The one with the 5 day old Baby

Well... it's official. We are a two child household. I feel very American dream like... two kids, two cars, three stall garage... all we need is a picket fence. Yeah, a picket fence and a normal sleep schedule! It's been hard to shift back to the idea that we are up multiple times in a night and function on little sleep. We had just made it to the sleeping all night, most nights with Eleanor. I know we'll get there again but that's a tall mountain to climb!

It was weird bringing a baby home again. I remember the first time getting in the
car with Eleanor in complete disbelief like we'd either passed some amazing test proving we could be trusted with this little body or we'd stole her! It felt very similar with Grady. They were going to let another one come home with us to take care of and grow. Obviously they didn't know about the cut Eleanor had gotten on her nose when we were rough housing or the fact that we let her sleep with 2 stuffed animals (and a BunnyLove), or for her birthday we took her to one of her favorite meals - Taco Bell, or the other bad displays of parenting that had happened. They may have questioned our ability to sustain two! I was happy for his appointment to come and check on him. Get a weight check... already back up to 7lb 2oz, which was great progress!

GRR fussing
MJR begins to rock him.
Fussing quiets
MJR walks into kitchen.
MJR: I am so rocking this newborn!

Eleanor is slowly getting used to him. We were a bit nervous in the hospital as not only did she not seem interested but she avoided him. He's starting to come around in her eyes.. she watches him and wants to touch him so it's just ensure she's gentle. She also wants to bring him things but that's dangerous as sometimes we can hand things over and sometimes things get hurled.

She's been just as busy as ever lately. The "new" things she's doing... climbs
up to the top of her slide and just stands there - without holding on. Looking at a TON of books... will do it for hours, especially if someone is there to read to her. And we don't need new books... we
can look at the same set over and over and over again. Her golf game is still a work in progress! Makes me laugh when she swings her club a dozen times over the ball! She's climbing up on chairs... not just the dining room table but the tall counter chairs as well! We filled her sandbox with sand and took her outside to play in it. She loved it! Made me smile watching her play, that is until she put a big handful into her mouth. Sandbox time over!

best meal: we had random meals (leftovers, BLTs, sandwiches) this week but we had one meal where Grady had finished nursing and I was holding him, Eleanor was eating what we put in front of her, and Matt and I were finishing up and I realized this is my beautiful little family. While it may not have been as organized or as clean as I would have liked- it was beautiful.

ALR: Do you remember the first couple days with Eleanor?
MJR: Kinda.
ALR: What did we do? I'm really struggling with the details of those days.
MJR: We brought her home and stared at her.
ALR: I know, then what?
MJR: You slept, she slept, you feed her, she pooped and peed.
ALR: I feel like you are missing a lot of details. Did I hurt like I am.
MJR: Yes.
ALR: Does he sleep like she did at night? Sporadic and night owlish
MJR: Yes.
ALR: I don't remember it being hard like this.
MJR: You had good medicine.

The one with the letter to my Second

Dear Grady -

You have been my quiet little wiggle for so many months that it's hard to believe you are here. When

I was pregnant with your sister things were different... I read, I planned, I researched, I tracked fruit sizes in comparison to her body size... but with you there was so much going on and I had a hard time believing you were in there... but you constantly reminded me with a poke or prod ever so often. Maybe this pregnancy and our first few months together have been different because you have been this beautiful surprise that I just can't wrap my arms around. I'm so lucky for you, your sister, and your dad that I was nervous and scared. Maybe that's why it's hard to believe you are here... making another dream come true.

Your dad, now he's not scared... he's excited. He's excited to meet you, see you, introduce you to the world and all it has to offer. He's excited but feels the weight of the world on his shoulders to teach you to be a gentleman... one that can change his own oil, dress his own deer, yet articulate his opinion, understand consequences, and know how to treat your partner. I see him already pondering how to get these through to you. You see, he was scared with your sister... who has changed him in ways never planned and continues to "work him over" like I've never been able to.

Your sister, she's a sassified force of busy energy. She's bold, bright, and will be your biggest partner in crime.. if you want it or not. The idea of you two teaming up and growing together is beautiful, thrilling, and scary to me. I'm not sure if she knows you are here or not... she blows raspberries on my belly and will pat my stomach but when we've been offering a baby doll to her the results haven't exactly been model sister material. We'll see if that changes.

Now this is where I ask for your patience. I'm not an ideal mother.. I'm a glorious trainwreck of guestimations and ithinkwelltryits. I felt so confidant before your sister came...only to realize I know nothing. AND now, you are a boy.... I don't know what to do with little boys! So give me a little leeway on that one too! We'll learn together with your dad guiding us.

