Happy Halloween!

Antonio's first Halloween has gone as expected for a 3.5 month old! We took him to the pumpkin patch to get pumpkins and as excepted he was unamused but it did get him out in the fresh air! Luckily it wasn't really cold and rainy like it had been the past couple of days. It was pretty muddy though and with me still hobbling around we made a straight shot for the first row and luckily found a couple that would work pretty quickly! As we walked back up to pay for them we thought about how next year and every year after, will be so different! We may even take the hayride down to the pumpkins next year! : )

While Albert and I carved pumpkins he slept (yay!). I was a bit worried Antonio wouldn't let us carve the pumpkins; well at least not in one night but we got lucky!

We were given an hand me down bumble bee costume from my cousin to wear; thank goodness Halloween was now because it was barely long enough to snap! He was so cute in it; he didn't even fuss about it either! I wondered if he'd like the hat that goes with it or hate it but really it didn't even faze him! We took him out to our next door neighbors and the neighbor across the street to "trick or treat"! Albert enjoyed getting the candy for him and eating it too! : ) They were so excited to see him all dressed up and so big. We are really lucky; we have GREAT neighbors. They are all retired but not the old, old kind. I'd guess they were the age of my parents...approximately (so not SUPER old, ha ha ha!). Regardless, they loved it and Antonio was great! We got back home, inside, him changed and he was passed out within 10 min! It was a good 1st Halloween for him! Next year will be even more fun and so on!

We ran out of candy by about 7:30 and there were still plenty of trick or treaters! I guess thats good since it was time to get Antonio fed and into his jammies! I hope you all had a fun, safe and uneventful Halloween!

March 1st!

It's official, I am staying home with Antonio until March 1st; hooray! I am so relieved that I will be able to. We were waiting to see if Albert's insurance could get us on right away since mine will no longer be in effect as of the 25th of November if I stay at home with Antonio. As you know, we NEED our insurance! We found out that yes, they will make us effective now! Phew! For those of you who are wondering, no, we did not win the lottery unfortunately. As most of you know, my Grandma passed away last month and left me with a little bit of inheritance that will be used to stay home for a few extra months! We are so thankful for it! I know my Grandma would be glad we were able to use it in this way too!

With all of my "injuries" I have felt like we (Antonio and I) haven't had the chance to really bond or even have fun together and thats had me bummed. We (I) feel so lucky to be able to spend this time with him. Also with missing out on the holidays last year (dealing with the ALL day sickness) I am so excited to be able to bake, decorate, sing carols and repeat! Poor Antonio! ; ) As of March 1st we'll have to put Antonio in daycare which neither Albert or I are looking forward to. Sure there are a few (very few) benefits about him going to daycare; like learning social skills, making friends and unfortunately building that immune system! We are so happy he won't be in a daycare environment or anything like it during this flu season! With all the hoopla about Swine flu added to the mix it is just good to keep him with me! So please pray that I stay healthy from here on out so we can all (Albert included even though he has to work) enjoy this time together!

Flu shots...

Albert and I both went and got flu shots yesterday for the sake of Antonio. Last year I had gotten one for the first time in either forever or at least a very long time. Not knowing then I was pregnant, I decided to get one since my employer gave us a voucher for a free one and I wanted to see if I'd have any weird reaction so when I did get pregnant I know it wouldn't be all that bad. Well turns out I was already pregnant and didn't know it AND luckily I never got sick with the flu, just sick with first trimester and beyond sickness. Good times...yuck!

Anyways, we went to The Everett Clinic yesterday evening to get the shots since they are close and we were all to familiar with them. The Everett Clinic is who I have gone through for all my pregnancy appointments, my gall bladder and then most recently my achilles tendon. When we got there we had to fill out a form saying who we were and if we'd gone through The Everett Clinic before or not. Well I knew I had and I thought Albert had but wasn't sure so I hoped there wouldn't be an issue for him. So once the paperwork was filled out we were (along with about 30 others) called up one by one to check ID and insurance. Well we of course were called, the lady found Albert in their system (phew) but not me (what???). She asked if I was sure I had been to an Everett Clinic previously, I couldn't help but laugh! I assured her I had and mentioned that my employer had just changed insurance companies the 1st of October but since she found Albert she should be able to find me. After about 5 minutes she found me; thank goodness. In the past 3 months I have been to The Everett Clinic 4 times so I KNEW I was in their system. In the end we did get our shots and hope that we will stay healthy this flu season.

upside down and a runny nose!

Yup, Antonio has officially gotten the worst cold of his life, never mind it is also his first! ; ) We aren't sure how he caught it but he did and now I have it too! It started with a crazy runny nose, congestion and sneezing. Now it is primarily major congestion, cough and sneezing. Poor little guy! When he sucks on his binky he sounds like a wild animal growling; it's actually kinda sad. Immediately after he sneezes he coughs in a chocking sort of way. Basically, since he is frequently on his back, he sneezes the "stuff" up then chokes on it going back down all while he gets a concerned look on his face. I know, gross and I am sure you could've gone through the day without the details....sorry. We've for the first time used the suction ball thingy they tell you to use when they get like this. We have to squirt saline up his nose then use the suction thing to get the gunk out and he takes it all pretty well. He gets a scared look on his face during the process and I can understand why. It helps though, I think. Luckily he hasn't had a fever though! He's been a little fussier than normal but not a whole lot thank goodness. I am guessing his throat probably hurts from all that drainage too because mine does. Poor guy!

