Hospital Bag Essentials. Mama, Baby, and Technology.

1. A ziplock bag of undergarments. Let's be real here. Not the pretty victorias secret undergarments that you save for the bedroom. The granny panties and oversized-double D breastfeeding bras.

2. Small ziplock of essentials. Cotton balls. Razor. Tweezers. Pads. Hair ties. 

3. Hospital gowns. I purchased two. Cute. Last time though? I had cute little robes that I brought from home. These would be great as well! Anything but those hideous green hospital gowns. 

4. Going home outfit. Plan that out now. Yes, you will have lost some weight after delivery, but believe me... you still look very pregnant going home. Leggings, boots, and a loose-fitting top will make you feel golden. Or just human. And not pregnant!

5. Blow dryer. Straightener. Hairbrush {you'd be amazed how easy it is to forget something so essential}. 

6. Makeup bag{s}. I have two small little bags {that I could probably conform to just one} with my makeup essentials. I am that mama that puts makeup on first thing I wake up. Wait? I don't sleep at the hospital... so when the sun rises.

7. House slippers. Or flip flops. Anything so that you aren't walking around barefoot in that hospital. Seeing as how I work in one and see the nasty that lands on the floor {bodily fluids}... trust me on this one.. don't ever walk around barefoot. Yes rooms get cleaned... but not enough to ever make me brave around to walk it out in there.

8. Shampoo. Conditioner. Loofa. Body Wash. Bring your own towel!

9. Lounge clothes. Although I have to admit this.. I will most likely be hanging out in just robes and my pretty little gowns. Like I did last time.

10. License. You better be who you say you are. :)

1. Hats. One personalized and the rest just cute little hats to put on his noggin.

2. Going home outfit. This list isn't in any order, but if it were... this would be number one. Choose which outfit to bring this bundle of joy in home. Graham's outfit? Much different than Elliana's. No fancy hairbows and fancy dress. He's a newborn. I will be throwing on a monogrammed sleeper {the one piece kind}, his cute hat, and throwing blankets over him :)

3. Outfits. Again, just stick with cozy. Onesies, sleepers, and so forth. You will be changing a lot of diapers.

4. Receiving blankets. Swaddlers. Anything to wrap around their little bodies

5. Booties and mittens. Keep those little piggies warm and those hands from scratching that sweet face.

6. Regular blankets. Especially since we will be bringing Graham home in the middle of winter... it is essential to have some thicker warmer blankets to throw over him when we go home.

7. Nursing Cover. Hello family and friends to the masses. And yet, baby still needs to eat.

8. Swaddler. You know, the ones made for those slow mama's like myself who cannot for the life of me figure out how to swaddle properly with a regular receiving blankets. This contraption? Works like a charm.

Optional: Diapers and wipes {if you prefer not to use the hospital ones provided, such as organic or even cloth}. Also pacifiers. They aren't in our baby's bag because we don't plan to use them right away {if at all} for the first month.

 Camera. Video camera. Laptop. Ipad. And chargers for all! Don't forget the SD card for the camera, and make sure you charge ahead of time {thanks hubby}.

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Oh and remember... Make sure your hubby or significant other packs his/her hospital bag as well. They tend to forget that ah, yes, they live at the hospital as well. 

The First Letter to My Son {Before his arrival}

Letter written prior to the birth of our son.

Dear Graham,

It's your mama. Hi baby. My sweet precious baby boy. Hi honey.

I am sort of at a loss as to how I want to start this letter. I have tried a lot of different ways and then ended up deleting it and starting over. I'm not quite sure why it is so difficult for me to write right now. I know what I want to say. I know what I want to tell you. I just don't know how to begin. I feel like I am already at a loss of words... and nothing has even been said.

The truth is, this letter has been put off for far too long.

I knew that I needed to write it. I knew that it was important for me to tell you about your little family that you are about to be born into and the love and excitement that we have for your little arrival. I knew these things. But, I just let myself brush off these thoughts and focus on all other aspects of our life.

