Skele-bee

We’re still a bit young for Halloween at our house. The excitement for the day is often more fun than the actual “doing.” 

EB, be it a long day at school or just too young, was a little lost on the notion of knocking on doors, saying “Trick or Treat” and then running to the next house. Have I ever mentioned that she doesn’t eat sweets? So, why would she ask for something she doesn’t even like? Do you catch my drift? She will gag herself if chocolate so much as touches her lips. I mean, who is she? She is NOT my child. I’d eat chocolate breakfast, lunch and dinner if I wasn’t almost 31 and there wasn’t a magnetic force field between my gut and thighs with chocolate. Oh wait… I do eat it WITH most of my meals. Perhaps there lies the problem. 

I digress…. So, this “holiday” is a little weird to her. Last year she was in the middle of an asthma attack when we forced her out to knock on doors (we’re kind). This year was going to be our year….FAIL. We lasted 30 min.

Nonetheless, I had an ornery bumble bee and a wee little skeleton on my hands. Approprite? I think so considering the sass of EB and the tee-tininess of JBB. It worked.

So, here’s to Halloween 2012.

Where ya been?

I’m so far behind, but I’m back…. I’M BACK IN ACTION.

So, where does one begin? At the beginning? In the middle? At the present? Sigh. While I try and decide, let me just post…. How about chair pics? Stats? Let’s do that!

We just celebrated a two month birthday last week. This boy… there are no words for his preciousness. He is THE spitting image of his sister and daddy. I promise I played a part…evidently, just the hard part. All I can say for this boy is that he has my dimple, but he’s double “dimped,” so he has JB’s dimple too. Which may sound like it negates my dimple, but his double dimped self will melt the coldest of hearts, I tell ya.

1 month chair picture

At one month, this little nugget weighed about 9-ish lbs. (I’m guessing because he was in between visits and I don’t have an accurate count) He was just starting to smile, and unbeknownst to me, was mere days from sleeping through the night. He’s so itty bitty compared to his sister at this point, but no complaining. He’ll beef up soon enough. Have I mentioned how sweet he is? His little disposition is just…well… deliciously sweet.

2 month chair picture

At two months, JBB weighed 10 lbs and 12 oz. He’s in like the 12^th percentile, but in the 70’s for length. He’s so happy all the time. After his two month shots, (consider yourselves warned, new moms… it’s like 5-6 shots depending on your practice) he cried for less than a second and just smiled and smiled. Of course, I wanted to cry, but he was so brave while those teeny legs got stabbed over and over. Just for memory sake, EB got her flu shot while we were there. She called her daddy up so fast to inform him, “My shot was much more hurter than JBB’s.” So… if you’re taking note, one little flu shot is MUCH more “hurter” than five stabs to the thigh…just FYI. However, doughnuts take the “hurter” away. Miraculously.

To help “relieve” the 913 photos on my Iphone, here’s a phone dump too:

Well, that’s a start. I’ll be back.

 

Dimples

It's a family tradition...

A (vigorous) 2 weeker

JBB had his two week appointment today. I was anxious to see his weight so I could "grade" his eating for my sanity. He isn't signing up to be on the line any time soon, but he has gained exactly one pound... Coming in at a healthy 7 lbs 12 oz.

All that weighing will wear a brother out

We left with a perfect report and characterized as "vigorous." I thought I already had one of "those."

My helper also had an appointment... Wanna talk about vigorous?!? She weighed in at a steady 41 lbs. Remember when she was smaller than JBB?

I'm so thankful for happy (vigorous), healthy babes!! I did leave with a "germ" warning... Clearly she has studied EB's chart in depth.

Here and now

Saturday night lovin' and football watchin'.

Home again

You'll have to bear with my iPhone pictures a little longer...

We finally resumed "normalcy" last Thursday when we got to bring JBB home (I'm a week behind because of my technical shortcomings).

He is such a good, easy, sweet baby. Not that EB wasn't, but she came into this world fiery...and...well, as they say, some things never change. However, she is wonderful with him. So far, the honeymoon phase is still in full effect. She starts and ends her day with lots of holding and "snuggling" (poor guy).

Just checking in. All is happy at HOB. There isn't much to his birth story, but when I get my real camera uploaded/downloaded...unloaded (whatever the correct term)... We'll discuss. Bottom line: You better be quick if you wanna catch one of these kids making their grand entrance!

John Baker Black

Speaking of big sister.... Here's a proud one!

She told my uncle this morning as he reached to hold him, "Remember, he's all mine." I'm sure no reminder was needed, but I'm glad she's so proud. She also whispered to me, "Thank you for my baby."

He arrived at 8:05 a.m. weighing in at 6 lbs and 12 oz.

"BSD"

This girl is getting big. Just ask her and she'll tell you that she's soon going to be a biiiiiig sister. Therefore, we had "Big Sister Day!"

