Bradley's 2 months old

 September 14, 2013

 

October 14, 2013

 

November 14, 2013

Bradley turned 2 months old this past week, and I am yet again amazed at how fast these little boys grow!! He turned two months old on Thursday and we had his wellness doctor visit on Friday. He now weighs 11 lbs 12 oz which is the 35th percentile, is 23.5 inches which is the 72nd percentile, and his head is 39.8 which is the 70th percentile. The doctor says he looks great! This past month he has started smiling, "talking", occasionally giggles, bats at objects and has really good head control! He enjoys being held, talked to, swaddled, being in anything that moves or vibrates, and bath time. He is sleeping pretty good during the day and only wakes once during the night. So I feel we are pretty lucky! 

Friday marked my last day of maternity leave :( I really thought it'd be a little easier since I had done this once before but having to let others care for your little tiny one is not easy! I am praying that the next week flies by and that we all have a wonderful week of transition! I am however excited to see my 22 little friends. I have worried about them for the past 9 weeks, and am ready to be with them and insure that they also have a wonderful 2nd grade experience while they are away from their moms and dads all day! Bradley, and occasionally Carson, and I all had a great time on my leave. It was filled with fun days of leisure, visiting friends, and fun outings. It already makes me excited for summer vacation and all the fun me and the boys will have! 

Since the last post Carson had his fist neighborhood trick or treating experience. He seemed to have a really good time once he figured out the more houses he went to the more candy he received. Towards the middle of October my sister and I took Carson to look at Halloween costumes. Once he spotted the Thomas the Train costume he was done! Currently he LOVES trains. I may be biased but I thought he wore it well! The picture on the left is Carson getting ready to go to his "school" (daycare) for the Halloween party. He was soo excited all week waiting for that party.

 Our little pumpkin on his first Halloween.

 Though I am sad to be off leave, I am looking forward to getting into a routine and having a great rest of the school year. And our little family is excited for the holidays and all the exciting upcoming events! 

Bradley's 1 month old!!

 

Sept. 14, 2013

Oct. 13, 2013

Our little man has been with us for 1 month, and I really can't believe its already October!

 Bradley is staying awake a little more during the day and is enjoying hanging out in his vibrating bouncer chair, tummy time, being held, and swaddled. He is getting really good at holding his head up for small periods of time and has started doing a little "talking." Each week he gets better and better at taking naps and sleeping through the night, so I'm hopefully we will get a goods nights rest sooner rather than later :) We've also started venturing out together and besides hating the car seat or when the car stops he is a pretty good companion. He even made his first trip to the OKC Zoo this past month. We went with big brother and our fun friends, the Kochenowers, and we all survived and had a good time! We also took the boys and my mom to Chester's Pumpkin Patch this past month. Carson really enjoyed running around, seeing the animals, and picking pumpkins, Bradley was just happy to be fed and burped by Grandma. 

 Pumpkin Patch 10-12-13

Carson seems to still really enjoy and love Bradley. He loves to help, even when help isn't needed ;) Last night we were coming home from a friends house and Bradley just wasn't enjoying the ride and Carson sat through the whole crying spell holding Bradleys hand telling him it was ok. And all the while Carson is smiling and dancing to the music, just enjoying the moment. It made my mommy heart so full! I pray they continue to grow to love and enjoy each other like that always.

We are also working hard with Carson on using the potty. We had one successful moment and since then no others, but we are determined to help him figure it out. He does however love underwear and getting to wear those around, so I think that's a step in the right direction.

So I guess we've had a pretty exciting month and we are looking forward to all the Fall festivities and holidays to come with our family of four!

Settling In

Bradley 1 week old

Carson 1 week old

Bradley 2 weeks old

 

 Bradley 3 weeks old

The first three weeks have really flown by, full of so many changes! Many have asked if it is harder or easier now with the second one. And honestly it is an entirely different ball game! Knowing what to expect with the hospital, bringing home a newborn, and the lack of sleep were a little easier to handle since we already knew how that went. But having a toddler to think about and entertain make it more of a challenge in many ways too! So I could get to know Bradley and his personality and to not rock Carson's world too much we have been keeping him on his daily daycare routine. His teachers tell me almost daily how he comes in talking about his new baby brother and how tiny he is. He really seems to enjoy the baby and getting to help and touch him whenever possible! However, the first week Carson was a bit of a hot mess. I was thinking it was a mix of the terrible twos and a new sibling, but we later found out he had a double ear infection! Since we've gotten that taken care of things have really changed and everyone seems a bit happier. It is the cutest thing to see Carson interact with "his baby."

