Archer- 2 Months

Archer is 2 months old! Where has the time gone!?

 

Weight

We will get your weight on Friday, but I think you are around 14 lbs already! That means you are about 1/2 your sister's weight!

Length

We will find out your length on Friday, too. But by my measurement you are about 25" long! TALL BOY!

Clothes

You are now wearing 3-6 and some 6-9 month clothing and size 2 diapers! I don't think it will be long before we have to move up to size three diapers. I think we might go ahead and do that at night, since you are starting to sleep longer at night (KNOCK ON WOOD)!

Nicknames

Arch, Bub, Bubs, Bubba, Brother, Chubs, Chunky Monkey

Food

You are exclusively breastfed, and will take a bottle if you have to (of breast milk). But you won't take it from me at all! You love to eat and are eating every 3-4 hours usually. Although sometimes you still want to eat every 1-2 (I think that is when you are going through a growth spurt). You nurse for about 10-20 minutes on one side at a feeding, and it seems to work pretty well for us! I have started introducing some acidic and spicy food back into my diet and so far you have tolerated it pretty well, thank goodness! I look forward to the day I can pig out on texmex again!!!

                                                                              Sleep

 

You are sleeping more and more at night these days, which is SO nice! Last night, you slept from 11 to 4, then went back down until 6:30 when I got up to get ready to take sister to school. I am starting to feel human again!

Fun Stuff- some are the same from month 1!

* You have really started smiling and cooing in the last week or so! I love it!

 

* You love your owl mobile that is on your pack & play. That is about the only way I am able to get a shower these days!

* You are starting to bat at things and love to stare at yourself in the mirror and look at lights and fans!

* You HATE your carseat until the car is moving, then you usually fall asleep.

* You surprisingly enjoy bathtime and it seems to calm you down.

* You have stopped screaming during clothes changes, and you still love to be naked! You just smile and smile when you are stripped down!

* You like to be rocked, bounced, swung- anything movement puts you to sleep. Or at least calms you down for a bit.

* You are only fussy in the evenings now, and those times seem to be getting shorter and shorter!

* You love to sit up in my lap, look around, and especially look at our faces and the cross wall!

* You hold your head up so well and are very strong.

* You love to have your back patted and I can usually get you to sleep that way.

* You have started taking a paci some, although you don't keep it for long, it will settle you down.

 

 

Archer- happy 2 month birthday!!! We love you so much and you have brought so much joy and happiness to our lives! We love you!

 

~Mommy, Daddy, and Sister (Ava) 

Three and Growing!

Y'all. My baby girl turned THREE yesterday! THREE!!!! I can hardly believe it!

We have had a lot going on- Archer's birth on 12-13-12, and then my in-laws were in a horrible car accident on 12-15-12, and both spent over a month in the hospital. We are just so thankful they survived! But they are both still recovering. So with all of that, plus all of the yuck that has been going around lately, we just decided to celebrate her birthday this summer, when we can enjoy the sun and her favorite thing- WATER!

But I did want to record just a few fun things that she is doing now!

*She LOVES her brother, and enjoys rocking him and rubbing his head.

* She has started crossing her arms. Not sure where she picked that up from, but it is a fun development!

* She loves school and is excited to go each day! She is in LOVE with Mrs. Karen. Sadly, her regular teacher is on maternity leave so Mrs. Karen is only a sub. I think Ava will really miss her when she is gone.

* She has started eating SO many new things at school, and it has really opened her eyes to a whole new world! I have always been cautious- too cautious- about what I give her. I am trying to be better about that and want to make sure I don't do the same with Archer. Live and learn!

* She loves playing outside at school, and usually comes home dirty and happy! One of her first days, she had dirt and mud on her from being outside. Her teachers apologized to me, and I told them that kids should be dirty! That a dirty kid is usually a happy one!

* I have been putting her hair in pigtails and she looks so big!!! So fun!

* She is VERY popular at school! The other kids in her class always greet her and I will usually have faculty and staff (that I don't know and that don't work with her) greet her by name each morning! I love that!

