Oliver Today...

My little ones...

There have been lots of moments this week where I've heard Gabe talking in a tiny voice to Oliver, or seen him get up from his play and ask "Where's Ol-ver mommy?" when I tell him where the baby can be found he runs over to look at him. When I ask him what he is doing he says "I just cheking Ol-ver mommy" My little boys make my heart melt and remind me that the dishes can sit in the sink for awhile, the floors can be swept tomorrow...

Sweet lullaby

Don't forget to pause my music player so that you can hear little Gabriel singing bits of "I am a child of God" and "twinkle twinkle little star" to Oliver

Baby Oliver... Two weeks old

With all my other boys I have made the mistake of thinking that I can capture that newborn "tender perfectness" with my own camera... By the time I got the film developed ( back in those days) with Evan and Eli it was too late... and I realized that my camera and skills just didn't cut it... poor lighting, bad angels etc... made for pictures that just don't do them justice. And when Gabe was a newborn we had just moved, life was crazy, and I sort of forgot about the whole photo shoot thing and then suddenly he was no longer a newborn... So I decided then that with "our next" we were going to get some professional pictures to capture those few seconds (or so it seems) that they are "new" I love. love. love... new babies. Their wrinkles, soft hair, the tiny curves of their ears, their downy hair, skinny bird legs, skin like velvet... I love to touch and hold, to smell and to just be amazed by all their tiny parts and that they are all... PERFECT! It is amazing!! I know lots of people are paranoid about germs with a newborn... I worry about people spreading germs too but I also want to share my babies... because there is nothing like a new baby. How often do you really get to hold a little angel so tiny...

and I am really rambling on, aren't I? Sorry... I tend to do that normally and then being TIRED makes it even worse! and I am really tired... So back to the reason for this post...
professional pictures...
My talented friend Camille Stewart (T&C photography) (who is sort of like a little sister... she is Julie's ( my real little sister) dear friend) came over for the afternoon with her cute baby girl Remy. It was so fun to chat and chill and pose Ollie with her. She is an amazing photographer and I love every picture that she took of him! I couldn't pick a favorite to post... so I just posted most of them! I am still learning how to make pictures big on blogs and it was taking too long so they are all pretty little ... but they are so much cuter close up. I think if you put the mouse on them and click it will enlarge the picture... try it and see because there is so much detail! I think she captured exactly what he looks like... his sweetness, his tender little self. I don't know about you but I can almost feel his warm little body and smell his sweet skin in these pictures... they are that good! I know I'm his mom so I am biased... but he is one beautiful baby... if you ask me?!!

May 18 2009

Two weeks old

Two babies...

I know that most of my recent posts have been about Gabe and Oliver... they are the ones who are home with me all day and really the ones who I am most concerned with lately. Don't get me wrong... I love and think about Elijah, Evan and Glen... it's just that they do ok without my constant attention :) Just when I think Gabe is doing well... he doesn't do so well! So mostly I feel like I have two babies... and I guess, really... I DO! I wonder though if it would be easier if they were both newborns... yes, twins have got to be easier??!! One big baby and one tiny baby are sure a handful but we are just taking it one day at a time. On good days I am so relieved and on not so good days Gabe has his binki and blanket all day (usually it's just for nap time) he escapes to the great outdoors early in the morning wearing only his snow boots and a diaper, he eats too many treats (whatever works to keep him happy) he cries and whines (a lot)... and that's just 1/4 of it! So in case you are wondering... Evan and Eli are doing great! They are finishing up their last weeks of school, both just finished soccer season and had lots of fun! They are both starting baseball and have been practicing a lot! Evan is busy with scouts, they do lots of jobs around the house and are loving the warm weather and lots of playtime outside. Evan had his final ballroom dance performance, and I will post video and pictures of all of these activities ... someday... maybe? For now we are taking things one day at a time. Lately Gabe not only acts like a baby... he wants to be one... he has to be everywhere that Oliver is....

the two babies with their Daddy

Ollie hanging out in his bouncy chair...
and as soon as I start snapping pictures Gabe gets very interested and has to steal the show...

It is a pretty cute show though....

until he tries to climb into the chair with Oliver... and then photo shooot over...

Gabe had been wanting to swing since we pulled this out of storage... this picture was taken on one of those not so good days... I indulged him... put him in the swing (so he'd stop whining about it) and loaded him up with colored marshmallows! I know that I am probably ruining him but we are in survial mode :)
and doesn't he look proud... he knows who's in charge...

like I said I'm taking one day at a time... whether its a good day or bad day... I'm making sure to take several moments everyday where I just enjoy the little things... Oliver certainly brings a special spirit to our home. Gabe is so innocent and curious and it's fun to see all of my boys full of excitement and wonder for their new baby brother!

Big Helper

I forgot how fun it is to have a curious toddler around a new baby.
On Sunday night what was left of Oliver's umbilical cord fell off. During the night he wet on his jammies (I keep forgetting to buy those" pee pee tepee" things... ) and when I took the wet jammies off, the cord was gone... since this was during the wee hours of the morning and my mind was in a fog I didn't do a search for the cord. I figured it was in the jammies and I'd throw it out the next day. So, that morning I was getting ready in my bathroom, Oliver was in his bouncy chair and Gabe was watching a movie on my bed. I glanced out into my room at Oliver, and Gabe was at his side trying to put something into Oliver's hand. I just watched for a minute making sure that Gabe was being gentle... then I said "what are you doing Gabe?" He came over to me and handed me the umbilical cord as he proudly announced
"I found his penis mom... he wants it?" I was surprised and had to make sure that what I heard was really what he said so I incredulously asked "what?" and sure enough... that's what he said! I couldn't help but laugh. Gabe has been very curious about Oliver's "belly button owie" I thought I explained it well enough... but I guess he saw things differently during Oliver's diaper changes... or something?? Hopefully that fact that he saw me throw it into the garbage,
does not traumatize him for life :)

oh, and sorry if I offended or shocked anyone with the P word... I am a nurse and a product of the nineties when the big rage of parenting was about using and teaching children correct terminology for their body parts yada yada ...
Well we do.

and it is a more common word around here than you'd think...

Can't help it, with all these boys!!!

As you know, once the cord heals completely newborns are ready for their first real bath. YEAH!! And boy, was Gabe a big helper!





Gabe is also very curious about nursing of course, who isn't?... It is sort of a strange thing (sorry all you la leche fans...) ...If I think about it too long I start to get weirded out!
So he makes comments all the time about "my hills" that's what they are to his trucks as he drives them up and down my body... so whatever! Just yesterday... it was an odd day... He was playing with some gummy bears. He makes them talk... they say "don't eat me" he hides them and tells them he's going to get them... etc... the kid is neglected I guess? :) anyway I looked over at him and he had the gummy bear pinched between his little fingers held up to his chest. I said "what are you doing Gabe" he replied "I feeding my gummy bear" I said "what are you feeding him?" "Chocolate milk mommy... I got chocolate milk in here" he said pointing to his chest. "It's not for ah-va-ver mommy... just my gummy bears " he concluded as he shook his head side to side and looked at me with his cheek tilted to his shoulder. what a cute boy! At least he is showing more interest though, right... that's a good way to look at... I'm sure these are the first of many funny stories ahead for us!

Here's our Oliver James
2 weeks old

little brother? ... not too bad

( May 12th... eight days old)

For the first several days after bringing Oliver home Gabe was not interested in his new baby brother at all! We said "hold him" Gabe said "NO!" we said "isn't he cute?" Gabe said "NO!" In fact he didn't want any of us to hold Oliver. He kept saying "Don't hold him!" "Don't feed him!" "Just hold Gabe"... and he didn't want anyone to help him but ME!! One day I picked Ollie up and started talking to him and Gabe had a little fit. Don't talk to "ah- va- ver" mommy" he whined and then he started to cry! All of this was breaking my heart! I've been feeling so tired, not able to keep up with FOUR kids, keep up a household and with poor Gabe really struggling... It was HARD... BUT slowly things are getting better and Gabe is getting used to most of the changes and I think he really likes Oliver now and that is a big step for a mama who's feeling pretty guilty! I know it will take a little time and I'm hoping that before we know it
Gabe and Oliver will be best buddies!!

Angel Baby

Here I am jumping out of order again... just thought I'd share a peak of our angel baby today. I glanced at him sleeping and couldn't help but snap a few pictures.... I think he's pretty irresistible. and those toes...yummy!

May 16th... twelve days old

some pictures... loving Oliver

My dad loves babies... he can't resist them... I have to get "stuff" done so Ollie spends time in his cradle, his bouncy chair or his swing. But when grandpa comes over after work he is quick to scoop up the little guy and is the best snuggler ever. He knows just how to love and give attention to Oliver and his little sidekick Gabe too... one amazing grandpa, my dad!!

Five days old...

Eli loves to hold his new baby brother

Evan and Eli rush home from school everyday, they burst through the door, hoping to be the first to wash their hands so that they can be the first to hold Oliver. A new baby is sort of like a new puppy (even better!) can't get enough at first... I keep thinking the obsession will wear off but it seems to only be getting stronger... for all of us!!

Evan and Oliver (4 days old)

On Mother's day we had a family picnic in my grandparents backyard. Here's Ollie all bundled up cuddly warm with my grandpa... I loved it when grandpa leaned forward in his chair and said "Let me hold that baby, Emily"
I love my grandpa's tender heart!
(Oliver 6 days old)

pretty random post, I know... I have so many pictures still to come. It is hard to believe that Oliver is almost 2 weeks old. He is such a good baby. We think he is pretty perfect and we love the joy he brings to our family!