Easter Weekend, Then Back to Work

My best friend came into town for Easter weekend.  I was so excited for her to meet Matthew!  We had a great time hanging out and catching up (and of course, loving on baby Matthew)!  I wished she lived closer or better yet, move back to VA!  But that won't be happening anytime soon so I will just have to plan a trip to go and visit her out west. 

We bought Matthew a swing and he LOVES it.  We purchased the Gra.co Snuggle Bunny swing because it had good reviews. I love the big bunny ear pillow!  It has a little mobile and 'mirror' that he stares at to see himself.  I've seen him looking into the mirror and smiling!  Matthew has been smiling more and I get sooo excited when he does. 

Here he is with his Easter basket my friend bought him.  The Easter headband belongs to Abbey, from when she was a baby, that I bought for her.  I've kept it all these years and couldn't wait for Matthew to wear it.

I returned to work on Monday, part-time (for two weeks, then full-time), and it was a little overwhelming trying to catch up with everything and all the changes.  I had a lady from church come in on Monday to watch Matthew for a few hours.  She was great with him.  He is easy to watch now because he pretty much eats, sleeps, and poops so she spent a lot of time just reading.  But when he was awake, she would hold him and rock him back to sleep.  She really was a big help!!  My mom was able to come the rest of the week to help watch Matthew. 

I am off on Friday so I can get things ready for this weekend.  We are blessing Matthew in church on Sunday and will have lots of family in town.  It's been very stressful trying to work and get the house ready for company.  Steve's dad has been here all week helping him build a deck. They have been working really hard and it's coming together nicely.  Hopefully it will be done by the weekend. 

Life is a little stressful this week, but should calm down after Sunday.  I am looking forward to having family here to share in Matthew's blessing.  It will be a very special day (if only I can relax and not let the stress get to me!). 

An Easter Declaration

Happy Easter weekend to everyone!

Don't forget the real reason for Easter.

Take three minutes out of your day to watch An Easter Declaration.

Wordless Wednesday - BAM!

2 Wk Old Pictures 2 Months Late

I never got around to posting Matthew's 2 week pictures on my blog.

(I did post them on FB though).

Better late than never.

(BTW, I'm still working on his birth story.  I should really try and finish it up before I completely lose my memory.)

These pictures were taken by my wonderful friend who also took my maternity pictures.

Matthew is 2 Months!

You are gaining weight and starting to fill out in your face!

Your current weight is 10 lbs 15 oz.

Mommy definitely feels how big you are everytime she has to get the carseat in and out of the car.

You are eating about every 3 hours during the day.

We continue to swaddle you and you seem to be sleeping very well.

You just started sleeping four hours straight at night!!

Mommy lets you sleep in the bed with her when you get up in the morning (between 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM).  You snuggle right up next to Mommy and fall right back to sleep!

You like to be held ALL the time.

Mommy started to speak Vietnamese to you in hopes that you will someday be able to speak it fluently. Daddy said he didn't realize mommy could speak it so well until you came along! (Gotta represent!)

You are mommy's little pumpkin! (Grandma loves to call you pumpkin pie).

We love seeing you chunk up and look forward to all your growth spurts!

A Great Birthday

I had a GREAT birthday! 

Spent the morning waiting for the county inspector to come and inspect the holes for the deck Steve is building (he passed the first inspection!).  Then Matthew and I went to get a pedicure.  Afterwards we went to meet Abbey and Steve for dinner.

(Abbey got her hair chopped off.  I love it.  I think she looks adorable!)



Abbey and her baby sister, Angelina.

Matthew was hungry so he was not really in the mood for pictures.

 We went to our favorite restaurant for dinner, Sweetwater!

I love this bunny in front of the restaurant.

Steve surprised me with presents from Tiffanys!

What girl doesn't get excited when she see's that color bag with 'Tiffanys' on it?!

This one is from Matthew.  It's my birthday/early Mother's Day present.

Precious! I love his little 'note.'

Steve got me the small black bean.

(I already have the large silver bean).

I mentioned to Steve about this cookbook that I wanted because I love the blog. 

He DOES listen!

Check out this lovely blog, Our Best Bites.  They just posted a tutorial on how to make really cool easter eggs using silk ties!!  I can't wait to try out the recipes. 

And I saved the best for last.....

we went to Ch.eesecake Factory to get dessert. 

My absolutely favorite is the Chocolate coconut cream cheesecake.  Yum-my!!!

I LOVE my husband, my son and my Abbey!

