The first month.

After two nights in the hospital, we were released to go home.  The real world, life outside of the hospital walls, was waiting.  We were taking you home.  The beginning of the next chapter.  Our adventure of a family of four had begun.

You slept through the 15 minute car ride home.  Daddy and I speculated what it would be like at home with Olivia and you.  And while Olivia was a really good baby, one thing she never liked, was riding in the car.  Daddy said this was one area he knew you'd outshine her in.  I just hope you like Barney Christmas, Frozen and Dora.  These are her favorites to watch in the car and the only thing that can make a car ride more than 10 minutes bearable.

The weather was surprisingly, and uncharacteristically nice for the seventh day of February.  The pediatrician at the hospital even told us if we went outside, to take you out and let you get some sunshine.  I wasn't too sold on the idea of a newborn outside, even if it was 65 degrees, so we put you in your rocker, and let you sunbathe in the front door.  You loved it.  The next day, while Mommy, Olivia and Grandma were at the store, Daddy took you outside.  Mommy was not so impressed; but you seemed to enjoy the warmth and sunshine.

Grandma (or Gigi as Olivia calls her) stayed with us for the week.  Cooking, cleaning, washing, folding and ironing laundry, and doing all those things that Grandma's do best.  While you enjoyed the extra snuggles, Olivia also enjoyed some extra time with Gigi doing blocks, dancing to the hokey pokey, coloring and crafting, and puzzles.  Mommy and Daddy were so thankful to have the extra set of hands that made the transition to a family of four a bit easier.  Needless to say, when Gigi went home at the end of the week, we were all going through gigi-withdrawals.

While I was able to keep up with "weekly" updates when Olivia was born, let's face it.  I knew that was likely going to be impossible to juggle, amid everything else.  #secondchildproblems.  But I've been "scribbling" notes in the draft section of this blog for the last several weeks in an effort to document your first month...

At risk of jinxing it, I'll briefly brag mention on how good you are sleeping.  It's almost too good to be true.  The first nights home from the hospital, we were waking you up every 3 hours to eat.  Shortly after you gained back some of your birth weight, we started letting you wake up on your own.  You were doing 4 and 5 hour stretches.  Now, only one month old and you are sleeping a solid 6-7 hour stretch, followed by a quick diaper change and feeding, and then another 3-4 hours.  Maybe it's because you fell into this sleeping pattern quicker than your sister, or maybe it's just because I'm more prepared for getting up at 4AM, but this time around, I don't feel completely and utterly exhausted.  However, I'm still using the "sleep when the baby sleeps", as a good excuse to get in a nap after lunch on most days.

Another area that you have no issues in (so far) is pooping. #sorrytoomuchinfo; which probably explains all of the sounds that you make - mostly grunts, but a few coo's and ooh's and aah's.  I suppose because everything seems to be working so well (sometimes too well), contributes to the fact that you are so content.  You are laid back and go with the flow, which is good, because let's face it, juggling a newborn along with a 2 year old can be challenging and chaotic at times.  You will sit in your swing while Mama is getting ready in the morning (your future wife will thank me some day as you've learned from an early age to be patient while waiting on a woman to get ready).  You also are content on your playmat or little vibrating chair during Olivia's bath.  (I'm so looking forward to the day that we can put you both in the bathtub at the same time, but since your sister is quite the splasher, you'll have to wait until you can at least sit up on your own.)

You have lots of facial expressions, the scrunched-up forehead, the eye-roll as you're just about to close your eyes, the adorable baby grin, and one of my favorites, the pouty bottom lip, which I'm pretty sure you had perfected within 5 minutes into the real world - even the nurses commented on it.
You are also a good eater - eating every 2-3 hours during the day.  You weighed 9 lbs 2 oz at your one month check-up, which puts you in the 23rd percentile for your weight and almost the 80th percentile for height.  Tall and trim ... but I have a feeling that could change.  You love taking a bath; but hate getting out because you do not like being cold;  You are also very impatient (or maybe I'm slow) when you are getting dressed.

