Hannah Nicole Brown

(So, I wrote this blog about 4 weeks ago. Better late than never!)

My greatest blessings. Top Audrey. Bottom left Landon. Bottom right Hannah

There are some blogs I write to share information, but there are times I write so I can remember. This is one of those times. I want to be able to go back and reflect my second daughter's labor and delivery, and the first few days of her life. It's crazy for me to sit here, watch her sleep and reflect on the last two weeks.

9 months pregnant.

I'm going to go back to the beginning of August 2015. I had just finished up working for summer school, and Shannon and I were ready to go to a friend's wedding. First time for us - we took a weekend away, just us, before we welcomed a new member to our family. All summer I had wanted to see the beach, touch the sand, feel the water on my toes .... being 36 weeks pregnant was a slight glitch in my ideal plan, but it was lovely weekend away.

Baby-moon.

One of the greatest blessings I treasured is the time I had with just Landon during the end of this pregnancy. This boy loves to snuggle and be close; I enjoyed every minute of his snuggles and cuddles before I had to share my snuggles and cuddles with a baby. When he bats those super long eye lashes and asks to snuggle -- I can't resist. 

This time around, the one huge difference is the amount of doctor's appointments I had to schedule and attend. Blah. I was sent to a specialist by my ob/gyn and spent a lot of time at various doctor's appointments. On a side note, I am thankful for my smaller knitting projects! (Insert thumbs up emoji) From week 32 to delivery I was at at least one, but usually two appointments weekly. One appointment was ALWAYS included a Non-Stress Test and a sonogram, the other was a regular ob appointment - measure, heartbeat, questions, etc. 

Between 38-39 weeks we started to talk induction date and information. I had assumed (HA!) it would be on August 21, when I would be 39 weeks. Well, I was so wrong. My practice doesn't schedule inductions over the weekend. So, what's a few days difference? The pro - more time to spend as a family of 4 before major changes happen. Shannon and I had planned as much as we could so our ducks were in a row prior to going to the hospital. Audrey was staying with a friend since school started on August 19 (Working while being days away from delivery with new kids was a challenge. Great kids and amazing co-workers, but I was exhausted. I did take the Friday off to spend at home with Landon and just enjoy time with him.) Landon was staying with grandparents, a great friend stayed at our home to make sure animals and house were taken care of. 

Funny Face photo

We were to be at the hospital around 7PM on Sunday, August 23. Kiddos were in their temporary homes and we were ready to go. Let me back up and mention that I had also been roughly 2cm dilated and 50% effaced at my two prior appointments. We got to the room, got changed into the fancy gowns the hospital offers, and was getting hooked up to monitors. My amazing midwife walks in and throws us a bit of a curve ball. I was too far along to be induced the night before. Doctors I had seen at my previous appointments are newer to the practice and may not have been totally sure on the procedures for an induction. The staff was prepared to deliver, but they are better staffed during the day. When she said I would be able to sleep in my own bed with no fetal monitors or nurses we rolled out of the hospital after an hour. I'll be honest - we laughed the whole way home. Who goes to the hospital with the plan of being induced to have a baby but comes home with no baby? We packed up, went back home and got a decent nights sleep to prep for labor and delivery.

Delivery day!

Monday, August 24 at 7AM. Let's try this again! Back to the hospital to actually have a baby. Around 8AM pitocin is starting to drip into my IV. And we wait. And wait. And wait. When Landon was born I had gone in the night before to start the induction and he was born before 11AM. I thought this time around I would be snuggling my baby girl by noon. Ha. Ha. Ha. By noon I was barely 5 cm. Between 2PM and 3PM is when the contractions were becoming more intense for me. I knew I wanted some kind of medication to take the edge off, but I didn't want an epidural. The nurse gave me the meds when I was about 8cm. I never had the same medication twice. With Audrey it was crazy meds - I had told Shannon I felt like I was Alice falling down into Wonderland. With Landon I was able to sleep between the contractions. This time around the pain was a little less, but I wasn't able to really sleep. Around 3:30PM is when I had the need to push. My midwife was helping another momma welcome her baby to the world. Great timing. As soon as she walked into the room, I was ready to go. I am so thankful active and hard labor lasted about 15 minutes and only 5-8 serious pushes. 

Hi, Hannah!

At 4PM on the dot on August 24 Shannon and I welcomed another daughter into the world -- Hannah Nicole Brown. She weighed in at 9 pounds 1 3/4 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. She had a dark head of hair, a beautiful cry, long fingers and toes -- perfect. We instantly fell in love with her. Landon was the first visitor and he didn't really know what to think of her. I melt when I hear him call her "Baby Hannah". Audrey was so excited to meet her baby sister - instantly she was taken with her. I am so curious to see their relationship grow and deepen as the years go by. My heart is so full of love for these children. I feel so blessed to be their momma. 

