First Steps!

Karl took his first steps today.

The first I missed, but he walked to grandma. Then tonight, he took a step from the couch to me. Yay!

Way to ~go~ Karl!!!

Karl had his surgery yesterday.

Karl got tubes inserted in his ears yesterday. It all went well and after we got home, it was as if nothing had even happened. I can't say that for when we were at the hospital. Karl got what they call the "anesthesia screams". It was terrible. But let me back up a bit ...

We had to check in at 6:30am, which was extremely early, but very good for Karl. (and thanks to Laurel for coming over before the sun was up to watch the girls. She's an awesome friend!) Since he couldn't eat or drink after midnight, not letting a baby eat in the morning is too confusing for the baby. So we were able to just scoop him up out of bed and get him to the appointment without any fuss.

Our time before the surgery went well. Karl was as good as always, smiling up the nurses and other patients. We got him in his little hospital gown and he was so darned cute! I then put on my garb - booties, gown and hat - and I carried him into the surgery room. They put the gas mask on him while I was holding him and within seconds, his eyes rolled back in his head and he was out. The nurse then took him from me and had me leave the room. That was the hardest part - leaving my baby in that room. I knew he was safe, but still. Ugh.

About 15 minutes later, his surgeon came in the waiting room and told us everything went well. He had lots of fluid behind each ear, so he should feel better immediately. Then a nurse came and got us to take us back to recovery. As soon as we walked through the doors - I heard him.

He was screaming and crying. Louder than I have ever heard him. We walked in the room and a nurse had him in her arms, trying to soothe him. Thank goodness I knew about this reaction or I would have freaked out. He wasn't in pain, but he was confused as to why he felt the way he did. Waking up from anesthesia is even weird for me, so I can only imagine what it's like for him. He was squirming and just crying so hard. Inconsolable. He cried in my arms the entire time we were in recovery and into the car. As we started moving, he got better and then passed out. The rest of the day was normal and had I not known, I'd never guess he had surgery that morning.

I'm wondering if the fluid made him uneasy on his feet. I say so because he kept letting go of things while standing and stood on his own more than I've ever seen him do. And suddenly, his little push behind walker is his favorite toy - he pushes it all over the house, walking on his little legs behind it. He's never done that yet and now he's up and down the hallway with it. Hrm, something to think about.

You know the song "rock a bye baby"? Have you ever thought of the lyrics? It's horrible!

Molecules.

Ella just told me how the molecules act in solids, liquids and gases.

Kindergarten. Really.

"Ella!"

To keep the babies "busy" at daycare, the teachers will put them in a huge stroller (fits 6 babies!) and walk up and down the hallways with them. It gets the little babies out of their room to break it up a bit.

Yesterday, I was walking down the hallway with Ella towards Karl's room. When we turned the corner, we saw the stroller full of babies. Karl ~immediately~ made eye contact with Ella, put out his arms, clenched/unclenched his fingers and yelled "Ella! Ella! Ella!"

His official 3rd word is "Ella". ("momma" and "dada" were first and second).

How cute is that?

Counting.

Five, Ten, Fifteen, Twenty, Twenty-five, Thirty, Thirty-five, Forty, Forty-Five, Fifty, Fifty-five, Sixty, Sixty-five, Seventy, Seventy-five, Eighty, Eighty-five, Ninety, Ninety-five, One hundred, Two hundred, Three hundred, Four hundred, Five hundred, Six hundred, Seven hundred, Eight hundred, Nine hundred, One thousand, Two thousand, Three thousand, Four thousand, Five thousand, Six thousand, Seven thousand, Eight thousand, Nine thousand, Ten thousand.

Repeat 187 times.

This is what I hear from Ella all day. Every day.

Fun, eh?

What I don't like about today's cartoons.

The girls watch nick jr cartoons and well, they suck. And I just realized why. They all have 'messages' in them. Remember OUR cartoons? It was mindless! Cats chasing mice. Dogs chasing cats. (I loved Tom and Jerry). But today, the cartoons have to be ABOUT something. Blah.

What's with the movies lately?

~ There are like 3 movies out there right now about the murder of a daughter. Did all the movie studios get together and make some horrible plan? Sheesh.

~ Did I mention Karl is getting tubes put in his ears on the 25th? As it draws nearer, I'm getting more nervous. I hope they let me hold him while they put him under anesthesia like they let me do with Allison. I don't like the idea of him being awake and scared in that big surgery room without me there. It would make me feel a lot better if I knew I was able to be there for him.

~ I guess I'm not the only one who thinks Ella is a beauty. I went to Ella's school last week to pick her up from Daisy troop and I was roaming around the halls with Karl on my hip. Two teachers stopped me and said ...
Teacher1: "What a cute little baby!"
Me: "Thank you!"
Teacher1: "Oh, aren't you the mom of the little blonde kindergartner, um Emma?"
Me: "Ella?"
Teacher1: "Yes! She is the most beautiful little girl in school." Looking at the other teacher, "You know who I'm talking about right? The little rosy cheeked blonde kindergartner?"
Teacher2: "I know who you are talking about! I told my husband that if I could guarantee I would have a daughter who looked like her, I'd have another baby!"
Me: "Thank you!"

Seriously. How nice was that little conversation? Any mother loves when someone dotes on their child, but to be stopped in a hallway to hear such compliments? ~blush~

Today he's ~one~.

And what a year it's been ...


In the hospital to get turn him and my water suddenly breaks on its own ...




A screaming newborn ...




After emergency surgery recovery, mommy ~finally~ gets to meet baby ...




A month old ...




2 months old and smiles ...




6 months old and growing some teeth! ...




9 months old and loving the swing...




A full year old and loved for every minute of it...




Happy Birthday my little man. I love you.

Happy Birthday Mr Karl

We had karl's first birthday party today. Tomorrow, his real birthday (and I'll post the obvious pictures we all do on these days).

Oh my.

He stood today all by himself. He's my only child who wasn't walking by 1. What a slacker. ~wink~