Lazy Day's

Trysten 1 1/2 months old

Harlowe's bed head, first thing in the morning. Trysten is one month old.

Things are getting better, now that it is time for me to go back to work. Only one week left, yikes! I am nervous for Dustin because I know how hard it is to handle both kiddos. We have mapped out a plan though, hopefully we have time to get the kids bathed and fed before I leave for work so it will be easier on him. I plan to work every other night, so we will see how I adjust and the family does. Pray for us, ha.

Harlowe is almost two years old, her birthday is coming up in October. She is growing so fast and talking up a storm. Everyone thinks she is so smart, but I am sure every parent thinks their child is smart. She loves, loves, loves Dora the Explorer, that is her fave show for now. She still loves to read books and we are trying to teach her, her colors and numbers right now. She knows her anatomy due to her little brother and my mother bought her a boy baby doll. It was so funny, we were out for ice-cream the other day and out of the blue she started yelling penis and vagina. I don't know where that came from but it was so funny, my mom, me and Dustin busted out laughing. I know not the best example because she probably thinks it is a joke but it really was so funny. 

She is loving her baby dolls now, she drags them around the house, changing their diapers, feeding them and tucking them into bed, it is the cutest thing. I was really worried about the transition with Harlowe but she loves her baby brother, she is really rough with him but she is always kissing him, hugging him and wants to hold him all the time. 

What can I say about my baby, Trysten is a big, big boy. And when I say big, he is 13 pounds and 13 ounces at two months. He is in nine month onesies, they are big but he is growing so fast so I really don't want to waste money. I have all his weights and lengths so I will post them next time, everyone is asleep so I am trying to blog in lightening speed, ha. Trysten is doing better on the sleeping thing, he is sleeping from 11pm to 5am which is pretty good for him. What can I say, he needs his food, ha. Hopefully Dustin will wake up at 0500 when he is hungry but doubtful, ha. He is drinking about 5 to 6 ounces per feeding, I am still breastfeeding and it is a job in itself. I have had some break down's where I wanted to quit but I am sticking with it and I am glad that I have because it is getting easier each day. He is cooing and smiling a lot and it just melts my heart when he looks at me and smiles.

To be totally truthful, I wasn't bonding with him like I thought I would at first. I think I was so stressed and frazzled it was hard. I was getting used to him and didn't get down his cues and wants until about two months. Now I think I have it down, he had really bad reflux at birth and was really fussy most of the time. I think I was feeding him too much, although now we are in tune so it is a lot easier. But now I can say, my heart has grown so much and I truly love this little boy and I love holding him and I miss being close to him. He is totally different from Harlowe and I love them both, it is so nice to notice the differences in your children. They are so different but so loved. He has blonde hair and blue eyes so far, he has the nicest, cutest lips and makes the sweetest sounds. I am totally in love.

I thank God everyday, we have two healthy children. It is hard but I love each and everyday. It is a crazy life but I love my life and couldn't have asked for anything more. 

Keeping It Real

Oh, I forgot to add some things about my delivery. I did have an epidural and all the nurses were saying how good my epidural was because I felt like I could not even breath. It wasn't a good feeling, I kept on asking them to turn down the medication but nothing helped. I also felt really nauseated this time around and when I was moved to my room, up came all the brightly colored Starburst's, oops, caught red handed. 

I am like a deer in head lights,  oh gosh two little ones, lord be with me, ha. This was the easiest birth ever, I think. So grateful for the pregnancy to be over with and on with the caous.

Harlowe a little grumpy because it is 11pm but happy to see her baby brother. She just adores him too pieces. I was really worried about the transition but she did fabulous and is a great big sister. Thank you God, you are listening to all my prayers. We have two healthy, happy (which is relative, ha) babies, I could not have asked for anything more.

Keeping it real, I am trying to blog, clean the house, all the while Trysten is in the Baby Bjorn asleep and my precious Harlowe is down for her nap. Oh, and did I add I am standing up typing and swaying back and forth so he will stay asleep; because, every time I sit down he starts whining. Did our parents do this? 

Well it has been two months now and I am still on maternity leave, thank God. It is so weird I don't miss work the least this time around. I guess I am so busy I don't have time to even think about work. I like being home with both babies, but I thought I wanted to be a stay at home mother, not so much. Hats off to all of the stay at home mother's, it is truly the hardest job on the earth. I thought I could do it myself and Dustin could go off and work, work, work. But I was so wrong, I have had the hardest time acclimating and thank God Dustin has helped me out a lot. He wakes up everyday and asks what he can do to help me and make my day better. What a wonderful husband I have, Dustin's parents raised him right, even though it was hard, ha! 

My mother has been a God sent also, she has flew in every week for the past two months now. We are stretching it to every other week now but every time I have a break down, and it was often the first month or so, she was on a plane willing to drop everything to help me. I could not have done it without her, she is my best friend and my biggest supporter, I love you so much mother!

