2 Months Old

I can't believe my boy is two months old! It feels like I just brought him home from the hospital! It is already moving so quickly and I struggle constantly with wanting to slow it all down. I love how much he is changing, but I want so badly to keep him little.

We go this week to see how much Eli has grown, and I'm going to guess that it's a lot. He nurses all the time And is wearing 3 month clothes. He sleeps better, in about 4 hour chunks, but I'm still a pretty tired lady. He smiles and coos at me and knows when his mommy has him! Such a sweet boy.

Ava loves her brother and loves helping with him, but has been a little bit of a challenge with Jay and I. It has been exhausting staying on top of her and I have hit my limit on more than one occasion. Ava is naturally energetic and strong willed, something I have a hard time dealing with because it is very unfamiliar to me. But when she sets her mind to being difficult because there is a new baby getting what was at one time attention given to her, she can wear her mother out! It has been a challenge I am trying to meet prayerfully. Really asking the Lord to not only give me energy and patience, but strength and a will that is stronger than Ava's. And also, especially, wisdom. I wish I could say I have been patient and strong and wise every step of the way, but I have not. I have had plenty of moments when I truly question whether or not I can do this job. The incredibly difficult job of caring for these children without, hopefully, totally screwing them up. And plenty of moments when every other mother seems like a better mother than I am. I did not anticipate this particular struggle before I had Eli, and the shock of it has been difficult. Thank God that his loving kindness never fails and His mercies are new every morning. Without that new mercy I would for sure be lost!

And here are the pictures....

Elijah James Worley

Listening for Eli

I took this picture, a self portrait, the day before I went into labor.
Ava was my sweet little helper!

It has taken almost a month for me to get to this, but finally here it is!

Elijah James Worley, Or Eli as he will be known around here, was born on December 18th. Every moment since has been amazing. Tiring at times, but truly amazing.

So I was scheduled for an induction on the 20th and was praying I would go into labor on my own before then and avoid the yucky induction process. I really wasn't crazy about the idea of pitocin and just in general I feel that babies come when they're ready and as long as we're all healthy we should let them cook. Thankfully Eli was done cooking at about 39 weeks and 4 days.

My water broke at 9:30 pm and he came 10 hours later at 7:49 am after about 10 minutes of pushing. My first thought was that he was bigger than Ava, but still so tiny, and not nearly as beat up! He had his hand up over his face and his cord around his neck when he was born, and those hands have been up at his face ever since. His birth was wonderful and things have been wonderful ever since! He nurses great and is gaining weight. He cries when he's hungry and stops when he's fed and His mommy is 100% in love!

After he was born I was holding him and Jay was standing behind me just gazing at him and he said, "Baby, we're having more of these". He's right, we're definitely having more of these!

Here are pictures!

There is that little hand.

6 lbs 12 oz

I don't get those women that look pretty after giving birth. I always look like I was hit by a truck. I don't even want to post it, but I look bad in all of them so the blurry one is probably the best.