Volcano Gender Reveal!

We decided to find out the gender this time just Alex and I and then we would still through a party for our friends telling them the gender.  It was a lot of fun!

I started with my students.  I asked them if they thought baby was a boy or
girl.  We planned on using their data at the reveal.  I made sure to do this before the ultrasound so that I did not show any tell when they were guessing!  They guessed girl!

Tuesday we had our ultrasound.  It was so amazing to see our sweet, healthy baby!

Next was making the volcano!  I made the volcano from an personal little milk.  I chose this because the opening was bigger than a water bottle and shorter than the vase I was going to use.

I then made the "lava." I mixed one box of baking soda (I have to do this 3 times: 1 at the party, 1 for my AM 4k, and 1 for my PM 4k so I need quite a bit.  Someone doing this once would need only 1 box.)  I put 1/2 a bottle of food coloring in the baking soda and stirred it it until there were no dark clumps.  I left in a ice cream container hidden in a closet in case someone visited to "dry out" over night.

I then made the volcano.  I made a batch of salt dough:
1 cup salt
1 cup water
2 cups flour
and stirred until dough like.  I the formed it around the milk bottle.  I had some left over so I rolled it out to make letters "Boy or Girl?"
I left that to dry overnight as well.

The morning of the party, I put the lava in with a paper funnel and put the top back on the milk container.  We are party ready!

Party day we put the volcano out for display and had the vinegar on stand by.  We had everyone vote on their down on the vote tally based on the wives tales.

As soon as everyone was there, we got ready to to the volcano or I would explode with the knowledge!

ITS A GIRL!

January

Nolan Alex

This month, Nolan had his traumatic day in the classroom (see post).  At least he is smiling and no permanent damage!

We lost my parents dog, Big Annie. :(

Daddy had his birthday!  Nolan went to visit daddy at work and was such a big boy.  He walked in the stores, into the restaurant to pick up his dinner, and right into daddy's store.  He was such a big boy!  

Nolan has been asking and asking for a baby.  He keeps stealing Rylee (our neighbor)'s babys when they are together once a week.  Daddy got Nolan a baby on his birthday.  Nolan loves to give his BeBe its baba.  

Nolan loves wearing boots, his new Mickey hat, and jammies.  This is how we went to visit daddy.

Nolan decided to steal mommy's sub and eat it.  It was his first time eating a sandwich like this.  He is such a big boy.

Nolan had his first trip to the Building for Kids.  He loved the cars, water table, and balls.  We went with the Wundrows and we all had so much fun!  Nolan even fell asleep on the short car ride home.  We will definitely be getting a membership there in the near future.

We got to visit with the Rusch family before they went back to North Carolina.  Jaxson and Nolan are 3 weeks apart and it is so fun to see them play together (and fight).  Toddlers are so funny together!

Nolan is getting good at copying names.  Here he is saying goodbye to our neighbors and sitter (the sitter watches all 3)

Nolan is getting into trouble.  Things we never thought we would say as parents, "Nolan, we dont put our feet through basketball hoops."  Then he did it anyway, and needed help.

Nolan really really loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  He now can name characters.  Mickey is still Hot Dog though!  So cute!

New baby

How far along? 18 weeks
Total Weight Gain? Well the holidays at least helped me get up in weight!  I am up to the weight I was at my 9 week appointment, and then 4 more.  4 lbs up from our "emergency" appointment
Stretch Marks? no
Sleep: pretty good
Best Moment this Week: seeing Nolan was ok after big tragedy.  Already on Sunday he was not sad when I left or afraid to be in a room on his own.  It is consolation knowing he is ok.
Miss Anything? I hate mom brain/pregnancy brain!  If it wasnt for that I dont think I would have locked Nolan in school
Movement: yes, quite a bit!  Little taps but still feeling them
Food Craving? been eating a lot of red meat
Anything making you queasy or sick? not really
Bellybutton in our out? if I lean backwards/arch my back to stretch it pops out.
Wedding Rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? pretty moody and sad
Looking forward to? growing belly, growing baby
Labor Signs? occasional contractions, but not frequent

