Thank Heaven for Baby Boys and Little Sisters

The last few weeks have left me reflecting on how extremely blessed I am.  I am so fortunate to have such a perfect baby boy, a loving husband, an amazing family, and fabulous friends.  It is easy to get wrapped up in the day to day activities, the busy schedules, and the hopes for the future; however, I have realized how comforting it is to take time each day to be thankful for and cherish all the love that surrounds me. 

I would like to highlight my sister in this post.  Erica is my sister AND she is my very best friend.  She knows not only me, but Justin and Vaan as well, inside and out and would do anything for us.  I know this because she does everything for us most, if not all, weekends.  If there are dishes to be done, she does them; if there are clothes to be washed, she washes them; if I need someone to take Vaan for a bit, she plays with him.  I could go on and on about all the things she does, but most importantly, she knows what I am thinking and feeling without me saying a word and tends to my needs.  Even though she is my little sister, I find myself looking up to her ability to be so selfless and nurturing.  I have needed her more than ever, especially after Justin went back to work, and she knew that without me saying it and has been at my side to support, help, and love.  In all this, she has developed a special bond with Vaan that no other has and no other ever will.  Vaan loves his auntie just as much as she loves him and they will be buddies forever.  Erica is a God sent and I honestly do not know what I would do without her.  Thank you Erica for being the most amazing sister and friend anyone could every ask for.  I love you; we all love you and we are so thankful for you each and every day. 

CHEERS TO AUNTIE ERICA!!

2 Months: Smiles, Sassiness, and Soiled Diapers

Vaan is 2 months old!  I think I said this last month, but seriously, where does the time go?  My mom asked me a couple days ago, "Do you ever wonder how you got along without him?".  My answer: YES!  Play time, eating schedule, naps, reading books, bedtime routine, diaper changing, and being the best parent possible are always on my mind, and I would not have it any other way.  Vaan, or "boss" as Justin called him, definitely runs the show.  We know that we want the best for him, so we will do whatever it takes/whatever he needs each and every day.

This last month has brought even more joy.  Vaan is smiling and giggling all the time.  It is the very best feeling in the world when he looks as us and gives us a big, dimple showing grin!  Knowing he is happy puts us on top of the world and nothing else matters.  With all the extra smiles we have gotten this last month, we have gotten just as many soiled diapers!  It is a good thing Vaan loves to be on his changing table because we are there ALL. THE. TIME.  He's wet so we change him, mintues later he poops.  If he poops, he will definitle pee immediately after you get the fresh diaper on.  Dr. Zielger's (Vaan's pediatrician) nurse said he should have a dirty diaper at least 1-2 times a day; well, we are there plus 4 or 5!  No concerns that his intestines are working :)

We are so lucky to have such a happy little guy, but a smile is not the only thing he always has on his face.  He is a baby of a 1000 expressions.  If you know what Justin looks like when he is happy, sad, confused, annoyed, frustrated, etc, then you know all of Vaan's expressions!  Not only are their features the same, each and every move they make with their features is the same - down to the one eye brow lift!  While Vaan likes to show off all ways he can contort his face, sassy (i.e. not afraid to let mom know this is NOT what he wants) is an expression that comes out quite often!  Just look at the picture below of him in the stroller and you will know exactly what I mean! 

This month has been amazing and while it is hard to believe things can get even better in the months to come, I am sure they will.  Cheers to two healthy, happy months!  Hereare a few pictues of our 12 pound, 23 inch long baby!

 

Vaan's First Holiday

Labor Day, 9/3/12, was Vaan's first official holiday.  It was a perfect day: Dad was off, aunt Erica, Uncle Sean, Grandpa Jim, and Grandma & Gandpa Stu came to visit, and we were able to make dinner on the grill.  Labor Day has always symbolized the end of summer as school started, fall sports began, and Dad's (Grandpa Jim's) pool closed.  Summer has always been anticipated and fall has always been welcomed with new, exciting adventues and events.  I have to say, this summer, was probably the most anticipated summer of my life with the birth of Vaan.  It was on my mind each and every day since the beginning of last October.  July 5th, 2012 was above and beyond all of it's anticiaption and hype; it was the most amazing day of our lives as we wecolmed the new addition to our family.  As we pass my "end of summer mark", I am excited for fall, as I have always been, but for new reasons.  Each day Vaan grows and amazes us with the "newness" of what he can do.  I am thankful for each and every day I have with him and even though I hate how the days get shorter, I can not wait for long days of playing, giggling, and growing.  Happy Fall!  Stay tuned for Vaan's 2 month mark...!

Showered With Love

Thanks to Aunt Kelly and cousin Lizzy, Justin, Vaan, and I were showered with great company and gifts last Sunday.  We are so blessed to have such great family.  It was extra special that we got to take our sweet baby to our baby shower!  Justin and I found it to be a great way to introduce Vaan to family and friends that haven't met him yet, and who doesn't like to hold a baby?!  While I did have to hold back from letting my inner obsessive and worry-filled anxiety come out as he was passed from person to person, we all had a great time!  Thank you so much Kelly and Lizzy for taking the time to make this shower so special and make us feel so loved!

A Month Later

One month has already come and gone since the birth of Vaan.  It is crazy how time flies.  The days seem to blur together because we spend countless hours playing, laughing, and just staring at the most amazing gift life has to give.  Vaan is by far the best thing that has come to Justin and I as a married couple!

Justin has recently returned to work and we have had to adjust back to the daily grind.  As much as Justin loves his job, it was still hard for him (and me!) to go.  Now that Justin has been back for a little over a week, we are all becoming accustom to our new "daily life".  While we don't have much of a routine set yet, our activities throughout the day are pretty regular!  They go a little something like this: wake up, eat, sleep, play, eat, sleep play, eat sleep play, eat, sleep play, bath, eat, bed!  In order to make this more accurate, we would need to add countless hours on the changing table to our day!  Regardless, we love our new life! 

We feel so blessed to be such a happy and healthy family.  While it seems impossible somedays to even open my computer, I hope to be able to post more frequently about our love, life, and new advetnures as a family. 

Here are a few pictures of our precious Vaan in the first month of his life.  It was hard to choose out of the 500 + pictures Justin and I have of him, but I wanted to give just a glimpse of the wonderful family we have and the love there is for Vaan. 

Mom & Dad LOVE you!