Long Overdue

Luke is definitely getting the shaft when it comes to blogging!  I'm recording all of his milestones in pictures, videos, and scrapbooks, but the blog has sadly been on the back burner.

Luke turned 6 months old last week!  Hard to believe my little peanut has gotten so big.  Here's what he's been up to:

At 5 months he:
-went in a pool and saw the ocean for the first time
-was very interested in his toes, sucking his thumb and fingers, and splashing his feet in the tub
-rolled from his back to his front more frequently
-CUT HIS TWO BOTTOM TEETH! (Maggie didn't cut her first teeth until 11 months!)
-started pushing up on his hands from his belly
-learned to stick out his tongue
-started blowing raspberries
-loves standing with assistance
-babbles the "b" sound a lot

At 6 months he:
-continues to babble "ba-ba-ba" a lot
-ate solid food for the first time (so far he's had baby oatmeal and bananas and loves both!)
-saw his first snow
-rolls and rolls and rolls... all across the floor
-drank from a sippy cup
-can sit briefly

Click on each of the links below to see what we've been doing:

Our New Year trip to the beach

Luke's informal 6 month pictures

Luke's formal 6 month pictures

Miss Maggie is still full of zest and personality . . . and drama!  She is a very good actress and continues to love to act out movies, especially "Cinderella" and "Tangled".  She also loves designing her own costumes and making up her own plays.  She really, really likes to cut and make creations with paper and glue.  Despite my warnings, she got adventurous with the scissors and cut some of Biscuit's hair and about a 3 inch section of her hair (it actually looks better, though!).  She still enjoys ballet class.  We recently got her costume for her dance recital in May, and it's gorgeous!  I can't wait to see her perform.  Meanwhile, we're preparing for her 4th birthday in March.  My "baby" is turning into a little lady.

Luke and Maggie give me a run for my money some days, but they're my best accomplishment!

Christmas Cuties

As promised, click here to see pictures from Christmas.

Here's Maggie singing the verse from "The Friendly Beasts" that she sang as a duet in our church Christmas program:

Maggie learned "Go Tell It On the Mountain" at preschool:

Maggie loves singing Christmas songs and wanted to go caroling!  We didn't do that, but she did serenade my beautician and her story time teacher when we went to visit them.  Maggie says that I need to get her a winter CD now since Christmas is over!

Finally!

Our busy holiday season stretched from October through December.  I still haven't uploaded all of our Christmas pictures, but here's a recap of the last few months:

In October we visited a pumpkin patch (click here for pictures), both as a family and with Maggie's preschool class.  When we went as a family, it was very warm (pushing 80 degrees), but on the preschool field trip, it was cloudy, windy, and in the 30s! 

For Halloween, Maggie was a cupcake and Luke was a pumpkin.  Click here to see those pictures.  I called Maggie the "Halloween Director".  As kids trick-or-treated at our house, she gave them instructions on how many pieces of candy to take. Walking down the street, she directed them to our house, where my dad was handing out candy.

Click here to see other pics from October.  That month Luke rolled from front to back, started hitting hanging objects, and started grasping objects with help.

Before Thanksgiving the kids met Santa twice- once in Pinehurst and once in Sanford.  Both kids did extremely well.  Luke didn't mind sitting on his lap at all, and Maggie talked and talked to him and Mrs. Claus.  She told him that she wanted a "Brave" dress (dress like the character from the Disney movie "Brave"), a teddy bear, and a truck for Luke.  Click here to see pictures of them with both Santas.

In November we celebrated Thanksgiving at preschool and with both sides of the family.  Click here for pics.  Luke started holding onto clothes and stuffed animals independently, smiling frequently, and laughing (so cute!).

Luke was baptized the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  One of the ministers who baptized Maggie helped baptize Luke.  A family friend sang a touching song that she also sang at Maggie's baptism.  Luke did well when they put the water on his head.  He only fussed a little during the service.  We celebrated afterwards with a soup and sandwich luncheon at church.  Click here to see the pictures from this special day.

In December we decorated for Christmas, visited a fire station, attended multiple parties, and Maggie participated in the children's Christmas program at church.  We were SO proud of her.  She sang a duet for one verse in "The Friendly Beasts".  The children also sang "Away in a Manger" and played handbells.  Each child held up one letter in the word "Christmas" and said what it represented.  Maggie held up the letter "S" and said, "S is for the spirit that lives in my heart."  I said this same line over 30 years ago in a Christmas program at the same church, except my speech wasn't as good as Maggie's.  I said, "S is for the 'pirit that lives in my heart."  Maggie has listened to the Christmas CD so many times, that she can sing all of the verses of "The Friendly Beasts", as well as parts of other Christmas carols.  Click here to see December pictures (up to Christmas).

