Kolton 2.0

You knew it would happen.  I have been going on and on and on for a year now about what a good baby I have.  Well let me introduce you to Kolton 2.0  Don't get me wrong, he's still a sweet little boy.  HOWEVER, Kolton 2.0 can throw a pretty major tantrum!  He had two major meltdowns this week.  Both took place in the car so there was nothing I could do.  He cried and thrashed around for a good 20 minutes each time.  Totally working himself up to the point that when I finally was able to get him out he was completely drenched; and completely fine.  Obviously something is going on with the car seat but holy Hannah-never had he ever threw a fit like that!

Kolton 2.0 is on the go so much more now.  All he wants to do is cruise furniture.  It's so funny to see him go from couch, to ottoman, to other couch, to end table and back again.  He still reaches out to me for support, which I love.  Thus far he hasn't really tested the waters of letting go.  Apparently he was standing in his crib when Mike went to get him after his nap today.  And I missed it!  I've totally been waiting for that moment and I missed it...I was out shopping.  I'm sure there will be firsts that Mike will miss so it was kind of cool that he got to see that.

I got pretty used to being able to take him places.  Whether it was shopping, a nice restaurant, or an AOII meeting he was such a content little guy.  Kolton 2.0 is not content, not for long anyway!
And don't even get me started on Kolton 2.0's refusal to eat vegetables!

I still believe I have the best little baby in the world and I'll continue to brag about him!  I can't help myself; just look at that face =)

Thank You Grandma & Grandpa Junkans for the awesome birthday present!

Rant: Waiting

I even took off his pants to save time.  A lot of good it did me!

I have a small rant today.  Is it so wrong to think its perfectly acceptable for a mother to be slightly late for an appointment and at the same time be completely ludicrous, borderline cruel, to make that mother wait for over 1/2 hour beyond the set appointment time?????  Kolton had an urology follow up appointment today.  I arrived exactly on time; 2:20.  We checked in and were shown to or exam room very quickly.  Then we waited, and waited, and waited,  Just as I was hitting my boiling point and getting ready to walk out at 3:05 the doc came in.  Was I being punished for being exactly on time?  It was a children's urology center so they should know that #1) its hard to get any where on time with a child and #2) its even harder to entertain said child for a 1/2 hour in an exam room!!!!!!!  Ugh!  OK, I'm done...Of course I had no reason to be late; i just had to stop and get gas =)  Oh yeah, and the reason that angel face in the picture had a meltdown was because I wouldn't let him eat the chair!  Has anyone ever stormed out of a doctor's office for having to wait too long?

One Year STATS

I've been playing around with an app on my iPhone that allows me to edit my pictures.  I'm really trying to decide whether or not I want to get a fancy, nice, camera like the one Megan used for Kolton's birthday party.  I think the bottom line is I definitely want one for special events.  But I doubt I will carry it with me every where.  So everyday photos will continue to be taken with my phone...which is just crazy in itself =)

Here is another one

Kolton had is one year old check up yesterday.  Here are his STATS

Weight: 20 lbs 2 oz  30%

Height:  30.5 Inches 75%

Head:  18.5 Inches  75%

At this appointment they did a little finger prick.  I expected Kolton to cry hysterically.  Nope, not a peep.  He watched with interest as the nurse continued to squeeze his finger to get enough drops of blood to fill a little test tube.  What a brave boy!  Of course he screamed his head off when he got his shots but he was still completely fine by the time we left the office.  I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this pediatrician.  Nothing is really wrong with her.  I guess I just don't find her incredibly warm and cuddly.  She made some comment about Kolton being a really allergic kid.  Um what?  That's news to me.  When I asked her what she meant by that she said that she can tell by looking into his nose that he'll have some allergy issues...GREAT!

The Big One

Kolton's birthday party was on Saturday. It turned out better than I ever could have dreamed; or been able to pull off at home.  We held it at one of our favorite gathering spots in Baltimore.  It was so great not to have to worry about running out of anything, restocking, or serving.  All of our friends in the Baltimore/DC area came to celebrate with us...around 30 people or so.  We felt incredibly loved!

The theme was cupcakes.  I ordered a giant cupcake for Kolton's smash cake along with regular cupcakes for  the adults from a woman from my MOMS Club here in Richmond.  Thank you Marci Foote from Sugarfoote Custom Cakes! 

I found awesome cupcake balloons, plates, napkins, etc at Party City.

He wasn't so into getting his hands messy but he did eat all of those little sugar buttons from around the bottom.  Yes...all of them!

I'm not exactly planning on throwing a big bash like this for him every year.  Just milestones with smaller celebrations in between.  So the next one will be when Kolton turns 5.  The scary thing is Mike will be turning 40 (Mike's Birthday was on the 15th).  Hmmmm, I'm sure I'll figure out a fun way to combine the two!  Because everyone knows I love to throw a good party.

