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Dutch, Christmas 2008

The Post Office

Taking Dutch to the Post Office is like hitting myself in the head with a hammer: everyone around me wonders why and I have a huge headache when it's over.

Feeling Bad About Feeling Bad

I had my ultrasound on Monday morning, bright and early so Chris wouldn't be late for work (which he was anyway).  Before I tell you about it, let me tell you about Dutch's ultrasound, something I've never blogged about.

When I got pregnant with Dutch I KNEW that my baby was little Ivy Mae and she was going to be a red-head and the cutest little thing on the planet.  I planned out her nursery (black, red, and white with Olivia accessories), I started thinking about all of the cute clothes I would buy her, and the great books we would read together.  Chris luckily prevented me from buying anything that wasn't gender neutral, otherwise I would have had a lot of girl clothes I could never use!

When we got to the dark room where they were going to do the ultrasound the tech asked if I wanted to know the gender.  "Yes," I said, "but it's a girl."  She then proceeded to do the exam.  As I saw her looking at the baby from all different angles I said, "Is that what I think it is?"  Yup, it was a boy.

I cried.  Just one little tear while we were in the room, but I was devastated.  (Just as a funny side-note, when we left the building I saw a sign for Weiner Real Estate, which is probably pronounced "whiner," but it made me bawl.)

Of course I got over it and love my Dutchie so much I can't imagine life without him.  But I still really want a girl.  With this pregnancy I was cautiously hopeful that it was my little Scout Rowe.  Chris has been worried that I would be disappointed if it was another boy.  The night before the ultrasound I had an overpowering feeling that it was a boy.  I cried again.

The ultrasound confirmed that it's another boy.  I tried so hard not to feel bad, because I feel guilty for feeling bad.  My baby boy is healthy and perfect and there are people who have always wanted a boy who will never get one.  I can't help it though, I want a baby girl.

Pretty soon I'll accept the fact that it's a boy and start getting excited.  Just give me a few days.

Uncharted Territory

It's always a good day when I get to spend it with my family.  Yesterday Dutch and I attended a birthday party for my cousin's son Joseph.  We got to see lots of family and it was awesome.

I would like to say that Dutch was a sweetie who did not hit, shove, or kick anyone.  I would like to say that he did not have to go to time-out five times and that he was very generous with his sharing.  Of course, I can't.  My big guy was a big bully and hit and kicked and shoved both Joseph and Athena (but mostly Athena, she's more his size, I guess).  It was embarrassing and infuriating in equal parts.

So the question of the week is: how do I get my sweet boy to stop hitting EVERYONE (including Chris, Bo, and me)?  Is there a tried and true method to stop my Dutchie from being a big fat bully?

Everybody Poops

Dutch used the toilet for the first time today! I am such a proud mama and Chris was in there to help him wash his hands and all that.  Great first step toward potty training!

A List for Tuesday

5 Things I Hate Doing Alone
1. Going anywhere in public with Dutch
2. Grocery shopping
3. Eating at a restaurant
4. Going to sleep
5. Flying

5 Things I Love Doing Alone
1. Going to the movies
2. Shopping for books
3. Going to the library
4. Taking naps
5. Writing

Tiny Dancer

Dutch has been doing this dance where he bends his knees and shuffles forward and backward.  His hands are in fists and he rubs them together.  It's hilarious!

Also, his favorite movie used to be Cars (which he called Go), but now it's Toy Story (which he calls Buzz).  I'm grateful for this, because at least now I can rotate between Toy Story movies and don't have to watch the same one over and over and over and over and over again.  Seriously, I was this close to snapping the Cars DVD in half.

Favorite Picture Friday

Dutch, Christmas 2008

An Open Plea For Help

Dutch is not sleeping at night and it's beginning to be a huge problem.  He goes to bed between 8 and 10, depending on when we can get him to finally settle down.  We have a nighttime schedule that we follow every night, but, despite what the books say, this does not help him settle down.  Anywhere between 11pm and 2am he will wake up and come in our room where Chris has him lay down on the floor next to our bed.  This sometimes works for an hour or so, but usually Dutch is up and about all night.  I woke up this morning to find that he had used his rocking horse as a step-stool, climbed on top of the dryer and gotten into his fruit snacks and extra juice.  He had opened 4 of the 6 and drank a little from each of them.

All his nightly wanderings are starting to get to me.  Last night I literally could not wake myself up enough to get him because I've been so exhausted.  He finally goes to sleep somewhere around 5 or 6 and wakes up between 8 and 10.  Meaning I wake up between 8 and 10 too. I'm pretty sure the three of us have not gotten a consistent night's sleep all year long and it has to stop.  I can't Dutch proof my house entirely since he has figured out how to climb up (he can even get into the freezer now).

How can I get him to sleep through the night?  Any help is appreciated.  Short of drugging him I'm willing to try anything.

Some Catching Up

There's a lot of little things that I haven't blogged about, but I'll blog about all of them in one fell swoop.

Dutch is sick.  He has Fifth Disease, which sounds super-serious, but it's just a little virus.  It starts with cold-like symptoms and ends up in a rash on his face, chest, and in some cases the arms, but Dutch only has it on his chest and face.  It's uncomfortable, but not life-threatening or anything.  It can, however, be bad for pregnant women so I have to talk to my doctor about it today and see what I need to do.  I'm crossing my fingers I won't need a blood test because I HATE getting blood drawn.

Chris and I were talking about trying to potty train Dutch before the baby comes, but we didn't want to push him into doing it.  Then, the other day, he was in the bathroom and asked for help to lift up the toilet lid.  He only pretended to pee, but it's a great step in the right direction!  I'm just glad he's showing some interest in using the toilet.

His speech therapy is going both good and bad.  Bad because his behavior has been increasingly hostile at Abby's visits (not towards her, but towards the games themselves), but good because at Abby's last visit she brought Sue, a behavior specialist, who told us that there are two reasons kids throw tantrums: to avoid or for attention.  Dutch's tantrums are to avoid doing anything he's afraid he won't be good at or doesn't want to do. So we have a new plan in place for Abby's next visit.  In the meantime, Chris and I have been working really hard with him to use the words we know he can say.  He's doing great!

Sweetums is 18 weeks now and we'll find out the gender in 2 weeks on the 20th.  We're going to wait until Christmas to tell anyone though, so it will be a nice surprise!  I'm feeling good, but tired all the time.  My energy level is so low that I rarely feel like putting on makeup and doing my hair, but I make sure Dutch gets the bulk of my energy, and that's what matters.  Chris has been great about stepping up and taking over when he can tell I'm exhausted.

Speaking of Chris, his days are getting longer and longer.  It's hard not having a set schedule, but he's enjoying the work so I guess that's what matters.  He's contracted not to work more than 50 hours a week and he hasn't exceeded that, but some days it feels like it!  Especially when Dutch is being extra naughty (just like his cousin Evie).

We've decided to skip the trip to sit on Santa's lap this year since it was so traumatic last year.  Maybe next year he'll understand a little better and like him more.

Okay, I think that's everything for now.

Favorite Picture Friday

3 Mr Clean Magic Erasers and several hours later Dutch's walls, door, nightstand, bed and windowsill are now free from crayon, highlighter, pen, and chalk marks.

On a completely unrelated note: 

does anyone know how to get crayon off windows?

Happy Birthday Heidi!

This is Carianne with Heidi because I couldn't find one of just me and Heidi.  Just pretend Carianne is me.

Today my sister Heidi turns 30!  Heidi and I have always been close (except that brief time in high school when I was way too cool for family).  I can talk to her about things I can't talk to anyone else about.  We talk on the phone at least every week and, when she lives close enough, I try to see her every few months.

When I tell other people about Heidi I always say she's the nicest person in the world, but you still like her.  If my parents had been inclined they could have often asked me "Why can't you be more like Heidi?"  Because we all saw Heidi as being the most perfect one in the family.  But, again, we didn't hate her for it.  She's just too nice for you not to love.

We had lots of bizarre adventures together, like the time we drove all the way to Richfield only to realize we'd forgotten our money.  And Christmas Eve Heather and Heidi and I would all sleep in Heidi's room (because hers was the only clean one).  We had a lot of the same friends and I didn't mind hanging out with Heidi, especially once we weren't at the same high school and I stopped feeling like everyone was comparing me to her.

Heidi's the only one who can make an open-face peanut butter and honey sandwich as good as my Omi could.  When I go to her house I stock up on snuggles, arm rubs, and back-scratching because I don't really get those at home.

I can call Heidi with the most random questions about a book or a movie or a quote from a movie or an actor from a movie and she can answer it immediately, even when Google couldn't!  We have a lot of the same tastes in books, movies and TV shows and we mail books back and forth all the time.

I love you so much, Sister, and I wish you lived closer so we could hang out more and Dutch could be spoiled by his cousins more often.  Happy birthday and I can't wait to see you.