Caleb: One Month Old

A post by daddy:

 It has been a full month since our little man Caleb joined our family.  It has been a fun month.  I was lucky enough to be able to stay home from work for two weeks after Caleb was born.  I am grateful for this time because I got to spend a lot of time with both my boys just being dad.  Although I am having trouble calling them by their correct name (I am now simply calling them Big Buddy and Little Buddy), this past month has been great.  Several people I spoke with prior to Caleb’s birth told me that they found the transition from 1 child to 2 was more difficult than going from 0 to 1.  Knock on wood, to this point I don’t feel the same way.  I feel that our first month as a family of four has been a relatively easy transition.  It helps that Caleb has been sleeping a little better than Connor did/still does.  It also helps that we had a better idea of what to expect and how to deal with any issues we might face.  But most of all, I think the biggest factor is how well the two boys get along.

 We began prepping Connor to be a big brother immediately after we found out about Caleb.  We were confident he would respond well but were still unsure of what would happen when Caleb came and started garnering a lot of attention.  Thankfully, my Big Buddy wants nothing more than to dote on my Little Buddy.  Connor always wants to sit next to Caleb and asks constantly if he can hold “his” baby.  When Caleb cries, Connor is often the first one on the move to make sure everything is ok.  My favorite is when we are at the store; Connor always looks first for a toy for Caleb (before settling on one for him as well).  When we put the car seats in the car, Connor and Caleb were separated by the middle seat.  This was no good for Connor…”but mommy, I can’t reach him to hold his hand.”  Obviously, this didn’t last long and Caleb’s seat is now securely in the center right next to Connor.  Every time we drive anywhere as a family, a quick peak in the back seat reveals Connor holding Caleb’s hand as the both do their thing.  It is my prayer that as Connor grows, he always remembers that the bond he has with Caleb is one like no other.  He will always have a built in best friend.

 Well, its pageant season at FBC Ft. Lauderdale.  This year, a mere four years after Connor made his debut as Baby Jesus, he is back on stage singing “Happy Birthday Jesus.”  He has worked very hard to get to this point and we could not be more proud of him.  To make things even better, Caleb is following in the steps of his big brother.  This year, Caleb too will be playing the role of Baby Jesus.  Although Caleb didn’t have to work as hard as his big brother to be cast, we are still proud of our little guy.  The final dress rehearsal was last night.  This was Caleb’s first time on stage and it was awesome.  It brought me back to all the emotion I felt when Connor was used in this role.  It truly is amazing watching both my boys perform in roles that will be used in a manner that will bring glory to God and souls to Heaven.

 It’s been one month since our family became four.  In that month, I have experienced God’s blessing more than I could have wanted or expected. It isn’t always easy but my heart is most full when my arms are too.

2 Weeks with 2 Boys

I am a mother of two. That is the strangest statement. It is still surreal and a bit of a blur. Those days of living at the hospital flew by, and very quickly we were home and learning a new routine.

 We brought Caleb home from the hospital on a Saturday afternoon. It was so cute because Grandma had taken Connor to his t-ball game and they came straight to the hospital from there. We were ready to get home, though we had the best nurses in the world at the hospital. We really lucked out.

 I couldn't believe the moment I sat down to take a picture of Caleb with the sign I made him and his home from the hospital outfit, he cracked his first smile and I snapped as fast as I could. I didn't realize I hadn't framed it perfectly, but it has his perfect little smile and I love it! His first day home and he's already smiling. He continues to smile every day; usually right after I nurse him, which is hysterical because it's milk induced.

 I also set up a little photo session a few days after having him home and I'm thrilled with the pictures I captured of my two boys. Connor is head over heels for his little brother. It is amazing. He wants to hold him all the time, and will come running whenever he hears a cry come from Caleb. He insisted on having Caleb's car seat moved closer to his and holds his hand when we drive anywhere in the car. We surprised Connor at pickup time yesterday from school and he kept saying "this is my baby" and "did you see my baby?" It was so heart warming. Connor has had major night terrors with this transition, but boy does he go gaga over his brother during the day.

 

 Of course because it is October we had to have our pumpkin patch visit. We went to two. It was so nice to get out of the house!!!!

 Caleb's first holiday was the same as Connor's....Halloween. The two cuties went has Captain Hook and Mr. Smee respectively. Connor had a blast, and wanted to trick or treat for days after. Caleb on the other hand enjoyed being in the moby while we walked around with Connor's friends (Isla and Lola) and then spent time with Grandma while we did her neighborhood.

