instant grandfather

Though Luke and Annie are surrounded by our amazing families, I wanted to dedicate a special post to one man in particular.

This man became a grandparent almost overnight.  He and my mom started dating when Luke was just six months old, and they got married a year later.  Cramer does not have biological grandchildren but from the very first day, he has loved Luke with a selfless and gentle spirit, as if he came from his very flesh.  They share a love for all things motorized and both have a quiet, introverted character.

Luke and Annie will never know a time when "Mamer" was not a grandfather to them.  I am so thankful for how he loves us and it blesses my heart to see Luke love him right back.

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July.  We started out this morning at the parade in town where Luke enjoyed a bomb pop for breakfast...

...and Annie enjoyed a morning nap.

Later this evening we went to the Martin's for a delicious steak dinner and playtime outside.

I love my handsome boys!

And this one is growing too fast!

Say cheese!

Happy Independence Day!

annie girl - 2 months

(I thought time went by quickly with the first baby.  But oh my word it's gone by even quicker this time!)

Annie girl,

You are two months old.  This last month has been a bit of a roller coaster, but I think we are finally coming down from the crazy ride.  Let's just call it the month-o-reflux.  For a while there you were pretty miserable.  You cried for about an hour after every single feed.  It was awful to watch you arch your back and scream and hold your breath and cough and choke and scream some more.

But hallelujah (seriously, praise Jesus) we have gotten that under control.  You're on some pretty good drugs now and your little esophagus is starting to heal.  And you are so much happier!

You weigh 10 pounds 6 oz.  You wear 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers.
You are nursing so well and I love it!

You take one long nap in the morning, another long nap in the afternoon, and you cat-nap throughout the day between feeds.  You eat every 2-3 hours during the day and every 4-5 hours at night.  Last night you slept from 10 pm to 5 am (longest stretch yet!) and it made mommy so happy!

You swaddle to sleep, just like Luke did.  But you like to fall asleep on my shoulder and you don't use a paci.  In that way, you are so different than your brother.

You smile at people when they talk to you, and you smile at the toys hanging from your bouncy seat.  You will lay on your play mat for about 10 minutes at a time.  You like to be held facing out, so you can see the world!  I feel like just overnight you've gone from newborn to infant, and I love to see you awake a little more.

It may be cliche, but words cannot describe how much I love you, how deeply I care for you, and what an amazing little girl you are.  Keep growing strong, little baby.  We love you.

happy father's day

Here's to dads who love like crazy!

annie - one month

Annie girl!
Your first month with us has come and gone and you are fitting into our family just perfectly.

You weigh a little over 8 pounds and to me you're looking a little chunky!
You are still an eat-play-sleep kinda baby and you want to eat every 3 hours.  Even at night.
But you go right back to sleep after nighttime feedings, which is great for momma.
You sleep in your bassinet in our room.

We've had some issues with nursing, but we're working through them.
Right now you nurse and get expressed breast milk through a bottle, too.

You recognize our voices and you're starting to focus on our faces.
We are still waiting for your first smile.

You cry when you're hungry or tired or put in your car seat.
You love to be held in the baby sling and you're very content to sleep on my chest.
You just took a paci for the first time.

I cannot even describe how much I love you.
This month with you has been so sweet!

annie's birth story

Wednesday, May 1.

I met a friend at the splash pad, met my mom for lunch, and had a relaxing afternoon at home.  I cooked dinner and when Adam got home we played outside in the pool with Luke.  I had no signs of labor.  I felt great.

11 pm:  Adam and I were watching The Help.  It was just about over.  I was laying on the couch.  I had a really tight braxton-hicks contraction and felt a gush.  My shorts were wet.  I got up to go to the bathroom thinking that maybe I'd wet my pants.  Nope.  Too much fluid.  Lots of fluid.  I let the movie finish and told Adam that my water broke!

11:15 pm:  More fluid.  Lots of fluid.  But no contractions.  I didn't want to go to the hospital before contractions started, but I knew I'd have to go eventually.  My bag was just about packed, but I finished packing and Adam started packing a bag, too.  We were giddy, giggling, excited.  I realized that I might not sleep for a very long time and started to feel weary.

