By any other name would be just as ROTTEN!

Roseola. That's what we've been dealing with this week!

If you want to read a more detailed description, Wikipedia has a good one...complete with yucky photo! (And yes, Ian's DOES look like that).

Five days of high fevers, followed by a rash covering the torso. A lot of drama to get to a doctor today, and find out the mysteriously appearing rash is really nothing to worry about, it will go away on its own. It should be only mildy itchy, and start improving throughout the day and weekend.

I'll tell you, that's a short summary of a very full week/day. Being sick is no fun when you're a toddler, or a toddler's mom!

But, thank God as always it's nothing serious, and THIS TOO SHALL PASS. :)

VOTE!

We're going to find out (if all goes according to plan) on next Wednesday, November 5th, if Ian's going to have a little brother or sister! So, last chance to vote! The poll is on the right! Or, to put a name with your vote, click comments and say what you think!

Matt was very set it was twin girls from when we first found out until the first ultrasound...but is now just as set it's a BOY! I, of course, am 1,000% positive it's a baby! :)

"Ready...set...go!"

Here's our new chant! I can't believe he's already stringing these phrases together...just like I'm also hearing "Onnnne...oooooo...freeee!" What? Not even 2, and the first step to counting?! Pinch me!!

Mostly, he joins this phrase with rolling a car, or playing with his little people (bouncing up and down and jumping off things, lol). Of course, the phrase doesn't always come out correctly! Numerous times, he's repeated, "Onnnnne...onnnne...one..." and gets frozen there until he gets "rescued" by me completing the countdown. Or, he'll go, "Ready, ready, ready, gooooo!" (Go is not a problem for him at all!).

He also pretends to count objects. Ok, maybe he really IS counting, but using a different language! I know he's trying, because he copies me after counting objects, or uses the "counting" books. He really does seem to remember the "themes" of different books.

My favorite new counting situation is quite humorous. I have started counting for him (goodness, I said I wouldn't do it, and it's stopping now), to obey..."Ian get down." (Pause) "Ok, you have 3 seconds to get down or I'm helping you." (Looks rebellious) Then HE helps me out, standing there on top of the table, counting, "One, onnnnne, three!" and then hops down. I'm definitely abandoning this game/technique!

It's just a constant excitement for me, seeing him grow and learn how to do things! Besides being so much faster than I thought! :)

"Beebee! Beebee! Beebee!"

This is the chant I've been hearing lately if I forget to put Ian's baby doll in with him when he naps. He's not really concerned with it any other time, but MUST pull it to himself at nap time and bed time as his little cuddly snuggle companion. I must say, it's definitely an attack of the "awww"s for me every time. Sometimes, his baby even gets a little kiss or two!

From 10.2008 - MISC

Another of his new routines, I might have mentioned before...is his tendency to put fingers to lips when he is tired, cranky, or in need of comfort. I do believe it's his alternative to thumb-sucking. Perhaps it goes back to his nursing days, when he would reach up and touch my lips while he nursed? Either way, it's another cute little Ian-ism that I will look back on with fondness.

From 10.2008 - MISC

Every day I feel more and more love for this little blessing! I gain a new understanding of how deep God's love for us must be...as His is the perfect love. And, I realize more and more how unfathomable it was for Him to give His only perfect Son for ME, for US. That's love, for sure. :)

Wonder Boy and the Miracle Cure!

We have been sick now what feels like FOREVER. Ok, 3 weeks. Close enough. Ian of course, seemed to be pretty unaffected except for diarrhea (now we're confident it's not a food allergy hooray!) and a little bit of a stuffy nose. Then, he developed what looked like pinkeye over the weekend. Nasty stuff, I'll spare you the descriptives...

Yesterday was family doctor day...where I was glad to find out it IS a virus, no infections, and go back to treating symptoms. (Measuring right at 17 weeks by the way, so erasing any doubts of multiples!!). Ian's pediatrician prescribed him some eye ointment. I waited for Matt to get home to help me put it on, and we forgot! Oops.

Now the miracle part, this morning he woke up and it's completely gone, no trace of any ickiness. I'm glad he's feeling well...maybe a little grouchier than usual, but nothing as bad and Matt and I. Wonder Boy does it again. I'm happy we don't have to hold him down to put it in his eye.

I guess the trip to the doctor was the cure. :)

Sweet boy!

Mommy and daddy have been getting lots of random kisses and hugs lately! He'll be in the middle of playing and head right over to us and give one of those open-mouthed slobbery baby kisses (that could be utterly disgusting if it wasn't for the fact that it's the cutest thing EVER!).

And, Dr. update...

We went to the Dr. today to inquire about his constant diarrhea (no fever, really no other symptoms). He thinks it's a virus, wants us to come back in a week if it's still going, and we'll do stool samples and whatnot. Second guess was a soy allergy. So, we'll see what happens this week!

