the simple things

Last weekend we had a busy day of meeting my bookclub at the park for a picnic and then off to Harrison's 1st birthday party. Toria was in heaven. Nothing could have made that little girl happier than sitting in three inches of water and having on a party hat. Which she did not want to remove even at bedtime! I love that she is so happy with simple joys-a lesson I can learn from my almost 2 year old.

2 months

so, at Rome's 2 month appointment he weighed in at a whopping 11 lbs 9oz! Talk about progress! No worries about our little guy starving. he is a wonderful baby and is already growing and changing so fast. Sometimes I wish I could just bottle my kids up at the age they are and keep them there forever. Toria is so cute and says the funniest things. It's so neat to see how she is figuring the world out, how everything is starting to make sense to her. Her latest thing is calling me "becca." Today, I was getting ready and she put her hand on my arm and said in the most tender voice, "that's my becca." I never knew how rewarding and amazing being a mother could be

Settling in

We are getting our new routine down and Rome is such a great sleeper...8 hours last night! Gotta love the kid! We have had our days of chaos too. Foe example, yesterday! I was watching a neighbors son, who is the same age as Toria, from 11-5 and also had 4 other kids from the neighborhood over to play with water toys, pools, etc. Incidentally, Doug was not going to be home from work until 8 or so. But, the icing on the cake was when Toria woke up from her nap with a poopy diaper and tried to take it off. Yes, I know you can imagine the sight I walked in on...her screaming because of the gross factor, her hands, feet, sheets, and crib covered in nastiness. One of the days you look back on and laugh, but at the time it's not that funny.

Week one

So, the first week of having two little ones at home has been fun, exhausting, and a balancing act. I'm definitely feeling the guilt of not being able to give Toria my full attention, even though I know it's the best thing for her to have siblings. Rome is great, he is a champion nurser and is starting to get his days and nights straight.I love his little coo's and grunts and can't wait to know more of his personality. We love our sweet kids so much and count our MANY blessings every day...I really don't know how our life could get any better.

"Rome" has arrived!

ell, surprise, surprise...our little guy came early. After a long day of standing in line for a "Deal or No Deal" casting call we went directly to the hospital and had a baby! We got to the hospital at about 6 p.m. and he was born at 8:15 p.m. weighing 6 lbs. and 14oz. and 19 inches long. We named him Jerome "Rome" William Stewart-after my Dad(Jerome) and Grandpa(William). I never expected for him to come 12 days early, since I was induced with Toria 5 days late. He is so precious and we love him to pieces! He has his days and night confused, which is fun with a 21 month old sister going all day...no rest for a weary mom! Toria adores him and wants to hold and kiss and touch him all the time. She is always aware of what he is dong..."mama, baby Rome sleeping, shh." She is such a little mom and is our constant energetic, talkative, and sweet little girl. 

along we go...

so my belly is expanding and we are getting close to having our new guy. we are so excited to have him, but i am definitely not rushing his arrival. i am trying to get as much sleep as possible stored up before i go into zombie-like mode again. we are adjusting to a new norm, since my Dad passed away...Toria is quite confused about not seeing "Papa" every day and is definitely missing him lots., as we all are. i count my many blessings every day...i couldn't have a more supportive, loving, amazing husband! we are very abundantly blessed in so many ways!

he's on his way

so baby number two is our boy due in april. we so so excited to be adding another to our fun clan. i, as most moms do wonder how i can love another baby as much as i do toria. i know that magical mom thing happens though, and am not too worried about it. life is in limbo(isn't it always) as Doug is finishing his law school applications and we don't quite know where we might be or what we might be doing in the next few months. time shall direct our adventure...