Cover Me

Today was not a fun day for Joey or Mommy. It started early yesterday morning, when Joey woke up with the sniffles. Then I noticed he felt really warm and took his temperature - which was 100.5. I called and left a message with the doctor, who just said to give him some Tylenol and check back in if it got any worse. So everything seemed to be going smoothly through bedtime. Then midnight rolled around and I heard this crying. I went to check on him, and he was half-sleeping half-awake, but definitely crying. I woke him up enough to give him some more Tylenol (his temperature was 101.5 at this point), and then tried to help him get back to sleep. But he was just too congested. I tried holding him in the rocking chair, then went downstairs so that maybe if holding him on the couch worked, I could recline and fall asleep, too. No dice. So I took him back up to our room and put him down in the pack 'n play. Turned on the air conditioning, hoping that maybe cooling him off and controlling the air might help allay his discomfort. At least he slept until 6ish. Mostly. There was still lots of fussing and crying, but I didn't have to get up to comfort him. (More like I couldn't get myself out of bed to comfort him, and fortunately it worked out ok.)

Daddy was kind enough to get up with Joey this morning. (Since he didn't even hear the baby crying last night, I felt it was only fair that I get to sleep a little longer.) He was still fussy and not quite eating right, and was he ever tired. He went down for his nap at 8:30 and slept two hours. I tried feeding him lunch like normal, and he ate most of his sweet potatoes, but that was about it. He went down for his second nap at 1:00pm (still normal) and ended sleeping until almost 4:30.

And this story is now way to long. The short-ish ending ... he seems to be extremely tired but feeling much better. Believe it or not, going outside seemed to help his congestion. Counterintuitive, I know, but it worked. He's sleeping in his crib now, and as usual his Nana afghan is covering him up. (See above.) Everything seems to be on the up-and-up, and hopefully he can forgive us for the aspirator. We'll see how he does tomorrow.

Airportman

We had a very exciting weekend, and as you look at this post, you'll think we spend the whole time in the airport. Apparently I only remember to take pictures before or during the flight. (At least I have great images for the scrapbook!) Here's Joey playing in O'Hare on our way to Easton for Shelley's bridal shower. There was a little eleven-month-old also in the airport, and they had some fun together (before Claire left for Madison - why would you fly to Madison?). Since this wasn't our first flight, Mommy was definitely prepared with a blanket so Joey could stretch out and plenty of toys. (You'll also notice he's holding his head upright - yeah!)

The bridal shower was a ton of fun. Fortunately, Rachel did take pictures, and you can find some here. There are also some from my sister-in-law Danielle here. I think there were at least 40 people enjoying the sunshine in my mom's backyard, and every single one of them thought Joey was just so cute. I think there were even a few "fights" over who got to hold him. It was great. Sunday was the Godiska family reunion, which is also captured in Rachel's blog. I haven't played volleyball in so long; it was excellent. And once again, they were passing Joey around like a football.

And then here we are back at the airport again. It was lunchtime when we arrived, so Nana and Pop-Pop gave Joey his last meal in Easton (until we go back in August). Pop-Pop can be such a cry-baby sometimes. But it's great flying in and out of Allentown because there's no line and I can get there less than an hour before the flight and not be stressed at all.

Finally, here's Joey on the plane. All smiles for the first 10 minutes, but was he exhausted from this weekend. Slept the whole flight home, and then took another hour and a half nap once we got home. He's just waking up now, so I have to go. Can't wait to see you all again in five weeks!

Special Note: We also had our first Tylenol today. Joey's running a low-grade fever (100.5 degrees) and developed a runny nose before we left Easton. Probably nothing to worry about, but since I'm essentially using this blog as his baby book, just one more thing to mark down.

