12 Months of Eleanor

Happy first birthday to our sweet, adventurous little soul! 

I was a little emotional leading up to your birthday, and not because I don't want you to grow up...I just feel like the year just flew by and I wish I could just stop time so I can capture every little detail and remember it forever.

Some things I don't want to forget... 

The way your little feet wiggle anytime you're sitting in a chair, the way you lay your head down on my shoulder when you're drifting off to sleep, your happy squeals and giggles, how you blow kisses, the way you toss out ALL of the clothes out of the dresser drawers (there's no point in folding the clothes anymore), the way you hide behind the curtains or in our closet waiting for Sawyer to find you, how you always share you food with the dogs even if we tell you no 34893849 times... and laugh about it. 

Eleanor Beth, you are seriously a dream. You're everything I could have imagined and hoped my daughter would be. You're beautiful inside and out. Joy and light just radiate from you, it's contagious. Thank you for making our little family four complete, we love you so much! xx

9 Months of Eleanor

Eleanor has grown so much and I can't believe at the end of this month, we'll have a ten month old! It feels like "babyhood" is flying by so much faster than it did with Sawyer. I'm certain it has to do with the fact that we've been endlessly chasing two little ones around.

Eleanor, you are a wild, sweet girl. It's fun to watch you explore and discover things on your own every day. I love when you still fall asleep on my shoulder and I can sneak some extra snuggles in. Everything you do is full of such joy and excitement. I love you so much baby girl!

Stats: .... no idea! I think she is around 17 lbs? 

Says: mom-ma, da (daddy)

Does: crawls (since 6 months), standing and walking along things, have 5 teeth, shakes her head yes and no, now share a room with her brother

Eats: Anything we eat ... she tries everything! But she especially loves blueberries, raisins, pumpkin, scrambled eggs, and banana pancakes

Likes: attention, eating the bamboo plant (see proof below), playing in the sand, taking baths and splashing water, eating REAL food, chasing the dogs and trying to pull their tails and/or grab their fur, giving wide open mouth kisses, squealing, dancing, hanging out with her big brother, opening and closing things, her binky, putting things she shouldn't into her mouth (like play-doh, dirt, sand, stale food).

Dislikes: getting her diaper changed, staying in one spot too long/being confined,  teething, when we move her away from something dangerous or gross (she flails her entire body and yells at us!)

our little panda

A Case of Pneumonia + Eleanor: 5 Months

About a week and a half ago, Sawyer had a dry cough, but was happy playing. The next morning, he woke up having trouble breathing. I worried immediately because I had asthma since I was little and worry that Sawyer or Eleanor will inherit it as well. We got him in to the first appointment at a clinic a short walk away from our apartment. The doctor said it look liked he had bronchitis and gave him a breathing treatment. He perked up for a little bit after the breathing treatment. We went home with the nebulizer, but Sawyer wasn't improving. He continued to whimper all day and his breathing was still rapid. I gave him another treatment and it seemed to help, but only temporarily. 

We weren't convinced the breathing treatments were doing much, so we went into a different clinic for foreigners. The doctor there also assumed it was asthma since Sawyer did not have fever or cold symptoms, just difficulty breathing. At this point, Sawyer was struggling so much to breathe we could see him sucking in his tummy below his ribs and he was barely speaking. They gave him several breathing treatments, oxygen, and also injections of steroids to try to improve his breathing since his oxygen levels were dropping to the low 90's/high 80's. 

The doctor said it would be best if Sawyer would be hospitalized in Hong Kong (again at this point we all still thought it was an asthma attack). They had to assemble a doctor and team to come from Hong Kong to pick us up and cross the border in the ambulance. This took almost six hours! I was a complete mess at this point. Sawyer was just laying on the doctor's table, struggling to breathe and I felt completely helpless. I suddenly realized how terrifying it is to be a foreign country so far away from everything familiar and from our family.  We asked if we could just get in a car and cross the border, but it was not possible since Sawyer would be considered "too sick" to cross. They continued giving him treatments, he threw up from all the meds and was just lifeless. Kurt ran home to grab all of our passports and pack haphazardly for the hospital. We had no idea how long Sawyer would need to be admitted in Hong Kong. 

I rode in the ambulance with Sawyer. There was both a doctor and nurse on board as well. His oxygen was stable during the ride to HK. Kurt and Eleanor followed behind us in another van. I felt so relieved when we made it to the hospital. It was comforting that we were at the same hospital that I gave birth to both Sawyer & E. 

