These Little Moments...

Ethan, it's hard to believe you're already 14 days old! Your two-week checkup was this afternoon. You are doing so well and have grown so much already! You are now 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 22 inches long. I was honestly surprised to see that you have gained a pound since birth. Your doctor was pleased with your weight gain and says you're doing great! Your sister loves you so much! She rarely lets me take pictures of her, but she actually asks me to take pictures of you two (and smiles!). Here is a little more about you at two weeks old: -You are eating at least every two hours, sometimes even more frequently than that! -Your umbilical cord stump finally fell off yesterday. It's nice to see a little belly button! We gave you your first bath last night. Gracie kept you warm by pouring warm water over you during the bath. You didn't cry during the bath, but you started crying as we were drying you off and wrapping you in your towel. -You can lift and turn your hea...

I thought I should take a moment to give an update on the Big Sister! I am very happy to say that Gracie seems to be adjusting well to life with a newborn at home. Just as I'd guessed, she is much more concerned with having her daddy's attention than with having mine, so for now, things have been running smoothly. I can tell that she genuinely loves her baby brother. He is the first thing she wants to see when she wakes up in the morning and if he's not in her sight, she immediately asks where "Ethan Brother" is. She checks on him quietly while he's sleeping and when he's crying, she uses the softest, sweetest voice to tell him "It's okay", or when I'm mid diaper change, "Mommy's almost finished". I thought she might cover her ears and get irritated with him, but she's done quite the opposite, even when he's at his loudest. Gracie is always planting gentle kisses on Ethan's head and enjoys holding him briefly ...

My sweet boy is one week old today and what a beautiful week it has been! We're doing better than I ever expected, thanks to my husband's help! I've been able to rest a lot this week and enjoy one on one time with my new baby. Sean has been making Gracie feel extra special this week, which I think has been so important in how she's adjusting so far. Ethan is so sweet. He's a great eater and rarely cries. I have been surprised at how rested I feel each morning now that he's here. I was much more exhausted during those last few weeks of pregnancy. When Ethan's hungry at night, he starts sucking those little hands, which is enough to wake me up to feed him. Sean gets a good burp out of him, we change his diaper, and we're back to bed! The first few nights I was upsetting him by using cold wipes on his little bottom. Luckily, we have a wipe warmer that we used when Gracie was a newborn, so now we have a relatively happy baby even during late night diaper ch...

On Monday, we packed up everything we could possibly need for two children and pulled out of the driveway for the first time as a family of four! Sean and I just kind of looked in the back seat, then at each other. It's hard to believe we're parents of two little ones now, but there is something so perfect about it. Our first stop was the pediatrician's office, where Ethan had his weight check and first checkup. When we left the hospital, Ethan's weight had dropped slightly to 7 pounds, 3 ounces, but was right back up Monday to 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Our little guy checked out just fine and even showed off a little when he was placed on his tummy. He lifted his little head and looked from side to side! I remember his sister refused to show she could hold her head up at all for her first couple appointments, so I found it funny that Ethan was so willing to show what he could do. After his appointment, we stopped by Costco. This was Ethan's first official public outin...

It's 12:45am... I'm sitting comfortably, rocking Ethan, in the same glider I've already spent hours in, rocking Grace. My tiny boy is sleeping, he loves movement, and he loves to be in arms that love him. Luckily, he has both now and I'm enjoying listening to his soft breathing and the other sounds of a sleeping newborn. I love rubbing his head, his hair is so soft. I love kissing his cheeks, and nose, and feet... He's a kissable little guy. I've only spent 5 days with this sweet baby boy on the "outside", but I'm struck by how well I already know him. I love seeing some of what I only felt just days ago. He punches with his tiny fists when he's hungry and kicks both legs out simultaneously when he's mad. I used to laugh at these very kicks and punches when my stomach would go wild with baby movements. I know at some point I'm likely to miss watching him in action in my tummy, but not much comes close to explaining how I feel now that...