I have a meeting at her school tomorrow for her new IEP. I am nervous since this is the first formal IEP meeting- the first of many! For those that don't know, and IEP is an Individual Education Plan. These are special educational and therapy plans for special needs students. They are very important and can be very stressful and awful from what I hear. I think just about every special needs parent has an IEP horror story after their child is finished with school. But I love her school now and I fully expect to have nothing but good things come from the conference!

Ava, mommy can't believe how big and mature and sweet you are! I love being your mommy and I am so blessed to have been able to love on you for the last three years, and I look forward to many more! I love you SOOOOO much!

Big Girl School

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Ava recently started at a developmental preschool, and has hard as it is on me, she is LOVING it! Until now we have been doing outpatient therapy. But with Archer and Ava's continuing therapy and social needs, we felt this was the right time- for all of us- to go ahead and start. We chose a school that is very close to our house, and small. We visited several schools, and in the end, her school just felt the most like "home" to us. The staff is WONDERFUL and her teachers and therapists seem to really love the kids. And Ava loves them!

 

I forgot to take her picture this morning, but I did manage to snap one the last two days before school. Getting used to her new schedule is proving difficult for all of us, but she is getting better at waking up early and taking a late nap. Better than I am doing with the schedule adjustment! It is hard getting up at 600 in the morning after taking care of a fussy baby all night.

 

I wanted to share some memories from this week- mostly for my own records- but I hope they bring a smile to your face! I know they did mine!!!

 

*On her first day, I bawled like a baby. But Ava didn't! She went in, and the other kids crowded around her. And in true Ava fashion, she smiled and laughed and hugged about 3 or 4 of them before picking a (very cute) boy to latch onto and plant a big kiss on!!!

 

* On her second day, we had early dismissal because of an unexpected ice storm that hit. When I picked her up, she had just finished working with a therapist. The therapist was asking about Archer (who was in his carrier, covered up). Ava heard us talking about him, went to his carrier that was sitting on the ground, uncovered him, put her hand on him, and looked at the therapist and smiled! She was showing off her baby brother!!!! My heart was about 10x it's normal size at that moment! Such a sweet- and typical- thing for a child her age to do! It's the little things, really....

 

* Today, she gave her teacher the biggest hug! Just latched onto her!!! And then a little boy (who was not the same little boy she was loving on the first day- oh my!) exclaimed "Ava!!!" and got up from his toys to greet her!!! He acted like he wanted to hug her but she was still loving her teacher! HAHA!

 

As hard as it is for me to drop her off, I know that this is going to be so good for her! She is really enjoying it I think, and seems to be very happy there. And I am so glad. I am not sure I would have survived the first day if she would have cried. Thankfully, she went to play with her friends and never looked back at me!!!

 

Now I know the first time Cole drops her off, it is going to be a TOTALLY different story!!! That girl LOVES her daddy!!!



 

 

 

Ava's First Day of School!!!! 1/14/13

Before school on Ava's second day. Getting some daddy love before we left.

 

Archer- 1 Month

I cannot believe that one month ago today, we welcomed our second child, our first son, into this world!!! In some ways, it seems like just yesterday, and in other ways it feels like he has always been here! Funny how that works!

I was really awful with keeping stats and updates on Ava her first year, so I really want to do a better job with Archer. So here goes...

Archer's First Month!

Weight

Last time you were weighed, you were 9lbs 9oz, but that was about two weeks ago, so I am guessing you are over 10 lbs now!!! You're a big boy!

Length

I have no idea! But you are LONG LONG LONG! When you stretch out, I just crack up! You are so long!

Clothes

You are now wearing 3 month clothing and size 1 diapers! It took Ava forever to get into those sizes, but you grew right on into them! She was so skinny, and you are a chunky monkey!

