The Leventis Family

Wade 17 Months

2009-06-21T17:50:00.005-04:00

Alllergy to peanut butter.

So grown up.

He loves ketchup.

Wade, 15 months

2009-05-07T20:00:00.003-04:00

Wade is finally walking. (The best summer shoes have been Angel sandals). He does have a terrible habit of throwing. Anything. He also disciplines us right back. I have no idea how to punish a 15 month old, but something tells me I better learn fast.

Where have we been?

2009-03-15T21:03:00.003-04:00

Wade is almost 14 months old and even though he is not walking yet, he is certainly hard to keep up with. He is very active, happy and a well-rounded child. He knows all his animal sounds. can point out most animals in a picture and says lots of words. Most of them sound like dada, but they all have varying inflections and that determines what he actually saying. He calls me dada, but it is a more high pitched version than Todd's. This picture is of him at my parents house. He was saying UH-OH the whole time he was destroying the bathroom. At least he knows.

Busy Wade

2009-01-15T10:29:00.008-05:00

I know I said I was back, but that was easier said than done. Wade is constantly moving now and has had a fever all week (so sleep has been few and far between). The only reason I am writing this now is because he is finally down for a nap. Wade is turning one in a week! I can't believe it. I know everyone says this, but I really can't believe it. His favorite past times are waving, dancing and clapping. On a recent trip to see my mom he tired himself to sleep because he waved at absolutely every car that went by. If he so much as hears my cell phone ring he begins dancing. If you just tell him "dance" then he does a couple pelvic thrusts. This is only cute for a one year old. And the clapping...he claps through songs in the car, most of the church service and if anyone says anything remotely close to "woo-hoo." He really is such a joy. Even at 2:30 am when all he wants to do is play. And by play, that means taking all the clothes out of his laundry basket and scattering them about.

I'm back...

2008-12-15T13:13:00.004-05:00

At the MI Christmas Parade

Getting the Christmas Tree

Our photo shoot at the beach

Okay, I am sort of back. After catching up with old friends this weekend I was strongly encouraged to get back to blogging. We were at Jennifer Render Bowie's wedding this weekend and it was so much fun. She was a beautiful bride! Wade will be 11 months old on Christmas day. He is not crawling yet, but manages to scoot from here to there. We took him to the beach Saturday for a Christmas card shot and of course none of them turned out well. Anyway, I ordered the cards today with an old picture we had. Way to be on the ball! Wade says mama, dada, dog, Sidney (our dog) and moos when you asked him what the cow says. These are all very exciting milestones for us. Here are some pictures from the past few months.

Halloween

2008-11-13T18:42:00.002-05:00

I have not posted in forever, but had to put one of Wade in his Halloween costume. This one was a hit and I made it! He might never forgive me...

Weight Gain

2008-08-28T19:11:00.002-04:00

When Wade was sick last week, he lost about 2 pounds (big deal when you are only 14 pounds)! I am happy to report he is packing on pounds double time now. I guess he has a lot to make up for. He takes lots of bottles of formula, still nurses and eats lots of baby food. I am now making all the baby food and it is working out pretty well. I do have to mix some with Earth's Best carrots to get him to start eating it, but he is doing really well with it. Today he had mango and apple. It was so yummy! He took to it right away and I even snuck a few bites myself. Now that I have the system down, it is really easy to make the food. I do a recipes worth and then divide into a muffin pan and freeze. Once frozen (only an hour or so) I put them all in one or two ziplocs in the freezer, with a few in the fridge to eat in the next couple of days. It doesn't take up much freezer space and I know what is going into the food that I feed him. Plus, I know there are no grains in them so hopefully no terrible reactions. As far as the intolerance, we have been referred to an allergist and another pediatrician. Those appointments begin next week. I'll keep you posted.

Grain Intolerance?

2008-08-26T11:43:00.002-04:00

Anyone ever heard of a baby having a grain intolerance? I know there are some conditions out there like Celiac's and such, but I am just wondering is Wade may be intolerant of grains. He had a reaction to rice cereal and now oatmeal. I am trying to make his baby food because most of the stage 2 dinners containing protein also include some sort of flour. We also see the doctor tomorrow, so I will discuss further with him.

Wade's Baptism

2008-08-25T12:17:00.002-04:00

We had lots of family in town over the weekend to celebrate Wade's baptism. It went really well considering Wade has been really sick over the past few weeks. He finally started taking a bottle again Saturday. Thank goodness!! He went a week and a half with absolute refusal of bottle. It was harder on both of us. But he seems to be getting better. Friday, he had a reaction to oatmeal. Our previous encounter with rice cereal landed us in the ER, but this time I was able to treat with Pedialyte. Luckily it was during doctor's hours and actually the first vomit happened at our check up appointment while the doctor was in there. I guess this will take some more investigation. He now has intolerence to rice and oatmeal. These are the two most easily digested substances according to our doctor. I don't think so...

Update

2008-08-21T22:15:00.002-04:00

We have been having a busy summer. Lots of fun stuff and not so fun...Wade is just starting to get over his first virus. It has been terrible! Upset tummy, fever and he won't take any bottles. We have spent lots of time at the doctor's office and have had all kinds of tests done. Luckily he is starting to feel better. Of course now he is teething...

Summer with friends...

2008-07-20T20:30:00.007-04:00

A visit from Lyndsay Johnson.

Cousin Lia checking out the baby...

Wade was learning how to wave from his friend Reed.

Wade and Sadie (she's a cougar, going for the younger men)!

