08 June 2013

Catching Up....

I have a little catching up to do on this blog. The last entry that I started to write was actually about my baby shower. I never finished that post, but I'm sure you will see it here eventually. It was a really great baby shower by the way, my friend Megan (her blog Growing Up Blessings can be found here) did a spectacular job putting it together and we all had a great time!

The week after the baby shower, crazy kind of went wild in our house. Five and half days after the baby shower, Ember had arrived! After his welcome home I began an intense battle with postpartum preeclampsia. I've never had 'regular' preeclampsia, so I'm not sure what that feels like, but having it postpartum is a complete nightmare. I was placed back in the hospital a few days after coming home from the hospital with Ember. After coming home the second time, I was a complete wreck, and am still very far off my game.

One great thing about my extended recovery, I was able to spend nearly a month doing mostly nothing but holding my sweet baby boy while laying on the couch. Thankfully also, we have a huge comfy sectional that easily accommodates our big family. If I'm in just the right spot, I can easily cuddle 3 of the kids at once.

Tonight was the first time I've been home without John or Nia (my constant babysitters) for more than half an hour in about 6 weeks. John and the girls have an overnight thing at our church, so it was just the boys and mommy. It has been a fabulous night! I'm starting to feel more like myself each day and can do a little more each day. John did order gluten free pizza from Uno's for Cam and I so I wouldn't have to worry with dinner. Which gave us time to do this little craft



and when Cam went to bed, I had a little time to finally finish these up



04 June 2013

Guest Post On Intoxicated On Life (1 of 3)

Hello Everyone, check out my guest post on the Intoxicated On Life blog. This is the 1st post of 3 that I am doing about my breast feeding experience for Intoxicated On Life.

Here is pic of my new little guy sleeping


Ember is a week and a half in this picture. Yes he is as big as he looks in this photo.

Welcome Ember!!!

Welcome Ember!!


Ember Rowan Richards
May 4, 2013
9 pounds 14 ounces 
21 inches 


(This picture is today, the above was at birth)
Has it really been a month since we added this little guy to our family? I've herd other parents make the comment that when they brought home their baby, their family just finally felt complete. I think I know the feeling they have talked about now. We all love him so much and he seamlessly has meshed right in. Ember is definitely the bigest of all of my babies and has a big personality to match. He is generally a very happy baby. He is rarely put down, which is good because he loves snuggling with all of us. Literally, this kid is generally in someones arms about 16 to 22 hours a day. Although he didn't sleep through the night last night, the previous 6 nights he has slept a solid 6 hours. Ember has a fiery temper that goes well with his red hair. When he wants something, he lets you know immediately, and continues to let you know for a short while after he gets what he wants. So far he is generally calm and very observant. He likes watching things that move, like the mobile above his swing and his super speedy sister Anara.



I am amazed at how well  my older children have adjusted to their new baby brother, but I have to say I am especially impressed with how well Cameron has taken on his new role as a big brother. As soon as Em begins to cry, Cameron often feels this is a call to duty and grabs whatever he feels the baby might need at that moment. Cam's favorite thing to do right now is to hold or lay down next to his baby brother. Cameron was very timid around Ember until the 2nd day we were home. For a few months before Ember's arrival,  Cameron had acted out a situation with dolls and the bouncer seat where he would put a doll in the seat and cover it with a blanket then proceed to kiss the doll's head and rub the doll's hair. With Cameron seeming to be afraid of getting to close to Ember in the beginning,  I decided to see if he would like to have this playtime routine reproduced in real life. It was the sweetest thing, and was exactly what Cameron needed to affirm his abilities as an excellent big brother. Since this little event, Cameron is constantly by Ember's side taking care of him.


The girls also love having a new baby in the house. Partially because they have had an extended vacation from school, I'm sure. Nia, is our family's care taker. So, she obviously snatches him up every chance she gets. She likes feeding him bottles and snuggling up for nap time with him. Nothing would make her happier than to be put in charge of baby care for the entire day. So far, Ember and Nia seem to kindred spirits with very similar personalities.


Anara likes to hold him also, but she isn't much on sitting still for very long, so she generally likes to hold him for helpful tidbits when someone needs to hand him off for just a few moments. Her favorite time with Ember is playtime. She likes making faces at him and holding things up for him to look at. She is also my little songbird and has quieted Ember down several times by singing to him.