Dustin's parents have been a big help too, willing to give us a break every now and then for a breather. You really appreciate the little things, like going to the grocery store by yourself, it is like heaven. Sad, I know but just to go running to clear my head is like a lifesaver. I am just so appreciative of everyone's love and support. Dustin and I have a great support system and I think it has kept our sanity, ha. 

Trysten's Arrival

We went to the hospital at 39 weeks on July 11, 20011. I was completely miserable with this pregnancy, I guess I am an old gal. Plus Trysten was 8lbs and 5 oz, talk about hefty. I really didn't eat much during this pregnancy because if I ate a lot I was even more miserable. It seemed like my stomach did not have that much room in my big old tummy. This delivery was much better, my OB doctor is one of Dustin's friends and he took really good care of me. I had my epidural early before any pain so it was nice, pain free delivery. My first delivery was so painful at first because I was in labor for so long. 

I was not supposed to eat anything but Dustin smuggled some Starburst's in for snacking. Dustin, my mother and Dustin's mom kept me company all day long. They were back and forth with the snacks and even got some popcorn for the show, ha. Really they did, ha. I don't know what I was doing in this picture but I am sure Dustin was annoying me in some way, ha.

Trysten was born around 5:20pm and we were at the hospital at 0800. It was so funny, Juan was at his clinic across town and was calling every now and then to check up on me. Of course no progression for a long time but all of a sudden I felt like I had to poop. I guess that is the sign when the baby is coming, so I was fully dilated on Pitocin and I was ready to push but no Juan. He was thirty minutes away and now rush hour traffic was in full swing. In Houston it is really bad, poor thing was running to the hospital when Dustin was outside trying to find him. They turned off my Pitocin and I was just hanging out watching TV waiting for him.

Dustin's mother with Trysten

My mother with the baby

Dustin's Dad with Trysten. He watched Harlowe all day while we were in the hospital. They were pooped when they came to the hospital at 11:00pm. Harlowe wore him out, thank you so much for taking care of my precious girl for us. The flowers in the background were the beautiful flowers, Dustin's parents gave us.

Trysten was born July 7, 2011, which is easy to remember because when I was younger there were a lot of convenient store's called 7 11. I cannot remember how they spell it. I thought I had a break to blog real quick but Harlowe is giving Trysten a french kiss and now he is crying. I am going to try my best to keep up with the blog but having two little one's is so hard and I don't have it down yet. But thanks to my mother, she has helped us out a lot and we really appreciate it.

Bubble Bath with Daddy

My sweet baby girl

Looking back on the blog, I have been one lazy lady. This pregnancy is taking everything out of me and I have been such a complainer lately. All I want to do is rest and prop my feet up and poor Dustin is sick of me. I feel really bad because all I want to do is lay around and I know Harlowe and Dustin are so bored around me. But on the bright side seven more weeks and its all over, we will meet our new addition. I think Dustin and I have settled for a name; which is, Trysten Hastings Different. Actually Drew, Dustin's brother,  came up with Trysten, a movie Brad Pitt starred in and his name was Trysten. Hasting's comes from Dustin's mother's maiden name.

Harlowe has changed so much lately, one day she just woke up and was a chatter box. She is talking up a storm lately. She knows all her body parts, from the My Baby Can Read, I know I have said it again but she loves the books and flash cards that come in the set. But right now her passion is the IPad, I really did not want her to watch too much television but she loves the IPad. My mother bought it for my birthday but somehow Harlowe has claimed it. It really makes car rides more tolerable for her.

Dustin and I are so amazed how she has evolved over the past nineteen months, she is really growing fast. She is the sweetest, loving, but most stubborn girl. She really knows how to play us also, because we have been using the time out method for discipline. And it really is working for us, she knows what time out is and if we talk to her about what she is doing wrong, I think she gets it. Maybe Dustin has another perspective on the whole thing but it has been working so far. Anyway, every time she does something wrong, we threaten her with time out and she will just give you the biggest smile and wave and say hi. It is so cute and Dustin even falls for it on occasion.

She is saying so many words lately, it is hard to keep up with. She is mimicking everything we do, it is the cutest thing. She loves our dog, Harley, she will wake up and give him the biggest hug and kiss every morning. She wakes up is the best mood and will love on you and give us big kisses and hugs, it really melts my heart. Everyday Dustin says, I love my little girl, he is so attached to his baby. These past couple of months, they are like two peas in a pod. Their new favorite past time is bike riding, her bike seat has moved to Dustin's bike and they go riding almost every night.

We have been looking for schools for her also and I think we found the one. It is really expensive but anything for education, right. It is a Montessori school in our neighborhood so it is so convenient. All the teachers have Bachelors degree's and they even teach Spanish. Dustin and I took a tour of the school last week and Dustin was the one all for it. He really likes the school and did not want to look at any other schools. I cannot wait for her to start, I think it will be really good for her socially and education wise. Yet, I have mixed emotions and of course while we were talking to the director, I almost broke down in tears. Hormones, who knows, I just thought my baby is going to school and there is no way I am going to be able to drop her off the first week. That will be Dustin's job, I think I will be in tears and look like a complete crazy person, ha. But the director was so nice and said I could even stay in his office and watch her on video if that made me feel better. I guess I am not the only crazy mother out there that cannot let go.

