3 Weeks Old. . .

Clayton turned 3 weeks old this weekend...hard to beleive that 3 weeks have passed...he is growing so much..changing daily.


Aunt Elaine came to visit us and to come to my cousin Becky's baby shower. She came early and was a wonderful visitor....had her help me with the boys....Here she is with Clayton....Justin kept her busy busy playing with trains all day Friday....

Lindsay (my cousin) came too, but I didn't get any pictures with her....I think Aunt Elaine did, maybe she will send to me so I can post some of those....

Our time with Oma...

Oma has been here for a week and 2 days...she left us this morning to go to Jim and Dana's. It was so great to have her here....Justin was her sidekick the entire time. They read a million books and are now great Pals. Here was a rare moment where Oma was able to hold Clayton and visit with Justin.


So, this afternoon we haven't taken a nap...after 2 hours of trying to nap, it didn't happen, so I let Justin come downstairs and we aren't going to nap today. Here is what he has been up to.....

Wet washcloth on head - it is hot here today....and stickers on leg....whatever makes him happy is fine with me...

Our Days...

Here is Todd holding Clayton....he was a bit hungry and willing to eat anything - including Daddy's ear.

Yesterday we got to meet up with my Cousin Lindsay as she was on her way home....Clayton was one week old here.

Gina, Boone, Abigail, and Treston sent Justin some Crayola color wonder art supplies...it has been a hit! And, the best is that it won't get on my couch....

pictures from our hospital stay

These are in no order at all, sorry, I have baby on chest and Justin sleeping...blogging while I can.

Dana, Oma, and the 3 boys came to visit on day 2..all boys are enamored with Clayton. Aunt Dana showing the boys.

Uncle Jim

Becky and Jason came to visit too.

Grandma Nellie

Here is Justin on day one showing Clayton his Thomas book. The first visit wasn't easy for Justin, seeing mommy and daddy in the hospital wasn't too great and he had just awoke from a nap. Luckily Aunt Dana showed up and took pictures of his Thomas book and he was much better...she had him read to Clayton, etc.

with Papa...

Christina came from 2 hours away to visit.

This is our going home outfit.

The three boys on the rocking chair

With Oma

So, the birth story is.....I was due to have a scheduled C-section Monday morning at 6:00 am. It was the Saturday before my "C" and we had picked up Nellie in town so she could spend the night here with us. We had planned out our day on Sunday to have dinner and drop off Justin with Jim and Dana, etc...Dinner was over, Justin played with Grandma Nellie and we relaxed for the evening just visiting. I took Justin up to go to bed about 9pm or so...we read books, rest our eyes and lay there until he falls asleep. So, Justin was still awake when I had this insane PAIN in my stomach. I thought that the baby's head must have really just moved down a lot....I did my breathing...(Justin copied me too - says "Mommy, He, he, he)....and soon he was asleep. I was going to just go to bed myself, but I thought to myself I had better go to the bathroom (as I often have to go to the bathroom). So, I start to stand up and notice wet - interesting - I stand up and realize that I am leaking....so off to the bathroom I run (thinking I will be dripping all over as I did with Justin). Anyway, made it to the bathroom. Now- I have to get Todd and Nellie's attention without waking up Justin who is in the room and try not to walk on carpet. Well, had to go on the carpet but wasn't leaking too much.

I called for them and told them my water had broken. I wasn't sure what I aws to do. Should I go ahead and labor at home, go to the hopsital, have a C? We had decided to go with the C, but I could try the VBAC. It was now 9:40....Nellie has me call the doctor...she askes what I want and decide to go via "C"....(I do have my reasons for those of you wondering). We did a little bit more packing, woke up Dad to come over and sleep with Justin....and were off to the hospital.

I was on the operating table at 11:45pm and Clayton joined us at 12:23AM on August 2nd. We didn't sleep an ounce that whole night. I had a blood oxygen counter on me and every time I would dose off, it would beep...I wouuld try really hard to stay awake, and let Todd get some rest, but I just couldn't...I would fade...then be awoken. It took them till Noon the next day to get it working correctly....I wasn't low on oxygen, just the computer was set up with small diameters...that night we finally got "some" rest.

We really liked our hospital. Nurses were great...food was great...they even fed Todd every meal, so he didn't have to leave me alone all the time. Couldn't have asked for better....we were ready to come home by Tuesday...my buns could only handle those beds so long....so we came home and are still adjusting to being a family of 4 + Papa :)

comparisons

So, I wanted to see what Justin looked like right after birth....here he is...
and here is Clayton...

Big Brother thinks Clayton is a keeper...

Justin holding Clayton today... he kept wanting to hold his brother--warmed the mommy's heart!

Clayton...

Special Delivery!!!

Clayton Lee made his appearance very early this morning...
8/2/09
12:23am
7.05 pounds
21 inches

All went well and everyone is healthy. We will post more pictures when we can...

Baby Update

Well, only a few days to arrival of Baby #2. Todd and I went to our Pre-Op appt yesterday. I am scheduled for Monday morning at 6:00 am. Suggested we get there earlier since everyone who has surgeries that day has to go through admitting. We are taking Justin to Aunt Dana's and Uncle Jim's sunday night. We decided it was better for him to go to sleep without us and wake up without us than go to sleep with us and then we not be there when he wakes up and him be confused.

He was there yesterday (as we are often) and didn't want to leave the boys.

I intend to post have Dana post a picture on here as soon as possilbe. I will text her from the hospital so keep your eyes peeled for all the info!

My friends ESTY account. . .

My friend Kristine is starting up selling stuff on ESTY. YOu can view her selling site at:

www.kristinemc831.etsy.com

She does amazing work with scrapbooking, so if you are a scrapper, check her out....

Babies Hand

I had a doctor appt. yesterday. I am now on weekly checks. They did a "quick" ultrasound to see if the baby was head down, since he was breach last week. Sure enough, he is ready. You can see his hand in this picture. Where the cursor is...that is his thumb. So far everything is going well. Having more pressure than I ever remember having with Justin.

a trip with Papa. . .

So, this weekend we have been preparing for baby arrival. Dad decided to go to the grocery store and took Justin with him....a little break for Todd and I to get things done kid free!

So, guess they were in the store and Justin saw this - how could a Papa resist. . .so, home they come and we now have a Thomas balloon with us 24/7.

Diapers. . .

Okay, so Rite Aid has a diaper deal on right now that I took advantage of. I watch a blog (http://www.mommieswithcents.com/ and she puts up the deals of the week from Rite aid...it is pretty cool.



so, here is the details:

buy 5 huggies product (certain count and stuff) and get a free voucher in the mail.
also, if you spend $50 on huggies you get $25.00 back in Rebate...I have already entered my info online and confirmed I will get my rebate...pretty cool. Plus, when you use coupons on top of the rebates, it all comes out cheaper too.

Here is the detail link

http://www.mommieswithcents.com/2009/07/rite-aid-deals-712-718.html

this is what I paid...not exact to what she did but close

purchase #1
diapers 1 1.49 (used $3 coupon) = 8.49
Diapers 14.99 (used $3 coupon) = 11.49
used a coupon for buy $25.00 of any Rite aid product and got $5.00 back (Had a few other items to buy, so minus another $5.00
total paid for first purchase = 14.98

Purchase #2
Diapers 11.49 ($3.00 copuon) = 8.49
Diapers14.99 ($3.00 Copuon) 11.99
Diapers14.99 - no coupon = 14.99
used another coupon for buy $25.00 of any Rite aid product and got $5.00 back
total paid for second purchase 30.47

total paid for both = 45.45
I will now get $25.00 back in rebate check
total paid for all = 20.45

AND....I will get a voucher for a free bag of diapers ($11.49 value) for Rite aid in the mail. This makes the diapers $.09 each (not including the free diapers I will get in the future.....pretty cool huh!

Waterpark Fun!

Yesterday Dana, the boys, and I treked to a fun park with water....it took them a while to get into the water, but then they started having fun.

Thomas the Train Book and more. . .

Justin's favorite and most special book is a Thomas the train book. We read it all the time. He has now even come to sleeping with it...when he wakes up at 3:30 in the morning and comes to our bed, he asks us to read to him....and we have to tell him it is time to sleep. He is comforted by holding them I guess. This morning we had to read them before we even got out of bed.




Other news: I am getting closer and closer to the baby arrival date (August 3rd). You would think we would be ready. With Justin we had his room set up, clothing all washed and put away at least a month ahead of time, etc. We still have all the clothes to wash, the seat to put in the car and more. It won't take much, but I guess it is already starting with the second baby....they just don't get the same attention that the 1st one gets.

We are finished with our house. We closed escrow late yesterday and are relieved to have that all behind us. We can start really looking here for a house. Not sure Justin will adjust again. He loves being here in the "WILD" outdoors and he is very very attached to his Papa - I think Papa is attached to him as well. I wonder if there will be room enough on Papa's his lap for baby when new baby comes. Papa and Justin have a nightly routine after dinner of watching Thomas videos or doing learning games on the computer.

Free dinner anyone?

http://embracedinner.cjrwbeta.com/rebate_form.pdf

This is a try one free deal that you can get your money back with....I printed mine out...you might want to try it.

Camping. . .

So, I decided to not take my camera this past weekend and I had a cell phone free weekend too...it was so nice. Tootlepops took pics, so check them out here....

It was so nice to spend time with family.....and it wasn't too far from home - another perk!

One wall down.

Well, I finished the wall right before the guys got home last night. It looks great. Once the ceiling is painted white, it will be even better (the ceiling is Todd's job). I have another wall to do, the kitchen to do, our room, and Justin's room.

New Additions?

We have two new additions to the neighborhood....Justin and I were eating breakfast at the table yesterday and looked out the window to see the fawns with their Mommy....they were very very close to us...right outside the window.

We have been planning on doing some painting here at the house....it is addicting. I worked on some painting this morning and then finished up this afternoon - all with a 2 year old in tow....he did pretty well. We have a lot more painting I would like to get done before baby arrives in just 5 1/2 weeks....

Day Out with Thomas. . .

Yesterday, Reese, Carsten, Justin, Papa, Aunt Dana, and I (Alicia) did our trek to see Thomas. It was Carsten's Birthday gift from Papa and all the boys were able to participate. We stopped at the falls for a potty break first....

More pictures on Tootlepops...

Somebody asked us if we had tripplets....now I have heard of Carsten and Justin being twins...but Reese is 5.....I guess maybe if we didn't dress them so similiarly..but it is fun!

We got to ride on a "real" schoolbus. Reese's Favorite!

Now that we hang with the cousin's, Justin has come to like Thomas too....here he is showing me the sign and who we are going to go see.

There were activities and one was a percussion show...Justin using his Moraccas.

Reese was awesome in the show...he was very involved and Won the prize (a whistle)..

More action.

Of coarse, about the time the show is over, Carsten is comfortable enough to get involved.

Here we are on the train....

The boys watching Thomas

Here we are waiting in line to get our picture taken with Thomas after our train ride.

After our ride on the train, they had us take pictures with Thomas....Justin really just wanted to turn around and look at it.....

Carsten and Reese