Brothers

Well now that I'm back at work I decided to stop being lazy and finally take the 890 pics off of my phone and share a few.Here are all the "brother" pics from the last 3 months:

 

First car trip!

notice the Kleen Kanteen in Miller's lap? Marshall must have "shared" during the ride...

 

 

Marshall really loves Miller. He talks about him and wants to see him as soon as he wakes up. He wants to give him (and take away) his pacifier and toys. He likes to hold his hand while he's nursing. He always asks to hold him. He gives him a million kisses a day. Now that Miller is smiling and cooing Marshall is really into him.

He also does funny/not-so-funny things like pry Miller's eyes open when he's sleeping, steps on him if he's in his path, throws balls at him while yelling "catch," pushes the swing as hard as he can when Miller is sleeping in it, and my biggest pet peeve; walks up to him and screaches in his ear while he's sleeping. So far he hasn't hurt him and I know he isn't being malicious... he's just too young to understand the concept of causing pain and lacks the impulse control to realize that screaming at a sleeping baby isn't the best idea.

For the most part Marshall is gentle and just wants to love on his baby brother. I'm trying to get as many pictures and videos of him being lovey now because I know it won't be too long until Miller is the one obsessed with Marshall and Marshall will be sick of it:) 

Back at work

Today was my first day back at work. Can you believe its been 12 weeks already??? I jumped right back into my normal 10 hour shift (10.5 after lunch).

Last night I had a mini meltdown. I was getting all teared up and contemplating waiting one more day/week/month. I don't think I was really worried about leaving the kids. I've already gone through that with Marshall so I knew what to expect. It was hard with him at first but then I got back into the groove and enjoyed the time I was at work. He was nice and waited until Jerad and I were around to roll over, sit up, crawl, talk and walk for the first times so I never felt like I was missing out.

I think this time around I was mostly worried about how the nanny would handle both of them at the same time... if she'd be able to give them both the attention that they needed.

I decided that the first day was going to be hard no matter how long I waited so I sucked it up and went back. Luckily everything went great. The nanny texted me that everything was going great and they were going to go to the park. Everyone was so sweet to me, I remembered how to do my job, and got to drink a cup of coffee uninterrupted... without having to microwave it 4 times. AND I was able to get caught up on the literally 1001 emails in my inbox and 1000+ unread blogs in my reader.

I had forgotten how awful it is having to pump breastmilk at work. That's how I spend all of my breaks. And how I will be spending all of my breaks for at least the next YEAR. Oh well... at least I have an iPhone and Scramble with Friends this time around:)

I'm changing my schedule from four ten hour shifts, to a ten hour shift on Monday and Thursday, then 7-1:30 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I'll still have 33 hours so I can keep our benefits, but I'll be off early enough on Tuesday and Wednesday to take the kids to the park, Children's Museum, or just be able to make dinner and give baths without being rushed. Then I'm off Fri-Sunday. Its a pretty sweet sauce schedule if you ask me.

6 weeks

Miller had his 6 week Well Visit yesterday. He's up to 11lbs and 3 oz. I don't really know what to say about the last 6 weeks. They've gone very smoothly. I was a little nervous because I knew Jerad was going to be working out of town/state for at least 4 days a week for the first 2 months after Miller was born. He's actually been in Georgia for the last *7* days! Taking care of two babies alone seemed a little daunting but its actually been incredibly easy, well I'm not sure you can ever call raising children easy... but I'm not sure what other word to use. So far he's just fit right into our lives like he was always here.

A friend made the comment on facebook that "you know how after you have your 2nd baby, taking that new baby with you places feels like having no kids at all compared to your older child?" And man is that soooo true! If I have just Miller with me its a piece of cake. All he does is eat and sleep. There's no snacks and water bottle to pack. I don't have to schedule outings around his naptime. He never looses a shoe or gets bored shopping. He doesn't have opinions yet! If he's upset, he'll just nurse then pass out. Seriously love this newborn stage. 

Right now Miller has about 3 "awake" periods a day. Most of the time they are during Marshall's 2 naps and the first two hours after he falls asleep. Which is good and bad. Its good because I get to spend alone time with both kids, but not so good because I don't really ever have a chance to rest or nap myself. Miller wakes up to nurse 2-3 times most nights but falls asleep immediately after.


To be fair he does have about a 2 hour fussy period every night from about 7:30-9:30 which is a crappy way to end the day. I've tried EVERYTHING. Walking, rocking, nursing, pacifier, gripe water, bath, singing, babywearing, bouncing on a yoga ball, lights on, lights off... he's just pissy. I know its only temporary so I don't mind too much. Marshall was never like this so I know its Miller's issue and not something that I'm doing wrong. Most nights I just put a movie on netflix on my laptop, put on headphones so I don't have to hear him as much, and nurse and rock him in the rocker in my room. Maybe not the ideal solution, but its the best I can do on my own and probably preferable to shaking him or locking him in a closet right? Kidding.


Marshall loves his new baby brother. He asks to hold and give him kisses a hundred times a day, likes to pat and poke and pry open his eyes and share his toys. Its pretty cute. 


Prepare for photo overload:

Jamba Juice outing, 1 week.

First real bath, 10 days old.

First Bath.

Christmas Eve, 11 days.

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

3 weeks (hanging out in the wrap while I clean)

3 weeks and looking dapper

3 weeks

3 weeks

4 weeks

4 weeks

4 weeks

5 weeks

5 weeks

5 weeks

6 weeks and pissed about a sink bath

6 weeks

6 weeks

6 weeks

Newborn Photos

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the newborn photo shoot we did at 5 days old: