1 vs 2

Many a mama warned me about the transition from one child to two.  During the later stages of this pregnancy, I was totally freaked out about the change.  So much so that I asked my OB for some good drugs-which he denied me-and now I am thankful that he did.  I had my transition-to-two meltdown before Andrew was even born.  Looking back, it was such a blessing that it happened then (much like how it was a blessing that I had the stomach virus at 38 weeks pregnant as opposed to now).  I was a mess...totally freaked out about how I could handle my ever melting down toddler and a newborn.

Let me say, so far I am handling it.  And pretty damn well I might add (am I asking for trouble here???).  Let me make myself clear, two is no joke and I am not pretending that it is easy or that I'm good at it.  I am tired, I don't shower everyday, and I definitely don't handle all child related issues perfectly.  I am just dealing with it much better than I imagined.  I don't think that Banks is any easier, I think that I have just changed my mentality about dealing with him.  If he's having a tantrum then oh well.  He gets a spanking and cries some more, oh well.  Andrew is crying while I'm trying to do something for Banks, oh well.  There is only so much one mama can do at one time.  I've stopped trying to make everyone perfect and that has been so beneficial for me as well as for the chirrens.

The most difficult thing so far has been breastfeeding (I probably just ran off all two of my readers with this statement).  I don't remember it being this difficult with Banks but that's probably because I could just whip the boob out and leave it out because I didn't have anything else to do.  I'm trying to make myself chill out about it and I'm feeling a little better about it.  Plus, Andrew is starting to be awake more and he's eating better and that seems to be helping in the breastfeeding department.

I cannot believe that Andrew is a month old already.  I think I will say this every month.  He's still sweet and snuggly and I think I've caught him smiling at me once or twice.  He has crazy gas (typical man), spits up all the time, and loves his paci.  He likes "watching" his big brother.  He likes being held and sleeping on his stomach.  I love letting him sleep on my chest.

Banks is being a champion of a big brother.  Today was the first day I had to really get on to him for being all up in Andrew's face, pulling on him, etc.  He's just trying to love on him in the best way he knows how.  Banks is making us laugh everyday.  Today he told me "I was riding with Daddy to get stamps and I put my nose in my mouth (we call boogers his nose because booger is such a gross word) and he told me it was yuck and sick."  Which it is.  At dinner tonight, he got into trouble for throwing his napkin on the ground for the 100th time.  Matt asked him what he had said about throwing his napkin on the ground and Banks replies, "hmm, let me see if I can figure it out."  Hilarious!

Banks likes to photo-bomb my pictures when I'm trying to get a good one of Andrew.  See the top of little Andrew's head before he got eclipsed by Banks?!?!?

And now for the comparison...can you tell who is who???  They look sooooo similar to me!

Banks is at the top and Andrew is on the bottom.  Don't you think they look alike???

Today I love...

1.  The little sucky noises that Andrew makes when he is working his paci.
2.  How Andrew smells of spoiled milk (is that weird?).
3.  How Matt has totally stepped it up and takes Banks for outings almost everyday.
4.  Banks' big blue eyes.
5.  Watching Banks learn what it means to wait and being sweet about it.

Andrew's "only child" weekend

Matt's brother and his wife graciously offered to keep Banks for us for a long weekend.  I drove both boys (without any meltdowns) to Memphis by myself Thursday, thus beginning Andrew's reign as an only child.  I must say, both he and I loved it!  Lots of uninterrupted snuggle time.

Being down a child means that lots of things that happened this weekend that don't normally happen:

-we slept til 9:30 every morning

-we ate breakfast at Bottletree

-we tooled around the Square

-we watched grown-up TV (all in all I watched three movies)

-we cleaned the house from top to bottom

It might be the most productive weekend I've had in a long while.  Again, why did I think having only ONE child (and a sleepy newborn at that) was so hard???  There were no tantrums, no battles over food, no arguments over which clothes to wear, etc.  But I will say, it was mighty quiet in this house!  I missed having funny conversations with my little man, reading books to him, and getting good hugs from him.  I missed that little blonde fireball!  Thank goodness he is home now and things are returning to normal...all toys have been drug out, we've watched two cartoons already, and he's had one major meltdown so far.  Ah, normalcy.  Here's to my first week with both chirrens and no help.  I'm a big girl, surely I can handle it.  And if I can't...well, there's always wine.

Two weeks!

Time is really flying by...two weeks already?!?  We are still surviving; everyday is different depending on how long he sleeps during the night.  He's going anywhere from 2 1/2 hours to 4 hours at a time, usually with one long stretch and then two shorter ones.  He's just so sweet and snuggly it's hard not to hold him all the time!  I think he's working on becoming a reflux baby.  Banks was about 5 weeks before we started on Prevacid.  I've noticed today that Andrew is waking out of naps crying and he's been doing a good bit of spitting up today.  Dern, I really didn't want to deal with that this go-around. 

