The Thatcher Life: January

Sawyer

January brought on a lot of change for Sawyer. At church, Dillon and I are no longer Sawyer's teachers but we are still in primary. We tried to explain to him that we would all still go to singing time together, but then he had a new teacher and new class that he would go to while Dillon and I taught our class. I packed a puke bucket and plenty of wipes that first week, just in case. Sawyer ended up needing both between sacrament and primary. I walked him to his class after singing time and told him that we'd be back to pick him up, just like school. He had some tears but was able to go without us. After church that day, I was talking to him about the changes and he told me, "Sawyer doesn't go to nursery, Sawyer is a big boy." I assured him that he would never have to go to nursery again and kind of connected the dots that when we told him he had a new class, in his mind that meant going back to nursery. After that first week, things have been much smoother. Now that Sawyer understands the changes and how they work, he's pretty calm. He sometimes gets nervous when his teacher isn't there because she's the new face he's used to, but he's been able to cope really well.

He also had a new school building to attend. His teacher had classrooms in the elementary school while construction was being done on the preschool building to expand. Over the break, she was able to move back to the preschool building. They had given the kids a tour before break and we had driven by a few times to show Sawyer his new building but he was very concerned with the change the day of. I kept reassuring him that he would have the exact same teachers he'd come to know, but that they were in a new place. I could see him panicking as we walked through the door and looked for his classroom but as soon as he saw those familiar faces, he calmed right down and did great.

The last big change that came for him was riding the bus. For children with IEPs, they qualify for the bus to pick them up (I don't know the if's or why's behind that but that's how it is for the preschool). When his teacher first told me about that opportunity, I wasn't quick to accept it and instead expressed my concern that that might really push his anxiety over the edge. But she had a plan that was really smart. The first week of school, I still took Sawyer in the mornings and then the TAs helped him get on the bus and explained to him that the bus was going to take him back to our house and to me. Then, once he was familiar with that, we started having him be picked up in the mornings. I explained to him that the bus was going to take him to his teacher from now on, and that it would bring him back home and I would always be there waiting for him. It was the smoothest transition out of all of them! (Which I really didn't expect). I was prepared for the possibility of messes on the bus and needing new clothes when he got home etc. but there was none of that. He handled it like a champ and I was so excited and so proud of my brave boy.

All of those changes were a lot for Sawyer. He definitely handled them all well and really, quite quickly. But it upset his system for sure and we dealt with a lot of vomit at home for a few weeks. I can no longer get gas and leave him in the van unless I want to be washing his seat and scrubbing the van's interior. Same goes for cleaning snow off the van. He prefers to stand in the bitter cold and wait for me to be done, than to be strapped in first and not be able to see me while I clean the snow. So ups and downs. Ebbs and flows. But for the most part, some really great and high ups on Sawyer's progress.

Dawson

Dawson's favorite phrase this month was, "M'ere, I show you something." This was always said while he moved his little fingers in a "come here" motion and it was always so cute, you just had to do what he said and see what it was that he wanted to show you.

During one of our many, many visits to Wal-mart, the boys had swayed me into letting them go down the toy aisles. Dawson was still sitting in the cart while Sawyer was eyeballing stuff when, out of nowhere, Dawson starting singing his own made up little tune. And the only lyrics that merry little tune contained? "My peeennis! Myyyyy penis!" over and over again. I about died from stifling my laughter and dealing with my indecision on whether to shush him or not. I'm glad he knows his anatomy and I don't want him to feel embarrassed, but also, maybe we don't need to belt out a song about our anatomy for everyone to hear while at the grocery store? Good times Mr. Dawson. Definitely one of my favorite stories of yours and I fully intend on sharing it with your future spouse.

Daws got to go with me for a couple of my appointments including my first trimester blood work appointment. Little Dawson doesn't love being in a doctor's office. He's gotten a shot almost every single time he's been in one so I don't blame him. He was sitting nicely in his stroller watching everything they were doing to me with wide, nervous eyes. And when the nurse inserted the needle into my arm and started taking tubes of blood, poor little man started to whimper and stick out his bottom lip as far as it could go while looking at me like, "Are you okay? What's happening Mom?" I appreciated his empathy.

He got his very first cold of winter and I'm really only documenting it because we have been amazingly fortunate this winter when it's come to sickness (knock on all the wood). Sawyer hasn't had to miss a day of school and the worst Dawson has had was this little cold. Our last couple of winters were pretty terrible so I'm definitely thankful and will always look back on this miracle sickness free winter with fondness.

