MIA

I've been MIA from my blog for over a month now!  We have had a lot to go on, much good but some bad.  Many posts since the last one coming soon.

I've had Tucker's 17 month post typed in draft form just waiting to add a couple pics for over a month now.  I finally added the pics and posted it today.  See below.  Unfortunately, I'm so late that he turned 18 months yesterday.  Those updates to come soon. 

I'm back in the saddle, so look for more updates from the Keene's coming soon ;)

17 Months

1.  Boy Boy Boy!  I know I said it at 16 months, but it deserves saying again at 17, you are all BOY!  I find bumps and bruises on you daily that I have no idea how you got.  You are tough, a dare devil, and rough as all get out.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

2.  We have had a string of family birthdays over the pass couple months, all your older cousins with the exception of Joshua who will be 8 next month and Elyjah who will be 2 in May.  O'mauri's was Feb 7th, then Tatum's was Feb 20th, Xavien's was March 2nd, and we celebrated Makenzie's last weekend.  You LOVE to sing Happy Birthday or "Haa Boo!" as you say!  After we sing Happy Birthday at the parties and the birthdayee blows out his/her candles, you sign "more" wanting to do it all over again.  If I put even a muffin in front of you or you see a lit candle, you start to sing, "Haa Boo!"  It's so cute :)

3.  You still love balls and trucks.  You're finally distinguishing between cars and trucks.  You love trucks so much that we have decided to do your big boy bedroom in trucks.  (And it just so happens Mommy found the perfect bedding ;)

4.  You are skinny.  It's not from a lack of eating, you eat.  It's just in your genes.  You're built just like your daddy.  I didn't really realize how long and lean you have gotten until I looked back at some of your pictures and thought you looked so chubby compared to now.  At your 18 month appointment next month we'll find out where you fall on the charts, but I'm betting you've dropped some percentages in the weight department. 

5.  Speaking of eating, some of your favorite eats right now include watermelon, talapia, cantaloupe, tuna-noodle casserole, corn on the cob, vanilla wafers (you would eat the entire box if we let you), peas, cheese, grapes, ice cream, and crushed ice (go figure!). 

6.  You can entertain yourself very well.  You will play with your trucks, shoot hoops, read your books, "cook" at your kitchen, or just go around getting into whatever you can.

7.  When you want more of something, you tell me "one more time", not by saying it, but by holding up your finger and giving me this really serious face.  It's from me telling you that you can do/have something "one more time."  It's really funny!  The problem is, you don't get that one more time means ONE more time!

8.    You are so cute when you 'read' your books.  You will jibber jabber away, pointing to the pictures like Mommy does.  And you remember what some of the pages say from us reading to you.  For example, in your book "All the Things I Love About You," there's the page where the boy is eating and he says he's all done.  You sign "all done" when you get to that page.  And when you get to the page where he's sleeping, you say, "Shhh!" with your finger over your lip.  In your book "Llama Llama Red Pajama," you get all excited on the page where the Mommy Llama runs frantically up to the Baby Llama's room.  I'm glad you really are paying attention when we read to you ;)

9.  You jabber and babble away ALL the time!  You are such a talker.  And you don't know a stranger.  When we're out somewhere, you will go right up to someone and just talk, talk, talk.  And based on your body language, you totally know what you're saying.  Sometimes Daddy and I wonder if we're not getting a little back talk every now and then....   

10.  Of course, you are saying lots of words now.  Mommy and Daddy are so proud of how well your vocabulary is developing!  You're such a smart boy!

11.  Speaking of your developing vocabulary, you have learned and mastered the word "No."  Really, I'm surprised it has taken you this long, but am glad that it has.  You say it loudly and even with attitude.  We are working on when you are aloud to use "No" and when you are not, especially with Mommy and Daddy. 

12.  Sharing is VERY hard for you.  We're working on it.  But it's hard.

13.  You play very well with other kids and LOVE to play with others.  You get so excited when one of your friends come to visit you.  You just don't like to share your toys.  You don't mind sharing the ones that aren't really favorites, but if a friend reaches for a favorite, we hear, "NO!  NO!" and you're quick to retrieve it.  You do better when you're at your friends' houses because you're not so defensive about the toys lol! 

