Baby Number Three

I do so many posts on what Sean and Jamesie are up to, I figure I better start talking about our new baby as well!  Being a third child myself, I wouldn't want to deprive this one of any of his/her deserved attention.  Here are some things our baby is up to:

Age/Movement: We are 16 weeks and moving right along!  I feel the baby occasionally right now, and I tend to feel my babies pretty early, so its not every day yet, but getting more frequent. Its just a sweet little flutter or tapping to let me know he or she is there.  However, at my last ultrasound, 4 weeks ago, I was so surprised to see how big the baby was, so it does sort of make sense if something a few inches long is living in my body, I should feel it. 

Size:  I just read it is about 5 inches long!  Baby is almost 10 pounds right now...just kidding, that's just Mama's portion.  I think baby is about 1/100 of that weight.  I look like I'm about 6 months pregnant though, and fully into my maternity wardrobe, or just running pants and sweatshirts when I can't bear the idea of maternity jeans (6 days out of 7). 


Likes/Dislikes: This baby does not like ice cream (crazy child), garlic (good girl/boy), peanut butter, bananas, and changing dirty diapers.  This baby does like pretzels and cheese, pickles, fish (weird for me), La Croix water, salads/dressing, MILK (like his/her brothers)--preferably straight from the gallon in the fridge, and although the baby's mother is incredibly healthy and fit, this baby insists on liking fast food.  Confession: Egg McMuffin(s), BK french toast sticks (what?), McD's chicken nuggets and anything from chic-fil-a.

In the middle of the night...:  This baby is hungry.  And Mama hates eating in the middle of the night-- the crumbs in the bedroom, the food in your teeth, or getting up and going downstairs just wakes me up too much in the middle of the night-- ugh...no thank you.  But, this child insists on waking its mother up every night between 3-5 a.m. starving.  If I don't eat (most nights) I have very very vivid dreams about food, then lay there scheming about how to obtain said food the next day. These have included (but not limited to):

-Chicken finger pita from Leo's Coney Island.  If you were raised in the Detroit-Metro area, you know how serious I am.  I almost called a greek restaurant around the corner to see if they could recreate one for me, then thought about calling my mom to have her send one to me. 
-Crazy bread from Little Caesar's.  Again, straight from the D.
-French toast
-Buttermilk Pancakes (homemade)
-A single cheeseburger from McDonalds, with a small coke and small fries.  Luckily, it was off my mind by 10:30, or I would have been dropping Sean off at pre-school with a cheeseburger in my hand. 

I'm telling you, this child is strange in that it does not like desserts (although I bought fig newtons and coffee cake at the grocery store today-- very random purchases for us).  Hopefully that will change in a few weeks.

Other activities the baby is up to:
-Prenatal Yoga which is awesome.  Although, my yoga pants were all dirty last week (see above comment about running pants and substitute "yoga pants") so I figured I could just wear some spandex shorts.  Tip: don't wear your volleyball shorts from college when you are almost 4 months pregnant and wolfed down a huge burger 10 minutes before yoga class.  Not comfortable at all.
-We try to go on a walk/run everyday I don't have some other exercise planned for us.  I wasn't able to do this with my last 2 pregnancies b/c I worked all day, so I'm determined to take advantage of exercising hours this time around...and not land in the 40-50 lb weight-gain range.  Please. 
-Living on my sciatic nerve....just like the boys did.  It feels pretty early to be hobbling around, but the pain is real and intense.  Has anyone had any luck with a chiropractor fixing sciatica?  I'm just about getting to that point. As I told Cody the other night though, it only hurts when I'm walking, sitting in a chair, or sleeping-- so the rest of the day (when i'm not standing, sitting or laying down), its fine.
-Starting to read about natural childbirth and VBACs again.  This baby craves information, so I'm trying to prepare him/her for the birth as much as I can. 

