sickos

Jackson came down with a high fever and some cold symptoms over the weekend. Our high octane little boy was pitiful and lethargic. He did not like that he could not hold or be near Hannah, but he was very good washing his hands, coughing in his elbow, and using a tissue. I fluttered back and forth taking care of the kids and washing my hands a bazillion times.

Saturday night his fever peaked at 103.7 degrees. He looked at me and with his little hoarse voice and tear-filled eyes he asked, "Will you pray with me?". Then my son croaked out "God, please help me feel all better." His tears were matched with my own. How truly sad and pitiful he was! And, how beautiful that he recognizes that God loves him and can help him!

The inevitable has happened. I've come down with something too, although my symptoms are much more mild. I'm trying to be as diligent as possible at sanitizing everything to keep it from Hannah. The hardest part is that I miss kissing my little girl!!

Couple more shots with a Jackson focus!

Just a couple more shots of Jackson. Don't want to leave him out of the blog that started out as his!

Just Jackson!

Jackson loves to hold sister!

Granddaddy Windley has acquired an electric truck for the grandkids! Jackson is an excellent driver!

Checking out all the features in his new car. His driving was often wreckless as he attempted to play with the gadgets instead of focusing on the road!

Month One

Hannah is 1 month old today. What a truly wonderful month it has been! She has brought so much joy and completeness to our family. Her little smile just melts our hearts!

Here's a little about what we have learned about our little girl...

Hannah loves the pacifier (dubbed a "cici" in our house thanks to Jack). She is thrilled to be bathed. Unlike lots of babies, she really likes tummy time - it almost seems that she prefers it! Probably why she loves napping on daddy's chest so much. Other favorites are when Jackson talks and sings to her and her swing and bouncy seat.

She loathes a dirty diaper and wants to be changed as soon as possible... which makes for using a LOT of diapers. Hannah hates being strapped in her car seat, but falls asleep as soon as we pick it up.

She has a plethora of little pet names that we call her - princess, pumpkin, sweet girl, peanut, sweetie, princess stinky bottom, pooter pooterson (that's daddy's contribution).

She is such a grunter! I mean, she really likes to grunt ALL THE TIME. Loudly and deeply. It's funny to see and hear that kind of noise coming out of one so small and dainty.

She tucks her thumb in a balled up fist, which is something that daddy has made fun of Mommy for doing for years. She has tried to find her thumb or fingers to suck but can't since she is unwilling to unclench her fist.

She is starting to lose a little of the hair on top. Bummer! Her mommy and brother were bald for the first year of their life, and grandma says that Daddy was bald until he was 2. Not a good sign for all the cute bows we've been given.

So, enough yappin'! Here's the pics:

Dad and Hannah relaxing on the couch.

Mommy can get Hannah to smile!

An Aunt Amanda inspired pair of sunglasses while we were at the pool!

Hannah likes to show off her neck muscles by lifting her head during "tummy time."

More smiles!

A sweatie

Jackson: "Mom, I need your help. I got a sweatie."

Me: "A what? What is a sweatie"

Jackson: "A sweatie. You know...my underwear is up in my bottom. Please get it out!"

Me: "Oh, you mean a 'wedgie'!"

More Pics to Share

We are still hanging in there, but getting more tired by the day! Courtney wanted to get out for ice cream tonight so we headed out to McDonalds for sundaes.

Here is Jackson and Daddy on the skateboard video game in the play area.

Here is the whole family on the couch together!

A very cute picture of Hannah I think!

Jackson went face first into his sundae!

A great shot of Jackson!



Jackson's experimenting with some recipes in the kitchen. This is the latest - cheesey grapes toast!

what we've been up to

We apologize for how long it has been between posts. Life got a whole lot busier and “free time” was spent doing things like taking a shower. Or eating. And maybe resting a little… well, not really. Bare with us. This post seriously took me 3 days to compose.

At her 2 week check-up Hannah weighed 8lbs & 3.5 ounces. Needless to say she's a good eater!

Now for what you really want - photos!

Mimi & Granddaddy Pete came and helped us out for a week. They were such a blessing and especially showered Jack with attention.

Hannah & the adorable onsie aunt Amanda made! (she will have to grow into the matching tutu & headband - she's still too tiny)

me & my Uncle Tyson

listening to daddy tell me I'm a pretty princess

bathtime!

