How did they get there!

Last Wednesday night we had Tornado sightings close by the neighborhood so we spent 30 minutes in our hall closet until the warnings past. This was the first time in this house we had to do this and the first time for Pierce. He was not scared, and he did not sleep through it – in fact he woke up once in the closet and was ready to start playing. After this storm – what is wild to me – there were at least 20-30 earth worms on our back patio. Those who have seen the patio know that it is pretty high up off the ground - so how did all those worms get up there – it still perplexes me – and for those who wanted to know - we did rescued them all and put them all back in the flowerbeds. Sorry I don't have any pictures to show you this.

3 Week Update

Heath in one of the places he likes to sleep 5/7/08

Pierce - a way cool big brother! 5/15/08

A wonderful relaxing Mother's Day with my 2 favorite boys! 5/12/08

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and emails. Things are overall going well. The update on how I am recovering – I will keep it short – everything was going well at first – then it appears per the doctor that I had an allergic reaction to the butterfly tape they used on the incision as well as to the gauze underwear. So after the tape was removed and I stopped wearing the comfortable underwear things got a bit better. However, my incision became infected and just last week I was put on antibiotics. I went back to the doctor today for a recheck and things are looking better!

Heath had his 2 week check up last week and he is doing awesome! His heart, lungs, eyes, etc all checked out great. He weighed 8lbs 14oz. That is in the 50-75th percentile. Besides the percentile – I can’t believe he has gained a pound four ounces since we came home. The doctor also thinks this is fantastic. He is a great eater! He also measured 21.5 inches tall. So that means he has grown 2 inches since we have been home too (though I think he was at least 20 inches when he was born – it was just hard to get a good measurement on him since he is such a kicker). This height is in the 75th percentile. We have been so happy with the new pediatrician we are going to – thanks again to Ms. Gretchen for the referral! A lot of people have asked how does his measurements compare to Pierce’s at 2 weeks (just for fun). So looking back, Pierce was 20 inches long and weighed 7lbs 11oz. So Heath is a little bigger at the 2 week mark than Pierce.

Also another question I get is how did you come to Heath Adam for his name. Yes as many of you were aware we were everywhere in trying to pick a name for our second boy. It was hard. We went from Reece to Brock to Alexander to Grant and then finally Heath. There is no specific background to picking the name Heath. This name to us was just one we liked and was unique and strong. The middle name, Adam, is my Grandfather’s middle name in which we wanted to name this second one after and we really liked it with the first name Heath. So nothing too exciting on how we came to the name. We actually went to the hospital with the name Grant and Heath and waited till we saw him to determine his name. With that cute little pink and blue hat he looked more like a Heath to both of us.

Pierce is doing great though his cabin fever has gotten worse since there is no family here to keep him entertained. Aunt Desi came in for a few days over Mother’s Day weekend and Pierce had a blast and we really miss her! He also says the sweetest things to melt your heart. I can’t wait to be recovered so I can run, jump, etc with him. He still is doing great with Heath and is very helpful and always concerned when Heath cries.

James is doing great in keeping up with everything. He has gone back to work and things there are crazy and chaotic. He is definitely looking forward to the long weekend coming up!

One week old!

Well one week ago Heath was born – I cannot believe how fast time has passed! To reflect on how things went for us: The whole month of April was a blur – I don’t know where the time went. Which is good I think. We got a lot done around the house and had great times with friends and family! The night before the c-section was a late one and hard to sleep. The morning of seemed like it took forever till we got into the operating room. But overall the c-section preparation, procedure, and recovery went really well. Everyone at the hospital was fantastic and I think it went better the second time around. When I first got to see Heath, it was just as amazing as it was with Pierce. Heath had a big set of lungs on him from the start and the first thing out of my mouth when I saw him was “Where are his eyebrows”. His eyebrows are really light where Pierce’s eyebrows were very distinctive at birth. I had the people in the operating room laughing. My mother and father came down to take care of Pierce and things went well. My mom and dad really helped out a lot and were wonderful for everything that they did for us – I can’t thank them enough!

I also want to thank all our friends and family for their thoughts, prayers, visits, gifts (flowers that are so beautiful, a gift basket that is just amazing, gifts for Pierce and Heath, decorations in front of the house, and meals)! It means so much to James, Pierce and I!

Many have touched base to find out how we are doing since we have been home. I am doing well. The pain is getting less and less and it is hard to rest - it is hard to sit for long periods with a toddler and things that need to be done around the house. Feeding is going well. Sleep is good - though Heath is one that likes to sleep on you or by you and will occasionally sleep in the swing - he is really not digging the bassinet yet. James has been home this week and he has been amazing in helping!

We had our first pediatrician appt yesterday. Heath is doing great and he told us it was ok that Heath is wanting to sleep on us right now - that it will not form a bad habit and that you cannot spoil a baby for the first 2-3 weeks of life by holding him. So that was good to hear. He also is doing great on his weight. He was born at 7lb 11oz. Went down to 7lb 2oz and when we checked out of the hospital he was 7lb 4oz. When we went yesterday he was at 7lb 13oz - so he already surpassed his birth weight. The doctor says that is really good and a great sign that he is perfect.
Heath himself is just absolutely adorable. He has the best facial expressions from his smiles, to his frowns, to puckers, to raised eyebrows, to his serious thinking face, and his one eye looks. He is also very strong and loves to kick - especially when changing his diaper (which I should have figured with how he was at the end of the pregnancy – kicking and punching up a storm)! It is just amazing and we feel so blessed to have him in our lives.

