Oliver is 2 months

Dear Oliver,

My precious baby boy...I can't believe you are two months already!  And boy have you grown.
Here are your stats:
23 inches long
12 lbs 10 oz
0-3 and some 3-6 month clothes
size 2 diapers soon size 3 but I want to use up all of the size 2!

You are such a great baby!  I can't get over your easy going personality.  Your big sister has a tendency to be a little rough with you at times (today she hit you with her "ball popper" toy!) you cried for a second and then were fine.  Poor baby!  You still sleep a ton during the day.  Anya was the same way...it's all that fast growing you are doing. Last night you slept through the night.  You woke up to eat at 5:30 then went back to sleep.  It was awesome!

You are much more alert and can see things that are further away.  It is so easy to get you to smile.  I love it!  I've even heard some coos and little giggles at times.  ADORABLE!  You are very much a Mama's boy and love to be held diagonally across my chest with your head on my left side.  You use a paci, which is nice because I wasn't so sure if you'd like it but I just kept trying and now you love it.

You are just about the same size as Anya at 2 months, but she was skinnier and longer, and you are much chubbier and a little shorter.  I love all of your rolls, Anya never had any.

To be honest, I never really had a desire to have boys and I was a bit nervous when I found out I was having a baby boy... but you have surprised me!  Little boys are so much fun and I can't imagine my life without you!  Most people don't care much for little boy clothes, but I find them adorable!  I'm on the lookout for a blazer...I think it would go great with the onesies Auntie Katie made for you.

I love you baby boy!

Love,
Mommy

Anya is 28 months!

Dear Anya,

Yesterday you turned 28 months!  I'm not really counting months anymore, but figured I needed to do an update on you since it's been too long!

You are my little social butterfly!  You pretty much can say anything now, it's crazy how far you've come since the start of this year.  Some of your words and phrases just crack us up!  Like one day I told you to wipe down your placemat and your response was "Mommy one sec, Anya wipe down table."  And yesterday at bath time I cleaned and hung the newborn "sling" part of Oliver's bathtub and it was dripping water into your tub and you said "Mommy waterfall...what the heck?!"  I'm going to have to start saying another phrase because I don't like hearing that come out of your sweet mouth. You always ask me "Mommy where's baby Ollie?"  In fact you have a new curiosity of asking where people are.  One night Daddy and you had a conversation that went like this: 

A-"Daddy, where's Charlie?"

D-"He's sleeping.  Where does Charlie sleep?"

A- "Downstairs"

D- "Where does Daddy sleep?"

A- "In Mommy's bed."

D- "Where does Mommy sleep?"

A- "In the loft."  

LOL!!!!!:-)

Other phrases you love to say is "Way up top" "Hop into bed"...I wish more where coming to mind! The other day you took out your pony tails and said "Anya why you do that take out your bows."  Haha!  And when we got home from Ollie's appointment earlier today I dropped my sunglasses and they broke and you said I needed a time out.  HA!

Within the past few months you've started to sing.  It's so cute to hear your sweet voice.  Some of your favorite songs that you frequently request we sing to you or you sing yourself are "Walking walking" "Bingo" "Old McDonald" "Head Shoulders" "Wheels on the Bus" "Rain Rain Go Away" "Winnie the Pooh" "Happy birthday". "All week you've been saying "Happy birthday Mommy!"

Just in the past week your imagination has really come out!  Your favorite things to play are store and you say that everything costs "two", and you tell me to "ring it up!"  You also play tea party and ask "more tea?"  and then tell me it's hot and to blow on it.  Just last week you started playing boat by laying out your blankies and pretending you are on a boat.  

You love your baby brother so much!  You are my big helper too.  You hand me his wipe when I change him, burp cloth and even bring me the boppy when I feed him.  Because Mommy is always holding Ollie, you've really started to pretend you are a Mommy with your babies.  Yesterday you asked to "wear" your baby like mommy does in the baby carrier.  You love "shushing" Ollie, and tell me to hold him when he cries.  When you hold him you love giving him "kissies".

