Home With You

I guess I should maybe start a few days back...Samuel had his first bath by mom who was assisted by Big Sisters G and Elizabeth.  {Fascinated little helpers they were too!  Iz was a little disappointed that Samuel didn't splash more...}  Since I don't trust either of the mentioned parties anywhere near my camera, the pictures present are those from a later bath, taken by dad, who I trust a little more.  ;)
Here he is mad but getting clean.

Then we tried out his first cloth diaper.  We still have some disposables but I figured I'd better get into practice for those late night changes!  We didn't start cloth with Iz until she was about 4 months old, so diapering a newborn has been a little trickier.  {They're smaller with skinny little chicken legs and very squirmy.}  We must be doing something right though because we haven't had any leaks!  So four cloth diapers {the prefold kind} into the day I'd say we're doing pretty good!  UPDATE:  Day number two of playing with our cloth and I broke out our bumGenius stash {these are the ones I'll use at night because I'm faster with them}.  They're suppose to fit 8 lbs and up but I was skeptical about how they'd fit.  Again though we are five or six diapers into the day and haven't had any leaks.  {Seriously, we have more leaks with disposables in this house than I ever have with our cloth!}

The next is a first for Samuel and me.  Iz was about 7 or 8 months old when I bought a Moby Wrap from a friend {but she was big enough by then I never really used it with her}.  We have something coming up and I wanted to get a little practice in before the event.  So today, I pulled up a how-to video and with four kids watching, tried it out.  It wasn't bad.  It certainly feels secure enough and Samuel didn't seem to mind it.  My only question is how can I possibly nurse without taking the entire wrap off???

New for Samuel but certainly not for J.  J has always been in charge of the Tummy Time in our house and picked it up again like yesterday was Iz's last time.  So far Samuel doesn't seem to mind it.

On a more sad note for this mama, is the idea that all of Samuel's firsts are probably our lasts.  A 6th pregnancy is not life threatening to me and another baby at this point - but the surgeries are taking a toll on my body.  Jason and I were already pretty sure we were ready to slow down or stop completely but after hearing Dr. F's report on my insides we are more certain than ever.  I know it's the wise choice but it still makes me sad to leave this chapter of our lives behind.  Cheers to the future and whatever it may bring us {hopefully a trip to Disney for our kids and their mom and dad's return trip to Scotland!!!}.

I am so far behind on blogging.  You'd think as much time as I spend on the computer {due to what feels like constant nursing sessions for a growing baby boy} I'd get more of it done, wouldn't you?  Ha!  Miss G is holding Samuel at the moment so let me see how much of this I can pound out!

Here is Boppa getting in some last snuggles with Samuel. 

Eli had another wrestling tournament on Saturday February 9th.  He was just coming off a week of being sick and I'm sure he wasn't at 100% but he came out with a fighting spirit.  He won one and lost two but he was never pinned and never gave up.  He also had a crowd cheering for him.  Nana, AJ, Sydney, Aunt Shelly, Boppa and Grannie all came to watch him.  Here's AJ snuggling on Samuel.

Izzy loving on her baby brother.  Two and a half weeks in and he is still the first thing she asks for when she wakes up in the morning.

Jason found this amusing the other night.  I was nursing Samuel {left} while Izzy nursed her "Samuel" {right}.  All of her dolls are named "Samuel" now.

Sweet Samuel sleeping.  Everyone asks how he's sleeping.  Good and "bad".  His best sleep times are usually 15:00-19:00 and 03:00-06:00.  By "best" I mean I can lay him down in his pack n' play and crash until he wakes up.  The rest of the time I lay him down and it's a race to get something done or sleep before he stirs - which never feels long.

Eli doesn't ask to hold Samuel as often as the girls but I try to make sure he gets to when he asks.  Last night he was holding him while I was picking up the house and while I was putting something away in our bedroom I heard him talking to his baby brother.  Not the random things the girls say about how cute he is, but really talking.  I only caught part of it so I when I came back in I asked him what he'd been telling Samuel.  "I was just telling him what sports we could play together when he gets big enough," was Eli's response.  I could not be happier that Eli finally has a brother.

Samuel doesn't get quite the free floor time the other kids ever got.  His time has to be squeezed in during naps or rest times - and that's if he's awake to enjoy it at all.  :)  Here's our bright-eyed 2 week old boy!

Izzy spending a little time with Samuel on the floor.  I'm pretty sure Iz has a picture in her scrapbook just like this but with G laying next to her.

Samuel is all "official" now!  He finally made The Wall.  Jason also got his Mother Teresa print hung up in the boys' room too.  May all the angels and saints be watching over our little ones!

While I was in the hospital with Samuel, Claudine made flowers for the both of us.  It was a very sweet gesture from her and I wanted to make sure she knew how much it meant to me.  I hung my flowers up with their other artwork and I hung the flowers she made for Samuel {his were smaller than mine} from his pack n' play's mobile.  She definitely noticed because she went back and hung them differently later, but I think she was pleased. 

Izzy's nursing expertise is growing.  Today she went and retrieved my nursing cover out of the diaper bag and began to "nurse" her baby.  Her baby must have been fussing a little because she started jigging and "shh-ing" the baby shortly after.

I love how big this girl is getting having a new baby to care for.  She's been acting quite grown up.

48 Hours Fresh - Andrea Rodger Photography

Andrea has taken pictures for us before and I always love them so when she asked if we would be willing to let her try something new I was more than happy to say yes.  :)  Here are some pictures from Samuel's "Fresh 48" session {think less than 48 hours old} done at the hospital. 

