Life with the Reigner's

Judah 2 Months

2015-07-03T11:05:00.001-04:00

Time with #3 goes so much faster than I thought was possible!

Judah is now 10 weeks old and still the happiest, most pleasant, laid back baby ever! He had his 2 month well-check on Tuesday and was 24.009 inches long 82%), weighed 11lbs 15.2oz (29%) and his head is up to 16inches (82%).

He still wears 0-3 and 3 month clothes but sleepers are too short and he can't straighten his legs if I squeeze him in one. We started cloth diapers around 6 weeks and they work awesome for him although he wears size 1 overnight (but will be moving up to size 2 when we finish this pack).

He is my strong guy and loves to stand and Im afraid with how fast time is moving he will be walking before I blink.

He rolled over from his back to belly once and his belly to back a few times. He hates being on his belly and will inch worm and spin all around.

Big brothers love him and he might just be their favorite toy.

He loves to be worn in the ring sling and just tried out the Mei Tai yesterday and that seems to be loved too.

He is a talker and has awesome giggles and is just overall such a happy dude! He didn't even cry after 1 shot!

I think he's going to be my night owl, I like my uninterrupted time with him after the bugs go down, but but I'm hoping he'll chose an earlier bedtime soon!

He had a bunch of first this month, 1st baby shower (baby girl Rife), 1st trip to the cow farm (Oregon Dairy), 1st trip to Marsh Creek and 1st Father's Day!

Exploration

2015-05-28T13:36:00.001-04:00

We had a day with no plans and I've been trying to get a walk in everyday, so instead of loading the boys up on the jogger I had them walk with me. They needed exercise and while I don't think going under 1 MPH counts as cardio for me it was fun to watch them learn and have their freedom.

First we had to find sticks so we could shoot any bad guys we might find. Thankfully Shredder must be out of town.

Then we found a massive amount of ants and followed them back to their home.

We went tree climbing/swinging and mountain climbing too.

After a quick stop at two playgrounds we had to cut our exploration short thanks to someone peeing on the playground and not the tree like he was asked. But we did find a pretty purple butterfly Logan caught on our way home.

I love living life with boys and slowing down to see the every day things I would often just pass by.

Oh, and the mud fight they just had in the backyard! Yikes!

Judah 1 Month

2015-05-27T15:33:00.001-04:00

"Time keeps on slipping, into the future!"

Having 3 little boys makes for a very busy life and it's kind of sad that I don't have as much time to just sit and enjoy this newborn phase. I know now how quickly it goes by and Judah is such a joy that he makes it easy.

He is the happiest, most laid back baby ever! I might have said that about Logan, and I know Noah was laid back (and still is!) but littlest man has them both beat! I barely heard him cry this 1st month and that's with 2 older brothers who love to smother him with 'love'. He'll get a little fussy when it's time to eat or when he has gas. I cut out dairy which has seemed to help with that.

He eats every 2 hours and just started to do a 3-4 hour stretch at night. Thankfully he's a very quick eater and goes right back to sleep at night.

At 5 weeks he was up to 10lbs 4oz and 22.25inches long and his head is up to 15 inches. He's exactly in the 50%.

He's wearing 0-3 and 3 month clothes and size 1 diapers.

He loves being wore in the Moby wrap, smiling, and trying to stand.

He doesn't like tummy time and will shimming himself across his mat.

He celebrated his 1st Mothers Day, a fewLongwood trips, a trip to Lancaster and a bunch of parks.

3 Boys

2015-05-04T15:41:00.001-04:00

I have a lot to update on (including 2 birth stories!) but we are now a family with 3 boys!!!

Logan turned 4 just over a month ago, Noah turned 2 almost 2 months ago and Judah joined our family 2 weeks ago.

I know there are plenty of crazy times ahead and I really want to keep the memories, so I'm dusting off this old blog and am going to try and keep it up to date.

So far the transition from 2 to 3 hasn't been bad. It helps that Judah is the most laid back baby ever and a perfect addition to our family. The older 2 have been a bit tough. Noah is having a hard time not being the baby any more and wants to be carried and is super emotional. He is also in the terrible twos which doesn't help. Logan sees that mom and dad are busy with the other 2 and looks for trouble. He is super quick and sneaky. He also doesn't like to listen and wants to do what he wants.

Loganisms 1.0

2014-06-03T20:43:00.001-04:00

Today, while sitting on the floor surrounded my all the couch cushions, Logan told me he was on a cow farm and a cow had its head in his lap and he was petting it. Too cute!

Then while we were out for our run on the CVT he told me he jumped off the telephone poles/wires and that it (the grass) tickled him.

This kid has the best imagination!

Selfie!

Ordinary Days May 2014

2014-05-28T16:12:00.001-04:00

At 14 months and just over 3 my boys are crazy together. And I love it and don't want to forget it!

One of them makes a body noise (real or imitation) and they both crack up!

Noah copies Logan in everything...while pushing both in the shopping cart this morning L would blow raspberries or make a noise and N would copy. I'd tell L to loud and N would respond even louder!

While racing from the mall playground to the bathrooms with L on my hip he pointed out almost every manikin had no head. And a few had no clothes :-/.

Noah is really starting to walk now finally. It's so cute to watch Logan grab his hands and walk him around. I'm going to miss that, but I'm excited to watch them walk hand in hand.

