2 Months OId

Today marks 2 whole months of life. This world is so much fuller with you in it and our home is that much warmer. You have had a rough 8 weeks, full of sick days and a very hard time eating. You have already had a hospital trip full of IVs and weird tubes to clean your congestion. You have had a fiber-optic camera shoved up your nose and down your throat to take a peak and make sure things are alright...and the road is not quite ending yet. We have a few other tests that we will do soon. There is something in your throat that is keeping you from comfortably eating. It is a constant struggle to finish a bottle.

With all of that said, you are developing wonderfully. Your little chunky body is amazingly resilient and Dr. Clifford reassured all of this at your check up.

Even though your weight is the issue, as you have been stuck at 14 pounds for 3 weeks now...you still remain in the 100% for weight at 14 pounds 10 ounces. You are a little over 24 inches and your head is decent sized as well...I never remember that one. So, if we can get your eating sustained you will be one healthy sack of potatoes.

You are in some 3-6 month clothes, but comfortably in 6 month clothes. Your hair, although thinner, is still pretty crazy. It is lightening a bit to a pretty chocolate brown instead of black. Your eyes are on their way to being the same color as your daddy's hershey kisses, but they seem to be my shape, just like your sisters. I also have noticed that you are super verbal. You coo and squeal and smile like you are trying to giggle. You recognize our faces and voices very well. Nuzzling into our necks and chests is your favorite "I'm sleepy" cue, and I love snuggling with you.

If I let your sleep, which I haven't been able to because of the weight issues, you will sleep for hours and hours :) Giving my theory that boys are better sleepers than girls some solidity.

It is so nice to have you smiling up at us, cooing and squealing, grabbing onto our faces and your sisters hair ;).  Just watching you grow is such a blessing and cures all of my mommy worries when you fail to get enough ounces in for the day.  I know that we will work through all of the kinks. More weight checks will keep us on track to make sure you are all right.

Love you, sweet boy.

Sick Baby Boy

I knew being a mother would bring equal joy and worry. I had always heard about how you can "love something so much it hurts", etc. There are two little ones in this house that my heart is wrapped tightly and  completely around, and your daddy too.

Let's just say my heart is so heavy with worry and hope and more worry that it is about to fall through my stomach. You have been having quite the time lately. I noticed a few weeks ago that you were becoming a finicky eater. I tossed it off to colic and your tummy being upset. Little did I know that it was the beginning of this monster illness that has taken over your body. You woke up with a really runny nose last weekend and yucky congestion that I thought was half your sister bringing in germs, and half newborn stuff. But it turned into coughing, which turned into complete refusal of food, and then the kicker was the wheezing and tight pulling under your ribs. Needless to say, the nurse had me rush you to the hospital after I convinced her not to call an ambulance. We went to the ED and they decided your levels of oxygen were pretty low and that you should be admitted. They like them to at least be 92 and yours were dipping to an 85....let's just say I was worried. You got to spend the night in Brenner's hooked up to an IV of fluids and a machine to measure your oxygen levels. I pretended to be super strong and rock solid and not worried. And I knew you were going to be ok, so half was real, but at the same time my little 6 week old baby was having needles stuck in him and tubes stuck up his nose. Any mom would have a hard time with that.

You have been diagnosed with Bronchiolitis. It is usually a condition that is caused by RSV. I am waiting on the results for that test and a flu test. You are still not eating but 1 ounce of formula at a time. You usually take 5 ounces ever 3 hours. So you have dramatically decreased your intake. This is the super scary part as you have lost about 7 ounces in 48 hours. The doctors assured me that since you are such a big baby you have weight to spare. BUT as a mommy, that doesn't mean a thing to me. I want you full, warm, and happy. I am now assisting you in eating with a syringe, because taking a bottle is painful for your throat and difficult with the congestion in your chest. Pedialyte is another additive to your diet to keep you hydrated. Your breathing is less labored but still crackly.

I am trying really hard to stay positive. And I know as soon as you start eating again, we will be just fine. Right now I am still worried...We love you Bubba.

Happy Valentines Day

Not into the "outfit" It was already way to small.

Hey mom, I am posing for you, but brother...not so much ;)

Still smiling.

Sibling love. She adores him, and I think he is pretty smitten as well :)

Enough with the pictures. (Funniest picture ever)

One Month Old

Dear Little Bland,

You are one month old. It has flown by quicker than I thought possible. You, my poor boy, have been stricken with nailbiting colic. I am talking hours of tears. It is like clock work so predicitable, but never easy to see how upset your tummy gets and how worked up you get. I think we all may have hearing damage before it is all said and done. We are working with different formula, various homeopathic remedies, and gas drops. But, my mother intuition tells me that it is just something we are going to have to get through.

It is teaching me about a whole new realm of mommyhood. Some days I am not so good, and others we are all good. Either way, I just want to take away the tummy pains, and the crying and feel it all for you. I love you so very much.

In the 4 weeks I have had with you, I have noticed little things about you.
You have one dimple on your right cheek.
Your hair is insanely thick, but starting to turn lighter brown (just like sisters before it fell out).
Your cheeks are the chunkiest most kissable cheeks...ever.
Pretty sure you will have brown eyes when it is all said and done.
You really love to be held, snuggled, kissed, and rocked. The moment I sit still, you cry ;)
When you get hungry you are a bit patient about it, will take a paci until the bottle is ready. Thank you for that, your sister would likely have eaten her left arm before I could get the bottle ready.
You are a great sleeper, once I get you calmed down at night. we are talking spurts of 12-5!!!
Your sister is the only one that can get you to really snicker. She is in your face a lot, and you seem to acutally like it.
Strong should have been your middle name ;)
You will always look like a little grizzly bear to me:)

I love you my sweet son.

Early Saturday morning playing Candyland.

He is looking at his sister.

One month old.

A little more awake. One day we will see your neck ;)

Kiddos.

Basically one side of his face has a rash and his eye is always squished from all of sissys affection :)

Our Sweet Boy

Our sweet boy is here. He is cuddly, chunky, and has a head full (and I mean full) of black hair. Here is his arrival story:

On Tuesday, January 10th I took you to school just like any other Tuesday. I went home afterwards and started cleaning and doing laundry (just like any other day ;) ). Your daddy called and said he wanted to run some errands with me, and off we went. As we were driving I started to think I was feeling a little off. I had been having contractions pretty consistently for what seemed an eternity, but little brother seemed pretty content all warm in mommy’s tummy. 

Before we knew it, it was time to pick you up from school, so daddy decided to take some more time from work and we went and picked you up together and took you out to lunch at Putters. Afterwards, home we went, and you took your nap, daddy returned to work, and I sat down on the couch to check my email. Before I knew it, contractions started to hit me every 6 minutes. We had planned a girls afternoon of pedicures and ice cream so I was trying to ignore them. I called your daddy and he thought it best I called the doctor. They wanted me to come on in. Thank goodness I did.

Within an hour the contractions moved to 5 minutes apart. The doctor checked me and said off to the hospital you go. I came home and spent a few minutes snuggling with you. But you were busy “cooking” with daddy. Grammy came over and I said my goodbyes as I left for the hospital. 

We checked in, sat in the waiting room, and sat and sat. And the contraction got stronger. And stronger. Daddy finally went to tell the front desk that we needed to get in a room sooner than later.

I got into my room and settled. The nurse came to give me my epidural ( I have to get mine early on because of my back) and there I sat trying to get some sleep, as it would be a long night...or so I thought.

The doctor came and decided to go ahead and break my water. About 10 minutes later. I started sensing some serious pressure/pain up and down my left side. My worst fears were coming true, the epidural was not working. I did not say anything at first (trying to be strong) but before long I was squeezing the hand rails with tears welling in my eyes. I finally told your daddy I needed the nurse to come give me extra medicine. Everyone was tied up with another labor...so there I sat using breathing techniques from Lamaze that I thought I would never need.

Eventually, the nurse and the anesthesiologist came in at the same time. The nurse decided to check me before I got more medicine. Sure enough I had sat there and breathed through my contractions and dilated to a 10. It was go time. Time to push, time to meet our new addition. Mommy needed a minute. I thought I had hours. I didn’t.

About 15 minutes later. I was holding sweet baby Bland. He was here safe and sound. And very healthy. It was a wonderful experience (even without the extra medicine).  My sweet thing, our sweet boy is here.

Bland Wallace Forrest

January 11, 2011 Born at 12:47 am

9 pounds 15 ounces and 22 1/2 inches

A New Year

I just read you your night time stories, and kissed your cheek while you cried trying to convince me to "sleep with me mommy". Bedtime is usually daddy's job, but tonight I took over and as usual you have a hard time saying night night to me. I love that you want me to be around :)

We had a low key New Years Eve, with pizza, movies, and popcorn. It was so nice to be home, safe and warm with my sweet little family. About half way through the movie you stood up and pulled all (I mean all) of your clothes off and started running around the den. Needless to say, you are very comfortable in your own skin.

2011 has been quite a year. You have experienced lots of change in your environment as we completely changed our house with an addition. We lost our sweet pawpaw, and you keep telling me that he is with angels. You have grown so much from a toddler to a little girl. And your life will change greatly once again as your brother arrives in a matter of days.

