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Happy Halloween

 

LOVE,

Minnie & Mickey Mouse

2012

Big Sister

I know you won't believe me... but this precious, cute, adorable, fun, silly, loving girl about worn me out!! Miss Ellie, aka BIG SISTER, has been a BIG mess! She had quite the adjustment period after Patrick was born.

My mom ended up coming back to help me out late August. Ellie had been pushing her limits & I was losing patience. I guess Patrick's 3rd & 4th week were the hardest. Just a few ideas of what she was doing ...

coloring on the walls

look at this face!

trying to hit me if I told her no

she bit 5 friends, including her baby brother & cousin Ryan.

tried to run from me in the parking lot

make mean faces

kick & through fits just because

&

She started having accidents daily. Usually peepee thank goodness!



 You say "how can that be? look at this sweeter than sweet girl!!!"

But, wow... she was wearing me out! I talked/cried to my mom on the phone three days in a row about this.  I was feeling SOSO  bad getting on to her so much. I don't like to spank, but I was out of options... she got a few pops on the booty. She would cry & say "i will be a good big sister' 'i will be a good listener' & i would sit there and cry too. My heart was breaking for her. Her whole world just changed in one weekend & she could not express how she was feeling.

 It was the hardest thing I have been through... her transition. Not even sure it was this hard being a big sister my self?!?  I was so emotional & felt like a failure as a mother of two. Patrick was being a great baby & I was physically feeling ok, but my favorite girl was wearing me out mentally. It was also hard on her that I could not pick her up for a few weeks. She would say, 'stand up & hold me mommy'. I hated to see her so upset!!

 We went to Nashville the week of Labor Day. When we got back, I was in a better place. I prayed every night for her to adjust, for my patience. We finally turned the corner that week. I heard the first month was hard, well for us it was a little longer. But day by day, I could see we were doing better.

We made it through August with some help  & September was much better. I have to remind myself that she is just 2 and a half, she will have accidents & won't listen sometimes. I can't believe it is already October!! Ellie is doing so much better, we still have our moments but definitely better. God does listen & I am very thankful. Wish one of my MANY friends who had a toddler girl when #2/boy came would have warned me ;)

Newborn Session

My dear friend Lauren with Captured by Clark Photography captured these shots of our sweet boy, Patrick!! I just love these pictures & had such a hard time deciding which ones to pick.

 

this was the birth announcement

 Love this one with Chad's hands

 This one of Ellie & Patrick is so precious... I ordered a 16x20 canvas

 sweet feet

 my little man

 we worked so hard to get this shot & it is so good!

 He looks like an angel! with an owl hat;)

 Our babies! Ellie, the big sister, was not real interested in taking pictures... luckily Lauren was very patient & got a couple with them together. She will also take his 6 & 12 month pictures!!

August...

... was somewhat of a BLUR!!

 

My mom stayed with us the whole first week we were home. Thank the Lord. She is just the best & took such good care of us all. She cooked, cleaned, gave Ellie lots of one on one time, made sure I got some rest & plenty to eat/drink. We even got out a couple days & she took us to lunch. While she was here she changed the guest bathroom to look more boyish & found me some new fall/post partum/ easy breastfeeding clothes. Of course, she took us to Target~ Patrick needed his first experience with her! I am so grateful to her. YaYa is the best & she had something fun for ellie to open every day ~ big sister needed some attention. We all cried when she left.

 

Patrick is two weeks here & Ellie is a little jealous (a topic that needs its own post!)

 My mother in law came the second week. Ellie loves her MoMo! We had a great week. I was feeling pretty good & had my 2 week check up. Dr. Drey thinks I am allergic to the chloraprep because I was itching everywhere they put it before the section... that was quite annoying! He gave me a few things to help & thankfully it worked.  Monica cooked a few meals & did a good house cleaning before she left. We didn't get out as much but she took Ellie shopping!! We also had Patrick's NB session with Lauren.