Sweet angel baby

 We had his two week check-up today.  He weighed 9 pounds (56%), was 21 1/2 inches long (77%) and his head circumference was 37.5 inches (57%).  Banks' head never even thought about being that small.  He was always in the 100th percentile!!!  After his check up with the pediatrician, we went back to the hospital for his repeat hearing screen.  He failed it twice in the hospital after he was born and they wanted me to bring him back one more time before sending us to an audiologist.  Great news!  He passed!!!  So relieved to get a clean bill of health.

Taking A's 2 week picture

I need someone to tell me how I thought having a newborn was so hard when I had Banks.  Why is it that we can always look back and say "man, I had it easy?"  Having Banks TOTALLY rocked our world and I'm really hoping that the transition to two will not do the same.  So far, so good, but it's not reality.  My mom was here for almost two weeks, Matt's mom will be here for nearly a week, and then Banks is going to stay with his Aunt and Uncle in Memphis for a long weekend.  So, next week, reality will set in. 

Our first trip to Avent Park

One week!

It's hard to believe that Andrew is a week old already.  We are settling in to our new routine and both boys are doing beautifully.  Andrew has been doing a lot of sleeping during the day and a lot of crying during the night.  Last night was the first time Andrew actually slept in between feedings so I'm hoping he can keep that up!  As of now, I'm feeling like I can survive this!  Although, my mom is still here doing EVERYTHING for Banks as well as cleaning and cooking...so, of course I'm feeling like I can survive it! 

I forgot what it was like to be ruled by the "feeding clock."  I experience a certain amount of dread when it gets close to feeding time.  Is it only that way with breastfeeding moms or is it that way with everybody???  A friend suggested that I use late-night feeding times as a prayer time; a time to thank God for the blessing we have been given and that has been helpful.  Facebook just isn't entertaining at 3:00 in the morning!!! 

Banks has been so sweet with Andrew.  He wants to put the paci in and hold his hand but that's about as far as he extends his brotherly love.  Which is fine by me.  I'd rather him be less interested than more.  It's been hard for me to not be able to do for Banks.  I hate when he asks me to race or play something that I just can't do but I will say its been nice getting a break from bathing him, fixing his meals and changing his diapers!!

Andrew Philips Still

Andrew made his arrival Sunday, February 12th...one day before he was scheduled!  I woke up Sunday morning with contractions and was about to get in the shower "just in case" when my water broke.  Unfortunately, we took our time getting ready and by the time we got to the hospital I was in tears from the pain!  Everything happened so quickly...we got to the hospital around 9:30 and Andrew was here at 11:01!! 

So far, everything with baby #2 has gone differently.  My delivery and recovery with Banks was very rough and this time has been a breeze (am I jinxing myself here???).  We came home today and it has been perfect...very low key and no tears on my part!  Andrew is learning about the world of nursing and we're hoping that his first night home will go smoothly.  Banks has been wonderful with Andrew so far.  I think he forgets he's even here until Andrew makes a noise.  He is interested, but not too interested.  Being a mom the second time around is much less stressful...not to say there aren't worries but I'm not nearly as freaked out about things as I was with Banks.

 If you don't hear back from me for a while it's because everything has fallen apart.  I'm totally expecting it once Andrew starts waking up, the help all goes home and Banks realizes that Andrew is here to stay.  But for now, I'll enjoy a little peace and quiet and blog!

Holding Andrew for the first time...so sweet!

A paci lover already...

My new favorite pic!

All ready to go home!  Please note that we did not get the neck support thing installed correctly.

We had a "Big Brother" party for Banks today after we got home.  He had cupcakes and balloons and lots of new, fun presents!  He is one very proud brother!



Tick, tock.

This time next week, we'll be a family of four.  EEEKKKK!!!!  It is a bizarre feeling knowing this...not like I didn't know that this pregnancy would end (even though at times it did feel that way) but knowing exactly when it's coming to an end is just strange!  I am scheduled to go in next Monday for the section.  So far, this week has not gone as expected.  I had imagined doing lots of fun things "one last time" with my little man, running lots of last minute errands and having the house spotless.  Instead, we've been on lock down since Saturday because Banks has the stomach virus.  Therefore, I have spent my time washing sheets, cleaning up poo and vomit and disinfecting every inch of this TTT.  I spend my time agonizing over whether I'll get it or not and Banks spends his time parked in front of the TV with his cup of Gatoraid.  Like I said, not exactly how I'd imagined it going.

I will say that this morning, he woke up and said, "momma, can I go and play at someones house today?"  He's so over me.  I'm thinking that we've made it over the hump if he's feeling good enough to request a playdate.  We'll see what the day holds.

We are all ready for Andrew's arrival.  His bag is packed, my bag is semi-packed and the "nursery" is all ready.  Poor Andrew.  There's no space for him in the TTT so he's sleeping in this bassinet in the corner of the downstairs.  Yep, I'm serious.  I love this wicker bassinet and Matt's Aunt Frances put a new ribbon and bow on it for us BUT I don't love that I just have to park it by the bathroom downstairs.  However, hopefully it will just be for 1 1/2 months...we have a contract on a house!!!  We have yet to have the inspection, etc so fingers crossed that all works out for us this time.  Just knowing that there's an end in sight makes bringing Andrew home to the TTT much more manageable.

I'll do my best to update the blog after Andrew arrives!!