These past two weeks have been a dream. I keep waiting for the shoe to drop. Like it's not possible to be this way. Connor's newborn stage was a little traumatic. Ok, a lot traumatic, and I would be lying if I said I hadn't been scared about this time around. So far, I have to wake Caleb up at night to feed him, I'm able to set him down to do things, and he only cries when he needs something. It is a very very different experience. He nurses like a champ, and at his doctor's appointment today weighed in at 8 pounds and 5 ounces. We had a minor jaundice scare at the very beginning that turned into receiving a billy blanket and promptly giving it back the next day. We nursed on demand, took walks outside, and went through a million diaper changes and got rid of it ourselves. We went on our first family excursion to vote on Thursday, then the grocery store, and finally Chick-fil-a. It was awesome! We went to Knaus Berry Farm yesterday, and Connor and Caleb took naps together holding hands in the back seat.

Is this my life?

 

Happy Birthday 10/23/14

I am finally sitting down to write this October 28, which was Caleb's exact due date. I cannot believe 5 days have gone by since his birth day. 

Thursday, October 23, 2014 was a very early morning for Mommy and Daddy. Our alarms rang at 4:30am and we were checking into the hospital at 5:30am. Being induced with Connor gave us a little bit more of an idea of how the day would progress. I had incredible nurses and they started the pitocin at 6:45am after getting me all settled in Labor and Delivery room 4. I was lucky to have already come into the hospital at 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. Around 9:00am  I had my water broken which was a little traumatic and completely different from with Connor (resulting in scratches on Caleb's head), but I also knew it would move things along. Boy did they move things along. Contractions are no joke! I really thought I would attempt to do this as naturally as possible, but being induced gives your body no room to progress naturally into things. By 9:45am I was ready for the epidural, which was interesting because I was having major contractions during the entire procedure. Around 11:00am I had a major drop in blood pressure, something they call the epidural blues. I have low blood pressure to begin with but when I started slurring my words I knew something was wrong and told Tim to check my reading, at that point it was 81/57. After more low readings the nurses put me on oxygen and gave me medicine to help my heart out. At about this time Connor made it to the hospital and I had to have the mask on over my face. I'm not sure that sat with him very well. I also had to spend my time laying on my left side. They attempted to roll me to the right so I wouldn't stay in the same position too long, but Caleb didn't respond well to that and back the left side I went.

Around 2:20pm I started feeling pressure much lower than my other contractions had felt. I told the nurse who decided to check things out. Sure enough, Caleb's head was discovered right away, and she ran off to find Dr. Suidmak who was in surgery there at the hospital already. He whisked in, put on his scrubs, instructed Tim to grab a leg, the nurse grabbed my other leg, and two pushes later at 2:37pm Caleb Guise Petersen entered the world. They placed all 7 pounds 10 ounces and 19 inches right on my chest and my heart fell in love with one more boy. After they cleaned him up I got a good solid hour of skin to skin with my little one.

Big Brother Connor has been smitten since he knew I was pregnant and had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of his little brother. When we spoke to him that morning before school his very first question was whether Caleb was there yet. The above picture is when he first met his new best friend. He still can't get enough. He wants to look at him, talk to him, touch him, and be involved with everything all the time. 

This cheering section was amazing and everyone helped make the day flow so smoothly.

Daddy also got special new footprints added to his Father's Day shirt, and it has been an object of pride since.

Caleb certainly looks like his Daddy, and yet there are moments he looks just like brand new Connor too. I can't wait to see how he changes over the next year and finds his look. He is absolutely beautiful.

After spending some time under the warmer to regulate his temperature everyone finally got a chance to hold him. Caleb had his eyes open and was taking everything in the entire time. Daddy got to hold him first, then grandma, though Connor immediately started to protest that it was his turn. So he was third, and Aunt Kaitlyn was fourth.

Boy did Connor love holding his little brother. Almost immediately he broke into "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and sang with such love and sweetness that the whole room stopped. Caleb perks up whenever he hears his big brother, even now Connor's singing will immediately soothe him. There is a bond for sure. When Connor was done he asked politely for someone to take the baby, and has continued to do the same thing each day when he holds him. I don't have to worry about a baby being thrown to the floor when the older sibling is "done". That's awesome!

I had to spend a little more time in L & D than expected because the epidural had pooled in my left leg and I didn't come out of it for a long time. I actually had to see the anesthesiologist 2 more times before they released me to a room. Caleb was awake and alert even during transport and was really taking it all in. I had an awesome private room on the 8th floor with a great view of our neighborhood, and were able to show Caleb where he was going to live before we were ever released to go home. It was an amazing first day. He latched well, and I was lucky I didn't have problems starting out this time around. Though no one had prepared me for the crazy contractions that come along with nursing your second child. Really, someone needed to warn me. Thank goodness for percocet. Connor spent a good portion of the day with us and I am so blessed that Grandma Glenda could then take him to her house for bed time, or to him, a special sleepover with Aunt Kaitlyn. When it was just Daddy, Mommy, and Caleb left in the room we couldn't believe our new little one was here. He is such a sweet and quiet boy, and yes, even slept during the night only waking to feed. Did you hear that? He slept!!!!! HE. SLEPT. What a great Birth Day!