They are best friends and best enemies. They are forever getting into trouble together.

Happy 1st Birthday Noah!

2014-03-06T08:54:00.001-05:00

( I'm a bit annoyed at blogger as I had a post and now it's gone)

I cannot believe my baby's one!!! This has been one of the craziest years of my life but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

It's true that trails make you stronger and more dependent on God. One year ago I met you and you made me a mom of TWO boys! (Double blessings!)

Noah in numbers:

1 surgery

2 bronchioscopes

3 hours of labor

4 ambulance rides

5 ER visits

6 teeth

18 lbs

34 days in the hospital

365 days of love and joy

Noah,

You bring so much joy to our lives! I can't imagine life without you. You have perfected little brother status, and love to be with Logan and doing (or destroying) whatever he's doing. You the happiest, most content boy as long as things are going your way. If not, watch out!

You are the best cuddler, and will snuggle with anyone.

You take your time and won't do anything until you are completely ready. But when you're ready, you are 110% ready. (Just look at your birth!)

Nursing is still your favorite, and if I try to feed you anything with a spoon you refuse and have to do it yourself. Cheese, oranges and puffs are your current favorite foods.

While you are ringing in your 1st birthday with a fever, In really hoping that its the last sickness as an infant and not your first as a toddler.

You have taught me so much in this past year and I'm excited and thankful we get to embark on a 2nd.

I love you squeaker!!!

Noah 10 Months

2013-12-26T11:05:00.001-05:00

January 6, 2013

Don't leave me behind!!! You want to do what everyone else is doing. At.all.times.

You love to play and giggle and have the best laugh. You are a little jokester my boy and will crack up uncontrollably. You and Logan together are the cutest little trouble makers. You adore your big brother and he adores you. It's so fun now that you two can actually play together and I know it will only get better. Nap times can be rough because you guys team up and I have found Logan in your crib with you laughing and playing. It isn't all wonderful and you fight like brothers, and little dude, you can totally hold your own and tackle and pin like a pro. And if all else fails, you scream. I'd think the world was ending many times a day based off your cry. 😀

This month you have hit a clingy stage and whine and only want momma and hate to sleep. :-/ you also endured another ER visit complete with an overnight stay in the hospital one week before Christmas. You sure know how to scare your parents! Although you and Logan played the cute card and got Popsicles and homemade Teddy's and the hearts of all the nurses. :-)

Mr. Violent with his club arm (IV) so you don't hurt anyone...

Sleep is your least favorite activity and you will scream and scream. Was really hoping for your two front teeth for Christmas, but here we are 2 weeks later and they still haven't cut through! I did get you an amber teething necklace and that seems to help with your teething pain. (1.10.14 and finally cutting through)

You are a silly baby and instead of being afraid of the vacuum you think it's fun and will chase after me and sit in my way and 'pet' the vacuum so I can't move on unless I move you.

You're mostly in 12 month clothing, and were still going strong with the cloth diapers, but you would be a size 3 if we used disposables.

You will be getting your 6 month shots on Monday so we will see how big you are, but based off your 9 month stats I'm guessing just under 18lbs and close to 27.5 inches long. You're a little guy in the 5-10% but you don't look it. I've had plenty of people ask me if you're big lol.

I'd love to get you out of your infant carrier because its just too heavy to carry, but we've had super cold temps lately (Highs in the single digits and wind chills in the negative) but it's too convenient to bundle you up before we go out and just snap you in in a second. Having one kid to juggle putting a big coat on and off and standing out in the cold to buckle in is too much. Again, a van is looking nicer and nicer.

You love to eat anything we are and get super mad when we don't share are sweets. Fruits and carbs are your fave. Any and every. You hate purées, but I have a bunch, so I guess I have to use them to flavor oatmeal and yogurt.

You still nurse about 5-6 times a day, although you just(!!) stopped your night feeds, so we'll see if that drops.

Hammer in hand, ready for any big bro attacks.

You had your 1st Christmas and did awesome! You got tons of Little People and some cars and balls you love. A plastic drum stick is your favorite toy right now, I think because its easy to chew on. Although I could see you as a drummer because you love to hit and bang on things.

You also had your first real snowfall that you got to play in (unlike the snow we were suppose to get on your birth day). Lets just say you weren't a fan.

Oh and you seem to favor your left hand, so we'll see what happens :-)

Noah 9 Months

2013-12-06T20:37:00.000-05:00

December 6, 2013

You my love are 100% mobile and now mr. Trouble. While you started crawling right before you turned 8 months, you were still caution and contained. Now you crawl and climb and won't let anything stop you.

Getting into the kitty food and water is your favorite, and when I put up the baby hate to stop you, you threw a fit! When you get mad, you get mad! You tried to climb the gate, and when that didn't work you tried sliding your/Logan's chair over and use that! I'm telling you kid, your definitely resourceful. (And I thought your brother was/is trouble! You 2 together are going to give me grey hair!)

Since you got quarantined to the living room you speed crawl over to the TV stand and climb up on the DVD player and try to unplug stuff. You know your name, and you know the word 'no'. :-) Logan is a great big brother and helps redirect you. His 'no baby' and 'no Narnar' are the cutest.

