Finally Feeling Fall!

Mind you, we don't really have seasons here, but we've finally gotten a break from the 2 full months of intense heat and strange humidity!! June and July were perfect and then August and September brought the beast during my last two months of pregnancy, without central air in our apartment! Though it will be back in the 80's next week, we are enjoying the cooler temps this week (including some rain!) and anything and everything that represents fall! 

Kyle and I have done some fall baking. He's a good little helper.

We hit up our first pumpkin patch.

And the boys found their Halloween shirts! And Gavin got a pumpkin hat!

This is the face that gets kissed at least a thousand times a day! ;)

Brothers

Kyle has wanted his brother for a very long time. I'm sure it has seemed like "forever" to him. Kyle has quite a few friends with a baby brother, so he was very excited to soon have his.We tried to prep him well with what to expect and what he could look forward to doing with his brother. We read books, we poured over  the pictures in Kyle's baby book and we talked a great deal about what it would be like when his brother came. During the last few weeks, every time it was mentioned, he'd ask me when his brother was coming. I'd answer, "Soon." Kyle's response to that was, "You always say that, mom!" :) Yes, it felt like we waited a very long time!

While I labored through the night, I kept looking at the clock thinking about how much longer until Kyle would wake up and hear the good news that his brother had finally come!! That, honestly, was a huge highlight for both Rudy and I. It motivated me during labor and was a real source of joy and excitement for both of us to anticipate when Kyle would get to meet Gavin for the first time. :)

When Kyle woke up the morning of the 12th, his Auntie Michelle was at our place and got to tell him the good news! He gleefully shouted, "YES!!" and immediately wanted to get in the car to come see us. My sister's description of their conversations are priceless. I must get her to write them down. He was adorable and very, very eager to come to the hospital meet his brother. 

One of the mornings before heading back to the hospital, Kyle helped Grammie make this welcome home sign. 

Kyle could hardly contain his excitement when we told him we could finally take his brother home! Loading all of us up into the car was surreal. We got home around Kyle's "quiet time" and he begged us to let his brother sleep in his room as opposed to the bassinet that's in ours. It was adorable and one of those moments where you just have to pinch yourself! :)

Early the next morning, Kyle ran to brother's bassinet just to make sure he was still there...

So far, no complaints from Kyle about how much his brother sleeps. He just loves to check in on Gavin, giving him kisses and lots of love. He tells me often that he wants his brother next to him so he can see him. :)

We still can't believe there are 2 boys in our house! 

Gavin

Today, at Gavin's pediatrician's appointment, we got the report that our son is doing well! He has gained weight like a champ and is labeled a "Healthy Infant." I don't think we've ever seen that before!!  He weighs 8lbs 9 oz and is 21 inches tall. We are all impressed with his growth in just under 3 weeks! He's in the 45th percentile for weight and the 50th percentile for height! Yay Gav!!

Gavin and Dr. C! 

While there, Kyle found his picture on the wall!! :) Gosh, how time flies!

More Gavin pictures: 

Mr. Face is a hit, again!!

Kyle's 1st Skateboard

Ru has always said that he wouldn't push skating or surfing on his boys but when they showed an interest, he'd be excited to teach them. Well, the day has come for skating! Kyle and Rudy were at a skate shop earlier today just poking around and Kyle claimed his yellow "penny" skateboard. Ru said Kyle was just too adorable and determined to say no, so he purchased this really good learner board. Once home, the boys immediately got their shoes and helmets on. Kyle couldn't wait to ride with Papa. When it was time for lunch, both boys came upstairs with sweaty heads and big smiles! Kyle won't let his board out of his sight and insists that he wants to sleep with it. :) 

He loves to kick his board up and catch it, then tuck it under his arm and walk around like Papa.

Riding with his "monster stance."

We had so much fun watching him. It seems like with the birth of his brother, he all of a sudden became a super big boy, doing big boy things! He's doing really well so far, and is anxious to get back outside after lunch and quiet time. :)

Momma's Birthday

Earlier this week I celebrated another birthday. It was the least eventful, yet most meaningful birthday ever!  :) I couldn't be happier to have Gavin's birthday so close to mine. He is my present and will be my present (as is Kyle) every year from now! ;) The chance to be a mother and the chance to build our family are huge gifts that I will always be reminded of and celebrate. 

A year ago: 

I wished a very specific wish.

One year later: 

My wish was granted!!

On a more serious, spiritual note, on September 14, 2011, I had a septum removed from my uterus. Ru and I left our hospital with so much gratitude and hope. The following day, we went to Jonathan's grave to "tell him" the good news, that we got the thing that took him. At his grave, we were surprised to find that his name marker had been placed on the 14th, over a month and a half earlier than anticipated. God knew my heart and cares about even the little things that mean so much to us. I know somehow He got that marker there, knowing how much it meant to me to have my baby "marked" instead of being under plain old grass. The timing of the early surgery date and Jonathan's marker placement was special. Standing there, I felt so encouraged and prayed a very specific prayer. 

Months later, Ru and I tried for another Shmu. Just by our ovulation date, my friend calculated the possible due date... September 17th, and called me right away saying that the timing was too perfect, I just had to be pregnant. Somehow knowing that my specific prayer really had the potential of being answered gave us hope from that day forward. Since the 14th of September was such a significant date for us, I thought Gavin would come on that day. Turns out, he came 2 days prior and we were discharged on the 14th, just as we were discharged from the same place a year prior. God had indeed answer my prayer! :) 

This year (like the year prior) I was recovering physically and couldn't do too much. Coffee with my family  at Kean's sounded fun and low-key. 

