New Wheels

I finally found a cozy coupe on craigslist for our future NASCAR driver...

What's New

I've been feeling lazy regarding the blog, so I suppose it's time for another all-important update :) Let's see...

COLIN is still really enjoying work, which is such a pleasant change of pace for all of us. Not that he didn't have a good time during residency (well, parts of it, at least), but I guess it's a whole different thing to be doing cool procedures on a daily basis. This is a great training program too, in that they let the fellows do colonoscopies, endoscopies, & all that other fun stuff from the very start. From what I've heard, that isn't typical. The call is SO much better too, at least from my opinion. It's all "home call," so most of it is done by phone & doesn't involve spending all night at the hospital. I sure like that better than having my husband away every 3rd or 4th night! Though if he starts getting paged all night, he might be sleeping in the guest room on call nights... The fellows are currently all guys, & of course Colin loves the camaraderie of working with 5 other dudes. He is a guy's guy, after all. One is a Skins fan too, so you know he's loving that. He does have his Boards coming up next month, so that's a bit of a stress on him, but I know he'll do great. Anyhow, that's Colin's life from my perspective!

ME--Still loving Winston & continuing to get bigger & bigger by the day. It's amazing how big my belly is already, & I'm only 23?24? weeks. Still dealing with all normal pregnancy complaints, & sleeping is already getting harder & harder--this baby is one active boy! He kicks nonstop--a lot of the day & all night--& this little 1-pound, 1 foot munchkin is strong! His movements are definitely visible to anyone looking at my tummy, & you can sometimes feel body parts pressing to the surface. It may be annoying at night when I'm hoping to sleep, but it's such a cool thing to experience. I'm also having a good time meeting people--church & the hospital spouse's group have been great ways to meet other women, so I haven't really felt isolated or lonely in this new town, which is a huge blessing. And it's amazing how easily one can make a new acquaintance at the museum when a child refuses to leave the Lego area all morning.

WILL for some reason has changed his routine--yippee! The boy is starting to sleep later (no more 6am wakeup!), nap a little longer in the afternoon (no more 1 hour naps!), & go to sleep later at night (so now Colin can actually hang out with him). Maybe this is temporary, but hopefully this is one more way in which he's growing up. I LOVE it, I must say. I've never been a morning person, & it's hard for me to get moving so early. Again, I'm praying this continues... but with kids, who knows?! The boy does throw some impressive tantrums on a daily basis, but he also gets more & more fun to hang out with. He truly is a funny kid--he cracks me up all the time with the goofy stuff he does. He thinks he's a hoot too, which makes it all the more amusing. He's very social & gets bored sitting around the house, so we do go somewhere every morning...playgroups, the park, a morning church Bible study (where I get to interact with adults & Will gets to hang with his toddler buds), the children's museum (awesome! we go there weekly, & he adores it), & the mall on occasion (sadly, no browsing in stores for me though--we do the play area, ride-on vehicles, thomas train table, chik-fi-la thing). After his (& often, my) nap, we play in the yard until dinnertime (ketchup served with something). It's still hot to take walks, so I feel like a slug without exercise...At some point in time, we're going to have to invest in a treadmill or elliptical machine...though I can't imagine finding the time for that in the coming months. Maybe when the kids are in college I can get back in shape :) Back to Will--he's still a huge reader, & we'll find him curled up in a chair reading his books. That, I love to see! Or he'll be off lining his cars & trucks up along a shelf...or putting together puzzles (this amazes me--maybe I'm just an overly proud mom, but he's really talented at this)...or hurling balls all over the house...or hugging his stuffed animals...or banging his fists against the TV screen begging to watch Barney...or closing himself in the bathroom & tearing toilet paper into shreds. One never knows what he'll be doing. One last thing--I've learned that he's easily bribed by a single chocolate chip. Hey Will, wanna take a bath or get your diaper changed...I'll give you a chip... Works like a charm.

Baby #2--Still unnamed, still kicking around in there like a champ. Another natural athlete, according to Colin. We're going to check out cribs & double stroller options at Babies R Us this weekend, just to get a head start. I plan to keep Will in his crib as long as possible, so I think we're looking for a cheap new crib & a nicer double stroller.

Wow--that's quite an update for you all! Maybe more info than you wanted, but there you go :) Happy Wednesdays.

