Life with two children

Oh where do I begin..it has been 8 weeks since my last post and Jeremiah is almost two months old. Everyone says life with two is super harder than one child and I would have to agree at some moments of the day it is! The most difficult times of the day are in the morning when everyone is trying to get dressed, the baby wants to eat, and the dog wants to be let out (and in) all at the same time. I only have so many hands and it seems EVERYONE needs Mama's attention! My husband has jumped in and been a super partner...much more so than #1...and I definitely don't know how people with three do it once the parents are out numbered! Bedtime can also be a challenge at times if his feeding does not follow her bedtime.

For the baby who was born with no rolls, they are coming on in leaps and bounds now! I wish I could lose this baby weight as fast as he is gaining his weight! I am estimating he is already at around 12-13 lbs! He is already in 3-6 month clothing and he definitely looks more like a 3 month old than a two month old! He still eats every three hours...even at night...even when I added cereal to his bottles two weeks ago! Every now and again he will go for 4 or so on one stretch but that is it.

Oh and that is another most difficult aspect of two children...it never fails that when J actually sleeps for a longer stretch, Carsyn will wake me with a nightmare or needing to potty! AND it seems J has started a pattern of awakening at 3:30ish and not returning to sleep until 5ish...which means when sister wakes at 6:30-6:45 I have just returned to sleep after being up! This is definitely starting to wear on me!

As for how big sister is adapting...she still loves him greatly but her desire to gain my attention has caused my sweet girl to become quite the troublemaker. Her sassy, smartmouth is more like at 14 year old than a 4 year old and I really am clueless as to how to make it better. She also has been having night terrors which I think are a result of her passive aggressiveness to her brother. I am hoping this too will pass soon but I am happy she is not physically taking it out on the baby even though she told me we could get a new one!

My newborn who was oblivious to noise and distractions and could be set anywhere has now started acting more like his big sister. And his need for a pacifier that he can't keep in his mouth is about to drive me to the looney bin! I am scared to death I will re-live the torment of no sleep I had with Carsyn so I intend to start some sleep training methods in a few more weeks. I tried to take his pacy away yesterday to see if he could go without but he only made it until afternoon and then wanted it to go to sleep.

J started smiling about two weeks ago and he almost always gives me a big grin right after he wakes up when he is getting his diaper changed...this definitely helps encourage me after the sleep deprivation I have just endured! I can't wait until he can laugh and interact even more!

And not to rush away his first year, BUT I am looking forward to getting to sleep for longer than three hours!
his first smiles that warm my heart and bring tears to my eyes!
Im telling you those eyes and lashes are going to break hearts one day!

My heart is so full it might burst

Well it has been a week since baby Jeremiah joined our family. All in all the transition has gone much better than I could ever imagine. It is amazing how much easier and calmer raising #2 can be when you have a little experience under your belt! Carsyn has done amazing with the transition and it almost makes me sad to see how grown up she is with her baby brother. When I tell you she loves him to the moon she really does. She is the perfect age and she really is super helpful! She even gives him his morning bottle most mornings! There was once this week where she bebopped into the nursery at 4:30 AM wanting to help me give him his bottle! And NO he wasn't crying! She just heard me in the hall. You thought I was kidding when I said I would be up with both kids! Not even 5 days old and it has started. Thankfully I was able to get Daddy to get her back to bed. And talk about loving someone unconditionally- this little boy has his daddy wrapped so much. We all really are just walking around in a cloud of bliss.

Jeremiah Allan ended up being born on January 6th at 12:51PM weighing in at 8.5 191/2 in. He looked absolutely nothing like what I expected and all of the family stared with puzzles looks trying to figure out who he looks like. As of now he has blue eyes and light brown hair...my child has blue eyes! I can't get over it! I know they might change to green/hazel but still he looks nothing like his dark haired dark eyed sister. Danny and I have come to the conclusion that at this time we think he most looks like his namesake, Pop, with brown hair. While his sister was born weighing 6oz less she looked more chunky then he. He has extremely long fingers and toes and really no rolls as of now.

