Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun…

Posted on 13 March 2013 by amber

Link and I are anxiously awaiting Mr. Sun to come out and shine on us! We are sick of the cold and snow. Link can’t say s’s well, so he calls it No! which is a perfect interpretation about how I feel, even though he says it excitedly. I have been slacking on my exercises, unfortunately, so once it starts to warm up I am determined to have nightly walks with Link, around the neighborhood and to our park. I will be excited to see how he interacts on the park this year compared to last fall. It’s just amazing to me how much he is growing and learning. It is so fun to watch.

Can I have daddy’s Pepsi?

I love to climb on the table!

Link’s new favorite thing to do, though, is get “in trouble”. He loves to climb up on the kitchen table, and grab whatever is on there, such as daddy’s soda bottle. If there is any food left on his highchair, that sits next to the table, he likes to try to get at that also. One of the problems with this all, is that he is just so darn cute while doing it. I’ve read a lot about child behavior and discipline, and I’ve been to a couple of classes on it, and I’ve learned some things that help us encourage him to do other things, while not disciplining, per say. The thing is – he’s 19 months old! He isn’t really being naughty, or a “bad boy”. He is just doing what toddlers do. He is exploring, and testing his boundaries, which is very healthy. We do have a “take a break” corner, where I set him down and tell him what to do, and then walk away. This basically just removes him from the situation, which is all we really should be doing at this age.

Overall, we have a very well behaved, happy little boy.

And next week we start Montessori School! I am so very excited for him to start. I am slightly nervous of course, because it will be a new experience for him (which is good) and a new experience for me (which is the nerve-wracking part). I think he will just thrive in that environment, and it will help him learn and socialize like a kid his age should. We are sending him to St. Croix Montessori School. I have been to this school once, and I really liked it. I have also heard great things about it. I just have to finish getting his “school supplies” this weekend.

Justin and I are also trying to do a few more fun family things when we can. On Sunday night we went to Coldstone for a little ice cream treat. Link’s favorite things to eat are stringed cheese and blueberries, but he sure does love a bowl of ice cream now and then. Well, I’m sure he would love a bowl daily, but that just won’t happen!

Enjoying ice cream with mom and dad!

We are 16 weeks now with Baby2.0. This baby is a bit different than Link was so far. Not sure if that means anything, just is interesting. I am still nauseous daily, but I did discover last night that Life Cereal was an amazing cure. We don’t really talk about the baby much with Lincoln yet. It’s too much of a wait to start getting him ready, but when he decides it’s time to bounce on mommy’s tummy, I do tell him that he can’t because of the baby in my tummy. He thinks the baby is a girl, and that we should name her Big Girl. I’m pretty sure that name won’t stick. 2.5 more weeks until we find out if baby is a she or he. We will likely make that news public, but not the name. We are going to keep that part a secret!

15 week update

Posted on 7 March 2013 by amber

Baby2.0′s pregnancy reached 15 weeks this week. I celebrated by going back to work after missing two days due to illness. Thankfully it was just a cold – nothing too awful. I ran a fever, which I rarely do, and I enjoyed some extra naps and time in the recliner, which is rarer these days with my sweet 19 month old running around.

14.5 weeks with a little bit of a bump!

Link also caught the cold, and we spent Tuesday in the recliner watching Micky Mouse and Tinkerbell. (Yes I know – the TV is evil, but you try to convince a toddler to stop running around and rest!) It was some very sacred cuddle time. I think this cold lasted a lot shorter than usual, thanks to a new vitamin plan we have Link on (thanks Abbey for those suggestions!).

Link was very snuggly and restful while sick.

Other than the cold, our family is doing well. I’m trying to eat better for this baby – I have a hard time stomaching a lot of foods, and I’m still down 3 or 4 pounds from before pregnancy. I decided on a list of healthy meals and snacks for lunches. One great idea I had was hard boiled eggs! I thought that would be a great source of nutrition for me that I could eat. Well, I ate 1.5 at lunch yesterday, gagged on the last bite, and haven’t been able to even think about them since. I’m convinced that the taste is still in my mouth, and whenever I think about it, I gag again. Silly pregnant brain.

We have our anatomy scan on Good Friday, and the most important part of that scan is learning that our babe is healthy and well developed. Link’s anatomy scan went well, but they couldn’t see his heart well enough so we had a second one. I’m hoping this babe will have a great first scan, because I really don’t need extra things to worry about, although now having Link’s experience I know that it just happens that way sometimes. The less important part will be finding out if we are having a little girl or a little boy. I’m sure we will share what we are having, but we are going to keep the name a secret.

