3 Weeks Already???

Where has the time gone? Oh yeah...that's right.. to holding and feeding and changing a newborn! :) Boy did I forget how time consuming tiny ones are. I will have to say though, she is the best night time baby I've ever had, so sleep definitely makes everything a little better. She sleeps from about 10-4, eats and then goes back to sleep till some time between 7 and 8. Wow, wow and thank you, thank you little Gwynnie! Now during the day, it's a whole 'nother story! Somehow she must have gotten some crazy memo about being a "princess" in this boy world and let me just say that is a NO No around here. She loves to be held and if you don't hold her every single second she is awake and not eating then you will hear about it! She definitely has her daddy's eyes and lips and seems to have her mama's nose and cheeks. Despite her nickname of Miss Fussypants, she really is a precious baby! At her 2 week checkup last week, she was already back at her 8.9 lb birth weight and seems to be getting bigger by the minute! Her belly button cord finally fell off on Sunday so she got her first real bath last night and actually seemed to love being in the warm water, well at least until daddy started to bathe her. We've been so blessed with meals from sweet friends, and it is giving me the time I need to get adjusted to my new time table, which for right now does not have enough minutes in the day. I think the biggest adjustment for me has been feeling like I have no energy and just never getting anything accomplished. For example, no thank you notes have been written, not much walking has been done on that treadmill my sweet hubs got me, clothes need to be hung up, dishes need to be washed, my patience with the boys seems to be at negative 10, I have zero time to spend time with my husband, and most nights I crawl into bed having just taken my shower for the day about ten minutes before. These are things that were foreign to me just three short weeks ago. I am using my time during the middle of the night feeding to pray and read The Story, a novel version of the Bible. It really is the only quiet time I get right now and boy do I need the encouragement. I am trying to recharge during this time as I look at my sweet little baby's eyes and thank God for all the blessings He has poured on my family. I know He will give me just the strength that I need, and I pray that I will learn more and more each day to handle life's circumstances as He would have me to with grace, peace and love!!
Titus 3:1-8 teaches about Godly living. Our youth pastor preached on this a few Sundays ago and I surely need this reminder everyday!
"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."

 First real bath!!

Big brother trying out the Baby Bjorn

Piggy toes PJs

Happy 3 week old birthday!

A Trip to Remember

Well, we survived our first trip as a family of five! First let me say that my secret service tank of a vehicle was absolutely awesome. All our our luggage and gear fit behind the third row seat and we each had plenty of room. I spent most of the trip playing maid service to every need you can imagine which really made the time fly by, little Miss Gwyn on the other hand had definitely had enough by the time we arrived. With only one nursing stop and one speeding ticket, we arrived a bit frazzled and definitely running a little behind. Chris was an absolute lifesaver, as always, and pretty much handled everything to do with the boys. He dressed them and whisked them to the rehearsal while I fed Gwyn. Other than forgetting to pack my picky eaters a trusty PB&J, the night went off without a hitch and we were back at the hotel in to time. We got two rooms, hence the annoyance joys of traveling with a nine day old, and Chris said he was out like a light even before the boys were. It was a whole 'nother ball game on my side of the wall. :) This is what my room looked like at about 11:30 PM.

 

Almost all of my dad's extended family came for the wedding which made it a blast as always. He is the oldest of five kids and Sarah Helen, the bride, is his brother's oldest child. There are 13 cousins, 8 of which were there and everyone came down to meet Gwynnie. I loved every minute of it since nights can get pretty lonesome for new mamas. 

The next day was wedding day and the boys had a blast getting some of their energy out in the hotel pool. Before we knew it, it was show time and we headed to the wedding pavilion. The boys looked precious in their "mini-daddy" outfits and couldn't have been better during the ceremony...a major blessing to this sleep deprived, stretched to her max mama. 

 Davis was the very first one on the dance floor and lets just say, he likes to "cut a rug." Grady wasn't far behind him and we had a blast watching the dance the night away!

wedding dancing from Elizabeth Witherington on Vimeo.
Sarah Helen looked beautiful and all of her friends were so sweet to the boys. The wedding party danced down the aisle leaving the ceremony and came in to the reception with fake mustaches which Grady thoroughly enjoyed!

Gwyn hung in there pretty good but definitely seemed to enjoy the quiet moments away with mommy. She kept wanting to nurse a lot longer than usual which proves ten day olds are not dummies!! She knew there was a DJ and a strobe light outside that door. :) Before we knew it the night was gone and we were all worn out. We threw our rose petals and said our goodbyes.

We headed back to the hotel listening to Gwyn's hysterical lovely tunes and literally fell into our beds. The ride home was much less eventful, thank the Lord, and as we rolled up to the cottage the boys said, "aah home sweet home"...at least for now anyway!

Gwyn's Birthday Pictures!!

Sarah just sent me the link to Gwyn's birthday pics and I had to share before hitting the road!! Absolutely amazing as always. I cried the whole way through. I just love having moments like these captured forever since I know in the blink of an eye, it will all be a distant memory. Enjoy the good days and the bad and remember each day is a gift from the one and only Lord of Heaven and Earth!!
Gwyn's Birthday Pictures

Gwyn's First Week in Bullets & Pictures! (warning it's a long one)

Well, I'm not keeled over from lack of sleep, at least not yet :), but I am a little busy!
Here's a little semi bullet point run down to get you all caught up to speed!
* On Monday August 6th while I was taking a shower to head up to the hospital for my induction, the boys jammed the door shut to Davis' room during their "rest time". I get out of the shower to hear them screaming "Help Mama!!" I had to call Chris to come home from work. We were both sweating and the boys were crying! We ended up talking Grady through opening the window and out they climbed. One of our friends had to come to the rescue that night to fix the door while we raced to the hospital to get there for our 5 PM check-in.

* After getting settled in, the boys came up to visit me before bed. I loved getting to see them but Davis was less than thrilled about me being in a weird bed and asked "what's that dwess mama?" 

When he was leaving, he apparently had a melt down over a hospital glove not going on his fingers right and when Chris picked him up, his cell phone fell out of its holder. After he noticed and went back, it was too late. We tracked it's location on the Ipad and found that it was now about 15 miles from the hospital. A buddy of ours went to check out the location and this is what he found. Something told us we wouldn't be getting that phone back!!

* Then night time came and of course I couldn't sleep even though I had remembered my trusty noise machine. I might have had a mini breakdown and told Chris that if the crazy day we had had was any indication of how things were going to go with Gwyn's birth, then I just didn't want to wake up. Ambien did the trick though and Chris said I was snoring in no time! 4:45 came bright and early and I was up and at em' to get a shower and start the Pitocin at 6:00 AM. At about 9:30 I began to say things like, "If I don't get an epidural right now I'm gonna start cussing at ever nurse that walks in this room" and Chris new it was time to speak up so Anesthesia was called. :)

* 10:00 epidural in and working like a dream, Dr. B broke my water and all seemed fine except little miss was still pretty high. They turned me on my side and Chris was about to go grab some lunch when I thought hmmm something is feeling kinda funny. My nurse checked and I was ready to push! So no lunch for daddy but I couldn't eat either so I didn't feel too sorry for him.

* Dr. B arrived and after pushing for maybe 3 minutes at 11:49 AM on August 7th, little Gwyndolyn Anna Witherington was on my chest! She was HUGE and blue/purple and I have to admit I was a little bit horrified yet in love all at once. :) It just amazes me what a miracle birth is and that somehow this little life grew inside my body. We called Sarah back to get some pictures of her brand new!

Same exact weight as her big brother Davis! She was 20 1/4 inches long.

* Then it was time for Gwyn to meet her big brothers! They were so excited and looked precious in their Big Brother shirts! It made me laugh because I remember when Davis was born, Grady came in to meet him and then wanted to see my tummy. It was like he couldn't believe he had really come out of there. After Davis had seen Gwyn and climbed up in my lap, he asked to see my tummy. It brought back so many sweet memories!

* Davis watched as the nurses put on her first diaper, took her tiny footprints and dressed her in a little newborn gown. This was his face when Sarah told him to hold up the sign! Priceless!!

* We moved down to our Mother/Baby room and then I just sat back and enjoyed the visitors. Aaaahhh how I do love company! It was so much fun! Our first night was surreal but great and this was what I got to look at when I woke up! Warms this mama's heart! I can't wait to see Chris get to be a daddy to a little girl too. What a blessing!!

* Lots and Lots of Pictures!

Birthday Girls! Gwyn was born on her Great Aunt Ava's birthday!

Uncle Gary came to visit too and I even got a picture!

Uncle to the 3rd degree! Old Pro!

Sarah is always behind the camera but I actually got one of her for a change!

Striking a pose already!

1st Family of Five Photo!!

 Getting ready to head home in her pretty purple dress that Mimi made!!

Saying goodbye and thank you to Dr. Barry

Car ride home...can you tell purple is Mommy's favorite color?? :)

 First night at home with her big brothers!

 First walk on the Bluff!

Getting some Grady snuggles all rolled up in a ball!

 First bath! Daddy always gives our babies their first bath!

Hope got to meet her new sister. She was less than thrilled as you can see! :)

1st golf cart ride!!

 Mooma/Grams (my grandmother) came to visit and we had to get a picture because there are now 4 generations of "Anna's"

Anna Elizabeth, Gwyndolyn Anna, Shirley Anna, Anna Bena

* Sarah came and did a photo shoot on Saturday! I can't wait to get all the pics and share the link but for now my sneak peeks will have to do!

Blessed Beyond Measure!!

Fun times with good friends

            One week old already!!!!! Please slow down time!

 * On top of all this excitement, Grady started kindergarten this morning at my Alma mater Savannah Christian Prep! He looked so cute in his little Raider uniform and seemed to have an absolute blast!

Cousins!

Best buddies!

* Now just in case you are not exhausted enough, we are heading to Augusta tomorrow for my sweet cousin's wedding! The boys are in it so it should be quite the ceremony :) I'm sure I will have a story or two to tell and as always way too many pictures! Thanks so much for all the sweet well wishes and kindness since Gwyn's birth. We truly feel so loved and are thankful for our wonderful family and friends!