I do have some wishes for you... just as your dad does. I don't know if I can teach these to you or
hope you'll pick them up along the way.. I wish for you strength of heart and character, I wish for you an appreciation of differences (places, people, things, ideas, food), I wish for you to see the world and ask questions. I wish for you to have a quiet strength of compassion for animals and loved ones. I wish you to appreciate where you've come from but also be sure to look where you are going. The decision you make will take you down paths you may not be aware of. I wish for you the ability to apologize and empathize as sometimes the strongest men stumble on these humbling actions. There is a difference between confidant and cocky... walk that line as best as you can. Surround yourself with role models that you can lead and that you would follow. And finally, know that I love you... you haven't been in this world long enough to know the depth of my love. But don't doubt that everything I do and fight for it's for you, your sister, and your father.

Grow on now,

Mom

Guest Blogger: The one with GRR's Arrival

Guest Blogger: MJR

15 months ago I awoke for EER’s arrival and I was nervous, today I woke for GRR’s arrival and I was excited. See I didn’t know what to expect with EER, what to do when she came, etc. With GRR I was ready. The day started very similar, no need for an alarm clock - we just woke up and got ready. A friend of ours, Candy, was going to be babysitting Eleanor and take her with to day care. Candy arrived at 5:50, Amanda took her through a quick walk through of Eleanor morning routine and we were out the door. We stop at Burger King for my breakfast (ALR's inject: same as with EER's day and just like with EER, I watched him eat it in the parking lot of the hospital) and off to the hospital.

The hospital was much easier this time because Amanda didn’t have the nasty pupps rash like she did before. The doctors and nurses came in and discussed the procedure and gave me my scrubs for the OR. Once the IV was in and Amanda was briefed, we were put in the queue and told it would be a little bit. I took this opportunity to call the grandparents, and text the aunt/uncle. I’m pretty sure I woke up all the parents. The Aunt and Uncle appeared to already be up. I updated everyone that Amanda was in the hospital and made a special request for a babysitting Eleanor while we were in the hospital.

At 8:00ish, Amanda was wheeled away and I watched golf while I waited for nurse to come and get me. Oh how I miss the golf channel (ALR's inject: Poor, poor Matt). At around 8:20 I was able to head into the OR. It was like déjà vu , Many of the same nurses were there, including Bonnie who was the nurse who took care of Eleanor immediately after her delivery. As I watched the countdown - which was an injection of the medication, I talked with Amanda and held her hand as the doctors had a bit of difficulty getting the spinal tap in. (ALR's inject: this time it sucked and I may have cried from frustration and being a bit scared). Once the countdown hit zero, it was game on. The curtain went up, a time out for the team happened, and a baby was about to be born.

Dr. Bury said "I see the head, and that he has a head full of dark hair." Shortly after she said I could look over the drape, it was very interesting to see. I was able to watch the entire birth. He arrived at 8:33 am.

GRR: Waa, waa, waa

MJR: he looks great!

Nurse Bonnie: Do we have a name?

MJR: Grady Randy,

Medical Staff: oh what a great name.

Dr. Bury did note that he wasn’t as big but looked really good. Bonnie and another nurse took him and started to clean him up and took his measurements. He pinked right up and got high scores on APGAR. (ALR's inject: I kept looking over to watch the team work and I kept seeing these little hands fly up, almost waving at me) He wasn’t as large as Eleanor, 7.7# and 20.5” compared to Eleanor 9.6# and 23” but he was handsome. I didn’t cut the cord on this one, a little disappointed, I should have asked, lesson learned. They wrapped him up and gave him to me to hold. I took him over to Amanda and we had the Anesthesiologist take our picture.

Once the doctors were complete with the surgery we headed back to the recovery room. We stayed there for about an hour. GRR was a little cold according to his temp and the doctors wanted skin to skin to warm him up. This was when Amanda finally got to hold him. It wasn’t too long after we were headed to our nursery room across the way. It was so nice to hear the nursery rhyme place over the speakers at the hospital. GRR’s official announcement to the world. Once we were settled into the  nursey room I went to pick up Eleanor from daycare (ALR's inject: Matt and I decided that she rightfully should be the first to meet him)

When Eleanor got to the room she was excited to see Amanda and then we introduced her to her little brother. As I write this my mind wandered off to the movie scar face, were he say “say hello to my little friend” Back on topic. Eleanor was a little unsure of GRR and I had to be careful to assure she touched him nice. After the introduction we grabbed a quick family picture and returned Eleanor to day care, which she was not happy about.

GRR’s first visitors were Grandma Di and Grandpa Perry. A little scare took place while they were in the room. Amanda’s uterus wasn’t contracting enough and  bled a little more than the medical staff wanted (ALR's inject: I was a little scared too as I had a team of 5 nurses and Dr. Bury on the phone). After some medication she was okay and Grandma Di and Grand Perry came back in, along with Aunt Alaina. After that it was Grandma Michele and Grandpa Randy turn to meet the little dude. After all the visitors, both Amanda and GRR were a tired. GRR had to head to an assessment and I went to lunch with my parents while Amanda slept.

