Surprise

I generally don't care for surprises. I prefer to be prepared and in control. That has NOT been our life recently. Look who's here.

 

Maybe he heard the c-section talk and decided to show up the week before his scheduled eviction. Maybe he was sick of his sister sitting on him like a park bench. Maybe he knew GG and Grandpa Reed were on their way. Maybe he thought why be almost Irish twins when you can actually BE an Irish twin. Maybe he didn't care that I haven't completed the nursery. 

Delivery was fast and furious.  I kept repeating to myself, "This isn't so bad, people say to labor as long as possible at home."  I thought that meant for days not HOURS. 

As soon as Jason saw our little guy, he knew his name. In honor of our maternal grandfathers...  

Anton* Thomas Gardner

Unfortunately Anton's little systems aren't quite ready for our earthly air.  His home is a NICU incubator until he can breathe without wheezing and keep food down. We pray that's soon. 


And for the record, once again we have the biggest baby in nursery*.

*As in Stanton, minus the "st." 

*Most of Anton's NICU neighbors are <5lbs. 

What I should be doing...

 

If I was smart, I'd be doing what Stella is doing.  But instead, using the excuse that I had no time to myself today, I decided to take a long shower and waste time on the internet.  I'll pay tomorrow.

Despite recent blog-post evidence...

Stella does not spend all of her time in her high chair.  Stella was desperate to try the spoon herself.  I don't want to be the no mess mom, so I let her have at it.

Now what?

 Concentrating.

 Most of the applesauce ended up in her hair.

She loved it...

 so we repeated the exercise at breakfast.

Keeping It Real

Stella is not the happy ball of energy depicted on this blog all of the time.  This evening, actually, was hellacious.  Her mood may have been effected by both naps getting cut short or teething (blow outs, runny nose, clingy, cramming everything in her mouth, crying in her sleep).  Or it could be that she's an opinionated, determined little woman and didn't getting her way enough today.  

I'm praying it's the latter.  If I get time to read again, I am heading right to the parenting section for a book about raising a strong-willed child.  

SAHM

Me to Jason last night, "You won't believe what happened today. In the showcase showdown a woman bid 29,000 and the actual showcase price was $29,072. That's only $72 off so she won both showcases!"

  
I was watching the Price Is Right. I even recorded the end so I wouldn't miss the showcase showdown while I played with Stella.

Is Tivo-ing The Price Is Right typical 29 year old behavior?  The commercials advertising mobility chairs (complete with clips of a great-grandmother taking in the vistas of the Grand Canyon from their seats), Life Alert beepers, and free diabetic supplies seem to indicate that it is not.

On The Move--upright.

Guess who's walking?  

I love hearing Stella's little feet on the ground.  Wonder if the folks below us feel the same way?

Withdrawl

I miss Deven. 
I'm lucky.  I have two brother-in-laws that I enjoy spending time with.  Not everyone can say that.  Becoming friends with Jason's little brother was easy.  Deven's accepting, caring, generous, honest, and so fun to be around.  Turns out he's wonderful with babies too.  Stella adores him.  What can I say? The girl has good taste.  From seeing them together, I'm pretty sure she's particularly fond of his laugh, his perfect "shh, baby, baby" rock to sleep, and his big muscles.

Deven also has a fantastic sense of style and sent Stella this darling coat (poor picture but trust me, it is adorable).