Christmas Traditions

Another crazy but wonderful holiday season. Now that Truett is engaged and somewhat understands the celebrations, I wanted to include more traditions for our family.

My favorite was our "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party with our friends. We had coloring sheets with pictures of Jesus' birth, a picture frame that had the kid's handprint that read "I used my hand to make a manager, a place for Jesus to lay. I'll use my heart, so full of love as a place for Jesus to stay."



Best Buds- Anderson and T



When Truett sees cupcakes he now says "Happy". We're working on the birthday part.



Our friend, Jacob, doing his craft with a painted hand

   



After our craft and cupcakes, we read "Happy Birthday, Jesus". A great book that kicked off our Christmas season with a reminder of celebrating Christ's birth.

Our friends who joined us: Anderson and Bennett Bagley, Jacob and Josiah Breazeale, Scarlett and Joshua Jenkins, Harper Clayton, Jack Ryan.

We hope to continue having our party as the kids get older.

Another new tradition we started this year was Santa's key. As most crafts that I do now, I found this on Pinterest. (while I could have been blogging, I was exploring Pinterest). I made the key and we put it on our door for Santa. I'm excited to see Truett put the key on our door in the Christmas' to come.

I apologize for not being more "Blogspot" savy- I tried to organize these photo but failed.



Potty Break

Literally...I'm taking a break from potty training. T's napping and I'm exhausted. I think other mom's say "2 years old" because they want to procrastinate and I don't blame then. I've done two loads of laundry since last night, am on my 2nd shirt of the day, T's on his 2nd pair of pants. Duck timer, duck doll, stickers, water, juice, wipes, Clorox wipes, "Opps" verses "Yay" tally. Good gosh this is hard. But we shall prevail...as long as there are nap times and breaks. (12/31/12)

1/1/13- I'm back to report on our training in progress. Yesterday was extremly frustrating. I gave up around 5 and put a diaper on! I needed a shower and I needed to give my phone's duck timer a break. Bless Truett's heart- he has been a trooper!! When the duck timer would go off- he knew it was time to potty. We'd find our own duck to go along with us; and crayons, a guitar (not joke- I had to take Jayson's guitar in for him play), a basketball goal, books, pretzels, whatever it took to get him on that toilet. Yesterday ended with one more YAY than Opps so I had to see that as a win. The challenge I had yesterday was figuring our a pattern/routine/schedule. We'd set the timer for 15 minutes, he'd go at 14:39. If he didn't go when we tried, I'd set the timer for 4 minutes and he'd go at 3:54. I finally moved it to every 12 minutes or 5 minutes depending on his fluid intake. If he didn't go at the 5 minute mark, I'd go a 3 and then we'd just sit and play.

Today...Happy New Year to us because we only had two accidents. If Jayson hadn't been home to help me I don't know if I could have continued. He went first thing this morning; we went to breakfast w/ a diaper; two accidents when we got back; and the rest of the day wasn't timed and he told us most of the times when he had to go or went when he asked. Happy Day!

It's funny- I never realized how much room diapers take up. Truett's 22 months and today he was in 18 months; with no diaper, they were falling off. We were mooned all day by the cutest tush ever!

He'll go back to daycare tomorrow and hopefully we'll continue to make progress from here. I still have a lot of questions but those will have to come later. Questions like- how will he go in public (I'm not a germ freak but I HATE public restrooms), when do we buy underwear, how do you potty train at night. But for now, I happy to say we're all still alive, my bathroom has been cleaned, toys removed, and I hope and pray the hard part is over. (fingers crossed).

Birthday boy

Our one year old!

We started March 7th with "happy birthday" and chocolate chip pancakes. Evidence shows he loved them.

Then we took the pancake party to Truett's daycare. They normally do cupcakes but I wanted something different and what 1 year old really needs a cupcake?



More pancakes!



Later that day, we took Truett to lunch and then to the park. Our party was held that Saturday- great weather, fun friends, and our sweet boy in the spotlight.

We had a nautical theme and I will confess that I invested more time, money, stress, and hot glue then I should have but I'll also admit that our 2nd birthday farm day will probably be just has festive.



A month by month timeline including pics and memorabilia from last year
















                                                      

                                                                        Boats for the kids to decorate



A time capsule for T to open when he's 18



Showing his "1" finger that was almost burned 

Lei Lei was helping him unwrap

His "trac trac" from Grandaddy Jeff

T's the youngst of the Campbell babes

A sneak peak for 2!



