Reflecting

Asher will turn one year old tomorrow, so I am writing this now because I know I'll be busy tomorrow! My baby is growing up so fast! He is developing his own strong willed personality! I'm so proud of him! I'm so lucky to have such happy healthy babies!
Just a year ago tonight felt like just another night! According to my orginal due date I was 2 days early. According to my ultrasound date I was 5 days late!! It was 5 long days of walking, walking and more walking. August 31,2006 Mat had parked the car up by the gas station by our apartment because our complex flooded so bad you couldn't drive in or out. So for some reason we were out and came back to a flooded complex. We waded thigh deep through the parking lot...me being 9 months pregnant...not an easy task. But we made it safely into our apt and went to bed that night listening to Tropical Storm Ernesto.
I woke up about 5:30am to a contraction...nothing big. I had another one like 30mins later...still nothing big. They would come and go. Mat kept telling me he wasn't going to go to work but I assured him I would be fine and get some hours in. My labor with Aidan lasted 2 days. So I wasn't worried and knew this was going to be a long drawn out affair. I would rather labor at home as much as I could rather than in a stiff hospital bed!
Aidan had a bad diaper rash that wouldn't go away, so I had made him a doctor's appt for that morning. I got him up and ready to be at the doctor by about 9:30AM. Contractions had almost diminshed by then so I fiqured they were Braxton Hicks. So we did the whole doctor's visit thing and was walking out to leave. I swung open the office door and my water broke. So I'm picturing the movies right now and expect to next see the baby's head! LOL! NOT what happens at all! So I called Mat and he was workign nearby and told him I was coming to pick him up. I thought contractions were supposed to come right away but no nothing. So I felt comforable enough to drive. When I pick Mat up I call my mid-wife to tell her I'm going to the hospital because my water just broke. She says there's no reason to hurry and to go home till the contractions start getting bad. I'm thinking that the baby has lost some amniotic fluid and it's coming but she's the doctor so I did as she suggested.
I start feeling some sharp contractions as we drove home and called Grandma. We got home and started doing the "real Packing" for ourselves, the baby and Aidan. Of course I had my bag packed at 5 months ready to go but this was all the last minute stuff! By now I'm having to stop packing every 15 min or so to get through a contraction. Grandma comes over to help out and possible take Aidan. We are sitting outside talking and Aidan is playing. Contractions are coming faster and closer together. Grandma had to go back to work so we decided to take Aidan to daycare while she finshed her day's work.
It's about 12:30pm now and he has missed lunch and Mat was about to have a long day so we stopped by the McDonalds drive through to get some lunch for the two. OK by this point I have the seat laid back and gripping onto the "OH SHIT" bar trying to breathe through contractions while cussing out the McDonalds employees for not getting their job done faster!! So we drop off Aidan at daycare and preceed to the hospital because I couldnt take it anymore. Mat called my Mid-Wife and let her know to meet us there.
We arrived, got rushed through the back elevator and up to the "check-in" floor. I see one of my customers from work, who was about to have twins, and tried to be as polite as I could. So I get settled into a bed and for all of you soon to be moms out there....USE A MIDWIFE!! She stayed by me the entire time and was so supportive. Unlike my first pregnancy...I was 10cm dialated and the nurse goes "OK so I'm going to go on my lunch break, so you hang tight and we will push when I get back"....HHUHH?? WHAT??....mind you lady that my statol (sp?) only lasts 2 hours!!
SO ANYWAYS with Asher...I am 5-6cm dialated and didn't get my statol until 8cm. It was heaven!!!!!! A first epidural try with Aidan didnt work on my body so I tried the alternative. I laid there talking, joking and excited...unlike a few minutes ago I was wishing for the good Lord to take me now! ok to back up before I got the drugs...the only thing I remember about Mathew is that he kept wanting to go to the car to get the damn camera!!! I DIDNOT want him to leave me!! Of course once the baby came out the camera was not even used....thanks hunny! :-P
OK back to the story....if you've read this long thanks for keeping with me I know it's long....so I've reached 10cm and ready to push. I had the best nurses cheering me on....15mins went by...30...1hr...ok there! an hour and a half later the head was there!! Mat's crying and I have so much adrenline running through me I think I was going to explode! All of the sudden panic comes over everyone. The baby's heartbeat drops and I'm still trying to push. I see one of the nurses literally push Mat out of the way. Another nurse hurdles over me and starts pushing on my stomach. Asher is stuck in the canal. Finally with the help of everyone, he comes out!! No crying, which I've NEVER felt that kind fear before. They had to quickly cut the cord and take him to the heater. With a little "beating" and massaging he starts crying. They were a little worried about his breathing because one of his lung didnt fill correctly because of getting stuck. But after 30 minutes of monitoring he was fine and we had a BEAUTIFUL healthy baby boy!! All 9pounds 3 oz of him born at 7:30pm on September 1, 2006!! Asher Mathew Sallese we love you!

