Write These Things Down

Lennox. Sweet Wemmox.  He is SO big and does so much and I need to take a second to write it all down so we don't forget!

At 10 days he got his first bottle. We are still nursing but he hadn't gained weight and we know that is a problem of mine so he gets donor milk in a bottle after each day time nursing session.  I am very thrilled that as of today (just over 3 months), he is still on 100% breast milk, even if it isn't all mine!

At 3 weeks he started giving responsive smiles.  Daddy got the first one but I have had my fair share :)

This next one was taken between 5-6 weeks.  Little guy is/was STRONG.  

He is also really good at rolling over from front to back.  That happened just before 8 weeks but I wasn't able to catch it on camera until 8.5 weeks. Unfortunately my video isn't loading on here to show it but I promise, I have proof ;)

It's amazing to see how much he has grown.  

Next thing you know he'll be turning 6 (like Paxton is a month), in Kinder and jumping on my bed while I am trying to blog about where the time has gone :)

Happy Sunday!

Emory is Four

This weekend we had the most wonderful time.  We got to celebrate this little ball of fire.  The good kind of fire.  The kind that warms your soul and lights the way. Oh, how there is no other child just like him.  My Emory is a one-of-a-kind, they broke the mold kind of kid.   

He has cool blue eyes that stand out so brightly.  Neither his Daddy nor I have blue eyes.  He stands out in our tiny crowd.

He is just cool.  Really really cool.  He has his own way of doing things and is definitely 100% sure of himself.  Don't lose that trait, sweet boy.

He is so very silly and makes messes with the best of them.  

He's a builder, a climber, a jumper, a whiner :)

He has a smiley little disposition that can come and go with the snap of a finger.  The angry eyes come out too, but honestly, they're cute. 

He is a wild one.  Look at that shirt.  And that hair.  I mean, wild, right?

This picture was taken about a year ago.  His sweet friend Greta, whom he happens to share a birthday with, got that for him.  Ironically, they got him a TMNT shirt this year too.  He loves it and says it is his "favorite shirt I never saw".  

Oh, and then now.  Now he is a 4 year old.  He is so smart.  So silly.  So strong.  So determined.  He is the perfect middle child.  Some say the middle one gets lost in the shuffle but there is no way this little guy will ever get lost.  He adores his big brother.  He showers his baby brother with affection (I love that he calls him "Wemmox".  He helps mommy clean and he STILL naps daily (because of this he may or may not be my favorite every day from 1-3). 

Emory, you have been a roller coaster.  Again, the good kind.  There have definitely been times where my tummy has been in knots wondering what is coming next. But you have surprised us daily and having you as our son is something we could have never imagined and something we cherish.  I can only imagine how awesome you will continue to be.  Here is to working on year five. Make it a good one.    

I love you, son.  Every day, hour, minute and second of my life, I love you!

Just Another Birth Story: Lennox Major

I can't say that I know with certainty when a birth story starts.  Does it start the day of the birth?  Or maybe when the contractions started.  I suppose I will start mine the day before his birth.

Thursday, October 17, 2013. I was 40 weeks 1 day pregnant.   I had an appointment with my Doula, Amy.  We listened to his heartbeat and discussed what to do in early labor.  It was rather uneventful.

I went home that day, we ate dinner and then went to Paxton's last soccer game of the year.  I was talking to my friend Mary and told her that I wanted to have the baby the next day or Saturday.  It just felt right.  But, there were no signs of labor and to be honest, I felt great.  I wasn't "done" being pregnant.  I could be pregnant forever and never have an issue with it.  My pregnancy had been remarkably textbook, like usual, and if we were both happy and healthy then he was welcome to stay where he was as long as necessary.  

After the game we made it home and put the big boys to bed.  Joe and I retreated to the bedroom and I sat on my birth ball while watching 19 Kids and Counting on Netflix.  Joe massaged a pressure point on my ankles and occasionally I had a small contraction.  Around 11 pm we decided to go to sleep.  It was evident I would not be having a baby that day.

Friday, October 18, 2013.  I really haven't been able to fall asleep but around 1 am I started feeling these long twinges of pain.  I looked on Facebook on my phone and noticed Tanya had been online recently so I decided to text and call her.  Thankfully, she was around to talk.  I asked what contractions felt like and wondered if I should call Amy.  We talked for a bit and I decided that calling Amy wouldn't hurt.  I felt bad calling her as it was the middle of the night but really, that's why we wanted and had a Doula.  When I talked to her she reminded me of what we talked about that morning and needing to get some sleep in early labor as I could have many many more hours of work ahead of me.  Not only did I feel bad for calling but I also felt bad for not following instructions.  Oops! So, I then tried to relax and lay down and fall back asleep.  Even with some sleep aids (possibly wine and Benadryl), I was unable to get any real rest.  Contractions were coming and woke me up every time I had one.  I didn't know how much time was in between them because I was laying down in a dark room with no real sense of time.  Eventually, around 2 or 2:30 am, I made my way back to my birth ball.  I sat and swayed and moaned through quite a bit of pressure in my lower back.  I thought "Seriously, back labor AGAIN?? I did everything right this time!!!"  Little did I know it wasn't back labor but very likely I was already in transition.  

Finally at 4:30 I called Amy.  She listened to me through contractions and asked if I was ready for her to come over.  I really didn't know.  I hadn't done this before.  I mean I had given birth twice but both were very different.  I finally said yes.  She then asked if I wanted her to come to the house or meet us at the hospital.  Again, I didn't know.  They say you just know...but I didn't.  She was going to grab a quick shower and call us back in ten minutes.  I went ahead and called Allison to come watch the boys.  I remember talking to Allison and asking her to come over and all I remember her saying was "yes" and "Wesley".  Allison arrived with lightning speed.  She lives about 2 miles from us and when she got to the house I was going in and out of the garage having to stop and moan through contractions.  I am sure I had a few before she even made it in the house.  We finally grabbed everything we needed and got in the car around 5:20am.  

The hospital is about 20ish miles away.  My sweet husband may or may not have driven faster than he should have been.  He was genuinely afraid of having a baby on the side of the road.  I was sure I had plenty of time left but I will say being in the car was NOT fun.  We finally arrived at the hospital.  We parked in special maternity spaces and left absolutely everything in the car.  Between the car and making it to Labor and Delivery I had 4 contractions that I had to stop, drape myself over Joe and moan through.  People kept stopping us and asking if we wanted a wheel chair but sitting was the last thing I wanted to do.  I remember seeing the clock when we got to our room.  It said 6:06.  We managed to beat Amy (again, I'll leave out how fast my husband was driving) although she called ahead and they were ready for us when we arrived.  Since my ball was in the car, I sat on theirs draped over the side of the bed.  I was so sure my water had broken twice while I was on the ball.  

They were able to hook up the monitor to check the baby's heart beat with me on the ball and I was thrilled with that.  Amy arrived when I was on the ball at some point and after a contraction or two I agreed to getting on the bed to check how far I was.  Hello, surprise!  I was already at 9 cm.  I was at a NINE.  I was not expecting that in the least.  I was so sure I had hours left.  Boy was I wrong.

While on the bed they tried to hook up my hep lock.  I had okayed this in my birth plan.  Unfortunately attempts 1-5 were no good.  Someone finally got it, though.  Apparently when I'm laboring a few needle sticks were the least of my worries.

After I got checked they were okay with any and all movement from me.  Amy encouraged me to get in another position more favorable for birth and for my pain but for some reason I actually wanted to be completely reclined on my back.  Something about laying down gave me the full urge to push.  I knew pushing=baby so I preferred to do that!  I kept needing to push and no one stopped me.  They checked me again, 15 minutes later, and I was ready to go!  So, I pushed any time I had the urge.  That urge came often.  Pushing was not painful, but almost a relief.  When I pushed, I was loud.  Sweet Joe said I was singing opera.  I remember being loud through some of them but I do not remember caring.  I guess I now understand what people say when they describe the sounds they were making as primal.  Pushing was going well and with a push towards the end his little heart rated dropped to about 50 bpm. They asked me, surprisingly without a sense of urgency, to push my baby out.  So, I did.  He immediately came to my chest and all I could think was "I have my baby and I did it".  I got my natural, unmedicated childbirth that I was hoping and preparing for!

Lennox Major came very peacefully and quietly in to the world at 7:07 am on October 18, 2013.  He weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces and was 20.5" long.

