Family Photos

Due to some strange circumstances (snow in October? what the what?) we haven't been able to reschedule a newborn session with Trinity to finish up Luke's newborn pictures.  BUT, I woke up to an email from her letting me know that there was a little sneak peek on her blog of the pictures we did manage to get the first time we attempted Luke's pictures. 

Can I just tell you how much I adore them?  They are so very US - crying babies, sleeping babies, laughing, kissing, smiling...yep - US.

And this is a little silly, but I also really love that there are little glimpses of our bedroom in the pictures.  It just looks like home to me (because, duh - it is) but I love that there will always be a feeling of home in these pictures. 

Three Weeks

Luke is three weeks old today! I can't believe how fast the last weeks have gone.  Maybe it's because I can now appreciate just how FAST babies really do grow up (Jack will be two next weekend.  TWO.), but I swear that the first few weeks after I had Jack did not go this fast. 

But here we are...three weeks in, and he is getting chubbier every single day.   Just yesterday I noticed that he is getting a fabulous set of ankle rolls just like his big brother sported for the first year or so of his life.  He seems to have hit a growth spurt where he wants to nurse at least every hour, and otherwise just sleep, which has really messed with the little schedule we had! Last night he was awake until almost 1!  

I remember just how fleeting this newborn stage is,  and am trying to cherish each moment of froggy newborn legs and grasping little hands.  Even if those moments are at 3 AM.  (That's not to say I always succeed at cherishing those moments...but I'm trying!)

Happy three weeks little one!

Helping Hands

When I was still pregnant with Luke, I signed the boys and I up for a hayride and apple picking with our playgroup.  I knew at the time that it was probably a little ambitious...taking two boys under two years old to a fruit farm...without Matt.  I also knew, however, that the moms from my playgroup are awesome.

And they were.  From helping me lift Jack in and out of the wagon, to helping get all my apples into the same bag without losing a child, they provided the extra arms and encouragement.  Sure, it rained, sure Luke cried the entire second half of the hayride (and by cried I mean...he screamed....poor guy did a big ol' poop as soon as we got in the car and fell fast asleep after that.)  But in the long run, I am glad I tried it.

I know that I need to do my best to keep life normal-ish for Jack.   To get us out of the house on our normal adventures, to try to keep our schedule as normal as I can.   I realized last week that from Saturday to Thursday we did not leave the house (save for short walks around the neighborhood)...no wonder he was acting like a tyrant all week. 

As we left, I apologized for all of the crying from my crew, and I loved what the response was.  'Don't worry about it! This is motherhood!'  

Overall, I won't say it wasn't totally stressful.  It was...it really was.  But, I needed to do it.  To prove to myself that yes, I CAN handle both of my kids at once. 

And if I can handle a hayride in the rain, I can totally handle the grocery store, right?  Maybe I should see if my whole playgroup will just go grocery shopping with us for a few months?!

My Little Family

Sure the lighting wasn't awesome, but aside from the pictures at the birth center, this is our first family of four picture!

And because I know what you are all really looking for...here are some new baby pictures!  Are this kids lips kissable or what?  I make sure to smooch them several times a day.

Luke is doing great, he had his two week appointment last Friday, and it up to 9 lbs. 8 oz (from a birth weight of 8lbs 4.5oz), and is an all around healthy little fella!

Big brother Jack is also doing great in his new role.  Here he is helping Daddy swing baby brother before we headed out to the grocery store. 

Speaking of Daddy....

...he is a big fan of this newest arrival as well!

We did attempt a newborn session with Trinity yesterday, and it was kind of a catastrophe.  Luke cried almost the whole time, and Jack literally fell asleep in the middle of the photo shoot.  She got some great shots of Matt and Luke, and we called it a day.  We are planning to try again this week for some more traditional sleeping newborn pictures. 

Planning ahead

So...I know what you are thinking. It is WAY to early to be planning anything to do with Christmas...Thanksgiving hasn't even come and gone yet.  I know, I know, but I tend to let things get away from me, so I am just getting this out early! Being a mom has definitely taught me that there is a benefit to getting things done ahead of time!

