Levi is 2 months old!

Yes, yes... My little man is 2 months old! I love comparing the two pictures above... he's really filling out in his face, and look at where his little feet reach to as compared to the previous picture! :) My sweet sweet boy!

He is such a joy, my days are filled with so many smiles because of my two little children! LOVE, that's how  I would describe it.

Levi is now sleeping between 7 to 8 hours at night, and makes a very happy mommy. He is on about a 3 to 3 1/2 hour schedule during the day. He is a good eater! He also gives mommy tons of smiles and coos during the day. When Madilyn comes into the room, he looks for her and smiles at her. She can get some pretty BIG smiles out of him! She is such a nurturer too.  She just loves on him, and when he fusses, she tries to console him and make him smile. She's such a sweet big sister! She does keep me busy though! As soon as I sit down to feed him she has to go to the bathroom, or needs a snack, or something pertinent. The other day (thank GOD John was home!) JUST as I sat down to feed Levi, she decided she wanted to go back downstairs... and on the 3rd to the bottom step she slipped and fell the rest of the way down. We have wooden stairs, with wood floors at the bottom, and since we moved in it's been my biggest fear that she would fall down the stairs when I wouldn't be there to quickly do something about it. I heard her fall and cry and I screamed for John... luckily he was there and had already responded... poor Levi, he did not understand what was going on, and I scared him pretty good! :( Luckily it was just a large bump on her head and a couple bruises... so glad it was towards the bottom of the stairs, and not the whole way!

I have found with Levi that I am such a softy! I hold him and console him WAY more than I did with Madilyn. I am a bit more relaxed with things also. I think that's what happens with your second child... you are a bit more mellow. He's such a snuggler too... and that bottom lip, man, what's a mommy supposed to do when he sticks it out looking all pitiful??!! ;)

Well, I am making my freezer meals today... hope it will last for the next month! 

God bless!!

6 weeks

Yesterday, 11/30/11, Levi was 6 weeks old! He's really filling out, and becoming such a cute and sweet baby! He's starting to smile and coo at his mommy, which TOTALLY makes my ENTIRE day!!! :) Right now he's sleeping in a bassinet in our room, and so I have a changing pad on our bathroom counter. When I set him on the pad, he turns and looks in the mirror and just smiles and coos at me in the mirror. *melt*!
So, we had his 6 week appt. today at the doctors, and I showed up completely expecting for it to be a quick visit and to come back @ 8 weeks for his shots... nope... he got his shots today! I was completely unprepared! Emotionally and physically (as in, I forgot to bring/give him tylenol before the visit). I cried as he got his shots... poor thing! He has some skin issues, like Madilyn did. I hope it doesn't get bad like hers did! He has horrible cradle cap, a rash on the lower part of his face, and an awful diaper rash that I can't get rid of. I have tried so many different creams, it's insane. The doctor gave me a couple of other ideas to try... so hopefully they work!
Levi was 10 lbs and 6 oz., 22 1/4" long, and his head was 15 1/4 " around. He was all within 65 to 75th percentile. I looked it up, and Madilyn was 10 lbs 8oz at her 8 week appt., so he's a bit ahead of her. :)
He's a bit fussy today, and isn't eating quite normally... and he's definitely more sleepy than usual! we'll have to take it easy for the next 24 hours for the poor little guy.
Well... that's it for now!

new quote:

Don't think I've put this on here yet, but I want to document it:

Me: It sure does!
Madi: Sure is does!

:)

