One Month Old

Hard to believe, but Hunter is now one month old. The time has passed so quickly, but I guess I knew it would. In some respects I'm grateful; being older means he's sleeping a bit more at night (not long stretches by any means, but more than just two or three hours at a time), and we're more into a routine. We've adjusted to being a family of four, even if we haven't returned to our usual stomping grounds (church, small group) as a complete unit yet. 

Hunter, like his sister, is a good baby. He LOVES to snuggle, so he tends to nap best when he's being cuddled or is cozied up in the Bjorn.  (Thankfully, he'll sleep just fine at night by himself.) When he's awake, he's calm and observant, taking in his surroundings with a watchful eye. 

He doesn't seem to mind his big sister's affections and attention, which is good since she lavishes both upon him regularly. (Recently she's started asking to hold "baby brother"; on occasion, she's tried picking him up on her own.) I'll be thankful when he's bigger and older, if only so that I'm not so concerned about Leah accidentally crushing Hunter with a hug and kiss.

 My Two Blessings from Above

 One Month Old (July 24, 2011)

Man to Man

As much as I anticipated Hunter's arrival, I also was a bit anxious and fearful. I vaguely remembered what life was like as we transitioned from being childless to having Leah, and that was not a pretty time. Those first few weeks were filled with many tears (mine, not hers) and much insecurity, not to mention the repeated mantra of "I don't think I can do this" (again, mine). To put it bluntly, those days were beyond difficult.

And now we have Hunter. We're now in a "man-to-man defense", as a friend told Scott. This was going to be exponentially more difficult, right? Thankfully, no. For some reason, despite the lack of sleep, a gassy baby, and a busy and sometimes trying two-year-old, this transition has been 100 times easier than the first.

I'm not exactly sure why this has been easier, though I can speculate. Perhaps it's because my recovery has been much easier (so much so that I often forget that I had major surgery). Maybe it's because I had a better idea of how little sleep I'd be getting (I do not function well on lack of sleep... at all). Possibly Leah's acceptance and adoration for her brother have helped, too. After all, caring for a baby is easier when his sister doesn't feel like she has to compete for my affections. Not to mention that she loves doting on him. Let's not discredit the power of prayer, either. Maybe this transition is easier simply due to God's grace.

All I know is that I'm much more confident this time around; I remember waiting until Leah was almost a month old before venturing out with her solo. And now? I've already managed two errand excursions, both to multiple locations. The thought of taking them someplace fun (i.e. the sprayground) isn't so daunting, either. (Granted, I haven't done so yet, but that's due to the extremely hot weather; I know that Leah and I would be fine, but I don't want to risk Hunter's health.)

So, as we approach the one-month mark on Sunday, I'm happy to report that we are smoothly easing into this new chapter in our lives. Thanks to God's grace and mercy, life is better than expected and getting better every day.

Brief Update

A brief update since the time I have now seems in such short supply (but high demand).

Hunter is very much like Leah was as a baby in that he LOVES being cuddled. Sometimes, this means that the only way I can take a nap is if I'm napping with him. Thankfully, I've learned to accept and enjoy all the cuddles (due to all the advice I received when Leah was a baby).

Hunter's been out of the house quite a bit already, but today was the first time I ventured out solo with both kids. We survived our adventures in IKEA and Sam's just fine, and made it home in time for lunch for all. Hmmm, guess I can do this (balancing two kids while out in public).


Despite the photos, Hunter actually seemed to enjoy his first bath this past weekend. He just sat in the tub, enjoying the attention. That is, until he started getting cold once the water started drying off. Oh well. I'm sure that soon enough he'll be asking for baths, much like Leah does.

The Difference Between Boys & Girls

Scene: Scott and Leah are in the office playing with Leah's puzzles. She pulls down a dinosaur puzzle, then proceeds to hand Scott one piece while taking another for herself. They then march the dinosaurs on the floor.


Scott: "Roar!" (his dinosaur approaches Leah's as if to attack)


Leah: (Her dinosaur approaches Scott's in response to the roar.) "Mmm-mu (a kissing noise). Hug"(she says "hug" whenever giving one).


So much for the dinosaurs play-fighting. Guess that won't happen until Hunter's a bit older. 

One Week Ago Today

Happy One-Week Birthday, Hunter Logan! 

Our little man arrived at 9:23 AM on Friday, June 24. He weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz., and measured 20" long. He is absolutely perfect with his dark hair and eyes (guess Leah was right about the eye color!), and beautiful features. (Yes, I'm biased, but I'm allowed to be.)

Although we're still adjusting to Hunter's presence, we are all doing well. Like all newborns, Hunter is a champion sleeper, especially during the day. At night, well, that varies. Some are better than others (last night was NOT one of the better ones). Like Leah, Hunter is a good little baby, fussing only when he's hungry or has a gas bubble. During his moments of lucidity, he's observing and listening to his surroundings, taking it all in. 

He's also a champion cuddler. Yeah! Just yesterday, he and I snuggled together for a nap. Of course, since he's so warm, at one point I had to move him lower on my chest since I was sweating. Wouldn't you know that he didn't like that? He inched his way back up, nestling himself underneath my chin. 

Surprisingly (well, to me and Scott), Hunter generates a lot more laundry than Leah ever did at this age. Despite our best preemptive efforts, Hunter keeps peeing through his diaper, onesie, and blanket. How does he do that? Looks like I won't be able to do laundry just one day a week for awhile. 


Although Leah is still adjusting, for the most, she's been doing really well. She loves her baby brother, that's for certain. First thing in the morning or just after a nap, she'll say, "I go see Mommy and baby brother." Upon finding us, she'll give Hunter a hug and a kiss, and then move on to whatever it is that she wants to do (play, read books, etc.). There are other times where she'll stop what she's doing to come find us. Again, she's just checking in, making sure that we're doing okay.  The past two days, I've actually had some one-on-one time with Leah, which has been beneficial to both of us. Yesterday, we made cookies, and today, we shared breakfast before she scampered downstairs to help her Grandmas clean (for which I am SOOO grateful). 
                 All in all, we're doing well. Feel free to stop by for a visit. We'd love to see you.

 The morning of June 24

 Behind the mask is one proud Daddy.

 Me and my two favorite "boys"

 

 Leah and baby brother

 Thinking that Hunter was going to be big like his sister, I didn't bring any newborn clothes to the hospital. Oops. This three-month outfit was GIGANTIC on him!

 All ready to go to his first doctor's appointment.

 He just curled up in a ball while snuggled in Aunt Mel's arms.

 Guess what trick his cousin Kenzie taught him?

 Snuggling with Daddy.

ONE WEEK OLD