Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Burley Boys Update

We are just about 3 weeks in with our life with Baby Jack!  He is changing everyday, both in looks and in that he's finally WAKING UP and no longer just a snoozy newborn, which is such a sweet, sweet short time!  Don't get me wrong - he still sleeps a lot, but he is also more alert when he's awake and yes, showing a little fussiness at times during the day.

We are figuring out new systems and norms balancing our time and tasks with the 2 boys.  It's constantly changing, but Barrett and I are definitely working more on a man-on-man position most of the time.  We do love all snuggling on the sofa and watching Mickey together though, and Champs loves these times when we're all together.  Champs LOVES to nuggle as he calls it.  He loves to "get cozy" with all his favorites - Sammy, Raffi, circle blanket and his people!!

Champs is doing GREAT with Jack.  I mean really really sweet to him.  He loves to kiss his head, check on him, give him a paci, watch me change his diaper, say why he's probably crying..."Mommy, maybe it's b/c he wants to play tractors with us..." and just generally loves when he's with us.  So far, he's not showing much jealousy toward Jack at all.  He's still being a bit more testy with us than normal, but honestly I think part of it is his age and would be happening regardless.  And this past week has been SO much better than the week before on this, so I feel like we're in a good place right now!

So what have these boys been up to this past week....

A playdate with some cute babies (and mostly time for their Mamas to chat!).... Jack, Hamp Mubarak and Margaret Mimms!

At 11 days old, Champs held (more snuggled up with) Jack for the first time and it melted this Mama heart of mine!

Champs made huge strides in the world of potty training last week.  I had planned to wait until April or May to do potty training, but he was really pushing it himself, so I knew I had to take advantage.  We have been doing what might be called the cop-out way, but he's been in pullups since last weekend.  When the accidents are almost none, I'm going to let him pick out some underwear and we'll switch to that.  He's doing awesome though!!  He's honestly not having many accidents now, and when he does, it's just been tee-tee ones ;)  Here he is running around in his pull up.


Lots more sweet, snoozing baby Jack pics!  Why does it never get old taking pics of your baby sleeping?!








A few of big brother Champs too!


First time with both boys in the car.  We picked Champs up from school last Thursday!


We had a great Valentines weekend.  I just love seeing my boys together and its starting to happen more and more!!









































Champs was a lucky boy and received many Valentines in the mail and he LOVED them all.  There was one though that was the clear favorite.  Watch the video of him opening the card from my dad.  He hit the nail on the head sending a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse valentine that plays the actual theme song for the show.  Champs was mesmerized and still plays with it everyday!


 On Valentines Day, I took Champs to the Valentines Dance at our church.  He was SO EXCITED for our "date"!  He was so proud and kept telling me to come to the dance floor to dance with him.  I'd go out there and he'd spin around in circles haha.  Here's a pic of us before the dance and a video of him "dancing"!  I love our church and the wonderful things they do for the children.

 
Had to share this picture of my Grandmama holding Jack yesterday.  She loves holding babies!

What a great week!  Hoping for another great week with Champs continuing to make progress on potty training and Baby Jack hopefully getting some longer stretches between feedings!

Monday, February 8, 2016

The first week and a half with our new little love.

Warning <Long Post with picture overload>!!

Oh Baby Jack, goodness gracious you are a sweet one!  It's no secret that Barrett and I have often joked that Champs is totally OUR child.  He's extremely Type A, very busy, talkative, active, energetic and in a toddler this can certainly be exhausting :)  We told everyone we were hoping new baby boy would bring some Type B to our lives.  Well we're only a week in and he most definitely hasn't "woken up" yet, but so far - he is the calmness that we need!  He is the sweetest little love that barely even cries even when he's hungry!  We'll see whether this has totally changed in a few weeks, but let's just say I didn't even bring out a paci until over a week in and I know I had stuffed one in Champs in the hospital! 

So the main questions everyone is asking me is who does Jack look like and how is Champs adjusting!??

Let's take a look....

Here is newborn Champs and newborn Jack.  I think they definitely have a lot of similarities, but a few differences too.  It will be fun to see how Jack's looks change in the coming weeks and months.  These 2 pictures I think they do look really similar.  Others I don't see it as much.  I feel like Jack has a LITTLE of me in him, where I think Champs looks just like Barrett.  I'm still holding out that one of my children will look something like me!












How is Champs doing?
Well, all in all, I'd say he's doing well.  He has been very sweet to Jack - not overly interested - but when he wakes up he wants to see him and gives him kisses on his head everyday.  He has only asked to hold him once, and it happened to be one of the rare times that Jack was crying!  Poor Champs.  But the week has definitely been tough on Champs.  To start with he ended up having a virus on Sunday (the day after we came home) and ran a high fever and threw up everywhere.  Thank the lord my mom was here with us b/c I didn't want to get too close to the germs and it killed me to not be able to hold Champs when he was sick, but I was so scared for my 3 day old to get sick that I did stay away for the night.  Now that I'm finishing this blog post a week and a half in, I'd say Champs is great with Jack so far!  Just this morning, we sang Baa Baa Black Sheep to Jack as he had on his sheep hat and Champs loved that.  Hopefully I can get some good pictures of them together in the next few days!

The issues with Champs aren't really related to how he is with Jack or him acting like he's jealous of me holding/feeding Jack.  It's more that since Jack has arrived, he has been acting out, talking back and doing things he would NEVER normally do!  Of course we know this is a huge transition for him and he's doing things for our attention, but I do hope to see more of our sweet Champs in the days and weeks to come and much less of this little monster we have seen some of this week!! Oh toddlers!!

Here is the only picture I have so far of Champs holding Jack!  Must work on this!


Here is a summary of our first week and a few days with Jack with pictures from my camera!  When we had Champs I think I took a picture of everyone who visited him!  With Jack, I have not been as good about taking pics, so sorry to those of you who have visited us and I didn't snap a pic!  We still soooo appreciate all the love, support and visitors we've had this time!!!

KK and Jack!
Boo with Champs & Jack!
Boo with Champs & Jack!
Poppy and Jack!
Poppy and Jack!
Aunt Ashley!
Aunt Ashley and Uncle Will and the cute monkey they brought Jack!
Baby Margaret Mimms and Jack!
Baby Margaret Mimms and Jack!
Ready for his first trip to pediatrician office to see Dr. Williard!
Big brother is home from school!
Hey there Jack!



Grandmama Bell comes to visit.
Mama and Grandmama Bell with Jack!

Looking at our newest little love!!
Granddaddy & Grandmama with my 2 boys!
This is Jack's namesake :)

Marj already multi-tasking with my babies.  Reading to Champs and holding Jack!

Che and Jack!  Boy was it great having her with us all week!!
Che and Jack! 
Loving this sweet angel!!
I put on makeup - wahoo!!

Aunt Ne and Uncle Crues came to see us!

Cat and Harrison came from Charleston!

I love this pic of Cat and Jack!
Uncle Crues and Jack


And a few notables from my phone...
Harrison is 8 months old and Jack is 8 days old!
Another of Margaret and Jack!
Sweet boy!
First snooze in his crib!
Laying on Mommy's bed
Snoozin on Che!
First "Playdate" with his buddy Hugh Ellison.  Their big brothers, James and Champs, are BEST buddies as Champs loves to tell me!
Champs checking on Jack!
Love seeing him wide eyed!

First bath - what are you people doing to me??!
Okay, maybe it's not so bad.
Hey - I think I like this!

Fresh and clean after bath snuggling with new friends.
Barrett and I took Champs to the book store on Sunday.  He desperately needed some time with Mommy and Daddy!!  Thankfully KK and Boo helped us all weekend and stayed home with Jack!

First night alone with just the 4 of us.  Super Bowl Sunday!
Caught a smile on camera for first time today (2.8)
As you can see, we are totally smitten with this new little love bug!!!