1 Month Old!!

So... Levi was 1 month old on Saturday, November 19th. People say, enjoy each moment because time flies! That is so true! I don't know where the last month went! My days are filled with diapers, spit up, nursing a baby, feeding and chasing after a 2 yr old... and then I fall into bed... oh... and there's a husband in there somewhere! :)
Levi is a wonderful baby, he truly is. I thought Madilyn was easy... no, I think she was a high maintenance baby compared to this little man. Madilyn was hard to nurse... I was crying by about 2 weeks (and before then too) and had to be encouraged daily, sometimes hourly to stick it out just to at least 3 or 4 weeks to give it a chance. (I made it 13 months!!) Levi, from the very first time, has been easy. He latches on no problem, eats like a champ, and pulls of when he's done. HA! SOOO different. Just reinforces the statement that every child is different. He is a good sleeper... I am starting a bit of a schedule with him, that he almost does on his own. He eats about every 3 hours during the day (sometimes less if he's extra hungry ;) ), and then he'll do a 5-6 hour stretch at night (from 9p to 3a) once. The only thing that's hard is that he is SO gassy, no matter what I eat. I could eat chicken and water, and he'd be gassy. I have to give him mylicon or gripe water during each feeding, and it can still take me 10 minutes to get a good burp out of him.
He is so snuggly and sweet... he just nestles in and loves to be swaddled and cuddled. He also seems to really love Madilyn. He turns towards her when she's talking to him, and puts up with a lot of her snuggles and constant kisses. I was worried that there would be jealousy, but it's truly non-existent. It's different to her I guess, it's her brother. She constantly is trying to kiss him, shush him when he's fussing, covering him up if he's "cold"... she's very tender and nurturing.
My house is a disaster, and I don't get a ton done during the week when it's just me here, but that's ok... it will get better. John has been wonderful on the weekend, and he lets me have "me time" and helps me get stuff done. Sadly he gets home around 6:45 or 7 at night during the week, so we don't have too much family time during the week... so we take full advantage on the weekend.
I can tell Madilyn is 2 1/2... I am getting an earful. John and I were talking about her yesterday. Madilyn has 3 modes: whispering, yelling, and sleeping. Seriously! She's just non-stop. It's truly precious... I just have to remind myself of that sometimes. :) I hear a lot of her opinions too: "No, Madi  not want wear that", "Madi wuv that shirt", "Madi not like those pants, Madi want wear pink ones", "No, Madi not listen, Madi need time out...". Seriously (even the last one!). She's learning how to whine every sentence... and how much it annoys mommy, she will never comprehend! She has very strong opinions that she is learning to properly express. We need to remind her several (thousand) times a day that when we love someone we talk to them nicely and lovingly. She's exhausting, but I love every ounce of her.
Well, gotta go put my little girl down for her nap!

A poem to describe...

Here is a little poem I found that accurately describes the lesson I have recently learned... ;)

Changing a baby girl is not all glitz and glory.
Changing a baby boy is an even bigger horror story.
You hold his feet in one hand, and the diaper with the other,
The whole time praying "Please don't pee on your mother".

6 days old!

Well... my sweet baby Levi is 6 days old today. As of tomorrow he will be 1 week old.... I can't believe it's been that long! How on earth did that happen so quickly without me putting anything on here?! Here's what happened last week:
Wednesday morning, October 19th, 2011, John and I woke up at about 4am. I was full of nerves! Having already had a c-section previously, I knew exactly what to expect. For some reason that made me more nervous. Knowing exactly what is to come, gives you knowledge of exactly what to be nervous about. ;) We left our house around 4:45am to have our baby! (Madilyn had spent the night at Papa and Grama's house so we wouldn't have to bring her over so early in the morning, and so they could bring her to the hospital after he was born.) We got to the hospital, parked and walked into the "Birthplace" at Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital. It took a while for us to get settled in waiting for the nurses, etc... but then we got into the pre-op room, I got in my hospital gown with my "cute" red hospital socks, and hooked up to my IV and the monitors. I was precisely 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant with Levi. At around 7:20 they had me walk into the operating room and sit on the table so that I could have my spinal. They then quickly had me lay down and started to prepare. John then was able to come into the room, and sat beside me. Within 20 minutes he was born! Levi Hudson Cain came into our world at 7:40am on 10/19/11... I am getting choked up and teary remembering his first cry, and just feeling so full of joy I could hardly breathe! They let me hold him (with some help) for a couple of minutes, and then John went with the nurses so he could get cleaned up. Madi and my parents were able to be there and see him come through to the nursery and watch his first bath while I was being "stitched up" in the operating room. We got a video and some cute pictures of the first time Madilyn saw him. I am gonna have to upload a couple of videos, because it's really precious. Man... I am getting all teary eyed! :) It's just such a happy time! I was wheeled out of the operating room a little after 8a and brought to recovery. Shortly later Levi was able to join me. John and Levi and I were able to have some time together, and then I was able to nurse him for the first time. He took to it quickly and very well! We got to our hospital room around 10:30 (I think) and we got to see Madilyn and she got to see Levi up close for the first time. She was talking about how he came out of mommy now, and that he was "so cute" and "so little". She's so sweet and gentle with him, it really is quite adorable. Levi does have some jaundice, but has been such a champion eater that he has no need for a billi-light or anything else, we just have to keep him fed and take him outside a bit.
He is the completion of our family, and I feel so full...I thank God for our blessings, and just feel like my "cup is over flowing". He is such a sweet boy, and a great sleeper and eater. He seriously gets cuter by the minute, and I fall more in love with him each and every  moment.
I am healing well from my c-section, and seem to be getting around better than I did after having Madilyn. I am taking it easy, and my wonderful mom and husband have been pampering me and making sure I am getting plenty of rest. My mom has been coming over every morning and helping me take care of Madilyn and stuff around the house. It's been so awesome!
I will have to upload some videos of his birth, and of Madilyn seeing Levi for the first time... until then, here's a couple of pictures:

Our first full family picture

A sleepy smile

Madilyn holding Levi for the first time in the hospital

Preston, Levi's big cousin, holding Levi for the first time, and Madilyn protectively watching over him.

