Pictures and Drawings

Today we got some more prints of Johnny in from his shutterfly. Every time we invite more people they offer free prints, so I usually end up doing that and then paying like $2 in shipping and $2 for some wallet-size pictures. Once we actually have the money to afford a good number of prints and an album to put them all in, we will be using that site to purchase all of them because they are so great! I am definitely a fan.

I made a poster collage a few years ago, and since the prints arrived in the mail I decided it would be good to redo it. I took off any irrelevant pictures (friends I've not seen or talked to in years, etc.) and added some of Johnny and Steve. It is looking pretty good, if I do say so myself. Steve will be hanging it in our hallway tonight, and will also be hanging my drawing for Johnny over his crib. People harass me because I am so obsessed with pictures, albums, art, and pretty much anything that can preserve a memory in a visual way. What can I say? I've been writing my whole life, I have to slowly expand and grow to other forms of expression! Go creativity!

Anniversary

One year ago I married Stephen.

One year ago my family took bets on how long it would take for a child to enter the equation.

Though their bets varied, every single one of them placed the birth prior to our first anniversary. Today Johnny is 2 months and 23 days old. Oh, the changes we have gone through in just one simple year!

Yesterday afternoon we dropped Johnny off with Grammy and Chris. Steve and I proceeded to celebrate our anniversary with a wonderful meal at Olive Garden, courtesy of a gift card from his parents, and then returned home for a child-free evening of movies and time together without any responsibilities. We stayed up late, talked for hours on end, and slept in this morning.

Today we took our time getting up, and had waffles for brunch. We made the 12:30 showing of Angels & Demons, courtesy of gift certificates from Elizabeth, and proceeded from there to Altoona to pick Johnny back up. Let me just tell you, as much as I loved the time alone with my husband, that was the LONGEST 24 hours of my life! I've never been away from Johnny for that long, and though I knew he was perfectly safe where he was, it was a lot to handle as a new mom! It didn't help that at dinner last night we were sat next to a table that had a 5 week old baby. I spent half the time staring at the little one and her mom, and even Steve was talking about how he wishes we had their car seat because it was of better design than our own.

Now that I've had some time to cuddle and chat with my own little guy, I'm feeling a lot better. He has just fallen asleep in his swing. It's batteries are dead, again, for the 10th time in less than 3 months, and we have returned to pushing it by hand. After not having him here, I hardly minded rocking it myself.

Tomorrow brings back the real world, but for now I'm happy just laying next to my two boys and falling asleep.

"First" of the day: Swimming

Today was rather fun. Steve, Johnny and I went to Aunt Cheryl's so that she could finally meet the little guy, and then we went swimming! Johnny wasn't sure what he thought of the water, but once he warmed up to the idea he seemed quite happy. Meanwhile, it gave me a chance to catch up with Cheryl which was really cool. I wish we could get together more often, things have just been really crazy over the past year for both her family and mine. Hopefully life will slow down a little now, but who ever really knows?

Cheryl was wonderful enough to shed some light on a much-debated subject when it comes to Johnny... his red hair! Apparently her grandfather was a redhead! So Johnny's great great grand-dad was a ginger too, and that is where he gets it from. Good to know, since no one was really sure how he ended up with it. His aunt Mindy had strawberry blonde hair as a baby, but turned white-blonde. His dad and his grandpa Gary both have red facial hair, but now we have a through-and-through full head source. Too bad Steve doesn't remember his great grandfather's real name because he only knew him as Pap Pap...

Anyway, this week seems to be shaping up. Elizabeth was here for most of yesterday and we had a blast watching movies and catching up. Since she is off for the summer, we are hoping to go together with Johnny for more days at Cheryl's pool, as well as have some more movie marathons. In the meantime, she plans on coming over for dinner tomorrow night!

I was talking off-hand to Lizzie yesterday about our most recent problem of Johnny still not fitting in diapers any bigger than the newborn size. Since we are kinda broke, he has been having to deal with size 1 even though they are way too big for him, and I was telling her how funny I found it that his legs are still so skinny and that they fall right off of him. Well, leave it to Elizabeth, she showed up a few hours after leaving for the evening with not one, but TWO huge boxes of Pampers Swaddlers newborns. She really is a blessing. Remember that Johnny... your aunt Lizzie supplied you with diapers that actually fit, so you better be nice to her!

Well, tonight's plans are pretty laid back, as there are none. It is the second time since Johnny was born that it is only the three of us for the evening, so we are kind of excited to be just our own little family unit. I don't know what is up for dinner, but I am getting hungry so I think I will go see what we have in the kitchen.

Father's Day

Johnny (okay, I) made Steve a tie for Father's Day. It has his footprints on it and says "#1 Dad"... What? Every dad needs a cheesy tie from his kids! Besides, with our current financial state, the $8 tie was about as much as I could squeeze out of the bank account. Actually, my dad paid for it. I still owe him, I'd better not forget that.

