The checkup!

On Friday July 15th we had to take Anthony to his 4 year checkup. I am writing out the date because from the day I made the appointment, about 6 weeks earlier, I dreaded it. Why? It required shots. Not one, not two but three! As any Mommy knows, shots are awful. From the first time your newborn gets pricked on his little heel. You crinch when they go from a happy baby to screaming out in pain. As hard as it is to deal with that, I have now learned that it's even harder to deal with the shots when your kiddo knows what is coming.
A 4 year old knows what shots are. Sorta.... we started to prepare Anthony a few weeks ago. At that time I heard him and Aliester having a conversation that started off with Anthony telling him that his brother had to go to the doctor and he got shots. This led to him talking about his impending appointment.

Anthony: " My brother had to get shots today at the doctors"
Aliester: " I don't like shots."
Anthony: " Well, we have to get them since we are 4."
Aliester: " I am not getting any"
Anthony: " You have to, so we don't get sick" ( This was said very matter of factly as if he is the guru of shots and should just be trusted on the matter.)
Aliester: " Are you getting some?"
Anthony: With head down shaking and a sad voice, : " Yeaaaahh, I have to also, we all have to."

It was a cute conversation between two 4 year olds discussing the troubles in their lives. Anthony, as usual, was trying to be the all knowing person who was advising his friend while he also was truly scared as well.

As the day came, we talked about it and we even saw a show about it. He was so ready for it that on the day he actually couldn't wait for it. He went to play at the gym early in the day then he got ice cream before we got to the doctors office. I tried to make it a good day for him. He actually wanted us to get there already so he could get his shot.

Finally, there we were, sitting in the office. All four of us, with Anthony excited, and Randel and I silently knowing what was really coming and Abram just happy it wasn't him again. The appointment with the Doctor was great. He is a healthy boy who still remains in the 90th percentile for his size. His Doctor was impressed with all the questions he asked and even told us that most 4 year olds don't handle it so well or ask such good questions. Eyes and ears were checked and then it was time for the shot. He happily laid down waiting. The nurse asked Randel to hold his legs down and BAM, three shots to the legs! In a matter of a second he went from one happy little boy to a crying kid that just brought tears to my eyes just like the day he first had his heel pricked at 3 days old.
He cried for a bit, then got to pick out stickers from the treasure box, which calmed him down. For the rest of the night he had to be carried since he felt he couldn't walk because his legs hurt so much. We had to give him "medicine" to take the pain away. If he did walk, it was with a limp. The next day he woke up and told me that it didn't hurt so much anymore and that is how the whole experience ended.

Overall, not too bad. Of course, now I fear the next round of shots. Afterall, now he REALLY knows what it feels like to get them. As he said, "Shots are NOT soft, they HURT!"

Welcome Abram James!

Even though you are about to be 3 months on Monday I still wanted to make an official announcement on your arrival. After almost 4 years with just your brother we finally decided that Anthony was right and it was time for him to have a sibling. You arrived on Monday, April 18th at 7:36 am, exactly one week early and weighed 7lbs 10ozs and were 21.5 inches long. Since your arrival we have adjusted pretty well to going from a family of 3 to a family of 4. We have been lucky that you have been a pretty mellow baby who is pretty content most of the day. Since it's already been three months you are already smiling and "talking" to us. You have also started to sit up better and have been scooting around a lot while on your tummy. It's amazing how quickly 3 months can fly by. You would think I would be used to it by now since your brother seems to have gone from a baby to a 4 year old in a blink of an eye. I guess parents never get used to their babies growing up so fast.

You are one lucky little boy who has tons of people who love you and want to spend plenty of time with you. The best thing is that you have an older brother who absolutely loves you! He already can't wait to get to teach you how to play baseball, football, basketball, you name it he will show you. Of course, you better believe that Daddy will be right there with him helping you learn it all as well.

We can't wait for all the new things you will learn and experience and are so happy to finally have you here!

Your 4!

Yay for you! It's been almost a year since I have updated. So many exciting things have happened for you this year and there are so many more things awaiting for you still! I will try to give a brief recap of the past year for you before it all leaves my mind and I find myself trying to remember things years from now.

You started a new school this year. We decided that to better prepare you for being able to attend Mommy's school the following year that we would put you in a spanish immersion school. You have done so amazingly well learning how to count. say your ABC's and speak in spanish and we are very proud of you. At then end of the year looked at me and told me you were more than ready to begin pre-k and how well you learn and pick up new things (this was after she had just finished telling another parent how she felt her daughter wasn't quite ready to move on). You better believe I had the biggest proud parent smile. I can't wait for you to impress your new teacher this coming year!

You had your first major accident when you banged your head on the bedpost and had to get 3 staples put in your head. You were such a tough guy and were rewarded with a cool jaguar for dealing with it so well.

Halloween rolled around and you decided this year was all about Captain America. Your proudly showed off your muscles as you and your friend Aliester strolled our neighborhood and then later with your cousin Bodie at his house.


We had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrating with all of our family. You must have been extra good because Santa brought you a new playground as well as tons of new toys that lasted you a whole month. :)



In February it snowed! We got to stay home and play in it all day. You and Aliester had tons of fun sleding down the street.

In March you joined your first of many to come t-ball team. You were on The Dragons ( a name you picked out) and Daddy was your coach. As your Dad and I already knew, you were the all-star of the team. It was so much fun watching you and I can't wait for the many more games we will get to see you play.

For Easter everyone came to our house and you got to spend the day hunting eggs with your favorite people.

Of course, the biggest thing to happen to you this year was that you became a BIG Brother! You paiently waited for 9 LONG months for the arrival of your little Brother, Abram. You had been wanting a sibling for quite awhile so when you found out you were finally going to have one you were more than excited. Since he arrived you have been the best big brother ever! You love him so much and you constantly show him that. The first time you met him you constantly commented " he's so cute!". You give him hugs and kisses nonstop throughout the day. You talk to him in baby talk and when you are in the car you always hold his hand and sing to him. We couldn't be more proud of how much you love your Brother!

So, here we are. Many more exciting things will happen this year and I hope that I can do a better job this year at keeping this updated for you and your brother this year.

We love you very much, Anthony!