Mother of two

It has been two months (almost) since Henry was born, hard to believe but at the same time it seems like so much has happened during those two months. We had so many wonderful visits with family and several glorious short work weeks for Justin. In fact this week is the first full 5 day work week for Justin...and for me being home with the boys on my own.

I always wondered how it would be adjusting to two children, especially when looking back on the rough beginning months with Caleb (i.e. no shower, no chance to change out of pajamas, staying indoors all day long). Thankfully it hasn't been nearly as rough, I do manage to shower, get dressed and put on make-up every day! And get both boys dressed and fed, all in all we are completely ready for the day by 9:30am usually. To do this requires careful coordination and unfortunately lots of iPad watching for Caleb. Our days are going something like this:

6:30am-Henry wakes to nurse, Caleb wakes for day. Henry falls back asleep. Caleb and I watch cartoons until 7:30am.
7:30am-Eat breakfast, clean kitchen.
8:30am-Nurse Henry, he has wake time. Dress Caleb and Henry. Make beds, tidy up bedrooms. I shower and get ready while Caleb watches PBS kids and Henry hangs out on my bed.
9:30am-Henry takes morning nap. Caleb and I have been going outside during this time and enjoying the warm-ish weather and sun. Otherwise I try to get Caleb away from the screens with play-doh, coloring, or helping me around the house.
11:30am-Nurse Henry. Begin quiet time so Caleb can be calm enough to go down for his nap. He takes forever to unwind it seems.
12:00-Lunch for me and Caleb, Henry usually goes back down for a nap right after lunch. Then I begin the cumbersome naptime routine (at least it works) for Caleb. It involves M&Ms, a lavender lotion massage, read three books, lay down in bed and hum songs-takes about 25 minutes to get him to sleep. But its much better than the alternative-him never napping.
1-2:30pm-GLORIOUS quiet time for me! Sometimes I nap or just take a moment to lay down, this is (other than eating times) really the only time I get to sit down uninterrupted it seems like.
2:30-Nurse Henry,  Caleb wakes up usually around this time as well.
3-5pm- This is our errand running time. The only time that seems to work when we aren't napping or needing to nurse right away. The only time we are really getting out of the house.
5-8pm- Prepare dinner and simultaneously nurse Henry. Eat dinner, clean up, play time with Justin, baths, get ready for bed, get Caleb to bed. Collapse on couch with exhaustion from the marathon of the last three hours.
8-8:30- the only time I am awake on the couch while watching TV. I fall asleep somewhere between 8:45-9 while Justin is holding Henry and watching his shows.
10pm- lights out in the Blackham household.
(oh and I can't forget the nightly duties..)
12am-Nurse
3:30am-Nurse
6:30am-Nurse, and the madness starts again.

All in all the days haven't been that bad. I am even coping with sleep deprivation better than I did with Caleb. And it is a relief that we are finally falling into some sort of routine. I think I crave routines just as much as my kids. It will be nice when the time between nursing sessions lengthens to 4-5 hours. I have to have an appointment or something realllllly important set in the morning to get us out of the house, otherwise it just doesn't seem worth the hassle. The window of time between Henry's nursing, morning nap and beginning Caleb's quiet time is about 20 minutes. I know it is so far away but I am excited for the days when Henry and Caleb can entertain each other and be buds. Seriously the only time Caleb isn't begging for my attention is when he is watching a show, otherwise it seems I am his only source of entertainment. Even though we have a pretty awesome toy room, he won't even go in it it seems unless I am in there too. So I have to make a conscious effort each day to have Caleb color, paint or cut paper with his scissors, those are activities he enjoys but he won't initiate them or ask for them. And Henry... it will be great when he can be awake without crying. Well he does have his peaceful wake moments but they tend to last about ten minutes or less. I guess I just feel drained by the end of the day, physically and emotionally. It also takes a mental toll, not like learning a new language or anything, but always having to be in the present moment (I need to do something to get Caleb happily busy, does Henry need a diaper change?) and also thinking two, three steps ahead of the schedule to make sure things are on track. Not to mention the toll it takes being the sole person in charge of not one other person, but two other completely dependent people. Eating, diapering, changing clothes, all the daily routine items will never get accomplished if I slack off. But that is what motherhood at this stage of the game is about. It won't always be like this and I am sure I will look back and long for their little chubby fingers to want to hold my finger.

Our newest addition to the Blackham household

Meet Henry William Blackham! Born 12/27, weighing 8 lb, 8 oz and 20 inches long. Henry decided to make his grand debut on his own timing, three days before his due date. Justin, Caleb and I were doing a little post-Christmas shopping at the mall and while we were on the opposite side of the mall from our car Henry decided he was ready to appear, my water broke! Justin scooped Caleb up in a dizzy and ran through the mall and what felt like forever later he picked me up and we were off... Well we weren't quite in agreement where we were headed. We weren't completely packed for the hospital and I hadn't gotten ready for the day yet so I wanted to go home and shower. Justin insisted we head straight to the hospital. Well my water continued to leak, or gush furiously, and one really strong contraction made it so Justin won out and we went straight to the hospital. We were in our room by 4:30 pm, epidural was given about an hour later, a small amount of pitocin around 6:30 and after pushing about 10 times, Henry was born at 9:29pm. He was immediately put on my chest and I thought he was so teeny. I was shocked when he ended up being bigger than Caleb was when born. We stayed in the hospital 1 1/2 days, we were rather anxious to be in our comfortable home and get Caleb acquainted with Henry.

So far I haven't had to spend a full 5 day week alone with my boys, how spoiled am I?! The first week Justin had paternity time, then my mom came out for a week, then Justin's mom for another week, Justin had a paid holiday the next week then my parents were out this last week to help Heather with her sweet boy that arrived almost a month after Henry. There are still two more weeks where Justin will only be in the office 4 days of the week so the adjustment period has been so easy this time around. I have received so much help with Henry and Caleb, it has been such a huge blessing.

Caleb is really starting to care for his little brother. When Henry cries he offers him his pacifier, when he is in his bouncer or swing Caleb is constantly monitoring him and trying to push the swing or bounce the bouncer so Henry will be happy. Speaking of being happy, I am sure it is because I am not holding Henry near as much as Caleb but Henry seems much less content so far. Things are getting better slowly though.

Henry loves to eat, he has reached the 12 lb mark and is in the 90th % for weight, so this is uncharted territory for us, Caleb was always on the small side.  He is in 3 month size clothes and quickly filling those up, almost makes me a little sad that he is growing so fast! But I am definitely excited for the time when he can sit up and interact with Caleb then eventually play with him!

This last Sunday Justin gave Henry a beautiful baby blessing. We named Henry after Justin's great great grandfathers (through the Allred side) and also my great-great grandfather (on the Froneberger side), and William is after my father's middle name and my dad's dad. We love the heritage behind these names and look forward to telling Henry about the special men he was named after. We love our little guy and seeing his personality already show through.

The windy city

We just got home for a wonderful week long stay with Justin's parents in Chicago. It was, as usual, so nice being with family! And to top it off Justin didn't have to work and we were able to see/do some pretty fun things. 

I took far too few photos unfortunately but we did lots of things- eat yummy food, boat architecture tour of Chicago, lots of shopping, spent quality time with family and we were even able to attend Justin's nephews baptism. Till next time Chicago! 

Caleb's first time flying in his own seat, what a beautiful thing!

Caleb and dad trying on new shoes at Nike

First hat Caleb has kept on his head for longer than .5 seconds

I am slightly embarrassed by this photo but oh well. Justin and I were able to have a fun afternoon downtown Chicago (thanks to his Mom!). We did lot of shopping and eating and Justin royally spoiled me with shoes and chocolate- isn't he the best?!

Yogurt and a photo shoot

Justin and I had a date with Caleb in tow to Menchies yogurt earlier this week. Caleb loves going there and I am glad when he comes with us because I like to think he eats half of my yogurt.... Saving me the calories. (Although I am pretty sure he gets 1/4 if it, if that) Anywho, I love summer evenings, especially when we get to go out as a family and enjoy the warm but not stifling hot weather. Lately Caleb and I have been staying inside much more than earlier this summer, something about high 90's temps and becoming more and more pregnant has pushed me indoors. 

Back to Menchies...While Justin went back into the yogurt shop to get some water I pulled out my phone to take some pics of my cute little man. Caleb quickly picked up on how to take photos and took easily over 100 selfies, and I didn't have the heart to stop him because he was cracking up. I am a sucker for his laugh. 

Chocolate remnants

Learning he can do it on his own

Showing off, pressing the button without even looking

And my favorite, this guy has become so affectionate lately, love his spontaneous kisses and hugs!

Pictures to sum things up

Caleb has been growing more and more in love with trains

And books

And his big boy bed

And his teddy bear

And playing on playgrounds

And his teddy bear, take 2

And, of course, working out with mom in the mornings

And he still loves pushing his lawn mower/ copying everything dad (or everyone) does

And then there is this gem... We are expecting baby boy number two at the end of this year. Family if three boys?... Bring it on

Beach bums

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Virginia Beach...it is so hard coming back from vacation. Heather and I decided a little while ago to take the 'grands' (grandkids) back to see their Nana and Pawpaw and from that morphed a full on beach vacation. The husbands came and my parents rented a condo right on the beach. My oldest sister and her family came, as well as, my Aunt Betty. So it was a family reunion of sorts too! It was awesome seeing all of our family, it is happening less and less it seems...down to twice a year if that. Maybe some day we will live closer together but for now these trips are such treasures.

Our weather was touch and go, rainy and chilly on some days with other days being nice. We spent time between the pool, beach, pier, playground and inside the condo relaxing. Oh and I should probably mention that we ate...a lot... and really good food at that. Justin and I actually were able to go out on a date to celebrate our 5th anniversary. I tried Mahi Mahi for the first time, yum! I also tried scallops and really liked those as well. I am trying to expand my "seafood preferences" beyond just salmon, haha.

We also took a Harbor tour that traveled east on the Elizabeth River and rode by the Naval shipyard. That was interesting to see. Overall that area is just gorgeous, we passed by so many homes with yards that went on forever and huge, old trees that shaded the yards and provided the perfect swing area. Sigh...those are my "some day yards". And if I could live half of the year with a view like the one from our condo I wouldn't complain. 

Caleb loved the beach this visit. Previously he wasn't very fond of the sand but this year he loved digging in it and walking in and out of the tide. He also had at least 5 adults at all times willing to do his bidding so he [unfortunately for me] became very accustomed to that type of attention. Now we are on the post-vacation slump where Caleb feels he needs to be carried everywhere and held constantly. But oh well...twas worth it.

Can't wait til our next visit!

Caleb mastered the word "cheese" on this trip. And he gave us a lot of cheese in all of our pictures. I think you can see his molars from his big toothy grin.

And Emma being her typical, hilarious self. She will give one good smile for every ten silly faces.

Nana with her grands.

Eating seafood at Waterman's...yummy!

Just two dads walking their kids on the Virginia beach boardwalk. haha...

My beautiful sis and her dashing hubby. Sure miss them!

This shot has Justin but Matt and Caleb were not feeling this photo..

Matt and Caleb happy and looking...sans Justin.

Riding a surrey...those are hard work!

Love this picture...but so sad to say goodbye!