7 Quick Takes

1. I turned 25! So weird to say that. After turning 21 I have to actually think about how old I am. Am I turning 24 or 25? Well, based on my brothers' ages and how many years younger I am than they are I usually figure it out. Now, I'm not saying I'm old or anything, but I guess I thought I'd feel older by the time I reached 25. For instance, when my brother Zach turned 25 I was turning 18 and thought 25 was so mature. Now that I've arrived at the ripe age of a quarter century I don't really feel that mature. Oh well, I guess it's true that at some point you just feel a certain age even though you keep getting older.

2. Patrick has the golf bug. I think it's really starting to burrow into his skin and make a nice little home. Lately, his lunches have turned into quick driving range sessions, his evenings (when it's nice out) are mini chipping competitions in the backyard, and every now and again a round on the weekend. He's getting so much better too! I'm glad he's enjoying it because I'd love to get back out there and try schooling him again like I did on our first date... from the men's tees. :)

3. Grant's new nickname is Super Chunk. He doesn't really look it but he's off the charts in weight! at his 8 weeks check up he was 15 pounds 11 ounces. He's smiling a ton and cooing too. He sleeps 9 to 10 hours a night and naps well too. I really could ask for a better baby!

4. Miles seems older every week. He listens better, obeys better, can say a few words, can point to anything I ask him to on his body (like nose, eyes, legs, belly, head, hands, etc). He loves his brother so much and I can tell he just wants to play with him so bad! I can't wait to see them play together. It won't be long!

5. Just this:

Miles loves the backpack. Having a birds' eye view is perfect for him!

Grant fell asleep on the floor with Lamb singing him "Jesus Loves Me."

My new favorite outfit on Miles that he could only wear three times because he out grew it by the time it was warm enough to wear it.

Miles and cousin Austin. They were best buds for the hour they were together :)

6. I'm so excited for our 4th of July trip to Lake Pearrygin (near Winthrop) with our family, my parents, and Zach and Cheri's family. Last year was my first time back since I was about 6 or 7 and it was a blast. We took Miles in the Lake for the first time and he played with sand. This year will be even better because he'll actually be able to enjoy the lake with his new little life jacket.

7. And a few more pictures because they're just too cute!

Just relaxing.

Highs and Lows

I go to a mom's group at St. Michaels, our home parish, every Tuesday and we always start off with a prayer and then go around the circle and tell our highs and lows of the past week. It's a great way to give a quick picture of our previous week and provides an opportunity to talk about our struggles and offer/receive advice. So here are some of my highs and lows lately:

High: We transitioned Miles into his new crib in the other guest room and he did great! I was a little concerned that he might not sleep as well at first because it's a different bed and room but he didn't seem to mind at all!

High: The next week I put Grant in Miles old crib, in the nursery and hoped for the best. And he did great too! He had been sleeping a five hour chunk in the bassinet so I thought 'why not try it out in the crib'? The first two nights he slept his usual 5 hour chunk. I was so happy! What an easy transition! And we all sleep better since we're not listening to each other snore.

High: The past few nights Grant has slept a 7 hour chunk! And then another 2 1/2 to 3 hour chunk after that! So that means I only have to get up once to feed him. I am so thankful to God for how good of a sleeper Grant is and how easy he is! This is sure making up for the last month of sleepless nights during the pregnancy.

Low: All this great sleep may not last. I'm trying to not to get my hopes up about it and trying to be grateful and thankful instead.

High: Patrick finished his shed! He's so funny, whenever it was nice out over the past few weekends he'd be out there tiddling around doing this and that with his shed. I'd send Miles out there to play by him and "help" (aka get in the way and lean into the wet paint). They'd both come in after a couple hours all sweaty with dirt in their hair, grass stains, and paint marks on their clothing. I can't wait to see Grant out there too!

Low: I'm still getting used to the fact that the house will never be neat and tidy, like, ever again. I've come to realize that I'm a pretty organized person or at least I really like things in order. Tidiness just doesn't fit into the vocabulary of a 1 1/2 year old. This is the perfect age to start teaching Miles how to clean up his toys, even if he only manages to get one toy into the toy box, at least he'll be learning. I guess my biggest concern lately, something that I've forced myself to succumb to, is to just leave the toys and create a trail through them so I'm not constantly stepping over things, because if I spend time cleaning them up they'll be messed all over the floor again in about 3 minutes.

Low: Grant has a clogged tear duct. It gets super crusty overnight and stays pretty goopy throughout the day. It doesn't seem to bother him unless I try to clean it too often. What's funny, though, is when he wakes up from a nap and his one eye will be crusted shut and the other will be wide open making him look like a pirate.