Wild Dunes

2008-07-20T20:21:00.006-04:00

Last week we spent the week in Wild Dunes and had a great time with the whole Leventis family. Todd and I got lots of time to ourselves and Wade had quality time with YiaYia. Wade enjoys floating around in the pool as well as taking long naps in the beach tent. He also manages to keep his hands and feet in his mouth constantly!

Five things I love about my Five month old...

2008-06-30T20:59:00.003-04:00

1. I love rocking you to sleep on the front porch during the summer sounds and breeze.

2. I love big toothless smile when I dance for you.

3. I love that you have not taken a bottle in days and barely eat food. (I actually do love this as I think nursing is the best thing I can do for him).

4. I love that you can now watch Noggin for five whole minutes without fussing. I don't sit him in front of the TV often, but it is nice to have a couple of minutes hands free.

5. I love that Mom makes it all better. When he fusses with other people, I can always get him and that is a familiar loving place.

Being a mother is nothing like I imagined. I find that Todd and I are more connected and spend more quality time together. Wade, we love having you in our lives!

Summertime

2008-06-23T12:07:00.007-04:00

We have been busy enjoying where we live! There is so much activity this time of year and we love having guests and just going out to the Inlet. Here are a few pictures of the past couple of weeks. I have returned all BAD plastic bottles to Babies R Us (no receipts) and our house is now BPA free. I have started back at the gym and refuse to sit around and complain about my pregnancy weight any longer. Wade is still not liking food. I try and give him a spoonful or so every day. That is about as much as I can handle (it takes too long and is frustrating). I'm not concerned though, he seems to be developing just fine. In the past couple of weeks he has started holding his head up very straight and is sharpening his motor skills. It really is amazing to watch him learn new things. He is so enjoyable at this age. He is now old enough to snuggle, but still young enough to tote everywhere (which we do).

Summer is here!

2008-06-12T09:49:00.005-04:00

Summer has been off to a busy start for us. We have lots of playgroups at the beach and pool, friends visiting us and some traveling ahead. We have just discovered Wade's neck as he has begun to hold his head up very steadily. At the doctor's appointment last week he weighed 13 lbs and was 25 " long. That weight is a little low so I was advised to start him on solids. I began with carrots which he absolutely gagged at and now on to peas. He starts gagging when I touch the spoon to his lip (even with no food on it). So solids are somewhat on hold. We'll take it slowly. He is still not napping very well, but sleeps all night so no complaints here.

She's Taken!!

2008-06-09T09:30:00.003-04:00

Sorry boys...she's officially taken!! Congratulations to Jim and Jennifer on their engagement. We look forward to having the couple down soon to celebrate!

I've Been Tagged

2008-05-27T21:07:00.002-04:00

I've been tagged by http://www.landsendliving.blogspot.com/. So here are the rules below that you need to follow:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my seven...

1. I am scared of dark water (ocean, lakes, you get it the idea).

2. I cried the first time I saw Dirty Dancing because I wanted to be Baby (I was nine at the time).

3. I won the school race in fifth grade.

4. I wanted to be an anchorwoman for years. Then for graduation I received a book Maria Shriver had written about how she started out emptying trash cans in the studio. I figured if she had to do that I would start by scraping the gum off the bottom of the trash cans. So I changed my major.

5. My favorite show is Gossip Girl (yes, it's about high school drama...and I love it)!

6. When I was pregnant, I dreamt I was having a boy and he was going to look just like me. (Maybe next I'll dream I win the lottery).

7. My second toe is longer than my first (my mom says this means I am head of the family, but Todd and Wade have the same thing).

Now I tag:
http://auntcarolinesbabies.blogspot.com/
http://www.williamwheatkirk.blogspot.com/
http://bryantfamily-nc.blogspot.com/
http://cagallup.blogspot.com/
http://collinslittlebit.blogspot.com/
http://www.johnwendywade.blogspot.com/
http://himmelrick.blogspot.com/

Four things I love...

2008-05-27T20:59:00.002-04:00

Four things I love about my four month old:

1. Having coffee and conversation in the mornings before getting out of bed.

2. The way he looks at me in the morning (like he has missed me all night)!

3. When I kiss his belly he laughs so hard he has to catch his breath.

4. He discovers something new everyday

(whether it is a noise he can make, a face or something around the house).

My how you have grown!

2008-05-22T16:21:00.003-04:00

The first picture was taken when Wade was about a month old. The other picture was taken just this week. At our trip to the ER, we learned Wade is 26" long (he was 21" when he was born) and weighed just under 14 lbs (of course he had just thrown up everything he had ever eaten). His hair is a lot lighter and lesser. Of course he now actually fits in that seat!

Family Picture

2008-05-21T14:35:00.002-04:00

Here is a picture from last Sunday at church. It is one of the few family pictures we have and are all dressed without spit up! We did all manage to have red eyes in the picture, a very common occurence. I don't know if there is a setting on my camera to fix that?

Four Months Old

2008-05-20T14:20:00.004-04:00

Wade is almost 4 months old and I thought we had it mostly figured out. He has been sleeping through the night for weeks. That is, until we had to go to the ER last week. He now wakes up about 3:30 am for an additional feeding. Last night, however he slept from 8:00 pm until 7:00 am. I also pulled out all the books on sleeping and am keeping records so I can get him on a schedule. So far today he has napped for an hour and a half nap in the morning, a 40 minute nap after lunch and I am about to put him down again. He's a pretty good boy. He fusses when he is tired and when his diaper is dirty (he knows this right away). Because of the cloth diapers he wears, he can feel immediately when he needs a change and lets us know. He is discovering his feet and will now reach for things to bring to his mouth. He is trying to roll over. As I said before, I have stopped reading the books on development and have just let him make these new discoveries in his own time. It is wonderful for Todd and I to witness all these new things.

