The purpose of our family blog is to share our life journey with family and friends. Our family consists of Ben and Barbara (married Dec 2002), Caroline (born Sept 2006), Andrew (born Feb 2009) and Dixie (our dog). We hope that you will enjoy following us and all of our adventures and mishaps!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Easter Fun!

We enjoyed celebrating Easter as a family this year. We started off the Easter week by taking Caroline to our church's Easter celebration where she got to learn about the real reason for Easter through interactive centers and watching a drama performance. Afterwards, Caroline was able to partake in the Easter egg hunt for her age group. Caroline enjoyed picking up the colorful eggs, but was a bit confused when it was all over; she even asked me, "Where did all the eggs go Mommy? I want more eggs." She didn't want to join the others for the balloon send off (symbolic of Christ's resurrection) because she was afraid she might miss finding the rest of the eggs :)


On Easter morning Caroline and Andrew awoke to find that the Easter Bunny had hopped by and left them lots of goodies in their Easter baskets. Caroline's favorite treat was a play bottle and sippy cup for her baby doll. Typically, Fluffy (a bunny she has had since she was 4 months old), is always by her side....but, just like a two-year old, Caroline decided on Easter of all days to put Fluffy aside for her favorite baby doll. She would not take her bunny to church on Easter morning, instead she insisted on taking her baby (who would need feeding and burping during church).


After church, we headed to my parents' home in Winder, where we enjoyed a great meal and celebrated my birthday (yep, it happened that dreaded day came again and I turned another year older). Caroline was delighted to discover that the Easter Bunny also found time to drop by Nana & Papa's house. And then when Gigi & Papa Joe dropped in, they came with the baskets that they found for Caroline & Andrew at their house. Yes, before you think it or say it, these kids are spoiled (3 Easter baskets in one day)!!



Caroline finally got into her very own Easter egg hunt at Nana & Papa's.

Andrew slept through most of the festivities, but he seemed to enjoy his First Easter.


Note: Andrew really was not as big as he looks in these pictures. He was wearing an outfit that, because it was too big, gaped out on him making him look extra pudgy.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Picture Perfect Moment

I hope to get a posting about Easter up soon, but in the mean time, I wanted to post this adorable picture of Caroline and Andrew.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Bottling Time

Why is it that six weeks felt like an eternity when you were waiting for school to let out for summer, Christmas to arrive or your wedding day?

And yet, as I watch Andrew grow, six weeks seem to have just passed me by while I'm left wondering what will I remember of this time I've spent with him.

I hope I remember the first time he stuck his tongue out at me (as I'm sure it will not be the last).
The way he sometimes, even without knowing it, smiles at me as I catch his eye.

His "old man face"...a wrinkly scowl he displays from time to time.

And when he towers over me, will I remember how little he once was?

I hope I will remember all of this and so much more. For I am tucking away little memories of this precious time and instead of fretting over what I cannot capture in a journal, on film or video, I am living each and every moment I have with this little man of mine.


Quick update on Andrew:

He is doing great! At his 1 month visit, he weighed 8lbs 6oz. We did have to take him to a Pediatric Cardiologist for an echo and EKG due to a slight heart murmer...and thankfully, that is all it was a "slight" murmer (no follow-up needed). God has blessed us with a healthy baby boy who by all accounts is doing well. He is very active and is always on the move --diapering and bathing him are challenges as he likes to kick and move so much. His sleep habits are where they should be for 6 weeks anywhere from 7hrs then 3 hrs or two stints of 4-1/2 to 5 hrs at night (I really can't complain). He seems to only cry when he has gas (which is often .... again total BOY!), is tired or hungry. Caroline continues to love "Baby An-rew" and can't wait until he is big enough to play "chase" with her.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Andrew's Birth Announcement


Oh the things kids say...

Caroline is getting more and more clever with her come backs these days. Caroline has always been a child that enjoys her sleep...nap time is never a struggle for any of us, HOWEVER... On Friday when I tried to put Caroline down for a nap, she just kept singing and talking and calling out for me. One time I was feeding Andrew and kept hearing her call my name and saying something, but I couldn't make it out. When I was finally able to go up and check on her, I was shocked to hear what she wanted...she wanted her hairbow taken out of her hair. She said she couldn't sleep with it in (and she couldn't take it out??).

About 15 minutes later, she started singing at the top of her lungs..."Oh McDonaldS had a farm." When I went back in for the like 10th time to check on her, I asked her why she wasn't asleep, and she looked back up at me with her big, blue eyes and in a very "duh" way said, "because my eyes are open Mommy!"

