Christmas

Sandra came into town the middle of December before we all took off for Christmas break together. It was convenient for us that she did, because Max got sick the night after she arrived. I had put him down to bed and came into our room to lay down. I couldn't sleep and was reading for about fifteen minutes when I heard him calling me. His voice was muffled and odd, so I knew something was wrong. I ran to his room where he was breathing heavily and his voice was scratchy. I reached down to pick him up when he collapsed in bed. So I grabbed him and brought him into Nate. Nate thought he needed a steam bath, but I kept saying that he couldn't breath, that it was something beyond us. I had him feel Max's chest which was going concave with each shallow breath. Poor Max was crying and delirious. We both just had the feeling that we needed help, so we left Oliver with Sandra and flew to the hospital. I mean... we flew. Nate sped the whole way and ran several red lights. Apparently we passed a cop who must have known we were headed toward the hospital; a nurse told us she was out grabbing food and saw us rushing passed the cop. She phoned in to the hospital to let them know we were on our way. When we arrived, I remember wondering if staff always waited outside the doors. Ha. They immediately diagnosed him with croup, but Nate and I were still worried. He wasn't breathing well and was panicking. I checked in while they checked Max's vitals and started him on a breathing machine. He was freaking out, so the doctor asked the nurse for a lollipop. She came back with a green one. I swear I could have bawled right then. Green was Max's color of choice, and in that moment he calmed, and Nate and I calmed, and I felt like everything was going to be ok. The doctor asked us how long he'd been sick, and we responded that he hadn't been sick at all. "No coughing?" he asked, surprised. That's when we explained that we thought he might have been choking on something or having an allergic reaction. He told us that we did the right thing in bringing him in, because a concave chest is the beginning of things turning much worse. Better safe than sorry. They gave Max a colorful blanket and a fuzzy bear, and we stayed for a little over three hours while they monitored him. Nate held him in bed, and they rolled in an extra bed for me.

This little kitty has been mine since my very first Christmas!

Zach's family sent poppers with paper crowns and toys. I think this is the only photo with any family we took the whole trip.

Oliver ended up getting croup as well, so Nate's cousin let us borrow her breathing machine. Lori helped give Oliver a few treatments in the bathroom while I held him. Sad face.

Our last night in Snowflake, we took Nate's grandparents out to eat at their favorite Mexican restaurant. Max and Grandpa slowly walked from the car to the restaurant together.

Baby Oliver Martin Dunford is here!

A week before he arrived, I started having constant and progressing contractions that kept me up all night from excitement (very manageable pain at this point). They started last Saturday night at 11:00 and by 3:30 AM Nate and I thought I could be in labor, so we got final odds and ends packed up, showered, and waited until the contractions reached 5 minutes apart. Once they hit the target, they stopped cold at around 5:30. Bah! I had random contractions for the next three days, and then Tuesday night I had the same progressing contractions. I was up all night timing them (I couldn't sleep from the pain anyway), and they progressed from a half hour apart to 6 minutes apart. Again, I thought this could be it... but I didn't trust them. Sure enough, they started tapering off. This happened Wednesday night... Thursday night... Friday night... I was exhausted. I wasn't sleeping, and my uterus was already shot. Nate had to stay up with me to slap/pound my back during each contraction so that I could endure the pain. It felt like I had been in labor for days already... which I kinda had been.  Darn Braxton-Hicks!

Saturday morning, I was about to throw in the towel. I knew I couldn't make it another night and still be able to get this baby out VBAC-style like I wanted. The words "c-section" crossed my lips as Nate and I talked it over, and I knew something had to happen that day. We said a prayer, then he gave me a blessing right there in bed, and within twenty minutes my water broke. We called Nate's mom upstairs to massage some pressure points on my feet to get my random contractions closer together. Almost immediately, the contractions came ten minutes apart and progressed quickly to seven. We left for the hospital and arrived around 1:00 PM.  I had two contractions during the 15 minute drive to the hospital, and then two more on my way to the room. I still wasn't convinced that I was in active labor, though, because the contractions weren't yet five minutes apart. When I was told that I was dilated to a six, I almost cried from relief. I couldn't believe that my body did on its own what it was forced so long (40 hours) and hard to do during my labor with Max. From that point on, I was completely calm and content. I got an epidural (something that I waited 26 hours to do last time), and Lori continued to rub my feet to keep contractions going. When the doctor told me it was time to push, I had five rounds of contractions/pushing before Oliver's heart rate started dropping. The doctor asked the nurse to get some forceps when another contraction started. During this push, Oliver's head came out with the cord wrapped around his neck. Another push, and his body came out... the cord wrapped tightly around his right leg. The doctor quickly and calmly unwrapped the cord and placed Oliver on my chest. After a few minutes Dr. Allen had Nate cut the cord.  The entirety of the pushing phase lasted only seven contractions over ten minutes. Ten minutes! I definitely shed some tears as I held Oliver for the first time. The whole experience was so different this time around - I actually enjoyed it.