14.  You're down to one nap a day now.  It has taken us a while to get there and we still get a little cranky if we get up too early in the morning, but one nap a day has been great.  And, it helps that you sleep for a really long time for that nap, usually about 3 hours, sometimes longer. 

15.  It is almost impossible to change your diaper.  It's like wrestling a WWE wrestler sometimes.  Not a favorite activity for either one of us.

16.  You prefer big boy cups and straws over sippies.

17.  Your hair is WILD.  Especially on top.  24/7 bed head.  Daddy's says it needs cut off.  Mommy loves the curls :)

p.s. You had yours first Happy Meal from McD's....  Chicken nuggets, fries, apple slices and milk.  I would like to say the apples were your favorite part, but of course it was the fries!

  

p.s.s. We did finally get your hair cut a couple days after you turned 17 months.  No more wild hair on top.  It was really hard for Mommy and I admit I shed a few tears.  You look REALLY grown up now without that wild mop on top :(

A couple pics post-hair cut:

Bye Bye Nursies!

It's time.  Time to reclaim my "girls" (remember that post?!) for at least a few more months.  It's time to wear a bra that doesn't in some weird way resemble a jock strap.  (At least that's what Wes has referred to my nursing bras in the past.  I've actually never seen a jock strap in place and have no idea how they work.  Nor do I really want to for that matter.)  It's time to nudge Daddy when Tucker cries out "MA!" at 5:00 am.  It's time.

Sorry, Bubby, but it's time to say, "Bye Bye" to your "nursies." 

I've decided to wean Tucker.  And even though my OB assured me she sees no problem in continuing to breastfeed while pregnant since I'm not considered at risk for pre-term labor, I have several reasons for doing so.

At the very top of my list is an innate need to have my girls back before going through the whole process all over again with Tucker's brother/sister.  Right now, the thought of hooking myself up to my pump is enough to send me into tears.  Not that pumping was painful or problematic, it just SUCKED (literally and figuratively)!  And, it's an inevitable process in the beginning stages of breastfeeding and pretty much throughout the first SEVERAL months unless you're able to be with your little one 24/7. 

I think I will need a few months off in order to muster up the get-up that it will take in order to breastfeed Baby Keene #2 for as long as I did Tucker (or for at least a year, we don't necessarily have to go 17+ months, Baby Keene #2!). 

Another huge reason for this decision is that I have NO desire to tandem nurse.  (Read:  I WILL NOT TANDEM NURSE MY CHILDREN!)  I want Tucker to have forgotten all about his "nursies" by the time his brother/sister makes his/her debut.  I already have all kinds of guilt about the time that this baby will inevitably take away from Tucker.  I don't want him to also feel like he is giving up something else that he loves, or that the baby is allowed to nurse but he is not. 

I have read that pregnancy can really change the taste of your milk.  As picky as Tucker is about milk (remember it took forever before he would really drink cow's milk?!), I thought for sure that alone might be enough for him to make the decision to wean on his own.  Oh, but not my lil' boob man!  He obviously didn't let a little change in taste come in between him and his Mama's milk! 

While Tucker can definitely go all day without nursing, and has when I'm not around, he prefers to nurse several times a day.  When I'm home with him, he nurses morning and night, and about 50% of the time he also nurses a couple times throughout the day.  BUT, he asks for it ALL DAY LONG.  It really requires a lot of redirection to distract him during the day, especially before naps. 

When I'm not home in the evenings and Wes puts Tucker to bed, he has no problems.  A bath, a book, a song or two, and in his crib he goes.  No problem.  He cuddles up with his silky, blows Daddy a kiss, and is off to dreamland.  BUT, when I'm home he demands to nurse first.  He will throw a fit if Daddy tries to put him to bed if he knows I'm in the house.  However, for the first time last night, he nursed for literally 5 seconds then wanted his paci.  So, a quick song of Jesus Loves Me and I laid him in his crib, told him I loved him and walked out.  I thought, "He's gonna change his mind and wanna nurse," but nope, he was out for the night.  Maybe he's thinking it's about time too....

