Looking back, one year ago today

B-Boy was originally expected on October 3rd, which was a Saturday. To be honest, no one thought he was coming anywhere near his due date. I had been to the doctor that Wednesday, and he had said he thought it would be another week or so.

B-Boy decided otherwise.

I was also convinced he wasn't coming near the day either. As a matter of fact, I just knew I would be back at work on Monday, October 5th. It was a good thing WorkBFF convinced me to clean off my desk and have all my responsibilities accounted for before I left for the weekend, just in case.

At 4pm on October 3rd, B-Boy decided he had cooked long enough, and my labor began. To be honest, I wasn't really convinced it was REALLY labor- I thought it was Braxton-Hicks contractions. But it was strong enough to make me take care of one-last-thing.

In order to tell you this story properly, I need to go back and tell you another story.

A few weeks before my due date, Neb and I went to the Farmer's Market in Raleigh to purchase a pumpkin. We chose carefully, as I wanted one that was the SAME size as my belly. It was pretty amusing to see all the other people at the Farmer's Market watching us pick a pumpkin by comparing it to my belly.

We brought it home and there it sat unitl October 3rd. When my labor started (even though I was still not convinced it was so), I told Neb we should start our jack-o-lantern project. You see, one of the things they tell you as you prepare for child birth is to have a plan of things to do to "distract" you from the labor.

And no, we weren't going to carve the pumpkin.

Our project? To paint a jack-o-lantern ON my belly.

I had purchased some face paints from a Halloween store, and Neb had the job to paint my belly with them. (Keep in mind neither of us thought we were going to have a baby for a week or so). We laughed at the thought of what would happen if I REALLY was in labor... and went to the hospital with a pumpkin painted on me. Could you imagine the looks on thier faces as they checked my belly? It still makes me chuckle thinking about it.

Once Neb painted it on, we then picked up the pumpkin to take some photos.

Only, the pumpkin that had been so perfectly sized to B-Boy was now tiny in comparrison. It was pretty shocking to see how much he had grown in a short time. But the evidence was there! What do you think?

We took several photos, and then I washed it off. Feeling like we had done all we wanted before the baby arrived, we were now ready for B-Boy. Later that night, the labor progressed and twelve hours after the labor started, I was being admitted to the hospital. I thought it was funny that I was admitted at 4am on October 4th. I still was not convinced that B-Boy was really coming, and I thought they would be sending me home. The pain was immense, and I remember hoping that was not the case!

At 7:16 pm on October 4th, B-Boy made his enterance into the world in a blaze of glory- and we were all changed for the better!

Happy last day of being zero baby boy. Tomorrow you will be one year old!

No more

I am sorry to say Neb and I were not the first to notice this. His day care teachers did.

When B-Boy is done eating, he leans to the right and tilts his head quite a bit so that his right ear is on his right shoulder. He can't say "I'm done!" so he shows it.

And it is true. If you miss the cue, he will turn his head so that there is NO way you will get anything in his mouth. Once convinced you won't shove it in, he will lean again and tilt his head to say "No more!".

Once they pointed it out, we started to notice it at home. "Look Neb! He's doing it! I think he is done!"

But today it became really funny. You see, we have been taking swim lessons at our neighborhood pool (in addition to the ones at the pool by our work). We weren't sure which we would like more, and so we decided to try both as the neighborhood ones were on Saturday morning.

We prefer the swim classes by work, and plan to continue those. We have been very disappointed with the neighborhood swim classes. The pool is an indoor pool, but it is used for the swim team events and is quite chilly. In addition, the pool is much deeper so it is harder to maneuver B-Boy. We have had 3 different teachers, one of which did not show up for the first lesson. We won't be going back for any more lessons there any time soon. Did I mention the pool is FREEZING?

But I am getting off track here. Today was the last lesson for the series, and the pool was as cold as ever. B-Boy shivered the entire time, his poor little chin bobbing up and down as his little teeth chattered. As we neared the end of the lesson, Neb got out of the pool to dry off and got B-Boy's towel ready. While we waited in the pool, I talked with another mother about the lesson.

I look at B-Boy and see that his chin is still quivering... and then I saw it. "No more, I'm done."

B-Boy leaned to the right and tilted his head. Poor boy! I am sorry to say it made me laugh, but I did stop talking and made sure Neb got him in his towel as fast as I could.

Who knew B-Boy could talk without making a sound? Even though he doesn't talk much, he sure is finding ways to communicate with us. I am grateful this communication came without screaming or crying. Hopefully Neb and I will get better at picking up his silent cues.

Is that a Sea Otter or B-Boy?

Wow. B-Boy is rockin' his swim lessons.

B-Boy's favorite part of the swimming session is to SPLASH his Mommy and to have his Daddy lift him up quickly out of the water. Both activities make him squeal with delight.

Wheeeeeee!

His second set of classes has just finished up, and I wanted to give you an update on his progress, because we are really excited about it.

As you know, B-Boy goes underwater no problem. He also does great being passed back and forth between us, sometimes getting his face wet. He does so well with it, that we have now moved on to the next phase.

His teacher has us passing him to each other but letting him go under water. Yep, his WHOLE head... under water. We count to three, and on three I push him on his tummy toward Neb and let go. Where Neb usually grabs him as I am letting go, he no longer does. B-Boy glides through the water, eyes completely open- and then he kicks until he bobs up to the surface and Neb scoops him out of the pool. We then repeat the process in the opposite direction.

