Isaac Louis: 2 months

2 months
Stats: 14 pounds 2 ounces (90%)
24 1/2 inches long (90%)
15 3/4 inches head circumference

Dr. Bill says Baby Isaac is Happy, Healthy & Super Strong!

1st & Happening:

• You have been smiling so much the past few weeks!
• You found that you move your hands and feet! (3/4/12)
• Rolling Over and Scooting on your tummy! You'll move all the way across your play mat and we find you on the wood floor!
• You are very observant, studious and serious.
• You are becoming more and more of your own little man. While you and Silas look very similar, you are starting out with much lighter hair than Silas did. Its curly too! You have more of the Mexican/Italian/Hawaiian skin color. The thing that stands out the most however is your beautiful Blue eyes! We joked maybe you would have blue eyes, but I think you might keep them!!

Loves:

• The swing
• Being held and tickled!
• Sitting with your brother and when he makes you laugh
• Napping... from 9am-4pm! pretty much all day and getting up to eat once in a while
• and of course... EATING. Obviously =)

Not So Much:

• Going back to sleep in your own bed... working on it
• Car Seat is hit or miss
• Being put down when you want to be held
• gas... but who is a fan?!
• Not getting your first nap or getting off your nap routine does not make for a happy Isaac. Learned my lessons there...

Other Tidbits:

You visited Grand-Nani (Brock's Grandma) this past week and she has nick named you "fatso"...but she's 92, so she can get away with it =)

Your a chubby bubby as Grammy (Herring) calls  you. You have been in 3-6 month clothes for a while now, and many of them are already packed away because they are too small!

Your usually asleep by 8pm and sleeping some good stretches. I don't even look at the clock anymore. But usually I am only up 2 time during the night with you.

Wordless Wednesday: Getting So Big

21 months

brothers

2 months

wordless wednesday: just a mama and her little boys

Do they know?

Dear Silas & Isaac,

Today has been a great day.
One of those great days I wish every day could be like.

Isaac's, you've been a great napper the past few hours on your play mat.
Any my Silas boy! I'm so proud of what  a great brother you have been today, listening to mama and playing so well!

Laundry is getting done, kitchen is clean and dinner is on its way to being finished.

Birds are singing, there's a breeze coming thru our window and the sun is shining and warming us up to a perfect 77!

I'm so thankful for today. When I look over at you two, my little boys, I wonder how I got so lucky to be your mama.
I hope you know how much I love you and how wonderful I think you both are! I wonder if one day you will remember these precious days of running around outside in the California Sunshine on a February afternoon. Drawing stick figures while we listen to The Civil Wars... or dancing to music after yummy smoothies.

Even if you don't... I hope you read my letters, and know that I'm treasuring each and everyone of these moments with you little boys.


Thank you Father for this blessing of a day. When the days are gloomy, I have a bad attitude and have given far too many spankings, please remind me of these days.

Isaac Louis!!!

Newsworthy Boy Birth Announcement

Announcements for every life event: graduation, wedding & baby.

View the entire collection of cards.

Battle of the Brothers...

Check out Silas's baby pictures vs. Isaac's!
This is Silas around 2.5-3.5 months and Isaac around 4-6 weeks
(Both avg. 11-12lbs)

Confessions: 2 under 2

I can't believe I've had these 2 all to myself now for about a month. Of course there are hard, I want to pull my hair out, moments. But for the most part I am really enjoying each day. This week tho I've been dealing with some new feelings of frustration however. Having 2 little ones makes outings a thing of planning, determination and luck that all the planets align on my side.

With one kid errands, dinner, cleaning. And outings weren't that hard... But with 1 mama and 2 kids, most of the things I could previously do require much more work now. I have slowed Down and not taken on as much or tried to outdo myself. But many days I jump in bed and reflect on my day before crashing hard, and wonder, "why am I so tired? All I did was sit at home with the kids all day?!". Becoming a mom, and having a "do" kind of personality, I felt and feel like my worth as a mama is found in how much I do all day. Did I go to Target, Trader Joes and Whole Foods? Clean the house and pick up all the toys? Do a load of diaper and kid clothes while still having a husband approved lovely organic dinner on the table?! But I forgot I take the trash out and do a 4th load of laundry... It was only a B- day. I can DO better tomorrow.

But since having Isaac. And Brock gone for a long weekend, I haven't kept up with my previous GoGoGo and DoDoDo mentality. I've been enjoying snuggles on the couch with both boys. Taking loads of picture, advantage of meals and help from friends and catching up on reading and my favorite books before the laundry was folded. But Isaac is over a month old now. I'm feeling guilty and like I should be back at my game by now. However I'm by sure things will ever or can return to the pace I was going.
So this "new normal" as I call it, is slowly coming and breaking me on its way. I'm trying ever so hard not to find my worth in how many errands I accomplished or play dates I committed too, friends I saw or even the cleanliness of my house. While all these things are fine and dandy, I'm trying not to define how I view
Myself as a mama based on such things. Are my boys clothes, fed, safe and generally happy? Have I met the needs of my husband and connected with him today?

It's okay that Silas has watched a few more tv shows then 2 or played extra games on the iPad. Sitting on the couch together while Isaac scarfs his food down, gives us something to do together and learn while we do it and connect too!

I'm still working on this, but in not a loser of a mama because I haven't done everything I feel I should have. There are many years to come for play dates and outings. I'm gonna enjoy these day to simplify, center and snuggle. And I'm gonna enjoy every minuet and be the best mama snuggler there is!!!

Wordless Wednesday : family Valentines day

Wordless Wednesday: danherring photography (Better late then never!)

Thanks Dan!!!

Isaac: 1 Month

Can't believe this cutie is already one month old!

He now weighs 11 pounds 3 ounces (92%)

and measures 23 inches long (98%)

Isaac is such a sweat, content little guy! We are so blessed!

So far we've figured out he likes to sleep and eat and poop. Amazing right? He loves his swing, when it's on! The car/carseat is hit or miss. He likes to sleep most of the day but we get to see his big blue eyes for a few hours in the morning and then in the evening again. He's a good sport when it comes to Silas "loving" on him. He generally has a look of terror as his big brother comes in for a "hug", but so far everyone is still alive =)He's got a great smile, we've had some great laughs from him already as well! He's super strong and likes to hold his head up looking all around! If he is not too happy being on one side or the other, he will roll to his belly or back!

We all just love him to pieces!!

The days really are long... but the years are short. Trying to enjoy every moment!!

more than surviving...

brothers <3

I was so thankful that Brock was able to take a week off work after Isaac was born. Both sets of grandparents visited on and off both Monday and Tuesday after his birth that week as well. Things were very calm and relaxed around here. Since Brock works so much between his Saturday rotation at Audi every 3 weeks and National Guard "weekends" that have become more frequent due to their current training needs, we haven't had him around much. It was so great to have him home for 7 days straight! I was nervous about him going back to work for sure. But on the other hand, I wanted to jump back in and figure out our new normal with 2 under 2.

With having a 19 month old crazy, busy, active, fun, smart and spunky little boy adding a newborn to the mix was scary. You hear stories about how hard it is having 2 under 2... So I was a little worried. However, I've made it the past few week! For the most part everyone is happy and we are all still alive!

The Challenges:

• keeping Silas off (literally) Isaac has been one of the biggest things that has kept me on my toes. I can't do much out of arms reach if the two of them are close together. Silas loves his brother... but the words "gentle" and "careful" are not his forte at this point. Work in progress for sure!
• lowering my expectations. laundry sometimes doesn't get done as quickly as i am used to. the bathrooms haven't been cleaned in 2 weeks.  it took me 3 days to finally get to cleaning the floors. etc... between nursing, changing 2 in diapers, feeding a toddler and myself, i just have to prioritize and be ok with the things that don't get done. as long as everyone is {semi} happy, fed and clean, my most important job as mama has been accomplished.
• asking and receiving help. i'm not usually quick to ask for help, or readily accept. however, my personal need for showers, getting laundry done and other little pet peeves taken care of around the house i have gratefully accepted the gifts of help and meals that have been offered. i'm proud of myself for this area of growth vs. trying to do so much on my own {and alone} with Silas after his birth. 
• trying to nurse Isaac while still meeting Silas's needs. since Silas has been sick this past week, he needs extra love. usually we spend the time cuddling on the couch if he isn't feeling well. but between lack of sleep (all around!), not eating well because of the stomach flu, and not getting mama attention he wants, many tantrums have ensued. its one thing when they aren't happy because they aren't getting attention, but i feel worse that he isn't feeling well and just wants to be close to me and there just isn't room at certain times. 

The Beauty:

• I love having two boys. Seeing Silas love on Isaac and how content Isaac {usually} is with Silas holding him makes me so happy. I really wondered what God was thinking blessing us with 2 boys so close together... but I already see these two are gonna be best buds. And that makes me so happy!a
• Slowing down... I always say I'm going to slow down and not plan so much. Not commit or say yes to everything. But I don't. This really has helped me take it slower and enjoy my home life even more {if that was possible!}
• I've often heard people talk about how they fell in love with their husbands in a whole new way after the birth of a child. I totally understand this now! Getting to see Brock with a baby for the first time has been wonderful and I'm enjoying seeing him with both kids! 

Wordless wednesday: Brothers

Wordless Wednesday: brothers

Wordless Wednesday

Isaac Louis's Birth Story

The Short Story ... Long Version

This is just the facts... few stories. I'll elaborate when I'm not so pre-occupied with little boy smells, and smiles, and silly antics!


Saturday (1/7/2012) morning I woke up having some contractions that were much stronger then I'd previously had. Said goodbye to Brock who had drill all weekend. Silas and I headed out for a morning of pancakes. They subsided most of the afternoon until dinner.
Brock got home from drill, sick with food poisoning. He was up most of the night being sick, while I had contractions...