Your sister is completely smitten with you, and has no reservations about showing you just how much she adores you - even if you're sleeping peacefully.  She loves to show you whatever it is she is doing ... her favorite phrase is "Madden, look at me."  Followed by her second favorite phrase "Where's Madden?"  The minute she gets home, she runs into the house and the first thing she says is "Where's Madden?"  Not "Hi Mommy!" or "Mommy!! I missed you!"  Instead, she's on the hunt to find you and smother you in kisses and hugs.  You are such a good sport - not that you have much option now.  But I keep reminding Olivia that some day you'll be just as big as her :)  Daddy and I have been comparing pictures of you and your sister.  Yep, it's confirmed.  You are definitely related.  Your baby pictures (so far) look strikingly similar.

Just a few days before you were one month old, we had you baptized at church.  It didn't go quite as I had planned.  A snowy weekend.  One crying babe.  One crying toddler (who wanted to run off some of the energy from the sugary snacks she had eaten during church and hit her head on the back of the pew when Mama asked her to sit down.)  Needless to say, it was not picture perfect.  But you know what Jesus said, "let the children come to me." ... even the ornery, crying, tantrum-throwing ones.
 
One month has blazed by in just the blink of an eye.  Daddy and I are so blessed to call you ours.  You have made three into four.  Some days are challenging and frazzled and other days I feel on top of the mountain.  I know it's all part of the ebb and flow of life.  And between the chaos of caring for two littles, the crying, tantrums, poopy diapers, lost (later to be found in a random cabinet) sippy cups of milk, toys left in almost every room, frazzled dinner times, there's a whole lot of smiling, giggling and deep down belly laughs.  This is our life.  Our adventure as a family of four.  And while we may not have it down perfectly, I wouldn't change a single thing about it. 

Madden Patrick

In many ways, this pregnancy was very similar to the first.  It was easy.  Granted, I had the usual bouts of "morning" sickness, that seemed to last through the morning, past the afternoon and well into the evening for the first several months.  And I battled with heartburn during the last trimester, but I held tight to the old wives tale that links heartburn to a baby with lots and lot of hair and I embraced it.  And amid these very common and normal pregnancy side affects, I knew I was blessed.  Blessed to be called a mommy a second time.  Blessed to have the chance to raise a boy and a girl.  Blessed to have had an easy and stress-free pregnancy.

Maybe it was because it was the second, that I felt more relaxed.  More at ease.  More confident in my mommy-skills.  Something about this one though made nine months feel more like nine short days.  One day we confirm we're having a sweet baby boy and then I blink, and we're driving through snow and ice to the hospital, holding hands, scared and excited, all over again.

February 5th, 2015.  The day you were born.  The day you blessed us and made us mommy and daddy all over again.  It was a day I had waited for and been anxiously awaiting for weeks.  Two days past our "official" due date, and to be honest I was growing impatient.  Because I was a week early with your sister, I just new I wouldn't make it into the month of February still pregnant.  Your daddy was convinced you'd be born on Super Bowl Sunday, just two days before our due date; after all, you are your daddy's son and football is your daddy's passion.  But, you held out and proved both your daddy and me wrong.  Much to my surprise, February 3rd came and went and still no baby.  

We were scheduled to be induced on February 5th at 5:30AM.  But you had other plans.  On your own time and just as God had planned all along, we went into labor late into the evening on February 4th.  I had spent the day home from work, with intentions of finishing up last minute errands and maybe even sneaking in a nap.  However, your big sis had other plans of her own as she had come down with a cough and runny nose, and spent the day home with me as well.  As luck would have it, we had already arranged for uncle Marcus and aunt Anna to come over and stay the night at our house with Olivia so we could leave for the hospital early the next morning.   But just after 9:30PM, I started having regular and semi-painful contractions.  Within an hour, after a hot shower and no relief from the contractions, we had loaded into the car the bags that had been packed and ready for several weeks.  "It's finally time..." I nervously and excitedly remember whispering to Daddy as we drove to the hospital.  

It felt like an eternity to get to the hospital, partly because it had snowed and iced earlier that day and partly because during labor, until the epidural, everything feels like it takes forever.  Daddy had one hand tightly gripped on the wheel, and the other intertwined with mine, encouraging and supporting through each contraction.

We arrived at the hospital and the epidural was administered shortly before midnight.  And then we waited.  Daddy and I speculated what you might look like, hair color, eye color, personality, everything that would make you, you.  We tried to rest our eyes, but it was impossible, we were about to meet you, our sweet baby boy.

My legs were shaking with adrenalin and excitement, nervousness and anticipation of what was to come.  Three short hours later, the doctor was reminding me when and how to push.  Three pushes, three pauses and three contractions later, in the wee hours of the morning on February 5th, you were born.