Long time...no blog

Considering that it has taken me 25 minutes to remember my blog site name, password to the blog, email associated with the blog, and the email's password, I'd say it's been too long since I've last visited blogspot.com.

And in reading back on my blog, I've failed miserably as a mom documenting my dear child's every move. While I'm 9 months behind, I'm going to begin with the present and hopefully work my way back. I will note that the only reason I'm back on here is because of my yearly two week hyatus from work allowing me the time to sit down with my thoughts and type.

I should rename this post "The adventures of potty training". T is almost 22 months and I decided this morning we'd start working on leaving the diapers behind. Several people will tell me that he's too young. To that I say "who the heck cares and would you like to pay for his diapers?". Who says kids have to be the magic age of 2 to begin potty training? And why in the world do I want to continue changing diapers. T's daycare has said when we're ready, they'll do their part during the day. The kids loves a sticker so there is his incentive. So today started our journey.

My potty training guidelines:
1) I'm in no rush. He'll get it when he gets it
2) I'm not rewarding w/ candy. Dr. Emily S. Krouskop will applaud me for this
3) I'm not using pull-ups. I think they're an over-priced, very clever marketing scheme and I'm no fool ;)
4) One # at a time (for those who don't get that, call me. I'm not putting it in writing)
5) I have posted the one and only potty post to Facebook. No more. The world does not need nor should they care about Truett's bathroom habits. He'll appreciate this one day.

The one story I did post today was:
I had been asking T all day if he needed to potty. He'd say "no" but we'd go anyway. I wasn't using a timer (like I said, no rush) just asking when I remembered. He has had a rash for about a week and we had a doctors appointment scheduled for this afternoon. (he has the human version of Parvo, by the way) So there we are, naked and waiting in his diaper and socks when he says "potty" and points to the door. Great...now what do I do. The only time all day when he's indicated he needs to go, we're away from the comfort of our own cushy, kid size potty seat and "Elmo goes to the potty" book AND our stickers! Now the real problem- how do I help him go? His little tush is too small for the seat; he's 2 feet tall so he can't just stand??? So I try and hold him over the toilet and just pray for aim. Unfortunately he sticks his foot in before anything happens (that may actually be a fortunate thing) and now we're naked with no diaper and one wet sock. Oh well, the diaper and tennis shoes go back on.

We'll be home for 4 more days and will continue with our stickers and Elmo. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." ~Lao Tzu (I wonder how old Lao was when he was potty trained?)

And because I also refuse to post pictures of T using the potty (although we have plenty), here's a picture from Christmas of him being dunked in his new basketball goal.

I hope to be back sooner rather than later. Until then, Good night!

Due Date- 3/3/11

What a difference a year makes! Today is Truett's "due date birthday". And while I realize that I haven't blogged for months 10 and 11, I feel it's important for me to get our labor and delivery journey down in writing.  No better day to do that than his due date.

Here we go!

At our appointment in January, our mid-wife told us that Truett was breech but we still have a few weeks for him to re-position himself and still have a natural delivery. At that assessment, we also learned that he was a small baby. In the mind of the mom who was planning to deliver him, as long as he was healthy, I didn't care that he was small! At our follow up appointment our mid-wife, Carolyn Green, wanted us to have an ultrasound to see the size of Truett and his position. This was a little alarming because we normally wouldn't need an ultrasound this late in the pregnancy; but it allowed us to see Truett and we were reassured that he was healthy; although small. After our US, we met with one of the doctors and they expressed their concern of possible "growth restriction"- the placenta wasn't providing Truett the nourishment he needed to continue to grow and that he would possibly need to be delivered early to ensure growth. I had several stress tests and more USs and Truett and I "passed" but we were still being monitored.

Our due date was March 3rd, which came and went. That was a Thursday and because of Truett's possible GR, the doctor wanted to induce me Thursday evening. I was so upset!! Throughout my pregnancy I wanted to allow things to progress has naturally as possible. As long as Truett was healthy, I knew he'd come when he was ready. I felt very pressured by the doctors. I asked them to give us a few more days and to wait until Sunday night to go into the hospital to be induced. Those 3 days, I did EVERYTHING I was told by others to do, except drink a Castor oil milkshake- I drew the line there. Truett was patient and cozy and decided to stay put.

Sunday came and while we had plans to go to church and carry on our day "as normal", whatever that means when you're about to have a baby, I had a breakdown in the car! I just needed time with Jayson and to wrap my head about this monumental day in our lives. Sunday was cool and rainy; a lot like today. Before we were to leave for the hospital, Harker and I went for a walk in the rain and I remember feeling stuck in time; standing on the outside watching it all take place.

On our way!

We took our last "family of three" (Harker included) picture and left for the hospital. I had to check in a 7pm and our mid-wife Carolyn was there to walk us back.

While preparing for Truett's party, I found my birth plan. What a joke that turned out to be. As mentioned early, I wanted to be as natural as possible- no drugs, no assistance, no IVs, able to walk around, etc. The BP was thrown out the window. I was given a balloon catheter to start the dialation; I was only 1cm. By 11pm, I had dialated to 3cm. At 5am, Monday morning, they cranked up the Pitocin and we were off. Here's where the fun begins.

Sunday night. Let the games begin!

I could never wrap my mind around why women were discouraged from eating while in labor. We're putting forth this tremendous energy and effort to have this child, we NEED FOOD! Hello!! Makes sense, right? Well, little did I know! The Pitocin started doing it's job pretty quickly and at this point I was not on any pain medicine but I was hungry! And I was adamant about eating. I begged our sweet nurse, Anna, for some breakfast. She kindly advised me against it but 1) I was hungry 2) I was in pain = give me food! Anna came through and brought me some Cherrios and red jello. This was around 7am. Now my lesson learned comes into play because those Cherrios and red jello came right back up- everywhere! To the point that our dear sweet Anna had to help me shower and change. I know she was thinking, "I told you so...you should have listened to the nurse who does this every day!". With the nausea soon followed the very powerful drug Phenergan. But wait, remember the Pitocin? Well, they've kicked it up a few notches! So along with the Phenergan, I'm now desperate for pain relief! Bye-bye birth plan, hello drugs!

Following my request for an epidural, I was told it could take up to an hour for the anesthesiologist to get to me. Thankfully it didn't take nearly that long but unfortunately for me, he brings a resident. No offense to those poor souls because I know they have to learn but WHY did he have to learn on me! I don't remember if this ever made it out of my mouth but I remember screaming at him in my head to "shut up and get on with it". My labor did NOT need to be this guy's lesson for the day. Another very vivid memory.

And that, my friends, is it...until about 12:30. Between the nausea medicine and the epidural, I "labored down" (real labor and delivery phrase for sleeping while laboring) for several hours. That was when our other mid-wife, Freda Tucker, came and said we were ready to have this baby! I faked pushed three times (remember, I can't feel anything) and at 1:07pm our wonderfully perfect son was born. Truett weighed 6 lbs. 2oz. 10 fingers and 10 toes! Beautiful skins. Blue eyes. Strawberry blond hair. We were able to keep him with us in our hospital room and we were released the next day. We had the option of staying one more night but I needed my own bed! I missed our Harker-girl. And I was ready for our family to be together at home.

Pure sweetness

Proud daddy

That first week we toughed it out by ourselves. Jayson and I knew this would be a wonderful bonding time for us and we needed to dive head-first into this thing called "parenting". Reinforcements came in on the weekends, which was wonderful! We had our first solo date, to Red Lobster, where there were two babies seated on both sides of us! Cosmic torture!

Harker meets Truett

This has been a fun post for me. I looked back through our videos and pictures. I have so many emotions surrounding Truett's first birthday. Never before have I truly understood the importance of time and how valuable it is. I've made such an effort to prioritize my time this past year and appreciate every minute we have has a family. While it may mean that laundry piles up or blog posts aren't written, I'm enjoying bath time, playing and reading, rocking Truett to sleep, panana pancakes on Saturday, walks, lunch dates with Jayson, the list goes on. But while my efforts are ongoing, I can't stop time. And part of my wants to do just that- to keep Truett at the age where he wants and needs me, when he cuddles and naps on my chest, giggles and runs to us when we pick him up from daycare; that sweet innocence is such a blessing. But I know that can't happen nor should I want it to happen. As hard as it is to think ahead, and I'm certainly not wishing away time, I am excited to hear Truett's words and watch him learn new things; make friends and show kindness and love; learn about Jesus and want to share that with others; be excited about Christmas and Disney World.  All of those memories will come soon enough. Tonight, I'll just enjoy my 11 month, 3 week, and 4 day old baby boy.

The cutest duck ever!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I love Christmas! To the point of listening to Christmas music randomly beginning mid-summer and pretty steadily by late October. Everything about it makes me smile. This year offered a new prospective and sense of "merriment" to the season. When I found out we were having a baby, the new Christmas experience was so exciting for me.

My family has long-standing traditions and I couldn't wait to pass those on to Truett and to start our own family traditions. One of our new traditions is to purchase a gift in Truett's honor that will benefit someone in need. This year, through Samaritan's Purse, we purchased milk and prenatal care for a family. Having just had Truett, we know and appreciate the need for safe mothers and babies and adequate access to good, quality healthcare and nutrition. As Truett gets older, we'll let him pick out the gifts that are given. This gift is to be given in the place of a toy or item and we hope it will help instill the true meaning of Christ's love in Truett. Jayson and I really enjoyed picking out the item. We received an acknowledgment card that we put into Truett's stocking.

Confession- Truett didn't really have a stocking! For someone who loves Christmas so much, you'd think I'd buy my child a stocking. I have good reasoning behind this- I really wanted monogrammed stockings and I wanted them to all match. So my logic was to buy them after Christmas when they'd be on sale. As of today, 2/29/12, the Swain family does NOT have new stockings.

Now that I have that off of my chest...

Our Christmas season traditions:

Dickens Family Gingerbread house Competition- It is fierce! And I dominate! Each person or couple decorates their house and Nanny and possibly a neighbor friend will be our judges. This year, Mal and I were named champions! Kyle, the engineer in the family, failed miserably. And I'm not sure what Jayson was thinking...

The winning house

Kyle and Jayson's village

Visit with Santa- I admit...I was nervous! I was really looking forward to the photo-op but Truett was starting into his separation anxiety phase and out of his "he'll go to anyone who smiles at him" phase and I wasn't sure what his reaction would be to this stranger dressed in red. It was a Saturday and I wanted to time it just after food and right before nap. Thankfully, Truett's curiosity took charge and he just stared. We were quick and everyone left happy! I love this picture. It's so sweet and innocent.

Ornament making- A Swain family tradition. (The Dickens side isn't crafty) Pinterest has quickly become my latest addiction. Forget Facebook, just leave me with Pinterest. So as the season was approaching and Pinterest was taking up the time that I should have been blogging, I was "pinning" the greatest Christmas ideas. One being hand prints painted as Santas. Now, this may sound easy. But if you've never held the squirmy tiny hand of a 10 month old while holding him upside down as to have enough pressure to make the indention, try it! And do it for 8 molds. Well worth it though. I can't wait to see our tree in 10 or 15 years with our kid's ornaments.

Christmas PJs- New for our family. On the Dickens side, our Christmas Eve rule was one present only! No exceptions. Jayson and I have decided that our one present will be Christmas PJs.

Christmas Eve Service- My personal favorite. Truett did pretty well until he bumped his head on the pew in front of him and he started to cry.

"The Night Before Christmas"- Truett's Auntie M (Mallory, my sister) gave him this book and a reindeer blanket. This will be a new tradition for Christmas with Grandaddy Jeff.

As always, family visits are part of the Christmas holiday. This year, we had an extra special visit with Jayson's great-grandmother, Gram Willy. This picture was the first time that both Truett and Leighton had met Gram Willy. 5 generations were present. Truett and Leighton, Jayson and Alex, Granny Angie, Granny LaLa, and Gram Willy. How special!

Dads hard at work

9 months!

This one will be short because our Christmas post deserves one of it's own.

We had a great 9 month check-up. Truett's 18.5 lbs. and 26.5 inches long. He's in the 10th percentile for height and 25th for weight. The doctor commented on how social he was and that his development was great. It makes you feel good as a parent when your pediatrician affirms that you're doing something right.

We've broadened our menu and have added meat. The doctor said if he can "gum" then he can have it! We've tried chicken and pasty; spaghetti; and chicken pot pie among other things. He's not a fan of big people food but we're working on it. Still loves fruit and most vegetables. A huge Cherrio fan! The kid loves the Os. I was sweeping some up today and he looked sad that they went into the trash.

We get some gibber-gabber and we know he's talking to us, but who knows what he's saying!? We think we've heard "da da" but it's followed by ga ga ba ba ga da. I was hoping for "mama" for Christmas but maybe for his birthday!

Speaking of birthday...the splash bash is in the works. Tune in mid-March for a post on Truett's 1st birthday festivities.

Truett started crawling on December 2nd! He started and hasn't stopped. He's pulling up and "cruising" around the furniture. He's a natural explorer. I feel a little guilty because while I want him to explore and learn, I feel so bad for him when he falls. That's life, I guess.

Alphabet Soup