7 WEEKS OLD!

Kellan, 7 weeks! Really? The time is flying by.  Do I say that every time I do one of these?

You turned 7 weeks old on 1/30/12.  Nana's 60th Birthday! I'm sorry to say bud but we were kind of busy celebrating her so this post is a few days late! 

Not much has changed with you.  You are a about 10lbs 2oz.  That's not a huge weight gain in two weeks but you are eating a ton so we aren't worried about you right now.  I love that you are still so tiny (for your age)!



We made the decision with our pediatrician to let you sleep with us a little bit longer.  You weren't crying a ton in your crib but with the little GI issues you are having, the little bit of extra attention and snuggling through the night can only help you.  Plus apparently she's not a fan of letting anyone "cry it out" before 12 weeks old.  That's all I needed to hear!



You were having a fussy time every night for a few hours but as you have grown, that has subsided for the time being.  Everyone comments on how much happier you seem. 



I don't know how it happened but you are totally a Mama's boy.   You want me to hold you all the time.  ALL. THE. TIME.  I'm trying to let you sit in your swing longer or let other people hold you once in a while but sadly most of the time, you just cry until I pick you up or they give you back.  That will get better.



Your brother wants to hold you all the time.  Every morning the first thing he does is come get in our bed and steal you from one of us.  Some mornings you go right back to sleep on his chest while he watches cartoons and some mornings you are wide eyed and seem so interested in everything that he says to you. I can tell you are going to be best buds. 



You are holding your head up so well.  Tummy time right now pretty much goes like this: I put you on my chest and you lift up your head to watch me talk to you.  It's the highlight of my day.

Your bath time is getting better.  If I could have someone pour water over you the entire time I was bathing you, you would most likely fall asleep.  That's not going to be a possibility every bath time but we're trying!

 



It's amazing to me how go, go, go our lives were literally up until the day you came.  The change of pace has been different for us but just today I was laying on the nursery floor with you, Aidan was a few feet away playing with some of his toys and I thought to myself  "I can't imagine anything else I would rather be doing right now".   I am enjoying every moment of our new normal with you.  There aren't words to explain how much I love you baby boy. 

On Being a Mom To Two

I never stressed about being a Mom to two.  With Aidan I have always felt that I was a little bit too organized and I figured I would be the same with baby number 2.  i get that from my Mom.  I played over and over in my head how I would do things.  I had friends that tried to freak me out that it was going to be so much work and I was reading blogs that said things like "One kid is a hobby, two kids is A LOT work".  I started to get nervous.  Sure, I'm not silly enough to think that it wasn't going to be work but millions of women do it everyday.  If it sucked that bad, no one would do it.  Right?

We're six weeks in we've had some bad days for sure.  But mostly, I feel like a champ!  I'm not sure that everyone who surrounds me thinks so, but I think I'm doing my best.  That's all we can do as Mom's, right?

How am I making it work?

I think the fact that the boys are so far apart in age is what really makes the difference.  Aidan being 5 and a half and basically self sufficient is so much help in itself.  Of course I don't want him to feel like he is on his own so I am still juggling his needs and the babies but if he has to wait a few minutes for something to get done, he works it out himself or he waits.  I apologize, he accepts and everything is OK.  He has really ended up being such a big helper.  I let him be involved as much or as little as he wants with Kellan. Just today I laid Kellan in his crib so I could start a load of laundry. In those few minutes he got a little cranky and before I could get to him, Aidan had pulled his stool up to the side of his crib and was trying to soothe him.   It sounds like such a small thing but can be the biggest thing for me.  So it's been nice having the extra help.  Even if it's in small doses from Aidan. 

