These Boys

Preston is 6 weeks old today! Thought it was high time for an update on both our little boys. They are still getting along famously. And by "getting along," I mean Asher still loves his brother, and Preston is tolerant of Asher's messy, wild ways. We are really getting the hang of two, and I'm almost enjoying the challenge of getting out with them together...although nothing beats getting out alone!

Preston looks a lot like Asher did as a baby...It's hard to prove with our pictures, but here are a couple shots of them both around this age:

A lot of the resemblance is in the little faces they make. Here's Asher's "small mouth" face...we haven't quite captured Preston's yet, but you can tell they're brothers for sure.

 

Preston is getting big too fast. At his 1 month check-up he was already 10 pounds...it's amazing to think he's gained half his birth weight in just 4 weeks. I am (*sob*) putting away all his newborn and 0-3 outfits. He's giving us 6-7 hour stretches of sleep at night, so we can't complain! Real smiles (in lieu of the "You-probably-just-have-gas-but-this-sure-is-cute" smiles) began this past week, and he rolled from belly to back today!

Preston loves the sound of running water, nursing, being held with his head thrown back, using his grasping reflex on mommy's hair, and emptying his bladder the moment his diaper is removed. He is so full of sweetness and we are all just in love with him.

Asher boy has become a total clown. He loves to make us laugh and is always doing and saying silly things to get our attention (OR diffuse our anger when he's done something naughty; i.e. throwing little toys in the diaper champ we then have to rifle through damp filth to find, then asking, "Does Jesus give people spankings?"). I'd say his speech has become more sophisticated, but that would be misleading, as lately his favorite word is "poopy". He tries to work it into every conversation, every book reading, even prayers, and continues to be under the false impression it is humorous.

Here's a sweet action shot of Asher and Daddy playing a couple weeks ago.

 

This child loves his father. Sunday night he awoke in a panic, and for the first time ever, articulated a dream to us. "My daddy not fall down the stairs! Daddy don't fall down the basement stairs! 'Member my daddy slipped down the stairs? That was not a good choice, daddy...". Poor little guy! So I guess it was a nightmare, but it was sweet to see how concerned he was about Andrew.

Asher loves to sing (favorites include "This Old Man" and "Popcorn Popping"), go for outings, quote movies (He'll say things like, "'You tore down a building?!?' That's from the Incredibles!"), jump off of things, read books (current favorites: "Love You Forever", "The Giving Tree," and "Where the Wild Things Are") eat, and entertain. He is such a talkative, energetic, silly little boy.

 

Love these boys and our family of four!

Still the One [Hundred]

Welcome to our one hundredth post! See the confetti falling?! What a milestone...those of you who knew us a few years ago during our "annual update" phase know how unlikely it seemed for this day to ever come. Well,  

Looks like we made it. 

Look how far we've come, my baaybaaay

We mighta took the long way,

We knew we'd get there someday...

Just a little something I wrote. And if that don't impress you much, then think about this: Our monthly post average is now 4.2 - that's 50 times more than what we were doing 3 years ago. That's called improvement, my friends. Improvement. And there's still plenty of room for more.

Someday we hope to print this blog out as a record of our family. We hope - okay, who am I kidding - I hope to be more diligent about recording our everyday thoughts and happenings, our struggles, growth and progression. And while this little blog isn't much at all, what it endeavors to document is our whole world.

So. Here's to progress and the next hundred posts!

Preston's Newborns

So over Labor Day weekend, Aunt Ali took some newborn photos of Preston. They turned out so, SO cute! Here are some of our favorites.

And here are a few birth announcement options...what's your favorite?

 

 

What do you think? So blessed to have this sweet boy AND an amazing photographer in our family! Thanks, Ali!

Last Few Drops

Fall came yesterday.

One day it was sweltering, and the next we were grabbing jackets. Autumn! It always makes me melancholy to watch as school begins and nature fades away, but there is no more enchanting time of year. The leaves, the pumpkins, the smell of cinnamon, soup on the stove...I just want to take a hay ride, drink cider, and bake pumpkin bread. I know you know what what I'm talking about.

Yes, Fall has come, but before it did, we drank the last few drops of Summer. Labor Day weekend found Andrew's entire family right here in Columbus...and we were so grateful. Everyone together, and delivered! We spent most the time shopping, swimming, and going to eat. The boys all went to the Ohio State football game on Saturday, and my personal highlight was just talking and playing a game of Catan after the little ones were down. We also took a trip to the splash pad at bicentennial park, and (per usual) Ali got some amazing photos. Here are some snapshots of our last summer weekend:

 

Meet the cousins:

Aubrey

Henry

Parker

Ella
 

Asher with his all-time favorite person

 

Practicing their O-H-I-O!

Shopping at Easton. Love Henry's face here





 

Bringing Home Baby

We brought little Preston home early Sunday afternoon, with my in-laws, Kim and Joey helping all the way. My Dad and two little sisters came up to visit for a few hours, and Kim stayed the first week with us. HUGE, huge help. The laundry was caught up (seriously - when does that ever happen? There's always a basket of clean laundry on the floor of our room waiting to be put away), dinners were delicious, and Asher was taken on outings each day - on walks, picnics, to the pool, playground, etc. It was so nice to stay home and snuggle baby while knowing Asher was having a great time. These days I have to get creative to make sure he doesn't feel neglected.

To first-time moms scared to have a second baby after a brutal recovery: the physical recovery this time around was a BREEZE! I know everyone's experience is different, but I felt SO much better than I did after having Asher, which was yet another giant blessing in this whole process. I think a combination of one's body already having done it once, knowing what to expect and how to take care of yourself and a baby usually make for a much easier go the second time. 

Of course, a lot of the same things still hurt and happen.....for instance, a few days after I deliver, hormones change and I get super emotional about how much I love our baby, how sweet he is, how sad I am that he's growing up so fast, etc. Oh look - we have a clip:

It goes about like that. And it's wonderful to now know we can expect this in the future, and that it will only last a couple days. Predictability is a beautiful thing in the life of a new mom.

Anyway, we are very grateful to find Preston is a good baby with a sweet disposition. He only cries when hungry, or on the rare occasion when I eat something that doesn't agree with him. A sweet, sleepy child is such a welcome blessing when dealing with a two and a half-year-old trying to give up naps altogether.  Love that baby boy!

Blessing #472: Asher LOVES his little brother. Just wants to hug, hold, and kiss him all the time. I worried we'd experience one of those scenarios where the jealous toddler tries to invent ways to kill the new baby, but the worst our little guy has faced is food stuck to his head all the time, thanks to Ash man's sloppy, unbridled affection.

Here are some images of our first week home together:

Pillow fights with Aunt Hannah and Aunt Amy

The roses Andrew got for me...my Grandpa always gave my Grandma yellow roses when she delivered a baby. I love Andrew for carrying on the sweet tradition.

That's right - we are now a mini-van fam! Here is a shot of us after our first drive around town with the kids (KIDS!?!!). Never thought I'd want one of these...I remember thinking vans were just not cool...then I realized - Wait! Neither am I. So it's perfect...I maintain my frumpy mom status without any pretense, while everyone enjoys extra space and seating. We love it!

Just hangin out, being one week old