"Welcome to Toddlerhood, Momma!"

For some reason, because Sidekick was such an easy baby, I just assumed that we would flow into his second year of life the same way.  What I failed to remember is that he doesn't come into the world knowing how to act, behave, etc. I didn't think that I would be teaching him how to behave at a young age.  I didn't know he would have such an opinion about things and then get pissed off when he didn't get his way. I didn't know the frustration he would have when he couldn't tell me what he wanted.  I didn't know he would know how to throw a temper tantrum at 12 months old.  And I certainly didn't know that "No" would be funny to him!  How is it that he already knows how to test me???  Does a switch get turned on when they turn one and all of this just begins???  I swear it all  happened on his 366th day of life!  (By the way, this was his first time using his new seat, and I was in the process of cleaning the high chair. Perhaps he had a new sense of freedom because there was less to "trap" him.  Also, he was eating spaghetti beforehand which is why he has nothing on but a diaper.  I mention this because I have a "issue" with babies wearing just a diaper.)

My Super Sick Little Sidekick

I was baffled last weekend because Cooper had diarrhea, and I thought it was from switching him to milk.  I thought I got it under control by Monday morning by mixing more formula with less milk over the weekend.  Monday afternoon, I got a phone call from school that he had a 100.7 fever.  When I picked him up, he was just laying in the crib holding his blanket.  It broke my heart.  And so began the working single momma with sick child debacle!

I am fortunate that I work out of my home and that it's my slow season.  I didn't really have to take time off because I wasn't with any customers this week.  (It also helped that Cooper would take 3.5-4.5 hour naps, so I could crank out a lot of work during that time.)  When I had to talk to customers, I apologized upfront for the lovely background noise of a cranky toddler. Anyway, after I picked Cooper up from school, I called his doctor to see if this could be a reaction to his one year shots which he had had three days early (highly unlikely).  I then asked if perhaps the switch to milk could be the cause of the diarrhea (unlikely).  For three days, I dealt with a clingy one year old who had a high fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a rash all over his body. He is not a snugly boy, but my goodness he has been this week! 

I knew he was really sick when I came back to him after sending a quickly email to a customer (my office is in my living room right next to the kitchen) and found him this way.  He had gotten really quiet, but I thought he was just hanging out eating his Cheerios and toast.  Oops!  I removed the tray, washed his hand, and laid him in his crib for a four hour nap.  Poor little guy!
 

I caved yesterday and took him to the doctor because his fever was still high when he woke up from his 14 hour slumber. I was told every day I called that he most likely a stomach virus going around and that I was doing everything I could to "help" him, but I could bring him in if I wanted.  I felt comfortable doing what I was doing and realized not much else could be done for him because it was viral.  But enough was enough, so off we went!

When the nurse looked at my pathetic baby, she couldn't believe how horrible he looked when she had just seen him six days ago.  She took his temperature and it was normal.  Of course it broke on our way there, but I still wanted to make sure my little sidekick was okay.  The doctor came in and looked in his ears only to find he has a double ear infection!  My little guy has been fighting a high fever, a stomach virus, and a double ear infection and surprisingly he has been a trooper!  No wonder why he has been sleeping 17-18 hours a day.  I feel horrible for not taking him in sooner.  As in the past, he never shows any signs of an ear infections (this is number three), so I couldn't really have known. I was just trying to keep his fever down and his stomach calm.  Poor little guy. 

We stopped at Target on our way to the doctor to pick up some Pedialyte, and as we were walking in, we saw our good friends (the ones that are moving).  They had Sidekick's birthday present in their car, and look at what he got!  This little guy is so much more content and comfy sitting in his special chair. 

Sidekick napped for five, yes five, hours yesterday (he slept a total of 19 hours), and he went to bed one hour later at 8:00. As I type this, it is 8:30 AM, so he has been sleeping for 12 1/2 hours.  Wow!  I'm hoping we are officially on the mend.  We've got things to do this weekend and the weather is going to be gorgeous!

Last Bottle Ever!

