Grandpa Alaska comes to town

grandpa alaska getting baby time in!

 more baby time...

the grand babies

sand box makin' is serious business

On the hunt for Dinos!!!

Aram's first trip was to Central Oregon to John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. If you have not been it is a must for a great time. It is split in to 3 differing but beautiful landscapes, plus there is a great collection/museum of fossils found in the are---this was Jasper's favorite part! It took us a day to adjust to long hours in the car...a 4 hour trip took 8 because of stops for changing diapers, nursing, hunger, taking a break from the car, etc. but once there we had a really good time hiking and exploring the area. Stayed in a cute little hotel named Fish House Inn (strange name for a hotel in the middle of the desert) in Dayville, OR, which felt like a true ghost town but was central to other services and the park---not a lot of places to choose from so book ahead...and take snacks since there is even fewer restaurants in the area.

digging for dino bones

potty break on side of road

nursing break

J is becoming a great hiker

family protrait

Aram thinks hiking is such hard work

Going to the chapel of love

what handsome boys!

Aram's first wedding was at the Oregon coast set in Yachats where our friends Bobby and Alicia tied the knot. Literally a knot was tied by ropes, strings and ties of all sorts around their hands. It was a very cool way to represent the ceremony of love. Plus the waves were crashing  on the nearby rocks to add to the romantic ambiance. Then everyone moved to a beautiful tea house at the Yachats Inn where we enjoyed good food, friends, and dancing till J said he was done at 9 pm...not sure what happened there...my little party animal called it a night really early but Aram stayed out till midnight in dad's arms sleeping through all the music. What a trooper!

Cousin Caden is born!

tandem nursing at a park in Seattle

About 2 and a half weeks after Aram was born my little sister had a baby named Caden Asher. He likes his mommy a lot and likes to look at her and nurse a lot! While it was really fun being pregnant and sharing tips/morning sickness feelings/small moments together for 9 months, I was sad that I could not be there for her when she had him. She was such a HUGE help for me when my first one was born and I have great memories of her and I really bonding over funny delivery moments that we now laugh at, that I wish I could have been there for her during her first born. Nonetheless, I have enjoyed watching my little sister grow into a gentle, loving mama. She has always managed to beat me to big life challenges such as getting a career by age 20 and owning a condo by age 24 (something like this), and I barely had finished college by that point, that it has been nice that for once I am able to give her "big sister" advice about babies. I love that we call each other almost daily to ask questions, gain support and enjoy each other friendships.

Ohh sorry Ren Ren I might have gotten a little to soft there for you....back to Caden.

Aram on left, Caden on right

When I pick him up he feels heavier than my baby and is still a bit squirmy but is very interactive with big smiles. I especially like it when he smiles. He has a really big smile! But the best part is when he poops. He really gets to work at it with grunting, flared nostrils, and sweating. He sweats when he eats too. I got to give my first bottle to a baby the last time I was there, and he had my arm wet by the time he had finished the milk.

He allows me to see babies of other parents in a way that I have not been able to since we are the first of our immediate friends and family to have babies. I get to see how another parent reacts to a crying baby and learn how to sooth a baby that is not familiar to me.

The gang: Aram, Jasper, Caden, Lily

I really look forward to the group of them growing up together...I picture the parents visiting inside someday while J (being the leader of course) and the other two boys play outside making lots of noise and eventually someone getting nudged to hard and coming in with tears. Lily (my adopted sister's daughter) is one lucky girl to have all those boys to look after her when she gets older and for her to tell them what to do as most girls do. It is going to great fun to have a clan of cousins instead of just one.

Becoming a brother...becoming a parent of two...

my two boys...

 Over the last few months I have realized that the adjustment of having a baby needed to happen not just on J's part but more so on my part of learning to parent two children at once...

NURSING TOYS!!!

