Random thoughts

As I carried my son upstairs to take a bath, he burst into sobs, saying “Trains! Trains, daddy! Traaaaiiinns!” He wants just a few more minutes at his train table before he goes to bed. It still surprises me the things he does that can tug at your heart and these tears - like fat, warm raindrops, streaming down his face - make me second guess myself as we make our way upstairs. I know that, even though he has played with his trains several times today, including here, and at his grandparents’ house, just five more minutes would probably make his day complete.

The tears always surprise me too. They come from a boy whose legs and body are so bruised from just being a boy, that we worry about someone calling Child Protective Services if we ever have to bring him in to a hospital for some reason. But, those bruises rarely, if ever, elicit a peep of complaint or hurt from him, so it usually takes a lot for him to cry.

We’re still working this whole “2 kids” thing out, but it seems as though Noah has his role figured out already. He’s a big brother. Simple as that. Noah still needs to be rocked to sleep, unlike Elliot. We make it through bath time and as I put him to sleep, he demanded to hold Elliot. Mandy briefly deposited him into Noah’s lap as she was telling him good night, and after Noah kissed and hugged Elliot, she picked him up again to leave the room. The sobs started again as Noah decided that wasn't enough time to hold him. I calmed him down after awhile, but it started again as he sang “Rock-a-bye Baby”, which seems to be his song to Elliot during the day.

It's just sweet. No other way to describe it. And it still feels funny to me that I'd even have an opinion at all on the matter. Before Noah, I thought having a kid would be nice, theoretically, and if you had asked me during the first year, I would have told you one was more than enough. But as they become little personalities, it starts to become fun. I spent most of the previous week with Noah (as Mandy was still recovering from her C-section), and had a surprisingly good time. As I watch him interact with his brother, I can see the possibilities for even more fun in the future with two boys.

There will probably be more tears in store in the future, but something tells me these guys may like each other as they get older...

Paul is a great stay at home dad

I was MUCH wiser with my second baby. Paul took vacation when I came home instead of when I was in the hospital. Man, it has been great! Noah is one lucky kid. And I've been one lucky mom and wife. Everyday, Noah has got to do fun things with Paul that are very active. Things I haven't done 100% since I was about 7 1/2 months pregnant. Everyday I've gotten a good nap in with the baby. And everyday he's done a load of laundry and kept up with the house.

He's going back to work tomorrow :(

I think Noah's going to be more upset than I am. Paul is so much better at this than me. At least right now while I'm still recovering and taking care of a newborn. I mean how can I compete with the horsey ride?

I so wish we were wealthy enough that neither of us had to work. Ever.

But, as I sit here feeling sad I am reminded about my sister and brother in law, Laurie and Rafe. He's been gone most of Amelia's 2 1/2 years on deployments and training. He's coming home tonight for a 2 week leave and they are so excited. Only for him to leave again for another 6 months. I'm pretty lucky.

Noah in the bath

All the books talk about bedtime routines and warm baths and calming down before bed. We know, because we read them when Noah was a baby and a bad sleeper. We tried it all, but bathtime, while part of our routine, has never been a time to "wind down". It's wild fun for Noah.

His favorite part of bathtime is letting the water run on his back and getting a massage. He also sneaks in a few drinks of water too. Lately, he's been acting up so bad though. Squirting toys outside of the bath. Splashing outside of the bath deliberately after being told not to, Screaming, Pushing down the drain thing then putting it back up, etc, etc. So he must savor the time he has, because when he continues to disobey bathtime gets cut short (so how long until this actually stops the undesirable behavior.......hmm). He has fun while it lasts.

Getting aquainted

Elliot is still quite the novelty at our house. Wally knows he has another person to keep an eye out for (and on), but isn't quite sure what to make of him yet. Elliot is mostly quiet, unlike Noah at his age, but every so often emits an odd noise out of nowhere. I think it worries Wally, who comes to check on him every so often.

Hey, his feet moved.
Noah has been doing exceptionally well with Elliot, and likes holding him and talking to him. I think it bothers him too whenever he makes those noises.


We still have a little work to do, however, when it comes to parenting skills. When the baby cries, the proper response is not to put your hat over his face. In all fairness, he did try to get him to stop crying before he gave up and came up with this solution.




"Mine turn!!" It was funny watching Noah want to hold the baby while trying to get comfortable. We offered to take him, but he declined. We thought he was going to go to sleep.

An accident just waiting to happen

We'll post an update when it does happen........

Milk Coma

Nothing sweeter than the look of pure contentment a baby has after nursing...

N-Dogg

Hadn't heard from Noah in a while, so I went into the kitchen to investigate. It was quite a site - Daddy's shoes, his Little Gym medal, sunglasses and his makeup bag "hat". Thumbs hooked into his pockets like a cowboy.

Funny thing is, he looks so old in this picture for some reason.

Aunts Sarah, Anna and Sam

This is what's nice about having Elliot's aunts around.