The past week he has found the ceiling extremely interesting as does he enjoy looking at things upside down instead of just turning his head. There is probably a connection with that and having a cold but it is kinda cute. He will just stare at the ceiling for a good 5 minutes at a time. It's like he just realized there is always something over his head. Next week is Halloween and we were given a hand-me-down costume from my cousin Suzanne to wear! We won't go trick or treating but we will put it on and possibly go to out neighbors to show him off; oh and of course take pictures! Stay tuned for those. Until then, have a safe and happy Halloween!

3 months!

Well as of the 11th Antonio is 3 months! Man, time does fly in the big picture! Antonio is a big boy that continues to grow. We don't know how big exactly he is now but we do know he seems to get heavier and heavier every day! A small part of me can't wait until he starts crawling so he can work of some of this weight or at least burn off what he eats. Then the other part of me realizes that that is just around the corner and that I don't want him to grow any more. As I sort through his clothes to give to other new babies that are on their way I realize just how fast he is growing. He officially doesn't fit into any Carters clothes that are 3 months. Yup, 6 months clothes here we come. Some other brands he manages to still fit 3 months but not for long. It is amazing! He is now smiling when Albert or I come into the room; he knows who we are now. He follows us around with his eyes. It is the best thing! As you all know my parents are on their year long trip all over and Albert's mom is in California so we all have become very familiar with Skype! We try to Skype with both my parents and Albert's mom at least once a week or when my parents have internet. We want Antonio to as familiar and comfortable as possible with both when they are around.

Antonio is continuing to talk up a storm. The squeals of happiness is the best sound in the WORLD! His is just starting to be able to "grab" things in front of him. However he pretty much swings and misses but occasionally he gets his target and grabs hold for a moment, then isn't sure what to do and usually drops it. He's getting it though. He is liking tummy time for longer periods of time as well and we have tried to put him on the floor more (even though I have an extremely hard time getting back up right now) and he is getting so he can lift one side of his body but thats it. The whole turning over thing is right around the corner, I can feel it. I've heard from some people that they've put their baby on their back on the floor, look away, look back and they are on they're tummy. For now I am enjoying the immobile stage. Once he starts turning over its all down (or up depending on how you look at it) hill. : ) Antonio has also begun to drool like crazy! He started this a couple weeks ago and now I try to put a bib on him to catch it otherwise the top half is wet within an hour! He has also found his thumb and fist and has decided they taste good. No, he is not teething.....yet. I have felt his gums and don't seem to feel anything and I am guessing when a tooth is starting to come through I'll feel it. That too could be soon.

I am slowly healing from the latest achilles tendon tear. It will be and is a slow healing injury but I hope to be able to walk with Antonio by the end of the week. I do know it could be awhile before I am fully pain free with it and healed but I just want to be able to walk and carry Antonio again. I had a tease for two weeks Antonio and I were free. We were free to do what we wanted. I could carry him, hold him and walk around the block in his stroller with him. It was great. It was the first time I was healed from everything and able to go places with him. I can't wait until this tendon thing is good so we can go back to that. Soon I know. Day by day, that is how I have deal with all this!

Below are a few pictures over the past week or two. Enjoy!

Everything DOES happen in 3's...

So it is true, the third thing has happened and now I should be good from here on out. On Wednesday I found out I have torn my achilles tendon on my left ankle. First it was a last minute cesarean for Antonio, then it was the removal of my gal bladder and now the tear. I must have done something horrible to someone at some point to get this kind of karma. Regardless, here I am again, housebound, couch bound and in need of help to take care of my baby. It is so incredibly frustrating. Luckily Albert is a great dad and helps out all the time! He has stayed home the past couple days to take care of Antonio but those days have been unpaid for him.

Previous to this, Antonio and I had a great couple weeks. Once I was cleared to carry him on the 18th I went for it. He and I went to Target, my work to see the guys (and 2 gals), Babies R Us and even our weekly class all by ourselves! It was great! We played on the floor, read stories, sang songs and even did "situps". I was finally feeling like a mom! Albert thinks that maybe I tore my tendon getting up off the floor....I am not that old yet am I? Antonio is doing great. He started to sleep through the night for a week then has gone back to not. Now he goes down between 8:30 and 9 then wakes about 1 or 2 then sleeps again until about 4 or 5. I am not sure what happened to revert him back to not sleeping thru; we're hoping he goes back to it! He is starting to recognize the bottle and if you don't put it in his mouth quick enough he leans forward to it. Also when we sit and look at his mirror that lights up he sometimes pulls away from me to lean towards it! So impressive....I know its not huge but it's the little things! We love him more and more each day!