Ty Can Talk

Did I tell you that my son can communicate with us?

Okay so he isn't speaking actual words yet but Chris and I, along with the support and help from all the lovely ladies who take care of him while we work, have successfully taught him several baby signs. Ty has not only learned but perfected the use of the words 'Please' and 'Thank You.' He also has 'Hello' and 'Good Bye' down but uses them very selectively.
All of Ty's signs learned so far.

1. Please
2. Thank You
3. Hello
4. Good Bye
5. More
6. What is that (Pointing)
7. Excitement (Clapping and moving feet quickly) 

Right now I have set myself a goal of introducing at least two new signs to him each week. Now I understand that teaching them does not mean that he will automatically pick them up and start using them right away. But the more we teach and show him the faster he will start to pick them up.

It is so fun watching him learn, and I know that he feels and experiences the sense of accomplishment when he learns them also. You an almost see the pride in his little smiling face when he does a sign and we respond to it. He feels so much better knowing that he actually communicated with us a need or desire he had.

I can't wait to see how much this help his further development. And I can already see him encouraging his little sister (or brother) to learn the signs also. How fun!!!

While we haven't used the program mentioned in this video, I found that this is a good explanation of the benefits of teaching our babies signs for communication.

Nine Weeks and WE HAVE A MIDWIFE!!!

So after weeks of searching we have finally found a midwife that will work with us. After much praying and consideration we have decided to go with BirthCare midwives in Virginia. The only condition is that my sister law would need to come with my to all my appointments so I don't have to drive alone.

I just can't believe we are already into our ninth week. This time around is just so different from with Ty. Because I have him, I am working full time and now I have a home that I need to up keep it is much harder on my. I am much more tired and weak ... oh and hungry.

There are some things that are similar though. Mainly my need for cheese and meat. I can't tell you how many cheese burgers I have had in the past two weeks. It is crazy.

I don't remember, but I am about to look back to Ty's blog, but I don't think I started to show this early last time. It is not huge and most people probably wouldn't see it but I can certainly feel and see it.

Poor Ty

This weekend poor little Ty was running a fever again. We discovered the fever on Saturday night. It cleared it self not too long afterwards but then returned again later on that night. All day Sunday he seemed to be fine but then Sunday late night the big bad fever returned. Chris and I were up with him and just watching him for a while but it didn't seem that his fever was breaking this time. We took his temperature around 1:30 am and discovered it was a mighty high 103.7. We were concerned so we rushed to the ER. Thankfully there they gave him some infant Motrin and it started to break. They didn't discover any problems but had us follow up with his doctor.

So the next day I stayed home with him and we went to the doctor. Within moments we discovered that he did in fact have another ear infection, this time in both ears. We were prescribed some antibiotics which he is taking now. Poor little guy had a slight fever again that day but no where near the levels as before and I can tell a change in him already. It wasn't until he started to get better that I realized just how much his attitude and personality changes when he is feeling sick.

Weaning Time

Since Ty turned one years old this month I decided it was time to start actively weaning him from breast milk. And thankfully so far the process has been pretty smooth.

I technically started the weaning process a few months back when we started to feed him regular solid food. He really started eating dinner with us at about ten and a half month when he started walking. We started with dinner, and then slowly added lunch also. As of today we are now down to only breast feeding before bed time and middle of the night hunger moments.

First thing in the morning we have breakfast together ... eggs, peanut butter & jelly, oatmeal ... we like to change it up each day. Then he has his big boy lunches and big boy snacks throughout the day. Then we all eat dinner together at the table.

I am very proud of him for accepting the changes so well and not being demanding and expectant of much else. I think he is rather enjoying the feeling of Independence and growth.

Back to the Drawing Board

So Chris and I were this close to securing the perfect midwife for our birth but now it seems we must go back to the drawing board. We are approaching the ninth week and are really cutting it close. We need something ... yesterday.

We met with and really liked Joey of Scared Journey Midwifery. She came to the house and answered all of our questions. Things would have worked out perfectly. The last thing to confirm was that our insurance would cover it and how much of out of pocket costs it would be. Well it turns out that she is out of network which my insurance will not cover. So we would be responsible for the entire costs out of pocket. Which honestly isn't too bad ... a total of $3,800 for all prenatal visits, post delivery visits and the actual delivery. That is a lot to think about. Chris and I are praying about it, because it would truly be the best birth situation for all of us but we are suppose to be buying a home next year also.

So keep praying for us ...

The Search Continues

Here we are at eight weeks and we still do not have a midwife to deliver our baby. I have continued this tiresome search but everywhere I turn we are running into some sort of wall. They are either too far, don't have a birthing center, costs too much or require that we deliver at a local hospital that I just don't like. Hey maybe we can move within the next 7 months ... :) highly doubtful.

But I haven't given up all hope. I have been praying very hard for us to find the perfect solution and I know that the answer is near.

I have been re-evaluating myself also. Questioning if I am making a big deal out of something that in the end really may not matter. What is really important is that I bring a healthy baby into the world ... how we get there may not be all that important.

Or is it.

Chris and I watched this video after we had given Ty the best birth we thought possible. And now we just want to give this baby the same experience. It isn't so much for me as it is for the baby.

BirthCare Visit

Recently I got to experience my first baby related appointment. Ever since Ty's birth I have been dreaming and hoping for the opportunity to deliver our next child in the comfort of our own home. In Florida, we knew the right people and midwife that could make that happen. Well needless to say, we are no longer in Florida and do not have those people to rely on any more. So since we moved, and long before we found out I was pregnant I have been researching and calling around to find a midwife that would be willing and able to come to our home to deliver our child for us. I met with a few early on but for each of them I was out of their radius of travel. To make matters worse, not only was I not finding one to come to the house, the ones that were local did not have an actual birthing center, we would have to go to the hospital with them for the birth ... Boooo!!

Well finally after months of searching I found a midwife organization that has not just one but six midwifes and would actually be able to travel to my home for the delivery. I went to their information session were the get to meet and greet couples that could potentially be new patients and share information about their practice and home births in general. I was so glad that attended, they offered everything I was hoping and praying for. You can check them out whenever you like, they are called BirthCare Center out of Virginia.

The only concern that Chris has, which is completely valid is that their office is located in Virgina, we are in Maryland and for each of the regular check ups leading to the birth I would have to go to their office.They will come to the home for the birth, but not for the regular appointments. I took the metro when I went recently and it was about an hour and fifteen minute ride, each way. And considering that I was on bed rest so much with Ty, and that will more than likely happen again, I would still need to travel to them. Chris doesn't like me traveling that far, alone, and pregnant. And I agree.

All that to say, I love them, but we have to keep our options open. I am not going to begin looking into the local midwifes to see what birthing in the hospital is really like ... what does that mean ... and how involved is the hospital staff. Fingers crossed that it works out to be the same experience we had at the birthing center last year.