Thursday, January 31, 2008

At Least Now I Can Laugh...

If you don't read another post of mine, you have to check THIS out. My good friend growing up, Chalise, found some old pictures of us in middle school and she posted them on her blog. I laughed so hard I was crying!

First of all, I have to comment on my glasses. I get upset at my parents all the time for buying these glasses for me. I had them in red and brown and the worst part is that I really wanted blue ones. They keep reminding me that those were popular and I just HAD to have them.

Second, yes I had a spiral perm in my bangs.

Third, for those who have been around me at camp for Sponge Bob, Cher, Styrofoam Girl, Dixie Chicken Sub, etc....you will see that my roots in dressing up go way back.

Last, now you see why I like my hair short and blonde.

As for my friend Chalise, she was always the stylish one. Yes, she might have owned a swatch watch and a braided leather belt, but she knew how to sport them the best. She had ridiculously fabulous long hair that made everyone jealous.

I don't know about all of you, but for me, middle school reserved those awkward years. At least now I can laugh about it.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I CAN DO IT!!

Three weeks ago mom and I took Keegan and Jack to the doctor. I thought it would be fun to take them both and get Keegan's 18 month shots. Now, this was when Jack was a week old...I was a little ambitious. We got there and loaded up the boys into the new double stroller which was not quite cooperating. Actually I think it was the users, but we will blame it on the stroller. At the same time, Jack was screaming his little head off because it was time to eat. I had a major freak out moment and said, "I CAN NOT DO THIS!!" My poor mom, bless her heart. She was dealing with a over the top hormonal woman that day. As a side note: My mom is the most amazing woman I have ever known. Even though she probably wanted to cry at how I was treating her, she kept it together. Don't you hate when you are mean to the ones you love most? Anyway, I love how she loves me unconditionally.

Well, three weeks later I am happy to say that I can do it. I am on my second week alone and it has been so much easier than I thought it would be. Last week, Keegan and I even had a bad cold and we made it through the fever and the sniffles. Praise the Lord Jack did not get it!! Really, it has been so much easier than I expected and while I am on my feet most of the day, I love it.

I am laughing at myself because one of my favorite shows is Jon and Kate Plus 8. While I feel like I have accomplished so much, it makes me feel so silly because that woman handles 4 times more children than me! Oh well, it still inspires me and it puts having only two children in perspective.

A year and a half ago, when I was childless, I did not know how to even change a diaper. I just have to pat myself on the back a little. :)

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Happy 29th Birthday Jonathan!

I have to brag because...

he best dad in the world. If there is anything to be said about Jonathan is that he loves his boys with everything in him. He is super hands on and loves every second he gets to spend with them.

he takes care of me. I ended up with a bad cold this week and he slept with Jack in the living room for two nights so I could get a full night sleep. He is selfless and always puts me first. (always!)

he cares for people. He loves to bless them and has a genuine interest in their life.

he is a hard worker. He does not like to fail and pushes through every obstacle in his way.


He makes me laugh because...

he loves checking the mail. I let him have the opportunity everyday. If I go out and get it before he has a chance, I crush his spirit.

he loves carmex lip balm and smothers his lips with it every night.

he wears smart wool socks everyday...even with shorts.

his favorite shows are "How Its Made", "Mythbusters", "Everest: Beyond the Limit", "Man Vs.Wild", and of course the most, most favorite "Dirty Jobs". Thank you Discovery Channel for making my husbands life more complete!

he wants to scale Mt. Everest. The reason why this makes me laugh is because HE IS CRAZY and there is no way that I would let him!

he sleeps on my side of the bed every night and denies it.

this year made our yard sick. When we moved in we had the most beautiful, green, luscious yard. He decides to treat it with this chemical right before we are both out of town for a week in 100 degree weather. When we got back, our grass was brown. The chemical had a flap on the back of the bottle (that to his defense was hard to see) and it said to treat in at the most 80 degree weather and water very well. Ooops! Jonathan has finally redeemed himself and his beloved yard is now sprouting green.

he has penguin pajama pants.

he had this great idea not to eat fast food for a whole year for his new years resolution. why this did not work: #1 we just had a baby and that is the easiest sometimes #2 he works for McDonalds.

he would eat wheat thins and yogurt for every meal if I did not cook for him.

he loves Josh Groban. What is ironic is that Jonathan is a country music fanatic. I finally bought him a cd for Christmas and I swear he listens to "Your Raise Me Up" and sings it at the top of his lungs over and over again when I am in the car and not in the car.

I really have the best husband in the world! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONATHAN! I LOVE YOU!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Tornado, The Hurricane, and The Girls

Today marks 2 weeks after Jack was born! For the last fourteen days we have had our highs and lows, but I think that we are getting the hang of it. But like all things do, it will change again and we will have to figure out another piece of the puzzle.
So here are how things are going...

Keegan a.k.a "The Tornado"
We have given the boys nicknames for now and Jonathan thought that "Tornado" fit Keegan best. Since Jack was born he has turned 18 months which has evoked many new personality traits. He makes us laugh all day and is our constant entertainment with all the new things he is learning. His new word is "WOW" and says it all day. He loves to run from us when it is time for a diaper change and makes a game of it. His vocabulary is growing and it is fun hearing new words come out everyday. On the flip side, his tornado side, comes out as well. Besides the obvious mess that a toddler makes all around your house, you just never know when he is going to get upset. He has learned to throw tantrums for real now by laying on the floor and pounding his fists. He hates, HATES, HATES!!! when daddy leaves. He really hates it when he does not get what he wants. All of this came out the first week Jack was here. We are really not sure if it is because he turned 18 months, or attention was given to another little man in the house. Maybe a little of both. Through it all, he has been so gentle with Jack. My heart melts every time he gives him a kiss, tries to give Jack his pacee back, or tries to feed him. He calls him "Dack" and points at him to make sure we know who he is. Those times make up for the random occurrence of the "Tornado".




