8 Weeks!

I can't believe it's been 8 weeks (and :25 minutes) since we first met this guy!  

Wow, so much has changed in our lives!

He weighs about 12 pounds now!

Sleeps about 10-11 hours at night, with a 6-7 hour stretch at the beginning.

He sleeps a ton during the day and when he doesn't he makes us pay in the evening.

We had a 3.5 hour scream fest Saturday night.

The gassiness is almost extinct with Mommy excluding dairy from her diet.

I love his smile!  And he gets so excited and has a big open mouth smile too...so sweet!

It's hard to remember what it was like before Corbin.  We (John and I) are constantly multi-tasking these days, it just seems to be the norm now.  I really feel like we're adjusting nicely to being a family of 4.  

Today, I took Carter grocery shopping (he ate doughnuts, of course) and Corbin stayed home with Daddy.  Carter kept asking where Corbin was and that he missed him.  Sweet boy!

At church on Sunday, John went to pick up Carter from his class.  The teacher asked if Carter has a new sibling.  John told her he has a new brother.  She asked his name and John told her.  Then she pointed at Carter who was carrying a baby doll named "Corrrrvin".  "Ahhhh!"  She said, "Corbin!"  Ha ha.  Lots of adjusting and internalizing going on!  Makes me feel good.  

I just wonder if he tried to feed "Corrrvin."

Okay, here are a few more pics and a video of Corbin cooing (boring to most, I'm sure).

He seriously looks pretend in this picture!

Carter too!!  Look at Corbin's face!  Ha ha ha!!!

Diaper hanging out!

What are you doing Mom?

7 Weeks (Dairy Free)

Happy 7 Weeks Corbin!

Whew, you are a growing boy!

At his 6 Week appointment he weighed 11 lbs and 24 inches!

I eliminated dairy from my diet and have seen MAJOR improvements!  He is much less fussy and gassy!  The witching hour has been gone for 3 nights in a row!!  I love this!

He's much happier!

He seems to prefer a 7:00pm bedtime.  He takes a LONG nursing session, with lots of mini feeds.  Then is asleep by 8:00.  

Of course, I expect all of this to change.  Because that is what happens, right?

This week has been so much fun!  I feel like we are really getting life under control. Yes, tasks like dinner are still hard to accomplish at the moment.  But we've been cooking in bulk.  So we are still eating!  Ha!

Both school days this week, when I went to pick up Carter, he asked where Corbin was. :)

One more, one more..

On Tuesday, his classmates were playing with another friend's baby brother in the hallway.  This baby was much older and was interacting.  Carter was watching his friends making a fuss over another baby and said "Everybody come see Corrrrvin."  I thought that was sweet!  He was proud!  

Seems we're all at a happy place with our newest addition!!  Such a great feeling!

C2 Overload

Ok, forgive me for this overload of photos.  In our defense, we live nowhere near family.

C is our text code for Carter.

C2 is for Corbin.

BEWARE: You might fall in love with this boy...

C2 chipmunk.

Seriously, they are huge!!

His favorite move.

Milk drunk.

Still milk drunk??  Kidding.

Blerg.

Sunday ritual.  Church then Farmers Market.  

Corbin in his favorite hiding place.

Cracks me up, two totally different infants.

A little spit up never hurt anyone!!

Dancing in his bed.

Face shot!

Boys at church together!

Life of the party!!

Hi Mom!

Ornery grin!!

Love him!!

See the left dimple?

Okay, so see my motivation for waking at nights and sleeping sitting up??  It's so worth it!!  Love this cuddle bug.

Week 5 & 6

Week 5 Photos:

Getting bigger!

Brotherly love.

Tough love.

Hanging out with my big brother.

Hanging out in my big brother's room.

He's so cool.

Week 6:

"Wow!  Look at my brother wearing a hard hat!" ~ Carter

Week 6

Getting chunky!

FACE shot!

We've had major improvements in the gas department!  This has really cut down on the fussiness.  The evenings are still a challenge and 2-man-job with getting Carter ready for bed and cluster feeding/comforting Corbin.  6:30-8:00 is his fussiest time. 

Nights vary. A couple of nights we've had 4-5 hour stretches of sleep!!! Most are still at 2-3 hours.

He's having a few more happy awake times each day now!!  Smiles, chuckles and coos are happening!!

Best ever!  

Corbin is a huge fan of our baby bjorn and loves to be carried in it as much as possible.  Actually, he'd prefer to do all of his daily activities on me.  Eating, looking around, tummy time and sleeping. Mama's boy...and I don't mind.  I try to let him as much as possible, because let's be honest, the second child doesn't get as much of this as the first. :(  (He's sleeping on me now, and I'm typing one-handed.)