All your moving around creates a huge appetite. You are a bottomless pit. Anything and everything gets shoveled in, and you like to do it yourself. About 2 weeks ago you decided that big people good actually is good and will gobble it up. Perfect timing for your first Thanksgiving. You ate a little of everything...turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, bread etc.

Your 9 month check up had to be rescheduled thanks to a crazy snowstorm... The second of three in a week span.

When we finally made it (after a brief overnight hospital stay that I'll talk about in the 10 month post) you weighed in at 17lbs 9oz and just over 27 inches. You're a little peanut in the 4%!!! I don't think of you being that small, but stats don't lie.

You're still right on the same size path as your big bro, but while I was packing up 3-6 months for him you're rocking 12 months!

Noah 7 months

2013-10-14T21:56:00.000-04:00

This month has been so fun!

October 6, 2013

I'm a little annoyed because I wrote everything out and it didn't save :-/

You can sit completely unsupported for however long you feel, and you're getting so close to crawling. You get so upset when you can't reach something and end up moving backwards. You know how to spin yourself around to grab something on the side of you.

Speaking of grabbing you have great pincher skills and can feed yourself Cheerios. We are doing some baby led weaning and you do great and love when I let you feed yourself. You do bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes and baby carrots. Since we started a program this month where we get free baby food you've been eating jarred meats (which surprisingly taste exactly like it should) and some fruits and veggies that I thicken with baby cereal. If you still want to feed yourself so if I make them thick enough ill plop it on your tray so you can shovel it in yourself. It's messy but fun. You my man are a little piggy and in purée terms you eat about 8oz of fruits/veggies and 2-3oz of meat and then Cheerios! That's on top of nursing at least every 3 hours still.

Home measurements 27 inches and 16+ lbs and you wear 6-9, 9 month and 6-12 month clothing. If you wore disposables you'd be in size 3 but in your cloth you're on the middle setting with 4 buttons in the middle.

You got to experience some of our Fall favorites this month going to my home town fair and to Linvilla Pumpkinland (which your brother and daddy are rocking their home page!)

Sleep is something we need to work on buddy. You hit a wall at 7pm on the dot if you aren't in bed. You've slept till 530 on a few occasions but chose not to on a normal basis. 4-430 is your favorite wake up time (and momma's least fave since Dada gets up around 515 aka just as I start to drift back to sleep). But this month we have seen 1,2,and 3 quite often. I'm banking in those teeth cutting through soon or else I don't know why you keep waking unless you just miss me. :-) You take 2 naps a day, the first around 9-930 and the second around 2-230. Although, if we have days when we're busy you just take a series of catnaps.

You love your brother and crack up at him all the time and want to do what he does. He loves you, and tries to play momma to you by constantly telling you "no" and taking stuff away. You also love the kitties and like to pet them. You are a total snuggle bear and I'll take it! You have cheeks that I could munch on all day long and a killer smile to say that you love when I do. You love your attention and will give anyone who wants one a killer grin. Bath time is another new favorite. You can sit and play with your toys and have more fun by yourself then when Logan grabs your toys, but sorry kid, its easier for momma to wash you both at once.

Noah, you are the sweetest, smiley little guy I know! You may be small but you're my little chunkster. You can brighten anyone's day with that whole face grin that you rock. I love you little guy!

Noah Thomas 6 months

2013-09-12T21:13:00.001-04:00

Another month gone! You are now half a year old! Your hospital time is less than 1/3 of your life, so much better than when it was the majority of your life!

I feel like you're a big boy and we get comments on how big you are all the time, but you're actually really small (???) according to percentages at the doctor.
You are 15lbs 2.5oz and almost 25.79 inches long! Which puts you at 10% for weight and 13% for height! The funny thing is that you are only 1oz and less than a tenth of an inch bigger than Logan at this age!

Come here monkey

Mmm monkey taste yummy (or at least feels good on the gums)

I will wrestle you monkey

Love you Mr. Smiles!

Potty Training 1.0

2013-08-01T14:00:00.001-04:00

We are officially embarking on the journey of potty training today, August 1st!

We have been experimenting with it for a few weeks now, but haven't really tried. We talked about (and have for over a year now) and had him sit on the potty, and he has even ASKED to sit on the potty, but it's normaly only for a few seconds and then he says he's all done and hops down.

Well a few nights ago in the bath he started freaking out that he needed a change because he had to poop, so we plopped him on the potty until he went! A few times since he has said that he has to go and for one reason or another never did it again. Although we were at my parents two days ago and had him naked outside playing in the water and he hopped out and ran over to a corner in the grass to pee.

So he has the concept, and knows when he has to go, (he yells for a change right after he goes in his diaper) it's just a matter of setting aside a day or 2 and just doing it.

Que today. It's raining. Like really raining. So we aren't going anywhere. I took his diaper off this morning when we made it downstairs (around 730) and he hasn't had one on since. Yay for less wash for momma on diaper washing day.

We turned on PBS Kids and he has been on and off the potty all morning. Well Noah cried all through his morning nap so I ran upstairs to feed him and told Logan to let me know if he has to go. (My luck he would pee all over the floor while I'm not with him) About 5 minutes later Logan comes running into the room saying "pee!!! peee!!!" So I walk out half expecting an accident at the top of the stairs. Instead I see his potty at the top of the stairs! I laugh and he points at it still saying pee. So I look, and wouldn't you know that there is pee in the potty!!! Silly boy wanted to be upstairs so he brought his potty with him and then had to go, so he went! All by himself!!!

