Double the Love
Posted by Mari Jo on September 25, 2010 about Aubrey Ann, Comments are offYou know how when you are about to experience some momentous life change, there are all kinds of people telling you, “Just wait until…” I have to admit, it can be rather annoying to hear all of the well-meaning words of wisdom (although I know I give them myself!). I remember thinking “How in the world can I love another child as much as I love Aubrey Ann? It isn’t physically possible to love THAT much!” I really truly worried that I wouldn’t love Landon as much as Aubrey Ann, or that Aubrey Ann would always be a ‘favorite’ in my heart. I remember talking with other mothers and asking them, “How is it possible?!” And they all just told me, with their all knowing words of wisdom, that it will ‘just happen’.
Boy, were they right.
From the moment Aubrey Ann was born, I was smitten. From her beautiful eyelashes, down to her stubby little toes, I loved every inch of her. I even loved her cry! (Ok, maybe not so much, but I did love that “NOBODY pushes Baby around!” ) As she has grown, I love her more and more. There are some days that Brandon and I have gone to bed and talked for hours about how blessed we are to have her. I NEVER thought anyone or anything could match that kind of love.
Boy, was I wrong.
The moment Landon arrived, I had the exact same feeling as I had with Aubrey Ann, all over again. The emotions may have even been more intense because I knew exactly how much I was going to love and be changed by this new little life. Every time I look at him I have the same sense of pride as I have when I look at Aubrey Ann. I can’t believe that I had any part in creating something so beautiful, so perfect, so absolutely wonderful. How could I have ANYTHING to do with the creation of these little lives? I truly feel honored to be a mother of not one, but TWO beautiful people. The fact that God entrusts Brandon and I with the care and upbringing of these children is truly amazing to me. I am so in love.
So to all of those mom’s with your all knowing words of wisdom…
You.were.right.
Don’t make me say it again.
Come out, come out wherever you are!
Posted by Mari Jo on September 25, 2010 about Aubrey Ann, 5 commentsIn the last few days, I have had several people tell me that they check our website often. I am always surprised by who comes to see what is going on with our little family. So I thought I would make a post, because I am just curious and want to know who our audience is. So if you are reading this, post a comment and let me know. I love knowing that friends and family are getting updates through our website. Thanks!
One month old *sniff
Posted by Mari Jo on September 25, 2010 about Landon, Comments are off
Today is so bittersweet. My little man is one month old today. Hard to believe it has been a month since I met the fourth piece to our family puzzle. We have been so blessed by this little addition. He is truly a very sweet baby.
In the months following Aubrey Ann’s birth, I wrote her monthly letters. It didn’t last long, but I would like to at least start this first month off with a letter to my son. So here goes.
Dearest Landon (aka Little Land, Turtletaub, Landy Dandy),
I can’t believe that you are a month old today! One month ago you made your entrance into this world and changed our family and hearts forever. I feel like the second you were born, my heart grew, and now I can hardly remember what life was like without you.
This month has been wonderful, and hard. Mommy and Daddy have been adjusting to life with less sleep, and Daddy adjusts much better than Mommy does. But life with you is truly amazing. I love watching you and your sister interact, and I often find myself day dreaming about how you two will grow together, and share the same experiences. I even think about how someday you two will reminisce about how things were growing up.
From the moment you were born, you had this sweet, soft little cry, and for the most part, you still have that today. It takes a lot to work you up into a good cry, but when you do, you can really let it out. For the most part you are rather content no matter what situation you are put in, however you really like your sleep and are somewhat sensitive to being overtired or overstimulated.
Fortunately for us, you have been a pretty good sleeper. You are typically only up once during the middle of the night, and start your morning at 7:30. You eat about every three hours during the day, and Mommy has to wake you for nearly every feeding. I think you would much rather sleep the day away, and party all night, but Mommy and Daddy are going to do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen!
You are the worlds SLOWEST eater! I asked Daddy one day if he was sure everything was ok with you since you don’t seem as interested in eating as I think you should be, and Daddy said, “He is just lazy. Kinda like me.” So true! If I wasn’t around to make sure your Daddy ate, he would probably go hungry most of the time. I guess the same is true of you.
We spent most of this month doing “baby torture” on you to try and keep you awake long enough to get a full feeding. Luckily, we aren’t having to do much of that anymore, because we felt TERRIBLE. We tickled your feet, undressed you, washed you with a cold wash cloth, gave you baths during the middle of feedings, anything and everything to keep you awake. It was funny to watch you getting bathed, happily snoozing away. This is in direct contrast with your sister who screamed through every bath for MONTHS. You are perfectly content, and the only time you get a little fussy is when we take you out and you get cold.
Speaking of you crying, when you cry you stick out your bottom lip and it starts to shake right before you start to whimper. It is heart breaking. Mommy can’t stand to see you get upset like that.
You enjoy hanging out in your swing or bouncy chair, and you sleep in your crib for naps and night time. Whenever you are awake and Aubrey Ann is up, she is giving you tons of kisses, trying to make you hold her finger, and showing her toys to you. We have to watch her very carefully because she loves to “hug you tight”, and we worry that sometimes it might be a little too tight for your liking!
All through pregnancy Daddy and I prayed for a mellow baby. Aubrey Ann is a VERY good girl, but she was FAR from a mellow baby. Daddy and I have often found ourselves in awe of people changing their newborns diaper and the baby just sits there content. We never experienced that with Aubrey Ann, so having you has been a true blessing. You appear to be very mellow just like your Daddy, and Aubrey Ann is very much just like me!
One thing that is really funny, is how much your baby pictures look like mine. Daddy and Aubrey Ann look so much alike, so it is nice to have a kid who looks like me.
Daddy swears that you had your first real smiles at just 3 weeks, but the jury is still out on that one. Every time Daddy sets you on his legs and says, “Can you say ‘Da Da’” you get a big goofy grin. I just LOVE your gummy little grins! I don’t care whether they are from gas or not, I just LOVE them!
Speaking of gas, you are one gassy baby! We have to spend a lot of time trying to burp you after each feeding, and if we don’t, you end up with a belly ache. Mommy often lays you down and gives you tummy massages while bicycling your legs. I can’t say you always like it, but I think it makes you feel better.
We have tried giving you a pacifier, since your sister was a finger sucker and we realized that we really lucked out with her stopping that on her own so early, so we figured we would give you a pacifier to make sure you don’t use your fingers instead. However, you are not so enthused with it. You take it sometimes, and other times you ‘eject’ it right away. Silly boy!
Life with you is absolutely amazing. I can’t tell you how much you being here has changed our lives. I can’t even remember what life was like before you. You are such a blessing to us, and I want you to know that I am going to do my best to be the very best Mommy I can be to you and Aubrey Ann.
I promise, life is going to get more fun for you in these next couple of months. You just wait and see!
We love you more than words can say!
Love always and forever,
Mommy