So I am sorry. My first apology of I'm sure many more to come down the road.

Today, when I was at our doctor's appointment to check on your growth and how we both were doing, it quickly hit me that you would be here soon. That our lives were about to change, and that I would once again become a mother. A second time.

Do I know what I am doing? Will you know how much I love you? Will you love your sister as much as we do?

These are just some of the questions that I keep asking myself. Even though, in reality, I know that you will be the absolute perfect addition to our family. You will fit in fine, and we will all adjust well.

I want you to know Graham, that although your sister is the center of our world right now, we have already made room in our lives and hearts for you once you arrive. We have made the decision to expand our family specifically because we have so much love to give. Your sister has been our number one for so long, and we will not love her less, but love her more as we watch the two of you grow. And you Graham will be our number one as well. Right next to our other number one.

We have made hopes and dreams for you. And no worries son, I will sit down one day and write all these out to do. Because I never want you to forget how much we love you already, how much happiness we hope for you and your future, and how important you are to us and this world.

But our one hope and dream for you is that you love and take care of your sister. Because after your papa and I are gone, it is her that will be your closest family. You are already so special to her and you aren't even here yet. You may be the younger brother, but I hope you know how important of a role you will have in this family, in our lives, and in your sister's life.

We pray that you will always feel the love that we have for you.

Whenever you are ready Graham, we are here with open arms to meet you.

We love you, forever and ever, to infinity and beyond.
Love,
Mama, Papa, and baby sister Elliana.

Little Man's First Week

To begin with, I want to personally thank everyone who has reached out to congratulate my little family on our newest arrival, Graham. I have missed the little blogging community and have been thankful for some wonderful ladies to help guest post while I take the time to be away and get back to "normal," whatever normal might be. We did just enter a whole new world of firsts after all.

I also wanted to give an update as to what to expect the next couple of weeks on the blog. Lots of scheduled posts to come. A large January giveaway next week. Birth stories part I, II, and III {I know, you are saying "Are you serious".... I didn't want to miss out on any detail}, starting on Monday.

Tomorrow I have my son's first letter scheduled that I had written a couple weeks before his arrival but was not scheduled for later. And although he is already here, I would like to have it posted.

Friday, I have the "In My hospital Bag" post as promised. Again, this was also scheduled, and I am thankful I was able to put this post together before the arrival of our little blessing.

Posts on; life with two. 2012 in review. 2013 goals, Christmas re-cap, the difference between the two deliveries, and more to come!

But for now, I would like to update this little space of mine on our first week as a family of four. All of Graham's happenings. How everyone is doing. And every little detail that I want to always remember.

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Baby Graham,

This week has been quite the week for us all. We welcomed you into this world last Wednesday, and today we celebrate your first week of life. We survived! Or really, you survived us, the crazy little family that you are now a part of. Sorry bud, no going back now. 

On your first day of life, we discovered and confirmed per x-ray that you had a broken clavicle from birth. My child broke a bone before he was even born! Or rather, when you were born. They say that it happens often with babies coming through the birth canal, even though my delivery was uncomplicated and you came out with 3 pushes. Needless to say, our hearts broke. The first 24 hours were not noticeable, as you were a champ about it, but it was soon evident that you were in pain and it was our duty to be as gentle as possible, wrap that arm tight to your side, and give you the utmost amount of love that we possibly could. "It's okay buddy, it will be okay!" The doctor said that you shouldn't feel pain after a few days and that it will heal on its own within 1-2 weeks. After about 4 days, we definitely saw an improvement. I think I finally learned how to breath again.

In your first week of life, we started to discover how different life with a baby boy is compared to a baby girl. Quite different. How so exactly? Well well well. Your papa and I were changing your shirt every time we would change your diaper. This continued on for about 10 outfit changes until your papa finally wised up and turned to google, our doctor of choice. Google said that we weren't putting on your diaper right. That we were supposed to fold it inside. And what do you know? It worked. 

