Jessi Stitches

New Year, No More Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:54:00 +0000

My New Year's resolution? No more stress about not having time to blog. DONE! Sorry to folks, if you are out there, that do check to see what we are up to over here. However, for those of you who I don't see face-to-face, there is always Ravelry and Facebook and email. All of which I partake.

Who knows, perhaps someday I will get back into blogging. It most likely won't be about the boys. There's just something about Alden starting school this Fall that makes me feel a bit weird about posting his life publicly on the Internet. Also, I discovered photo books - where I can write our story alongside the pictures. Then the program puts it all together for me and mails it to me. LOVE IT.

I started blogging as a way to not discuss Alden's progress with everyone over and over. Then it became a mode of therapy as I discovered other preemie mom bloggers. Then it became an easy way to keep folks up-to-date with our life. Then it became habitual. Then it was therapy for being a pregnant-after-preemie mom. Then I started to feel like I HAD to do it for Alex. Then it wasn't fun anymore.

Now it is time to stop! I look forward to continuing my other nightly "me" hobbies, such as knitting and reading. I'm just starting to have time for both again! Oh, and Dave and I are starting weekly salsa lessons next week. So exciting!

With that... Farewell and Good Night.

Grandma and Grandpa visit

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:56:00 +0000

Did I mention that Alex has been toddling for about a week now?

We love Grandma and Grandpa SO much!

Apple Picking at Eplegaarden

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:35:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago (yes, I am playing catch-up again) we enjoyed our annual apple-picking trip. This year, we went to Eplegaarden!

We enjoyed a little picnic - it was a gorgeous, warm Autumn day...

The boys scared away some crows...

Horse and wagon ride!

What a sweet, yummy day!

Leaf Walks and Art

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:38:00 +0000

We love going for "Leaf Walks" after dinner, or "Leaf Scooting"...

Leaf art! (Saying that fast will cause uncontrollable giggles in 4-year-olds and their fathers.)
Happy Autumn!

Happy Autumn Equinox!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:06:00 +0000

I've missed Mama and Alden time. Alex still very much needs my full attention, so Alden has had to share me a lot. This isn't bad, but he still needs time with me alone. When my Mom asked if I would like to go with her to a Welcome Fall Celebration, I knew this would be a great opportunity to have some bonding time with my little guy. We helped make some apple cider, ate caramel apples, hiked the nature preserve, sang songs and danced, and climbed a tree. A wonderful start to the new season!

Alden was very excited to see exactly what happened to all those apples in the press!

Watching the cider poor out.

There's nothing like fresh cider!

We made caramel apples!

Alden discovered the Climbing Tree...

My little monkey was in that tree for a LONG time.

"I love this tree!"

Alden, my love...

Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:16:00 +0000

Yes, I know I haven't posted anything all summer. We've been super busy and, frankly, I was a little burnt-out on blogging. However, I also remembered that this is the only way that I am documenting my boys' childhood. To save on cost and space and the environment, we don't print out pictures or keep massive amounts of photo albums. I print out these blog posts (in color!), and place them in a binder - which my mother so lovingly started for me - THANKS MOM!!! I print these posts because I don't believe that Blogger will always exist and the Internet could crash, implode, and so on... So, ahem, I will continue with my motherly duty...

Back to our cruise in June! It was a week long, fabulous get-a-way. Grandma Sandy retired and Grandpa Denny had a birthday - both lovely reasons for them to take their entire family on a cruise to Puerto Rico and the surrounding islands! Now, whenever Alden tells us that he wants to go on "vacation" again, he means he wants a cruise.. haha.

Daily ritual...

On the boat, Alex learned how to: crawl, sit up from lying down, pull up, and refuse baby food in preference for fresh, juicy, hot off the grill REAL FOOD. Before the trip, he was a beached whale eating baby slop. Amazing what some sun and sand can do!

He also learned how to make a touchdown.

One or two nights, fancy dress was required!

All the cousins in the boy pile wore the cutest sailboat outfits!

Alden was all politeness and manners at dinner.

Daddy enjoyed visiting Old San Juan!

And Alden enjoyed all 4 hours of the rainforest! We plan to go back someday.

Margaritaville in Grand Turk...jealous yet?

Fast forward to Alex's First Birthday/Family Blessing

Both sets of grandparents and all the cousins were present in our home. Everyone stood in a circle around the table and shared their blessing for Alex. Then, there was cake!

A couple more summer pics...

At our block party last weekend, Alex tried out his pushcart for the first time - and was hooked on walking! He can now "toddle." He takes about 2 steps before sitting down - exciting and scary!

This was taken yesterday at the Willy St. Festival. Alden was completely taken with the skateboarders. And loved that he could act out what he saw on practice boards.

Also from yesterday: Madison has an annual BIG RIG event, with trucks, cars, boats, and more trucks. Alden's heaven on Earth.

OK. Do you feel caught up? Please say you feel caught up. Phew! I will REALLY TRY to not let months go by again. Good night.

Iris and Alex

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 03:37:00 +0000

Daddy took this picture of our flowering babe...

Gonna wash those germies!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 03:27:00 +0000

The boys' first bath together (well, without Daddy in the tub)!

You wouldn't guess that Alden has croup and Alex is recovering from the same virus after a visit to the ER last Friday, now would you? We are pros when old-hat croup come and goes. The boys (all of us, really) are very tired.. bur clean!

More Spring Catch-Up...

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sun, 15 May 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Our Mama has good intentions regarding this blog - but can't seem to keep it up-to-date. Eh - she does the best she can. We still love her! Here are a few pics from our Spring shenanigans...

The Springtime Bunny visited our home for the first time!

Magnifying glass and a yummy hat...

A butterfly net!

Designing some of the garden with Grandma Sandy...

Planting our tomatoes and peppers...

Watering the baby seeds...

Catching Up

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Fri, 06 May 2011 13:53:00 +0000

I am sick at home today, so time to catch up on some posting! Our whole family has actually been pretty sick for the last couple of weeks. I am the last one to catch this eye/ear/nose/chest infection. Good golly, I don't remember the last time I felt this bad. Poor Alex - he has a double ear infection that didn't respond to the first round of antibiotics and is on stronger Augmentin now, which seems to be doing the trick.

I should update on some of Alex's development otherwise, as my Mom likes to joke, we will need to put one dollar in the therapy jar for ever less post he has compared to his brother.

Turning 9 months on April 27th, Alex weighed in at 19 lbs, 6 oz at the doc's office. Alden weighed in at about this much when he was 15 months old (adjusted to 12 months at the time, but still). Alden is right now in 3 year old clothing, weighing in at about 30 lbs. He is still small for his age, but is steadily growing, so his doctor isn't concerned. She said that he could still, and probably will, have a catch-up growth spurt in the future. But he will NEVER be chunky.

So, back to catching up on posting. Alex got his first tooth on April 18th. He has yet to get another. As you see in the pic above, he plays peek-a-boo. He can wave "hi" and "bye." He says "Da-Da" non-specifically. He signs "Milk" while nursing and eating and really anytime he sees me. He lunges onto all fours to go after something, then flops into his tummy and grunts, wiggles, and rolls around in frustration to his destination. He LOVES his kitties. He's shy around strangers. He likes to eat books and most foods. I am making Alex's baby food this time - I was too stressed to experiment with things like making baby food and cloth diapering with Alden. I must say that it is so much fun to watch Alex eat fresh food creations.

I compared Alex and Alden's (adjusted) development - and they are SO similar. It is a bit of a relief (for Alden's sake) that they are virtually identical.

Alex's head is also larger than average, not as large as Alden's, but pretty close. So there, Mr. Neurosurgeon! It's GENETIC! :)

There, consider yourself caught-up. One less dollar in the therapy jar for Alex. I feel better already.

Learning to care for my little bro...

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:45:00 +0000

Looking out for Alex during his first bike ride...

Alex is so easy to feed!

Happy Fourth Dinosaur Birthday, Sweet Alden!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 02:37:00 +0000

Oh, the torture of having to wait to open all these awesome presents! Alden has waited WEEKS to turn four today!!!

Cousin Noah helps Alden open his gifts. "I got my pterodactyl!"

Alex, 7.5 months, is excited to see his brother turn 4!

This is the COOLEST cake - thank you Grandma Sandy!!!

Can I make a wish now, Mama?

Making a wish...

Alden prefers to eat his cake with dinosaur bones. He's that hard-core.

First Protest!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:58:00 +0000

This blog isn't intended to be at all political (we have Facebook for that!). But I do want to document Alden and Alex's first protest. We are so proud of them! And, since both Mom and Dad are in unions.... and since Mom works for Public Health and Dad works for Public Schools, both of which are worse off after the budget bill... it only makes sense that the kiddos should protest the sad direction our state is heading! Around our home, we frequently hear Alden chanting, "Kill the Bill! Hey-hey! Ho-ho! Scott Walker has GOT TO GO! What's Disgusting? UNION BUSTING!" Here are a few pics from our month-long protest...

First protest!
February 18th:

March 5th:

March 12th:
We're so happy and thankful the Farmers joined the protest! Alden sure does love a good tractorcade!

We estimate there were at least 100,000 protesters today. The City of Madison states that this protest was bigger than those held during the Vietnam war. Alden and Alex will be proud to know that they were a part of this historic time.

First Visit to the Pacific Northwest

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 02:04:00 +0000

We finally made it out to Washington and Oregon to visit very dear friends and family. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Dave and I had such a lovely time visiting that we didn't take many pics of our friends and no pics of family. Sorry all -- we will do better next time. Amber did take some great pics and has an awesome post on her blog, Planet Silas...

Here are Amber, Alden, and Silas enjoying a view of the sound...

We were all as excited as Alex to tour Bainbridge Island, where Amber, Dtew, and Silas used to live (They now live not to far away from there)...

