New look

Welcome visitors! It has been a while since I posted, obviously! On Facebook, I have been trying to post a picture a day of both Andrew and Eli, and thanks to my bestie Susan Wenner Jackson, I think we have figured out how to share those photos with my loyal non-Facebook using blog followers. Click on the photo links at the top of the page and see if that takes you to some photos. And thanks for checking in!

Welcome Andrew Lee Talley!

Born 2/13/2011

Posted lots of pics on our Shutterfly site, click here.

He was born 2 hours after we arrived at the hospital, needless to say it was pretty quick. Then we were released 27 hours later! Me and Andrew are both feeling good, and Chris and Eli are adjusting well so far.

Pre-labor jitters...

At the end of your pregnancy you get the same questions a lot: "Are you excited?" and "Are you ready?" *Sigh* Where do I start? I am as ready as I'm gonna be. Equipment-wise we are ready. Nursery is ready. I am ready to get my body back and not be pregnant any more. I am ready to meet my new bundle of joy.

However, I think it would be naive/insincere to say I am excited. I know what I am in for. I am in for some pain. I am in for lots of sleepless nights, then playing with Eli all day AND trying to take care of a newborn. I am in for Eli going through an adjustment period.

Most of all, I think Chris, Eli, and I would just say, "let's get this show on the road". Enough waiting for our family of three to become a family of four. Let's do it.

Postpartum addition: Many of these fears were unfounded. Labor, while painful, was no where near as bad as last time, and postpartum I feel great! So happy to have our little baby, sleepless nights are no problem so far and Chris has been great with Eli, and Eli has been great with Andrew. I'm nervous about when he goes back to work, but we'll make it.

Finally potty training

Okay, so last time we tried potty training, in November, we had several accidents in a day and reverted to pull-ups. Four days ago we tried it again, and although my nerves were frazzled from expecting an accident every five minutes, Chris pointed out at the end of the day that Eli had only had one accident. He wore underwear to school the next day and...no accidents! Day four, no accidents! I guess he's finally ready. With one month to spare before baby #2. Then we have a bunch more diapers to look forward to, and perfect timing for Eli to regress, which I hear happens a lot. Oh well, it's progress at least.

Speaking of baby #2, we have a few names we like, and are feeling them out. Which do you like?

Andrew
Evan
Cameron

Up until last week, we had no names, now it seems we like a new one every day. We may have a new one tomorrow! Stay tuned! =)

Two Years

Mom has been gone for two years now. It is as hard to believe that she is gone as it was the day she died. I still can't wrap my head around it. She was the central personality in our immediate family and, to me at least, in our extended families. Holidays and gatherings still feel empty without her. They always will. She would have been happier than anyone at our Thanksgiving celebration on Friday about the five babies age two and under. Mom used to dream about the day we'd have a lot of kids at our parties. It is here, and she missed it altogether. There was no better gift-giver, and no one I enjoyed shopping for so much. I always wanted to match her talent for finding the perfect gift. I miss sitting on the couch and watching tennis with her, shopping with her, cooking with her, and waking up to her french toast. I wish we could enjoy Eli together and talk about motherhood and what I was like as a baby/toddler. I thought I was prepared to miss her. But the hole she left in my life takes me by surprise every day. I guess that's the down side to being so much to so many people. The hole.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

This is a big week for us. We have started the process of potty training and are planning to move Eli into a big bed tomorrow night. I never planned to make two big changes at the same time, but he suddenly seemed ready for both, or maybe I'm the one who's ready. I can't guarantee that we won't all freak out and revert to diapers and the crib by next week, but we're trying. Wish us luck!

My Little Baby Duck

It seems like some kids are in to being "big kids" but Eli is not one of those kids. He's going through a phase where he loves for me to sing "Rock-a-bye Baby" to him. He still eats in a high chair and sleeps in a crib. He's even been referring to himself as "baby" sometimes. I think this has something to do with the anticipation of his baby brother and him sensing that he won't be the baby for long. I am afraid about what this might forebode for when the baby is actually here.

He's also a bit of a baby on the playground. If another kid, especially if it's an older boy, tries to take something from him, he hands it over. If he gets pushed or shoved, he cries and runs away. In a way I wish he would stand up for himself, but I also kind of love that he's still my innocent baby. And I am proud that he isn't the one doing the bullying.