Celebrations

**this post was written almost 2.5 weeks ago. Ooops! A newborn, 2 year old, 4 year old boxer and a husband have my attention right now :)

August is a full month of celebrations for us!

Both boys were born in August, and we also got married in August.

Let me back up to August 12th because (somehow) I forgot (oops!) to blog about it.

This past August 12th, I celebrated 5 years with the man I love! The man that I prayed for so many nights as I laid my head on my pillow at my parents house. The man that could not be MORE perfect for me. I can hardly believe it has been 5 years already! Seems like yesterday we were two kids falling in love (at 16 & 19). People say you can't be "in love" at that young of an age, but I would beg to differ. We went on our first date December 12, 2002 & I knew really quick this was the man I would marry! After our first date we were inseparable (literally!). On August 6, 2005 he got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. We were married one year later!

Happy (belated) Anniversary to us!












Then August 19th we celebrated the birth of our second son! Lots of picture down below in previous posts if you haven't seen them yet.

And TODAY (like I said above this was written 2.5 weeks ago) is our sweet Eli's 2nd birthday!

This past Sunday we had a party for him. It was literally a very VERY LAST minute thing (but shhh don't tell him!). We planned it in two day. We only gave the party guests two days notice, and we ordered the cake the day before. Yea so it was completely thrown together. We (or should I say "I") hadn't planned anything because we didn't know when Caleb would come. We had a blast and had so many more people there than we thought since it was so last minute.

You can find more pictures on Facebook of the party!

I have so much I want to share, so hopefully I will find the time.

Just a couple more of my favorites...

More Pictures

I had a few moments this afternoon to myself and thought I needed to get a good picture of Caleb for his announcement. I really love snapping pictures of this little guy. Nothing like a newborn!

**NEW POST BELOW**

One Week

Today is my original due date and I am VERY thankful to have had Caleb in my arms sooner than that!

This time last week Daniel and I were welcoming our second son into the world. I still pinch myself some days because I just can't hardly believe I am a mommy to two little boys (both under 2 right now!) I always said I wanted a house full of boys, and well that is happening!

It is interesting to me at only a week old how much he has changed already. When they first laid Caleb on my chest and I got to look at him, all I could this was "wow he looks so much like Eli!" Now I find myself not saying that as much. I pulled Eli's 1 week picture to compare it with Caleb's. What do you think?

Eli:

Caleb:

Caleb has truly been a great baby. I thought the transition from 1 to 2 would be hard, but I can say (and this may change) he is just a laid back baby who eats and sleeps well. I really don't remember Eli being this easy.

Eli seems to have much bigger eyes (like me) than Caleb. We think Caleb has more of Daniel's eyes.

At night while all is at peace in our house and the hubs is relaxing, I try and spend some time with Caleb doing kangaroo care. I know he won't do this for much longer so I am trying to take full advantage of it while I can.

Big brother Eli is really proving that he is in love with little brother Caleb. He tries to kiss him and snuggle him all the time (and the occasional running up to him and trying to pick him up all while giving mommy and daddy a scare!) I am trying to do my best to spend quality one-on-one time with Eli. I can tell he misses being the only child at times. Daniel had a "daddy's day out" with him today. They went to the toy store (we had a few final presents to buy for the almost 2 year old!) and then to the park to burn some energy. I think they wore each other out because they are both snoozing away as I type this.

Anyway, life has been really good and the adjustment hasn't been what I expected. I thought for sure it would be much harder (and it might been soon).

I am truly feeling blessed and can't wait to introduce our newest addition to my family next week!

Doctor Visit & Our Day

Caleb is officially 4 days old today. We had his first doctor visit. The boy has gained .5 oz since leaving the hospital on Sunday.

Caleb checked out great. She did say he looked a little jaundice and wanted him to get checked. I can't stand it when they prick his little heel and he screams. Breaks my heart every time. I got a call a couple hours later from the doctor saying that his bilirubin was fine. Thank you Lord! Eli was a little jaundice too but of no real concern for the doctors.

beautiful flowers that were at our door when we got home today!