And finally, this baby cannot decide whether it wants its parents to know its gender before it is born.  Maybe the frequency of the word "it" in that last sentence should be a clue to its mother.  We have about a month before my ultrasound--what are the advantages and disadvantages of "finding out?"  Neither of us feel very strongly about it, which means we're not really making a decision.  Opinions?  (Other than the selfish motivation of knowing yourself)? 

One last thing, this baby is most anxiously awaiting its cousin, Ruby Joy Putnam, and her imminent arrival!  Cody's sister Meg is due this week, and we are so excited to have a Groeber cousin soon!  Keep up with Ruby at her very own website.  We can't wait for some news out of Boone!

Baby Groeber Tres 16 weeks

Enquiring Minds Want to Know...

If you've been around Sean lately, you know the only time he stops chit-chatting is when he's asleep.  Its constant.  And there are constant questions.  A lot of them don't make any sense at all, or just plain can't be answered ("what is a christmas tree called?" "why is your hair rubberband pink?").  However, in the last week or so we have fielded quite a number of very sensible, and very deep, questions which just remind us what novices we are at parenting.  Here is a list (with explanations following) of actual questions we have been asked in the last week:

1. What is abortion?
2. What is kidnapping?
3. Why did Jesus die on a cross?
4. But how did God put the baby in your belly?

Key:
1. Last week was the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and the homily at church was about the horrors of abortion.  Of course, when we got home we got this lovely question.  Sadly, Cody had to explain it to him, and there's no way around the reality of it and the loss of innocence that goes with the knowledge of what it is.  Sean responded as I've heard is pretty normal by saying "but I don't want mommy's baby to die."  Luckily, he moved on pretty quickly.
2. This questions followed him asking me "why don't we talk to strangers?"  Usually, the conversation is left there, but this time I had to explain what kidnapping is, why it is bad, and why people might do it!  Scary!  If you dont know, this is my biggest fear, so explaining it to my 3.5 year old almost brought me to tears.
3. We went to a new church last weekend because we couldn't make the 8 am mass at our regular parish (after Jamesie decided to wake up--for the day---at 4:15 a.m.).  We sat near the front and I noticed Sean staring at something--I thought it was the girl behind us (naturally), but then noticed he was intently studying the stations of the cross on the wall, and we were right by the crucifixion.  He shouted this question twice, so loud the lady next to us was giggling.  I told him to ask Daddy after mass.
4. My favorite, while we had guests over for dinner.  Everyone was laughing, and not giving him an answer, which only made him ask even more --- over and over again!  Finally, he was getting so frustrated that I had to tell him off to the side, "that's a very good question, its just that the answer is somewhat complicated and confusing.  But, Mommy and Daddy worked together with God to put the baby in my belly." This seemed to satisfy-- for now.  ugh! Any other suggestions for a curious little one?

 

Our little philosopher-scholar, full of questions and ready for school.  He actually did wear this outfit to school--twice since Christmas.  I think he's trying to grow up too fast.  The book in his hand is "I'm a Big Brother," sadly, it doesn't explain how one becomes a big brother.

A little mid-week inspiration

For all of us who love being at home with our kids and logically know its the best thing to do for them, but feel, um, a little worn sometimes.... enjoy this read I just poached from an old law school friends' FB page.  (Thanks Amy B!)

http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2012/01/thomas-stay-at-home-mom-blues/

Jamesie Mamesie at 21 Months

Sean was 21 months old when I had Jamesie.  Its really hard to believe, because looking back on it, Sean seemed so old, and Jamesie still seems like such a baby.  Sean was in a big-boy bed already, and Jamesie sort of loves his crib.  Of course, Sean had glasses already which made him seem like a mini Doogie Howser, and Jamesie barely has whisps of hair growing in.  I think the biggest difference is Sean was chatting with real words and some little sentences at 21 months, and Jamesie has yet to really get the hang of talking, or saying any words at all. 