How far along? 19 weeks
Total Weight Gain? up 1 lb
Stretch Marks? no
Sleep: pretty good, but getting harder to calm my mind down to fall asleep
Best Moment this Week: hearing the strong heartbeat at 152 bpm
Miss Anything? no
Movement: no
Food Craving? still a fan of red meat
Anything making you queasy or sick? not really
Bellybutton in our out? still pops out a little when I lean backwards
Wedding Rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? getting more and more emotional
Looking forward to? growing baby, ultrasound, gender reveal!
Labor Signs? occasional contractions, but not frequent

How far along? 20 weeks
Total Weight Gain? up about 2 more lbs this week
Stretch Marks? no
Sleep: 
Best Moment this Week: Alex's birthday.  We went to Alex's work and Nolan was a complete ham.  We had a blast watching our baby grow.
Miss Anything? energy.  Nolan has been waking at 5am and though it is "my turn" I just can't wake myself up.  
Movement: no
Food Craving? loving ice cream this week.
Anything making you queasy or sick? not really
Bellybutton in our out? its out or at least poofy most of the time
Wedding Rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? emotional.  We have been having a rough month and hormones are not making it any easier.
Looking forward to? growing baby, ultrasound next week!
Labor Signs? no
Anything else?  We have the ultrasound tomorrow!  We will be finding out the gender just Alex, Nolan, and I and then we will have the gender reveal on Saturday!  Cannot wait to find out!  I am leaning 90% boy and Alex is 75% girl.  We shall see! 

20 Week appointment and ultrasound
Our appointment went well.  We were anxious this time to make sure the baby is healthy and did not have a spot on the heart (soft sign of downs syndrome) like Nolan had. We watched very closely on the ultrasound.  We were also able to get a good angle for the gender.  Baby is breech but they are not really worried this early in the game, baby has room to rotate yet (thought I am pretty sure baby hasn't yet).

At the appointment, the doctor informed us baby is very healthy and in the 51% for size.  No spots, no scares!  He also informed us that there were a couple issues with the placenta/me though.  I have a SLIGHT placenta prevea.  It is very slight and he has confidence that as my uterus grows the placenta will move up, but we do need to check at 28 weeks.

We were also informed that the cord insertion in the placenta is a little of-center.  Apparently the cord is supposed to be/usually in the center of the placenta but this one is offset.  It sound like this is not horrible, but there is a chance for baby to be on the smaller side.  (after having an almost 9 lb baby last time I am kinda ok with this) but we are also hoping that it doesn't mean baby is malnourished.  This will all be checked at our 28 week ultrasound.

Starting out 2016 with Trauma!

I can definitely say we started 2016 with a bang...unfortunately not a good one.

I went to school to get stuff ready. Nolan had to come with me all my regular sitters were busy. Nolan slept like absolute crap last night so he was set for an early nap. For whatever reason, he was super clingy and wouldn't nap so I went about getting everything ready with him in the room fussing and dumping. I kept him busy with Mickey Mouse on the projector, crackers and milk. 

Finally his crabby got out of control and I gave in and said we'd go home. I would lock him in a room, leave my keys in the door to get in faster, take a load to the car propping the front 2 doors open and then locking them behind me when I went back in. (Our doors are opened with regular keys/not digital, and you lock them behind you so then the school stays secure. Once it is closed it is locked.) I did this for 4 trips...til the 4th when I forgot to prop the doors. Nolan, my keys, & my phone were all locked in the building. 

I ran to church thinking Saturday at 11:15 someone may be here. Nope. I ended up standing in the driveway waving down cars to stop so I could use their phone. A wonderful lady stopped (actually only the third car I waved at) and I told her I was setting up my classroom and my 1 year old was locked in school and I needed a phone. She rushed to hand it to me and as I holding her phone in my hand, shaking, I realized I didn't know who to call...my mom and Alex wouldn't be much help getting me into my school building and those are the only numbers I have memorized. So I'm sitting there shaking and she tells me she is a neighbor of a woman who sent her kids to our school (but their youngest graduated I want to say 2 years ago) and she just saw that mom go to her mom's house right down the road so maybe she knows someone's number who would have keys. The lady who stopped called her friend/our former mom and I talked to her and she she'd try to get ahold of our school secretary that lives a few blocks away. I thanked her and went to wait by the door. 

