Carnival Fun

While visiting my sister and family there was a FREE carnival being hosted by a church and who doesn't like FREE? Especially, considering that Klayton had never been to a carnival before so we weren't sure what he would think.

We decided that he wasn't particularly fond of waiting in the lines.

But, the rides were pretty fun!

We also decided that the carnival was pretty boring for Justus...as you can see he slept through it all.

Oh, look! Another line!

And this time a ride that kept daddy chasing Klayton...

and Uncle Kenny chasing after daddy and Klayton!

Here's the big finish!

Woohoo Klayton!

Loved the photo finish and making memories!

Holding Answered Prayer

Last week we went to Kenosha, Wisconsin for a couple of days to visit my grandparents. While there I was able to enjoy a quick visit with a friend, BobbiJo and her family! This visit was really special to me...for this reason!

See those two cuties? KadiJo and Justus are answered prayer. BobbiJo and I spent, what seemed like years at times praying for one another that God would bless us with another child!

KadiJo loves me I am sure and I can tell you the feeling was mutual! I can still remember a Saturday morning in March of 2013 waking up to a text from BobbiJo telling me to wake up and there was a picture of a pregnancy test with 2 lines! And I longed to get two lines of my own-which finally came in September!

When I held Justus for the first time, I remember that feeling of knowing that he was a true testament to answered prayer. But, until I held KadiJo I have never been able to quite literally hold in my hand answered prayer that I have prayed for someone else. Does that even make sense? None the less, it is a feeling of humbleness that took my breath away. I am SO thankful that I serve a God who answers prayer. I am so thankful that He also lets us see prayers answered and even hold it in our hands at times!

As we held our littlest blessings it was also fun to watch that our other blessings are becoming buddies as well and I will sign off with the outtakes of trying to get two little boys to look at a camera for a decent picture...

Justus-One Month

Justus, you are one month old TODAY!

Where has the time gone? We finally went and did newborn pictures yesterday; but maybe I should call them one month pictures? All pictures posted today are courtesy of yesterdays photo shoot and next month it will be back to your old mom doing the monthly pictures again!

YOU:

*Weigh 7 lbs. 3 oz.
*Measure at 21 inches long.
*Wear newborn diapers.
*Wear newborn clothes and they are still sometimes too big.
*Nursing like a champ and eat a lot! You are fed every 2 1/2-3 hours throughout the day and at night you wake up twice to be fed.
*Sleep A TON still-as I write this you are yet again asleep!
*When you are awake you are becoming more and more alert.
*Are a crier-especially at night. In the last few days though I can see that we are beginning to get over that hump and for this I am very grateful!
*Do not like having a dirty diaper.
*Love to lay in your boppy.
*Like to suckle and therefore enjoy your pacifier. I discovered this trait before we even left the hospital and quickly introduced the pacifier.
*Are a mover with your hands. When you get mad they move very fast!
*Are working at strengthening your neck muscles. I watch you trying to lift your head and you are slowly getting there. The nurses said your neck would be more wobbly for a bit simply because of laying transverse for so long in my tummy.
*Starting to coo! Love that sweet sound!
*Love making the "O" shape with your little mouth-so cute.

My Little Monster,
I do call you Monster in love of course. You really can be such a sweet baby; but when night comes a whole new personality comes alive! I admit, its frustrating because no one believes your daddy and I when we tell them that the crying is more like screaming and comes on with no warning and no escalation. But, as this month has quickly passed I believe this season of screaming will quickly pass.
Do you know how loved you are? Big brother is constantly kissing your head and leaving proof of chocolate kisses and fruit punch kisses...needless to say I had to clean your head of the proof before pictures were taken yesterday. And I love to snuggle you close and just soak you in and in those moments my love for you overwhelms me, so, I find myself thanking God-once again-with blessing me-once again-with you! I love you and I am already wishing time could slow down just for a bit.

Love,
Mom

Wordless Wednesday-Family/NB/Sibling Photo Shoot

Back to the Lord

One of the most special things to Joseph and I, has been the fact that the first place we have taken our boys is church! Both boys were born on a Thursday and released from the hospital on a Saturday! We want them raised knowing who our Lord is and what better way to start their adventures in life; but in church?!

I love dressing up my boys for church and Justus was looking exceptionally handsome for his first church service! Following the morning church service we took time to give our baby boy back to the Lord. We dedicated to raise our little boy in a home that wants to serve God, wants to love God and in a home that will strive to do its best to follow God and His Word!

And of course, what would his first time at church be without a family photo?!

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalm 127:3

Brother

There's no BUDDY...

like a BROTHER!

Justus-The Birth Story

I went in on Tuesday, May 20th to be induced. We woke up at 4 a.m-who wakes up that early anyway? Arrived at the hospital around 5 and the nurses did all the standard checks before my doctor was to arrive. As they were looking for baby's heartbeat it was discovered that he had once again flipped to transverse. Frustrating. My doctor arrived and options were given to have a version at noon followed by induction or wait until Thursday. We didn't believe there was a right or wrong way to go and decided to be induced at noon. Unfortunately, it seemed like nothing was working out for each of the departments involved and we were sent home. It was a long, frustrating morning. I was discouraged because I had let myself mentally prepare to be having a baby that day and I actually had slept the night before-which was becoming a very rare occurrence in my last days of pregnancy.
Thankfully, Thursday-May 22nd did come and we arrived at the hospital around 6 a.m. It was confirmed that Justus was still in fact transverse-his head was laying on my right side. The version was set for 7:30 and I told the nurses once the IV was inserted that I was NOT leaving and I WOULD BE having a baby that day-IVs hurt and I really didn't want to endure that again!