But, even though they are so different at this age, we love our Jamesie-Baby so much, and I for one am thankful he's still so baby-ish.  He lets me rock him at night, he cuddles us, he kisses us, and he actually still lets us feed him because he's pretty luke-warm toward using a spoon for himself still.  Although he has chosen not to talk, the pediatrician says it is very normal at this age when there is a --chatty-- older sibling in the house.  Once when I was asking Jamesie if he wanted more milk Sean answered for him, as usual, saying, "no, he doesn't need anymore."  I said "Sean, we need to let Jamesie answer, please don't answer for him."  To which he aptly responded, "well, he doesn't know how to say the words."  (True...but...).  Anyway, even though he doesn't really talk, he communicates with us all the time, and mostly through sign language.  We did baby-signing with Sean, and he responded very well to it, but we were certainly done with it by this age.  I am really glad we are doing it with J, because its his main mode of communication these days.  The nurse at my OB office asked me if he was deaf the other day, and I'm pretty sure the ladies at the grocery store just assume he is.  I have been absolutely amazed at the signs he does regularly and what he can tell us-- for instance:
He can tell us if he wants eggs or cereal for breakfast;
More milk (that's an easy one around here);
He tells us when he had a poop;
When he wants a bath;
When he sees a dog, horse, lion (in a book, not around the neighborhood) and many many other animals;
When he sees or hears (long before we do) an airplane or a truck;
When he wants cheese, crackers, or cookies (our grocery store gives out free cookies to the kiddos and he is now conditioned to do the sign for cookie as soon as we pull in the parking lot);
He does his sign for his frog when he wants to go to sleep, then asks for a book when we get upstairs;
He tells me when he wants to see Daddy or Seannie (brother);
He tells me when he sees a little boy or girl or baby when we're out, and always promptly reports if he sees someone within a 100 yard radius wearing a hat;
He can ask for his music (a play CD player);
And ask for Ketchup (about 50x per dinner).

There are a lot more in our day to day interactions, but these are the ones I can think of sitting here right now.  Its been awesome to watch.  And he actually does have a few spoken words, but his pattern is to try out a word for a few days then never say it again.  Or, in the case of the person most near to him most of the day, his mother, to never even try to say her name.  Maybe by the time he goes to school he'll be able to identify me. 

Some other things Jamesie is into these days:
His favorite toy in the world is an empty plastic water bottle and its lid.  He will be a happy camper for even the longest car ride with an old Dasani bottle.  At home its empty milk bottles and their lids.  gross.

He does not like TV.  Again, at this age Sean could sit for an hour long show and be glued to the TV.  Jamesie once sat with me for two minutes to watch Curious George, but that's his record.  Most days if Sean is watching a show, Jamesie just goes about his business sweeping, using Sean's toys, rearranging the recycling (empty bottles).

He is quick and quiet.  He's a very sweet little baby, but you have to be careful.  He can climb stairs quicker than anyone, then silently poor out a bottle of shampoo on the bathroom floor with a sweet little glint in his eye.  Or pour powdered make up into my shoes, or draw with marker on the back of his head.  All silently.  Cody thinks he has a future in the CIA.

He loves stickers and is adept at putting them all over himself.  He looks like this so often that I usually forget to take the face-stickers off before we go out somewhere.

He likes our governor, Nikki Haley.

He LOVES anything that's Sean's, but especially Sean's marker jar.  Quick and Quiet.

He loves all things DOG.  We got him a very realistic looking stuffed dog from Melissa and Doug for Christmas, and here he is pulling the dog onto his lap.  Jamesie also had no fear around real animals-- while Sean still runs and screams from animals of any size, Jamesie goes right for their faces usually.  He is totally comfortable in a dog's face, and last month at the zoo showed the same attitude toward a giraffe when he got in its face and let the giraffe lick his hand.  I'm pretty sure if he did meet a real lion on the street he would rub its nose and poke its eyes.

I love Jamesie's soft whispy hair.  Its so baby-ish.  Cody unfairly thinks it needs to be cut and has threatened to cut it while I'm taking a nap one day (while I really don't want it cut, this threat has done nothing to cut down on my rate of nap-taking).  I think its sweet, even if it hangs over his ears a little bit.  What do you think?

Still have the same opinion?

Our littlest love is such a sweet, cuddly, soft little baby.  I joke about him not talking, but he's done fine with his sign language and impressed us with his level of understanding.   He still holds his breath to the point of passing out once in a while (he did it at a friends' house at brunch yesterday-- or choked on a cracker--we're still not sure--it was scary either way).  He is fiercly independent though, preferring to count his own fingers or climb stairs on his own instead of playing with other kids if they are over at our house.  If another kid (his friend Adelaide) wants a toy he's playing with, he will passively give it up and move on to the next one.  Or just walk into the corner to examine his shoes while she plays with his things. I do wonder how much he will change when the new baby comes, but we have a few months for that.  The next big thing will be moving him into a big-boy bed in Sean's room.  I'm sure he will LOVE being with Sean full-time, I just hope they sleep at some point. 

God's Gift to Women, and Baseball

Sean has a staggering amount of confidence these days.  Here are two actual conversations we've had this week:

First--before nap the other day:
Erin: Sean, you are so special.  Do you know how special you are?  You are so special that God made you just for me and Daddy.  God said, "What kind of boy does Erin and Cody need?  Oh, I know, I'll give them Seannie."  God made you specially just for us.
Sean: And God made me specially for Greta, and Royce (school girlfriend), and Maggie (summer girlfriend), and Gaia (cousin). 

Second-- riding in the car to school:
(Sean has been really interested in all my old trophies and ribbons and medals lately since there's a big box of them sitting in the garage.  He occasionally picks one out to bring inside--most recently he's been attached to the Romeo Peachfest U-14 Girls Soccer Champions trophy).

Sean: Mommy, why do you have sooooo many soccer trophies?
Erin: Well, i've been on a lot of soccer teams that won a lot of soccer games, and sometimes you get a trophy for it. Would you like to be on a soccer team one day?
Sean: No, soccer is just for ladies and girls to play.
Erin:  No its not, boys and men play soccer too, and I bet you would be a really good soccer player.
Sean: Well, I'm a really good baseball player, so I'm just going to play baseball for the Cardinal Birds (i.e., the St. Louis Cardinals, World Champions).

Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt

Last weekend we were graciously invited up to our friends Stephanie and Preston's parents' house (did I get all the apostrophes right on that? not likely) for Cody to join the men on a duck hunt.  I had no interest in duck hunting and pregnant Stephanie and I stayed in the warm house with the babies.  Sean was very interested in the ducks and asked to have one for dinner later that night.  We actually do have some in our freezer right now, but it will require further research on how to cook it.  Here are some fun hunting shots from the weekend:

My husband in camo.  As long as I never have to see the boys in it.

Mmmm duck.

Me: "do not touch that.  do not touch that.  no, no.  do not touch.  do not touch."

Cody and Preston with their winnings

Daddy!  you shot me some ducks!  Yea!

Surprised by Joy

(Not a reference to the C.S. Lewis book, but an excuse for my month-long absence from our blog)...

In a previous post I mentioned that Sean asked me if I had a baby in the belly and I said that God hadn't put one there right now.  Well, I guess Sean has some sort of ESP, because about a week later God did put another baby in my belly!  And boy were we surprised!  Shocked, yet surprised by the great joy God provides with these little ones and our expanding family.  So, I am now 12 weeks, we have seen the baby's heartbeat, and I am nice and sick to confirm our little one's presence....praise God!  We definitely still have some things to figure out (moving Jamesie into a big boy bed in Sean's room, finding a car to fit 3 carseats, etc), but our anxieties are turning into joys every day thinking about our wee little one.  And here are some commonly asked questions and answers and random thoughts to satisfy and curious minds out there....feel free to comment:

What's your due date? July 17, 2012, my uncle John's birthday.  My due dates tend to get moved up though, so stay tuned.

Are you "finding out?" For those of you not familiar with pregnancy-speak, this means will we find out if the baby is a boy or a girl, information usually available at about 20 weeks.  And the answer is, we don't know.  We're still in negotiations about it.  I like surprises, and drama, but it would be nice to know if I can get some hot pink curtains for the nursery or start picking out 3-way matching boy outfits.

How are you feeling? Like crud. Thankfully.  My "morning" sickness is always a welcome sign the baby is healthy and a not-so-welcome-omg-i'm so miserable i'm never having another baby-sign at the same time.  This baby seems to be following the same pattern as the last two--i feel constantly nauseous most of the first trimester then just as I'm about to finish the first trimester I'll say to someone, "I'm almost out of it, and I haven't thrown up yet, maybe I won't throw up with this one," and then I start throwing up at about 10-11 weeks.  (PS throwing up is my least favorite thing in the world...if I were a POW they could make me throw up and I would give up all the national secrets to prevent it).  True to form, on Dec 23 I mentioned to my mom after dinner, "I feel sick, but I haven't thrown up yet, maybe I won't with this one." (why, oh why do I ever say this anymore?) On Christmas Eve shortly after saying hello to my sister's husband, I ran to the bathroom to let the puking begin.  Repeat performance on New Years Eve-- right on cue--11 weeks.  This is cruel in itself for puking reasons, but crueler b/c everything one could possible read about pregnancy says the nausea and puking will stop at about 12 weeks--- NOT TRUE!  Sean's pregnancy was the same timing as this one, almost exactly and I threw up from New Years past Easter.  One time when I was 12-13 weeks someone said to me at a party, "Oh, so you're starting to feel better now, its always good when you get out of the first trimester."  I almost punched her in the nose.  Instead, I went home and puked in my in-laws kitchen sink in front of my brother-in-law and his (then) new girlfriend.  Welcome to the family.

Are you tired? Oh yes. Here is a list of the places I have fallen asleep in the last 2 or so months:
-The ottoman (couldn't make it to the couch) in the family room while cody fed the boys lunch.
-The floor of the family room, in the middle of the day while other people milled about-- twice.
-The floor of the living room.
-Sitting up at our desk waiting for the computer to start up.
-In the car too many times to count.
-In my bed at 7:20 p.m. 

Any cool food cravings? If by "cravings"  you mean "aversions," then yes.  If by "cravings" you mean food I actually want to eat, then no.  Nothing sounds good, but especially not sweets, which is crazy for me.  I actually asked Cody to move his bowl of ice cream away from me the other night so I wouldn't have to look at it or smell it.  FYI, every other day of my life, except the beginning of pregnancy, I eat ice cream while watching TV at night.  Also consistent with my other pregnancies.

Don't you have like Thyroid problems, or that weird exercise thing?  I have hypo-thyroidism, and a symptom of the specific disease is exercise-induced anaphylaxis.  Most days I can control it with thyroid medication and anti-histmaines, but when you're pregnant, your body uses more thyroid hormone than usual.  Since I'm starting at 0 thyroid hormone, I go into a greater deficit, which means I display the symptoms of hypo-thyroidism more. This makes me freezing cold all the time (sleeping in full long sleeve sweats, with socks and an extra blanket), and extremely tired all the time (see above).  Fortunately, I have a great doctor who gets me in right away after the first pregnancy test to change my medication levels.  So far, its been fairly well managed.  There is an increased risk of miscarriage with hypo-thyroidism, so we feel very grateful to be at 12 weeks and have seen the baby's heartbeat.  And that I'm throwing up. 

Well, that's all I can think of for now, mostly because I'm getting hungry again.  I'll post some updates of our wonderful Christmas soon and start taking some belly shots soon too.  We are really happy--Sean loves talking about the baby in mommy's belly (and told his whole preschool class), and if Jamesie could talk, I'm sure he would too.  He has poked my belly a few times to communicate his affection.  Cody and I are figuring things out, but confident in the Lord's plan for our family that it will not only "work out," but that we will be happier than ever with this new addition.  We are grateful for any prayers in the meantime!