his first month

Our first month as a family of four has been incredibly exhausting, emotional, and yet oh so beautiful. This little boy has fit perfectly into our family and it truly is hard to imagine life before him.  

The month of May was quite honestly a bit of a blur. We slept a lot, Weston ate a lot, and we adjusted to our new normal. We even had a big snow storm at the end of the month...because you know, it's May and all. Cold weather just means extra baby snuggles. I learned that showering is a luxury and that this newborn time is for putting 'me' to the side as I care for this sweet little life that we've been blessed with. One of these days showering won't be so sporadic and I won't be living my life in two hour intervals :) I'll miss these snuggly newborn days and having absolutely nothing to do but care for my babies. 

I felt so much better physically and emotionally after Weston's birth than I did with Everdeen's. I remember my whole body being sore for 2 weeks with Everdeen and then throw in caring for a newborn and having difficulty breast feeding...it led to lots of baby blues and mommy guilt. I've definitely had some hard days emotionally, because hello sleep deprivation, but even that has been night and day this time around. There are several things I did differently...using my essential oils, getting outside, asking for help when I needed it...and I think it made the world of difference for me! Plus, Martin has been truly incredible. Making sure my water bottle is filled, bringing me all my meals in bed, and taking such good care of Everdeen while I feed the baby or try to sneak in a nap.   

Everdeen has been amazing! Being the only child for almost five years, she has adjusted so well! She is helpful and loving and I love her more than ever seeing her as a big sister! She talks about the things she'll teach him, and which toys she'll definitely share with him (and which ones she won't ;), and I can't wait to watch their relationship grow. 

horsetooth

We celebrated Martin's first official day of summer vacation with a hike near Horsetooth. Now that we both work for the school district, our summers are spent as a family, which we know is a truly amazing gift! We needed a pretty easy trail for our first hike as a family of four, especially with me only being two weeks postpartum.  With a short fifteen minute drive we found the perfect trail, although I've realized now that my husband's version of 'an easy hike' and mine are completely different. It's sort of like that time when I was 7 months pregnant and basically hiked up the side of the mountain in flip flops because he told me we were going on a picnic lunch at the park...;)

We love being able to take Everdeen hiking and showing her all the beautiful places near our home.  She always does so well keeping up, even with an armful of stuffed animals.  Weston slept the whole time, but I know he could hear the birds singing and feel the breeze in his hair :) I have absolutely loved wearing my babies and it makes it possible to do things, like hiking, with your little one wrapped closely to your body! 

Here's to being brave with a newborn and many more hikes and outside adventures together! 

It's a BOY!

Weston Kimani Wolfe

May 10th

12:54pm

7lbs 15oz

I can't believe HE is here! I knew in my heart it was a little boy who would be joining our family...it was him this whole time.

We are adjusting as a family of four in a newborn haze and I can't tell you enough how thankful I am for my husband. He has been incredible as he's given me the time to just be with Weston...giving me time to rest and relearn all the newborn things! He takes Everdeen to parks and the library and gives her the attention she needs right now. I'm slowly starting to feel like myself again. My recovery this time around has been night and day compared to my first pregnancy and for that I am so grateful.  

I'm working on writing my birth story down...so I can remember the little details. Things didn't quite go as I had planned and hoped for, but this time around I'm being gentle with myself and truly realize that in the end, holding my sweet baby safely in my arms is all that matters.

soaking it all in

Since Martin started working for the school district too, we are so lucky to get to have all of the same breaks and holidays off! Spring Break couldn't have come any sooner this year with my every growing belly and tired feet! We are soaking in every moment of sleeping in and lazily starting our days. We spent today enjoying our local museum...won't be long before we'll have a tiny baby in tow with us. I felt like I was watching all the moms with multiple children extra closely this time around. Life with two definitely seems more chaotic and busy...sometimes I begin to doubt myself that I can do this. Sometimes just going to the store or park with just Everdeen can seem like a lot and she's the most content and easy going 4 1/2 year old! I hope this little baby is just as easy going and calm as she is. I have a feeling they will be...snuggling right into our family personality just like Everdeen did. 

hello baby!

I think growing a tiny baby is a good excuse for a 7 month hiatus from blogging ;) But the truth is, I miss this space and I miss being able to document the big and small in our lives.  I was looking back at all of my pregnancy posts with Everdeen and feel a bit sad that this baby won't have that. So now for a little catch up!

We had decided after Everdeen was born that we were so perfectly content with our one little one. I truly couldn't imagine life with two...my anxiety mostly to blame.  But something stirred my heart last summer and I felt like maybe we weren't done after all. Everdeen had just turned four and suddenly I could picture her with a sibling and I could picture four of us.  

It was on September 5, my husband's 32 Birthday, that I read the positive test. I hadn't been feeling well for about a week and I just had a feeling. In fact, just like before I found out I was pregnant with Everdeen, I had a very vivid dream! Sure enough! Two instant pink lines...another sweet baby on the way!

(Showing very early this time around!)

The next 5 months were a complete blur.  I feel like I lost touch with reality a bit. My only goals were to wake up, somehow get to work and teach 24 second graders for 8 hours, and then come home and go to bed.  The morning sickness was relentless this time around and it wasn't until about 22 weeks that it was completely gone. I truly don't know what I would have done without my husband. He took over the minute I got home. Made dinner (which I could barely smell or stomach), did bath time, stories, and bedtime, letting me rest and go to bed at 7:00...sometimes earlier :) 

(20 weeks)

(21 weeks)

(23 weeks)

We decided this time around that we would wait to find out if we're having a boy or girl! Annnndd we decided to see a home birth midwife! We're excited, not making too many plans, and letting this experience be what it will be. 

(Baby Girl or Baby Boy at 28 weeks!)

I've spent the past few months scouring Craigslist and local online garage sales for baby items that we had donated or given away to friends. I've realized right away that baby doesn't need as much as I always think they do. Simple and minimalistic is our motto right now. 

I'm now 31 weeks and my belly is growing and stretching. I feel like I'm carrying more in the front this time around (so everyone thinks its a boy :) Nights are sleepless, but as I lay there wide awake at 2 in the morning I am dreaming about who this baby is and how it will feel to hold him or her for the first time. I get incredibly emotional when I think about Everdeen becoming a big sister and when I think about how she won't be my only baby anymore. For so long it was just the three of us. It feels very bittersweet...like the end of an era, but I know when we all meet the newest member of our family we will know this is who was supposed to be with us all along!