10 minutes later the nice lady comes back, says she realized I was locked out of the building not my room and made me sit in her warm car. Then the mother calls back to says she can't get ahold of our secretary, she was going to have her brother break in maybe. (Apparently he does our electrical?) I tell her to call a co-worker and current school mom thinking they may have each other's contact information, but she doesn't have numbers so she had to Facebook message. She Facebook requested then messaged my friend/co-worker, emailed my principal (who lives over an hour away), and was going to call another current school mom who opens our school up for funerals some times. While we are waiting, she takes my hands in hers and says we should pray for Nolan and this whole situation. She said the most beautiful and comforting words, I could feel some tension in my shoulders lessen.  

I realize I should probably call my husband in all this and maybe he can find some numbers if we have shared contacts. He is at work so I google his Walgreens and I am calling but on hold. While on hold, the former mom/neighbor of the lady whose car I'm sitting in calls back to day my friend co-worker who lives 2 miles away was on her way. It took her 7 more minutes to get to school.... Nolan was locked in the classroom, alone, crying for almost half an hour.

I know we are all ok and with days like today I could not be more thankful to be working in a tiny school (65 kids 3k-5th grade) where the current and former students are a family, where it is such a small community the lady driving by is a neighbor of a former student and knows that so she is able to make enough connections to get me the help I needed, and people genuinely want what is best for you. I have never felt so scared but so blessed in my life.

That good samaritan, prayers, perfect timing, a former school parents, good friends, and being a part of a wonderful small community saved me and my son today.  

Nolan seems to be doing fine and I am hanging in there. My brain tells me all is well, we are all safe and he is young enough that this wont traumatize him for the rest of his life, but my emotional brain is having a hard time coping. I am having a hard time stopping the tears. Pregnancy hormones I am sure aren't helping. I cannot wait to put this past us and move on...just waiting for him to wake from his nap so I can snuggle some more.....

Through the Holidays, onto 2016!

Nolan

Weight Gain/Growth
At Nolan's 15 month appointment (Dec 9) he was 21 lbs 11 oz.  30.1 in.  He is in the lower percentiles but since his BMI is ok the doctors say he is just turning into a peanut (strange considering how he came out! ;) )

Nolan has 4 top front teeth, 4 bottom front teeth, top molars are in, and bottom molars have popped through.  Where the eye teeth are are starting to swell up an he has yet to stop drooling so my guess is those are on their way!

Sleep & Bedtime Routine
Nolan is pretty good at sleeping through the night.  He sleeps from 7pm until the morning.  It going back to 7am.  He is between 2 and 1 naps a day.  This past week it has been 1.  It is kind of nice since it is longer and in the middle of the day we only have to plan for one nap and we get a chunk of time to get things done.  

Nolan finally cut the baba.  One night we got home from Sunday dinner at my parents late and we went up and got all ready when I realized I didn't grab a baba.  We decided to see if he asks for it and if he doesn't we won't.  He never did and hasn't since.  Well that was easy!

He does put himself to sleep though.  We jammie, zippy, brush teeth, read Time for Bed by Mem Fox (he can read the last page, "nigh nigh" SO CUTE),  cuddle a minute and then in his crib he goes.  We make him laugh, put on the sound machine and say nigh night.  He usually yells, BYE! as we are leaving.  He talks to himself and rolls around for a while and then goes to sleep.  This routine is still the same.  He has gone to sleep with out the zippy a couple times, but we like using it as his blanket since he rolls so much still that is all there is to keep him warm.

Milestones & Likes

Nolan is now 16 months.  He is talking more and more and getting into more and more trouble.  He is starting to string 2 words together such as Hi, Mama!  Baba, All Done!

Nolan has been doing much better at eating solid foods.  He likes them in a little bowl and he likes to have a utensil, but usually doesn't use it much.  He is getting good at it, its just not as efficient.

We had to try the baby eating a lemon video....

This kid is obsessed with Mickey.

Getting silly!

We were trying to teach him Cheese for pictures because usually he is so stoic in all of our photos.  After lots of practice (and fails) he stole grandmas camera and we caught him doing selfies and saying cheese (still wont do it for us!)

This kid is getting sneaky. He loves fruit, but he knows he has to eat his other food first.  His solution?  Hide the peas!

We had a small "Big Brother Photo Shoot" because I wanted to see
him next to his letter now that he is going to be a big brother.  Holy cow has he grown!  I mean I knew it but seeing it is totally crazy!






Nolan heard the baby's heartbeat!

He finally knows how to say "Santa" and what Santa says.  Watch him discover there are Santa on his Jammies.

At Gloudemans Tree hopping, Nolan's Godfather Ryan taught him to pretend sleep, then yell, NOT!  It is hilarious if it isnt at 4am!

Finally, on New Year's Day, I got Nolan to say Cheese.  He was in his new robe which he absolutely loves and I told him to smile for mommy so I could see his robe.  He not only smiles, but says Cheese and pops a toe out. OMG this kid!

Firsts/Events

Thanksgiving

 We wanted to take a picture of Daddy, the dogs and Nolan again to see how much everyone has changed.  Holy cow!

Friendsgiving

We hosted Friendsgiving again this year.  It is amazing to see how big the kids have all gotten.  Nolan liked opening presents on his own for the first time. 

 

 











Kaukauna Christmas Parade.  We have been coaching Nolan to see Santa and that santa says Ho, Ho, Ho.  Nothing as of yet and there, the last float, and we are 90% sure Nolan says Danta, Ho, Ho.  He wouldn't do it again and we can't be sure if he really said it or not, but he did pretty good and we had fun!

We visited Daddy at work.  Nolan was a hoot and ran through the whole line screaming Dada!  Thank goodness the customers thought he was cute.  He did a good job and then we went to leave and he said, "All Done Mama! Dada!"  

Nolan has become INSISTANT that he needs to wear mommy and daddy's shoes.  Here he is wearing mommy's boots and he things he is the coolest thing ever!

St. Nick came!  

Nolan loved getting all his Mickey Mouse stuff!  He started with a Mickey that swims in the bath tub.  He was done looking at that point but we convinced him to go in further to discover a Mickey Mouse plate, fork, and spoon, as well as new Mickey jammies, and some books.

We cut down our own tree at Whispering Pines.  We love going there because you take a horse drawn carriage out, cut it yourself, and then rite the wagon back.  You get some hot chocolate and cookies and really get to enjoy your time.  We love going there.





We had VandenHeuvel Christmas the second weekend in December.
 Nolan saw Santa.  He didn't cry, but he didn't smile.  As long as he wasn't crying right?  He got a really cool ride on train that he loves.  He also got a little jealous when daddy was holding Calvin, so he needed to be held too.

We have tried painting with Nolan before.  It was at his everything is food stage so it didnt go well.  I decided to try it again (while I painted his feet for a Christmas gift).  It went much better, but don't let it fool you, he isnt smiling that big at art time, he is laughing at goofy badger that just came inside and was loosing his mind and running in circles.




For my dad's birthday, all he wanted was to spend time with his family.  He wanted to go to Festival of lights in Green Bay.  It was cold and Nolan had a low grade fever so it could have gone better, but it really didn't go bad.  We had fun and I always enjoy that place....even when Alex is pushing the stroller at hyper speed and I get all winded trying to keep up ;)




So there is this "North Pole" by us in Kaukauna.  It is really cool. The guy has a whole village set up, Santa is there and you can just spend some time hanging out.  This year, it was 50*  It makes it really great for not having to bundle up to much....not so great on feeling like the north pole.  Nolan and I wore rain boots this year! haha got to love the ribbit boots, just like the ones I had when I was little!  Nolan met Grandma and Grandpa Gloudemans there and then he kept kissing the toy soldiers...probably because they were his size.  How cute is that?!?!?