Nicknames

Arch, Bub, Bubs, Bubba, Brother, Chubs, Chubby Chub

Food

You are exclusively breastfed, although we are going to try a bottle (of breast milk) tonight. I am hoping that you will take a bottle so daddy will be able to feed you some! You want to nurse every 1.5-2 hours usually, although sometimes (only during the day) you will go up to 3.5-4 hours between feedings. You nurse anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, and sometimes you do it just to calm down and fall asleep. You are now on reflux medicine and that has helped your tummy issues a lot! You have a really loud belly but it doesn't seem to bother you like it did. You are also very gassy regardless of what I eat, but you seem to handle it pretty well.

Sleep

HAHA! Yeah right! You are not big on sleeping, although the last few nights have been better- or at least more predictable, than before. I might break out the "Happiest Baby on the Block" book soon. It never worked with Ava. But I am willing to give it a try with you, too.

Fun Stuff

*You love your owl mobile that is on your pack & play. That is about the only way I am able to get a shower these days!

*You are pretty spoiled and want to be held ALL THE TIME! I am trying to get you out of that habit because it seems to be ME that has to hold you, and sometimes mommy need her hands!

* You HATE your carseat until the car is moving, then you usually fall asleep.

* You surprisingly enjoy bathtime and it seems to calm you down.

* You scream anytime you get your clothes changed, but getting your diaper changed calms you down, even if you are not dirty! I think you just like being naked!

* You like to be rocked, bounced, swung- anything movement puts you to sleep. Or at least calms you down for a bit.

* You are a bit on the fussy side, but I think it is because you are such a big boy that you just stay hungry all the time. I want to breastfeed you until you are at least a year old, but realistically I am not sure if that is going to be possible. I also think your reflux, while better, is still giving you issues. Although you rarely spit up (praise the Lord!).

* You love to sit up in my lap, look around, and especially look at our faces and the cross wall!

* You hold your head up so well and are very strong.

* You love to have your back patted and I can usually get you to sleep that way.

* You hate pacifiers but will suck your hand or thumb if you can find them- which you are getting much better at doing!


Archer, we love you so much! Happy one month birthday, sweet boy!!!

Archer Vincent Brewer

Yes, we are still alive! To say that we have had a busy past month would be an understatement! Things have been very crazy for our family in the last month, some good things and some (sadly) not so good things. But right now, I want to talk about our sweet baby boy!

ARCHER VINCENT BREWER

 was born one month ago tomorrow! But the story started one month ago tonight. So I wanted to share more about his birth story!

Once we found out our sweet boy's due date (12/23) my entire family kept hoping and wishing for him to be born on 12/12/12. Well that morning started out just like every other morning. But about 2:00 that afternoon, I started feeling really crampy. So I laid down and drank some water. But a couple of hours later, the contractions were still coming, and starting to get regular and stronger. SO we called Labor and Delivery and I told the nurse my history and what was going on. She said that we should come in and get checked. I was so worried that I was going to be sent home and all of the nurses would think I was just a crazy lady trying to have my baby on 12/12/12. My mom got to our house about 6 and we headed up to the hospital. By the time we were almost there, I knew we would be staying. The contractions were starting to get VERY strong- enough that I was in tears with a few. And I don't cry for pain. So I knew we would stay.

We got to L&D, and went to the triage section so they could monitor and check me. I was at a 4 and 70% effaced. And, as the nurse put it, I was "banging out" contractions. So the doctor confirmed- this was it! We were having a baby!!!

We got into a room and got all hooked up to monitors. By that point, my mom had arrived (I think my dad or sister was with Ava) and I was still uncomfortable, but nothing I couldn't handle. But since it was looking like it could be a while, I opted to go ahead and get the epidural so I could get some rest before the show started! So I got that pretty quickly- about 10:30. Then we waited. And waited. And WAITED. Midnight came and went, so no 12/12/12 baby. At that point, I really didn't care! I was so tired and HUNGRY! By 6 the next morning, I was 100% effaced, but still only at 5cm. So the doctor ordered pitocin. About the time I was getting my pitocin, the doctors changed shifts and my regular OB came on call. Dr. Wiedower is awesome and she also delivered Ava, so I think Archer was just waiting for her! HA!

