2 months.

Two months ago, I had just labored for 12 hours, and was cuddling my newest little one in my arms. In some ways, it feels as though that afternoon was just yesterday, and in other ways, it truly feels as though Levi has always been a part of our family. We've always wanted at least two children, and while Nate is an amazing and perfect little boy, our family simply didn't feel complete when it was just the three of us. Now, for the past two months, we have felt whole. Our boys are our everything, and I couldn't ask for more.

Levi weighs 13 pounds & 9 ounces, and he is 22 inches long! My little chubalub is gaining weight like a champ, and I'm so proud--he's almost doubled his weight in just 2 months! He has never eaten anything except breastmilk, and he is thriving. Right now, he usually nurses every two or three hours during the day, and every three or four hours during the night.

The nights of inconsolable crying seem to be coming to an end--slowly, but surely. Levi still is very fussy, and usually difficult to keep asleep (getting him to sleep isn't the problem; it's keeping him asleep through that first sleep cycle!) in the evenings. But, we've been averaging a bedtime of midnight (rather than 2am), and sometimes even earlier!

When he's awake, Levi seems to enjoy laying in the baby gym, watching the ceiling fans (Nate's favorite infant activity!), and watching his big brother play! He is a very happy baby--always full of smiles for everyone. And, just recently, he has begun to laugh--so adorable!

Wordless Wednesday.

Weekend Love.

We spent our weekend celebrating autumn and spending lots of family time. We attended our local fall festival and county fair on both Friday evening and Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon/evening, Eric and I had a date night, while the boys spent some quality time with Nana and Grandpa. Then, as if to celebrate a wonderful weekend, Levi slept wonderfully on Saturday night!

Watching Them Love.

Eric and I are coming up on our 4th wedding anniversary soon. Before we were married, we dated for several years--and before that, we were good friends. I've loved him for a long time. Nathaniel is 2 years old. I've loved him since long before he was ever born. But now, I love them both a little differently because I get to see them differently.
A new baby changes the whole dynamic of a household, and it's a beautiful thing. I've known Eric as my husband, my partner, my best friend, my other half--but, now I see him in a totally different role: a father, first of one, now of two. He's an amazing daddy, and I get a front row seat to watch daily! Nate was my first baby--the one who made me a mommy. Now, I get to watch him be a big brother--and he's awesome! Watching them love is such an incredible, indescribable thing. I wish there were words to tell you how it feels to watch my husband be the best father that he can be because he loves our boys that much, but there are no words. I wish I could describe the pride and joy that I feel when I see my oldest son loving on his baby brother. And, the fact that the baby saves his biggest smiles for his big brother? Incredible. Being a momma is such an awesome reward, but watching my loves love each other is the ultimate.

Blessed.

Within the past week, I've realized just how blessed and selfish I am. Two friends were diagnosed with cancer--both mommas who have babies not even in kindergarten yet. Another momma is carting her baby girl to the hospital for bi-weekly blood tests and scans. A family in a nearby town lost their two-year-old son.
And, I'm grumpy about a lack of sleep?! How dare I complain about such an insignificant and petty thing. So many women (some mothers, some who long to be) would love to be up all night with their own infants! I am so very blessed to have two happy, healthy sons, a husband who loves and provides for us, and oh so much more.

Levi is not really a grumpy baby--I wouldn't even call him colicky any longer. He's a very happy baby, full of smiles all day long--who gets easily overstimulated in the evenings. He goes to sleep easily for naps, but is very difficult to get to sleep at bedtime. He fights sleep like a madman, causing himself to get overly tired, thus causing inconsolable crying.....and the cycle repeats over and over and over. It's getting better, it truly is. He's crying a little less; we're dealing a little better. Eventually, he'll sleep through the night on a regular basis, and until then, I'll keep reminding myself that this really is nothing on the grand scheme of things. I am blessed. So very, very blessed and grateful.

Our weekend.

We kicked off our weekend with a bonfire on Friday night. My parents and brothers came over to our house, and we had a wonderful time! Both boys experienced their first fire (Levi slept through most of it!), and Nate made and ate his very first s'more--a big hit!

In other news, our little Levi SLEPT LAST NIGHT!! I truly believe that his screaming for hours at night simply stems from being overly tired (and therefore unable to fall sleep OR stay asleep). We've found that he also doesn't like to sleep in his swing, in our arms, or even in bed with mommmy (weird baby?). He likes to sleep in his pack 'n play, on his belly. I didn't think Levi would like the pack 'n play because Nate didn't like it. And, as much as I've resisted letting his sleep on his belly, I'm giving in. He slept last night from 8:30pm until 9:00am, only getting up to eat (and immediately going back to sleep). Oh, what a blessed night of rest we had!