Before we were discharged from the hospital our pediatrician came to check on Bradley and found that he has an asymmetric butt crease. Which sounds funny but actually can be a sign of a tethered spinal cord. The doctor assured us that Bradley was probably fine but if at the weight check in a couple of days the crease didn't seem to even out we'd have to have an ultrasound on his spine. Well at the weight check a few days after birth the crease had not evened out, so we were scheduled for an ultrasound. The percentage of newborns with some sort of birth mark near their lower back with a tethered spine is about 5 %, but to air on the safe side the doctor ordered the ultrasound. On Thursday, October 3rd we went to Children's Hospital to have Bradley's ultrasound. The tech thought things looked fine, but we'd have to wait for the doc to confirm that. Friday morning we heard everything was normal! Thank you Lord!! 

Bradley stats at his 2 week check: Length 20 3/4 inches / 50% compared to others, Weight 7lbs 15 oz (we have another big eater)/ 20% compared to others, and Head 35.3/ 20% compared to others. The doc thought he looked great!

Thanks to my dear friend Whitney, who set us up a meal train, we have been showered with many many meals and visitors. It has been so nice to see so many neighbors and friends and not have to worry about dinner! I'm not sure I'll remember how to make dinner for the boys once this month is over!

Bradley's Arrival

Bradley James Bertholf arrived September 14, 2013 at 11:27 pm! And we honestly didn't see it coming!

The Saturday before Bradley arrived Kyle and I went into Labor and Delivery triage thinking Bradley was trying to make his appearance then, but I wasn't contracting regularly enough for them to admit me. My doctor later told me if she was on call that weekend she would have just had me stay since I was so far along. But like all things, everything happens when it should. So we went home and I rested up and Kyle went on to the OU game. Tuesday of that week we went to the weekly doctor visit and scheduled my induction for Bradley's actual due date, September 17th at 7:30 in the morning. My doctor really felt confident that I wouldn't make it that long since I was already dilated to a 3. But I really felt since he hadn't come that he just wasn't going to come on his own, and had it set in my mind that we wouldn't be going to the hospital till the 17th. So I let my school know that Friday the 13th was my last day till after my maternity leave and tied up all the loose ends there and Kyle and I had already decided we'd get everything at home ready during the weekend. 

 Saturday the 14th was an OU home game and unless we are really ill we always go to the games, so we went! It was an 11 o'clock kick off and we were actually happy about that so it wouldn't be too hot for me and we'd have the rest of the day to get things done.  We got down to Norman right before kick off and made the long walk to the stadium and another long walk to the top of the stadium and enjoyed most of the game. About the middle of the 3rd quarter the sun started to hit us and I started having small contractions. Which I had been having for about a month now, so I really didn't think too much of it, especially since they didn't seem regular. I told Kyle I was having them and it was getting hot so we went ahead and left. Then headed out to Chuy's for a nice Mexican food lunch date. When we got back home Carson was still down for a nap, so we decided to do the same! Once we all got back up we went to run some of those last minute errands we kept putting off, by the time we were all settled back in at home it was time for Carson to go to bed, around 8 pm. Kyle and I rotate nights to give a bath so it was my night and when I went to get the bath ready I realized I was having such bad contractions I had to close my eyes and breath through them. And up to that moment I really didn't feel like I was going to be delivering a baby that evening! We started timing them and found they were four minutes apart and getting longer. We got a hold of my mom and she flew over to our house and we got to the hospital a fast as we could. 

We checked into the hospital at 9:45 pm, they found out I was a 6 almost 7 and rushed me to labor and delivery. I was laboring so fast they were afraid I wouldn't get my epidural or my doctor in time! Everyone worked as fast as they could and luckily my doctor walked in right as they said it was time to push and the medicine worked at that exact moment, thank you Lord! Bradley was here at 11:27 pm, we were literally at the hospital an hour and 45 minutes before our son arrived! Thank goodness we went when we did.

OU game 9/14/2013

 6 lbs 13 oz /20 inches

 

Right after Bradley's arrival 9/14/2013

  

Right after Carson's arrival 6/1/2011

 

Bradley's first bath

 

Right after Carson's first bath

 Right after Bradley's first bath

 Meeting little brother 9/15/2013

 Bradley's ready to head home!! 9/16/2013

Maternity Shoot

Around the first of August, Kyle, Carson, and I took our last family photos as a family of three! They were taken by a fellow teacher and friend at my school, Julianne. She did a wonderful job trying to keep Carson engaged to get some cute pics of us, which is no easy task! We also had a side deal with him that involved ice cream, so over all I think he did a pretty great job! Julianne also capture our precious new addition a week after he was born and I can wait to get those and share them as well!

 These were taken downtown OKC at the Myriad Botanical Gardens and at the Farmers Market.

Diaper Shower!!

Two of the three hostess, Whitney & Jennifer.

My whole family!

 

At the beginning of August some of our sweet friends, Jennifer, Whitney, and Rebekah, threw us a wonderful couples diaper shower. We were showered with tons of diapers, which is a huge blessing when you've got two in them!! (Hopefully, not for too much longer :)) It was a fun evening of eating BBQ and seeing all of our friends and their sweet little ones. It was made extra special for me because for the first time in a long time my brother, sister in law, nephew, sister, and brother in law were all able to be at an event to celebrate together! Thank you girls for throwing such a fun and relaxing shower and thank you to everyone who came and spent some time with us!!!

Happy July

 

(July 4, 2011 Edmond Parade)

(July 4, 2012 Grandma Lynch's House after the neighborhood parade.)

 (July 4, 2013 Grandma Lynch's house after getting parade candy!)

I'm sure it is said by everyone everywhere every year, but this summer sure is flying by! However, I am so thankful I get the chance to spend so much extra time with my little man, family, and friends during the summer months and for the lower than normal temps outside!

This past month our little family has stayed busy as usual! We have gotten to work on Bradley's room and are near completion so pictures will come soon! We have had many birthday parties, play dates, trips to the zoo and pool, and a couple little road trips. 

One trip was to Harrah, OK which is not to far to see Kyle's Grandma Thompson, who has recently moved here from Kansas. It was a short but nice day visit with Grandma and Kyle's Aunt Barb and Uncle Dick. On our way home from Harrah we took Route 66 and made a pit stop at POPs, and Carson got his first bottle of orange cream soda. Kyle and I of course chugged majority of it so he didn't get an entire bottle, but he loved every drop he could get his lips on!

We had a great fourth of July! We got up and around early and headed to the Edmond Liberty Parade with our dear friends the Wheelers. Carson and Ben were asking to go about 5 minutes in, but I think they enjoyed it. It was already hot out at 8:30 in the morning and there were a lot loud sirens coming our way, so I think that may have overwhelmed them. Below is a picture of the boys watching the horses and Carson waving his American flag and nearly taking everyone around him eyes out :/ After we left the parade about half way through we went to my mom's house to catch her neighborhoods parade. At her parade they throw out candy and the neighborhood kids decorate their bicycles so we knew Carson wouldn't be afraid to sit through that one. Then later that evening we went and visited and cooked out with the Wheelers at their house. The boys really enjoy each other and their toys, and we loved getting to catch up with Dustin and Rebekah and snuggle on baby Camden!

 

 (Hiding from the loud fire truck sirens.)

 

(Counting out his candy after the Warwick neighborhood parade.)

Other news that has been all Carson can talk about around our house is the newest addition of 5 baby birds! We noticed late Spring that a bird had built a nest in our front yard tree and was always guarding it and yelling anytime we went near it. We weren't ever able to see the actual eggs but since she was being so protective we knew she must have some in there. Middle of June we finally heard the little baby birds! Everyday Carson wanted to go see those babies, but the mom and dad would attack if you got too close so we mainly watched the tree from our front door! The little family left our little tree while we were on our trip to Dallas but it was fun watching Carson be amazed by our  little bird family each day!

  Our second road trip was to Dallas/ Fort Worth to see my sister and brother in law the weekend after 4th of July. The Dobbs' family is one of Carson's favorite things in the whole world. So we probably could have just sat in their Dallas apartment all weekend and he would have been just as happy, but we ventured out to Fort Worth for a day at the zoo. It was pretty hot but luckily the zoo offers tons of shade and misters to keep us cool. Its a great zoo with tons of great exhibits but of course Carson was the most impressed with the elephants!

 (Aunt and Uncle Dobbs at the giraffes.)

(New born monkey and its mommy.)

Carson is growing and changing everyday! His vocabulary and talking continues to amaze me. But once you get him going be prepared to hear him talk till he is red in the face. We made the transition to a twin bed and absolutely no pacis in this house the middle of June. He has done great! He loves his new bed and is proud to show it off whenever anyone comes over. He asked about his paci a couple days at nap and bedtime and then that was it we never heard about them again! All these changes have made me so proud of him and a little sad, because I know the true baby stage is over :'( However, so far this 2 year old is proving to be really fun too! Currently he loves tractors, cars, Mickey Mouse, and play doh and of course all of his old loves too, books and Sesame Street. Anything Kyle does Carson feels he has to do it too. If Dads outside so must Carson go, etc. It makes my heart melt! He loves the 2 year old room at daycare and actually ask me to take him to school during the week! When he says, "I want to go to school, see my friends," I get a little choked up. But it is a good feeling knowing he is loved and enjoys where he goes without Daddy and me. 

Since my last post I have had two doctors appointments for Baby Bradley. One on June 18th and the other on July 9th. Both went well! On June 18th, I hadn't gained any weight but my measurements were fine so the doctor was ok with it. On July 9th I had gained three lbs! So I guess I made up for lost time! His heart rate at both visits was in the middle to high 140s.  Everything is looking great with Bradley. I continue to have heartburn all the time, I'm always pressing on my belly because this little guy is a mover and a shaker and I have to push back to get him in a comfortable position, and I'm always hot but other than that its been a pretty smooth pregnancy. As of today I am 30 weeks and 4 days, so a little less than 10 weeks to go!!