I'm keeping in mind that babies cry.  Whenever a first time Mom asks me for advice I always say "just remember babies cry".  Because they do.  And Kellan does.  A lot more than Aidan ever did so it's been different.  Obviously no two babies are the same and Kellan has been having some stomach issues that we are working on with our ped.   But there are times when everything that can be done for him is and he is just upset.  I take deep breaths and we get through it.  Some days he sits in his car seat on the bathroom floor while I attempt a 45 second shower and screams the entire time.  A minute later with a towel half draped around my body and my hair dripping wet, I scoop him up and he's fine.  Tonight I bounced him in my arms for 3 solid hours while he was between sleep and screeching at the top of his lungs from gas pain and I thought he was never going to feel better.  Eventually he calmed down and tomorrow's a new day. 

I have great girlfriends that listen to me when I'm having a bad day.  I swear this is my mommy saving grace.  If I didn't have my girlfriends to listen to my stories about breast milk, poop, crying and a sassy five year old, my days would be so much worse.  SO. MUCH. WORSE.

I don't have high expectations.  Every time we go somewhere in public, before we even leave the house, I warn myself "April, this could be a complete disaster" and I mentally prepare myself that I may have to leave my entire cart of groceries in the middle of the store because I have a screaming baby on my hands.  Which reminds me I need to learn how to shop for our groceries online and pick them up at the store. Ha!  I'm fully aware that any and all plans I try to make could go right out the window.  In six short weeks, it's already happened.  That's a hard bullet to bite some days after having such a nice thing going when it was just us and Aidan. 

I'm getting plenty of sleep.  Kellan is sleeping 8 hours a night and I try to nap with him at least once a day while Aidan is at school. It's much more sleep than I was getting in my last trimester of pregnancy.  I make the effort to get dressed and put on a little make up everyday.  Even if it's just jeans and a top with a little mascara and my pearls.  It makes me feel good and Adam isn't seeing a tired wife in yoga pants everyday.  

I'm making time for myself and my marriage.  We have had a few good date nights since the baby was born and even though they are squeezed between feedings, Adam and I need the time to catch up on each other and get away from the boys.  I have a pedicure planned for later this week and I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to it. 

I'm in the middle of never wanting Kellan to grow from being such a tiny baby to looking forward to the days where things get a little bit easier for us all. I'm trying not to drive myself crazy playing over and over in my head how our entire day is going to go but that's hard and I can't really imagine how much more of a disaster I would be if I didn't try my best to put together a plan.  I'm taking it day by day and as the weeks pass, I feel a little bit more comfortable and I'm patting myself on the back for the job I'm doing.  I am far from having it all figured out and my kids are far from perfect but it's pretty close to how I thought it would be and as bad as some days might seem, when I look at my boys, I'm so glad I decided to this again.  I have a feeling that's what keeps every other Mom coming back for more too.

A Pregnancy in Pictures

I had not really compared any pictures of my growing baby bump while I was pregnant so this was fun to do! The first two pictures from April 1st are self explanatory and the third is from the day we told my family.  Easter 2012! 



 

 

Looking back, I think I miss being pregnant! 

Kellan 1 Month and 5 Weeks

Kellan you are a five weeks old!!  I missed your One Month post so I'm combining the two.  I cannot believe you have been with us for over a month! Time is flying by little man!
So what are you up to at a month old?

(In case you missed these)
WELCOME KELLAN
WEEK TWO POST
WEEK THREE POST

You weigh just under 10lbs and you are 22 almost 23 inches long! You are growing so fast I can't stand it!

I love you in a plain white onesie!



You were eating a ton but you've slowed down the last few days. I don't know if that should make me nervous or not but you must be getting enough because you are happy as a clam when you finish nursing. You sometimes go 4 hrs between meals.  Just last night you didn't even get up to eat!

 

Bath time is getting a little bit better. 



Sunday we started you sleeping in your crib. Two whole months before we did it with your brother. I was so convinced you were going to have a serious meltdown but the night went really well. As a matter of fact, with the exception of a little cry because you lost your binkie, you didn't cry at all! Daddy checked on you 10 times at least to make sure you were still breathing and I watched the baby monitor until about 3am and then we just put you in bed with us because we missed you! Baby steps for us all! You had almost 7 hrs in there and only ate once. That's a great start. And when we put you in bed with us, you didn't even eat and slept until 8:30! Thanks for the sleep bud!