Levi all swaddled up

My sweet boy all "milk drunk" ;)

sweet face... :)

Mommy getting to meet Levi for the first time, and give him a kiss... this picture puts tears in my eyes!

Videos to come shortly... :)

6 days...

Had my VERY LAST OB appointment this morning... seems like a milestone or something! :) 6 days until I get to meet my sweet little boy, and I am sooo excited! I have a lot to prepare, and a lot to clean... but I am getting so excited! I can't wait to hear his sweet cry! Sigh... *tear*

10 days to go!

I cannot believe that there are 10 days until Levi makes his entrance... but then, when I think about how uncomfortable I am on a regular basis... that still seems a bit long... ;)
I am trying to finish up preparing, it's just slow going with my waddling and all! I am getting my freezer meals shopped for, and then thrown into our deep freeze... I have his room ready (FINALLY), and the pack and play/swing/bouncy seat out downstairs... I've got the essentials... now I just gotta wash his clothes and pack them and my stuff for the hospital. Most likely I'll do it the weekend before... that's just how I roll! ;) HA! It only took me till I was what, 36 weeks to get his room done? But hey, at least it was done before he came!
We got new mattresses yesterday! To understand why this is news worthy, I must explain:
John got one of the very first sleep number beds from his parents when he was 15 or 16. Nice right? Well... that's the same mattress we've been sleeping on. It's ok, but not for me. I've been wanting a different mattress since we got married 5 years ago (Our anniversary is coming up on 10/21/11!). So... we FINALLY got one! YAY! I slept so good last night! Our old mattress, which actually is still in great shape, was moved to our downstairs office, so it can now also be a guest room. I had no idea the office was that big, but seriously, it fits with room around it an everything! So... family, we are ready for you to visit for the holidays!!!
Madilyn has been extra clingy lately. I've talked to a couple of my friends who have recently had a second child and they said a few weeks before the 2nd one comes a long, they see the preparations, and know a change is coming... they don't quite know how to handle it. Madilyn has been very attached to mommy and Grama. I have really been eating it up as much as I can, and probably going out of my way to "assist" this needy-ness of mommy... but it's ok. Soon, she won't be able to be held for about 6 weeks, and I'll have a baby attached to me, and this snuggling late into the night will have totally been worth it!
Keep us in your prayers as we enter this home stretch! Pray that I'll have energy to get this house together, and the meals together, and myself together! :)  I am so excited to meet my little boy, and so nervous still about having a boy at the same time! I love that I'll see balance. I'll get to experience the daintiness of a girl, and the rough and tumble world of a boy. My life feels... full... amazing and blessed! God is really so good. Thank goodness he doesn't give us what we deserve, but blesses us instead! I feel abundantly blessed today!!!
Can't wait to post pictures of my sweet man, 10 days and counting!!! :)

Our home... finally posting pics... lol...

Ok, for those of my friends who have visited our place in the 5 MONTHS we have now lived here...(which I cannot believe!) you can ignore this post. I have promised our out of state family pictures of the house for 5 months now, and finally went around and took pictures. Due to the fact that I just decided I am going to do it, and not wait for my house to be perfect, and I am just gonna take pictures and you'll see it as it is. :)
SO, I finally am posting pictures of our gift from God, our little inheritance from John's granddad... something we never could have gotten on our own. This house is from God. We feel very blessed and constantly thankful. It's still surreal to be honest! God is good, soooo good! :)

 directly in the front door to the right, our living room

 living room

 from dining room looking to the front of the house, the living room

 from living room looking into dining room, and back porch is out the back door

 dining room (and Madilyn's toys)

 looking into kitchen from dining room

 kitchen

 down hallway from kitchen to the front door (bathroom is on the right just past the garbage can)

 by kitchen table looking into the laundry room

 looking from corner back towards the hallway in kitchen

 from living room looking into messy office ;)

 yup, messy office

 from office towards front door

 from office, up main stairs

 from front door

 from back porch looking to our garage

 in our garage, still a mess from the recent garage sale we had

 John's soon to be work out area in 1/2 of the garage

 looking up the stairs to the room above the garage

 looking back towards the stairs, we hope to put a bathroom where that "alcove" is in the back of the pic

 from top of stairs looking into the room

 from corner looking back @ the stairs

 looking from corner to where I want to put a bathroom

 downstairs full bathroom just off the kitchen

 Levi's room... still a work in progress obviously

 Levi's closet

 from the corner of his room looking out to the stairs

 from top of stairs (in front of our room) looking to Madilyn's room (left) and Levi's room (closed door)