Alden loved all the sheep! And sang the song, "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" for most of the trip...

All three boys were great on the ferry to Seattle... they especially had fun looking for, um, sharks.

Si is taking a picture of us!

Hi Seattle!

Enjoying a fountain in the rain...

Here are a few pics from our glorious drive from Washington to Oregon...

We made it to Seaside, OR!

Alden was so excited to feed the seals!

Brrr!

It was a lovely (even if cold, windy, snowy, and rainy) vacation!

Four-and-a-half months already!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:50:00 +0000

Alex is growing fast, so I am trying to have him wear the sweaters I made for him as much as possible! He was 15 lbs at his 4 month check-up, which is about average. He was also average for height. He's developmentally on track and just a sweet baby. He might have a bit of reflux affecting his eating habits, however. Still feeding about every couple of hours - through the night as well. And his feeding are only about 5-10 minutes max. We started him on a very low dose of renitidine, so hopefully it helps!

Look, he can play and suck his thumb at the same time! :)

This is Alex today - snuggled in his Sunshing Sweater and Sunshine Blanket I made for him while on bedrest. He is resting now, recovering from Croup...

OK, now you are all caught up - next post will most likely be after the holidays! May yours be full of merriment! :)

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:43:00 +0000

This is the first year that Alden really got into the Halloween spirit! He thought that carving pumpkins was especially gross and exciting...

Alden's little pumpkin is from a preschool trip to the farm...

Alex fit into Alden's old costume! My little pumpkin...

Alden loves to go fishing with his Daddy, Uncle, and cousin. One neighbor commented that he was dressed as a "true Wisconsinite." However, I had to promise Alden that next year he could go as a green and purple dinosaur. Better start looking for that perfect costume!

Your 12 week Alex Fix

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Alex has some cool new tricks to share with you! He has been working on them for the last few weeks, but is now starting to have a few of them mastered...

He holds some toys and brings them to his mouth... but whether he's aware that his hand is holding the toy is anyone's guess...

Swatting at a toy, every now and then he catches it!

Alex now flips over with every attempt at "tummy-time..."

Take two...

Whoa!

How many times are your gonna to try this tummy-time thing???

Country Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:02:00 +0000

We took a trip out to the country this past weekend to check out past-peak Autumn and see what the farmers are up to...

Farmer humor...

We enjoyed our country drive very much. Alden was in search of a combine cutting down all this corn, and even brought his toy combine to share in the experience. We did find a combine hard at work, but forgot to take a picture of it...

Yes, we stole corn. Don't tell anyone!

A memento to take home for our Autumn collection...

11 weeks old...

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:51:00 +0000

...and getting stronger every day!

Alex's first long-ish hike!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:23:00 +0000

Alex and I hiked with my friend Kim along the east bluff of Devil's Lake yesterday. Alex has been on little hikes in our local arboretum before, but this was his first hike up and down a cliff! He tolerated the Ergo carrier for a few good hours, fussing here and there a bit, but mostly sleeping and feeding...it was the perfect, peak Autumn outing.

Nursing in the forest...

The marvelous view on the east bluff...we did it, Alex!

Heaven is a place on Earth...

Proof?...Or just my silly son?

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 03:15:00 +0000

Today on our walk, after watching two dogs hop into the back of a car, Alden announced that "Next time," he is going to be a dog so that he "can go for car rides and swim in the lake." Next time? I asked him if he was telling me that he was planning on being a dog "next." He smiled "Yes," very matter-of-fact. Does he understand something we don't...?

Can you tell they are brothers?

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:49:00 +0000

I was looking at old posts from Alden's Story, and I came across this picture from August 2007, when Alden was adjusted to about 2 months old...

Remind you of somebody...?

Trip to Chicago (0ur mini-summer-vacay)

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:11:00 +0000

Last weekend, we decided to make the most of the end of summer by visiting Chicago. We haven't been able to really leave Madison for months and months, so this counts as our summer vacation! Our condo is in the background of one of our many walks. My Dad lives in Milwaukee and works in Chicago, so we have access to the condo at any time! I know, we are VERY lucky...

Alden is loving a rock he found during one of our many walks through the city...

...and enjoyed snuggling with Daddy on our walk through a nearby park.

Alden playing in the same park...

We highly recommend the Shed's show, Fantasea for anyone with a preschooler!

Alden clapped his hands together like the seals...

The Beluga Whales were a big hit...

A hawk as a highlight??? These Wisconsinites were not very impressed...

The main attraction! When the show was over, Alden started to cry, "I miss the dolphins! I want to see them AGAIN!!!"

Last Week of Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:52:00 +0000

Alex is excited to get into the great outdoors - we are want to soak up all of the Summer we have left!

Properly modeling his Itty-Bitty Boo cardigan...

Admiring our front yard garden before our walk...hubby worked hard on this!

Autumn is peeking around the corner...

Capture the Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:32:00 +0000

This is what I am trying to do during my maternity leave: soak it in and be fully present. Here is Alex right now: