Oh Christmas Tree

It's that time of year again. We cut down our tree and started getting ready for Christmas.

Normally, we have to wait to the weekend after Thanksgiving to get our tree and decorations up do to holiday travel.  This year, with Bennett's arrival, we stayed in St. Louis and are enjoying the 4 day weekend.

We headed down to Festus to Meert's Christmas Tree Farm to cut down our tree.  I guess everyone else had the same idea as me, get there early because everyone will be Black Friday shopping.  We decided not to wait for the tractor to take us to our tree type.

We walked over and started our search.  Amazingly enough the selection was good and easy.  We looked at just a few trees before we made our selection.

I swear this is a family of 4

Gabe looking anywhere but at Dad

After a few slices with the saw, Scott had the tree down and it was time to head back to the barn.  Gabe and I hung out checking out sticks and an empty creek while Scott tied the tree to the top of the car.

And just like that, we were headed home to watch the Husker game.

Thanksgiving 2014

What a wonderful Thanksgiving!  It ranks up there with one of my all time favorite Thanksgivings.  We had so much to be thankful for this year.  We have a new addition to the family and we got to spend Thanksgiving in St. Louis with our family.

We had a great day of watching football, cooking (my dad and Michelle get the credit for that), playing with the boys and just enjoying each other.  I'll let the pictures show the day.  I tried to get a few action shots as the day progressed.

Decca waiting for something to drop

Gabe helped make and sample turkey cookies

Sampling Pop Pop and Aunt Michelle's cooking

Turkey Hat

Our turkeys

Stuffed

2 Weeks

We had Bennett's 2 week check up today.  This kid is growing too fast!  When we left the hospital he weighed 7lbs, 16oz.  On his 4 day weigh in he was up to 7lbs, 1oz.  Successful weight gain in the eyes of our doctor.  So his 2 week check up weigh in was a whopping 8lbs, 6oz! He even gained 1.5 inches in length too.

Scott and I couldn't believe how much he has grown in 2 short weeks.  I guess when you only eat and sleep the body gets moving fast.

Here are a few things Bennett did in his first 2 weeks.

Life with 2 boys

Scott was sick while Bennett was born, I got sick in the hospital, and my mom was sick and taking care of Gabriel during the 2 days I was in the hospital.   Needless to say, life with 2 boys started out a little rough.  

 Scott spent the Friday night at home with Gabe and my mom, while Bennett and I stayed in the hospital and I got some needed rest.  On Saturday morning Scott arrived, feeling better and ready to take us home. I couldn't wait to get home to see Gabriel.

Since there was the increase in births, thank you Valentine's Day, it took forever for us to get a wheelchair to leave.  Another awesome nurse went to the lobby grabbed a chair and brought it back for us.  We finally left around noon.  

It was an easy drive home.  Much easier than it was with Gabriel.  Bennett slept the whole 5 minute drive home.  However, it was weird not sitting next to him in the back.  

When we got home we were great by Gabriel and Grammie.  Gabriel couldn't wait to love on his little brother.  It was the cutest thing I've ever seen.  

Gabe is a very proud big brother. If these feelings would last their whole lives I'd be happy.

The first few days were pretty easy for us.  Bennett loves to sleep.  We would set our alarm to wake up every 3 hours to feed him.  After our 4 day doctor appointment, our doctor said let him sleep.  He had gained enough weight and my milk came in, so enjoy the sleep. And we have.  

Gabriel is still going to daycare while I'm on maternity leave.  We are trying to keep his schedule as normal as possible.  So far he has done well.  He is still teething and cutting his K-9 teeth(which are the worst).  

Overall life with 2 boys has been fun and busy - and we wouldn't have it any other way.  

Bennett John

We welcomed Bennett John into our family on November 6, 2014 at 5:35pm.  He was 7lbs, 7 oz and 20 inches long.  We are completely in love with this little guy.

Scott and I arrived at Mercy about an hour after I was called for the induction.  After a little paperwork and waiting, we were in our labor and delivery suite.  It was our second time in the newly renovated area and I think our room was a little nicer this time.  

After 2 failed attempts to get an IV going, our awesome nurse Karen, got one going, as well as the antibiotics and Pitocen.  Everything was cruising along and progressing slowly, so they broke my water around 11:20am.  Scott did his best to read the contraction print out and try to predict when the baby would arrive, just like he did with Gabriel.

Then things moved a little faster.  I finally started feeling the contractions and around 1pm we asked for the epidural.  Why people go through labor to experience it is beyond me.  I felt enough, by the time the doctors arrived.  Once the epidural kicked it I didn't feel much until around 4pm.  My doctor arrived at 3:30 to check on me and let me know that the baby would be here by 6pm.  

Around 4:30 I mentioned that I was feeling the contractions and that I needed to push.  Scott went to find my nurse, who informed him that my doctor was in surgery(yay).  The next hour went very fast.  My doctor arrived and she and the nurse prepped the room while Scott distracted me from the contractions.  By 5:15 my doctor was ready and having me push.  A grand total of 4 pushes later, and Bennett was here.

Bennett couldn't be more perfect.  He looks like Gabriel with a lot of dark hair.  His eyes are a darker steel color as well.   There is a chance that Bennett could look more like a Manzotti.

We were held in the labor and delivery room longer than expected due a full moon and crazy increase in births. We had dinner in there and plenty of bonding time with our little guy.  Our nurse was able to make sure we got a great room just down the hall.   Once we got in our room we got settled and slept. Bennett decided he was too cool for mom and dad and made friends in the nursery over night.  

It was some of the best sleep I'll get for a while.

First week of November

A lot has happened, not much at all has happened this week.  While I'm officially on maternity leave,(thank god!) starting October 31st, I'm just hanging out.   Sitting around waiting at 40 weeks.  I've been looking forward to this break.  I was starting to get burnt out at work and pregnancy brain mixed in with that and training my back-up was not fun.  Can't wait for a a screaming newborn to add to the fun.

My mom arrived on Saturday and of course, her bag stayed in Chicago. We didn't do too much over the weekend. We went to CrossFit and Gabe and I played.  Then hung out at the house  for a while.  Of course I got a migraine on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday-can we say drop in hormone level.  Still no baby.  

In between the migraines and teething 1 year old - we have been enjoying my mom's visit and cleaning up a bit around the house.  There are still a few home improvements that need to be finished, but I think we are ready for Baby A to arrive.

No matter what happens in the next day, Baby A will be here and our cute family of 3 will be a crazy house of 4.  I can't wait to see big brother Gabriel in action in the next couple days, weeks, years.  He is a amazing little boy and will be a great brother.  As for Baby A - just cannot wait to get to see who has been kicking me for the last 6 months!  

Pumpkin Carving

Back in October we bought pumpkins to carve for Halloween.  I had the idea that Gabe would get a kick out of pulling the gunk out of the pumpkin or at least watch Scott do the cutting.  That didn't happen.  Gabe was scared of the entire process.  He wouldn't get too close to Scott and wouldn't dare touch the seeds or gunk inside.  So, Scott carved us a nice jack-o-lantern and Gabe and I watch Curious George Halloween Special.  Here are the pictures of the wonderful event.

This is as close to Scott as Gabe would go

Halloween 2014

Halloween this year was a little different than past years.  We had to make sure Gabe was bundled up and fed before trick or treating.  Of course he is only 1 and we didn't go crazy.  We did fight him to get into his adorable lion costume.

On the Thursday before Halloween (October 30), Gabe's daycare invited all the kids to dress up for pictures.  It was so cute.  And Gabe "happily" put on his lion hat - for pictures only.  The kids looked great and Mary was able to get pictures Scott and I could not.

Clearly thrilled with the hat on

This is the best smile the whole day.

On actual Halloween, Gabe just work his pirate pumpkin shirt and was happy.  We picked him up and headed to the Birch's for dinner and play time.  Gabe did well.  He played with Mathew while the fire pit was set up and even ate dinner.  He wasn't too sure about the trick or treaters at the door.

He did want to hand out the candy.  Scott took him to a few houses before it was noticeable that it was almost bedtime.

We said our good-byes to the Birch's and thanked them for letting us hang out.  Then it was off to the Bello's house for a quick pop in.  Mike and Nicole hadn't shown up yet so we chatted then headed home.  Gabe fought sleep for 10 minutes and then crashed.  Scott managed to get him out of the car seat, carry him into the house and take off the lion costume without waking him up.  Very impressive work.

It was the perfect Halloween for us and I can't wait to continue it next year with 2 crazy monsters to chase around.