Who is this kid?

Tonight I got home from work at around midnight. Our dumb dog, I mean Petey, of course barks and barks and barks and wakes Donovan up before I can shut him up. So I hear Donovan fussing for a few minutes and then he goes back to bed. Usually he doesn't wake up when Petey barks at me but I really didn't think too much about it. So after I put on my jammies I go to check on Donovan and he is sleeping like a little angel. As always I touch his belly to make sure he hasn't peed through his diaper and his jammies aren't wet. To my surprise, they are very wet and so is the bed. Darn! So I debated whether or not I go to wake up Tom so one of us can change him and the other can change the bed sheets and mattress cover when Donovan sits up, so I decide to go it alone and let Tommy sleep. I changed Dono's clothes and diaper and he looks pretty sleepy but never makes a peep. Then I sat him in the rocking chair, set all his "guys" on him (which includes Dunny, Boo, a bigger blanket we have been tucking him in under, and a monkey). He sits and rubs his chin on the blanket silently as I change the bed. After I am done I assume I will have to rock him for a little while before he wants to go back down, but just in case I lean over as I am picking him up and whisper "You ready to lay back down?". He whispers back "Okay" and lays his sweet little head on my shoulder. I can't believe my ears (and/or luck) and I say "Do you want me to tuck you in?" to which he replies "okay" in another whisper. (As a preparation for his big boy bed eventually I have been putting a blanket over him when he goes down in the crib, which he has really enjoys and now requests when you put him down with the request of "Tuck. Tuck." meaning "Tuck me in please") I am shocked but I comply. I lay him down. He flips to his stomach and grabs his "guys" and I lay the blanket over him. I rub his head and tell him "Goodnight. I love you. See you in the morning".

As I left the room I was amazed at what had transpired. I didn't hold my breath though, I expected to hear some protesting but here I am over an hour later and the only sound I have heard from that room was a 5 second whimper about 10 minutes ago. This same child was put to bed at a family friend's house on Saturday night, was woken up and taken home 2 hours later (woke up scared and shaking, calling for me even though I was holding him, then stayed awake the entire 20 min car ride home), had his diaper changed and then was laid straight down with no rocking or singing or book reading. Where did this child come from? I cannot believe our good fortune. This is the same child that just a month and a half ago or so we were talking about taking to a sleep specialist since he woke up crying and screaming so often and for so long. Flash forward a little and here we are. He rarely wakes up crying and screaming now and putting him to bed is a joy. He doesn't fight you (generally) when it is time to go to bed and if he doesn't fall asleep soon after you put him down you hear talking and counting instead of screaming and crying. I don't know if it is just his maturing, or the fact that all his eye teeth have been in for a while and there is no more teething going on, or the fact that Tom and I made a conscious effort to cut down on books and singing and put him down awake or a combination of the three but I am so thankful for this change.

Part of me misses rocking him, but I know that this is for the best for both him and us, especially since a baby will be making it's debut to our family in the next month and a half. It has been a long time coming that we finally have a child that does not fight sleep. It is for this reason (and several more) that I have no plans on switching him from his crib to his big boy bed until he is ready (i.e. climbing out of his crib repeatedly, or demanding to sleep in his big boy bed). I am so proud that he is doing so well with sleeping. I hope this is the new norm and not just a wonderful, fleeting phase. I think this best thing that could happen to us all.

My little man is growing up!

And cue baby number 2... mommy needs another snuggle bunny.

Counting with Donovan

(Dad post) So today when Donovan and I were driving home from Grammie's (Bammie's) he decided he was going to do some counting. Totally unprompted he just started it up:

Oooooonnnneee....

Ttttwwwwooooo....

Fffwwwweeeeee....

Fffiiiivvvvee....(four doesn't exist in Donovan's world)

Ssssiiittssss....

Sennniiiinnnn....

Eeeiiigghhttt....

Nnnniiinnnnee....

Laaa-looooo! (In Donovan's world, "la-loo" means "love you!")

TEN!


I have no idea where the la-loo came from but it was hilarious. I did not help him with any of his numbers, only asked him what was next a couple of times.

Boy's a genius.

Takes after his father.

Evidence...

of a little boy who likes to play hard.

The Entourage- man down

I have been meaning to write this post for a while, however something tragic (not really) has forced my hand and I must now write the post with an addendum. First the background, then the latest news.

Donovan has three "guys" we call his Entourage. The Entourage consists of a bunny that he stole fair and square from his Grammie Q last year when she used it for Easter decoration. Bunny is known as "Dunny". Then there is blanket or "bwaintit", a tag blanket that was the original member of the Entourage. Blanket was made by my mom and has been around since Donovan was just crawling. And rounding out the Entourage, and the latest addition as of a month or so ago, is Bear or "Boo" as Donovan calls him. Donovan is very possessive of his "guys" (he calls them his "guys" ever since Tom did one time and so now, we do too). He has to have them for all naps, at night and every time he drinks milk basically. If he is missing one, he will search the missing one out often by calling out it's name VERY loudly. He does NOT handle it well when one is missing so you have to wash the "guys" very carefully. You have to sneak them in the wash and you better make sure they are ready the next time he needs to go to sleep. All of his "guys" have one thing in common, they are very soft. Donovan calms himself with them by rubbing them against his chin, or more accurately, rubbing his chin against the chosen guy. I love that he loves his "guys" so much but it does get a bit ridiculous when he insists on holding all of them and his milk as he walks around. It often does not go well and he gets very upset when one of the guys is dropped.