Couldn't think of a better way to spend my birthday.



One Year Older and Wiser Too

I will be one year older tomorrow (not sure about the Wiser part).

Steve said he would buy me an i.pad for my birthday, but I said no way!  While it would be nice, I don't really NEED an i.pad and I can think of a hundred other things to spend that kind of money on. 

I think I'm an easy person to please and shop for but Steve disagrees.  I drop hints all the time.  He says he never knows what to get me, yet I'm always telling him things I like/want/need.  The problem is he doesn't always listens or remembers. 

I told him he didn't have to get me anything this year.  I can't even think of anything that I really NEED.  And I usually buy things when I want/need it (within reason).  For instance, I've always wanted a salad spinner so I bought one the other day at R.oss (for much cheaper than what I saw it for at the store next door!).  I was ecstatic!  Like I said, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

I really have everything that I need...

Healthy & Happy Baby

Great Husband

My Health

My Home

My Faith

I look forward to many more birthdays with this little guy. 

He has completed our family.

He has made every day a HAPPY day!

Weekend Fun and Endo Follow Up

We had a fun filled weekend with two baby showers and a one month baby party (it's a Vietnamese tradition to have a one month party for your baby when they reach that mark.  We didn't do one for Matthew.  I guess we're not that traditional).

 

I went to see the Endocrinologist today for my 7 week check up.  My fasting blood work came back all clear so I don't have to see him again until I get pregnant again.  We talked about me going back on the met.formin for my PCOS and he said that as long as I'm nursing, I don't need to be on it.  Once I stop nursing, then I can talk to my OB about going back on it.  I also went to see my family doctor to get my pertussis vaccine (whooping cough).  

Matthew and I went in to visit Steve at his office and everyone LOVED him.  Everyone said he looks like his momma!  I could tell Steve was so proud to show off his son.  I love my boys!

It's FRIDAY, FRIDAY!

It's FRIDAY!

A gloomy and rainy day, but it's still Friday!

I haven't had a hair cut in about six months!

Mamma needs a hair makeover, badly. 

I asked a friend from church to watch Matthew while I went to my appointment.  It was the first time I left him with a non-family member.  I knew he was in good hands though! 

(cell phone picture. not the best quality)

I have two baby showers to go to this weekend.  I have four friends who are all expecting boys this summer!  Matthew is going to have lots of playmates!

I hope everyone has a great weekend. 

Here are some pictures of Matthew (taken from my cell phone).

6 Week Post Delivery

I went in last week for my 6 week post delivery check up.  Unfortunately, it was with the doctor that I least like at the practice.  I had to see her because she was the one that did my c-section.  My wound still has not completely healed.  There's still a tiny part that hasn't closed up completely.

The Dr. asked what we were going to do as far as birth control.  I told her that since we did IVF and it took us soooo long to get to this point, that we did NOT want to have to go through IVF again so we would just let whatever happens happen.  She said that since I had a c-section, I couldn't get pregnant for another year (like SHE could really prevent that).  I then asked her if I got pregnant again, could I deliver vaginally instead of c-section again.  She looked at my chart and said since I was 'stuck' at 7 1/2 centimeters during labor for so long that she strongly advised against it. Blah, blah, blah...

I know she has to give us her medical opinion, but I left there feeling like she was basically telling me I shouldn't even try to have another child for another year.  Maybe she didn't hear the IVF part of my story.  Anyone who's gone through IVF knows that you can't really 'plan' to have a baby naturally.  Does she really think that I can PLAN when I can have more kids??  I've heard stories of couples getting pregnant right away after having a baby.  And I've also heard stories where it's taken couples YEARS to have a second baby. 

Who knows which of those categories I will fall in, but what I do know is that I WILL have more children. I know that Heavenly Father knows what's best for me and  my family.  And things happen in His time, not mine (or any doctors). 

I have to put my faith in His plan.  He has gotten me this far and will never abandon me, as long as I keep believing. 

Ponies and Bunnies

We went to a birthday party that had  ponies and a small little petting zoo.

Abbey had so much fun!

Everybody loves a pony ride!

I looked terrified in this picture.  I was trying to get a picture with the baby bunnies but the one I was holding was scratching me with her claws and it freaked me out.

The bunnies were so cute!  They were only five weeks old. 

Wouldn't it be fun to have these cute bunnies for Easter?!

I wanted to take one home with me, but I knew we didn't have time or energy to care for a newborn baby AND a newborn bunny!!

I think I'll stick with my cute boys, who are also cute and cuddly!