Happy 15th Birthday Nick!!!!!

Happy Birthday Nick!!!! The baby of my two baby brothers turned 15 today.... Wow! It blows my mind that he is 15! (I must be getting old...) In case you forgot from Luke's birthday post last month, this is how I still think of my brothers from time to time:

And this is Nick today. This pic is from his birthday celebration. (Note: Nick is not a Louisville fan, nor is anybody in my immediate family - or I would have to disown them! - If you look closely, there is a black "X" over his shirt. He is not sure where this shirt came from, but the last time he had it on, we were sure to put that "X" there. I don't know what he was thinking wearing it on a UK game day, but it's his birthday, so we'll let it pass this one time! lol!)Here Nick is with Dad and Mom. Nick doesn't smile in pics. See, when you're a big, tough football player, you don't smile. Every pic is like a football pic....at least when you're 15!

As you can see, Wes's gag gift got a smile out of him! :)

Happy birthday Nick! We love you!!!!!!

Love, Wes, Tiff, Tucker & the girls :)

Play Time!

Tucker has started to enjoy his toys more and more. It started that he would just follow them with his eyes, then he started cooing and growling at them. Play time has definitely gotten more fun and it's fun to see how Tucker responds to different toys. We have a toy hanging above his changing table and about 2 weeks ago, Tucker started reaching for it. At first I thought it was coincidental when his hand swiped it, but then I realized he was doing it intentionally!

See for yourself:

First, he studies it. Then he begins to coo and growl at it.Then he goes in for the strike!A little closer.....And SCORE!
He is SO CUTE when he does this! Every time we put him on his changing table, he looks at that toy as if to say, "Hey! I thought I already took care of you! What are you doing back?!"

That's my Tucker Bug!!! :)

Tucker's 1st Bath (a little late being posted!)

Tucker's umbilical cord stump didn't fall off until he was 4 weeks old! I began to think that thing would never fall off! I thought I would be giving my 2 year old a "sponge bath"! Fortunately, on the day he turned 4 weeks, it came off (with a little extra twisting from my mom!).

The following day, Tucker had his first real, whole-body-in-the-water bath.

We definitely started out as beginners, that's for sure! Wes and I were so awkward trying to get him clean and keep him warm. I had been doing his sponge baths in the guest bathroom on the sink counter. It's small and I would turn the heat up and shut the door to get it nice and toasty in there. I should have stayed with that for his first bath. Wes and I put the baby tub over the kitchen sink instead.... Tucker was looking at us like we had lost our minds and was probably wishing he had more experienced parents!!! He didn't cry, but if the chaos had lasted any longer, he probably would have! Here are some pics to commensurate the day:

Can I escape this mess?
Okay, I've had enough!
This picture shows how wet I got, with both water and pee! (Please ignore the fact that I have no make up on and my hair is mess! It was a Saturday morning!)
Daddy and Tucker
It wasn't easy, but I'm clean!

The second bath went much more smoothly. We went back to the guest bathroom. Tucker LOVED this bath and every bath since. He just lays in the tub and enjoys being cleaned and hearing the water splash. He especially loves water poured over him from a cup. (I think it helped that we didn't use that stupid thing that goes over the top of the tub....I now think maybe that's what I was supposed to use to do the sponge baths???) The most important thing is that we've got it down! We know have a nice little routine and bath time is enjoyable for all of us! :)

This is the life!

While we've definitely gotten much, much better and coordinated with his baths, here was what the bathroom looked like after his 2nd bath. I had to laugh because I felt we did so much better the 2nd time around until I walked in the bathroom to clean things up!

And because I can't resist posting cute pics of my Bubby:

Things are much better now and I think Tucker would agree! :)

Prayer Request

I'm a little behind in posts.....have lots to post about. But, for right now, I have a prayer request.

One of my brothers, Luke, was hurt last Friday during his football game. He broke both the bones in his lower leg when another player fell on it. Needless to say, he was in a tremendous amount of pain, I can't even imagine.... It took EMS almost an hour to get him off the field following an IV with morphine. He had surgery Saturday morning where a rod and 3 screws were put in his leg. He spent Friday through Monday at Kosair. He came home yesterday afternoon but continues to be in a lot of pain and has a long road to recovery.

Luke is the starting QB for Henry County. Playing that position, along with Luke's personality, he feels that he has let his teammates down getting hurt. They were 2 wins away from making it to state (they lost Friday) and had very good chances of getting those 2 w's.

I know that Luke will work hard, probably impressing his therapists, and will be back on the field (well, the weight room since the season is over) in no time. With all our prayers for a successful recovery, that will happen even quicker!

Believing in the power of prayer....

Luke and Tucker

Luke, Shelby (Luke's girlfriend), and Tucker

A Mommmy's Job...

It's barely noon, and so far Tucker has went through 4 outfits (counting the one that never actually made it on him)! Our last diaper change included 4 diapers, 2 outfits, 2 pairs of socks, and 2 onesies, not to mention that one of his receiving blankets is now in the trash! And, yes I do have some of those tee-pee things that cover little boys so they don't pee everywhere! But, man you would think after doing it once that he's done at least for enough time for me to get a diaper on him! That's when #2 unexpectedly comes along... Then, I think, "Surely he's done now!" and take off the diaper and prepare to put a new one on when he's spraying everywhere again! Get that cleaned up and here comes more #2! It never stops! At one point, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. (I think I did a little of both when I thought I saw Tucker smirk at me!) And to think that I wasn't even going to change his diaper at all due to the fact that he was sound asleep, but because I knew he had poopied while I was burping him I didn't want him to take an hour and a half nap in a dirty diaper....

Well, 2 outfits, 2 onesies, 2 pairs of socks, several hundred wipes, 4 diapers, 2 wash clothes, 1 changing pad cover, and minus a receiving blanket later, he's asleep again!

Here he is in his swing while I disinfected his changing pad.

Happy 1 Month Tucker!!!

Dear Tucker Bug,

I cannot believe you are 1 month old already! It really seems like just yesterday Daddy and I were finding out that God had blessed us with a son and now you are here and are 1 month old!!!

Last week we had your 4 week check up. You are 23 1/2 inches long (97%) and 9 pounds and 1.5 ounces (50%). I think you're going to be tall and lean, just like your Daddy! Speaking of Daddy, you sure do look like him! When we have our special times early in the morning and I rock you and talk to you and you just look up at me, I can't help but to think how much you look like your Daddy. I pray that you also inherit Daddy's other qualities as well. His patience, his easy-going personality, great sense of humor, drive to succeed, love for God and his family, his selflessness, wisdom, integrity, empathy for others...I could go on and on. You are so lucky to have your Daddy as a role model and he loves you more than I can even put into words!

I know that time will keep flying by and you'll grow up so fast! Right now, I just want to enjoy every second with you! There are so many things that I don't want to ever forget! Like your smell. Who knew that a mixture of Aveeno lotion, breast milk, pee and poop could smell so sweet! :) I could just hold you and smell you for hours! And your little noises you make! You occasionally make little squeaks when you're content. You have a growl sound you make when you've slept a little past your eating time and you get so excited when Mommy gets ready to feed you that you start to growl! You have a humming sound that you make sometimes while you sleep. Not when you're in a deep sleep, but when you're so comfortable that you're not quite sure you want to wake up just yet. Then, you'll start to hum to yourself. We have this on video, it is very cute! You also have a little sound you make when you're not happy. When you're trying to go to sleep and Daddy or I mess with you to keep you up, you make that sound. Oh, and the sweet sound you make while nursing (your absolute favorite thing to do!). Mommy loves that sound!

I don't ever want to forget how you curl up on my chest when I burp and rock you. You even hold onto my shirt color sometimes. You LOVE for me to hold you while you sleep. Sometimes I think I see one of your eyes open just for a quick peek to make sure Mommy is still holding you.

I don't want to forget how you pucker that bottom lip out when you pout. You rarely cry at all, but when you're not happy, you'll pucker that lip out and give Mommy a look that melts my heart. Of course, I sweep you up and remind you how very much I love you and everything is okay again.

I don't ever want to forget the look in your eyes when we have our "special time" early in the morning. You're wide awake and Mommy tells you how very much her and Daddy love you and how special you are. You look into my eyes as if you understand every word. I don't ever want to forget how good it feels to just hold you and to snuggle and cuddle you! You are definitely Mommy's snuggle bug!
Oh my gosh, and you're facial expressions! You have so many cute little faces that Daddy and I love! We try to mimic them to see if we can get you to make them again. You study our faces as if you're figuring something out. It won't be long before you're mimicking us!

I never want to forget your chubby little knuckles, the rolls around your wrists and ankles, and the dimples on your knees! All some of my favorite kissing spots! :)

I cherish our "talks". Sometimes, you sing to me. You'll make your humming noise when I stop talking and I'll ask you if you're singing for Mommy and you just look at me with your beautiful eyes and keep on humming! I could listen to your beautiful music forever!

Obviously, you are developing quite the personality! You know what you want and you know how to get it! Usually, it's just a little look that you give Mommy or Daddy, or a little sound you make to get us to come running over and pick you up. You even know how to let us know that we're getting on your nerves! :)
Right now, your favorite song is You Are My Sunshine. Your favorite books are God Gave Us You and On the Night You Were Born. Even at your young age, you love to be read to. You will sit in our lap and look at the pages as we read to you. You enjoy your swing. Mommy probably shouldn't allow you to fall asleep in it as it could create a bad habit, but I do anyway... (Usually I just put you in it so I can get something done, like unload the dishwasher or pump, and within a matter of minutes, you're asleep!)