I stopped daytime bottles cold turkey when Sidekick was 10 1/2 months old.  I was thrilled that it was so easy because he didn't seem to miss them.  I also felt like I had more freedom because he could now give himself formula in sippy cups.  Two nights ago, I gave him his last bedtime bottle.  I filled it up to eight ounces in hopes that he would take it all (he normally takes six ounces) so it would take longer.  I wanted to savor that moment since it would be the last bottle I ever give my child (Sidekick will be my only child).  He pushed it away after about four ounces and he was done!  What????  I wanted more time to feed him that bottle. I wanted more time to take in that moment one last time.  I wanted to see his sweet, content face while he drank that bottle one last time.  I still cried a bit knowing that this is yet another reminder that he is growing up fast.

Last night was our first night without the bottle. He climbed onto my lap while I sat in the glider and we read a few books (he is obsessed with books).  I purposely haven't read books to him before bedtime because I wanted that to be our new bedtime routine when the bottles went away.  After reading the books, I sat with him for a few minutes, laid him in his crib awake, and he calmly laid there until he drifted off to sleep after about ten minutes.  That was it!  It was so easy!  I expected a fight.  I expected tears.  Yet again, my little sidekick proves to me what a good "baby" he is.

On a side note, I transitioned him to milk this weekend.  While I know some kids have a difficult time doing this, Sidekick drinks the milk like a champ!  However, today he woke up with diarrhea and has had a couple more bouts.  The mystery is is that from the milk, vaccinations, or is he actually sick?  If it's not under control, school won't allow him to come/stay and this momma needs him to go to school tomorrow!  Let's hope it subsides today...

Due Date

Today was my due date.  I had my induction scheduled for the 17th because according to my doctor, Sidekick was not going to come out on his own and he was going to be big!  Lo and behold, he chose to enter the world on his own (water broke while filling up Macey's water bowl) exactly one week early after 21 hours of labor and 2 1/2 hours of pushing.  I remember being kind of sad while in labor that I didn't really have a chance to say goodbye to my pregnancy because I thought I had another eight or nine days until he would enter the world.  I really loved being pregnant, and I wanted some time to savor him growing in my belly a few more days. I was caught off guard with his unexpected arrival, but I was more caught off guard with how much I loved him.  My big boy is one year and one week old today!  I was told by so many people that it goes so fast.  They weren't kidding!
 

 

 

I decided to make Sidekick a treasure box, write him a letter every year on his birthday, and put in in the box.  Since we were with my nephews on his birthday, they wrote a letter to him also (I have no idea what they wrote).  In my envelope is also $1.  Every year, I'll put money in the envelope for as old as he is, so next year, I'll put $2 in that year's envelope. I can't wait until Sidekick opens up all of these letters on his 18th birthday (or whenever I decide to give them to him).  He'll have quite a lot of money also!  What a fun birthday present.

 

 

 

 

First Birthday... Tradition Started

I cannot believe my little Sidekick is one!  What an amazing, fast, perfect year it was!  I remembered my crazy labor and delivery like it was yesterday.  I wonder if that memory will always be fresh in my head.  We spent Sidekick's birthday in Lake Geneva, WI with my mom, stepdad, sister and her family.  It was great to be together to celebrate this little guy's first year of life.  The smash cake was not a huge success which doesn't surprise me because he is a pretty neat eater. After that, we went down to the lake. I decided to start a tradition of releasing a balloon on Sidekick's birthday in honor of his donor.  Without his donor, I wouldn't have this incredible little guy!  I look forward to sharing this special time with Sidekick year after year. Is it possible to love him more than I do now????

 

 

Bye-bye Curls and Wings

I couldn't stand it any longer.  Sidekick was getting little curls on the back of his head, and I could not tame it any longer.  He looked like he had wings (as is evident in the pictures from his "Not-Quite-Birthday Birthday Party". Pics in previous post).  I'm not sentimental when it comes to first haircuts, so off we went to a kids' salon to snip it all off, give him some type of "style", and make him look like a big boy.  He was so good and sat in the chair patiently. I love this little guy so much!  It's hard to believe that he will be a year old in just six short days.