In December, at 4 months old, Luke's neck got a lot stronger, and he can now hold his head up independently.  He also rolled from back to belly.  He is drooling and vocalizing a lot, and he likes splashing his feet in the tub.  He weighs 15 lbs 12 oz (70th percentile) and is 26 inches long (91st percentile)- he may be a basketball or football player one day!

Click here for one more set of pics.

As you can see, Facebook is the quickest way to keep track of what the kids are doing.  I post pics there long before they appear on the blog.  We had a wonderful Christmas . . . stay tuned for pictures from those exciting days.

Finally, here are some of Maggie's recent quotes:

"I don't have to poop.  I just have to lay an egg."

"Why can't we marry our brothers?"

(regarding Luke) "I want to wrap him in swaddling clothes."

"You and Daddy pretend to be not married.  Then I can be your flower girl."

(as she was decorating the Christmas tree) "I need it quiet to decorate!"

"Christmas lights make me gasp!"

(as she was checking the mail) "Bills, bills, bills!"

After hearing the Christmas story and Bethlehem, Maggie asked, "Who was born in Bethle-her?"

"I'm doing my big sister exercises."

"How was t.v. when you were a little girl?  Did it have color?"

When she heard me sing the line about "Christ the Lord" in "O Come All Ye Faithful", Maggie said, "I thought it was price the gourd" (instead of "Christ the Lord").

Maggie was playing dolls, and she handed a doll bottle to my mom.  She said, "I didn't pump that milk."

This Little Light of Ours

I was so proud of Maggie as she and the other 3-year-olds sang two songs at their preschool fundraiser in front of approximately 500 people!  Maggie was ready to get on stage as soon as we got there!  Here's a snippet of "This Little Light of Mine":

Maggie is certainly a light in our lives!

 Maggie's artwork that was on display

Tonight before Maggie went to sleep, I was getting some books off of her bookshelf and had my back turned towards her when she started singing the sweetest song that she'd learned at preschool.  I had her sing it again so I could remember that moment:

Long Time Gone

There's a Dixie Chicks song called "Long Time Gone".  That's been me.  I've been gone from the blog for a long time.  My explanation?  Three words: Maggie and Luke.  It's like I told my mom today, "Maggie by herself is easy.  Luke by himself is easy.  The two of them together are not easy!"  One child plus one child does not equal two children!  It feels like about 10 kids!  I thought that the second child would be easier because we were used to the parenting lifestyle and knew what we should be doing.  We knew the tricks of the trade.  Turns out those tricks don't work for Luke!  He didn't read the baby handbook.  He's an extremely cute baby, but he hasn't been the happiest baby.  Things have gotten a lot better in the last week, though!

I'm so very grateful for each and every person who has helped us over the last few months.  I didn't have to cook supper for over 6 weeks, thanks to many generous cooks I know!  The cards, gifts, and visits from near and far were very appreciated.  It's been so helpful to have people help me with one or both kids until I got my feet on the ground.  And a very thoughtful person even deep cleaned my house for me for hours and hours until it "shone like the top of the Chrysler building" (as Maggie would say).  It really does take a village to raise a child.

In the last few months, here's what Maggie's been up to:
-She started preschool two mornings per week!  I really dreaded that she might have a hard time separating from me, but once she started, she never looked back.  Maggie is a smart, confidant child, but I attribute much of her success at preschool to her amazing teacher!  So far, they've learned about friendship, grandparents, the farm, fall, and pumpkins.  Click here for pictures of her first day of preschool.  She stays so busy there.  They've had a Grandparents' Day party and a Halloween party.  This week they're singing for the parents at a spaghetti dinner, and next week they're going on a field trip to the pumpkin patch.  Here is her class singing at the Grandparents' Day party:

-Maggie also started ballet class once a week.  She wasn't as fond of that in the beginning as preschool, but now she loves it!  Click here to see pictures of her at ballet and other events in September.  Here's a video of the tiny dancers:

-Maggie can count to 29!
-Maggie has become very interested in and very good at writing!  She can independently write her first name.  She asks me how to spell a lot of words.  I tell her the letters, and she knows how to write them.  The other day she wrote "Happy Halloween" in the driveway with chalk as I spelled it for her.
-Maggie can spell "Mississippi", thanks to Granddaddy!  He thinks he can stump her, but she usually catches right on.
-She enjoys listening to us read chapter books to her at bedtime.  She is still puzzled at how adults can read to themselves without talking!
-Words that Maggie has used recently that I did not teach her: sprained, platter, and medley

Now, on to Luke . .
-Luke seemed so tiny when he was born!  He was smaller than Maggie, but now at 2 months old, he's the size she was when she was 3-4 months old.
-He started cooing and smiling socially at 5 weeks old.
-Just before he turned 2 months old, he rolled from his tummy to his back!  He also started hitting hanging objects with his hands.  He can also grasp some objects, like Maggie's hair!  Ouch!