Funny thing, he only nurses for a few minutes per session.  It's not a hunger thing.  It's not a nutritional thing.  It's a comfort thing for Tucker.  Seriously, he can stub his toe and will be in tears, holding his toe with one hand and signing "milk" with the other hand.  It just makes him feel good.  And, I'll admit, it makes Mommy feel good too.  I love the closeness that breastfeeding has given Tucker and I.  One of Tucker's top love languages is very much physical touch and nursing fulfills a large part of that.  It's time with his Mommy.  And, for me, it's time with my Bubbas!  Weaning will be just as hard on me as it will be on him.  But, we are ready. 

Tucker will be 17 months next week.  I plan to start only nursing him at night.  Ugghhh!  It's gonna be hard taking away that morning "nursey time"!  Hopefully we can do that for a month and then work on fading out the night time session.  I still plan to embed plenty of 'Tucker and Mommy' time in our daily routine so he's not missing out on that.  The hardest part is going to be those mornings when he wakes up at 6:00 am, wanting to nurse and then returns to sleep for another couple hours.  I guess I'll try giving him a glass of cow's milk or water to see if that works.  Or worse case scenario, we'll eat breakfast and be up that early for the day... 

Does anyone have any advice on the weaning process???  Before getting pregnant, I said I would nurse Tucker as long as he wanted, hoping he would just wean himself and I wouldn't have to do it.  Now, things have changed and I need some advice on tried and true methods!

My lil' Boob Man!



A Few Random Things...

Right now, as I type, Wes is making some of his awesomely delicious guacamole!  Then, he's putting a pork roast in the crock pot for lunch tomorrow, along with home made potato salad!  Can you tell how excited I am about this???  Like the excite-o-meter is WAY up there!  I'm not sure what has gotten into my hubby as of late, but he has been cooking some amazing, feel good meals for Sunday after church!  Two weeks ago he made a whole turkey breast with dressing, greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, and rolls!  Then, last Sunday he baked a whole chicken with all the fixings!  Yummy!!!  I'm definitely looking forward to coming home tomorrow from church to some pork followed by a good nap!

Aside from bragging about all the good food we've been eating around these parts, this post is partially to vent about a pet peeve of mine.  Smoking.  If you know me even a little bit, you know that I HATE cigarettes.  (And I don't use the "H-word" lightly.)  I have never been able to tolerate smoke.  Even when I was little, I hated it!  If I was riding in a car with an adult who was smoking, I would pull my shirt over my mouth and nose and chant, "I hate smoke! I hate smoke!"  I have never even tried a cigarette.  I think they are DISGUSTING! 

What really gets me is that smokers feel they have "rights"!  Are you kidding me!?  Seriously!  Rights for what?  Sorry, but I completely feel that my right to breath in clean, smoke-free air and NOT pollute my lungs with that filth definitely out weighs any right to your freedom to smoke.  I hate when smokers choose to smoke right by the exit/entrance to a building.  In order to get out or in, you have to breath in their smoke.  Then they actually hold the door open for you!  What I want to say is, "If you wanna do me a favor, MOVE 50 feet away!"  I hate when smokers smoke in a public place, like the bleachers of a football game, walking in front of me down the side walk, anything that causes me to have to smell or breath it in because of the bad decisions that they are making in regards to their health.  Let me tell you, I will mean mug a smoker who is smoking near me in a minute!  I think I've probably embarrassed Wes a few times doing so.  The whole idea of a "smoking section" in a restaurant is ridiculous.  Sorry, but smoke doesn't read and always wonders into the non-smoking section.  The smoke-free decision in cities like Louisville and Lexington was one of the best things ever.  I wish Shelbyville would go smoke-free. 

That brings me to the motivation behind this need to vent.  Today, we went to our nephew's birthday party at the Pizza Hut in our good ol' hometown of Springfield.  Now, I don't know, maybe only in the little town of Springfield would this happen, but the Pizza Hut is a smoking restaurant.  No, there's not a smoking "section," the whole restaurant (read: the whole one small room of the restaurant) is open to smokers.  There are ashtrays on every table.  So, there we are, with Tucker and surrounded by about 8 other kiddos, celebrating Xavien's 3rd birthday and people are smoking!  I was so mad.  We would have left on the spot if we thought we could have.  I felt like such a bad mother for subjecting my son and my unborn child to that for the entire 40 minutes we were there.  I felt like such a bad aunt for wanting to leave my nephew's birthday party.  Where were our rights?  It was worse than being in a house of someone who smokes because at least in a house there are windows that can be opened and the place can be aired out.  (Not that it helps much.)  We were trapped in that place. 

