Christmas and the New Year

3 more hours left of 2008! Lars, Carter and I just returned from First Night Celebration in Burlington (Anne was watching Isaac - thanks!).  We saw Circus Smirkus - Carter did great for about 30 minutes, unfortunately the show was 60 minutes.... He started saying, loudly, "I just want to LEAVE!" So we finally did.  We were going to go to the big dragon parade and watch the fireworks, but based on his attitude and the fact is was about 10 degrees outside, we bailed. Instead we went to our friend Jeff's house and tried out his new Wii. Again, fun for the adults, not so much for little boys....

We had a nice mellow Christmas with Grandma Anne.  Carter laid on top of all his boxes and just waited for Grandma to show up so he could open them.  He received some great presents, but his favorite was a pair of spiderman socks, he wore them for 4 days straight. 

 Then Grandma watched Isaac and we all went outside - sledding and making a snowman. Carter had a fabulous time, as did we!
         

                 

 Here is Carter skiing outside on his new skis.  
The only thing you can't see in the picture is Carter yelling "my skis!! They're covered!! Get the snow off!!"  Hopefully he'll learn to love powder some day....

Just realized I haven't taken many photos of Isaac lately and he was the reason I started this blog.  Could be because the only photo I have of him from Christmas is this one.  Looks like he hit the eggnog a little too hard...

NYC!

Carter and I enjoyed a fantastic trip to NYC this past weekend.  Papa and Isaac stayed home and bonded over bottles and movies.  We got to visit Tia Tina, almost Uncle Andy and Oma.  Aunt Lorissa and 4 year old cousin Paul flew in for the fun as well.  Seems I am getting real good at planning things at the worst times.  Carter and I left Friday morning in the middle of a winter storm.  We drove through sleet, freezing rain and driving snow.  After 4 hours, we finally arrived in Albany, NY where we planned to take a 3 hour train ride into the city.  Yet Albany was blanketed in an inch of ice with trees down all over the place.  We walked into the train station with Carter saying "Yea! Yea! Yea! Yea!" with every step just to find out all trains to NYC had been canceled.  So we got back in the car to drive another 60 miles to Poughkeepsie to catch a commuter rail.  Carter was great.  When I told him the trains in Albany weren't working and we needed to go to another train station, he just looked at me and said "where's the new train station, mama?"  

We had a fantastic time once we got on the train and got to the city.  Carter was definitly a little Vermont boy in the big city.  I literally had to drag him down the street as he just stared wide eyed at everything.  We went to the Museum of Natural History, saw the big tree at Rockfeller Center, and topped that all off with a trip to FAO Schwartz.  Carter was in heaven.....

on the subway

the tree at Rockefellar Square
chasing birds at the Museum - who needs to go inside?
checking out the displays
Smiling Isaac in his red sox jammies
Carter's first pair of skis - thanks Opa and Oma!
HINT: if you want to see any photo larger, just click on it!

Carter's THREE!

So we had our hands full celebrating Carter's third birthday this weekend.  I've learned a lot about kids birthday celebrations.  First - I learned about the rule 'take your kids age and add one' - that's how many kids you should invite.  Not the 12 kids (plus all the adults!) I invited...  Second - don't plan your party in the middle of a winter storm warning.  (Unless you don't want the aforementioned 12 kids to actually show up).  We have had no snow for quite awhile and an hour before the party - it started dumping.  We had 6 brave kids show up - which turned out to be perfect.  Carter would not share his pinata hitting with anyone (except Malcolm, who didn't want to do it, and mama and papa).  Otherwise he did well and we had a good time.  All the websites also mention a 90 minute cap to the party.  They really do seem to know what they are talking about.  It was right about 91 minutes that Carter started to have his break down.  But everyone was soon gone and we were able to have an uneventful rest of the evening.  Carter also got his first pair of skis from Oma and Opa and has enjoyed walking around the living room in them.  Unfortunately we couldn't go outside and enjoy the new snow because it was 2 degrees the next morning.  In fact, it didn't get above 20 the next two days, so we've had a little cabin fever.  Then it swung the other way and now there is NO snow because it was 45 and raining this morning!

Isaac and I are enjoying a little quiet time this morning at the local bakery while Carter plays with his friends at Playcare.

 

Here we are with our 'babies' in our slings (Carter is carrying baby pooh in his).  He told me we weren't allowed to smile for the picture, hence the straight faces.... and yes, I am on my knees - Carter isn't that big yet!

