Happy Halloween

We had friends over for pizza and trick or treating around our street this year, just as we did last year. Benjamin and his friend Harrison made it A LOT further around this time ... Last year we made it about 6 houses down, and this time we went around the full loop, I would estimate about 20-25 houses. It was so cute because at first they didn't quite know what to do. They would go up to a house, but not knock or ring the bell. We encouraged them to do so and when someone answered, they would try to walk into their house. They tried to remember to say "trick or treat" but didn't always do so. Walking away from each house we would remind them "what do you say?" (hoping for a "thank you") but instead they would say "trick or treat!" again as they left the house with new candy in tow. Towards the end, they started to get the routine, and we did more watching and enjoying and less teaching and correcting. By the end, Benjamin's bucket was so heavy, he walked tilted over to one side ;) Jacob rode along happily in his stroller. One other highlight of the night was when the town fire department's big ladder truck came down our street with firemen to hand out glow necklaces and bracelets so kids would be safe and visible as it got dark. 

Three Hugs

Benjamin this morning:

"Mommy, I need to give you a good morning hug!" He gives me a huge hug. 

"Now I need to give you a vitamin hug!" I've never heard of this so I don't know what it means, but he squeezes me tight. Then explains, "This hug will give you energy for the day!"

"Now I need to give you aaaaaa .... HEART HUG!!!!" He hugs me tightest of all. "Do you feel me squeeze that love out?"

These are moments I will cherish forever. *Benjamin sweetness*

The Sound of Music

... My favorite movie of all time. But lately, the sound of music has been filling our lives even more because Benjamin started a Musikgarten class in September. He absolutely loves it! He lights up whenever it's time to go there, and I have never seen him be so consistently excited about an activity he gets to do. In class, he sings songs, does movements (I.e fly like a bumblebee, gallop like a horse, slink like a caterpillar), learns poetry, uses instruments, tells stories, learns interesting animal sounds (the downy woodpecker, the African honeybee, the whirligig beetle, etc), and more. We are very proud of him for immersing himself in these new lessons and finding joy in the sound of music!

He has always loved singing ... Before he could even talk in full sentences, he would complete lines of songs he loved, like life is a highway, on top of spaghetti, twinkle twinkle little star, we love mommy (that's one Jeff made up ;-) ) but this class has taken it to a new level. He sings randomly throughout each day. I really like his teacher Ms Morley. She reports that he is a really special kid who is doing exceptionally well vocalizing, matching pitch and engaging in class. 

Way to go Benjaminprecious!

It's difficult to get pictures as the parents only come in for a few minutes at the end of class, but here is one from today. Daddy got to meet us there after work ... Yay!

New favorite Ben-ism: Tree Stars

Benjamin found a leaf while he was running outside after music class today. "Daddy, look! I found a tree star!"

Horseshoe Bay

Recently, Jeff and I returned to Horseshoe Bay for the first time since getting married there 5.5 years ago. What a special trip it was! Being back there exceeded my expectations. I thought I remembered a lot from our wedding weekend, but it brought back even more great memories and made me realize that this will always be one of my favorite places in the world. There is a peaceful, quiet, beautiful way about it that I will always love. I hope we are able to go back there often, and someday even take our children there. 

We took the scenic route there and back. Once there, went out for lunch before an afternoon on the golf course. We had a champagne toast and went out for a nice dinner overlooking the pool and lake where we got married and had our wedding reception. We walked around these areas and reminisced about what a magical day our wedding was. The next day, I did spa time while Jeff golfed, we met up for lunch and then went jet skiing around Lake LBJ. We saw many beautiful homes and explored a few of the many coves around the lake. The last morning we had a buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant, just like we did the morning after our wedding :)

More than a focus on our wedding day, this weekend was a celebration of the marriage we have made together since that day.

A big thanks to Nana and Grampa who cared for our everything - our boys - so we could have this special time away! We are so grateful xoxo

Jacob is ONE!

Oh Sweet Jacob, where do we begin?! One year ago, you entered the world, and we've all had more love, joy and laughter in our lives since. There are so many things I love about you, I could never write them all down, but here are a few:

- you are so smart! you learn quickly and are so satisfied by learning and doing new things ... how to use new toys, feed yourself, climb stairs, get into chairs ... when you were only 4 months old, you would help by getting your arms out of the car seat straps when i unbuckled you. you now climb up to the sink to try and wash your hands and brush your teeth. today i caught you trying to put your own shoes on.
- whenever I pick you up, you lay your head on my shoulder and immediately reach around to twirl your fingers in my hair
- when i make a kissing sound, you bring your open mouth to my lips like a little bird. i think you like the sound of my kisses echoing in your head. or, maybe, you're trying to kiss me back ;-)
- when Daddy brings you in to our bed Saturday morning, as soon as he sets you on the bed, you speed crawl toward me, "crashing" into me with excitement and laughter. life for this Momma doesn't get any better.
- you have a perfect, round head with a perfect swirl at the crown
- you were the best baby, sleeping well from the beginning. one of the things i remember most about those newborn nights is the way you wouldn't even cry when you woke up. you would just make little sweet baby noises, gently waking me up from my deep sleep.
- you LOVE food. you will try (and you like) everything you've had so far in your little life.
- you have a mouthful of teeth ... much more than average for your age. all your teeth on the bottom are in (fronts, molars, canines) and the top just has canines and one molar to go. you make the most of your teeth ... you would rather have bites of our food instead of eating your own smaller, cut up portions of the same food!
- you really get excited when Daddy and Benjamin are playing ... you speed crawl to them and you try to throw yourself onto Daddy and get involved in the mix. you do the same when Daddy or Benjamin are tickling me.
- you love reading, especially books with textures you get to feel. you love the touch and feel farm animal book, the big book of animals, little blue truck, and i love you through and through.