So what am I going to do with myself now you ask?  Well the other big news to come out of the weekend was Kristin & Alec got engaged!!!!!  The two are like family to me.  Bring on the wedding planning =)

1 Year Old!

My Darling Baby Boy,

Today is your very first birthday.  I've been thinking a lot about what I wanted to say to you today.  I feel like it should be something profound; putting into words how much you mean to me and changed my life for the better.  The thing is I'm just starting to scratch the surface of those feelings and can barely understand them myself let alone describe all of them.  So today I'm going to keep things short and sweet because as I've been thinking there has been one message coming through loud and clear.  The simple truth is that you make my life make sense.  All of the ups and downs, twists and turns, highs and lows, somehow it all lead me to you.   I am beyond blessed to be your mama.  I Love You...more than words can say.

Birthday Eve

One year ago tonight I packed my bags and set out on a night that would change my world forever.  The funny thing about a planned induction is it feels a lot like checking into a hotel.  You have your suitcase, confirm your reservation, and "check in".  I was told to eat a really good meal as I wouldn't be allowed food until the baby was born and would need enough to sustain a good 24 hours without eating.  So prior to checking in at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Mike and I had dinner with friends at Outback.  I know, not the most glamorous of choices but I really wanted steak as my last meal!  I remember feeling nervous and excited but mostly calm.  I'm a planner and this arrangement of knowing when my baby boy would be born totally agreed with me.  Well, like most things in life, karma has a funny way of kicking you in the ass.  Because I really had no idea what I was in for!

We were shown to our room and I was hooked up to the fetal monitor.  In passing the nurse mentioned that it was a full moon and the staff was eagerly anticipating what the night might bring.  I thought I remembered hearing some sort of urban legend about maternity wards and full moons but really, what could really happen????  A lot, it turns out.  After I was admitted a slew of women came in already in labor.  I was scheduled to be there but these women were having their babies and having them quickly while I waited and waited for the doctor to come in to start the induction process.  We probably waited for a good 3 hours before the Dr. had time to get to me.  Without getting too graphic a substance was applied to soften my cervix. The nurse told me that although rare, sometimes thats all it takes to get the labor process moving.  More than likely Pitocin would be administered in the morning and my baby would be born 24 hours from now (11:00 pm).

Between the damn IV and the fetal monitor I was extremely uncomfortable.  Especially because I had to pee every 5 minutes and had to unplug myself and navigate the IV thingy every time I had to go.  I started to realize I must be having contractions.  The nurse assured me I wasn't in labor as labor contractions occur in measurable sections of time; not all over the place as I seemed to be.  Of course it was hard to get any answers because the doctor was still up to her elbows in deliveries.

Once the pain started all bets were off the table.  I had no idea what was going on.  Why was I in so much pain if I wasn't in labor?  I was given something to take the edge off, and again told I was not in labor and should sleep while I can.  I rested for maybe 10 minutes before the pain really started.  Ummmm, I thought I was going to be able to sleep?  I just couldn't wrap my mind around what was happening?  I ended up being THAT GIRL screaming in pain.  Mike was finally able to wrangle a nurse in my room and although they were hesitant to check me (at the risk of infection) they did.  Somehow I had managed to dilate from a 3 to like a 7 in a matter of hours...I honestly don't remember the exact number but my epidural was ordered.  Before getting an epidural you have to get a whole bag of IV fluids...it took FOREVER!!!!  By the time the anesthesiologist came in with the giant needle I was in so much pain I had trouble sitting still.  "You'll be able to sleep now" the nurse said.  Where have I heard that before????

Once again no more than 10 minutes later I started to feel what I can only describe has PRESSURE.  Ever try to hold in a fart?  This was like 100 million times worse.  I called the nurse in and told her what I was feeling.  "Well don't push" she said.  "I don't think I really have a choice!" I replied.  So again there was concern over checking my dilation but once they did they started setting up for the birth.  The baby was coming in the next hour!  It was about 6:30 AM.

The on-call doctor, whom I had met, showed up.  My doc was on her way in.  I got my legs up in the stirrups...OMG how is this going to feel???  I was kind of scared!  This is where things get really scary/fast/hectic.  The doctor broke my water and showed signs of concern.  Something was beeping near by, my son's heart rate monitor.  She said, "Traci, we are going to do a C-section otherwise I'm afraid the baby will die.  We need to get him out now!"  I was screaming in pain, the nurses were frantically trying to convert the bed back down and unplug me while someone shouted "somebody cover her up!"  WHAT WAS HAPPENING?!?!?!

