There's no place like home...

It's barely April and Riley has already survived his first Oklahoma tornado! Last night was probably one of the scariest of my life--and I've lived in Oklahoma forever.

Although it had been storming all night, around 1:30 it started hailing insanely and I had to get out of bed to see what was happening. It sounded pretty bad and not long after, our TV went out (we have satellite). I went to the back porch and could tell that things were intense. Then, my voicemail signaled and I saw my mom had called. I knew that was not a good sign. I called her back and found out that the tornado warning was in effect for us and the eye of the storm was headed our way.

We got Riley out of bed (at 2 a.m.) and headed to a closet under the stairs. I listened to my mom as she tracked the tornado for us and I started to panic--alot. Then, the electricity went out. I knew this was a bad sign and all I could think about was Riley. I cried. And cried some more. Then my dad called to check on us and once again, this freaked me out.

I held on to Kevin and Riley as tight as I could and silently prayed while my mom talked us through the reports. The fifteen minutes of the storm traveling through Edmond seemed like years. Then, my dad called back and said it had passed us. I heard the weather guys say something about I-35 and I knew we were okay.

Scared, but relieved, we got out of the closet and started lighting candles. Outside it was spooky calm and pitch black and all of our neighbors were in their yards with flashlights. Thankfully, we were untouched and the storm just missed us.

It was the closest call I've ever had and my first brush with a scary situation as a parent. It was unreal. I didn't care if I landed upside down in a tree--as long as our son was okay.

Of course now I'll be buying a weather radio and a storm shelter is on the wish list for the near future. Nightime tornados are so not cool.

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4 Months....check!

Ri-guy turned 4 months old on Saturday and today was his official 4-month check-up at the ped.
His stats:
Weight: 16 lbs, 14 oz (75-90%)
Height: 25 1/4 inches (50-75%)
Head: 44cm (90%)

So we have a large baby, if you haven't caught on to that. The doctor says we're seeing the first signs of teething and that there are some baby teeth buds just below the surface. We are doing great on all fronts. Because he's sleeping 12 hours a night we aren't supposed to worry too much about naps for now. Guess my days won't be as productive as I hoped....

Regarding vaccines... After talking to Juli (Ph.D. in Immunology...why didn't I think of that immediately?!) and doing a TON of research, we decided that spreading out the vaccines was the way to go. I got a lot of great info from The Vaccine Book by Dr. Bob Sears that I mentioned in a previous post. It has a breakdown of each vaccine, pros/cons, and ingredient list. It was eye-opening to say the least. I slightly altered Dr. Sears' recommended alternative schedule and came up with our own.

Unfortunately, our pediatrician did not share our viewpoint on vaccines and told us today that he wouldn't do our alternate schedule. Not only that, he basically let us know that there was no point in doing it. This sucks because I really, really liked him. I did convince him to go ahead and give us only the shots that we would get had he agreed with our plan. So, instead of 6 vaccines, Riley only received 2 today and now we're set for 2 more shots at 5 months. He was a little sleepy this eve, but other than that, no effects. The kid didn't even cry when he got his shot today. Nuts!

We're on the hunt for a new pediatrician now, which is a bummer, but we feel like we made the right choice for us. I'm sure the first of many hard fights as a parent...

Riley's first ski trip!

Every ski season for the last five years, Kevin and I have made our way to Pagosa Springs, CO to ski at Wolf Creek. Last week was this year's trip....and this time we invited along some of my family. Riley did great on the drive, although we made lots of stops to give him time to stretch and play. The trip was so fun and we learned that Riley loves hats and sunglasses--he really is our kid. I can't wait until next year!!



Here are a few pics from the trip:

Happy St. Patrick's day!!

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Vaccination Nation

Riley will be headed in for his 4-month appointment soon and all I can think about is the next round of his vaccinations. We had his 2-month vaccinations without even a second thought, mostly because I didn't know there was a thought to give. However, the talk about vaccinations seems to be all around me, and although it's probably because it's on my mind that I'm noticing the buzz, I can't help but think I should listen to what's being said.

I know vaccinations are a positive thing and have kept many a child alive and well. However, there are a lot of people who say a lot of things about the negatives of these chemicals that we are pumping into very tiny babies. Much has been said about the levels of mercury and aluminum and even more has been said about the heavy doses of vaccines that our babies are receiving at one time. I don't want to be alarmist, but I don't want to be hasty. It seems silly to blindly do it just because every other parent does.

