3 Weeks

I can't believe that it's already been three weeks since Grant was born.  The time has flown by!!!  Perhaps it's because I also have a 2 yr old at home with me now, but the time seems to be going so much faster with Grant than it did with Ava.  Or maybe it's because in the past 3 weeks we were in the hospital, in IA, and have been busy getting things finalized for the new house.  I guess we are taking on a bit more this time around than we did when Ava was born.  Things are not going to slow down at all.  I looked at the calendar and almost every day has something on it until we move.  Before I know it I'll be heading back to work.  :(

I forgot to mention in my last blog post that our friend Ang came over last Thursday to take Grant's newborn pictures.  The little turkey was supposed to fall asleep for the last pictures and we couldn't get him to stay sound asleep.  Of course after his next feeding I couldn't keep him awake to save my life.  I'm anxious to see them and hope that we got at least a few good ones.  He wore his new gopher onesie for some of the pictures.  It has a collar on it and he looks like this little old man when he's wearing it. 

Grant continues to be such a good little man.  He continues to get up only once during the middle of the night, between 2 and 3:30.  Unfortunately for the past two nights it's been closer to 2:00, which means he's getting up before his 7:00 wake-up time.  This morning he was a champ and held off on his feeding until 7:00 even though he was awake.  This gave us time to get Ava up, dressed, and out the door by 7:00 so that she could go to daycare.  Since she was at daycare Grant and I took advantage of it and ran a few errands this morning and we managed to get a nice walk in this afternoon.  It felt SO good to get outside, get some fresh air, and a little bit of exercise. 

Tomorrow we're hoping to head to the indoor playground here in Maple Grove with our friends Kristi and Cora.  We were supposed to go on Tuesday but Miss Cora has been sick.  The first thing that Ava has said the past two mornings is, "does Cora feel better".  I'm not sure if she's concerned about Cora or if she wants to go to the playground.  Hopefully Cora does feel better and we can meet up with them tomorrow.  Mema took Friday off so she's going to hang with Ava around lunch time so that I can meet up with a friend for lunch.  Then this weekend we have Miss Lauryn's birthday party.  It should be a fun couple of days. 

I'm hoping to update before Thanksgiving, but no promises.  If I don't make the deadline, have a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels!

 

This is Ava's new smile when we take pictures.  Oh how I love those fake cheesy smiles with the squinted eyes. 

1st week going solo

The kids and I  survived our first week home alone with just the three of us.  It actually went much better than anticipated and the week flew by.  I can't even tell you what we did, as the week went so quickly.  Well, I can tell you...it was a lot of feeding, diaper changes (for both kids since Ava has not been doing the potty thing lately; grrrrr), reading books, and a couple of trips to Target. 

Ava went to daycare on Wednesday and I have to say that  it made the day so much easier.  I wasn't running to take her "poopy" while I had Grant attached to my boob while feeding him.  And to think that when I became a nurse I thought I had mastered the art of multi-tasking.  :)    I also didn't struggle with trying to divide my time between the two kids.  When they are both here I constantly feel bad about not being able to give enough individual attention to each child.  I think back to how much time I spent with Ava when she was an infant; doing tummy time, reading stories, playing, etc  I can't give that to Grant, and I can't give Ava the attention that she is used to.  I'm sure that every mother struggles with this. 

I had an eye appt. on Friday and there was really no change since my appointment 1 1/2 months ago.  The drops that he prescribed didn't really help so we're now trying new drops and I'll follow up in 3 weeks.  If I continue to have the blurry vision then he will refer me to a specialist.  I'm really hoping for some improvement.  I'm tired of not being able to see out of my right eye, and I'm tired of wearing my glasses. 

Our weekend was pretty low key.  Most of the weekend was spent at home.  Saturday afternoon the rain stopped and the temps started to rise.  We broke out the new double stroller and Nate and I took the two kids for a nice stroll.  It was so nice to get some fresh air.  I'm sure that was the last time that we'll be out for a walk for a while...the snow was flying around this morning. 

We were supposed to have a play date with Cora this morning, but unfortunately she was sick.  We did however have a surprise visit from cousin Kristin this afternoon.  It was so nice to see her and have her meet Grant.  We have a busy week ahead with more visits from friends. 

Hope that your week is going well!

 Aunt Lori drove all the way from Des Moines back to Grandma & Grandpa's to meet Grant and see Ava.

 We stopped at Nana's on our way home from IA so that she could meet Grant.

 These are the monkey pjs that Aunt Lori brought for Ava (she got Grant monkey jammies too so that they match, only Grant's are a bit more masculine).  Ava absolutely loves them and wants to wear them every night

 Erin & Kevin were able to stop by for a short visit last Sunday.

 Ava "just looking at Baby Grant".  She is actually very gentle with him and really seems to love him even though he does take up a lot of my time and attention.