Enjoying the beautiful weather

2008-05-19T19:08:00.002-04:00

We spent lots of time outside this weekend planting and working in the yard. It was so pretty here, warm with a cool breeze. Wade has all of a sudden stopped taking great naps. I get a few a day about 30 minutes each. This is not that great since up until last week we were getting a 2 to 3 hour one. He does however enjoy being outside and today when I needed a break, I took the bouncy seat out in the shade and he went right to sleep for about an hour and a half. I laid out and read a book while he snoozed. It was wonderful!

Mothers Day

2008-05-15T19:08:00.003-04:00

With all the drama this week over rice cereal, I have not even had the chance to post about Mother's Day. It was relaxing. Todd took care of bath and putting to bed while I ate everything in the refrigerator. I feel gross now. I've been making Todd eat healthy dinners all week to make up for how bad I was this weekend. Wade and Todd gave me a frame with lots of sweet pictures and a poem. The card also granted a manicure and pedicure. I however want to trade that in for a babysitter. I live at the beach and have not seen it yet this summer!! I want to go bake in the sun.

Rice Cereal

2008-05-14T18:37:00.002-04:00

Last night we decided it was time for Wade to try some organic rice cereal. As you can see, he didn't exactly love the taste. He did however manage to eat the entire tablespoon I fed him. That was at 7:00 pm. At 11:00 pm he started projectile vomiting. He continued throwing up several times and was so lethargic he could not even hold his head up. I called the hospital and they told me to bring him in immediately or call 911. Thank goodness we live so close to the hospital, I can't imagine waiting on an ambulance to arrive! We got there and Wade received and IV of fluids. It brought him back to normal and his bloodwork came back just fine. So, needless to say he will not be eating rice cereal! EVER.

Chelsea's Graduation

2008-05-12T12:52:00.004-04:00

We spent the weekend in Charleston with my mom, stepdad and little brother. We had a great trip. Wade got lots of spoiling from grandparents, uncle and aunt and friends. He actually does better travelling than he does at home. We did use the Baby Bjorn this weekend which he had no problem falling right to sleep in. We had a great time and are so proud of Chelsea. Happy Graduation!!

Medical Advice

2008-05-08T10:55:00.002-04:00

I have been feeling light-headed a lot lately. Sometimes I see spots and I tend to fall over easily. I wouldn't be so concerned, but I don't want this to happen if I am holding Wade. Anyone had this happen? I am breast-feeding and have a feeling it is all tied into that. I drink LOTS of water and I try to get healthy servings of beans and protiens as well as fruits. Before I call the doctor and spend $$ on lab work and then get put on some sort of prescription, I thought I would put the question out there and see if anyone else has had this problem? I would love to take care of this as naturally as possible.

This thing was outside last night!

2008-05-05T09:00:00.002-04:00

Todd found this frog lurking around the outside of our house last night. I have never seen anything like it. It was huge and beautiful. I thought it was a toy frog for a long time. By the way, I hate frogs!! There gross slimey bodies creep me out, so I know I will be blessed with a son who loves to bring these nasty things inside to show Mommy!

Wade's...

2008-05-05T08:52:00.003-04:00

As I was trying to give this blog entry a title, I realized that the next few years could probably all have the same title..."New Discoveries." I have stopped reading all the books and googling what developmental skill Wade will learn next. I found that I was sitting around waiting on the next thing. Now that I am not looking for it, it is so much better as I discover each new thing with him. For the first time Saturday, he reached out and picked something up with two fingers. I know this is small, but to witness a child doing this for the first time is truly amazing. He is so interactive now and just smiles and laughs (except when he is hungry). I am even starting to figure that out. He is now going down about 7:30 pm and wakes up around 7:00 am. While this is great...we still have not moved the bassinet out of our room. This is mainly because I like him close and I don't want to have to climb the stairs everytime I hear a peep. He loves to sleep with a soft blanket and while I try and give him a pacifier, he will at some point pull it out of his mouth and insert his dirty little fingers! I don't know if there is anything I can do about this. I bit my nails for 26 years, so who am I to talk about putting nasty fingers in ones mouth.

New Discoveries

2008-05-01T11:05:00.004-04:00

Wade has just recently discovered his hands and tries to put them in his mouth at all times. He have just realized there is a mobile over his crib and I see him reaching for it. He also likes to watch TV, which I don't keep on very often. Only in the mornings when I am having a cup of coffee and he is propped up near me. I watched a little Reading Rainbow with him the other day. (Thought maybe he could learn something). I didn't even know that show was still on. How old is that guy?

Creamer

2008-04-23T09:49:00.003-04:00

Do I have an unhealthy obsession with coffee creamer? I actually drive about 20 miles round trip to Wal-mart for the Coconut Creme. I love this stuff!

Bite My Tongue

2008-04-23T09:39:00.003-04:00

I should not have bragged about Wade's sleeping the other night (8:30 pm until 7:30 am). He paid me back last night. He went down at 8:00 and then was stirring around 10:00, so I woke him up and gave him a feeding thinking that would buy me some extra ZZZ's. He woke me up at 1:45 am for a feeding and then again at 5:30 am!! He was eating just like it was daytime. I know a lot of people say their babies get their days and nights confused, but we have not experienced this once. Luckily Todd didn't play basketball this morning so he got up with Wade. Wade was cooing, smiling and laughing just like the sun had already come up. I can't be mad, he is just so cute! I just realized I don't have any pictures on here of him smiling. It is really hard to catch one on film.

Oprah on Earth Day

2008-04-22T20:04:00.002-04:00

Oprah was such a letdown!! I got a few tips on how to clean harmful chemicals off of non-organic fruits and vegetables. Other than that, Sandra Bullock was trying to get us to buy her candles and eat at her restaurant. I think I would have been a more interesting guest than those who were on it today. Boo...Oprah...

Earth Day

2008-04-22T14:33:00.004-04:00

As I have been staying home, I have been taking small steps to make our home a little "greener," our refrigerator a little more organic and our activities a little cheaper. I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with Wade and I know how important this time is for the both of us. In honor of Earth Day, I have turned up all the thermostats so as not to run the air conditioning. I was not going to do laundry, but had to so I will air dry the items outside on this partly sunny day. I then went to Wal-mart and used my own canvas bag. I made some fresh salsa (with my AS SEEN ON TV Salsa Express) which I refill old salsa jars with and will begin my vegetable garden soon. I have started various herbs in small pots and some tomatoes. Todd and I are going to build an above ground garden and then I will be able to grow lots of things organically at home! I am waiting to see how my green thumb works until I buy more veggies to grow. Next on the list is to sort through old clothes and "stuff" to give away to simplify our life. I'm looking forward to Oprah today, her Earth Day special. Hopefully there will be lots of good advice on some simple steps to take. I have also started a compost pile but have to move it because Sidney tried to dig a hole under the fence to get to it. Oops...

3 Months Old

2008-04-22T09:28:00.002-04:00

Mom, I'm starving!!!

Buddies...

Goodnight Moon.

Lots to post!! I have been battling with when to begin rice cereal. The doctor said 3 to 4 months, but the American Pediatrics Association says to wait until 6 months. For my own selfish reasons, I am going to wait as long as I can. (I am not quite ready for him to eat from a spoon). I need not worry any longer. I was going to give him cereal so he would sleep just a little longer, but Wade went to bed last night at 8:30 and didn't wake up until 7:30!! I can't believe it. We'll see if this will continue. The only problem...if this does continue, I will have to move him to the nursery which I am not sure I am ready for. Just in the past week he has changed so much. He has just noticed our dog, Sidney for the first time and watches her wherever she goes. Not new, but worth noting...when he is hungry he starts crying his head off (the only time he cries) and immediately stops once I begin feeding him. This is not that convenient when we are in the car and I have pulled over in many parking lots to feed him. Luckily I have shades on the back windows and a nursing sling, so I don't feel totally exposed. When he is sleepy, (I can tell this because he rubs his eyes) I just put him down with a soft blanket and his paci (the only time he takes the paci) and he goes right to sleep. I then have to sneak the blanket out of his grip since I can't leave him unattended with it. I am really amazed at how smoothly this is all going. I think it just took me a little while to figure him out. He smiles back at us on purpose a lot and is cooing constantly. He is also beginning to find his laugh (such a sweet sound). He is reaching for toys and learning to control his hands. He absolutely HATES tummy time, but has gotten pretty good at the Bumbo seat. (Which I don't use very often because of the controversy that it may slow development). I mainly just use it to strengthen his neck. He is such a joy and I am so grateful to be able to stay home with him and be a part of each new thing!

Visit to the Grandparents

2008-04-15T11:42:00.003-04:00

We visited Mom, Ralph and Ethan this weekend in New Bern. We got there on Friday and had homemade pizzas (my favorite) and on Saturday hit downtown with a stroll through the Farmer's Market and visits to a few homes on the Historic Home Tour. It was a beautiful day until a Tornado warning hit us and we were nearly swept away by violent wind and rain. Luckily it all passed in a matter of minutes. We had some family and friends over on Sunday so mom could show off Wade. We had a great time...as usual!

Wade's First Easter

2008-03-30T22:47:00.004-04:00

We spent Easter in Spartanburg introducing Wade to all his family. We had such a great time staying at my aunt Charis and uncle Mark's house. Wade got lots of Easter candy which I finished off just the other day and he went to his first birthday party for his cousin Cooper who just turned 1! We visited the grave of my grandfather, Wade and he met his great grandparents too. We then stopped off in Columbia on the way home and celebrated Todd's birthday with the Leventis'. We had a great weekend and Wade is a great traveler.

Todd's 30th Birthday

2008-03-30T22:35:00.008-04:00

Todd's birthday was last week and I had a BIG surprise for him. I got him a basketball goal and decided I would put it together myself. Little did I know the thing came with a 27 page instruction manual! It took me about five hours, having to stop and feed Wade and move him from swing to stroller to bouncy seat. Needless to say Todd was thrilled. For his special dinner I made his favorite, ribeye on the grill. When I asked Todd to check the steaks, I turned around and the grill was in flames. I don't know why my first instinct was to grab the camera, but I am sure glad I did. It was a very memorable birthday for both of us!

Smiling

2008-03-14T13:47:00.002-04:00

Wade and I spend most of the day like this...me talking in a high pitched voice, dancing around and kissing him on the chin. All this is done in an effort to get a smile. Not only that but to capture a smile on camera for grandmas that live out of town. I finally have been able to get a few. He is so much cuter now that he is responding. He stares at ceiling fans (when they are not on) and is particularly fond of neon beer signs. Would that be weird to put one in is nursery? I guess if his first word is Budweiser. However, that may make for a good commercial and he would be famous. I will think on that...

6 week Doctor Visit

2008-03-11T21:39:00.002-04:00

10 lbs 6 oz

23 1/4 inches

Lots of shots!

Wade was so good today at the doctor's office. He was happy until he received 5 vaccinations. I held his hands and talked to him, but did not watch the shots being given. I don't watch when I have it done either. Today was pretty lazy. I think he was worn out from the appointment and I am fighting a sore throat. He is now smiling everyday, but I can't seem to catch any of them on camera! I will keep trying.