This is our third birth and each experience has been unique.  My recovery with Lennox was by far the easiest. I'm sure there are many factors playing in to that and for all of them, I am grateful.   I didn't want an unmedicated birth to "win an award" or try to be a superhero...I wanted it to prove something to myself.  It was a personal challenge for me and I am so very fortunate Lennox and I were able to conquer that goal! It was a wonderful experience and the addition of him to our family has been a beautiful transition.

Big brothers love him.  Mommy and Daddy are still enamored by his laid back personality. He loves nothing more than to snuggle with us and ride around in the Ergo all day.  He only cries if he is tired or hungry and he eats amazingly well and is growing like a weed.  Sweet boy, you have only been in our lives for six short weeks but I can't even remember how my life was before you were here.

We love you sweet boy.  Welcome to our family!

Still Catching Up!

This past week we had our first skating adventure as a family :)  Joe and I went skating with some friends once about 7 years ago...and I honestly have no idea why we went.  We must have been bored or something.  On Saturday we got to celebrate a friend's daughter's birthday.  I was actually impressed with the tiny local rink.  You can rent the entire thing for a really low price and it includes up to 25 people skating.  

At first P wasn't thrilled with his "big skates" but once we switched to trainers he was fine.  I think, had I asked, tightening the wheels would have made a huge difference.  We can try that next time!

Of course I skated as well.  I am as comfortable in skates as I am in shoes, even though it has been a while.  Once of the first pictures of me was taken being held by a santa clause on skates.  My family was always in the rink and I'm fairly certain I was skating before I was walking.  

Sunday we tried to get hair cuts because it was time.  They were SO backed up, however, because Monday was when public schools were starting.  We decided to wait until Monday.  After a small wait and two little boys getting cuts, I decided to go to McAlister's for lunch.  Kind of one of those "not back to school" lunches that might be a fun tradition to start.  

Handsome haircut #1

Handsome haircut #2

Since we finally got their haircuts, we were able to take their posed back to school pictures.  Even though we never did preschool of any kind with P, little man HAS to be involved so we took his picture too :)

My sweet baby is 5.  I just can't and won't believe it.  Watching him grow has been such a joy! 

And today is Wednesday.  Today I am 32 weeks pregnant.  This baby is coming and it seems like we just found out.  56 days or so and there will be a new little brother in this house.  What a lucky woman I am.  I have a husband who loves and supports my kind of crazy and two (almost three) little boys who love their mama!  I've also been crazy blessed that the weather this Summer has been nothing short of amazing. Highs have been in the 90s and that isn't even daily.  We've had days in the mid 70s.  Sigh, yes, I'm a lucky lady!

Couldn't resist snapping a picture of my three favorite men as well!

We totally did school today but this is long enough so I'll round up our homeschooling week on Friday :)

Happy Wednesday!

Only Two Weeks Later

So we officially started school two weeks ago.  At first I was stressed the mess out.  About Kindergarten.  It seems like parents to first time Kinder kids get pretty stressed and emotional regardless of where their children are getting their education.  Yesterday I saw so many emotion filled Facebook posts about their babies leaving home for a full day for the first time.  Oh mama's, I feel ya!  But my emotions came differently.  I don't have to worry about missing my babies and I am truly grateful for that...but instead I was choosing to worry about whether or not *I* was qualified to do this. With a third sweet babe on the way, a super silly, high energy three year old and a Kinder age kid who is SO very ready to be in school...but I have been reminded over the past two weeks that I'm not doing this because it is exciting and fun and I am a glutton for punishment.  (Although maybe I am and it is all of those things), but I am doing it because the Lord called us to.  I've told Him "no" in the past and that didn't always work out so well for me so we decided to obey ;)

Our "real" first day of school pictures.  The posed/two weeks late pictures will come in a day or two :)

Instead of buying a boxed curriculum set, we decided to piece together our own.  There was just too much extra stuff in the boxed sets for me.  I went with an actual Reading, Writing and Math curriculum for the big kid and have decided to focus on a letter each week for the little man. Each day we have a plan and we set out to do it.  Some days we start at 8:30, some days we start at 10.  Some day we're done in 30 minutes.  Some days we're done in 90 minutes.  I give as many breaks as requested and we stop for snacks and playing whenever the timing seems right.  We've even done some evening schooling once Daddy is home because our day went differently than planned.  I do have to say I just adore the flexibility that comes with this method of schooling and learning.

All I know is I have two tiny people that love to learn and I just can't wait to see where this year takes us!

