OTD

Last week Thurs and Fri I had orientation on campus at St. Kate's for my doctoral program. It was both overwhelming and exciting. We are the first OTD class at St. Kate's. This is again very exciting, but in some ways intimidating as well. Our cohort consists of 4 St. Kate's grads. All 4 of us work in the school system and 3/4 of us work together in St. Paul Public Schools in early childhood. The fourth one works in another district, but graduated with one of us St. Paul folk. The other 2 in our cohort are from Iowa and teach in the OT department at St. Ambrose. We seem like a good fit for a group and I am excited to get to know everyone a little better over the next 2 1/2 to 3 years.

Andrew joined me in orientation all day both days. He is still eating every 2 hours so it would have been more difficult for me to be separated from him that to bring him along. He was not lacking for attention and did fabulously well both days. Everyone was eager to pass him around and take turns in giving me a break when Andrew wasn't hungry or needing a diaper change. I didn't take any pictures at orientation, but did buy Andrew a St. Kate's onesie. With 2 boys I won't have a "Katie", but I felt he needed a St. Kate's shirt, especially since the boys have "future U of MN Law Student" shirts. I figure it only fair to make Andrew at least where a shirt from my school.

I am excited about the opportunities this will hopefully bring. I have begun to look through my coursework and I am looking forward to the first course. We will see how I feel in a few weeks when we are in the full swing of classes. Just one picture today of my 6 week old in his St. Kate's shirt.

6 week old Andrew

Whirlwind

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. Andrew is 4 weeks old - he will be one month old tomorrow. Anthony has been back to work full time for a little over a week. Nathaniel is getting used to his brother more and more. And me, well I am getting the hang of long days with both boys on my own and learning to handle the endless challenges of a very clever 2 year old. I even managed to care for my 2 boys and my nephew for a few hours with a little help from my baby sister. She thinks I can handle three and wants Anthony and I to get started on having a niece for her. I keep telling her not for a long while and maybe not ever. It has been fun having all the boys together and watching the new things they are all doing and learning every day. Here are some pictures of the boys hanging out on the floor together yesterday.

All 3 hanging out on the floor

Andrew and Nikolas kicking away

Andrew - 4 weeks and 1 day old

The next few weeks are going to fly too. Tomorrow both boys get weighed. I am excited to see how much my hungry little one has grown this past month. He is so long in some of his 3 month clothes already and getting some chubby legs too. I am hoping Nathaniel has gained a little and isn't just maintaining. We are going to make a trip into my work briefly tomorrow and then visit Oma and Opa (who is finally home after lots of tests and 6 days in the hospital).

Next week Monday all 3 boys are having their pictures taken in matching outfits (1 month, 4 months, and 30 months - super fun) and then Thursday and Friday Andrew will get introduced to St. Catherine University as I will be bringing him along with me to my OTD orientation. Lucky Nathaniel gets to have a day with Grandma Betts and a second day with her and Nikolas. And then the following week my cousin Amy is getting married. Before I know it January will be over and February will be here and I'll be going back to work. By then I'll probably be starting to get the swing of things around here with 2 little men.

Just a few more pictures from Andrew's Baptism and one from Andrew's first Edelweiss party. I will be sure to update on the boys' weights - hopefully sooner than later.

Andrew's introduction to Edelweiss - 1 week old

Wearing the same gown as mommy, aunties, and big brother wore

Wide eyed and ready for cake

Nathaniel loved watching Andrew get Baptized

OTD - I must be nuts

Sitting in the recliner, completely uncomfortable, and updating my resume and writing a personal statement to go back to school for a clinical doctorate. I must be nuts.

The baby is kicking in all awkward ways. I am not sleeping partly due to cold/illness, partly due to a 2 year old with a cold/illness, and partly due to being less than 4 weeks from my due date. No more big bouts of contractions since last weekend thankfully, but I am getting very uncomfortable these days. It's just getting towards the end where I really do have to pay attention to changing my position frequently, which can be difficult for me, especially when I am in a rhythm of writing reports or doing billing or other paperwork.

I had my first of my last 4 weekly OB appointments on Friday. Yikes - we are in the home stretch. It was check-up as usual, but again with the end of this pregnancy I am measuring on the small side. This means another late term ultrasound in 1-2 weeks to made sure the baby is the right size. I think this one will just be like Nathaniel and it's all baby in there with not as much room/fluid to make me larger. I'm a small person. There is only so much space for this baby to grow. But I guess best to be on the safe side and have another ultrasound. We'll see if I spot anything this time to make me think boy or girl. I thought I spotted something when I had my late term ultrasound with Nathaniel, but then the ultrasound tech said something about long fingers, so I second guessed myself. I love the surprise anyway and getting to hear it come from Anthony is great too. My hemoglobin is low again, so I'm back to taking more iron supplements now and probably after baby arrives since I was low on iron after Nathaniel. No wonder I am so tired - overworked, very pregnant, and low iron count in my blood. The biggest news from the visit is that I am starting to dilate (a very small amount). This is no sign that the baby is coming early per my OB, but it is big news in this house because this is more than I progressed on my own with Nathaniel. Only time will tell when this little one decides to come, but hopefully not until after daddy's trial on Friday and after I get a bunch of work things settled in the next couple of weeks.

We are starting to feel ready around here however. We have the cradle back in our room and Nathaniel rocks it every day. It is the cradle that Anthony's grandfather made for his children. Grandma Kay slept in it, daddy slept in it, Nathaniel slept in it (among many other aunts, uncle, and cousins) and now this little one will sleep in it. My bags are packed with a exception of a few toiletries and the car seat is in the car. I think we are ready physically and getting there mentally. Nathaniel continues to want to "see the baby" every day - which means lifting up my shirt so that he can press his hands and face on my belly and fingers into my belly button as the baby is "inside there".

Here's an image that brought smiles and laughter to Anthony and I this morning. Nathaniel in his Twins helmet (too big for daddy's head even) walking around the living room playing and reading this morning as if it was typical to wear a baseball helmet while playing in the morning. Another smile that tells me things will turn out ok, even if I am nuts.