Remember the Time

So I was sure I was going to get a picture of Joey today with his good friends Sam and Annabel. Then Mommy got half way to their house, and realized she didn't bring her camera with. Argh! Anyway, it was fun, and Sammy is getting so big! He's only four months old, but he's practically the same size as Joey. It's absolutely incredible. Annabel is still learning how to share (she turns two on Saturday), but her mom is doing such a great job convincing her that if she wants to play with the toy Joey has, she has to trade him for something else. Joey doesn't know any different, so it works really well. I can't wait until Joey and Sammy get a little older, and are crawling and walking around, chasing Annabel everywhere. And I'm sure she can't wait until she has her own minions to boss around. They're both such laid-back guys, I don't think either one would mind.

Oh, and the doctor called this morning. They didn't see anything on the x-rays, so we'll just watch how it goes and take him to physical therapy as necessary. One less thing to worry about. (And since I cut him off from the tv downstairs, he's doing remarkably better. Maybe that was the culprit after all.)

PS - We'll miss you, Michael.

NOT Wordless Wednesday: Hydrangeas

I realize the whole point of wordless Wednesday is to keep it wordless, but that's why I called it NOT Wordless Wednesday. First things first. Did you see those hydrangeas? Seriously? They were tall last year, but this year they are definitely taller than I am. (That's my neighbors raised deck in the background - it's at least four feet off the ground.) There are crazy ones peaking up I'd say at least five and a half feet. And in the front? We removed verigated bushes that I didn't like at all, and replaced them with another hydrangea (Endless Summer) on the north side, and a lilac bush and a rose on the south side. Not sure why. On the south side of our house, you can barely even see the lilac bush, and you can't see the rose bush. Once the blooms are fully developed, that hydrangea is getting a major trimming. Which, to be honest, I'm a little concerned will only help it grow even better, faster, stronger. Anybody want any?

Another curious observation about Chicago, which everyone who lives in Chicago already knows. If you don't like the weather, wait a day and it will change. Seriously. I did the baby's laundry yesterday, and I folded two pair of fleece pajamas and three pair of cotton long-sleeved pajamas. Which means that within the last two weeks, because I usually do his laundry on a weekly or week and a half basis, it was cold enough for fleece. And today, the temperature was over 90, with heat indexes in the upper 90s. Un-freakin'-believable. We even had a thunderstorm this afternoon, but it did absolutely nothing to reduce the heat or humidity. Good times.

Finally, there is no update on Joey. I called the doctor's office as soon as they opened this morning, but they had not yet received anything from radiology. Seriously? They said the results would be with the doctor in 24 to 48 hours. (The website actually says results would be within 24 hours, but I'm not going to nit-pick.) I gave them 50 hours, and they hadn't even yet provided the results to my doctor. On top of that, Joey's pediatrician was off today. I'm not going to fault her for that, though; everyone deserves a day off. All I can say is they better have been lax getting the results to Joey's doctor because everything's fine.

Early Morning

Good morning, everyone! Joey's already up, playing with his fishies. And now I think he's getting antsy for breakfast, but I thought I'd get my blog out of the way early. (I'll add a note later with the update from the opthamologist.)

And for reference, here's a photo from yesterday, where you can definitely see he's holding his head to the side. He's doing better this morning, at least for now.

Update: The opthamologist said Joey's vision is fine. Need to follow-up on the x-rays and then schedule physical therapy. But that's one less thing to worry about.

Feed Me

Today was a big day for Joey. And not so great for Mommy. Joey had his first x-rays taken today. I don't know if you've noticed, but Joey has a tendency to hold his head a bit to the right. I try to hide it in the pictures, selecting the ones where it looks like his head is up straight (or straight-ish). This picture is a prime example. There's another one with an even better smile, but his head is significantly to the right, so I chose this one instead.

It's not as if he can't hold his head up straight, just that his "natural" tendency is to hold it to the side. It comes and goes, which confused the pediatrician, so she ordered x-rays and referred us to an opthamologist and physical therapist. The x-rays weren't painful, but I tried to squeeze them in before nap time. One on his back, one with his neck turned a quarter turn on each side, and then one fully on each side. The fourth one wasn't in focus, and Joey was not happy about having to get that one retaken. I gave him a bottle after that one, which made everything infinitely easier. Hopefully the opthamologist goes better. Once we get the x-rays read and confirm all is OK with that and his vision, we'll start the physical therapy. Keep your fingers crossed it's just a tight muscle or a strain or something that's "easy" to fix.

