hello from the heinz family

My goal today was to take photos for our valentines (since my Christmas cards were non existent this year.)  Instead, I had a sick husband and two crying babies.  Happy Sunday! 

My new year’s resolution, well one among many, is to workout at least 5 days a week.   Today we enjoyed the warmer weather with a run in the new stroller.  Willow loved having her baby brother and talked to him the entire way. Blake and I were just joking the other day how we never imagined we would be van driving, double stroller pushing couple.  Well, here we are!  It is funny how children change us.

My little guy is already 2!  I can hardly believe it.  In two months he has grown so much, and is over 11 pounds.  (I am sure he weighs more than that, but we will find out the official weight on Friday!)  He is eating almost 4 ounces at every feeding, but spitting up a ton too.  His umbilical hernia is starting to decrease and his bowel movements are becoming regular.  He is starting to become scheduled and does really well at night, sleeping for almost 4 hours in between feedings.  His dimples are just adorable and he loves to grin at anyone looking over him.  He is starting to really enjoy his swing (and binkies or hand!) and that is giving us a little more time to hang out with big sister too.  

Tomorrow starts my first day back at school and I am going to miss him dearly, but I am looking forward to our babysitter getting this little guy onto a daytime schedule (and to help us pottytrain Willow!).  I know he will have fun with the other kids while I am at school dealing with my 8th graders!

My 27th birthday was yesterday, and we celebrated with a little bit of shopping and a little bit of crafting.  Blake baked me a chocolate cake and Sawyer and Willow helped me blow out.  Noah and I had some alone time, sleeping in together and having a quiet bath.  Blake gifted me a new pair of Toms and Willow sang, “Happy Birthday to Willow.”

My dad is always so proud to say that my sister and I learned to ski at Red Lodge Mountain, and I am pumped that Willow had her first ski experience here too. She was ready and eager to put on her boots and skis and she showed no intimidation when she rode the carpet up the hill or flew down between Daddy’s skis.

Auntie Holly and Papa Choo were so proud!

Our little girl is starting to show her girly tendencies.  It is crazy how with girls it almost seems ingrained in them to like pretty dresses, jewelry, baby dolls, and the color pink!  Today she found her aunt’s old baby cradle and immediately knew that it was time to rock her baby, singing “Rock a Bye Baby” all the while.  After putting on her first dress up gown, she knew to twirl and said, “Oh, pretty!  I’m a princess.”  Any time Noah is crying, she runs to him, soothing him with a little touch on the cheek, telling him it’s okay, or shoving his pacifier into his mouth.  She is growing, maturing, and nurturing all at the same time!

Wow.  How does time seem to sleep between your fingers so fast?  One month ago at this time, I was trying to rest in my hospital bed while the nurse prepared my room for the arrival of a little boy.  Blake was anxiously trying to study on his cell phone, and we were waiting for my mom to bring Willow over for a visit.  Then, shortly after 3, a little boy arrived, and our lives were changed again in a completely different and wonderful way.  This past month has been spent traveling, enjoying time with family and friends, cuddling on the couch, and playing with a two year old.  It has been amazing and tiring all at the same time.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

I stepped on the scale today holding Noah in my arms, and couldn’t believe what I read.  He has reached almost 10 pounds.  Willow wasn’t even close to ten pounds until she was over three months old, but in a few short weeks, our Noah has grown!  He no longer fits in his newborn clothes, and is almost grown out of his newborn diapers.  Even though he closely resembles his sister, he is different in so many ways.  He has been a challenge these past few days, with a stuffy nose and a little cough.  His sleep habits are improving and he is almost consistently sleeping for three hours at a time at night.  He is consistently crabby for a little bit in the morning and right around dinner time.  Hmm, I wouldn’t say he is on a schedule, but those fussy periods are to be expected.  He loves to be on his tummy and loves the soothing voice of his little sister.  It doesn’t bother him at all when she runs around the house screaming either!

Life is good.

It is hard to believe that in as little as two years and a half years, one family can grow so much.   Willow and Noah love their cousin Sawyer and will be joined by Sawyer’s little brother in February.  Things are about to get a whole lot crazier….I mean cuter!

When Willow gets really excited about something, she tends to repeat the phrase, “Mommy, I’m cited! I’m cited!”  She flaps her arms like a little bird and runs around like a chicken with her head cut off.  Well, this week, Willow was showing us her most “cited” performance when she received a special gift from her Grandma Marge.  This is something Marge said she has waited to do for two years, and with Willow’s love of Elmo and his goldfish Dorothy, Willow was in seventh heaven.  After school this week, Grandma Marge and Willow took a trip to the pet shop and picked up two “fishies!”  These fish will have to stay at Grandma and Grandpa’s house because poor Tucker will go nuts over fish, but Willow was cited none the less.

Well, this past week has flown by.  We  have been busy eating, sleeping, playing with toddlers, and taking care of the baby.   We have been spending time with Blake’s side of the family for Noah’s first Thanksgiving.  He was introduced to tons of cousins, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, and great grandmas.  We are fortunate to be able to spend an extended period of time in South Dakota.