Back To Reality

Well, I am back from my 3rd and probably final maternity leave. It is so bittersweet. I think I have definitely learned a lot about myself over this maternity leave. I was telling my friend last night that when I grew up all I wanted to be was a stay at home mom and after three babies I have figured out that it doesn't work for me. That was a hard realization, not that I don't LOVE every minute I spend with my children but I need a routine. I need structure and I know that most stay at home moms I know have both of these and do an AMAZING job but I just don't do so well. I just felt "off" for some reason and a little anxious. This is probably because me with extra time on my hands is a recipe for disaster. I tend to think and obsess a little too much and this does nothing for my crazy anxiety. 

Although, I felt a little crazier than normal I would never have traded these last 10 weeks for anything in the world! I literally held Chandler, slept when she slept and just basically loved on her.  This little sweet pea has been the light of my life (along with her brother and sister) for the past almost 10 weeks!

After 5-6 weeks of A LOT of screaming, acid reflux, etc... this little pumpkin decided to turn it around :) and this is pretty much how she is all of the time now... happy, smiley, content and wonderful!

Everyone LOVES Chandler! It's kind of crazy, we may be creating a monster! Annie and Palmer can't get enough of her and neither can Tex or I. I mean who doesn't love a precious baby?

This is her at her 2 month dr appointment!!! She weighs 10 lbs 15 oz (50%) and is 23 inches long (75%) she is perfect and healthy aside from a clogged tear duct and newborn congestion which are both completely normal! She passed with flying colors!

Here she is with Aunt TT, I can't believe my big girl is already 2 months old it feels like she has been a part of me forever!

This is my favorite part of the day which happens a lot now. Watching this sweet baby smile, I don't know if there is anything better!

We have lots of exciting things coming up with birthdays, Halloween, school activities and the start of sports we are going to be one busy crew! I can't wait to get back to blogging. I have missed it but I just couldn't get it together at home. Already at work today I have done more "computer/blogging/paperwork" stuff that I have been needing to do in all of the 10 weeks that I was home!

So glad to have the first day back to work jitters out of the way and can't wait for the excitement I will have when I see her today in a few hours!

Newborn Pictures!

One of the things I am most excited about was getting our newborn pictures back! I LOVE newborn pictures. I have cherished everyone's newborn pictures. They are some of my favorite to this day of each child. It is so hard to recall those moments of how little and precious they were and I love that the pictures capture and freeze time for me a little bit! Here are some of my fav pics from the session!

I was SO glad my mom was in town when we did our picture. What a special picture that I will always treasure!

They L-O-V-E her SO much!

I could literally eat her face!

Our newest little princess...

Funny Story.  I pulled out a onsie for chandler the other day and Ann Mason asked what it said. I replied "Daddy's Princess" She immediately said NO! I am  Daddy's Princess and there can only be one. After much thought and conversation we decided that she could be the Queen and Chandler Princess she seemed happy enough about that decision but we never did get Chandler in the onise! haha

One Month!

We are here~! I haven't given up blogging but definitely went on an unexpected hiatus! I thought about the blog all of the time and everything I wanted to write, record and remember. The more days I let pass the more overwhelming it was to think about catching up so guess what... it didn't happen. So I am going to start from now and cut myself some slack :)

I can tell you one thing... Chandler is already one month! In some ways it seems like just yesterday I was going into the hospital and in other ways I felt like she has been here a lifetime.

She is SO sweet and completes our family even more but let me tell you at bedtime she is a force to be reckoned with! Currently our shower is running and she is screaming in the room with daddy. We rotate shifts because there is only so much screaming one can take :) Our water bill will undoubtedly be raised about 75% because that seems to be the only way she will stop crying is to be in the bathroom with the shower running???

She is eating like crazy! Chandler takes about 4 oz every 3 hours during the day and will go a little longer stretches at night. We actually had a few nights where she slept for 7 hours at a time. Generally right after dinner is when "it hits the fan" haha We have switched formula 3 times, are on zantac and just trying every different technique that we have learned over the years. I am much more laid back this time around and even though the non stop crying is frustrating at times I realize that this too shall pass and nothing lasts forever. I do still love the newborn stage and their little bodies and kissing their soft cheeks, it is just priceless.

Adjusting to being out numbered at times has kicked our booties. I still can't find enough hours in the day to get everything done (laundry especially). It seems I feel like we have always neglected at least one child each night! haha but for the most part we are learning our way thru it and our lives are much richer with Chandler in them! She is so snugly and I steal as many kisses and as many quiet moments as I can with her.

I look at her and am so blessed to be able to do this again, to relive these moments and make more memories and grow our family! Happy 1 Month Chandler Grace!

Back in Action!

I am finally starting to figure out time management and having a 3rd child! ha! I have been on 3rd shifts for the past 12 days since Miss Chandler has her days and nights mixed up but she is finally starting to figure things out and so are we!

The past 12 days have been a wonderful adjustment to our new normal! I honestly can say I love the newborn stage, sleepless nights and all. The minute she came into the world I just melted! Here is a tiny glimpse of how things are going.... Maybe one of these days I can get caught up!

