Z = The End

The end?

I know what you're thinking.  "The End" doesn't start with a "Z".  Well dear readers, you have 2 options.  1 - continue reading the post to see what it's about and how they're related.  2 - read the title with a heavy fake French accent to get your zzzz fix.  You choose.

Ok, here goes.  So, the letter "Z" is at the end of the alphabet right?  The theme of this year's A-Z Challenge was baby/Stella/kids right?  Well, that's how it all fits together.  See, just as "Z" is the final letter in our alphabet, Stella is the final child in our family.  I've mentioned this before but it seems like an appropriate time to mention it again seeing as how it fits the theme and ends the theme.

The road to Stella was unexpected and not nearly an easy one.  None of the pregnancies were in fact, but hers was extra dramatic.  Life was crazy during the pregnancy, it was a roller coaster, Amy went on bed rest.  I could go on, but it's nearly a year in the past so it's well over by now and is far behind us.  The blessing that Stella has been to us all has far outweighed the troubles we experienced on the road to have her.  

It was not a decision that Amy and I took lightly when we decided to stop at 3 children.  Sure, we wanted more but it just wasn't the best idea for our family.  God has blessed us with 3 amazing children and Amy and I both feel our family is complete.  This makes it easier as we watch Stella grow and change, hitting and passing milestones.  Sure, sometimes it is bittersweet as we realize that it is the last time we will have a baby doing this or that, but at the same time there is a peacefulness about it.  A sense that everything is as it should be.  As HE would have it be.

So, now you see how "Z" = the end.  Told you it worked.  Although saying it with a French accent works well too!

All is well, 26/26 down and challenge completed, in Drosche Land.        

Y = Yo Gabba Gabba

Yo Gabba Gabba.

You know, the TV show.  On Nick Jr.  With DJ Lance Rock.  And the weird characters.  Well, if you've never seen it, look it up so I don't sound crazy myself for talking about it. It'll give you a frame of reference  for this post.  Go ahead.  I'll wait.

Ok, are you back?  Good.  First of all I have to thank Amy for helping me to think of a topic for this post.  "Y" isn't necessarily a difficult letter, I just hadn't thought of one yet. And here I am, barely getting it squeezed in for the "Y" day!  Yikes!  I'd better get on with it.

Anyways, Yo Gabba Gabba.  It's Stella's first favorite show.  Yes, she watches TV.  Don't judge me.  She doesn't watch it all day and it isn't used as a babysitter.  I know there are tons of people out there that think that kids shouldn't watch TV before a certain age and/or shouldn't watch too much.  Clearly I'm not one of them.  Yes, I know about the studies and correlations to behavior and whatnot.  But, at the same time, for every study that proves one thing, there's at least one study that proves the opposite.  So yes, Stella watches TV.  So do the boys.  We love us some TV in Drosche Land.  I watched TV lots when I was a kid and am still addicted now.  I grew up to be perfectly fine.  Most of the time.  :)

Ok, enough soapbox.  Yo Gabba Gabba.  Stella loves it.  She loves the characters.  The music.  The movement.  She actually dances to it sometimes.  I think it's dancing.  It is a mixture of jerky movements and a rocking/bouncing.  Yeah, I think it's dancing.  We're thinking about a Yo Gabba Gabba theme for her 1st birthday, but I'm not sold on it yet.  We will see.  

With a toddler back in the house these kind of kiddie shows are back.  Truthfully though, they have never fully left as the boys still enjoy watching them, although they won't always admit it.  They actually get a kick out of Yo Gabba Gabba too, but if you ask them, they'll deny it and say it's for babies.  But between you and I, we know the truth!

So, Stella watches TV and she loves Yo Gabba Gabba.  Soon enough the television will be taken over by princesses and fairies I'm sure.  But for now we have these quasi-educational "baby" shows with cutesy songs and characters.  But it keeps us all entertained!

All is well, 25/26 down, in Drosche Land.

X = ?

I'm not sure what x is for today.  

There aren't many words that begin with x period, much less ones that pertain to my theme.  

Stella isn't the 10th child of mine, or even the 10th grandchild so that's out.  

I could describe Stella has having been xanthic when she was a newborn, but I've already blogged about jaundice.

She's not shaped like a sword, so she can't be xiphoid.  Nor is she a toungeless, clawed frog native to South Africa, so xenopus is out.  One of her favorite toys are wooden blocks, which are xyloid objects since they're made of wood, but that wouldn't make for an interesting post.  I've taken hundreds of pictures of her over the past 10 months, but I haven't xeroxed any.

So, I' not sure what to say today.  I could get cutesy and talk about how eXcited I was to finally have a girl.  Or I could once again talk about her cute, chunky, XXL arms and legs.  But I really wanted a word that began with an "X".  Oh well.  I should have foreseen this problem.  Sadly, last year's X post was more interesting I guess.  Although, once again I have to thank Google for helping me, and through me you dear readers, to learn some new words.  Even if it is only for a few minutes while I write this post!  

All is well, 24/26 down, in Drosche Land.  

W = Walking

Walking. 

No, not yet. But soon. Very soon. 