In the Backyard

Lately I never remember to take pictures... Yesterday, we were thrilled for our friends Annie & Neal to visit for the day--of course, no pictures. Recently, Will has been doing all sorts of amusing things--with no photographic documentation. So I break out the camera at the most mundane times, like this afternoon post-nap when we were playing outside. It is still VERY hot here, so the poor child does look red. Rest assured, it's not sunburn. He's just like his dad in that he can't tolerate the high temps at all... though come January, he'll be outdoors without a coat.

Still loving his "castle"


He knows not to scoop dirt out of the planter... hopefully that's a look of guilt on his face?
I heard an airplane somewhere...Where is it??

Little Update

Finally, we're all together again! Colin finished up residency & officially moved here this weekend, & it's SO good to have him back. I of course missed my husband, but I also was grateful to regain my baby's daddy :) I must say, grocery shopping on my own Sunday afternoon was as delightful as can be... Shopping with Will is always an adventure, generally a miserable one. (Today for instance, he knocked over and broke two vases in a store...lovely...) The boy craves being around other kids, the outdoors, a good playground with a twirly slide, fire trucks, sandboxes & bunny rabbits--I guess running errands with mom just isn't as fun. The problem is--I've got to run in stores and go places other than parks & the children's museum at some point. I'm struggling with how to deal with a child who throws a nasty fit every time he's forced in his stroller or shopping cart... Anyhow, that was a long aside. Colin's new job started off wonderfully today, and he's glad to be doing what he actually wants to do. We're still loving our house & trying to meet neighbors when we can, but the 90+ degree weather makes it unbearable (for a pregnant woman, at least) to spend much time outdoors. I think we've found our church, Redeemer Presbyterian, & are excited to get involved in what's going on there. There's also a well-organized group of resident/fellow spouses that get together for playgroups, so that'll be another outlet for friends & socialization. Not sure what we'll do for the 4th (& whether we'll drag a sleepy Will out for fireworks) , but I'm sure we can make our first holiday in this new town fun. Hope you all also enjoy your burgers, watermelon & sparklers!

Jekyll & Hyde

This is Will all right--one minute, as goofy & content as can be...the next, throwing a massive tantrum. I wonder if the reason baby #2 is so active in my belly is that he's reacting to his big bro's screaming...

It's a Boy!

Yes, we just learned that baby #2 is boy #2! We're excited for Will to have a little bro so close in age, & it's certainly handy that we already have a good start on boy clothes & toys. Hopefully Will will wait until this child is a little older before he tackles him or beams trucks at his head. Doubtful. Baby looks nice & healthy too, & the due date of 11/15 still looks right. Meanwhile, I'm feeling huge, though my OB claims that I'm growing right on schedule...I bet these next 4ish months will go by faster than we expect, & then true chaos will erupt once more! We can't wait :)

Any suggestions on double strollers?

Pictures

Will & Granddad
Will & his best bud, Daddy
Enjoying their apples together--this was actually taken in our old house, a few days before we moved...It's still strange for me to think that we actually LIVE in this new home, that it's not just a brief stay. At least I've found the SuperWalmart, Target, & huge mall...I'll survive :)

We're Back!

The past few weeks have been a bit of a blur, but we are moved into our new home in Winston-Salem & are thoroughly enjoying it! At least Will & I are... Colin will be here mainly on weekends while he finishes up the month of June in Durham. Last week, Will & I spent time with my family at the Outer Banks, and it was such a relief to relax, take naps, and read a couple of paperbacks. Colin came down for the weekend, and we were very glad to have Daddy around again :) I'm still not sure where the digital camera cord thing is, but I'll upload some pictures of the beach, our new house, & my ever-growing belly when I can.

Busy

I'll do my best to give more of an update later, but here are a few recent pictures...

Life around here has been pretty hectic with getting ready for our move in a little over a week. Our house is full of boxes--& it's SO hard for me to live like that. I hate disorder & constant messiness--it drives me nuts. Unfortunately, our new house will be like that too for awhile...such is the moving process...

Will eating some cereal one morning--he's a big fan of Cracklin Oat Bran.

This was before he fell & cut up his chin (or was it his lip, knee, or eye?) Little boys produce a lot of blood.

Pasta night. The bib didn't do much good.


