Life at home with two boys...

The most frequently asked question I get is "How does Boyd like Price?"  Well, I will just answer that for you.  Boyd LOVES Price!  He has been such a good big brother, and wants to help out with everything.

In the morning, Boyd helps pick out Price's outfit, and carries it into my room for me.  He sits on my lap while I change Price's diaper and change his clothes.  He takes Price's diaper and puts it in the diaper genie (with my help of course.)  He wants to hold him and kiss on him and hug him ALL day, and he has now started to feed him.  He climbs on the couch and puts out his arms for me to give him Price.  He gets the Boppy because he knows he needs it in order to hold him, and he demands that I give him his brother.  He likes to help with bath time, and even gives Price his binky when he's crying :)

The first week home from the hospital, I was a little nervous about having both boys.  My parents were able to stay ALL WEEK and I was soooooooo happy to have them here.  They took care of Boyd while I got into a schedule with Price, and they took care of me when I needed it.  They made dinner and cleaned up and basically did anything that we needed.  They also took Boyd's monitor so all we had to focus on was Price.  It was awesome having them here, but we eventually got into a rhythm and it's been a little easier to do things on my own during the day.  I have even gotten a nap every few days, so that's good!

This is a picture of Price's first night home.  This was taken right before we swaddled him and put him to bed.

Boyd likes to take care of Price, but we have to say "Be gentle" and then he pats him on the head.  It's so cute!

This is what Price does most of the time...SLEEP!

Boyd loves to love on his brother.  Mark says we're going to remind him of that one day when he decides he doesn't like his brother too much.

My sweet boys :)

When I change Boyd, I usually take Price into his room and put him in his crib.  He hangs out while I get Boyd ready, but this day Boyd wanted back in with him.  They laid together in Boyd's crib. 

I love this picture...Mark is such a good daddy!

Mark reading to the boys.  You can't start too early!  I think Price enjoyed it.

Boyd just wants to be around Price all of the time...it's so sweet!

Price's first bath.  As you can see, he wasn't a big fan.  He is better now that he realizes he has to have them, I guess.

I love this picture!!!

We are trying to get rid of the binky, but Boyd is obviously wanting to add another one.  It's a little hard now that he sees Price's binky, so who knows when this habit will be broken.  He only gets it at bedtime and it has to stay in his crib, but for the first few days he wanted his whenever Price had one, but he's been better about it since.

We finally got snow!  We didn't get much...not even enough for school to be canceled, but Mark bundled up Boyd and they went outside to play.  That boy doesn't care how cold it is...he wants to be outside all of the time!!!

I had been looking for the tie that went with his suit since Becky's wedding, and I couldn't find it anywhere.  I thought maybe we left it in Farmington, but Boyd found it in his diaper bag one day.  He was still in his PJs, but he insisted that I put the tie on him.  He thought it was really fun and would unzip his PJs with the tie.  He is such a funny boy...I love him so much!

When I thought about having another child, I worried that I wouldn't have enough love for both of them.  I also worried that I wouldn't have enough time for both of them, and that Boyd would be jealous or sad that we had another baby, but that could not be further from the truth.  I look at Boyd and can't believe how much MORE I love him now that we have Price, and Price seems like he's been in our family forever.  I have so much more love in my heart than I could have ever imagined.  God has given us two precious boys, and I should have never doubted that I would love Price as much as Boyd.  It seems silly to think about now.  Mark and I feel incredibly blessed and talk about the little miracles that God gave us every day.  We are blessed more than we ever thought possible.

Price's Birth!

This is going to be a long post, because the story of Price's birth is crazy, and kind of long!  If you prefer to not read the story, you can just scroll down to the pictures :)

On December 29 I went to my friend Joni's to see her.  She was due January 13, and I was due January 15.  We were still a few weeks away from our due dates, but we visited that day and then we went on a walk outside because it was so nice outside.  When I got home that night, my back started hurting pretty bad.  I'm not sure if the walk set things in motion, but it seems to be something important that I should mention.

I woke up at 2:30 that night with contractions that felt different than Braxton-Hicks.  I started timing them because they just felt different, and they were anywhere from 8-15 minutes apart, but weren't very strong.  They were just a little uncomfortable.  I woke up Mark to tell him about them, but he just said "You're ok" and went back to bed (he is probably not happy that I shared that with you because it makes him look bad, but I was 2 1/2 weeks before my due date and it was in the middle of the night, so I guess I can't blame him too much!)  I was able to fall asleep around 6:00 and I woke up at 8:30 and felt fine, so I thought I was just having Braxton-Hicks in the middle of the night.

I got up and got moving, ran some errands, and went to the clinic.  While at the clinic I started having contractions again.  They weren't very strong, but the girls at the clinic thought I should call the doctor.  I finally gave in and called triage around noon, but the nurse told me that my contractions weren't regular and that I should time them for the next two hours. 

