Growing Pains

How I hate to see each Monday come and ago (a few weeks ago I was counting them down but now I want them to stop) because that means Ethan is a week older and it is hard to bare. He changes and grows so fast that it is hard to capture everything. We took him to his 2 week check up and he is doing great. In 10 days he gained a pound and 7 ounces. He is an eater. He drinks about 3 to 4 ounces every 2 to 3 hours! It seems he likes to get up every 2 hours at night! I am not a fan of that...but I do like the quiet time with him. Last night he did pretty good, ate at 10, then at 2, and once more at 5:30. He likes his pacifier for a few minutes but when he realizes that it is not milk, he doesn't find it funny. Yesterday, was the first time I heard him really cry. He was turning red and would go awhile before taking a breath. He was very mad! I was trying to make him wait to the 2 hour mark before giving him another bottle. When he wants to eat he will make grunting sounds or stir around in his crib. I can tell his a true Hunter, he snores...yes, really loudly and he has a double chin! He has the skinniest long legs and a fat belly. He is still wearing newborn diapers and clothes. I did try on some 0-3 months clothes and the shirt fit him like a dress and the shorts you could put both legs in and would still be too big. I find it so funny how different Hayden and Ethan are. Hayden wore newborn for about 2 weeks and that was a stretch. Ethan will probably be in them for a good month or so! Ethan is starting to get curly hair, which I love! In case your wondering here is picture of them when they were both first born...Can you tell who is who?

Most of y'all have seen this picture (Sara e-mailed it to me...I didn't realize the similarities between them)!

Hayden on the left...Ethan on the right, what I love the most both have a receding hair line, priceless!

Okay now a video of him for those that haven't gotten a chance to see him!

And a few pictures

Now What?

As time goes by and I see the kids growing, I wonder what does the future hold for us? As a parent you want the best and try to decided what the best really is...so I began a such for a new school for the kids. At Hayden's old school, he learned so much but he has out grown it. He has been in the same class for two years and if we kept him there it would be three. So David and I decided we needed to do something different..really we wanted to prepare him for Kinder. He is a pretty smart kid...he know the letters and most of the sounds (except u, i, and x), he can count to 50, identify numbers 1-20, put sounds together to make words, and has begun adding (David and him work on this in the bath...they will add toys together). David and my schedule is kinda hectic...I have to be at work early and he goes in late so finding something that would work with both of our schedules was the hardest thing. I really wanted the boys to go to the same school but I struggled with finding a decent Pre-K program that also took infants and wasn't like a daycare. David wanted Hayden to start a private school. I finally found one that would work. I spent a good month or two months reading reviews and doing a lot of internet searches. The school we picked out is about 5 blocks from my job, which is good and bad (I love the fact that I can be there in a flash if I needed to, but hate the fact that is I have a late meeting the boys would have to stay late, before David would pick up Hayden when I had to work late). The school is at a church and they have a private Kinder and Pre-K program, both which use ABEKA curriculum and tie a lot of what the school district does into a lesson. I really love the fact that they have bible time everyday! I am excited about the things Hayden will learn. Hayden has a love for books and can't wait until he can really read and gets to teach himself all the things he wants to know! In Ethan class there is only 5 babies and 2 teachers. I love the small class sizes. We will be going to visit the new school in the next week or so, because Hayden hasn't seen it and it follows the school schedule so it will be closed for the summer. I hope Hayden will be just as excited as I am.

Picture Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wanted to take pictures of the boys..so yesterday I manged to do so! It was fun and I am thinking we will do it more often. I really need to get individual ones of them but maybe next week!?! Hayden cooperated really well and just kinda held his spot and waited on Ethan. He wasn't working so well with us...I had to stop and feed him. That is the reason there is a pacifier, I wanted him to wait until we were done but he didn't! The feet one Hayden was supposed to make a heart with his hand but it didn't turn out like that...it is still cute though. Hayden did really good on the ones he had to hold Ethan. I was a little leery about him holding him because he would forget and struggle a bit, but overall it all worked out. When I was writing out the sign Hayden kept on saying mom that isn't me that's not my name...what does it say? He was excited once he figured out what it said. My favorite one...the one of them laying down and Ethan is smiling. I think it is going in our bed room!

Catch up

Wow...I can't believe a week has gone by since we have been home. It seems that we have been home a lot longer...I am not sure if it is because we are stuck home since I can't drive or that I am busy around the clock. I am getting used to things...yeah I haven't found my grove yet and always strive to have everything done (which includes bath, bed time routines, house picked up, bottles made for the night....) before 9 so I can go to sleep at a decent time...so far so good. If you know me I am a planner and this little guy hasn't picked a schedule yet. Most of the time he eats 3 ounces every 2-3 hours but today out of the blue he drank 6 ounces in 2 hours. Yes, he still sleeps a lot which gives me time to play with Hayden which he enjoys. I can't wait next week, I can drive so we will probably go the the park and library since they are so close. Hayden wants to take care of Ethan but Ethan doesn't enjoy it to much. Hayden forgets all the time how big he is and tries so hard to be gentle. David and I are pretty much sleep deprived but it is so worth it...they are only little for so long. I am enjoying spending time at home and hanging out with my kids. I have started to work on some school stuff with Hayden and it is going good. Overall Hayden plays by himself....I guess he is used to it! He is also a great helper and likes to shadow me...with everything. I don't think I prepared myself for all of the changes around here. I really forgot how much sleep you don't get and how much Hayden still needs me. Although with two boys, I don't think this will be my biggest problem...I am definitely not looking forward to the teenage years!


Here are a few pictures I manged to take this week..

