Random Pics, Blank Thoughts

So I've been a lazy blogger lately. Let's be honest, my head hasn't hatched an original thought all week. I haven't really left my house either. And I've yet to feel completely comfortable nursing my hatchling in public, not to mention all while trying to contain a 2 & 3 year old. So we take things outside some days, sit on the deck & watch McKenna & Zander run around the yard, take a walk in the Baby Bjorn (thank you Sarah, world's best invention besides the Boppy) & nap (the little guy, not me) in the shade and look at the clouds. Plus, I don't have to dress chez moi. Okay, some more honesty, even IF I wanted to dress up, I can only fit into 2 pairs of jeans right now. I gained a whopping 60lbs with Gage, & I still have a very stubborn 20 something to go (as of last week, seeing that I'm doing my best to avoid the scale this week). I swear, wouldn't life be so much easier if togas were more accepted socially? Or better yet, nudity,...umm scratch that.
Anyways, seeing that I am all too sleep deprived to come up with a decent post, I will just show off some random pics of my precious babes.

(I just ADORE those dimples on Gage!)

(Looks like he does too!)

(What a perfect day for a snack outside. Can you tell McKenna dressed herself that day?)

(Of Course it's bath time after having so much fun getting dirty outside. Is Zander gently hugging his big sis, or getting ready to push her in?)

(Did I ever mention I love little bald guys with barely-there mohawks & super cute double chins?)

(My little Princess)

(Another great use for a Boppy)

(Z is such a little lover, with little shark teeth!)

(The 3 men in my life, ...yes, that's Jason sporting a "skunk" do. It's shaved off now, thankfully)

(It's going to be so hard to let this little guy grow up)

Real Tears

Gage is officially 4 weeks old today. It seems like we just brought him home from the hospital. He, along with the rest of the family, have had a rough week. We were all sick. Poor baby Gage can't breathe out of his nose, which makes nursing a nightmare. He's been pretty irritable. Just yesterday he was crying, & he had real tears already! Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Zander has a really bad cough again, which we are hoping the medications for his Asthma will help out with. I pray Gage has a good night tonight & we are all able to get some sleep.

My Calling

As I was nursing Gage yesterday, I was watching Oprah. (What else does a stay at home mom watch, right?) The topic: “What is Your Calling?” Hmm, it got me thinking. What IS my calling? I’ve graduated college with a degree in Interpersonal & Organizational Communications. I feel I’ve always been a good communicator. I’ve moved across country without any reservation, just because “I could”. I’ve been a successful sales person. I became a wife & shortly after a mother. I moved back across country because I thought I needed to share this beautiful little family we’ve created with the rest of the family. I’ve left my precious baby the care of someone other than myself so I could go back to work, only to realize that once I laid eyes on my beautiful baby my “working self” became non-existent & I only wanted to work at protecting, guiding & growing this little person safely in this big scary world. This pattern continued when I laid eyes on my next beautiful baby. I went back to work, only to realize the only job I wanted to be doing isn’t a job I get paid for; however it’s the most rewarding job in the world. Now that I have been so blessed to have my 3rd beautiful child, I find myself in this all too familiar predicament. Do I leave my babies in the care of someone other than myself, or find a way to make “this” work. The “this” I am referring to, is the protecting, guiding & watching my children grow in the most precious, influential period of their life. It is the stage that you “can’t get back”. Once they get old enough to go to school, that’s it,…they are “gone”. They will be in school for another 20 years. Did I mention this is also the cutest stage they can possibly be in? When else is it cute to pass gas, or run around the house butt naked squealing in delight, or celebrate for going #2?
So, after thinking about it…“What is my Calling?” I think the answer seems very clear. My calling is to be here for my children in this influential stage of life. I realize this will change in time, & I will have another “Calling”, once the kids are older. But for now, I want to soak up every moment of their little bodies & HUGE spirits as possible.
Oprah also went on to say. "If your calling is also your job, then you are truly blessed." If I were only so lucky. Now, my next big task,…. relaying my “calling” to my husband & my boss. Hmm, this should be interesting.

It's moments like this I cherish

My Princess & Chunky Monkies

Just an update of this past weeks events. Gage had his 2 week check-up last week. He weighed in at 9lbs & is 21 inches. He's going to be a porkchop in no time. I admit this picture makes him look like he's already there...
Zander had his 2 year check-up on Wednesday. He weighed in at 34lbs & is 3 feet tall. He's definitely a Chunky Monkey, topping the charts. Mckenna joined us & they had a blast trying to get into anything & everything in the examining room.

This past weekend the kids went with Nana & Papa to "The Farm" for a family get together. They loved all of the farm animals! They received some cow sex education (apparently 2 cows were "doing it"), they saw a calf right after it was born (obviously not from the horny cows), they also saw newborn kittens & many more farm animals. As you can see, Zander is a kisser. (Hopefully he Germ-X'd his mouth after)

Other than that, things went as usual during the week, with McKenna dressing up as a Princess, & Zander crying until McKenna gave in & let him wear her tiara & dress.

I promise, he's not always a girl.

Brotherly Love & Doritos Kisses

Yes, that is a big Doritos kiss mark lovingly placed by Zander on Gage.

Zander & McKenna just love their little brother to pieces. McKenna ALWAYS asks to hold him, & almost acts offended if we tell her no. Zander is CONSTANTLY kissing him up. I think almost every visible inch of him has been kissed up by Zander. (his kisses tend to be wet & slobbery, & leave what ever color of food or drink was in his mouth last) It's adorable, but we have to constantly be on "kiss look-out" for baby Gage.

Overall, Gage is taking it all in graciously.

McKenna is also loving that we have all of these new "baby" items in the house for her to play with....(Prince Derek is now ready to go for a ride)

Happy 2nd Birthday Zander! 8/9/06

I can't believe our little boy is 2!! We love you soooo much Z. You've brought so much joy to our lives these past 2 years. You are just growing up too fast!

Grandma & Grandpa Bartel came over for an impromptu birthday dinner tonight. Zander opened some presents then blew out the candle's on his cake. Yummy! His real Birthday party will be in September, once Gage isn't so "new", & Mommy is back to "normal". To View a slide show of Zander's 2 years of life, Scroll to the bottom of the page. Enjoy.

This Weekend

Well, Gage had another Dr's appt on Friday to check on the Jaundice & to see if he gained any weight. Dr. said the Jaundice went away, & Gage went from 7.10oz on Tuesday, to 8.4oz. At this rate he will be a little pork chop in no time. He's still so tiny. We're used to our Chunky Monkey Zander, so holding little Gage I feel like I could just break him.

The kids went camping this weekend with Jason's family, while we stayed home with our little guy. McKenna & Zander had a blast. It was just beautiful outside too. They did come back with mosquito bites all over, so we Calomine Lotioned them up. The mosquito's took more to McKenna, as she looks as if she has a slight case of the chicken pox on her legs. Despite those darn mosquito's, they absolutely loved it.

Happy Anniversary Brian & Tina, Happy 5th Birthday Jenna!!