Sunday (1/8/2012) rolled around and thankfully Brock's SGT let him stay home since he wasn't feeling well and thought I maybe have Isaac today. By the morning my contractions were ranging between 8 & 20 min for about 1 min long. But they weren't too bad. I was up and around, had lunch with the family and then they stopped! After a short walk around the block with still nothing starting again, I called the midwife on call. Vikki called me back and told me to try and nap and thought I'd probably be meeting him  tomorrow and that labor would start soon. Thankfully I took her advice. I slept for an hour and was up around 3:30pm. My contractions started again a little more intense this time. But still only about 10-15 min apart. I talked with my sister in Tennesse, was twittering, my sister in law in Yuma and was Facebooking.
By 5pm, when my mom dropped Silas off, my contractions started becoming very intense. Lasting from 3-5min but still not 5 min apart. Thankfully when I called Emily to come over, she was here by 5:30p. She called Vikki to tell her we needed to head to the Birthing Center ASAP. We were in the car and leaving by 6:10. My water broke on the way out the door (thankfully outside!). Less then half way there I couldn't not push anymore and plan B was in the works to take side streets if Isaac decided to come before we arrived and Emily had to deliver Isaac on the side of the road. I told Brock just to get us to the birthing center FAST, I wasn't a fan of pushing my baby out over concrete =). We pulled into the birthing center at 6:47pm. Only Vikki had arrived at that point, and Emily got to play nurse, Douala & friend!!!!

I was so proud of myself that I walked all the way inside to the back birthing room, and made it to the bed! {vs. collapsing on the floor with Silas at 8cn and refusing to walk anymore!} Vikki checked me and confirmed he was crowning and could already see most of his head. I quickly decided the bed was not my ideal place to push, so Vikki filled the tub for me and I quickly hopped in. A few pushes and 13 min from arrival, we met Isaac Louis!

So, I got my 2nd water birth... Isaac was born into water at 7pm January 8th, 2012 (19 months younger to the day from his brother!)
He weighed in at 8lb 13oz, 19 inches long and just as much hair as his brother!!!

We were home at 11pm and got to introduce him to all four grandparents! We had a fabulous first night as a family of four and have enjoyed spending the day together!

Thank you Jesus for this precious gift!!!!

No longer the baby...

Dear Baby Silas,

I guess this is probably my last letter to you as our one and only baby in the house. How time flies.

A few months ago when Miss Jessie was waiting to welcome Jonah into their family, I remember talking about cherishing her time with Sadie Rae. I felt then, like I had all the time in the world with you. I love our days together. For the most part our routine goes well! We usually have lazy mornings, simple breakfast, run errands, play together, lunch, nap and wait for daddy to come home from work. I love how relatively easy the day is. Your growing up so fast and love to play by yourself. You eat on your own, and can walk by yourself... There isn't too much I have to do besides change your diaper & clean up the tornado you leave behind!

But the days are quickly approaching where you wont be the only little man in my life. I have to say this is a bitter sweet thought for me. While I think about all the special times you and I have shared, just the two of us, I think about all the fun things that are yet to come. 

It was just you and me kid, for a long time while your daddy was gone. We've adjusted to life as a family of 3 relatively well, I'd say.  And I know that you will welcome a baby brother into our family just as well as the daddy you bonded so quickly with. Just like the first letter I wrote you, I promise you again... there will be hard day before us. Days I wont be the perfect mom. I might forget to change your diaper asap, or not get to a snack quickly enough. I'm sure there will even be worse things as we all are tired and maybe cranky. But I promise you that we will make it thru. And I am so excited that you get to go on this journey with me! 

I can't wait to see you hold your baby brother and become the  big boy of our house. I love you with all my heart Silas boy. You will always be my favorite first born ;)

All my love, Your mama

31 weeks & a name: round 2

Not really sure how I flew thru week 30?! But my appointment went great and here were are at 31 weeks!

Stats:

• Great appointment. Glucose & blood work came back great. Sometime I have all the signs for Anemia but I'm not. So that is good!
• Gained 3 pounds these fast few weeks. (blahh)
• Baby's heart is sounds great in the 150's.
• I think baby knows he has a brother, unky & dad to keep up with and is going to be a Ninja! I seriously wonder if he will just bust right out one day he is such a crazy mover. 
• Still having braxton hicks, and weird back pain this week. But I'm still here, and things are lookin good!
• I decided to forego the dirt pills because it is a detox and didn't want to chance it. Maybe next time I will start doing a detox before getting pregnant and see if it helps! However, the Zantac started working a lot better the past week and I've been taking is 2xs daily religiously. I'm onto my 3rd bottle of TUMS as well. (booo)
• Cravings? Nothing particular. But I've been really trying to watch what I eat since the scale hasn't been my friend. But it doesn't really seem to matter what I do. I think this kid is just gonna be beefy. 
• And the most exciting recent happenings are that we finally agreed on a name... DRUMROLL PLEASE:

ISAAC LOUIS BUONICONTI

• Brock picked Isaac (something we both agreed on). It's Biblical & Hebrew for "He will laugh". We had an equally hard time with the middle name. My sister suggested Louis (both my brother in-laws & nephew's middle name), which means "fame & war" but also known for "famous warrior". This hooked Brock and it was a done deal. So there is the story. 

Onto the next 8+ weeks!