At first the excitement of a baby in the house was fun and interesting but I could see that wear off after about 10 days for big brother. We introduced the idea of nursing toys (an idea I got from my mother), where J could play with special toys (a knights Playmobile set) only when I was nursing---which was at least once an hour on some days. He loved this and would jump up and down screaming, "my nursing toys, my nursing toys." He also had recieved two gift dinosaurs from the baby as a thank you for being a big brother---he got one at the hospital and one at home right when we got home from the hospital.

love at first sight

Big brother was curious and constantly wanted to touch and hold baby. J gave lots of kisses to the new little squirmy thing just like he had read in his many books we had gotten from the library to prepare him for this big change.

helping with tummy time

  One day as I was watching J play by himself quietly I got very sad and relized that he would never have us (his mom and dad) alone ever again and that Aram would never know what it was like to be a single child, to have the full attention of his parents. When I asked my little sister about this, she assured that me that she did not know the difference and did not think about it at all as a child. So I had to let that one go...

kisses

When my mom came to visit she was great at giving J lots of attention, although she ended up with the baby in her arms much of the time as J did not want anything to do with anyone but me.  As she watched J act out and do things he knew was not supposed to do over and over again she mentioned that when I spent 10 minute undivided time with J he was much easier to handle and to seemed happier.Since I have started to play and give my undivided attention to J for 10 minutes (at least) everyday his melt downs and angry moments have started to dissipate.

my brother

 
During a visit at my sisters I told J to use his big boy voice and to not whine or yell at me to get my attention. My sister very nicely pointed out that he had used his big boy voice the first 10 times he had asked for the food item. I realized that I had to start to pay attention better to him and make sure his needs were met when he asked the first time (or realistically 2nd or 3rd time).

kisses for crying baby

 Another special ritual started this summer was son-daddy time once a week. They ride the bus somewhere near our home and eat breakfast. J's choice is always a mickey mouse pancake and the quality of each restaurant is always reported to me based on the quality of the pancake. These outings make J's face light up and gets ready to go in record times on these mornings.

funny picture time

  I have realized that no matter what the time or activity we are doing J just needs to feel special in our eyes still...I mean what human does not need that!

The first month---adjustment!

At home at last!

I bounced back much faster after the birth of our second son. I think it was a combination of no drugs during the birth as well as the ability to know what to expect. I showered less than 12 hours after having the baby and was at home within 24 hours.

Nana lovin'

I was tired from lack of sleep but was not overwhelmed by it and nursing was easier too---my milk came in the second day! I was out and about with in four days, where as with my first son my mom had to convince me to leave the house on the 4th day. A big help was having Nana here to cook and clean for us---she even cleaned our toilets---a forever thank to you NANA!!!!!










Life was smooth for the first 10 days with emotions of our first child. He enjoyed the nursing toys (toys to be played with only while mommy was nursing) and they seemed to distract him for the most part. He still wanted me to do diaper changes and put him to bed over his Nana at times.

"All Aboard!"---riding the train at the zoo

But the new and exciting times wore off quickly and he became frustrated easily and refused to potty train. I could see the conflict in him..."I know I am supposed to love the baby but it is taking to much of my mommy's time and would people please stop asking if I like being a big brother..." Dustin and Nana did their best to keep life as normal as possible for J by going to the zoo, grocery shopping and playing outside.

Grandpops meet Aram, Aram meet Grandpops.

We had several visitors from friends in town to out of town family, all sharing in the welcoming of the new little one. We fell behind on getting to the usual stuff let alone big stuff as was expected from sitting and gazing lovingly at our new little one---babies are so mesmerizing!

In the begining

My sister wrote her birth story to be read to her pre-natal yoga class...and I was inspired...and so this blog begins.

My(Aram's) Birth Story
Born June 5th, 2011 at 12:10 pm

For a week I had been feeling contractions and was so excited when I went to my 39th week check up and my midwife nurse told me I was dilated to 2 cm. Little did I know that I would go another 2.5 weeks before it would be for real.

The day I went into labor I helped with the neighborhood clean up, and attended an HOA meeting. It was a hot sunny day and after the meeting I was sitting on our porch visiting with a neighbor and realized that I had had 3 contractions in a row that...well ...all I can say is that somehow I knew I was in labor. I excused myself and went inside to tell Olde. He immediately starting cleaning the house and organizing our lives. By the time TT had come over to take care of J-man the house was sparkling. We tried to go to sleep and get some rest but I couldn't sleep through the excitement of anticipation of what was to come. After 2 hours of tossing and turning, I decided to call in my team. We alerted my best girl friend, Ali, and she came over to sit, and breath with me as well as hold my hand through the tough ones.

