Elijah, car accident, new baby

It feels like there are so many things to update on, although there are really only a few big things that have been taking up my life lately.

First of all is Elijah. He is doing SO well! Last Thursday he laughed for the first time and I could feel my love for him increase, just listening to it. He was sitting on Matt's lap, perfectly happy, and Matt kept kissing his eyes, and then out came the cutest little giggle! Then today I made him laugh again by getting him all good and happy with kisses, and then getting him to clap his fists together. Also, Saturday he rolled over for the first time, and then did it one more time for good measure! And today we noticed 3 times that he had his hands held together a few inches from his face and he was looking at them, but then he'd get distracted, or they'd move too much, and he'd lose focus and move on. But I'm thinking the discovery of his hands is just around the corner and that soon he'll realize that he's the one who's been snatching his soother, scratching his face and pushing himself away from me and breaking the latch when he's feeding. He always cries like it's my fault! Oh, and soon he'll be able to hold toys in those hands and play with things! I'm way too excited.

I've realized that I'm a bad judge of how big he is, he's just growing so fast. There are so many things that I really thought would be too big for him, but when I go to put him in it anyway, they fit perfectly, if not snugly, and soon they'll be too small. Sad!

Today we had our consult at McMaster for his bum dimple. I was SO thankful to talk to a doctor I understood (his pediatrician is more than a little confusing...) and I finally have the low-down on it all.

So. Bum dimples are very common, and most are benign (don't affect the baby at all) although some are related to nerve problems and spinal cord problems like Spina Bifida. Everything about Elijah seems to put him into the benign category. He doesn't have trouble going to the bathroom on his own, he wakes himself for feedings, he kicks his legs a lot (like he's running a marathon, seriously. But then, I knew he was a hard kicker since the womb.) and even his reflexes are normal, according to the doctor today. He had the ultrasound that said there might be this connection somewhere (I'll explain that in a moment) but then, he was moving around A LOT during the u/s and it was hard to get a good picture. The only way to be sure is to have an MRI, so that's what we're doing.

So sometime in the next 3 months we'll go back to McMaster, Eli will be knocked out, and they'll take a good look at the dimple and how deep it goes.

Here's why the dimple is important. If it goes downward it's not a big deal, but if it goes upward it could connect with the bottom of the spinal column, which would leave Eli susceptible to infections, and we all know that your bum is not the most bacteria-free place on our bodies. The doctor today said it looks like it goes downward, but if it goes upward and IS connected, then they'd operate on him and remove/close off the tract so that it's not connected any more. Either way though, it doesn't look like he has Spina Bifida at all, so that's a relief.

So there, that's my Elijah update.

Now for my car update.

Friday I got into my first-ever car accident! I'd like to say it was exciting, but it was really just annoying, frustrating and upsetting. I'm working on forgiveness right now, so I won't vent about it, I'll just give you the facts straight up.

I was turning left on a green light onto a 4-lane street. I was turning into the left lane, and there was a stream of cars turning right at the same light into the right lane. Totally fine, right? Right. Except for the one car that decides to turn into my lane instead of hers, hitting my passenger door with the corner of her fender, leaving just a few spots of paint on her fender and a nice-sized dent and scratches on my door. I tried very (VERY) hard to be nice about it although I completely had no idea what to do and was standing out in the rain for at least 10 minutes, humming and hawing about it. When I realized that it was fruitless to stand there and be accused by an old lady who wasn't even remembering it right 10 minutes later, I left after saying we'd talk later that evening after I'd talked to Matt. He called her at dinner time, and offered to pay for her repair (because she was so sure I was to blame that I really thought she'd try to give me a ticket) but in the end we're just going to pay for our own and go our own separate ways.

But what a bummer! The ironic thing is that not 1/2 an hour before, I had been thinking about how we hadn't had any collisions since 6 years ago, and that our record would soon be completely clear. It still WILL be clear but the collision part is now no longer true. Oh well. Luckily we know a guy who does body work for a really good price. My guess is $750 to fix it, but I'm hoping less.

So there. Not completely impartial and emotionally detached from the experience, but I think I'm on my way.

And now for the best part of my update! Well, maybe not the best completely (because I think Elijah laughing, rolling over, discovering his hands, and not having Spina Bifida is pretty darn wonderful) but still, this is the most exciting to more than one person.

Rachelle and Aaron had their little girl! She was born yesterday (April 18th) in the early morning, and everyone is doing really well. They're not 100% decided on a name yet (I wonder what that feels like???) but let me tell you, she is just beautiful!!! She's SO teeny too. She's only 1.5 lbs smaller than Eli was, but when I held her it felt like I was holding a 6 pounder, not a baby over 8 lb's.

So, without further ado, here are some pictures! Oh, and just as a warning, I kind of went overboard in the amount I decided to post because I had so many that I liked. I didn't think anyone would complain if I posted too many photos, but if they totally bore you, skip to the end. ;)

The little girl of the perfect ruby red lips.

The tired, relieved, and exquisitely happy parents.

The beautiful new mom who keeps her looks despite the total amount of 3.5 hours sleep in the last 50 some-odd hours.

The bonding of momma and baby.

The burping of baby.

Isn't she just beautiful??? She felt so teeny, floppy and downright squishy in my arms! I didn't notice when Elijah started carrying his own weight, but I guess with the head-holding thing, he's not as much a dead-weight in my arms, and he's definitely not as squishy. I think he's always been a rather solid baby, but then, he was 9 lb 7 oz.

Here are the two cousins in all their comparative glory. It's really not the greatest shot, but that's 2.5 months of difference for you to enjoy.

Rob is so excited to be an Uncle!

Here's a nice big yawn done up all grayscale.

And the rest of the pictures are of Elijah, because I think he's pretty much the best thing ever, and he was rocking the house in a new green sleeper with dinosaurs on it. I wish I could wear green sleepers with dinosaurs on them.

I love this laughing photo.

"What are you laughing at, Nana?"

"Put me down NOW!!!!"

"You'll pay for that later mom. I promise."

Aaron is so tender with the babies.

"Why does everyone cheer when I lift my head like this?"

"Seriously. Until this results in voluntary rolls, I'm not impressed."

My boys!!! Oh how I love them.

And there you have it, folks.

Today I got a prime lens and I'm really excited to start using it and taking wickedly amazing photos with it, so expect another photo post later in the week!