EASTER Sunday...

I can't think of anything I'd rather do than spend Easter Sunday with my boys.  What a glorious day it was!  I just LOVE this picture of Grady and Cole... sweet brothers!  It would have been even more perfect if we had made it to church like planned... Cole is still pretty young and we had been up since 3 am the night before, so we decided that home was where we needed to be this year.  Last Sunday was the Palm Sunday service and I'm so glad Grady got to participate in that!  The Vaughn Family was gracious enough to take him for us.       

Grady woke up early, and well Cole is always up early, so our day started at the crack of dawn... not really but almost!  We had a yummy breakfast of sausage, eggs, french toast and strawberries and blueberries to start the day.  YUM! 

Grady enjoyed going through all of what the Easter bunny brought him...  and you can't have an Easter basket without a chocolate bunny!    

   

We then headed outside for an egg hunt.  Last night Grady helped dye eggs! 

The Easter bunny got a little trickier this year... Grady had a wonderful time hunting and Cole had a super time sleeping! 



Doesn't Cole look super cute in his little Easter outfit, vest included!  One of the ladies I work with got this for him and I just love it!   

Since we were dressed up (or at least as dressed up as I ever get the boys) what a perfect time to get some pictures.  I think they turned out pretty cute! 

 

 

Happy Easter everyone!!!

Cole is One Month Old!

Wow Cole! Hard to believe you are already 1 month old! You are growing so much... Eating like a champ and really starting to focus in on things. You turn and look at lights, fans and windows. If you are fussy at all, we got outside and you immediately calm down... Just like your brother did! You nurse only, and about 30 minutes. You rarely cry, but when you do you really can belt it out. Your eyes are dark, probably dark brown like big brothers. Your umbilical cord finally fell off so you have had a few real baths... And again, very calm and no crying. When I put you on your tummy you get pretty unhappy, real quick and push over to your back!  You're a strong little guy!!!  You really are very laid back for the most part though.

You love to look in the mirror and are very smiley in the mornings when I talk to you real sweet. From about 5-7 is your fussy time, and your brother (and every other baby on earth) was the same way!  It makes getting dinner ready a little challenging. You feed 7 times a day... 7, 10, 2, 5, 8, 11, and 4:30 or so. Although the last few nights it's been 5:45 instead... I'm hoping you dump that middle of the night feeding soon, but I do enjoy the quiet time with just you and mommy! Your big brother loves you so much... He holds you, talks to you, sings you songs, and kisses your head all the time. Cole Merritt, we already love you to pieces and can't wait to watch you grow and change and see what the Lord has planned for you!  More than words can say... Love, Mommy and Daddy

LIFE WITH MY BOYS!

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks! Cole is smiling, growing like a weed and starting to sleep for longer stretches at night... Last night he even slept from 1-6:30!!!    Crossing my fingers that this becomes a pattern.  Either way 5 hours of sleep IN A ROW is wonderful!

And his umbilical cord FINALLY came off and we took a bath.  Cole hardly cried at all!

Grady held Cole for 15 minutes last night while I finished up dinner. This was a HUGE help and anyone who knows Grady knows that he never sits still for that long, unless he's eating! Ha! I am so thankful for his help. In the car yesterday Cole was a little fussy and G made up his own lullaby to calm him down... So cute! It was a twisted version of Rock-A-By-Baby... Anyway, life is good! 7 days til tax season is over and we have daddy back -- wahoo!!!  He looks half asleep here... bless him! 

(I LOVE this picture, doesn't Cole look terrified - ha! )

I have to say life with two (by myself) has been great so far.  I was very nervous about this...  G does go to the sitter during the day.  (I am aware that -- this is ridiculous because I am a teacher and take care of 22 each and every day!)  I am tempted to keep Grady home but he is 4, loves his friends and needs the routine and structure.  Not to mention, he got us all to himself for 4 years, now it's Cole's turn for a few months at least!  HA!  Things will get crazy, I know.  Cole is an infant and sleeps 18 hours a day... but, I am figuring it out and am proud of myself so far. 

I also have managed to have dinner on the table each night since mom left, thanks to mom who froze a bunch of casserole type dishes while she was here... thanks mom!  I did make homemade meatloaf tonight and seasoned potatoes.  Anyway, baby steps.  Either way we'll figure it out as it comes!

Have a blessed week everyone!      

WELCOME COLE MERRITT FACKLER !!!

