A little better

The little guy is having a better day. He slept better, ate better, and wasn't as fussy today. Hopefully each day he can continue to feel a little better.

 

Apparently now that he can crawl he feels the need to pull himself up and stand. We have to lower his crib mattress asap.

A long day

It has been a pretty rough day. Gunnar is so sore which makes him cranky. I get uncomfortable just looking at it, so I can't blame him. I feel horrible and have let him run around bare bottomed a good portion of the day as it seems to be the only time he is happy.
Gunnar sporting a nice pimple. Poor baby.

Haha...I wrapped a blanket around his bottom loosely just to catch any accidents. It was hilarious to watch him crawl around with it on. 

 

This made me cry...I wish they had more time for moments like this. Gunnar has been so fussy, and has been very particular about me holding him. However, I came out of the kitchen while cooking dinner and found him fast asleep on his daddy.

 

This is pretty much a summary of my day...just imagine Gunnar screaming and you will really get the picture.

 

IT'S BACK!!!

As I write this I am sitting on the floor on blankets with a sad, sore, and naked baby. Poor little Gunnar has thrush from his mouth to his bum! I feel so bad for the little guy. He woke up screaming bloody murder last night and was inconsolable. In an attempt to calm him I did everything I knew and tried seeing if his diaper was upsetting him. Turns out it was what was inside. It is just awful and sore looking, even bleeding. Last Wednesday the doctor told me he had mild diaper rash and it should be gone in a day or two. Well it didn't go away, apparently it just went into hiding and attacked his poor bum in the night! 
When Kyle got home for lunch I had him take a look because I was really worried, but didn't want to be that paranoid mom. Kyle took a look and felt so bad for the little dude and agreed that we should take him to the doctor. They had an appointment open an hour later and I took it. I was so glad we did. We had to paint his mouth purple again and had some medicine for his bum. He has been playing tonight which makes me think he is a little better and I hope helps him sleep better tonight.
This is what happens when you get your mouth painted purple and you like to suck your thumb. Either that or Gunnar took part in an Iraqi election...

While he doesn't look like it in these photos he really has been sad and miserable most of the day. Minus when he got to spend some time with Auntie Beccy and his German Oma and about the 30 minutes he got to play without a diaper on. I guess a little freedom makes all the difference. (Ignore his big pimple above his lip, apparently he likes his pacifier a little to much)

It Can't Be

I can't believe its that time again. I feel as though this times comes all to often in our lives and I try and avoid thinking about it at all costs. Today it smacked me right in the forehead...Kyle is leaving soon. I have known about this upcoming deployment before the day he stepped back onto American soil from this last deployment in July 2008. I have had plenty of time to "prepare" myself for this, but instead, I have pretended it wasn't going to happening. Well, it is going to be happening here in the near future and I wish I could make time stand still.
We are trying to make it so that I can go back to the states permanently. However, like anything in the Army it isn't that easy and takes. I will at least be coming home for Christmas and staying a couple of months, but after that I am not sure. I will be sad to say goodbye to our great friends here in Germany, but happy to be closer to my family. I am so thankful for my friends here and know that if it doesn't work out for Gunnar and I to stay in the states for good, we will be okay here. We have great friends who care for us and love us.
Tonight at Bible study they laid hands on and prayed for the guys that are getting deployed from our group Tim, Jay, and Kyle. They also prayed for Gina and I as their wives who will be staying back. It is such an emotional time, and there was no holding back the tears. While my heart is aching knowing that Kyle is leaving soon, that is inevitable, I know that he is doing God's will. Kyle and I pray a lot about what God's will is for our lives and we do our best to walk on that path. This is why Kyle is still in the military. I have peace knowing that our Heavenly Father will be protecting and watching over Kyle and the other guys and give me the strength to persevere without Kyle by my side.
Having said that, we don't know exactly when Kyle is leaving, and I won't be able to share that information with you. Please just keep him and the 173rd Airborne Brigade in your prayers as they head off to Afghanistan in the upcoming days and weeks.
On a lighter note here is that little charmer of ours who we love to death...
Suesse should be called "patience." She has no patience for other dogs, but is so gentle and loving to Gunnar. She tried to get him to play rope with her tonight, it didn't really work out, but I am so glad she loves and is patient with our little boy. He definitely isn't gentle with her and she puts up with a lot of eye poking and hair pulling.

Thanks Poppa and Grandma for this sweatshirt. It is so cute and warm!