I saved my favorite picture {and Andrea's too} for last.  Andrea was super and oh. so. patient.  Samuel had just been circumcised less than 30 minutes before she arrived.  So when she got there, she found her subject already less than pleased and not in the most cooperative mood. 

Here's to remembering and appreciating every moment!

Home! Photos with Aunt Renee

We were dismissed on Thursday morning.  I'd already sent most of our stuff {including the camera} on home with Jason the night before so I don't have pictures of leaving but here is Samuel just minutes after getting home and starting to settle in.

Samuel all ready to go on his first outing since coming home from the hospital.  We went out to eat with Grandma Stein, Uncle Rocky, Aunt Renee, Brynn, Daegan and Cambrie.  Samuel slept through the whole thing.  His second outing was to church on Sunday morning and he slept through most of that as well

Once we got home Aunt Renee loved up on him lots and even took some pictures of him.  I've seen a few and I can't wait to see more!

Yes, he does have eyes!  The kids were a little concerned about this in the beginning because he'd never open them while they were at the hospital - or he'd just open one.

 G and Iz are still very proud big sisters.

A little bit of bedhead going on here but if you had any doubts from the first picture about just how happy Izzy is to be a big sister this should put them to rest.  The first thing Iz asks in the morning is, "I hold him!?" and she will repeat it like a broke record until you give Samuel over.

These are of Samuel at 1 week old.

I would say one week has flown by...and in a way it has.  In another it's been week of watching the hours pass while begging Samuel to sleep a little less during the day and a little more at night.  The first couple nights at home were the roughest.  Samuel would wake up to nurse but then wake up within 5-10 minutes of being laid down.  Thankfully, the last couple of nights he's gotten in at least one good four hour stretch that has actually allowed me to sleep in my own bed and that has been a mental lifesaver! 

Samuel had a 1 week check up yesterday and weighed in at 8 lbs. 6 oz.  He's still 5 oz. below his birth weight but he is gaining and that's the good news.

In honor of his one week birthday here's a few pictures of our little prince.  This is a picture of him with the koala I got him at the beginning of our pregnancy.  I'm planning to take a picture with him and the bear each month to show him growing...

My mom bought this framed print secretly after I said how much I liked it and gave it to me the day before Samuel was born.  I just love it!

Here is our precious little guy.

Samuel had a visit from Aunt Renee {and family} on the Friday after he came home.  In between cuddles Aunt Renee played with her camera - and this mama is always happy for more pictures of my favorite people!  Here's a few more pictures of our sweet new arrival.

I was very happy to get some pictures of Eli with his baby brother!

Eli is a very proud big brother.  I think he may have been a little sad Samuel didn't come out throwing a baseball but with a big brother like Eli I know he'll be pitching a ball in no time!
Sweetness.

 

Ah, baby feet.  I love baby feet!

 

I love how God can take two people and make something so precious.  We have been so blessed!

Welcome Samuel Leroy!

On Tuesday the 28th we welcomed our newest family member, Samuel Leroy.  Things could not have gone better.  We went in at 06:00 and into surgery just before 08:00.  Surgery went smoothly.  The only surprise was that our "little" Samuel was breech, which was a first for us {but not a big deal with C-sections}.  "Little" Samuel weighed in at 8lbs 11oz, making him our biggest baby to date, and was 21 inches long.  We were out of recovery in no time and into our room.  Here's the first picture of five!

 

Eli is very happy to have a brother to go with all those sisters!  He and Sis actually spent the day at school but had special emails sent to their teachers so they could see Samuel and find out "it's a boy".  Both of them got to share the news with their class and their teachers said they were both very proud.  Jason picked them up from school and brought them straight up so they could meet their new sibling.

Claudine is also a very proud sister and since bringing Samuel home we have to police her a little bit.  She had done a good job of holding him, talking to him, etc. but she also thinks she's big enough to carry him around {waiting until the adult leaves the room to do it} and I'd rather take that step a little slower.

We were extra lucky to have Nana come up the morning of the 28th.  She volunteered to stay with Miss G and Iz so Boppa, Grannie and Grandma Stein could be up at the hospital.  She made the girls' day by doing their hair and nails.  {Thank you, Nana!!!!  We love you!}  Miss G looks super proud here but of all of the kids she probably cares the least one way or the other.  :)  She holds him for a moment, usually begging someone to take her picture and promptly thereafter is "done".

A lot of people see this photo of Iz holding her brother for the first time and think she looks anything but the very excited little girl she actually was.  Just before this was taken she had the biggest "o" on her face as Jason handed Samuel to her.  She is such a proud big sister!  Even now that we're home she asks to hold him first thing after waking up in the morning and she does a pretty good job of it.

Samuel was not very excited to come out.  He cried from the moment the cold air hit him almost up to being able to nurse.  Food has definitely been a BIG priority for him from the get go!

Snoozing away while mom reads her "education" material - and yes, there are some things I read that I thought "cool, I forgot that" but most of it was old news.

Jason took his normal "day of" off and came up each evening after the kids were in bed to hold his new baby boy.

Samuel is the first of our kids to experience the Newborn Rash.  It goes away on it's own but for a few days he had a very blotchy complexion. 

We were dismissed on Thursday morning.  I'd already sent most of our stuff {including the camera} on home with Jason the night before so I don't have pictures of leaving but here is Samuel just minutes after getting home and starting to settle in.

There are {imagine} more pictures on my camera since coming home but I haven't gotten around to getting them uploaded to the computer.  I promise I will as soon as I am able.  I've just been using my spare moments cat napping or snuggling a precious baby boy!