Jack a.k.a. "The Hurricane"
Jack is simply adorable. He is laid back, and has slept for 5 hours in a row at night. One advantage of formula! Jonathan has nicknamed him "The Hurricane". He is very predictable and he works like clock work. You know usually why he cries and know about when it is going to come on. Our little "Hurricane" also pees on us and more often has projectile poop. We have our changing pad on our coffee table for ease right now, and the boy literally spray painted our couch and rug. Luckily my mother who was wearing a white hoodie escaped it by a slight margin. So this is how he has worked for the last few days...Eat, Sleep, Eat, Sleep, POOP!!! POOP!!! POOP!!! Eat Sleep, Eat, Sleep...


The Girls
I literally have had a breast enlargement (2 sizes) and reduction all in one week accompanied by a nice breast infection. Who knew that your breasts could make you feel so miserable!!! They are finally back to normal and I can now sleep laying down instead of sitting up. Books are so inclined to breastfeeding these days, that they don't really tell you how miserable you will be if you decide to use formula! Even if I did not start out breastfeeding, my milk would have still come in. I never knew that! There is no magic pill or shot anymore to make your milk go away. Instead, you have to wear cabbage leaves in your bra, or wrap your girls in an ace bandage all the while being super engorged ROCK HARD and not able to pump!!! The other side of it all is that when you wean rapidly, your hormones go NUTS! I will add however, that this process was way less painful than to continue to breastfeed if that tells you anything. So if I did not call you back, now you know why! :)

My mother leaves this weekend, so you guys can pray for me next week! I am sure some days will be harder than others, but I think I am up for the challenge! (I think...)

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

My Boys

Christine caught this moment right outside the nursery window. Such a sweet pic to me.

A few pics around the house. Keegan loves being a ham in front of the camera and Jack just knows how to be cute.



Keegan helped dad put together our goliath stroller. He went straight for the tools...such a boy!

Monday, January 7, 2008

Smelling the Fumes...

of cabbage leaves. My breastfeeding days are over friends thanks to my little barracuda. Let's pray the leaves makes my milk leave. For those of you who are worried that I am making a hasty decision based on hormones or lack of rest, don't be. I have a peace about it. Until next time...

More Jack Pics...







Saturday, January 5, 2008

Jack Preston

I am excited to introduce the blogging world to Jack Preston our newest arrival! He was born Wednesday, January 2nd at 3:59 p.m. Can you believe he arrived on his due date? He was 7lbs. 8 oz. and 19 inches long and he looks a lot like his older brother Keegan.

Wednesday morning I had a scheduled doctors appointment at 8:45 and when I was checked I was dilated to a 5. She asked if I could feel any contractions and really it was nothing different than I was feeling for the whole month since my false labor. She gave me no other option than going up to the labor and delivery floor right away. I was so excited because as of that morning I was growing more weary of the wait. When she broke my water at 10:30 I was dilated to an 8 and still was not feeling any strong contractions. Of course, about 30 minutes later they came on very strong and the epidural was just in time! :) My labor slowed down because of my small pelvis and I had to push for 3 1/2 hours. The doctor was unsure if Jack was going to be able to be a vaginal delivery, but praise the Lord he gave me the strength to make it through. He was almost 2 lbs bigger than Keegan! The Lord had his hand in all of this, and He had it perfectly planned that I would be at the hospital at the right time. He kept reminding me of the verse that says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything present your requests to the Lord" My requests were answered and my whole delivery experience was smooth.

Soon after Jack was born, Keegan came into the room. At that point, I was unable to sort out all my emotions. I could not believe that I had two children and somehow my love and attention had to be distributed evenly. Keegan ran to daddy and when asked to see Jack and kiss on Jack, he just laughed. When asked to kiss mommy, his little bottom lip protruded out. I am not sure Keegan knew how to deal with his mommy in a strange place with lots of things connected to her. The next day he came back and got into bed with me to play. He got over the strange factor and we were able to enjoy time together. I never thought that emotionally this would be so hard, but it is getting much easier and Keegan is doing very well with the long-staying visitor in our house.

Jack is such a bundle of joy and my love has completely doubled. He has a very calm spirit and the only time he cries is when he is hungry. He looks like his older brother but has his own distinctiveness. He might actually have dark hair, but we will have to see. Jack was very healthy and came out eating like a champion. We have had no problem with breastfeeding and bottle feeding. I am hoping it continues to be as smooth. There is a huge difference in having a baby at 36 weeks and a baby at 40 weeks, and for this it was worth the extra cooking time!

I will post some more pictures later, but here are a couple pictures of our little Jack. Believe it or not, everyone else has taken more pics than I have, so I have to collect them from everyone who was at the hospital!




Here is Keegan's baby picture, just to see the similarities...


If you think about it as you read this blog, continue to pray for adjustment at the Sanders house and that we can beat the odds. I believe that God can make it an easy transition if we just ask. In that too, I know that I don't have to be anxious, because he is in control! Thank you for praying for us in the last couple months! This is another reason why blogs are awesome...you have many prayer warriors!