We spent the night at GG's last night because we were Andy sitting and so this morning when I woke up I went out to the living room where Steve was sleeping on the couch to find Johnny no longer in his pack-and-play but on his dad's chest. Both of my boys were out cold. I took a picture and then a little while later when Johnny had decided to wake up I snapped another. They're too cute, I love them both so much!

Our meeting up with Ann on Friday was great, I am glad she was able to spend about 20 minutes or so with him and we could all catch up a little. Johnny had been put in a cute outfit, but managed to projectile puke on everyone and everything (including his clothes of course) just as the plane was landing. By the time she got to see him he was back in a white onezie. Oh well! We got a few good pictures and then they had to get going to make it to the rehearsal dinner in time for Shannon's wedding.

Last night was our Father's Day dinner for my dad. Mindy, Christy, Brian, and later Matt were all able to be there. We had tacos, gave him gifts, and watched I Now Pronnounce You Chuck & Larry. Steve and I had given him the movie, and everyone spent the rest of the night asking him if he was hiding something from us... "Where is Chuck?" Good times, and then a few of us ended the night with The Italian Job. Johnny and I had passed out before the end of that one!

Today we took our time getting up and moving, and plan on taking it easy. We are going to go over to Steve's parent's to give Gary his gift, and then will be headed into church this evening. Relatively mellow and relaxed, we might cap off the evening with another movie. Who knows? It's all up to what Steve wants to do, as it is his day!

Auntie Ann

Tomorrow Johnny will get to meet his (great) aunt Ann. She is flying into State College briefly to meet up with her best friend and they are headed off to the Poconos for the girl's wedding... at least, that is my understanding of the situation. Either way, GG is stopping by after lunch and picking Johnny and I up to go to the airport. I don't know how long we will have to hang out, but I'm glad Ann will get to meet him while he is still this little, as the next time we will see her is mid-August. It is hard to believe that Johnny will be 4 1/2 months by then!!!

Reflecting on today, I had a bit of a hard time. Poor Johnny is just now finally starting to get over the thrush he has been battling for over a week now, but he still isn't feeling well. I myself am still sick, and adding that to a sick kid, things were just a bit rocky. Nothing really in particular happened that was bad, it just wasn't exactly a good day. This evening however was great! We had Mindy and Matt over for dinner, (pot roast, Steve made it) and got some good footage of Johnny talking and dancing with his aunt. We are so glad she has been able to make it over more often lately, she is so much fun!

Both Johnny and I are missing his aunt Christy right now. She is away on her "senior week" trip to Raystown with her friends, and although it is no big deal having a few days without her around, it kind of is setting us up for how things will be in the fall when she leaves for college. I can tell Johnny is noticing the difference too because he starts to cry every day at the time she would usually walk in the door. He also doesn't like it when anyone but Christy tickles him and gets mad at everyone else who tries. We're having early seperation anxiety.

Maybe both of the aunts will be interested in joining us for spring break next year?! We are thinking of looking into a trip to the Outer Banks. Including tax, I've found a cabin for right around $500/week. Sounds fun if you ask me!

Keeping Up-to-Date

I recently created a website for those who want to see updated pictures of Johnny and have the ability to order prints. I think it will come in handy, as people are constantly asking me for pictures but I can't afford to get them printed and hand them out. I recently ordered some new wallet-size photos of him, but other than that every few months, people are just going to have to be content with getting their prints themselves. Meanwhile, I'd love to be able to afford any prints, as I want to have photo albums!!!

Anyway, things here at casa-de-delafield are going just fine. Stephen is getting his macbook pro either today or tomorrow, so he is thrilled about that, and promising to let me use his other mac to store all of the photos of Johnny on so that we have a backup of some sort available.

Johnny is continuing to be a ham and pose for pictures. He is totally to the stage where he likes to coo and talk as well as smile every time he is given a reason. He continues to love music and enjoys dancing with me while I carry him around the house. Music is still the best thing to soothe him, which makes me sure that he will take after his father and aunt Mindy.

In other news, Stephen has finally agreed to let me get another tattoo. I want to get Johnny's initials and birth date on my wrist, and for every subsequent kid add more. Though he isn't thrilled about me getting more ink, he thinks that is about as tasteful as he can ask for, and it is kind of a cool idea. Simple, but nice... and small. I'll have to wait a little while to save up the money, but I'm excited. Thanks for the idea T'sana!

Start of the Summer

Finally the weather has started to act like it's really mid-June. Imagine that... consistent temperatures above 65? Really?