You are growing up so much!  At Oliver's one week appointment you jumped on the scale and weighed 30lbs!  You are in size 2t and 3t, size 7-8 shoe.  Your two year molars are in...thank goodness that's over.  

Your personality is still very similar to how you've always been.  You are such a busy body and don't slow down until we put you in bed.  But you do sit still now for tv shows, short movies like "Wee Sing" and stories, puzzles, and pretend play.  You aren't the type of child who will fall asleep on the couch watching a show.  Every day you wake up at 7am and you go to sleep between 7-8:30 every night.  We are still working on riding a tricycle independently, but you play at the park without help, swing on big kid swing, go down water slide at pool by self too now.  You are strong willed and are so cranky when you wake up from your naps, but you are a total sweetheart and love people and playing anything with anyone!  You love helping me out with anything from vacuuming to doing the laundry.  We do a lot of baking together!  

You know all of your colors, count up to 14, but can count higher if we do every other number where I say one then you say the next.  You say your ABCs but skip a few here and there.  Every mealtime and at night you ask to pray.  You always have someone in mind that you want us to pray for.  It's adorable!

Anya, you are such a true joy!  I love being your Mommy so so SO much!!!

Love,

Mommy 

Oliver is 1 month!

Dear Oliver,

Happy 4 weeks little boy!  This past month has been so exciting for us.  You are the perfect addition to our family.  It actually seems a little strange that it's only been 4 weeks because it's hard to remember life without you in it!  We all adore you, especially your big sister Anya!  She cares so much about you and it breaks her heart when you cry.  She tells me I need to hold "Ollie" when you are upset.  Anya also always wants to know exactly where you are "Mommy where's baby Ollie?"

You are starting to grow a lot!  You were born at 6lbs 13oz, 20 inches long, and now weigh 9lbs 15oz, 21 inches long.  You look a lot like Anya, but your personalities are much different.  When you cry it's for a specific reason: need to burp, tired, want to be held, or are hungry.  There have been many nights when you sleep 4-5.5 hr stretches!!  But other nights (like last night) you get an upset tummy from swallowing too much air and you get the hiccups...nights like that you just want to be held.  You love when I hold you under your arms and let you sit on my legs facing me...  Wish I could describe the position better!  One night you were crying and when I held you like that you fell asleep immediately, it was very funny.

Today we went to the doctor and you did great!  You didn't even cry when she checked your temp or heartbeat, or when she checked your hip joints.  I say this because your sister HATED the doctors office.  You two are so different.

Likes:
-When Mommy sings "You are My Sunshine"
-Eating
-Sitting up on my lap
-Being held
-Diaper changes
-warm baths

Dislikes:
-Hiccups
-Getting in the car seat
-Getting out of your warm bath!
-Laying flat

Comparison Pictures:
Little O

 Mommy at Hospital for Oliver

Mommy at hospital with Miss AV

Miss AV

Oliver, I love you so much!!!
Happy first month of life!
Love,
Mommy

Anya and Oliver

Meet Oliver.

Hello World!!!

I am pleased to introduce to you my sweet boy...

Oliver James, otherwise known as "Ollie".  