Fun and Photos

Here's some photos from our recent Michigan trip.

Isaac's baptism
My grandmother and her 7 great grandkids
Carter and Skylar (my sister's boy)  The next 2 terrors to hit the Keller household

Carter seemed to know exactly what I needed today.  He just woke up from his nap with a brilliant laugh that brings a smile to anyones face.  Then he came down the stairs and said "I'm going to come running to you!  I haven't gotten my hug today!"  Then he gave me the biggest hug an almost 3 year old can give.

.....then he promptly ran to the tent we put up in the living room one recent rainy, cold day.  And he slipped and hit his head and started screaming..... but the hug was awesome.....

Family and Balance

Time marches on.  Another month goes by - a rather exciting one giving us a new president, a family trip to Michigan and a relaxing Thanksgiving at home.  Isaac is approaching 3 months (still only sleeping a 4 hour, then 2 hour chunks at night...) and Carter will be 3 next week.  Lars and I had our first "date night" since Isaac was born, courteous of Grandma Anne (thank you!)  We went with some friends to eat pizza and watch some ski movies at the Stowe Mountain Film Festival.  I think I was trying to relive my ski bum days.  Somehow trying to remind myself that I have not always been an exhausted mom, spending my days cooking, cleaning and trying to fulfill the needs of two needy boys.  There was a time before kids (BK) where I was able to travel at a moments notice, sleep in until noon, and read a book without pictures.  Even now, I'm typing this post with Isaac asleep on my lap - always a mom.  Kids first, then you. It's my new way of living.  It is funny how three years ago, I dreamed of the day we would have a family, and now I dream of the days BK.  Don't get me wrong, I love my boys so much it hurts.  But I have to make sure I don't forget who am.  Balance is so hard to achieve.  I am awed by all the mothers and fathers that have gone before me and look for inspiration from them.  I follow my brother and sister-in-law closely as well.  If anyone is seeking balance, I know they are.  Marc - thanks for your posts and know that it is helpful to hear your stories.  If anyone wants to check out www.caringbridge.org/visit/meredithwhitman please do.  My sister-in-law Meredith has been recovering from surgery from a brain tumor.  I was excited to receive a phone call from her and her family this week - the first time I'd heard her voice on the phone since the whole ordeal started in February.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

As we start a new month, I am striving to seek balance, love my family and rediscover the parts of me that I pushed aside.  While I am a mother, I am also a wife and, at the heart of it, I am Susan.  I need to find her again....

        Before kids.....

The Plague (or Laughter is the best medicine)

Well, the plague has officially descended upon our house in the form of boogers and more boogers, and the occasional high fever.  Carter has had the worst cold of his short little life, and is just sleeping through the night again after 6 nights (!) of waking up every two hours yelling out "boogers!"  Our one saving grace is he has learned how to blow his nose (albeit weakly).  We stooped a few times to spraying water in his nose with the booger snatcher, which he was NOT fond of.  I kept trying to tell him "we need to get the boogers out! You don't want them in there, do you?"  When he saw what we were going to do, he covered his nose and yelled "I love my boogers!" over and over. Needless to say, we do not.  Now that he is better, the fever has struck mama (for the second time this month!) I think we need to eat more kale or something.

I also wanted to post some photos taken by Carter, our aspiring photographer.  Whenever I take pictures he wants to as well, so here's his photos!  We could tell Carter was getting better once his laughter came back.  Let me tell you, that laugh can make even the worst situations better.  

Much love.

SMILE!!

Week 6 and blessed with our first real smiles! What a relief to see after 6 weeks of mere grimaces and cries and contented looks.  Now if we could just coordinate our nap schedules....

I think he looks just like Lars - any one else think so?

Sticks and stones....

I feel as if I am finally emerging out of my cloud from the past 5 1/2 weeks.  Isaac slept for almost 4 hours in a row last night, then woke up for a quick nurse, then was back asleep for another 3 hours.  If it weren't for his nasty boogers, it may have been even longer! Carter is really starting to take to his little brother as well.  He still is extremely needy and wants to be on my lap all the time, but he is always asking where Isaac is as well.  Carter and I started a movement class together this past week.  I thought this could be our "special time" for just the two of us to do something together and Papa would take Isaac.  But once we got into the car, the first thing Carter said was "Where's Isaac?  I want him to come with us!" Ahhhhh, you can't say I'm not trying.  But it has been very sweet to see Carter give little kisses to Isaac's nose and tiny hugs.

