A Few More Firsts

Today Eli is 20 days old, and James is exactly 20 months. Eli took his first bottle (possible future freedom for mama??) and met more family for the first time. Thanks Uncle Carey and Auntie Nini for the nursing pillow (James LOVES it) and the clothes for Eli.

Fitting In

Eli has been here now 2 and a half weeks and he's fitting in quite well... for the most part. He usually gets along quite well with his brother, and he met his baba and grandpa today and had no problem getting aquainted with them. He's gained 1 pound 1 ounce in the last week - he's almost 10 pounds (9lbs,15.4oz)! He'll be out of his 0 - 3 month clothes in no time!

Slowing Things Down

It feels like my pace has come to a grinding halt. Our big family outing today was to the grocery store and starbucks. I know this will change, and it doesn't even really bother me because I'm pretty tired and going anywhere else is most likely more trouble than it's worth. James loves getting outside to pick up sticks at least once a day - I think that's all he really needs. He's happy most of the time to be inside, playing with Dad, or his blocks, or reading books.
I cooked dinner tonight and it felt good to do something normal and eat something we're used to. Not saying that I'm sick of people bringing us food! Au contraire! The more prepared food the better!
Man, have I become a faithful poster! Here are some pictures of days 11 and 12 as a foursome - almost 2 whole weeks!

Getting better aquainted.

Nice hat bud. That's mama's tired eyes cover-up - I wear it everytime we go out.

Typical.

Ahh bath time. Is there any better part of the day?

The Boys

We're still working hard to get into a routine and rhythm with the two boys - especially around and after dinner. My mom leaves tomorrow and then we'll really get into the true family life - no more safety net nanny. We'll be sorry to see her go, taking her laundry and cooking skills with her, but we're looking forward to it being just the four of us. My emotions and feelings are still swinging from extreme thankfulness and love for my boys to wondering why did I have a second baby anyways? Who wants to start all over at the beginning again? I guess this is normal for moms...well maybe it is. Overall I do love my boys (all three) but now is not the time to ask me when we're planning on having our third.
Eli continues to be a really good baby (overall) and James is getting more interested. He kept trying to hold Eli while I was nursing him today. My mom wrapped a stuffed animal up in a recieving blanket and called it James' baby and James carried it around, sat down with it, was hugging it, then decided to roll on it. It was pretty sweet. Jed is really comfortable with Eli and has taken on a lot more 'baby-chores', like bathing Eli, getting up with him after his 5am feed to settle him/hold him so that I can go back to sleep sooner, and seems to just love having Eli sleep on his chest while he reads. I guess Jed knows how short lived this'll be. I do feel very blessed.
God is very good.

Week One

Well Eli has hit the one week mark! This is going so fast! I read in a book that this is the honeymoon week where baby gets lots of rest and sleeps easily - I guess starting tonight the honeymoon is over... too bad. I know I shouldn't write this here or tell any one because once you tell people these kinds of things don't ever happen again but Eli only got up once last night! It was amazing!! I fed him at 10:00, then 3:30, then 7:20. I woke up before him, had time to shower and get James up. If it's any conselation James also got up last night and it wasn't all roses. But it was pretty darn awesome!
It's been a week of adjustment, but there are more adjustments to come as Jed went back to work today and my mom (aka - my cook, my maid, my day care provider) is leaving sometime this week. I'm excited and a little freaked out for taking on this new life of two little darlins. James is adjusting pretty good too. He doesn't try to touch Eli's eyes/nose/mouth everytime he sees him (but still pretty often). James sits pretty good with me while I'm nursing Eli to read a book, and James isn't trying to sit on Eli any more. Eli gets quite a few elbows in the head but he doesn't seem to mind and it's getting him ready for toddlerhood and adolescence. Eli's eyes are still pretty dark brown/grey but still too early to tell what colour they'll be. His hair is still dark brown but it'll fall out soon and may grow back blond like James' did. He's eating well and was back up to his birth weight by day 3. I'm no longer super-engorged (still pretty full - but at least I'm able to sleep on my side and pick up James). Here are a few pics of our new life:

Elias David Schoepp

Here are some pictures of our newest family member. We were very excited to meet and welcome little Eli into the world at 3:17am on monday, jan 7. The delivery was pretty smooth and he exited the womb in a mere 4 or so pushes (17 minutes of actual P-U-S-H-I-N-G).
Elly and Jed, getting excited (but secretly scared) for what's about to happen.

Our little gremlin:

Almost a pound less than his big brother!

Mama and her boys:

Our first family pic:

Daddy and wee Eli:

Thanks to technical difficulties with Air North, uncle Nate was our first visitor.

Getting ready to go home!

Home, sweet home: