Sam is one month

My baby is one month old now! What?? How did that happen?? I can't believe that a month ago I was in the hospital welcoming my baby boy into the world. I love looking into his eyes. He is a very peaceful baby. He does not cry often and it is usually because he is hungry. I have been struggling with getting him on a feeding rotation. But recently I told myself to "chill out" :) I would pat myself on the back when Andrew was this little b/c I did not wish a way moment and I started feeling like I was wishing away Sam's newborn days b/c I was concerned about getting him on a schedule. Well...I don't want to wish a moment away of his life so I am taking a step back.

He is a very gassy baby so sometimes he gets fussy b/c his tummy hurts and I mistake that as being hungry. This is when the schedule does come in handy b/c I can see by the clock that he shouldn't be hungry but that something else is wrong. Basically it is a dance that I am learning all over again.

He is a big boy but seems to be very healthy - thank goodness!!

I am in love more and more everyday with my baby Sam.

Test

This is a test. I am trying to figure out how to blog from my phone.

A BIG thank you

I can not write about Sam and Christmas and not document how much my family and friends helped with this hectic time. My parents came through by staying with us for a week. They cooked, cleaned and occupied Andrew while we were in the hospital and at home. With out them I don't think the transition home would have gone very well.

Not only did my family come through - Owen's family was here for us too. They played with Andrew and took him on fun adventures with his cousins. Andrew got to play and get to know his cousins from North Carolina and he still talks about them.

In fact, he developed memories and an actual understanding of his family members during Sam's first week of life.

My friends have also helped us so much. We have been blessed with friends bringing us dinner at night. It seems so simply but it helps in a major way. I don't have to worry with what we are going to eat at night b/c every other day or so we have had a nice hot meal! THANK YOU!!! How did I get so lucky??

You know you have great family and friends but when you need help and help is there without really asking you truly understand the meaning of family and friends. When life gets stressful or overwhelming it is moments like this past month that I reflect on to help me realize life is not too stressful and overwhelming because we are not alone - we have a support system and it is one that I would not trade for anything :)

New Born Baby Sam

Sam is an angel. How did I get so lucky to have two beautiful, sweet, calm baby boys?? On on hand I think I am in familiar territory with Sam but then on the other hand I feel like I am sinking in a sea of unknown. During the day he is awake for small intervals of time. He eats b/ 1-2 hours. It is more like every hour. I am feeding him on demand which is tiring, but he only cries when he is hungry so I can't let him cry when I know the problem. I am starting to re-read the Becoming Baby Wise book. I am not reading it very fast but I do like having the refresher course. I do not follow the book to the letter but it gives me a good base of knowledge so I feel like I have a clue to what I am doing.

Lately at night he sleeps for 4 straight hours and then when I feed him at 1:30 or 2 am he has a hard time going back to sleep. He is is a very gassy baby and I think his tummy is in turmoil so he has a hard time going back to sleep.

I try to take naps while he sleeping but this does not happen every day. When I do get a nap it makes the night much easier to handle.

Sam did not like his first couple of baths, but now seems to enjoy them. I think he likes the warm water and he definitely loves his "hair" to be brushed. He has dark blond hair on the sides of his head but not much on top of his head.



He seems to be pretty alert and he is strong. He is already lifting his head up some and using his neck muscles. He also pushes off his legs. He was 9 lbs 11 ounces at his 2 week appointment so he is gaining weight at a good pace.

I just can't believe he has been with us for 3 weeks. What a joy he is and I am in love with our new family.

25 months old

Andrew is 25 months this month! He is such a character. I love him more and more every day. Some things he is doing now that I want to remember are:

