Big Sister

Let us not forget about telling Raelyn’s story too! We spent much of my pregnancy trying to prepare Raelyn for becoming a big sister. Everyday we talked about the baby in mommy’s belly. Once my belly got bigger she began patting it to say hi to “baby brother.” During her bedtime prayers when we pray for the whole family, we included saying thank you for baby brother and she, without fail, would pat my belly. She may not have known how her world would change, but she knew a baby brother was going to show up at some point.

Two days before Max’s birth Raelyn is pointing to the baby:

Raelyn’s first task as a big sister was to begin teaching Max where his nose and mouth are located. She loves pointing to noses!

We’ve spent the first two weeks adjusting from a one-child family to a two-children family. Raelyn has mostly been super sweet to Max but I’ll admit that she’s also stolen his paci right out of his mouth several times. Raelyn treasures the time she has alone with Mommy during the day when Max is sleeping. She holds my hand now when we walk from one room to the other or climb the stairs. She gives me big, tight bear hugs every morning and several times a day. She also gives Max kisses and each one brings a tear to my eye. I would guess that if she had a choice she would prefer to not share mommy and daddy with anyone else, but she is doing a great job sharing us and being patient. Even though we have some frustrating moments, I’m mostly amazed at how well our one year old is adjusting.

Two Weeks Old - Max

Max turned two weeks old yesterday. He’s already growing so big! Compared to where he was at birth, of course. Here are his official growth stats (weight | length | head size):

Birth: 6 lbs 5oz | 19.5" | 13”
Hospital Release: 5 lbs 11 oz 
1 week: 6 lbs 7 oz (8%) | 19.75" (30%) | 13 3/4" (20%)
2 weeks: 7 lbs 4 oz (13%)

Our boy is a good eater! It took several days to figure out what was going to work for him and us but we seem to have a good system going now. He’s eating every 2.5 – 3 hours and taking 2.5 – 3 ounces per feeding.

At his one week appointment, I asked Dr. Rob about all the goo in his eyes and we found that he most likely has a clogged tear duct. Easily remedied by a few eye massages each day and some antibiotic on his lower lid. It’s already cleared up quite a bit!

Two weeks as a big sister and Raelyn is adjusting well. She loves to “share” her toys with Max. If he’s in his swing she will put a few trinkets in there with him. One day last week Max was in his crib and started to cry. Raelyn went running into his room carrying a few blocks and when I got there she was placing the blocks through the crib slats trying to comfort Max. She is such a sweet, sweet girl!

Mommy tried to get creative and put Max in a box (lol):

Taking a snooze inside the Sprout Pouch:

25/52 family of four

This is our first family photo as a foursome. We celebrated Father’s Day & Mark’s birthday with a cookout and family at our home only two days after we returned home from the hospital.

One Week Old - Max

Max turned one week on Tuesday. I know how fast the weeks will go so we are trying to cherish every single moment. I fear if I blink too many times he’ll be big and we will have already forgotten how itsy bitsy he was.

Relaxing in the boppy:

After his first bath:

I will work on writing up his birth story & hospital stay soon. For now, I’m going to go back and enjoy time with my family.

Quick snapshot #1

Photo taken: June 21 @ 7:30am

24/52 new addition

This week we added Max to our family. Here we are just moments after his birth. We fell in love immediately!

Introducing…

Photos of Max coming soon. Everyone is healthy, happy, and getting to know one another.

23/52 biking

For Father’s Day last year, Raelyn and I bought Mark a bike trailer for her to ride in but she was too small to sit in it.  Mark attached it to his bike tonight and took Raelyn for her first spin around the neighborhood. She loved it! Next summer, we’ll have two kids sitting in there. :)

Facebook vs Blog

It seems that many of my friends are giving up their blogs because they can share their thoughts, photos, videos, etc on Facebook. Well, not me! I refuse to let Facebook kill the blog.

I use Facebook to share the “small stuff”. Pictures I take on my phone, random silly thoughts, things that really aren’t that important.

My blog is for the memories that are special to me. The things that are more likely to be consequential. I rarely post the same photos in both places. Sometimes I will will link to my blog posts on Facebook, but only a select “list” get to see the link. So, that means if you linked here from my FB you are part of that select list. ;)

Oh, and I can print my blog! The past two years I have made books from my blog posts and comments. They may not be the fanciest of print layouts, but I will treasure these books for years to come and I believe that our children will treasure them as well.

  

I blog to tell our stories and to preserve our memories.