At 4:30 am we decided that my contractions were strong enough to send us to the hospital and called my Doula Angela Beach to alert her to meet us at the hospital. Ali in the back seat, Dustin in the driver's, me in the passenger we bared through, breathed and even moaned a bit out of discomfort all the way down I-205 to Kaiser Sunnyside Hopsital.When we got there I had two very strong contractions---one in the parking lot and one in the entry way of the hospital. I thought for sure that I had to be at least 6 cm dilated since they brought tears to my eyes each time, but in hind-sight I think I was over run with anticipation and excitement and that had brought the tears to my eyes.

When the doctor checked me I was only dilated to 3 cm but was admitted the hospital. Each time I had a contraction I sat up and leaned forward with my loving husband on one arm and Ali on the other and breathed through each contraction. Once Angela arrived and I was ready, we moved to a birthing room where I labored on a birthing ball until they could fill the tub in another room.

I refused to have an IV even though every medical staff member working that night t tried to convince me through scare tactics, persuasion and pleading. I remembered that from my first birth this was one of the most painful (or annoying) pieces of medical equipment that had been injected into me---and I had an epidural for that birth. Plus I felt a wave of confidence of being in control of this birth. I was not going to let myself be threatened or scared into doing something I did not want to do if there was no danger warranting a need for an IV.

The tub was a welcomed relief from the tightness in my back, arms, and legs I was feeling with each contraction. I squatted, kneeled, and rocked allowing the water to absorb each contraction. When was in enough pain that I wanted to give up, my team coached and encouraged me on.  Angela pushed hard down on my back to help ease the pain from back labor and Ali and Olde took turns holding my hands, helping to brace and breath through each contraction. A few hours went by...

I got out of the tub so Nurse D---can't remember her name--- could get a reading from a portable belly monitor that was not liking being in the water and when I was checked I was only 7 cm dilated. I could not believe this and wanted to give up...the pain was too much but my husband encouraged my journey with pep talks, loving gazes, and soft shoulder rubs. I was able to keep going because of his belief in me.

Once out of the tub I struggled to stay focused.  Nurse D came over to my side and helped talk me through my next 5 contractions as well as gave tips to my team. As soon as I focused all the energy of my contractions from my arms and legs to my uterus, my water broke and I had the primal urge to get the baby out.

When my midwife checked my cervix only 45 min later I was there...although I did not need my Dr. to tell me that, I just knew.

As I ran (literally, ran down the hall naked the whole time trying to abate the urge to push right there in the hall) to the room to give birth, my midwife asked how long it had taken with my first child. I replied, "20 minutes." to which she replied, "Uh-Oh." 10 minutes later and 6 pushes Aram was born at 12:10 pm.

my team!

This experience of doing an all natural birth was a right of passage for me and I will be thankful to my team forever for helping me get through it. So thank you Ali, Angela, Olde, Nurse D, Sarah (my midwife that also was my OB for my prenatal appointments---a coincidence almost unheard of at Kaiser) and TT/Nana for taking care of Young Olde.

Afterward, I was so hungry!

The euphoria captured in this pic explains it all as J met his brother for the first time!

At last some peaceful time....

brotherly love!

Welcome!

This blog is dedicated to Aram...sometimes referred to as Youngest Olde, Little Man, or Buggaboo...Brother of Young Olde,  and son of Mama K, and Olde. Grandson of Grand Pops, Bear Pa Alaska (named by Young Olde), Nana, Sir Bruce and Grandma O-O. Nephew of Ren Ren, TT, Bri-guy, Dan Pa, and Courtney. Plus a slew of other peeps that love and adore him as one of their own.

Although this blog is dedicated to Little Man, the thoughts, stories, and parenting advice will come from a family view. I thought it was important to have a blog for Aram that will be somewhat like the blog written for Young Olde. 

I hope you all enjoy it!
Mama K