Shortly after she was born, one of the nurses came in to ask if we would be willing to have her demonstrate new technology the hospital is planning to use in the future. They are doing construction on a wing to turn into a NICU and will be using telecommunication to consult with other hospitals. Doctors were able to hear her heartbeat, see into her ear and get a better view of her via camera from York. It was pretty cool to be a part of that! I do wish I had a little more warning than sitting in my glamorous hospital gown and Shannon was in a T-shirt, gym shorts and glasses. It's a good thing they wanted to see Hannah and not us!

Landon wanted to get comfy. Tried to take off his shoes. Love him

Very proud  (and amazing!!!) dadda

Audrey is so excited. I love each day, but I'm excited to see their relationship

Hospital food. *insert thumb down emoji*

Proud parents with the newest addition

Since we do have other children, we were so ready to go home. I knew I would be able to recover better at home, we could all get rest and begin a new routine. We had to wait until 4PM to be able to do anything - various tests and labs need to be done 24 hours after birth. The nurse came in around 5PM to start her tests. Thankfully, she passed everything she needed to and we began to pack it up. Our "delicious" hospital meal came in and we quickly ate just in case the discharge papers came in... About an hour after the meal came in, the discharge papers followed. Hannah was on her way home 27 hours after birth.

Fresh baby snuggles are the best

Going home.

Each child had their own hiccup in their early days. Audrey - first born, guinea pig, everything was new to us. Landon - he was jaundice and his bilirubin levels eventually had him glowing in a bili blanket. Hannah wasn't gaining weight. Birth was 9#1oz, then 8#,6oz at discharge (8/25/15). At her first well child she was 8#,4oz (8/26/15), then dropped again to 7#,14oz (9/3/15). I started to nurse her as close to every 3 hours and we would supplement her with an ounce of formula. I am so thankful she FINALLY put on weight and as of 9/8/15, she weighed 8#,4oz today. She gained 6 ounces in 5 days. 

The past 15 days have been a bit of a whirlwind. However, I do think we are all adjusting as well as can be expected. As I sit here at 1:30AM, just waiting for the next feeding.. as if on cue, she is waking up. It's been an adjustment to being outnumbered by children, but we are up to the challenge.

Landon's 1st Year

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I'm in love with this book. It's been amazing watching this little boy grow and develop his own personality. We love him :) 

Landon.

OMGEEE!! Where has the past year gone?! I can't believe my baby is a YEAR OLD! This just doesn't seem right to me. I've taken his photos once a month on the 3rd to see how he's changing, growing, and becoming his own person. I just love this little boy. I'm wrapped. Unless he's screaming (high pitch, tone only a dog should be able to hear scream) for food (like R-I-G-H-T now).

You may want to know what he's into right now.. well, if not, I'm going to tell you anyway :)

-Food. Ha. I think he could eat his sister under the table if given the opportunity. 

-He also adores his sister. Wants to know what she's doing, how he can get in on it, and playing with her. I'm so thankful they do get along so well. 

-Blocks/balls are his favorite toys. Especially a stack of blocks that can tumble. 

-He is a momma's boy to the nth degree and I'm totally okay with that - most of the time.

-Our pets. When Neko walks, or rather saunters, into the room Landon starts making a 'kkk' sound and has a cheesy grin across his face. If he could master the art of a friendly pet he would have a few less scratches from the cat. Hopefully someday Neko will hang with Landon as he does with Audrey.

He can be an ornery little thing.. I've caught him on more than one occasion in the cat's litter box. Ew. I know. SO.GROSS! But, he is also so funny. The faces this boy duplicates gets me every single time. And he's learning to blink/wink. OMG. Melting. Love this little boy.

Newborn

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

7 Months

8 Months

9 Months

10 Months

11 Months

 (12 months to come!)

Saying bye to her elf

Even though this blog is title "Landon" I feel the need as a mother of TWO to mention my eldest. My mini-me. My personality clone. This girl loves school. She has been lost the past two weeks for Christmas/New Year break - she needs to get to school! She has enjoyed being able to have a more relaxed schedule and stay in her sweat pants (who can blame her!). I love listening to hear play and use her imagination. Granted, the story line rarely varies, but the things she can come up with makes me smile and laugh. It's been a joy to be able to literally hear her grow up and see her change. She loves all things princess and is excited to go back to Walt Disney World soon. (I just realized how much of a random hodge podge this paragraph is becoming!)

