We are several days into this month, so Jacob is really 2 months and a week old, but I am learning that I don't really get to be on my timeline most of the time these days. This has been one of the most challenging months in our parenting journey of the last 4 years, but I'll talk more about that in a minute since this is Jacob's post :)
Jacob is a delight to have in our family. He is such a happy baby. And a calm baby. It has been interesting to see the different demeanor even from birth that he has from his siblings. He sleeps, I've never had a baby that sleeps. I even asked the doctor to make sure him sleeping through the night was ok, because I didn't know a 2 month old could actually do that, but many nights he sleeps until at least 3 if not 4 or 5. Getting that much sleep is amazing considering the other 2 were up every 2 hours for at least 18 months. And thankfully, the doctor said as long as he's gaining weight, the sleep is fine, so I am thankful for every night of sleep I get. He does eat, all. the. time. Which helps with the sleep at night. I feed him almost every hour while he's awake. We've officially given up the bottle as it was too stressful for me to hear him screaming, much like the other 2, they do have that in common. And since I'm not working, there's no reason to push the bottle when I can just as easily feed him. He's getting to where he has good awake time and loves playing with his brothers, or at least loves having them around :) He smiles at them and coos at them. Both the boys love when Jacob has floor time so they can play with him. They both love to shake toys in his face. Curtis loves to make silly faces at him and Judah loves to snuggle with him. Judah will often climb in my lap and ask if he can hold Jacob, which always melts my heart, so of course, I let him hold him and Jacob usually does well for as long as he can with a 2 years old holding him. It's so fun watching these 3 every day, seeing their growing friendships, their tender hearts towards one another and watching them learn how to be brothers.
Like I said earlier, while it's been a good month, it has been incredibly challenging. It started off with Judah getting his first set of stitches. He slipped in the tub and cut his chin on the metal where the glass doors used to be. And notice I said used to be...the next day, Isaac spent the afternoon taking the glass doors down and making the tub a little more Judah proof. So he now has a scar on his chin which Isaac tells Judah the "chicks dig it" since Isaac is now a country music fan. This fall has made me a little overly cautious when it comes to Judah. He really has no sense of self preservation. Before the fall, I let him, within reason, explore his world without too much worry, and I hope to get back to that. But I am fearful of all that could happen. I hope to get over that but for now, I am very protective of my fearless middle child.
A few days later, Jacob gave us a scare with a high fever and 3 days in the hospital. When a newborn runs a high fever, it tends to scare the doctors because it's usually unclear as to what's causing the fever. Because they can't be vaccinated that early, the fever could be any number of infections or viruses so they test for everything. Thankfully, it ended up just being a virus, but it was still sad seeing him in the hospital hooked to an IV, knowing he was sick, knowing something was causing him pain and not being able to do anything about it except hold him. Thankfully, he is well now, no sign of a virus or anything else.
This month has also brought lots of travel for Isaac. That may be the most challenging thing this month. I am learning, even more to rely on God to help me through these days. The days Isaac has been gone have been difficult. Many of them have been filled with cranky children, discipline, yelling, crying, and early bedtimes. I've had to do lots of apologizing for words said and hurtful tones. Thankfully God has given grace for me to leave the room several times rather than yelling or disciplining out of anger. I am learning to love my boys for who they are and trying to embrace how different they are from me. I am learning that I can't expect my boys to behave all the time and act like Christians because they aren't Christians. It's my job to teach them about Jesus, to teach them to love each other, to teach them kindness and self-control and to ask God continuously for his Holy Spirit to change their hearts. I'm also learning through these days how amazing my husband is. While God is teaching me that he cannot be my god, I can't rely on him like I tend to do, he is also showing me exactly how blessed I am to have him as a husband and father to my boys. When he's gone, I have to be mommy and daddy. But when he's here, he is definitely not the sitcom dad that this world tries to portray fathers to be. He changes diapers, he gets the boys up many mornings and gets breakfast for them. He handles many of their meltdowns. He does bath time, and bedtime. He makes the coffee, turns off the lights, takes care of Baxter and so many other things. He's an amazing man and Super Dad. I am so thankful for all he does and through him being gone, really now see all he does. I love him so much and am grateful to be his wife.
Next month, or rather this month, hopefully will not be as challenging or exciting as September, but I know it will bring even more changes in Jacob and even more fun for our family.
Jacob's official 2 month picture
One of his favorite places, hanging out in his bathtub, not taking a bath, while the older boys take a bath
I'm so incredibly thankful for my mom and all the help she has given me, this past month and all the time. I couldn't have gotten through the pregnancy and these post partum days without her.
This little stinker gives me a run for my money, but he is too cute and I look forward to his hugs and cuddles every day.
So thankful for this friend! Brenna not only was there when Jacob was born, but came and spent a day with us while he was in the hospital. And then came and celebrated my birthday with me. This is one of the best things about living in NC.
He's learning to love Daddy, which I am so thankful for as it can be difficult when I'm the only one he wants most the time.
We went to the pumpkin patch with some friends from church. This is one of the boys most favorite fall things to do.
And they love to pain pumpkins. Curtis was so proud of his.
This is Judah. While he can be incredibly difficult sometimes, God shows me these sweet moments that give me faith that God will do great things through him. He is praying for Grandma Creed in this picture, she's recently been in the hospital. We were painting pumpkins, he put down his brush and asked to pray. When I told him Grandma was sick, this is what he did.