Enough said....so, I let her get up.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Andrew's 1 Month Birthday

Today we are celebrating Andrew's one month birthday. The days truly have flown by. I am excited to announce that Andrew has gained weight! As of Monday, he weighed 8.03 lbs so he is now back over his birth weight. We were also told that we can stop supplementing his feedings.
He is staying awake a bit more these days. He actually enjoyed laying on his playmat for about an hour today. The picture below was taken today.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Andrew is already on the move!


Week 2 of Andrew's life proved very eventful. On our first attempt to start "tummy time," Andrew within a minute of being on his tummy rolled from his tummy onto his back. Ben and I were amazed! This task which took Caroline a whopping 7 months to master only took Andrew days. We thought it was just a fluke at first and that folks wouldn't even believe us...but every single time we put Andrew on his tummy, he just rolls over...so can someone tell me how we are to accomplish tummy time or if he even needs it? Last week, we managed to capture this milestone on video (see above). Caroline of course wanted to join in the fun, so you'll be amused by how our TWO "babies" can rollover :)

WEIGHING IN ON ANDREW:

As of last Friday Andrew weighed in at 7.03 lbs...still not up to his birth weight of 7lbs 10oz. I am supplementing an ounce of formula with each feeding and we have another checkup tomorrow. He looks to be gaining some weight. His face seems a bit fuller and he actually has a little bit of meat on his legs (as opposed to the skeleton legs he had last week). He is a great eater, so I can't imagine that he is not picking up weight (I'll keep you updated).

Andrew is now sleeping 5 hours and then 3 hours at a time during the night. He is also staying awake a bit more between feedings. Aside from rolling over, he has also started batting his toy on his car seat carrier and his sporadic smiles are coming more frequently (love those). He is a bit gassy these days and the bubbles in his tummy sound just pitiful (I plan to check w/ the doc about this). So far, he appears to be even more laid back than Caroline was as a baby (very few crying spells and he even deals well w/ his constant tummy bubbles, hiccups and blowouts).

Score on diaper changing sprays (to date):

Ben: 2 (too slow during diaper changings)

Barbara: 1 (diaper wasn't fixed right and he peed out the side during a feeding -- yep, even my jeans got wet).

LIFE WITH A 2 YR OLD:

Caroline continues to be a great BIG Sister -- fetching diapers, holding Andrew's paci in his mouth, bringing Andrew toys and looking after him when they ride in the back seat together. She genuinely LOVES her brother. Caroline likes to call him "Baby An-rew" (I wonder how long that will last...wouldn't it be funny if she still calls him this when they are older--doubt it will stick).

Balancing two is fairly easy at this point, especially when one sleeps all of the time (Andrew) and the other sleeps all through the night and takes great naps (Caroline). Most of our attention is actually devoted to Caroline at this point since she has recently found her free will :). This week's challenge: Caroline can lock and unlock doors. She is helpful with this new skill (she loves letting Dixie out the back door); but unfortunately, she likes to use her new found skill without permission. This week's conversation went something like this:

(Caroline unlocks the back door)

Caroline: Dixie wanna go outside? Ok...here you go (door opens then slams and is locked)

Ben: Caroline, you can't let Dixie out without mommy or daddy's permission (daddy goes and calls Dixie back inside). Caroline, do you understand.

Caroline: But, Dixie wanted to go outside. I can let her outside all by myselfs. (yes, she adds and "s" sound to the end of myself).

Ben: Caroline, what did daddy tell you. If you do it again, you are going to time out. Do you want to go to time out?

Caroline: Yes, I go to timeout.

Ben: I said if you do it again, you are going to time out. Understand.

Caroline: Crying, but I do wanna go to timeout!! (now total meltdown phase).

Oh, the joys of a 2 yr old! And the other fun announcement this week: when we go to change her diaper (which we are trying to head toward potty training)...Caroline: But I do wanna wear a dirty diaper! (Argh!!) Gotta love 'em!

BREAKING DOWN ON MY FIRST OUTING OUT:

I enjoyed my first outing with the two kiddos this past week by venturing out to the mall to grab a quick bite to eat with my mom. Fortunately, I was meeting my mom, because after lunch I returned to head home and discovered my van battery was dead--what luck! (and I was blocked in on all sides so I couldn't even have it jumped off). So on my first outing, my mom had the pleasure of getting to shuttle us all back to my house--thanks mom!

MEETING MORE OF THE FAMILY:

This week Andrew also got to meet his Aunt Ansley and Uncle Larry. I don't think I have ever seen two people enjoy holding a baby as much as they did -- my how your emotions and feelings change toward babies when you are expecting one of your own! Aunt Ansley is 17 weeks pregnant and looked beautiful as ever...she definitely has the prego glow. We can't wait to hear the gender of baby Mays in a few weeks. This is definitely shaping up to be an exciting year for our family.