Water Bill

2008-03-09T18:00:00.005-04:00

I must say I was a little worried about our first water bill with the extra loads of laundry (cloth diapers). I am happy to report it went up $7. I think we can handle that!

How's it Going?

2008-03-04T15:15:00.002-05:00

Wade is a month old. He has baby acne which is now just extremely dry skin. I think this must mean it is clearing up. I have starting pumping and it is a lot easier than I thought it would be. I still have not quite figured out when to do this and I alwaus forget to put a bottle in the diaper bag when leaving the house. He usually has a large feeding at 8:00 pm and then he is down for a while. He will wake me up once in the middle of the night for another feeding and then again in the morning. He is pretty good at night. The day time is when I have the issues. He does not care for the swing and the bouncy seat only buys me about 30 minutes at a time. He will not sleep in his crib during the day. So I spend a lot of the day with him in my left arm. That is why I don't blog very much, it takes forever to type a paragraph with only one hand! He does however have a few hours in the day where he is very content. This is the time he smiles. We are getting the real ones now. I saw it yesterday for the first time while my dad was holding him and when I told Todd, he said "oh yeah, he's been smiling for me for the past few days." WHAT!?! Seems that he will smile for anyone but his mama.

Cloth Diapers

2008-03-04T15:09:00.003-05:00

Todd and I were fortunate enough to be given a lot of cloth diapers to use with Wade. These can be quite an investment when you have to purchase them on your own. We have been extremely happy with them. I think Wade likes how warm and cozy they are. I like that there is no emptying the Diaper Champ everyday, I just put the poopy ones in a bucket with OxyClean and then wash every few days. The funny thing is when we travel we use disposables and these are the ones that leak. I have only had a couple of leaks with the cloth ones.

Our First Trip

2008-02-25T16:57:00.002-05:00

We spent the weekend in Columbia for Todd's dad's birthday. It was the first time everyone had seen Wade since he was born and the first time some of our family had seen him at all. It was a good trip. He just slept in the car the whole time. He was actually better staying at someone else's house and has been a little fussy today now that we are home. I think he is just tired of looking at me all day. Of course his grandmother was holding him the whole time we were in Columbia. Maybe that had something to do with it??

A Day In The Life

2008-02-20T21:03:00.004-05:00

I haven't posted lately because there is not much going on around here. Wade sleeps pretty good through the night. I just wake him up a couple of times for feedings. I have dared to venture out of the house a couple of times. He likes riding in the car and just sleeps, the hard part is on me. Getting him in and out of the car is a major production! Most of the day we just hang out at the house and generally have a few visitors. Here are some pictures of the last week.

Stylin...

2008-02-10T20:01:00.000-05:00

My mom came to visit this weekend and we tried on a one of his gifts. The Uggs don't quite fit just yet, but hopefully will still be in style by the time they do.

A Week of Firsts...

2008-02-05T21:24:00.000-05:00

We had a doctor's visit today to check Wade's weight. He had lost a little more than they like and the doc wanted to make sure everything was okay. He is up to 8 lbs 7 oz (only 5 ounces away from his birth weight). So everything looks good. Our first outing was to the grocery store for about 10 minutes on Sunday. Since it is cold and flu season I kept him completely covered in the sling. One of my favorite accessories by the way. If Wade is the least bit unhappy he falls right to sleep when I put him in there. I love it! The other picture is from Todd and Wade's first Super Bowl together. They both have a lot of those to look forward to. I actually watched this one too. I figure I should get to know this stuff since I am now outnumbered.

One Week Old

2008-02-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

Wade has been in the world for a whole week now. I don't remember what it was like without him around, but I feel like the delivery was yesterday. He is a great eater and therefore a great sleeper. I hope this continues. Motherhood seems to be coming pretty easily and Todd is a wonderful father, just as we all knew he would be. More pictures to come!

Wade Has Arrived

2008-01-26T22:45:00.000-05:00

Friday at 6:00 am Todd and I arrived at the hospital. I was induced at 6:30 and my water was broken at 7:45. I was 10 centimeters dialated by 10:30 am. We waited on the doctor to arrive and starting pushing at 12:00. Wade Todd Leventis arrived at 1:04 pm. A healthy 8 lb 12 oz boy who looks like his mom's baby picture but has his dad's dark hair and complexion. We are all doing great and hope to go home tomorrow. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!

Here we go...

2008-01-24T20:32:00.000-05:00

Todd and I had a doctor's appointment today and we are heading to the hospital in the morning for induction. Everything looks good for now and we look forward to meeting our little Wade sometime tomorrow! I can't believe it is here. For so long we have been saying, "one day when the baby is here..." and now that day is only a few hours away. I am cleaning, doing laundry and getting things together. I don't think I will have any trouble sleeping tonight. I'm worn out!

Still waiting...

2008-01-18T16:12:00.000-05:00

I was a little discouraged at our doctor's appointment yesterday. I am still only 2 cm dialated and 70% effaced. The only change is my weight. Some people say you quit gaining weight at the end. Leave it to me to prove that theory wrong. Odd thing is I have been walking more than ever. Sidney is actually worn out from all the walks I take her on. She has really become attached to me even more lately. I hope when the baby arrives, she will not be too disappointed if I forget to feed her or something. We'll see...So for now just going about life and making plans hoping Baby Wade will surprise us soon. No complaints though, I feel really good. There is a full moon on the 22nd, so perhaps that is when he will arrive.

