Jack and Greta

We had such a good time this morning playing with each other! Greta is eager to show Jack how all of the toys work. She squeaks and jingles and pulls everything for Jack, and I think he likes it (there were no tears). And then the jammies came off and it was time to get really crazy!

Our Jack

It was 7:30am and Jack finally fell asleep in Mommy's warm place in the bed!

Look at me! I match!


Jack wanted me to tell you that he is soooo big that he is already in size 2 diapers! (He is going to be 4 weeks old in 2 days!) We are currently undecided on who he looks more like - I see so much Derek in his face, but I also see my Dado. I have a hunch that his eyes will be blue like Greta's and that he will be a blonde, too. He still has his days and nights confused, but that is alright, because he is pretty cute and cuddly at any hour.

I Asked for a Smile

Oh, Greta...sigh. You are such a funny girl.

Always My Baby Girl

She's almost two! She has had five haircuts and out grown so many pairs of shoes. She is getting taller and heavier...and bolder and braver...and she is turning into a little girl right before my eyes. And, my eyes well up with tears when I think about how much I love her. Sorry, I have to do this. I started this blog for her - as a journal, really... not for others to read. So, for her, I would like to reflect on all of those silly little things that might be forgotten if I don't write them down...all of those silly little things that make her who she is.

She is polite and says, "Nanks, mamma, nanks dadda."
She introduces herself, saying, "Name, Gigi", and "Name, Nigh Nigh", and "Name, Dadda" (she introduces everyone and everything she can.)
She starts the day asking for "Bites" (bites of Derek's shredded wheat cereal) and Milk and Nanna. (Which has now become "boonana".)
She loves pumpkins and kisses them and plays with them like they are friends.
She loves to ride in the "zoom zoom" and says, "nanks zoom zoom" when we get home again. She also will kiss the front of the car and hug it..
She has named one of the bunny rabbits in her bunny mobile that hangs above her crib - it is Fluff.
She adores Noggin and her favorite show is Oswald. She will watch it all day, and sometimes we do!
Her imagination is vivid. We pretend to bird watch and see the "Mita bird" from Oswald. She tells me to, "Shhhh, be very still and very quiet - the Hata bird, mamma!"
She loves to be tucked into bed with her nigh nigh and Bun bun and an old doll that Gee got her. (she strips it down naked, too!)
She also loves to be naked and will run around like that all day. She is not potty trained yet, but will tell me when she needs a diaper on and we never have accidents.
She loves elephants and has picked out an elephant costume for Halloween this year.
She loves Gee and Papa and Mimi the cat. She talks about them often and likes to call them on the phone just to hear Gee's voice.
She does sommersaults - off of furniture, so I have to be quick to catch her.
She says, "Weeeee" down the slide.
She knows the alphabet.
She counts to 10, but leaves out 4 and 7 everytime.
She knows her colors, but prefers to call everything a shade of pink.
She loves boots. Naked with boots is her favorite outfit.
She plays hide and seek, but when it is your turn to count she stands there and watches you.
She likes to ride on Derek's shoulders and hold onto his nose.
She loves her brother and kisses him (Thank GOD!)
She begs to hold him and touches his face with gentle hands.
She knows that she is loved.

Num Num Num

Greta went to Deanna Rose Farm for a horse drawn hayride and visit to the pumpkin patch, but stopped to feed the animals on the way.

If She Were Any Sweeter....

Sweet Greta, just up from a nap, is asking to watch Elmo and Po - this is what she calls Sesame Street. She likes to wake up slowly with her blanket and a little Elmo's World, letter of the day refresher. She also asks for the Ting Tings- her favorite rock group. We have an Apple TV and Greta loves to dance while music videos are playing. Her favorites are the Ting Tings, Weezer, and Goldfrapp. She is undoubtedly the sweetest hipster on the block.

Baby Noises

This little man brings me such joy - I am learning to laugh so I don't wake him up!

Greta Holds Jack

A Day at the Farm

Greta went to Deanna Rose Farmstead to soak up the beautiful fall weather. She enjoys this place very much - there are always so many kids to play with and, of course, the animals. They always seem kind of scary at first, but Greta always comes home with a new appreciation...the exception being the piggy.

Those are some big feet!

Jack's Story

We have known him a whole week already! How can that be? Someone you dream about your whole life is finally in your arms and your eyes finally get to wash over his sleeping face and the clock begins ticking double time. I am trying to take it all in and not miss a single second.

A week ago I was to be induced because Jack wasn't coming fast enough and my Dr. feared he was a large baby. I felt anxious about the induction. I was induced with Greta and really wanted to let him come on his own time - God's timing is always perfect. And, the perfect time came the night before the induction!

I woke up at midnight with strong contractions. I knew it was happening and had the feeling it would from the moment I woke up the day before. I timed the contractions until 1 and then woke up Derek (who I think had been sleeping with one eye open, sensing my restlessness.) We timed a few more and they were becoming so intense that I knew we should go to the hospital.

Gee and PaPa were staying with us and were both awake, too - The energy that filled our house was vivid! Everyone was wide eyed like it was Christmas Eve! We were on our way to meet our son. I will never forget the drive. It was so still and peaceful. The air was cool. Derek joked that he wanted to speed in and out of traffic to get us there just in time....just like the movie. But, it was just us on the road.

We got to L&D and my memories flashed back to our experience having Greta. Walking down the bright hospital hallway made me feel like a little child, and Derek, too. But this time maybe it was because we actually knew what we were in for! Hopefully there would be no surprises in store.

We were placed in a room and made to feel comfortable, given the IV and were left to ourselves. Derek managed to find a TV show about Sesame Street and Jim Henson Muppets (just when I can watch adult TV, I am watching Sesame Street - go figure.) But, it didn't matter - my contractions were hard and coming much quicker. I was trying so hard to go through labor without an epidural. I just wanted to know. But I was loosing the battle.

I tried the exercise ball and walking. I leaned on Derek and across the bed. But I was coming apart. I asked for the epidural at 5 am when I was 5 cm. It was such a blessing. It was such a different experience than what had happened during Greta's birth. The epidural worked and I felt much more relaxed and able to focus. Whew! Derek closed his eyes and I closed my eyes and visualized holding my baby very soon.

At 8 am my Dr. arrived and was thrilled to see we were here! But not thrilled to see that we were still at 5 cm. She broke my water to help speed things up. And we were again left to ourselves. When they checked me again, I was at an 8! I was so close! How thrilling!

But then the hours kept rolling by and my progress slowed. I seemed to stall out at 8 cm for the longest time. What to do? I don't know if it helped but I tried willing myself to progress and tried so hard to envision my body doing what it needed to do to bring the baby down. And, FINALLY I was there. It was 1:04 pm.

My nurse helped me start pushing. I pushed twice and she told me to stop and wait for my Dr. That was funny - she was at lunch. She was going to miss it all, too. They called her several times and had her book it up to my room. She scrubbed up and I pushed. Then she told me to stop! Well, the baby's cord was wrapped around his neck. She clamped it and cut it and we were on to get the shoulders out. Then he was crying in my arms -all blue and shocked. (he was blue and I was shocked!)

He really was a boy. He really was big! He peed on my Dr. even before she got him up on my chest! He weighed 9 lbs 14 oz, was 21 1/2 inches long and his head was 14 cm. He was here in all his glory and we still didn't know exactly what his name was!

Then the nurses scattered and Derek and I were left with him and phone calls to make to anxious family members. He was nursing and thriving already. What a mess of emotions that go through a new mom's head. The end of an era....the beginning of something else so big that you never even expect what it will bring to your life. And Jack is his name. Jack Boyer Colling, our son, has already made quite an impression.

Meet My Baby Brother, Jack

This is love.