Brothers

*Once I get a decent (CUTE) picture of them together I plan on changing the picture to include Ethan.

The biggest thing I worried about through the whole pregnancy was how was all of this going to effect Hayden. I must of thought and discussed this topic a million times with David. I wanted everything to be the same and both boys to accept each other. I wondered what Hayden's reaction would be? How would he deal with all of the changes and would they be close? I couldn't dream for a better relationship between them. Hayden loves his baby brother. Oh how much...When he cries he says mom make him happy....NOW. When Ethan was under the lights for his jaundice, Hayden spent the whole time trying to hold his hand or make him happy, Hayden wants to hold him every chance he gets. He loves giving him a bottle. When we took Ethan to the doctor he had to get his foot pricked. Ethan cried and Hayden went over to him and tried to comfort him. When it is time to burp him he wants to do it. I am so blessed and joyed with these two boys who will have a connection for life. I can't wait to see what the future holds for them. They will have a bond like no other and will learn so much from each other.

Isn't it amazing when you hear people say a picture is worth a thousand words. This is truly my favorite picture of the past week....why...Hayden's hands say it all. Most of the time I love to capture his face in pictures but I love how comforting he is. When he came in to the room he was shocked to see Ethan in there and was very concerned. 

Ethan Wayne Hunter

We are proud parents to another boy. Monday morning came and went and now we were now a family of four. Everything went smoothly. Ethan was born at 8:28. Hayden was so excited to meet him. While we were in the operating room, David text a picture of him to his mom so Hayden could see. Needless to say Hayden was SO ready for him. Ethan is a lot smaller then we expected (David and I). Before we went in to to OR David and I guessed the weight. David said 7.1 and I said 7.2. We were both wrong. He weighed 6.5 and was 18 inches long. The C-section went smoothly. Last time it was kinda rushed because it was an emergency this time it was a lot slower. I felt okay afterwards and was dying to see Ethan. I only saw him for a brief second before they took him to the nursery (I was kinda out of it so I don't remember much). Although he didn't want to come out. The Dr. had to tug, pull, and "work" him out. He was very comfortable and wanted to stay!! David went with Ethan and Hayden got to get a glimpse of him too. After I was out of the OR Ethan had to stay in the Nursery to be monitored. He had taken a deep breathe and manged to get his longs wet. Which meant he was taking to many breathes in a minute. I kept asking if I could see him. David was trying to help by showing me pictures, but it was not working. After a lot of convincing they agreed I could see him. I had to wait until I had some feeling in my legs though....So eventually they wheeled me over there. I couldn't believe how tiny he looked.  When Hayden was born he had fat rolls and just a bigger body. Ethan is very tiny and small, I am thinking my body frame (but I hope not). I can hold his whole head in my head (imagine how he looks when David holds him)!! I also got to hold him for the first time in there too. I was a proud mommy!! Ethan finally was stable enough to come with us. We did a lot of holding, smiling, and picture taking. Overall we are doing well and are very blessed. When Hayden came to the hospital (David and Hayden went to go eat breakfast, while I checked in and was monitored), they gave him a bracelet that said big brother Hayden and a sticker. He wore those very proudly. Here are a few pictures from Monday...FYI it is 4:15 in the morning and I have had about 4 hours of sleep  the last 24 hours so I have not proof read anything....I think my eyes are seeing doubles. Now off to sleep for me......I hope!!

Done

 A year ago, I started my journey going back to school. I can't believe I've learned so much and how fast the time went. I have to say at times it was stressful but with lots of family support I've made it through. David has really been a big supporter. He will took care of Hayden many nights so I could get homework done. I am glad that I started when I did, I don't think I would of gone back to school when I have newborn to take care of. I get to take the summer off and then start back in the fall. I have 5 more classes and then I will be done. I will take 2 classes in the fall and then 3 in the spring. It is kinda ironic, next year I will have been out of high school ten years and will have completed 6 years of schooling. After my masters, I am done with school. I am not up for any more homework or research papers. I love the fact that I get everything out of the way while the kids are young. I wouldn't want to miss any high school functions. I turned in my last assignment a few days ago and have to take my finals this weekend. I have one more state test to take, which was offered a week after I have the baby. I didn't think it would be a great idea to take it soon so I will register in November. I am hoping that I can find a job this summer with my new certificate.

Roller Coaster

Wow, I can't believe that the end is less then 5 days away. I haven't been over emotionally this pregnancy but last weekend I was. I cried over everything. I had have mix emotions about everything. I am a planer and like lists and details and not knowing how Hayden will feel and how we all will feel after Monday is overwhelming. I want to prepare Hayden and myself for how things are going to be but I honestly don't know how it will be. We spent as much family time together and I cried because I knew things weren't ever going to be the same. When talking over dinner Hayden said mom can take care of the baby and daddy can take care of me. I just about lost it. How can he think that I won't take care of him, he is still MY baby? I have loved every minute with Hayden and seeing him grow up. He sure makes me a proud mamma. He truly has a heart as big as the world, if I hurt myself he kisses it and he asks if I want to snuggle with him. He loves to give me kisses and is a great helper...he likes to bring in the groceries and make lemonade. He loves for me to read to him and then will read the same book to me. He is my first born, he truly made me love in a different way. I can't imagine life without him. David asked me what I loved about being a mom and my two favorite things were listening to his foot steps throughout the house first thing in the morning and watching him grow up. On Saturday morning, I love how he comes in and gets in bed with me and says good morning mom, and then gives me a hug and a kiss. How things will change...change for the good. I can't wait to meet our little guy and all the planning and preparing, finally has come. I am excited to be a family of four instead of three. Yes, I know things are changing but only for the better.