As I'm being wheeled to the OR the Dr. is demanding the anesthesiologist.  A different one than the one that administered my epidural shows up and they exchange words.  I wish I were making this up but they were literally having an argument over me about whether or not I should be put out.  My Dr. was pretty adamant she wanted me under ASAP while the anesthesiologist insisted he could get me numb or whatever.  Well for what ever reason it didn't work...I think she tested it by nicking me with a scalpel.  They were going to put me under and when they do that Mike could not come in the delivery room.  A nurse grabbed my hand and I remember hearing "Propofol on board" and all I could think was "Oh, Michael Jackson!"  I looked to the sky and thought, this is either going to turn out OK or it is not and at this point I just have no control.  However, I will admit that I had confidence that everything was going to be fine.  Maybe I just didn't want to admit the alternative was just as likely.

Before I opened my eyes I heard Mike on the phone with my Dad.  Letting him know Kolton had arrived and was fine.  He filled him in on some other details and said he would send out pictures as soon as I had a chance to meet him.

Kolton Michael Junkans was born at 7:51 AM on January 19th.  A mere 9 hours or so after the induction process began without me ever actually getting pitocin.  So much for 24 hours!  And life would never be the same...

51 Weeks!

My plan for perfectly posed weekly photos went out the window a long time ago.  Like a lot of things with motherhood I'm finding it best just to let go and capture moments as they truly are.  Note:  Kolton's bare feet.  We've been practicing walking every chance we get.  It makes a big difference for him to be able to feel the floor beneath his toes.  He reaches out for Mike and me to sturdy him and it just melts us both.  It's the realization that we are there to help him through life's struggles.  I bet Aaron Rodgers called his mom after that terrible loss last night!

It's the Cheesiest

Feeding a toddler.  Why is it so hard?  I'm seriously considering stocking up on purees again.  Kolton was a champion puree eater.  It made me feel good knowing he was getting all of the recommended vitamins and then some.  Now, I am getting so sick of wasting food!  And I feel like he isn't getting enough.  Of course he loves his mac n cheese.  But I can't give him mac n cheese at every meal...can I?

Oh, and what sort of time limit do you impose?  On one hand I worry about him eating enough but on the other once we've reached about a 1/2 hour of picking at it I think we're both done!

Date Night

All week I was looking forward to my first official date night with Mike.  Our 4 year wedding anniversary was on December 29th.  It seems like every year one of us has been sick plus it always manages to get swept up into the holiday rat race.  So we've never really done anything to celebrate.  This year was going to be different!  Yeah, right...  This year Kolton decided tonight was the perfect night to get his first fever.  We had been out shopping for a few hours and outside of being a little cranky here and there, presumably from being tied down to the stroller, he was relatively fine.  But when we got home a little later than expected and he refused to eat or take a bottle I started to wonder if something else was wrong.  Instead he wimpered and cuddled into me as I rocked him down for a nap.  I was just getting into the shower when I heard he was awake.  When Mike came into the bathroom and told me he still wouldn't take a bottle I just knew we were not going to make it out tonight.  Sure enough Kolton was burning up.  His temp read 101.3 but it was the way he was acting more than anything that let me know there was no was we could leave him with a sitter who was due to arrive in a 1/2 hour!  Thankfully she doesn't live too far away so I was able to cancel before she left the house.  A short while later Kolton threw up.  Oh boy, here we go I thought.  Then he wimpered more and cuddled more and went to sleep some more.  I was soooooo worried!  But after a dose of Little Fevers and another hour of sleep Kolton woke up and took a bottle.  Although not all of it stayed down most of it did and he smiled, laughed, played, and was his overall normal self.  I wish I could have gotten him to look up for a photo because nothing thrilled me more than to see the sparkle back in his eyes!  Happy Anniversary Sweetie!  We are the luckiest parents in the world to have such a sweet baby boy!

50 Weeks!

Crap!  With all of the holiday craziness I totally dropped the ball on taking weekly pictures!  Shoot, shoot, shoot!  I almost made it the entire year taking photos of him in that chair.  Oh well...I'm not really sure what I was planning to do with all of them.  I was thinking of making a photo book on shutterfly or something like that.  Whoops!  I'll probably still do that even though there is this 2 week gap now.

This week has been all about finding new things for Kolton to eat.  It's actually been a lot of fun experimenting.  Today was the first time I went to the grocery store and did not buy any baby food.  Instead I bought regular things like applesauce, cottage cheese, yogurt, and bananas.  I'm struggling with the protein though.  So I got these single serve chicken breasts and figured I'd cook it like I do for Sophie when I give her chicken and rice for an upset stomach.  So if anyone has any suggestions I'm all ears!  Today was the first time I gave him corn & peas...yes I found some whole ones in his diaper tonight =)

Almost Perfect

Today was one of those almost perfect days.  Kolton slept in until nearly 9:00!  Then, after running a quick errand, we went to Panera for breakfast where an older couple oohed and aahed over my little guy.  After they departed I looked up to find a young boy also waiting to tell me what a cute baby I have.  Meanwhile Kolton experimented with musk mellon and seemed to enjoyed it quite a bit.  Back at home he went down for a nap and I caught up on my internet musings. Time really flies that way!  Before I knew it it was time to head to our afternoon play date that consisted of 4 boys and 2 girls.  Nothing like coffee and conversation to pass the afternoon.  For dinner I gave my little guy a shot at my favorite food...Mexican!  He ate almost a whole cheese quesadilla from Qdoba and applesauce.  I would have liked to give him a little more play time before his bath but something in his diaper told me it was time.  Bath time was a joy complete with squeals of laughter and splashing.