He got checked in right away and given more breathing treatments. The doctor ordered an X-ray immediately and we found out that he had a severe case of pneumonia. From there, he started an intense round of antibiotics along with several breathing treatments each day. We stayed for 6 nights in the hospital and Sawyer was such a trooper, especially for having an IV of antibiotics. We were supposed to travel to Thailand with our friends for vacation (we have off of school this week). But obviously, we had to cancel our trip (so glad it didn't happen while we were traveling!) We're just trying to take it easy the rest of vacation before we go back to school.

Sawyer is back to his old, happy + energetic self. We have a lot of meds for him to take through this week, continuing the breathing treatments and a follow-up appointment in Hong Kong this weekend. The doctor said he will need about 2-4 weeks for full recovery. We feel so lucky that we got to HK in time and that he was able to receive such wonderful care. The nurses were all incredibly sweet and adored Sawyer. We're all very relieved to be back at home (everyone was getting stir crazy in the hospital room!) 

In the midst of all of this craziness, our sweet girl is already five months old! 

Eleanor, you are such a spunky and sweet little lady. You are so smiley and usually wake up beaming every morning (even before the sun comes up). Daddy and I can't help but melt at your smiles and coos. You fit in so perfectly to our little family, I couldn't imagine our lives without you! 

Weight/Height: At your four month checkup, you were about 14.5 lbs (you're a peanut, the 15% for weight)

I forgot exactly how long you were, all I remember is you were the 85% for length right now.

Eating: You've been nursing every 3-4 hours and once or twice at night. It seems to be going well when I'm with you. It's a bit tricky to pump at school, I'm still trying to figure it out to make enough #workingmommaproblems

Sleeping: You don't' want to miss anything and struggle to take solid naps during the day time. At night, you go to bed around 7:00 (same as your brother) and wake up once or twice during the night. Lately, you've been waking up more frequently and I think you just forgot how to put yourself to sleep. I'm sure it won't last too long (or at least hope!)

Clothes: You're in 3-6 month clothing right now. I just packed up all of your 3 month clothes (tear). It goes by too fast!

Likes/Dislikes:

Likes:

• being apart of whatever is going on (you don't want to miss anything!)
• baths
• music
• your jumperoo 
• scooting all over the place 
• watching your brother and the dogs
• rolling over
• your pal, Sophie the giraffe 
• balloons (obsessed)

Dislikes:

• being "forced" to take naps/sleep
• getting stuck in your crib rails 
• not being able to eat "real" food

... still working on getting all four of us to look at the camera ;) 

Baby Eleanor: 4 Months

I'm finally back to blogging! Things have been busy crazy since right before summer started and I can hardly believe we're back to the swing of things at school. It is a goal of mine to post more so that our friends and family can keep up with our lives.

My heart is overflowing with love for our growing family. Some days it's hard to believe that Eleanor was in my tummy, not so long ago. It feels like just yesterday I was wondering what she would be like, wishing I could hold her in my arms.

Sawyer has been adjusting remarkably well. I am so proud of him and the little boy is quickly becoming. He adores his baby sister and loves to help her. Every day before he leaves for "school," he gives her a kiss on the forehead. The first day that I picked him up from school, I was holding Eleanor and Sawyer ran out of his classroom and ran straight up to Eleanor and gave her a big kiss. I love that he loves her so much. It's so fun to see a bond between them and the nice thing about having children so close in age is that they will (hopefully) have such a special bond and never know life without each other. 

Oh Eleanor, sweet girl, you are a dream. Your smiles light up the room. You are so strong and have been rolling over for almost a month now. Daddy and I think you're pretty laid back, but at the same time you want to be a part of everything that's going on. You love to put your hands and fingers in your mouth and roll on to your tummy. You squeal with delight when someone gives you big smiles and attention. You're starting to to look more and more like your brother every day. Your eyes are still a beautiful blue, and your hair is brown and starting to grow in a little more. I can't wait to see how you will change in the next coming months.

Weight/Height: I honestly have NO idea because we haven't had your four month check up yet. I will update this as soon as you do.

Eating: This is a little bit all over the place as far as a "schedule" goes. When we got back to the states, everything was going so smoothly (minus having the start of mastitis for myself a few times). I think jet lag and going back to work has made my dipped my milk production. I am still trying to figure out the best way to do this. Our ayi has had to use formula to supplement during the week a little bit as well. 