COLE MERRITT FACKLER

Born Wednesday, March 16th @ 6:17 am

8 pounds, 7 ounces and 20 inches long

So Tuesday, March 15th the doctor called and told us the C-section needed to be pushed up to 5:30 in the morning... no problem... except we would have to be there at 3:30 - yikes! You can imagine I got no sleep what-so-ever! This also meant that we had to find a place for Grady to stay the night... for the first time ever. My mom (Mimi) was coming to stay and help and Richard's mom would be at the hospital, but I wanted my mom with me (for moral support) and thought Grady would do much better playing and having a "Camp-out, Slumber-Party" with his BFF Brody. Thank you Michelle and Justin!!! It was my first night away from G and so I expected the worst.... crying in the middle of the night, etc. Yeah, total success and for the record G was perfect... mommy was the one with the problem! The boys had a wonderful time and Michelle saved the day again -- thank God for good friends! Anyway, we headed to the hospital VERY EARLY (did I already mention this?) and the sweet nurses got me all hooked up, in a lovely gown and ready to go. Dr. Flowers came in, said hello and we were on our way. I am so thankful that I got to experience this again, but planned. I had no drugs but the spinal and got to totally experience all parts this time... mentally that is. With Grady the C-section was not planned so I was drugged, nervous and mentally exhausted after being in labor all day. I'm not going to lie, it's still very weird. All the equipment, doctor talk, and the actual spinal was odd in itself. Most importantly, I felt nothing. :) Richard watched some (I'll spare you the icky details) and then we heard the cry.... the most precious, beautiful sound ever -- for the second time in my life. Everyone was commenting on how big he was. The anesthesiologist even said, "You've got a football player there mom." Emotions swept over me and instantly I was in love. I immediately asked if he was okay, red, etc. He had swallowed some fluid (normal) and they sucked it out and then the nurses monitored him closely because he wasn't crying as loudly as they wanted. Well, I laugh now at this (not at the time -- at the time I was freaked) but we have come to realize that our little Cole isn't a crier... the kid rarely cries. He screams out, but no loud crying... at all. I think it's so amazing that his little personality was already showing at minute one of his life. Isn't it just amazing? Anyway, Grady came later on that afternoon with Michelle and our two precious boys met for the very first time... I think that was the sweetest moment ever. Looking at our two boys... my heart just melts when I think about it. Grady is 4 so he understood a lot more than most kiddos do when a new little one comes into the picture. He was very interested in Cole's body, and my feeding him. He wanted to hold him, kiss him, love him, etc. I think Cole is a lucky little guy to have Grady, the best Big Brother ever!!! (I'm sure we'll have our troubles, but just let me live with this dream for as long as it lasts -- ha! ) The hospital stay was so much better (and shorter) this time. I only had to stay two nights because we were both really good. Home sweet home we came. The last 3 weeks have been wonderful! I (and we) have fed, laughed, cried, talked, changed diapers, bought more nursing supplies, and repeat. I wish I could have blogged more about each day and the many details of it all... but for now, I just want to soak up every second of this bliss. This time lasts for just a blink and I don't want to miss a second... not one single one.

Cole is a dream baby. He nurses well, hardly ever cries, poops and pees constantly, is very alert, holds his head up well, has been turning over from tummy to back some (really early, I know), smiles all the time (I know, I know just a reflex - too early, blah, blah, blah... mommy knows he's really smiling), makes the cutest little faces, loves to look at lights and the fan, likes a paci and to chew and suck, and is gaining weight like a champ... 9 pounds plus after two weeks.

Grady loves being a Big Brother. He has shown no aggression towards Cole at all. He showers him with hugs and kisses and wants so much for Cole to "play" with him. Grady has been a little emotional, especially when Cole cries (which is just about never...). He wants him to be happy all the time. I love that and hope he continues to want happiness for his little brother!

Richard is... "Tax-Man" right now so he is tired and over-worked but loves his new little guy. He's also been making a special effort to spend extra time with G and play even more with him... even though he is working weekends and long days and is very tired.... bless him!

I am LOVING being a mommy for the second time. I am a nervous person so the first time around I didn't do much enjoying until I relaxed some after a few months and I realized that I wasn't going to kill him... This time is so different... I can breathe. Life is good. Nursing is much better this time, still not "easy" but 100 times better. I am getting some sleep (due to mom being here) and have been able to fully recover from the surgery. I'd say I'm almost there. Besides some hormone surges and cold and hot flashes I feel really good. Thank God my mom has been here.... an angel really. She has been cooking, cleaning, driving, gardening, giving advice, and keeping this house sane for the last three weeks. She leaves Thursday... I don't really have any words for that right now (sadness and nervous for reality) but I do know we will be just fine!

Here are some pictures. I will have much less time to blog for a while, but I will post pictures!

Welcome to the world Cole Merritt! 

Just checking things out...

First bath!  



Cole, meet your Mimi!

Grammy Elaine

Grady meet Cole, Cole meet Grady!

I LOVE this picture... pure joy! 

Aunt Lana

St. Patrick's Day attempt at humor...

Uncle Brian

Burping, and smiling!

Leaving Baylor as  Family of Four ... Cole's first car-ride!

Skin to skin cuddling... the best!

Our second outing as a family of four... the park! 

(Beth Marie's for Ice Cream was first)

Super-Man holding Cole

A Napping House

Lovin on Daddy

Putting together the T-Rex with Uncle Craig

I LOVE this picture!  They are really checking each other out!!!

Grinning

Sweet Brothers

Snuggling sweet Mimi

Cole's Room

Angel

Little "Elf" grin...

So there you have it...!  Our last three weeks, summed up in pictures!  BTW - my Dad came too but somehow we ended up with no pictures of Papa... boo!  We'll get him next time!