Oliver was 6 lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long. That's two pounds lighter than Max was, so Nate and I were pretty shocked. He is really mellow, feeds well, and HATES having his diaper changed. Unlike me, he prefers to be really warm... so I had to get out the winter baby blankets for him. He is still nocturnal, sleeping in the day and eating all night. I think he has Nate's ears and eyebrows, just like Max. I think he might have Martin eyes and hands, and he definitely has my feet. His fingers are really long, and his skin is olive. He's a perfect little baby... and so small. His bum is all bone, so his diaper slips off really easily. He keeps his hands up to his face while he sleeps. And he sometimes gets a Popeye thing going and only opens his right eye.  He was born on Brazil's independence day - September 7th, which is much better than some of the other dates that he might have come. 

Max was adorable with Oliver the first time he saw him in the hospital. Zach, Julie, and Sandra brought him in Saturday night. They sat him on a chair and put Oliver in his arms. Max knew something important was happening; he was subdued and obedient. He cradled Oliver and looked closely at his face. He pointed to Oliver's nose, eyes, and mouth. And then he patted his chest. We told him to give Oliver a kiss, and he leaned in and gently kissed his forehead. I was dying... SO CUTE. Max spent the rest of the visit eating my crackers and Oreos.

burger binging (and other things)

Life: Sandra has been here over a week already, and time is moving much more quickly. I am now six days away from my due date. She predicts the baby will come tomorrow, but I predict that I'm not that lucky. We've been keeping busy with aforementioned projects - sanding and painting furniture, putting up curtains, washing baby things. We also bought and assembled Max's new "big boy" bed and two nightstands for my bedroom. Nesting? Yes. And of course we've eaten our fair share of treats. Nate participated in an eating contest through work. He and some co-workers (and I think his boss) each had to eat a ginormous burger (seven 1/2 pound patties) and fries in 45 minutes. Nate made it through five and a half and caved. There was too much mayo on the bottom bun, and the sight finished him. Two others completed the meal, and everyone felt sick the rest of the day.

Max: Max is learning new things so quickly that I can't keep track. Sandra has taught him how to beat box and raise and lower his eyebrows. He's learning animal sounds and recognizing more objects in his books. We are working on colors and counting. He often points out when there are two of something. His favorite color seems to be purple. And he is (always has been) really good at imitating.

Pregnancy: My back is feeling much better, but a bit of nausea has returned. All in all, I feel pretty decent. It's just a waiting game now. Nate and I are a bit anxious as evidenced by our restless nights and crazy dreams.

Random: At the park yesterday, a boy of 6 asked Sandra what her mom's name was... and he was referring to me. I'm hoping it's the baby belly that categorically labels me as "mom" and not my wrinkly, tired face. I guess I am almost 31... Yikes. Bikes.

fetch

Max, like most toddlers, enjoys putting on his dad's shoes and walking around the house. I haven't been able to get a good photo of him on the move, so here he is taking a snack break.

When I buy Max a new pair of shoes, he spends the day marching around the house breaking them in. And when I tell him it's time to go out, he gets his shoes from the closet and brings them to me like a dog bringing his owner its leash. Max is going to be a helpful little dude when his brother comes.

generally speaking

These days, I make quiche once a week because it's so easy (and Max eats his veggies). Nate and Max both love it.

We are working on some projects before the baby comes. I do little things like make sunburst mirrors (still need to paint it), fix squeaky doors, and organize closets. Nate is working on the oak table and benches that used to be in my parents' dining room. I love hearing him sanding out in the garage. So manly.

Max likes to wear only his diaper at home. He has been really into books. He also loves his car stickers. And he knows where his nipples are located.

Max continues to play with his cars most of the day. He has designated a corner of the couch for his stuff. I've added to his collection the worn, metal cars that my aunt Chris gave me while in Seattle. They used to be Eric's, and thank goodness he didn't care about them... cause I LOVE how they look on his bookshelf.

We've added three Love Sacs to our belongings. I got them at a garage sale Liz's sister-in-law had, so I knew they were in good shape. Nate and Max have a nightly routine where Nate throws Max onto the Love Sac in our living room until Max gets worn out. 

I've made too many desserts. The latest: caramel sea salt cookie bars.

