Time is a flying

Wow time is a flying. I can't believe that Heath will be 7 weeks tomorrow. He is growing up too fast already! So I best get some new pictures up for everyone. Not much to report. Last week Heath did start to smile - it is so adorable. We are still working on the nap time and bedtime situation. We are trying out the Miracle Blanket to see if it really does prove to be a "Miracle" product. I had my 6 week check up and I am finally healing though still having a pain occasionally on left side. Doctor said that is normal but wants me to hold off lifting anything heavy till 8 weeks. Hope everyone is doing well and staying cool!

Pierce still loves to mow the grass. The hat has become a new thing - he wears it because Dad also wears one when he mows. 5/23/08

An updated picture of Heath in the swing - you can see how he has grown. 5/23/08

Pierce singing a song to baby brother. What a sweet big brother! 5/24/08

The first swim trip of the summer. Pierce was not hesitant at all. In fact he wore his "water wings" and swam laps in the pool all by himself. 5/26/08

With Pierce we took monthly pictures by a big stuffed animal to see how he grows. So we are doing the same thing with Heath. It will be fun to watch him grow and to also compare his growth pictures to Pierce's. You can see Pierce's one month picture on our old site (link is at top right hand corner of this site). This is Heath at 1 month old (5/30/08).

Our First Fun Outing as a Family of 4

Our first real fun outing was to a Round Rock Express baseball game. The weather was just perfect. It was Pierce’s first time going and he loved it. So hopefully we will go to a few more this summer. Also, it was Heath’s first game and he slept through the whole thing (5/17/08).

A Forgotten Necessity!

One thing I forgot to definitely invest in before having a baby – Spray and Wash’s stain stick! We are definitely needing this for the accidents that occur. So for those that are expecting, stock up! If you have a better idea on how to pre-treat stains from infants and toddlers – please let me know!

Say What??

Okay so for those that grew up in the 80’s and pretty much everyone has heard of New Kids on the Block. Well it surprised me to hear on the Today show that they were reuniting and going on tour. They were actually on the show and sang a few of their songs. There were tons of fans in the audience – I didn’t know there was still such a following. For me, listening to one song brought back a few memories! And the weird thing – The New Kids on the Block still look the same – how can that be!

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