I also took 5 hours off on my own today and went out with my friend Maggie and talked about all sorts of things not related to diapers, breastmilk or naps.  It was refreshing to reenter some semblance of adulthood.  I'm also looking forward to the first time that Lars and I will be off together for an afternoon or evening together so we can start to reconnect.  Seems all our conversation revolve around "yep, last diaper change was 1 hour ago, nursed 2 hours ago, here you take him and I'll play with this guy, can you make some mac 'n cheese?"

We had a little bit of a crazy week - Lars woke up on Sunday morning with excruciating back pain, so we had a family trip to the ER at 3 am.  Needless to say, I no longer have the trump card of saying "you think you know pain? You've never been through labor!"  The doctor had the gall to tell me he's heard kidney stones are worse than labor.  It was strange to be on the other side of the drive to the hospital - Lars in the passenger seat muttering "breathe..... breathe....." He has since recovered and trying to stay hydrated.

Lessons

I thought I'd share a few things this morning.  First, all the things I'd once known so well, but have since forgotten.  And then, those things I've never known, but now do.

I'd forgotten.....

-how tiny everything on a newborn is, tiny hands, tiny toes, tiny bottoms

-how such a tiny bottom can create such a huge explosion (maybe it's just my breastfed boys, but you can hear them fill a diaper from across the room when they are small!)'

-how much I hate boogers in tiny noses, and how helpful a booger snatcher can be at retrieving them

-constant motion, always walking, always bouncing (or as Carter loves it when I say over and over- "bouncing, walking, patting Isaac's bum, bouncing, walking, patting Isaac's bum....)

-how much gas one child can have

-the sweet smell of a newborn

- the not so sweet smell of yourself after not having a chance to shower in ... a week?

-how great those first smiles are

-those little grunts and moans

-their scrunched up faces when they stretch

-how you really can survive (albeit marginally) on only 4 hours of sleep (in 1 hour bursts) for weeks at a time

-how much you need to rely on others to help

I've learned.....

-the advice "sleep when the baby sleeps" does not apply when you have a 2 year old

-how to nurse while: lying down, peeing, cooking dinner, attending to a 2 year olds boo-boos...

-nursing while trying to make applesauce is rather difficult

-that you can't be everything for everyone all the time

-asking for help is OK

-that if your 2 year old does not want to put on his day clothes for daycare, and your newborn is screaming as well, that you can strap both of them into their car seats (one wearing only a diaper) and they will continue to scream, but will not be able to run away.  

-that daycare parents are really understanding.  When I showed up on the aforementioned day, it was 8:30 am and several parents were around.  By this time, a bottle of milk had calmed Carter down, but when I carried him to the front door, his eyes were red rimmed and he was still only wearing a diaper.  I had to leave him briefly on the stoop to return to the car to get Isaac and Carter's bag and lunch.  None of the parents gave me a reproachful look, and several said "we've been there..." Carter did go on to have a fun day at daycare (wearing clothes...) and ever since, we've arrived in our PJ's and changed there.  There are some battles I'm not willing to fight.

-that as tough as some days are, having these two little boys is the best thing in the world

It's hard to believe it's almost been a month.  We've had some big highs and lows, but things are starting to smooth out. Enjoy the photos!

What's in a name?

Many people have been asking where the name Isaac came from....  It's not a long lost family name, rather just one we liked after going through thousands of name books, websites, etc (if you're looking for a name and want to know it's rank or any other interesting info, let me know - I know all the websites now!!) The name Isaac rose to the top after we then discovered the meaning of the name is "laughter".  Laughter is something frequent in our house and something fundamental we try to do every day.  Hopefully Isaac will enjoy his name for years to come.

Visitors

The last 2 1/2 weeks have seen a flurry of visitors to our wooded abode.  Our friend Andrea once again set up a food train and every other night, we've seen somebody different bringing a delicious home cooked meal.  Oma had the distinct honor of being in town the night Isaac was born.  Opa spent last weekend here, helping Lars bring down a tree to get ready for the winter.  Aunt Lorissa, cousin Paul, Aunt Christina and Andy are here this weekend, holding Isaac, playing with Paul, picking apples and eating lots of donuts! 