Afterwards, we went to my sisters where I changed Tucker's clothes and Wes and I changed our shirts.  It helped us tolerate the trip home where we could get baths! 

So, the last random thing?  While at my sister's Tucker picked up Tatum's piggy bank and literally threw it on the floor, breaking it and scattering all the pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters everywhere!  It was like he knew there was money in it and was trying to get to it.  He did it so quickly that none of us had time to react even though Wes, Holli, and myself were all within arms reach of him.  I felt awful!  Holli was just telling me this morning on the phone how much Tatum liked putting the money in and out of it.  On our "To Do List" is get big cousin Tatum a new piggy bank....

Here's to hoping y'all have had a belly-filled, smoke-free, no mishap Saturday :)

Pregnancy 2.0

So, yup Baby Keene #2 (or "Baby Bug" as one of our friends has already coined him/her) is warm and cozy in Mommy's tummy.

Here's the not-so-skinny skinny on him/her....

1.  I'm a few days shy of 10 weeks.

2.  This time around, we were a bit surprised, but it's a welcomed surprise ;)

3.  Due date is Oct 2nd, though my 8 week ultrasound put me at Sept 29th.  Considering I know the date of conception, I'm keeping the Oct 2nd due date, not that it's a huge difference or anything.

4.  My sister is only days ahead of me.  Based on her 8 week ultrasound, her due date is Sept 27th!  How awesome is that!  Tucker is 8 months younger than her little girl, so both of our kiddos will be super close!

5.  I have been SO sick, which is a complete 180 from when I was pregnant with Tucker.  When I was pregnant with Tucker, I had no pregnancy symptoms.  No nausea, no smell aversions, no taste aversions, no cravings, nothing.  This time around, I have "morning" sickness that lasts all day long and is worse at night.  Luckily, I have started to feel better about a week or so ago.  I still get nauseous at night.

6.  I have been EXHAUSTED!  I remember being really tired during my first trimester with Tucker too, but it's definitely different this time around.  I can't come home from work and take an evening nap.  I can't go to bed at 7:00 pm.  I can't take a 4 hour nap in the middle of the day.  I'm chasing a 16 1/2 month old who is constantly on the go.  I'm nursing.  My body is worn out.

7.  I almost fell asleep at the dinner table tonight.  Actually, I think I did for a few minutes.  (See #6)

8.  I paid $200 for a boot camp to help get my body in shape before getting pregnant with Baby #2. 

9.  Did I mention that #8 happened only 2 days before getting pregnant?  That gave me a lot of time to get in shape, uh?

10.  Tonight was the last night of that boot camp.  Over the past 60 days, I've gained 11 pounds.  Yup, we weighed in tonight.  Can you believe it?!  11 pounds!!!  I didn't gain anything with Tucker in the whole first trimester and now I'm 11 pounds up?! 

11.  To celebrate my 11 pound gain, I stopped by the Homemade Pie and Icecream Kitchen and got a double scoop of Reese's icecream.

12.  Did I mention that I've been craving Reese's Cups?  No?  Well, I have.

13.  I'm hungry ALL the time.  Seriously, I won't be surprised if at my 20 week ultrasound the tech says, "Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Keene, you're having a.........(drum roll!)...........middle school boy!"  Yup, I'm that hungry.

14.  Tonight, after finding out I had gained 11 pounds, a 17-year-old, all of 83 pounds, girl told me if I was having a girl I was gonna get REALLY big because that's what happens when you get pregnant with a girl. 

15.  When #14 happened, I smiled but inside I was hoping that when that girl goes to college she doesn't gain the freshman 15, but a freshman 50!!!  Yup, I felt a little better then.

16.  Did I mention that I have pregnancy hormones surging through my body right now?

17.  I'm already showing.  We didn't even tell people we were pregnant with Tucker until I was 11 weeks.  This time around, we starting telling people at 6 weeks.  I started showing not that long after that, so I really had no choice but to go "Facebook Public" with it because it's getting obvious.

18.  I wore a pair of pants to work today that I wore last week.  Last week, I was able to button them up.  Today I wasn't.  So, I did what any pregnant girl who is in absolute denial that at 9 1/2 weeks pregnant she might be ready for maternity clothes, I hooked the bottom clasp and wore a longer shirt.

