Picture Of The Day

Adjustment or Just Being Two?

So...when I reported that Nathan has made the adjustment to being a big brother smoothly, I wasn't entirely truthful. He has done, under the circumstances (me being in the hospital, a little brother to take our attention, company, no power, schedule a little askew) remarkably well. The ONE thing that has happened, though, is that he has become even more attached to me than he was before. He has always been a "mamma's boy"...however, now it is very extreme. He is having extreme separation anxiety. EXTREME!

The places (i.e. Nan and Pap's, school, church, bedtime) that he used to excitedly and willingly go, have now become places of extreme anxiety. He has gotten more used to school and church the last week or so...meaning, he only whimpers when I leave him. However, going to Nan and Pap's house he has huge emotional meltdowns. He is fine if I am there and around (but he has to know where I am at at all times)...but seems to completely lose it when I go to leave, or they come and pick him up. It is heart wrenching for me to hear (what sounds like) his heart breaking and begging to "just stay with Momma". He does this a tiny bit when I leave, and Jonathon is with him, though not as bad. And when I am around, like I said, he has to know where I am at all times...and often follows me everywhere I go.

Now, within 5 minutes of me being out of sight, he normally calms down as if nothing happened...so he can't be that heart broken, can he?

My question to all you "pros" out there is: What is this? Is this being two? Is this having a little brother and adjusting? Is it all of the above? Am I doing emotional and psychological damage to him by leaving him once and a while? Is he just playing me? Am I the worst mother in the world for leaving him when he is begging for me to stay or begging to stay with me? HELP!

Gah...this mothering thing! I am trying SO hard not to screw up my kids! Is it even avoidable?

How Samuel Spends the Day

Wear Yourself Out

Deja Vu

I seem to have completely forgotten what Nathan was like as an infant...it is a good thing I blogged about it! Check it:

http://nathanielcharles.blogspot.com/2006/09/so4-weeks-old.html

The funny thing is, is that in the last week (Samuel's 4th week of life), I said the same exact things about Sammy as apparently I did about Nathan. He is filling out, it makes me sad, he eats every 3 hours (sometimes less, sometimes more, but not often), he is starting to have definite awake times, our "schedule" is panning out to be the same as Nathans, etc...

Very odd to be reading about your first born, yet it all seems to apply to your second born as well. Also, Samuel is really starting to "change looks". When he was born, *I* think he favored me more so than Nathan did, aside from his coloring (Nathan's coloring is all Frentheway), however in the last week his little cheeks have plumped up (SO CUTE!), and is beginning to resemble Nathan. He still has the dark coloring, but both Jonathon and I think his hair is getting lighter. He and Nathan will have the same color eyes (yeah!!! Nathan's eyes are beautiful, and they get that from Jonathon), but I do think Samuel will have my little head.

Anyways...that update is totally random and without pictures...

Spring Time PLEASE Hurry!!!

This is what we do when we are SO tired of being couped up in the house. We dis-assemble our train set and use the train table as a dance floor!

You know, because...I don't have ANYTHING to do except clean up toys...;)

(oh yes...did you notice Cars on the TV. Never fear, Lightning McQueen is back "in", and Thomas the Train has taken a hike...this week, at least.)

Brotherly Love

As I am sure I expressed on many occasions, one of my biggest fears in having another child was how Nathan would react and behave towards the new little one (and to me). Well, now that Samuel has been here a few weeks (already???), I have something to report!

Nathan has done extremely well. My apprehension and fear of the unknown is, so far, proving to be just that...fear of the unknown. Nathan LOVES his little brother, and takes the opportunity to tell everyone that, many times a day. He doesn't seem too bothered by a new addition...though he has grown completely attached to me (which I hear is normal). After all, his world has been completely turned upside down with a new baby, not to mention the Ice Storm that kicked us out of our house for a few days. Along with all that, I have found it a little difficult to be super strict on Nathan's schedule (not that I was the Nazi-scheduler before Samuel arrived, but he did have a definite nap time and bedtime...for the most part. Both of which have gotten later and later since Sam has arrived.). As a result I think Nathan does feel a little displaced and insecure about all the changes. Time is the only remedy as we all try to figure out our new normal.

Brotherly love at its finest...here is Nathan "petting" Samuel, as he does many times a day. VERY gently though.

And of course, the photo you all have been waiting for:

Brotherly Kisses.

Keeping Ourselves Entertained

So...in the recent power outage, we had to find a place to stay...since, well...we had no power and two kiddos. Jonathon thought that our house would have been "okay" to stay at, IF we didn't have the kids. However, I beg to differ, as I am soooooo not a cold weather type person. The house was FREEZING, I could NOT have stayed there...and he wouldn't have wanted to stay there with me. His ears would have started to bleed at the constant sound of my shivering (and complaining). ;)

SO, we kindly packed everything except the kitchen sink and headed to Nan and Pap's house...where we stayed (in complete warmth and luxury I might add!) for a good 5 days. Here is how we spent our days....

We ate. We ate gooood! Nan made many breakfast, lunch and dinners for us...and of course she treated us with chocolate shakes and chocolate pudding. Which, as you can see, Nathan just hated! ;)

Nathan decided to try on Nan's slippers and take a stroll around the house:

Perfect fit!!!

AND...we played...cars:

Lots and LOTS of cars:

We did really have a great time. It was like being on indefinite vacation. Like I said, we lived in the lap of luxury...our own room, bathroom and lots and lots of love. THANKS Nan and Paps for opening up your house to our chaos!

Taking Care of the Weather

We have had TONS of winter weather here in Louisville, and through all the chaos, we did manage to get out and play a little. Here is Nathan playing with cars in the snow, and then helping his Daddy shovel the driveway...

He totally enjoyed shoveling the snow, until the shovel got too heavy and he got cold...a kid after my own heart! ;)

We'll Leave the Lights on for ya...

Yes, we do have power (knock on wood). It was turned back on Sunday afternoon...right before the Super Bowl (conveniently!).

So...we are back in business. Trying to figure out our new normal...:)

And...

We STILL don't have power!
Enough said.