Here is Donovan demonstrating what he looks like on a daily basis with his "guys". (You caught me, I took these pictures right before the haircut so they are a few weeks old).
Covering himself with blanket.

Peeking out from under all the "guys".

Vegging with the dudes.


Having said all of that about the "guys" I have some sad news to announce. Donovan has shunned blanket as of this past friday. I am in mourning. Tom is in mourning. If there was one guy I wanted him to cut out, blanket would have been the last. It is the smallest, the softest, and the one that shows dirt the least. But alas, I do not make the rules.

It all started last Friday when I went to get Donovan out of his crib in the morning. He was sitting up with his legs straight out in front of him, looking down at one leg. I looked at his leg as he looked at me, then pointed to his leg saying "yucky". He had spit up a little milk on his leg and tiny bit on blanket. I wiped both up but blanket did smell like stomach acid but I had to work that day so I had no time to wash blanket. So I sent Donovan off to Grammie Q's for the day and warned her about the smelly blanket. Like the saint she is she washed blanket but when nap time came, Donovan refused blanket saying "pee yoo". That night when it was time for milk he did the same thing for Tom. Tom told me about it when I got home and I was shocked. I could plainly see blanket on the couch but I did not believe it. The next few days was the same, any time you offered him the blanket he would either shove it away and tell you it was "pee yoo", or take it, throw it in the opposite direction of you and say "pee yoo". I even tried jedi mind tricks by snuggling with blanket myself, and commenting loudly on how soft he is and how he smelled so nice and not "pee yoo" at all, and every time, Donovan would take blanket and throw it away from me. I think he thought he was saving me from the stink but it really does smell nice and fresh. Tom and I have even snuck it in his crib and when he gets up he will hand you dunny and boo and leave blanket all alone. Either that or he will throw it out of the crib all together. I am distraught he was able to turn so quick on his beloved blanket. Is this what he is going to do to me when he gets his first girlfriend? How will I handle that if this is so hard? Anyways he is doing well, and Boo and Dunny seem to be doing a fine job of comforting him without blanket. I guess my little guy is just growing up. Tear.

Two steps back...

As I was walking down the stairs tonight, dressed and ready to go to dinner, Donovan looked up at me, touched my belly and said "Ball". So I guess he is not understanding as much as I had thought about what is going on in my belly...

Obligatory belly pics

Today I am officially 31 weeks pregnant. Last week of my 7th month of pregnancy according to "What to expect when you are expecting". I am feeling about 10 months pregnant though which is not a good sign since I hope to be pregnant for at least 7 more weeks. More realistically I will be pregnant another 11 and this baby will have to be evicted like Donovan was. I am ok with that though because I'd rather have that then a NICU baby that wasn't cooked all the way before he/she made his/her arrival. I try not to be a complainer because I know I am lucky to have had the good fortune I have had with this pregnancy but I have got to say the second pregnancy is WAY different (read "more painful") than the first. I loved my first pregnancy. After the morning sickness was over, I felt great. I had some back pain that I went to the chiropractor and a massage therapist/physical therapist for (neither helped) but it was totally manageable and overall I felt like pregnancy was enjoyable. I do not feel that same level of enjoyment this time. I feel much more aches and pains and the back pain is much worse than last time. I worked 12 hour plus days last time and the only one I remember being uncomfortable during was the one the day before I ended up delivering. I have already had days at work where by the end of my shift I can barely function because I am in so much pain. The pain is all musculoskeletal, but it makes it feel as if my belly is ripping open and my back makes doing anything but laying down incredibly painful. I am really worried that I might not be able to work all my scheduled shifts, of which I have 30 left. The countdown has begun. I am determined to take things a day/ a shift at a time and keep in mind that I have to do what is best for me and baby. Luckily (knock on wood) so far I haven't had many contractions so I am very thankful for that. And the restless leg syndrome I had last time too has yet to kick in so I am fortunate in many, many aspects. I am just putting out there that man, how do these women that have more than 2 kids do it? Two seems to be kicking my butt already! I am trying to enjoy this pregnancy in case this is my last one, but I find myself fantasizing about what it will be like to not be in some sort of discomfort or pain at all times. Anyways, you can do anything for 10 weeks right?!?! Ok complaining over.

In other news, we are going to have a second child in 10 weeks or less! INSANE. Nothing more to say about that, I just can't wrap my head around it. We have a lot to do before that day comes and I will try to my best to be patient, but I am so excited! Guess we better work on finding a girl name in case this is a girl too...

Backpack

One of our good friend's Lynn, was nice enough to buy Donovan his first backpack a while back. She knew how much I loved little kids in tiny backpacks so she bought one for Donovan and I as a joint present. Donovan wanted nothing to do with it until recently. It is pretty heavy as it holds many of his stacking blocks but he won't let you take any out to lighten the load. Infact, he wants you to put his cell phone in it too so he can carry that around (you know, incase he needs to make any important calls on the run). These are from last night when he was walking around, playing with it on.





You can't tell me that doesn't melt your heart.

"Fast!"

Fast

Faster

Fastest!

Donovan running "fast" to his Grammie Q. We have told him he is so "fast" when he runs so now he tells us "fast!" as he is running. Tom loves that.

Handsome man haircut

Today Donovan had his third haircut. It was (his behavior that is, not the outcome) worst then his first but much, much better than his second so I call it a huge success! The blow dryer made him scramble right up me and the clippers were a not his favorite but overall he was pretty good. Grammie Q came with us to help distract and distract she did. The M&M's were a big hit (and a must) as well. He looks so handsome and grown up now.

Before picture:

Afters: