3 to 4...

  
On December 16, 1944 at 5:30AM The Battle of Bulge began on the Western Front, marking the beginning of the end of World War II.  On December 16, 2010 at 12:17pm, our own personal Battle of the Bulge was finally over in Texas as Jackson made his way into the world.  

We dropped off Riley around 9:30am and made our trip to Plano Presbyterian for the new edition to the family.   Just like last time, it wasn't until Melissa was being strapped up for the final check of the baby's heartbeat, getting her i.v., etc that it hit me that this was about to happen.  We hung around in the room for around 2 hours getting everything ready, and then at around 11:40 or so they came to take her back for the epidural.   At just after 12:00, the nurse came to get me, and I headed back to join the festivities.

I took my place behind the curtain as we talked and waited for Dr. Webster to arrive.   Right on cue, she walked in at 12:10...precisely the time at which she walked in for Riley's delivery just over 2 years earlier.  This time around she worked slightly faster, as Jackson was born at 12:17pm...1 minute earlier than Riley two years before.   Leading up to this day, we were not exactly sure what to expect for his size.   We had been told 9.5 lbs by a specialist, and Dr. Webster had lowered that prediction by around a pound with just over a week to go.  As it turned out, they were all wrong.   Our little chunk tipped the scales at 10.5 lbs (21 inches long), to the delight of practically the entire operating room, nurses and doctors included.   Before he came out, and just as Dr. Webster got a good look at him in there her reaction was:  "Oh my god...He is HUUUUUGE Melissa...I am sorry!".  :)  I think she may have felt bad for being so off on her prediction and also for the agony Melissa has been enduring these past few months...hence the "Battle of the Bulge".

After all of that I went back to the room with our nurse and waited for Melissa to be brought back.   She came back after about 15-20 minutes, and then Nana and Granddaddy were able to come in and meet him.  Their reaction, along with Nana and Papaw's after I called them to tell them the big news, was one of joy and shock at how big he was.   Finally, we were taken to our regular room for the remainder of the stay around 2:15.

Unlike last time, I did not spend the nights at the hospital just in case Riley had a bad night sleeping.  We had prepared for the worst with her not seeing her mommy for several days, but in the end we could not have asked for a better few days.   We kept her normal routine of going to her sitter during the day, but after that Nana and Granddaddy were taking over for the afternoon/early evening, and it went very well for all three (Thanks Nana and Granddaddy!).  

The big meeting, and the one we were of course most anxious about, took place yesterday when Riley went to the hospital to help bring everyone home.  We had no idea how she would react to seeing her mommy after several days...with a baby.   Before leaving home, I asked her if she was ready to go bring mommy and the baby home.  Her response was "No, mommy".  I asked again once we arrived and at first her answer had not changed, but then she finally said "Yeaaahhhh!".   When we walked into the room, she was very happy to see her mommy.  After what was surely an initial surprise to see Jackson, her first reaction to him was that she wanted "to pet him".   Then she wanted to give him a kiss.  Needless to say, things started off as well as we could have possibly hoped.

 

 

 

We had to wait around for a while before being discharged.  In that time Riley explored every inch of the hospital room, at one point walking out the door and heading to the elevator on her own (she has no fear sometimes I think).   She entertained two different nurses, neither of whom could believe she was only two years old given her very large vocabulary.  She also took the downtime as a chance to hold her little brother for the first time, which she loved.   One of the cutest/best moments of the day was when she looked at Melissa after being in the room for a few minutes and said "Missed you mommy!".  Neither of us recall hearing her say that before, and it could not have been timed more perfectly.   Of course, she did also say that instead of bringing Jackson home with us she wanted to "leave him on the bed".  But luckily she didn't hold that opinion.

When we arrived home it was time for him to eat.  So what does every newborn need?  Applesauce, of course.  At least according to Riley.  One of her favorite shows, Olivia, has an episode where Olivia's baby brother is fed applesauce.  So when Melissa sat down in the chair, Riley made her way to the pantry to look for applesauce.  When none was available, she decided he could eat the next best thing...yogurt covered raisins.  Obviously we will have to watch what she tries to feed him.  :)   The day went well though, as she was constantly wanting to hold him, "pet" him, kiss him, and just be around him.  Day two has started off much the same, so hopefully we are in the clear as far as that goes.

Our first night home was on not a lot of sleep, but not too bad either.  I somehow feel surprisingly fresh after only 3.5 hours or so of sleep.  If we can get that every night, this will be a smooth ride.  Fingers crossed.  So now we are off into day two at home and hoping for many more days like the first one ahead, even though Riley is coming down with a cold already.  Go figure.  Now comes the hard part...thinking of a new name for the blog.  

 

Good times and changing times...

 

Where to start?  Thanksgiving should work.  Good times as always.  How can it not be with plenty of food and good company.   We celebrated with Nana and Granddaddy this year.   Everyone had a good time, and there were no explosions or fires from the turkey frying, which is always a plus.  Unfortunately, like her birthday, Thanksgiving was not one of Miss Riley's finest days.   After her "nap", for lack of a better word, she was extremely cranky for the better part of the afternoon.  But that's OK...all divas have their cranky moments of course. 

Since then, the countdown to Jackson has officially been on.  What a bag of emotions these last few weeks have been.  On the one hand, it's hard to imagine loving anyone or anything as much as we love her.   On the other hand, we know we'll do just that very thing as soon as he arrives.  In a couple of years, she is going to thank us for removing her from the absolute center of the universe because she will have gained a play pal and best friend for life...even when he's annoying her as I am sure all little brothers will do to big sisters at some point.   But still...the center of our world is about to be split and shared, and with 12 hours or so to go, that's still very hard to imagine.  

Last weekend we had quite a momentous journey to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live!  I am not sure what this says for us, but that was seriously some of the best live entertainment I have seen in years.  All kidding aside, it was amazing to watch her absolutely stunned reaction to seeing DJ Lance Rock jump out of the screen after having watched him on TV for the past year.  Then seeing Muno and the rest of the gang come out had to be crazy for her.  I know for sure it was for Mommy and I.  She enjoyed it for a while, but eventually began to lose interest and was ready to go.  We ended up leaving 10 or so minutes before the show ended, but not before the highlight...we got to get up close and actually touch Brobee and Toodee.  Yes, I do realize that if anyone else is reading this they are asking 1.  Who is Brobee and Toodee and 2.  That was really a highlight?   But yes, it was.  Even for Dad :)  Sadly, Muno was too nimble working his way through the crowd, so we could not make it over to him. 

Unfortunately the picture above is the only one we have from the Gabba show due to us being silly and folling the rules of no cameras.  Never again!  :)  But the one picture of her below after the show should speak volumes about the day she had.

(sporting her new Foofa shirt)

(feeding her new Muno doll after the show)

Some random thoughts on a few things she loves to do these days...playing drive-thru is one.  She loves to open the window of her play house and pretend she's running a drive-thru.  I get offered fries fries (french fries), food (yes, just food), and coke.  Like any good restaurateur, she tells me I have to wait "just a little bit".   She still loves chocolate more than life, mommy, or daddy.  She loves to run around the house with the draw string from a sweatshirt while the cat chases her.  That is fun to watch.  And she absolutely loves to dance.  Anywhere.  Anytime.  If the music is right, of course.  

On to Christmas preparations.  What a warm run-up to Christmas this year has been.   The lights went up outside for the first time with me in short sleeves.  Of course, we did put them up the week before Thanksgiving this year, so that didn't hurt matters on the weather front at all.   Riley was introduced to Santa this year, partly from our inflatable Santa who she really liked, and partly from her shows...Olivia, Team Umizoomi, and Mickey Mouse.   All of which lead us to the real thing, finally.  We had attempted to meet Santa twice, and had basically given up hope.  The first time we were standing in line with a bone-chilling wind, so we decided it wasn't worth it.   The second time we actually made it into Santa's workshop to see him...but before we could make it to him the camera malfunctioned.  The 10 or so minute delay spelled doom, as from there she lost all interest and proceeded in rapid fashion to melt-down mode.   So we exited stage right and gave up again.

Finally today we had a successful, even though it was unexpected, mission.  We went up so that she could see the cats at Petsmart (one of her favorite journeys), and dance around the huge Christmas tree again.  As luck would have it, Santa was opening for business 30 minutes after we got there, so we kicked around in the play area until it got closer to opening time.  With 10 minutes or so to go, the doors opened, and it was Santa himself opening the door.  Riley saw him and screamed "Saaanttaaaaa!" and was immediately ready for a visit.  She met him at the door and we were second in line.  FINALLY.  So as I am holding her, she starts sliding into melt-down mode again...except this time it was because she wanted to see him, not leave.   Luckily with only one kid in front of us, we didn't have to wait long.  She found her spot on his knee, and after a moment of shyness, warmed right up and loved it.  Success!

 So our last day as a family of three was spent with a lot of fun and memories to be held.   Putting her down to bed for the last time with just us three was very emotional for us, but we are thankful that we will now have been blessed with two.   It has been a wonderful two years and the years ahead a family of four should be nothing short of eventful, hectic, fun, and down right crazy.  We are looking forward to it (Riley as well, even if she does not yet know it).   What a day tomorrow will be.  :)