Overdue Update!

I don't know where the time goes, but it sure does go quickly!  My free time is very hard to come by lately, hence the lack in regular updates. Since my last post, I have starting back to work, though I never really stopped while on maternity leave.  Between work, playing & keeping up with the boys' needs, trying to keep the house somewhat clean, etc. any free time I have is usually spent trying to rest!  

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks:

A little side by side comparison of Connor (left) and Brayden (right) I put together....twins?

 I had a mini reunion with some of my high schools friends a few weeks ago.  We all had boys back in March, so we got together one morning to meet each others new additions!

 Connor LOVES his playmat, especially the flashing star that plays music at the top.  He will lay there for quite awhile and "talk" to the star.  Brayden likes to play with him on the playmat too.

 Big brother & little brother...Brayden loves to hold Connor now "with one hand" as he calls it (with the support of pillows, of course!)

 The boys brought me breakfast in bed on Mother's Day and then watched cartoons with me.  Brayden was sooo excited about this!

 Me and the boys on Mother's Day

 Avery came to visit last weekend...she gets so excited & squeals when she sees Connor.  Very cute!

 Brayden went to a fun fair with his Grammy & Grampa last weekend, where he got this Batman face paint.  He REALLY loved it....there were lots of tears when it had to be washed off that night : (

 Catching some good zzzz's...I have a picture of Brayden in this same pose about the same age.

And our big news is that we bought a minivan this week!  We have joined "Club Odyssey" as Gina called it, and got a 2012 Honda Odyssey.  It is very nice and has lots of pretty cool features, including a DVD players that Brayden loves.  He is very excited to have a new van and wants to go ride in it constantly.  I still can't quite believe I'm driving a minivan, but I love it already.  So convenient with two kids now!  

Easter

Things have been super busy around here lately. There have been lots of Easter egg hunts for Brayden, and we just had a week long visit from Skip, Luciana & Gramma Sharkey from NY. We so enjoyed their visit and Brayden loved spending time with Luciana. When they finally arrived last Friday night, Brayden greeted her by saying "Hey Luciana...get over here and give me a big hug!" LOL! They played wonderfully together all week...I think Brayden is going to go through withdrawals without her now. And of course, Connor was a star himself. They were all glad to finally meet the newest member of the family. Below are some pictures from the last few weeks:

Egg hunt at church....Brayden's candy & eggs were covered in ants, poor guy!



 Egg hunt at MMO

 Connor enjoyed the festivities!

 Brayden made out better with the candy at the MMO egg hunt.  Here he is showing off his handmade milk carton "basket" from class.

 Egg hunt #3 with Luciana at Grammy & Grampas.  They got lots of candy and some eggs had money too!

 Big cousin Luciana holding Connor

 Brayden & Greg took a dip in the pool while we were there.  The water was COLD, but it didn't bother them!!

 Our little bunnies on Easter morning

 Checking out what the Easter bunny brought

 Bunny Connor

 Swinging at Pullen Park on Tuesday

Waiting for the carousel & holding hands...too cute!

 Greg & Skip took the kids for a pedal boat ride, which made me nervous!!  But everyone stayed on the boat and enjoyed it, though Greg did say his legs were worn out afterwards.

 Riding the train at Pullen Park

 The kiddie boats...Luciana thought she was really steering the boat and made sure not to hit the walls  : )

 On the carousel for the second time

Brayden & Luciana giving Connor some love



Great Gramma Sharkey with Connor, the youngest of her 10 great grandchildren!

Photoshoot with Aunt Gina

Below are some more pictures from the "photoshoot" we had with Aunt Gina a few weeks ago. I was so pleased with how well they came out! Connor cooperated the whole time...Brayden, not so much for the sibling pictures. He wanted to play with the truck more than anything!   Enjoy!

Special shout out to Aunt Gina for taking these WONDERFUL pictures!  

A Family of Four

We are settling into our new life as a family of four since Connor's arrival.  He is such an easy baby so far....he just sleeps & eats for the most part.  He wakes up for short periods a few times a day, but then drifts back off to sleep for a few hours.  He doesn't fuss much and is soooo cuddly : )  Brayden is loving life as a big brother.  I have been amazed at how tolerant and understanding he continues to be of how much time Connor demands.  He has not shown any jealously and wants to help & play with Connor as much as possible.  I hope this only continues! 

Connor's first two weeks of life have been filled with lots of visits from family and friends.  Other than some jaundice issues his first few days home, which were cleared up with the use of a bili blanket, Connor has been doing great.  We enjoyed having Greg home the first week, but he had to go back to work this week, so its just been me & the boys.  Its been a little tiring trying to keep up with Brayden, while getting by on less sleep and having Connor to take care of too, but I love being home with them.  Below are a few pictures from the past two weeks:      

Connor's first bath.  He cried the whole time, which Brayden thought was funny.  He also peed all over me & the walls; I had forgotten that little boys tend to do that when the diaper comes off!

Brayden and daddy enjoying a beautiful day outside and waiting to cheer on Syracuse

He's awake!

Brayden loves to cuddle up beside Connor or hold him as much as possible.  He loves his baby brother!

Aunt Gina came by on Monday and did a photoshoot with Connor, Connor & Brayden, and the whole family (first picture at top).  They came out GREAT!!  I'll post more pictures from the shoot on my next post....

Welcome Connor!

Last Thursday, we welcomed Connor into the world a little earlier than expected.  I had a c-section scheduled for today, March 7th.  I went to my doctor's for a routine OB appointment, where they discovered my blood pressure was evelated.  I was sent straight over  to the hospital for monitoring, where my blood pressure remained high for a few hours.  While I was hooked up to the machine, they also discovered I was contracting about every 3 minutes, which I didn't even really notice until they said something!!  So based on these factors and that I was already over 37 weeks along, it was decided to go ahead and deliver that day.  Something we were not prepared for when we went to the doctor that morning!  I went back for surgery at 3:30 and Connor was born at 3:56pm, weighing 5lbs 14 ozs.  Throughout my pregnancy, my doctors and the high risk doctors were concerned about his small measurements and the possibility they were a sign of something wrong with the baby or my body's way of giving him the nutrients he needed, but Connor is absolutley perfect...just a little small!

We are head over heels over our newest bundle of joy, especially Brayden.  He was very excited throughout my pregnancy about having a baby brother, and his excitement has continued.  I am so happy about this and surprised at how understanding he seems to be that Connor needs me most of the time, as Brayden is a big mommy's boy.  Brayden loves to help with everything and I appreciate that he does!  Brayden is also excited that Connor gave him a new bike for being such a great big brother.  We gave that to him on Monday and he has talked about it non stop...his rocketship bike.  It is very cute!  He even told us we could take his tricycle back to the store because he doesn't want it anymore...he's a big boy with a rocketship bike now.  : )

Below are a few pictures of Connor's first days in the world.  He looks soooo much like Brayden did as a baby.  We can't wait to get him out of the house and show him off to everyone.