This afternoon was Family Fun Day for all Duke employees...After riding down with Colin once, Will slid all by himself a few times. After that, he moved on to the much, much higher "Tsunami Slide." The boy has a need for speed--& heights.

Hoops

Last night was the annual Duke housestaff basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium... For those of you not familiar with college b-ball (like me prior to living here), Cameron is a pretty legendary place. Matt, my sister's husband & a huge Duke fan, even drove down here from Richmond to watch the game & shoot around afterwards. Will & I were spectators for the warmup.

Will had the time of his life! He raced around the court with his Spongebob basketball in a state of absolute glee. He darted in and out of the legs of all those warming up (even getting knocked down a time or two) & LOVED being one of the guys. It was cute. For some reason he finally parked himself right in the middle of the court--out of pure exhaustion, I suppose--& we captured the moment below. Maybe he's got a future in this sport, though Colin certainly hopes it's not with Duke...



Colin, post-game--He & Matt had the stadium to themselves for an hour afterwards

Matt, also after the game

Playing Outside

Will got to show off his slam-dunking, putting & stair climbing skills when Daddy was off the other day. You can see what remains of a huge cut on his face he got over a week ago after falling on a stick... Colin's been referring to him as Scarface. What is amazing to me is that he barely cried when it happened, nor does he scream much when he bloodies his lip/mouth every other day. Yet he'll scream for an hour if he's not permitted to climb in the dishwasher. Go figure!

Bye Bye Sanjaya

Colin & I are HUGE American Idol fans, so we were both thrilled when he sang his last song last night. I almost woke up Will with my whooping. For some reason, I hadn't actually voted until this week, so I made up for it by voting for my favs--Jordin & Melinda (& a few for Blake)--multiple times. You've got to love a TV show that entices more people to vote than in a typical presidential election.

Zoo

This morning we had a blast visiting the NC Zoo for the first time... I can't believe we've waited until now to check it out--it's only 1 1/2 away & such a beautiful, fun place. Of course, we became "members" on the spot, knowing that we'd be back many more times & might as well save on admission. Luckily, Winston is even closer to it. Will had an absolute blast, & ran all through the place--& it's big. It's getting hard to keep track of him in public---I might be looking into one of those "leashes" that are necessary for some kids :) He especially adored the polar bears & got very angry when we finally dragged him away from that viewing area. He got so keyed up that he wouldn't sleep on the drive home & instead kicked me in the head (while chuckling) while I tried to rest...so he's thankfully napping now. Funny kid. I'm glad he has a sense of humor & personality, as much as it can drive us up the wall sometimes. How I wonder what the grape-sized baby in my belly will act like, look like, be like...

He even liked the fake animals...wouldn't stop hugging this one!
Daddy & Will checking out some ducks...We saw zebras, elephants, lions, & baboons, but the kid was hugely fascinated with the ducks.
Back to the chimps...

Four G's

I guess we'll need to change our blog's name sometime soon... We've got another baby G on the way!

According to today's ultrasound, the due date is Nov. 15, the heartbeat looks great, & the little munchkin is 2 cm long. He/she has 31 more weeks to go, but we are excited to meet this one next fall. Well, Colin & I are excited...not sure about Will though :) Pray with us for this new addition's healthy development & that this pregnancy goes smoothly...as smoothly as a pregnancy can go, at least! We'll keep you updated, but as for now, I'm feeling all the normal (though unpleasant) symptoms of pregnancy & am growing fast. Gotta break out those maternity clothes a lot sooner this time around! We're thrilled to share this with you all!

Random Will Musings

I can't get over how that tiny baby below has grown to be such a tall, Buddha-bellied, tow-headed, strong-willed & strong-bodied kid. In only 15 1/2 months. I think his lungs have always been well-developed though :)


(Colin took the 2 pictures above when we were at the museum one day, playing with trucks, of course.)

--A couple of weeks ago, he figured out how to open the child-proof locks on the cabinets... He squeezes his chubby little hand through the narrow opening & presses down the lever to release the doors. A bit of a problem! I've put a different kind of lock on those cabinets with two knobs together, but he's almost figured that out too. This future Houdini has also learned how to pry open the door in the church nursery room. He's a sneaky one!