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day and pray for our troops. They give their lives to protect us and give us the freedoms we enjoy everyday in America. God Bless them, it is a great sacrifice.

Christmas at Honey's

If your wondering about the name Honey, this is my mother's new name for Parker and Harlowe. Parker was already calling my mother Honey for grandma, so now Dustin and I are trying to get Harlowe to catch on. Dustin's parents want to be called Nana and Pops, I am not sure about the Pops so I will have to clarify it later.

 As you can see we are non-traditional people, my brother and Dustin loves Crab Legs so that's what our Christmas dinner consisted of. Seafood but the sides of a traditional Christmas, weird, I know but it was delicious. I know this sounds bratty but I hate to work for my food so Dustin was kind enough to share his crab with me. I can remember when I was younger we would go to fancy brunch buffets at various hotels in SA. I would always want my mother to peel the shrimp for me, and of course the great mother that she was, would do it. Dustin thinks I am totally spoiled, so I guess Harlowe's attitude is partially my fault. God is paying me back, ha.

Parker got a sled type thing and Harlowe is trying to help him open it. Don't ask me why she is naked, I guess you can see the type of parent I am. No foo foo dress and no big bow on her head, naked is the way to go, ha. But hopefully when she gets hair, I can slap a big bow on her head.

For Christmas we got a waffle maker, All Clad of course, I love, love, love this brand. I highly recommend their pots and pans. Anyway, we also got a Blue Ray for Harlowe's DVDs and a talking pot toy. Oh, and how can I forget the pink car, Fred's family gave Harlowe, which she totally loves.

This was Parker's first Krispy Kream (I know I am spelling this all wrong) and the first donut period and he was two and a half. These are the best donuts ever, especially when there hot. Oh my gosh they just melt in your mouth. Sadly to say Harlowe has probably been eating donuts since she was nine or ten months. It was funny, Dustin turned and asked me, should we be feeding Halowe donuts? Of course the cookie monster, me, said of course as long as that is not the only thing she wants to eat. Luckily she still loves her veggies and she is definitely a carnivore.

Yesterday, we had a nice dinner before I went to work. Dustin broke out his Kobe steak which he loves, I think more than me, ha. The steaks are not that big so my greedy husband did not want to share with Harlowe, because he made that mistake once and she practically ate the whole thing. So I fixed her up some veggie chicken fingers, yum, they really taste just like chicken. She was not having it, she just ate the ketchup and a few bites of the fingers. So Dustin gave her a few scraps and she was shoveling the steak in her mouth and pointing at his plate wanting more but no such luck, he ate it all. Our baby has some expensive taste so from now on I guess I will be buying both of them individual steaks, ha.

So much for just posting pics and not blogging. I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter and remember the true meaning of Easter. 1 Peter 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

14 Months

These are just some random everyday pictures. I know Harlowe is almost 19 months so as you can see I am way behind. So I think I will just post the pictures and try to catch up.

She is doing pretty good in the grocery cart, it is a hit or miss depending on her mood. I have been trying to reinforce her to stay put and I cannot hold her all the time since the new baby is on the way. She is doing pretty good, Dustin said I am being more strict with her. Which, Dustin said it was a complement, hopefully we can whip her into shape before the new baby comes, ha.

Christmas with the Different Clan

Dustin's family, I was the photographer of course.

Harlowe was loaded up with toys. Dustin's mom went crazy because we barely have any toys at our house. It was so funny, we spent the night at his parents house because our house was being painted, and Dustin's mom bought Harlowe a push lawnmower. Very cute but makes a lot of noise, Dustin and I were winding down and watching The Event (very good show, we highly recommend it). Harlowe started mowing the carpet while we were watching TV, and Dustin and I looked at each other and said this is why we don't have toys at our house, ha. I guess I am more focused on the educational stuff, I know complete bore.

Harlowe and Dustin's mom. She is trying to escape the camera but I got some of her, ha.

Dustin's parents love to play with Harlowe and she loves her toy bucket at their house. She has a big pink toy bucket filled to the brim with goodies. She just drags all the toys all over the house. Dustin is in the background putting together the wagon. It will be great with two children because it seats two.

We had a great Christmas, I got called off of work which was really nice, I think. I am having pregnancy brain, I am so forgetful. Thank you to everyone for the great presents and wonderful memories. I think it is a Different tradition to have prime rib on Christmas which everyone devoured, I do not think they had left overs. I of course enjoyed the salad and Harlowe is definitely not my child when it comes to eating, she LOVES the meat. If the dish has meat in it she will pretty much eat anything. Maybe my son will be a salad and fish eater, wishful thinking, ha.