In the meantime, we spent most of the day in the bedroom, where the air conditioner is. Yes, summer came to Chicago, in like a lion. Joey has gotten so good at pulling the fishies out of the aquarium. Not so good at putting them back in, but we're getting there!

Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Admittedly not the greatest photo ever, and it was really a Mexican restaurant, not an Italian one, but last night was the first time Joey sat in the high chair at a restaurant. He's been out with us before, but normally he stays in his carseat while we're eating. He was so well-behaved, too. And all the ladies at the tables around us just kept flirting with him. One even commented to Joe that he's cuter than the Gerber baby. (Maybe we should've submitted a head shot to a modeling agency. jk)

Head Over Feet

See! Joey in shorts! Yes, it's that hot out. And those feet are just so yummy!

Drink with Me

I was talking to my mom yesterday, and she mentioned how different Joey looks in some pictures. And I can't agree more. Sometimes, I look at the pictures, and I think, "is that really my kid?" Take this one for example. I don't know if it's because he's looking up and you lose that cute little chin or what, but he definitely looks different than "normal." But that's my Little Tiger (and future member of the Princeton class of 2032).

Yesterday was also probably the hottest day this year (and therefore the hottest day Joey has ever experienced). So I thought I'd try giving him some juice and water in his sippy cup. (We haven't really used the sippy cup in a while, so it was about time.) And my little tiger did so well! He drank over an ounce. It was so cute to hear his little gurgling and slurping noises. He's getting bigger every day!

Oh, and he's cutting two top teeth. I noticed yesterday that they are starting to cut through. They're not his front teeth, but the two on either side. He'll look so cute as a vampire.

Wordless Wednesday: Arrrrrh!

One Fine Day

We had fun on the floor yesterday. Joey's pushing himself up much better, and you should see him move around to get the telephone. (I still don't know why he's obsessed with the telephone, but he is.)

And of course Joey always has fun, even just sitting on Daddy's lap. I don't know what got into him tonight, but he was just laughing and laughing. Maybe Daddy was being sneaky and tickling him, I don't know, but it was precious.

Less than two weeks until we're in Easton! We can't wait!

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday

You would think after nine years of saying good-bye it would eventually get easier, but it doesn't. Now with the little ones, I think it's just gotten infinitely harder. But we had a great time together! First we had lots of fun at the park. Then we were off to the zoo. It was pretty rainy on Saturday, but we made up for it at the Shedd Aquarium on Sunday! (Follow the links to my sister's blog. I'll post some of my own pictures later on this week.) My sister, brother-in-law and niece left this morning, but not without a little mischief before they left.

The comb in Shae's hand was supposed to be used on her, not Joey, but you see how well that worked out. Eventually, she was distracted by her pancake breakfast, and I did some ninja moves to sneak in and work those knots out. (I am so glad I have a boy who so far doesn't look like he'll have curly hair!)

She also didn't want to pose for pictures this morning, not even with Aunt Jaime and BabyJoey (yes, one word). This is the best we could do.

And Joey will definitely miss his Aunt Rachel and Uncle Ryan. I think he's happy right now because he can finally nap, but I think when he wakes up he's going to ask where'd everybody go.

Can You Picture That?

Since my sister has the better camera, she and her husband have been taking all the pictures. I'm therefore directing you to her blog, rockle-riffic, for the latest updates on our visit. Her writing style is a bit more entertaining, too, so maybe you'll find a new blog to follow. Enjoy!

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning

OK, so it's really crappy outside, but how can you not feel good waking up to these two beautiful faces?

Wordless Wednesday: A Smile Like Yours

Extra Track II

Finally getting caught up on pictures. The overalls are a little big, but they are 12 months, and he's just so cute in them!

Ginny is getting accustomed to getting grabbed and pinched, and fortunately for us doesn't snap back. Here you can see that Joey is literally trying to eat her. He even has a grip on her fur. They're going to be best friends (especially once there's a trail of crumbs behind the little guy).