38 Weeks: 7 Days and Counting

I’m pregnant, did you hear? haha!  Even though I’m due in two weeks (delivering in 7 days), sometimes it catches me off guard to think that I am about to have a baby. Sure, the volleyball belly reminds me that I am carrying a child. But I still have to remind myself that this child is going to come out into the world and into our family in just one short week! At least we finally have moved the office to the basement and created a nursery for him. (pictures to come as it nears completion) We still have the car seat to install, hospital bags to pack, and a few supplies to purchase. Our last minute preparation is in no way correlated to our excitement level for this baby. We all can’t wait for him to arrive! I guess it’s just that we know the fun part will come after he’s born…sleepless nights and all.

22/52 swim lessons

Today Raelyn experienced her first swim lesson. She and Mark will go to Broad Ripple park every Saturday morning for 9 weeks. There were 4 other children in her class (all closer to age 2+). We are so proud of how well she did and that she tried each task the instructor asked (splashing, kicking, etc) without crying! She’s becoming such a big girl.

Bonus cute video:

21/52 at the garden

 

Mark took this week off from work to do a few things around the house. Monday the weather was so nice we spent part of the afternoon at the IMA grounds. What a beautiful girl we have! (Even if she was sleepy and drooly.) ;)

Kindermusik

Raelyn and I just finished up our first semester of kindermusik class. We, especially Raelyn, had such fun! This is one of those things I would not have known I was missing out on had I not left my job last November. I’m so glad that she and I could enjoy this class together and explore her love of music and movement. We’re taking the summer off but will be starting up again in September. She’ll be moving up to a 18 month – 3 yr old class. Until then, we’ll listen to our cd’s and play with our musical instruments we received from this past semester.

Here is a photo collage we received on our last day from her teacher, Miss Ellen. <3

p.s. If you have a child that you would like to enroll in a kindermusik class this fall (classes are held in various locations around Indy, Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville) let me know.  We can get a referral discount for our class. :) (They offer a few evening and Saturday classes too.)

36 weeks

Monday I enter my 36th week of pregnancy. Here I am in all my pregnant belly glory. ;)

I’m not sure how my body will be capable of stretching further, but I hear that it’s possible and that it will happen. I’m just going with the flow.

We are scheduled to deliver this little dude at 39 weeks. Wow, only 3 weeks until we get to meet him!!!

20/52 recital

Avery had her first ballet recital this past Saturday. Thankfully, her performance was near the beginning of Act 1. Raelyn sat through the first few performances in awe and clapped at the end of each dance.

And a bonus photo this week: Raelyn with her big cousin the dancer.

Using a Spoon

I’m trying to catch up on the milestones and videos here on the blog. :)

Raelyn has started using a spoon or fork to feed herself. I fill the utensil and hand it to her and she puts it in her mouth. This makes dinner last a little longer, but it’s worth it! I’m actually getting to take a few bites of my own food here and there now.

Sometimes Mark and I say to her, please stop growing up. We want you to stay this little forever!!!

34 week check-up

Last Thursday I had my 34 week appointment and my final ultrasound. I’m fairly certain my OB was humoring me with a placenta check this late in my pregnancy. The results are in… I still have placenta previa, which means that part of the placenta is covering a bit of my cervix. And that means my OB has determined it will be safest to plan for a c-section. Mark and I had plenty of time to expect this news so we aren’t surprised and want to proceed in the safest way possible.

It’s a bit weird knowing the date and time this little guy will be entering the world, but it’s also nice that we can plan ahead.  I’ll share the date later since we haven’t told all of our immediate family that piece of info.

The rest of my appointment went well. Baby boy is measuring right on track, his heart rate was 140 (very good), and I had another 0lb weight gain. I guess the boy is taking in all of my calories. :)

Aside from another sinus infection (which my dr prescribed antibiotics for), a few aches and pains, and pregnancy fatigue, I’m feeling pretty good.

I can’t believe we are in the final stretch and will be a foursome sometime in June!

Big Tub Success

A few weeks ago we decided it was time to close the chapter on the ducky tub. We had not had much luck with bath tub baths while on vacation or in other people’s homes. Our first try at home was a huge failure starting and ending quickly with lots of tears. I figured out that she was scared of the slippery tub surface (duh) and bought a tub mat. I also brought out more of her bath toys and added extra bubbles. Who doesn’t like bubbles and toys in the tub? ;)

Here we have her first successful big tub bath from May 3, 2011.

19/52 DDW

(Not the greatest photo, but we forgot the camera and this is the best we could do with the iphone.)
May 7-10 was Digestive Disease Week, a tradeshow for physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery. MyGiTrack was an exhibitor at the the tradeshow and received a wonderful response from many GI physicians and researchers.

18/52 new fence

This week our new fence was completed. We now have a fully enclosed backyard where Sheba can run free and Raelyn can’t make a dash to the street. We also have privacy from our backyard neighbors.