--His newest sounds are animal noises...It's cute--he'll do "mmm" for cow, "baa baa" for sheep, a strange gutteral variation of oink for pig, & an occasional growl for a lion/tiger. He also loves to pat his head, ears, & toes when requested. It's so amazing to me how he's grown up so much--he actually, visibly understands stuff now & (sometimes) even elects to do what I ask him to do. Mainly that's to find his shoes & go to the door...of course, he'll do anything to go outside.

--We do spend all day outside, either at parks, the museum, or in our own (or usually the neighbor's) yard. Will adores sand boxes & also gets a kick out of slides & the rest of the actual playground equipment...though every chance he gets, he tries to jump off the highest point of any playground. Scary! I definitely have to watch him every second--such a daredevil!

--He's very, very loud. When he's excited, & when he's mad. It shouldn't be a huge surprise to us...Colin & I both have loud voices, but I wish I could get Will to tone it down a tad. It's impressive what volume that little mouth can produce.

--Along with the above, we're dealing with MAJOR tantrums here. Will is extremely determined & knows what he wants, but he's also very impatient & easily frustrated (aren't all toddlers?!). So when he doesn't immediately get his way, get my attention, do what he's trying to do, or whatever is occupying his brain at the moment, he flips out. Crazy screaming, clinging to my body, throwing himself to the floor...it's painful to the ears & just aggravating. I know all kids throw tantrums--it's part of their development--but it's the frequency of Will's that drive us wild. I've tried ignoring them, but he generally just grabs hold of whatever part of my lower body he can & screams like a maniac until he gets his way... Colin once put him in his room & closed the door, but I don't think that worked all that well either. Will's pediatrician had recommended I hold him tightly but not give any attention, but he's too strong. He'll fight his way out of my arms. And generally it's over something silly...I'm trying to wash a dish, but he wants to read Clifford...I won't let him drink out of another kid's sippy cup...I actually (can you imagine) need to put a diaper on his rear end...Nothing out of the ordinary, just huge fights out of simple matters. All the time. Any advice or words of wisdom?? Let me know!

Richmond

My mom had a major surgery on her neck/spine a couple of weeks ago, & Will & I finally headed up to see how she was doing & visit the rest of the Seward clan. Due to Will's tendency toward high-pitched screaming & his impressive knack for destroying a house in a matter of minutes, we weren't desirable guests until now :) We were up there for a couple of days, spent lots of time outside in the beautiful weather, & hung out with my sister, grandparents, aunt, cousin, best friend... It's so convenient to have most all of my family in one place! Will even took a secret trip with his Granddad to Coldstone Creamery, where he consumed an entire cup of cake batter ice cream. That obsession with ice cream (and rice & beans, and pizza, and lasagna...) definitely comes from his mom. So we're back now, with a 3-legged dog. My mom wanted to spend a couple of weeks without the family dog, so he's temporarily down here with us. It's hard not to like the pitiful thing--he got hit by a truck a number of years ago, barely made it through, & now limps around without a functioning left front leg. We'll see how that goes...

Here is Will playing at the playground with Aunt Catherine... (You like the shirt? "What happens at Grandma's stays at Grandma's...")

One of his new Target trucks from Grammy...

Morning at the Museum

This morning we headed to our favorite local kid-friendly place--the Museum of Life & Science. We had a great time checking out the spaceships, train tables, sandboxes, snakes, woodchucks, goats, sheep, turkeys , wolves, & bears. All was well until I looked away for 2 seconds (I know, I should know better by now...) while we were near the bear habitat and Will found a small, muddy pond. Of course, he jumped right into it. The chillier weather didn't deter this adventure-seeker from taking a swim. He was perfectly content until I forced him out of it and tried to clean him off with diaper wipes (those suckers are miracle workers!)... Though this soaking, filthy child would've preferred to stay longer and wreak more havoc, we left. A naked little boy rode home in his car seat, chattering to himself about his next scheme...

BEFORE...


AFTER...

While Daddy's away...

...Will will play!... with his new "castle climber," trucks, cars, & his wagon. I didn't say he was always happy (see 4th pic), but he certainly wore himself out this overcast afternoon. Colin's currently in the ICU, so he's working hard & taking a lot of call--lots of time for just Will & me to entertain ourselves outdoors. So glad we live in the South, where Spring comes early!



He put himself in there...but to his dismay could not get out. He was screaming, but I couldn't help but laugh :)