I do. July 2, 2009

Oh my! I don’t think that I can stay in denial that my babies are not getting bigger. The princess has recently become obsessed with weddings. We went to a wedding days before the prince was born and since then she is adamant that she is having a baby soon and when I told he that she had to get married first she started planning her wedding. Her poor future groom, she is already a baby bridezilla! But, I will give her this, she makes a beautiful little bride. That is actually my veil from my wedding. I don’t feel to bad letting her play with it because I bought it for $15 on ebay back in the day!  Oh…and craft alert…..I actually made the flowers! She has been asking for wedding flowers and I have been dying to work on something crafty that won’t wake up the prince when he naps and made these tissue paper carnations. They are pretty addictive once you start them!

And because I can’t leave him out here is the  little man update. At 5 weeks he is sleeping 5-6 hour stretches at night which is great for all of us! Last week he started rolling from belly to back. I thought it was a fluke but he flips within seconds of being on his belly. Here is a rare shot of him on his belly and holding up his head. Time is flying.

The View from Here! June 18, 2009

It is day four of being alone with both kids since hubby is in Europe! This trip has been planned and paid off for 2 years so when I got pregnant even knowing my due date we decided that it would still be ok for him to go. Maybe I was crazy for that, but nonetheless today he is in Paris and the kids and I are at home.

Here is his view:

and here is mine:

Now, I know that the Eiffel Tower is a gorgeous site but I still think I win.

I would take my little chunka love over any monument any day!

It must have been meant to be… June 6, 2009

The transition to two kids has been so seemless that it must have been meant to be! The little prince is seriously the most mellow baby I have ever encountered. Besides getting changed or being hungry he doesn’t cry! He is a great sleeper and has taken to nursing like a champ. It is a complete 180 from newborn life with the princess. She knew what, when and how she wanted things and we were expected to comply,but the little prince has made life easy. I also might be biased but I think he is pretty darn cute.

Not to worry about the princess, she is enjoying big sisterhood just fine! Especially, since everyone has been so kind to give her as many new gifts as Sam has gotten! Here she is enjoying one of her new gifts! A slip and slide!

Worth the Wait! May 30, 2009

Seeing the princess grow into this amazing little lady and great big sister has relieved all of my anxiety about growing our family. It is so beautiful to see her interact with him. He is the first person she runs to in the morning and can’t sleep without kissing him good  night and she has become an excellent diaper runner!

And the prince….oh he is too cute. I just can’t get over how blessed I am. Look at this little chubby face. In two words I feel: deliriously happy!

8 lbs 10 oz and 20 inches of Pure Perfection! May 30, 2009

After a years of waiting for a little one to add to our family and 9 long months of pregnancy, Samuel Nolan entered the world on May 20 at 4:26 pm weighing in at a whopping 8 lbs 10 oz and 20 inches long. With my gestational diabetes, I was induced at 39 weeks and went in at 6 am that morning and they started the pitocin at 7:40 am. Within the hour my contractions were consistent and getting increasingly more painful! At 10:10 am they broke my water and I as still only at 2 cm and now 80% effaced. After my water broke, it took about an hour before back labor started. I had this with the princess and it was pretty darn unbearable. At 12:15 pm, I gave into my wimpiness and got the epidural. I instantly started feeling great, but Sam wasn’t so happy. He started having trouble tolerating the contractions and his heart rate kept dropping. Then my blood pressure plummeted and I thought for sure we were headed for a c section. The nurse didn’t leave my side for 45 and I was given constant oxygen and after sure enough after the scariest hour of not knowing what was going on, his heart rate returned back to normal as did my blood pressure. At this point I was at 6 cm and the rest of the labor went really fast. My epidural literally took away all pain. I kept falling asleep and started to wake up when I started feeling the urge to push. The nurse came to check me and I was at a 9. I was at 10 cm within a half hour after that and then the contractions stopped. I labored down for almost an hour at 10 cm and finally the doctor came in and I had one contraction and that was it. I ended up pushing Sam out in about 15 minutes without any contractions. Many people were praying for the kingdom for me and for me to have a pain free delivery and God showed up. The delivery really was painless. No ring of fire and no tearing. Sam came out crying and was just perfect. He scored a 9,9 on his apgar and the biggest surprise was all of his hair! I think he is proof that the heartburn old wives tale is true!

Alaina is in love with him! She just beamed with pride from the first time she laid eyes on him. She has been the best big sister. I couldn’t have asked for it to go any smoother.

Aww, pure baby love.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow…. May 19, 2009

We’ll  meet him tomorrow, it’s only a day away!

After a very long 4 years of praying for another child and 9 months of pregnancy, tomorrow is the day that we meet baby Sam. I have so much running through my head today. I don’t know if getting my fears out on here would be helpful or scare me even more. I am going to do my best not to dwell on my nerves but rather spend the day preparing and praying!

So, I ask for your prayers tomorrow! I will be back in a few days to introduce the Prince! 

So this is what 38 weeks feels like!? May 16, 2009

With the princess we never got to 38 weeks so this is a whole new experience for me. So, in celebration of my last week of pregnancy since my induction is in 5 days here is a list of things that I had no idea 38 weeks of pregnancy could feel like.

• I never knew how far a pregnant tummy could really stick out without causing me to fall over
• I never knew that stretch marks could get their own stretch marks. Swimsuit season is over permanently from here on out.
• I never knew what the end of pregnancy glow was. I know now, it is sweat.
• I never knew that wouldn’t care if I passed gas in front of you. Seriously, I can’t help it and I remain thankful that it was just that and not more.
• I never knew that your stomach actually lands somewhere inbetween your boobs during pregnancy. If this kid doesn’t come out with some hair, the heartburn old wives tail is a complete myth. I can’t eat anything without heartburn despite being on prescription meds.
• I never knew that despite being the most uncomfortable one could imagine that I already know that I am going to miss this monstrosity of a belly and having this baby all to myself. Soon he will be out of my womb and into the world where I will have to share him so despite how done I am with being preggers, I hope to look back at this time fondly and hopefully the aches and pains will drift into ancient memories.

Goodbye Preschool! May 16, 2009

I have been preparing myself for the graduation for the last few weeks in hopes that I wouldn’t cry. Thankfully, there were no gowns and caps with tassles, but nonetheless the little princess still graduated preschool. There was no outright weeping but the tears were there, doesn’t the days of the week song get everyone emotional? The first day I dropped her off at preschool she cried and didn’t want to stay in the classroom and on her graduation day she proudly stood on the stage and sang. Preschool has been such an incredible place for her go grow.

But, growing has snuck up some other things that we could never prepare ourselves for. Yesterday she wrote a little boys name all over a piece of paper along with hearts. I showed it to her Daddy who you would of thought just had a knife put through his heart. She also announced that a boy tried to kiss her and when I asked if he did it she just blushed and giggled. Somehow she has already learned the art of not kissing and telling. Someone remind her that she is five and we are not ready for this! But, regardless of how fast she is growing up, we really couldn’t be more proud of this little princess who just puts the stars in the sky for us. Can’t believe we get to have another one to feel this way about! So, with that being said this just might be one of the last family pictures with just the three of us!

The Stork May 11, 2009

In an unsuccessful effort to get labor started this weekend we decided to take a family trip to the zoo. The hubs, princess and I went and enjoyed the zoo. It was the start of Zoo Babies and seeing all of the cute little baby critters made me ready to have my own. But, walking the hilly zoo and even visiting the stork did not bring on labor. Nor did the spicy food I ate for dinner or the fresh pineaple I ate. In fact, all of these efforts did nothing. As of this morning, I am still 2 cm and not effaced. Thankfully there is an eviction, er…I mean induction date. Next Wednesday, the little prince will be on his way. Thank goodness there is an end to this because Prince Sam is apparently very happy in his little in utero home.

So, with 9 days to go I spent today crying and sleeping. I dropped the princess off at school and started to head into work. I ended up driving right past work and all the way home because I couldn’t control the waterworks. Although common sense would allude to the fact that I would realize that when the baby comes, the princess will not be an only child. Ok, so as much as understand this, it still hit me hard today that is won’t just be the two of us. For the majority of her life I have had the opportunity to only work part time and stay at home with her. She has been my little buddy, my cooking partner, my craft consultant and the source of millions of smiles over the last 5 years. Adding a new member to our family has always been the plan but I didn’t realize how emotional this last week would be. My princess has been the center of my attention and her whole life is about to turn upside down. I know she will love him and be a great big sister, but I know that she will miss the time with just “us” and truthfully, I will too. So, after over thinking this too much today and a nice nap, I think I am ok.  Hormones have away of sneaking up when we least expect them.

Dear Sam May 6, 2009

Sam,

We have spent the last 37 weeks together, just you and me. It seems like yesterday that you were a figment of my imagination and a prayer on my heart. Your Dad and I prayed for years to have another child and your sister prayed every night for a new sibling. I don’t know if you will ever be able to understand what a miracle you are. You were created for a purpose that I can’t even begin to imagine.

I woke up at 3:30am to having you kick and roll around in my belly. So, for the last 2 hours I have just sat and watched you move. I can’t believe that the time of it just being us is almost over. I don’t know what you look like, but I am already in love. You have yet to take your first breath, yet you have already changed my life.  Your very existence has brought more joy and hope into my life that I didn’t think was possible.

I have such a deep and incredible love for your big sister, Alaina. She lights up every room she walks in. She makes me laugh and see the world through her eyes. Her heart is so humble and genuine. You have a lot to learn from her!  I can’t believe that as much as I love her that God has blessed me to experience this kind of unconditional and amazing love again.

You are coming into a crazy family little one. But, it is one of love. I hope you will always feel the joy that you bring to those who love you and you experience the faith that brought you into existence.

Love you, Sam. Come out soon, you have your whole life ahead of you and a lot of people who love you and who have waited a long time for you.

Love,

Your Mama