So am I making you gag yet????

 After being in WI for almost two weeks I'm working on getting Kolton back in his normal routine.  Think daylight savings and quitting smoking at the same time.  After being completely coddled and spoiled by the Grandma's I'm sure there are some withdraw symptoms.  The payback for his late wake time was that he was not ready to go to bed at 7:30 and I don't rock him until he falls asleep. I  know, I'm a big meany!!!  So I instituted the ingenious rule set up by my friends the Kirkhams.  You let the baby wail and cry for as many minutes as he is months old.  It helped that I had dishes to do so the running water drowned out what I didn't want to hear.  Guess how many minutes it took Kolton to stop crying?  Exactly 11!  After 10 minutes 50 seconds of bottle washing I turned on the monitor and still heard sobs.  In the 10 or so seconds it took me to get up the stairs he had stopped.  I almost ruined it when I poked my head into his room but no joke he was asleep!  I hate having him fall asleep that way.  I guess I just think being upset will carry over into his dreams.  But I just checked on him and he's snoring peacefully.  So outside of those 10 minutes we had a great day!

2011: A Year In Review

JANUARY

Kolton Michael Junkans was born January 19th, 2011 at 7:51am

8lbs 7ounces, 21 inches

His birth was pretty traumatic.  I ended up having an emergency C section and was even put under for the procedure.  I didn't meet my little man for a few hours after he was born as I had to come out of anesthesia and be moved to the maternity floor.  I was instantly in love from the moment Mike put him in my arms

I'm not going to lie; that first month was tough.  I had trouble breast feeding and Kolton wasn't gaining weight.  In the end I pumped and supplemented with formula.  I'll be honest I had no idea exactly how to care for him.  Mike and squabbled a little here and there about what we thought was right.  And Oh, those sleepless nights!  My advice to any new mom...take some birthing classes but also take some infant care classes!  The nurses will help you through the birth but no one is there to tell you what to do at home.

 FEBRUARY

Hanging out in the "Green Jungle" as we called it.  At this point I really thought we were in for a dark haired, brown eyed, little spitting image of his mama.  Can't you see why?  

MARCH

I think this photo was taken around 5am as that was his usual rise time.  We would go downstairs and watch country music videos...there isn't much on at 5am!  I love this one because it pretty much shows that Sophie is never far away and looks after him constantly.  I laugh because I also see the pacifier which her never really latched on to. 

APRIL

Looking back I can't believe how much he changed in just 3 short months.  But I remember that time seemed to go by very slowly.  April was when Mike told me it was very likely we were going to have to move away from Baltimore.

MAY

 At 4 months Kolton started jamming his hands in his mouth.  I just thought he had discovered his hands.  Little did I know he was already cutting two teeth!  I feel like he hasn't stopped cutting teeth since then.  He has 8 now and constantly chews his fingers which I'm guessing means those molars are coming soon.

JUNE

 Time for Kolton's surgery.  When he was born we were told that he only had one testicle and even that one hadn't descended.  The surgery was successful and we brought our little guy home with 2 perfectly normal testis.  He also had two hernias repaired and the circumcision done at the same time.  It was an outpatient procedure and he quickly recovered at home.  This was also when I quit working to be a stay at home mom.

JULY

Probably one of my all time favorite photos!  Kolton's 1st trip to Ocean City.

AUGUST

By August we were living in Richmond, VA

SEPTEMBER

In the south summer lasts for a lot longer than in WI!

OCTOBER

I couldn't get enough of this cute tiger costume.

NOVEMBER

Kolton crawled for the first time right before Thanksgiving. The allure of Sophie's dishes are like moths to a flame =)

DECEMBER

Santa's first visit to Kolton.  We are still in WI for our holiday visit and cherishing this time spent with family.

Looking back at the year like this makes it seem ridiculously short!  I also realize that 2011 was all about me learning how to care for an infant.  Kolton's needs were relatively basic the whole year...eat, sleep, and poop.  With the strides he's made this past week alone I know that 2012 will be all about him...walking, talking, learning, and growing.  OMG I can't wait!  Happy New Year!!!