Two weeks ago, I was dilated to 1 1/2 cm and was 50% effaced. My body at least knows it needs to expel the fetus soon.

Nate is taking an online class to increase his Spanish skills. It focuses on business terms. 

We bought Max a toilet cover, so he's been using the toilet about once a day. Of course, this only means that when I put him on the toilet he pushes real hard and tinkles whatever is left in him after he's filled his diaper. He'll tinkle a few times, wipe, and flush like it ain't no thang. He thinks it's fun. I have to help get him up and down, and I also help with the hand-washing. Oh, and he's upgraded to number 5 diapers.

I listen to Christmas music several times a week. It lifts my spirits. Nate thinks I'm nuts. Max's dance music of choice: LCD Soundsystem.

Nate's work had an outdoor movie night for families. We took Max knowing he wouldn't last the whole movie. He ended up playing with his cars on the sidewalk for the first ten minutes and then trying to run away from Nate. That was the end of that. Maybe next time.

circles

I almost cried at the chiropractor yesterday. While he was working my back, I felt a release of stress and tension that gathered in a lump in my throat. My body wanted to weep. It was pretty funny. Emotionally, I felt fine... a little stressed, but fine. My body, on the other hand, is great with child.

Max has a certain half-smile for when he is slightly embarrassed or uncomfortable from admiring stares. It's usually triggered by my saying, "Nate, look at your boy." Max knows this phrase well. He'll continue whatever cute thing he is doing while turning his head just enough to see us in his periphery. And then he'll suddenly look at us with the half-smile. It's killer.

I must have a lot of vanity or something, because I haven't been able to get lost in the beauty, so to speak, of growing humans. I certainly have lost some beauty (if ever there was any). A sore back, dry skin, acne, varicose veins, and heartburn aren't gumdrops and roses to me. It's not that every day is misery, but most days you look and feel worse than you do when you aren't pregnant. By comparison, pregnancy is difficult.

I guess it's like anything else that's hard. Some people tell themselves it's not difficult in the first place, and that might work for them. But I have to call it like I see it... and then put it in perspective. Pregnancy is hard, and then you do it again... over and over. And yet you aren't crazy. You just love killer smiles.

Max and I went to the park yesterday after the chiropractor appointment. I was feeling all zen, so I let him watch the industrial lawn-mower for 45 minutes as it zoomed around the trees and picnic tables. "See him going in circles?" Max would motion a circle with his chubby arm and hand while making a "shooooeeew" sound. Oliver was hanging out upside down in my womb putting pressure on my back and making it uncomfortable to sit there, but he'll be out soon enough. And then I'll have two little boys drawing circles in the air while I exert patience just to sit. Sounds good to me.

chocolate zucchini cake

If I had to choose a super power, I would be torn between wanting a perfect memory and being able to eat to my heart's content with no side-effects or repercussions (namely obesity, heart disease, or diabetes). The last few days, we've had some delicious eats 'round these parts. I find this interesting since I've been sore and lazy lately (see previous post). I guess standing in the kitchen cooking and baking is easier than walking up and down stairs to do laundry or clean the master bathroom. Although, I've been doing those things anyway. I really should take better care of my back.

I've experimented with a few things lately, namely chimichurri steak marinade and chocolate zucchini cake. The way the house smelled after cooking the steak was unreal and lingered throughout the evening. I was in heaven. And the cake? Holy guacamole. Who ever thought of putting together zucchini, cinnamon, chocolate, and orange? Sure, combinations of those are tried and true, but all four together? This is on par with my favorite carrot cake recipe from the same website (SimplyRecipes.com), so you should check that out as well. She also makes a mean roasted turkey.

Changes to the recipe: I added orange zest to the glaze and didn't add nuts, but you can do what you like. I FINELY grated my zucchini and sifted my flour and cocoa. I also think that next time I will use a DARK cocoa powder.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups regular all-purpose flour, unsifted
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup soft butter
• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 3 cups coarsely shredded zucchini (from about 1 pound of zucchini)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• Glaze (directions follow)

Glaze:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

1 Set the shredded zucchini to drain in a sieve over a bowl. If no moisture drains out and the zucchini feels dry, sprinkle some water over it and let the excess drain.

2 Vigorously whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bow, and set aside.

3 With a mixer, beat together the butter and the sugars until smooth. Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. With a wooden spoon, stir in the vanilla, orange peel, and zucchini.

4 Alternately stir in the dry ingredients and the milk into the zucchini mixture, including the nuts with the last addition.

5 Spray the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan or tube pan lightly with cooking spray (or grease with butter). Wipe off the excess. Pour in the batter and use a rubber spatula to level the top of the batter. Bake in the oven for about 50-55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean (test at 45 min). Cool in pan 15 minutes; turn out on wire rack to cool thoroughly.

