Levi is 7 Weeks!

I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.  Seven weeks ago I gave birth to my son.  My son!!  Things are going very well all things considered.  We are adjusting to being parents of two.  Someone asked Zack the other day if I went to take a break and he replied that with two there are no breaks.  So true!  Unless they are asleep we are chasing, feeding, disciplining, soothing, etc...  Levi has proven himself to be a sweet asset to this family.  He loves to sleep and does so between each feeding.  He will eat, be alert for a little bit and then sleep till it is time to eat again.  He does HATE to be wet or poopy, so if one of those things happen he is sure to let us know.  It is funny the difference between kids.  Moriah didn't mind waiting to be changed and never cried for a dirty diaper.  She cried for other things, a lot, but not that.  He has been such a great night time sleeper too.  He has given me a couple night where he has gone 8 hours between feedings.  Most of the time he just goes 6 though.  I can't complain about that!  He has been having a fussy time every evening, which has been challenging, but God is good.  He doesn't usually start his fussy until Moriah goes to bed.  BLESSING!  We only have to deal with it when we only have him to focus on.  He has been smiling and cooing more and more.  I am excited to find out what his personality will be like.  He already seems to have a bit of a temper and is a feisty thing when something is not going his way.  (ie. when he is hungry or has a diaper change)  I have to say, being a mom of two is challenging but rewarding.  I am not sure how people do it once they are out numbered.  Two is enough for us, for now.    

It's Been A While...

So I kind of fell off the blogging planet.  I have been crazy busy getting to know my little Levi and spending quality time with Moriah (so she doesn't feel replaced).  It has been tricky, this mothering two thing, but totally worth every minute.  I promise to return to the blogging world soon with updates.  Posts to look forward to:

Levi turns One Month!  (almost two now, but I plan on back tracking so I have it blogged)

GADC (Grace Adventures Day Camp)

Moriah and Potty Training

Family Portraits

Amazing New Sling

Exciting Summer Plans

Truth Project

Ok, I think that is enough for now.  Look for these posts in coming days...I promise I'll be back.  Till then, let me leave you with Levi's first captured smile (I got him smirking really) and Moriah entertaining him in his bouncie.  It has been such a joy to see him smile more and more the last couple weeks.  He loves being talked to but isn't nearly as vocal as Moriah was at his age.  We all know she turned out to be quite the chatter box.  It will be interesting to see if he has a quieter personality.  

  

My Little Momma

Now that Moriah is used to having Levi around, she copies my every move.  She likes to feed her baby with her sippy, then she will put a blanket on her shoulder and tell the baby to burp.  She also loves to try and buckle her baby in the car seat, rock it in the swing, feed it in her high chair, and push it around in her stroller.  It makes me laugh to see the things she says to her baby and how she cares for her.  I love that she is such a little mother already.  I am waiting for the day that she tries nursing her baby doll.  I know it just a matter of time.  She gets very curious when I nurse and is concerned for me.  She points and says, "Bite?"  She thinks Levi is biting me so I have to tell her every time that he is eating.  It cracks me up!

Levi's First Bath

Levi liked his first bath.  I thought his cord would never fall off.  I have been dying to give him a proper bath for two weeks now!  It final came off and so we got to give him a good cleaning.  Once, the initial shock of being wet was over he enjoyed being in the warm water.  Moriah stood next to me the whole time watching him bathe, she doesn't want to miss a thing!  Of course, Levi did use his hose while he was bathing...what little baby boy hasn't?  We are starting to get used to his sprays during diapering.  Man, boys are VERY different than girls, but we love them both SO MUCH!  

A Girl After Her Mommas Heart

Yesterday Moriah and I had a great conversation.

Moriah: (grabbing her shoes) "Shoes on.  Shopping!"

Me: "What honey?"

Moriah: "Shopping, shopping!!"

I love that she loves to shop!  Levi seems to find retail relaxing too.  The couple times he has been he has slept the whole time.  

Levi's Story

Levi Thomas Dickenson arrived on Sunday morning, March 15, 2009 at 2:38 AM. He was 8 lbs .5 oz and 21 inches long.

Here’s the scoop on the day leading up to labor, labor and delivery, and how we are adjusting so far. We drove about an hour away on Saturday to go to a guitar store and baby store. While Zack and my dad were rocking it out at Guitar Center, my mom, Moriah and I went walking at a mall. Moriah was obviously not feeling well. During lunch she refused to eat and was running a fever. We were already there so we went to get a double stroller, the last remaining item on our “baby” list. Then we took Moriah to Urgent Care and discovered she had an ear infection. Poor baby!

After dinner, which for some reason I told my mom I needed chicken and rice (something hearty to get me through labor, should it start), we were giving Moriah a bath and I told Zack I was having contractions that hurt. He asked me to time them.  So at 7:30 PM I started timing them. They were coming every 10 minutes or so, but that has happened before, so I just went about my night. My parents, Zack and I were playing cards when they seemed to be getting closer and stronger. At about 9:30 I called my doula and let her know that we were in early labor. At about 11 my contractions jumped from 8-10 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart and I figured I should get a shower and get to the birth center. By the time we got ready and left it was 12:30 AM and we arrived at the birth center at 1:00 AM. Levi was determined to come quickly and arrived at 2:38 AM. The total God thing was that I was group B strep positive and was supposed to have antibiotics for 4 hours before birth.  Because he wanted out so quickly, I only had them for an hour and a half.  Thankfully, Levi was born in his bag of waters so he was protected from infection anyway! What an amazing God we have! I couldn’t have asked for a better birth environment and for better support from Zack and my doula, Jen.  Zack was WONDERFUL at coaching and encouraging me through everything. I can’t say how thankful I am for my husband.

Since we have been home things are going relatively well. I can't express in words what a help it has been to have both my mom and Zack home right now.  Moriah has been extra whiny (who wouldn’t be with her teething, ear infection, Nana visiting, and a new baby turning her world upside down) but she LOVES Levi. She wants to snuggle him and be near him. She even said today when he was crying for him to “Sh, sh, shhh.” I think she just isn’t getting why Nana and Daddy are taking care of her and Mommy is always feeding this little baby. I can't pick her up for the first two weeks and for the first couple days I slept a lot!  She is struggling with the change in me, not the presence of Levi.  She has been really extra sweet with her baby dolls, too.  She has tried feeding them and she even tried changing Levi's diaper for us today!  As always, she keeps us laughing and on our toes.  I know she is going to be a great big sister. 

Levi is doing very well according to the pediatrician.  He is jaundice, though, so we have to have him on the biliblanket unless he is nursing or being changed.  We are hoping that he can come off the blanket Sunday night and then at his appointment Monday we will find out if his jaundice is better.  He has been so chilled for everything.  He isn't getting held a ton because he has to be on the blanket, but he doesn't seem to mind.  He just eats and snuggles while we burp him, then goes back to sleep on his blanket.  I will say, he is a great eater!  He already weighs 8 lbs 7 oz!  I can't believe how much he has gained.  Moriah was two months old before she weighed that much.  He is a little miracle and blessing, I love him so much already! God is so good.  

If you are interested you can see more pictures here. 

For now, we are bonding as a family and trying to get sleep, so my blogging might be slow in coming till we get the hang of being a family of four.  Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement.    

Itching to Meet Levi

I made it to my "due date."  I am officially 40 weeks today.  No baby yet but my body is getting ready, so I think it will be soon.  I felt a rush of relief when I picked my mom up at the airport yesterday morning.  It was like I relaxed and was really ready to have him.  The midwife said I am about 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  That doesn't tell us when he will come but it just shows that all the contractions I have been having are doing something, and he will come out!  Now I just need the contractions to be more consistent and stronger.  We are planning on walking at the mall this morning to try and bring Levi down lower and send me into labor.  

On the sadder side, we are sick again.  Sigh, I thought maybe since it was starting to be spring we could put all this winter cold stuff behind us.  I guess I was wrong.  Moriah has been coughing again and has been doing her gagging throw-up thing because of the congestion and coughing.  I feel so bad for my baby girl.  Zack just feels tired and worn out, but his congestion is clearing.  I am stuffy and ITCHY!!  I have what they call PUPPS.  It happens for some women at the end of their pregnancy.  I have a rash over my body and it is so itchy.  I didn't have this with Moriah.  I did some research on it and I guess they aren't 100% sure what causes it but one theory is very interesting.  When they did a biopsy on the rash (not on me) they found male DNA in the rash.  It is speculated that the rash is a type of allergic reaction to having a boy in me.  70% of women who get PUPPS are carrying boys.  My midwife has assured me that it goes away a couple days after I deliver Levi.  One more reason I can't wait to have him!   

Thank you all for your prayers, I will be sure to let you know when he comes.  All in God's perfect timing!