I love his warm little body.

And let's be honest here...No one has blogged about how HARD the second round is?! I absolutely love this baby and am truly impressed with how Carter is adjusting, but man, the logistics of the day and physically, life is crazy right now!  It takes us 2 hours to get out of the door, with prepping clothes and food the night before.  AND I actually cried last week at a playground when a random lady asked if I needed her to help get Carter down from the jungle gym while Corbin was rooting on my shoulder.  Yes, I hadn't hit that glorious 4 hour stretch of sleep so I was at a sleep deprived low, but still embarrassing.  When she left she made sure to come back and let me know it will get easier.  Hormonal and sleep deprived are not a good combo.  Ha!!

I'm learning so many tricks though!  Every day is getting easier!!  I keep thinking to periods like this with only one, teething, jet-lag, potty training, getting rid of the pacifier, the tiredness passes and all adjusts even better than before.

P.S.  We're heading to Dallas and Houston next month and would love see you! 

4 Weeks Old

I'm falling more and more in love with this boy.

He melts my heart!!

4 Weeks has gone, not quite a month though, that is a whole other milestone!

He is sleeping well and nursing well.  At all times of the night!  But he does quickly go back to sleep.

I feel like we're getting into the grove of things over here.  Don't get me wrong, housekeeping and cooking are still pretty low on priority.  During Carter's nap, I usually nurse, nap, shower and then nurse again.  But I know this is a phase and all will be in place sooner or later.

We're totally enjoying our little snuggle bug.  He loves to be held and I love it.

LOVE you CORBIN!!!

Happy 4 weeks!

End of Soccer (and End of Help)

Well, as of last week, soccer is officially over.  It was awesome.

Carter's enthusiasm from the first practice never died however, it did change.

He did join the ranks of the other Under 3 Year Old's at the playground shortly after practice started.

Those darn Tonka Trucks will get'cha every time!  He'd last about 10 minutes and off with his buddies!  It was a blast and he looked forward to it every week!

Thank YOU Aunt Shae for this awesome soccer uniform!

*Please notice the black on top of his shoes.  Those are not his socks.  They are shin guards from a Build a Bear "Soccer Dinosaur."  He wears them every time he plays soccer now.  Yes, it's ridiculous.

With the End of the Season Soccer Cupcake.

Totally awesome to Carter.

"Cheese"  Only way I can get him to not look sad in pictures.  Not sure if this is any better.  Ha!

Group shot.

Please excuse my paleness...it's really no biggie here in Canada, but you Texans are all lookin so fine and tan!  And yes, I just finished nursing Corbin.

In other randomness.  Here are some pics from my last day with helpers in the house!

Thanks Grammy for all of your help!  We miss you!

Grammy with Corbin.

Papa made it out too!

VanSickle Grandparents!!

McCoy Family!

CORBIN (Weeks 1-3)

Week 1 Old

2 Weeks Old

3 Weeks Old

Corbin Man, I don't seem to remember this very short newborn phase with your Big Brother.  AND China had some pretty crazy internet laws so I couldn't blog much.  So I don't have much of a memory to compare but this is about you!

You weigh 9.9 lbs!  You've gained 2 lbs in the past 3 weeks!

You are sleeping a ton.

Crying quite a bit.  Poor guy.

Have the LOUDEST toots/poops ever heard from such a tiny bottom.  (Totally embarrassed me in the nursing room at the mall. All the other mamas laughed and commented.  True story.)

With those loud toots come an upset tummy.  Or the other way around. Which makes you cry at night.

You are sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed, snuggled with mommy, which makes it easier to tend to you several times a night.  AND considering you are 3 Weeks Old, I'd have to say, I'm seeing improvements in sleeping.  Or maybe I'm getting used to this??

Your big brother, Carter, is in LOVE with you!  He loves to kiss you and hold you.  However, he does not like it when you cry.  Who does?  It makes him very sad he tells me.  He also tells me that he thinks you are so cute.  AND finally, he tells EVERYONE else, that he has a brother named "Gorman."  He's very proud of you.

I forgot how demanding this time is.  I somehow remember it as just a tiny baby sleeping all the time.  Which is partly true.  BUT know this, we are so beyond excited that you are here!!  We've been waiting for you for a long time.  We are enjoying your sweet new baby smell, tiny, yet changing, features and look forward to learning more about you!

Welcome to our family sweet boy!