february happenings: week four

Life sure is different now that Noel is here!  We've been getting good use out of the Solly baby wrap. I love this thing and Gus does too!  Look at his fancy one week old head control - he's pretty advanced.

Other times he's been sleepy, sleepy, sleepy.  But only during daylight hours.  Tricky, confused newborns.  

We also suspect that he might be a wizard.  "yer a wizard Gus!"

I got the "new mom special" Amazon delivery this week.  All the coffee and all the paci, please!

Asher offered to read a story to Noel and I took him up on it.  Love that I get to see these brothers grow up together!

Aunt Erin came to visit!  We are so excited that she got to meet Noel when he was still itty bitty and brand new :-)

The big kids went to a birthday party on Saturday (thus Hadley's fancy face) and we were able to get our first picture as a family of 5.

noel's newborn photos

I had planned to hire a photographer to take newborn photos of Noel, like I had with the other kids, but it just didn't work out this time around.  Of course I needed to document his little snuggly time, so I took some myself!  I'm not a pro, but how could this guy take a bad picture?  :-)

Baby stink eye ;-)

As I was finishing up big sister came home from school and stepped right in as assistant photographer.  Thank goodness - ha!  

getting into the groove of things

The next few weeks after Noel came home are a bit of a blur.  Newborn haze is a real thing, friends.  All of those day and night feedings (every 2 hours around the clock - Noel seriously was born with an internal atomic clock) are no joke.  The first weekend after he came home the weather was beautiful and I was feeling some major stir craziness, so we decided to take the kids out to the park.  

Noel got wrapped up in the Solly wrap - which I l-o-v-e!!  Mama is looking rough, but what can you do.  (yikes).

Before Noel was born Asher and I prepared his 100 day project.  I knew I wouldn't feel up to doing a project the day after giving birth so we got ready a little early.  Asher and I worked together to cut up this 5x7 photo of him to make 100 Pieces of Asher! 

Besides that I did a lot of newborn gazing and snuggling.  While the early days are exhausting with day/night confusion, lots of breastfeeding, and a hormonal rollercoaster they are also so special.

Tiny baby trying out his BIG crib for a rest.  That didn't last long - he slept in the MamaRoo in our room at night.  :-)

Drew was able to take some time off from work to be home and I was so grateful.  He helped keep things normal for the bigger kids - like doing Hadley's hair.  ha!  (we fixed it before she left the house)

Adding a new person to the family is such a big deal.  I'm so proud of the way that the older kids transitioned to welcoming Noel.  He's our last little baby and I tried to enjoy every minute of every stage with him!

noel's homecoming

Two days after he was born Noel was released from the hospital.  We headed home on Wednesday morning February 17th.  For the first time in any of my 3 births, the check out process was very efficient and fast!  We were out of there in no time - ha!

Baby bear got dressed for the first time in his coming home outfit.  When I found this in November I knew it had to be what he wore home.

I can't believe how tiny he was.  And how quickly he grew!

Since we were able to leave by 10:30 Drew and I decided to stop at school on the way home to pick up Hadley.  She gets out at 11:00 so the timing was perfect and we knew she'd be thrilled to see the new baby (and me!).  We were 100% right.  Noel and I waited in the car - when Drew brought her out I stepped out of the car to meet her and she jumped right to me.  Maybe not the best for a fresh-from-the-hospital postpartum mom, but I could take it.  ;-)  Hadley got in the van and went right over to his car seat to touch his feet and stroke his arm.  She kept saying "he's so small.  I lub him!"  When we got home she wanted to hold him right away.

And my heart melted into a big puddle.

I mean...

Ahh!

After she held him for a bit, Hadley decided she needed some Mommy snuggle time too.  We really missed each other while I was at the hospital!  Best friends together again. :-)

While Hadley was taking her nap Asher came home and got his special time alone to meet Noel.  He had been telling everyone at school about his baby brother on the way for months, so he was really excited to finally meet this person that we've been anticipating!  

This time was nothing like when Hadley joined our family for him and I'm so grateful.  Poor Asher really struggled with that transition but this time he was SO excited for a baby brother and life went on for him like normal.  

Grandma Linda had been taking care of the older sibs while I was at the hospital, so she was at our home and anxious to meet little Noel too!  We are so grateful to her for stepping into my role for a time - having a baby is no small feat and I absolutely couldn't have done it without her help.

When Hadley woke up we finally got to see all three of them together.  Love them!  I'm praying they always remain close and can care for each other all throughout life.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  

A cord of three strands is not easily broken.  Ecclesiates 4:12