You and Me and the Bottle Makes 3

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, at least in conversation if not actually in my blog, but Joey has finally started holding his own bottle. (I remember reading about the forgetfulness during pregnancy, but I didn't think it would last this long!) It really is the cutest thing ever. He'll get really fussy, and then open his mouth really wide (which used to be my cue to put the bottle in his mouth). Now it's his cue. It's a little messy, but really not too bad. He even takes the bottle out of his mouth to let the air back in. So smart. And then, when he's done, he plays with the bottle like any other toy, trying to figure out if he can fit anything other than the nipple in his mouth. He's even burping on his own. (That little noise that sounds like a sneeze at the end is really him burping.) I took the liberty of editing the video a bit - I didn't think you'd want to watch over five minutes of this stuff. Hope you find it somewhat entertaining.

Teething

We've been pretty busy around here, finishing up projects we meant to start months ago, like hanging the roman shades my parents brought with them from Pennsylvania back in April. We're also getting ready for some house guests, which means more thorough cleaning needs to be done than our usual swiffering around the furniture. All of this means I haven't been as diligent with the camera, nor have I been as diligent posting what pictures I do have.

Joey's two bottom teeth finally cut through those gums sometime this past week. I'm sure I have photographic "evidence" of the first time you could see them somewhere, but I think those pictures were extremely blurry. And since the first thing everyone asks me is does he have teeth yet, I've been trying to get a decent picture to post for a while. This one from Friday is absolutely adorable, but of course, you can't see the teeth.

In the meantime, Joey's also enjoying playing on his tummy, getting better at rolling and pushing himself up on his arms. (Honestly, he sometimes gets his entire chest off the floor without even using his arms. He must have the strongest back ever. He'll be great in the pool.) After playing with the twins on Saturday, we picked up a few toys to help develop those tummy-time and crawling skills. Joey already loves this ball, although because he's always playing on a blanket, it doesn't move around quite as much as it should. We're thinking about getting an area rug, so that should help.

Finally, today, I was able to get some shots of his teeth. Joey wasn't necessarily being cooperative, but if I make enough goofy faces, eventually he smiles. (If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can definitely see two bottom teeth.)

Sometimes he still has his fingers in his mouth, but those pictures turn out cute, too.

You can really see his chompers in this photo, which was the whole point.

We also picked up a few Dr. Seuss books while shopping for diapers and formula at Costco. (In case you didn't know/couldn't tell, we never get just diapers and formula when we go to Costco. I don't think it's possible.) Joey absolutely loves Dr. Seuss's Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? Especially the Blurp the trombone makes. I don't know if it's the sound in general, or the way I say it, but he cracks up every time. Needless to say, I add extra Blurps even when they're nowhere to be found on the page, and I plan on reading that book at least once a day until he stops laughing.

Playing My Game

We were pretty low-key today, but Joey is always full of tricks and surprises. He was just hanging out on his back, playing with his feet. Next thing I know, he's eating his socks. All the toys surrounding him, and he's eating his socks. Then he'd roll over on his stomach, and start kicking away. Can't wait to get him in a pool!

The First Time

Today was an exciting day, for me, anyway. Joey sat in the shopping cart, where little kids are supposed to sit, for the first time. (Thanks, Tina, for the shopping cart cover!) He had so much fun looking around the store, trying to eat the shopping cart, flirting with all the ladies. (He did that before, too, but it was much easier this way.)

When we got home, I knew he was hungry. He was sitting on the floor, and when I brought him the bottle, he just opened his mouth as wide as he could, which is what he normally does. Not this time. I laid him on the pillow on the floor, and handed him the bottle. He then proceeded to hold the bottle all by himself and drink almost the whole thing! I can't believe it. It's only been seven months, and I'm practically obsolete. Don't worry, though; he hasn't figured out how to change his own diapers yet, so he still needs me.

Come and Talk to Me

Spliced together a few clips from playtime today. I'd love to hear what you think the boy is saying. I've got my own ideas, but then again, I'm biased. Definitely a Da-Da, and I think a Nana, but you decide.