Who has time for this?

Wow! I have one thing to say: I am so impressed by my friends with multiple children who have time to do this whole blogging thing. I am glad to make it through the day with a shower and with everyone fed. Those are my big accomplisments these days!

Other than that, we have not been up to much. I still have a week until I am officially "healed" from the c-section, and I am having a hard time taking it easy. It's hard explaining to a three-year-old why you can't pick her up. Unfortunately, though, I have gone against doctor's orders once or twice and picked her up. BAD IDEA!

Ethan went for his one month check-up on Monday.
12 lb. 5 oz.
24 in.

Our baby is HUGE! His weight is in the 95th percentile, and his height is off the charts. I think Emma might have been the same way, though. Our kiddos seem to hit their growth spurts at different times than most of the population, apparently.

So, we've had our ups and downs and nights when all I wanted was for Ethan to go to sleep so I could rest. But I have to say that God has been faithful to give me the strength to make it through each day. There are plenty of times when I have thought that I wouldn't make it to the end of the day without crying or losing it, but God has filled me with peace in those rough times!

What a crazy journey we are on right now! And I could not imagine my life any differently.

Visiting the family

We took our first trip with the whole family this past weekend! It was crazy and fun and exhausting, and I am so glad we aren't doing that again until Thanksgiving. Visiting with the family was wonderful. We had great meals, went to a really fun Pumpkin Painting Party, and had some time to rest. But travelling with two kids was rough. We learned Ethan is not a car rider like Emma is.

Here is my favorite picture from this weekend: my Daddy with Ethan. Two peas in a pod...

Another week goes by...

This was my first week at home with two kiddos and no hubby! It was a fun and exhausting week--a great learning experience of Mommyhood!

Emma has been a GREAT helper around the house. She always gets me some diapers and puts things away when I'm too tired or sore to move. I had always thought I wanted our kids to be closer together in age, but God knew exactly what He was doing (no surprise there). I don't know how well I would've done if she were still as needy as she was even a year ago.

Ethan is continuing to nurse ALL THE TIME and grow like a weed! He's eating about every 1.5-2 hours, and he was 9 lb. 10 oz. at his two-week check-up. He had also grown .5 in. It's so hard to believe how quickly they grow. At this rate, he'll be a solid 10.5 or 11 lbs. by the end of his first month. Whoa!

We've also had so many great friends and family come by and take care of us. It has been a huge blessing to us to have friends and family come over and bring dinner, take Emma for a little while to play, or even go to the grocery store for me. We have just been thanking God every day for the provisions He has made. I feel truly blessed!

Here are a few more pictures of our precious children to hold everyone over until we get out and about. I'm still not feeling ready to get out and drive (the doctor told me not to drive until I'd feel comfortable slamming on the brakes if someone ran in front of my car--and I am definitely not there yet), but hopefully soon!

Enjoy!

One week later...

We have been a family of four for an entire week! It's so hard to believe. Yes, we're definitely losing sleep, but it is so worth it! So what have we been up to this last week? Here's the update:

• I am still recovering from the unplanned C-section. Apparently after sitting vertex for 36 weeks, Ethan decided to flip to a breach position during the last few weeks. The doctor said this rarely happens. I have to say, though, it is not as painful as the recovery from Emma's birth.
• We took Ethan to the doctor for the third time today. His bilirubin levels have been a little bit high, but they had dropped to a good level today. He weighed 8 lbs. 14 oz. Crazy thing is, he was only 8 lbs. 10 oz. yesterday. Whoa!
• And if you can guess, he's a big eater! Usually every 1.5-3 hours, depending on the time of day. He has been wonderful enough to save the longer stretches (3 hours) for nighttime feedings.
• Emma has been a great big sister. She is very nurturing and always wants to see or touch him. Her only moments of grief have been when she wants something and Dan and I have been occupied elsewhere.
• Dan has done such a great job taking care of us. Between dealing with a pain-medicated wife to a sometimes-whiny toddler to a baby who can make some SMELLY diapers, he has been wonderful through it all.
• I have lost 22 lbs. from my last OB visit before Ethan was born. That means I have lost 11 lbs. that were pre-Ethan. Woo hoo!

Here are a few pictures we took of Emma and Ethan today. He looks so much like she did at this age. I do all the work carrying them for nine months and giving birth, and they both end up looking like Dan. Go figure. :)