-His smiles melt my heart, especially when he looks at Maggie and smiles!

 Although it took her a long time to get used to his crying, she is very good with him.  She does great baby talk and plays with him appropriately.  I haven't noticed any jealousy, but it's hard for her to understand why I can't help her right then if I'm feeding Luke.

For even more pictures, click here.

Now that we're getting into a groove, I hope to post more frequently.  Thanks for bearing with me!

Week 2

Luke's 2nd week had a lot of firsts, including his first trip to the doctor for a check-up, his first trip to church, and meeting new relatives for the first time.  Click here to see the pictures.

Week 1

The week of August 13 was a special one!  To take a look at Luke's first week, click here.

B.L. (Before Luke)

Although Luke is only 3 weeks old today, it seems like he's been in our lives forever.  Click here to see what we did in August before Luke arrived . . . met his cousin Colin (born 8 days before him), visited Morehead Planetarium & Maple View Farm, attended a birthday party at Boomer's (bouncy houses and games), and attended a wedding a little over 24 hours before I went into labor!

Maggie can still be a little shy one-on-one with people she doesn't know, but give her a dance floor, a DJ, and a few other kids, and she lets loose:

A Baby Story

I used to enjoy watching "A Baby Story" on TLC, so here's my baby's story . . .

I wasn't due until August 21, so I didn't think I was in labor the night of Sunday, August 12.  Brendon and Maggie had gone to bed, and I was on my way, but I had a back ache that would not go away.  I didn't think it was labor because my water hadn't broken, the pain wasn't excruciating, and I couldn't time the pain (it was constant).  Around 1 a.m. when I couldn't get comfortable, I called L&D.  They told me to drink lots of water and take a Tylenol.  I did as directed, and the pain eased off some.  I laid down but still couldn't get comfortable.  I Googled "back labor", and it sounded like what I was having.  So, at 3 a.m. I called L&D back and told them I was coming in!  I called my parents to come stay with Maggie, and Brendon and I arrived at the hospital around 4 a.m. on Monday, August 13.   I took my bags with me, but I was just sure I'd be sent home.  They put me in a triage room and hooked up monitors for contractions and the baby's heartbeat.  The nurses told me they'd be back in an hour to check on me.  If I hadn't dilated any more, they'd probably send me home.  An hour passed, and one of the nurses returned and told me I was contracting "to beat the band"!  My back had eased off at this point, and all I'd felt was some mild cramping.  They said I'd need a c-section that day . . . the baby, like Maggie had been, was turned transverse, and they didn't want me laboring with my history of a past c-section.

When we found out a little more information, we called our parents.  I asked the doctor if I could at least be the second case of the day so that our parents could get there for the birth.  This turned out not to be a problem, as several other emergencies arose in the hospital, pushing my case further back.

When Maggie awoke that morning at our house, my parents told her we were at the hospital to see if Baby Brother was ready to be born.  She said, "Is it August 21?"  I had never told her a specific date (just August), but she'd picked that up just from hearing me tell other people.  My sister-in-law and her children came to our house to stay with Maggie, while my and Brendon's parents came to the hospital.

Here's my last baby bump picture:

 

They started prepping me for the c-section a little after noon on August 13, and Luke Cameron Windmeyer was born at 12:47 p.m., weighing 7 lbs 9 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long.  Luckily, I knew several of the nurses in the operating room, and they were so nice to let us have "skin to skin" contact with Luke after he was born.  I was pleasantly surprised, as this is not standard procedure for c-sections.  Brendon and I held him while they finished the operation.

While I went to the recovery room, Brendon took Luke down the hall to meet his grandparents:

Later that afternoon after I got into a postpartum room, we revealed the baby's name to the grandparents.  We had narrowed our choices down to two names and literally made our final decision the morning before he was born that afternoon.  We liked the name "Luke" because it is a classic, yet not over-used name.  I especially liked it because we found out we were pregnant during the Christmas season, and the Christmas story is told in Luke.  There are other verses I especially like in Luke:

"The child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom,
and the grace of God was on him." -Luke 2:40

My mom found this verse, Luke 12:48 (12:48 is Luke's first full minute of life):

" From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; 

and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

With both Maggie and Luke, we have certainly been given and entrusted with much! 

Brendon likes the name Luke because of the "Star Wars" character.  Now he can look at the baby and say, "Luke, I am your father!"

We chose his middle name, Cameron, because that was my paternal grandmother's maiden name.

My brother Jason brought Maggie to meet Luke that afternoon.  She was so excited to meet him!  She'd run to my bed and kiss me, then run to whoever was holding Luke and kiss him on the head.  She said, "I'll love him every day!"  She has been so sweet with him.

I stayed in the hospital until Thursday, August 16.  I am so blessed that I didn't have any complications this time.

Maggie holding Luke for the first time:

Luke holding Brendon's wedding band:

 

Luke in his going home outfit (It said "Thank Heaven for Little Boys".  It belonged to his cousin Zeke and was given to him by Grandma.) laying on the afghan from Memo

wearing a hat made by Grandma

We went home on Thursday, August 16:

Since then he's had his first bath at home, met friends and family, had a doctor's check-up, and has mainly slept!

Luke has been such a good baby!  He rarely cries, unless something's really wrong.  We may still be in the "honeymoon" period, though.  I find myself not wanting to do anything but look at and hold him, so it took me a while to get around to writing this. More stories and pictures to come when I have two free hands to type!  I just want to savor every moment with him, as time is already passing too quickly.  He's a week old today!

Day on The Hill

A few weekends ago we took Maggie to Chapel Hill for a few special activities before the baby was born.  First, we went to the Morehead Planetarium to see a Sesame Street movie about space.

Then she checked out the rose garden and sundial in front of the planetarium.

We finished up our trip at Maple View Farm, a dairy near Hillsborough, where we had fresh ice cream (Maggie got "strawbelly" ice cream).

New Olympic Sport?

There should be a new Olympic competition- 38+ week pregnant ladies trying to get off the couch or roll over in bed.  I'm sure both are as challenging as the balance beam or uneven parallel bars!

"Just Jerome"

Ever since Maggie found out that she's going to be a big sister, she has never suggested a "real" name for the baby.  It's always been names like "Goldfish Poopybug" or "Robot".  Tonight as I was lying with her in bed, she said, "Mama, I think we should name the baby Jerome!"  I started laughing and couldn't imagine where she'd heard that name.  Then I remembered that in one of the books we'd just read, the little boy's teddy bear's name was Jerome (only mentioned once).  I asked her if she could think of any other names, and she said, "Just Jerome!  The only name I can think of is Jerome!"  She says the name with a funny growl in her voice:

We'll see . . .

Showers of Blessings

My mom and sister-in-law Johanna hosted a wonderful baby shower for us recently.  Click here to see the pictures.  Thanks to all who came and blessed us with your presence and presents!  Baby Boy is already so loved.

The best gift was our nephew being born that day, a few hours before the shower.  What a nice surprise!

Growing Up

Today Maggie and I had a conference with her preschool teacher and took a tour of the classroom.  Seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, and now I'm sending her to preschool and will be bringing her baby brother home from the hospital!

I've known Maggie's preschool teacher for years and am THRILLED that Maggie's in her class!  I think she will be perfect for her as Maggie transitions into the roles of big sister and preschooler.  Her teacher was so sweet to me today . . . she told me, "Don't worry that you won't be able to love this new baby as much as Maggie.  Your love doesn't divide- it multiplies!"

Here are Maggie's recent accomplishments and "Maggie-isms":