11:30 pm:  Contractions started.  My contractions don't joke around.  Once they start, they are for real.  They were 2-4 minutes apart and painful, though I could still talk through them.  Back pain started and never stopped.  There was no relief from back pain, even between contractions.  I straightened my hair and changed my clothes and Adam ran around like a chicken packing and cleaning.  He even remembered to pack Luke's lunch because the next day was a school day and he knew we might not be home for much longer.

Midnight:  I text my babysitter, giving her a head's up.  I wanted to labor at home for a bit and was determined to do so.  Contractions still 2-4 minutes apart and painful, but not getting any stronger.

Thursday,  May 2, 12:30 am:  Contractions got stronger.  Told my babysitter to come quick.  She's awesome, so she did.  She came in about 15 minutes.

1:00 am:  I kissed Luke goodbye and got in the car.  I cried because I knew that the next time I saw him, things would be so different.

1:15 am:  Arrived at the hospital.  Pulled into the circle drive so Adam could drop me off.  A car pulled in right behind me and a girl that I go to church with got out!  Her water broke, too! We couldn't believe that we'd run into each other under these circumstances!  Contractions getting stronger, difficult to talk and walk during them.  We checked in at the nurse's station.  They put me in a room and began the process.  Back pain was severe.

1:30 am:  Nurse says I'm 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced.  This disappoints me greatly because my contractions hurt really, really, really bad but I didn't want to get an epidural at 3 cm.  I told her I would labor on my own for a bit.  I stood beside the bed and rocked.  I was trying to turn the baby because I knew from the horrible back pain that she was anterior.  Contractions were almost unbearable.

2:30 am:  I "give in" and tell the nurse I'm ready for an epidural.  She checks me again and tells me I'm 3-4 cm dilated and calls the anesthesiologist.

3:00 am:  Anesthesiologist begins the process.  Adam has to leave the room.  He starts to text our family telling them that I was in labor.  He thought we had lots of time because I was only 3 cm.  I am crying through contractions and complaining a LOT.  This pain is no joke.  It hurts really, really bad.  There is a needle in my back and the doc keeps telling me to stay "in position."  I can't.  He seems irritated with me and that hurt my feelings.  I feel her coming.  I scream really loud, she's coming out of me!  I'm not kidding.  I felt her come out of me.  It was like someone had ripped me open.  About ten people run into the room and start gowning and gloving.  Anesthesia pulled the needle out of my back.  The nurse lays me down on my side and opens my legs just a little bit.  She was right there.  She was coming out.  The nurses held my legs together and made me stay on my side because they knew if I moved, I would deliver.  My doc was on his way.  Adam text my mom to Hurry! I screamed a lot.  I begged the nurse to just deliver her, she wouldn't do it.  They kept telling me not to push.  I couldn't help it.  I couldn't help it.  It hurt so bad.

3:15 am:  My mom comes in.  She made it!  I was in too much pain to even really realize she was there.

3:20 am:  Doc comes in.  My feet go up on stirrups.  He says, Jennifer give a gentle push, the baby is here.  My body was already pushing.  She came out.  I felt everything.  Oh. My. Gosh.  The pain.  The cord was around her neck.  He cleared the cord and let her come out the rest of the way.  Adam cut the cord and she let out a huge screaming cry.  I was hurting really really bad but seeing her was the most amazing thing.  They put her straight on my chest and finished things up down there.

4:00 am:  I held my baby girl for over an hour, skin to skin.  Adam and I cried and laughed and just stared at her and talked about how fast everything went and how we couldn't believe she was here.  She was here!

And that's Annie's birth story.

big brother

I think one of the things that has surprised me the most in the last two weeks is how well this little man has adjusted to life with a little sister.

One of the things I worried about the most when I was pregnant was him.
How would he handle the change?  Would he be jealous?  Would he be defiant?
Would he feel neglected?  Would he regress?  Would he reject me?

My precious, precious son has done better than I could have ever dreamed. 
It's as if he was meant to be - supposed to be - as if he longed to be - her brother.
He loves his Annie.  
He has accepted her into our family completely and wholly and it's a beautiful thing.

He asks for her when he gets up in the morning.  He kisses her goodnight before bed.
He shares his toys and his juice and loves to pat her.
When she cries, he tells me to give her milk.  And when she yawns, he says, night night!

And otherwise, he's completely gone about his business.
Doesn't even seem to think things are too different around here.
OH how I love him!