Bryson 2 Years Old/ Chase 1 Month Old

We are so lucky to have Aunt Katrina work at Kiddie Kandids. The fact that she took these makes them so much more special.

Car Accident

Today, on my way home from having lunch with my family, I got rear ended by a drunk driver. I was sitting at a red light and she came barreling into me. There were no skid marks, so I know she had made no attempt to stop. I bumped the car in front of me and that car nearly bumped the car in front of her...which was a CHP! I was so glad the CHP was a witness to the whole event because he was able to secure the scene very quickly and he handled all the logistics of getting every one's information. Yes, the babies were in the car with me, and yes, I got the most damage...except for the car that hit me of course. That stupid driver didn't even know what was going on, she was so out of it. She got taken away in hand cuffs.
Brett had taken a separate car to lunch so he was just a few minutes behind me. I was able to pull over, call him, and give him a heads up to stop. It was nice to have him there so he could help me get the kids into his truck and talk to the cops. I drove the kids over to the pediatrician to get them checked out (they're fine) and Brett followed me over with our poor little damaged Tahoe. I gotta tell ya, I'm so glad I was in a gas guzzling SUV and not some rinky dink hybrid. I would much rather save my kids than save the planet.
Bryson was so brave. He never cried or anything. He keeps talking about our crash and reenacting it for us.
So now we're dealing with the insurance company, my whiplash, and I'll be calling the carseat companies because I believe they replace your carseats after you've been in an accident. I'm also thinking of joining MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

3 Week and 2 Year Update

Chase is 3 weeks old as of Sunday. He's proven to be a tougher baby than Bryson was. He is a cryer. He seems to be having problems in the tummy area, which I'm sure all baby's do, but he let's you know instantly how p.o.'d he is when he's uncomfortable. We have changed so many diapers, I can't even keep track. Any little "squirt" bothers him. So... many a barely used diaper has been wasted to keep the prince happy. He has a sensitive heinny. He also has the baby acne going on right now that I'm hoping will clear up very soon. He has been doing very well at night. He wakes about every 3 hours to feed and get a diaper change and then he's asleep again. This I am very happy about. He also takes his main nap the same time Bryson does during the day. Which means I have been able to take some good naps as well. I can't complain! Today I managed to do a workout video and now I am catching up on Chase's baby book and blogging while the boys nap.
Bryson's 2 year checkup was yesterday. Here are his stat's:
Height: 37 1/8 inches (96%)
Weight: 30 3/4 lbs (80%)
Head: 19 3/4 inches (88%)
So basically, he's tall, lean and still has a rather large head. The doctor estimated he will be 6'2" when he's grown up.
Bryson has been an angel of a big brother. He makes me laugh when Chase's crying has stressed me out, he says "it's okay baby" when Chase is upset, he puts the pacifier back in Chase's mouth, and he has been very independent in his playing which helps me give Chase more attention.
He has also been trying out the whole potty training thing. He actually did a poo poo in the potty the other day, I think it was just good timing. He was very excited to put stickers in his "potty" book. I know, I know, the things that excite me nowadays.

I think Chase is starting to wake up. I better go before he finds out I'm accomplishing things that don't involve him.

The Boys

Welcome Chase Albert Fleming

Born: Sunday July 26, 2009 (on his due date)
Time: 11:04pm
Weight: 8lbs 10oz
Height: 19 3/4 inches




I started feeling painful contractions around 6pm Sunday night. They were 2-4 minutes apart. We waited a little while to see if they would subside...had dinner, showered, packed up the car. The contractions continued. We called my parents over to watch Bryson and around 8pm we checked into the hospital. Contractions continued at 2 minutes apart and getting very intense. I was at a 3 or 4. An hour later they checked me again and I was at a 4 or 5. I walked around the room and sat on my birthing ball, then my water broke. They called the doctor and started getting me set up. With each contraction I could feel Chase descending and I knew it would be quick. I finally told the nurse, "he's coming". She checked me again and I was at a 10 and ready to go. The doctor still wasn't there yet. The contractions were one after the other while they were putting in my epidural. It was agony. I just prayed the medicine would kick in on time. The doctor finally showed up and within 4 or 5 pushes Chase was born. Yes..the epidural kicked in, thank goodness! It was a beautiful birth. They put him immediately on my chest and Brett cut the cord. I wiped him down, sang to him, and we welcomed him to the world.



The only time I cried was when Bryson walked into our room and met his little brother, I still tear up just thinking about it. He gave Chase his first toy from McDonalds, a panda bear beanie baby. He was so sweet.





We're so happy to welcome you to our family, sweet baby Chase.

Happy 2nd Birthday Bryson

Yesterday was Bryson's official 2nd Birthday. While we were hoping to celebrate it from a hospital bed, or with a new baby in our arms, that didn't happen. So we enjoyed riding the Folsom Valley Railway and a fun lunch at Red Robins. It was a great day!



I was hoping being squished on that tiny train seat would set off some contractions.



Bryson loves the "Little Red Caboose". He has me read it to him all the time.



Mmm, vanilla milkshake.



Opening a few presents we had saved.




Loves his "cars"!



Brett and I sang happy birthday to him that morning and after we finished, he blew out his pretend birthday candles. It had us laughing. He is so cute and brings us such joy each and every day.

Some things he can now do:

-Count to ten. Now we're working on up to twenty.

-Knows and identifies most letters and numbers everywhere we go. Now we're trying to learn the alphabet song.

-Blows bubbles in the water.

-Swims confidently in the pool and kicks himself where he needs to go (wearing floaties of course).

-Uses real utensils (most of the time).

-No longer needs a bottle to soothe himself.

-Can speak in small sentences. "Momma play?", "Puffs please", "daddy home?", "Aww Bunny"....

-Does well in church nursery (a lot of kids still have separation anxiety). Plays and does what they ask for the 2 hours he's in there.

-Throws away his own trash.

-Does what mommy and daddy asks..."hand me that toy", or "pick up your blanket and put it here".

-Cleans up his toys when asked.

-Brushes his teeth (after I've done the initial cleaning).

-Gets his own water out of the fridge door dispenser (not always a good thing).

-Loves setting up and taking apart his choo choo tracks.

-Knows where we're going when we visit Papa and Nana's house or Nana and T's house. He really pays attention to the road. I didn't do that until I was 16.

We still can't get him to say his own name, but he says everyone else's names. He also won't say "milk" or "blanket". He signs those. Old habits die hard.

Bryson's 2nd Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Bryson's 2nd birthday on Friday (a week early, because who knows what's going to happen next weekend) with our wonderful family. They were so great fitting in a quick party at the last minute. We wanted to do it before Brett's entire family left for Winchester Bay Oregon the next day. Brett and I were so sad to miss the trip this year, but I wasn't about to deliver in the sand. We started the evening with my family...then drove over to finish our celebrating with Brett's family. Everyone was so accommodating, even though they were trying to finish packing for the trip.

Here's my quickly made cake. Notice the plethora of chocolate chips around the edge. I love chocolate!!



Homemade birthday hat (I know...looks like a dunce cap, sorry Bryson).



Presents consisted of Lot's of "choo choo's". Bryson loves trains!



He did so good blowing out the candles. I didn't really have to tell him what to do...he has cousins to set the example.



Nice touch with the chocolate chips mom!



So many toys...so little time.



Afterwards Bryson enjoyed a nice leisurely shopping trip with his cousin Lacie. They're so cute!



Happy early Birthday Bry Bry. Hopefully by the time your real birthday is here, we'll have a little brother for you to celebrate with. Love you!