Moving along, this reminds me of the amount of times that we have already been peed on. Our furniture been peed on. The amount of blankets that have been peed on. The faces that have been peed on. I never realized such a small little thing could shoot so far. And for this I apologize my son. For talking about your pee-pee ways. :)

In your first week, you have established many little nick-names around here. Things like; "Baby Graham," "Mr," "Little guy," "Little man," "Baby boy," "Sweet Cheeks," And many more. Of course anytime we say them, your big sister chimes in to repeat after is. Not going to lie, it's much sweeter coming out of her mouth than it is ours.

Speaking of big sister. How is she doing? Absolutely amazing. Little guy, I choke up every time I talk about her, as I am now. But I have to say... you are quite blessed little man to have such a wonderful big sister. I knew all along during my pregnancy that she would be wonderful, but she has far exceeded any of my dreams and desires for when we came home with you. She is so gentle. So loving. So caring. She touches you softly. She gives you ten million kisses a day. When you cry? She says "Don't cwy baby gam.. don't cwy." I get teary eyed just seeing it. I know that she will continue to take care of you as you two grow. I know that you will light up at the sight of her as you become more and more alert. I just know that you two will share a very special bond. 

And now let's talk about your papa. I have to say that I am so surprised how different he is this time around. He has always been amazing with your baby sister, but there's just something extra special with you. Perhaps its the fact that it's been two years. Perhaps it's the fact that it's the second time around. Regardless, he is so enamored with you, so in love, so in love with you already. I asked your papa about this the other day... how it was different this time around? His response? "I love him so much already because I know what he will grow up into. I know what's ahead. And I'm excited." And for that, I am reminded of how wonderful this man is that I chose to spend the rest of my life with. For this, I am reminded of how much my love grows for him each and every day. And for this, I know that you will be an amazing man when you grow up one day, because he is your father.

Am I getting too emotional on you son?

Let's switch gears. Let's talk about your feeding. 

We are breastfeeding, and you have been a champ since day one. Knock on wood that we have a smooth journey as your sister and I did. You eat about every 2-3 hours, but can go 4 hours if I let you. This is all new territory for me, as your sister would never go longer than 2 hours in between feedings. You must be doing lots of growing there bud.

Speaking of growing, we had your weight check on Monday and you were 7 lbs 8 oz. Just 3 ounces away from your birth weight! Great job!

Sleeping. Bless you son, you have been an angel from above. Again, unlike your sister, you actually like to sleep for longer than 1 hour at a time. It's absolutely amazing and I am soaking it all in, as I know that this is bound to change at some point.

Before I forget, little details like;  God bless the swing inventor. You love that thing. As does mama and papa. You have the loudest shriek of a cry... and you don't stop until you are satisfied.

Who do you look like? I'm not sure. Most everyone says Andrew. I agree. But I also think you may look like your big sister when she was a baby. It's going to be so interesting to watch and see as you grow. I think you will be a little version of your papa.

Your color eyes? Blue right now. But we all know that may change up to 9 months.

I cannot wait to share your birth story and all the other milestones as you grow. I know that you won't be interested in all this little details when you grow up, but I know one day my words will have meaning to you and I will sit you down and tell you about all the wonderful memories that you have blessed us with your little precious life. I also know that your wife will one day appreciate this as well. Did I just say wife?! Let's not go there yet. I don't think I'll ever be ready for that day.

Thank you little man for being absolutely amazing, calm, and the perfect addition to our family. We have enjoyed this past week and looking forward to watching you grow and your personality unfold.

A Motherhood Guest Post; Allie @ Table for More

Hey From Mrs to Mama lovers,

My name is Allie, I blog over at Table for More,

I am a momma to 3 little men and blog about our life, clearly!

(Vincent-3. Luke-2. Jude-10 months)

I am here today as my blog love Becky is taking a break with her new precious baby Graham!:):)

When I was trying to figure out what to post I thought back to a post I did before I had

my third little man this past year.

My advice for 2 under 2.

This is perfect for Becky as she takes on baby #2 which I know she will

kick ass at! I mean she is seriously one of the best moms ever, and I have witnessed

her love for Elli when we met last year.