High: Miles is showing so much affection for Grant lately. He'll gently lay his head on Grants, try to hold his little balled up fists, kiss him (leaving giant drool marks), and try to hold him (I usually help with this and then he sits there smuggly with Grant on his lap). Just when you think it couldn't get any cuter, it doesn't. Miles will high-five Grant in the face ending the cuteness in crying.

An Easter Baptism

What not a better way to celebrate Easter than to be baptized on the day our Lord has risen? Grant received the Holy Spirit this Easter and it was such an amazing way to experience Jesus in the Holy Trinity. I'm not sure about Patrick but I teared up a bit (maybe more on the inside because I didn't want pictures of me crying) by the beauty of the ceremony and sacrament.

For the next week, even after a bath, Grant smelled like the baptismal oil that was rubbed on his head. I think his hair held on to that scent because I don't remember Miles smelling that good for that long and it's probably because he didn't have hair!

It was wonderful to celebrate Easter and Grant's baptism with our family. Pat's relatives came down from Canada and his Grandma Maureen came out from the midwest! It was a hectic day trying to visit with everyone who came but so worth every moment. My parents were fantastic hosts. They put together a delicious meal with the help of others' dishes, and organized a really fun Easter Egg hunt.

It was fun to watch Miles in the Easter Egg hunt! He actually knew what to do. He even found an egg in a bush on his own! I think my favorite part was Miles walking around with a basket as big as him. It looked a bit difficult to carry it around but he didn't mind and continues to play with it here at home.

It was a great weekend and I always enjoy reminiscing about those fun memories.

I'll be posting some Baptism pictures soon.

The Sound of Settling

We're settling in. And the sound it makes is that of cute baby noises, a baby crying only when getting a diaper changed or when he's hungry, which happens to be about every 3 hours during the day and 4 to 5 hours during the night, Miles laughing when he's getting attention or whining when he's not, and whatever the sound that rubbing eyes and yawning makes (due to Patrick and I getting used to waking up during the night).

I feel like time is going a lot faster during these first two weeks of having a newborn than it did with Miles. Maybe it's because every little thing was so new to us with Miles and now it's like second nature. What, a little fussy in the evening? Oh, that's just Grant's fussy time of day, no worries. Holds his breath when he's really upset? No big deal, just blow in his face, the purpleness will fade back to rosy pink cheeks. Projectile poop all over me in the middle of the night? Ah, that's nothing, I have back up clothes for the both of us an arms reach away.

Things just aren't as scary as they were the first time around. Well, except for Grant's circumcision he got today. I still feel bad about that and worried that he'll remember the pain forever, but know he actually won't. Oh, and his collarbone! I think I forgot to mention that in my last post. Grant's shoulder got caught on my pubic bone when he was coming out and to help him get out the nurse jumped on the bed and practically gave my pubic bone chest compressions to pop his shoulder out (SO glad I had an epidural). This is actually pretty common and in cases like this the baby's collarbone can break. It's not a big deal unless there is nerve damage. By God's grace Grant avoided that. His collarbone is healing but I just have to be a bit careful when handling him.

Miles loves his little brother. He's always giving him kisses and poking him in the face. He really likes to stick his finger in Grant's mouth. When I'm nursing Grant, Miles will either play nicely on his own or get into everything he's not supposed to. It's as if he sees me sit down with Grant and says to himself "perfect, mom will have her hands too full to chase me around for the next 20 minutes, what can I get into that she lever lets me get into?" It's kind of funny looking back at it but really annoying at the time. Grant will probably grow up thinking his name is "Miles no!"

I'm so thankful for Patrick and how his dad instincts kick in. He's been such a big help with Miles. He'll get up with him in the morning so I can sleep a bit longer and nurse Grant if I need to. Then he works all day. Then he comes home and plays with Miles, changes him into some jammies, and puts him to bed. That's just the nutshell version of what Patrick has been doing. He cares so much about his boys and me. My favorite part of the day is when Patrick is sitting on the couch with one boy in each arm. He's so proud of them. I thank God everyday for how helpful, hardworking, and loving Patrick is. I couldn't ask for a more caring husband.

I'm also thankful for the time my mom was able to spend with us the first week we brought Grant home. Patrick and I appreciate everything she did for us, from helping with Miles and Grant, cleaning the house, cooking, driving around, the endless vat of knowledge only a mother can provide, and the gift of just being present. Miles just loved spending time with Grandma Di and Coco. He was laughing 24/7. He ate better than he's ever eaten before and I think only a grandma can accomplish something like that. Kids will try anything for a grandma. I think I even tried a spoonful of buttermilk with pepper and an onion sandwich (which was actually good) for Grandma Celine. I couldn't thank my mom and God enough for her being here to help. What a wonderful gift.

