Tag: toddler

Less than 7 days

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A little overcome with emotion as I think there’s less than 7 days til we get to meet little Kyden Jade! And the emotion isn’t just coming from me, it also is coming from Zayden. Despite several attempts and explanations of how momma should be in and out of hospital, he does have a little apprehension about hospitals in general. He asked if he could just come with me, ha but to avoid being scarred for life I quickly told him that wasn’t possible. Lol.

In the past week or so, Zayden has been talking to Kyden, giving her kisses and hugging her when he hugs me! It is so sweet and I think he’s finally starting to realize another littles is coming. Ryken daily asks for HER baby to come and gets upset when she sees her baby dolls aren’t actually real 😂 Honestly, it will likely be the biggest change for her, but maybe she will adjust well. I mean, wishful thinking at least! Either way, I cannot wait to watch these two be the big siblings they were made to be! I fully anticipate more crying, laughing, stress and less sleep in our near future!

It’s a little bittersweet to have these last few days, knowing these are the last few days of being pregnant…ever again. There’s no possibility of any surprise pregnancies and we have chosen this was our last round of IVF for our sanity, budget, and just health in general. Every round of IVF takes a whole different toll on your body, hormones, emotions, weight, etc etc and it just isn’t in the plan for us. However, if I’ve learned anything during the past 8+ years, it is our “plans” and His plans do not always match up. We are so thankful for the support, encouragement and prayers over the years as our IVF journey comes to an end. We do plan to adopt one day; we do not know how or when that will happen, but we feel that has always been a path we want to pursue. As our family continues to grow, we will continue to share our journey of growing and learning.

A little update on the littles… Ryken is still as sassy as ever, a little dare devil, and isn’t afraid to speak her mind (to anyone). She has started school 2 days a week which she loves and goes in without any hesitation! She loves her baby dolls (most days), her doggies, despises car seats, plays kitchen and makes obstacles courses every day. Prefers to pick out her own outfit, shoes and likes to do everything “all by myself,” loves to cook with me and imitate anything her bubby does and says. She still “hides” by covering her eyes when she feels uncomfortable around strangers but is starting to be more open to others!

Zayden, still loves school and making friends. He continues to talk nonstop and teaches me things he’s learned. He still wants to be an astronaut and scientist. He has been begging to go to an Escape Room 😂 if that explains his personality at all! He has recently started loving to swim again, he went through a phase of not loving it but has been really into wearing his goggles and swimming any time he can. Every day there is a new “experiment” he has done, 99.9% of the time it is not something you would want to smell, taste or touch as it has every spice, soap or sanitizer in it, approach at your own risk.

Kyden, she was growing and 2.5 weeks ahead of schedule until recently her growth has slowed down and she has also dropped. Praying she continues to defy the odds of her 2 vessel possible restrictions and be big and strong. We have been doing non-stress test once a week the past 3 weeks to make sure she is doing what she needs to be and she continues to move around on the regular. Our plan for her is to make her entrance via induction next Thursday (06/23) unless she wants to do what she wants and decides to come earlier. If she does, we are praying it is not til Monday. Jason is currently traveling and we’d love for him to be back before then, but if we have learned anything over the years, it’s to roll with what God gives you, He will not give you more than you cannot take and our children never have been ones to follow the “plans” so we shall see right?

Hopefully our next update will have bitty baby photos attached!

4 Months | Ryken Spree

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Sweet, happy girl turned 4 months yesterday and I’m clueless how that happened so quickly.  How is it possible? 

Ryken is as happy as can be (besides the teething) most days.  She is just now starting to roll over and holds her head up so well.  Not one day has passed that she isn’t happy! ❤️ Her personality is starting to come out and she’s a little combination of sweet, ornery and sass.  She’s been sleeping like a champ until recently but no complaints – we’ll sleep someday 😂

Zayden still isn’t 110% sure about sissy but he’s warming up to her. He’s very excited about when she’s big enough to play with him! Some fun things about Zayden:

Continuing to love to learn, swim and be his curious little self. He knows more random facts about things that I can keep track up (most of these “facts” he tells me are spot on but occasionally he gets his info mixed up. One of the more questionable facts is turtles can jump up to 10x their length and they can jump 10 miles. 😂 Another cute thing he does, is wonders what color the car will be after we come out of the car wash. He’s always a little disappointed when my car comes out to be white after every wash lol.

Pandemic is still the pandemic, life is still limited, but we’ve adapted and are lucky enough to see all of our immediate family and enjoy the lake most weekends. Life is different but thankful for these two sweeties.

Zayden in a Pandemic

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I had no intention of posting again til after little sis was born, but this blog started with our infertility journey to Zayden and I want to continue to document our journey for both of them. So, I have to document this chaos happening in today’s world and what it’s like pregnant and for a toddler.