About that same time, we had decided that Cole should go on to his 7:00 am doctors appointment that he had scheduled. It was nearby, and we all thought it would be another 3-4 hours before it was even time to push. We were all very wrong...

I should probably explain, too, that my body responds REALLY WELL to medication. It doesn't take much to have an effect on me. So once the pitocin started, my water broke, and I went from 5cm to 6cm pretty fast. Then about 7:30, the nurse rushes in and calmly- but quickly- tells me that the baby's heart rate was dropping and they needed to take some counter measures. Now I know this is fairly common. But when it is YOUR baby, it doesn't make it any less scary! So as they were putting me on oxygen, rolling me over to my side, and turning off the pitocin, I was praying my baby was okay and mentally preparing myself for a c-section. But soon his heart rate had returned to normal and he was looking happy again, and I was still at a 6. Then, not 10 minutes after that, I feel an excruciating pain in my lower stomach- you know, the part that is supposed to be NUMB?!?! Well it was really intense. So my mom called the nurse. I described the pain, and she decided to check me again and call the doctor. When she went to check me, her eyes got BIG and she looked at my mom, and said "You need to call dad (Cole) right now." Then she looked at me and said "You are at 10 cm and I can feel hair. You need to try not to push." Come to find out, his heart rate dropped because I had started the process of dilating, and ended up going from 6cm to 10cm in about 10 minutes! Then things started happening really fast! My mom called Cole, and he was still at the doctors office, but was leaving right then. The nurses started rushing around and we found out that my doctor was caught in traffic (a good case for why doctors should have dashboard emergency lights!). My mother-in-law arrived and was helping keep me calm(ish). And I kept being told to "NOT PUSH" despite the horrific contractions and pressure I was feeling through my epidural. And let me tell you...it is hard to do with an epidural. If it wasn't for that, the nurses would have been catching him!

After what seemed like forever, my doctor walked in and I was allowed to go ahead and start pushing. Ahhhh..... It felt so much better to push, but still not good! I pushed for about 20 minutes, and then my sweet boy made his entrance! Sadly, he did so about 5 minutes BEFORE his daddy got back! So my mother, mother-in-law, and my wonderful doctor and nurses welcomed him with me! My mom even got to cut the cord, which was amazing for her!

It was chaotic, painful, wild, and nothing like Ava's birth. And nothing like I had planned, in so many ways. But it was so very special and a moment and day I will never, ever forget!!!

Archer Vincent Brewer was born at 8:37 am on 12/13/12, weighing 7lbs15oz and was 22" long!!!

Archer, we love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our lives!!! You are a gift from the Lord and, although your birth didn't go as I had planned, it went as the Lord planned and you are here! And for that, I am so thankful!!!

Happy (almost) One Month Birthday, sweet boy!!!

Our sweet boy! Just minutes old!

Meeting his daddy for the first time!

Archer and (one very tired) Mommy

I will post more about him (and all of his One Month fun facts) tomorrow, but I will say that Ava is in LOVE with him!!!

"...so that the work of God might be displayed...."

There is a statistic floating around that says one in five US households has a child with some sort of special need- be it a mild learning disability, a physical disability, or something more severe like Angelman Syndrome. If you know me or have read my blog for any length of time, you know that Cole and I have a daughter with Angelman Syndrome- a rare and, in her case, random neurogenetic disorder.

I was once told, very early in Ava's diagnosis, that the worst thing that ever happens to your child is the worst thing that happens to you as a parent. I have to remember that often. I will read about parents struggling with something comparatively minor to AS, and think to myself "man, I wish we had THOSE problems!" And I know there are parents out there who feel the same about me! Because the truth is, as profound a disability as Angelman Syndrome is, Ava is doing remarkably well! She is walking before her 3rd birthday, when many with AS never walk. She has sat up and fed herself since before her 1st birthday, which is something some with AS never do. She is making huge strides that some twice her age aren't making...we are really very blessed!