  I actually captured a smile!

The days just fly by and we've grown accustomed to these new but familiar sounds of settling. Soon they'll change to more laughter as Grant learns to smile and giggle. Hopefully the yawns will become less frequent. And definitely the love will continue to grow and grow as we get to know our boys more and more.

Grant Mathew

After 41 long weeks we welcomed our second baby boy into our family. Grant was born on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 2:24pm. The first 8 months of the pregnancy was smooth and uneventful and the last month seemed to drag on and on. The labor and delivery was so quick that I couldn't have asked for a better or easier experience.

It all started last summer when I least expected it, of course. Looking back it's so clear that if I had paid attention to my symptoms a bit more I would have known right then that Grant had started his life. Patrick, Miles, and I were on vacation with my family at my family's favorite past time camping resort Lake Pearrygin for the Fourth of July. The entire time we were there I was tired and felt like taking naps all day. Napping was a  huge pregnancy symptom when I was first pregnant with Miles too. As time went on I had a couple more symptoms that were similar to the ones I felt before but just played it off as being busy and tired from chasing Miles around.

The next week Patrick came home and told me that his employee had a dream that someone in the office was pregnant  (she said when she dreams about fruit, someone she knows is pregnant. She had the dream when I was pregnant with Miles). We both thought it might be another one of his employees that recently got married but in the back of my mind it clicked and all of the sudden every symptom I'd been having made sense. The next day I took a test and sure enough, there on the stick, positive. Little Grant was there.

Around 12 weeks I was able to get an ultrasound to see how far along I was. My instincts told me we were having another boy and at 20 weeks we found out it my instincts were right! The entire pregnancy felt almost identical to my first pregnancy which was nice because I knew what to expect and didn't have to deal with new symptoms or complications.

By the time week 36 rolled around I was ready to meet Grant and be done with the pregnancy. It became increasingly difficult to bend over, roll over in bed, walk up the stairs, hold Miles, and I would feel my pelvis crack throughout the night when I readjusted myself. I kept telling myself that I only had a couple more weeks left thinking that he would be here around the same time Miles was (6 days early) but little did I know that I would go a week over with no signs of labor beginning on its own!

Finally, after what felt like 4 more years of pregnancy, not 4 weeks, my doctor said we could induce since I hadn't made much more progress and wasn't feeling very many contractions and was going to hit 41 weeks later that week. I was so relieved to know there was an end in sight I almost cried!

Now I had a birthdate for little Grant. March 8th was the day.

Patrick and I arrived at the hospital at 7:30am. I was admitted, got an IV hooked up, and finally the pitocin was plugged in. I began feeling some contractions as the dosage was turned up and finally I was feeling some strong ones coming every 3 to 5 minutes. When the nurse came back in I asked for an epidural because I figured it might be a while until the doctor could be in to break my water. That turned out to be great timing because originally I was just going to wait to get the epidural until after she broke my water but she ended up being 1 1/2 hours later than she said she'd be. I don't know how I would have done that! The epidural was amazing!

Finally the doctor came in around 1:30pm and broke my water and said she'd be back when I was fully dilated and ready to push. Patrick and I talked with the nurse for about 45 minutes and then she said I was probably at 10cm and ready to get the baby out! I was surprised that it only took 45 more minutes to be completely dilated! So, my doctor came in at 2:15 I started pushing.

At 2:24pm, after four sets of pushes, Grant was born.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. A full head of dark hair! All along I thought he might have a little hair because I had heartburn but I never thought he'd have that much and that it would be dark. I guess I expected it to be like Miles hair.

He was placed on my belly and we cuddled while daddy took pictures and video. Then he nursed for a good 45 minutes. He must have been hungry! Later the nurse weighed him and what a surprise that was!

9 pounds 2 ounces!

When she told me I yelled "REALLY?" We all thought he'd be about Miles size or even a bit smaller because he'd been measuring small. Now I realize it was probably because he was laying on his side the whole time so the measurements weren't accurate. Then he got a little bath and was placed in daddy's arms so he could hold him for the first time.

The birth was such a good experience. I prayed and prayed that Grant and I would make it to full term and through labor and delivery without any complications. Well, God sure answered my prayers! Although the last month of the pregnancy was brutal I wouldn't change it. I knew that I needed to go through a bit of suffering but at the time I just couldn't see why. Now I understand. It was so I could be truly grateful for how simple and easy the delivery was. It was almost as if I paid my dues before the hard work would begin *knock on wood*. I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given us. Patrick and I are so happy that our boys are healthy and have each other. We can't wait to see them become best friends as they grow up and we really look forward to those bunk beds!