 Aunt Annie came for a weekend! I was so glad to see her. Ellie loves her Annie!! We did a little shopping on tax free Sunday. Ann left during Ellie's nap which was a good thing because she doesn't like saying goodbye :(

 Patrick is SUCH a sweet boy!

 Ellie wanted her finger & toe nails painted before school started. She is in MDO on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9-2. She loves it & is learning so much from Mrs. Julie.

 Her & I went to open house, just the two of us!

 Daddy stayed home with Patrick & gave him his first bottle of pumped milk. He did great!

 He is staying awake a little more these days. Still on a eat sleep poop routine. He is eating about every two and a half to three hours.

 We had some friends over for a cookout. All the kids found their way on our bed for a movie!

We are adjusting to having two. The baby is not the adjustment for me, it is managing time with both & giving Ellie as much as I can. Also this time around, I can't stay in bed after that first morning feeding because there is a sweet toddler who needs her breakfast bar! So a little more rest would be nice, but I am feeling pretty good. I do feel like my recovery has been a little slower this time. The actual c section was easy & I did great at the hospital, even that first week. But the itching was awful! Defintiely no chloraprep next time. I know after my 'help' left,  I was just doing too much & stayed pretty sore. I would say by 4 weeks out, I was about back to normal & actually took a couple walks with P. He is not the best breasfeeder though. He was wanting to nurse for an hour every two hours & we werent getting much rest (me or my nipples!) I went to see my LC & she said after doing a pre/post feeding weight,  he was only getting the foremilk in the time he should have emptied the breast... So he was hungry more frequently. She suggested I pump & bottle feed a lot & try to get him used to eating more less often. I have been doing it but I hope it doesnt take him too much longer to figure it out! In theory, it isn't a bad idea... but my husband is a resident & not here to help with the feedings & then I pump & then clean all the parts & it is just a long process. I know Patrick is still getting the benefit from the breast milk but whew... she said he has a short tongue & slightly recessed chin that will over time change but maybe 6-8 weeks. I am nursing him some but mostly pumping & bottle feeding.

We went to Nashville for a week at the end of the month & stayed through Labor Day. More to come but we are doing gooD!!

Patrick Is Here!!

July 20, 2012

Chad & I arrived at the hospital at 6am. We were the 10 o'clock c section with Dr. Drey. I was so happy he agreed to doing it on his day off  because he delivered Ellie. Of course, the night shift had had a rough night & we sat there for almost an hour before anybody checked me in! Then the nurse blew my IV trying to get blood from it... UGH! Well, we were happy to see nurse Teddi! She had admitted Ellie to the nursery the night she was born & it was nice to see a familiar face. She got us all set up & started my iv. My friend Amy's husband is an anesthesiologist & also agreed to come in for us!! It sure is nice to know people~ he took GREAT care of me & my spinal was perfect.

All our family came up after breakfast. My parents & sisters, my in laws, Aunts Charlene & Lynne, cousin Angela & her daughter. Everyone was all in their green Patrick shirts & we were ready. Too bad the lab didn't agree. They had a machine down & all the procedures were behind, so we were pushed back as well. I was so glad Ann stayed home with Ellie. She was able to have a normal morning at home. I just did not want her sitting up there all day with nothing to do & then have to watch us go back. Ann brought her to the hospital once we were in the OR.

Chad & I before we went back

 Patrick Joseph Moss ~ 7 pounds 14 ounces & 21 inches @ 12:14 pm!!!

 I cannot believe he was less than 8 pounds!! He is just perfect! Cried & pee'd right away~ here was our first moment together! Oh my goodness~ my heart was filled with joy, happiness & relief that he was here safe and healthy. Chad went to the warmer with him to get some pictures! I just could not wait to hold him. Patrick stayed with us in the OR & I got to hold him on the way back to our room!

 Ellie was the first one to come in! I was so happy to see her. It warmed my heart to have her up on the bed with us. Their first meeting ~ so sweet!! these are precious memories  ~

 Just the four of us for the very first time! I was beyond happy & feeling so very blessed!