Still, as much as I know we are blessed with Ava's progress and abilities, I still have moments- just about every day- when I see her struggle with something and a sorrow and pain creeps into my heart. And I find myself thinking "why her?" Awww, the "why's." I think every special needs parent, regardless of their child's diagnosis or challenges, have these moments. For me, I find myself thinking "why her? I did everything I was supposed to do as a mom!" and "why her? This was not supposed to be how things happened!" Because you want someone, or something, to blame for what is wrong with your child. When, the reality is, it was God's will. That, for me, was- and is- one of the hardest things to accept. Knowing that the LORD could cure Ava if it were His will, but so far anyway, it isn't. His will is for her to have Angelman Syndrome.

A fellow Angelman Syndrome mom posted something recently that was an amazing reminder to me and just blessed my heart, and I wanted to pass it along. She shared from John 9...

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

Powerful, right?! "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." Ava has AS so that the work of the Lord can be displayed in her life as well. I fully and 100% believe that. Being a special needs parent isn't easy. Far from it. There are days where you want to give up. Run away. Be someone else. But where the challenges are multiplied, so are the rewards! And sometimes the world thinks that we, as parents, have done something wrong to be "punished" with a special needs child. Oh, how ignorant a thought. Having a child with special needs is a blessing no one can understand unless you experience it! Perhaps an unwanted blessing at first, and one that comes with great and unique challenges. But it forces you to be your best, to dig deeper for courage and strength and patience, to turn to the Lord when you feel you can't go on...it forces you to be a better person, parent, and Christian. And that is a blessing!

37 Weeks

12-2-12.... I am officially 37 weeks!!! Archer is now considered a "full term" baby! Although I know from experience with Ava that, if he were to come today, they would call him "near term" and put him under heating lamps to make sure he was fat enough! HA!

My water broke with Ava the morning I hit 37 weeks. I literally rolled out of bed, my feet hit the floor, and a gush of water went everywhere! So when I got up this morning, I was honestly a little surprised that it didn't happen again! I know every pregnancy is different, and mine have been no exception, but I just thought (for some reason) that labor would happen the same way!

I wrote about my "birth story" with Ava here. Honestly, if things happened the way they did with Ava, I would be really happy. There is only one or two things I would change (given the choice) but I don't think you want to read about them! Trust me! HAHA!

I will not go so far as to say that I am all ready. But I think I am as ready as I am going to be. I have been really trying to keep the house neat and tidy- no small task- and the laundry caught up- again, no small task- so that when I go into the hospital, Ava's keeper's at least don't have to search for anything. The "Ava Instruction Manual" is complete- all 10 typed pages of it. It has dividers too. I need to add the addendum for her being on antibiotics right now. But I do have that at least written out. We put the carseat in the van the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and I set the pack & play up in our room that same weekend. I have it stocked with diapers, wipes, Vaseline, lotion, etc... all the things you need for those wonderful middle of the night feedings! This past weekend, I got busy and put together 14 freezer meals. That way, I don't have to worry with food after he is born for a while, which will be nice!

Today is the first day I have also felt emotionally ready, too. Maybe because it is a mental thing-37 weeks. Full term. He is okay to come now. But for the last few weeks I have been trying to soak up every second of it just being Ava and I or the three of us. I know that once Archer is in the mix, it will be like he has always been there- at least that is what I am told. But still, I have been a little sad to think about my girl not being an only child anymore. Especially when Cole is working. It was just her and I for so long when he was deployed, then even when he came home, she and I spent so much time together while he worked. And still, she and I do so much together... it is just hard to imagine having another child along for the ride! I went to Home Depot today with my mom and Ava. We needed a couple of things for the bed, and since I don't know when I am going to have the baby, I wanted to go get them now. After he is here, I have no idea how long it will be before I am able (and willing) to get out and about!

So, little Archer...I *think* we are as ready as we are ever going to be for you to come! So whenever you are ready, little man!!!! Can't wait to meet you!!!