My How You've Grown!

Just updating the boys sizes! Aidan is 35.5 pounds and 36 and 5/8's tall. Asher is 30 and 2/8's tall and weighs 25 pounds. Aidan wears a 3T/4T and size 9 shoe. Asher wears 18/24months and wears a size 5 shoe. The other morning I walked into their room and they were both laying in the crib curled up next to each other. A moment I wanted to capture forever!! Aidan is being very "fatherly" lately. He'll rub Ashie's back and say "Don't cry. It be ok" or "Poor baby" if he falls. He also takes his stuffed animals and pushes them in the stroller or rocks them or puts them "nite nite". He is also very involved with cooking. He "takes my order" and then cooks me some food. Oh yes! He is SO getting a kitchen and an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas! Luckily his father's dream is to be a chef, so maybe he'll go for it? Ashie now says "Elbow" (Elmo), "Here", Cook-Cook (food or juice) and "Ouch!"

Milestones by Asher

Soooo yesterday for the first time Asher yells out "AIDAN"!!! And he hasn't stopped! Its his new phrase. Everytime we yell for, at, about Aidan, he has to join in! It's so cute! Just the other day we were talking about how we were wondering what Asher will call Aidan....guess we know now! Upon Aidan love (OBSESSION) for Dora, Asher has also picked up "Hola" (pronounced O-DUH).
So now that I'm not working we are going to start getting in the regular rountine of going back to church. We went today and the boys were actually pretty good for the time that they were in the sanctuary, otherwise they were in children's church. So no horrid embrassing stories about church...at least not today...check back each Sunday!
We've been trying to shop for Ashie's birthday and it's a lot harder than I remember with Aidan! There's just sooo much CRAP out there! Growing, building, learning, playing, stuff that's great right now, stuff that he could use later....AHHH!! It's quite frustrating. I could just go with clothes that he needs but he needs some new toys just for him! I guess it's that fear I must pick the most perfect present to make him feel smart and loved....when all in all he will play with the box then go back to attacking Grandma and La-La's cats. Oh well!
Everything is starting to fall apart in our place. The kid's blinds are torn up, the baby gate at the top of the steps has fallen off the hindges, the coffee table broke one of its legs...hmm we must have toddler's!!! It's hard to run out and replace this stuff when your on a tighter budget now that i'm not working. Not to mention that ALL 4 of us had the stomach flu a few days ago. $8 for mommy and daddy's tummy medicine $6.50 A BOTTLE (got 4) for Pedialyte (at Harris Teeter cause this is the closest store Mat could make it too) $4 for a new pillow for Aidan, $20 in new crib sheets for Ashie because they were too gross to even wash and I was too sick to think about it, the however amount of money Mat lost by leaving work early....so all in all it's expensive to be sick!!
But we are all better now and spending a nice "family sunday" together. Mommy, Aidan and Ashie napping, daddy on the computer then we switch mommy on the computer daddy gone to clean and wash our cars! Have a great week!

Quick notes

So I thought I'd write down some cute quotes before I forget them!
Asher: "Stop it, stop it, stop it".....thats all he says now (can u tell he here's that frequently!)
Aidan: Rubbing Rylee and Ashie on their backs "What's wrong you guys?"
"No Daddy that bad word" He knows every bad word there is now!
"Lay wiwth me. Cuddle wiwth me"
Daddy: "You daddy's baby?" Aidan: "No daddy's buddy, daddy's bear!" (their nightly ritual)
After mommy stepped on aidan's foot: "Mommy, you say sorry aidan"

I am a mother of boys.....AAAAHHHHH!