Needless to say, I'm a proud momma over here!

I also realize that this only happened once and doesn't mean much, but it is encouraging.

Wish us luck these next few days!

*Update: As of nap time he has gone in the potty twice and had thunder scare him into an accident once.

Noah Thomas 4 Months

2013-07-06T10:33:00.000-04:00

July 6, 2013

Well mister big boy, you're another month older and bigger!

You had you're follow up with ENT finally and they said you look great! There is a less than 5% narrowing in your throat! Yay! I stopped all your meds a little before that because we were both d.o.n.e. with them. Once all those steroids were out of your system man have you grown!!! We don't have your appointment till Thursday but I'm guessing your about 25+ inches long and around 15 pounds. ( 14lbs 6.7oz and 24.51 inches) It's funny because that's what Logan was a 6 months! I'm not used to lugging such a big baby around!

At least you are strong too. You still love standing and started using your exersaucer this month with a pillow under your feet since you can juuust barely touch the ground. I think you like the freedom. You also rolled from your tummy to your back once. You hate your tummy and while we don't put you on it a lot, you spend your time trying to crawl, not rolling. You're getting there, I find you spinning yourself around and in a different than I laid you. While you never rolled back to belly (in guessing because you hate being on your belly) you can control your movements extremely well and will purposefully roll to your side to hang out before deciding to roll back.

You hate to be alone. You love being in your Baby Hawk being carried around by momma. (Actually Dada put it on once too)

You are all smiles and have the best giggle ever! You love your big brother and can't wait to play with him.

You rock at grabbing thing and pull your binky in and out of your mouth all the time. You also talk a lot.

The monthly shots:


Photobomb Brother Compare Logan at 4 months here

Noah's Ark 2nd Birthday Party

2013-06-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

For Logan's 2nd birthday we decided to do a Noah's Ark theme. He was turning 2, we were going to be a family of 2 kids, and we were hoping the new would be a boy and he would be named Noah (it's a meet the baby party as well).

The Friday before, both our moms and Kev's sister came to help with the 2 boys and making decorations and setting up.

In the dining room we hung clouds cut out of poster board with rain drops falling, an ark with animals traced on butcher paper, burlap banners for both boys (that are now in their room) and photos from his second year of life spelling out T-W-O. They are on foam board covered in burlap so we can use them again and they weren't too heavy to hang on the wall.

We had the food and drink tables in the dining room.


Rain water (blue gaterade)

"Sea foam" aka whipped jello, "Be fruitful and multiple" fruit salad

Animal feed aka veggies and dip

"Son of Ham salad"

"Ark bark" aka peanut brittle and zebra preztels

Animal cookies in an ark

Rainbow cupcakes "God's promise cake"

Rainbow candies

The rain clouds and rainbow in the living room.

"rain clouds" in all the corners of the living room

And of course cake time

The birthday boy sneaking treats

Add caption

No hesitation this year

Do I have something on my face mom?

I wish I had more photos from the party, but that was the night we took Noah to the ER for the first time (before our 16 day stay at CHOP) so I was a bit preoccupied.

One of Those Days

2013-06-07T12:00:00.001-04:00

*Please note that I'm not complaining. Just freezing time for me to look back and say while I miss the time the boys were young, I don't miss the crazy. Or compare to the teen years and wish these times back :-) *

Today is one if those days where it's raining all day. One would think it would be perfect for sleeping in but with a toddler and 3 month old that doesn't happen.

After a 330am feed and a 5am binky call Noah was up and ready to eat and play by 630. Before he finished eating I hear Logan calling for momma.

Once downstairs its the normal juggle of getting breakfast, changing the boys, feeding the kitties... Logan has figured out how to turn on both the TV and Wii and switch the input so he can watch Choo-Choo, Mickey, cars, or bob. I fight with him that he isn't watching TV before breakfast. Then while I'm sitting on the floor with Noah, he keeps shoving different books literally in my face. While I'm trying to read it to him I'm distracted with trying to calm the baby. He hits me. Time out #1.

I feed the baby Logan hits again and gets another timeout. Noah falls asleep and before I stand up from the floor Logan jumps on my legs crushing my bad ankle into the floor. I tell him "no", and 2 seconds later he's jumping on my shin. Another timeout.

With the baby sleeping I do what any parent who wants to keep their sanity does and turned on Mickey for him so I could get some cleaning done.

I get the floors all swept and mopped before the baby is awake and hungry again. (3 month growth spurt anyone?) of course Logan doesn't like that and hits the baby so I take him upstairs and stick him in the crib so I only have to hear him cry but don't have to worry about him.

Well oops, I forgot to put his side back up from when I changed his sheets and he figures out how to climb out.

Oh I forgot to mention that somewhere in this I thought I'd be fun mom and build him a tent in the living room. After explains a few time we play under not on it, he throws something on it and dives after it, falling to the floor, bringing the tent down with him. He decides the clothes pins are more fun and proceeds to break all 8 of them.

Both boys need a change, and Noah needs a new outfit. After what seems like forever I finally get my normally happy baby to calm down. Logan takes that ad his cue to jump down and kick the baby in the head.

I don't have to say anything, just stand up and Logan is running up the stairs and climbing into his crib. I put the side back up and he loses it. Now I have one crying upstairs and downstairs. I get Noah back to being my happy, smiley baby and I go talk with Logan.

He's super cute and when I ask him why I put him in his crib he said "kick. I kick baby". At least he knows what he did.

It's been such a long morning already and I forget when it was that he kept unplugging my phone from the charge, it was when I was feeding baby at some point. And then he took my iTouch and when I caught him proceeded to throw it across the room.

Oy.

And now it's lunch and there is only one piece of bread left and its crust, hopefully he won't notice. Oh, he just took the tongs out if the drawer and did something to Noah with them. Time to calm a baby and stick a toddler in a time out....again.

PS did I mention the glass of water he found and it a spoon and his arm in and spilt on the couch and then all over the kitchen floor? Or the cup that the fat cat knocked over? My floors all got a double scrubbing today :-)

But moments like this 30 second snuggle makes it all worth it

Failed tent... And the tongs

Cell... At least he plugged it back in

I didn't pee my pants...a little someone did it for me :-)

Noah 3 Months

2013-06-06T18:20:00.000-04:00

Killer eyes

And a killer grin

My baby's 3 months already! And for the first time we get to do the at home monthly photo shoot. Both 1 and 2 months were done quick on the iPhone in the hospital.

I know I have lots of catching up to do, like his birth story, and hospital saga and Logan's 2nd birthday! (How is he 2 already!?!??!)

Noah,

You are such a bright-eyed, happy baby! You rarely fuss, and when you do it's a 90% chance it was something your brother did. The other 10% is because I didn't feed you soon enough :-)

You are still eating about every 2 hours but at least once a day stretch in a 3 hour. At night you are finally up to a 6-7 hour stretch, which is so nice!

You've been going to sleep between 830-930 and if it's on the earlier side of the 8 o'clock hour I'll wake you to feed around 10 when I go to bed. Then you wake up around 4am, eat and go right back to sleep till 5ish when you start to stir with Dada, and I give you your binky and you are back out until 6 when you eat again and then are up for the morning. Logan is normally up around 6-630 as well, so we have an early start to our day around here. You are still in your bassinet in the pack and play in our room. Brother refuses to move out of the crib into the big boy bed. I'm thinking you are ready for your own room soon though, as soon as you drop your 4 am feed.

When you were born I thought you were going to be an awesome sleeper because that's all you wanted to do, now, not so much. You go down for your 1st nap around 930 and depending what we are doing it might only be 1/2 hour long. You love your little cat naps and will take many throughout the day. Long naps are typically only when we are out and about. Most of your naps are spent in your bouncy seat so you can be outside since that's were brother wants to be 24/7 now. If we are inside it'll be in the swing, or occassionally on your play mat.

You have been awesome at tummy time. Even though you didn't get much of it your first 6 weeks of life, you are rocking it like no other. You have yet to roll, yet I will find you in a completely new position then how I laid you. You look like your trying to crawl, and your feet can push, but you haven't figured out the arm thing yet. You have a few more months to figure that out :-)

You can also sit and stand like whoa if momma or someone helps stabilize you. We just broke out the Bumbo seat today and I think you like the freedom. Just like your brother, you like to be facing out and seeing what's going on. Very nosy.

You aren't a fan of bath time, although now that you lay in your little tub it's a bit better that a sponge bath, but as soon as I start to wash you start to scream. Logan loves to help, and Kobe loves to watch.

You babble all the time and laugh too. I really think you understand us sometimes. You have an awesome sense of humor and your facial expressions kill us. You are very animated. One time I told you "no yogurt" because your brother was pitching a fit for yogurt and you immediately went from a happy baby to crying, just like he was. Then the other day we were laying in the yard on the blanket and L was playing with a ballball on you and lost it and blamed you. We didn't see it until later when I went to move you and asked if hid it from him and the smirk on your face told it all.

You love being in your Moby wrap, nice and close to momma and it puts you to sleep everytime. That's how we go shopping just the 3 of us. Logan gets the cart and you get the wrap.

You are just about out of 0-3 and 3 month clothes and have been wearing 3-6 and 6 month no problem. I'm sad to put the away yet since you didn't get to wear them much. You have been in cloth diapers about a month now and still wear size 1 in disposables, but really should be in a 2, but we have a bunch that need to get used up before that happens.

No clue how big you really are, we'll find out in a week when we go back to CHOP for hopefully your last check. I'm guessing around 13 pounds and close to 23 inchs.

And if you want to compare, here's Logan at 3 months.
(Which reminds me that you are a crazy drooler as well, and love YOUR fist!)

And photos :-)

The road were on

2013-05-11T09:22:00.001-04:00

It has been 6 weeks that our simple, 'easy', blessed life took a complete 180. Not to say that we haven't been blessed in the past 6 weeks, because we have! So much so! God has taught us and grown us so, so much and has used his people in doing so. It is amazing to see the body of Christ rise up and see His people answer His call to serve.

6 weeks later and countless nights in the hospital and so many more sleepless nights, I am beyond tired. Not just physically tired but emotionally and mentally as well. It's draining watching your baby fight for his life and then continue to struggle and go through test after test and have risky procedures and there is nothing you can do. No time to really stop and think, just relying on the doctors. It helps to know that we are in the best hands with the best doctors and nurses in the best children's hospital in the nation. But it doesn't make it any easier.
I just want (need!) some rest.

Yes, it would be nice to get a solid 8 hours of sleep, but I know with a newborn that doesn't happen and I was prepared for that. I want rest from everything else. I want to go. Somewhere. Anywhere. Away from here, away from worries, away from everyday life. I just want a break a chance to breath and relax.
If it wasn't for Gods strength to carry me through and the prayers of others I would have broken down a long, long time ago. Every time I feel that I can't go on, can't do it any more, I get an extra boost. It might be from a text or phone call, or news from a doctor or just something from deep in me from the Holy Spirit.

Guys, prayer is real! Not that I didn't know that before, or believe it, but its different when you actually physically FEEL it. I can't explain it, I just hope that all of you get to experience it some day. I don't wish anything bad on you, but its awesome to be able to feel the love of others and God.

I want to thank y'all for helping to carry us through this time and for your continued prayers as its not over yet. I look forward to the day it is though! And an super thankful that we will hit a time when this is in our past. So many families we meet don't get to be that lucky.

This post went completely a different way than I had originally thought. I wanted to talk about missed milestones, and not having a 1 or 2 month photo shoot from being in the hospital. At least I have a good excuse for not having as many baby photos for Noah. :-)

Speaking of photos...

It Sucks

2013-04-01T10:06:00.001-04:00

There's no way around it, it just plan sucks. No parent should have to go through it, yet as I look around so, so many are. It's just not fair. Babies are meant to be cuddled and loved on, not strapped to 20 thousand machines and getting poked and prodded every hour.

Having another kid at home makes it that much harder. How can a parent chose between 2 kids? You have a newborn fighting to breath and who should be solely reliant on you, and you can't do a thing for them. And then you have a toddler who is aware that you aren't around and is misplaced from his home and routine. How do you choose?

You have doctors who freak you out by throwing everything at you and then don't tell you things that do matter.

And then you think about the future and get yourself into a whole other
mental mess.

There are so many verses out there about worrying and how God doesn't give you more than you can handle, which are nice truths to know and hold on to but that doesn't change how you feel as a parent

Very fitting that this happen over the Easter holiday when God had to watch his son suffer. How Jesus took on all our crap because of how much He loves us because there is nothing more I would love to do right now than take this away from Noah.

Thanks for listening to me vent and for all your prayers. They truly are being felt.

Noah this morning on his new CPAP machine getting a sonogram of his heart.

How's it Going?

2013-03-22T09:43:00.001-04:00

That's the question I get all the time now. Adjusting to life with a newborn can be challenging. Adjusting to life with a newborn AND a toddler? It's a different kind of challenging. It's more about prioritizing and learning how to juggle the needs of 2 kids than the initial figuring out what to do.

To me it's been an easier change than when when we just had Logan. Now I didn't say it was easy, but a different kind of challenging. Noah's easy. He eats and sleeps (well up till a day or 2 ago) it's the testing 2 year old that I have my battles with.

Not getting my required 8-9 hours of sleep doesn't help my patience with him either. I really can't complain. I've had it easy. People were shocked that I had both boys out on my own by day 8. For me it's easier to get out than stay in.

It isn't a cakewalk though. We have our problems. Take today for example. I think Noah is going through a growth spurt. In the 12 hours from last night to this morning he ate 8 times! And every time I laid him down he was awake within 5 minutes wanting to cuddle. Needless to say this momma didn't get much sleep.
As he started to stir this morning Logan started yelling for me to get him out of his crib. So I freed L and decided I would quickly go to the bathroom and put my contacts in before I fed the baby again. Noah didn't like that and was full out screaming by the time i picked him up to changed his diaper. In the mean time Logan let both cats in the room and they were wreaking havoc wanting their breakfast. Of course something was bugging my contact so bad I could barely open my left eye that I had to put a starving, screaming baby back in his bed while I tried to clean off my contact with 2 cats on the bathroom counter begging ie. rubbing all over me for food.
Then out of nowhere Logan starts crying and grabbing his diaper yelling ouch!!!

I shove the contact back in my eye, scoop up a screaming baby and follow the toddler across the hall to his room for a change. As I'm changing him I notice something isn't right. We decide its best to have some naked time. I feed the baby and put him in his swing still awake and then feed L and myself. As I finish baby wants to eat, again.
Toddler wants to sit on potty and I'm a happy momma. 5 minutes later he wants down without doing anything. Next thing I know there is pee running down his leg and all over the floor. Time to clean up.

Everything seems chill for a moment and I decide to cut up the pineapple that has been on our counter all week. 2 minutes later I hear a crash and hear Logan crying. I run out to see blood on the couch, on his face and the floor! Thank goodness it wasn't serious and he was asking for the pineapple before I had him all cleaned up.

Did I mention that was all before 10am? Oh and that the cats spilt not one but two cups of water?

So when you ask how we're doing and I say "good", I'm not lying and it doesn't mean we have it all together. It just means that in comparison to how it could be going its good. That and I haven't shed any tears yet that day. :-)

These 2 make everything worth it :-)

What did your kids (human or fur) do today?