My scheduled c-section went smoothly and I was able to actually be coherent this time! Everyone at Southwest Hospital was awesome and made our experience very pleasurable. A huge thank you to my photography colleague, Elise Parker who came and photographed the experience for me so I could see what Carsyn's reaction to him was like. And then she made this video that makes me boohoo every time.
http://animoto.com/play/eFxjgPd5nT6GTHmPQw5rEw

Now ever though we have been living in a state of euphoria does not mean I have not experienced my share of hormonal break downs and moments of complete stupidity either due to sleep deprivation or hormones taking over my brain. I'm certainly glad the night chills have ended after a week of waking up with teeth chattering and drenched pjs! I have shed my fair share of tears especially after realizing I would never experience pregnancy again. So funny since when I was pregnant with C I swore I would never go through THAT again!

For a week old Jeremiah seems to be a pretty content baby. He sleeps wherever I lay him down and aside from the cries from gas pains doesn't cry unless he is hungry. He actually seems to prefer being left alone as opposed to his sister who wanted to be held at all times.

For my one friend who is not on Facebook...here are a few shots I have captured this week of my two angels.

One more week

I am 37 weeks and 3 days pregnant. Jeremiah is already measuring in at 8.3 oz and if it were up to me he could come out after this weekend! But Im showing no signs of delivery and since I will have a scheduled section it is set for next Friday the 6th of January. So one week from today (in a few hrs) we will finally meet him! I have a vision in my head of what I think he will look like. This vision DEFINITELY includes lots of rolls, chubby cheeks, and dark hair as has been indicated by the ultrasound techs. I'm guessing his final weight comes in at around 8.8 which is what the father and grandfather weighed.

While we are all anxious for your arrival I am still a little apprehensive as to how the changes will affect our family! I finally have reached the miserable point of pregnancy where you definitely just want the baby out! My body is finally giving out and I certainly am ready to start retrieving my waistline again!

One one hand I am a little relieved to have one more week to take care of odds and ends and make final touches to his nursery. On the other hand it will be the longest week ever as the birth day looms ahead.

I will try to rest and enjoy these last 7 days of carrying my baby since it will be my last. I am beyond excited to do the newborn portraits and I just pray that I am physically able and that he cooperates...although unlike my clients I have ALL DAY to make him!

Christmas 2011 recap to Carsyn

We have so much to be thankful for this Christmas season. Last year we were enduring the loss of Pop and missing Nonny as she was recovering from her breast cancer operations. I loved the way my Christmas cards turned out this year and they definitely described everything we as a family have learned through the year.

This year was the first year that you could truly understand the reason we celebrate Christmas. We went to see the Live Nativity and talked about the baby Jesus. We had a Happy Birthday Jesus party with your playgroup buddies (you also had one at school too). When we left the lunch I asked if you understood why we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and you said Yes and then proceeded to ask these questions "How old is Jesus?" "Did he have to get shots when he was born?" "What kind of presents does he want this year?" My answers; Really really old, no, and he just wants you to obey mommy and daddy as his present!

This year you were in the Mccomb Christmas parade with your dance class and while I know you had fun I think you'd rather have been catching the candy on the street than throwing it! But you got that opportunity when we attended the Summit Christmas parade a few weeks later. Also we made our annual drive to Tylertown to view the lights and watch you perform in your school program. Ms. Chris invited us over to what has become an annual tradition of making gingerbread houses with Brooke and Colin. One Saturday, we rode over to a place called Swan Creek in Monticello where we fed animals, played games, roasted marshmellows, and saw Mr. and Mrs. Claus. You were not fooled, however, when Santa Claus started talking to me and CiCi about your father and the furniture stores and quickly told me "That's just a pretend Santa, isn't it mama? That's not the real one." Yes I agreed this was just a friend of his sent to visit and keep an eye on everyone around. You are definitely a quick little 4 year old! We did go visit another Santa at the Bass Pro Shop where we had lunch with Grandparent Smiths.

Christmas morning you actually slept in and I was impatiently waiting for YOU to wake up! Just as I did as a child you calmly inspected everything Santa brought never really showing much emotion.

And now the holiday has quickly passed and it is time to wait for your baby brother to arrive in one week from today. I can't wait to watch you and our new addition grow next year!

Carsyn my dear

I am a little late posting about your four year old birthday, but as I sit here on the couch watching you play pretend with your lalaloopsy and doll house dolls it made me realize how quickly time is fleeting.

