Aaron Visitors

Neighbor Roberta. "Berta" as Logan calls her. She has been very helpful with the boys - she'll rush over and watch Aaron while I pick Logan up at school or run an errand. We are so lucky to have such great neighbors.

Lauren and Easton came for the weekend to meet Aaron.

Jessica stopped by, too.


Matt and Melissa brought Jakes burgers after Melissa ran in the Fort Worth 10k.

Andrew's buddy from work, Kevin, and his family came to play that same afternoon. Kevin brought 2 of his 3 precious girls. Logan enjoyed playing with Hannah and Grace in the sandbox and wagon while we visited.



Aaron had several other visitors at home, too, including: my boss Carla, Rhonda and Catherine Bowen, Cousin Derek and family, Kim, Joanna and Charlie, neighbor Jenn. I know I'm forgetting some. . .

A catch-up post

Mimi and Grandpa were here last weekend so we got a mini photo session outside. Bob also got some good Aaron close-ups and fun park pictures.













Progress!!!
Logan opening his Valentine basket

For those of you out there wondering why I'm smiling funny - My face is a little swolen (not as bad as last pregnancy though!) and when I smile with teeth something funny happens with my top lip. I practiced in the mirror and this is the best I can do for now. Ha! 20 lbs to go!

A quick Aaron fix

More blogging soon. Mac is slowing me down!!!

Big Brother Logan

After one week of being a big brother, Logan still doesn't really acknowledge Aaron's presence. He isn't necessarily sad or mad about his existence; He just doesn't want much to do with him. I bought Andrew a heart shaped picture frame for Valentine's day and was planning on having a picture of the boys in it, but we have yet to get a good picture of them together.

When we discussed it, Logan was excited to visit the hospital when Aaron was born. But when Andrew brought him into the room after picking him up from school on Friday, Logan turned around and opened the door and walked right out. He didn't cry or complain though. My mom was holding Aaron when they walked in so that I could be available for Logan, so when Andrew brought him back in we persuaded him onto the bed with me. From then on, he was very comfortable on my bed and all over the room.




For the hour or so he was there we had fun opening Logan's gifts and watching him explore the room. He wanted to push every button and climb on and off the bed. When Andrew and my mom were leaving with him he said, "Come home Mommy. Leave baby Aaron here." My heart was broken. It was the sweetest and the saddest at the same time. Logan had a good night at home. Andrew bathed him, grabbed some things and brought Whataburger back to the hospital for us and some friends (more on that later). Mom said that bedtime went smoothly and that Logan asked where I was, but didn't cry. What a big boy. I am so proud of how he's taking all of this "new."

Our first family photo


The next day mom brought Logan back up at lunch time. He was too distracted by all the buttons and the shower and the other visitors to eat anything. There were plenty of sweets available for him to fill himself up with. My friends know me well - bring sweets!






Lexie and Logan. Thanks for the chocolate heart lollipop, Lexie!
Logan had a lot of energy, so Andrew took him outside to the fountain to burn some. It was so sweet to watch them throw coins in from my room.

Meet Aaron

Aaron Robert Thomas graced us with his arrival at 12:02 PM on Friday, February 11, 2011. He weighs 8 pounds 6 ounces and is 20 inches long.

I arrived at the hospital at 6 AM and by 6:40 I was in bed, hooked up to the IV, and had answered the hundreds of questions presented by the nurse. Andrew dropped Logan off at school and was with me just before 8 AM. From the start Aaron's heart rate wasn't very steady. I spent most of my laboring on my left side where he seemed the most comfortable. Because of his behavior, the nurses waited until after 7 to start my Pitocin. My doctor also showed up to attach some internal monitors - one on his head to more accurately measure his heart rate and one in my uterus to measure pressure during my contractions. Dr. Robbins had just broken my water and finished all this when Andrew walked into the room.

Labor progressed pretty quickly and I requested my epidural around 9:30. Even with the epidural, I felt the pressure of my contractions more than I remember with Logan's birth. At 11 AM I was at 5 cm and when they checked me again at 11:30 I had jumped to 8 cm. Dr. Robbins, whose office is just across the street from the hospital, arrived 10 minutes later and confirmed I was fully dilated and ready to push. Push 1 - head. Push 2 - shoulders. Just like that!

We were out of labor and delivery and into our cozy room by 2 PM. With Logan it was late at night before we were settled in so it was nice to have the afternoon to relax. I forgot how annoying it was to have nurses checking in constantly - Aaron's nurse, my nurse, the vitals technician. After feeding Aaron at 3:30 AM I was ready for a few hours of solid sleep. Not 45 minutes later the lab showed up to draw my blood. Really? This couldn't have waited until 6 or 7?! Then every hour following I was woken up for something else. So when my nurse asked Saturday morning if we were planning on being discharged that day I got excited to be home. I knew there was a lot that had to be done including Aaron's hearing test and circumcision, and didn't want to rush it all, but boy did I want out!

By 5 PM we were ready to go. We picked up pizza on the way home and got to have dinner as a family. I got to give Logan his bath and put him down, too.

We are so excited to have Aaron in our lives. Well, two of us are. More to come on Logan's opinion of his new brother.

Welcome to our team, Aaron!

39 Weeks and a Mac

Here I am at 39 weeks (last Saturday). Aaron was supposed to be here a week early . . . we were told. Well, he's not. And its no big deal really because we know that God has great plans and we don't really get to know what they are. My appointment last week was cancelled for weather (more to come on that soon), so I went in yesterday to get a progress update. I was told that my body is as ready as it can be before actually going into labor.

Aaron is due on Sunday, February 13. He will be here Friday, February 11. My doctor is so great that she said I could wait it out or schedule it for convenience and comfort. While I did want the surprise of labor this time around, that was easier to say when we thought he would be an early surprise. Totally different story if I have to go past my due date. So I called Andrew and we picked Friday.

We'll have pictures up sometime that night I'm sure. Please keep us in your prayers. My biggest worry right now is about Logan. He is totally attached to me right now and I'm so sad that I will be away from him for 2 days. I know how sad he gets at bedtime when I'm not the one to put him down. And he has a hard time watching me hold other babies, too, so I think seeing me with Aaron will be hard for him. I just really need to find peace with it all and know that it will only take a few days of adjusting and he will be fine, right? Right.



Oh, and part of the reason that I'm so behind on blogging is because we got a new computer - a Mac! It is definitely taking some getting used to. I'm not a fan right now quite frankly because my picture storing system has changed, but I know I will love it soon. Andrew has been on it constantly trying to tag all our photos and figure things out so he can explain it all to me.

Snow Days

Logan's school follows the FWISD schedule which has cancelled school for the past 3 days. With a school full of downtown business professional's children, I just received an email that they are re-evaluating that policy. Today was definitely a workable day and the first day that most of my co-workers returned to the office.

On the plus side, these forced days off have been really fun. I'm grateful for the last few days of one-on-one time with Logan. He has been in great spirits - super sweet, cute, and funny - even though we are "stuck" inside. It is really cold out, I don't have the energy to shiver, I have to be cautious on the ice because I'm so prego, and I can't safely carry Logan for fear of both of us going down. Andrew has gone out with him a few times to get the mail or throw a few snowballs.


Logan wanted to wear his cowboy hat outside to get the mail, but I insisted he wear his warm hat, so this was the compromise.

I had a crazy nesting morning and took every cushion off the couch and wiped them all down and vacuumed them. And he's choosing his own clothes now and insisted on skeleton PJs. The other night he was in Santa PJs. Snow Day mess