So the "wearing of underwear" didnt last long...he has resorted back to not wearing a diaper. Some of you may drop your mouth in disgust but hey whatever helps him to potty train! So today he said he had to go peepee, so Aidan went upstairs. Usually it's a 2 minute process. I heard the toliet lid being raised, him peeing, then the flushing. Today he didn't come back down right away...then I heard the dreaded phrase "Moooommmie, I didn't do nufin!!" So he walks downstairs and his head is drenched. Nothing but his head. I said Aidan show mommy what you just did.....PRAYING that he put water from the sink on his head.. He walked me up the stairs and preceeded to show me that he had dunked his head in the toliet.... OK everyone let out your EWWWWWWWWWWW's!! Oh I know it only gets more exciting in the coming years. I have another confession about my son. His favorite movie is now Nacho Libre. And I let him watch it. LOL. So sad....
On a lighter note...Asher!! Today he pointed to a bird and said "Bir Bir". Quite exciting! I think he also says diaper and stop and no touch...I THINK thats what he's saying! He loves to wave to everyone he sees and says bye-bye! He loves to scream out of pure excitement! He'll be one in less than 2 weeks!! I can't believe it!! Just a year ago we were preparing for his arrival!! Now we are selling some of the "baby things" he has outgrown!! He is walking...now running so good!!
This heat will be the death of me!! I walked the kids up today to do the laundry and by the time we got out of the laundry mat we were all drenched from head to toe...the kids got the third bath of the day. With all this heat they are taking 2 baths a day!!
I'm doing well. Waiting to hear back from financial aid to see if I can go back to school or not! We are trying to plan Asher's first Birthday party! We are keeping it small just with family!! We would like to rent one of those bouncing things, if anyone knows of a good place to rent from! It's between an elmo theme or a John Deere theme! I think of all this great stuff to blog about during the day and now as I sit down to type....I can't think of anything oh well I'll call it a night!!

It's a SNAKE!!

Yes a snake! This is Aidan's new OBSESSION! He even sees imaginary snakes. Aidan tell daddy what you did at the park "I saw a snake" (no he didnt). Aidan what did you and mommy do today "I saw a snake. Mommy saw a snake. Ashie saw a snake". He came limping from the toy room one day. "Aidan what's wrong?" "Snake bite me". I heard screams (of delight) coming from upstairs today when he was supposed to be going potty. Pitter patter (well really like a thunder) down the stairs. "Mommy it's a snake. Come show you!!" Apprantley it's crawling around on the ceiling. At least he is learning to use his imagination! No Rachel, we haven't encountered and night terrors YET. I'm sure the snake ones are coming.
We had a successful potty day until mommy had to ruin it. Today was the 1st day went a majority of the day with our big boy panties (excuse me they are underwear according to daddy) on and went pee pee in the potty. Usually I have to leave him naked and then he'll potty but today we covered "it" up! Until I put in him time out, which he switched from the stairs to standing in the corner, and he said I have to go pee pee. Well I fiqured he was just trying to get out of time out like EVERY other time. Well this time I put my foot down and said no you don't you are going to stay right there. So he stayed and but the peepee didn't...yeah all over the floor. "I sorry mommy", he said. I was like "omg baby no mommy is sorry, it's all my fault". Trial and Error, Trial and Error!
Ashie is still growing like a weed!!! His favorite game is peek-a-boo and loves to hide under the covers from his brother. He will drop whatever he is doing to dance to some music!! I had some great insight to what my life will be like living with all guys. Tonight i was laying on the couch on my stomach with my arm stretched out when Ashie wanted to crawl up beside me. Well he ends up putting his mouth in the crook of my arm and blowing rasberries and DYING OUT laughing! Well of course Aidan over heard all the fun and started doing it on Asher's back and they both were cracking up. So daddy had to join in on how Aidan and Ashie were "pooting" and they all three where in tears laughing so hard. I was just shaking my head wondering why I am letting this go on. Then I join in the laughing. I love my life!