Nothing New to Report

2008-01-16T11:58:00.000-05:00

Nothing new going on right now. I have been walking around my neighborhood so much I think I am wearing out my dog! I keep making plans thinking as long as I am on the go, I won't concentrate on waiting. I know I still have a little while, but Todd and I are anxious to meet the little one. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so hope to have an update then.

Update on Baby Wade

2008-01-10T10:24:00.000-05:00

We had another appointment yesterday and everything is still looking good. I am 2 cm dialated and remain 70% effaced. She said I could go at anytime now or still be looking at around the 27th. ( I think I could have come up with that conclusion on my own). Todd mentioned to her that I hoped the baby would come before the 27th. So, she proceeded to strip my membranes. I was actually thinking more like next week, but it all happened so fast! My mom said when they did this with my brother, she gave birth the next day. I still feel great. I am having a little stronger Braxton Hicks, but nothing painful. We're all packed, the nursery is ready and I think I am too. Of course everytime I feel anything, I think "oh here it comes!" This could be a long couple of weeks. I am just going to try and keep myself busy.

Heaven can be yours' for only $1.53!

2008-01-08T13:09:00.000-05:00

About an hour after lunch today, I was ready to go for second lunch. I'm eating a lot these days and actually read that women pregnant with boys tend to eat more. I just want to make sure I prove this statistic right. So far, so good. With not a lot of fast food options around where I work, I decided to get gas instead. When I walked into the station, the neon lights reading HOT DOGS was glaring me in the face and almost making me drool. I waited on a few guys to get their hot dog and their tall boy Budweiser. Then I made the best hot dog ever! Little onions, fake chili and nacho cheese, slaw, ketchup and mustard. So yummy!! Now that I have jeopardized my health, we will be having salads for dinner. I do however let these slips happen because I know that in just a matter of weeks, it will be a long time before I indulge in these things. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and hope to have more updates then.

37 Week Appointment

2008-01-03T20:56:00.000-05:00

Now that the New Year has arrived, the baby seems a lot closer. We had a doctor's visit today and the doctor confirmed things are a lot closer. I am 70% effaced and 1 cm dialated. She also told us he weighs approximately 6 lbs 13 oz! Looks like we are going to have a big baby on our hands. Everything looked good and my total weight gain is 40 lbs to date. Of course some of that is this big baby. Todd and I went straight to the nursery when we got home to put some finishing touches on things as I guess it could be anytime in the next couple of weeks! I am just going to try and get some rest.

Dr.'s Appointment

2007-12-19T12:25:00.000-05:00

Todd and I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. Glad to report I have lost two pounds! Not really sure why as I have eaten twice as much in the past couple of weeks. The doctor confirmed the baby has dropped and things are coming along just fine. Everything is progressing naturally for now and we will have an ultrasound at the next appointment to see about the size of the baby. The doctor seems to think I may be a little early, not by much though. This is probably a good thing as I am having a bit of trouble walking since the baby dropped.

You are about to have that baby, aren't you??

2007-12-13T11:12:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, people stop me constantly and say "you are about to have that baby, aren't you?" Again, their faces turn into a look of horror when I tell them I have another month and a half. I am posting this picture so for those of you I don't see very often can see just how big my stomach has grown. My mom seems to think I may give birth to a three year old.

$30 Makeover

2007-12-13T11:04:00.000-05:00

Gallon of paint: $23.00

Fabric remnants: $7.00

Husband doing all the work: Free

One happy pregnant lady: Priceless

Here is the result of one of my nesting ideas. I think I am nesting because I want to re-decorate everything in my house. However, some side effects from pregnancy for me have been choosing bad paint colors (something I used to be very good at) and baking poorly (another thing I used to be pretty good at). I did however hit the mark on this color. It is Plantation Brown from Sherwin Williams and the lime green/brown fabric I recovered the chairs with was just a remnant piece from a fabric store in Florence. (I love it)! Next project is to re-cover the glider in the nursery. After scouring the southeast for the right fabric, I finally found it last night in Myrtle Beach. I hope to get by there today and pick it up. This project must be done by Christmas because we have family coming to visit and I want the nursery to be all ready!

O Christmas Tree

2007-12-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

I am so proud of my Christmas tree this year. The picture doesn't quite do it justice though. All the ornaments are from my godparents (who have been giving me one on my birthday each year for a long time) and some from my friend Lindsey who I exchange an ornament with every year.

Hairy Legs

2007-12-12T13:57:00.000-05:00

There must be a ton of pregnant women walking around with hairy legs. It took me nearly 30 minutes to shave my legs last night in the bathtub. I could get a stroke or two in and then I would have to sit back so I could breath. Nice picture in your head I'm sure. I have lots of pictures to post and will get them up soon. I have been nesting I guess and making Todd re-paint rooms in the house. We moved to a bigger house in May so I had to drag Todd to Old Time Pottery to buy a bunch of Christmas decorations. Our old house had only one window on the front, this one has seven on the front. My neighbor had a Cookie Swap on Monday night and I have been eating them non-stop since that night. Even the ones I don't really like! Wow, I wonder why I have gained 36 pounds?? On another note, I had three people say to me last night "you are about to have that baby, aren't you?" They have quite a look of horror on their faces when I tell them I have another month and half. Re-assuring...really.

Tired...

2007-12-07T09:50:00.000-05:00

It is 10:00 am, I have been awake for three whole hours and my eyelids keep closing. Oh my goodness, I don't think I have ever felt so tired in my life. I guess this is going to be the norm for the next month and a half. We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and everything looks good. I am measuring right on target and the heartbeat was steady and strong. According to the doctor, there is some truth to our baby weighing around what my mom's babies weighed (6-8 lbs). Good news considering everyone keeps stopping me to tell me how big my belly is. I just don't think I had a lot of room and I am carrying everything out front. Other than the sleepiness, I feel pretty good. Some things are getting harder, like cleaning my house, putting on pants and getting off the couch!

