2 Little Pumpkins

Last week, we made our annual visit to Schnepf Farms for our pumpkin patch pictures. This year was extra special because Charlie is now part of our family. We all had a great time playing in the pumpkin patch, riding roller coasters and taking a haunted train ride through the peach orchard! A really nice lady took our first picture as a family of four(yes, the first! It only took nearly 7 weeks). Too bad Jackson decided to be a clown at that very moment. What is it about 4-5 year olds that all of a sudden they think they need to pose or be silly in every photo you take? Silly little jack o' lantern!

Green Pumpkins

The other day I picked Jackson up from school and on the way out we picked up his latest art creation. It was a big green...pumpkin. All the other kids colored theirs various shades of orange with a green stem. He asked me, "Momma is it okay to have a green pumpkin?" This brought tears to my eyes as I looked at his face full of searching for acceptance. I said, "Of course it is! I think green pumpkins are beautiful and you know, they are green before they ripen to that beautiful orange you see in the pumpkin patch." Now before you think I have lost my mind or at the very least am suffering from some serious postpartum hormones, here is a little bit of a backstory. When I was in kindergarten, it was Thanksgiving and we were all coloring the traditional handprint turkeys. I colored mine completely purple which was to my teacher's dismay. She made an example out of me by not hanging it up with the other children's turkeys which all looked the same with their red, yellow, orange and brown feathers. I was heartbroken. My mother quickly set the teacher straight and praised me for my creativity. That purple turkey was on our refrigerator forever. I couldn't be more proud that my son's creative individualism showed itself one fall day in the form of a green pumpkin. Here is a picture of his masterpiece.

Daddy Daycare

Here is daddy's idea of an outfit to paint in! Jack has on too tight pj's, an old sweatshirt topped with a garbage sack with arm holes tied at the waist with craft yarn. Priceless!

6:40 am

a beautiful morning in our home

A little pumpkin and a bag of bones

Here is a preview of Charlie's first Halloween costume and Jack's first Halloween as a big brother!

For my little boys...

HOURGLASS
Mindy Gledhill
© 2010 Blue Morph Music (BMI)

Little boy, when you speak
I can't help but kiss your cheeks
I love the way you grab my hands
And tell me all about your plans

Rocket high, comets fly
You and I could hitch a ride
And fly away to Neverland
And give our best to Peter Pan

When you reach for the stars
Don't forget who you are
And please don't turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life's an hourglass
Life's an hourglass

Story's read, prayer is said
Close your eyes sleepyhead
While angels linger in your dreams
And hold you in their feathered wings
Just like you, I was small
Not that long ago at all
I wish you all the happiness
That God gives freely if you ask

(Chorus)

Charlie's Angels

Charlie and I had our 6 week postpartum check up at Nurturing Hearts Birth Services yesterday with our midwives, Stephanie and Jen. This visit was bittersweet as it is my last appointment with two amazing women I have come to love. After I made the decision to get back to basics and have a homebirth with the assistance of a midwife, I had to find the perfect match to make me and my family feel at home with our decision. Stephanie and Jen welcomed me with love and respect and sheer excitement to be part of the single most important moment of my life: giving birth to my child. They weren't just there to take my weight, blood pressure and belly measurements, but to listen and laugh and support me when I was feeling out of sorts. I can't begin to explain how special this relationship is to me. Having them there to help me bring Charlie into the world, encouraging me when I felt like I could go no further and helping me find my faith when there was none really made all the difference in my experience. Thanks ladies for everything! I feel honored to have shared this experience with you and Charlie is one lucky kid to have been surrounded by so much love the moment he came into the world.

A Smile for You

Yesterday, Charlie was officially 6 weeks old. He woke up in the most amazing mood and was smiling, cooing and squealing the beginnings of a real laugh. I am so blessed to have such a beautiful new baby that words can't describe how full my heart is, so I included some pics of Charlie's smile so you can understand...no words required. I couldn't decide which one was cutest, can you?

5 weeks and growing like a weed

Here are some pictures of Charlie and big brother Jack at 5 weeks. Charlie is getting so big. He is so sweet and alert! I also included some pictures of 2 handmade blankets/quilts we received as gifts for his birth. The yellow one was made by Nanie's friend, Mary, and the blue one was made by our one and only, Gigi(Jack and Charlie's great aunt). I was so touched that they took the time and care to make some special blankets for Charlie. I am sure he will love to have them when he is all grown up. Thanks Mary and Gigi!

Charlie Meets Auntie April

Aunt April came to visit and unfortunately I was not my normal picture happy self, but I think you can forgive me considering I do have a newborn. Here is the solitary picture of Charlie meeting his new Auntie.

My Favorite Big Brother

What can I say? When you are blessed, you are blessed. I am so proud of the big brother Jack is becoming. He is so kind and tender and loving with his baby brother always quick to bring a diaper, give a kiss or sing a song to comfort a fussy baby. The other day we were driving home from Jack's school and Charlie was a bit fussy. No matter how many times I stopped to comfort him or nurse him, he would just start crying again when I started the car. Jack tried his best to comfort him and finally started to cry himself. He said(in a very dramatic fashion...and if you know Jack you know just what I mean), "I feel SO helpless! I would risk my life for Charlie!" Hahaha LOL! Too funny and sweet and then next thing I know, Mommy is crying too. My sweet boy is growing up so quickly that it is at once beautiful and devastating. Here is a picture of the "big brother in the house." Isn't he something?

3 weeks and a visit from Nanie!

Here are some pics from Charlie's 3rd week of life and Nanie's visit. As you can see our youngest is growing and changing quickly and our oldest was very busy putting Nanie to work in the dinosaur hospital and at the salon. Those two had so much fun together and I was thankful to have an extra set of hands around the house. Nanie was here for 5 days and it was sure hard to say goodbye. We look forward to seeing her again for Jack's birthday(and maybe even Pop will be well enough to come then) and are hoping to make a trip to Nebraska sometime in the spring. Until then, thanks Nanie for all of the help, love and of course the semi-annual trip to Old Navy! Jack is loving all of his new gear and insists on wearing new jeans and long sleeve shirts to school eventhough it is still in the 90's!