Life in the Fast Lane!

Wow! Mommy and Daddy have been SO busy lately, so I said that while I was home with Mommy today since she and Daddy had the day off of school, I would write a note to all of you to let you know how big and strong I'm getting and what we have been up to lately!

After Mommy last wrote to you back in November, we celebrated Thanksgiving. We were able to see both grandmas and grandpas, but that meant it was a busy few days with traveling. It was so fun to see all my aunts and uncles though! I didn't get to eat all the yummy turkey this year, but I told them to just wait because I will be sitting at the table with you next year!

When we got home from up north after Thanksgiving, Mommy and Daddy decided it was time for me to spend my first night in my own room and crib, rather than sleeping in their room. I was so excited! I loved being wrapped up tight to sleep, but I am almost the same size as Pooh! Don't worry, Pooh was just there for the picture! I don't sleep with friends next to me!

I look like a toga man! This is how I was when I woke up and Mom came in to say good morning! We needed to find a bigger blanket so I couldn't get out of it!

Mommy was supposed to go back to work on December 1st, and that meant I was going to be able to stay and play with grandma during the day. However, mommy and her doctor decided that she wasn't strong enough to go back to work full time that day and that she better stay home another week. Mommy didn't want to have to have more surgery because she went back to teach the other kids at school too soon. I didn't mind though! That meant I got to spend another week at home with her! We played a lot that week, since I was really starting to get my smiles and giggles going! The next Monday though, December 8, until December 19th, Mommy went back to work for the mornings. This way, she was able to meet her kids, start to learn their routines, and then was able to come home and play and rest with me in the afternoons until it was time for us to go to dance practice. Now that it was December, Mommy was spending six days a week with those dancing girls because they had their competitions all day on Saturdays too. No wonder mommy was tired!

Like I said though, when Mommy went back to work, I got to stay with grandma, which I think is the BEST place in the whole world if I can't be at home with mom and dad. We get to play with Tigger and Tommy the turtle, and I even have a really fun tunnel to play in. We read books and sing lots of songs too and of course, I love the snuggles!

Uncle Mike came home for a week on Dec. 15, so I was able to spend extra time with him too. Then, Aunt Jeanna joined everyone for our family Christmas weekend on Friday, Dec. 19th. However, Mommy had dance both Friday night and Saturday, so it made for a short, fast weekend with everyone. We had a good time though and tried to be in the Christmas spirit early!

Finally, it was Christmas break and Mommy and Daddy were home with me for two whole weeks! We spent some time at home, had Christmas Eve with Mommy's side of the family (Uncle Steve and Aunt Katie were there too!), went to Mass Christmas morning with grandma and grandpa and then had brunch with them and then headed home to be there to see Grandma Joan and Grandpa Bob, as well as Uncle Tim and Uncle Matt. Then we got to go up north for a few days too! I LOVED going up north and playing with Grandma Joan and Papa Bob! They sang songs with me, snuggled with me and played with me too! Uncle Tim and Aunt Crystal were there too, so I had play time with everyone! There were times when I didn't even want to sleep because I was so excited to have all my favorite people around me! However, the fun had to stop at some point and we had to come home early from up north because of some snowstorms that were predicted. What Grandma Joan didn't know is that we REALLY had to get home and not get caught up north because Mommy, Daddy, and I had gotten the house all ready because a bunch of us planned a surprise party for her 60th birthday! She came over to our house on Jan. 3 and thought she was just coming to play with me and have dinner, but we surprised her and had a house-full of people to party with!!

I love giving kisses to my new girlfriend, Minnie!

Mommy and Daddy had to go back to work then on Monday, much to their dismay. They like those kids at school I guess, but they can't compare to playing with me! Mommy went back to work full-time though, so that meant I got to stay at grandma and grandpa's all day. After work, they would rush to pick me up because Mommy had to get back to Waconia to see those dancing girls and help them work on things to get better before their competitions. Then, when Mommy would get home, we'd have dinner, a little play time, and then it was time for me to go to bed and Mommy and Daddy to finish up all those house things they have to do. I don't want to be a grown-up for a long time! I like that I can play all day and sleep when I want to! :-) Mommy and Daddy are both looking forward to having dance done since they have to go to school for their Masters too. Only one year left though and then they are done with that too!

Well, it's about time for me to go to sleep! I'm pretty tired from playing with Mommy all morning, but it's been a blast! Enjoy these pictures of me! I getting so big and old now! I love to giggle, sit up with help, squeal, and watch myself in the mirror or look at pictures of people I know. I can have a whole conversation with the refrigerator! I am even so big now that I was able to try rice cereal for the first time a few days ago. I didn't like the taste of it at all! I took a few bites though, so hopefully I'll take a few more every day! I'll talk to you soon!

~ John

Our Little Monkey!

Time is flying by! Christmas songs are on the radio and Thanksgiving is this week already! Good grief! It has been a busy and somewhat stressful few weeks in the Singewald household, but things are hopefully getting back "on-track" again.

John is quite the little man these days and quite the little monkey too! He is talking to us and his little animal and toy friends and loves to smile! I am greeted most mornings by his infectious smile and squeal when I get him out of his bed. I love those moments!!

John also had the opportunity to vote with me on Nov. 4. He was pretty good, but became very vocal as I was finishing my vote, so we both hussled through filling in those bubbles!

John was having a dance party when we got home

(and got the deer-in-headlights look with the flash!)John was deep in thought while watching mom and dad!

Too cute! He's such a charmer!John LOVES everything about his activity gym. He has quite the conversations with the octopus and fish and really gets his arms and legs moving. He is such a happy baby!
As the weather became colder, we had to bundle John more, as well as ourselves.
He was so content and cute, I just had to take a picture!
Here is our little monkey! When Phil and I first dressed him, we could not stop laughing because of how adorable he was! Look! He's even smiling! He loves being cuddly and warm in his little monkey suit! It certainly fits his personality too - he is a little monkey lately when it comes to taking afternoon naps longer than 30 min!

The last few weeks have been a little stressful in our house, but Phil and John have been great through it all. I had surgery two weeks ago due to complications from when John was born. After trying many different options, none seemed to work and surgery seemed to be the best choice. The surgery was far more extensive than what my doctor originally thought, and we are still waiting to see much positive progress. I then had further complications and had a spinal headache from the anethesia and had to have a blood patch. It was a rough week! Hopefully during my standing Wednesday appointment (pathetic?? yes!) I will receive better news, since we are running out of other options and I would prefer not to have another surgery. Because of my complications, I will not be returning to work on Dec. 1 either. We are hopeful that I can start back at half days Dec. 8 and continue until Christmas break. One day at a time!

We are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with our families this week and are thankful for all of you in our lives! It will be exciting to get things ready for Christmas this year as well and to get our tree decorated and add another stocking by the fireplace. Oh, how far we've come in a year! Who would have thought we'd be a family of three at this time?
Life couldn't be better and we couldn't feel more blessed!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! As the weather around us changes and the leaves are falling off the trees, it's hard to believe the end of October is here and November is upon us! Where did the time go? John is now eight weeks old and just had his two month check-up Wednesday. He is doing well! He is now 23 1/4 inches long and 12 lbs 5 oz. He did fairly well with his four shots (which were hard for both John and Mom). Even after the trauma of the shots, he was still his normal, mild-mannered self, but just a bit more cuddly for the last couple of days. He wasn't phased for too long!



Last weekend, John had quite the social calendar! Our entire immediate family was able to be with us to celebrate John's Baptism, baby shower, and my dad's birthday. It was wonderful to be able to spend time with everyone and have them be able to see John, since most of our siblings are not home often. John was a great baby during all of the "off schedule" happenings!

So tired...that was hard work getting that Baptismal gown on!

What a cute family!!

The Godparents!
All of John's aunts and uncles...except Crystal! We missed you!

And John's proud grandparents....

The whole family! Again, we missed, you, Crystal!

Thanks to Steve and Katie, we're starting John's Johnnie pride early!!!

The cute diaper cake Jeanna and Mike made for the shower!!
They could be professionals!

Over the last few weeks John has started to smile more and "talk" and coo to us. He LOVES his diaper to be changed and still enjoys his cuddle time! He is so alert now during the day and is sleeping better at night too! He even had a few nights this week with 6 hours of sleeping at a time! I felt like a new woman!! Every day it's amazing to watch him discover new things and focus more on things around him. He is so easily entertained. I always wonder what is going on in that little head of his.... He will be able to vocalize that soon enough!


For Halloween, John was a very cute little mummy. We decided not to do a traditional costume because he was so little, but thought he was pretty precious anyway!


We hope you enjoy your Halloween night!! Don't be too frightened by all those little goblins out there!

One Month Old Already!

It's hard to believe John was one month old last Friday! Time has flown by!! He is getting to be quite the little man! He is tracking people, voices, and toys better every day and is getting very close to smiling at people and starting to coo and make noises! He is sleeping really well at night and most times will go for 4 (at times 5) hrs, which is wonderful!! I cannot complain! He is a very happy baby, who loves interaction with others! Enjoy some pictures over the last couple of weeks! There will be more to come!

So content before tubbie time!!!

I love sitting up in my boppy pillow and looking around to see the world!
(I was smirking and smiling, but I wouldn't let mom catch me in the act!)

Ahhh...I love those hooded towels!

John is growing quickly and is out of his newborn clothes!! He was perfectly content once his feet were allowed to escape from this outfit that was just a little too tight!

Look! My first REAL bath!! Yes, it's been censored for young eyes!
(or John's high school graduation board!)

I LOVE those precious looks and moments of eye contact!

The BEST 2 weeks!

It's hard to believe it's been 2 weeks already since John entered the world and joined our family! He is such a great baby! He only cries when he is really frustrated and otherwise, he makes his fun grunt and squeaking sounds. He is a great sleeper (for the most part!) and is very alert now. John really enjoys his time in his swing every day and loves any kind of music. We love how John likes to cuddle with us. Those snuggle moments are priceless! Here are some pictures over the last 2 weeks. Enjoy!

This was John's "tanning time" in the hospital to help get rid of his jaundice.

First picture when we got home from the hospital... It's hard work coming home!

John's "gangster" picture in his cute sweat suit!

Gotta love baby feet!!!!

All ready for my outing to the doctor!!


I love this swing!
precious....

Nothing better than my thumb!

Introducing.... John Robert Singewald!!!

HE IS HERE!!!!!

INTRODUCING......

John Robert Singewald
September 3, 2008
6:32am
7 lbs. 15 oz
20 inches long!

After being induced on Tuesday morning, and a very long labor, John arrived!! Tuesday morning we were given some medication to help me dilate more, since I was contracting on my own. By Tuesday evening, the doctor was sure we were going to deliver later in the day Wednesday because my progress was occurring more slowly. After being given some meds to help me get some rest overnight, my contractions started to kick in harder. By 11pm, the contractions were longer, stronger, and right on top of one another. The doctor changed her mind and said that we were definitely going to have a baby that night! The wait was soon going to be over! Because of the intensity, I was given an epidural at midnight. However, because my heart rate spiked up in the 130's, the epidural was taken out and they redid it, so the whole process was done by about 1am. At this point, I was out of it! Thank goodness Phil was there and we had a fantastic nurse, Helen! She stayed in our room and by my side the entire night. She was incredible! Shortly after getting the epidural, my blood pressure went way down and John's heart rate did as well. Thankfully, medication worked to get us both back on track, or they would have had to do an emergency C-section. About 2am, my water broke, and labor really kicked in. Shortly thereafter, I was dilated to a 6, but that didn't last for long. By 2:50am, I was an 8 and at 3:05, I was a 10! I started pushing about 3:40 and at 6:32, John was born! Had his head not been turned slightly, labor would have been easier on both of us! However, after they used the vacuum, (rather than doing a C-section) they were able to maneuver his head slightly so my pushing was more productive. I think my Irish stubborn side came out too, since I was NOT interested in having a C-section after all I had gone through up to that point to deliver him!

Our time in the hospital went well. Because of having to push for so long, I re-broke my tail bone, so that wasn't real pleasant, but it could have been worse! I am now healing, slowly, but surely! John also took after his mommy and had to spend 24 hrs in the nursery under the lights because he was jaundice. Thankfully, it only took 24 hrs for his levels to come down so we were able to bring him home yesterday. Being released before he was able to come home was really hard on both Phil and I, but we just had to remind ourselves that he was not going to be there long and it could have been a lot worse - we could have been visiting him in the NICU for weeks if he had decided to come early as he had threatened early on! He seemed to enjoy his "tanning" experience though, as he loves to be warm! :)

John is a wonderful baby!! He eats and sleeps very well! Phil and I could not be happier with our new life as a family of three!! Our cuddle time is the most precious time of the day. We both find ourselves sitting and just watching him when we should probably be sleeping! Every moment during labor and delivery, and the last 10 months leading up to Wednesday morning, was worth it. Now comes the fun times - watching him grow up!!