Whirlwind

The last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind. It seems like Kellen was just born, but it also feels like we've done a million things and been a million places since then. Kellen continues to be such an amazing baby. He is such a great sleeper (thank goodness!) and is so patient and tolerant of his big brothers loud mouth and always wanting to "help" with him. I've had a bad cold since Christmas Eve and my mom has been helping me a lot at the house until I'm feeling better. I did, though, have the first half of the day yesterday on my own with the babies. Things went surprisingly smooth, but the time absolutely flew by. I can already tell that they are going to grow up WAY too fast. Here are a few more pictures from the last week. I hope everyone has a fun and safe New Years Eve...my hope is that the Rogers house will be fast asleep when the ball drops!

A week old ALREADY!

This week has absolutely flown by. It seems like I was still pregnant yesterday, but Kellen has been with us for a week, and Daddy is back to work in the morning:-( It has been amazing having him home and spending time together as a family. He is such a great Dad and he and Cole have had a blast! He definately got a taste of what it's like to be a stay at home parent and has acknowledged more than once how busy I will be. There were a few times this week when we were scrammbling, and I realized just how full my plate will be when I'm on my own. It was nice for me to have him experience what I do at home, and for him to appreciate it.

Kellen has been an angel. He tolerates our loud house surprisingly well, and is already sleeping longer stretches at night. I hope that lasts! He is still very jaundiced, but it's starting to get a little better.

Once again I waited until too late to get on the computer, so I'll post a couple pictures and write more soon. This first one is Cole with my brother, Chris, and his fiance, Jen. Merry Christmas! I hope there is as much love in your house as there is in ours!

Kellen Christopher

Kellen Christopher is here! He was born at 8:50 Wednesday morning (12/17) weighing 7lbs 3oz and 21 inches long. I had about one contraction an hour through the night Tuesday night until about 4:30am when they started to be at least every 5 minutes. We left home about 5am, and after a VERY uncomfortable 40 min drive to Rex, I was admitted at about 6am. I have to mention that Cole is absolutely without a doubt the best baby in the whole world. I knew I was in labor all night, but wanted to wait as long as possible to wake Justin and Cole. I guess I thought he would cry (Cole, not Justin:-)) and be really upset if we woke him, but he was SO GOOD! When Justin walked out of Cole's room after waking him up, he looked at me and smiled so big as if to say, "i'm a little confused, but happy to see you...where are we going?" Things progressed very quickly once I was admitted, and after about 10 minutes of pushing, Kellen was here. I have wondered how I would possibly love another child as much as I love Cole, because I didn't think it was possible. All my friends with more than one child told me over and over that I "just would" but I'm not sure I ever really believed them. The second my doctor put Kellen on my chest, I understood. I didn't have to think about it, I didn't have to try...my friends were right, I "just did." I loved him just the same. I guess I thought I would have to love Cole less in order to love another child as much as I loved him, but somehow there was just more love. It's not the kind of love you can explain, it just makes your whole heart smile. Justin has never understood why I (or anyone else) cry when I'm happy, but the moment I saw both of my boys I cried. I tried to explain that the tears are a combination of love, pride, joy, thankfulness and a good bit of "thank goodness labor is over!" At first glance the first thing Justin and I said was that he looked exactly like Cole. For some reason I just expected him to be a carbon copy. We spent those first couple minutes comparing their features. I was just saying to Justin tonight that I feel like I have known his face my whole life. Cheesy, I know, but it's like I look at him and it feels strange to think that I didn't know what he looked like a week ago. So we stayed one night in the hospital, and I decided I wanted to be discharged without staying the second night. I can't sleep in the hospital and was anxious to get home and be with Cole. Things have been surprisingly smooth since we've been home. Justin has been such a huge help, and I dread the day he goes back to work. Thankfully my mom will come stay for a few days before I'm totally on my own! Friday we had to get Kellen's bilirubin level checked, and thankfully it was ok and we didnt need a bili blanket. I seem to make some pretty yellow babies:-) You'll see from the pictures he has a nice "glow," haha. Sunday we went back to the pediatrician for a weight check since he was 6lbs 14oz on Friday. He weighed 6lbs 15oz, and they said his jaundice was improving so we didn't need to have it checked again.

I'll have to post more tomorrow, I'm starting to fall asleep typing! Cole has been an amazing big brother, and Kellen is a GREAT baby. Here are a few pictures, I'll post more tomorrow. A huge THANK YOU AGAIN to Marty and Jim for my awesome new camera!!

Dancing

So we have a couple of those singing snowmen from Hallmark and Cole LOVES them. He plays them CONSTANTLY. Normally when you ask him to dance, or he does it on his own, he sits and rocks back and forth or sometimes taps his heel on the floor while sitting. These snowmen apparently get him really excited because he stomps and squeals and bounces like crazy. He also has this new dance move where he shrugs his shoulders, haha...typical white boy moves:-) I tried to get a good video of him doing it, but of course when the camera is out he is more reserved. I guess you have to watch it sideways because I couldnt get it to turn.

Another funny story happened last week when I went to lunch with 2 of my girlfriends, Maria and Lauren. Cole apparently developed a HUGE crush on Lauren since he last saw her because for the 2 hours we ate and talked he stared at her and smiled. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen. He would tuck his chin and look at her out of the corner of his eyes, batting those long eyelashes like crazy. When she talked to him he would get super shy and look away smiling. I didnt know a 14 month old could have a crush, but this one was pretty obvious:-) At least he's got good taste!

Cole Camden WALKS

17 steps and Impatient Mommy

Cole has finally decided that he will give in and walk for us. It is still, by no means, his preferred mode of transportation, but his record is 17 steps. I pick on Justin because he makes him "practice" every night when he gets home from work. I, on the other hand, say he'll do it when he's ready. We need to get him on video because it's really funny. He starts out slow and steady, then gets really excited and smiles so big that his eyes are closed and tries to run. If he makes it to his destination he claps so proudly, and when he falls he says either "uh oh" or "boo" (which I think is either "boom" or him trying to repeat when I say "busted it!") He has learned so many words in the last couple weeks. Some of them I think he just repeats because we cant get him to say them on command, but his frequently used words are: mom/mommy, dad/daddy, shoes ("shoosh"), dog ("daw"), nose ("noose"), no no ("nu nu nu"), more ("moh"), cheese ("sheesh"), juice ("joosh"). I've been working on "baby" but no luck so far! He loves to crawl around and imitate our dog Bella by picking up his toys or snack with his mouth, and always shares his snacks with her. He "dances" anytime there is music on, or if you ask him to, and still gives the best hugs and kisses. He is cutting the 2 top teeth next to his 2 in the middle, so he chews on everything, including his crib!

I haven't been sleeping well for about a week now, and it's driving me NUTS! Kellen is VERY active at night and I wake up to him trying to stretch out or having contractions. I don't remember Cole ever waking me up when I was pregnant with him. Then of course when Kellen is sleeping, I am lying wide awake wondering when he'll come, will we be home by Christmas, will Justin be home or will I have to wait for him to get home from work, and the list goes on...... Needless to say, I am READY. So send me lots of labor vibes:-)