FOUR!

Four years ago our Little Buddy was born.

It was five weeks before his due date, we had just that week moved into our first house, and we thought it was just Braxton-Hicks contractions.

After all, we had two false alarm trips to the hospital before Claire actually made her appearance.

When the nurse told me I was going to have Alex that night I laughed out loud!

I was so unprepared- no camera, no jammies, no coming-home-from-the-hospital outfit, nothing!

That whole night in the hospital I wondered about him and if he would look like Noah (I thought he would since Claire did) and how it would be to take him home and be a mother to two.

When a nurse gently told us about an hour before he was born that he was too early and would most likely need extra care, I was surprised.

I knew he was five weeks early, but for some reason, it didn't seem like it would be a problem.

There were extra nurses in the delivery room and a special set-up to deal with premature problems.

His actual delivery was so easy, I smiled through the whole thing and the doctor pointed out to a brand-new nurse (her very first delivery) that most of the time, it is not that peaceful and fast. :)

But I didn't get to hold him.

They whisked him to the nursery and finished up with me, and it wasn't for a few hours that I got to see him.

He was bloated yet tiny, red-faced and angry and connected to tons of machines.

He was mine and he was beautiful.

Then they told me he had to be transferred to a better-equipped Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, where he stayed for 13 days before coming home.

The nurses thought I would stay in the maternity ward to recover and then go home in 24 hours.

I thought, "Are you crazy? One of my babies is at home and the other is in another hospital. I am not staying here."

I didn't stand up for myself, but my awesome Mom did.

And 8 hours after Alexander was born, we left the hospital, no baby in tow.

Those 13 days were rough, with frequent visits to the NICU (where I would have lived had I not had Claire at home) where sometimes scary and sad things happened to my baby.

And then early one morning, we got the call that he was ready to come home!

We packed him in so gently and tightly in the car and I think I drove no more than 50 miles an hour, even on the freeway. :)

And then Noah got home from work, and I took a deep breath and thanked my lucky stars.

All four of us.

Home together.

Happy birthday Alexander James!

Embroidery

 I started this earlier this week, and I love that it is the type of project I can do a little bit at a time- a few stitches here as lunch is cooking, a few there as I wait for Claire to get out of school, and hopefully a lot as I park my bootie in front of the tv after we've gotten the kids to sleep for my recently-discovered love, Parks and Recreation. :)

I want to do another one (with more perfect circles, these ones are actually eye-balled), and listing it in my etsy shop for personalization. :) 

Rainy Day!!

Lucy has no shoes on here!

As soon as it started raining (pouring, more like), yesterday, they all just HAD to go outside.

I was not as enthusiastic, so I stayed inside to try to get pictures and get the warm towels ready. :)

You should have seen and heard them!

Sloshing, squealing, jumping, chasing each other- they were having a ball.

Then they were done, and they peeled off their cold, wet, muddy pants and socks and shoes, so ready for the warm, bubble-filled bath that was waiting for them.

Followed by hot chocolate, snuggles and stories in the reading corner, and a simple but delicious dinner?

That is what we call a perfect afternoon.

I wish I could keep these for myself, I love them so much :)

Bit by Bit

A new set of burp pads!

Having a great weekend, especially the gray, cloudy, rainy skies. :)

Little Heirlooms is Reopening!

Working a little on my etsy shop in the hopes of growing it this year!

Just listed two burp pad sets with plans to gradually and continually add more items, including quilts, embroideries and  buntings. :)

 Also been spending a lot of time outside lately (and crossing fingers for rain!) and cracking up at these two:

Happy Wednesday! :)

Lucy Loo is Two!

 Two years ago, she surprised us in the greatest way by arriving in the grandest fashion: 35 minutes of hectic labor and there she was, in the safety of Daddy's hands.

Since then, she has delighted us and tested us and frightened us, but mostly she has brought joy to our home and many others.

Now she is two; a giggling, running, jumpng, scribbling, gives-the-tightest-hugs two-year old.

And she thought it was the greatest when her four biggest fans serenaded her with the birthday song upon waking up. 

She wasn't too sure about those candles!

What can I say?

Every single day I am more grateful for her than the day before. :)

Happy birthday, Love.