2 WEEKS LATER

Jude is two weeks old. Between the constant schedule of feed baby, burp baby, change baby poop, oops change baby outfit, time to feed baby again, etc etc etc...the days have blurred a little. Thank God that Maddox still takes naps so I can get one too! That one nap is a lifesaver.

Jude changes every day and is putting on weight. Watch out Maddox!

I started using the Miracle swaddling blanket and I do believe it is working small miracles. Another mini miracle is that Jude finally decided on a paci out of the collection I offered him. He has fallen for the Nuks.

Today I had my 2-week checkup with Dr. Cooley (coolest OB ever) and brought Jude along.

Of course he had to do the LOUDEST, nastiest poop there as soon as I walked into the waiting room!

Ahh, babies.

No matter what they do, they are still adorable. It's the same thing with my toddler.

Who couldn't fall for such sweet faces???

This is Life

 My laid back, little redman/Lawton-lookalike baby woke up...approximately 4 times lastnight. And then Mr. Maddox woke up at 6:45 am, yelling about "choc moon" which translates to chocolate milk. Lucky for this tired mama, NaNa is still here and I heard the coffee pot beep by the time I stepped out the bed. Dear NaNa, are you sure you don't want to move in??? Think about it?

For a long time post-Csection, my body felt like it had been through a horrific street fight and I barely survived. BUT...my incision is healing (and itching!), I can go from sitting to standing without feeling like I've been chopped in half, I can walk straight (no more hunchback wobble), my backache has lessened, my girls up top no longer feel like they are on fire, and my uterus is shrinking - yes! The size 4's will sit at the top of my closet for a while, but I'll get there eventually! A Csection is rough rough rough on the body, but I believe this little guy was worth it. Don't you?

Today we went out as a family of 4 for the first time. And we didn't have any breakdowns! Jude slept, Maddox played at the park and Andrew and I got some yummy fresh air and sunshine.

 Tonight Mommy and Daddy get a quick date night since I was able to leave NaNa with a lovely bottle of pumped milk. I can't wait. I love my two little men so so much, but...

...I love some alone time with TaTa too!!

Brothers

Maddox loves his baby brother...

 ...but, he also loves to tap him on the head or go in for a pinch if he thinks we aren't looking. Check out my face here. I realized what Maddox was doing JUST as the camera snapped.

6 Days Old

Jude is growing growing growing. He found his hand tonight.

 He wakes up about every 3 hours to get in a good meal and a clean diaper.

 Then he entertains us with silly faces before falling back asleep.

 He is squirmy.

                                                     And adorable.

                  So far, he is a dream. He even lets us sleep most of the night!

 Tomorrow he meets Dr. Rigby. Hopefully he will pass his appointment with a big fat A.

Big brother Maddox calls him "Baby Jew."

He loves to look at him. Today Jude got his first bath. Maddox didn't miss any of the action.

And when he isn't watching over baby brother, he's on the GO. Check out his curly rat tail. Jude almost has enough hair for one himself!



He's Here!

Jude Daniel came into the world at 1:16 pm Sept. 21.

He has a head full of hair.

And though he adores his sleep, he is quite alert when awake and a VERY wiggly little boy.

He is tiny (born at 7 lbs 2 oz). And wrinkly. Andrew has nicknamed him Lawton, after my grandad. But eventually, he will "fluff" out.

Maddox loves his new little brother. He is very protective of him already and likes to give him pats and kisses.

We are now a family of FOUR. Things can get crazy, and will get more crazy once all our helpers (family) leave, but we are in love with our sweet boys and wouldn't change a thing.

This is our new life and it feels just right!

So...welcome to the family Jude! We love you and can't wait to watch you grow....

The Time Has Come!

Since the last few days were filled with doctor visits and a sick sick little boy, I had to put off my list. THE list. THE get-everything-ready-because-baby-is-almost-here-and-so-are-the-grandparents list.
So, Friday came. Fast. Maddox was back to normal. And that meant...my entire list was jampacked into one short day.
By some miracle, I even managed a 2-hour nap with Maddox and still got almost everything done. And lucky for me, Maddox rode in the shopping cart - time after time, store after store - with no whining.

Aren't my sunflowers pretty? I walked by them three times at the store today and then decided enough was enough: they were coming home with me. Every celebration calls for fresh flowers, after all!

And we are about to REALLY celebrate. Baby Jude is on the way - only 4 days to go! I am surprised he didn't just fall out as I ran across the Publix parking lot today (holding Maddox, I might add!) to get the very last racecar shopping cart for my 2-year-old.

Don't mind the devil looking horns on my head.

This is the last picture (I hope) of me still pregnant with Jude. As you can see, he is about to pop out.

The Never-Ending Day

Maddox has not been his happy-go-lucky self since about the weekend.

Then about 2 days ago he started crying on the potty and didn't want to go. He became clingy....Putting him down for a nap meant we either had to rock him to sleep or dance him to sleep with country music.

He started waking up during the night and crying, talking about a "bobo" and saying "back hurt."

Today I knew enough was enough. He wasn't getting better and I started to think something could be seriously wrong.

Last week, Maddox met Dr. Rigby.

Today he met Dr. Shelton.

He also met a catheter and an Xray machine.

I wanted to cry as I held him down for the nurse to cath him. I wanted to cry when they took him away for his Xray and he called "Mommy!" over and over.

It was a long, rough day. I had great plans to clean and grocery shop but I ended up at the doctor and CVS for most of the afternoon.

Thankfully, Maddox did not have a blockage and his urine looked good (but they are still doing a urinalysis to check for bacteria). The doctor said his Xray showed a lot of stool and gas in his tummy. So...Mr. Maddox is getting a little laxative mixed in with his drink.

Maddox never went a whole day without pooping, so I never thought he'd be THAT constipated...to the point of screaming and crying. I still wonder. For the time being, though, I'm going to trust the doctor's orders and hope my happy-go-lucky little boy comes back.

SOON.