Christmas Eve/Christmas

Alex worked Christmas eve so I was in charge of making the piles for each location over the next few days.  Christmas eve was at Aunt Debs.  I packed everything up and was already to go.  Then I packed for church Christmas day, Grandma & Grandpa Jansen's gifts and diaper bag, Grandma & Grandpa Gloudemans' gifts and diaper bag, pack n play, change of clothes, etc.  I was so proud of myself...until I discovered Nolan had no shoes for Church on Christmas day.  After a slight panic I found some Robeeze that I was going to make work.  I got to Christmas eve and Charle's (Nolan's cousin who is only 6 weeks younger but same size) walks in wearing the exact shoes I need!  I ask to borrow them and Brittany takes them right off his feet and puts them in his diaper bag! Score!  Christmas day was filled with crazies and running everywhere (and what always felt like behind schedule) but in the end we celebrated at church and all of our families and it was a really great day.  Nolan was spoiled rotten as were Alex and I.  Baby #2 also got some gifts.  We are seriously all so blessed to have all we do in our lives.

 Two days after Christmas we got Winter Storm Ashley.  It was suddenly cold, it was suddenly winter, and we went from now snow to 3 foot drifts in 12 hours!  We hunkered down for a Star Wars marathon (that did include 4, 5, & 6 on VHS on the VHS player we pulled up from the basement).  Nolan joined us for some hot chocolate, he watched Mickey, and a blankie.  It was really cozy, until the next morning.  Alex snow blowed us out, but he could only do so much up to the street knowing the plow was going to come.  I had to cancel my 9am doctor appointment (16 appointment already at 17 weeks) because the plow didn't come through and we just couldn't get through to the road.  We had dinner plans with all the Gloudemans' siblings as a gift from Mark and Katy so we wanted to be out by 5.  Around 2, Alex got the snow blower from the end of the drive way to the tire tracks of those with 4 wheel drive in the road.  He then ran out of gas and went to get more so we could get the apron cleared when the plow came through.  He got stuck going out and our amazing neighbors pushed him out and down the road.  When he got back they helped him dig out the front of his car, and then literally pushed him up our driveway.  Finally he was in and safe.....and the plow drives through....at 3:30.  Alex took an hour to clear the apron and we finally made it out.  At least we had fun playing in the snow (and getting steps) while we waited!

Our group of Gloudemans' siblings and dates for our dinner at Carmellas and Cleos!

We watched Charles for 2 days over break.  Robin also came to visit the first day.  We decided to try Monkey Joe's out.  I think it is safe to say that they are a little young (or to big of chickens) just yet, but it was fun trying.  we did learn that when they had full bellies, they were much more cooperative!   Charles opted for the healthy veggie straws while Nolan indulged in (a lot) of cheese and pretzel.  When we got home they were exhausted! They cuddled on the couch oh so adorably until Ryan (my brother) got there to pick up Charles.  The next day we were feeling brave and decided to go for a walk (and take my dads drill back to him).  It was pretty cold, but it is safe to say the wagon is a hit!  Nolan loves Charles and kept standing up to hug and kiss him. 

 We celebrated the New Year's Eve at the Wundrow's.  We had pizza, the kids played (it was amazing that they all just played on their own for the first time!).  The girls kept coming to get us to tell us there was something spooky going on...and the boys just kept running after giggling.  It was adorable.  We were home by 8 and we finished the new year with watching netflix and falling asleep around 11:20.

We did do some dancing though!

Sickness
At Nolan's 15 month check up, he had another build up of earwax that needed to be irrigated.  He was not a happy camper at all, but at least he keeps getting it treated before a really bad ear infection...

Nolan when through 3-5 days of a fluctuating fever, but nothing really came of it.  It was gone before Christmas and we were able to keep it under control with tylenol....Wish we knew what was causing it though!  It could be those pesky eye teeth coming in.  We have swelling, but no teeth yet!