The day looks something like this. 
6:00-7:00 nurse
11:00ish nurse (ayi brings her to school because she has to pick up Sawyer from his half day school)
2:30-3:00 bottle
6:30 (before bedtime) nurse
1:00 nurse and sometimes again at 3:00 or 4:00 am

Sleeping: This has also been something that has been a challenge since we've returned back to China. In the states, she was pretty much sleeping through the night...all summer long! It was WONDERFUL. Then, we landed in China and since then it's been all over the place. Typically, she will fall asleep around 7 (same time as Sawyer) and then wake up again around 11-12 and sometimes again between 3-4. Lately, I think she's been going through a growth spurt or sleep regression and has been quite the party animal.

Clothes: Still squeezing into some 3 month clothes, although mostly fitting in 3-6 month right now. Eleanor is starting to get some chubby cheeks now... they are the best :)

Likes/Dislikes:

Likes:
When someone sings to her (any song, any time)
Cuddling
Watching her big brother do silly things, especially when he interacts with her
Being a part of what's going on, she doesn't want to miss a thing!
Taking baths (kicking her legs and splashing the water)
When anyone smiles at her

Dislikes:
Not being able to see what's going on
Getting stuck on her tummy

I would be lying if I said that it hasn't been challenging having a two year old and four month old, but I really wouldn't have it any other way. I can't imagine not having Eleanor a part of our little family. The days are long, but the years are short for sure. A colleague of mine sent me the excerpt below and I feel like this is EXACTLY where we are as a family right now. I know it will pass so soon, so I am trying to live in the present as much as possible and embrace the inevitable craziness that comes with two little ones.

I remember the exhausting days when I had a two year old and a newborn. My two year old still wasn't sleeping through the night, and my newborn only slept for a couple of hours at a time. I had a toddler in my bed and a newborn in a bedside crib, and some nights I wasn't sure if I had even found sleep. I found myself doing a lot of wishing....

I wish they'd sleep through the night.
I wish they'd sleep in their own room.
I wish I didn't have to lie with them while they fall asleep.
I wish I'd never started co-sleeping.
I wish they were out of diapers.
I wish I had some time for myself.

Now, my babies are big boys. They are out of my bed, out of my room, and long out of diapers. They almost never wake me at night. They sleep in their own room. They don't need me to lie down with them anymore. I give them a kiss and walk out the door – and I have lots of time for me now.

Some nights, I walk out of their room, go curl up in my bed in front of the fire with a good book and think, “Ah. This is nice.”

But then there are the other nights when I lie there and listen to them talking with each other (their room is adjacent to mine). I listen as they tell funny stories and belly laugh at each other, and their laughter makes me smile through my tears. Silent tears are falling on my pillow as I stare at my ceiling, remembering the days when they used to need me. They need me less now. And as much I used to wish for “me time” back then is as much as I'm wishing now for “baby time.” Once more, I find myself doing a lot of wishing...

I wish they still needed me to lie down with them.
I wish I could hold them all night like I used to.
I wish we were still co-sleeping.
I wish they were back in diapers.
I wish I could still rock them.
I wish I could go back and do it all again, and savor every moment, committing it all to memory, rather than wishing it away.

© Rebecca Eanes 2015
This is an excerpt from the bestselling book, The Newbie's Guide to Positive Parenting.

Happy Birthday Sawyer!

I can't believe I'm writing your 12 month update. I know that every parent says, "time flies," but it truly does! 

I am so proud of the little person you're becoming and I feel beyond honored and humbled to be your momma. 

There are  definitely a fair share of busy/chaotic days and sleepless nights, but being your mommy is priceless and the most rewarding thing that I've ever done in my life. 

You've taught me so much: patience, flexibility, humor in stressful situations, sacrifice, resourcefulness, and most importantly... love beyond measure. I strive to be the best person and mom that I can be because of you. Thank you for making me a momma and being my sweet baby, Sawyer. 

To celebrate your birthday, we had a camp themed "pre-birthday" party for you at our little cabin and you are so blessed because so many friends and family came to celebrate you. We are so grateful that we have such wonderful people in our life. You got a lot of hugs, kisses, and attention and you loved every second of it. 

I made this little video to remember some important moments of your first year.

Sawyer's First Year from Shanna Callahan on Vimeo.

Height/Weight: 29.5 inches & 24.2 lbs, I am feeling it in my arms ;) 

Eating: You sure know what you like. Lately, you want whatever I'm eating...when we were out to eat at our last dinner in Wisconsin, you stole a sweet potato fry off my plate, sneaky baby! You're eating three meals a day plus a snack here and there. I'm still nursing 2x a day (morning and bedtime) and have tried introducing cows milk at lunch time last week. I don't think your on the milk bandwagon quite yet, but I'm sure you'll get there. Some of your favorites include: shredded cheese (go figure), black beans with garlic powder, chickpeas with garlic powder, turkey, Kirkland 9 grain crackers. Funny story about those crackers. We stuffed like .... 6 packs in our suitcases to bring back to China because you are so obsessed. You did try eggs and peanut butter, with no reaction.. yay! I'm not sure if you're still allergic to yogurt, I'm too afraid to try it again at this point, so I think we'll wait until your a year and a half or so. 