Tucker, your Daddy and I love you more than we could ever put into words. You are truly a blessing from God, one that we are eternally grateful for. Daddy and I talk about how we would do anything for you! That our love for you transcends all else. Our life is forever changed, forever better, forever complete!

One month! Wow!

Mommy and Daddy love you Bubby!
Love,
Mommy
xoxoxo

Nosey Neighbor

I've become "that neighbor". It wasn't intentional, I swear! But, when you spend a majority of your day sitting in a chair in a window, you can't help but to see things, right?

The glider in Tucker's nursery sits in the bay window. I usually open the blinds through the day to let some sunlight in since Bubby and I spend so much time in that chair. While I nurse and talk and sing to Tucker, I occasionally look out those windows. I now feel like this nosey neighbor because I know so much senseless information about my neighbors. Like, for example, the yellow house across the street from us never gets mail. That's right, the mail lady just drives on past their mailbox. Weird, right? I mean, who doesn't get any mail? Everyone at least gets junk mail and those useless flyers, right? Speaking of the mail lady, she doesn't stop at the stop sign when she pulls out of our street. She does kind of a yielding stop and keeps on going. Rule breaker!

Oh, and last week, I think the girl that lives diagonal from us on another street went into labor at 3:00 a.m. I was nursing Tucker and heard a car alarm go off. It's usually so quiet in our subdivision, so I peeked out the blinds. It was their car and I saw her and her husband get inside. I know that she is pregnant and I want to say her due date is/was next week. The only explanation I have for them getting in the car at 3:00 am and not coming back for a couple days would be that they had their baby!

Oh, and the boy that lives in the cul de sac of our street always walks his little brother to the end of our street to catch the bus for school in the mornings. He waits with his little brother who is probably 7 years old or so and then walks home and gets himself ready for school. He then returns to the bus stop an hour later to catch his school bus (he's in high school).

Oh, and there is this lady that walks around the subdivision every day with a thing around her waist that holds her water bottle. She walks very slowly, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. I don't see how she walks fast enough to warrant a water bottle. And she's only probably about 45 years old.

Oh, and the people that live in another house diagonal from us get a lot of company every afternoon. I actually think it's just the wife. The husband works. I wonder what they do every afternoon? There are usually 4 or 5 cars there...

Then there's this really crazy lady who has 2 dogs, never has make up on, and looks like she hasn't showered for the day yet. She lets the dogs out a few times a day and then gets really upset when they don't listen to come back inside. She must have a baby inside because she stands on her deck and yells at the dogs - who look at her like she's lost her mind - and then runs back in the house really quickly. She then returns, very frustrated, to yell at the dogs again until they finally come inside. Oh, wait! That would be me!

Is it reasonable that I am scared to death to take Tucker ANYWHERE? At this point, almost 4 weeks in, we have only been to his doctor appointments. I don't even want to take him to my parents' house (after all, my brothers are school-age!). There's just so many nasty things going around. It would break my heart if Tucker got sick! I mean, it breaks my heart when he has to do some extra pushing to get "number 2" out! I don't want to see my Bubby sick! Sometimes (key word) I wish I could just put him back in and carry him until March or April just to keep him safe for a little while longer.... (Then I remember what the last few weeks of pregnancy were like and know there is NO way I could go for another 4 or 5 months!)

Of course, after the flu season comes and goes, there will be other things that I'll want to protect him from.... injury, heartbreak, teasing, feelings of failure, ridicule, disappointment, the list could go on and on. When I look into Tucker's eyes, I don't want him to have to endure any of these feelings that are part of growing up. As a parent, we do what we can to protect our little ones from what we're able to protect them from. The rest is up to God. We have to have faith that HE will protect them and HIS life lessons are part of his great plan for them and will help to make them into the individuals that HE designed.

I pray that God will protect Tucker, shelter him during this season of sickness, and give me the strength I need to put Tucker's health in HIS hands and the discernment to make wise decisions when it comes to my son.

After not being anywhere other than to the pediatrician's office and back, I had to get out of the house Saturday. Wes and I took Tucker for a drive around Shelbyville. (No, we didn't get out of the car!) Here's my Tucker Bug, all ready to go see the wonderful sights. (He slept the entire 2 hours!) Oh, and his feet look huge in this pic....he had on his puppy dog slippers! :)

Tucker's Nursery

I've been meaning t0 post pictures of Tucker's nursery, but still have some finishing touches and wanted it to be done before I posted them. Well, at this point, I'm not sure when I will get those "finishing touches" completed, so I may as well post the pics now and when I get the window treatments made (I bought the material about 2 weeks before I was put on bedrest. If I'd known I would be put on bedrest and then Tucker would come a week later, I might have been a little more proactive about making them.), and the picture frames on the walls, I'll post more pictures then.