6 Make the glaze by mixing together the glaze ingredients. You can easily do this by hand with a whisk or a spoon. If the glaze is too runny, add some more powdered sugar. If too thick, add more milk. Drizzle glaze over cake.

Cut in thin slices to serve.

Yield: Makes 10-12 servings.

Max's Latest Doings

20 months
12 teeth (four incisors currently making their way)

He loves to eat ice.
When he wants milk, he puts his arms out with his elbows bent and raises them up and down while grunting.
New words: stars, ice, choo choo, train, down, "Where'd it go?"
He can point at all sorts of things in your books: elephant, balloon, train, truck, car, ball, tree, moon, flowers, bee, chair, robot, apple, stars, dog, kitty, socks, Dada, Mama, milk, etc.
He drinks out of his own cups without spilling.
He likes to take off his diaper when it's full.
He likes to stick his hands down the back of his diaper.
He loves Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Speed Racer.
He throws himself to the ground when he dances.
He prefers to sit on a normal chair rather than his booster chair when he eats at the table.
When Mama or Dada get a snack, he directs them to the couch where he wants them to sit and share.
He now eats apple skins, carrots, and chicken without spitting the pieces out.
He's been galloping, side-stepping, and jumping.
He loves the theme song for Justified and HAS to dance, even when he's half asleep already.
He loves a little blueberry lemonade in his water, just like Mama.
With the help of his new stool, he likes to climb up in bed with Dada and Mama.
When an airplane passes, he waves.
When he hears or sees a train, he says, "Choo choo!"
He sees Dada out the door every morning with a kiss and a wave, and then he waits for Dada to shut the garage door before he closes the door to the house.
He won't stay in the nursery without Dada or Mama.
He likes when Mama sings to him before his daily nap and will say "more" after each song.
He likes to scratch the nubbin on the back of ears. It hurts.
He likes to paint, but mostly he likes to make messes.
He likes mustard and ketchup on his hot dogs.
He still loves spicy foods.
He does all the motions to "The Wheels on the Bus," including the cutest ones - wah, wah, wah and hush, hush, hush. He rubs his eyes like he's sleepy, and he puts his index finger up and does a lispy "hush."
He is still really strong and will push the Love Sac around, move his toy bin, and knock over and pick up his Little Tikes car.
He says "Mmmm!" every time we brush his teeth.
He likes to wear his sunglasses outside and in the car.
When he sees a bug, he points at it and scrunches his nose and hisses. He does the same thing when he has something icky on his hands or on his face.
He likes taking pictures with our phones.
He loves watching videos of himself.
His favorite toys are still his cars (trains, trucks, and planes included), but he likes balls and his toys that play music.
He plays best with older girls.
He loves when we do projects that require tools, glue, or paint and tries to help.
He does a high-pitched squealing squawk noise when he wants someone's attention... because he doesn't know anyone's names but Mama's and Dada's.
In addition to what he already knew, he now points to his chin and eyebrows.

i have two webbed toes on each foot... for real!

At the end of my pregnancy with Max, I felt almost normal and didn't understand why people would ask, "Are you just ready to burst?" My skin is pretty elastic, and I don't get stretch marks (not bragging... It's the one thing I don't get). This time, I'm three and a half weeks away, and I am ready. I don't know that I'm bursting, but because of my back I feel like I'm breaking.

My lower back hurts. According to my internet research (Ha!... I love when people refer to their Google searches as "research"), my pain originates in my sacroiliac joint due to increased levels of the relaxin hormone in my pregnant body. This means that my spine and hips are loosey-goosey, making it feel like I could break in half. The pain is sometimes sharp like a butcher knife and other times more dull like a butter knife. Point is, it's like a knife ALL THE TIME unless I'm sitting or lying down. Bone on bone pain. I now waddle, something I never did in my first pregnancy and haven't done in this one until a couple of days ago when the pain started. I haven't left the house since Saturday due to my self-imposed "bed rest." I go to the chiropractor tomorrow, so hopefully my last three weeks of pregnancy won't be spent indoors.

Other than my back, I'm doing well... the same. Heartburn kicked in, but tropical flavored Tums aren't so bad. My emotions are pretty stable aside from an occasional sensitivity to otherwise silly things... like worrying about Max not being my one-and-only anymore. And I'm clumsy and forgetful. I spilled liquids twice today, and I forgot to put the cheese in the quiche. Doy.

Max has diarrhea and a mad butt rash, so he's waddling around, too. We are quite the pair.