 

Watching you on the monitor.



Your brother Aidan is crazy about you. I'm sure I've written about that before now. His newest thing is, he always wants to kiss your lips. It's too cute. He makes everyone stop and check you out wherever we go. He's so proud.

 

He pulled a stool up to your crib and climbed right in!



You are still wearing you 0-3 months clothes.  I tried a 3-6 months outfit on you yesterday and I think even you laughed at how big it was! I never expected you to be in those clothes for long so you wear a lot of the same stuff over and over. 

 

Snuggled up in Daddy's arms



You love to be swaddled which it totally different from your big brother.  I even double swaddle you at night. You can be mid meltdown and I swaddle you right up and you literally stop crying when you realize what is happening.  I like to say your in the straight jacket, wearing the baby hug or my little baby burrito.  Nobody thinks it's funny but me.

 



 Crazy hair and almost a smile.



You cry a lot.  Which I'm told is normal.  Your not a fan of riding in the car or diaper changes or being alone or your bath or loosing your latch while nursing or or or....HA! It's OK though I know there is light at the end of the tunnel and maybe you just like for your Mommy to soothe you. 

 

Sleeping through your big brothers gymnastics class. 



When you are awake you are very alert. Wide eyed.  You hold your head up so well.  We put you on our shoulder and you lift your head right up to rest on our cheeks.  It's the sweetest thing.

This picture cracks me up!





Your eyes are blue and I hope they stay that way. Just like mine and your brothers.

We saw the Neurologist about your dimple above your bum.   Daddy came with us to the appointment.   I'm frustrated that they keep referring to you as having a "birth defect" and no one seems to know what caused it.  The good news for now it that your little spine is not tethered like we previously thought there may be a chance of.  That may have meant surgery, a chance of you having trouble with your little legs in the future and lots and lots of physical therapy.  Now we are just waiting for you to get a little bit older so that the spot that keeps coming up on your ultra sounds will go away. Your Dr thinks its just a small epidural bleed and should take care of itself.  If not, to clear it out you will need a minor surgery but the thought of putting you under terrifies me so I pray 500 times a day that is not the outcome.  Whatever the case ends up being, we think you are perfect and I love that dimple!

Lazy Sunday watching the Pats play. 



Kellan, I am just so glad we made the decision to have you.  It's been crazy how all the feelings I had with your brother have come right back and my heart feels like it had quadrupled in size!  Everyone said that's exactly how it would be and they were all so right!  It's a different experience planning a child versus the complete surprise of one.  This time I chose the long nights and to look tired and disheveled for months to come.  Every bit of it is so worth it when I look at you.  The depth of my love for you makes me want to stop women on the street and tell them to make the choice to have children.  It's the greatest gift I've ever been given and when I look at you and your brother I'm reminded of that over and over.  I know I'm incredibly blessed to be your Mom and I promise to never take a minute for granted.  I'll always love you for being the one that made our love as a family grow in ways we could never have imagined! Happy 5 weeks baby cakes!

Love, Mom

He Loves Me

Just something sweet I want to remember...last night when I got in my bed Aidan had placed a peppermint right under my blanket. Tonight when I went to get in bed, these dandelions (dead by this point, BUT STILL) were waiting for me on my side of the bed. I don't know where he gets it but that boy is the best thing that ever happened to this Mama's heart.

The Three Wise Men

Aidan was one of the wise men in the nativity play at his school.  He was a little confused in the beginning.  We had recently watched the Disney movie Aladdin so he actually thought they were trying to get him to play Jasmin.  Jasmin, Wise Men.  Sorta sound alike...I guess?  It was hilarious there for a couple of days but I eventually explained to him that there was not in fact an Arabian princess at the birth of Jesus and all was back to being right in the world.  I may have told that story already. I have the worst Mommy brain.  ANYWAYS...he had a line he had to practice and he learned it in about 5 minutes and repeated it every 2 minutes for the week leading up to the play.  Kellan was just a few days old but we covered him up in the baby carrier and brought him along to cheer on his big brother.