Other than our doctor appointment (which turned into a 2 hour ordeal because we had to go to the hospital for the lab work because they don't do it at the pediatrician--anyone else heard of this?? we thought it was weird), we had a pretty laid back day. All taking an afternoon nap which was wonderful, played with trains & cars and just enjoying being a family of 4. I am trying to cherish these special moments we have together.

Now back to enjoying this little boy :)

Labor Story

In an attempt not to forget the story behind the birth of Caleb (I honestly don't even think that is possible!), I want to go ahead and write it out. In case you missed it or can't remember, here is Eli's birth story.

This birth story did not go as I thought/planned. I did still go unmedicated, but I did have my water broken instead of letting it break on its own. I had it in my mind that contractions would come, I would labor at home as long as I could and then just make it in time to the hospital to deliver. Wrong, Wrong and WRONG! BUT that's okay :)

Last Saturday I started having irregular contractions. Not really thinking anything of it though because I was just 38 weeks. Then on Sunday while sitting in church, I began to have contractions that weren't really strong but started to be regular. I told Daniel and when we left church, he called his parents to let them know what was going on. They were planning to drive up (about 11 hours) once they knew I was in labor. I kept having contractions, so late that night they made the decision to just come up. They arrived early Monday morning.

On Monday I went to the doctor and was disappointed that I had not really progressed and I was not in labor BUT the doctor said he could come anytime (they all say that :)). After Daniel and I talked about it, we went ahead with the doctors advice to be induced on Friday since we did have childcare. Like I said I REALLY wanted everything to just happen on its own, but I knew the Lord was/is in control, and this was the direction we were to move in.

We waited out all week as I had contractions on & off thinking "is this it"? It was such a blessing to have my in laws here to help out! Seriously it could not have worked out better.

Thursday night rolled around. I started having stronger contractions but decided to go ahead to bed. Friday morning I woke up with contractions (but not enough to think I was in labor). Daniel and I headed out to the hospital while leaving Eli with Daniel's parents. It was so comforting knowing he was taken care of. I think Daniel and I had really both stressed out about who would take Eli (even though we did have so many people volunteer).

We arrived at the hospital, I was still having contractions, got checked in and then they checked me. I was 3 cm and 60 % effaced. The doctor came in at 11:30am and broke my water. Once my water was no longer in tact, everything happened really quick. The contractions became very intense, and the nurse had me on the birthing ball for a bit and then in the rocking chair. I didn't have a rocking chair for Eli, but I must say what a great idea to rock with the contractions. I still stuck to my same method of getting through the painful contractions that I did with Eli. When I knew a contraction was coming on, I would slowly count to 8 or 10 in my head while controlling my breathing. This seemed to work again.

I was 8 cm while still in the rocking chair and began to feel like I had to push. I quickly jumped back in bed for the nurse to check me. I was in between 9 and 10 cm but they told me to hold off pushing through another couple of contractions while the doctor was prepping--OMG when a pregnant woman who has NO PAIN MEDS has to push, well she HAS. TO. PUSH! I bared it through another couple of contractions while that last .5 cm went. Finally I heard the doctor say "okay give me a push". I gave two really big pushes (about 5 minutes) and then saw such a BEAUTIFUL sight--SWEET BABY CALEB! He was born at 2:40pm and was/is absolutely perfect!

I have been asked by quiet a few people if this time was easier or last. Let me just say that when you hear women say that there is no pain like labor, well they are right. Contractions/delivering a child is like no other pain I have felt. At times during both deliveries I felt like I just could not bare it any more. But back to the question...if I am being honest I would say that there is something about going into this not knowing the pain or really what I was doing. With Eli I had no idea the work going into laboring all natural, so I really didn't have anything to "expect". I knew it would be painful, but I didn't know the extent of the pain or how good it felt to finally push. This time I knew all the work and pain that I had to go through. Even though this one was much quicker, I think I wigged myself out. AND I will say it didn't help that a woman was rushed in by the paramedics a couple of hours before I delivered who barely made it to the hospital in time. She was screaming--I mean SCREAMING in pain. I think I just got nervous. Daniel (of course) was wonderful and encourage/supported me through the whole thing. I am so happy I was able to do this again, and yes I will go all natural again if the Lord chooses to bless us with more kids in the future.

