Little Man is a month old!

How handsome
 is that face?

I can not believe how fast time has gone by and how big this little guy is getting. He is the perfect addition to our family and it feels like he has always been a part of it. His short life has been full of adventure. He has lived in two states, been on an airplane and visited our nations capitol. He is so sweet and a BIG 

mama's boy, which I love. He loves to be held, which I also love. He can already roll over like a pro and lifts his head pretty well. He is an okay eater and sleeper. I wish I had stats of his weight and height, but we haven't been to the doctor yet. Daphne loves having a baby brother and is so great with him. I think all second time moms worry about how having another baby will affect the first, but she has taken it in stride. I love being their Mommy and feel so blessed that they are mine.

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Back to Business

This week has been pretty good. I feel we are finally settled except our lack of a dinning table and chairs. The kids and I have been getting used to our new surroundings. We love having a playground in the complex and spent a couple mornings playing there. I have spent a bit of time at the leasing office making sure everything is finalized and to our liking. I had to ask for a new oven twice. the first one we had didn't work at all and the second was very old and pretty dirty. Friday we finally got a brand new stove and it works great! I've also spent a lot of time grocery shopping. I feel like I have gone to the grocery store every other day to get stocked up on things. Wednesday Johnny had the day off which was nice and we went to the playground with him. Yesterday we participated in a Day of Service. We went to a park with our stake and picked up trash. It was a great way to teach Daphne about how we give service to others. She was a lookout for trash and did great. 

I asked for a smile, this is what I got.

Last Sunday Johnny sent in his applications for residency programs. He already has one scheduled in Tennessee. I am so proud of him. Please pray for lots more. We are trying to decide if we will all drive out or if he will fly out by himself. Its a long drive, but it would save us $100. At this point its a toss up so we may or may not be going on a trip next weekend

Nine days with Nana

We are so glad Johnny's mom got to come see us and help with the big move. We all went to the airport to pick her up which was fun because she was only expecting Johnny. She was happy to see the kiddos. I spent the next couple days packing and cleaning while she watched the kids. It was a big help.  Johnny left on Saturday for Maryland. This left us without a car or much to do for a couple days. We kept ourselves busy with crappy tv and playing with kiddos. We also had one last playgroup with the girls. It was so good to get to see everyone and say goodbye before we left. Mary the kids and I flew up on Monday. I would not have been able to do the airport without her. Especially with all the luggage and car seats and stroller. When we got to Maryland I was so exhausted so we went out for dinner. I was a little nervous to see our apartment because Johnny didn't give it a good review but I was happy when we got here. It's not perfect, but it will definitely do for the next few months. The next couple of days were the same as the first, but instead of packing I was unpacking.
On Thursday we took a break from getting the house organized and went into D.C. to sight see. Johnny wanted us to go to the things Mary didn't see on their family vacation a few years back. We took the tour of Ford's Theater, went to the Art Museum, The Library of Congress, The National Archives, and the Museum of Natural History. By this time Mary and I were pretty pooped so we grabbed some Subway and then just drove around to see the monuments. There is always so much to see and it is impossible to see everything in one day. I'm excited to be able to live so close so we can take our time and experience some of the things more thoroughly.
We rested on Friday and Saturday we went to the airport to drop Nana off. Daphne was not very happy when Nana left. She loved having her here to play with and spoil her. I hope Mary had a little fun in between "sleeping" on the floor and the packing. I think she did.

I don't know why but we really didn't get any pics while she was here. I guess I was busy doing other things.

Rolling over

At three weeks and two days my baby rolled over from belly to back. Johnny told me he did it twice. I didn't believe it so he put him on his belly again and he did it a third time. Can't believe it. 

I will update you guys on our move and Nana's visit.

Living the good life

I feel so lucky right now. I have the two best kids in the world. Daphne is doing so well adjusting to having another kid in the house and sharing mommy. Quentin is just perfect and is giving me plenty of sleeping time. It has been pretty stressful around here because of this move. I have been going crazy trying to get our apartment situation figured out and figure out packing and these two kids have been so good I can't believe it. I know The Lord is blessing me at this time and I thank Him and all of you that have been His instruments. Thanks to all the friends that have visited and brought meals and thanks to our parents for all you have done for us. I don't know how sane I would be without you right now.

On Wednesday Quentin had his first doctor appointment. He is growing way to fast. He gained an inch ( he is now 20) and the scale said 8lbs 3oz, but I don't think that is accurate because they didn't take his full diaper off. He got a clean bill of  health, which was very relieving after Daphne's first experience with a doctor. 

The Arrival of Baby Quentin

 Lets just say this has been a long time coming. We have been anxiously waiting for this little boy ever since our little scare last month. We had 4 total hospital visits because I kept going into labor. But Saturday he finally arrived. 

