First month as a family of 4

I'm still playing catch-up with this blog.  I have a feeling I am playing catch-up in all aspects of my life right now.  So, please bear with me!  Let's rewind to February.

Deklan's first month with our family took off from the get-go.  Our first outing was when he was only a day and a half old!  (I told you there was zero recovery necessary following this delivery!)  We all ventured to Maks' Music Together class and spent 45 minutes singing and dancing.  Maks was sure to check on his baby brother multiple times throughout the session.  Deklan had other plans - like sleeping.

zzz...

At just 6 days old, Deklan had his very first visitors - Bryon's Uncle Clayton and Aunt DeEtte.  He stayed awake along enough to say hello, take a few photos and go for a walk along Bayshore Linear Park.  Actually, he fell asleep after only walking half a block; he just couldn't resist the comfort of Uncle Clayton's arms!

For a solid ten days, Maks was thrilled to have his daddy around to take part in his daily adventures.  I'd live for days with Dada too, if this is how they always looked...

A red velvet crinkle cookie pit stop is NOT what I had in mind when I asked them to pick up bagels from Panera for breakfast.

To celebrate being an entire week old, Deklan ventured out with Maks to see the MacDill Fire Station. 

"Red Truck.  Whoo-whoo!"

Still smiling after having sat in the driver's seat!

"Fire trucks make me sleepy."

Here's Maks and his Daddy soaking up the final days of paternity leave.

Bryon has taught Maks to call for the fish.  "Here, fishy-fishy!"

10 days came and went extremely quickly.  Little Mr. woke up and started searching the house for his Dada.  He wasn't happy about the whole "Daddy had to go back to work" excuse.

Front porch swingin'.

At two weeks old, we headed down to Apollo Beach to help celebrate Clayton's birthday.  Maks spent the entire day running up and down the dock, helping daddy fish and playing with relatives.  After a 5 hour nap, Deklan decided it was time to wake up and briefly introduce himself to the birthday party guests before dozing off again.  He got more than his share of kisses and snuggles.

2nd cousins having fun in the hammock.

The man of the day.  Happy Birthday, Clayton!

Thanks to Naomi for taking some photos!  I rarely am in photos because I'm the one taking them!  I love this one!

I was lucky enough to have my own relatives in town visiting during February as well!  After having spent some time in Fort Meyers, my Aunt Barb and Uncle Norm traveled a couple hours north and rented a beachfront condo in St. Petersburg for a few more weeks.  Over the course of their stay all 3 of my cousins also came to visit.  Although they visited at different times, I was fortunate enough to see each and every one of them!

Best seat on the beach.

Maks was thrilled after his first day with Aunt Barb.  In fact, she made such a lasting impression that "Baab" is the very first name he's said (aside from Mama and Dada).  I can't blame him either...play in the sand, splash in the waves, take a dip in the pool, eat yummy treats (he even had his very first ice cream cone!), REPEAT...she always ensured he was having a great time!  Actually, driving home at the end of each day was traumatic for him.  And the first thing he said in the morning when I would get him out of bed was, "Baab?!?"

"Ready?  Go!"

The rest of the month was spent settling into our new normal.  Brotherly love is already developing.  Cases in point - 

A changing pad hug and kiss for Deklan.  2 boys under 2 years old - both with dry diapers.  WIN!

A lazy day with all 3 of my "kids"!  (Don't worry.  They made room for Kira shortly after this photo was taken.)

And the kisses continue...

By the time Deklan was 3 weeks old, he had also been to one of the country's top rated beaches.  Siesta Key was gorgeous.  It was wonderful to get out of Tampa and explore another nearby gem.

1 sweetly sleeping on the beach while the other splashes in the Gulf.

It's hard to believe that in a year there will be a 3rd little man running alongside these two!

Finding a happy medium between sleep and play for both boys has been my greatest struggle.  I'm kind of a stickler for getting adequate nap time in each and every day.  And, as I've stated before, Deklan sleeps A LOT...

Therefore, I've made the executive decision to allow Maks to ride his bike in the house while we're stuck inside...

Although we still venture to the park whenever we get the chance!

Playtime at the park for Maksim.  Naptime in the sun for Deklan.  Ocean view for Mama.

"Impossible is nothing."  -Muhammad Ali

Here's Deklan celebrating his 1 month birthday - with an 11 hour night of sleep and one of his daytime naps lasting 5 hours!

"See ya in March!"

Hello, Baby Deklan!

If only I'd have known how soon after my last post our "littlest" baby was going to arrive.

Where is the pause button?!

I wish moments like these lasted a lifetime.

Deklan Everett Kroger made his grand debut on January 28th at 3:50pm.  Born at 39 weeks, he was tiny to us.  That being said, big brother Maks didn't exactly give us a typical baseline to judge newborn size!  Outside of being ready to be done with pregnancy, I'm glad Deklan came ahead of schedule.  If he'd have waited until 41 weeks, he'd likely have been just as big - if not bigger - than his older brother was!  