Christy's graduation was Saturday. The ceremony was long and boring, as usual with State High, but the party afterward was a lot of fun. Johnny got passed around to just about everyone there, most of whom I'd never met before and will never see again. No idea who everyone was, as it was a joint party for 4 kids. Mandie, Christy's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend, stole Johnny for a while and I wasn't sure I'd get him back before the end of the day. She decided she wants to keep him for now until she can have her own kids. Brian's dad told her not to get any ideas, he isn't ready to be a grandpa. I don't blame him, his son Billy is only 19!

The Clarks and the Millers all made it to the party, so it was the first time any of them met Johnny. Aunt Karen held him for about an hour and a half, so I'd say they got along just fine. She is looking forward to spoiling him at the lake in August. Even Mark hunted us down while at the part specifically to see Johnny, though he can see him any time he likes. He is too cute, I love my grandpa!

Johnny and I tried out his new shade tent on Sunday when Aly invited us over to her dad's to swim. The water was too cold for Johnny, so I didn't try the whole first-time thing just yet, I let him nap or chill with Stephen while I was in the water. Daddy came and joined in the fun and we had a BBQ with the Lewis crew. It was a nice end to the weekend.

Sunday night arrived however, and Johnny started to get sick. He puked more fluid than I thought his body could actually physically contain, and after getting a bath and puking some more, he really had us worried. He also had a low-grade fever. My mom told us to keep an eye on him and to pinch him every so often to see if his skin relaxed right back down or stayed a little doughy. If it did, it meant he was dehydrated and we'd have to take him right to the ER. Thankfully the little guy did start to feel better, and by morning everything was okay. Mom and dad survived their son's first sick day... I'd say we weren't too bad! Especially since I myself was running a fever. Yesterday morning I got into the doctor since I still wasn't feeling well and was put on an antibiotic for an ear infection. Hooray!

Last night we went to Grandma Yingling's for dinner (we brought steak & potatoes) and to do laundry. Johnny got to see Rush Hour for the first time, which is good because Jackie Chan is an actor his father loves and whose movies he owns a ton of. I have to say, I'm a fan. I always have been... but it was crazy a year or so ago to find out the guy can actually sing too! Random I know, from a martial arts stunt guy, but rather interesting. Anyway, we had fun. Tonight? Rush Hour 2.

Nakey Time!

Johnny loves to be stripped down to his diaper. For that matter, he'd go 100% in his birthday suit if I'd let him. But alas, I do not find the prospect of a diaperless infant a good idea for very long at a time, so once a day he gets about 15 minutes to just chill out on a mat on the floor... usually directly following an explosive diaper so I can assure there won't be any more coming for a little while.

As it is getting warmer out, we are finding more and more that a diaper only is the best way to go! I figured this much while I was pregnant, didn't plan on having more than a onesie on him at best, and it has indeed been the case. Last night we were hanging out with my dad in a house with no airconditioning and it took a grand total of about ten seconds for Johnny to start whining and pulling at his clothes. Once stripped, he felt much better. Might this exhibitionst side come from his mother? The woman who doesn't wear shoes and would be set for life if a sports bra and shorts were the most anyone was required to wear?! I do believe so...

Fussy!!!

So I don't know whether he is starting to teethe, (hes chewing on his binks) or if he simply wasn't feeling well, but Johnny spent the entire day freaking out. He would scream at the top of his lungs every 3 or 4 minutes no matter what anyone did. Holding him, cuddling, changing, feeding, walking, bouncing, swinging... nothing made him happy! The only time he stopped screaming all day was for the 10 minutes he was in the bathtub. He finally fell asleep for the first time since 8:00am about 20 minutes ago. -- It's almost 11:00pm!!!

He doesn't have a fever, I tried some baby orajel, he didn't respond to gripe water, and it can't be his stomach because for the first time in days everything is actually all normal on that front. I know its crazy for me to be worried since he is just an unusually perfect baby most of the time, but if he doesn't start to be more "Johnny" by tomorrow I'm going to call the doctor and ask for suggestions. All kids have bad days, but there is nothing I can find that triggered this one! Setting him down to cry didn't fix it, holding him all of the time isn't helping much, but at least it isn't constant crying, there are a few minute breaks here and there. Johnny! What can I do?

I hope he sleeps well tonight... he is so exhausted at this point! As am I...

Home again...

Johnny and I are back from our weekend in Altoona with Grammy. We have returned to a rested and recharged Stephen, which is great news for me because my migraines aren't getting any better and I could use a little help with Johnny. I need to get some rest today before Steve goes back to work tomorrow.

I believe the plan is to make a pot roast for tomorrow night's family dinner. Aunt Mindy might come, so I need to call and see if she is bringing Matt or not in order to get a good head count. If there are too many people, it might be lasagna instead! -- I'm not complaining, I love either meal!

Our new project for the time being is working on the wedding invitations for Grammy. Johnny and I went with her to pick out the supplies needed to make them, and now he is helping me put them together. Well, he's sitting with me while I work on them, smiling on and off between working on a diaper. Steve still says he's not smiling at me, it's just gas. He is sure Johnny only smiles at him. Men... they're so delusional. Thank goodness I have a good number of years before Johnny can be counted as one of them!

