November 2, 2014

Well our life has completely changed since our last post! After returning from our road trip, our days were full of lots of fun adventures as we soaked up our last days as a family of three. Here are some of the fun ways we spent the time until September 13....

Lots of play dates, pool time and beach time...

We went to a wedding in Pittsburgh at the end of August! 

Annalise left for college at UNCW

James helping out in the kitchen 

Playing golf with dad

First hair cut

James loves to fist bump everyone...and everything! 

A weekend getaway with friends in Richmond over Labor Day

Lots of time with friends and playgrounds! 

 

James LOVES the water! 

A shower for Rachel and Baby #2 at Level 

Feeding the ducks

The County Fair with mom and mimi, one day after due date

Then came the early morning hours of September 13...I started having some contractions throughout the night, but very infrequent and not painful. We got a couple hours of sleep and got up around 8. I called the doctor who said she I could come in and get checked to see if I was dilated but I was only having contractions maybe 5 times an hour, so we didn't feel rushed. My parents picked up James at 9:30 and we arrived at the hospital at 9:45. I started having more painful contractions as we walked to the Labor and Delivery floor, but they were still at least 7 minutes apart. We got checked in and taken to triage where they put some sort of belt on me to see how far apart my contractions were. We timed them as I was starting to feel in much more pain and they seemed to be about 4-5 mins apart. The nurse came back 20 mins later (about 10:20) and said I wasn't having contractions. The belt wasn't in the proper place. She checked and I was 8 cm dilated already!! Things started to move quickly. I asked for an epidural as I was in a lot of pain and was asked my medical history (hard to answer when in pain!) The doctor arrived and asked me the same questions .A couple mins later I felt an intense pressure and said "he needs to come out". The doctor checked and I was 10 cm! We were rushed to a delivery room and I moved beds! After about 3 or 4 pushes, Graeme Donald Cloud arrived at 10:58 am. Phew! We were in complete shock at his rapid arrival, and are still adjusting to life as we learn what life looks like with two.

James has adjusted really well to life with Graeme. The first few weeks, he didn't have much of a reaction to him, but day by day asks where the baby is or gives him a toy to play with. James is such a joy, learning so much every day. These days he is repeating everything we say and making us laugh with the words that he knows, silly songs he knows parts of or makes up and spontaneous dancing. He's really into trucks right now and loves to stand on our couch or ride in the car to look out the window and SHOUT out whatever truck he sees (he can now identify bulldozers, backhoe loaders ("back load"), bus, van, pick up truck, monster truck, garbage truck, and his favorite...fire engines-identified by shouting "engine truck!" and making a woo-woo sound). We also spend hours building train tracks, towers out of blocks, playing doctor, reading books, tickling each other and cooking. He loves to pull up a chair in the kitchen and help mom or dad make a smoothie, cook eggs or really participate in whatever we are doing.

We are adjusting well too. Brandon got a joband started on October 13, so I had a full month of help which was amazing and helped build my confidence to get out the door with two kids. I am still working on the right balance of how much I can tackle in each day as it is much more work to do really anything, but I know that Graeme is still young and things are getting easier day by day. Below is a little glimpse of the past 7 weeks. Thanks for ALL of YOUR help in supporting us these past few months with meals, prayers and encouragement. We are grateful to have such an amazing community of friends and family surrounding us and look forward to raising our boys with you all.

WEEK 1

Two days in the hospital, James stayed with mimi and poppy (and Aunt Bekah, Landon and Aunt E!)

I really missed James at the hospital and was very emotional but was glad to realize that Graeme slept a lot the first week and we could still have some special time together, even just feeding the ducks

WEEK 2

Walks with our new double stroller

Brandon went to PA for a night, so I went to my parents and enjoyed watching my mom play with James on the beach while I sat on a bench with Graeme 

Getting out of the house for a few play dates 

Visits with Papa Hiskey and Grandad Windish

We spent a good 20 minutes watching construction trucks outside our apartment one morning..

WEEK 3

Grandpa and Grandma Cloud arrive!

We spent the week playing, eating yummy meals, going to the beach, the Homestead Fall Festival (where James rode a pony!), putt putt and just enjoying time together

WEEK 4

James wants to help out a little bit

Grandma Cari stayed for a few extra days and was SO helpful with meals, laundry, playing with James and taking Graeme during the night- we are so, so, SO thankful for all of her help in our sanity! 

Graeme met new buddy, Bennett Wagner, only a few days apart! 

A little froyo date with mom 

We are tired around here! 

James helping to make "eggies"

James learns to take a selfie

Mom has little to no personal space these days 

"Touch a truck' festival with mimi, mom and Landon! 

WEEK 5

Aunt E, Uncle Mike, Aunt Kat and Vincent are in town to meet Graeme

Mom's first day on her own as dad goes to work and mom tries to figure out how to get out the door in less than two hours!