 These are pretty self explanatory

 Boppa was in the Apple Valley area this past week so he stopped by our new place to see how things are coming along.  Above is the kitchen, and below is our master bath.  Only three more weeks and we'll be in our new place!  :)

Iowa continued

Daddy made Aunt Darlene a birthday cake and some cupcakes.  Ava got to frost her own.

Grant dressed in his Halloween best

Ava LOVED riding Aunt Moe Moe's horse

Daddy was able to mount the horse fairly well.  The dismount didn't go so well, and he bounced off.  My cousin started to go faster and Nate lost his balance, falling off the horse.  So this is a picture of Nate's first and last time on a horse. 

 

Iowa

So continuing on from my last post...

Miss Ava went home with Aunt Lisa that Saturday afternoon and had a great time playing with Zacky & Reece on Sunday.  I was worried about if we should send her back since we hadn't spent much time with her with us being in the hospital.  We Skyped on Sunday and she was having so much fun.  It was definitely the right decision.  She met up with us at Grandma and Grandpa's on Monday afternoon. 

Grandma Becker went home Sunday morning.  We were going to go to church, but decided to stay home instead since it would be during Grant's feeding and I didn't want to introduce him to the bottle yet.  It was nice for just Nate, Grant, and myself to spend a little time alone.  We had visitors that afternoon, and I spent the evening packing up the kids and myself to spend the rest of the week in IA.

Monday morning we were out the door bright and early to get to Grant's Dr's appointment in St. Paul by 8:30.  It was not only his newborn appointment, but also his appointment to get circumcised.  Nate and I weren't sure what to expect...if we would be in the room where they would do it, etc.  Well we walked into the clinic room and on the table sat the little torture chamber that they were going to tie our child down to in order to circumcise him.  Nothing says welcome to the world little man like a piece of hard plastic with things to tie down your legs.  We met with a new pediatrician since that's who we will start to see after we move.  She was very nice and informative.  She explained the procedure and then gave us the option to stay or wait in the waiting room during the procedure...Nate and I darted towards the door after a quick kiss (and a short apology whispered into his ear).  He did well and supposedly didn't even cry.  We had to stick around for awhile to make sure that he could pee and that there were no bleeding issues.  He did great!  The Dr. said that he looks great and we'll go back at 2 months for another check-up and his immunizations.  They did check his weight and height while we were there.  He weighed in at 9 lbs 7 oz  (up 3 oz from his discharge weight) and was 23 inches long.  So, I'm fairly certain that they did not get an accurate height when he was born.  I can't believe that a child can grow 1 1/2 inches in 6 days. 

As soon as we left the Dr's office we headed south to Grandma & Grandpa's house.  Grant was an all star traveler except for the fact that I couldn't get him to latch on to eat, and I couldn't get my pump to work in the car.  Slightly frustrating to say the least.  That was the start to a week long struggle to get him to latch on.  I was in tears and ready to come back to MN to see a lactation specialist.  Finally it clicked and he got it.  The little turkey still won't latch on in the middle of the night so he gets a bottle.  I figure that I can't complain too much since he has only been waking once a night to eat.  I'm scared to say anything in fear that things will change, but he is such a good baby. 

Speaking of breastfeeding, Ava is now quite interested in "boobies".  One of our first nights home Ava asked me what I was doing.  I told her I was feeding Grant and she asked how.  I told her I was giving him milk from my boob.  At that point Grandma and Daddy started to laugh like 2 year olds at the word boob so Ava thought it was funny and repeated the word.  Then when we were at Grandma and Grandpa's she approached me and said, "mommy, when I go shopping I'm going to buy some boobies".  I told her that we don't buy boobies (although some people do), but that God gives them to us.  So now she tells me on a daily basis that God is going to give her boobies.  She then asked Mema last night if she had boobies.  Mema responded by saying yes and then Ava said that she could feed Grant then.  I'm waiting for her to inform her Sunday school teacher that God is going to giver her boobies.

Back to our trip to IA...it was filled with lots of visitors.  Aunt Darlene came out every morning around 9:30 to help me since Nate was working half days while we were there.  It was great to be able to go and shower and not have to worry about what the kids were doing.  Thank you so much Aunt Darlene for ALL of your help while we were there.  We not only got to see family, but friends as well.  Thank you everybody who took time out of your busy schedules to come and meet Grant.  We are so truly blessed!

Unfortunately our week down there ended with Nate getting the flu.  The poor guy was up all night Thursday from 1 AM on.  He kept me up more than Grant did that night.  Luckily it was only 24 hours and he was feeling much better by the time that we had to leave Saturday morning.  We stopped at Nana's and got to see some of Nate's family on the way home that afternoon.

