I have a wonderfully talented and generous friend who took some pictures of Samuel for us last week. And has agreed to come and take some more on a sunny day. I am thrilled! You’ll remember our Christmas card two years ago…the one with the "snow" falling on us. That was the same talented and generous friend! She is so good with a camera, and with light and with capturing special moments and people on film (or digital, as the case may be). I hope you won’t mind, Shelley, if I share one of the shots from last week here. I can’t wait for all of you to see the rest soon!
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Woke up today feeling a little more like myself. Immediately went to work cleaning and organizing. I told Derek…"there are four of us and one of him and somehow he’s taken over the house!" Everywhere I look there is baby stuff. He’s nursing a little better and sleeping 4-5 hours at night. We stay on a tight 3-hour feeding schedule during the day and try to keep him awake for a while in the evenings, and it seems to be working. Although we don’t count on anything from night to night. People have asked me how the boys are doing with the new baby. GREAT! They are so loving and helpful…they hold his arm when I’m nursing (flailing arm syndrome) and hold the pacifier when he’s crying. Ironically it is Jacob that is struggling a little emotionally. Caleb is so laid back and easy-going and shows no signs of feeling neglected by Samuel’s presence. But Jacob is emotional and cries at the drop of a hat. He’s also been waking up every night (sometimes twice) with bad dreams and running downstairs. He’s very sweet with the baby but is needing some extra attention from us.
Derek’s at Home Depot with Caleb. Jacob’s at school.
Samuel is asleep in my bedroom. And I should be sleeping too.
Here are some of my new favorites:
In Jacob’s arms! -
We can’t believe how this week has flown! I feel like ever since I went in to labor on Monday afternoon, the clock has been spinning! Our lives are now built around 3 hour increments and it seems to go so fast. Feed the baby, change the baby (in our case, and change the baby and change the baby…he’s a machine!), hold the baby, watch the baby and in the meantime try to catch some zzz’s and some food. It’s been fun…Derek and I love taking a "time-out" to just enjoy being with this new little life. He’s a great baby…very predictable and easy to figure out. And at night has been going back to sleep after feedings. His weight dropped almost 10 percent, so we have to take him in for regular weight checks, but since my milk came in we are not worried. And, again, with the number of diapers we’re going thru there should be no room for worry!
We’re really grateful for my mom’s help this week. She took the week off of work to help out and has been wonderful. The boys have been great too…a little crazy when they’re together, but that was true before the baby anyway. All is well at the Smith house!
Some pics of the family with him… (Nana, Pops, Uncle Mark)
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I’m a little disappointed that there is a #3 with these updates…definitely wasn’t expecting that! Today has been frustrating and disheartening, but we’re trying to make the best of it tonight. I woke up this morning at 4:30 with a good amount of bleeding and some regular contractions. I took a bath, had a snack, watched some TV and tried to rest. That went on until about 9:30 a.m. and then everything stopped. And we’ve had nothing since. Tonight I feel better than I’ve felt in days…sadly. 🙂 So for the time being we’ve decided to stop the waiting game and get back to living. Hard to do with no food in the house and no where to go, but thanks to my mom and Steve we have beautiful steaks on the grill, spuds in the oven, and salad. And my neighbor brought over gingerbread cake. We played Deal or NO Deal with the kids (Santa brought the electronic board game version) and ate popcorn and Jelly Belly’s. And for dinner tonight I’ve set the table with our good china and found some Welch’s bubbly in the pantry. Three days of bleeding and waiting has left us tired and disappointed, but we know eventually this too shall pass and we’ll have a baby out of it.
Two items of reflection…
1. I remember as a teenager a New Year’s Eve that my mom had us get dressed up and took us to a really nice 5-course restaurant. Those were the days when we only ate out at Tia’s tex-mex and Wyatt’s cafeteria. I still remember the green sweater that I wore. I was probably pretty ticked off about it and difficult that night…that was my typical teenage girl response to family affairs for some reason. I was always so concerned I would miss out on time with friends. I don’t remember the party I went to after (although I remember going), but I do remember the dinner and getting dressed up for it. Thanks mom.
2. 2006 has been a good year for our family of four. We were hoping to have a baby by its end, but now we’ll have something to look forward to in the new year. I think the only things we’ll remember from this year are holidays and a pregnant belly and all of the trials and tests that came with it. But we’ve learned to sacrifice and submit to service and I think we’ve learned to love and appreciate each other more. And any year that can do that, is a good one.
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Not much to report. Made it thru the night without anything going on. Started bleeding again this morning and was very crampy and uncomfortable. Tried to go out for lunch, but couldn’t manage the car ride. We turned around and came home. Bleeding subsided, but started back up again tonight. Talked to doctor tonight…she thinks I’m close, says to hold out for contractions though. We’re a little nervous that everything will come fast when it does come…after all this prep work. We’ll see…
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So I woke up bleeding this morning. We took quick showers and got ready to head out the door. After all, this is how labor started with Caleb…he came 3 hours later. But we waited and waited, and contractions never came. I continued spotting all morning and in to early afternoon. I’m achey and uncomfortable, but still no contractions. I think labor is probably imminent, but who knows…tonight? tomorrow? Sunday?
Right now there is a tornado watch and lots of rain and the satellite TV won’t work.
And Saddam Hussein is scheduled for execution tonight.
And my boys are running thru the house screaming at the top of their lungs.
And I’m looking at Derek, who is tuning it all out with the help of his IPod, wondering "why did we decide to do this again?". 🙂
It’s a little overwhelming at the moment, but I’m sure in time we will adjust to 3 like everyone else…heaven help us!
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I loved everything about Christmas this year…
the giving and receiving of gifts.
great meals enjoyed around big tables.
laughing with family members.
I told Derek that morning it just seemed PERFECT in every way. Watching the boys, enjoying extended family, letting the world stop as we reveled in the day…it was PURE JOY for me. What a feeling. It couldn’t have been better…truly.
Here is one set of photo highlights from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning…
And a few more from Christmas afternoon…
We ranged in ages from 4 to 82…how cool is that?!
And one of my personal favorites…
A gift from Uncle Mike and Aunt Liv…camouflage overalls!
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My aunt Lisa has requested a "before the baby comes" picture of me…not quite my favorite shots, but it is what it is when your 9 months pregnant. 🙂
And since I probably won’t post again until after the holiday…
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