Dillon

Dillon was a serious rock star in the husband and dad department the last couple of months. Baby number three made me feel terrible ALL day with the evenings being the absolute worst. I would seriously have to be permanently horizontal by about 7:00 pm and just pray to fall asleep to escape the sickness. And Dillon was amazing and really stepped up, especially with bedtime. Putting two little boys to bed is no small feat and we usually tag team it. But he and the boys got into a good routine that included letting them watch a couple of song videos on his phone. Their most requested were "Baby Shark" and "Apples and Bananas".

DaNae

I tried to keep a little update for the weeks before we made the announcement/we got to our first ultrasound. So this is from November to about the middle of January.

4 weeks: We found out we're going to have another baby! We're so excited and I'm going to embrace this tiny bit of time where I know I'm pregnant but don't feel really awful. I've mostly just been crampy and dizzy but nothing bad yet.

6 weeks: I've started to feel nauseous for the majority of the day but it hasn't been bad at all yet. My chest is definitely feeling all these pregnancy hormones, so sore. I am sleepy all.the.time ha It's crazy what this tiny little bean I'm growing can do to my body. I don't look pregnant yet but, I swear, I look... thicker. Which is just lovely. I'm basically just counting down to when I can hang out in maternity pants since my regular pants are weirdly uncomfortable already. Still so excited! And anxiously awaiting our appointment and ultrasound that are scheduled for the beginning of January.

7 1/2 weeks through 13 1/2 weeks: So sick. Sooo sick. Around weeks 6 and 7 I just needed to make sure I was constantly full of protein to avoid feeling so sick that I couldn't function beyond what I absolutely had to (which was no easy feat since food constantly sounded terrible), everything started having a nasty sour after taste which is usual during my pregnancies (and so annoying), and I was sooo tired I either HAD to take an afternoon nap at the same time as the boys or.. have a 7:00 bedtime. And then for the next six weeks I still experienced all of those things PLUS debilitating nausea and dizziness. I typically threw up in the morning and then just felt disgusting the rest of the day with evenings being the absolute worst. I remember being dizzy and sick with Sawyer but I had pockets of time throughout the day where I could function. And with Dawson I was throwing up around 4 to 5 times a day and feeling gross BUT I also had slivers of time where it eased off for a minute. Not this time. Constant 24 hour horrible sickness. It's been rough. Though I'm happy to say that it is just barely starting to be less extreme. Still throwing up in the mornings but now I am just mildly nauseous for most of the day, until evenings again where it gets pretty bad but not as bad as it was.

We had our first ultrasound when I was 11 weeks. That first appointment always helps as a reminder as to why that first trimester is worth it. Sometimes, even though I know I'm pregnant, it's hard to remember that the terrible sickness is for a reason and will end up being worth it. But seeing our third little baby wiggling all over the screen and hearing its heartbeat was a nice visual reminder and positivity booster.

Me sending a picture to Dillon to let him know that baby and I now own his hoodie.

A quick trip to Bulloch Drug for ice cream.

After they finished their ice cream, the boys danced their little hearts out to every song that came on the jukebox. Dillon helped pick out some songs and I just sat at the table trying to capture the scene in my mind of my boys being so full of simple joy while all the workers cooed over the cuteness. It was a good, good moment.

Dentist visit! I don't know why I feel compelled to take a picture every time we go, but I do. I think it has something to do with their little bodies in those great big chairs?

This was the first time Dawson sat by himself. He was a little nervous but the movie helped distract him. And he actually opened his mouth this time to let them clean so that was a step up.

Sawyer kept trying to talk while getting his teeth cleaned. He just had a lot of stories to tell.

Out riding bikes.

I've come to realize with this kid that I suck at teaching bike riding. Sorry buddy! I think we need to do a little adjusting with seat and handle bar height and hopefully that will help. But also, I maybe need to take a course on how to teach your kid to ride a bike?? Struggle.

Every toe gets to go to the market when Dawson's in charge but only that last one does the squealing. I love him.

Big box coloring and entertainment.

He thought he should get to ride on the back of the cart like Sawyer so often does. And I couldn't help but laugh when his little eyeballs could barely pop over the edge and be seen.

Just a little Target dancing. I think it was Katy Perry's "Roar" that was playing and it really got Dawson grooving. He kept doing the funniest little squat bounce/ butt shake move but I, of course, didn't get it on camera.

I ordered some shirts that were on an awesome sale thinking that they would fit Sawyer NEXT fall aaaand they fit him now ha. He's rocking size 6 in this Hurley shirt. Little man is tall!

From the preschool blog.

13.5 weeks. Hopefully seeing the light at the end of the sickness tunnel.

Primary. Sawyer was so excited when he got called on but then quickly lost all enthusiasm when he realized he wasn't going to get to open a present like a few of the other kids, but was supposed to wear this poster instead.