I love a good mug of coffee... especially when it looks like this:

Or this:

And we love that whenever Mimi comes, she brings a bag of table toys to entertain Kyle. Here he's pretending to be the wolf while playing with the "Three Little Pigs" house.

Thanks to all those who sent some love in the mail. Thanks to my family for helping me celebrate. And thanks to my Lord for hearing me and answering!

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40:1-3

Gavin's Birth Story

Still amazed that after all the waiting, hoping, and praying, we are holding a beautiful baby boy in our arms. Here's Gavin's birth story (for those who want to take the time to read!):

At my doctor's appointment a week prior to the birth (38 weeks along), we got the report that the baby would be coming soon. My doctor said I was almost 2cm dilated and that my cervix was completely soft and 75% effaced (thinned). He thought I'd deliver soon and said he didn't expect to see me at my appointment the following week. He was right. Just one day before my next appointment, we had Gavin. During that whole week leading up to the birth, I had been having period-like cramps all day, every day. It was quite annoying but I had hoped they were doing something to help me dilate. They were! That, and 5 hours of false labor the night of the 10th, combined to really help.

On the evening of September 11th, I noticed that those contractions I'd been having on and off for the better part of a week were getting a bit more frequent. Dinner didn't taste that great and I was quick to lay down for the evening. I noticed some other signs, too. At about 10:30pm I decided to start timing the contractions. The first two were 20 minutes apart and then the next one was 10 minutes, and from there they continued at about 5 minutes apart. After a half an hour of pretty painful and long (2 minute) contractions, I called my sister to come down for the night. By the time she got to our place (30 or so minutes later) I was ready to go to the hospital. When we arrived, I thought I wanted to walk the long hallway to Labor and Delivery. I kept insisting to Rudy that I could and wanted to do that. However, as soon as I felt my next contraction, I was doubled over and begging for that wheelchair! The security guard couldn't stifle his laugh!

We entered Labor and Delivery and frankly, weren't taken that seriously. The contractions were long and painful but I had a good 5 minutes of a break in between. During the breaks I was talking, able to smile, and probably looked pretty normal. The triage doctor came in and took one look at my contractions on the monitor and said that since active labor contractions are about 2-3 minutes apart, I'd probably need to walk around the hospital before being admitted. She said she'd check me just to see, stating that maybe my second labor was just progressing differently. I knew it was, the only question was how much. I could tell she was shocked to find I was 6.5 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Yes!!!! I remember thinking, "Okay, that is good. I can do this!"

From there, I spent quite a few minutes trying to walk the 5 or so steps in to the labor room. An hour later, I was checked and found to be at 8.5 cm. A half hour after that, I was at 9.5cm and still having amazing 5 or so minute breaks! (I went hours without so much as 30 seconds of a break in Kyle's labor, so this was a nice surprise!) However, just when I was marveling how this labor wasn't so bad and it was manageable, I stalled at 9.5cm. I stalled there for a total of 2 hours!!!! What?? Transition is NOT the place you want to stall. For progressing so quickly, I couldn't figure out what to do to make it around that last corner. It was suggested that I get my water broken and after a few more really difficult contractions, I had to agree. I didn't want to spend another minute stalled there. It worked! Unfortunately, it worked so well it threw my body into a frenzy of never-ending contractions that made me want to gouge my eyes out!!!! For all the breathing and relaxation techniques I had down pat, I could not get a grip!! I was clawing the walls (basically Rudy), hyperventilating, wild-eyed losing it!! (With Kyle's labor, I didn't so much as wrinkle my forehead, I was so focused on relaxing every part of my body. So this was new to both Rudy and me.) The contractions stayed at a level 10 on the pain scale and never completely went away. At their least intensity, they were harder than what I thought I could manage. At their greatest? I wanted to die! I was told to lay on the side that had a slight rim of a cervix still presenting (holding us up from getting to 10) for 20 minutes before turning to the other side. Those 20 minutes were the longest of my life and definitely made me pay for the previous hours of "manageable" labor. The contractions (or contraction, I should say) never went away. Mercifully, after about 20 minutes, I felt the indescribable desire to push and was finally complete. I hadn't ever felt this with Kyle's labor, so I was unprepared for the force with which this desire came. It was so strong, I had to use all my energy just to maintain it at a slower rate, rather than let it torpedo my son out of there. I was told to wait until the doctor could get there.Ha! Yeah, right! Fortunately she came right away and within a few minutes I was staring at my baby boy! Wow, that delivery was fast!

It's amazing though, how in an instant all that pain and wanting to just die absolutely disappear when you're looking at your baby. In a flash, your world turns upside down and it all becomes worth it. Every second spent hovering over the toilet bowl, every uncomfortable night not sleeping, every episode of throbbing hip pain and flip flopping in bed, every intense contraction and that insane, burning delivery... all become worthwhile when you gaze at the new love of your life. :)

You were worth every bit of it, Gavin! And I'd do it all again, in a heartbeat, for YOU! 

Meeting Gavin

A picture post with some close-ups I've gotten requests for. Quite honestly, he looks just like Kyle did as a newborn. Same faces, expressions, and mannerisms. So far, the only obvious differences are his darker hair,  widow's peak hairline just like his daddy, and an extra pound and a half of meat on his bones. Otherwise, it's deja vu with the added ease that comes with being 2nd time parents. :)

A very proud brother! How long has he waited for this?

Lots of love for you, Gavin!