Zayden doesn’t really get what’s going on, I mean he’s 2 ha, but it has affected his every day life (in a very minimal way).  He misses his buddy Hayden and we have been keeping our distance from neighbors and no one has come into the house besides his (also isolated) nanny some days. He doesn’t understand why he can’t see his Gammie and Papaw and he definitely wants to see his Uncle Will, Aunt, B, and Lima but has been content enough with video calls for the time being.  No parks, no swimming at Bentonville Community Center, no shopping at Target (this kid may not love shopping at Target, but LOVES LOVES running the aisles).  In fact, he loves it so much, we used to take him there purely to burn off energy and for no real reason of actually getting anything. Ha. #parentsconfessions  No traveling to the lake or to play with his cousins and no church class. So life in his eyes has been more limited, but it also has given him his momma and daddy time, which is all he’s really concerned with.

This time has been filled with lots of painting, coloring chalk all over the driveway and a little on the garage door.  So many walks around the neighborhood, looking for worms and puddles to splash in, and playing in the backyard with the dogs, etc.  Thankfully, this pandemic has come at a time where we want to be home more with Zayden anyways and I’ve limited my work significantly being in the 9th month of pregnancy.  However, knowing I was going to spend more time at home doesn’t make it less difficult finding ways to keep a toddler entertained easily day in and day out.  When we have a rough morning of meltdowns, we get discouraged about not having enough to do, but quickly reminded all you really need is that love from the parents to get you through the tougher times.  And we are grateful we are able to be there for him.

Of course this has affected our daily activities and chores as well, like never did I think I’d be wiping down our groceries before bringing them into the house or going days upon days without seeing my family (for those than know us, that’s really surprising), nor did I think we wouldn’t be allowing anyone into the house after sis is born for awhile and this has been new adjustment.  And I didn’t think we’d be postponing weddings/sessions left and right due to restrictions.  Yet, my mind is set to be thankful.  Thankful for this pandemic and more time to spend with Zayden.  Of course, I’m not thankful for how the economy is being affected, lives are being lost, people starting to turn on each other over TP or more hate crimes because they think another race is purposefully trying to spread the virus, or parents and individuals are experiencing firsts in a way they never thought they’d have to.  But this has given us time to step back and really embrace being in the moments and not being caught up in the hustle and bustle of being here or there.  And just taking the moments to breathe in (cautiously and within a safe distance from everyone else) and being present.

Continuing prayers for everyone, especially all the soon to be parents are healthy and those sweet babes are being born healthy, the immunocompromised, and those on the front lines during this difficult time.  And lifting up those that have lost loved ones.  I never imagined experiencing something like this, but we are in it and hoping for an end soon.  Til then, enjoying our sweet baby boy and last few days before we become a family of four.

Also – if you’re interested in following Zayden’s journey during this quarantined lifestyle – here’s a few images or follow his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaydengray/

 

TWO. |Zayden

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My little man, I don’t know how time has gone so quickly and you turned two today. I write this as you sleep on my left arm, as you do every night. Yup, that’s right we break all the rules in this house apparently and he’s sleeping in our bed. Welcome to the world of two at the Vinsons. I remember telling myself we wouldn’t do that as parents and now I laugh bc it’s literally one of the highlights of us parenting is having your child roll over, hold you close and say, “Oh Momma” and slowly fall asleep. I want to remember these moments & phrases before they fade away, so I’ve compiled a list of my fave things Z says.

Oney = eleven

Sesen = seven (it’s cuter when he says it)

Mom Mom = instead of Momma or Mommie

Owwie = Ollie

Deaa = Della

Char-No = Charlie 😂 because I think he rarely says Charlie’s name without yelling no, generally bc he’s usually trying to steal his food.

Ohpp – like opp, oops and whoops all combined.

Oh Momma & Oh Dadda = cuddles

Fly bite = any type of scratch or bug bite, and he’s a little dramatic about those. A mosquito bite from 6 months ago he still talks about.

ABCDEs = letters

1,2,3,10 = numbers

Oof = orange

Rrrrrr (with a growl, and occassionally followed by ‘for Rachel’) = R

Brrrrue = blue (apparently, your quarter Hispanic blood allows you to roll those rs way better than me!

Tapzoy = trapzoid (but you like to say it in a rough, scary voice)

Q = qune

Cak = cake

Foot shnacks = fruit snacks

Snow = but said through your wrinkled up nose like you smell as you say it. I don’t know how to explain it but it’s my favorite ,😂

Rayannah & Hayden (which are two different people but always together) = Rain-ya

Dis = what’s this, which I hear all day long, even when he knows what “dis” is.

When we pray at night I always ask what God is doing and you say, “wating” which means watching over us!

You have some favorite things yourself, like your lizard toy named Lizard & your white stuffed dog named White Dog. 🤷‍♀️ We are working on your lack of creativity at the moment lol. Your mom & dad are still your favorites but your best friend Hayden & sitter Rayannah are coming in close!

