The Rock

Did I mention in my last post that we gave him a faux hawk? For those that are unfamiliar, a faux hawk is like a wimpier mohawk.

The kid is named Ryker. It's a name that, in our estimation, allows him to pull off a rockstar haircut. I mean, look at him! Tough guy, right?

He is also fully earning his nickname of Rock - at the first beat of music he's dancing around, bobbing his head, pumping his arms up and down. At the fair we went to over the 4th he just sat in the stroller dancing as we wheeled him from place to place. Here is one of his favorite moves. I'll try to get the others on video soon.

Ryk's First Haircut

I have a new obsession. It's cutting hair. Or really cutting and trimming anything in sight. It started when I began buzzing Jack's hair. That was really fun and oddly satisfying. You can see your progress and there is something fun and new and clean to look at when you are done. I moved on to mowing the lawn. This last weekend I graduated to cutting hair with scissors. Ryker was my guinea pig, mostly because he can't object yet. After three rounds of cutting his hair and Chuck telling me that I needed to put the scissors down, I did. And when I felt the urge to reach for them again I went instead for the pruning sheers and I gave haircuts to two Russian Sage plants, one Tina Crab tree and two birch trees in our yard. I don't recommend coming over to our house.

Here's the haircut in progress.

Captain Obvious

I was cleaning the kitchen tonight and both kids were playing in the living room. Ryker crawled off to his favorite hiding spot, the bathroom. I didn't really feel like chasing him because I was still doing dishes, so I just kept yelling for him.

"Ryker! Ryk! Ryk - come here! Ryker!!!"

On and on I went until, finally, Jack chimed in...

"Momma, he can't TALK."

Hangovers

My children have cake-hangovers. While everyone laughed and laughed at Ryker shoving handfuls of icing into his mouth - his stomach was trying to deal with this new substance. And it DID NOT LIKE IT. He awoke at 5:30am screaming and writhing in pain. He came out of it eventually and seemed fine the rest of the day. But, as the old saying goes, just when you think you're out of the woods - your preschooler spews all over his room. If that's not a saying, it should be, and it WILL be in our house now.

Here's how it would be staged if it were a play:
Both kids are safely down for a nap and Chuck has left for the mall (?). Lights come up as Jamie is feeding Ryker in the living room.
Noise in the hallway.
Jamie: "What's up Jack?"
Hall door opens. Jack enters living room.
Jack: "Umm, my bed is not clean anymore."
Cuddles with Jamie while she tries to figure out what that means. Jamie looks down at his shirt and notices a speck of something that looks and smells like vomit. It IS vomit.
Cue Flight of the Bumblebees music while the following transpires.
Grandmommy hustles to the bedroom to clean it up. It smells really badly so she tries to open the window, which is still covered in plastic from the winter. The curtain rod falls onto the floor. Jamie grabs a thermometer and starts to take Jack's temp. Ryker pulls the thermometer out from Jack's armpit and throws it into the dog's water dish. Jamie runs to help Grandmommy - Grandmommy tells Jamie to leave before SHE throws up. Jamie decides that's a good idea. Jamie goes back to the boys. Jamie calls Chuck's cell to make him come home.
Cue Chuck's phone ringing on the kitchen counter right next to Jamie.
Jamie tries to console Jack on the couch and then notices that Ryker has Tugboat's rawhide in his mouth.
Jamie: to the audience "I wonder what heinous illness Jack has contracted. And if he throws up again, I'm going to throw up too."
Jack: "Can we go to the water park now?"

End Scene.

Party Time, Excellent

We had a great birthday party today, complete with Miss Kay, lots of friends from Chrysalis, Grandmommy, Grandpa, Uncle Ry Ry, Uncle Bob, Body Niece and other friends and family. Ryker seemed confused by all the fuss, but LOVED his cake. There was no hesitation - he just dove right in.

Here are some pics - more on Flickr.

Happy Birthday Ryker

(Long Blog Post Alert - read at your own risk.)

One year ago tonight we had dinner at Fridays - Gaga, Grandmommy, Chuck, Jack and me. Chuck and Jack sat outside watching machines of some sort while the rest of us waited for our food to arrive. Then we sat around at the house. It would have been a normal night, except for the phone message we got.

"BEEP - Hi, this is Fairview Southdale Hospital calling for Jamie. Jamie, we are calling to remind you of your scheduled cesarean section tomorrow at 9am. Please arrive at the hospital at 7am, and don't eat after midnight. Thank you."

It was a good thing they called because I totally would have eaten dinner at 2am, slept late into the morning and gone for a manicure the next day, missing the birth of my child. Phew. A message well spent.

For weeks leading up to the scheduled delivery, I was worried that I would be panicky the night before or that morning. I actually had orders from my OB to take a Xanax or drink some beer the night before. I didn't need them though - I felt very peaceful. We awoke the morning of June 24, made sure Jack was settled with Grandmommy, and headed off to the hospital knowing that in 3 hours we'd meet our new baby.

We walked into the maternity ward. "May we help you?" "Umm, yes, I am here to have my child." So weird. They had renovated the hospital since we had Jack, and it was MUCH nicer! We had our own pre-op room with a flat-screen TV. We watched the Today Show. The nurses fluttered in and out getting paperwork ready. At one point they asked if I was allergic to latex and I said no, to which they replied with a series of other questions - was I allergic to chestnuts, avocados or kiwis? No, and were we going to have to list every substance known to man before I was allowed to have this baby already? I think she caught us snickering so she explained that it's common for people to be allergic to those things AND latex. Who knew?

While we marvelled at that fun fact, they brought in the scrubs that Chuck would have to wear in the Operating Room. She told him to go down the hall, take a left, take another left, click his heels three times and say the secret password to get into a small bathroom - change there - then come back. We both thought that was a bit strange, considering he could have just changed in the room if she had stepped out. Once he left, however, she started in with The Questions - the ones they can't ask with the partner/spouse around. Did I worry about going home? Were there any safety concerns? I laughed at first and said no, and then I got sad thinking about the women who have to say yes to those, or even worse, the women who need to say yes but can't. I felt grateful for my relationship with Chuck.

Around 9am they told me that I could go to the OR. I sat back on the bed preparing to be wheeled in, but no, they meant I would walk. I found that hysterical. I waddled my way over there and climbed up on the table. I felt so secure watching Dr. Pettit, my doctor, walk in. (She had been my OB/GYN for years but didn't get to deliver Jack.)

By the time Chuck came into the OR, I was prepped and ready to go. I was laughing about things and chatting away with my doc and the nurses. I think Chuck was more nervous than I was. Throughout the surgery the docs and nurses were talking about all sorts of things not related to the surgery. "Jamie - if we're talking about tee-ball, that means things are going well." After no time at all, I was holding my new baby boy.

Ryker Kelly Van Nostrand joined us on June 24th at 9:30am. He was 8 pounds 1 ounce and 20 inches long.

When I was putting Ryker to bed tonight I rocked with him for a long time, thinking about what the first year has meant. What came to mind was a saying that is used in one of my meditations. They tell you to find your "heart center" - where you experience emotions like love. I think that Chuck showed me how to trust in love and that Jack opened my heart to love in a new and overwhelming way. Ryker pulled it all together and helped define my heart center. As I rocked with him I could physically feel my love for my family.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Good thing we started a new school - it's going to be a constant source of blog posts.

Update #1:
Jack has a new friend named Sean, who he calls John because it's easier to say. He told me that John is his best friend. (Contented sigh.)

Update #2:
According to Jack, there is a rule that the kids can't wear coats on the playground. He claims that it's written on the rules outside and the teachers pointed at it. I started to tell my mom this and she said "well of course - it's June, and kids leave them outside and so it's easier to leave them inside." Well that all makes sense, but Jack says that they are NEVER allowed to wear coats. Wanna know why? I don't think you do, but I'm going to tell you anyway because you are my captive audience and because it's so weird. The teacher told him that it's because a boy was wearing a coat and got it caught on "that spinny fing and he DIED!" (Horrified gasp.)

Okay, maybe he got his facts mixed up. I asked Chuck to inquire this morning about any deaths on the playground. Stupid me - I forgot that in my list of 108 questions I asked them before we picked their school.