Here's how Deklan measured up:
9#13oz (after having gone to the bathroom, mind you...Maks was 11#2oz)
21.5" long (same as Maksim) 
14" head (an inch smaller than Maks' - thank goodness!)

His labor and delivery story is kind of fun!

Deklan Everett Kroger

Maksim/Deklan comparison on their birthdays.

I woke up around 1am on the 28th just knowing my water was about to break.  It didn't actually rupture, but as soon as I woke I had a small leak.  Although contractions hadn't started, I wanted to give my midwife the head's up, as I knew labor would be in the relatively near future.  I went back to bed, trying to rest up.  I had a few contractions here and there, but by 3am they were obsolete and I fell back asleep until it was time to wake Maks up at 7am.

Here I am - in labor!

We got Maks up and going through his typical morning routine.  My midwife suggested at walk to try and initiate labor, so we headed out on a 1.5 mile walk to the grocery store to get Maks a special treat.  Afterall, this was going to be his last morning as an only child!  At the grocery store, an employee asked me when I was due.  I wanted to respond with a matter-of-fact, "I'm in labor right now!" but I knew he'd have looked at me as if to say, "You've clearly never had a baby before if you think you're in labor!".  After trekking back home and completing a 3 mile round-trip walk, contractions still hadn't started.

I was feeling fine - calm and content.  Bryon and I went about accomplishing some daily tasks.  I vacuumed the house to keep active and occupied.  Bryon ran around playing with Maks and Kira.  As time passed, I remember Bryon commenting, "This is how everyone should labor!".  (Of course he would say that!  How difficult is labor and delivery for him?!)  I have to agree, though.  It was so stress-free to be at home.  No time schedule, no finding a babysitter, no packing a birthing bag.  Bryon was relaxed, and so was I.  It almost didn't seem like I'd be having a baby within...minutes, hours, a few days???  As time passed, I decided to climb into bed and try to get some rest.  If this delivery was anything like that of my first child's, I'd be needing all the energy I could muster.

I downloaded a contraction timer app on my phone and listened to some relaxation CD's.  There was no real pattern to my contractions, which were relatively mild.  My midwife had requested to be contacted after I'd experienced a solid hour of contractions that were 1 minute long and 5 minutes apart.  This pattern was just not happening.

Swinging the day away with Daddy - just hours before the arrival of his little brother.

Maks and Bryon were in and out of our bedroom.  They stopped in to see me every now and then and Maks could climb onto the bed and bounce all over the place (typical Maks!).  When my contractions became consistent enough to time, they were long, strong and close together.  Bryon came into the bedroom to time them for me - approximately 45 seconds long and about 3 minutes between them.  He stated that he wasn't going to wait for them to be like this for an hour, and called the midwife.

Bryon couldn't have been any more right.  It was 2pm when my contractions really started/we called the midwife.  At 3:48 I remember telling Bryon that our baby was coming!  It was kind of scary because I had no idea how far I'd progressed, if at all.  You know, you feel like you're 10cm, but you very well could only be at 2!  Regardless, I announced that I was going to push.  In all honesty, there wasn't any stopping what was going to happen!  One push and I delivered our baby up to his waist.  Another push and we had a squirmy boy on our hands - literally!

That's really all it took.  Less than 2 hours of contractions/labor.  2 minutes (just 2 pushes) for delivery.  

Oh, and you might be wondering about our midwife.  Well, she didn't make it in time.  Yes, that's right.  Bryon calmly delivered (hey, I delivered) our baby boy.  I can distinctly remember feeling as though I'd delivered the head, but Bryon didn't comment, so I wasn't sure.  That's because he was busy staying calm and unwrapping the cord from his neck!  I had no idea.  One more push and Bryon was placing a little boy on my chest - all while corralling Maks and keeping him entertained.  Of course, Maks was right up on the bed ready to welcome his baby brother into the family within a few minutes.

Here's a little look into our first moments with Deklan:

This was such a different experience than my labor and delivery with Maks.  It was quicker and much more tolerable.  I still cannot believe it.  Most importantly, there was literally zero recovery time necessary.  So unreal!  Deklan (who didn't have a name until he was a few days old) soaked with me in the tub while Bryon put Maks to sleep for the night.  We ate dinner, swaddled our babe and got a solid night of sleep!

Speaking of zzz's, this baby boy is a professional.  He sleeps, and Sleeps and SLEEPS some more!  (These photos are all from his first week with us!)

Sweet, sweet dreaming.

Snug as a bug.

"This big, big world is tiring!"

Cozy in his Moses basket.

Welcome to the family, baby Deklan.  We're so happy you're here!

Oh, the boys in my house!

Newborn snuggles.

1 week until my due date!

WHERE does time go?!?!

This pregnancy has been just as easy as the first.  The only notable difference has been that I was MUCH MORE fatigued during the first trimester this time around.  It could just be a different pregnancy, or it's a result of chasing around an extremely active toddler all day every day!