You squealed and cried, and as my eyes met your daddy's, I could feel the tears stream down my cheeks.  Mommy again.

And finally after nine months of waiting, the placed you on my chest.  Those first few moments are precious and will never be forgotten, etched in memory forever.  Those moments are difficult to put into words, they are magical and surreal, and some of the most cherished moments for all of life.

I was a mommy to two.  And you, my handsome little boy, made that possible.   Daddy and I are so proud.  Proud to call you ours.  Blessed to be your mommy and daddy.

And just as your sister had done two years before you, you changed us again.  You changed our world forever.  Our hearts, which I was quite sure could not possible grow anymore, swelled again by leaps and bounds with love for you.  You have blessed us beyond measure and we are so completely in love with you.  Our precious, perfect and adorable Madden.

Madden Patrick Schamberger

February 5th, 2015

3:13am

7 pounds, 15 ounces

20-1/2 inches long

Shawnee Mission Hospital 

 

And your big sister, she is absolutely smitten with you.  Which is a whole other story for another time ...

Blessed

Sometimes, it's the little, simple moments in life that can remind you just how blessed you are.

This past weekend we celebrated Easter, spring time and spent lots of time with family.

There may be many miles between us, and the days between visits can seem to take forever, but it's true what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Olivia participated in her first Easter Egg Hunt.  We may or may not have done a dry run the night before in our own backyard.  Turns out she is more interested in the contents inside than actually finding the eggs. 

 

 

After the warm-up egg hunt, she was practiced up for the real deal the next day.  Our neighborhood hosted an egg hunt for all of the kids.  Olivia enjoyed hunting for eggs, but I think she may have been more excited to see the other kids and get her hands on a juice box when it was all over.

We also colored Easter eggs, well scratch that...Although I boiled a dozen, we only colored three.  Olivia couldn't understand why she couldn't drink the juice or eat the egg...shell and all.  And then she found out Mama didn't like when she whipped the whisk out of water and got colored water everywhere.  And so she did it twice as much.  It was a mess, but fun while it lasted...and there's always next year.

And the Easter Bunny outdid himself this year...again.  Shoes, shorts, sidewalk chalk, DVD's for the car and books.  Not to mention a very adorable stuffed pouf for you - just your size.  But everyone knows the Easter Bunny can't sew.  The pouf was made especially for you by Grandma. 

And Olivia had some special help trying out your new chalk.  Lucky for you, she was a pro and patient with you as you stood on and colored over her drawings, mixed the chalk colors together and even attempted to taste them.

It was a good weekend.  We are feeling blessed indeed.

Happy Easter friends!

Life Lately

I'm sure it is obvious, but after we hit the 52-week mark, this mama had to end the daily/weekly updates. 

Not going to lie, I already miss them. 

I feel like life goes by even faster without them.  

I have mommy panic moments and can't remember exactly what day did you finally have hair long enough for your first pony?  Or what day did you say the cutest little "uh-oh"?  Or when did your play time evolve into pretending ... cooking, reading, rocking babies, sipping coffee ... Or when did you figure out you needed to use a napkin at dinner?  You are growing up.  There's no doubt about it.

Days turn into weeks turn into months and all of a sudden you are sixteen months.

At your fifteen month check-up, you weighed 26 pounds and were 33" tall, which puts you in the 99th percentile for height and 90th percentile for weight.  Your pediatrician is convinced you are going to be 5'10" when you grow up.  And as you would guess, you are still a very good eater, on most days.  Your favorite is roast beef, mashed potatoes and carrots, which must make your Daddy very happy because this is his favorite too.  You also love cheese, fruit, eggs and milk.  And recently, you have discovered a new obsession with ketchup.  Mama uses it to disguise veggies you may not have eaten otherwise, and I've also caught you dipping your fingers in it, and licking them clean.

You have some pretty adorable habits ... including "blowing" on your food when mama tells you it is hot and insisting on using a napkin during dinner.  If we forget to give you a napkin, you start pointing at the paper towels and raising your voice at us.  As soon as we give you one, you wipe your hands and your mouth and then stuff the paper towel beside your leg for later.  We should consider stock in Bounty as we are going through many more rolls of paper towels these days.