Game Player

Jake is starting to play games with us. The first one I noticed last week ... He is purposely biting down on the spoon and not letting me take it out of his mouth after a bite. He laughs so hard and thinks its hilarious. He keeps doing it for every bite!

Then, a couple nights ago, he took a sip of water from his cup, looked right at me, and let it dribble out of his mouth. I acted shocked and said what are you doing silly, which delighted him. So he did it again! And again and again! For several minutes this went on, and we are we're laughing SO hard. 

I love seeing him realize he can do things to make us laugh. 

The darker side of this new personality coming out was on display when he crawled over to an electrical outlet and was trying to get the baby safety plug out of it. I said "Jacob, that's danger. No touching!" He smiled and went right back to grabbing for it. I walked over, crouched down, offered him another toy and said again "that is dangerous to touch and you may play with these other toys." I stood up and started walking back to the kitchen. I heard a Jacob noise behind me, like trying to get my attention "Meh!" I turned around, and there he is crouching in front of the outlet, with one hand on it, staring right up at me with a smug smile on his face.

Look out world, here comes Jacob! 

In other news ...

Since the end of July, I have been experiencing severe pain in my neck, left shoulder and left arm, and weakness in my left arm. At first I thought it was simple muscle strain from sleeping wrong, tension or physical activity, etc. But after a week of the pain getting worse instead of better, I went to a chiropractor. He took x-rays and reported seeing signs of disk degeneration, cervical (neck) spine curving the wrong way, arthritis, misalignment ... Some serious issues! But he assured me with just a few weeks of coming to his office, he could cure me! I was freaked out enough to go see a spinal dr before proceeding with any other treatments. The spine dr prescribed medication for the pain, but was most concerned about the weakness in my left arm - an indication of damage to the nerves. I had an MRI done, which showed a herniated disk at C6-C7, with much of the disk material protruding out the left side where the spinal root comes out, sending signals to the left triceps muscle. He said surgery will be necessary almost immediately to prevent further nerve damage. He recommended ACDF surgery, which involves removing the disk and fusing together the vertebrae above and below. This came as a big shock, as I was mentally still thinking of this as a small problem that would go away pretty much on its own. 

I researched drs and set up appts for a second and third opinion. In the meantime, I had an epidural spinal steroid injection to reduce inflammation and pain. Visiting the second and third drs was enlightening.  They both also said that my exam and the scans point towards surgery being the most likely outcome, but that they would not recommend ACDF. Cervical disk replacement is a newer, less limiting, more favorable surgical option. The recovery time is faster, and the ability to lead an active lifestyle is greater. The last dr we saw, Dr. Cattorini, suggested there are some conservative treatment options yet to explore before we determine surgery is absolutely necessary. This includes a series of 2 more steroid injections, along with physical therapy and cervical traction.

I am in the process of this right now. Physical therapy is going well, and that was the first non-pharmaceutical thing that started to help with the pain. The initial steroid injection did not help at all. I got a lot of relief from the second one. I am in the per-op room right now waiting to go in for my third and final injection. In tow weeks, I will return to Dr. Cattorini to assess progress and see if we can avoid surgery. So right now I am feeling good overall.  The pain is much less than what it was when this all first started. I am down to taking pain medicine 0-1 times per day, usually later in the afternoon as the activity and strain of the day builds up. I know the issue is there still because I feel it in my neck/shoulder blade area and down my arm, especially my forearm. But it is not nearly as intense as before, and for that I am grateful. 

At this point I don't know how this story will end, but I do feel confident that we are doing everything we can to help this resolve without surgery, and ultimately if these things don't work, then surgery may be necessary to enable the nerve to rebuild conductivity to my left triceps, and to make the pain go away for good. 

Standing & Cruising

At 10 months, Jacob started standing up and cruising along furniture. He absolutely loves his independence and I sense that he knows he is getting closer and closer to being able to keep up with his big brother.

He has also started walking easily while holding onto our hands. He has no hesitation and gets right into an easy gait, one foot ahead of the other.

This week, as he turned 11 months old, Jacob started standing on his own! He first just did it for a second, and now he goes for 2-3 seconds. It's only a matter of time before he puts steps together with that balance :) And then, it's a new ball game. For now, I am enjoying these last baby days before we get into toddlerhood. 

On our way to school

Singing Ants Go Marching (five by five) on the way to school this morning ...