 Ellie did not want to give her brother up for anyone else to hold! He finally got passed around when she went for a snack. She is already a great BIG SISTER!!!

 Patrick's green shirt crew~

We felt so blessed that our families were here to join us in welcoming baby Patrick to the world. They really are the BEST ~ more pictures to come because we have some pretty awesome friends too! Thank you for all the love, prayers, & support! Patrick is one special boy!!

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Summer FUN!

I guess you can say, I have been doing as much as possible before this boy arrives. We have been going non stop... Here is a little recap since June~

Ellie started MDO! She has done really well. It is a small little church program, less than 5 minutes away from our house. She is in a room of mostly two year olds on Tuesday & Thursday from 9-2. This was her on the first day!

 She was so excited & had been talking about school for days! As soon as we got out of the car, she wrapped her arm around my leg & would not hardly say a word! We got to her classroom & put her bag in her cubby. Mrs. Tiffany & Mrs. Amber were so sweet & showed her right to the babies... her fav! I was so proud when she didn't cry, then I got to the end of the hall & teared up! She is such a big girl now & about to be a big sister!! Just look at this face~

 we have had some HOT weather! Thanks to MoMo & Grandaddy, we have a little pool in the back yard! Ellie loves to swim.

 & lay out of course, like any diva ;) haha... this lasted all but 2 minutes!

 June 8th was the chiefs graduation. Chad & I got all dressed up for a nice dinner with the whole surgery program. Hard to believe it will be him graduating in two years. We had a really nice time & then had a fun lake party Saturday!

 Before we left for the beach, we rearranged furniture. Ellie is now in her big girl bed & doing great!! She has been napping everyday there with panties on. Her bed time routine is good too... she wants me to lay with her for a few minutes & say prayers, when I get up to leave she says "rub my back one minute, mommy?"   Well, ok~ of course I will!!! She is so sweet!! potty trained except for night time.

 Maddie & Ellie are best buddies, with a little girl drama thrown in! They even have matching swim suits! We missed them so much on vacation~3 weeks with no play date!?! We had water day while Maddie's little brother went to the dr.

 Barrett & Ellie love each other too!! He calls her Ellie Ma.  His dad & Chad work together. B came over one morning & they shared breakfast before school~ they are really sweet little friends. We found out that his dad, Ryan matched a liver transplant fellowship in Memphis! So, I do think a weekend trip is in store to show them around the city!! YAY~

 & of course July 4th!! We had a cookout at our house. Ellie got some bubbles for all her friends coming over & helped me decorate red white & blue! I did not think she would be a fan of the fireworks, so we didn't go down to the big show. But we could see several small shows from our deck... she LOVED them! She sat & watched until we made her come in for bed time. It was so cute how she called them sparkles & then would say 'wow, that was loud!' We had a fun night with some friends & unfortunately I did not get a lot of pictures:(

 The next night was a meet & greet with new resident families... Jon Michael, Maddie & Ellie had a great time with all the other kids at Rita's ice!

so here is a belly shot... 37 weeks & counting. I was 1 cm dilated last week,  but not holding my breath for spontaneous labor. looking like we will be going with a repeat section on the 20th... I will be 39 weeks. With all the anxiety from week 14-19, I was just looking at one week at a time. Until finally, we hit 24 weeks & things were still going well... he was growing on track & I wasn't bleeding.  Once we got into the 30's I was really feeling good & had a sense of 'everything is going to be ok'.  Patrick is one tough little man & we are SO excited about meeting him. Our bags are packed & we are ready!!

 This week we went to play at Wallabies~ Ellie & Maddie had a great time climbing, jumping & sliding!! She came home & took a 3 hour nap!! We only have a few more days of just the two of us during the day... just us girls while daddy is at work. I treasure our moments together & look forward to adding baby Patrick to our family too! Hard to imagine how it will be with a boy around, & Ellie sharing attention, but I am sure it will hit me soon enough!

Happy Summer~