Family Update and More Visitors

We are trying to adjust to our family of four, and I think it is going really smoothly. Tuttle is still acting so sweet toward Maggie, and she is such a good baby. He is having some typical adjustment issues (sometimes wanting my attention immediately when I am holding the baby, not eating as much as he normally does, having tantrums over little issues or being told "no"), but I think we are experiencing a lot of positives in him, too (he is still napping his normal three hours and sleeping through the night, playing well on his own when I have my hands full).

Maggie is not having any issues getting a full feeding, and I have adjusted my three hour feeding schedule during the day to every 2.5 hours. She is consistently eating a full 2oz, and I predict I will have to up her intake in the next day or so. She is mostly alert in the mornings and prefers to stay in motion by bouncing around or walking. She does a pretty good job at tummy time, as well.

Even more visitors have stopped by since we have gotten home from the hospital. We have the most supportive friends, and we are so excited to share our little girl with them!

David and Elaine

Paul and Val getting a little practice in before Charles' arrival.

Tuttle's Girlfriend, Connor

Kristin and Justin, CJ and Katie, and Genesis and Jett came by to cuddle MR, too. My sweet Ashford Park friends also set up a meal rotation, so we have eaten DELICIOUS meals from the Brewer family and Katie and Cameron the past two nights. Not planning a meal has been extremely helpful! :)

We ended our night with a little Silly String fun in the backyard.

*** I know, I know. Tuttle has his paci in almost every picture. I am picking my battles! :)

Tuttle, Maggie, and I are looking forward to Gram coming everyday this next week to help out while Jay returns to work.

Margaret Ruth's First Doctor's Appointment

First of all, our new baby girl is SUCH a good baby! She is much more alert than Tuttle was as a newborn, but she is perfectly content to look around and wiggle while she is awake. She is eating on a regular three hour schedule and is up to 35mL a feeding. She eats so quickly that I only have to be up about 15 minutes for the night feedings. Tuttle likes to help feed her during the day, as well.

The whole family went to Margaret Ruth's first doctor's appointment yesterday. Obviously she had to dress up with a big bow. :)

Daddy was on baby girl duty while I watched the big boy. It was definitely a team effort! 

 

Our pediatrician is on vacation, so we saw another doctor in the practice. Everything checked out fine. She had lost a little weight, which was to be expected, but she had gained a small amount since leaving the hospital on Thursday. I struggled with Tuttle's feedings a lot, so it put my mind at ease that Margaret Ruth is right on track! She does not want to miss a meal, and Jay and I have to cut her off every time because her little tummy cannot handle it.

I absolutely LOVE to watch Jay interact with MR. She gives him the BIGGEST smiles! Daddy goes back to work on Monday, so I am going to soak up every second of the weekend with my family of four.

Introducing Margaret Ruth!

On Monday, July 23 we headed to the hospital around 10pm to prepare to be induced early Tuesday morning. Our little girl had other plans! At midnight, my water broke on its own. By 2am, I was more than ready for an epidural. I did not have a bad experience with the epidural during Tuttle's birth, but this time it took perfectly! I could not feel a thing, but I could still move my legs easily.

The original plan was to receive my epidural at 6am and for the doctor to break my water at 7am. I told my mom to be at the hospital around 8am. I called her at 6:30am and told her to hurry because I was fully dilated! We had expected to meet Margaret Ruth by 5pm, but she wanted to arrive at the party early. After pushing THREE TIMES, we met the most perfect little girl to ever be born at 7:56am. :) She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20 inches in length.

Because the delivery was so easy, I was eager to have visitors at the hospital. Maggie Ruth was the talk of the town and has already met many of her admirers. The nurses could not get over all her outfit changes and big bows!

Zanna was in town to meet Maggie Ruth!

My Aunt, Beth

My cousin, Anne

Brittany and David even came to hold our little girl! :)

Tuttle was a little apprehensive about meeting his baby sister. I think it was a combination of seeing his mommy in the hospital bed with an IV and all the commotion with doctors, nurses, and visitors. He was not interested in Maggie Ruth, but he did love walking the halls with Gram. We did not force the issue since it is a lot for a two year old to understand.

A certain little girls already has Daddy wrapped around her finger!

Jay and I were ready to go home, especially since I felt GREAT (no soreness at all). We were eager to start living as a family of four.

The minute we walked into the house with Baby Maggie, Tuttle warmed up to the newest member of the family. He wanted to check her out in the carseat and immediately asked to hold her! It melted my heart to see him so eager to interact because the hospital introduction had made me very nervous about him adjusting.

Welcome Home, Margaret Ruth. We love you so much!!

Annual Meat Mountain Party

Even though I am HUGE, we decided to attempt one last family of three outing before the big day on Tuesday. Jon hosts "Meat Mountain" every year at his house, so after naps for all three of us, we headed to Candler Park for the get-together.

Jay and I always have such a good time at the Poole's house because Jon and Stephanie have friends from so many different groups. There is always someone new to meet. After Tuttle got over his initial shyness, he was all over the place, convincing multiple people to go up and down the stairs with him.

Our hosts, Jon and Stephanie

My silly husband

It was typical Georgia weather in July- HOT and HUMID! I did not take many pictures of all the guests because everyone felt so gross!

Tuttle enjoyed some quality time with his girlfriend, Connor. He insisted on holding her hand. That was before she beat him up!

Since we do not own a television, Tuttle is in awe whenever he is around one. He was engrossed in a baseball game when I went searching for him. :)

I cannot believe I am posting this picture, but here I am at 38w5d pregnant. It is amazing how GIGANTIC a woman can get!

We cannot believe we will become a family of FOUR on Tuesday. Tuttle is excited!

Thanks for hosting another fun party, Jon and Stephanie!

Long Overdue Playdate

I was extremely excited to have a playdate with Genesis and her son, Jett, today. It had been way too long since Genesis and I had gotten together! She even arrived with my #1 pregnancy craving: a McDonalds chicken biscuit with cheese and an iced coffee. Perfection!

 The boys played in Tuttle's playroom, and then we set up the baby pool outside and let the boys splash around while we caught up on life. I cannot wait to get together again very soon!

 

Tuttle and I are both lucky to have such sweet friends in our lives! :)

Wedding Shower and Relaxation

Tuttle was able to go to Hilton Head this past weekend with his grandparents and Aunt Peach. My OBGYN laughed in my face when I asked him if I could go to the beach, so Jay and I enjoyed a relaxing weekend at home. I am so happy that Tuttle could go, and I know he had a BALL!

Jay and I went our separate ways with all our weekend activities. He was able to celebrate his friend's 30th birthday Friday, lead a half-marathon running group on Saturday morning (where he was labeled "Coach of the Week") and relax at a boot camp instructor's pool party on Saturday afternoon.

I slept the day away on Friday while experiencing irregular contractions. I thought we were going to meet Maggie Ruth earlier than expected, but everything has subsided for the most part. We are still set to be induced in a week! Saturday I met my mom for a wedding shower to honor C.J., a daughter of one of the BEST women. 

Bride-to-Be

The BEST Group

 

Once again, my mom's sweet friends threw a great shower. I always look forward to any chance to get to visit with these special women and their daughters. 

I spent the night at my mom's that night. My mom was so concerned about my comfort that I even got a long foot massage to help get my mind off of how BIG I am! 

Jay and I were very ready to see Tuttle yesterday evening. I can tell he had the best time at the beach trip this year! I cannot wait to soak up as much time with my little boy this week before he becomes a BIG BROTHER.