You also insist on blowing your nose with a Kleenex.  You've recently went through a spell of runny noses, and now that you are tall enough to reach the drawer where the Kleenex's are kept, you help yourself.  You blow your nose, which actually consists of blowing air out of your mouth, and then put your tissue in the trash.  It's adorable.  You also help yourself to a tissue (or the whole entire box), when you find any trace of water on the floor, whether it's from Mama's wet hands moving between the stove and the sink, from a dish out of the dishwasher, or from your sippy cup.  As soon as you spot the water, you immediately get a tissue from the drawer and are quick to clean it up. 

You had your first doctor's appointment for being sick when you were 13 months.  We took you in to see your pediatrician right before Christmas when you had a fever of 104 degrees.  You were diagnosed with a virus and spent the next 24 hours at snuggled at home.  Luckily, you bounced back quickly. 

Thanks to mother nature, we had had several snow days at the beginning of the year.  You and Daddy bundled up and went outside for a bit.  You loved the snow and loved being outside.  However, we are completely over the cold, wintery days and looking forward to a steady stream of spring weather!
 

Bath time is still your favorite.  You are getting quite onery though before you get in the tub and if mama isn't careful, you will sneak out of your bedroom and streak around the upstairs, running between bedrooms and down the hallway yelling, jabbering and carrying on.  You've discovered you can see your reflection in the spout and blow kisses, talk and laugh to yourself.  You also figured out how to get into the bathtub even when it's not bath time.

You love music.  You love to play the piano but when Mommy tries to join in with you, you quickly swipe my hands off of the keys.  Sometimes, if I'm lucky, you'll put your hands on top of mine and we can play together.  I know it's a good song when I see you start to sway back and forth.  You also love anything that plays music.  We resurrected your exersaucer from when you were a baby...not because you want to sit in it, but because you love the music it plays.  Daddy taught you how to jam out to the jungle music, you think it's hilarious.  Mama also laughs and loves to watch you and Daddy dancing :) 


You are still my little helper around the kitchen.  You love to help empty out the dishwasher.  Mama usually gives you the Tupperware to put away, kitchen utensils that go in the drawer that you can reach (if you stand on your tippy toes), or if I'm really brave, you are in charge of taking cups or bowls from Mama and giving them to Daddy who is across the kitchen, waiting by the cabinet.  Emptying the dishwasher is one of your favorite things so much so, that typically when we're all done, you're mad and have been known to throw a full-blown fit.  Hmmm...I'll remind you about this when you're 10 or 11 years old and I ask you to unload the dishwasher.

Second to the dishwasher, you love taking everything within your reach out of the pantry and sitting it on the counter.  You've also become so clever as to shut yourself in the pantry...and lucky for you, the light in the pantry is motion-censored ... so you're never left in the dark and Mama is left to wonder what exactly you're getting yourself into. 

Your playtime has evolved into lots of pretending.  Your favorite is cooking, stirring and eating.  You feed your babies, and then give them lots of hugs and pats.  You also cook for daddy and his meals usually consist of eggs, Oreos, a hot dog (no bun because it's in the bottom of the toy box somewhere) and corn on the cob; Daddy's meal options are limited :)  You like to pretend drink from your tea cup, but not before cheers-ing your Daddy's tea cup first.

 

 

No doubt, I miss your babyhood days but something about this stage you are in now is pretty wonderful.  Keeping up with you some days is quite the workout, which is good because sometimes it's Mommy's only workout.  Daddy says you are a mover and shaker.  And we can already tell you are a smarty pants.  While your vocabulary may still be limited, it's pretty amazing at what you can comprehend.  I'm always amazed at how well you follow directions, sometimes even better than Daddy :)  And your personality continues to develop.  You can be shy around new kids or in new settings (we've had several friends celebrate their birthday's recently!) and at first you like to stay close by Mama or Daddy, but by the end of the party, you are playing with the other kids, running around trying to sneak food or drinks off of the tables and...showing off your belly.  You're a little bit ornery and a whole lot of sweet. 


You are a happy toddler, a delight to be around, and have brought more joy to our lives than I would have ever guessed sixteen months prior.  Not every day is perfect and some are more challenging than others, but we have learned to ebb and flow and figure it out along the way.  When you were still just a little bean inside my tummy, I tried to picture what it would be like to have a baby, who would eventually grow to be a toddler.  I can say it's really nothing like I imagined.  It is better.