Homeward Bound

We were so excited on Sunday to bring Colton to his new home. With Grant, we were really nervous about leaving the hospital, but with Colton we couldn't wait to get home!

He did great during the car ride home and we had forgotten how tiny a newborn baby looks in the carseat. Colton had more visits from his family on Sunday afternoon and he mostly slept the day away while everyone cuddled with him:)

Grant came home from spending the weekend with MaMaw and PaPaw and it was nice to finally have our family of 4 together. Now we just needed to figure out the best routine for everyone. Fortunately, Brandon was off work all week so that would give us some time to figure out the best way to manage a newborn and a 3 year old:)

Excited to be going home!

So tiny!

First visit with Uncle Alex and Aunt Kendra

More brother bonding time

Our Hospital Stay

Colton loved meeting all of his family for the first time and we had lots of visits from family and friends during our 2 days in the hospital. Our hospital stay went well and we were really happy with all of the doctors and nurses that we saw during our stay. We kept Colton in our room almost the entire time and I had lots of skin to skin and bonding time with him. I am also trying breastfeeding again, but am having to supplement with formula to make sure he gets everything he needs so that he continues to gain weight. Unfortunately I don't have a large enough milk supply to solely breastfeed, which was exactly what happened with Grant. Colton had lost down to 7 lbs 6 ozs on Sunday, but some weight loss is normal. Adjusting to breastfeeding and figuring out a good feeding and supplementing schedule (and the lack of sleep) were probably the biggest challenges during our hospital stay, but over all our hospital stay did go well.

Everything checked out great with Colton and myself and I am so thankful for that. Brandon and I were just extremely tired as we got back into the routine of having a newborn and as I adjusted to breastfeeding, but we have been hanging in there:)

First visits with MaMaw and PaPaw

Visiting with Aunt Mary Ellen

More quality brother time

Meeting Aunt Kelli, Uncle Heath and Hannah for the first time

Wide awake:)

Notice how tired Brandon and I look in these pics:)

Check out that smile

I love my boys with all my heart

A Brother's Love

Grant and Colton met each other for the first time on Friday evening right after Colton was born. MaMaw and PaPaw brought him to the hospital and he stayed with them for the weekend. Grant is such a sweet big brother and really was excited to meet his baby brother.  He still calls him "baby brover":) He can say "Colton David" perfectly though. Grant is so sweet and gentle with Colton (most of the time) and  really proud to be a big brother. He likes giving him kisses and rubbing his belly and gets very concerned if Colton is crying.

Grant has been a little wild and slightly defiant since Colton has been born, but having another person around that takes some of his attention is going to take a little getting used to.  I think Grant just wants to be able to play with him and soon enough they will be running around and playing together.

I know these two are going to be the best of friends.

Holding Colton for the first time

Colton got Grant a special gift for being such a great big brother. An interactive batman book

and a Big Brother shirt.

Our new family of four

These two brothers also look a lot alike:)

Colton

Grant

Our Little Guy is Born

I have always called Grant "my little man" and I have found myself calling Colton "our little guy."

Colton David Martin was born on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 2:13 pm. We arrived at the hospital at 7:30 and they started the pitocin at 9:15 for the induction. Everything progressed pretty quickly from then and he was born less than 5 hours later. I dilated rather quickly and started having contractions that were painful and relatively close together when I was 5 cm dilated. They started my epidural and there were a few issues with it. It hurt when I was getting it and then it didn't take on my left side. They made some adjustments and increased the medicine, which completely took away all of the pain but also all of my movement and feeling on my right side. I only had to push 3 times and he was born. We were all shocked at how quickly everything happened! I pushed for an 1 hour and 20 mins with Grant so this labor process was much easier.

Colton and I spent a lot skin to skin time together immediately after he was born, which was great for bonding. Brandon and my mom were with me in the delivery room and were a great support. Brandon only almost passed out once (when I was getting the epidural). Hospitals aren't his favorite. It did take almost 6 hours after Colton was born for the epidural to completely wear off, but at least I didn't have any pain during the delivery.  Overall, the labor and delivery process went pretty well and it was definitely nice that it was so quick and with minimal pain.