I really love this doctor too! Praise God He set us up with one that is sensitive and conscientious to our well-informed vaccination choices! He didn't say anything other than, "You know I have to recommend it, but we can talk again when you're ready." I think I almost passed out, lol. Anyway, great news. :)

P.S. He measured 32 inches at the Dr.'s office. Did he really grow over night?!

Height/Weight Check-In!

The last measurements I logged were at 14 months...he was 30 inches, and 22.4 pounds.

Of course, we know he's growing...growing out of clothes and shoes still! He's wearing a size 5 1/2 or 6 shoe, has outgrown 18 month clothes (except for some pants), and is now in many more 24 mo. and 2T outfits!

So, what's the verdict? According to a couple of online calculators/growth charts, here are his stats, followed by percentages! Apparently whatever is causing him digestive upset is not interfering with growing!

Height: 31.75 inches. / 92%
Weight: 24 pounds / 58%
Head circumference: 18.5 inches / 72%

Just in case you were wondering precisely why head measurements are important (I was!), it's to make sure their brain is growing and developing at a steady rate too! This is the first time I've done it personally, but hey, why not?

At the moment, he's having a full-fledged toddler tantrum over not being able to move his toys like he wants to...and I'm out of here for now! :)

It pays to listen to your children!

There we are, having a wonderful picnic in the park...

I put Ian up on top of the picnic table, because he could see out over the water, and have easier access to the food. He happily munched on his apple, and rested his right hand down on the table. Then, my happy little boy turned into a child paranoid of the dirt on his hand! He kept whining and fussing and holding his hand up, even after I had brushed the dirt off...first with my hand, then on his pants, and finally on a napkin. He would return briefly to eating his apple, and then complain about his hand again.

This continued for a little while, until Matt joined us and provided a welcome distraction. They played, and Ian tried to put Matt's cover on his own head, then return it to daddy's head (albeit sideways, haha).

I was resting my elbows and arms on the table, snapping a few photos, and then suddenly, pain! I looked down at my elbow and it was extremely rad, and all up my arm where it had been resting on the table there were little red bumps. They were pretty painful, it felt like tiny glass shards or something...but I couldn't see anything on my arm at all! I grabbed a wet wipe and cleaned off my arm, elbow and then Ian's hands.

We ended up going to the commissary and I noticed the right side of Ian's face had a rash too. I wiped it off with a wipe, and blessedly, it went away quickly.

Next time, I'm listening to Ian when he protests, even at invisible things! I guess there was something growing on that table, or pollen of some sort we all were sensitive to (even Matt called and said he was a little itchy). A lesson re-learned...it never hurts to assume that a person ISN'T being overreactive, and give them credit for legitimate feelings (even if we don't think the same way). Probably a life lesson that ties into more than just the physical...guess it's the golden rule after all! :)

Going to be the BEST big brother!

We went shopping Tuesday and I decided to follow through with an idea I had a month or so ago to get Ian used to the idea of a little baby brother or sister! Yes, it's early, but you never can start too soon with a toddler!

The idea was to get him a little baby doll (no I'm not trying to turn him into a little girl!) and start talking about how to touch a baby, and what they do, etc. So here we go down the dolly aisle, trying to find a baby doll suitable for a boy, lol.

Ok, and I must diverge from the original point of this post for a moment to ask, what happened to baby dolls?!?! There was a whole aisle of them...first off, all girls. I guess nobody wants a boy baby! Secondly, what on earth is up with all the fancy babies? There are babies that swim, babies that pee, babies that have a sensor and cry when you walk by unless you pick them up, and babies that can crawl...oh, and almost all of them are PINK! So, it took a moment to just find a regular baby doll! No frills! And, NO peeing! lol.

Back to Ian...we found a little "display model" dolly lying on a fancy changing table/dresser toy, and I handed the baby to him (see what he would think!). He looked at the baby very intently, turning it around in his hands. It almost seemed like he was pondering, "What on earth am I supposed to do with THIS?!" I casually remarked that I had a baby in my belly, and this was what his little baby brother or sister was going to look like. Then, he turned and looked from me to the doll and back again...paused a moment, almost staring the baby in the eye...and brought it to his lips and kissed it! To add to the cuteness factor, he even said, "I love you," afterward and kissed it again!

Of course, we got the baby!

In the car, he kissed the baby again, and carried on a one-sided conversation for almost 5 minutes! He jabbered away in the cutest little voice, I only wish I could have understood what he was saying! He put the baby up on his shoulder and patted its back, and stroked it and said, "Nice, nice, nice." He was just so sweet with that baby...for about 10 minutes, then he moved on to something else!

Since we got the baby he often carries it around, and points to body parts on the baby and himself. Overall, he's pretty gentle with it, and talks to it a lot. He definitely recognizes it's a little person (or looks like one anyway).

I think he's going to be the best big brother! He is so nurturing, warm, and sweet, and seeing it come out is truly wonderful. I just hope he is nice to the real baby and not just the fake one...after all the fake one doesn't get much of mommy's attention! :)