It's a...

BOY!!


Baby Sam is here!  He made his appearance on his own time -- with no consideration for the plan Mommy had for him to be born on Nov. 5.  Oh well, Mommy sure wasn't sad to not be pregnant anymore.  He was born healthy and well 8 days before his scheduled arrival (I was 38 weeks exactly). After I spent all day cleaning like a mad woman, I went into labor on my own, but didn't realize that what I was feeling was contractions, so it was 8 hours later before we went to the hospital.  Oops.  Oh well, all worked out, and I have a healthy and beautiful baby boy!

I'm the mom to 2 boys!!  Woo hoo!  I'll forever be known as a Boy Mama.  My sweet dog, Lucy, and I are now outnumbered in our house, but that's ok.  I love all of my boys.



Big brother Major needed a few days to get used to the idea of baby brother being a real live human who came to live in our house.  The first thing he said when we got home from the hospital was that he wanted Sam to go home.  But, after 2 days, he was in love as much as the rest of us.  He loves to hold and kiss him, and he always wants to pat his head or rub his leg.  It was just a few days after we were home that Major said to me, unprovoked, "I love you, Mom," and he already says that to his baby brother, too.  Melt my heart.



We have had a rough start at home though.  Major got his second cold this month just a few days after we got home from the hospital. He's had a horrible cough and sore throat, and he's just felt pretty yucky.  Add that to getting used to a newborn (who we def don't want to get sick) and trying to figure out nursing and sleeping and being a family of 4, and we've had some rough times. 

Here's my sicky...


But, finally today, I think that Major is on the mend.  We even ventured out on a family outing to the zoo.  It was a little chilly, and we had to stop twice to nurse and we didn't last very long, but it was so fun to get out.  The Colonel has been off work since the baby was born, and we are SO enjoying having him home.  He heads back to work next week, and I'm already to sad (and a bit panicked!).



There are so many things that I forgot about having a newborn, but it's slowly coming back to me.  I definitely feel more confident this time around, and little Sam has softened my heart to other things as well.  Somehow, in all the chaos and sickness, I've been able to find more patience than I had before.  I've been more sensitive and kind towards Major, and I absolutely appreciate what a great father The Colonel is.  I seriously could not do any of this without him!





So, happy fall from the family of 4!