So... I have about a week and a half to figure out my answer. I've been reading a lot about an alternative vaccination schedule developed by Dr. Robert Sears and written about in The Vaccine Book. It isn't an anti-vaccine approach, but rather anti- "all the vaccines at once." Instead, spreading them out a little bit more over a number of doc visits. More co-pays, more shots and saddness, but less chemicals at once.

This might be my compromise. I'm going to spend the next week-and-a-half researching pros and cons of recommended vaccines and hopefully my pediatrician will be receptive to my decision. Maybe it's not a big deal at all, but I think we owe it to our son to at least do a little digging on the subject.

Here's hoping I make the right decision.... If you have any insight, please pass it my way!

Spring has sprung!

The weather has been GLORIOUS this week. Seriously, no other way to put it. Yesterday, Riley spent some time with Grandpa Andy and the two took a lovely spring stroller ride! When Kevin and I returned to pick him up, we came around the corner and saw them sitting on the wall together. How many humpty dumpty references does this inspire? What a belly on this child!!

Ha!

It seems Riley is super ticklish! Here's a quick clip of him cracking up while I'm changing his shirt.

3 months already!

Mr. Man is 3 months old (and almost 14 weeks if you're still counting those....)! I know I'll continue to say it, but it's true. Time goes sooooo fast!! He's doing so great. Babbling (sp?) like a mad man, laughing all the the time and drooling insanely. It is so cool being a mom.

Above is his "official" three month pic, along with some other faves from the last couple of weeks. Enjoy!!

Perspective.

It's past midnight and I'm nowhere close to tired. My husband has given in to the exhaustion of another busy day (yes, even on Sunday) and is passed out on the couch for now; my precious son has been asleep for hours. There are bottles to make and clean laundry to put away and tomorrow I'll be tired, but all I can think is how lucky I am to be living such a beautiful life with these two amazing people.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love this kid so much!!

Lots to say....

Here's Riley doing two of his favorite things. Baby talk and watching TV. I know. It's bad. I just think it's so funny how he concentrates on it. Don't worry--I only let him watch for a couple of minutes.

Flip That House!

We interrupt this usually baby-focused blog (hey, it is the Miller Spot) because Riley's super cool parents (read: Kevin and Andrea) have finished production on their very first investment property. To see all the before, during, and after shots, click the link below:
http://tinyurl.com/3xf3qs

Now all we have to do is get this sucker sold...and then on to the next!

Rollin' with Riley

That's right...two videos in a row. We were playing on the blanket today when Riley busted out some mad rolling skills. We had to go grab the camera and make him do it again!

Sweet Bumbo Action

Here's a quick video of Riley hanging out in his Bumbo seat. He has important things to say...

2 months...CHECK!

Running waaaay behind on posts lately. Kevin and I have been frantically working to finish up our flip house and get the sucker on the market. I'm happy to report that will be happening in 2 short days. Woo hoo! In the meantime, we are still super busy working over there, but I had to pause and upload a couple of pics of Riley dude since he has made it past his 2 month birthday!

Official report: 13 pounds (75 % for weight), 22 inches (50% for length). I can't remember his exact head measurement off-hand, but I can tell you that he's in the 90% for it. Yes, our son has a big noggin'. The doctor said he is doing perfect and that he will be a big boy that will eat solids as soon as he is able to. YAY!

Have to brag that Riley is doing great at night. He eats his last meal at 9 p.m. and doesn't eat again until 4 or 5! Not only that, but we usually don't hear from him til 3 or 4. That's 6 hours if you're keeping track. Parenthood is awesome! It is so fun to raise this little man and watch him grow. :-)

I'll post a video in the next couple of days--stay tuned. In the meantime, here's Riley in his baby legs!

Tummy Time!!

We practiced tummy time today and got this priceless face:

Then, a few minutes later we got this priceless face:

And then, tummy time was over.

Don't wake the baby!

So...the other night it was clearly Riley's bedtime, but Kevin was sneaking in some cuddle time before we put him down. I leave the room to clean the kitchen and come back to this:


A few minutes later he started to move around and I thought he would wake up. Instead, he readjusted to this adorable and completely on-his-own pose:


He slept there until we finally woke him at 2:15 a.m. I can't help wondering if he would have stayed there all night if we hadn't intervened. I love a sleeping baby!

Riley smiles!

Here is a quick video of Riley and mom practicing smiles!

Riley is funny!

Here a few of my favorite pics as of late... Riley is so much fun. He's starting to smile and is slowly becoming more independent. He has grown a TON in 5 1/2 weeks and now has the cheeks and belly to prove it. Enjoy the pics and happy new year!

One month already!

I can't believe our baby boy has been with us for a month! In lots of ways, it has been a super challenging month, but also one of the most rewarding and emotional experiences that Kevin and I have had. I now realize that all those stories about newborns are very true...sleep is a distant and fond memory.

Riley has changed so much in his short month of life. Here's a quick video clip of us on the couch. I would swear that he is smiling when I start to talk to him!



Riley's Birth Story:
In honor of his one-month milestone, I thought I'd type out my birth story. This is more for my memory than to bore anyone else, so don't feel like you have to read it! Nonetheless, here it is:

Labor started early in the morning on Wednesday, November 21st. I woke up feeling not-quite-right about 7 a.m. or so and by 9 a.m. I was having contractions that felt distinctly different from the Braxton Hicks that had consumed my life for the past month. They didn't hurt exactly, just felt more powerful and kind of real! I actually thought, "wow, this is really it." I sent Kevin to work and told him I would let him know how things went and would call him if it got close. I knew from all of my reading that this could take a LONG time to become urgent. At about 14 minutes apart, it was a long way from the 4 minutes apart I would need to go the hospital. I spent a lot of time cleaning house, decorated the outside of the house for Christmas and put away clean laundry. I looked for any and everything I needed to do before Riley's arrival.

Around 1 p.m. things slowed way down. It had been nearly an hour since my last contraction and I was so bummed. I just knew this could not be fake. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed my Red Raspberry Leaf Tea. I brewed up a cup with very little water and took it like a shot. I don't know if it was the tea or pure willpower, but things started right up again and before I knew it, contractions were 10 minutes apart. So went the day... around 4 or so, I called Kevin and let him know that he shouldn't stay at work late and what he should actually do is come home and try to sleep. I knew this would go late into the night and wanted at least one of us to be well-rested. He came home, did a few last minute preparations and after awhile, I decided that I wanted my last pre-delivery meal to be a banana split.

We headed to Blockbuster and picked up a few DVDs (for the hospital) and then went to Braum's for my last supper. At this point, it's about 10 p.m. and things are getting much more intense. The contractions are about 7 min apart and taking my breath away. We come home, Kevin sleeps and I labor around the house. Around 12:30, I can hardly take the intensity, but the timing is just not where it needs to be. I put the bags by the front door and wait some more...

At 1 a.m. I'm doubling over in pain, but still 4-6 minutes apart. I call the hospital and they agree that I can come in to be checked. I wake up Kevin, we get our stuff loaded and off to the hospital we go. Once we arrive, I'm checked in and my contractions are monitered and, of course, they slow waaay down. I was so frustrated and determined that I would not leave that hospital! I asked them to check me, and so they do (mostly to humor me, i think). They find out I'm almost 4 cm dialted and 90% effaced. The head nurse says, "you get to stay!" I've never been happier. She asks if I want an epidural and since I'm near tears on some of the contractions, I quickly say yes and they make the 2:30 am call to the anesthesiologist. About an hour later, my life is a million times better as my pain is replaced by tingles.

From here, things seemed so fast. They checked me every once in a while and within a couple hours I had made it to 6 cm and was fully effaced. At this point, they decided to speed it along and broke my water and gave me a pitocin drip. I was feeling great, although i couldn't quit shivering and was way nervous. Kevin and my mom kept me super calm and I appreciated the quiet environment that the middle of the night and holiday provided.

It wasn't too long before I was at 8 cm and the sun was coming up. Then 9, the 10cm. It flew by. They let me know I was an 10 and ready to push and they were informing the doctor again. I immediately starting crying a little as I anticipated the pushing. I was so scared of this part. They turned my calm room into a full-blown hospital room as a team of delivery nurses came in, the nursery nurse arrived and set up the scale and other baby things. Lights came up, stirrups came out and the stage was definitely set. I started pushing and although I could feel it, it wasn't excruciating. It was so calm in there and no one was yelling like on TV. I was so relieved. I remember watching the TV between pushes--it was the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After only a few pushes, the nurse was ready for the doctor to take over and only a couple of pushes after that, I knew the big part was over. Baby cries soon followed and after about 15 minutes of pushing, our son was here.

It was an experience I'll obviously never forget and was so much better than I imagined it would be. I thought it would be horrible and it really wasn't even close. I would do it again in a second. I loved sharing the experience with my husband and mom and Kevin was such a calming force on me--as usual. Needless to say, it was the best Thanksgiving of our lives!