Link LOVES guitars, and was so excited to look through a catalog full of them!

Not much else to update on. I’m really looking forward to this snow melting. I can’t wait to be able to take Link outside more again, and go on walks. It really helps my energy levels and mood when I can spend time outside with Link, but I hate to be cold, so I don’t do much in the wintertime. I’m hoping I will feel better this weekend so that I can be productive. I don’t believe we have anything planned, so I have a goal of two things to get done around the house (I thought I’d start small, so it’s more realistic, and I’m not telling you what it is, because then I can’t be held accountable!).

Last little bit of news – Link’s favorite color is purple. I told him that mommy likes green best, and asked what his was. He looked thoughtful, and I said, “Do you like green? or blue?” and he said “Purple!!” I thought that was great, and I told him Bop Mike’s favorite is purple too. So he then said “Purple, like Bop”. Such a cutie pie.

Ready Set Go!

Posted on 18 February 2013 by amber

Link has a whole list of things that he might be as he grows up, and this weekend we have added a new one: track star. Or maybe just “in track”. He has started racing around the house. He says “ready set go” and runs across the room or down the hall. I guess he was doing that during church also in the hallway with my mom. We’re pretty sure he got that from The Backyardigans (which yes, we let him watch sometimes. He’s smart and developing well, so I’m not too concerned.).

Link loves to hide now.

It is so fun to watch him learn new words and concepts. We are working hard on numbers and shapes and hopefully he will catch on to them soon. He knows some of the shapes in his shape puzzle, but I’m not sure he could identify them in different places. I would like to get some at-home educational tools that I could kindly ask his grandmas to do with him. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be very open!

Link was very snuggly on Sunday!

We are in week 12 of Baby2.0′s journey, and that means daily headaches for mama. I didn’t document Link’s pregnancy as well as I should have, so I want to do better with this babe. Mostly for symptoms, because it’s nice to compare and know that it is “normal” for me and pregnancy. I worry a bit too much sometimes, so it’s good to be reassured.

We had a wonderful weekend. We spent Saturday afternoon at Mall of America with the Gehrings and Richard and Liam. The boys had so much fun together! I love watching them interact. They kind of play with each other. Liam really enjoyed holding Link’s hand at dinner and making him do things with it. Liam also tried to feed Link a few times. Link isn’t around kids too much, so wasn’t quite sure what was going on!

Link and Liam at dinner.

This week should be a good one. Busy as always, but hopefully productive also!

Being pregnant again

Posted on 15 February 2013 by amber

This week I am 12 weeks pregnant with Baby Gehring #2. Many people ask me if this was planned. My work-around answer is, “Well, we know how these things happen.” The truth is not exactly, we didn’t plan to get pregnant in December and have a baby late August/September. But I am so incredibly blessed and excited to be pregnant again.

I have been extremely fortunate to have this be my second pregnancy and, God willing, will be my second healthy baby. I feel unworthy. I felt unworthy with Link too. I have been surrounded by losses over the last few years – too many friends and family members suffering lost pregnancies and lost babies. It isn’t fair to them. And I ask God, while thanking Him, why am I so blessed?

I may never know. What I can do though, is pray and cry for those hurting, and praise and spread joy for my blessings. I will work my darndest to give Link and our future children a God filled life. I want them to know Jesus, to love Him, and to go to Him in times of need. I am okay if my kids ask questions, if they experience doubts, if they, like me, ask “why is it working out ok for me, or why isn’t it?” I will encourage those things. And all along I will work to serve others in any way God asks of me.

While pregnant, I have an internal law that I try to live by. I will occasionally share my woes and discomforts. I will state that it is very hot being pregnant, or that I feel sick. I will not, however, wish any of it away, or complain about what is going on. The person growing in me is an incredible miracle. By the grace of God, I am growing a tiny human! It is the most miraculous thing I have ever experienced, and to wish it was out, to wish to not be pregnant, to complain about the pain it’s causing me, is just selfish. So while we are called not to judge, I will wish that others would not complain. I will pray for your pregnancy woes and aches, but I will not agree with you when you wish the pregnancy over or done. I will, if you’d like, remind you that you are growing a human, a child that God trusted to you. I will tell you again and again, if it helps you, that there is a watermelon-sized miracle! kicking you in your ribs.

While there are so many trials and troubles in this world, and so many questions to ask, I am going to live joyfully, while God does HIS WORK inside of me.

Celebrating Lent in the offseason

Posted on 28 November 2012 by amber

I started reading my February 2010 posts on this blog, actually completely by accident. I wanted to read the 2011 ones, but I clicked the wrong button. It brought me to the last time that I celebrated Lent with all of my heart. I had given up some food vices and had taken up talking with God. This was a beautiful time and I enjoyed reading it. It was exactly what I needed to hear today.

Even though I have upped my exercising and my attitude is toward getting healthy, I haven’t been living it. I have been eating for comfort way too often. In my dark moments, I should be looking to God for help and comfort instead of Cheetohs.

It was just a simple, good reminder to look to God instead of idols.

the music is in me

Posted on 27 November 2012 by amber

The Christmas music season has begun for me. And thank goodness! It was about time. Christmas music makes me happy and this time of year I need all of the happy I can get.

This time of the year every year, I get sad. Maybe I get SAD? Either way, I find it hard to stay happy. This year though, I have a bouncy, smiley, silly little 16 month old who brings me such joy that it balances out the harder moments. For this, I am so thankful. Besides it being this time of year, I also have a lot on my plate. Work is busy, which is good. School is busy, which is mostly good. I have a great workout schedule, but it makes my Tuesdays and Wednesday last from 5am-10pm. 6am-9:30pm of that is away from my house.

I am trying to schedule into my crazy schedule more “loved on” time. This includes family time and friend time. I am grateful to have friends who don’t mind meeting me after 8pm, when Link is asleep. I don’t want to take away any more time than I already do from him.

Justin and I out at a wedding sans Link.

The new photos on our living room wall. They bring me great joy!

A sleepy boy after many Thanksgiving activities.

Video of our little drummer boy. He loves to play the drums!

I am getting more and more excited for Christmastime though. I have purchased most of our gifts online (thank you Amazon!) I am excited to head to Nebraska and spend more time with that family.

And so… the countdown continues!

19 days until Christmas 2012.1: Justin’s mom’s side
20 days until Christmas 2012.2: Justin’s immediate family – Pat, Ron, Justin, Link, Amy, Collin, me (this date?)
24 days until I graduate!
25 days until Christmas 2012.3: My immediate family – Mom, Dad, Justin, Link, Ashley, Peter, me
26 days until Christmas 2012.4: My mom’s side
27 days until we head to Nebraska to begin Christmas 2012.5: Justin’s dad’s side

Eesh. :-)

15 months and Halloween!

Posted on 7 November 2012 by amber

Link turned 15 months old October 20, which means we are almost to the next month marker! We had his 15 month checkup, which went fairly well.

At Link’s 12 month checkup they had to draw blood, and they did not do that well, so it was very traumatic (for mommy too!). Our smart little boy remembers that too well, and has a hard time at the doctor now. He cried the minute he saw the room, then when the nurses came in, then when they measured his head, then when the doctor came in, and so on. He was just so scared that he was going to be in so much pain again. Oh just thinking about it makes me sad and angry!

Link likes our doctor though, so he did pretty well showing off for him. Link told Dr. Khoury that he is one (you ask how old are you, and he holds up 1 finger). Then he gave Dr. Khoury “five”. Then the Dr. asked if he played peek-a-boo and Link immediately put his hands over his eyes. ”That answers that” the Dr. said.

Link’s stats: 23 pounds 3 ounces, 30.25 inches tall, and head size was 18.75 inches.

The doctor was very pleased with Link’s vocab (20-25 consistent words and 5-10 sign language words) and everything else! We talked a little about discipline, and the Dr. said that we might be able to try techniques that are usually for older kids since Link “is smarter than most kids his age”. That was totally a proud mommy moment!

Two shots, and then the appointment was over. Even though it was pretty terrifying for the poor boy, he was strong and brave, and recovered quick after the shots.

Then last week was Halloween! Link is still too little to go out trick-or-treating, but we got him dressed up in his costume and spent the evening at my parent’s house with Justin’s parents also. Link went as ‘Link’ from Zelda, the video game.

I made the costume, and had a lot of fun doing it! What a great ‘mommy’ project! You can see more pictures from Halloween here, including some of Link’s best friend Liam, who was a lion! The cutest little lion I have ever seen with an adorable mommy lion.

We are now truly in November, and I am just itching to start the Christmas music. It’s strange because I really have been a Scrooge about buying gifts this year. I don’t want to do it, I just want it to be over with, but yet, I am in the mood for Christmas. Scrooge is a classic after all, so it isn’t the worst thing to start out the season as. I will come around, and be the end-of-the-story-Scrooge.

And so the countdowns begin…

1 week until Cities Sampler
2 weeks until Thanksgiving (and I get to see Amy and Collin!!!!!!)
6 weeks until Graduation
7 weeks until Christmas

{ir}rational thoughts of a new mom

living. loving. praying,