Evie may never remember BSD. She may not ever know that her school was closed and I took off so that I could spend a day with just her. Just us. Having a special day before baby brother arrives. She may never think another thing about it. For me, I treasured that day. We had fun. She ruled the day and that was all part of the plan.

We started off with breakfast. She picked Hardee's. Fine by me. Gravy biscuits for the table. After that we got ready for pedis, shopping, lunch and an afternoon at the pool. She opted to have her hair fixed like a big girl, picked out a dress and maybe a touch of makeup. She was SO big.

Off to the nail place. EB had never had her toenails done for real and she was beside herself. I bit my tongue as she picked GRAPE purpley polish complete with flowers, butterflies and silver glitter. Whew. She sat in their special chair and didn't move a muscle.

And so ends the pics from BSD. However, she then opted to pick out a lovey for JBB. Of the 44563 breeds of animal loveys, she picked a giraffe and asked for his name to be monogrammed in "shiny red." We're at that phase, can you tell? Life is....uh.....well, colorful at our house. Purple. Silver glitter. Shiny red. She's the big sister, so bring it on.

We ended our day at the pool, and all was right in her little...ahem.... Big sister world and it made my heart happy. It was a day well worth it. We are spending this last weekend as a family of three, but we are so so so excited to meet this baby boy. It's hard to believe our family portrait will soon change. What a blessing.

Thursday morning breakfast crew

I’ve been at my job for almost seven years…most of that time I’ve met my grandparents for breakfast every Thursday morning at 7:30. My dad used to join us before he hopped on the retirement train. Then, little EB came along and it became a special time each week they could see her and take her to school for me on their way home. Lastly, my mom moved back into the building and started joining us. So, it has been a special time for us each Thursday.

3 months

18 months-ish

I’ve always been incredibly close to my grandparents and always enjoyed that little tradition. I’ve always had such kind bosses who didn’t mind that we sat down and ate in the cafeteria. It’s always just been a win-win. 

I love riding down the escalator and-ALWAYS- seeing them waiting for us. I can literally count on one hand the times I beat them on a Thursday morning. They love to arrive early and speak to folks walking in the building for work. Anyway, I knew there would be a day that breakfast would have to stop….. Insert today. 

Merry Christmas 2011

On a good note, it is the last Thursday before JBB makes his grand entrance and I go on maternity leave. On a sad note, my grandmother can’t tackle getting two into daycare. We may revisit and evaluate that in November, but for now, we are closing out our Thursday traditions. It’s quite bittersweet, but I’m thankful for 1. The blessing of still having grandparents who are so actively involved in our lives. 2. The tradition of Thursday breakfast for the past 6+ years. 3. That special time with them and for them to have that time with EB. 4. The mental keepsakes of all of those mornings rain, shine, busy or not. They are special and will be missed by my coworkers who got to know them, the ladies in the serving lines and many others who got used to them sitting there and speaking. AND... I'm apologizing now to my coworkers that I will no longer have minty fresh breath post-breakfast with my handful of peppermints.

Precious memories!

3.5 years of breakfast with the Great Grands

37 and upgrade 38.3

The end of week 37's picture may have to cover for 37 and 38. It has been a CR-A-ZY past two weeks. We're holding on, hanging out and getting new duct work, counting contractions, hanging sheet rock (from the new duct work), finishing the nursery and waiting waiting waiting.

Ever had to replace your duct work due to horrific mold? Yeah, it was fun. Our air is cleaner than clean now. However, my lungs probably aren't after living through the last 4 months. The silver living, we found that our ducts were clogged with mold (and I quote, "worse mold I've seen in 17 years of this work.") and we could have gone years without knowing. And, we found out before bringing a teeny tiny home. So.... There's that. It's now fixed. We are, for once, cool and have clean air…Take me away, Calgon, straight to Labor and Delivery.

During week 37, we got to get a sneak peek of John Baker at a measurement ultrasound. We haven't seen him since he showed off his anatomy and I think I gasped, "Whoa… He's big... Like... A grown infant." What? He should be. He's coming next week.... If we make it until then. The boy is making some serious progress and we closed out week 37 up most of the night with some stellar contractions and me sitting on the bed wondering if I should call in for parental back up for EB. Thankfully, it all subsided around 3:30. And... I lived to tell about it. If he doesn't make an appearance this week, we'll meet face to face next Tuesday.

If you can make his face/profile out in these pics, you're doing almost better than his own mother.

Also, in week 37/38, we finished the nursery. Nothing like sliding in on two wheels at the last minute... You know, since a three day old is REALLY worried about what's on his walls and if everything is steamed and ironed. Evie and I also participated in a little "Big Sister Day"and had a fun day together, but more on that later.

He may be the most patient person on this planet these days. Bless him.

So, here's to 38 weeks and 3 days. Cheers!! And…A  hurricane. Sigh.