Nathaniel Day 19 - Volo Car Museum

You can now read about the idea behind Nathaniel Day and the activities of previous months by clicking on the Nathaniel Day Activities tab at the top of the page.

Since Nathaniel Day this month fell on a Sunday, Dave was able to come with us. I had him help plan since he was able to come along. We had looked at going to a circus in the park in Chicago, but it was outside in a tent and it was supposed to be in the 90s so we decided that wouldn't be a good idea. Neither one of us had been to the car museum in Volo so we decided to go there. It was also the last day Abby would be free since under 5 are free and it was her 5th birthday the next day.

Church has changed services to 11 am so our activities for the day started a little late with lunch at a local hot dog place a few minutes from church, right down the street from the museum. Of course Abby only wanted macaroni and cheese which they didn't have, but we convinced her to eat a little chicken with her french fries so she could have a milk shake.

After lunch we headed over to the museum. It was huge! We saw so many cars. There were really old cars, not quite so old cars, cars from TV shows and movies, military vehicles, tractors, a train, and a fire truck. We stayed until the museum closed and then Abby played on the playground outside for a while. We were there so long that the gate got shut on us and we had to find an alternate way out. I don't know if we will ever go there again but it was fun to go to once.

Abby had to go on the car slide outside the entrance to the museum before we went in.

Weird, tiny one person car 

Abby found a car just like her favorite matchbox car, but hers was yellow

Felicity had fun looking at the ceiling. 

Movie cars

Seeing what was in the turtle van

Lightning McQueen!!!

Nathaniel Day 18 - 1/2 Birthday Celebrations

You can now read about the idea behind Nathaniel Day and the activities of previous months by clicking on the Nathaniel Day Activities tab at the top of the page.

I've gotten really behind here. It's almost time for Nathaniel Day 20 and I haven't even written about Nathaniel Day 18 yet. I need to find some time to write here a little more often. It's hard to get anything done during the day. One of the girls wants my attention all day long.

We were asked to bring cupcakes to Dave's dad's birthday party a few days later so I made them a little ahead of time so that we could have a couple for celebrating his half birthday. Abby helped make the frosting and decorate them with all the colors of sprinkles that we had.

It was Thursday so Abby had story time at the library. We went to that and then headed over to another library in a neighboring town that I had heard had a really cool kid's area.  It was like a children's museum with a fairly tale theme. It was not nearly as cool as I was expecting and one part that I thought Abby would like was being fixed, but she still had fun.

After library number 2 we headed home and then went for a walk to the neighborhood playground. Dave picked up some dinner after work and met us at the playground for a picnic dinner and the half birthday cupcakes.

It was a pretty low key day, but we still had fun, explored some place new, and did something that we wouldn't have normally done on a regular Thursday. 

Nathaniel Day 17 - Bookworm Gardens

You can now read about the idea behind Nathaniel Day and the activities of previous months by clicking on the Nathaniel Day Activities tab at the top of the page.



I had two ideas of what to do this month. One was in the Chicago area. The other was in Wisconsin. It was supposed to be really hot around us so I decided that we would head north to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where it was supposed to be much cooler, to check out a place that I had heard about that looked like it could be fun for Abby. I had never been there before so it would be fun for me too.

I intended to leave in the morning and stop for lunch somewhere along the way. It was an hour and a half drive and it closed at 4 so I wanted to give us enough time to enjoy the whole place. We got a bit of a late start so packed a lunch and ate it in the car on our way.
We drove through heat and pouring rain but when we got there the rain stopped and it was fairly pleasant.

We had a fun afternoon exploring the gardens. They were very cute. Abby had a great time darting all around to see everything and sitting in all of the Adirondack chairs. Felicity even woke up for the last half hour that we were there so got to see some of it too.

We stayed until they closed and then played in the magic school bus that was outside the garden for a while and then it was time to get back in the car for the long trip home. Dave was able to drive partway after work so we met him at Cracker Barrel and were able to all eat there for dinner.

It was a lot of driving for one day, but it was worth it. We found a fun new place to go.

The magic school bus

Abby hanging laundry

Sitting in Papa Bear's chair

Abby watching the cute little baby fishies

Checking out Stuart Little's house

 

Nathaniel Bear on Vacation

Last month we went to visit my family in Alaska. Since they live so far away the last time we saw some of them was when they came down for Nathaniel's funeral. None of them had seen Nathaniel bear so we decided to bring him along. I didn't want him to get lost so he came along in our carry-on suitcase with Felicity's diapers and our extra clothes.