• Maggie's main form of entertainment is acting out books and movies.  The funny thing is that despite having tons of dress-up clothes, she does all of her acting without costumes and props.  Instead, she pantomimes the actions as she watches a movie or listens to a story.  She'll repeat lines from movies verbatim . . . Several times she has pretended that I'm one of the step-sisters from "Cinderella" (Anastasia).  She'll say, "Good morning, Anastasia.  Sleep well?" (an exact line from the movie).  Tonight she even pretended that she got her nose stuck in the door, like Gonzo from "The Great Muppet Caper".  She is literally a drama queen!
• Besides acting out books and movies, Maggie loves to pretend that she is a cat.  She gets the most genuinely sad look on her face and will come up to me and say, "Meow, meow.  I'm a cat that lives alone in the forest.  Will you be my mother?  Can I live with you?"
• Maggie can count to 29.
• Maggie is cutting very well with scissors.  She especially likes to cut fabric.
• Maggie enjoys folding wash cloths and helping me make my bed.  One day, without prompting, she made my bed all by herself!  Gotta love free child labor!
• Every day Maggie gets a vitamin (she calls it her "gummy" because she used to take the gummy kind) and a small sweet treat.  Maggie loves to give me and Brendon "gummies and treats", which are her hugs and kisses!  They are definitely good for us!
• After I praised Maggie for eating several kinds of vegetables at supper, she said, "It's a variety!" (a word she learned from the PBS show "Super Why")
• Maggie likes to tell us what she dreamed about (or made up that she dreamed about).  One day she said, "I had a dream last night.  You, me, and Daddy were doing handstands.  We had clothes on!"   That's a relief!
• A few of the things Maggie says are funny, but not necessarily appropriate . . . Maggie overheard Brendon talking about going to a brewing class.  I guess she thought that she was supposed to be included in this.  That night she said, "Daddy, we didn't make beer today!"  Another night I was lying in bed with Maggie as she was going to sleep.  After she passed gas, she said, "Was that a chicken blowing bubbles?!"  Who knows where she gets these ideas, but they sure make us laugh!

We're trying to make the most of Maggie's last few weeks as an only child.  Click here to see the highlights from July.

Girls' Night Out

Last weekend my friends in my neighborhood treated me to a Girls' Night Out at one of my favorite restaurants.  Most of us have kids around the same age, so it was fun for us to get out for the night without the little ones!  Here are some of the awesome presents they showered me with for our little fellow:

August Rush

A movie came out a few years ago called "August Rush".  My pregnancy is in no way similar to that movie, but I'm definitely feeling the "August Rush" . . . the rush to get everything done before the baby's born, the rush to do as many fun one-on-one activities with Maggie as I can, and feeling the "rush" of excitement that a baby boy and a new nephew are getting ready to enter our lives!

The month that I've been waiting for is now here . . . I'll be full-term this week, so let the games begin!

Extreme Nursery Makeover

Since March, when we found out we are having a boy, we've been working on completely moving all of Maggie's things out of the nursery into her big girl room (which she's occupied for over a year).  Luckily, the nursery was already a gender-neutral light green, so we didn't have to re-paint.  Slowly, but surely, over the last few months we have: ordered and set up the crib bedding and wall hanging, bought a dresser for Maggie's room and moved all of her clothes into it and her new closet, built a headboard for Maggie's bed, put decals on the walls of both rooms, my mom made curtains for each room, had the carpet cleaned, washed all of the baby clothes and put them in the nursery dresser, bought a blue rug for the nursery, installed a shelf on Maggie's wall, hung pictures in both rooms. . . and the list goes on!

The nursery theme is "Book Worm"- a combination of alphabet art, Dr. Seuss, and the children's book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Click here to see pictures of both rooms.

Brendon and I installed Maggie's huge tree decal and headboard one night when she was spending the night with her grandparents.  Brendon also put the mattress back on the bed frame, raising its height.  Here's a video from about a month ago of her reaction to her "new" room:

Only a few more weeks 'til both rooms are occupied!

Full Circle

Almost 20 years ago my first babysitting job was for my baby cousin Taylor.  She was the cutest, funniest little girl . . . a lot like Maggie!  She's grown into a beautiful young woman, and we were so lucky to have her take some pictures of our growing family.  (Photo credits: Taylor Davenport Photography)

35/35

35 weeks down, 35 days to go!  Trying to savor every little (and a lot of big!) kick and movement Baby Boy makes and my one-on-one time with Maggie. . .

Not So Lazy Days

We have had the not so lazy days of summer!  Maggie's social calendar has been full between a variety of activities.  In addition to Children's Day, Bible School, and our mountain vacation, Maggie has:

Gone to the pool with Andi & Zeke

Attended story time at our library

(This was a special class for preschoolers presented at our library by the NC Museum of Art.)

Attended another story time series presented by a nonprofit group in Sanford

(On this day they met at San-Lee Park, where they got to pet a turtle and snake, make a binocular craft, and explore the park.  I think Maggie's favorite part was hiking around the park in the rain under her umbrella!  They have also gone to a pet store and another park.)

Gone bowling (for the first time) with our Mothers of Preschoolers group

(followed by pizza and cupcakes!)

We've also enjoyed going to the weekly $1 children's movies at our local theatre, and we've attended a Kindermusik class.  Maggie likes being on the go. . . and when she's happy, I'm happy!

Click here to see the rest of our pictures from June.