Quentin Drake
7.15 lbs. 19'
Born 8-24-13 at 6:01 am

Friday I was having contractions all day. Around 3pm they started being a little more consistent. I wanted to make sure this time was it was the real thing so even though the contractions were 3-5 min. apart we waited a couple hours before we called the doctor. I made dinner and packed things up for the hospital and tried to prepare myself that I might not get to stay. The doctor did say at my last appointment that I was at 5cm, but I had regressed before so I didn't want to get my hopes up. So after we ate we headed down to the hospital. Johnny dropped me off so he could watch Daphne while I got checked in and then got checked. When the doctor checked me I was 6-7cm. He told me I was staying and would be having a baby! I was so excited. Johnny dropped Daphne of at the babysitters and headed over. I was hoping that I would progress quickly, but I didn't. My contractions even slowed down during the night. I was so disappointed, because they sent me home the last time because my contractions had slowed down. The doctor came in at about 4:30am and I was sure it was to tell me to head home, especially since I hadn't dilated anymore, but to my shock and relief she decided to break my water to see if we could get things moving.....man did they move. The next few contractions were not to bad. (TMI warning) I started feeling like I needed to go #2 so I went to the bathroom. When I got on the toilet the contractions stepped things up a few notches. I kept thinking I was crazy for not getting the epidural and couldn't remember why I had chosen to forgo it (fyi I hated the Epi with Daphne.) I called the nurses for some help because I had made a pretty big mess in the bathroom. When they came in they told me I needed to get back in bed cause they didn't want me delivering in the toilet so I walked very slowly and painfully back to bed. They checked me and they said I was at 8cm. I felt like I needed to push. In fact I had to do everything in my power not to push. They kept saying I was bearing down, but they kept telling me to try not to push because my cervix was still in the way. The hardest part of the delivery was trying not to push. They checked me again while I was contracting and said I was at 9cm and they called the doctor right away. When Doctor Reynolds got there she checked me and said it was okay to push whenever I felt the need. Pushing was hard at first. They really weren't coaching me as much as I thought they would. Once they did start coaching things went really fast. I think it took about three sets of contractions for me to push him out. He was born at 6:01am.  His cord was around his neck so Johnny didn't get to cut the cord or anything. They put him straight in my arms and he was perfect. He was so quiet and calm. I got to have a whole hour with him skin to skin before they took him to get him cleaned. I loved every minute. I could tell Johnny couldn't wait to get to hold him. He helped get him weighed and with his bath. And then it was Daddy's turn. You could tell he was smitten. 

While we were waiting to get transferred to my recovery room we talked about what to name him. That was the one thing we didn't' have ready. We discussed doing John Edgar III, but neither of us felt it was right. Then we discussed the two names we had been fight over. I wanted him to be named "Quentin Abel" and Johnny wanted him to be "Drake". We decided to combine them since both of us were pretty set with our names. 

My recovery was so much better this time. With Daphne it took me a day and a half to get out of bed and this time I was up walking around right after. The hospital stay was nice. I had great nurses. I wanted to come home sooner than I did to be with my whole family, but I'm glad for the rest. The first night was hard because he didn't take to breastfeeding as well as Daphne, but we have got the hang of it now and I am feeling really good and getting a good amount of sleep. I hope it keeps up too cause I have a lot to get done before our move.

 I really was anxious for Daphne to come meet her brother. She was so sweet with him, but not so much with me. She pretty much didn't want to have anything to do with me until the next day.  I know it is a hard time for older siblings, but she has fallen in pretty gracefully. The fist thing she says in the morning is "where baby?" Its so sweet. Its hard to get her to listen to me when I have to feed him and she is always messing with his swing, but other than that she is being pretty normal. I know I'm really lucky. I have been so scared about what I'm going to do with two babies, but it is going really well so far. 

On other news we are moving to Maryland a lot sooner than planned. We were hoping to get to stay here in Atlanta until the end of October, but now we are moving the 7th of September. Well Johnny is going on the 7th in the car with all our stuff and we will follow on the 9th by plane. I'm so glad Mary is coming to help us with the move because I don't know how we would do it if she didn't. I'm getting really sad to leave here, but I know we have to do it. I love it here and I love the friends I've made and I will miss them badly. 

Daphne is 2!!!

 

 Monday was Daphne's big day. She is officially 2! We didn't do much until Johnny got home from school. When he did we opened her present, a little doctors kit, which she loves. We made her chicken and veggie kebabs for dinner which may turn out to be a tradition. Daddy then made her birthday cookies. We talked to grandparents and it was a great day.

 

Tuesday morning was the big party day! We got up early and johnny dropped me off at the splash pad so I could decorate and he and Daphne wen to get the pizza, veggies and ice. They got there right on time for the party to start. I know she had so much fun, which is what I wanted. All her friends came and she loved giving out the "goodie bags" to each of them. They played and ate and had a great time!

 

I love my little girl and am so proud of how she is growing. She is so smart and so sweet (most of the time) and I can't wait to watch her grow into a beautiful woman. I hope to be a good example of that to her. Love you baby!