Becky is exactly what you would imagine from the blog, and MORE!

I am so blessed to call her a friend!

Now onto the post!

xoxo

My Advice for 2 under 2. Or two in general! haha

I posted last week about my schedule with the little men...

I wanted to get it down on the blog before all hell breaks loose Jude arrives...

I also got asked what advice I have for tackling 2 under 2...

Figured I would get that on the blog too before it becomes 3 under 3

::I am hoping the same advice and lessons still apply::

So here goes....

I not so fondly remember when I was about 25 weeks pregnant with Luke...

I was at Gymboree class with Vincent...

I noticed when I pulled in the car beside me had 1 forward facing car seat and one rear...

I was so excited because I knew there was a mom inside who had 2 little ones...

::mommy friend potential::

She had both her kids with her so I knew who she was right away...

The classes are small so I knew we would chat...

But what she said to me I will never forget....

She asked how far apart mine would be and I smiled and said "16 months"

The look on her face was priceless...she said hers were 27 months apart....

Following that she said "It's horrible...I want to pull my hair out EVERYDAY!"

She no joke went on to say how tough it was and how much work it was...

Needless to say...I steered clear of her from that day on...

Well ladies...I am NOT going to tell you anything like that....

I think that is just down right rude...

If someone tells me they are expecting close together I don't scare them...

Because let's face it....you are already a little nervous of it...

It is a lot of work...but it is a lot of work regardless of 1, 2 or 3 kids...

Any mom has days where she is stressed to the max....

::and wants a glass bottle of wine::

It is just a juggling act when you throw another in the mix....

So fret not ladies...

{I would not be having another if it were as hellish as that mom made it out to be}

Vincent and Luke are 16 months apart {Jude and Luke will be 19}

Throw out all expectations...

This was VERY HARD for me...

In my eyes I had the whole mom thing down with Vincent...

I could handle him and all the tasks of being a SAHM {I even nannied 3 kids when he was a babe}

Therefore I knew I could handle it ALL....

But when Luke came I fast realized that I needed help...

and guess what...I was far too proud in my mommy pants to ask for it...

{BIG MISTAKE}

I wanted to do everything myself {I am still this way lol} but I just did not want help...

It backfired BAD...It turned into more stress than anything...

I wasn't sleeping and pretty much wasn't functioning all because I wanted to do it all...

Once I let those expectations go, things were much easier...

The kitchen does not have to be perfect...The laundry can wait...

I really got into the groove of things and enjoyed Luke more once I chilled out...

So please take help those first weeks {months} while your settling in to 2 under 2

Handling two sets of needs at once...

I was so used to running to Vincent's every need...

but with having 2 it was not always possible...

I think it actually has helped because now one of the other has to wait...

Mommy only has 2 arms guys....

Just try your best to handle their needs, if the older one has to wait...don't feel bad! 

I found it just makes for each of them to be a little more independent!

Which is nice as they become toddlers!

Jealousy?....

I was very nervous about this one...I had no idea how the two would mesh...

From day one we let Vincent help with Luke...

Whether it be getting wipes, diapers you name it...

He loved helping and I think it helped form the bond they have now...

I included him in everything we did..

He takes the big bro gig VERY serious now...

Feeling Guilty...

I have had these moments a lot...

{and looking back it wasn't worth the stress}

Have I spent enough time with Luke or has it all been about Vincent...::vice versa::

It is impossible to have the same attention focused as you did when you only had one...

And let's face it, they do not need that much attention...

I would no joke hover over Vincent 247 haha...

With Luke I have not been able to...and guess what he is fine!:)

He is thriving and hitting every single milestone on time

{actually a good chunk ahead of Vincent}

Tired Much?...

It will be very tiring, just like it was when you had your first born...

Give yourself a break and take your time...

Things will all fall into place...

A schedule will slowly form...

The kids will all live even if you are not at full mental capacity haha...

Another time when it is great to ask for help, vent to a friend hire a sitter...

Friends are amazing, especially ones who have been in your shoes...

They will let you know there is light at the end of the tunnel...

BECAUSE...THERE IS....

Each day is a day closer to our kids growing older and not relying 100% on us! 

Ps if all else fails strap them in the car and hit up your fave coffee drive through...

Chances are they will pass out and you will have some "me" time!

Sleep Schedules:

We tried our best to make sure Vincent was sleeping as best he could before Luke arrived...

THANK GOD we did because Luke was a HORRIBLE sleeper...

But at least I only had to deal with him and not both at night! Whew!

Luke was in our room until he was 7/8 months old...

During that time we transitioned Vincent out of the nursery and into a big boy bed and room..

We then moved Luke to the nursery...

Next step will be Vincent & Luke sharing a big boy room...

We will transition them while Jude stays in our room...

eeeeeek!

Get out of the house...

This was huge for me...

I never thought it would be possible to get out more than I did with just Vincent...

But I must say we have...

SHOCKING RIGHT!?

I was so anal about traveling when it was just Vincent....

But when Luke was about 2 months old we decided to travel with Jordan for work...

Terrifying as it was...it was AMAZING...

Since then we have hit the ground running with traveling 

{it helps because Jordan travels for work and we can come}

But we also did a family vacation driving through 10 states...it was shockingly pleasant...

So get out there....and don't let the fear of 2 babes stop you from creating memories!

We also bought a double jogger {that also is a stroller, and bike carrier}

It is so nice to bike downtown with the boys then stroll around!

It's also just nice for a jog, walk or run around the neighborhood!

Or invite your friends to your place...host playdates...try to keep active{for your sanity haha}

Keep Communication Open...

Sometimes you may feel like your the one doing all the work...

I remember with Vincent I felt like I was ALWAYS the one changing diapers...

So one day I told Jordan how I felt...

He had no idea since I would just always change the diapers...

I wouldn't ask for help so he figured I didn't mind {when inside I was annoyed}

But once again, I didn't ask so he was clueless lol

Now I have no problems speaking up and asking...

Husbands want to help, they love their kids but I think because we are the mama bears

:and a tad over protective:

They have trouble figuring out what we want/need them to do!

PS Jordan and I love to giggle about how crazy and nuts our life is with kids...

I love having someone to share in all the ups and downs of the craziness!

Small Random Advice:

When doing the grocery: Park by the cart return!:)

It is so much easier to have the cart right there to throw the kiddos in and get them situated!

Feed your babe wherever... With Vincent I would go into a quiet place...

But when Luke came I didn't have that luxury, so I fed in whatever room Vincent was in!

It helped me keep an eye on Vincent and also to keep us all together in the same room...

I would just give Vincent a book, toy or snack to entertain him

1 on 1 time...

Vincent and I get a lot of time alone when Luke naps...

I save special messier activities for this time {baking, markers}

I also like to take one or the other to run errands...its nice to spend alone time separate!

Just walk away...

Sometimes when they are both being hellish I will just put them in the toyroom

and walk away....

Sometimes I just need 5 minutes to decompress!

PS, they love playing together...BONUS!

Mommy & Daddy Time...

This is great for the sanity...

Jordan and I plan "alone" trips to have alone time

::we rarely do date nights for this reason::

It also gives you something to focus on during the rough days...

I would no joke think "only 27 more days til we take our trip"

It's great to focus on just us and recharge for these cuties....

It may not always be perfect...

But seriously when is having kids all rainbows and butterflies!?!?

Just go with the flow!

Enjoy the little moments they share...

The bond these little men have is INSANE...

I cannot wait to watch them grow and share life moments with each other...

And when your ready...add more to the mix....

bahaha

COME ON JUDE! 

I am sure I have MISSED a ton of things...

but this is all I can come up with {lack of brain lately}

If you have any advice on handling 2 or more leave comments:)

If you have questions on something I skipped, please ask {hopefully I have an answer lol}

I hope you loved the advice, I can tell you it ALL applies to babe #3 as well.

I must say each time it gets easier!:)

xoxo