Well, I timed them for 2 1/2 hours, and they were anywhere from 5-12 minutes apart.  I called again around 3:00 and told the nurse about my latest contractions, and she told me that she thought I just needed to drink more water, and instructed me to drink 32 ounces of water and see if they spaced out.  Meanwhile, I had called Judy because Boyd wanted me to hold him and carry him and I was pretty uncomfortable.  I just wanted her to watch Boyd for me so I could relax.  By the time she got to my house, I had already drank one cup of water.  I started in on a second cup, and realized that my contractions were getting closer together, and they became consistently 4 minutes apart. 

The contractions were getting stronger and closer together, so I called Mark and asked him to come home from work so we could go to the hospital.  I was still in denial that I was in labor, and I think Mark was in denial, too, but we wanted the peace of mind that we weren't in labor, so we decided to just head to the hospital, thinking they would just send us home.  Mark got home at 4:30 and we packed some bags, and headed out around 4:45.  On the way to the hospital the contractions started getting really strong, and I started to think maybe they were going to keep us. 

We got to the hospital at 5:15, they got us into a room and they checked me around 5:35.  She said she was going to see how far along I was, but that she was likely going to make me walk the halls for an hour or so.  We were ok with that, as long as we didn't have to be sent home.  She checked me, and immediately said "You're going to have a tax deduction."  Mark and I were shocked!!  She said I was between a 7 and an 8 (if you don't know...you have to be at a 10 before you deliver...most people know that, right?)

We were taken almost immediately to the delivery room, and thankfully my doctor was still in the hospital because he came over to deliver a baby around 5:15 and stayed when he heard we were there.  We got into the room around 5:45 and Dr. Lehnert came in shortly after.  In the middle of a contraction, I let him know that I was not a fan of his OU pullover, and his response was "I'm sorry, did I hear you say that you wanted me to break your water and not give you an epidural?"  He thinks he's funny :)

He realized I was in a lot of pain, so he checked me again, and I was at a 9 1/2.  We were waiting on my epidural, but it didn't come in time.  Dr. Lehnert had to break my water, and it wasn't long before he said we were going to start pushing.  It all happened so fast, and they came in to give me my epidural, but Dr. Lehnert told him it was too late, so he turned around and left.  I was a little nervous about not having it, but I got a local, which was Lidocane, and it was NOT a pleasant shot to get.  I think if I had to do it over again, I would have chosen to not get anything. 

I pushed through two contractions and Price was here!  I was in a lot more pain than with Boyd (because I didn't have my epidural) but it was an amazing experience.  I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  After I delivered, the nurse from triage came in and apologized for trying to get me to stay at home when I called twice, but I told her that it was ok.  We made it and everything turned out great, so I didn't blame her.  I guess the ladies in triage were giving her a hard time :)  I told her that next time I would just know to come in sooner. Her response was "You just had a baby 10 minutes ago without an epidural and you are already talking about next time??"  All I can say is, God has blessed us with two little miracles and I will take as many more as he wants me to have :)

Long story short...I know I have already given you the long story, but that's ok...we got to the hospital at 5:15 and we had Price at 6:11!!  Mark was so great through the entire thing.  He held my hand and encouraged me and took pictures for me.  He is an amazing husband and father and I can't express how blessed I am to have him!!

Here is his info:

Price Thomas Messick

December 30, 2011

6:11 pm

7 lb 10 oz

20 1/2 in

Ok so for the pictures...this is the first time I saw my precious little Price.

He looks so much like Boyd.  My mom said I need to label these pictures so I can tell them apart :)

Mark took this one of us...our little family (minus Boyd who was at home with Grandma and Grandpa Messick)

This one I took...

Look at my handsome husband.  What an awesome father and son!!

This is the first time Boyd saw Price.  He was very excited to meet him.

I absolutely love this picture of Boyd. The look on his face is of pure joy...

Boyd brought mommy a rose.  How precious!

Boyd giving Price hugs.  He gives him about 324 hugs a day :)

Our family!

Our family again!  Boyd loved playing with the bed and crawled up and down several times.  He liked sitting in bed with mommy.

Uncle John and Aunt Nancy came to see Price.  It was so sweet of them!

This was taken shortly after I delivered. We both look a little tired, don't we?

 

Aunt KK would probably like me to mention that she and Jared were the first ones there to see Price :)

Aunt Lindsey, Uncle Jon, and Cousin Yates came to see us, too.

I will post more pictures later of our time at home, but these are just a few pictures from the hospital.  Both of my deliveries were so different from each other, but they were both amazing experiences.  I think we may wait a LITTLE longer before we have the third, but I wouldn't mind having one fairly soon again...well...I'll wait until both of my boys are mobile and then re-evaluate that statement :)

Messick Family Christmas

We are so blessed to have such big families!  I love being the youngest of five, and Mark is the oldest of four.  It makes family gatherings so much fun!  We had Christmas in Marshfield at our house on Christmas Eve.  It is a tradition to do Christmas Eve in Marshfield, and Christmas Day in Farmington.  Well, with Becky's wedding and me being so far along in my pregnancy, we did Christmas in Farmington the week before.  We didn't travel the weekend of Christmas, which was nice, and I don't think my doctor would have allowed it anyway :)

Boyd loves KK and Jared (soon to be Uncle Jared???)

Grandpa Messick thought Boyd needed a drum.  I said as long as he keeps it at their house he can get one, but this Veggie Tales drum isn't too loud, so we still have it at our house.  Boyd likes it!

Boyd had a GREAT time handing out presents.  KK would tell him whose present it was, and he would deliver it.  He only messed up a few times :)

As you can see in the background, Uncle John and Aunt Nancy were able to come for Christmas again this year.  We are always happy when they are able to make it.  Hopefully that becomes a tradition for them :)

I mentioned in an earlier blog about how much Boyd likes John Deere.  Well, the hoodie he's wearing is from Grandma and Grandpa Boyd and the tool belt is from Grandma and Grandpa Messick.  He loves anything green!!!

We didn't want to get Boyd too much for Christmas.  I got him some clothes (yeah...exciting huh?) and a few other things, but his big gift was a basketball goal.  Santa got him one that was a little too tall for him right now, but he will grow into it.  For now, we put it behind the couch and he can dunk it from the couch cushions.  He loves basketball for now, and I hope he continues to love it.

Boyd looked so cute at church on Christmas.  We had a few suits that I had bought at garage sales, resale shops, and Grandma Messick bought one at Sams, so we wore one to the wedding and one to church on Christmas.  I am still waiting for an occasion to wear the other one.  We bought Boyd some white Pumas to wear with his suits...aren't they cute??

Boyd with Grandma Messick

Boyd with his amazing father!!

This was one of the last pictures we took as a family before Price arrived.  Actually, this may be THE LAST picture we took as a family.  We didn't know Price was going to come so soon, so I'm glad we got this one on Christmas Day.

The Christmas season was great again this year.  I always look forward to time with family and time with our church family to celebrate the birth of Christ.  We had a great service that morning and we were able to relax the rest of the day.

Farmington Christmas/Becky's Wedding

So my sister, Becky, decided to get married on December 17.  I was still 4 weeks from my due date, so my doctor said he was ok with me traveling to Farmington for the wedding.  Mark, Boyd and I packed up for the weekend, where we would spend Friday night at the rehearsal, Saturday at the wedding, and Sunday we had our Boyd Family Christmas.  Talk about a fun-filled and busy weekend!!

My parents had a lot going on (you know...throwing a wedding and all) so we stayed with my brother John, his wife Tracy, and their son Jackson.  Jackson is a year older than Boyd, so I was excited to see them play together.  After the rehearsal dinner, the boys needed to take a bath, so we threw them in together.  I love this picture because it looks like they are in deep conversation.

Boyd with Grandpa Boyd before the wedding.  Those are two sharp-dressed men!!

Our little family before the wedding.  Price is still "in the hopper" as Mark would put it!

Boyd looking cute in women's glasses...boy aren't we proud :)  He's so adorable, though.

This is my handsome father, my beautiful sister, and my handsome nephew walking down the aisle!

Boyd cheesing it up!

He loves sunglasses, let me tell you!  He was wearing daddy's this time.

We took a family picture in front of the Christmas tree in the reception hall.  It was such a pretty wedding!

Here is one of the two of us.  We don't get many of these lately, so I thought I should take advantage of the opportunity while I could.  I guess Price is in this picture, too, but we won't count him.

Boyd and Jackson played so well together, other than the fact that Boyd hugged him every chance he got and they both ended up on the floor most of the time.  Boyd had fun, but I'm not sure Jackson was digging it by the end of the weekend :)

The boys are hugging good-bye.  I think Jackson was kind of excited to see Boyd go.  Boyd could have stayed forever, except that we needed him to get back home to his crib because he figured out how to climb out of his pack and play over the weekend!  We were not too excited about that...

I stole this picture from my sister, Laura, but I thought it was cute.  Boyd wanted to hug Jackson all weekend, and Jackson actually tolerated it much better than I would have thought.  He loved Boyd, too.  How cute are these two cousins?!?

I didn't get many pictures of Christmas, but the wedding took up a big chunk of our weekend.  We had so much fun with the family, and we talked on the way home about how blessed we are to have our family and friends.  I planned on going home and resting until Price made his arrival, but only God knew how soon that would be!!  Instead of four weeks, we only made it two...but that story is for another blog entry!