Noah Thomas

2013-03-12T19:12:00.001-04:00

Early Wednesday morning on March 6th we welcomed Noah Thomas into our family! He's a big boy just like his brother weighing in at 8pounds 10ounces and 21 inches. He was considered 4 days early but going by his size I think his ultrasound due date was more accurate making him 1 day late.
It was a very quick delivery but you'll have to stay posted for the birth story.

We are completely in love!!!

30 Weeks!

2012-12-30T17:20:00.001-05:00

Umm what?!?!?! How the heck am I at 30 weeks already?!?!?! I haven't published a preggo post since 20 weeks. I was at the halfway point, now I only have a 1/4 to go.

Things have been going pretty well. Aches and feeling preggo have slowly been creeping in, but not enough to complain. If I clean too much or am on my feet running around (like I did before Christmas trying to get the house together) I exhaust myself and have brought on some BH, but nothing major thank goodness.

I took my glucose tolerance test a few weeks ago and failed it :-/ Which resulted in me having to take the 3 hour test a few days ago. I have my next prenatal appointment this upcoming week, so I'm praying I don't hear anything about it. I also only gained 1 pound at my last appointment, and according to the scale this morning I've only gained about a pound since then, so I'm hoping I don't get yelled at.

How far along: 30 weeks

Total weight gain: About 16.5 pounds!

Baby is the size of: A butternut squash (again)

What's going on with the babe: About 3 pound and about 17 inches long head to toe...crazy to think that the babe is going to put on another 5 pounds give or take if he/she is going to weigh close to what Logan did! That's like 1/2 a pound a week!

Maternity clothing: I'm home most of the time, so I live in my normal sweats, but when I go out, maternity pants are almost like sweats :-) I was *finally* able to find a black belly band so I'll be able to wear my normal jeans a bit more. (Side note, at 27 weeks I was actually able to BUTTON a pair of my normal sized jeans!) My tops are a mix of maternity and normal.

Sleep: Surprisingly it's been pretty good, aside from the heartburn. My left side is the best, which is funny because with Logan it was my back, basically sitting up.

Movement: Has definitely been picking up! Kev can feel it like crazy and it's fun to watch my belly dance.

Cravings/Aversions: Christmas cookies? Honestly, I really haven't had any.

Symptoms: The normal aches...mainly my hips, but if I hold Logan to long my lower back starts to hurt. Although I think a 28-ish pound toddler would do that to anyone :-) Heartburn has got it's grip on me as well. I think it's almost every night that I have to take a Tums. No fun, but not the end of the world...only 10 more weeks of it!

How this pregnancy is different than the first: Mainly having a toddler...life revolves around him, just like in his pregnancy, life revolved all things baby, now it's all thing toddlers. I feel bad that this kid is getting neglected already. I also feel more preggo but I think that goes along with what I just said.

How's the big brother was this week: He got his toddler bed for Christmas and took his first nap in it! He lasted about 40 minutes, which is fairly close to a normal nap, so I'll take it. Temper tantrums are becoming more prominent over every.little.thing. He copies everything, which is cute, and he's big into saying 'ouch' and trying to get you to kiss whatever he might have hurt.

The best moment(s) of this past week: Christmas! We have had lots of time with family and it's been awesome!

Don't mind Logan's toys that have migrated to our room or the unmade bed

Part of me wants the next 10 weeks to fly by so I can meet this little person and begin to feel normal again. But the other part of me wants it to take it's good old time so I can enjoy my time with Logan and as a family of 3...not to mention that I said I wasn't doing anything baby-wise until after Christmas, which means I have to get my butt in gear and get things pulled out of the attic and sorted and washed, and figure out what we need.... ahhh!!!!

And if you care to compare here's my 29 week post with Logan and my 31 week post.

An iWhat?

2012-11-23T09:02:00.001-05:00

Everyone these days seem to be obsessed with having some sort of an Apple product. If not they have a smartphone of some kind. An then you have me. Living in the dark ages with a phone that's circa 2009 and not only doesn't have any Internet capabilities but also only has an 1 inch screen!

Luckily I am blessed enough to have a younger brother who has recently updated his phone and generously handed down his old iPhone to me! I don't have an internet plan so I can't use it as my phone but as long as I have wifi it works great!

So now I can join all the cool kids and have an electronic to play on :-) Instagram here I come!

Now to figure everything out...

While the little one trashes his room...

20 Weeks with Baby #2

2012-10-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Can't believe I'm past the halfway point already!!! This pregnancy is going way to quick! Not sure if I'm ready to take care of 2 little ones yet.

How far along: 20 weeks and 3 days! (Or 21 weeks going by the baby measurements)

Total weight gain: As of my appointment last week I was up 8 pounds!

Baby is the size of: A banana

What's going on with the babe: About 10.5 ounces and about 10 inches long head to toe and starting to swallow

Maternity clothing: I've tried to wear maternity pants a few times and they just don't work! They are constantly falling down and are baggy around my legs and butt. Much rather stick with the belly band or even some normal pants still! Shirts are all pre-preggo

Sleep: It was pretty good for awhile there, but now I'm restless. I've been tossing and turning the past few nights. And that's not an easy task! lol

Movement: Not as much as Logan, but I feel her 'swimming' around occasionally. Especially at night when I lay down. I guess it's the only time I'm not running around chasing a toddler :-)

Cravings/Aversions: Candy corn pumpkins. I'm just blaming that on the babe, because I always get it this time of year :-)

Symptoms: The normal aches...mainly my hips, but if I hold Logan to long my lower back starts to hurt. The exhaustion is finally letting up, or maybe I'm just getting used to it? Oh, and still peeing all the time!