Growing up

I am feeling like suddenly Gunnar is really growing up. I know it seems strange to say that at six months, but over the time frame of 3 days he has started doing some BIG things!

1) Crawling....even if its low crawling

2) Sitting up on his own

3) Sucking his thumb 

Two of the three are what I will call "BIG BOY" things, and the other is NOT! Gunnar sucking his thumb bothers Kyle way more than me. I think because I would come home telling horror stories about one of my students who would not stop sucking his thumb at 6 years old. I guess Kyle listens more than I think sometimes, because he reminds me that we don't want "Buck Tooth Gunnar." He likes to say that to me because I said I thought it was kind of cute. :)

Here is a picture of Kyle, Gunnar, & Suesse hanging out.

 

So in this photo Gunnar was suppose to be holding my certificate for me. Instead he thought it tasted good. Last deployment Kyle’s Squadron FRG did an “I Ran to Afghanistan” challenge during the 15 months they were gone. I participated and received my certificate and t-shirt TODAY. It came just in time for the next deployment and running to Afghanistan all over again. (Please know you don’t actually have to run, you can walk, bike, or swim to collect the miles as well.) This is what my certificate says, you should be so proud of me ,haha!

“To all who shall see these presents, greetings. Be it known that Beth Pettit is hereby awarded the “I Ran To Afghanistan” scroll of completion for having displayed the tenacity, grit, determination, and “Esprit De Corps” required to complete the journey of 3168 miles from Germany to Afghanistan ordered this 2^nd day of December 2008”

Crawling

I just wanted to let the world know Gunnar is crawling. I will post a video/pictures tomorrow as it is late here and I need to go to bed.
He has been going backwards for about a week now, and last night he finally figured out how to move forward. A bunch of single soldiers showed up at the house and were playing with Gunnar and their computers (There were 7 computers in my house last night, what nerds. Actually they all needed my nerdy husband to fix something on their computers ;)). One of their computer game cases had fallen on the floor and Gunnar was determined to get to it.

It is pretty hilarious to watch as it isn't exactly what you would typically call crawling. He gets up on his hands and knees to get a little extra momentum for throwing himself forward. After he makes significant progress with the body throw he does a low crawl to his desired destination. I had to put camo pants on him last night after he had pooped every other pair he owns so maybe those were his inspiration.

6 month well baby

Well, it is more like his 6 month, 1 week, and 6 day check up, we are just a little behind.
My little guy weighs: 15.8 lbs. (14%--yea for being on the growth chart)
Height: its a mystery. They said he shrunk, and was 22 in...she even did a double check. Oh well. He is a short one. :)
Head Circumference: a mystery too..they didn't write it down for me like usual & I can not remember.

For the first time ever I was not told what a tiny baby I had by the doctor. Instead he told me I had a healthy, happy baby I have, and that size was not a factor for him. He said Gunnar is making steady progress and is doing all the things he should be and more. It is always reassuring to take the baby to the doctor and hear you are doing a good job. He also looked at the diaper rash and said it wasn't bad at all (I would hate to see bad). I credit the use of baby oil & cotton balls (thanks Amy) and the occasional water spray down in the shower instead of wipes.
Gunnar seemed to be feeling better this morning, but had to get those nasty shots, so its back to being a cranky baby. Shots on top of already feeling a little crummy is not fun. So he has his fever back and the poops. Poor kiddo. We had some people over for pizza tonight, they are good sports about a cranky baby, they even took their turns trying to entertain Gunnar.

So now for the pictures.
Gunnar is such a busy body. Right after we got home from our visit to the states a couple months ago, Grandpa Pettit found this for Gunnar. He just recently started using it consistently and it is awesome. I can move it from door frame to door frame so he can always see what I am doing. I LOVE it.

Gunnar recently discovered his tongue. He is always playing with it, sticking it out, and licking things. He makes some pretty silly faces with that tongue of his. (He also is sporting a sad rash on his face ever since getting sick, poor guy)

This is a afghan blanket that the teacher I taught next to the last couple of years made for Gunnar. It was sitting on his swing and he pulled it down and was rolling all over in it. It kept him entertained for quite some time. Gail is in my prayers as she is hoping to return to Germany to teach in January after completing some chemo treatments.

"Hey mom, look at me, I got the blanket"

"Wow, this is a really neat blanket. I think I like it."

"Oh I just love it, thank you Ms. Edwards."