New baby

How far along? 13 weeks
Total Weight Gain? still down in weight -3
Stretch Marks? no
Sleep: pretty good, but better with my half a unisom (and B6) for morning sickness
Best Moment this Week: Just seeing the belly grow means the baby is growing!
Miss Anything? no
Movement: no
Food Craving? not really wanting food at all still.  
Anything making you queasy or sick? not really
Bellybutton in our out? in though it is moving towards out at lightening speed this time.
Wedding Rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? happy
Looking forward to? growing baby
Labor Signs? no

How far along? 14 weeks
Total Weight Gain? still down in weight -3
Stretch Marks? no
Sleep: pretty good, but better with my half a unisom (and B6) for morning sickness.
Best Moment this Week: Just seeing the belly grow means the baby is growing!
Miss Anything? energy
Movement: no
Food Craving? not really wanting food at all still.  
Anything making you queasy or sick? not really
Bellybutton in our out? in though it is moving towards out at lightening speed this time.
Wedding Rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? happy
Looking forward to? growing baby
Labor Signs? no


How far along? 15 weeks
Total Weight Gain? still down in weight -1
Stretch Marks? no
Sleep: pretty good, but better with my half a unisom (and B6) for morning sickness
Best Moment this Week: Just seeing the belly grow means the baby is growing!
Miss Anything? no

Christmas Concert in 4K!

Movement: no
Food Craving? not really wanting food at all still.  
Anything making you queasy or sick? not really
Bellybutton in our out? in though it is moving towards out at lightening speed this time.
Wedding Rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? happy
Looking forward to? growing baby
Labor Signs? no
Anything else? I was told by a 4 year old on concert night: "You look like Santa!  He has a belt like that.  Your bell is really growing in there!"  Haha, Thank you little one.

How far along? 16 weeks
Total Weight Gain? Back to 9 week appointment weight..that is still 4 under pre-Nolan.
Stretch Marks? no
Sleep: going well, all on my own!
Best Moment this Week: I am just so glad to be pregnant! I jump for joy still when I think about it.  I am so happy to have this blessing.  Also, the photo shoot with Nolan realizing I am 16 weeks and he is 16 months.  I love this little big brother!
Miss Anything? strong immune system.
Movement: Yes!
Food Craving? Still eating a lot of salty...Alex is a little annoyed with the number of open chip bags.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Doing good now!
Bellybutton in our out? moving out
Wedding Rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? both
Looking forward to? Growing baby, Nolan understanding not all bellys are a "bebe" but this one is special lol
Labor Signs? started having about 1 Braxton hick a day....

How far along? 17 weeks
Total Weight Gain? Up 2 pounds from pre-Baby#2
Stretch Marks? no
Sleep: getting up for the bathroom and quite a bit of dreams and tossing and turning, but pretty good.
Best Moment this Week: Seeing baby kick while feeling it.  Alex feeling baby!
Miss Anything? no
Movement: yes!  Alex felt it too at 16w5d!
Food Craving? mmm salty! 
Anything making you queasy or sick? not really
Bellybutton in our out? in though it is moving towards out at lightening speed this time.
Wedding Rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? happy
Looking forward to? growing baby
Labor Signs? Just the braxton hicks which are still slow and infrequent so not in bed rest territory yet.
Anything else? We had an unplanned doctor appointment the Wednesday before Christmas because I mentioned the braxton hicks and Dr. wanted to check everything was ok.  I got to see baby's legs on the ultrasound (but not much else, they were focused on measuring cervix and placenta) but I could see baby kicking while feeling it.  Everything is good so just watching.  Keeping Nolan busy for 2 hours in a waiting room is not tons of fun though!

Our Home

We have decorated for christmas and I absolutely loved it.  I absolutely loved how our house looks for Christmas!    It was beautiful with a beautiful tree we cut down on our own.  Oh I love love love it!

Alex made me clean up on his last day off of work because well he was still here to help.  Sad to see the Christmas to go but loving the new purchases/gifts that bring our house together!

New pallet shelf.  I had sent a picture of this to Alex and he actually surprised me and made it for me for Christmas.  I was totally surprised!

New side table.  Alex and I went to restore for a date over break and I found this and NEEDED to have it.  We werent even sure where it was going to go, but I just knew I needed to have it!

New wine rack (with last years shelf under it). Mark made the wine rack from pallets Alex had left over from the shelf.  It looks amazing!