Graeme is sleeping 3-4 hours at night and several naps during the day

Graeme rolls over!

WEEK 6

We are just loving these boys (despite some long days and nights)

House sitting for friends' house on the water and enjoyed some beautiful views and a change of scenery 

(I also enjoyed two FULL nights of sleep that Brandon blessed me with by taking Graeme all night!)

So many little friends!

James loves the park

WEEK 7

Enjoying the last few days of beautiful weather outside and many play dates, laughs and trying to settle into a little more of a routine as Graeme is starting to take a morning and afternoon nap (two days at the same time as James!) 

How James spends many hours at home...

Costume/story time at a gym with mimi and mommy!

HALLOWEEN 

A couple hours of guy time while mom got out of the house for a little break...

August 14, 2014

We are HOME! It is nice to be home to have a little down time and prepare for baby #2 but we do have SO much to be thankful for during this season, such as....
- We all  love each other still
- We have so many great friends and family throughout the country that blessed us with generosity and hospitality
- No speeding tickets!
- We didn't leave anything major in all the packing and unpacking (as far as we know, all that were left behind were a bottle and a pair of James' flip flops... Other than Brandon leaving half of his shirts in Minneapolis! Thankfully those were shipped to us when we were in Montana)
- We are all healthy and happy, including baby # 2!
- Brandon has been able to help me so much with James since I am still having a lot of sciatic pain
- James is such a happy, well- adjusted child who could sleep anywhere and was content to play with whatever toys were available to him each day

The trip already feels like a blur because it went so fast, and we are preparing for this new season as Brandon looks for a job and I adjust to life as a stay at home mom! We are loving this season of life with James. He is SO much fun and seems to be talking more and more every day. Some of his favorite words are "truck!" (and his favorite truck is a cement mixer where he points his finger and makes a circle with a vroom vroom sound), "choo choo", "friends", "mommy, daddy, PLAY!", "animals", "baby", "JUMP!" "pool" (as you will see below, we have been to the pool MANY times this summer).. and so much more. He can really communicate well with us and seems eager to learn. We have been working on teaching him how to count to five and identify colors on the trip, and he is definitely picking up on them (though his counting is a little confused as he usually says "3, 5, 9"). It is hard to imagine sharing time with another baby, but I'm sure we will all adjust and love our new little addition.

Anyway, here's how we spent the rest of the time on our road trip! Thanks for journeying with us!

July 24-26

Spent time with Brandon's grandparents, aunts and uncles in Colorado Springs!

James loved playing in the pool (no surprise!) 

Visited with Jonathan Nagle, a friend from Annapolis 

July 26

Drove to Salina, KS and stayed in a hotel

Tried "Famous" Cozy Inn Burgers (A disappointment but at least James now knows the word "burger")

Discovered Cloud Street in Salina! 

July 27-28

Drove to Kansas City, KS to stay with our friends from Annapolis, the Cromers and Brownlees!

We loved visiting with friends and meeting their family, and inevitably, the pool

July 29-30

Drove to Jefferson City, MO to stay with new friends, Amy, Travis and Sadie Fitzwater

Lots of fun play time with Sadie! 

A choo choo next to water! What could be better?

New found love for popcorn

Amy and I are only a few weeks apart with #2! 

July 31

Quick lunch with Rachel's friend from middle school, Betsy!

Drove to Bentonville, AR to stay with Royce and Susan Johnson

August 1-2

Drove to Texarkana, TX to visit with Rachel's godparents, the Prieskorns

James loved riding FAST on the four wheeler, playing golf inside (He says "hit! Ball! Hole!") and the pool!

Vegging out after a long day!

August 3-4

Drove to Nashville, TN to stay with Matt and Allie Martindale

Explored Nashville and visited with the Rawleys!

August 5-6

Drove to Atlanta, GA to stay with Maggie, Steven and Selah Grace Hammond!

Had a quick little play date with Graham, Timothy and Ann-Marie Ellis!

James loved playing in the fountains at Olympic Centennial Park and lunch at the Chick-Fil-A office!

Quick visit with Aunt Michelle and Joey 

Of course, another belly flop into a pool! 

August 7-8

Drove to Greenville, SC with a stop in Aiken, SC for lunch with the Hunts

Stayed with Kate and Kory Radford, friends from college

Had our first rainy day of the road trip and went to a childrens museum!

Breakfast with Liz Evans, a dear friend from college

James can make anything a sprinkler these days, he is obsessed with water

First cook out milkshake! 

August 9

OUR LAST STOP- Lynchburg, VA

We stayed with Uncle Mike, Aunt Kathryn and Vincent but also got to play with Landon!

So much fun cousin time before heading home!

Thanks again for all your prayers and encouragement along the road. We are excited to share in the next chapter of life with you too!