We're thrilled to announce the arrival of our son! Ethan Reid June 16, 2011 5:39pm 7 pounds, 9 ounces 21 1/4 inches We're feeling so blessed and doing well! I'm anxious to get home to Gracie, who has already been the sweetest big sister, and we will be on our way in just a few hours! More pictures and a birth story to come...

Well, if there ever was a countdown, I would say this is it! One week to go until Ethan's due date! I had a quick appointment this afternoon and have made just a bit more progress since last week. I'm now about 3cm dilated. I've been experiencing lots of cramping over the past few days. This tends to be the most uncomfortable in the middle of the night. I've been trying to walk daily in an effort to help things move along. I'm tired and finding these last days to be challenging, while also trying so hard to make the most of them with Gracie. Basically, I'm ready and waiting for those first real contractions! Gracie has been doing well. She still lifts my shirt up throughout the day to give kisses to her baby brother. She likes to lay her head on my tummy, then fling herself backwards, saying that Ethan kicked her! She brings a lot of laughter to my days. I'm looking forward to the moment she meets her baby brother for the first time! I have a 40-week app...

My husband is confident. He's determined, speaks his mind, and lives for a challenge. If you tell him something cannot be done, be prepared to be proven wrong. I rarely see him get nervous, for any reason... almost. My 38-week appointment was this morning. As usual, Sean and Gracie were with me, which I love. I was anxious to get to this appointment because I started having uncomfortable cramping yesterday evening, which then lasted through the night and even into the morning. I've experienced a few other "preliminary signs" of labor which have led me to believe that we're coming up on the end here. After talking with the doctor, he offered to check my progress and strip my membranes. This is when I got a little tickled, even as I was sitting on an exam table naked from the waist down, with nothing but a paper sheet wrapped around me. As the doctor began to describe the "stripping of the membranes" process, I had my eyes on Sean. His expressions were...

I've been looking forward to the start of June for some time now. Not only are we currently living in the month my son is due, but I've been excited about celebrating my little guy with my closest friends and family. My baby brunch was on Saturday. It was one of those events that left me feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for those who love Gracie, already adore Ethan, and obviously care a whole lot about me. Being surrounded by those who are always anxious to be a part of the special times in my life, and who together create an amazing support system, left me a little emotional as I tried to thank them for joining me in celebrating the upcoming birth of my son. The brunch was held at my mom's house, and many helping hands turned the morning into the simple, sweet, and memorable get together I had envisioned and hoped for. Our weekend was the perfect way to welcome June, an already steamy, but exciting month for us. We pulled out Gracie's pool on Sunday after...

Gracie and I both had appointments this week and I'm happy to report that we are both healthy girls! Gracie had her three-year check-up this morning. She weighed right at 30 pounds (42nd percentile) and was 38 3/4 inches tall (85th percentile). For the first time, the nurse checked her blood pressure. Luckily, this was nothing new for her since she watches me get mine checked so often! She was also excited about getting weighed and measured. Before we left the house, she asked me if she would get to pee-pee in a cup. Her doctor seemed pleased with how she's doing now as a big three-year-old. There was of course one shot to wrap things up, but Gracie did so well. She told me that the medicine in her leg hurt, and she did cry for a few minutes until we could distract her with a prize. Overall, her appointment was great! I went in on Thursday for the Group B Strep test (which tests for a bacterial infection found in 25% of healthy, adult women). Hopefully, the test ...

I am officially carrying a "full-term" baby! At this point, I'm just counting down the days and anxiously awaiting any signs of impending labor. I'm feeling very ready. Our weather has been in the 90s, which is just not a comfortable temperature for anyone. I've tried waiting until the sun actually goes down to get a 15-minute walk in, and even then, it's sticky and humid and just not comfortable. I do realize that I'm lucky to be nearing the end here, before summer really begins! Ethan seems to be doing very well. I have noticed a slight decrease in his movements and their strength over the past few days. He's still active enough that I am not worried. I think he's just out of room. While Ethan doesn't keep me up at night, my bladder does. I imagine it is quite a sight to see me attempting to literally roll off the side of the bed, while hips and joints pop with those sleepy steps to the bathroom. Sometimes my legs don't feel properly ...