The first picture is me, with Isaac in a sling and Carter and Paul walking alongside - 3 boys! At one point, Isaac was in the sling and Carter was on my shoulders picking the apples.  Great fun with the family!  Only wish they all lived closer....

NOOOOO!!!!

Seems the post pregnancy high has past into the post pregnancy low.... two weeks of fragmented sleep, Lars back at work and a very negative needy 2 1/2 year old makes for a challenging day indeed.  I called Lars at around 10:15 this morning and just held the phone out - that's all he needed to hear to come back home for a few hours to help out.  Makes the patients at the Community Health Center seem like a breeze in comparison.  Give me some percocet seeking patient over screaming toddlers any day!  I think Carter has hit some new high notes in his voice that I'd never heard before.  The title of the blog was Carter's favorite word of the day....  I'd post some photos, but I want you to keep the sweet innocent image of the two boys in your head.  Any tips from those out there with two kids on keeping the peace?  Or any amusing stories to commiserate with? Laughter is necessary for dealing with children.....

Sleep....

                                                          I seem to remember being absolutely exhausted for what seemed like months after Carter was born.  This time around, I'm feeling relatively well rested!  Hopefully it's not just the sleepy newborn period.  I hear they "wake up" after 2-3 weeks....  But so far, we are enjoying the fact that Isaac sleeps ALL the time! And unlike Carter, you don't have to be constantly rocking him for him to go back asleep.  We are enjoying 2 hour stretches of shut eye at a time at night, which is heavenly! Hopefully Isaac is just a mellow man and you won't be seeing a post in 2 weeks about how exhausted we are...

Here is also a photo of my 3 boys - Carter loves to have papa pick them both up and says "TWO boys!"

ISAAC

Welcome to the world little one!

Isaac Keller Whitman was born at 2:22am on Tuesday September 9, 2008.

Weight is under debate - scale said 8#9oz, but later that day he was 7#5oz, so we're guessing a birth weight somewhere in the high 7's.  Guess we'll never know!

Height - 20 1/2 inches

Labor and delivery went really well - got to the hospital around 10:45, spent some time in the tub, then got out, pushed for just under an hour and out came Isaac!  No pain meds, but plenty of Ibuprofen now!  Just waiting for the sore bottom and explosive boobs to calm down....

We've been home for 2 days now.  Seems like Isaac is the easy one, keeping up with an active 2 year old is the tough part!  Carter doesn't seem to pay much attention to Isaac, but has been very helpful in fetching diapers and wipes for his little brother.

We'll try to post a new photo and story every week, so check back in and leave some comments!  

Also - check out some photos at http://www.briannagraham.com/darkroom/share/?whitman

These were photos of Carter that we had taken earlier this summer.  They will only be available for viewing for the next few days, so check them out!!

Thanks to all for all the support and food! 

Anticipation

Still 4 days from my due date, but feeling ansty! Could be because at my last OB visit, they told me I was going to have it that day - so we packed the bags, called grandma..... but now it's 2 days later and not much happening.  We were able to make it to the pre-wedding BBQ tonight, and are still planning on going to the wedding tomorrow!  Anna, our OB doctor friend, will be there, as well as a midwife, so even though it's 1 1/2 hours from Burlington, I think we'll be covered.  We'll have some gloves and towels!

Welcome!

.... to our blog!  I have several friends who've used blogs and hope you find this a fun way to keep up with the Whitman stories.  Lars is constantly correcting my grammar, so read at your own risk.  There is a reason I never became a writer.

I'm almost 39 weeks pregnant and looking forward to meeting the little one that has been keeping me up at night.  Carter, now 2 years and 9 months old, has no clue what is about to hit him.  He rubs my belly and says "mama, tell your baby that his big brother is going to teach him how to jump on the couch", but I don't think he really understands.

So our pressure now is to get this baby out (safely) sometime in the next few days so we can make it to our friend Jon's wedding this coming Saturday.  I think I am extremely under-remembering what it was like to have a newborn.  I don't think I left the house for about a month after Carter was born.  Why to I seem to think it will be so much easier this time around?  I tend to underestimate difficulty lately.  Like this past week when I thought it would be a fabulous idea to take Carter, and our two hissing cats, to the vet at snack time.  Fortunately I only ended up with one scratch to show for it.  And I do know that Carter weighs 32 pounds on the dog scale.....