Baby Shower

2007-11-26T12:42:00.000-05:00

Friday evening, my aunt and cousins had a baby shower for Todd and I. All of my family came and friends from Spartanburg too. We had such a great time! We came home with a car load and I think we are almost all ready for Baby Wade. I will get pictures up soon of the nursery which is all coming together thanks to the generosity of friends and family. We spent the whole weekend in Spartanburg at my Aunt Charis and Uncle Mark's house. It was such a great trip. Our last one for a while.

Baby Shower

2007-11-20T21:50:00.000-05:00

This weekend a few of my friends threw a baby shower for me. It was really special and they did all sorts of creative things! The cake was so cute (it had Baby Wade's initials on it) and they had 18 birthday cards for everyone to sign and he can open them on his birthday. What a neat idea!! I received lots of great items for the baby and had a great time. The guests are from my church and I feel very blessed to have such a strong community of people to help raise our child. Thank you Jenn, Bonnie and Heather!!

I Love Chocolate Cake

2007-11-15T15:38:00.000-05:00

I am pretty good about getting all my nutrition in on a daily basis. However, today I have given into a craving I have been resisting. It is my boss' birthday so I made him a chocolate cake. Well when I took it out of the pan, it broke in half. Oh darn, well I guess I will just have to keep one half at home. I did and it is almost gone. Todd had a bite or two, but I finished it off. I brought the other half to work today and my boss has been out of the office most of the day. Well, the cake was calling my name and I ate half of that one!! This makes up for the lack of sugar leading up to my glucose test. As ashamed as I am, all I can think about is getting back to the grocery store and getting cake mix. What is wrong with me?! I LOVE CHOCOLATE CAKE!

First Baby Shower

2007-11-14T12:17:00.001-05:00

This weekend we had our first baby shower. It was at Todd's parents house and we were surrounded by people who are just as excited about the baby as we are. It was great catching up with some people we have not seen in a long time, but we always pick up right where we left off. Some pictures from the day.

28 Weeks

2007-11-05T10:44:00.000-05:00

Not too much to report here. The crib came in and Todd put it together last week, but I have not posted a picture because it has no mattress or bedding. We spent Saturday at the hospital for the Prepared Childbirth class. It was great. We met lots of nice couples and learned a lot! We feel really lucky to have such a nice hospital by our house (we are only a couple of miles from it). I officially began my third trimester yesterday. I can't remember not being pregnant, then again time is flying! I'm sure it will be a blink of an eye with the holidays coming up. I go back to the doctor next week for gluclose screening and RH-neg vaccine. I am getting plenty of sugar in this week just in case.

Weight Gain

2007-10-22T10:36:00.000-04:00

I have been pretty good about watching my diet since being pregnant. Sure I give in every once in a while when a basket of yeast rolls is staring me in the face or at 3:00 and all I want is a Twix bar. But for the most part I have been pretty good. I usually only take a picture of my belly once a month. However, in the past two weeks it has grown considerably (actually throwing me off balance a couple of times). Todd took a picture last night. The total weight gain at my last doctor's visit was 22 pounds. I thought that sounded like a lot, but now that I see how big my stomach is getting...I know exactly where it is.

Work In Progress

2007-10-22T10:26:00.000-04:00

At least one side of the room is finished. The other side is still lacking a crib, which I hope will be arriving soon! I also will be adding things for color. Todd thinks the room is too blah and I sort of agree. The sign was a gift from my stepmom, so cute! I'm sure after a few showers the nursery will be filling up fast.

25 Weeks

2007-10-16T09:21:00.000-04:00

We went to the doctor yesterday for my 25 week check-up. The heartbeat is very strong and I have gained a lot more weight than I thought. I'm not sure I want to disclose that number just yet. Let's just say, I may think twice about my cravings. I will now limit my candy bar intake and with the cool air, try and exercise a little more. I had some pressure in my abdominal area last week and the nurse attributed that to being dehydrated. The doctor wanted to make sure that is all it was and did an ultrasound of my cervix. As an added bonus, we were able to get some new pictures of the baby. He has changed so much over the past five weeks. I love this picture because he looks like a baby now. Todd says he has my nose which is a good thing!

Nursery

2007-10-15T11:15:00.000-04:00

We have been working on the nursery all week and finally have the stripes finished. It was a tedious job getting them all straight and level. My dad is coming over this week to help Todd with the moulding that will go around the top of the stripes. Then on to decorating!!

Growing...

2007-10-09T13:55:00.000-04:00

Whoa, I didn't think I was getting that big until I looked at the pictures Todd has taken over the past few months. I still have a ways to go! We did have to get by the maternity store yesterday because my "1st trimester" stretchy pants were cutting off my circulation. I got some great cords. Maybe it will be cool enough to wear them before I give birth. It's hot here!

2nd Anniversary

2007-10-01T15:59:00.000-04:00

Todd and I headed to Lake Lure, NC for our 2nd anniversary. We spent the weekend in Asheville, Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Hendersonville and Tryon. We had a great time. The weather was cool and it was a great getaway for our anniversary and before baby trip.