Later that afternoon, I made some phone calls and sent some text share the great news with the great grand parents and others. Later in the day, Aunt Alaina came back and Uncle Eric and his girlfriend came and visited GRR. Grandma Michele and Grandpa Randy, and Eleanor came too. It was a full house in our tiny room. 

At around 7:00pm GRR was carted off by the nurses for another assessment , the medical staff keeps close tabs on the babies, and everyone took off at this time, capping a wonderful day. Amanda and I

relaxed a little bit. I enjoyed some Nardello’s pizza and sandwich while Amanda had leek soup and a banana popsicle (ALR's inject: same thing I had after EER's arrival). The nurses came back with GRR at 8:30ish and we all went to bed. It was a great day! 

After everything settled at night

ALR: We did it. I can't believe he's here.

MJR: Yes, we did it.

Second Pregnancy

The One with the Mini-me

We are in the home stretch... literally. We are coming to the end of the pregnancy and despite the fact that I'm scared to death of having two under two, I'm ready to be done. Thank heavens the summer hasn't been too hot but I'm running out of wardrobe options and I'm sick of snoring. This pregnancy has been different than the last for sure. Matt says not only am I carrying different but I've been more irritable - which I wouldn't argue with. I haven't had a ton of cravings like I did with Eleanor and I haven't swelled nearly as much. I am running out of energy but I'm wanting to nest more than I have in the past and attempting to keep the house in order.


The past couple weeks we've been organizing and just mentally prepping to becoming 4 versus 3. Eleanor has been all about the books lately... she loves to read the same over and over but she's consistently wanting to read and look at pictures... and point and moo at the cows. She worked on her molars as well as had a "Dress like Dad" day. Was a big hit on the social media.



She spent the day with Grandma this past weekend while Matt and I worked on things around the house. They headed up to spend the morning with Great Grandma Dar. In the afternoon, Matt was able to golf while I nested a bit more. He and Eleanor have been playing around the yard but he's been able to get out a little more lately. I thought it was nice to spend some time with my mom doing things I've been wanting to for awhile... vacuuming, washing the floor, organizing, sorting, and getting ready. I don't know if I'm going to be ready but I keep thinking if I can maybe have the house ready I'll be ready! At least we have his nursery ready.

I've been crazy busy at work, which has been impacting the blog. The Workforce conference is coming up, whether I have a baby or not so I've been trying to get things situated to make it as easy as possible for me when I leave. There's so many things to do and I enjoy the conference but I'm scared of all the details I'm going to forget.

best meal: this one's been tough... meals have been a blur lately between trying to eat as a family and just plain getting food on the table! Matt and I did grilled pizzas a couple weeks back and I always love that meal beacuse it's lighthearted and fun for the two of us. Eleanor probably had a ham steak. She's been eating stemmed carrots and cucumbers... so I'll take those veggies as a solid win.

EER in the bathtub
ALR: What do you have?
EER holding two floaty animals
EER: bwah ka go ba ha la yah doh doh wah bah
MJR: Ahh, pig.

On Saturday
Grandma Di: I don't know why you two can't understand her. I think I'm getting all of it.
MJR: Oh, sure, right. We'll just have you translate from now on out.
Grandma Di: Sure, that's no problem, but all she's really been saying while we've been outside today is "I love my Grandma"

The One with the Great Lakes Chapter Conference

We took our final trip as a family of three. Matt had a conference in Grand Forks that we've been looking forward to as it's very family friendly. It's the first time that this conference has been held in North Dakota. The hard part is that Eleanor didn't fully appreciate the youth agenda that was created for her group. Matt was preoccupied with sessions and networking but I did take in a cooking class where I made apple empanadas, cake truffle balls, and cheesecake. We had a few tours including a tour of the Ralph and the Aerospace center. However the best smiles on both Matt's and Eleanor's face was when we went to the waterpark as a family. It was a bit hard going through the park 8 months pregnant but Matt and her took on the slide a few times with the biggest smiles! We even took on the lazy river.

Eleanor has really gotten into sneak mode. Her new thing during the trip was to grab my water bottle off the bedside table and then rush to the side of the bed and attempt to drink it as fast as possible.

best meal: Red Pepper on the way home from Grand Forks...I had tacos, Matt had a grinder, and Eleanor had a hot dog, a piece of ham, and a veggie pouch.

MJR walks into room
ALR: how was the banquet?
MJR: You are looking at a two-time winner.
ALR: Oh?
MJR: I won closest to the pin and my team won the tournament.
ALR: Yeah, good for you, honey!
MJR: Now it just makes me want to golf more.
ALR: Yeah, I was afraid of that.

 We also stopped at Jamestown for a little break for us all! She kept pointing at the buffalo!