Tiny

There is so much sweetness wrapped up in this tiny little guy.

Smooches to you, Caleb.

It's 2 AM

There's no other place I'd rather be. #lovinoncaleb #4daysold

Headed Home

So Much Joy Holding My Caleb

After a full and really rough night under the lights, Caleb's bilirubin level increased enough for us to be released from the hospital.  However, we had strict orders to report to the pediatrician the next day to retest his blood again.  

For today, we were just grateful that Caleb's body was responding to the light treatment and that we got to take our precious baby boy home.  After all, Big Sister Eleanor and Gaga (and the dogs) were more than ready to welcome us!

Once our entire family was safe and under one roof, all felt right with the world.  Thanks be to God!

One Last Feeding Before Loading Up

Me and My Buddy

Ready to meet the rest of the world
outside of the hospital walls, Caleb?

So Tiny in His Carseat

Gaga and Grandson Snuggles

Big Sister Holding Caleb for the First Time at Home

E with Her Baby Book from Mommy and Daddy

E Presenting her Gift of Artie to Baby Brother

Eleanor Opening her Daniel Tiger Books (on having a new baby in the family) and Baby Margaret Doll from Caleb

Eleanor Singing to Baby Brother

Build-A-Bear Workshop

Right after Eleanor was born, my mom and sister took me to the Build-A-Bear Workshop for my birthday.  There, I designed a special bear (Lexi, named after E's birth city, Alexandria) for Eleanor.  Each month during her first year, we photographed Eleanor with Lexi Bear to show how much E had grown.  

With Caleb, we wanted to continue the tradition.  The only difference was that Eleanor got to design a stuffed animal to give as a gift to her baby brother.  So, we made an afternoon of it.  Eleanor got to make Artie (named for Caleb's birth city, Arlington) the Giraffe.  Then, for Lexi Bear, Eleanor picked out a new outfit, Frozen slippers and pajamas, to match hers. 

Afterwards, we enjoyed a dinner out and ended the evening with ice cream in Old Town along the Potomac River.  I'm already looking forward to seeing Caleb's sweet face beside his new furry friend, Artie.

Eleanor chose the heart and gave it some love with a kiss.

Powering the Stuffing

Kyle helped with the wardrobe changes and selection.

Naming and Registration

The Proud Big Sister and Creator of "Artie"

Ice Cream on the Potomac

Matching Frozen Pajamas

Presenting Artie to Caleb

Pregnancy: Round 2

Third Trimester (Weeks 28-40: February-May)

Cravings: more oranges and... a leg, back, and shoulder massage, please?

What Makes Me Queasy: eating too much (since there's little room in my abdomen these days)

Symptoms: backache during and after work, heartburn, inevitable groaning when I have to bend down or turn over, outgrowing most of my pregnancy wardrobe, itchy belly, Braxton Hicks beginning in week 35

Best Memories: meeting Michelle Obama and Jenna Bush and sharing my excitement that Baby Brother practically met them too, simple pregnancy bliss as I give thanks for our growing family, feeling intense movement practically all of the time and especially at night after dinner, serving communion on Easter Day while holing the chalice far enough in front of my big belly, Caleb's surprise sprinkles

Looking Forward to: our tour of the new hospital where we'll be delivering, making final preparations during spring break, choosing and announcing his name, having these Braxton Hicks lead to actual labor

37 Weeks

36 Weeks

       

         35 Weeks with Kisses from Big Sister Eleanor

A Guppy and Whale at 33 Weeks
(Ready for Swimming Lessons)

32 Weeks

30 Weeks

Second Trimester (Weeks 14-28: November-February)

Cravings: MORE oranges, always ready for sweets

What Makes Me Queasy: not much... thankfully

Symptoms: violent bouts of vomiting, HUNGER, achingggg legs, fatigue, back pain

Best Memories: Kyle feeling the baby kick beginning in the 16th week, feeling somewhat normal by drinking my morning decaf coffee, learning we're having a boy and hearing E call him "baby budder," using my snow days and inclement weather delays to prepare for Baby Brother, relaxing and stretching with mommy friends in prenatal yoga

Looking Forward to: holding my baby in my arms, acquiring a baby wardrobe with more BLUE, deciding on a name for this miracle

26 Weeks

25 Weeks- It's 2015!

20 Weeks
(and counting down the days until Christmas break)

16 Weeks

First Trimester (Weeks 1-13: July-October)

Cravings: oranges, salad (Weird, right?), cheese (cottage cheese, string cheese, Cheezits, cheesy grits, mac and cheese, Asiago bagels, etc.)

What Makes Me Queasy: coffee, dirty diaper smell, delayed meals

Symptoms: extreme fatigue (especially beginning week 6), morning sickness- but not as bad as with Eleanor (So far I haven't had to take any prescription drugs for nausea or vomiting!), some emotional moments

Best Memories: hearing the baby's heartbeat, watching the baby transform from gummy bear to alien shape via sonogram pictures, telling immediate family, running the half marathon in Niagara Falls at my 13th week, hearing Eleanor pray for "her baby" and become so excited over reading her Big Sister book

Looking Forward to: openly sharing the news with the rest of our friends and family, returning to church small group, wearing more comfortable clothes- bring on the maternity wear!, finding out the baby's gender, feeling the baby move

12 Weeks- Niagara Falls, Canada

7 Weeks- On My Birthday

Cherry Blossom Picnic

This year we caught the most stunning cherry blossoms, which were like full, cotton candy bunches lining their branches.  Heavy spring rains had spared these delicate beauties, and we got to cherish them in all their glory while seated below their canopy.  This was while enjoying one another over our early morning picnic breakfast.

Stopping to Smell the Cherry Blossoms

One in a Series of "Excited" Faces