Thank you God for a beautiful family and for such an easy and safe pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Grant is perfect.

Thankful

I'm in the middle of full-on nesting this morning. I've already cleaned the entire downstairs and figured I should take a little break before moving to the upstairs. I had a sudden urge to nest yesterday but figured it would be best to wait until Patrick could help with Miles so I can clean without him climbing up my legs or following behind me messing everything up, Miles, not Patrick. :) . It just so happens that Patrick wanted to get his dad's help to change his car breaks so he and Miles took a little father-son trip up to Everett this morning and left me to fully indulge in my nesting. I don't think I've ever been this excited to have a day to myself, let alone clean and have it stay clean for more than 15 minutes.

Over the past week I've been really, really wanting this baby to come. Finally, I came to grips with the fact that baby will come when he's ready and I might as well stop worrying about it because it's driving me crazy. So, yesterday on my walk I decided I would enjoy Miles as a single child and being able to spend as much time with him as I want without any other interruptions. I decided I would enjoy the fact that if I need to run errands I can throw Miles in the car and go. I also decided that I would enjoy things being predictable and simple for the time being because it will be a while until things settle down enough to be that way again.

The last few weeks of this pregnancy has taught me to be thankful, helped me to be a stronger person both physically and emotionally, and see the brighter side to my struggles. Yes, it's easy to have self pity when you can't bend over and put on your shoes without feeling like you could pass out. It's easy to complain about your pelvis popping every time you roll over to get out of bed in the middle of the night to go the bathroom (which is racking up to about 5 or 6 times these days). But what good does that do? None.

I'm thankful for how helpful Patrick is around the house and with Miles. I thankful for how easy going Miles is. He goes to bed easy, he laughs constantly, and is generally happy all the time. I realized that my physical suffering can not compare to the physical suffering Jesus went through with his journey to and on the cross. Any time I think I can't go on anymore with whatever pain I'm feeling I recall what Jesus went through. And he willingly went through it, for me. It really puts my pain and suffering into perspective and helps me not to complain as much. Seeing the bright side has been hard and ultimately it's just been me telling myself that I'll eventually have a baby to hold. Things will be different. Our lives will change.

This pregnancy has helped me grow and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to do so. Sometimes it takes tragedy or family struggles but this time it takes a new life. And I am so grateful to God for this little guy that's kicking to get out and meet the world and help us grow even more.

The Countdown is On!

I have about 21 days, 3 hours, and 50 minutes until my due date. Can you tell I'm SO ready? I am ready to have this little guy for so many reasons many of which have to do with being able to move like a normal person again. But aside from having my body back (to somewhat normal) we'll get to meet this baby that has been cooking for 9 long months. I'm excited to meet him and see what these little movements are in my belly. His strong kicks and stretches have me in pain sometimes but soon enough I'll be able to see those kicks and stretches and understand that it is, in fact, super cramped in there and that stretching my side out with his leg was all he could do to get comfy. I keep saying to people that it's weird to think that it's someone else in there. It's not Miles this time. It's a completely new and unique version of Patrick and I put together. I wonder what that'll look like?

As I count down the days, hoping that he'll want to come sooner than his due date, I compiled a list of things to do before he gets here. I have a two page list with only a hand full of things checked off. I'm really hoping my nesting instinct will kick in so I can bust through the list in a day or two but all I really feel like doing right now is be a blob on the couch all day. Good thing Miles keeps me going! And of course the one morning he sleeps until 7:45 (usually he wakes up around 6:15) and I get enough sleep to feel like I can conquer the world, we have errands and Dr. appointments to go to. So much for spending the energy nesting.

So why, you might ask, am I typing away on this post instead of vacuuming baseboards and corners and dusting door frames? (two things I "needed" to have clean before Miles was born). Well, frankly I've also had a jumble of things in my head I want to document before baby gets here. Writing it all down clears my head and makes me feel like I've accomplished something just as important as nesting.

I think I'll just catch up on sleep for now and let chores go to the wayside a bit because I know sleep will be the last thing I'll be getting once baby arrives. It'll be a whirlwind of an experience and these next couple months will fly by. I've been praying for this little one constantly and still can't thank God enough for blessing us with a healthy pregnancy and baby. We are eagerly awaiting his arrival making our little family of three grow to four. It's weird to think I'll have two sons. But just as quickly as having one settled in, having two will feel totally normal just as fast as the first time around.