Preschool Christmas Party

I feel extremely blessed to be able to call these two my children. They light up my life, make me laugh, have a purpose, but also a determination to do all that I possibly can for them. 

Christmas morning!

Landon

Oh this little boy has my wrapped around his little finger :) I am so thankful he has been such an amazing blessing to our family. Seeing his smile daily alleviates the pain from the miscarriages. I do wonder what those individuals would have been like, but then I stop and think about the blessings I can surround in my arms and cry. 

Landon loves his family and it's so amazing to see his face light up when one of us enter the room. He's loving his cereal, or almost any food for that matter. He loves to snuggle, eat my hair, putter around in the walker, and watch the world enfold around him. 

I am so excited to see what kind of a little boy - and man - he will grow up to become. But for right now, I am loving (almost) every minute of him being a baby. 

(Landon -- I know this one is shorter than your sister's.. However, I have had a few more years to spend time with her. However, I am so excited to see you grow up. If you can, not too quick, I want to enjoy watching you grow up. You are my blessing after a time of disappointments. You helped to heal my broken heart, spirit, and uterus. Thank you. I love you little boy and I am so thankful to have you as my son.

xo

Your Mama)

Audrey

I am having a mommy moment and I need to share it. Audrey and I are just hanging out together, chilling while Landon naps. I am crying looking at her. Where have the past 4 years gone? I think back to the days that she was a baby, and it doesn't feel like it was that long ago. She's able to do so much on her own, she hangs out with the big kids (since she looks like she's 5+) and can hold her own with the big kids! Her imagination runs wild and it's crazy to listen to her and the ideas that she develops. I love when she calls me - Momma and I hope that continues f-o-r-e-v-e-r :) Her brain never stops thinking, moving, questioning, and she can't always get out every question or statement. 

The older she becomes the more I see myself in her. I realize I am raising a mini adult, my mini-me. I want her to be a confident, but aware of others. I want her to be soft to others, but stand up for herself and what she believes in. I want her to be smart, but not arrogant about her brains. I want her to be fashionable, fit, but also modest and content with her body and shape. 

I love her sense of humor, her laugh, her imagination, her quirks, and her. She's the combination of my husband and me and she is both of us in one. She's amazing, beautiful, adventurous, funny ... she's Audrey and I love her.


(Audrey, baby girl, I love you. I can't believe I have been blessed to have you in my life as my daughter. You make my days more amusing, entertaining, and interesting. You have taught me how to become a better person and how to really listen to another. Thank you. Thank you for being such an amazing girl. I love you, this moment we are in and I can't wait to see what you are going to do next.
xo
Your Momma)

Has it really been 4 (FOUR!!!!!) months?!

At one of our dinners this past week Shannon was holding Landon, and getting teary eyed. First of all, that makes me wanna cry, but there is always a reason for him to have tears (our wedding day, birth of our children, etc)... Anyway ---- Reason for THESE tears:

It's so crazy to think of how far Landon has come in these 4 months. He did have a rough start, but things could have been so much worse. I am forever thankful for his amazing pediatrician who is such a baby/child advocate. Shannon was remembering the day we came home from the hospital from yet another heel prick for Landon. We were sitting in the sun room, trying to get the boy as much sunshine as possible. To the day that he sits up, with help, holds his head up like a champ and has such an amazing personality. He's funny, he's cute, he's a joy, he's a great traveler, and a good sleeper. (Yes, I specifically prayed for the last two things!!! The others are just a bonus.) I love seeing Landon grow, even though it also makes me sad to see him grow and change so fast. 

So, let's see what has happened in our home in the past four months:

Shannon has made a lateral transfer with the state and he's working in Harrisburg now. Granted, he's gone longer during the day with the drive, but he is home EVERY evening and he is home over a real weekend! There is a ton of potential for advancement and he enjoys the change of pace. He's happy, we are happy!

Audrey is loving being the big sister and she is amazing with Landon. Right now, her imagination is always on the go and her favorite is to play pretend with her Disney princesses, Little People and My Little Pony. Since the weather has finally gotten nice she loves to spend as much time as possible outside.

Landon is such a good baby! I was scared that my second would be a polar opposite, but he has been very similar to his sister (phew!) His favorite is to be held, or in my Moby wrap. He's such a momma's boy! He recently found his voice, and loves to be vocal. It's cute. At night he's still waking up a few times to nurse but naps are nice in the afternoon :)

And me.. Well, we made the decision as a family that I would stay home with the kiddos. Each day is different and I really do feel like I am worth the 6 figures I have been seeing that a stay at home mom SHOULD make! It's challenging, stressful, but also so amazing to be able to spend the day with my babies and see them grow, change, and learn.