He holds his breath underwater no problem, and as I said, keeps his eyes open which is slightly freaky! The other parents are amazed at his progress.

Once he mastered that, the teacher challenged us to stand farther and farther apart to encourage B-Boy to use his arms to reach to us too. It is a bit harder to get him to use his arms, but we are getting there. He has learned he gets to us faster if he kicks, so I don't think it will take long to get there. We shall see.

Oh, and the other challenge the teacher issued? He told me when I bring him in the water from the edge of the pool, to let go.

Yikes. That one was really scary for me. But then I realized that was about me, not about what B-Boy can or can't do. So I took a deep breath, counted to three and pulled him in the water. And then... I let go.

B-Boy went under no problem. He then bobbed up to the surface before I could even say YAY! I scooped him up out of the water and we then cheered really loudly! YAY! I am not sure who I was more proud of... B-Boy for doing it, or me for getting out of my way in my head and LETTING him do it.  YAY us.

His next set has started and I cannot wait to see how he progresses. I'll keep you posted!

Ready, Set, Hut!

The weather in September typically gets cooler, the leaves start to turn, and that can only mean one thing... It's football season! Which brings us to another monthly B-Boy photo series.

Howdy folks, excuse me while I take off my hat...

It's football time, and I have a game to get ready for!

My daddy says we are supposed to put the ball on this tee thingy...

Then we rush onto the field that way... and pummel the other team!

Daddy says we have to line up like this, and then get ready to

tackle the other team. He says we have to be careful

not to jump too early, or someone called a referee will give us a penalty.

Mommy, are we done with these monthly photos? Please?

Argh! I am going to tackle you! HA!

You have been warned!

B-Boy fights diabetes

Early Saturday morning, Neb, B-Boy and I went to Durham for the diabetes walk. Many folks he work with formed a team to walk to fight diabetes. You might remember Neb blogged about it earlier here.

The event started at 8:30 am, about an hour away from where we live. The morning, like most mornings, was quite chaotic. But we did get there on time, and B-Boy was in good spirits. We started with some music and stretching... and then it was announced that Neb's team came in tenth place for fund raising! YAY!

We took the stroller we use for walks at home, so B-Boy had lots of room to stretch out. This also meant that Neb could show off his nifty lights to his coworkers. What did it mean for me? Well, it meant a bigger basket underneath to store all our stuff... and that I got to listen to music because the stroller has an iPod dock. Heh heh. We did the walk listening mostly to Bob Marley, which made the time go by nicely.

Howdy folks! Look at all my toys!!!

The walk was a four mile one. The weather was nice, and not too hot. Neb and I were tired at the end - B-Boy was refreshed because he got a nice nap in along the way. I was a proud momma, he didn't cry once... not even with all the dogs around!

ZZZZzzzzzzz

Crossing the finish line... YAY!

Nuh uh

B-Boy doesn't talk much, but he sure does like to make sounds.

His latest sound is Nuh-uh. I think he picked it up from one of his teachers, who uses that sound when B-Boy is doing something he is not supposed to do... just before he takes off crawling to the other side of the room to continue doing what he wasn't supposed to do. Yep, he hears that noise a lot.

He started saying it last week. It was really cute, especially because it was new.

This week, I had to go out of town for a few days for work. When I returned, both B-Boy and Neb were really happy to see me. I am not sure who was more excited, B-Boy because he didn't know where I had gone or when I would return, or Neb because B-Boy was a handfull for only one set of hands.

I snatched B-Boy to the living room to play. He looked a bit taller than when I left, and he is more confident with his walking. He is trying to stand without holding on to anything. He is not quite there yet, but is getting really close. He was standing next to me, pacifier in his mouth happily sucking.

I asked him, "B-Boy, did you miss your Mommy?"

His response? Nuh- uh.

Here's to hoping that he still hasn't figured out what it means. Yeah, he just likes the way it sounds, right?

He made up for it later though, he started making a gargling sound in the back of his throat that almost sounds like he is rolling his R's. Or purring. He rolled on the floor making that noise, and it just made me giggle.

What's that B-Boy? I know. Nuh uh.

First time at the Water Table

The weather has been getting cooler, and B-Boy's teachers thought it would be fun to take the older kids outside to play. This means that B-Boy got to play in the swings again, and then get introduced to some new activities.

Um... I think you are supposed to push me.

They first introduced B-Boy to sand. They took off his shorts and sat him down to play. He must take after his Mommy, because he DID NOT LIKE having sand touching him. (I just don't like having sand EVERYWHERE, well after I am off of it.) He initially put his hands in it, and let the sand run out... but then what was left really bothered him.

Fortunately, his teacher noticed his low level of enthusiasm for the sand, and picked him up to play elsewhere.

The next day, they brought out the water table! It is basically a two level kiddie pool up on legs. Rather than getting in it, they play standing up. They splash, splash, splashed... and played with water toys. Fun!

What was really amusing is that the other boy, KidN, was unsure at first what to do. B-Boy, who is used to water after all those swim lessons, siddled up to the table and started splashing right away. KidN only needed a few minutes to see that it was fun, and what to do before he jumped in to play. They seemed to have lots of fun, and took a long, solid nap that afternoon. Hee hee... smart teachers.

The teachers said that the windows were covered with water when they were done. The best part of it all was that they were all clean afterward!

See KidN, this is how you SPLASH!

It's more fun when you can get your Mommy wet, but this will still be fun.