PAR-TAY!

Here are several pictures from Ashton's second birthday party last weekend at Henderson Park! We celebrated with lots of family and friends. Ashton's buddies Luke and Audrey were there who were all born the same week. We've celebrated each of their second birthdays the past 3 weekends! At the park, we played and fed ducks and ate some great dairy free cake I was so pleased with! I ordered it from Cake in the Box-an allergy friendly bakery in Duluth and they did a great job-it was delicious!

This was baby James' first ride in a swing-how fun! He seemed to love it, but he seems to love everything!! So sweet!

This was a party animal at his bro's bash!

Hugging Luke!

The Grandmothers-Ashton will one day absolutely hate this tradition. Actually, he didn't like it this year.

Audrey swinging

Collin is one month!

Wow! Collin is one month old now and I caught this smile today on camera! Well the past month I think we can honestly say has been the hardest month ever. Adjusting to the two boys has not been easy. We are so incredibly exhausted. I can't believe I thought having one was exhausting. One of these boys is ALWAYS hungry. I tell Wes that's all I do all day - feed these boys. With Collin eating every three hours and feedings sometimes taking an hour and Ashton taking an hour to eat (because meals are usually followed by naptime or bedtime), sometimes that is all I do with a load of laundry in between and sometimes a meal for myself! We are drowning in sippy cups and breastpump parts in the sink and laundry is overflowing! Since we have Collin in our room and changing him on our bed, we are constantly having to change our sheets from getting sprayed or pooped on as well. Last weekend in the middle of the night, Collin went through all the outfits we had gotten out for the night from Ashton's room so Wes had to sneak in the room to get something at 3 am and of course Ashton wakes up so then we're all up but thankfully that has only happened once.Thank God Ashton is a heavy sleeper!

The next morning, we found a huge amount of dog vomit with some sort of object in it that Wes thinks was one of the boy's socks. We're still not sure how Haley swallowed it whole. At first Wes said he thought it was a rag to which Ashton said, "oh my goodness. I think it's a rash!"He has heard a lot about rashes because besides dealing with the usual newborn stuff, I have had a strange rash come and go that the derm thinks is a drug reaction to something I had during delivery. Ashton has had a rash around his face that may be a reaction to his toothpaste we found out-what next for his allergies??
Collin has also been having some nursing problems and the lactation people think he may need physical therapy for his tongue??!! Give me a break. I'm in the medical field and usually all for all things medical but this is getting out of hand. I just finished Ashton's PT for over a year! I have decided to hold out on that. In the midst of everything, Wes has started band season which brings many late nights and parent meetings and we have been planning Ashton's second birthday party and this week, our van broke down and needs a new transmission! UGH! Thankfully, the boys and I were not with Wes when it broke down and my grandparents were following him. God provides in so many ways though because we found out yesterday we are getting a refund for some of my C-section cost that we were not expecting.
I have rambled enough about our month now.So Collin is one month and still such a sleepy cuddly sweetie! I told Ashton he was one month and Ashton asked for cake and presents because he's had a lot of that lately celebrating his own birthday.He is adjusting well and likes to put his face next to Collin's now and says, "Sweet Collin." I have to keep reminding myself that one day he will never remember life before Collin. It's hard to imagine now for all of us-look at that face!

Our boys' booties-Check out these boys' diaper sizes! It cracks me up!

Ashton's Second Birthday!

Poor Ashton woke up with a temp of 103 on his birthday this week. He felt awful all day and we watched a kazillion Thomas shows while I tried to keep Collin away from him. I let him eat whatever he wanted which included honey at every meal and an ice cream sandwich for lunch. For dinner we had hotdogs wrapped in crescent rolls. Instead of cake, I made some dairy free sugar cookies with some great construction cookie cutters I found at the Williams Sonoma outlet. I loved them way more than he did. Here is the hammer and drill. When Wes and I sang happy birthday he looked at us like we were crazy but afterwards said, "that was great!" He loved opening his presents and afterwards said, "is that all the presents?" I hated it that he was sick on his birthday but he was better that night and we are celebrating with his party next week. The t-shirt he wore was his cousin Edwin's shirt when he was 2 given by Wes' parents! Happy Birthday sweet Ashton!!! We cannot believe you have been here two years already-God has given us more joy than we could ever imagine through you!

Collin's Birth Story

Check out how much I look like my bro-see pictures to the right to compare! These boys could have been twins!

Waving to our blog readers!

My parents in the hospital-check out our view from Northside!

First Bath-hated it!

Love both of their faces in this picture!

Proud Grandparents

Great Grandfather Earl and my sweet aunt Jeannie

Great Grandmother Barbara-check out that sweet arm position!

Visit with his other Great Grandparents and my cousins Heather, Matt and their daughter Maddie!

The train set from heaven!

First Family Walk

Our new family the day we brought Collin home

Collin's car ride home

My boys!!!!! I can hardly believe it!

So I finally have a minute to record Collin's birth story! I was scheduled to have the C-section on July 28 but when I went to my doctor's visit on the 26th she said since her birthday was the 27th, she didn't really want to get up early the next morning after her birthday for the c-section and did I want to have him today? I was very anxious for Collin to arrive so I agreed wholeheartedly. I was so uncomfortable and also wanted my brother to be able to see him and he was leaving town the following day so it worked out great! The problem was that we had to say I was "in labor" to get an OR room that night since they were all full during the day. I had been having contractions that were irregular for over a week and she said that was good enough. I arrived at the hospital several hours later and told them I was having contractions and they told me my doctor had called and said my water also had broke. I told them, "well maybe a little!" Haha. I felt a little strange about the whole thing, but my contractions were actually getting stronger and more frequent. They hooked me up to the monitor and I was having contractions every 3-4 minutes! It was all pretty funny. So Collin arrived at 8:07 pm and the C-section went well. He weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. It was so emotional again to hear his first little cry and so wonderful when they brought him over to me. Plus, we were able to be with him right away and he did not have to go to the transitional nursery like Ashton did so we were so thankful for that. This little guy stole our hearts immediately. He loves to cuddle and is such a "good" baby. I never knew what that meant, but now I do since he rarely cries except to eat and be changed. He sleeps really well and seems to go with the flow. So we are adjusting to two boys! Ashton did not want anything to do with Collin at first. He told Wes in the hospital to "put Collin in the bed." The first night we were home, he had a meltdown which was really hard. He was crying so hard at bedtime and it was difficult for Wes and me both. I think all four of us were in tears that night. But things are getting better. He likes to tickle Collin's feet now and this week fed him a bottle! We are trying to teach Ashton to be gentle. One day I caught him in time as he was "tickling Collin's eye." It's still hard when I have to nurse Collin so often and Ashton constantly tells me "sit down mommy and play with me." He has been kept busy though with his new Thomas the train track which Collin brought with him from heaven as a present! Thank you to all our friends and family for your calls and sweet cards and gifts. We are so thankful for a second healthy baby boy in our lives and are praising God for his safe arrival!

York party of 4!!

Collin's Birthday 7/26/10

things are bit busier around here lately with this precious addition but I promise more pics to come soon!!