth certificate), but really just says that Connor was an American at birth...you go little man! So there you have it...my little man is officially a little American! And, he will be arriving in his homeland for a visit on January 18th...can't wait for him to meet everyone!


On a totally different subject, we had a much better night last night. Connor fell asleep in his dad's arms and slept much better than the night before. He got up to feed more than usual, but I think he is going thru a growth spurt. Also, even though I try to help him understand it is the middle of the night, he doesn't always understand that, so I did have to rock him back to sleep at 3:30am. But hey, he's still learning and I was feeling much better last night, so I didn't mind.

And here's a couple pictures of Connor in his giraffe-a-cow outfit...it looks like a giraffe outfit, but says "moo" on the feet, thus giraffe-a-cow.

HELP

My child is trying to kill me and I don't know what to do! Okay, so maybe "kill" is a little exaggerated, but torture me, at least. Last night, Connor was up from 9pm until 4am...and at least half of that time was spent screaming. I tried everything to calm him down. He was fed 4 times during that period, changed, rocked, walked, put in his car seat, set on the dryer...nothing worked. At one point, Ian had to take over because I was at my wits end. Then, when I finally got him to sleep, he slept for 2 hours and started up again. Ian took him for a ride in the car...that put him to sleep, but that sleep lasted for about 5 minutes after they got home. We slept and cried (him, not me...though I was pretty close) on and off until 10am when finally sleep took over. The little man then slept until 2pm.

It seems that there is no advice out there on getting newborns to sleep. It all deals with babies that are 3 months plus. With all you mothers out there, I am hoping some of you can give me some advice. I just need to figure out how to get my baby to sleep...or at least keep him from screaming at the top of his lungs for hours on end!

On a different baby subject...has anyone dealt with their baby spitting up all over when they are still feeding? Connor seems to enjoy doing this...it goes all down me and wherever we are sitting at the moment. Is this normal? And if so (or even of not) why does he do it?

Okay people, this is it...I am begging for advice. I am willing to try anything at the moment!

We've Done it to Ourselves

I came across an article on CNN this weekend about a store window display in Los Angeles. Basically, Christians are complaining that the window display is too promiscuous and the store is calling it art. Though I would have to say that I personally think it is weird that anyone would want to "slut up" the virgin Mary, I really think we only have ourselves to blame. I also think as Christians we get too sensitive about things sometimes, but that is for another blog.

As Christians, we have lost sight of what Christmas is all about. Isn't it about celebrating the birth of Jesus? Then, why do we put up Christmas trees, take our kids to get their pictures taken with santa and make it all about the gifts? Now, I am not saying that any of these things is wrong...I do them as well...but when Christians take a "Christian holiday" and paganize it, we can't complain when others do the same.

Also, when people are not Christ followers, why should we expect them to live their lives the same way we do? Shouldn't we be reaching out and loving people like this rather than threatening to attack them? Oh yeah, apparently the churches in the area are planning a protest if the window display isn't changes. Imagine if people came and protested the church every time they didn't like something we did or displayed? I know people attach the church a lot, but it has been a while since I have seen a church with protesters outside it...though it was entertaining when I saw it (and it was my church it was happening to).

Really, no matter where you fall on this issue (and I would love to hear your opinions), I would like to say...we really only have ourselves to blame.

The New Question

Now that I have graduated from being the pregnant woman to being the mom, there is a new question that keeps being asked of me. Everywhere we go, everyone seems to ask the same question...

How is he sleeping?

I am always a little baffled at how to answer this question. Come to think of it, I am always a little baffled about how to answer any question asked of me! I never know how much information people really want, if they really care and what information they care to hear. So, my standard answer has become...

It changes every night.

Is this true? Yes. One night Connor seems to sleep like a dream. The next, doesn't want to go to bed, then wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to be held and rocked for two hours...which is much more difficult than it sounds when you are delirious and sleepy.

Since having Connor, I have discovered that Ian can sleep thru most baby cries. I have to admit, this helps during the week. I don't have to feel guilty about Connor ruining Ian's night sleep because he has to work the next day. Instead, I can stay in the comfort of my own room and deal with Connor's middle of the night meltdowns. On the weekends, this isn't so great. Even if I wake Ian up and hand him Connor, he will pretty much fall back asleep holding a crying baby. I WISH it were so easy for me...since having Connor, I don't sleep well. I hear every noise and if I don't hear noise, I get up and check to make sure he is still breathing. It is pathetic. The other night, I was laying in bed praying for God to just knock me out cold so I could get a good couple hours sleep, undisturbed.

I am beginning to realize that I will need to take daily naps. Don't get me wrong, I love a good nap. It's just that nap time would coexist in the same time frame that allows me to get stuff done around the house...which helps me understand why it said in all those baby books that you are doing good when you get one non-baby related thing done around the house a day!

As I write this blog, my son lay on me sleeping. I am left wondering how deep this sleep is and if I dare put him in his bed. I am hoping for a couple more hours sleep...after all, it is Saturday...doesn't he know this?!?

The 80's Are Back

Since when have the 80's come back with such full force? I know fashion comes and goes. I wore bell bottoms in high school and wore a lot of styles from the 60's and 70's. But...there is one decade that I think really does not deserve a comeback, and that would be the 80's. Some of you may like the 80's, but all I can think of is huge bangs, fluorescent colored scrunchies, caboodles, LA Gear and more. And to be honest, I don't think these past trends deserve a comeback.


My mom and I were out shopping today and it seemed that at every turn I took, I was smacked in the face by trends from the 80's...trends I don't think should be making a comeback. There are the brightly colored high tops, jean everything and zippers all over the place. Me not like. Please fashion designers, skip the 80's and come up with a trend that won't haunt me later in old photos!