Last Wednesday at midnight (39 weeks on the dot) my water broke.  Ollie was more active than ever which was a spitting image of his big sister when my water broke with her.  All of his painful & strong kicks and jabs had me thinking it was more than just the fudge brownies I had just eaten, so Josh told me to sit on a towel just in case.  We were watching "Criminal Minds" and organizing home videos on my laptop...just a typical summer evening.  I fell asleep only to wake up at midnight having to go to the bathroom, but realizing I had just wet my pants???  Thinking my water couldn't possibly have broken I ran to the toilet and checked with a liner I was given to test amniotic fluid with Anya's pregnancy.  Sure enough it tested positive!  My abdomen was warm, I had terrible reflux, and no strong contractions...just like with Anya. 
After calling Katie we gathered our last minute things, suitcase, cleaned up a little and were out the door.  I'm so blessed to have Katie as a sister!!!!! She jumped out of bed and was over in a heartbeat.
When we got to the hospital and checked in it was 1:30.  Our L& D nurse was Dawn and she remembered us from Anya's birth!  She recognized our name and when she saw us she knew for sure she's helped us before!  That was very cool!  By the time I was hooked up to IV and officially checked in the Dr. Beall checked me and said I was 3cm.  At 2:30 they started me on Pitocin and I let Josh get some sleep (I knew I would never be able to sleep!) We turned down the lights and I waited.  At 4am I was having contractions every 3 minutes starting to breath through them but nothing too painful.  4:50 am 5-6 cm dilated (nurse and dr had different opinions).  Daddy was still sleeping.  At 5am they upped my Pitocin a little bit because contractions slowed down.  I was hoping and praying to be able to labor without an epidural like with Anya, but was keeping an open mind just in case I couldn't.  6:00am I was 7-8 cm and the contractions were still manageable.  I decided to wake Josh up because I wasn't sure how quickly they'd become more painful.  We turned on some music and at 7am had a nurse shift change.  Our nurse, Leslie, was the mom of people we know from high school and softball.  She also just so happens to be cousins with our pastor at church!  And she knows Josh's parents.  Small world!  We enjoyed talking to her in-between my contractions.  At this point they were becoming much stronger and my back started hurting.  A nursing student came to watch and help out with my labor.  Dawn's shift was up but she was convinced that I was going to have him soon so she finished up some of her desk work and checked back in around 8:00.  Still no baby so she sadly left but said she'd visit our room tomorrow to meet Oliver.  It seemed like every time they checked me I was still 7cm.  Leslie said my cervix was super soft so she thought he'd come quickly.  Dawn had said she guessed I'd only push for 15 minutes tops.  I was started to wondered if he'd ever drop (station -1) and how long it would take me to finish dilating.  With the pain I started to doubt if I could continue on without pain meds or an epidural.  Around 8:30 (I'm guessing) I was in so much pain during contractions that I decided to shift positions and kneel against the bed to get him to drop.  Worst.pain.of.my.life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt like I needed to push.  Yes! Most definitely! Major understatement.  After two strong world-shattering contractions, making me feel like the wind was being sucked out of me .  But how could this be?  I was only 7cm, -1station.  Leslie knew I was 10cm she immediately had me flip over and instantly said you're 10cm.  Not really sure what else she said because I was in so much pain and pushing and trying not to push, but pushing.  Doctors and nurses came running in getting ready just as I felt the burning ring of fire (TMI) I was trying so hard to wait for the doctor but it was nearly impossible.  Josh miraculously remembered to do quick "puff" breaths when needing to delay the pushing.  That helped somewhat...kind of like when people say don't think of a pink elephant. In probably 5 pushes he was out.  Thank you Jesus!!!!  Not only was that incredible pain over....Praise JESUS!  but my boy was in my arms.  And that pain was over.  My baby was born. Did I mention the pain was finished?!?  What a relief!!!! Recovery has been so much better than with Anya too. 

 

Oliver was 6lbs 13oz!  Say what?!?!  Little peanut!  20 inches.  Anya was 9lbs 2oz, 21 3/4inches.  Girl had rolls and cheeks when she was born!  Oliver is such a skinny dude with Hobbit feet (as Auntie Kates says).  He's so tiny and precious, I love it!  Newborn clothes are so fun!  We never got to enjoy them with Anya.  It's fun to see so many similarities between the two of them though.  Even with such big size differences. Speaking of Anya, she adores her baby brother.  She loves knowing where he's at and kisses him constantly.  She needs reminders to be careful but loves him so much.  I love seeing her smile at him.  Melts me!
We just went to Ollie's one week check up and he weighs 7lbs 3 oz.  Last night he slept 4-4.5 hr stretches. Can I get an AMEN!?   I can't even tell you how much I love him.  He's awesome!
Ok, I have a poopy diaper to change.  So long!

10 on 10:: August 2013

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month!

{Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

On Wednesday, August 7th we welcomed our little baby boy Oliver James into the world.  He is precious and we are loving every moment with him!!!

I'm a little late in posting this, but am so happy that I actually remembered to take photos throughout the day on Oliver's first day at our house.  