* He is becoming more picky about what he eats - doesn't branch out with anything he hasn't seen before. Still loves hot dogs, cheese, and any fruit.
* The Fireman Sam show on the Sprout channel is his FAVORITE Show. This is the only show that he stares at and actually watches. He will sit through the whole episode - which is only 10 minutes long.
* He tells us what he does at school. The other week they were learning about police officers and they had a police car come to the school. When I picked him up he told me about the car and that he turned on the lights. I was amazed by this detail. The next day I asked his teacher if Andrew did turn on the lights in the car and she said he did. In fact all the kids did. Each kid got a turn to sit in the front seat and touch all the buttons. What a fun day and I love that Andrew shared that story with me.
* Yesterday I fixed the sun screen on Andrew's side of the car. When he got in the care after school he said "daddy fixed it" - pointing to the screen. I said "no mommy fixed it" and Andrew argued with me and we had a good laugh about how Daddy had to be the one to fix that and not mommy. However later that night I was telling Owen the story and he asked Andrew who fixed the screen and Andrew said Mommy did. So our conversation in the car stuck with him :)
* He has the best memory.
* He knows his ABC's and has said them from start to finish once. He usually says them until k and gets side tracked.
* He understands counting and I think he knows numbers 1-10. But he has not counted all the way to ten on his own.
* He loves going to church. He points out churches in town. He goes with me on Sundays and is the best little boy. We sit in the back so he can be near the choir. He likes to see them sing. He does bring a toy (or 3) to church to occupy him. He loves to sit on my lap and he sometimes copies the priest - especially right before communion when the priest holds up his arms to pray.
* He is so sweet to Sam. Sam is on his radar and he asks about him. He likes when Sam is awake but doesn't know what to do with him when he is awake. I love that he is aware of him and is so sweet to him. It makes this momma very happy.
* His favorite toys are still fire trucks, trains, buses, and balls.
* Two weeks ago Owen took Andrew to target so Sam and I could sleep. Andrew saw firetruck he wanted and had a melt down b/c Owen did not buy the firetruck for him. He cried "firetruck, target" all the way home. In fact, he talked about that firetruck for a week. One of his friends gave him a target gift card for his birthday so we decided to take him to Target the next weekend so he could get the firetruck with his "money". Well true to form Owen couldn't find the fire truck he was talking about for a week. So Andrew was able to pick a new fire truck and he picked a big one that had a jaws of life part attached to it. He played with it the whole time we shopped. When we are in the check out line, he tells us he doesn't want this fire truck anymore. So we go back to the toy aisle and he picks a new fire truck (smaller, cheaper one) and picks out mickey mouse cars and buses (toy - matchbox type cars). Andrew definitely played that system well...:)

This is such a fun stage for Andrew. I never knew 2 could be such an adorable age. I just love it!

First Visitors

Sam is one lucky little boy. He had a house full of visitors during his first week of life. We welcomed my parents, Owen's sister and brother and his family, as well as my brother and cousin Nellie and her family and of course Owen's parents. Here are some pictures of Sam's first visitors.


Dr Sessums came by to meet Sam


Uncle Adam


My college friend Casey and her children PJ and Helen


Cousins Emma and Ella with Sam and Andrew


Uncle Nathan


Aunt Erin and Aunt Abby


Mick and Sam in the hospital


The Munton Cousins


Aha and Sam in the hospital


Aunt Abby and Sam in the hospital


Grandmom and Granddad and Sam in the hospital

Samuel Marshall Munton

My second son is now here with us. He surprised us on Christmas Eve. I could not fall asleep on the 23rd. Owen even made a comment that I looked different right before we went to sleep. I stayed awake watching tv and then finally at 12 midnight I decided to force myself to sleep. An hour later, I was still not asleep. I had to go the bathroom and that is when my water broke. It was surreal. I told Owen and he went into overdrive. We called the hospital and they told us to come so they could check me out. We called Owen's parents and they brought Abby to be here with Andrew. Then we called my parents (at 2:00 am) and they left Selma at 3:00 am. When we got to the hospital I was contracting every minute and a half but I hadn't dilated. Not that any of that mattered b/c I was already going to have a repeat c-section. The doctor on call was not my OBGYN but the anesthesiologist was the same doctor so that put me at ease.

I have to honest that I was very nervous. I remembered different things from this surgery. I can still smell my skin burning from them cutting me, I could hear the doctor stitching me up. I felt the tugging more this time around. I felt them massaging my uterus. I was NERVOUS!!!

Sam came into the world at 4:18 am and he weighed 8 pounds and 13 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. He did not cry immediately. I also heard them suction his nose and mouth. My senses were definitely over sensitive this time around.

They brought him to me and I thought he looked different than Andrew. Everyone else said he looked just like Andrew. I see that a little bit now. I was so happy to see him alive and healthy. It was a huge sigh of relief for me.

I feel 100% recovered now. The surgery recovery has been so much better this time around. I started to move around quicker, felt more energetic, and definitely more relaxed with Sam. We he is a great eater so there has been no stress there.

What stresses me out now is to make sure I am giving enough attention to both Sam and Andrew. So far I think it has been working out but I am constantly aware of it. I can't pick up Andrew right now b/c I have to wait 2 weeks before I can lift things. When I am given the green light things will definitely feel back to normal.

Normal, what I am saying...nothing is normal right now. We are learning a new normal and one that I feel good about.

Here are pictures of Sam's birthday.








As 2012 begins I feel very blessed and happy.