How this pregnancy is different than the first: This kid is riding a lot lower than Logan did. Also, I can't stop and enjoy every step, I'm busy chasing after the kid that isn't permanently(for now at least) attached to me. I remember hitting the halfway point with Logan and being so excited and couldn't believe it. With this poor kid, I woke up and was like 'oh halfway, YAY! Okay, time to make breakfast and do some laundry and then we have to...'

How's the big brother was this week: Big brother has had a rough week. I don' know if it's a cold, or teething, or a growth spurt or what, but he's been a bear. We have meltdowns all the time, but on an up note he's been napping longer. Yay!

The best moment(s) of this past week: Seeing 'FALL' We went up to Springton Manor and it was gorgeous! Oh, and we got our ultrasound today! ;-)

Baby was being stubborn or shy and wouldn't give us a profile pic :-/ We do have a creepy one of her looking at us though :-) Heartrate was at 156 and she loved waving hi and playing with her hands!

I'm looking forward to: Seeing my SIL this weekend who's a month ahead of me.

And the bump...

I feel super thick so don't judge :-)

Oh, and the link to my 19 and 21 week post with Logan

Fall in Full Force

2012-10-22T17:38:00.001-04:00

This weekend we ventured out to Springton Manor, not once but twice! We are so blessed to have so many wonder parks and places around here, that we often (never!) don't make the hike out there.

Saturday we met up with Logan's BFF Anthony to take some photos and explore. Logan was in a foul mood to start, but was having too much fun and didn't want to leave 2.5 hours later! Sunday we went back out with the Smith's since The Local Grind and Ka'Chi were working an event with Relay for Life called Bark for Life, so of course we had to go to show our support.

(If you're one of my photographer friends, please don't judge the photos! Do you know how hard it is shooting on manual when the sun is constantly in and out and kids are running in and out of sun/shade? Of course you do :-) )

1st glimpse of the farm

Crazy hair!

Wishing his sibling was there to play

Anthony sharing his planes

Meltdown, one of many

All better after some bribing with snacks

Looks like he could be a big kid!

What's going on over there?

Gimme!

Hi blue eyes :-)

This baby was my favorite! So cute!!!

Watch out big papa's watching him

Checking out the shaggy cows/bulls

Play!!!

Do you see that!?!?

Whatcha starin' at?

Shoveling food in his mouth

Aww! Anthony modeling Logan's new hat

Cheese! (Seriously, don't these two have the best eyes?)

BFF's

K, I'm done!

Shortie

Gotta say hi to the puppy

Saw big kids feeding the horse and wanted to do the same

Amy feeding the horse for Anthony

Logan and I feeding the horse

Don't know how to flip this guy

Is it easier to look through the bottom?

What do you see?

Anthony

Logan

I can crumble the leaves!

Me and my boy! Sad blogger keeps flipping it

Rock collecting

Rock phone

Timeout spot :-)

So sad the focus is off on this shot!

What mom leaves the park without receiving some sort of gift from their son?

Maggie showing her mom the sheep and goats

Ooo a goat!

No fears! Petting the goat

Sheep stare down

I could live with this view!

And this one

Look guys I'm walking!

Playing around waiting for dadda to pack up

If you're local you have to go play there soon! We had so much fun!

A few photos from last Fall's photo shoot...amazing how much he changed in just a year!

Lampeter Fair 2012

2012-10-06T17:33:00.002-04:00

The end of September always marks fair time! For a good chunk of my life I would be there Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. :-) Then I went to college and got a real job. Now that we have Logan, we go out on Friday night. It's fun to run into old friends, see the animals, watch Logan experience what I did, and see the kids sucking helium and walking around in herd, and remember the time that I was that little doing those things.

You can't go to the fair and not eat! First of all, this is Lancaster we're talking about. Homemade yummy goodness! Second of all, it's a fair. :-) Logan enjoyed his fair share this year. (Sidenote: judging by his diaper in the morning he had MORE than his fair share)

Shoveling in the hot dog

Dangling feet

Stolen from my mom

Mmm milkshake!

Milkshake mustache :-)

Then we saw the animals


Baa-baa's

Not so sure about the sheep

I got your back dad

Baby goats

Checking out the goats

Bathtime after being sheered...gotta be cold!

"Let's go over there!"

Grandpa taking Logan to the next moo-moo

Hello cow

She was obsessed with licking Kev

Family! (Nice face Mark!)

Rammy?

Funky looking chicken

The goat wanted Logan, but he wasn't having it

Llama, llama missing his red pajamas

Saw some trackers and walked around (by this time it was totally dark so sorry for the yellow lights)

Found a yard stick and all was right in the world again

Not wanting to sit...at least he wasn't crying like last year

Time to keep moving people

Sunset and fair craziness

Tracker with dadda

Balloon obsession

Watched the cattle roping

Best view when your little

Or through the gate

Stubbornness

Had my 50mm lens on, so seriously this close!

Trying to get 'em

Herding 'em

Sleepy boy...tired out from all the fun

Love my hometown fair :-)