19.  I think 2 years is the perfect age difference between siblings.  Just remind me of that when I'm chasing around my 24 month old with a newborn on my boob.

20.  It's amazing how I have fallen even more in love with my absolutely wonderful husband.

21.  Did y'all know that corn on the cob is even better when it has spaghetti and meat sauce on top of it?  Just ask Tucker.  Could this be some kind of pregnancy craving by proxy?

Baby Keene #2,

We are so excited that you will be joining our little family!

Take your time, stay nice and cozy in Mommy's tummy!

We already love you more than words!

Love,

Daddy, Mommy & Tucker Bug

xoxo

Tucker's been keeping a secret....

16 SWEET Months

1.  You are ALL boy!  Rough, tough, rambunctious, always throwing things, always getting into something!  There is never a dull moment in this house. 

2.  You are becoming I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T!  You insist on doing everything yourself!  Feeding yourself, holding a big boy cup, putting the lid on your sippy, stacking blocks, coloring, stirring the pancake mix in the morning when helping Mommy, getting in and out of the tub....  If we try to help you, you move our hands out of the way.  I knew this stage would come, I just had no idea it would be so soon!

3.  Your favorite song right now is the Itsy Bitsy Spider.  You do all the hand movements and love to watch the YouTube video.  You will come up to me at the most random times and request that I sing it to you.  You sing, "itssssyyyy".  So cute :)

4.  Your favorite things right now are balls and trucks.  Or "baw" and "thuck"!  You LOVE them!  If we are somewhere else, you will bring all the balls and trucks to me one by one and say "Baw!" or "Thuck!"  I love watching you play with your trucks.  You push them around and make a motor sound.  You just look so grown up doing it!

5.  We finally turned your car seat around forward.  We were hoping to wait until our Hilton Head trip at the end of next month, but after a visit to the Newport Aquarium with some of our besties, the Webb's, we turned your seat around so you could watch Walker's DVD on the trip home.  (Really, it was time, you were having to bend your legs when you faced backwards.)  You LOVE being forward.  You point to everything.  Your very favorite part....seeing all the trucks!  When we pass a big truck, you say "Whoa!" then hold your hands palms up and say, "AT?" in the most cutest voice!  If we don't pass another one soon, you sign or say "more"! 

6.  You are saying so many words!  You bring me things wanting me to tell you what it's called.  When I do, you study my mouth and then try to say the word back. Oh, you put two words together for the first time a few days ago.  You brought me a cup from your play kitchen and said, "Mo mo wawa!"  (Read "More water.")  Of course Mommy had to call Daddy right away to tell him!

7.  You know lots of animal sounds and body parts and love to go through them.  (But for some reason, you keep mixing up your wrist and knee!) 

8.  You love to dunk your basketball!  And run as fast as you can from one side of the room to the next!  These are two things you and Daddy do a lot of together.  Daddy will say, "GO!" and you will run as fast as you can to the other side of the room.  Then you say, "Doe!" and run to the other side!  I think Daddy is secretly conditioning you!  It's a little early, Daddy.  Just a little.

9.  You L-O-V-E being outside!  Seriously, consistent warm weather cannot come soon enough.  Every time you hear us letting Baby out, you RUN to the door hoping to sneak out.  Even if you hear Daddy and I talking about letting Baby in/out, you run to the door.  You get so mad when we don't let you go out.  Mommy tells you it's cold outside and you say, "Brrrr" making me think you understand, but then you still want out and still get mad when I don't let you.  Tucker, Mommy wants to let you go outside and play just as bad as you want to go out and play, trust me!

10.  Another one of your favorite activities is climbing.  On and off furniture, over couch pillows when Daddy makes you a pile on the floor, on and off the dog bed, up and down the stairs (on two feet, refusing help!), the higher the better.  You could spend hours climbing the play equipment at the park.  And the slides, oh my goodness!  NO fear!  You literally dive down the slides head first.  If we're not on our toes, it could be bad. 

11.  Yet another favorite activity is playing hide 'n seek.  You like to find us and you also like to hide so we can find you.  You will whisper "ide" when you want to play, I guess because we always whisper to you when we tell you to, "Go hide!  Shhh don't let Daddy/Mommy find us!"  You crack up when we find you or you find us!  You love it!!!

