4 weeks...

Little Marshall turned 4 weeks today. He is sweet baby---he really likes to be cuddled and snuggled which is great...however hard to do 24/7 with a 2 year old who also has needs. He is pretty good during the day....but when 3 or 4 roll around...he turns into a different little baby. He is very fussy in the evening....and it lasts pretty much all evening...until about 9 or so, which is hard when both parents are fried from the day...and we have a trying 2 year old who needs his needs met too . During this time we do what we can to comfort him...but man it is rough at times. Everything I read says that the crying usually peaks about 6 weeks...so I am praying for that to happen. Brayden is still doing well....he seems to be more and more interested in the baby every day...especially his play mat. He is also lashing out though...he is starting to yell/scream, hit things and throw himself out of time out....pretty sure this is a combo of the 2's and being jealous. But, for the most part, most of the time he is quite enjoyable dancing, singing, and playing with his diggers, choo-choos and cars. Brayden also has been peeing on the potty before bath and bedtime...he is not quite ready for potty training...but we are getting closer...and I am not ready for potty training quite yet...I am still trying to figure out life with 2 kiddos :) We are excited to celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!!
Here are some pictures of the 2 little guys...

3 weeks

Little Marshall is 3 weeks old today! I cannot believe that it has been 3 weeks since we welcomed our little boy into the world! Things are going pretty good---we have our good moments...and of course the REALLY ROUGH ones too! But, I keep trying to remind myself, that time is going to go too fast...so I just need to enjoy and soak up every moment...because before I know it Marshall will no longer be a newborn (this is hard to do when he has been screaming for what seems like hours...but I try)
We were so lucky to have so much help this time around---Aaron's mom stayed with me for a week---a pretty rough week at times---and then my mom was here the following week. It was SO WONDERFUL to have help---meals were cooked, laundry was done, Brayden was kept busy and able to get out to classes and such. I was really sad, nervous, anxious---really a mixed bag of emotions when my mom left on Sunday---as I knew now it was me and 2 kiddos on our own during the day. However, we are 3 days in...and we are all surviving! We actually have made it out of the house everyday---Brayden is still going to go to his sitter's Monday and Wednesdays...and yesterday we went to a play group! I am pretty sure all the other things with the house will not get done as quickly as before---but that is okay...or at least I am going to have to learn to deal with it!

Marshall is a sweet baby---he is growing quickly---even when my mom left she said that she could tell that he had grown over the week. He is starting to stay awake a little longer each day. He is a BIG eater...and lets us know when he is hungry! He still uses those lungs and little cry often! Brayden is adjusting well to being a big brother. He is always curious about what the baby is doing and where he is. (As you can see from the pictures) However, it is easy to see that he wants us to remember that he is in need of attention and LOTS of it...he has had quite a few time outs for hitting and yelling at us...but we knew that would be a part of having 2! Here are a bunch of pictures of what we have been up to...

The first week in pictures...

Our family of 4!

So, God has blessed us with another miracle---our little baby boy, Marshall Patrick! He is just really stinkin' cute---with his super chubby cheeks!

We headed to the hospital on Wednesday morning at about 5:30 am. The induction process started at about 7am...and I was a little more nervous this time about the induction---I think just because I knew how fast and strong the contractions would come on. Well...it was not as bad as I anticipated...and I made it about 4 hours on my own, and then had an epidural. Even though, that itself was quite painful---the result afterwards was TOTALLY worth it! I mean--I give props to every woman out there who can do this labor process a'natural....but once the epidural was in---I was so relaxed and pretty pain free...and before I knew it, ready to push!!! I was a little nervous that the epidural would slow things down or make it hard for me to push---but that was not the case--in total I was in labor about 8 hours and pushed little Marshall out in 10 minutes (which as my goal!) So he entered the world at 2:59pm on October 26th...weighing 9 pounds and 19 inches long.






So this time around things have been a little different. It seems that both Aaron and I are a little more relaxed and well Luthern General has been wonderful! They have been so supportive and waited on us hand and foot---as excited as I am to go home---I am going to miss my on call nurse and room service! Since Marshall is a bigger baby than Brayden is, I think that we feel a little more comfortable holding and moving him around too. I also have been able to nurse him this time, which Brayden and I could never get the hang of. By no means, it is an easy process, but Marshall and I are working together as a great team and we are doing our best :) and things seem to be going pretty well

And for Big Brother Brayden....he could seriously not have been any more excited yesterday when he got here. Right away he hopped up in bed (even though Marshall was testing out his lung strength---which let's just say, I think he has Brayden beat for decibels of screaming) and said BABY and gave him kisses. I was so happy to see Brayden---I have really missed him the last 2 days---but I am also enjoying my time getting to know our new baby. Marshall gave Brayden some John Deere tractors so he was thrilled...and Brayden gave Marshall a little prayer book (so he would have his own just like Brayden). I think from the pictures you will be able to see his excitement in meeting the baby. We have given both Marshall and Brayden the best gift ever---the special bond that brothers share. I am so excited for the two of them to get to know each other and watch them grow (but not too fast)! And of course, no "Birth" day celebration would be complete without cake...







Oh...and as far as the 2 boys looking similar here are their pictures....Marshall and then Brayden...I see some similarities....but I think Marshall looks a little more like me :) (probably those cheeks)