Yes, I know that the pain of the IV was the least amount of pain I would be feeling that day. At 7:30 I was taken to radiology for the version-an hour after it was confirmed that his head was on my right it was quickly discovered that in that hour he had flipped again, this time his head was now laying on my left side. The version was a success and it was decided that I would be taken back to my room to have my water broken. By 8:00 I was back in my room and it was discovered that he was once again in the process of flipping back to transverse. Yes, the idea of enrolling him in gymnastics upon his entrance into the world was suggested! My doctor's partner proceeded to flip Justus to head down and hold him in place so my doctor could break my water and get my little guy to engage. I had A LOT of fluid, that is no exaggeration-my doctor and his partner both said they had never seen that much water. After my water was broken I progressed from a 2 to a 5. Thankfully, I am not a person who really starts feeling my contractions until I am at a 7-8, so even though I was beginning to contract regularly I wasn't feeling much of the contractions. But, unfortunately I get to that 7 and that ouch feeling is instantaneous. I started having back labor and begged for the use of the shower; but as my contractions got stronger there were decels in his heart and so I was not allowed to take that hot shower I was dreaming about. My nurse, Sydney was awesome though and had me stand over the bed and while I rocked and probably moaned she massaged my back. During those few minutes my contractions picked up and she decided that it was almost baby time. I got back into bed and she started getting her "tools" ready.

I cried a little because I didn't think I could continue with this pain, my doctor arrived and I was checked for the final time. I only had a "lip" left before being fully dilated. My doctor took his lunch break in labor and delivery because he said it wouldn't be much longer. I was in denial. He came back to my room, sat at my feet-ready to deliver a baby. I remember vividly thinking, it is not about to happen. I kind of felt annoyed as I felt like I was expected to promptly make progress that I knew just wasn't going to happen. I felt that way because I had stayed at a 7 for longer than just a few minutes! But, that is why I am not the doctor because within just a few minutes of my doctor sitting there I was suddenly pushing! As each contraction came to encourage me to push, my baby's heart beat would decelerate. I pushed for 15 minutes and with the help of a vacuum, because each time the heart decels took a little longer to climb back up, Justus was born! Justus was born weighing in at 7 lbs and 21 inches in length!

I was so overwhelmed to hold my baby boy for the first time!

And, well Klayton wasn't to crazy about meeting his brother for the first time!

That's the story folks! We are so thankful for God's goodness to our family of 4!

He's Here

My Mommy's Day

Yesterday, is when my Mother's Day started with Klayton and Joseph giving me a dozen roses and a balloon that Klayton picked out all by himself.

While Klayton did get the balloon for me, I should let you know that I was only allowed to keep it for the duration of the picture. Have I mentioned how much he likes mylar balloons?
I woke up this morning and dressed Klayton for church in an outfit that would somewhat match me...I may or may not have done that just for the photo opportunity! Got to take advantage of his interest in saying, "Cheese!"

After church my boys took me to lunch and we took a nice, long nap! Overall, it was a good Mother's Day and I am simply thankful that I get to be a Mom! Thank you Lord for Your blessings to me!

Big Brother Prep for Baby

The hospital I will be delivering Justus at offers a class for only children that are getting ready to be a sibling! I was so excited about this class and couldn't wait for Klayton to be a part of it. The class was only 45 minutes long, not to long-just the right time table for a 3 year old!
Klayton decorated a gift bag for Justus.

They gave him stickers and crayons to decorate the bag with and the stickers won out for the most popular bag decoration!

After he decorated the bag, Klayton was able to choose some items for the bag that baby brother will need! A diaper, a package of wipes and Klayton thought we would want 2 bottles of hand sanitizer!

They read a story about mommy having a baby, where mommy goes to have baby and what baby will do after he or she is born!

The highlight of Klayton's evening was holding the practice baby. The instructor taught the kids how to give the baby a pacifier and to hold the baby! Klayton had spotted the baby early in the evening and up to this point had been frequently asking about baby and when she first handed the baby to him, his eyes lit up! Maybe Mama broke out into a silly grin as well watching his excitement and thinking he will soon be holding his brother!

Once the kids each had a turn holding the practice baby, they were given a tour of where mommy and baby will sleep once mommy has baby!

After the tour, each of the kids had their picture taken with Bert and Ernie to put in the baby's crib at the hospital so everyone would know who baby belonged to! At first Klayton did not want his picture taken. Later, we were able to convince him to get his picture taken for brother without Bert and Ernie so we could capture some of his smiles!

Once the class was over, the kids were given stickers, a book and a cookie to take home!

I was super impressed with the class! It was free, informative and Klayton came away with lots of free stuff! We are getting even more excited for baby brother to be here-soon and very SOON!