Ollie has been sleeping with me in our bed.  He sleeps really great in my arms...it's nice to get some sleep with a newborn.  I took this picture of him on the changing table.  I still can't get over what a peanut he is compared to Anya as a newborn!

 Daddy made us a really nice breakfast: pancakes, sausage, fried eggs, and fresh fruit.  Anya gave the pancakes a "thumbs-up".  (We just taught her how to make a thumbs up before taking this picture.  Love seeing her try it!)

 Anya loves cuddling with Oliver.  His body temperature was low so we had to keep him bundled up.  I think he's finally warmed up now from everyone cuddling him.  

 Anya grabbed her potty to show Ollie how she pees on the potty.  Very cute! :-)

Anya has been in need of some extra special mommy & daughter time so we made zucchini bread together. (We have tons of "chini's" growing in our garden.) It's a quick-n-easy recipe from a friend, and oh so delicious!  I'll share the recipe soon!

 We finally have more strawberries!  (Side note- Anya's dress was Gigi's when she was little! I wore it when I was little too!  Anya picked it out this morning to wear.  I love it on her.)

 Hanging outside with Daddy and Ollie. 

 Josh's school delivered a beautiful arrangement for Oliver's birth!  I love the colors.

 Charlie and Anya play so well together.  It's fun to see her initiate playing with him.  

 We got a card in the mail from Josh's work.  Anya wanted to read it to Ollie.  She was holding the card upside down...LOL!

 Josh had a wedding to DJ so Gigi came over.  Anya made sure to offer her tea like she does for everyone.

 Oliver loves his bunny rocker! Thank you Matt and Tracee!!

It was the perfect first full day home with Ollie.  I love that it just so happened to fall on the 10th!  

I love these pictures because they really capture our day.  I am so incredibly blessed!

38 weeks:: Baby #2

This post is almost a week late!  I have been crazy busy nesting around here, cleaning, organizing, and doing lots of special things with my Anya girl.  Today we made breakfast muffins (thank you Ari for the recipe!)

How Far Along: 3rd Trimester, 38+6 weeks, 9 months!

 

Size of baby: Last Tuesday the doctor said I was measuring right on so that's good.  I've also had the same amount of weight gain this time as with Anya  (40lbs)

 

Maternity Clothes: Yes.  Why I am still answering this question, I do not know!

 

Gender: It's a BOY!!!  I will officially reveal his name the day he is born!

 

Movement: He is totally asleep when Anya wakes me up each morning.  He doesn't wake up until around 8:00am.  I hope this continues after he is born!  He is a total night owl though.  I feel tons of movement on my right side.  The other day we were grocery shopping at Woodmans and he was kicking my right side and an old lady said "is he kicking you?"  I thought it was so cute!  And she said "he" too!

 

Sleep:  GREAT sleep!  Taking it all in now!

 

What I miss: nothing really right now.

 

Cravings: We just bought the best grapes...I seem to be craving them!

 

Symptoms: I am so incredibly blessed to feel as good as I do.  No pelvic pressure (it was terrible with Anya!) no major symptoms.  There are times I forget I'm pregnant- no joke!  I feel like I could be pregnant another few months at this rate....

 

Birth predictions:  We are considering talking to the doctor about induction since we are kind of crunched for time with the school year starting, I don't want to deliver a 10lb baby and if I go late I might, and we have to DJ some weddings so induction might work best with our schedule.    I want Josh to have as much time with him as possible before the year starts. We are praying about this and that God will open and close doors and reveal to us His will.  We have an appointment tomorrow morning so we will see what the doctor says.  Over all I really, really hope I go naturally very soon just not on the weekends when we have weddings....:-/  We do have back-ups if needed though.

 

Best Moment this week: My doctor's appointment went well last Tuesday.  At one day shy of 38 weeks I was 2cm and 80%, he dropped to -2.  He is still so high up!  This week Mary and Cindy came to visit.  We had such a great time swimming at our pool, visiting them at my parent's house, and going for a walk around my community.  It melted my heart to see Anya interact with Mary.  She loves her so incredibly much.  They are adorable together!