Baby boy is sleeping...time to blog!

****Name revealed near the end****

I just looked over at my baby boy and he's sleeping!  And I was just sitting and trying to write out thank you cards when I realized I HAVE TIME TO BLOG!!!  I don't know how much time I have so I'll try to be quick and include photos!

These photos were taken right before I left for the hospital.  SR was still sleeping, my mom was meeting me in front of the condo, and my dad was parking his car to come inside and wait for SR to wake up and take her to school.  The clothes I'm wearing are my American Eagle regular clothes...I don't really believe in maternity clothes.

Right before I was taken in for my c-section I asked my doula to take a quick picture of me.

For my c-section with SR I was sedated b/c the spinal didn't work on my abdominal area.  This C-section I was able to stay awake.  It was definitely an interesting experience.  Feeling the pushing on my belly, feeling the emptiness as he was taken out of me, and then seeing my baby as I looked over my shoulder.  He was really big and pink.  As a comparison, SR weighed 6 lbs 4 oz at birth and baby boy weighed 7 lbs 12 oz.   

This is us in recovery.  I love how the hair net is falling off me.  You'd never know I just came out of surgery here.  

And actually, it was like I didn't have surgery at all...the nurses were really great, but that's b/c I didn't ask for any help.  You may get a kick out of this one...and it might be TMI, but a few hours after surgery, the nurse told me to go into the bathroom to "wash up".  There was a sudden gush of grossness that landed on the floor.  I didn't want to step in it...so I bent down to clean it up with paper towels....the same day as my surgery.  I told my nurse and she told some others...and the staff were amazed at what I was capable of.

But I'm a choice mom!  The faster I get back on my feet, the faster I can go home with my babies :)

Right from the start, baby boy has been a wonderful addition to our family!  

I did have my own room this time, which was very pleasant.  In hind sight I should have brought my white noise machine - maybe I would have gotten some sleep. We left the hospital on Thursday, after checking in on Tuesday.  

My parents were reluctant to have me go home with baby boy and SR.  They wanted me to go to their house.  But it's been the best decision coming home.  I'm so glad that I've been in my environment.  My dad comes every morning to pick SR up for school and my mom comes around dinner time to help me when it seems that I'm being asked to breastfeed and serve dinner at the same time.  Because it's summer, I am able to get outside for walks and fresh air - except it's a heat wave now so it's too hot for my baby boy.

SR has had wonderful and challenging moments.  Things are working out right now that when she wakes up, baby boy is still sleeping and her and I get time together to snuggle while she drinks her milk, to sit together at the toilet, for me to get her dressed, put on sunscreen and put in her pig tails for school.  She's had moments of pushing me - I gave her a time out for the first time.  But the next day, she pushed me again and took my hand and said "take me to sit on the floor."  I'm sorry, but you are not telling me to punish you.  She has regressed a little bit in the potty training and will pee in her diaper.  But then she says, "I can't eat dinner in a wet diaper."  We'll get back on track.  But SR also has taken a great interest in her new baby brother.

SR has been sick since I came home from the hospital.  She had croup right before I had the baby.  Then she's had a cold/cough after.  Last weekend she had a fever and I really felt the demands of being a single parent to two kids.  I was breastfeeding and then called to SR's room and then breastfeeding and then with SR throughout the night - but, it's just sleep, right?  A little over rated if you ask me ;)

I don't want to jinx things but it's been pretty smooth sailing.  My baby is a great sleeper - cluster feeding up until around 11pm and then letting me sleep until 2:30 or 3 and then again until 8:30 ish.  He does have the worst diaper rash I have ever seen and we were back at the Pediatrician yesterday to get checked.  I have tried everything and even with the cortisone and barrier cream now there isn't improvement.  My baby only cries when he's hungry or when I touch his bottom - he's very easy going. 

Last Tuesday, July 9th, was baby boy's Bris (circumcision).  We had a party with close family and friends - although the idea of celebrating my baby's penis getting cut is very disturbing to me.  We had it in my party room at my condo.  I also had a cake there and an announcement made because it was my parents' 40th anniversary.

SR looked so beautiful and sat so nicely during the ceremony.  I wish I got a good picture of her smiling at the camera.  She hates pictures these days!

At the bris, is also the naming ceremony.  I actually stopped typing SR's name when I was trying for #2 b/c I didn't want anyone who knew me to stumble on my blog.  So for today only I will use her name and introduce her baby brother to you:

Scarlett Ruth is the proud big sister to her baby brother Jory Merit!

JM is starting to stir, so here are a few more photos:

I did my own little photo shoot.

Superman!!!

Enjoying the Summer Heat!

I think I want some milk...

Hi JoJo Bear!

Really hard to get a good family photo with a toddler!