The night before we went to the hospital there was a HUGE storm here and apparently it caused every women in our town to go into labor. We had to be at the hospital at 5 am, when we got there they told us that since midnight 7 women had walked in with their water broke so things were crazy busy!

Here I am the morning we left for the hospital. I was pretty nervous and ready to get there!

My last picture! 39 weeks!

Here I am at the hospital waiting to go! My c-section was scheduled for 7:15 am but since there were so many women in labor/surgery it got pushed back about an hour and a half. This was my least favorite part of the day, I have never been good at waiting :)

At 8:58 am I heard the most wonderful cry ever! My baby girl was here and she was healthy and pink and screaming :) She had swallowed some meconium but based on how loud she was screaming everyone knew she was a-ok! The c-section was great, it seemed easier and faster than the times before!

My sweet precious baby! I was SO happy for her to be here and to see her face to face!

The kiddos have been amazing with her! Annie is having a little jealousy but that is normal. She just wants to be a part of it all and know that mommy is still all about her :) Palmer is just precious with her, loves her to death and is SUCH a good big brother!

Here is my little mommy! She helps me out so much getting diapers, wipes, cleaning out bottles, picking out clothes, you name it she is on it!

We have had SO much fun dressing up Chandler! Headbands, bows, flowers, etc... We act like she is a baby doll dressing her up!

We finally realized the only way this peanut was going to sleep any length of time was to be swaddled! What a difference it makes! She is going about 4 hours between feedings a night and 3 hours during the day! Now that I can handle! We had a few nights where she literally screamed all night and most of the day. Luckily I went ahead and switched her formula and so far so good (crossing fingers and toes!)

This is chandler's first outing to the dr! We just had our second weigh in today and she is 2 oz away from her birth weight so we are right on track and doing great!

Palmer thinks his baby sister is the cutest thing ever!

First picture with her eyes open! She is the sweetest thing ever!

Our cord still hasn't fallen off so all we have been able to do is sponge off. We have yet to take a full bath but even just wiping her down she LOVES it. I have never had a baby not cry in the bath. She just lays there and loves every minute of it!

One of many outfit changes even in the hospital!

I had to throw this pic in cause it cracks me up! I know it is blurry but it is Palmer with my breast pump! I looked over and he had his shirt up and acting like he was pumping! His friend Adler thought it was just hilarious! Can't wait to keep this picture for blackmail one day :)

As cliche as it sounds we already feel like Chandler has been part of our lives forever! We are totally loving being a family of 5. It is chaos pretty much all of the time but it is our chaos and we love it. This is the best I have felt physically and mentally post pardum and for that I am truly grateful! I am loving every minute I get to spend with Chandler. We are doing tons of resting when the kids are at school and of course we have made trips to target! ha ha We are loving every minute with our precious new addition!

She's Here and a Week Old!

Chandler Grace Templeton

Arrived 08/17/2012 at 8:58 am

7 lbs 5 oz 20 inches long

'

I can't believe she is a week old today and I haven't blogged once! She is perfect, healthy, wonderful and totally spoiled already! I have been a busy momma but loving every minute! I promise LOTS more pictures as soon as I find a minute to sit down and go thru everything!

I am going to be an Aunt AGAIN!

Today is the first BIG day of this week! Ashley is in the hospital as we speak! She just got her water broken and is about 3 cm dialted! I am BEYOND excited to find out whether I am having a niece or nephew! I am also SO sad not to be there, it is literally killing me! Thankfully technology is making things a lot easier and we update each other about every 30 minutes.

This is total "princess Ashley" haha Only Ashley would have a custom hospital gown! I love it! Totally her. I just can't say enough prayers for a healthy, happy baby and an easy delivery!

I am finishing up my last half day of work, going to my last dr appt and trying to not be a bundle of nerves :) I will update when baby Merritt arrives!

Last Weekend as a family of 4!

Family of 4, Almost a family of 5!

I am completely 100% all over the map these last few days! There are moments when I am teary eyed because I can't wait to meet this precious baby, there are moments when I am teary eyed because I think about this being my last time pregnant, there are moments where I stop breathing thinking about the "newborn" stage again, moments where I think I can't take another day of being pregnant and moments where I think this hasn't been so bad after all :)

I am totally pumped its Friday and that this weekend we literally have NO plans other than to hang out and relax! We have a BIG weekend coming up! haha Not only do we get to meet our precious baby I will be finding out whether I am an aunt to a niece or a nephew! My sister is set to be induced on Tuesday if she doesn't go before. The suspense is killing me!

I am trying to soak up as much time with Palmer and Ann Mason as possible because I know a lot of my time soon is going to be dedicated to Miss Chandler! Palmer has done WONDERFUL this week at school and has had a blast and been exhausted every night! I am SO thankful to have this first week out of the way for Palmer!

All of "this" hasn't really hit me yet. My sister and I were talking about it today and it just doesn't all seem real. I know I felt like this with both kiddos, I doubt it will hit me until I go to the hospital on Friday. I am just so anxious to see this beautiful baby girl and know she is healthy!