NC Trip With the Boys

Last week I took my first road trip with both the boys to visit my family and friends in NC. As you might can imagine, it was not an easy trip. It was fun, and wonderful to see everyone, but it was rough. A normally 4 1/2 hr to 5 hr trip took close to 7 hrs. Both Curtis and I had been sick since the week before, him with a cold and me with a sinus infection. Curtis is still teething his 18 month molars, which are taking forever to come in. Put that together with normal toddler angst, being away from his Dad for several days, being overwhelmed with tons of new people and you have a very cranky Curtis. But with all that said, it wasn't that bad of a trip. He had so much fun playing with everyone, Taylor and Reegan, the Perez kids, Karlie's nieces. He really does pretty well with making friends and for that, I am so thankful. I love watching him interact with people. He's such a happy kid most of the time. And he's becoming so loving as he's learning to love on his brother. He wanted to hug on Reegan so bad, but she likes her bubble and he just couldn't understand why she didn't return the love. Taylor returned it though, and those 2 had so much fun together. 

The highlights of the trip:

Aunt Bec Bec and Wesley coming to meet Judah and spend time with Curtis. Judah just seemed to love them both. He's not content being held by just anyone, but he did so well sitting with Aunt Bec Bec and he just loved Wesley and smiled so big for him.

We got to spend the afternoon with the Perez's and I finally got to meet Jude. He's such a cute kid! And it was so wonderful to get an afternoon with one of my very best friends. We didn't get to see each other during our last trimester, her due to bed rest, and me due to being afraid to travel. And it's been several weeks since we had our babies, so the visit was long over due and much needed.

We spent a few hours visiting with Karlie, her mom, and her nieces. It was a little chaotic, but a lot of fun and so great to see Karlie.

Grandma Creed got to meet Judah. She just lit up when we walked in to the room. I didn't even mind her telling me I needed to lose my baby weight :) It was good to see her out of bed and moving around.

And spending so much time with Jonathan, Melissa, Taylor and Reegan, Mom and Dad. I think one day Taylor, Reegan Curtis and Judah will be best friends. It was so much fun watching them play together.

And one probably my favorite, Curtis getting a small taste of the country life. We took a walk down our road, which turns into a dirt road. Curtis threw his first rocks and gravel. He played in the grass. He sat down in the middle of the road. He was fascinated by it. He saw pigs and chickens. I think he'll make a good country boy if we ever get to move back.

It was a great trip, but we missed Isaac. Being a single mom, if just for a week, is incredibly hard. It makes me appreciate the hour or 2 week we get with Isaac when he's on 2nd and 3rd shift. And makes me really not look forward to any future deployments. 

Even though it was hard, I was incredibly thankful for the help of everyone we saw. Mom and Dad got up with Curtis during the night so I could focus on Judah. They helped with bed time and bath time and meal time. They helped get the boys in the car. Karlie and Brenna both jumped right in to help with Curtis when my hands were full with Judah. For that, I am so thankful, and knowing I have that help makes it ok for me to keep going back without Isaac if that is the case in the future.

Here's a few of my favorite pictures from the week:

Judah and Jude's first fist bump

Curtis lovin on Judah

It's not easy to get a good picture with 3 littles and both of my littles around

He's having so much fun with Cousin Wesley

Curtis loved playing on the dirt road

Grandma loved seeing Judah and getting to hold him

Curtis getting a taste of the country life

Judah is 2 Months

Yesterday, Judah turned 2 months old. He is smiling, holding his little head up like a champ, finally nursing well and learning to be content away from me, on his little play mat, in his swing, or just on the floor with me jingling a toy above him. He loves bath time so much more than Curtis did at this age. He doesn't always hate tummy time, although we don't do it often. He loves it when I wear him to do yoga and pretty much always falls asleep. He loves it in general when I wear him and actually calms down when he sees me putting on my Moby, it's his favorite place to be. He is a fun little dude, pretty content most of the time. He is sleeping well, again, much better than Curtis ever did. Most nights, he lets me sleep till 2 or 3, which is so incredibly needed since we're up by 6 usually and go non stop all day with Curtis.

Curtis is learning to love Judah. Sometimes when he cries, Curtis wants to cuddle with him or pick him up to comfort him. He always kisses him goodnight and good morning. When I'm wearing him and holding Curtis, he likes to hug Judah or pat his back like I do to calm him down. He tries to share his toys, which sometimes results in little red marks on Judah's head, from Curtis putting the toy on him too hard. We're trying to teach Curtis gentleness and he's slowly learning. He likes to pet Judah's head, very gently, like he's petting a dog. He's going to be a great big brother when Judah begins to interact more. Curtis really does seem to enjoy him.

For me, it's getting a little easier being a mom of 2 boys under 2. The days are still long when I'm mostly by myself and I still get very overwhelmed sometimes. I still have some days where post partum depression is a very real thing (a blog post on that in a few days), but those days are fewer and farther between now. I start back slowly at the CPC this coming week and am really looking forward to being back in the fight for life with my sisters there. For a while it's just gonna be a few hours and hopefully Judah will do well with taking his bottle and hopefully Curtis will go easy on the sitter. As much as I love staying at home, it is going to be good to have a few hours to myself without the boys. I've learned that if I'm going to be a good mom, I'm going to have to have a few hours away to be myself and use a different part of my brain. So as much as I will miss my boys, I really am looking forward to getting back to the clinic.

The only good picture I got, the others were his poop face and crying face.

Curtis loves cuddling with whoever has Judah

This is Curtis trying to kiss on Judah

I just love that sweet face

This is what Curtis does with his "all done" bowl

My hot mess of a child after his peanut butter and graham crackers