While we were there a lot of people got to see him. We left him out in the living room at my parent's house the whole time that we were there. A couple people came over and my mom would show him off and make them hold him so they could feel how heavy he is. Often I would see my niece with him when she was over, holding him or hugging him. We also brought him to church with us on Sunday and to a picnic that afternoon so we got to share him with many people that I have known most of my life.

We took a family picture one day while we were there. Nathaniel bear was in it too. He was also in the grandkids picture and the extended family picture. I'm sure those pictures will be up in everyone's homes for a long time. It's not often that we are all together.

I'm glad that we brought him along on our trip even though we didn't do much with him while we were gone. It gave us a chance to talk about Nathaniel with people we wouldn't have otherwise like the TSA agent at the Anchorage airport. We don't have much chance to do that anymore. 

Nathaniel Day 16 - Riverbend Nature Center

You can read about the idea behind Nathaniel Day and the activities of previous months here (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).

Nathaniel day is almost here again so I figured I should post about last month's activities. We have been busy enjoying the summer outside and I haven't kept up with the blog much. I just realized that the pool has wifi so maybe I'll post more now since that's where we spend a lot of our time.

Since the 6th fell on a Saturday Dave was able to join us for all the activities this month. It was national trails day so we packed up and headed up to Wisconsin to join the hike it baby walk at Riverbend Nature Center in Racine, Wisconsin. We had never been there before so it was fun to explore a new place. It wasn't a very long walk, but it was fun to be outside on a beautiful day. Dave and I could have walked more, but Abby was done when the group hike was over so we decided to go to our next stop - the harbor market in Kenosha.

We explored the market and got some delicious foods to share for lunch. After lunch we spent a little time in the kids area of the Kenosha Public Museum (one of the places we went to on Nathaniel Day 7) before heading home.

Nathaniel Day 15 - A Walk With New Friends

Abby strolling puppy back to the car

You can read about the idea behind Nathaniel Day and the activities of previous months here (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14).

I am part of an online group of moms who had babies born in February 14. Recently one of them posted about an organization that has hikes for moms (and/or other adults) and kids. I looked it up and there was a branch in Racine, WI. That's not too far from me. It sounded like a fun thing to try out and they were having a hike on May 6th. It was at a park with a paved path so I would be able to have the stroller and it was in the afternoon so there was a chance that we could make it there on time.

It was a beautiful day. We had fun on the walk. We got exercise,  met new friends, and explored a new place. There was a boy who was 4. He and Abby had a great time together at the playground where we stopped at end of the walk. Abby did great. She walked the whole way.

We have since gone on another hike with some of the same people and we are planning on going again for our next Nathaniel Day activity. Since it's a Saturday Dave will be able to come with us that time. 

Felicity's First Trip to Visit Nathaniel

Several weeks ago we went out to lunch for Dave's mom's birthday. It was a beautiful warm day so we decided to visit Nathaniel's grave on the way home. Dave and I hadn't been there for Nathaniel Day so we wanted to see the new decorations and see if there was grass yet.

The grass planted on his grave was starting to grow and there were buds on the flowering tree above it, but they weren't open yet.

Abby left her balloon from the restaurant for baby brother. That was a big deal for her. She doesn't easily give things up. She also picked a bouquet of dandelions for him and left them on his stone.

While we were there Abby explained to Felicity where we were and why we go there. I don't remember exactly what she said, but it was really cute. She definitely understands.

Happy 1st Birthday Blog

This day last year I started this blog. I wrote and published my first post. I never thought that I would be able to keep it up or have the impact that I am having. I never thought I would have so much to say or that people would actually want to read it. Apparently 1.5 million people do. Craziness.

It was just a suggestion that was made in a seminar about book publishing as a way to get noticed and have a better chance of publishing. I still haven't done much about that. I hope to be able to focus on it again now that Felicity is here.

Nathaniel Day 14 - New Decorations and a Baby Sister

You can read about the idea behind Nathaniel Day and the activities of previous months here (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13).

In the morning Grandma and Grandpa dropped off Abby at the hospital to meet baby sister. She had a great time holding her. While she was there the professional photographer stopped by and we decided to take some pictures. We got her to take some with Abby, Felicity, and Nathaniel bear. 