Holiday Greeting Cards.  Sigh.  The idea of it being time to send them out again gives me anxiety.  Matt and I did a personalized greeting card for our very first Christmas together...but every single year since then I have waited too long and not sent out cards at all.  As I look at my fridge covered in Christmas cheer and beautiful photos of other peoples families...I always feel a little twinge of regret.

This year, I think we will be doing this card.  I like that it reminds me to think of more than pine trees and twinkling lights this Christmas season, and I also like that it is not an explosion of red and green. 

This card is from Shutterfly, they have a great selection of Christmas Cards, as well as options for other Christmas gifts.  For instance, who wouldn't love getting a personalized photo calendar of their grandkids?  Or maybe a photo book?

And?  If you are a blogger, you can get 25 free Christmas Cards! All you need to do is go here, and fill out this form.  They will email you with the details!

Phew! Even though it is super early, it sure does feel good to know I can check this off of my hypothetical 'to-do' list this year!

Adjusting

I apologize for my absence from this little space in the past week and a half.  You see, I had a baby, and I have a toddler, and they take precedence over this little website.  Sorry, but it's true!

We have been busy here lately, not only are we all adjusting to the arrival of our sweet Luke, but Jack is also getting his two year molars...and oy...those are rotten! Not to mention, we are about 3 weeks away from a certain someone's SECOND birthday, a fact that I am trying to avoid because...well...it boggles my mind!

 I'm working on getting this whole stay at home mommy to two thing figured out, which to be honest, is going a LOT more smoothly than I thought.  That's not to say I haven't cried a few times while trying to console both of my crying children...but those times are rare, and I think they are to be expected. 

Luke is such a sweet little guy, he sleeps pretty well (I mean, he IS a newborn, so what do you expect? 8 hr. stretches?), and is a champion nurser.  Jack has adjusted pretty well so far, a few more tantrums than usual, sprinkled with a healthy dose of disobedience every now and then, but over all...he loves his brother.  Oh, and the only place he will take naps now is on the couch?  I figure it's the sleep that matters more than the location at this point!

SO ANYWAY...bear with me.  I'll be in and out on here for a while I think. 

Attitude

On our walk yesterday...

Jack: It's a pumpkin!
Me: Yeah! It's a jack-o-lantern.
Jack: It's a pumpkin.
Me: Well, when you cut a face into a pumpkin you call it a jack-o-lantern.
Jack: No.  It big pumpkin.  

All he needed to do was follow it up with a head bobble, finger-snap, and 'mmm-hmmmm'. 

Luke's Story

I hope to actually write a more detailed birth story later, but for now I'll give you a rough overview of how it all went down on Friday. 

On Thursday afternoon, we found that I was beginning to develop pre-ecclampsia again.  I was to monitor my blood pressure at home, and if he didnt come on his own over the weekend, we would be inducing on Monday.  We immediately asked for prayers from friends and family, but also prepared ourselves for the possibility of an induction.

That night, at around 11:30, in a very quick answer to prayer, my water broke!

We got to the birth center around 1:00, and after checking in and getting my vitals checked, we were happy to learn that my blood pressure was actually lower than it had been previously. Contractions picked up on their own, and Luke was on his way!

Matt caught a few hours of sleep, since neither of us had slept since Wednesday night.  My mom and sister were there with me as well, and we walked around the birth center for a while to keep labor progressing. 

It did.  Matt was a wonderful labor coach, even if I did yell at him a few times.  At one point he and I were walking outside, and during one contraction I stopped to get through, we looked up and both saw a shooting star streak across the dark skies...it was so beautiful. 

Shortly after the above picture was taken, my contractions REALLY picked up, and I got into the birthing tub.  The water was relaxing, but the pain was so intense.  It's all kind of blurry at that point...I remember looking into Matt's eyes, and suddenly feeling the need to push.  At 7:00 AM I started pushing, and despite feeling (and saying...many times) that I could NOT do this, at 7:17 AM Matt caught our little guy as he made his entrance into the world!

I just couldn't believe he was actually here.  It was without a doubt, the most intense thing I have ever done, but so very worth it.  After he was born I just stared at him...I still just stare at him actually.  I can't believe my body grew another beautiful little boy!  I thought he looked so tiny, but he weighed in at 8lbs. 4.5 oz, and was 20.25 inches long, with a head FULL of dark hair.

I remember feeling frustrated after Jack's birth, because Matt hadn't been able to be as involved as we had both wanted.  But this time?  Matt was a HUGE part of the whole process...I have told him many times, but there is no way I could have done it without him right there.  

My Dad brought Jack up to the birth center a few hours later, and it was just so dear! He was so excited to see everyone, and when he saw Luke he started saying 'what's this? What is this?'

I just can't believe I have two beautiful sons. 

Both Luke and I were doing great several hours after his birth, and around 11:00 AM we were given the all clear to head home. 

We settled in, and are happily adjusting to life as a family of four!  Luke has been sleeping well, and just like his brother - he is a nursing fiend. 

I couldn't resist dressing the boys in similar outfits...they are just too cute!

I just can't believe he is finally here! 

And Just Like That...

...we became a family of four.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

-Psalm 139:14

39 Weeks

Here's hopin' this is my last bump update! I'd really like to show off a newborn by next week.  But ANYWAY...I've reached that point where every time I call anyone I hear panic in their voice.  I feel like I have to preface each phone call with 'I'm not in labor!' before I get into the gist of the phone call.  For instance, I called Matt to leave a voicemail on his phone reminding him of something or other...and the dear guy was so convinced I was in labor that he answered his cell phone in the middle of teaching a class.  Oops.  Next time I will just text I think!

So..here we are.  39 weeks and a day.  By this point last time around, Jack was already over a week old...so I have to say...it feels weird to still be pregnant.  But it is also kind of sweet.   Matt and I are pretty sure that this will be our last pregnancy, so I am trying to cherish each and every little baby kick and hiccup.

That center picture cracks me up...what on earth am I doing?!

It's gotta be soon, right? 

*Oops, I meant to save this as a draft and publish it tomorrow.   Oh well..look at me..two posts in one day!  

Toddler Vs. Auto-timer

Jack woke up from his nap lat Friday in a very cuddly mood.  He wanted to simply sit on the sofa and be with me...and I got into my head that I wanted a picture or two of my boy and I.  I set the camera up on auto timer and figured we were good to go...

...oh the naivete.

Needless to say...this was not the picture I had in mind,  so we tried again.

Hmmm...maybe third time is the charm?

Clearly not.

They certainly aren't the sweet mommy/son pictures I had in mind, but on the other hand they definitely give a more realistic picture of us!

The Art Line

Jack loves to create, and I love to let him.  I am getting better about keeping what is important, and throwing away the little shreds of napkin with a scribble, or the the two pieces of construction paper glued together...but it's hard.  Each little work of art brings a smile to my face as I imagine his chubby little hands working with the crayons or mastering the glue stick...and Jack's creations were really starting to pile up on top on the fridge (let's not even talk about how much we had crammed onto the front of said fridge).

I had seen a picture of an interesting way to display photos with clothespins, and thought it might be a great solution for us to display a rotation of Jack's creations, without overtaking our entire kitchen.  I had a roll of jute in my craft box, and liked the way that looked with the clothespins...nice and rustic.

I labeled some of our clothespins with the days of the week, and we keep the rest in a little tin that is actually left over from our wedding decorations!

We have had it up for about three weeks now, and it really is great! Not only does it keep the clutter down in our house (to an extent anyway!), but Jack also knows exactly where his newest creation will be, and runs to show it off when visitors stop by. 

Do you have a way of displaying your little ones creations? I'd love to hear what works for you!

For the Record

No.  No I did not have that baby yet.

He will come when he is good and ready...and not a moment before.  I'm just getting impatient!