In Topher-ese- bla bla bla means, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
About Me
- Angie
- Ryan and I began our journey together over 9 years ago, when we began dating. We became life partners in August of 2004, and this past fall we welcomed a baby into our family. Topher Van Sol was born Oct. 3, 2009. We have two wonderful dogs that bring joy everyday and are getting used to this attention stealer! I am a counselor in training, and Ryan is an Educational Assistant at a residential treatment center. He is also working on his MSW. We live to serve and love. We are blessed my our friendships and family.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
7 things about my 7 month old
Topher is 7 months old today and I just cannot believe he is closer to a year... it's like when I turned 27- I am officially closer to 30 then to 20! He is such a little kid now, I can't hardly stand it. He and I love to wrestle and play. He loves to be cuddled and he loves it when I munch on his ribs- oh the giggles! So, I thought I would just list 7 little things about my little man, for those of you who don't get the pleasure of seeing him everyday!
1. Topher loves sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, and bananas. Topher does not like green beans, peas, and apples. The verdict is still out on mango's.
2. Topher has very ticklish thighs.
3. Even though he has had two teeth for a month now, he still hasn't bitten me.
4. Topher drinks his bath water.
5. Topher thinks there must be something incredibly fun under our bed, because whenever he is on our bed... he goes right for the edge! (SCARY!)
6. Topher takes 2 naps during the day and goes to bed at about 8pm. At night he gets read one book (if Daddy chooses, it's Dr. Seuss) and then we read from his little prayer book.
7. Topher loves to be naked. When we get out of the bath- he loves to lay there... and gets angry when I cover 'it' up!
So, anyway, there is just a little info on Mr. T. He is so fun and loves his mama and dada. Oh, and if Ryan tells you that Topher said Dada first... he's lying!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Topher- the Mover
I was able to catch a few of Topher's moments of moving on video. He doesn't go far, yet, but he is making some progress on the crawling!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Long eye lashes, three birth marks, and a fuzzy butt!
My man, Topher, is 6 1/2 months old and I can't believe all the little things that make up who he is! When people first see him, they tell me how cute he is and then they tell me how much he looks like Ryan. For a moment, I think, "Are you telling me that you think my husband is cute!?" But anyway, then usually people comment on Topher's eye lashes! They are so long and dark and just make his eyes POP!
A few weeks ago, I noticed a birthmark on Topher's right knee. It's a small mark that is just a shade or two darker then his skin and it gets kissed almost every day! The other birthmark is a red mark that has been on the back of his head and neck since birth, and I think I have one too. And his third birthmark is a small, darkish circle on his lower back. It looks like a little bruise and at first I was concerned, but the Dr said it was just a birthmark. These are the little things that I know because I am his mama!
At Topher's 6 month appt he did great. He weighed in at 17.1lbs and was 27 1/2 inches long. He is wonderfully perfect again. He got all his shots and cried, but was quickly comforted. I love that no matter what happens, usually, Topher is quick to be comforted. Sometimes it makes me feel like I have actual magical powers. We got the go ahead to start veggies and fruits and our first attempt with sweet potato was messy, but he got it eventually. Then we have moved on to green beans and that is not one of Topher's favorite veggies. He has eaten them mixed with sweet potato and rice cereal. I am sneaky!
Topher is such a sweet baby and such a joy. He makes us laugh everyday with his wanting to crawl or his giggle. He loves his sitter, Gina and she is such a gift to us!
Thank you, friends, for your love and support. It's made these 6 1/2 months that much better.
A few weeks ago, I noticed a birthmark on Topher's right knee. It's a small mark that is just a shade or two darker then his skin and it gets kissed almost every day! The other birthmark is a red mark that has been on the back of his head and neck since birth, and I think I have one too. And his third birthmark is a small, darkish circle on his lower back. It looks like a little bruise and at first I was concerned, but the Dr said it was just a birthmark. These are the little things that I know because I am his mama!
At Topher's 6 month appt he did great. He weighed in at 17.1lbs and was 27 1/2 inches long. He is wonderfully perfect again. He got all his shots and cried, but was quickly comforted. I love that no matter what happens, usually, Topher is quick to be comforted. Sometimes it makes me feel like I have actual magical powers. We got the go ahead to start veggies and fruits and our first attempt with sweet potato was messy, but he got it eventually. Then we have moved on to green beans and that is not one of Topher's favorite veggies. He has eaten them mixed with sweet potato and rice cereal. I am sneaky!
Topher is such a sweet baby and such a joy. He makes us laugh everyday with his wanting to crawl or his giggle. He loves his sitter, Gina and she is such a gift to us!
Thank you, friends, for your love and support. It's made these 6 1/2 months that much better.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Topher fun!
Here are a couple of videos of our little person. He is shaking hands and eating potatos! What a big boy!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The worst moment ever!
Writing this is very difficult for me, mainly because of the embarrassment! I don't know why I feel the need to share this on a blog... but I do. I think it might be cathartic to some extent and maybe it will help my friends who read it. I hope those are both right.