 Letter A gluing activity.

Cutting, gluing and writing sight words.

Another plus of homeschooling: I still get my two hours of "nap time/rest time" and the boys are sleeping while I'm getting caught up on chores, blogs and naps :)

Happy Tuesday!

Almost a year.

It's been a long time since I have blogged.  Life was just normal. And fun. And exciting. And tiring. And we were too busy enjoying the day to day to stop and write it down.  Living in the moment has its perks but I don't want to forget a full year.  So, no need to try and catch up every little detail.  Just going to touch on a few things.  

These kids are still awesome.  And tiring.  And trying.  And awesome. They really do love each other and are the best of the best friends!

 They are so different but so similar.  And so cute. 

We have spent the past year playing and visiting family.  We went to Florida.  We went to Oklahoma.  A lot it seemed.  

I still love this guy.  He still tolerates me ;)

We are adding another teeny little addition to our family in the way of a tiny human.  We found out in February.  Didn't really tell anyone, including family.  It was just such a nice little secret to keep.  They say "secrets are no fun" but honestly, it was fun!  I think we shared the news when we visited Tulsa in May.  I wanted to tell my mom in person and that was the first time we had seen her since we knew so there ya go!  I want to say I was 16 weeks at that point.  We still didn't go around shouting the news to everyone we saw BUT we never tried to hide it, either.  I wasn't really showing and so people didn't ask.  I can honestly say, it just didn't come up.  Now it's August and we are almost 31 weeks along.  We are SO thrilled to be bringing another little boy in to our family.  I can't imagine it any other way :)

30 weeks!

We also started home schooling this past week.  It was extremely successful and fun.  Paxton did great and is really picking up what we have gone over.  The math is kind of young in my opinion but I don't have a huge desire to rush him so we are just sticking with it.  It's stuff he seems to already know.  We have never done preschool or preschool activities with him so it just goes to show (at least in our case) that kids really do learn through play.  Emory wants to "home ghoul" too so he is getting to do some simple and easy letter activities.  He seems to enjoy being involved and it's just enough that when he is done he wants to run e play.  I'm perfectly happy with that.  So far he has learned the short A sound.  And that you don't need an entire stick of glue for one project :) I say success!

I'm taking pictures of them working and doing their little activities and will share those soon!

Here is to another week of fun, learning and living :)

Meg

Last Day of November

I wanted to write about Day 2 of Seattle but my brain is a bit fuzzy and I can't recap everything as sharply as I'd like.  I'll make a timeline and get back on that soon :)

I CAN believe it's the last day of November.  Most say they can't, but I can.  Time passes.  We get older. Our kids get older. Life moves on and I'm okay with that.  

No matter how big my kids are the one thing I just adore is seeing them in their "suits" as we so fondly call them in our house.  I love footie pajamas on little kids.  This might be the last year for Paxton to get one because he's in the 5T and that make me a little sad :(  They're sweet though, aren't they???

Today is Daddy's last day doing the job he's been doing for 5.5 years.  He applied for a position (read that: 3 people that are "higher ranking" then him came to him at different times and urged him to apply. In fact, it almost seemed like they were begging a little...), interviewed among other candidates and got the new job.  Same company, higher position, bigger paycheck. I'm not saying that to brag.  Just to say that we are so proud of all the hard work he has done.  I believe we are wise stewards of the blessings God has given us and I pray we will continue to be such with the new blessings we are receiving.  

Paxton~ As we embark on another holiday season with you I can't help but to look back over the years and smile.  You've grown up so much.  You are SUCH a little person now.  Not just a baby or a waddling toddler but a sweet precious young boy.  You use your manners, you care about other people, you are sensitive and sincere and have so much emotion inside that tiny little frame.  Daddy and I are daily amazed by your brain...you're a bit too smart (and quick witted) for your own britches but that is okay ;) We love you monkey. 

Emory~oh Emory~You are simply put: a cool kid.  You have such a personality in your little line backer physique.  You are silly and ferocious and you steal and eat my kisses daily (you "eat" your brothers kisses too and he doesn't appreciate that as much as I do...)  You look up to your brother but you definitely have your own way.  And many times it is your way or no way.  Sometimes we let you have your way because you need it to figure something out...sometimes we say no.  But it's in your best interest.  I promise little buddy. We love you Emmy Bear. 

Happy Friday :)