Bathtime Fun

Well it was fun for Noah anyway

Elliot just had a quick sponge bathIsn't he so pretty all cleaned up

Little Gym Show Week

Noah goes to Little Gym every week. At the end of each semester they have "show week" where they show all the skills they learned that semester to family and friends. Then they have an awards ceremony where they get a medal. Both sets of grandparents came to see Noah along with his Aunt Sam.

Warm up time
Doing some donkey kicks during warm up

Parachute play

Balance Beam

Rockin the uneven bars

Exploring time

Doing a stunt with Mr. Robert

Elliot's first outing at 4 days old

Forward roll on balance beam

Not sure what this is called, but he loves it
Award Ceremony

Jumping off the platform in true Noah fashion

With his classShowing me his medal

Elliot's birth story (Paul's perspective)

The first time we did this, I was nervous as a cat. We spent a long day trying to get Noah, and a much longer night once he came. Followed up with a hellish 4 days in the hospital with an ever shrinking room.

This time, I kicked back, took a little nap as they were getting Mandy prepped, took some pictures, posed for a few photos and went home to a nice bed and had the best three nights' sleep I've had in over two years. I really wasn't all that useful...

If it were this easy the first time, we wouldn't have sold all of Noah's baby stuff so fast.

Elliot's birth story (Mandy's perspective)

Paul had time to post a few pics, but we've been understandably pre-occupied this week, so we spared details. For those wanting all those details, here they are from my perspective.

Well it's a lot different to have a scheduled c-section than even a scheduled imduction. First of all it was at noon. We didn't even have to be to the hospital until 10am. WOOT! We were able to leisurely get ready, feed Noah his breakfast, etc without rushing out the door at the crack of dawn. It was nice being able to say good bye to Noah. We left him with Aunt Rara and Charlie and sent them to Pump it Up for some bouncy fun.


A family photo before leaving for the hospital.

We were checked into our "room" which was less than glamorous. It wasn't a labor/delivery room, but a recovery room. I was bummed there was no TV to kill time with. There was plenty to watch with Obama being sworn in at 11am. So instead we twiddled thumbs nervously. It wasn't till after 11am before they really started getting me ready. Why we had to be there so early is beyond me. Paul messed around with his crackberry while I was just tapping my toes.


We got my IV going, got some fluids going and then they collected a bunch of blood samples for the cord blood. We banked Noah's privately, and since we have that insurance policy we decided to donate Elliot's to a public bank, which means it'll go to the 1st person that matches his type that has a need for a stem cell transplant.

Getting the IV in - it took a few tries.

It was getting really close to noon when the nurse announced Dr. P was on his way over. We were still waiting for anesthesia to come get me. Turns out I had a delay because some chick in labor wanted an epidural. I guess I understand. So by the time they brought me back it was probably 12:25 or so. It took the guy THREE times to get my spinal in the right spot. Ouch! It's a weird sensation and I hate it so I was relieved to get it in.

Once it was in, things moved fast! I felt SO much better this time (as opposed to Noah's after laboring all day and pushing 2 hrs). I was alert. I had no pain. No nausea. No exhaustion. Just a little bit of excited nerves.

Compare Noah's delivery:

With Elliot's:

Elliot Henry was soon born and everyone in the OR was saying how big he was, but Dr. P didn't think he was quite as big as Noah had been (9lb7oz). He was right. Elliot was a petite 8lb 10 oz. Paul & I were both surprised. Paul cuddled him and held him up to me while I got stitched up and I was able to hold him in my arms as they wheeled me back to recovery. He was able to latch on and nurse right away and I was alert enough to do it without a nurse this time.

Again, compare last time:

To this time:

My only issue with my recovery was itching. Bad itching. It was from the morphine in the spinal and lasted till the next day late morning. I also had some pain, which should be expected with major surgery, only I really never felt anything but mild soreness with Noah. Still I can't complain.

My hospital stay was much different this time too. Paul was sent home that night to put Noah to bed. I stayed by myself. It was actually quite calm and relaxing. I had helpful nursing staff to help me when I needed it. Noah came with his babysitter for the day every afternoon/evening along with Paul and some family. I had a few friends visit too, but mostly it was just me and my little guy.

The only bad part of this whole thing was being away from Noah for 3 nights. I really missed him and hated that part. But, he was a trooper and did really well. He was excited for me to come home today though. I was being wheeled out with Elliot in his seat in my lap and Noah walked next to me holding my hand smiling the whole way. He definately is "adjusting", but he loves holding baby "Ed-Uh-Wit" with his special "pippow" (the boppy).

Going home...

When we first brought Noah home, Wally didn't know what to think. He seems to have taken Elliot a little more in stride, and just kept an eye on him to make sure he wouldn't pull any fast moves.




Giving Elliot a kiss...

And some advice. "Don't try the broccoli."

"And stay out of my toy room"

"What was that noise? Did Elliot just toot?"

"I'm not changing it..."

Brothers...

Now the real work and excitment begin!