I don't even know where to begin to talk about what you mean to me and your daddy. You are the most beautiful and caring little girl to others. While you aren't always the nicest to your parents you are always respectful and loving to others. You love to be in the spotlight and have to be busy at all times! You would much rather be surrounded by people either adults or children than be at home. You hardly meet a stranger and always give them a hug goodbye whether you have just met or known for years.

I have to say you are more and more like your mother every day...sorry to tell ya! You are definitely my mini-me and I get blamed for all of your "negative" personality traits. Your independence can drive me batty at times but I know that I will not have to worry about you achieving whatever you want.

From 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM except for the 3 hours of preschool or the few times you are with babysitters/daddy you are by my side. You have been the best little sidekick during my pregnancy with your brother....always kissing my belly and jumping to pick up the countless objects I drop and cannot retrieve. I only hope this love continues once he actually arrives. I know that you will take some adjusting to sharing me. When someone asked you last week what you were going to do when he was sitting in my lap you replied very matter of fact...."Ill just pick him up and move him!"

For your 4th birthday we had a princess tea party at the Brentwood House. You and I had been planning this party since your last one ended last year! I hope that you will remember how magical it was.

In the last couple of weeks we have been watching our old home videos and even though it is cliche I can't believe how quickly time passes...especially 18 mos to 4! As if you had a choice you have become quite the poser in front of my camera. Just this week we went and played in my studio to take your picture in my wedding gown. It turned out beautifully and I have plans to blow it up large and hang above our bed with pictures of you and Jeremiah.

Just for records sake here are a few of your habits at age 4.

You stopped taking a nap sometime around August. I hated to see it end but you actually are much happier during the day without it and quickly go to bed as opposed to the nightly battle we were enduring.

You still have a fabulous appetite and eat almost anything. EVERYDAY you have carrots/cucumbers/celery with ranch atleast once a day. Your favorite breakfast is boiled eggs and peaches/pineapple. You do eat a few too many hotdogs and probably would everyday if I let you. You love spaghetti/roast/and tomato soup.

Most nights you sleep through the night but atleast twice a week you still wake up. I do not look forward to being woken up by you and your brother at the same time or right after each other!! :(

I have to wrap this up because we are headed to visit with Grandparents Smith and go visit Santa in Jackson. It is so fun to experience the magic of Christmas through your eyes at this fun age!

Disney Family Vacation Sep 2011

M_I_C_K_E_Y MOUSE


Well life has taken over and I have put the blogging WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY on the back burner. I never even blogged our Disney trip!


I initially had said that I didn't want to take Carsyn to Disney until she was atleast 5 years old. For starters I wanted her to have a memory of her trip and also I knew the older she was the easier it would be. BUT then when we started thinking about having a baby this year I knew I wouldn't want to return until the baby was older which would end up making Carsyn wait longer. I myself had never been to Disney ever in my life so selfishly I wanted to experience it for myself also since I knew a new bundle of joy would result in more responsibility for myself. And there is no better way to me to experience Disney except through the eyes of a child. Carsyn is in such a fun stage where everything is so magical and real that Danny and I really wanted to watch her experience the Princesses. Sooo one day when Danny made this comment in response to a Disney TV commercial, "So when are we taking Carsyn?" I knew he would be on board so I better strike while the iron was hot! At first I was thinking a Nov trip would be fun but then when I got pregnant sooner than planned I moved it up to September. I had already experienced traveling during third trimester while preggo with C and I vowed NEVER to make that mistake again!


After reviewing airfare Danny and I decided we would make the 10 hr drive instead. I was EXTREMELY nervous about this because first of all I have only traveled as far as about 6 hrs with C and Danny had only traveled about 3 hours with her. But my fears were unwarranted because our trip was great and Carsyn rode fabulously. LOTS of DVDs and rotating parents in the backseat from time to time but we really preferred driving as opposed to the rat race of the airport.


When we finally arrived at our hotel we were greatly disappointed with our room. I had chosen a budget hotel since it was a very fast trip and really more of a "taste-test" of Disney so we would know what to do next time. Disney can be quite overwhelming when attempting to go for the first time and we DEFINITELY learned what NOT to do NEXT TIME. AND NEXT TIME we will NOT be staying at any All Star resort! We didn't even have a bathtub and not only that but no "real" shower either, just a curtain that shared the same floor as the toilet. Luckily we were not there for much time.


I had a slight nervous breakdown when I realized I had not factored in the time difference and in order to get to our reservation of Cinderella's castle the next morning I would have to get up at 5 (after going to bed at midnight). Why did we go to bed at midnight? Because we got lost trying to find our hotel room after dinner and we didn't have the number written down! The next morning of course we were running late and I started to panic that we would lose our reservations which had already been messsed up tremendously by Disney. BUT when we finally arrived and Carsyn curtsied to Cinderella and did a little twirl it was all worth it! Tears definitely rolled down this momma's face and Im pretty sure her daddy would have too if he were a crier! And then as they say the Magic of Disney took over and we had an amazing time! We definitely did not try to see everything and both of the days we were at the parks I took Carsyn back to the hotel to take a little nap and refresh before dinner.


We had purchased the Deluxe Dining Plan because I knew if I wanted a happy husband I had to keep him fed and Im not talking about a hotdog. However while we did utilize all of our meal tickets, I do not think we necessarily needed all of it. We did enjoy our sit down dinners, especially at the Grand Floridian cafe. This hotel is btw where Danny wants to stay next time. Yeah I better start saving NOW! Oh and the man who I was afraid would flip out with the crowds (and yes even during a slow season Disney is still packed!) is still talking about this trip 2 months later! He is ready to return as soon as Jeremiah is born, Im not kidding! I never would have thought the magic of Disney would win over this guy!



The Fantasmic show at Hollywood Studios is UNBELIEVABLE and an absolute must see! Carsyn did get a little frightened by the "bad" guys but she still loved it. Of course fireworks at Cindrella's castle is breathtaking and to hear Carsyn "yell" hello to all of the characters was priceless. All in all the entire trip definitely met all of our expectations and now I can understand why people feel the need to return every year!


Im not even going to attempt to upload pictures from the trip because me and Blogger would tie up but they are on my Facebook if you are my friend.

Dear Jeremiah

Dear Jeremiah-

Sadly I have not documented your pregnancy voyage as accurately as I did your sister's. However so far it has been a joy carrying you these last 31 weeks. I have to say Im not sure if it is the second pregnancy, or my maturity level, or the pregnancy itself but it has been pretty easy so far. I am well aware that these last 8 weeks are going to be much more difficult as you continue to grow. I am preparing myself mentally for the discomfort I am about to face but thankfully you have continued to allow me to keep up with my gruling holiday season work!


Your daddy is convinced you are going to be a big boy. Your sister was 7.15 and he just knows you will be bigger than that. From watching you on the outside of my belly I would have to say you entirely encompass the entire egg shape that it is. I can feel you move from one end to the other! I tried to videotape my belly the other night to show the ripples you can see but of course you stopped. Your movements do hurt a little more than Carsyn's did atleast as well as I can recollect. I think it is just becuase you don't have as much room.


Your sister is so excited to meet you and already pretends you are here some nights. She has had so much fun going through your clothes and blankets and dare I say she has of course tried to claim some of it as her own. You have to understand for 4 years she has been the ABSOLUTE center of her parent's and grandparent's world so she is going to be a little rocked by your arrival even though she asked for a little brother/sister! While I know you two will fight and at times even despise one another I will try to remind myself that every single morning as I drop her off for preschool she gives you a big kiss on my belly and says "love you Baby J."

Of course your daddy is ecstatic to have a male playmate and some testosterone in this house. Since the passing of your Pop almost a year ago he has been going through a tough year becoming the responsible male of the family. Seeing Pop's initials on your coming home outfit, will be a bittersweet arrival of your birth following so closely to the anniversary of his death. Personally I feel you are God's gift to the family for Pop's early departure. Don't worry we will fill you in on what an amazing person he was.


And while Daddy and Carsyn would love for you to be here right now I am content spending some more alone time with you on the inside. I know once you arrive life will forever more be changed....and my time stretched even more between caring for two demanding little people. I have to admit I am a bit scared at the adjustments we will all face but as we did with your sister we will figure out a way eventually.


It would be GREAT if you could sleep for longer than 2 to 3 hours at a time as I am interested to see how your awful sleeping sister will handle your wake ups. I expect to be awake with two children in the middle of the night.


So now we go to prepare for your arrival and get your nursery ready. Today we are taking our last family of 3 portraits and documenting you in my belly. This is the fun part of pregnancy!



I love you! Mama