16 weeks pregnant: Isn't the bump supposed to be in the front?

Another difference is how calm this baby has been.  Maks used to kick me like a jiu-jitsu professional (his personality was shining through way back in the womb).  As a result, I never could understand the other pregnant women who would swoon over the movements that their babies would make.  Mine hurt!  Thankfully, this baby has been a bit more low key.  I still always struggle to not find it completely strange that a bump on my belly is actually a protruding limb or body part of another human being...but that's just me!

26 weeks and growing.

I firmly believe that Maks has no idea how his life is about to change.  He has a baby doll that has been around since we first found out that we were expecting a second child.  After a week of gentle kisses, swaddling and walks in his wagon, Maks made it clear to me that he had changed his mind about being a big brother...by sneaking his baby into the trash.

I'm thinking he might prefer to have a 2nd dog instead of a sibling!

Fortunately, he's come back around and spends a large portion of each day carrying his baby around, sharing his food/water, changing his "diaper" and making sure he's buckled tightly into the infant car seat next to him on road trips.

Why the baby is wearing 3 pair of panties, I'm not sure.  He also used a baby wipe on the doll's feet - always a good idea!

Somebody broke into his little sibling's Christmas present early.  Apparently the baby doll has first dibs on the moses basket!

Luckily, he's excited about this arrangement!

In much the same fashion as my pregnancy with Maksim, we only finalized our birth plans near the final month of pregnancy!  But, I'm pleased to say that we'd decided to pursue a home birth with baby #2!  Prenatal appointments have been a breeze!  My midwife comes to my house and we basically have a quick little chat, making sure I'm feeling ok and all of my questions/concerns are answered.  There's no packing up Maks into the car, driving to a doctor's office, waiting for hours on end in a waiting room, etc.  So convenient!

33 weeks pregnant and Maks has declared this the best pillow in the house!

Birthing at home just felt right to me.  I toured a local birthing center, but it still just felt too hospital-like for my liking.  Of course, I am limited to Certified Nurse Midwives via my insurance, so that could have played a role as well.  The birthing centers were beautiful - private rooms with attached flower gardens, birthing tubs, etc.  But as I toured a laboring mama came through the front doors.  I just couldn't imagine giving birth in a building with a bunch of random people present - knowing my midwife was attending to others (prenatal appointments, etc.) while I was delivering my baby.  I loved the little 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home that I delivered Maks in.  Just Bryon, myself, my midwife and her 2 birth assistants.  It was quaint, homey, quiet and warm.  I just couldn't bring myself to accept the sterility of the birthing center, as gorgeous as it was.  I was looking for a comfortable, natural birth - not a stay at a 5 star hotel.

37 weeks pregnant and wearing Daddy's workout shirt...

...Desperately wishing there was an app that allowed you to skip the final weeks of pregnancy... 

...and travel back to a time where SOMETHING in your closet actually fit!

Needless to say, we found the one and only Certified Nurse Midwife in the area who does home births!  And she was available for my delivery date!  She's delivered nearly 3,000 babies in her career - which includes hospital births, birthing center births and home births.  I rest assured that she knows what she's doing, and that she will be more than skilled enough to identify any kind of situation that might require an emergency transport (Tampa General Hospital is about 2 miles straight down the street from us).

Belly kisses for Mama!

Modeling our midwife's behavior with the fetoscope.

I'm loving the fact that I can labor in my own house, in my own clothes, with access to all my own comforts.  If Maks is napping or sleeping, there is no need to wake him and find childcare.  When our baby is born, he will already be exactly where he belongs - at home and in our arms.  No uncomfortable hospital beds, no bad hospital food, no cold floors and stark white lights, no halls flourishing with the germs of sick individuals, no shoving a newborn into a carseat and nervously driving them home through inner city traffic...you get the idea.  Everybody has the right to pursue the birth they envision.  A peaceful home birth is what I strive for this time around (in addition to a baby that is smaller than 11 pounds...but we'll just have to wait and see about that!).

I can barely stand how he manages to curl his little foot around my belly.

He's one proud brother.

Fingers crossed that this love continues once baby #2 actually arrives!

I'm 39 weeks pregnant as of today.  1 week left...or maybe later today...or in about 3 weeks.  It's such a waiting game.  Part of me wishes to have this baby right now (I'm ready to physically be done with pregnancy) while another part of me is so incredibly nervous and unprepared to have 2 children under 2 years old on my clock!

Head over heels for my double pearl mama bird's nest necklace!  Our 2nd little egg will be here soon!

Maks and I continue to get into more of a groove with one another.  It's so difficult to imagine adding another member into our little circle.  I know it will be great.  But I truly believe it's something that you can't wrap your head around until it's actually here.

Why couldn't he have liked this form of transportation throughout the previous 38.5 seeks of pregnancy? 

In the end, he'll forever remain my first born.  And he has taught me so, so much (about myself, parenting and life in general) in such a relatively short period of time.  We're soaking up the last few days of our special bond before we open our arms to another little man to love!