 Madilyn's little messy room ;)

 from the corner of her room looking out

 looking into Madilyn's bathroom

 again, her bathroom

 our room, ignore the 30+ pillows that prevent the bed from being made properly... I need them ;)

 different angle

 that's the closet in the corner

 our bathroom... slightly messy

another angle...

And that's that! Now, I don't have to think about getting pictures up anymore... pretty good getting our place MOSTLY together... hopefully we'll get it completely together in the next couple months. We'll see!!

Cute videos

Here's a couple of fun videos, hopefully they come out ok since they are from my phone, but they just show a bit of Madilyn's cute blossoming personality!

Madilyn loves this specific song on the CD, but this video makes me laugh because she looks down @ her shirt and notices a "boogie" and starts saying "eeew"... lol, makes me laugh every time! :)

Here's what I hear every morning, and after every nap over the monitor when Madilyn wakes up... I love it, and it always makes me smile! :)

Sweet little Poem

Daily I look at my sweet little girl, and am astounded how quickly time flies. When did she lose her little baby look, and become a little girl? When did she start talking to much, and become so independent? With a second baby coming, I want to slow time down and just enjoy every second. I forget to spend precious second with her as I have so much to do in preparation of Levi coming, or guests coming, or just keeping up our house... and I saw this poem on my friend's status on her facebook page... and I took it as a little reminder that... every once in a while I need to just sit down and enjoy the precious gift of a child that God has given me. I still need to keep up my home, and get things done, but remember to enjoy my sweet baby before she moves out and goes to college! :) Here's the poem:

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep

28 wks: Officially the 3rd trimester!!

Ok... to blog more about pregnancy....

I am in the 3rd trimester! Woohoo!

How on earth did this happen so quickly? I even officially am going from 1 visit every 4 weeks, to 1 visit every 2 weeks. I am hoping it will help this pregnancy go by even quicker. I have been having a LOT of pelvic and hip pain. I know it's normal, but it doesn't make it any less uncomfortable.

I also have been having Braxton Hicks daily! I never had them with Madilyn, and I get about 5-10 per day now... quite interesting how different pregnancies can be!

Stats @ my 28 week appt:

weight - good! I am right on track, doing good! :)

measurements - he is right where he needs to be, squirming around and making mommy uncomfortable!

Heart-rate - I was talking... so I didn't hear the rate, but it was perfect! :)

Blood pressure - doing good! And no swelling yet for this mommy!

So, overall, doing good!

I do need a LOT more sleep, I feel like I could use like a 3 hour nap every day... and that's just not gonna happen... but it's all good! I take advantage when I can and get a little nap in when possible.

Ok... and really truly, I will post pictures of the house. I just keep forgetting... :) I will... soon! lol!

It's small print, so I'll translate:

""A mark for every breath you took, every blink, every sleepy yawn. One for every time you sucked your thumb, waved hello, closed your eyes and slept in the most perfect darkness. One for ever time you had the hiccups. One for every dream you dreamed within me.

It isn't very pretty anymore. Some may even think it's ugly. That's OK. It was your home. It's where I first grew to love you, where I lay my hand as I dreamed about who you were and who you would be. It held you until my arms could, and for that I will always find something beautiful in it."

Makes me cry happy tears. No... this is not my stomach, but the saying is correct... it's beautiful! I worry about stretch marks as I rub my already marked belly, from my first pregnancy, with cream. When I see a picture like this and read a poem of such love... it makes me remember, every line is worth it! Each line has a purpose... it is all from love. I love this sweet baby Levi growing inside of me more than I ever could have imagined... and he's not even here! I will be grateful for each mark, because those marks mean I was blessed with the ability to carry a child... to feel him growing and moving inside of me. Thank you GOD! God is amazing, I am so glad he chose women to be able to carry these babies inside of us, and for us to personally feel the miracle. I feel blessed today! :)

Alright, this pregnant and happily tearful woman is signing off!

God bless! :)