It wasn't quite the picture that I had imagined since Felicity wasn't wearing her little sister shirt anymore. She had gotten it all dirty earlier in the day. I will just have to try again later to get all three in their sibling shirts.

Abby had been calling baby sister Rudolph since some time in December. When she met her she continued, but by the time Abby left she stopped calling her Rudolph and started to use her actual name.

Abby stayed and had lunch with us at the hospital and then Grandma and Grandpa took her back to their house.

I had planned to take Abby to the store to pick out some new, springy decorations for Nathaniel's grave, but since I was in the hospital Grandma took her. Abby picked out a sunflower for baby brother. I had found the pinwheel before Easter in the dollar section at Target.

It wasn't the day that I had imagined, but I never thought that I would be having a baby that day. From now on Nathaniel Day will also be celebrating her too.

Spreading Hope

A few days after Felicity was born I saw a request for birth stories of rainbow babies (babies born after pregnancy or child loss) on a site that I read a lot while I was pregnant with Felicity. I felt like I needed to submit the blog post I had written here so I did. They decided to publish it. It is up today here: http://www.pregnancyafterlosssupport.com/rainbow-birth-story-felicity-hope/

I hope it gives people some hope. I know there are a lot out there that could use some.

Scars

I really didn't want to ever have a c section, but I had one with Nathaniel. It was an all around horrible experience. I did not want to have to go through any of that again with this pregnancy so I was determined that I was going to try for a VBAC.

I had another reason to not want one too, but I didn't share this reason with anyone until after Felicity was born. I didn't want a c section because I didn't want to lose the scar that I have from Nathaniel. It's the only physical reminder that I have that he really did exist. I didn't make it up or imagine it. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes it feels like I did.

Now Felicity is here. There was lots of c section talk for her whole pregnancy even up until an hour before she was born, but I didn't have to have one. She ended up to be a successful VBAC in the end. I still have my Nathaniel scar and I'm happy about that.

Big Brother Nathaniel

Dear Nathaniel,

You are now a big brother. Baby sister is here now. She decided to come on Nathaniel day so you're going to have to be a big brother and share. Sometimes the 6th will have to be about both of you now.

We named your baby sister Felicity Hope (not Rudolph like Abby wanted). She is a great baby. She eats and sleeps well. And she's really really cute. We love her, but she doesn't replace you or make it all better that you aren't here with us too. I want all my kids here with me. All three of them.

After you were born I spent many many nights awake in the middle of the night. I should have been up nursing a newborn, but instead I was up thinking. I couldn't turn my mind off to go to sleep. I was so tired, but couldn't sleep. So I wrote. I wrote Abby's book. I wrote this blog. Eventually it got better I was able to sleep at night again. All night.

After Felicity was born I was not able to sleep at night. I should have been sleeping since she was, but instead I was awake thinking of you. That's what is happening right now. She's sound asleep. I should be because I have so much sleep to catch up on, but I can't. I try everything I can think of, but my mind won't turn off. 

A lot of what I'm thinking about is you. I wish you were here, but you're not. We are going to make sure that your little sister knows about you just as much as Abby does, though she won't have ever met you I hope that you will be such a normal part of her life that she tells people all about you when they ask her about her family.

 We brought Nathaniel bear to the hospital with us when I went into labor. I had bought him a little brother shirt. I wanted a big brother one, but I couldn't find one little enough to fit him. Abby has a big sister shirt and there was a little sister one for baby sister when she came. 

I wanted to be able to take a picture at the hospital of all of my kids meeting their new baby sister. With Nathaniel bear as your stand in I was able to get the next best thing. You are still represented. Just as you will be in all of the important days and celebrations of our lives.

We talked about you a lot at the hospital. We told our nurses about you. We showed everyone Nathaniel bear and explained why he is special to us.

 Before we left to go home we got to talking to our nurse about you and found out that two of the nurses that were there last year when you were born were there. One was your baby nurse. The one who had given you your first bath and gotten you ready for us to see you. 

It was so good to see them. They remembered you and were so excited to see us again and meet your baby sister. We talked to them for so long that it was about two hours after we had been discharged that we got ready to leave to go home. 

It reminded me of leaving the hospital last year. Just like last time, we could stay as long as we wanted. No one was making us leave at any particular time. Last year we eventually had to leave and we had to leave you there. This time we were bringing baby sister home with us.

I love you. I'll miss you forever no matter how many more kids I have.

Mommy

Birth day photos of all of my kids.