Sleep: You're refusing to sleep at this very moment, ha! I think you've been a trooper with jetlag coming back to China. You've been sleeping through the night like a champ. Sometimes, you've been skipping your afternoon nap and taking one longer A.M. nap, so we'll see if it stays that way. When I put you to sleep, you rest your little head on my shoulder and cuddle me, but sometimes try to wiggle free to jump into your crib (which I think is a good thing?)

Clothes: Still in 12 mo. clothing, but some are getting a little snug... I think we'll be able to get a bit more wear out of the 12 mo. clothing, which is awesome! 

Likes:

• Using your wheely bug to push around the apartment...sometimes you chase the dogs with it too!
• Pushing anything around the house (chairs, laundry baskets, etc.)
• Opening and closing drawers, and tearing everything that was folded so neatly out of the drawers
• Turning on the bathtub faucet, and trying to open the toilet cover to play in the toilet water, YUCK!
• Playing with remotes and phones 
• Waving hello to everyone
• Clapping

Dislikes:

• Being overtired
• Not getting your way
• I'm actually having a hard time with this list because you're such a mellow, easy going little guy! 

New Developments:

• You are taking a few steps on your own back and forth from mommy and daddy
• Clapping on demand
• Waving hi and bye 
• Giving kisses on command (you've been doing this for a while but you're pretty good at it now!)

11 Month Update

Happy 11 months baby boy. I can't believe in less than a month we will officially have a "toddler" on our hands. Where did the year go? I feel like I'll be saying that FOREVER. We celebrated the fourth of July on your 11 month birthday. Last year at this time, we were waiting around in China for you!

Height/Weight: Still not sure on this one, but my guestimate is about 23 lbs? Length, we will measure you today to find out!

Eating: You are still nursing about 4-5 times a day. I am going to try to cut out a feeding or two so we can get it down to 3 times a day, especially because I will be attending a work conference all week next week and it won’t be so easy to nurse you! As far as solids, you are becoming more and more independent and have strong opinions about food. Since we’ve been back to the states, you are a turkey and cheese monster. I can’t believe it since you wanted nothing to do with cheese in China. Breakfast: usually oatmeal with mixed fruit & some cheerios. Oh yes, you are still OBSESSED with cheerios. Lunch: usually tukey and cheese with some applesauce and multigrain crackers or a cheese quesadilla. Dinner: an adaptation of whatever we’re having, or a Peter Rabbit baby pouch if I’m feeling too lazy or if we’re out to eat. You’ve tried raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries since they are so abundant here in America, you’re not quire sure how you feel about them yet.

Sleep: The initial jetlag and teething weren't a fun mx. We had a night owl on our hands for a couple of weeks, but now things have seemed to settle down and you've gotten into a routine of two solid naps a day and sleeping from about 7:00-7:30 with a wake-up or two during the night. I can't complain since when we first arrived, I felt like you woke up every 30 minutes-1 hour... YIKES! 

Clothes: You are still comfortably fitting in your 12 month clothing. Your grandma bought you SO many cute, new clothes, you are a lucky little boy!

Likes:

• Cheerios
• Pushing your Fisher price walker that grandma got you
• Exploring
• The lake (if we go on the dock, you try to wriggle free because you want to go in the water… it’s hilarious)
• Stroller rides
• Being silly
• Being the center of attention
• Eating
• Cuddling before naps/bedtime
• Doors (opening and closing them)

Dislikes:

• Getting your face wiped off
• Bathtime (since we’ve been back, you aren’t a fan of your inflatable ducky bath… but you love baths in China)
• The grass (haha this one makes me giggle. When we put you in the grass for the first time, you scrunched up your face and started crying. If your foot touches the grass, you hold one up like a little flamingo…your daddy and I keep calling you a “city baby” since you’re not used to nature!
• Not getting your way

New Developments:

• Using your walker to walk around the whole house. 
• Last week, you began to wave to everyone and everything. 
• You learned how to put your ball in a hole in your new toy. 
• A couple of more teeth have made an appearance since last month… we had a combination of that mixed with jetlag (thank goodness, we’re past that!)
• Feeding me your food