Adjusting to two kiddos

Well, it has been a week since Noah made his grand appearance (2 weeks before his due date and a week before the c-section was scheduled!) and I am loving life with 2!

Here are a few pics of our transition...

Sweet sleeping Noah...

Awake Noah...

Noah's sweet little baby feet...

Sibling nap time (Georgia was actually just waking up by the time I thought about getting out the camera)

On our way home for the first time as a family of 4!

Cute cloth diapered baby Georgia. She doesn't seem to notice a difference and so far they really aren't that much work; especially since we don't use them overnight or when we go out.

Today was my first venture out of the house with both babies by myself. We went to the park. I couldn't bear to let Georgia watch any more Elmo and she was climbing the walls. We were only there for about an hour because it was starting to rain. We had a good time, though.

Georgia is doing great adjusting. She has always been so independent so the little bit of neediness and fussiness we are dealing with is not bad at all. She loves her little brother, she likes to point out all his "parts". We are hoping he makes it to his first birthday still having both eyes! She also asks to "hold it" often. So cute.

Noah's here!!!!

This is a guest blog by Elizabeth's husband, Chad!

Elizabeth got home this morning from delivering papers and decided to put away a few things around the house. She began having contractions, but wasn't sure if they were the real deal. They were certainly stronger than the Braxton-Hicks (spelling?) contractions, so she rested for awhile. The contractions didn't give up. Elizabeth took a shower, hoping the warm water would relax her body, but by the time she got out to brush her teeth she was having a hard time standing up from the pain! At this point the contractions were about 5 minutes apart and becoming more intense. It was around 11:40am and she decided to call the doctor. They told her to come in for a check up around 12:30pm. We quickly got ready, grabbed a few things, and left with Georgia to go see the doctor. The doctor examined her and immediately admitted her to labor/delivery because she was 8 centimeters which was amazing because in her examination the day before there were no signs of impending labor!!! They quickly ran blood tests and filled out paper work in time to get the epidural working. By the time the epidural was in and the nurses examined her, the water broke and it was go-time! Pushing didn't last long at all--in fact she gave about 4-5 good pushes and Noah was born! It was so exciting to be right there and see the whole thing!! Noah cried and reached out his arms as soon as he was born! I got to cut the umbilical cord and within a short time he was cleaned up and we were holding him! He is 6lbs 2oz and 18 in long!

We want to thank everyone for your prayers and texts and your help and your gifts! Elizabeth is especially happy because they allowed her to deliver Noah without another C-section! Elizabeth is recovering well and continues to tell everyone she see how happy and amazed she is about how quickly and easy the labor was. We also praise Jesus because of his mercy and grace that the labor went so smoothly and didn't involve surgery! We also praise him because of his blessing in giving us new baby Noah!

Here are some pics (look at all the hair--he has more than I do!!!):

The Nursery

Well, last night we set up the crib for Noah and arranged the nursery. There is wall to wall furniture but it all fit! Here are the "Before" photos...(there was also an armchair in front of the window for a while but I forgot to take the before photo before we moved it into the study.)...

And here are the After photos. We moved the dresser to the same side of the wall as the changing table and Georgia's crib...

Here is Georgia testing out the new crib. My friend, Meghann was so generous to give us this crib when her twins moved to toddler beds!

Here is Noah's crib, where the dresser used to be.

Here is a view from the hallway. Georgia is in Noah's crib and you can see part of her crib there on the right. The changing table is between the dresser and Georgia's crib.

We still need to move some of the wall hangings around. Those tea cups are a little girly to be hung over a boy's crib, the dresser now blocks half the picture hung on that wall and we got a "pet net" to hang in one corner to keep all the stuffed animals and dolls that take over the floor. My mom came over today and shampooed the carpets. Slowly but surely we are getting ready for this baby!

Georgia's Latest

So this week we had Georgia's 18 month appointment (although she is almost 19 months!) and it went well. She is 32lbs, 36 inches tall and has no percentile because she is off the growth charts! She is following the same growth pattern she has always been in so she is healthy and proportionate, just really big for her age.

Last night she didn't eat much of her dinner so I left it on the table in case she wanted to go back to it and this is what I spied her doing. Sorry the photos are backward...I can never seem to get them to post in the order I want.

Here she is after trying to balance the plate to feed her babies her leftover dinner. I had a feeling that might happen but really wanted to get a photo before she realized I was there!


Here she is feeding her babies her broccoli. She also had them buckled in as best she could so they could be "safe" as we tell her when we strap her in. She was also telling them "bottom" meaning "sit on your bottom" which she hears from us all day everyday.




We also got an Elmo video from Netflix. She LOVES Elmo from books and toys but had never seen Sesame Street. Until now she hasn't really cared much for TV but when I put this on she was in love. She asks for it all the time now. It is nice when I need to do something but I need to figure out how to limit it!

Easter Sunday

Every year, for the last few, I have hidden Easter eggs for my nephews to find. This year Georgia was old enough to play too and she loved it!


Here we are discovering what was inside the eggs!

This is the one shot I got of the boys. Nick is officially too old to enjoy hunting eggs. Maybe next year I'll have to get more creative for him to "earn" his Reece's Eggs!

Here is Georgia going at it! I didn't hide them this year but I think I probably could have!

When we left the house we opened the door to this surprise!

Chad's mom and sister were out early and stopped by the house while we were all still asleep and left this toy wagon full of Easter goodies! Georgia LOVED it! She looked at everything saying either ooooohhhh pretty! Or a wagon, a wagon!

After the wonderful surprise and wonderful egg hunt and wonderful meal with my family, Georgia had a wonderful nap at my parents' house while Chad and I were able to have a wonderful Easter service with Christos Church to celebrate our Risen Lord. What a wonderful Easter Sunday we had this year. Praise the Lord!

Baby Bump

Well, my baby was playing with her friend (and future husband), Jacob Fredrick, last Thursday at the Seminary and had a pretty big bump...right below the eye. They were running and laughing but the desks in the classroom were right about at her eye level and she ran into one. She was a little shook up at first but then wanted to get down and play again. What really made her mad was that I tried to put ice on it. I gave up after about 30 seconds so it has been looking worse everyday! Here is the progression...

The night it happened...

A few nights later...

The night before last....it looks pretty much the same now. Poor girl!

Oh, and here is my baby bump at 30 weeks!

Even though I am smaller than I was with Georgia at this point and I haven't gained much I still failed my blood glucose tests so pray for me...I have to start checking my blood sugar levels 4 times a day and go on a very strict diet!

Amy's shower

Well, the shower went very well. Not as many people came as I had expected (I guess people don't RSVP anymore) but Amy still got showered with some nice stuff and we all had a good time. Best of all, my house is clean!


This is Amy's mom, Tara, me and Amy...by the food, of course!


Me and my mom. I could not have pulled this shower off without her help!

I was way too busy to stand still for a photo!

Amy with the cupcakes

Georgia and my mom, her Mamaw (who she calls Pawpaw...which is who my dad is!)

The beautiful prize gifts that my mom purchased and wrapped for the occasion.

Socializing

My friend, Maria Fernanda (in the white sweater) came early to help set up. What a life saver she was!

Georgia loved the party, and the cupcakes!

Coffee punch (decaf for Amy).

The spread

The most important part. The dessert!

Amy brought Georgia an Elmo. We have never watched Sesame Street but she LOVES Elmo from a few books we have. She was so excited!

Me and Amy with the cupcakes. College roomies pregnant at the same time!