Playground Boss

I took Max to the park the other day where he immediately climbed to the top of the jungle gym and turned for this picture -

  He thinks he's the coolest when he wears sunglasses. I'd say that makes him self-aware, because he is pretty cool.

Villa Junkies

Christina was in town for a couple months, so she, Maira, and I got together and recreated La Villa food - chicken tacos, rice, beans, and salsa. La Villa was sold and turned into a Venezuelan restaurant much to our dismay. They did retain one of their cooks, Raul, which has made the transition into our Villa-less world easier to swallow. Maira used to work at La Villa and knows Raul well enough to ask him for tips on recreating the recipes. And so Maira made us a plate of food so close to the real deal that I couldn't stop "hmm"-ing and "Oh man!"-ing as I scarfed it down. She even sent us home with leftovers. It was a dream. Christina jotted down the recipes, so I will forever have a bit of La Villa in my life. And yes, this was worth a blog post.

rain, rain... stay

There was a pretty good rain storm a couple days after we returned from Vegas, so Max and I sat on the front porch and watched. I tried to teach him new words. He picked up on thunder and started throwing his arms up and then whipping them down while making "boom" sounds. He would gasp with every lightening flash and point to the sky. It was a lot of fun watching him. I wish we had more storms here; we would be outside more often.

 

St. George and Vegas

We were only home for two days before we headed down Wednesday to St. George for Nate's friend's wedding. Nate went to the sealing while I watched Max, and then we went together to the luncheon. We sat with Tracy and some of the bride's siblings. Nate is really happy for Steve, and I think Steve and Stephanie look perfect together. We drove down to Vegas that evening and stayed with Liz. Liz and I spent the morning shopping while Nate did some work. Max had fun throwing rocks with Nash and Haven in the front yard. We had dinner with Liz, Steve, and the kids before going to Max and Katie's. We spent the night and morning there. Grandpa Max got out the toys for little Max, and they played together while we chatted with Katie. Allen had us over for a BBQ and swimming. I love their pool... complete with a little rock fountain. Max wanted to sit in the waterfall the whole time. We went back over to Liz's for dinner and cupcakes for Glenn's first birthday. We said goodbye and went back to Max and Katie's where I talked with Katie for a couple of hours about her mom's genealogy. I had been editing what Katie had transcribed from Veda's voice recordings. We drove home on Sunday morning, and Max was nearly perfect. I think he finally realized that no matter how much he cried, the drive wouldn't go faster and his bum wouldn't hurt less. We sang songs and tickled his legs. He colored and played with his cars. He took two short naps. It was a good end to two weeks of travel.

 

Seattle, Part 5

Before leaving on Saturday, we had to stop at Franz Donuts to get some glazed old-fashioned donuts for breakfast. Everyone had been eating donuts from Franz all week and we had to see what the fuss was all about. They were worth the hype. The box was empty by the end of the day. We found one of the last Ivar's as we drove south out of Washington and so stopped for lunch. We had fried halibut and clams. There was a sign on the wall that said "I think, therefore I clam" and the signs on the bathroom doors said "Buoys" and "Gulls." We headed on to Multnomah Falls and Vista House at Crown Point in Oregon. Because it was the weekend after the fourth, there were TONS of travelers like us stopping to see the sites. It took a lot longer than planned, but the drive up to Crown Point was really pretty and we ended up passing more fruit stands where we bought more berries to make jam. We passed a few more waterfalls on the way back to the highway and headed on to Pendleton where we stayed the night.

We stopped in Baker City, Idaho on Sunday. My great grandfather had a bike shop there, and we stopped to see the house where my grandma was born. The rest of the drive was uneventful aside from some rainbows, and Max was more manageable this time around. We had a great time, but it was good to be home. 

 

Seattle, Part 4

On Friday, Nate and I went to Henry's Donuts for breakfast and Rinconcito for lunch. We had leftovers for dinner at Chris's house and visited with Grandma and Grandpa before we headed down to Lighthouse Park to see the water and a bit of the sunset. Someone was having a bonfire on the beach, bees buzzed around the fresh lavender, and the ferry took off toward the island.

 

Seattle, Part 3

For the fourth of July, Nate and I bought Grandma some flowers and took them and some fish from Ray's to her and Grandpa for lunch. They were napping, so we left everything and came back later for a BBQ. Jeff made amazing ribs and cooked up some of the shrimp he'd caught. Max tried Cracker Jack and played with squirt guns. Everyone went over to a small street festival where we ate ice cream and funnel cake while Max danced to some live music. We went back to Chris's where we played with toy cars in the driveway and lit sparklers in the backyard before heading home.