Hannah's favorite way to nap

Safe and Fast

Mike and I told people prior to Hannah's arrival to pray that we would have a "safe and fast" delivery. In His goodness God answered, but we were not prepared for how!

[warning: if labor and delivery stories are not your thing, you might want to skip this post]

I shared HERE that we had some pre-labor contractions on Sunday (5/24). In fact, I contracted off and on for days. It was tiring and extremely frustrating. I'd had very little sleep for 3 days. On Tuesday (5/26) I woke up at 2am with contractions (again). They continued all day with varying time in between them (7 minutes apart, then 20, then 4... very strange). And they were already pretty painful. By late afternoon and evening they increased in intensity and started to become more consistent in the time between them. They were very intense contractions at this point. We jumped into action and called the doctor, grabbed the bags that been packed for weeks, and took Jackson to our friends house to spend the night. While on the phone with my doctor she asked if I'd want an epidural. I assured her that I would and she said she'd let the anesthesiologist know. Reassuring words for me at that point!

Arriving at the hospital around 10pm, I had my mind focused on getting that epidural so that I could finally rest a little and prepare for delivery. They checked me and I was still just 2cm - basically unchanged since my Dr appt the week before. A nurse asked me how long I'd been in labor. Um... for days! I honestly did not know how to answer her. I was told that they didn't know if they could admit me unless I walked the halls for an hour and progressed further. My frustration level reached new heights, my friends! The next hour was very difficult as I slowly made the rounds of the maternity ward, pausing every 2-3 minutes with a contraction. Surprisingly, I did not leave bruises on my husbands arms for squeezing them so hard. He was so great through it all.

I was checked again at 11:30pm -- 5cm! Then, I'm told I was required to have an IV for an hour prior to receiving the epidural. Are you kidding me??! That next hour was excruciating. The contractions I felt FAR surpassed any I had with Jackson - even with back labor. (Funny how I've always thought I had a pretty high pain tolerance.)

At promptly 12:30am, the anesthesiologist arrives, which is good because I'm sure Mike would have hunted him down if he were any later! For the next 15 or so minutes he started the process of giving me the epidural. And, I do my best not to move through 3 different killer contractions. He puts a small test dose in me and asks a series of questions...then I'm told to scoot back and lay back down in the bed. He had not turned on the epidural pump yet. As soon as I tried to move I knew things had changed. My water broke and and I felt the baby coming RIGHT THEN. The next few minutes were insane... the room filled with nurses, the doctor was rushed in, I'm told repeatedly to "just breath through it and NOT PUSH" (a ridiculous request, by the way)... I inform them repeatedly that I have no control over it and that she was coming. The anethesiologist is told not to turn on the epidural because it was too late. During all this Mike sees me at pain level he's never seen before and is so upset by it that he had to go sit in a chair so he doesn't pass out. It can only be described in one word -- CHAOS.

At 12:55am, my daughter is placed on my chest and I stare at her in complete awe. I had been so focused on getting relief from the pain that it was shocking to suddenly have this tiny person looking up at me. She was absolutely beautiful. And so completely worth it all.

She was safe, and although the labor was slow, the delivery was fast.

FAQ about our little peanut

What color is her hair? It's hard to see in the photos, but she has dark blond or ash blond hair. Her eyebrows and lashes are blond. We'll have to wait and see if it stays this way or changes.

Is she a good sleeper? So far - Yes! At night she feeds and goes right back to sleep without any trouble.

Does she look like Jackson when he was a baby? Yes and No. There are subtle similarities. She definitely favors her daddy with the shape his face, olive skin, hair. So far their temperaments as infants has been polar opposites. She is very laid back! Thank you, Jesus!

How has Jackson been with her? Good. He LOVES to hold her and sing her lullabies. He can be a little rough at times (unintentionally). She has not been affected by his loud and boisterous behavior... she sleeps right through him yelling beside the bassinet! I haven't really noticed him acting out in jealousy at this point. He's had lots of extra attention from Mimi and Granddaddy Pete this week.

You delivered her fast! What happened? See my next post...coming soon.

More Hannah

Due to popular demand, here are more pictures with the recurring theme of "Hannah."