Time is Flying!

Time is really moving these days! There is lots I want to post and say, but it seems like there aren't quite enough hours in the days. I feel like I am finally getting into the swing of things with two little ones under two. Craig has been traveling quite a bit lately and it is getting easier taking care of both kiddos for 24 hours solo. The first five nights were tricky getting them both bathed and in bed, but tonight went very smoothly - yeah!! Craig gets back from Orlando Tuesday evening, so I hope I haven't jinxed tomorrow night!

My MOPS table has been so nice to provide us with meals for week three and four. What a blessing! My parents came back for a quick visit last week and let Hayes open her birthday gift a little early so she could start enjoying it. We'll just say it's a hit, it is tricky trying to get her out of my car and into the house without jumping on her new tricycle. We now have a cute pink helmet to wear for safety, only it stays with Hayes 24/7. The only exception is in mommy's car and while we are bathing or eating. Seriously - the girl even cuddles with it at night. Our sweet angel and her fascination for hats.

It is hard to believe that Hatcher will be six weeks old tomorrow. Wow! He is such a strong little guy with a terrific grip. He can hold his head up now when you are holding him. If he holds it up for long periods he still will wobble a little. He is still an amazing eater and finally has some meat on his bones! At his one month check-up he weighed in at 9 pounds 4 ounces, not bad since he was born 6 pounds 14 ounces. According to Doctor Benbow he is right in the 50% range. For now he is much like Hayes in that he takes a pacifier but doesn't always want it. We are hoping this continues so he will be easily weaned like sister. He is getting into a routine, by his choice. I am noticing that he likes to eat around the same time each day. Even if we have a later feeding his little clock goes off at certain times each day. I am also learning his nap times, again - by his choice. I am trying to adjust Hayes schedule a little bit to accommodate a hungry newborn. SO far so good!

This week we are having company, Great Aunt Linda and Great Uncle Leslie will arrive Tuesday. We are excited for their first visit! Have a wonderful week!

So proud, thanks Pa Pa and Gigi!

A grin from ear to ear.

A dance move or an airplane...you decide!

Gigi and Pa Pa now have four grand kids:
4 year old girl
2 (almost) year old girl
1 (almost) year old girl
new baby boy

H and H

What a good big sister! Hatcher was only a few days old in this picture.

Finally, Hatcher's first real bath!

He thought it was alright!

Our sweet baby boy.

Ready to go in the morning time!

Kisses for Bubba.

Nose

Daddy giving Hatcher his first bottle.

Busy Times!

The past two weeks we have had MOPS meetings. Hayes still loves going to the nursery for a few hours. At our first meeting Hatcher was awake for half of it and some of the girls at my table and my sweet mentor mom loved having some Hatcher cuddle time...and you know me, I took the hand sanitizer! I don't play favorites, everyone needs clean hands with a newborn! During our meeting this week Hatcher decided he needed to snooze and only woke up for two diaper changes and a nursing session.

The kids and I met Nicki, Noah and Luke at Sea World on Friday and Hayes had such an awesome time we had to share a new favorite spot with daddy. Yesterday we made a quick trip to Sea World before Cindy and Darell arrived so daddy could watch his little girl in action at the splash area.

Friday Mommy forgot to pack a swimsuit, but luckily I did take extra clothes!

Can I just add that there were about ten other children playing in the water. Hayes was obviously soaked from head to toe, the other children were wet from their knees down. The water was chilly but our little girl is FEARLESS!!

Nice and dry and back in our dress to pose with Shamu, Luke and Noah.

Daddy and Hayes found the sand pit, notice the swimsuit. Saturday I remembered the swimsuit but forgot a towel. Silly mommy!

Our girl on the move. Both days Hatcher slept through his Sea World visit. Yesterday he did wake up long enough for a diaper change and nursing session. He is a sweetheart!

Family Visits

Craig and I have discovered many joys of parenthood, one of the perks is we have more family visits! Mingie and Pop arrived last Friday and Greg and Sissy made it in last Saturday. They were able to visit until Sunday before they all had to head back to West Texas. We had a great time! Hayes loved all the company, she has become quite a ham and loves to show off when company visits. Hatcher is still spending most of his daytime hours sleeping and is up for a few hours in the early evening before slumbering for the night...but he did get to meet Greg and Sissy and visit with Pop and Mingie again.

Pop and Mingie's youngest grandson.

Don't you just love Hayes "cheese" face? What a ham!! Our daughter and son posing with Greg and Sissy.

Yesterday Cindy and Darell were able to come down for a quick visit. Hayes had just gotten up from her nap and was full of energy. She kept her aunt and uncle entertained until Hatcher woke up...she went non-stop! Hatcher has met all of his aunts and uncles on daddy's side of the family...he still needs to meet all his cousins and aunt Ginger and uncle Jon. Thank you all for visiting, we love you all!!

Visiting with aunt Cindy.

A quick picture with aunt Cindy and uncle Darell.

Welcome Baby Brother!!

Welcome to our new blog. Yes, it has been awhile since I have had a chance to update and I am foregoing sleep to do so. The updates might not be so frequent for the next few weeks but my priorities are: take care of both babies, take care of me (sleep and shower), take care of my homemaking responsibilities and then to blog. So please understand and please be patient. :)

We thought we were so busy before, but life has shifted into overdrive the last few weeks. It seems my water had broken by Saturday morning, April 3rd but we didn't realize that until Monday morning, April 5th. My parents arrived Saturday evening and on Easter Sunday after church Craig made a yummy barbecue dinner, at my request. We should have known I was in labor because I only managed to eat two bites of dinner and two bites of the peach cobbler I had made for dessert. Early Monday morning we went to the hospital and were definitely in labor. Hatcher Landon was born at 1:51 pm after a very smooth delivery.

We were very blessed to have my parents here so that Hayes didn't miss a beat while we went to the hospital and then double blessed to have Henry and Lou Ann arrive Monday afternoon. Hayes thought the party was just for her and we wouldn't have it any other way! We truly believe this helped her transition to being a big sister and worked out perfectly!

My mom stayed to help me out and it was great having her watch Hayes as I navigated a new born who eats as soon as he is hungry!! When the boy wants to eat, the boy wants to eat! It also helped having mom watch Hayes so Craig and I could take Hatcher to his first two doctor appointments. We are proud to say that by day ten Hatcher already weighed in at 7 pounds 4 ounces, up from 6 pounds 14 ounces at birth. He eats very well and we are hoping we can nurse him for at least as long as Hayes which ended at 14 months when we discovered baby brother was on the way!

We do have to thank my mom for respecting our wishes on not holding Hatcher while he sleeps. We made that mistake with Hayes and it was well over two months before she would nap without being held and Craig and I know that is impossible with Hatcher because how can I (being a stay at home mom) take care of Hayes if I am always holding Hatcher. We all love to hold new babies, but we are thankful we didn't have to awkwardly ask my mom not to hold Hatch while sleeping. We are confident that by her next visit Hatch will be awake more often so there will be more opportunities to cuddle with him! So, if you are planning a visit we hope you will respect our wishes and let our newest baby learn to sleep on his own.

My dad came back this past week to visit for a few days and take my mom back north. Thanks for the help, we love you both!!

Hayes is doing great as a big sister. She is very gentle with Hatcher and in the morning always asks where bubba is and loves to say his name "Hatchew". Too cute. So far Hayes does not seem to be jealous and understands that Hatcher has to eat quite often with mommy.

Hatcher is doing well and is a sweet baby, but it seems we had forgotten how impatient newborns are when it comes time to eat! Also, he hates to be wet and the first ten days or so we couldn't keep him from leaking out of his diaper...which he hates with a passion!!!

Our handsome little man.

Our sweet baby girl.

Daddy's little girl.

Daddy's little man.

Saturday, April 3 at our neighborhood Easter Egg hunt. Who knew I was already in labor...I helped hide hundreds of eggs for this hunt!!

Our picture with the Easter Bunny, her hat got knocked down. The girl loves her hats!

On the hunt!!

Our last "pre-Bubba" picture. We got to the hospital at 5:30 am and this was taken around 6:30 am once we got into our labor and delivery room. Let the magic begin!

Hayes and Hatcher meeting for the first time Monday night. Great friends in the making!

Leaving our suite at the hospital with our new addition Wednesday afternoon.

Our first time to have both kiddos in the car, can't remember where we were heading. I think Gigi and I took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese. Hayes fell in love with Cheese, as she calls it.

Our handsome little man likes to eat and sleep.

Celebrating life with a yummy ice cream cone.

"Do you like my pig tails? I love pig tails and pony tails!"