12.  You have shown us some hints of what might be some tantrums....  I will admit, this scares Mommy a little bit....  You are generally pretty easily redirected, but you definitely know what you want when you want it.  Of course, this is much more evident when you're sleepy.  I hope those aren't previews for some bigger things to come, lil man!

13.  Still nursing.  We are working on cutting it back some.  Sorry to say Buddy, but I think starting next month we're gonna get a little more serious about it. 

14.  You still LOVE music and to dance.  You are in love with Sara Bareilles.  Mommy won't even pretend that I like it.  I don't.  You say "uh uh oh, uh oh" when you want to hear her song King of Anything because the song starts out that way.  You will point to the laptop or one of our phones and want us to pull the video up on YouTube.  Daddy got you started on this.  Again, Mommy is not pretending to be pleased about the fact that another girl has taken a small part of my baby's heart.  I fully blame Daddy.  What's worse is Daddy apparently gets the song stuck in his head and goes around humming it for hours after you've listened to it.  That girl is gonna need to find some new boys to mesmerize!

15.  Absolutely nothing in this house, or anywhere for that matter, is safe anymore.  The top of the counters, the inside of drawers, the top of dressers, the ice and water dispenser on the refrigerator door, everywhere.  There's no where too high.  Just when we think something's out of our reach, you pull a basket or stool up and there you are with it in your hand.  I can almost picture items in drawers scrambling for position furthest away from the opening when you walk into the room, "Tucker's coming!  Quick, hide!"  :)

16.  You still love your silky.  You sleep with it for bedtime and nap time and will go to your room and get it when you're sleepy.  And your Taggie, you love it too.

17.  You got your first haircut!  (Pictures to come!  Mommy's so far behind!)

(Okay, sorry that was 17 things for 16 months, but I didn't do a 14 or 15 month post and you're doing so many things!!!)

Tucker Bug,
You are just so full of personality!  So full of life and laughter and love!  Mommy and Daddy cannot get enough of you!  You are the center of our world!  The past 16 months have been the absolute best time of our lives!!!  We love you way more than you will ever know. 
Happy 16 months, Bubby!
xoxoxo
Mommy :)

Only One Way to Travel -- Tucker Style!

I mean, does it get any better?!

Home Alone

It's exactly 10:00 am on a Saturday morning and I am home alone.

"Home alone." That's such an odd phrase. Odd because it's such a rarity. I cannot even remember the last time I was home alone. Probably sometime more than 16 months ago! Ok, maybe not that long. Wes does take Tucker to the store with him occasionally and on other errands, but with the way our schedules are, it's very rare that I am home and Tucker is not here with me.

This morning Daddy took Tucker to play basketball at one of the high schools in town with some of our other Daddy friends and their sons. (Special thanks to the Gaither's for the father-son opportunity!)

So, what does one do when you are home alone? I've already worked out this morning (remember my boot camp?), not that I would choose to do that during my home-alone time.

I'm definitely not cleaning, though with the exception of some scattered toys, the house is in pretty good shape anyway.

I could take a nap, but I've never been a 45 minute napper. I need at least a good 3 hours!

We have a birthday party later this afternoon, I could start getting ready for that, but it's still early and I wouldn't want to taint my always-makes-a-fashionably-late-entrance reputation. After all, it's me taken years to perfect that reputation!

I think I'll catch up on some of my blog reading. Things have been a little crazy and I'm way behind.

What do you do when you have those precious few minutes to yourself? Obviously this mama needs some suggestions ;)

To My Valentine

When I think of us,

I think first of two people falling madly in love,

talking for hours,

finding out all the reasons why we were "made for each other."

Then I think about two people getting married,

starting a home,

fulfilling dreams,

and finding out what being together through all of life's ups and downs is really all about.

Now I think about two people who know what it really means to love each other.

I think of best friends who share each other's dreams and sorrows.

I think of lovers who still find moments of passion in everyday life.

I think of two lives made one by God and a love that will last always.

When I think of us, my heart is so thankful to God and so full of love for you because you will always be the one for me.

Happy Valentine's Day, Wes!

I LOVE YOU TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS!