MIL, Growth Spurt, Thrush and More...

No wonder why I am so tired, LOL!!! Actually, I am not that physically tired... more emotionally drained. Connor is 4 weeks old today... it seems longer actually. He is such a sweet boy... and I really just love each little thing he does each day.

My MIL leaves on Monday which will be hard for us to be "on our own", LOL. Our visit has been really nice. We have had a lot of time of just visiting and not stressing over much of anything.

Connor went through his 3 week growth spurt a little before he was 3 weeks old. Then I discovered he has thrush... poor guy! We are about half way through the 10 day's of meds for that... and I am trying to treat my boobs as well, lol.

I have been in a little bit of a funk the last week or so. Partly I think because of coming down from Connor's birth and all..... some in part to just adjusting to life with two kids!! I love having two kids more than anything.... wondering how I would be able to love the second one seems like a distant thought now. Next week will be nice for us to just be a family of four... I am sure there will be some bumpy moments, but few between the really happy ones!

Connor's first day of life ~ 5/3/08

Photobucket Album

It's Amazing.....

how much better it is to be off of constant pain medication!!!! Sersiously, I hate taking meds of ANY kind... but there are just times where it is needed. Since Connor was born, I had been on constant (waiting anxiously for more) meds until this past Monday night. I have been med free since, and Connor is still sleeping great, LOL.

I have been way more active since then as well. Trip to Kohl's to get some boy clothes (funny that was the place I went after Kaya was born to get the first girl clothes for her, lol)... trips to the park... trip to Discovery Center... to the mall today to get my hair cut (Kaya's first hair cut too.. sniff, sniff)... hosting a playdate when Connor was only 11 days old (hey, gotta get going right, lol)... actually doing some cleaning around the house... oh, and being awake all day (I had been pretty tired most days being doped up and all). Gotta love life with some clarity!!

10 days for Connor

Yes, Connor is 10 days old today!! Hard to believe yet it seems like longer all at the same time. As they say, it is impossible to imagine life without him now!! He is such a good boy... really he is. I said to Mark the other day that maybe he slept so good because of the pain meds I am on and him getting some through my milk, lol. There might be something with that... but I am taking fewer and fewer pills, and he is still sleeping very well! He is awake more time each day... which I love watching him just look around at his surroundings. I wonder what is going on in that little head. We have spent a good amount of time outside... yes, I will have another kid addicted to the outdoors I am sure, lol. So far, I have not ventured out on my own with Connor... mainly because I have not trusted myself driving while on pain meds and my back spasms. I think we will head to Kohl's today though. I am anxious to get some blue boy clothes!!

Connor loves to smile and does it a lot!! They say it is only gas at this point in development, but I don't believe that. He does have a lot of gas though, lol. I have yet to capture a smile on camera.... as each time I notice one, I am holding him and don't want to disturb the moment. Kaya is still loving being a big sister! She is quite protective of him too!

As far as the everything else...... I am still adjusting to life with two little ones. I am not getting laundry and dishes done like I used to... and I am totally ok with that. I have had some up and down emotional moments, as to be expected.... and I am just trying to roll with the punches as they come. My MIL is coming on Monday for two weeks.... which we are all looking forward to that visit. This will be the first time any of Mark's family has come to TN since we moved here two years ago.

Off to get in a shower while Connor is snoozing...

The four of us....

Connor... doing so well!! We have to wake him up at night to eat (knocking on wood as I type, LOL). He rarely fusses... mainly when his bear butt is exposed (sign that he is not a senstive baby). He is eating very well, pooping well, sleeping well.. what more can a mom ask for.

Kaya... loves being a big sister!! So far, she has only had a few meltdowns (no really over Connor either.. knocking on wood with this one too, lol). She is so sweet with Connor... kisses, hugs, helping burp, getting things for me, you name it.

Myself... today is the first day since Connor was born 1 week ago that I am getting over the dang epidural pain! Holy pain!! That was something that really threw me for a loop. As far as healing otherwise, that has been a piece of cake. I really do not feel like I delivered a baby 1 week ago.

Mark... doing well too. He has not gotten as much sleep as me, but then he functions on less sleep better than me. He is stressed about work, I know.. as he has an intense interview on Monday. I am just hoping and praying for everything to go smoothly with that... I know in the end, it will all work out.

Going with the flow!!

That is a saying that is even more important to me now that I am a mother of two!! I remember when I became a mother on October 11, 2005... I adapted that saying as best as I could at the time, but I was uptight about little things (like trying not to give Kaya a paci too soon for fear that breastfeeding might be compromised). Then the night of November 19, 2005 came and everything changed. In an instant, the saying "going with the flow" was my life blood and was what kept me going! I remember thinking... we Kaya at 5.5 weeks old survived an apartment fire... anything was possible... and the little stuff like a paci while BFing was so insufficient.

Fast forward to May 3, 2008 and the birth of my second child. This saying was already a part of this little life and my philosophy... after all, I had 6.5 weeks of anticipation of Connor's birth from when I had pre-term labor. The month of April was changeling.. I will not deny that, but the whole time... I kept thinking "go with the flow" and it will happen in its own time. So.. I am far from perfect (this I know, lol) but I really think I have adapting this saying quite well. This past Thursday was a good example. I was looking forward to a day with Mark and Connor (a day for the three of us while Kaya was at school... nice to get one day with just my boys, lol). After dropping Grandma at the airport, Mark calls to say he is coming home and bringing Kaya because she just threw up in the car. I will admit, I had a moment where I thought "dang... no day with just Mark and Connor" but that was very brief. I was worried about Kaya and felt bad for the poor kid. We had Connor's first appt with Dr Rosser that afternoon... but that was the only thing planned. It ended up being a very nice day as our new family of four... and all day we just had the idea of "going with the flow". If I have learned anything as a mother, it is this... things can change on a dime, so you better flow with it or things are going to be a bigger struggle.

Boy, oh Boy!!!!

It's a Boy!!!!! Mark, myself and big sister Kaya welcomed Connor William Lovell into the world on Saturday, May 3rd at 3:20pm!!! Connor was 9 lbs 1 oz & 21.25 inches long. Connor has done so well!! All of his tests have come back with no issues... he is in great health! He is such a sweet boy too!!! Mark is a very proud Papa!!! When Connor was born, Mark was the first one to say "It's a Boy"!!! I most admit, I was pretty surprised and excited as well. Ww were both in disbelieve that he was here and that he was a he!!! Big sister Kaya is so proud too. Her face just lite up so bright when she saw Connor for the first time Saturday night. She kept saying "I love you baby Connor". Both Mark and I swore that Kaya looked so much more grown up when we saw her Sat. night. I guess the process of having anohter little one changed all of us!! She has really been wonderful with Connor and is still very excited to see him and smoother him with hugs and kisses.

Anytime!

That is what Dr Ross said yesterday! Yeah ok!! While I was hooked up to the heart monitor and contraction machine, I had a few intense contractions... one of which brought me to tears. My cervix is almost 100% thinned out, but there was still no more dialation. He was feeling strongly that today would be the day. I think this kid beats to his/her own drum completely!! No matter what, we will all meet the little one soon. If I have not delivered by Monday, then I will be induced sometime next week. I am still hoping and praying to go into labor on my own.... so I am off for another nice long walk!! Wish me luck! Oh, any prayers for my sanity and for a healthy baby would be very appreciated!!

Kaya is a SUPER STAR!!!

So... of course I think Kaya is super smart, super everything... but I am not the only one who thinks as such. Over the last 6+ months we have struggled some with Kaya's teacher at school. We like her and everything (she was actually the secondary teacher in her old class), but we have just had some bad communication issues with her and feeling like she needs to do more for Kaya (same as a lot of parent's feel I know). Well, over the last 2-3 months, Kaya has really seemed to blossim with a lot of things. She can say any word you throw at her. She has memorized a lot of her books and songs too (not the whole book of course, but quite a bit). Just this morning, Grandma and her were reading one book (part of a series of books) where there was a picture of a goose and its babies. Kaya said "wait a minute" and picked up another book in the same series and turned to the page that had this same picture. Pretty impressive that she remembers that if you ask me.

Well, we had a teacher parent conference last night with her teacher. The director at Stonebrook has spent time observing all of the kids and has filled out a developmental sheet for each kid. Kaya had almost all of the items marked as completed or nearly completed. The developmental items are for 2-3 year mark, so at just over 2.5 I think she is doing very well. Her teacher says she is one of the most advanced kids in her class (which of course makes me proud), but more than that she doesn't throw fits when she doesn't get her way (that is saved for home, lol). At first I thought her teacher was being too nice, but then I asked her about specific situations and how Kaya reacted. She really does seem to communicate her needs very well both with her teacher and her friends at school. What more can a mom wish for in a kid?! I am very proud of Kaya! Both for doing so well and for just being Kaya... she really is the light of my life and I feel blessed to be her mom and know that I am a part in her success!!!

The baby got it's first "passing" grade!

The ultrasound tech said yesterday that the baby "passed with flying colors" which means he/she is doing very well in my belly! She did mention the baby looked a little cramped for style... no kidding!!! You know, I have had so many emotions between the anticipation and excitement of waiting... getting highly annoyed with waiting and such..... but yesterday I was contend and happy with the news. This baby WILL be born someday and really all that matters is that he/she is doing well with everything. Mark did NOT go to Philly today. I was bummed for him as was he... but as he said he would be more bummed if he missed the birth of his second child, no kidding!!! I cannot imagine I would be very cool with that one either, LOL.