Bath Time

It's amazing how steep the learning curve is for parenting. Take bath time, for instance. Ezra didn't seem to like bath time in the beginning. We later learned that we were way too conservative on the the temperature; we were worried about it being too hot. Instead, it was too cool. Poor guy...and it was winter too. Heh. Live and learn. 

Theo sure has some things easier just because we've done this before. ;)

So, of course, Theo loved the time in the water. We already knew this though because when I went into the tub, post-birth, we cuddled in there for awhile before taking his stats.

Did I mention he's balding?

Yup, losing all the fuzzy hair. Question remains: Blonde or Brown when it grows back in?

Theo's Newborn Pictures

Theo is not a very cooperative subject. We had to do two sessions in order to get some good pictures and I'm still amazed at how Jessi was able to get more than five good ones for the CD. Here's a few of our favs:

Theo's 1st Month

Sweet Theo,

You are already a whole month!! We are so thankful for your smooth entrance into our world and that you've been so easy and so healthy. Here are some things we've noticed about you as we get to know who you are...

--Mr. Spitter-Upper...without fail you spit up every.single.time we change you or hand you over to someone. We're thinking this has to do with Mama's oversupply of milk.

--Already moving into 0-3 month clothing and showing rolls...something that is very new to us.

--Early puberty...you have had quite a few zits {milia..is the technical term} in your first month

--High pitch volume...you definitely make sure we know you're here and hungry. You are super mellow when you're not hungry, but when you want it, you shriek out! I guess you're just living up to your middle name of Zev, meaning "wolf"

--A great sleeper...already giving Mama some 5-5.5 hour stretches

--Super alert and great neck control! I swear you've actually smiled at me!

--Look a lot like your big brother...we thought perhaps you would look entirely different, but you share similar features.

--Even though you look like brother, you also have many Swenson traits: feet, mouth, and ears

--Your big brother just adores you! You are still on the fence about all his affection {albeit rough}, but he loves to kiss, cuddle, hold, and 'pat' you.

--Jury is still out but we're thinking that you may actual do just fine in the car...but again, it's a bit early.

We are all smitten with your newborn sweetness. As your Papa says, "You are freaking adorable!" 

Love you, Butterball

Siblings

Theo {1 month}

Ezra {1 week}

4 Weeks

Here's what four weeks of being a bit too house bound will make you...

...a bit on the chunky side...

...a bit on the stir-crazy side...

Ever so slowly, we're making small trips here and there...

Festive Ideas

I looooooove this time of year...okay, pretty much September through December. I'm a bit sad {okay, totally bummed} that I can't go all out this year. I'm slightly preoccupied by two little ones where I'm lucky if my teeth are brushed, deodorant is on, and I've showered in the last 72 hours. Back to the basics of life. 

But that doesn't mean I can't dream during 2am feedings when I can catch a moment to surf the net.

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My hope is to at least get my box out of the garage and put up a few things. Any fun new ideas will have to wait until next year. 

Happy Decorating!

Bringing In The Reinforcements

Yes, it does in fact take a village. Since Theo made his wonderful entrance into our little world, we have not been afraid to ask for help! 

The biggest and most obvious help has been my parents. I'm consistently thankful and blown away by their amazing and unending support. Just last week, my mom drove Theo and me an hour out to an appointment, waited in the waiting room for 45 minutes and then drove us back home. My dad took 2 hours out of his afternoon to attend Theo's circumcision so I'd have some moral support. Not to mention all the yummy meals they've taken care of here and there throughout the last 3 weeks, taking E at the drop of a phone call, and the check-ins with me to make sure I'm still breathing and not dead from a fever or stress. Heh.

A few weeks ago, my Auntie Rhonda {my mom's sister} came over for a few hours to hang with Ezra while W did some errands. Since I was still recovering from mastitis phase I, I wasn't really all that helpful. She spent time loving on E and being goofy with him.

  Two Saturday ago, Mama Judy came into town. She'll be here for two WHOLE weeks!! Seriously, a God-send. W started work last week and has been gone all day. He only sees Ezra for his last ten minutes of awake time while W puts him to bed. Having Mama here means I don't have a screaming, starving baby while having to try to get dinner on the table, a toddler fed and bathed, or when stealing away for a shower or quick bite to eat. How is it that Theo's eating schedule seems to coinicide with E's nap time, meal times, or any other time sensitive daily event?! Not sure how that's going to work when there's just me. Heh.

I'm completely indebted to my sweet sweet family on both sides. They have been such servants and so wonderful; it's hard to put into words. Since my body just doesn't like to cooporate during recovery and actually recover, it's been such a deep blessing to have these amazing people in our lives to help us, encourage us, and provide for us in such practical ways.

Sure, we may move away. In fact, we still want to someday. But now I'm saying when our youngest is like 10 or something. ;)

First Week Completed!

{first day's suit}

In his words: "I am whelmed. Not exactly overwhelmed and certainly not underwhelmed. Just whelmed." 8o)

He's very excited and loves to finally be in a job that requires mental skill and his years of school. The next three weeks will undoubtedly be a challenge. His training is being held in one of their main offices which is a 40-60 minute commute. So, we haven't seen a whole lot of W during the week which is really hard for us!! He's quickly become a major celebrity of this house and his arrival each evening is greatly anticipated by all!

I'm so proud of William. And so excited for his new adventure of bringing home the big bacon. It'll definitely be an adjustment getting use to missing my hubby so much. We've really been fortunate to have so much time together up until now. Once he's at the local office and things settle into place, I'm sure we'll do better with the new schedule. Lots of changes in the Swenson family!

Theo Has... {2 weeks}

...a giant set of lungs on him. 0 to screaming in no time...

...Papa's feet...

...gained weight-- 7 lbs 13 oz at 2 weeks...

...had a beautiful belly button at 5 days {one of the perks of delayed cord-cutting}

....Papa's ears...

...a fussy time around dinner and sometimes around 9 pm, then gives us long stretches at night...

...pretty much set into a 2 hr eating schedule...

...not taken to the paci quite yet but is a "high suck" baby...

...Mama's dark hair and skin... 

{betcha didn't know the Arterburns have Cherokee Indian in 'em}

...loves the wrap...

...has dark blue {we're pretty sure} eyes...

R & R Update

Pregnancy--- can totally do it

Birth-- sure, it's hard work, but I can do that too

Recovery-- I'd rather poke my eyes out and walk across burning coals

I've never been a good rester or recover-er. Just ask my mom and she'll bust out with, "You're just like your father!" It is so hard to just rest and do nothing. I just long for normalcy again and I miss my guys.

I have tried really hard this time around to truly rest and recover from birth. I think I'm doing fairly well. But after two kids, I'm realizing that nursing does not come naturally for me, or at least it's been a battle to establish while in recovery. Granted, with E, I took me a good month and a half of stressful labor and dedication to make nursing easy. This time around it was only a week--but it stilled seemed like eternity! Eternity in the breastfeeding trench: mastitis {again}, fever between 103 and 104, low supply, blood blisters, cracks, tears, scabs, soreness, sharp pain...well, you get the point. 

Enter God's grace: La Leche League

We had a leader come to our house. She spent 2 hours with me just working on our latch. I also went to a drop in session and a local meeting; all in an effort to get a good solid, pain-free latch. And I'm happy to report that we got a good latch, I'm not skittish about each feeding and the pain I'll be in, and what once took a good hour to get a full feeding in, is starting to take 40 minutes or less. And I've learned so much about breastfeeding in the process; much of what I'd heard before, just needed the reminder.

Guess something along the whole baby-making process had to take work and sacrifice to make it happen.

Everything else about recovery has been going super well. I don't feel exhausted, just tired. I try to nap everyday while W is still home and make short trips outdoors. Today, we took our walk to the library. 

So, we're all still here! Just needed some extra time to rest, recover, and get that nursing going strong! Part two of Theo's birth is coming soon, I promise!