Stella has been cruising around for a few weeks. Holding on to legs, tables, couches, and whatever else she can grasp onto as she works on strengthening her walking skills. She still has a way to go, but we're close.  I'd say maybe a month. By summer for sure. 

Braeden walked very early, around 9 months.  That was crazy.  Jackson waited until a little past his first birthday. I think Stella will be about the same. Quite honestly, even though it means she's growing up quickly, I'm ready for her to walk. I some aspects it will make life easier. She will be able to do more and go where she wants. In other ways it will make life far more difficult. She will be able to do more and go where she wants.  

So we wait. It's the next big milestone for her. She wants it badly too. So badly. She's had a couple of face plants this week at school as she is starting to let go of things to stand unassisted, but she's not been too successful. But she's persistent. And she knows she'll get her way. Eventually. 

All is well, 23/26 down, in Drosche Land. 

V = Virus

Virus.

A dreaded word if you're a parent.  It means your kid is sick.  You knew that.  It also means there is nothing, i.e. medicinal, that you can do to help.  Darn.

If the virus is also accompanied by a fever, as they usually are, then you're also staying home with them until they are fever-free.  Ugh.  

Now, you know we've had our share of sick kids in these parts, but luckily Stella has managed to avoid it for the most part.  Sure, she's been out sick a few times, but nothing compared to what the boys were like at her age or even in recent years.  Amy and I often ponder her good health and why she is blessed with it.  Is it her healthy weight?  Her healthy appetite?  Just luck of the draw?  Whatever the reason we are glad that she is, by far, the healthiest of the 3.

I know I'm tempting fate by publishing this and I hope I don't end up regretting it.  Knowing my luck some sickness will take hold of us here and we'll be at home once again.  Hopefully these gloom and doom thoughts are for naught and all will remain calm in our house for the next month until summer hits.  Ahhhhh, the joy that would bring!

All is well, 22/26 down, in Drosche Land.

U = Ultrasound

Ultrasound.

The blessed time when you get to see your baby for the first time.  I have always loved seeing the ultrasounds of all of the kids.  Even though, admittedly, I am horrible at seeing/recognizing anything in them.  Luckily for me, Amy is excellent at that.  

We waited the standard allotted time, 20 weeks right?, with the boys.  I remember finding out their genders.  Braeden was our first so we had no clue.  Well, at least I didn't.  Amy knew he was a boy from the start.  The same with Jackson.  Everyone was thinking/wondering if he would be a girl since we had a boy, but Amy knew better.

Stella's pregnancy was different though.  Amy was unsure (shocking I know).  I was hoping it was a girl.  Everyone was hoping it was a girl.  We'd made up our minds to be surprised.  Yeah right!  That didn't last long.  Amy and I gave in but still couldn't wait until 20 weeks so we booked an appointment at an ultrasound place outside of our doctor's office.  We took the boys.  At first she wasn't cooperative at all.  We got great face and body shots, but nothing gender-specific.  We were on the verge of giving up when bam!  GIRL!  We were shocked actually.  I'd been hoping for it but the confirmation still came as a surprise.  The boys were excited, even though they'd both been hoping for a little brother to torment play with.

As soon as we returned to the car we called our families at the same time and shared the joyous news.  It was awesome!  I can still remember it clearly.  I still look at the kids' ultrasound pictures often, we have them in frames at home.  I love seeing them and mentally reliving the time when they were in utero (I love that term).  Great times.  Stressful, but great.

All is well, 21/26 down, in Drosche Land.   

T = Teeth

Teeth.

A big milestone for any baby.  However, I speculate that Stella is especially pleased with her teeth because they allow her to eat food! She loves to eat and before she had teeth she seemed to be growing tired of pureed food and things she could gum up.  At least that's my impression.  

She currently has 6 teeth and we think that she is working on some new ones.  All of our kids get their first teeth fairly early in life.  Braeden had teeth by 5 months, Jackson and Stella had their first ones come in around 6 months.  Just one of the few things they all share in common.

My favorite part of new teeth is the adorable smile that comes with the new chompers.  Sure, a gummy, toothless smile is cute, but I love the huge grins filled with tiny little teeth.  So cute.

However, in Stella's case (or Amy's rather) the teeth have brought an unfortunate side effect.  Biting.  Stella loves to bite.  Oddly enough the only one she seems to bite is Amy.  Arms, legs, shoulder; no body part is safe from the random roaming nips she gives out.  They're just that too, random.  One minute she's cuddling and all cute, the next it's "OUCH!".  Well at least that's been my observance between Stella and Amy.  It just must be some weird bonding experience they share, albeit one that I am sure Amy wish didn't exist.  Hopefully it will pass soon before it extends to others - family members and classmates.

With the boys we had one of each.  A biter and a bitee (I think that's a word).  I'll let you guess about who was who, but suffice it to say their personalities go hand in hand with their role.  Having had both I really would love to have a bitee again.  Well, I mean I don't want them to get bitten, but it's better than having the kid that bites everyone else's.  Trust me.  Hopefully Stella doesn't take after her younger big brother!  Time will tell!

All is well, 20/26 down, in Drosche Land.