So, here is Tucker's nursery!

This is on the wall when you walk in the door. I thought it would be a good place to put up some snap shots. Right now, it has my shower invitations and a few of Tucker's ultra sound pics. I made this using material that was left over from the cornice board and basket liners that I posted about previously.

The changing table and bookshelf.

There's another bookshelf inside the closet, because I'm sure this one won't hold all Tucker's toys and books that he's sure to accumulate!

Moving around the room....

Tucker's crib, which he has yet to spend the night in, though he has recently been taking naps in it. (He was sleeping in bed with us - I know, I know! - until last night when he slept in his bassinet beside our bed for the first time. But, that's a whole other post!) Look closely! Tucker's inside the crib! :)

I painted the letters above the crib. I got the idea from a friend of mine who did the same thing in her nursery. I'm really happy with how they turned out! A really easy project, if you're interested let me know and I'll explain how to do it.

Mommy's favorite spot in the room. Here is where Tucker usually gets his belly full and where Mommy has spent hours sleeping!

I look at this picture and really wish those window treatments were done! I'll get them finished one day (hopefully)!

And here are some of my favorite touches:

This was a gift from a dear friend of mine, Kristin.

I found this and HAD to buy it for Tucker's nursery. It matches his bedding perfectly!

This personalized Louisville Slugger bat was a gift from a friend that I work with.

I had to display the book that Daddy got me for Mother's Day with the letter to "Baby Keene" he wrote on the inside cover. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out this post.) Also, the frame is from another great friend, Sherri. And, no, that is not a picture of Tucker, I need to get one in there! Also, the diaper cake was made by ANOTHER great friend, Jeanne! :)

Okay, this requires a little explaining.... Wes's uncle, his dad's brother, lives in St. Louis and his last name is Tucker. He has this thing where he gets "Tuckerville" on the back of his hats. Wes visited him a few years ago and had one made too. It had to be put in Tucker's nursery! I'm sure Uncle Kevin won't mind if we now call Tucker's nursery "Tuckerville!"

And, Baby is definitely my partner during late night feedings, or anytime during the day for that matter. She is ALWAYS in Tucker's nursery! She's a proud big sister! :)


So, that's it! Tucker's nursery. Hopefully he likes it! :)

"I have a surprise for you!"

Last Friday, Wes came home and said, "I have a surprise for you!" He presented me with this box:

Here is what was inside:
It's a mother-child necklace (I don't know if that's what it's really called, just what I call it!). The child has a Sapphire on it, blue for boy.

Don't I have the most amazing, sweetest, thoughtful husband ever! I sure think so!!!!! And, he is even more of an amazing Daddy!!!! Tucker absolutely adores him! (And Mommy does too!)

Update

Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who commented on my previous post about pacis and pumping! I did introduce a paci to Tucker. He does pretty well with it and it has been successful in holding him over between meals. I try to not over-use it to avoid him becoming too attached. Over the past couple days, we are back to eating about every 3 hours and he will go between 3-4 hours at night again. Yay!!! As for the pump, I plan to attempt that this weekend. My sister is coming up and will be my "teacher"! I'll keep you posted on how that goes! Any additional advice on pumping, storing breast milk, etc. is always welcomed!!!!

I feel SO blessed to have some great friends who have been-there-done-that! Thank you!!!!

And what's a post without a pic of my Bubbie!!! :)

Faux Nipple Advice Needed

So, I have a TON of things I want to post about! Ideas have been swarming around in my head. However, Tucker has decided over the past couple days that he no longer needs as much sleep. AND he only wants to sleep when Mommy is holding him. So, I'm a much less productive blogger when I've had minimal sleep!

I knew Tucker's 4 hour sleep sessions at night and 3 hour nap during the day was too good to last! On top of his need for Mommy, he also wants to eat every time he wakes up, even if it's only been an hour since his last meal. It's obvious that he finds "eating" comforting. I'm considering introducing his paci a little early. I was trying to wait until 3 to 4 weeks like they recommend in the breast feeding books. Up until now, there really hasn't been a need for it. He never cries, unless he "thinks" he's hungry! He'll be 3 weeks on Thursday, so I'm so close! Any advice on this? Also, what about pumping? When is a good time to start? Tucker was such a lazy eater in the beginning that I fear he will find a bottle way too easy and prefer it over me. We finally have breast feeding down pat and I'm afraid introducing any artificial nipples (pacifier or bottle) will take us a step back...

Here's a picture of my sleeping boys just so I can remember how well Tucker was sleeping!!! :)