3 Months Old!

Sweet Annie K is 3 months old today!

Beautiful Girl

Jack's Most & Least Favorite Person in the World

This is Jack & Ava Belle (beautiful photo taken by Emily, not me!).  Jack asks to play with Ava Belle a lot & they usually end up fighting like brother & sister, except, apparently when they dress as princesses.  

My hunch is that this photo will be displayed at their future wedding...

Sweetness

We've had a bit of a rough day at our house.  A mama that feels sick, a daddy that is on deadline, a baby that's acting like, well, a baby, and a little boy that is realizing more & more that things have changed for good in his world.

But, I love this picture.  Especially Jack's cute face.  When I look at it what I see is baby Jack in the chair & big Jack in the red shirt.  It's amazing how much Annie looks like Jack as a baby.

An Open Letter to the Crazy Lady in the Ultrasound Waiting Room

Dear Crazy Lady,

I'm sure you had the best intentions.  I'm sure you were just being friendly.  I'm sure you weren't passing judgement on the sweaty, frazzled, overwhelmed, practically in tears mother of the baby bomb sitting next to you.  

Yes, I said baby bomb.  Because, Crazy Lady, not all of us have babies that sleep when they're tired & are happy all day.  Some of us walk around on edge with baby bombs that are ready to explode at any minute for no reason at all.  They don't sleep well in their cribs, they cry while they eat, and they make going out in public a bit of a nightmare.  We love these baby bombs because we know that someday they will stop exploding & they'll be happy for more than 10 minutes at a time, but still, when they are loaded we're a bit tense.

So, Crazy Lady, perhaps asking me if my screaming 8 week old is "spoiled" was not the best thing to do.  Perhaps, telling me, while I'm waiting to get an ultrasound of my infant daughter's hip for what feels like the zillionth time, that I'll spoil her if I hold her too much, was a bit harsh.

And, perhaps turning up the television so that Tyra Banks was blasting all of our eardrums so you could hear her over the crying that is taking place next to you, made the baby & the baby's mama even more tense.  Or did you not notice?

Crazy Lady, don't inflict your craziness on any other unsuspecting mothers.  Perhaps, just perhaps, they are already stressed out enough.

Thank you from the Peekaboo Management.

 

Jacko

My New Favorite Photo

Whaz Up!?

Brother & Sister

Crazy Baby

Annie gets pretty wild when she's released from her brace!  

We've been getting tons of smiles & coos.  It's pretty great!

Three Things I Don't Understand About Babies

They poop when they sleep.

Ummm...aren't you sick if you poop in your sleep?  Annie does it all night long.  

They sleep when they eat.

I like to eat when I eat, not sleep.  

They don't sleep when they're tired.

I could fall asleep anywhere at any time.  Not so with either of my babies.  

Mothering Two: What I've Learned in One Month

First- notice the name of the blog has changed.  I've officially named it Peek-a-boo Two.  Thanks to Kevin for the suggestion.  You've won a very special prize.  You're the official baby holder from the hours of 2am-4am.  Congratulations!

Annie has been with us for almost a full month.  That's hard to believe.  We're all still going through some serious growing pains.

I've learned a lot of things in a month.  It has mostly been a month of crushed expectations.  

I've learned that just because you had a terribly, terribly difficult first baby, doesn't mean you're guaranteed an easy second baby.  

I've learned that the second birth is a lot easier (and in this case, a lot faster!) than the first.

I've learned that when your first baby has reflux, chances are your second one is going to have it as well.

I've learned that it's a lot easier to change a boy's diaper than a girl's.

I've learned that I'm no good at asking for help & I'm not any better at accepting it.

I've learned that it's a lot easier said than done to nap when the baby is napping.  Because, when the baby is napping you also have to shower, eat, pick-up, play with your much ignored older son, throw in a load of laundry, and steal a quiet moment to think. (oh, and write blog posts!)

But, I've also learned that my heart can expand to love another child.  That this new love doesn't steal from the old one I have for Jack, but it multiplies itself to include another precious one.

I've learned that just because your baby cries a lot doesn't mean she isn't lovely & lovable.

I've learned that Jack is just as sweet & compassionate & sensitive as I have always suspected.

I've also learned again & again that I love being a mom.  I love my kids more than I ever thought possible.  I love to watch them sleep.  I love to cuddle with them.  I love to comfort them.

I told Jack the other day that I was a lucky mama.  I got him for my birthday & Annie for Christmas.  I've learned that my kids are the best gifts I could ever be given.

Brother & Sister

Jack really loves his little sister.  All of his angst about being ignored has been taken out on us thus far, not Annie.

You can also see Annie's little harness in this photo.  Because she was so big she wound up with hip diplaysia.  Big babies don't tuck well in the womb, so sometime their hip sockets don't fully form.  She has to wear this 23 hours a day for at least 6 weeks, probably more.  We're hopeful that this treatment will take care of the problem & we'll be able to avoid casts or surgery later down the road.  She doesn't mind the harness at all- I think it's mostly annoying for us.

The Difference of a Year

I believe that God renews & redeems.  I believe that God mends broken hearts.

Last year on December 23rd we began to lose a baby that we had hoped & prayed for & already loved.

This year on December 23rd I went into labor.

Last year on December 24th we sat with friends, weeping as I continued to miscarry.

This year on December 24th, our daughter was born.

Last year on December 25th, the miscarrying continued as we tried to plaster on happy faces while our hearts were breaking.

This year on December 25th, we spent a quite & joyful Christmas in the hospital, getting to know our little girl.

Last year on December 26th, the doctor confirmed that the baby was gone.

This year on December 26th, we brought Annie home.

My heart still grieves the loss of last Christmas & I believe it always will, but at the same time my heart has fallen in love again with the arrival of this little one.  I don't believe the timing of this was a coincidence.  I believe it was perfectly planned by the one who perfectly loves us.

Annie & Daddy

I'm pretty sure John is already Annie's favorite!

Merry Christmas!

We received the best Christmas present ever yesterday morning with the birth of our sweet little girl.  

Anneli (said Ana-Leigh) K Hendrix arrived at 6:04am on December 24th after an incredibly swift & intense labor.  Annie surprised everyone by weighing in at a whopping TEN pounds & measures 22 1/4 inches long.

We're resting at the hospital until Friday when we get to go home & be a new family of four!

From the mouths of babes

This morning Jack stumbled into our room & started to crawl into bed next to me.  He suddenly stopped & walked over to the crib saying, "Mama?  Is there a baby in there yet?"

Looks like everyone around here is just waiting.

Eating my words...

I had publicly predicted that I would no longer be pregnant as of the end of last week.

Well, it's the middle of the next week & yes, I am still very pregnant.  Darn.

I hit my due date tomorrow, yet I already feel as if I'm overdue.

Yesterday my doctor said he didn't expect to see me at my appointment next week & I told him that I didn't expect to see him this week.  He figures one of us is bound to be right at some point.

Sleep gets more & more elusive each night.  I never thought I'd say I was ready to have a baby just so I could actually sleep again, but I am!  I figure this baby won't possibly sleep worse than Jack who woke every 2 hours or less for the first 8-9 months of his life.  Surely that won't happen 2 times in a row...

Where is baby?

I was certain we were going to make a trip to the hospital last night.  But, we're still here & no baby in sight.  I've had a hunch that the little one is coming this week, but I'd like to make it to next Monday.

Things have been progressing just like they did with Jack, which is why I think the baby is well on its way.  As of yesterday I am 3 centimeters dilated & feeling contractions every day.  They are mild & don't hurt, but there.  

I got very sad yesterday about the baby coming.  I'm so excited to meet this little one & so excited to find out who's been rumbling around in my belly all these months, but I feel as if I'm already mourning my alone time with Jack.  We've had so much fun together lately & it feels strange to be stepping into the unknown again.  I'm just trying to enjoy our time together as much as possible right now.  

Overheard in the Hendrix house this weekend

Today while I was putting Jack down for his nap he said:

"Mama, you're so cute."

"Mama, you're the best."

"Mama, you're beautiful.  Mama, I am too."

My favorite quote of the weekend was when we were pretend playing "airport" and he said, "Mama, the pilot needs to snuggle." while climbing onto my lap.  Lately he needs to snuggle about 15 times a day.  Perhaps it's because I'm so pregnant that having the thermostat set at 65 feels warm to me.  The poor kid is a popsicle.

I'm not sure how I got the sweetest kid ever, but I'm sure glad I did.  Feel free to stop by if you need a boost from Jack.