You still want to eat mac-n-cheese or fruit snacks for every meal🙄 and oranges, blueberries, eggs, yogurt & waffles you’ll get by with. Still refusing alot if foods but will keep trying!

You know your letters, numbers to 20, all the shapes, and currently learning opposites which has been hysterical.

Your bike, playset & bouncy house are probably your favorite things to do, and throwing the ball to Charlie.

We’ve experienced so many firsts together in the past two years…

Travel to New York & Hawaii, somewhere none of us have gone until you came along!

2 different hospital stays & 1 surgery, which is not something Jason or myself are unfamiliar with, but it was a first having a child go through this. Croup & tonsillectomy were a terrible experience for us but thankfully the good Lord kept watch over the Drs and strong little man was better after a couple of weeks each time.

Trick-or-Treating was new to us this year as last time it was wet & cold and I definitely wasn’t letting you ear candy last year😂 anyways, last night was so fun. – you were so polite whispering trick or treat and thank you and would only take one piece of candy every time. It made me so happy to watch you do that and run from the house with excitement. I hate to tell you – it’s not likely you’re getting many pieces of that candy as I passed out most of it lol but I saved a handful for you. Because, I mean, sugar. 😬😂 I am a bit concerned you now think it’s acceptable to wander up to houses & trick or treat any random day but you’ll learn.

We got to experience seeing baby sissy (yes, I said sissy) on an ultrasound this week, something we’ve never been able to say in all the years of infertility and you were right there to see her kicking with us. I don’t know if you’re thrilled or not but you will be, because you are already the best big brother.

Here’s to many more firsts, adventures and so many hugs & kisses with us. We love you little man and so proud of who you are! ❤️

22 Months

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Where has time gone, I’m completely blown away that Zayden is 22 months old.  In 2 months, he will be 2! AH!  The past few days, he’s really starting to grow into a little boy instead of a baby.

The talking has not slowed down at all….and has almost gotten a little more demanding (especially with the dogs and when he wants a snack).

When we prayed for a healthy, intelligent child, I never thought God would smirk and create a child more intelligent than Jason and I but that has happened.  This little boy knows all his ABCD (he likes to add the D on it, instead of the ABC’s). And he can count to 20. What. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t do that til I was like 4, but anyways he’s been working on it the past month and has it mastered.  He knows all his colors and shapes (even trapezoid which Jason didn’t know til I had to tell him what it was called lol)

We LOVE the lake and love to swim when we’re having fun, but he’s really hating swim lessons at the moment.  I think it’s because someone’s making him do it but if it was on his own terms we can’t seem to get him out of the water.

He is strong willed and knows what he wants.  However, he doesn’t always want to tell us what he wants, he would much rather make us guess…which clearly is his ornery side shining through in those moments.

He still loves his dogs, playing outside, his mama (especially this month) and his dadda (most of the time), sleeping in bed with us, his popsicles & fruit snacks and to be scared.  If we can scare him and get him to jump & scream, we consider it a win and he loves it every single time.  Speaking of scaring, something he started doing recently is “hiding from people” when there’s no one around, or at night.  Terror took over my face as I look around the room and ask him exactly how many people we are hiding from.  Then the other day, he took a fruit snack out of his bag and handed it to something in mid air…like he was waiting on “people” to take it.  I’m pretty sure he’s just playing the long game on me and trying to scare me….and not going to lie, it’s a little bit creepy.   So, you win Zayden.

He has started to not be as interested in Curious George and moved onto his new favorite movie, Finding Nemo.  If I have to watch that movie one more time…well, I will and I won’t complain but I may have every line memorized by now (and trust me, I still laugh at some moments). Here’s a video of him watching his favorite part of Finding Nemo!

We have a new nanny that brings her nephew over to play with him regularly and that gives Zayden more interaction with other little ones which we love.  I have always wanted him to have more interaction, and it would happen here and there, but gosh they’re ornery together…so so ornery.  Bless our nanny’s heart!

He says basically whatever he wants to say, but some of our favorite words are:

Snack or fruit snack
Seven (still one of my favorites) – sessen
Snow
Basically anything that starts with the letter S, because he acts as if the S is the sniffing noise.  It’s something you’ll have to experience in person, and trust me it’s worth it lol

So many changes over the past month, but mostly just him looking us in the eye and really speaking to us instead of just saying what he wants/needs.  Its as if he’s trying to hold conversations with us.  My heart isn’t prepared for him to grow up yet, but he definitely is every single day.

On another note, he continues to tell me I’m having a baby boy and he seems more excited about having a baby boy than possibility of a baby girl.  They say kids have a sixth sense about those types of things…so maybe he knows something we don’t just yet.  Either way, we are so thankful for the two littles we have and can’t wait to see what the next month brings!