The play was so cute and Aidan did such a great job!

Every parent loves it when their kid waves to them upon noticing them in the crowd. 

 

Wise men, Angels, Joseph, Mary

 

 Aidan literally had the best costume.  Faux fur? Yes please.

 

Aidan and his BFF Dylan (Joseph).

 

 

My Boys

I would be telling the worlds fattest lie if I said I wasn't a little disappointed when we found out we were having another boy this time. Adam and I both thought it would be so much fun to do something new. Dresses and bows and dance classes. More than anything I want to be able to experience the relationship my mom and I have with my own daughter. I even entertained the idea that maybe our ultra sound was wrong and we would get the biggest surprise of our lives on delivery day. It could happen. It took me about a week to get over it and before I knew it, I was daydreaming about our new guy and I knew I was in love before he was even born!

And now that he's here, my post pregnancy emotions get the best of me everyday
(haha) and I'm over come with emotion about how crazy I am about these guys! Both of them. And their Daddy is just the icing on the cake.  I'm so blessed and so in love.

Kellans First Bath

Kellan's umbilical cord finally fell off last week (tmi?) so we were finally able to quit with the sponge bath and get in the baby tub.

I put it in the kitchen sink, set up the space heater on the island so it would be toasty in there and put him in. He had a brief moment where I thought "oh he likes this". It was fleeting. He screamed the entire time. Aidan gave up trying to soothe him and turned on the wii to play.

Once he was out, he was back to himself. And smelling better than ever!

I sent this picture to Adam at work after the bath and he thought I had edited it.  Oh no, he really turned that shade of red all on his own. 

 

Much better and so clean!

 

Who's 3 Weeks Old and...

Cross eyed? Kellan is! Ha! Not all the time just when he's being burped by Daddy.

What's going on at 3 weeks that wasn't going on at 2? Not a whole lot. You are still eating like a champ! I would like for you to stay tiny for a long time but that's not going to happen because breast milk is your one true love.

You sleep a lot. I try to sleep with you as much as possible. At night you sleep on my chest. That's going to have to change pretty soon. Daddy misses our time alone at night in bed and I miss sleeping altogether. Slowly, I've been putting you in your crib for naps hoping you will want to stay in there for the night sometime soon.

We had your appointment at the neurologist yesterday morning for the dimple above your bum and basically they told us what we already know. Your perfect. It doesn't look like we'll have a problem with your spine which is a huge answer to our prayers! We go back in two weeks for one final ultra sound and then we should be done with the neurologist! Not that you mind him, you slept through the entire appointment.

One of my oldest girlfriends Andrea came to meet you this past weekend. She has one of your best buddies marinating in her belly right now!

Your first New Years eve was wild and crazy. You slept and slept. You didn't even wake up when Daddy, Aidan and I yelled "Happy New Year". Im hoping that means you wont turn in to a crazy partyer. We'll see!

We love you little man! Cannot believe you've been with us for 3 weeks already!

 

Holidays via iPhone pics

We had a really quiet couple of weeks around here. I remember when we found out we were due with Kellan mid December, being excited that Aidan would be on Christmas break and it would be the perfect time for us all to bond as a family. Well that's exactly what we did. Our families agreed to a low key Christmas and we made no plans for NYE other than staying in and snuggling up on the sofa. Adam and I took advantage of some very generous offers from our families and one of my best girlfriends to get out of the house for dinner alone and some shopping one night and the last Panthers home game of the season. Other than that I've been adjusting to being a Mommy of two. So far, so good! If you follow me on Instagram you may have already seen some of these pictures. If not, they will all be new!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year!