Pierce is doing great too! When I got home from the hospital and hugged Pierce I truly couldn’t believe how much Pierce has grown since he was born. The time has just flown by with him too. He is so tall, weighs so much and is just so funny, creative, and talkative. I know it will continue to fly so I am making sure to take in every moment I can. Pierce is such a great big brother we couldn’t ask for anything different! He loves to hold his baby brother and help out. He seems to be adjusting well to having a brother. We truly are blessed with such great boys!

Here are some great pictures taken since the last post.

Pierce for some reason wanted to wear a microphone while he watched a show. It was so funny! 4/18/08

We watched the basketball playoff games and were routing for the Mavs. Pierce has his own Mavs jersey (thanks to the Davis'). This is Pierce's version of being a coach on the sidelines. Maybe he could be Avery Johnson's replacement - haha 4/23/08.

We decided to make it a ritual for what we ate before having this c-section. Meaning eat at the same places we did with Pierce's c-section for this c-section. So for breakfast we went to Cracker Barrel and for my "last meal" before the surgery we went to Chuy's. Here is a picture of how big I got for those that have not seen me in awhile and had wanted to see a belly picture update. 4/28/08

Mom and Heath after he was born. 4/29/08

My two favorite boys hanging out together. 5/5/08 (Heath's actual due date).

Pierce riding his "motorcycle" with Dad's motorcycle gloves. 5/5/08

Happy 1 week! What cuties! 5/6/08

I know - I know

Okay, so I know I said I would get more pictures up from San Diego but none have been posted. What is going on? Well I will put all the blame on the computer. Our home computer, where the pictures are stored, went kaputs. So I have not had access to them and if you know my husband and computers - he analyzes and agonizes over what he wants to do versus what we should do. So needless to say, I just sit and wait :) We did get a new computer and now he is addressing the situation of getting to the pictures and where we are going to store them now. So please bare with us while we get this all worked out.

Some other updates for us, we have officially booked a c-section date: 4/29/08. Everything is going well so far. I am measuring right on and the heartbeat sounds good. However, I am having a lot of pains and terrible terrible heartburn and this little guy likes to kick and punch!!! It is such a different pregnancy than with Pierce. We thought we had a name and we then have changed it a few times. So I am going to hold off saying we have a name again until we are more certain.

I have been given two wonderful showers by some very good friends and also by my sister. They were terrific and it is such a blessing to celebrate this event with everyone. Everyone has been so generous and so thoughtful. Thank you so much. We can't wait for everyone to meet him. For those that haven't seen me, here is a recent picture (3/2/08):

We had a great Easter here in Austin. Family was here to help start the painting process in the house (yes we are crazy to start all of this right before the baby is here). Things are looking great. Pierce loved the egg hunt and all the Easter candy that came with it. No Easter Bunny pictures though.

Easter egg coloring, 3/22/08, he was a pro at putting the eggs in the color and getting them out with the tool - better than I could do.

Easter egg hung 3/23/08

As mentioned, we started painting in the house. I had an interior decorator, who also is a mommy friend, come over to help me pick out colors and come up with an idea for doing the baby room. I wanted to do a rock 'n roll themed room (also an idea that came from a good friend of mine - since we have a cowboy room already is to have a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll). She came up with a great idea and I have ran with it. Hopefully soon I will post some pictures of it. So with it all, the house is a disaster and we are running around crazy.


Pierce is doing great. He is so fun and is such a sweetheart! The things that he says sometimes either surprises you or shocks you. Some things that have come out lately have "Be nice to me", "Don't yell at me", "Stop talking please", and "God Bless". Some of these phrases - we don't recall saying to him. We really think he has given up his naps lately. In the last 2 weeks, we have only had 2 true naps. All the other times he stays in his room and plays and talks. I really wish he would take naps especially with baby brother coming soon. We will keep trying, otherwise we both will get our daily dose of "quiet time". Here are just some fun pictures of recent.

Pierce driving an old fire truck 3/1/08

Pierce reading a book he received recently, 5 little monkeys, to some of his Thomas the Trains friends. He received this book due to a recent experience similar to the story. 3/14/08

My little builder...3/19/08

Pierce and Aunt D driving crazy. 3/29/08

San Diego - Seaworld

Here are our pictures from our trip to San Diego. I am going to post them by place. So check back soon for pictures from our other adventures in San Diego. The pictures below are from Seaworld (2/13/08).

Pierce loved the Dolphin and Shamu shows. He loved the jumps and all the splashing that went on. However he hated, let me repeat hated the Walrus/Seal/Otter show. It had nothing to do with the animals - there was a mime that was part of the pre-show and show and he did not like him. He would scream and cry when there was any loud parts to the show and he kept his eyes hidden or closed.

Pierce loved touching and picking up starfishes. In fact I think he would have liked to get in the water with them. Dad however wanted nothing to do with them :)

Seaworld was thinking smart. It put in a playground and tractors for kids to play with. So we of course took a break to play with the tractors and dump trucks!

Sharks were swimming all around us. It did not scare Pierce one bit. He loved seeing all the fish!

Tractors!

We love our tractors! Scoop'n, dump'n, haul'n :)

12/31/07

Thanks Aunt Susie for the tractors! 1/23/08

Rock'n sunglasses

Well we now have the guitar going with the microphone. We have figured out a way to have the microphone be held up so that he can sing and play at the same time - rock on! Watch out Bono!!! 12/28/07

Here is Dad and P at the movies. We took Pierce to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks. He did great and watched the whole movie - and yes with his sunglasses on. 12/29/07

Multi-talented. Pierce is whipping up some pancakes and coffee for us to eat. And yes all with a chef hat on and his sunglasses. Is there any other way? 12/29/07