Lastly, I want to brag on my boys! Nate loves to hold his baby brother, who gives us this giant smile every single time he's in his big brother's arms! They're best buds already!

Zzzz...or lack thereof.

Forewarning: If this post seems a little bizarre to you, it's because I'm too sleepy to be blogging--but am doing so anyway because Nate is napping and Levi is content (he's not asleep or you know I would be too!). So, judge away, you well-rested reader, but I'm not worried about run-on sentences, typos, or paragraphs full of nonsense today!
Remember that post a few days ago when I said that Levi's "colic" was getting better? And that he was sleeping more? I fully retract those statements. Last night, he went to sleep at 2am and woke up at 5am. He slept again from 6am until 8am. We slept 5 hours total, ya'll. FIVE. Then, of course, the baby has been napping on and off ever since.....but the mommy has been awake with a very alert and busy toddler.
I was hoping to get a good start on our Fall Family Bucket List this weekend, but that might need to be put on hold for sleeping purposes. Or, maybe he'll sleep tonight! Maybe we'll all get a full 8 hours of sleep! Maybe? I keep telling myself that it has to get better soon....it can't get much worse, can it?
I apologize that this entire post is a complaint, but I'm too tired to think of anything real to write about. I don't function well without sleep, and I hate how I am when I'm tired. I'm cranky and grumpy and mean and forgetful; my poor family is probably more annoyed at me than at the non-sleeping baby! But, like I said before, this has to end soon. Someday I'll miss these sleepless nights, right?
To celebrate our weekend, we are excited to be spending the evening with family. Spaghetti for Daddy, a break for Mommy, lots of attention from his favorite uncles for Nate, and Nana snuggles for Levi! No matter how our evening progresses later, we will be enjoying ourselves tonight!
In closure, I will leave you with this photo of my sleeping baby.....or is it a mirage?

Happy Weekend, All!

Introducing...GEEN BEANS!

Backstory: When Eric and I got married, we decided to get a cat. I wanted a kitten that needed a home, preferably for free. So, I searched on Craigslist.....and within a few days, we found ourselves traveling to a nearby town to pick up our TWO new kittens (Eric consented to them solely because he was working a lot of nights, and I'd convinced him that I either needed a pair of cats OR a baby to keep me company!). We met our little furballs, and I named them Jelly (black) and Beans (gray). I thought I was so clever, and that our feline pair had the cutest name set ever. Then, within a few days, I remembered that I'd always wanted to name a cat Smudgie. And, I noticed that Jelly had a white smudge of fur on her nose. So, it was settled that Jelly's new name was Smudgie. And, Beans simply had the misfortune of keeping her non-matched name. As the cats grew, Smudgie dwarfed her sister, who became affectionately known as Little Beans.
Eventually, our household grew to include a dog and a baby. Then, another baby. Little Beans hated the dog, but grew to love the toddler, who gave her lots of attention--especially during what was supposed to be naptime. He started talking, and learned to call her by her name, Beans.

Then, one evening, we had green beans for dinner. The toddler, who likes green beans very much, began to say, "geen beans!" with much enthusiasm. He spent the entire evening chanting "geen beans!" throughout the house. And, when he spotted his beloved cat at bedtime, he excitedly pointed to her and shrieked, "Geen Beans!" Ever since that fateful evening, the unfortunate cat has been referred to as "Geen Beans" by all members of the household.

Poor Cat! At least it makes a good story, right....?

Grow Up!

After a truly horrible week last week, Levi's colic has been getting better recently. His nightly 3-hour screamfest has turned into a hit-or-miss event, and the "miss" nights are a much welcomed surprise at bedtime. Also, he's begun sleeping for 4-hour stretches in the early morning hours--quite a relief for mommy! It seems that we've gotten the gas issue under control by doing more tummy time when Levi is awake, and by allowing him to sleep on his belly for naptime. I've cut tomatoes and some dairy from my diet, but will probably attempt to re-introduce them soon (I'm not sure that they have affected Levi, but they did so for Nate, and I'm willing to try anything!). All three of the colic medications/gas drops were a bust. I truly believe that the gas issues we've experienced with Levi have simply been a result of his immature digestive system, and been "normal" for babies (keeping in mind, of course, that normal varies). As he's getting older, it's getting better--and, I hope, will continue to do so. The evening screaming has improved (partially, I like to think, because we've fixed the gas problem). On the other hand, he might just be changing his ways because I threatened to sell him to gypsies a few nights ago. (Sorry about that, Little One, I promise to keep you! But, if you still scream like this in 18 years, you won't have any friends in college; I wasn't lying about that part!)
Honestly, what I feel that I'm gaining from this sleep-deprived experience is that I don't like the newborn stage. (I think I knew that with Nate, but I didn't admit it!) I love my boys as newborns, and I love a squishy little newbie snuggle, and I love the smell of a newborn's head....but, really, I like big babies better! I can't wait to get to the laughing, sitting, crawling, walking, talking stages! Maybe it's the interaction, maybe it's the "less work", or maybe it's just the adjustment, I don't know. But, I do know that I can't wait for Levi to be just a few months older! I hate to wish time away, but for the life of me, I can't help it when I've been holding an inconsolable baby for the second hour in a row. At 1 AM.
All that being said, I was a little bit sad this morning when I packed away my maternity clothes and Levi's newborn outfits. Isn't it funny how a little blue sleeper only brings back memories of tiny cuddles and sweet newborn sleep--when it was worn so much more often by a noisy, red-faced baby who refused to sleep? I guess it will be a while longer before those memories fade enough for me to want to pull out those maternity clothes again....and, until then, I will be thoroughly enjoying my boys as they grow and grow!

Fall.

Happy Autumn 2012! Hope you and your loved ones enjoy the season!

Wordless Wednesday.

{This picture cracks me up every time I see it--just look at Levi's face!}

Word Explosion!

Nate has been a bit slow (and lot stubborn) with his speech development. He's had a handful of words that he uses regularly for several months, but that's it. I kept hearing about the "word explosion" that would hit suddenly. We waited. And, waited.
Occasionally, he would bust out a new word if he really, really needed to do so (EX: if Mommy and Daddy are talking and ignoring your NEED for ice in your water cup, it might be necessary to start yelling, "IEEESH! IEEESH!" repeatedly).
I knew that Nate was a little behind the charts for his speech abilities, but I wasn't much worried. He's a smart little boy, and I was convinced that his lack of words was more stubborn-related than an actual speech-delay. Our pediatrician discussed the issue with us, and he agreed--but asked us to keep an eye (or an ear?) on the issue. Apparently, Nate was listening to that conversation too, because he decided that now is the time to talk! Within the last week.....well, Hello Word Explosion!!
"kiwi", "baby", "yellow", "blue", "red", "banana", "car", "please", "juice", "egg", "cheese", "sticker", "tree", "sky", "God", "Levi!" (my personal favorite) ....and plenty more that I can't remember right now! I couldn't be prouder of my [bigger] baby boy! Go, Little Guy!!

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.

What do you do when your new baby has had an especially fussy day, leaving you to tend only to him, therefore, ignoring your oldest child all day long? Put daddy on Baby Duty, and start baking, of course!
Our first pumpkin baking of the season: Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting! I think Nate approved...

Pumpkin Bars
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
4 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups pumpkin

Combine ingrediants in a bowl in the order given. Beat well. Spread on a greased jelly roll pan (12x15). Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool, and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Put in grediants in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer. If necessary, add milk or more powdered sugar to make spreading consistency.

Delicious!

Wordless Wednesday.

1 month.

Levi is one month old today! Maybe it's the fact that he's #2, or maybe it's just that I'm busier now, but I feel like Levi's first month has passed a whole lot faster than Nate's first month did!

Levi is now 21 inches long, and he weighs 10 pounds and 8 ounces. ( (That's up almost 3.5 pounds from 20 in, 7 lb 1.5 oz at birth!). My chunky little guy is growing fast!

Like most newborns, Levi spends lots of time sleeping. He usually is awake for 3 or 4 hours a day (usually in 1 hour increments). He loves to look around when he's awake, and is usually happiest simply laying in the floor observing. He loves to watch his big brother playing, and Nate is often happy to oblige in including Levi in the fun ("feeding" him toy food or driving matchbox cars on top of him). Levi likes to look at his Baby Look Book and the dropped ceiling in our bedroom. He hates bathtime.

Recently, Levi has started socially smiling. All I have to say about that is ADORABLE!

I'm nursing Levi, and he is a great eater (in case the weight gain didn't clue you in!). He nurses approximately every 3 hours during the day (more often if he's having trouble falling asleep), and about as often during the night. We are still having problems with the colic/gas/whatever it is that makes a baby cry in pain on a regular basis. We've tried several different methods that claim to cure colic (store products, massage, etc), but none of them have helped.

Recently, I've discovered that the best way to "cure" Levi's pain is to lay him on his belly. When he's crying, it's about a 50/50 shot of calming him. When he's asleep, it makes him sleep longer, helps him expel the gas painlessly while asleep, and allows him wake up happily (instead of crying in pain). I'm aware that it is recommended that babies sleep only on their backs (to decrease the risk of SIDS), and that is why, at this time, I only allow Levi to sleep on his belly during the daytime when we can keep an eye on him.

Keep Growing, Little One!!

Family Fall Bucket List.

This weekend has brought cooler air to our area, reminding us that my favorite season is just around the corner! I've always loved autumn, and this year, I'm even more excited than ever to share it with my boys. For months, I've been imagining all of the fun activities in which our family will partake during these autumn months. And, after perusing Pinterest recently (and finding lots more ideas!), I've decided to put together a "bucket list" so that we don't forget anything!

-visit a pumpkin patch
-go on a fall nature walk
-make chocolate chip pumpkin cookies
-color leaf rubbings
-have a fall picnic
-make handprint turkeys
-drink hot apple cider
-make homemade applesauce
-decorate the house for fall
-pack our Operation Christmas Child boxes
-make a pumpkin roll
-play in a leaf pile
-visit the zoo
-have a date night
-eat butternut squash soup
-make a handprint leaf tree
-celebrate our 4th anniversary
-finger paint leaves
-make a "give thanks" banner for the mantle
-have a bonfire (with s'mores!)
-make Thanksgiving turkey shirts for the boys
-celebrate Thanksgiving
-decorate confetti trees
-take family pictures
-collect colored leaves to make a thankful tree
-make handprint turkey cookies
-make leaf cookies
-visit our local fall festival
-eat pumpkin ice cream
-make a bird feeder
-start Christmas shopping/crafting

What activities are you planning for your family? Any great fall activites that I need to add to my list?? I'd love to hear about them!

Brothers.

Colicky babe.

I don't really know how to begin this post, other than by warning you that it's simply going to be a rant about things going on in our house right now. It's not going to be pretty or funny, but it's life right now. And, I somehow feel compelled to throw out a few blog posts about how rotten things are just because 1)it's our life, and I want to remember it all. Even the uber crummy parts. And 2)I have nothing else to blog about.
You know how my last post referred to Levi as a "somewhat colicky baby"? Yeah, that has shifted to "Super Duper Colicky Baby" now. (Yes, he even requires the capital letters.) Levi cries. A lot. He cries for long periods of time (last night, it was 9:50pm until 12:05am), and there is nothing I can do about it. If you're a mother, you know how heart-breaking it is to know that your baby needs something when you're unable to provide it. If you're not a mother, you know how stinkin' annoying a screaming baby is. We've tried it all; I'm getting to be a pro at the old "bounce and shush" routine! I swaddle, I rock, I sing, I pace the floor at 4am. Nothing. We've spent over $30 on gripe water and colic tablets and gas drops. We're exhausted, and so is the poor little guy.
Obviously, all of this is not Levi's fault--it's not anybody's fault (which, admittedly, is frustrating at 2am when I really want to blame someone!). He's not being purposefully difficult, and when he's not in pain from gas bubbles, he really is a pleasant baby! But still, we're tired, and he's miserable so very often.
Oh, and I have a cold now. I've spent the past several days with my nose in the tissue box, and now I can feel a sore throat making its way in. Losing my voice would eliminate the one single activity that I can do with Nate on a regular basis (reading a story while nursing a baby), so I'm praying to avoid that. Thankfully, nobody else in the house has caught my sickness [yet], primarily the littlest one.
So, rather than just the regular difficulties of a new mom (you know, showering every three days, and being covered in spit-up and poo on a regular basis), these are the struggles of here and now. I've whined and complained plenty to my husband (just in case he missed the screaming baby in our bedroom last night), and now I've vented here. It makes me feel better--even if it makes you cringe. It is what it is, and all I can do is continue to do what I'm doing. It's a struggle, but we will get through it! Know how I know? Because Levi smiled at me yesterday! Real baby smiles for his momma! Happy Friday!

In other news, before publishing this post, I took a quick break to change an enormously disgusting diaper. And, while washing my hands afterward, discovered that our water line is full of air and brown-tinted water. Ugh. C'mon, positive attitude, stay for the weekend!