Nate headed back to work Monday morning (I think that he was ready).  I was a little nervous about how I was going to handle two kids by myself, but it went just fine.  We even ran an errand to a little baby boutique that we like here in Maple Grove, and made it home with no melt downs from anybody.  Ava did go to daycare today, as we're going to send her one day a week so that she has time with other kids as well.  The day flew by with just Grant and me, and I got to run a few errands and get some stuff organized around here.   It's back to the three of us tomorrow.  Grant has his newborn pictures tomorrow...I hope that it goes well!

He has got some Big feet

Ava & Daddy got to ride in the combine.

Daddy helped carve (ok, he did the whole thing himself) the "Ava" pumpkin

Our little puppy trick-or-treating.  Grant came along as well, wrapped in the Moby wrap under my jacket.  Ava did a great job and wanted to walk the whole way. 

Pictures

 Grant ready to leave the hospital

 All clean after his first bath at home

 It's exhausting having a baby brother!

 Daddy & Grandma took Ava trick-or-treating on Main St. in Maple Grove on Saturday morning

 Zacky, Reece, Aunt Lisa, Great-Grandma Schutterle, and Aunt Darlene drove all the way from IA on Saturday to visit

 4 Generations

Grant Gregory has arrived

This post is so far over due, I apologize.  Grant Gregory joined our family on Oct. 23rd at 7:46 pm.  He weighed in 9 lbs 11 oz, and was 21.5 inches long (however, when measured 6 days later they measured him at 23 inches, so I'm fairly certain that they didn't measure him properly when he was born). 

After dropping Ava off at daycare that Tuesday morning Nate and I headed to the hospital to be induced.  They broke my water at 9:30 and we started to walk the halls.  It didn't take to long before the contractions started.  By 2:00 I was 6 cm dilated, got my epidural, and within 45 minutes I was fully dilated.  We waited awhile before pushing, then waited for doctors, etc.  Finally, after 65 minutes of some hardcore pushing, Grant joined us with a large cone head.  The poor little guy was stuck under my pelvic bone on the right so he had a very large cone on the side of his head.  He had a hematoma on that left side of his head as well.  In all honesty, I was thinking to myself that I was grateful that I packed all those hats.  :)  The poor little guy must have had a horrible headache that night.  By the next morning he looked so much better and by Friday you couldn't even tell that he was once a cone head. 

Since he was born so late in the evening Ava didn't end up coming down to see him until the next day.  Grandma Becker was the only one that saw Grant on his birthday, as she was actually at the hospital before he arrived.  Mema & Boppa brought Ava down after daycare on Wednesday.  She came bounding down the hall with her present in hand.  It was so nice to see her.  She held Grant for a short time, gave him a kiss, said how cute he was, and then she was done with him.  She has been very gently with him so far.  We keep saying that she's going to want a new brother all the time because every day somebody else shows up with presents for the two of them.  It's like it's her birthday.

Nate went home with Ava Wednesday night to get some sleep on something other than a hard chair that converts into a "bed".  He came back to the hospital Thursday morning to take Grant and me home.  Ava got to stay at Mema & Boppa's with Grandma Becker.  Grandma stayed until Sunday morning and helped with Grant throughout the nights so that Nate and I could get some sleep.  it was so very much appreciated!  I don't know if he just really liked her or what, because he was up quite a bit when she was here.  Since she left he has been getting up only once a night.  We can't beat that!!!  I'm praying that it continues.  He really is the perfect little guy, very chill and a good sleeper.  The only issue that we've had is him latching on when feeding.  This started on Monday.  I don't know if it's because of the trauma from his circumcision or what.

Well I'm exhausted and can't think straight right now so I'm going to leave you with these pictures.  I'll catch you up on the past week when I post next time (hopefully very soon) and add some more pictures.   

Right after Grant was born

That's one proud big sister

Daddy & his little man

Grandma & Grant

Coming to meet Grant for the first time

 Our family

The count down begins

The count down has begun to the little man's arrival.  All the laundry is done, diapers are purchased, carseat bases installed, swing and vibrating chair ready, crib set up, etc. etc.  We are once again reminded of how much "stuff" comes along with a newborn.   This time it's a bit more complicated since 1. we don't have our own house, and 2. we have a two year old to take care of.  I think that we have everything lined up for Miss Ava, and I'm praying that she adapts well to this addition to our family.  We've talked a lot about it, but I know that it's going to be quite an adjustment for her (and us too).

We had another Dr's appt. last Friday morning.  Ava was once again excited to see our nurse and Dr.  They love her there, as she greets them by name as soon as they walk through the door.  My Dr. said that everything looks great, and at that point she anticipated that it would be 4-5 days...so we'll see.  I'm scheduled to work Monday and Tuesday so hopefully that will help things move along.  I haven't slept for the past two days.  I understand that there won't be a lot of sleeping after the baby arrives, but at least I'll be getting up to take care of a sweet baby boy rather than flopping around and getting up hourly to go to the bathroom.

So, we'll keep you posted!