Colton was named after my dad. His middle name was David as well. Daddy also liked the name Colt and had mentioned it to us as a name he really liked when we were coming up with names for Grant. I think he would have loved the name Colton David and I know he has was looking down with a huge smile on his face when Colton was born. I would give anything for him to be here to meet Colton, but I know he is watching over all of us and we will always make sure that Colton knows everything he can about his PawPaw.

Brandon and I couldn't be more proud and happy that we have another beautiful and healthy baby boy and we are so excited about our new family of 4.

One of Colton's first pictures

He weighed 8 lbs and was 19 1/2 inches long

Our sweet little guy

One of his first pictures with his momma

Proud daddy

First pic with MiMi

Welcome Baby Colton!

Colton David Martin was born at 2:13 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013. He weighed 8 lbs and was 19 1/2 inches long. He is healthy and perfect in every way. His parents couldn't be more happy and proud and his big brother couldn't be more excited!  More details and pictures to come!

Baby Update

So I am excited to say that Baby Martin #2 should be arriving tomorrow, May 17th! I am going to be induced in the morning and have to be at the hospital at 7:30. I went to the doctor yesterday and am 3 cm dilated, 70% effaced and he has dropped down. Since I am progressing along, been having ongoing back pain for 3 weeks and starting to swell more, my doctor was in agreement with inducing me. He is also predicting that the baby will be about 7 1/2 lbs. I am very excited...a little nervous and anxious of course, but excited!

Yesterday was my last day of work and I can't believe I am going to be off work for 3 months. Of course, I'm sure I will be doing plenty of work...just a different kind.

We have finally decided on a name and will be excited to share it with everyone tomorrow. Brandon and my mom will be with me tomorrow and Brandon's mom is going to keep Grant for the weekend. Hopefully everything will progress along quickly enough tomorrow so that Grant and the rest of the family will be able to meet his baby brother tomorrow afternoon/evening.

I am doing a few things around the house today, trying to do a little resting and relaxing and am going to pick up Grant early so we can spend some extra time together this afternoon.

I have felt him moving and kicking for so long that I have to say it will be strange and a little sad to not feel that any longer. I often wonder what he will look like and what type of personality will he have?  Will he be just like Grant was as a baby or completely opposite? I will know the answers to these questions soon enough!

Wish me luck tomorrow! I hope and pray for a speedy and pain free as possible labor and delivery and a healthy and happy baby boy!  I can't wait to meet him! The next time I update this blog, I should be a mom of 2:)

THREE!!!

It's so hard to believe, but Grant turned 3 on Tuesday! We did a special birthday party for him at school with his friends on Tuesday morning. There were about 35 kids and he was the center of attention for the day. I was so glad that we were able to do this before the baby comes. He and all of his friends really had fun and they all loved all of the balloons. I took off for the day and picked him up early from school and we spent some one-on-one time together playing outside (really I watched and Grant played). It was a beautiful day. We spent Tuesday night together as a family and gave Grant one last birthday present. It was a wonderful birthday for my little man!

Batman decorations 

Batman cake. Thanks MaMaw! Everyone loved it!

Notice Grant in the birthday hat:) All of the kids at his table are in his class. We did the party for the 2, 3 and 4 year olds at his school. I was surprised at how thankful, polite and well behaved all of the kids were!

 

Singing happy birthday and blowing out the candles

Getting a birthday spanking from Ms. Susan:)

My sweet birthday boy:)



So what is Grant like at 3 years old?

He is so loving and caring and loves playing with all of his school friends and his cousin Hannah.  He loves spending time with all of his family. He is so smart and truly amazes us with the things he says and does. He loves to sing, read books, play outside, play on the iPad and we probably let him watch TV a little more than we should.

He loves wrestling and jumping on his daddy and curling up beside me to read his bedtime story every night. He is a little defiant at times, but for the most part listens pretty well for a 3 year old. He sleeps great and will eat most anything but loves French fries, oreo cookies, and peach cups.

He uses both his left and right hand for doing things and we really haven't figured out which he is going to be yet. It is amazing how well he can throw any type of ball with his left hand...maybe we have a left handed pitcher in the works:)

He is so excited to be a big brother and I know he is going to be the best big brother ever! He loves helping do things and is so independent. I know he is going to be a great help as well as being gentle and kind with his brother.

I am so fortunate to be his momma and I love him more than I could ever say.

Happy Birthday Grant!!