Big Brother

As I was preparing to give birth to Fredrick, I happened across a section in a child development/pediatrician book my sister in law gave me when I had Wesley. It was in the section dedicated to children Wesley's age, the "almost-two-ers," and talked about how to handle a new addition to the family. It gave some really good advice, but also gave this council: a child who is almost two is just figuring out who he/she is and what is going on--don't expect too much out of them. Don't expect them to love the baby, give them time. So when we showed Fredrick to Wesley in the hospital and then eventually brought this new little guy home with us, I wasn't expecting much. I was basically hoping that Wes would tolerate Fredrick until he was old enough to understand more of what was going on. But Wesley has far surpassed my expectations. He loves having Fredrick riding with him in the back seat of the car. He loves to give him kisses. He is so concerned if he ever hears Fredrick cry, and has to find him in the morning when he wakes up. This guy has all the makings of the best big brother ever. Fredrick is a lucky boy.

These are the flowers he brought Mommy and Fredrick in the hospital. Grandma is teaching him to be such a gentleman already!

Getting to know each other in the hospital. Tiny stinky feet! (to Wes, all feet are stinky and he waves his hand in front of his nose.)

Should say, #1 Big Brother!

Excited for Mommy and Fredrick to come home from the hospital! The kid is quite an artist by the way.

A little Grandma movie time while Mommy is away.

Future Best Friends.

Happy One Week Fredrick!

Fredrick has been a very easy baby so far. He eats great, sleeps well (I wake him up to feed at night) and is just as sweet as any baby has a right to be. Maybe even a little bit more :o). We are just loving this new little spirit that has come to our family. I am especially in love with his dimples--I think they are the cutest things ever.

Welcome Little Fredrick Andrew

To be honest, we never thought this day would come. We planned on my going early, like with Wesley. I contracted, and contracted, had some fluid leak, spent lots of time on bed rest, took anti-contraction drugs that bottomed out my blood pressure,sat hooked up to monitors . . . and still no baby. So by the time 39 weeks rolled around with my scheduled c-section, I was ready.

This is my ready face.

I was scheduled for a 12:00 surgery so I got to the hospital at 10:00. 12:00 rolls around, and someone else ruptures and takes my spot in the OR. 2:00 comes and goes, and another woman failed to progress in labor, so she took my new spot.


Here is my patient face.

Wesley was a trooper throughout the delay. He missed his nap, but was happy to read books with "Pa-Pa"


and help Daddy "suit up" when our turn finally came.


I will spare you the photographic evidence of what lies on the other side of the "happy curtain" (Mandi is probably the only one who would find the pictures of my insides interesting instead of disturbing) and proceed directly to the good stuff: the newest man to enter my life.


I am definitely in love.


with all 8 chubby pounds of him. I finally got a baby with rolls!


Randy got another future little-leaguer


and Wes became a big brother.


Welcome *Fredrick!


*We chose the name Fredrick because that is Randy's middle name, his grandfather's name, and my grandpa goes by the nickname "Freddy." Andrew is a name that Randy likes and that I chose because of my cousin Andrea who I love and who introduced me to my husband.

35 Weeks . . . we made it!

Well, we've made it to a pretty safe point in the pregnancy, so we're breathing (tired, sore) sighs of relief. This picture, taken especially for my curious sis-in-law, was taken today after my check-up. I'm effaced and according to my doctor, could go any time. So I could keep having contractions right up until my scheduled c-section September 22, or I could pop tonight. Who knows. Wagers anyone?

Here is a look at how I was with Wesley, same number of weeks, oddly enough same outfit. I think I look about the same . . . but I'll let you judge.



We are excited to meet this new little guy. I'm just glad we haven't met him too soon!

Happy Half-Birthday to Randy!

Yes, Randy finally has a birthday stocking. Maybe one of the reasons that I have rationalized putting off that project for so long is that Randy thinks that birthdays, let alone half-birthdays, are kind of silly. A holiday celebrating the fact that you didn't die is usually the kind of comment I get out of him in relation to his special day. (He knows better than to bring things like this up in regards to my birthdays, smart man.)

But I think I've finally broken him. After getting pampered with special meals and presents an extra day of the year, I think he might be getting the idea why most of us like birthday holidays. In any case, we love him very much, and think that he is a very special dad/husband worth celebrating.



These two have a very special friendship. Full of love . . .



. . . and block building . . .



. . . and giggles . . .



. . . and BASEBALL!



I think he's pretty okay too. My snuggle partner (yes Ben, in the middle of summer we still share a blanket--it's cozy!) . . .



. . . My love. Have a happy day!

Baby Brother has a Blanket . . .

. . . And a theme (elephants) . . .



. . . And blessing booties . . .



. . . but no name yet. Hey, ask Randy if he has looked over the list of names I have oh so carefully compiled for his review on the convenience of his ipod!

What to do when they won't let you do anything . . .

So I started contracting with this baby at around 16 weeks. This, I knew from previous experience, was not a good sign. This was particularly heartbreaking for me since I had been totally under the weather with crazy morning sickness since 5 weeks, and the drugs I had been taking just started helping when the contractions started. In any case, I have been extremely blessed with a lot of help--from my husband, mother-in-law and wonderful Mom who have helped lift a nineteen-month old that I am not supposed to be lifting, and allow me to stay off my feet as much as possible.

Which brought me to a new dilemma . . . how to spend my time. Joe lent me a Nintendo DS game which has helped ease the boredom. Wesley is of course an endless source of joy and entertainment. But still, when you sit on the same couch for weeks at a time, I have needed a variety of projects to keep my hands occupied and my mind from going completely berserk. So I've been playing catch-up from the time I was doing nothing more productive than throw up.

First priority (after a couple of baby presents I had to get done for sisters-in-law with new babies/babies on the way) was an afghan I had promised Randy for his birthday last year. No, not this past January, a year ago January. Ooops, sorry honey. Here is an up-close shot of the cable pattern:


With that done, I realized that Fathers' Day was two weeks away, and that I had promised my dad a pair of slippers *cough* last year. So I whipped them up, dubious as to how they would turn out. It was a pattern that required felting--which basically means you knit a huge version in 100% wool and then wash it in warm water until it shrinks to the appropriate size. Then the finished product is thick and stiff. Kind of a cool concept, but I had no idea if this would turn out to be a hit or a disaster. Randy, upon seeing the slippers pre-shrunk was betting on disaster. Here is a before photo, with one of my dad's regular slippers beside:


My wonderful, kind father was very generous in his praise of the finished product (sorry no picture. I assure you they did shrink to the appropriate size) so Randy had to eat his Andre-the-Giant comments he was making earlier in regards to my project.

Then I had a long weekend where I hadn't made it to the yarn shop (did make it to the hospital for some fun labor check-ups) and I had no projects. So my mom found some extra yarn from her stash and I whipped up some cute soap-sacks (kind of like a loofah that holds a bar of soap).

Next project: a monkey that I'm setting aside for either Wesley's birthday of Christmas. That's right--I'm thinking ahead to those post-baby months when I won't be doing anything but feed and change a little one! Here's the wee primate:




So now I'm on to projects for Baby Brother: an afghan, an elephant, and a blessing outfit.

And for Aunt Mandi who complains if she doesn't see one of these often enough, here is my Wesley . . .

(side note: the blanket he is holding is the product of bed-rest 1.0)