Calvin's First Week

Here are my boys! I know I'm probably biased, but I can't help being proud of just how handsome they both are! Ben and I make good lookin' babies!

Some of Ben's family was here for his sister Betsy's graduation on the 9th. His dad is sporting a new 'stache!  I thought it was blog worthy. :)

This is a piece of luggage that Malcom likes to climb in and get towed around the apartment by his dad. Apparently there was room for two! 

 Ben snuck into Malcom's room one night and tucked Calvin in next to him. It was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. Ever. I'm glad Ben documented it! :) 

...I'm not sure when this was, Ben must have taken this pic too... I'm thinkin' it must have been sometime in the past week or two? Anyway, do you see the pen marks on his tummy and leg? The boot, the play guns... haha, I love this little boy! 

It's been a great week, well, week and a half. Ben goes back to school for his second to last semester tomorrow! I can't believe we're getting so close!

That's all for now... typing with one hand is time consuming.  Love to all!

...And We Named Him...

*Drum roll*

Calvin Van Matheson


Out of all the names on our list, I'll admit that Calvin actually wasn't one of our favorite-favorites, in fact, it's not even Scottish like we were aiming for. Somehow it just seemed to fit him more than any of the other names. Calvin shares the same middle name as Ben, who got this name from his Grandpa Van. In a way, it he's named after both his daddy and his great grandpa.

Last night was our first night home with him, and goodness, brought back a lot of fuzzy sleep-deprived memories from Malcom's newborn days. I knew I wouldn't sleep but wow, did I not sleep! I think Calvin might be getting his days and nights mixed up. I hope we can get that straightened out before long, otherwise I'm going to be one tired mommy! Seriously though, I didn't get him to actually go to sleep for more than 15 minutes until about 7:00 this morning. Of course, Malcom uncharacteristically woke up screaming at 7:45am because he wet the bed (usually doesn't wake up until at least 8:30). I hoped that Ben would get up with him, but the poor man looked so completely out that I just didn't have the heart to wake him. I nearly cried and laughed at the same time as I realized that yeah, this is what it's like to have two little ones! I'm sure things will smooth out a bit once we figure out our balance and schedule. It just takes time! I still feel overwhelmingly blessed. I love our little family!!

Anyway, I also have to apologize to a lot of people out there that have called/texted/emailed lately. I've had my very tired hands full! I'm sorry I haven't replied or called people back... I promise it's not personal, I've just had a shift in priorities and frankly, I'm lacking ambition to do anything besides the necessary. We appreciate all of the excitement and congratulations though!!! I love all of the notes and calls from people, it makes us feel wonderfully loved. Thanks everyone!

Time to feed he little one. Love to all! Wish me luck in my quest for sleep!

Happy Birthday Little Brother!

Something great happened today! Give you a hint: I woke up pregnant this morning, and am now going to bed with a new little bundle in my arms.  

We have a new baby! And yes, he IS a boy, just like the doctor said. :)  

We're debating between two names still. I think naming the kid is going  to be the hardest part of this entire process. We have to turn in the papers for his birth certificate before we're discharged tomorrow, so hopefully we'll be able to settle on something soon!

We got to the hospital at 7:30 this morning to be induced (my doc is going out of town for a long weekend, and since I was ripe and ready to harvest at my last appointment Tuesday, we didn't think I'd make it through the weekend. I didn't want to risk having some random on-call doctor for delivery, so he offered to induce me! Woohoo! I love being induced. Seriously!). I was already at a 4 this morning and almost fully effaced, so everything went very smoothly and quickly. The doc broke my water at 9:00 am, I got my epidural at about 10:45 am (mankind's greatest invention!!), before the seriously owie contractions came, and by 2:00 pm we were ready to push. Only two contractions and a few pushes later, Little Brother met the world! He came so fast he doesn't even have a cone head, just a TON of bruising on his face (poor kid, I didn't even realize that happens when they come that fast). So there you go, just 5 hours of labor and a few minutes of pushing. Such a good baby already!! :)

So here are the stats you've been waiting for:

Weight: 7 lbs, 8 oz 

Length: 19 inches (exactly like his brother!)

Head Circumference: 13.5 inches 

He has lots of sandy reddish-blonde hair, definitely his father's nose, and all tiny and wonderful ten little fingers and toes! He's been such a good baby so far. Even nursing has gone over SO much easier than it did with Malcom.

Welcome to the world Little Brother! We love you (and thanks for being so nice to your mama today!)!!

Sunshine!!!

I know that this weekend calls for high winds and rain/snow, but I don't care. The last few days have been gorgeous! Ben has had to work a ton thanks to month-end at Melalueca, again... ugh. 5 1/2 years of it and I'm pretty sure we're both beyond sick of the long hours that come with it! I can't wait until we graduate and he can have a grown up job. :)  

I really only have a few things to write on this post:

1. SUNSHINE!! YAY!!!
2. Flip-flops have replaced the boots!
3. Heavy winter coats are finally locked away in the back of a dark closet, never to be seen again... until October...
4. The grass is sort of, kind of, but not really turning GREEN! 
5. SUNSHINE, SUNSHINE, SUNSHINE!! 


Today Malcom and I got to take a wonderful, luxurious non-coat wearing, flip-flop clad walk to the nature park. We brought along a bubble-blower-gun toy he got for his birthday and as he played I tried to awkwardly get down and lay on my side to get a lower angle with my camera (pretty strange looking when you're 9 months pregnant no doubt). Malcom looked at me, grinned, then tipped his head to the side to figure out what the heck I was doing. I love this kid, everything's a game! So fun and silly. :)


Happy SPRING everyone!!!