Easter Eggstravaganza

Yesterday was a big day for this mama!

After dropping my current camera at Colt's baptism this past Sunday, I decided to invest in a new one. (Now I am in deep and must make something more out of this photography hobby.)  I am SO in love with my 60D and have hardly had a chance to even get all of my settings figured out. 

So before heading to daddy's work for their annual Easter Eggstravaganza, I dressed the boys in their first matching outfits and decided to have a quick photo shoot.

Needless to say, we only had about 15 minutes once Colt was fed and both boys were dressed, plus there wasn't much sunlight shining through the windows - not the ideal conditions for a photo session. But we made the best of it and I got a couple cute shots! (Of course, none of Wyatt with a great smile, but that doesn't really matter. To me, his beautiful brown eyes tell the story.)

And let me tell you, the love Wy-man has for his little brother is astounding. It sure makes mama and daddy proud!

By the time we finished the photo shoot we loaded the car - this mama was finally able to drive again! It felt so strange to be behind the wheel again...it had been since January 31st. The miracle in all of this was that we actually made it to the Easter Eggstravaganza right on time.

Wy-man enjoyed visiting the zoo animals and playing in the bounce-arounds (although I didn't get any photos of him during that part of the night since Colt was quite the attraction)!

But I was able to capture the bunny face painting, which was Wy-man's favorite part anyway!

The night wasn't complete, however, until we got to sit with the Easter Bunny. Can you believe how talented the bunny was to hold a squiring toddler and a newborn? And believe it or not, I was actually able to get a good photo!

Thanks Family Wellness for a super fun evening with the family - and forcing this mama to get out of the house!

Life After A C-Section

It's hard to believe it's been two full weeks since coming home from the hospital - and let me tell you, recovering from a c-section is no joke. Yes, I didn't go through labor pains (well I guess I did since I was in pre-term labor at 32 weeks), but not to the full extent other women go through.

So while I didn't have a long, drawn out labor, I did have my stomach sliced open, my ab muscles cut through and a baby pulled out of a 4 inch incision. This time around I felt so much more of the delivery since my spinal didn't 'take' from the belly button up...but I was bound and determined to be awake and witness this baby's arrival that I wasn't about to let my non-numbness have the docs put me under. I wouldn't change my decision because hearing his first cry was priceless, but as a result I sure could feel them tugging, twisting, contorting my stomach region in all different ways. (All things I didn't feel when they delivered Wy-man).

*****

I have always prided myself on maintaining my core, but you take it all for granted when you have no muscle left. Sitting up, couching, sneezing, laying down, rolling over...you name it, they all use your ab muscles - and I have NONE left.

With this baby I decided I was going to try something different than I did with Wy-man, so for two weeks now this has been my bed!!
I've become very fond on our lovely couch. It allowed me to sleep at an incline, kept me from rolling over and actually was pretty darn comfortable.

I kept Colt (a.k.a Porkchop - a name lovingly created by Wy-man when he was a wee 4 months in utero) a foot and a half away from the couch where he rested peacefully in his nap nanny (best investment EVER)!

It's been a perfect setup.

*****

While the road to recovery (and loosing the last bit of pooch I still have) will be a long one, with many sets of sit-ups in store, the past two weeks on the couch have done great things for this mama. But, I would be lying if I said it didn't have a lot to do with this wonderfully sweet and very content baby.

He hardly fusses (I think yesterday was the fussiest he has been and it was because of a little gas), and sleeps amazingly well. (I hope I am not jinxing by sharing it with all of you.) Case and point - last night we went to bed at 10:30, he slept until 3:15 before needing to eat, was back to sleep by 3:45 and not up again until 8:00 am.

WHAT?! He's only two weeks old and sleeping this well - mama was shocked yet super excited at the same time. Too bad this mama wasn't able to go back to sleep last night, so I have been up since 3:15 this morning while he slept peacefully.

Needless to say, today has been a lazy day for Porkchop and me. I decided to make the most of it and snap some photos of this handsome man. How can I not enjoy spending my day, no matter how tired, when I get to spend it with this beautiful being?!

But tonight I am making some changes. I am going to say GOOD BYE to my temporary residence and rejoin my hubby in our comfy bed. Hopefully that will take care of my sleeplessness.

And if it doesn't, I will continue to thank my lucky stars for this wonderful new life in our family - and be glad I am on maternity leave in case I need a nap!Here's to our lazy day!!

A Mom of Boys...

I must admit, when I found out I was pregnant I was hoping for a little girl...One that I could dress up in tutu's and big beautiful bows. But when we heard we were expecting another boy, those thoughts vanished immediately and were replaced with all the big bro/little bro matching outfits I could buy for my two handsome boys.

And while we have tons of hand-me-downs from Wy-man and his 3 other boy cousins, it is still fun to dress Handsome Man in outfits all his own.

This weekend is a huge weekend for us, so of course we needed clothes to fit the occasion. :) A frog outfit for his Sip & See Frog Shower this afternoon, a fun one-piece outfit for cousin Luke's birthday party tomorrow, and last but not least (actually MOST important), is his baby blues for the Baptism on Sunday morning. (And of course, the family has coordinating outfits for Sunday morning too!)
Who says little boys can't be stylish too?!

Back to Reality...

It's been a week and a half since Colt's arrival and I am finally coming back down to reality. And, I am settling into my new role as wife and mom of two quite well. (It helps that Colt is a really good baby so far!) While I am still on pain meds and unable to drive, I can at least get up and move around the house, go outside and even run errands.

So today, Mimi, Porkchop and I ventured out to watch Wy-man's swimming lessons. It felt great to be living 'normal' life again. But, I would be lying if I said I didn't have any hesitations about Wy-man and these swimming lessons he was taking through his daycare.

You see...my mom, sister and I taught swimming lessons for 15+ years as I was growing up in Joplin - everyone wanted to attend Wendy's Swim School. So between Mama, Mimi and Aunt Ashley's swim lessons since he was born, Wy-man has become a pretty good swimmer. Why send him to other swimming lessons when he has learned from the best (I know that I am biased)? :)

Well...it's because I couldn't stand to be the mom that didn't allow her child go swimming. I couldn't stand it for him to be the one back at daycare crying while all other kids got to put on their swimsuits and head to the "field trip bus" to go to the pool. So, I had to put my feelings aside and know that there might be some habits that he is taught at his swimming lessons (that I wouldn't necessarily teach), but I kept reminding myself that it's not about me - it's about a fun experience for Wy-man and being with his classmates.

Needless to say, I caved and I am glad I did. When Mimi and I went to watch today, we saw joy in him that was priceless. And although he started out shy (didn't want to blow his bubbles), but the end (and after a gentle reminder from Mimi that he needs to put his face in to show his teacher he could swim), he was paddling and kicking just like we had taught him!
Yes, there may be some small technical things we will need to 'reteach' him but that is okay. Because watching him have fun and seeing the sparkle in his eyes that we were there to watch him was well worth it. Even Mimi and Porkchop thought so too!
But...Wy-man couldn't end the morning without asking for a photo with his favorite teacher, Brittney.

PS- I know I am SO far behind on posting about Colt's birth, but I promise to do so very soon. I am often thinking about Colt lately, so I wanted to focus on Wy-man today. Come back soon for a complete update on the birth of Porkchop! And hopefully I will have more time in the coming months to make more frequent updates. :)

OH, and don't forget to check out my new rotating blog header! Thank you Amie Hansen for creating this great visual for my blog!