Oh how the boys are growing soo fast!! I'm really enjoying the time I get to spend with them! Asher is learning something new each day! He is saying bye-bye and waving, climbing on anything he can put his foot on, when I as him "what does the doggy say?" he gives out two grunts (duh ruff ruff ;-)), loooves to watch older kids play and dances (rocking back and forth, bending at the knees and turns in circles from "if your happy and you know it turn around").

Aidan is all about some mommy!! He is always wanting to cuddle, wanting me to lay with him, and speaking so sweetly to me. His vocabulary is taking off now! Tonight we were going to our friday night hot spot (Cici's Pizza) and Asher was crying. He takes his hand and says "No cry ashie, what wrong, we almost there." I died!! They are connecting sooo well! Also today Aidan went up to him gave him a hug and a kiss and said I uv (love) you Ashie!!! He is always looking out for him and of course reminding me when Ashie needs to be punished! I was so proud of him today! We went to Monkey Joe's today and of course there had to be a camp of 40 kids ranging from 3-12 years old. He was trying to climb and the big kids kept pushing past him. While I was ready to jerk him outta there (which was next to impossible for me to crawl into the tunnel with a baby on my hip) and demand my money back (because it's so ridiculous that they let that many kids in the play area esp 12 years with 2 year olds!) he just keep right on trying and playing and when I expected him to come running crying he just kept right on trying to get up that "mountain". Which he did and slide down the slide and kept right on running and playing. I couldnt make him leave then. He was having way to much fun! He is just maturing so much and he cares so much for other people, I guess we are doing SOMETHING right! Well better get some sleep! Gotta rest up for versions 5,452,027 of Dora's Sharing Day and Go Dog Go!

Day 2 As stay at home mom! AAAAAHHH! Just kidding i'm loving it! I love to be there for bedtime, teethbrushing time, bathtime, storytime and watching how peaceful they look right after they go sleep! My favorite thing so far is to watch the boys play on the bed right after their bath. Wearing nothing but diapers, I try to get them to stay in one spot for 2 sec while I lather them with lotion but they wrestle and play with one another and its sooo cute to watch! They both giggle soo hard!
I'm excited about being at home with them. So many things influcenced this decision and yes we may be destitute for a while (JK) but its alll worth it. I read a story about how a typical family of 5 lost all 3 of their children in a car crash a few months ago. I can't IMAGINE! I dont want to even imagine! Got me to thinking if anything ever were to happen to my family or myslef...none of the many hours I put in at work would matter. None of the material things we have would matter. It's just the time and love we all put into one another is what matters most! Sorry to be on this depressing rant and some of you may have heard this but it's just my feelings right now!
ANYWHO! Today was a pretty good day! To get out of the house we took a trip to the highly overpriced consignment store Once Upon A Child. Walked out with a free parenting magazine. We then went to visit my friend (and old boss) jessica. We went on a walk to search for "dumpster kitty" but with no luck. I loved Aidan's calling "Kitty Kitty, here Kitty! Nevermind Kitty is nite nite" Then a man walks by "He know where Kitty is?" On our walk tonight there was still some puddles from the rain. I would roll the stroller thru them and Aidan would say "I told you no go in that puddle!!!" Tonight after bath he was putting his stuffed doggy to sleep saying "Mommy he go nite nite. He not scared. He not a bad boy, he good girl. He not in trouble" haha Can you tell Aidan gets in trouble alot?! I def am moving out when Ashie hits this LOVELY age! lol I SWEAR Ashie said diaper today! He is talking up a storm but not really saying any words. He is now trying to climb onto, into, thru anything thats bigger than him! He throws that leg up and tries to pull himslef up. He has mastered the stairs and we have bought a gate. It's one of those milestones that totally catch you off guard. One day you run up the stairs just for a quick sec and you start to come back down and there he is sitting on the landing. WHEN? HOW? WHY NOW? So we bought one of those simple plastic cheap baby gates. Well no where on the box does it say, if your child is significantly larger than other children their ages, they will break down the gate in the first try. So we have to go back to Target for the more expensive one like we have at the top of the stairs! But I have to wrap this up! Tomorrow is "get Ashie's haircut and get ready for my trip to Oxford (yeah i wish England) this weekend" day!