I'll keep my baby little while I still can...

Time & Altoona

Happy 2 months kiddo! -- Really? Already?

Johnny and I are with my mom for an early weekend, Thursday-Saturday. We have enjoyed going to the mall, doing some other shopping, watching movies, playing cards, and cooking. Last night I taught Kyle how to make my chocolate chip cookies, and in the process found something I wanted to tweak about my recipe that made them even better! I always mess around with my recipes a good 10 times or so until I have them how I like them, but that was the first time I've touched that one in over a year because I'd thought I had it down pat. Just goes to show what can happen when you're missing an ingredient and your creative side takes over!

Though I have a pack n play set up in the room with me here, I haven't been putting Johnny in it simply because the bed is so big I might as well just keep him on it with me. My sleep habits really haven't been getting any better, and in the past few days may have actually taken a step backward. I got about 2 1/2 hours last night. I guess I am doomed to forever deal with the sleep cycle of a giraffe.

Grammy bought Johnny a really cute outfit yesterday while we were out shopping. A dress shirt and khakis with little frogs all over them! I can't wait to see them on him, but the smallest we could find was 9months, so we will have to wait a while. Too adorable though, I'm excited! She also got him some more socks, as he was in desperate need and none of the stores in State College sell ones small enough for his feet!

Tomorrow we are going to get our hair cut and show Johnny off to her friends. Then will spend some more time hanging out before going back home in the evening. As much as I love the bed I'm sleeping in, I will really like being back in my own! Something about the familiarity and comfort of what you're used to is just too important to miss out on for long, even if you're not sleeping a whole lot. That, and I'd like my book selection back. I've just got one here with me and finished it last night.

I wonder if Steve will read The Dante Club to Johnny and I when we get home?

10lb 2oz... slow down buddy!!!

I really wish Johnny wouldn't grow so quickly. It's not like I want a stunted child or anything, I just wish he would stay tiny forever! He is my first baby, it is going to be hard to watch him get older and bigger so quickly... by the time we get to kid #3... 5... or 12... I'm sure I'll be more well adjusted.

Speaking of more kids, I went today to have the Mirena placed. All is set there, so we are prego-free for the next few years. Well, at least until I get all anxious and convince Steve that it really is desperately important that we keep the children close together in age. That's when I'll run back into the doctor's and reverse the process! Too bad we can't financially handle another kid right away, because I'd much rather just go ahead and start trying for the next one. Believe it or not, I loved being pregnant. All of the health problems aside, I could be pregnant over and over and just love the whole experience!

You can tell the whole pregnancy thing is on my mind a lot still when I've been picking out a name for a boy, should we have another. We are agreed on two girl's names already, so no problem there, but it took us forever to settle on Johnny. In my postpartum brain it only makes sense to be prepared should we ever find ourselves in the same predicament again. Surprisingly we've found one... Abel. I know, it's seemingly random and not a name you run across in every day life. Actually, I don't think I have ever known anyone with the name nor anyone who has met an Abel. If you ask me, it falls right in line with Jonathan. Both were men who missed the limelight in their biblical stories, yet were great examples of obedience. Jonathan is the example of the best friend a man could have, saving David from certain death. He was obedient by bending without question to God's will for David to take Jonathan's rightful place as king. Abel was the first example of true obedience in the Bible and gave to the Lord his very best, and died as a result of his giving. In the end, I think I'll keep sticking to the biblical names for my boys.

Anyway, that is all totally off subject really. As I have just said, we are now certain not to have another kid for a few years, much less have the ability to know if the next one is a boy or a girl. I'm just... crazy. Postpartum hormones and insanity all add up to this instinctive gravitation toward pregnancy all over again. I never understood why a woman would want to get pregnant again right after giving birth. Now I know that it is something you couldn't possibly fully appreciate without having had a child yourself. I understand that even then it is a small percentage of us moms that are that nuts, but I am not the only one to ever say "lets go again" right after poppin' one out!

Back to the real world...

Johnny and I will be going to my mother's for an early weekend, Thursday-Saturday. It should be a nice getaway from State College, and I am really glad it will give Steve a chance to relax. He plans on having some friends over on Thursday and possibly again Friday night, and I wouldn't be surprised if he spent the majority of the day on Saturday at Justin's house with the guys. Poor Steve more than deserves some sanity time, and I couldn't be happier that he will finally have a chance to play his video games and be all geeky without having to worry about a crazy wife or baby boy. After everything he has been through the past few weeks, it's his turn.

For now I plan on taking tomorrow nice and slow since it's the first day this week without 3 or 4 appointments. It will be great to stay home and just chill with Johnny. I love lazy days.