I have been really anxious lately in how you will handle this new little one in our house. You seem to love babies, want to care for dolls and animals, push the stroller, rock and sings to babies, etc. I just hope that once their is one that really cries and needs extra attention, you will feel the same way ;)

Everything about being a mother is a learning process, except how to love. That has been the most natural and rich love I will ever know.

silly girl.

daddy and his girl watching a movie.

Cheese.

Our New Years snack.

The only face I see if there is a camera out.

My little BFF.

Christmas 2011

This is your 3rd Christmas! Hard to believe, and yet I can't remember Christmas without you. We spent the Sunday before Christmas with Daddy's family and went to Old Town for Lunch then to our house to hang out and open a few gifts with your sweet cousin Connor.

On Christmas Eve we stayed in our PJ's until noon and decorated Gingerbread cookies for Santa. Daddy even joined in the fun. You two ate a lot more decorations than were placed on the cookies :) There is no denying that y'all are daddy and daughter, two peas in a pod.

After your nap, one of daddy's best friends, Uncle Will, came over to see you and play for a bit. He is always ready to pick you up, swing you around and listen to your demands in the playroom :)

That night we went to Grammy and Grandaddy's house for supper and our yearly "Charlie Brown Christmas" viewing. The meal was incredible (as usual) and the family time was great. You stayed up WAY too late and were too excited to reason with about anything. We did manage to leave out reindeer food for Rudolph and read a Christmas story. Next year we will pay closer attention to the time!

Christmas morning daddy woke up at 6 am to start smoking the prime rib we were making for lunch. I laid in bed watching the monitor expecting your little head to pop up at any moment. Then as 7:30 rolled around, I told your daddy to go ahead and wake you up...I know I am crazy, but we were so excited.

As I filmed you coming down the stairs with daddy and peeking around the corner to the big display from Santa, your little face was stunned. You did not speak, you walked over to your giant, pink princess castle that you have been asking for and talking about for two months, and began to play. You studied it, touched each doll sitting in it, looked back at us, as if to ask "Is this really mine?" It was priceless.

I think we expected some big squeal, but your reaction was much more genuine.

You also got an art easel to paint and draw on, some winter mittens and hats, a giant floor puzzle, a horse toy, etc. You were not the least bit interested in opening gifts this year. You wanted that castle and by the time the bottom of the tree was cleared our, so was the princess castle. Each little piece that Santa had put together was pulled out and scattered around the room. This is what has happened each day since Christmas as well. You have a blast with the castle!!

You got mommy the new Dyson dust buster thing to clean up all your messes ;) and you got daddy a new Browning pocket knife!

Grammy and Grandaddy came over for breakfast and to open gifts with us. We had fun as you are always spoiled by them :) I think you get more excited to see them than your mommy and daddy!!

Afterwards, we all got ready and packed in the car with our special prime rib daddy made for everyone and headed to Grandma Charly's house. It was full of Christmas smells, loving family and laughter. You had such a great time playing with the uncles and snuggling with the aunties. It was our first Christmas without Paw Paw, and your little spirit manage to keep most of the tears away.

We also visited Grandmommy Ada at Arbor Acres on our way home. She was thrilled to see you and you were wired and busy running from one end of the room to the other. No nap, LOTS of sweets, and spoiled rotten. Just the way kids should be on Christmas :)

As we drove home in the dark with Luminaries lit on the road, I realized that this was our last holiday as a family of three. What a wonderful time it was.

I love you sweet thing.

Daddy and you making Santa's cookies. You like to smile extra big.

Finished product.

Santa brought you your PRINCESS CASTLE!!!

And a cool art easel.

Santa's gifts.

All those presents under our pretty tree!!

You and your "cheese" face.

Your new favorite thing.

Opening presents.

A sleepy daddy giving you a snuggle.

A very pregnant mommy helping.

Some new winter gear...if only it would snow.

Christmas Festivities

Decorating our big Christmas Tree

Milk break.

You enjoyed hanging your Hello Kitty ornament.

Daddy snuck pictures of me and all my big belly glory.

Visiting Santa. A little unsure, but no tears.

Ok I think I am done.

Being silly one evening.

Running around the yard.

That smile keeps me going.

Laughing at daddy.

Vasia came over for a visit and y'all were dressed in the same dress. Smart mommies ;)

Making our Christmas cookies.

Chef Charlotte.

Eating your hard work.

Lunch at the Soda Shop in Old Salem with Grammy.

Bright sunshine picture.

Old Salem

Happy Girl.