So there you have it. Thank you for all the sweet messages. WE FEEL SO BLESSED!

Caleb

We welcomed our second son into this world Friday, August 19th at 2:40pm. All 7 lbs 10 oz of him is ADORABLE! With an all natural delivery and 5 minutes of pushing, sweet boy joined us in this world making Daniel & I proud parents again!

Caleb & I are doing very well. I have already had a quicker recovery this time than last, even forgetting often I had a baby two days ago. Nursing is going great. The little guy eats like a champ & I am much more confident this time around. Daddy is also doing well, & big brother Eli is adjusting to his little brother :)






Will be back with more pictures and labor story!

I Heart Pictures

As many of you already know, Daniel and I are photographers on the side. We wish we could do it full time as we support raise and Daniel finishes school, but we just haven't built the client base in a new place.

But recently our shoots have really picked up which has been a HUGE blessing. Here is a peak of our most recent shoot. We have a newborn shoot of our good friends this weekend that I am looking forward to.

Send us a message if you would like to book a shoot!

I am sorry blog

This blog needs a little TLC, and I have not been good at giving it that. I am spending my days working, working, working (45 hours last week in the office. who knows how many this week) and to be quiet honest, when I get home all I want to do is love on that sweet little 23 month old boy we have AND go for a run outside with the boys. Then of course dinner, bath & bed for little man. It's about 7:15ish by this time when I just sit for a little bit, do my reading (side note--just started a new plan of reading through the Bible) and then off to bed. Yup that's about 9:00 or 9:30. I know ridiculous right? I guess that is how life is at almost 37 weeks pregnant.

So I say all that to get to the point...THIS BLOG HAS NOT BEEN TOP OF MY LIST. I also am still "nesting" trying to prepare for our second boy!

At this moment I am sitting here, propping my legs up trying to rest from our run today (which always feels good might I add) snacking on some peanut m&m's my sweet mom sent in the mail and drinking some V8 fruit juice. I will try to catch you up...

• We had our doctor appointment monday morning. Nothing new to report. I am measuring right on, gained 2 lbs (24 total) and Caleb is head down. That is really about it. We go back on Monday.
• Daniel says this pregnancy has made me very forgetful and I seem to repeat stories to him. I think it is just exhaustion and not so much pregnancy =D.
• This week has been a little different for us. As for mentioned, I have been in the office all week which leaves Daniel home with Eli. Our dear friends had their second baby boy Noah on Monday, so we were privileged enough to keep their older son Caleb. Caleb is about 5 months older than Eli. The boys play so well together. It couldn't have worked out better. While we were getting ready on Monday morning to head to the doctor's office, Daniel got a call from Eric saying they were headed to the hospital. Oh wow! What are the odds they would be delivering at the same hospital that my doctor is at AND we just happen to be going there this morning when Emily was in labor? We met them at the hospital and got Caleb. Noah was born later that day. Eli had his first sleep over--so much fun! It was so cute that the boys slept in the same room together (but NOT in the same bed ;)). Eli was very sad when Caleb left =(.
• As I type this Daniel is taking his last final for the summer. He had a week long class a few weeks ago, but the work is all done at home and on your own. I am ready to have some nights with Daniel before we expand to a family of 4. OH I think I forgot to mention it BUT Daniel got 2 more scholarships!!! Can you tell this wife is excited? He has 4 total, but sadly that is not enough to cover tuition because it is just so darn expensive!
• We get to see family in a few short weeks (or whenever this little man decides to make his debut)!!!
• Eli is growing up way to fast (but that's what all parents say). His vocabulary is really expanding. He is putting sentences together and saying things that Daniel and I think often "where in the world did that come from!" I can't believe he will be 2 on the 30th!
• Our 5 year anniversary is next Friday. We aren't doing anything special unfortunately, but I would be okay if we were welcoming a baby that weekend ;) but I won't hold my breath!
• And like I said...we will be 37 weeks on Friday. I honestly feel like time is dragging, but Daniel is so quick to remind me it will be here before we know it!

Here is a picture I took at 36 weeks 4 days. Again I apologize for the poor quality.

I can barely keep my eyes open, so before this goes south I am just going to stop. Hope to be back soon (sometime). Bare with me...