Yesterday afternoon, Topher finished eating his 3 o'clock feeding- he did an awesome job, by the way, and while I was cleaning up, Topher fell. Topher was sitting in his Bumbo on the table and he saw the grocery bag we had used earlier in the day sitting on the edge of the table, and I can only assume he went reaching for it and bam! I still cannot shake the image of my poor baby laying on the kitchen floor screaming. My back was turned for literally seconds. As some of you know, my entire house is ceramic tile, so this could have ended really bad. I scooped him up and called 911. I was able to keep my cool enough to tell them what happened, and although Topher was still screaming, I remained calm. I just kept praying that he be alright. Crying was a good thing I kept telling myself. 911 said that help was on the way and by that time, Topher had stopped crying. Moments later Ryan pulled up in the drive way, I was still holding Topher, who was obviously shaken, but calm. I began to cry hysterically, and then Topher did too. Within seconds a policeman and the fire fighters arrived. They examined Topher and assessed the situation. Everyone was calm and over and over again assuring me that this happens all the time.
The firefighters and the police officer thought that there was no real need to worry, he didn't throw up, pass out, and he wasn't acting abnormal. But when the paramedics came, Ryan and I decided that we wanted to go to the hospital. Topher and I rode in the ambulance and Ryan followed. We were seen at UNMH by a med student, a resident, and the attending and all of them said that Topher seemed fine, except for the bump on his head. They were concerned with the bump because it was on the side of his head, and even though all other signs of trauma were not present, the bump was. We hung around for a while, but Topher started acting hungry, so with the doctor's blessings we took Topher home.
Ryan and I continued to observe Topher, and even woke him up a few times during the night. Of course, I slept in his room, and Ryan slept on the couch outside Topher's room. I found so much comfort every time he stirred in the night and I could hear him snore or exhale. It was a very long night, I probably got up and checked him 4 or 5 times, and who knows how many times I woke to hear his breathing.
Anyway, Ryan took the day off today. I just couldn't think of staying at home with Topher alone. I am so scared. I fell like a total failure and a horrible mother. I don't know how I am ever going to trust myself with him. One paramedic said that this was Topher's first of many experiments with gravity and I know that is true. I know these things happen... and it is because of God's wisdom that children are made so resilient... but this is having a huge effect on me.
If you read this, that means you care about Topher, Ryan, and me... so I ask that right now you please say a little prayer for this little Porter family- We... I... need it!
Yesterday afternoon, Topher finished eating his 3 o'clock feeding- he did an awesome job, by the way, and while I was cleaning up, Topher fell. Topher was sitting in his Bumbo on the table and he saw the grocery bag we had used earlier in the day sitting on the edge of the table, and I can only assume he went reaching for it and bam! I still cannot shake the image of my poor baby laying on the kitchen floor screaming. My back was turned for literally seconds. As some of you know, my entire house is ceramic tile, so this could have ended really bad. I scooped him up and called 911. I was able to keep my cool enough to tell them what happened, and although Topher was still screaming, I remained calm. I just kept praying that he be alright. Crying was a good thing I kept telling myself. 911 said that help was on the way and by that time, Topher had stopped crying. Moments later Ryan pulled up in the drive way, I was still holding Topher, who was obviously shaken, but calm. I began to cry hysterically, and then Topher did too. Within seconds a policeman and the fire fighters arrived. They examined Topher and assessed the situation. Everyone was calm and over and over again assuring me that this happens all the time.
The firefighters and the police officer thought that there was no real need to worry, he didn't throw up, pass out, and he wasn't acting abnormal. But when the paramedics came, Ryan and I decided that we wanted to go to the hospital. Topher and I rode in the ambulance and Ryan followed. We were seen at UNMH by a med student, a resident, and the attending and all of them said that Topher seemed fine, except for the bump on his head. They were concerned with the bump because it was on the side of his head, and even though all other signs of trauma were not present, the bump was. We hung around for a while, but Topher started acting hungry, so with the doctor's blessings we took Topher home.
Ryan and I continued to observe Topher, and even woke him up a few times during the night. Of course, I slept in his room, and Ryan slept on the couch outside Topher's room. I found so much comfort every time he stirred in the night and I could hear him snore or exhale. It was a very long night, I probably got up and checked him 4 or 5 times, and who knows how many times I woke to hear his breathing.
Anyway, Ryan took the day off today. I just couldn't think of staying at home with Topher alone. I am so scared. I fell like a total failure and a horrible mother. I don't know how I am ever going to trust myself with him. One paramedic said that this was Topher's first of many experiments with gravity and I know that is true. I know these things happen... and it is because of God's wisdom that children are made so resilient... but this is having a huge effect on me.
If you read this, that means you care about Topher, Ryan, and me... so I ask that right now you please say a little prayer for this little Porter family- We... I... need it!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Topher "crawling" backwards
This little guy is getting so mobile... here he is moving backwards. The camera is stationary and he moves further and further away. It's cute!
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