Week 1 and 2

1 Week

It has been a learning curve that we have been on this past week: learning Ben's schedule, how to balance having two littles to tend to, how to get quality sleep (when all your kids want is to snuggle with you all night-and how do you say no to that ???), and just a routine of daily life. It has been good for us to have Blake take the week off to help all of adjust as it does take both of us to keep things on track. It's been mostly Blake & Liv and Ben & I.

Ben is loving snuggles and eating (every hour to hour and a half), so it's mostly me. We have to continue weight checks as he isn't gaining. Other than that it seems to be going much smoother this time around. He is a snuggler-wanting to be held majority of the time (day or night). Liv is loving on him-he has to read bedtime books with us and gives him kisses all the time.  

We will continue the learning curve as Liv starts daycare next week-which she keeps telling me "No, I stay with you." She is such a little sweetheart-only time she gets us really going is nap time. She pushes back hard most days and starts not listening well when she is so tired. It is not time to give up the nap-she needs it and so do we! I know she will be just fine once she gets back going as she enjoys being around other kids and they keep them busy there.



 
2 Week
We are continuing to adjust as Liv heads back to daycare this week and Blake heads to work. Liv is struggling a bit as she wants to stay home. She had a good first day, but as the week went on she was more hestitant to leave the house-flat out refusing to get dressed or in the car. In her words, "I can't." We do hear that she is having good days from her teachers. The first day one of her friends ran up to her and gave her a welcome back hug.

He went in for his check up with the doctor: 7 lbs. 15 oz 21 1/1 inches. We continue weight checks and began supplementing.

We cant get enough of this cutie!

Welcome Baby Marlowe #2

Announcing the arrival of Benjamin Thomas!
He entered our world at 2:02 p.m. He was orginally scheduled for 11:30, but we got delayed by two deliveries. We were quite anxious to meet our little one....getting pushed back made us even more anxious. We were ready to meet Baby Marlowe # 2. We were expecting a BIG baby-as they said at 38 weeks he was estimated to be 8 lbs. 10 oz.....it was close, he weighed 8 lbs. 7.6 oz and was 20 1/1 inches. Even as I was laying there before Blake came in, Ben was moving and shaking in my belly. It entertained the hospital staff. He was always moving.

First moments:

In the surgery room, Blake announced that we had a little boy! Happy tears were shed by both dad and mom. Blake came over and gave me a kiss. The Marlowe name lives on. The first words I heard from one of the nurses was that he was a little sleepy as they held him up for my first look. They took him over and got him sucked out and cleaned up-Blake stayed by him the whole time. Then Blake brought him over for me to smooch. We were so happy. Blake got to trim the cord and snuggle him while they finished up with me. As soon as we got back to the room, I got to have skin to skin with him. This time I felt more in control of my body-I could feel my arms and really snuggle my wee one. We got a few hours in recovery before my parents brought Liv up to meet her brother. When they got there, Blake brought Liv in and we introduced her to Ben. Her first words, "Where is my sister?" We explained that she has a brother, which she seemed fine with. She wouldn't tell Grandma and Papa and wouldn't hold him until she got home even though she visited daily and gave many kisses to his toes. She also continually said, "I love my baby and where is baby?"

 

Going Home

 Our first few days:
Liv continued to be very loving towards Ben. The days went well as he enjoys snuggling with us, Liv takes her turn holding him (about 10-30 seconds)-small doses are enough for her. Nightime is a little more interesting. He wants to be held and cuddled throughout-we are working on figuring out the routine. His first outing happened on the 9th, we went to Hy-Vee for lunch. He had his first weight check at his doctor's office 7 lbs. 11 oz. He goes back on Monday for another. Then he will get his two week check-up.

A Long Weekend and Baby Prep

Blake and Liv took a trip to Maryland to visit and surprise Grammy (Blake's mom) for her 60th birthday. I loved getting picture and text updates on their activities while facetiming to help alleviate my feelings of missing out on hanging out with them, technology is definitely helpful at times. I loved and it made me cringe when talking with her, that she was asking to come home and wanting to snuggle with me. I know she was having a blast and good hands throughout her long weekend. However, nothing beats daily doses of Liv snuggles are the best. Definitely can't wait to get snuggles from both of my little ones soon, the happiness feeling can only double. 

She got to visit a splashpad, swing in the hammock-Uncle Billy got be her safety belt as she continued to aske to be pushed higher, go to a petting zoo, and play with many dogs-she is such an animal person and can't get enough of them wherever she is. 

It is wonderful that Liv and Blake get to spend time together and have some memories on their own-it reminds me of going fishing, playing tennis, and springbreak trips with my own dad. As they were having a fun time, Grandma (my mom) came down to keep me company and help with some baby prep. We made freezer meals and goodies to have for when baby arrives or keep until I head back to work, when things get really chaotic. She also did some cleaning and bought some items for baby Marlowe #2. 

We are really fortunate to have such a wonderful support system near and far.