Happy Birthday to Andrea

Today begins the never ending January birthdays.  It all starts with my sister, Andrea.  Happy Birthday!

2 Weeks

I told Brian that I don't feel like "Wow--Nathan is 2 weeks old already!".  I feel more like, "Wow--only 2 weeks have passed?!".  Ha!  It's been challenging and exhausting.  Not so much the baby as everything else on top of having a baby.  Here are my thoughts on these 2 weeks:
*We've suffered through pink eye and the stomach flu in these short 2 weeks--that doesn't help the stress!  
*I am very, very grateful that I am married to someone who willingly gets right up and helps me--and even tries to let me sleep more. 
 *I think this is the 1st time that I have had a baby and then felt like I was thrown right back into life without a break or extra time to heal up or anything like that.  It's felt a little much at times, for sure!  Trying to keep up with housework, homework, paying attention to other kids, getting Nathan to sleep without being held, catching up with friends (I actually have emails in my inbox that I haven't answered--that never happens with me!)..whew!  Lots to do on a daily basis!
*I have not had to cook, thankfully--we are set for at least this whole month, if not longer.  And I've had help with school drop off/pick up.   
*Nathan is up 2x a night for the most part.  If he goes right back down after eating, it's a wonderful, joyous thing.  There have been nights where he's stayed awake and wanting to be held for most the nighttime and those are rough moments--worse in the morning!  He's only 2 weeks old so I am not expecting much.
*The kids have somewhat "gotten over" the newness and leave him alone quite a bit more than they had.  Samuel still insists on calling him "baby" instead of Nathan.  Diaper changing time is still a big hit--and I can see why.  Just today, Nathan started pooping right when I removed the diaper and in my attempt to clean that up, he peed all over the bassinet.  And this isn't a rare event for this child--I don't know what our problem is--this isn't our first baby or first boy!?  But it's no wonder changing time draws a crowd.\
*The lack of sleep has manifested itself in forgetfulness.  Brian couldn't remember a coworker's name yesterday and today I could not remember the password for our computer.  I had to call Brian at work and ask for help.  It's sad.
*I do realize that this little baby is growing already and it's going to go fast.  This stage is just a short season of my life and I will barely be able to remember it when it's all done, I am sure!  :)  I try to hold him as much as I can and appreciate his little baby self and all his baby ways--including the day/night mix up.  He is a lot of fun!

Baby Pictures

Hunter and Lily (my pictures of them aren't very good w/the digital camera I used at the time--so sad!)

Samuel

Nathan (he looked like this through his whole bath tonight--no crying, though!)

Ready for Snow

Today is my 1st day of being on my own and it's actually going really well.  It was a bumpy start because I did not want to get out of bed but I have to shower before Brian leaves for work so I had no choice.  It's also a school day for Hunter and Lily so I have to be awake for that!  Thankfully, my Dad is taking the twins to school for me and my Mom is picking them up this week so I have a break from leaving the house with all these kids!  Anyway, I actually dressed Nathan in an outfit today so I am feeling proud and he looks so cute in his snow-themed shirt.  Samuel has been playing with play-doh for over an hour now and it's a huge mess but he's having a good time.  I have started laundry, the dishwasher and talked to a friend for 30 minutes about my labor/delivery experience so it's been a fun and productive morning!  :)

1 week appt: back to birth weight!  8lbs, 7oz exactly.  It's funny because we aren't doing a 1 month appointment because apparently Brian and I are parenting pros.  It's amazing how much we've heard the phrase "you've done this before" since we've had Nathan.  The nurses and doctors in the hospital and now our family doctor seem to think we have this stuff down.  Hilarious.  Our last nurse at the hospital had had 4 kids in about 4 years and she was a lot of fun to talk to.  She said people used to think she was crazy, too...so I guess that means people think we are crazy?!  It is really funny to look back in the van and see every seat filled with a car seat and a child.  I look at Brian and we have to laugh.  4 kids! 

Today

Today my baby is 1 week old.  Today is also my due date.  I am so thankful I did not have to go all the way to the end (or beyond it--I shudder to think of that!).  This was actually the longest pregnancy for me--the other ones were born 2 weeks before my due date. 

Anyway, I can hardly believe that Nathan has been with us 1 whole week.  I was even up at 2:15 in the morning this morning--when it all started last week.  :)  Today I am taking Nathan to the doctor for his 1 week check and I can't wait to see how much he weighs and how he is growing!!  So far, Nathan is an easy baby.  He doesn't cry loud, often or long!  Most the time, he goes back down after eating in the middle of the night.  Every now and then he needs extra cuddle time, though.  Overall, he is just tons of fun to have around.  I enjoy him as much as I can knowing that he's my last little newborn and it goes too fast!!

You can see that Nathan has quite the following...

The kids have actually calmed down and stopped hovering so much but they still really enjoy talking to Nathan and watching him sleep and eat and be changed...

Some tummy time.  Brian and I may be a bit more paranoid about head issues since we've experienced the problems with Hunter's head/neck.  Obviously, his issues were more severe but still...never too early to watch the head shape and work on that neck!

This picture shows clearly that Nathan's hair appears to be following after Hunter's style.  The front of his hair "grows backwards"--a clear cowlick!  Samuel has one to a smaller degree but Lily was blessed to not be stuck with one right in front.  It's no big deal for the boys--instant style!--but I know from experience what a pain it can be for girl styles!

And here's what Brian and I are reduced to: (and, yes, these were really taken while we were sleeping...)

I think I may just be too old for this.  I have been nodding off all the time!  Tomorrow Brian goes back to work and I am worried.  I will stock up on caffeine and hope for the best.  :)

Nathan sleeps...

...through this noise of 3 big siblings playing not far from his bassinet.

 

That's a good thing unless he's only sleeping because of his intense exhaustion caused by being up all night long.  This was the 1st night like that so hopefully it's not a sign of things to come.  Yawn.

Proud Siblings