New Bern

2007-09-24T10:53:00.000-04:00

We spent the weekend in New Bern visiting my mom, stepdad and brother. Here is a picture from Saturday night, we went to eat at the country club for our friend's birthday. We had such a great weekend, as we always do when we visit there. We had home-cooking all weekend and mom and I did a little shopping after visiting the Farmer's Market. I was able to find great maternity jeans! Finally, some that actually fit me. The baby was very active this weekend (I think from the sweet tea I had). Mom had a box waiting for us with all of the things from when I was a baby. We read through my baby book and she had blankets, stuffed animals and even clothes. It is really special to have all that stuff I can now share with our baby. Downside of the trip: BOA put a hold on our debit card because of suspicious activity (i.e. shopping in New Bern when we were just in N. Myrtle Beach!) and Sidney ate an entire peice of fried ham off the stove (which she got the ham hock out at 5:45 this morning in our room...what a great thing to wake up to)!

2007-09-20T13:40:00.000-04:00

The crib will be here in 4 weeks. I will be so glad to start decorating the nursery. Baby is very active and Todd felt him move for the first time last night. That was really exciting for both of us. Todd now feels like a part of all of this and he now knows I'm not lying when I tell him the baby is moving. Apparently bad food makes the baby move more. I ate chinese for the first time since finding out I was pregnant and it felt like he was punching me. I also dicovered Bella Bands last night. My cousin loaned me some and they are awesome! I put on my seven jeans with the band and it was great. I felt HOT for the first time in months. Maternity clothes may be comfy, but I feel like I look like a frumpy cow sometimes. I love the Bella Band!!

Boone Hall Plantation

2007-09-17T11:33:00.000-04:00

This weekend Todd and I went down to Mt. Pleasant to Boone Hall Plantation. Todd had never been before and I hadn't been since fifth grade. The house was interesting to tour minus our tour guide with the fake Southern accent. However, this weekend happened to be the Scottish games at Boone Hall. Todd was the only guy there not in a kilt. It was basically like the Cup with Kilts. People tailgating and watching the log throwing with Battle of the Bands. Bagpiping bands of course. I think there is only one song to play on the bagpipes as all 15 bands were playing the same one over and over. Surprisingly, it was not annoying. We did find out the baby loves the bagpipes. I've been in places before with loud music and he moves some, but he was moving non-stop while the bagpipes were playing. I guess we can look forward to our little boy entertaining us with bagpipes and Scottish dancing.

Wade Todd Leventis

2007-09-14T10:35:00.000-04:00

We have decided on a name for our boy to come. We will call him Wade, after my grandfather and father. Nursery planning has already begun. I ordered the crib from Bratt Decor yesterday and Todd will begin with the wainscotting shortly. I told him we have to finish the nursery by my third trimester in case all this energy goes away. I feel the baby very often. During our ultrasound, he was cutting flips the whole time. He is usually active after I eat or drink juice. I don't mind though!

It's A Boy!

2007-09-10T20:30:00.000-04:00

Todd and I had our 20 week ultrasound today. Everything is measuring correctly and all looks good. Baby currently weighs 12 ounces. We had the doctor put this picture in an envelope and we came home to open it in the nursery. I had dreamt it was a boy, so I wasn't that surprised. But we are very excited and look forward to getting started on the nursery.

Five Months

2007-08-27T15:29:00.000-04:00

Here is my expanding belly at five months. I feel pretty good, just some back problems. Hopefully the Prenatal Yoga DVD I bought will do some good. We go back to the doctor in two weeks and find out what we are having. We can't wait! We are going to have the doctor write it down on a piece of paper. Then Todd and I will go out that night and open it up. Thought that would be a little more intimate than just sharing the news with the doctor. That just so happens to be Chelsea's 21st birthday. She said if it is a girl I have to name it after her. We'll see...

Beaufort

2007-08-23T16:21:00.000-04:00

Me, Lindsey and Melissa at Lindsey's Engagement party the other weekend. We had such a great time hanging out, wasn't quite like the old days, but I was able to stay up pretty late having one drink with caffeine. I am wild and crazy! Lindsey's wedding is March 8th. That means I have one month to get in shape for my bridesmaid dress I bought in June. How's that for motivation!

Family in Town

2007-08-21T13:23:00.001-04:00

We were so glad to have family in town this weekend. Mom, Chelsea and I did some shopping of course. I bought the cutest chandelier for the nursery (so of course I will have a boy now because you can't put that crystal chandelier in a boy's room)! The boys played paint ball on Saturday and spent Sunday at the beach.

Growing Belly

2007-08-15T13:55:00.000-04:00

My belly is expanding. This picture is actually from 3 weeks ago. I will take a new one soon and get it posted. I was finally able to get to Mt. Pleasant and actually go to a cute maternity store where everything was on the summer sale. We were at the doctor last Friday and heard the heartbeat again. It is over 160. I think that means a boy. We heard the baby kick too. I felt it once, I think...but that should all start up soon. We go back in a month to have the ultrasound to find out what we are having. My bets are on a boy. At least if the old wives' tales have any truth to them.

Our New House

2007-07-20T15:41:00.000-04:00

We are all settled in our new house now. It couldn't have come at a better time, with baby on the way!

Sidney has grown a bit...

2007-07-18T12:04:00.000-04:00

It has been quite awhile since my last post. Here is an updated picture of Sidney (actually from July 4th last year). Wow, I am bad at this. Hopefully I will do better keeping up with pictures of my child!

Sidney

2005-12-19T14:31:00.000-05:00

The time has come to begin expanding our family. We will be picking up our chocolate lab, Sidney on Christmas Day. What a great Christmas gift! The house is all ready for her arrival. We have every toy under the sun, a lot of soft blankets for her crate and more dog food than she can eat in six months! We have been reading up on how to train her and make the transition from mom to her new parents a gentle one. Wondering how we will feel in a week or so when she is waking us up every hour to go potty...