2 weeks already!

Well, Matthew was 2 weeks old yesterday. On the one hand, it seems like he's always been here and on the other, it's amazing to me that it's been 2 weeks already! He's a very content baby and always happiest when he has a full tummy. This, of course, means that I can never be more than a cry away. He is very alert and always looking around. I wonder what goes on in little baby brains... what are they thinking???

His umbilical cord stump finally fell off today. Phew! I have been doing laundry almost daily to keep up with the few T-shirts we have (he spits up a lot and goes through lots of outfits each day). So, it'll be good to be able to get him into the onesies that Adam lived in during his first few months.

I've been looking at photos of Adam as a newborn and I find a big resemblance between Adam and Matthew. It'll be interesting to see whether they stay looking alike as they grow up.

The first photo posted is Matthew, the second is Adam. And then of course there is one of the brothers together taken yesterday on Matthew's 2 week birthday.

Now, all I have to do is master getting everyone dressed and fed in the morning so we can get out the door. I figure I have a little over a month to get this sorted out before Adam starts preschool - gasp, my baby is going to SCHOOL!!! :)

11 Days Old

Well, we've made it through the first 11 days and I can honestly say that it has been extremely easy compared to what we went through when Adam was born. We've been blessed with a great sleeper and an even better eater. I think it helps that Matthew was fully cooked when he arrived. Adam had a bit of a struggle to catch up because he came so early.

We've been fortunate to have all of my parents here since Matthew was born. They have all been a tremendous help in making the transition to a family of 4. Today is our first day on our own. Marchus and I woke up this morning to this realization, and although there remains dirty dishes in the sink and laundry in piles in the laundry room (which makes me nuts), it feels pretty good.

Adam has been wonderful with his baby brother. His favorite thing is to kiss him gently on the head. He is also very vocal in his desire to hold him by himself. I think that Adam is adjusting well and is quick to remind us that he is a "big boy". He loves the tricycle that Matthew got him when he came home from the hospital and rides it up to the mailbox each day so he can deliver the mail home. It may become a neighborhood pilgrimage as 2 neighborhood kids and their dads joined Marchus and Adam yesterday.

So, so far, so good. I feel so fortunate. What a great way to kick off a new decade. :) I'm posting a few more photos... as you can see. :)

Introducing Matthew John Nelson

He's here!!!!

Our new son, Matthew John Nelson, arrived on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 7:08 am. Weighing in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and 21 inches long. He's beautiful, healthy and so far, a very easy baby. Big Brother Adam is very proud and can't stop giving his little brother gentle kisses on the forehead.

As you can see from my prior post at 4:00 am on July 10th, it was a very fast labor and we just made it to the hospital in time. Everything went well and we were allowed to come home the next afternoon. All of Matthew's grandparents came to meet him the day he was born, as did his cousins, aunts and uncles.

After waiting so long for his arrival, everyone was thrilled to finally meet him and see his sweet face. I'll post more photos later of family with Matthew, but for now am just posting a photo of him when he was only minutes old, and another at 2 days.

So far, this has been 100% easier than the whole process with Adam. We are so blessed and so happy to share this time with family and friends.

Good day for a Birthday?

OK, so it's 4:00 am and I've been having contractions for over an hour. They woke me up and have quickly been coming about every 5 -6 minutes. YAY!!! Looks like baby will be coming today... Fingers crossed for an easy delivery. :) TODAY!!!

I probably won't be posting again until I'm able to hold my little bundle in my arms. I know Cactus will be worth the wait. So, watch for the big announcement in the next couple of days!!!

Thanks to all for your unending support and thoughts. :)

No such thing as a "due date"

So, our "due date" was last week... funny, huh? Still no baby. Maybe the universe wanted me to have some extra pregnancy time since I got short changed the last time. But really, it's OK. I don't need the extra time. Really. No, REALLY!

I go to bed every night thinking maybe tonight is the night. And then wake up in the morning feeling deflated that it didn't happen, but happy because I got another night's sleep.

I know I am on edge about baby's arrival and all the anticipation. I think the expectation was that baby would be here by now. I don't think anyone expected it to go SO far past the due date. But I figure baby will come when it is the right time. I have to keep reminding myself that I won't be pregnant forever and baby will be here soon.

It is a little weird to be looking ahead to my milestone birthday next week and still waiting for baby. Since both have been on the calendar for such a long time, I just figured I'd have a little break between the big events. But it looks like that's not going to happen. At this point, I'm just hoping to be home for my birthday and not in the hospital. I'll celebrate it properly next year since I know that this year, I won't have the energy for it.

So, once again, I'll keep posting as the days move along. Hopefully my next post will have some real news and not just more babble about how long I've been waiting. :) Thanks to all for your thoughts and support.

Still Waiting...

Well, we're still awaiting the arrival of baby "Cactus". Thought he or she would be here by now, but I guess baby has other ideas. Today, Adam spoke to "Cactus" through my belly button and told him/her that it was time to come out and play. It was a very cute moment indeed.

We had a great time at our neighborhood party on friday night and enjoyed meeting all of our new neighbors. The kids jumped in the bounce house and the band played and there was plenty of food shared by all. :)

So, as of this afternoon, our closet is full and we have no more boxes in our bedroom. Amazingly, I'm feeling like we are pretty well moved in. Marchus hung curtains in both Adam and Baby's rooms today, which really make both rooms look finished.

As we're coming to the end of our list of immediate home improvement projects, we're hoping that baby arrives soon so we can shift our focus. I'm trying to keep my anxiety level in check, but that is getting more and more challenging with each day. The control freak in me is having a harder and harder time with all this waiting. I go to bed every night thinking "maybe tonight's the night". And then it isn't. But who knows... maybe tonight really IS the night. We'll see...

Waiting, Waiting...

Happy Independence Day!

Well, I was hoping baby and I would be independent of one another by today, but that hasn't happened. It is a little crazy-making to have the due date come and go, and still, nothing. All these stories of babies coming early... and then...nothing. I suppose I should have set my expectation day a week past the due date so it wouldn't be making me so anxious to be waiting, and waiting...

In any event, we're looking forward to our block party this afternoon and meeting all of our new neighbors. Adam is REALLY excited to go to the "dog party". He may have read "Go Dog Go!" one too many times - since that's where the "dog party" idea came from. He's already ventured over to the bounce house next door. Marchus has been cooking up a yummy dish to share and the BBQs and keg o'beer are already out in the street and ready to go.

So, that's it for now... I'll keep posting as things happen, or don't. :)

Nothing yet...

Well, today is baby's due date and I was certain that he/she would make his/her debut around now. But still nothing... Hmmmm... I am having contractions, but those have been happening for weeks now and I've learned to stop second guessing them. They seemed to be gearing up last night for a short while and then went away. Ah, well, the wait is on!

Our new neighborhood is having a block party for 4th of July. We'll be able to see the fireworks from our cul-de-sac. I'm looking forward to meeting all our new neighbors. It seems that most of the new homeowners here are families with young children so it will be fun to see everyone out and about. Since we are all recent purchasers, everyone is very friendly. So, hopefully, we'll make it to the party on friday night... unless we're at the hospital doing something more important. :)