Life With Two Kids

Life with two kids...Wow I didn't realize what I was getting myself into. Being a mother is a lot of work. I forgot how tired and emotional I would be with a newborn baby.  I am thankful that we live so close to family.  Everyone stepped in and was so helpful in taking Drake so that I could stay home and rest and take care of Stella.

 Elli and Stella

My Grandpa and Grandma were out of town on a vacation when Stella was born so they didn't get to see her while we were in the hospital.  They got home the night we left the hospital, so we stopped in to see them the next morning. They were so excited to see their first great granddaughter.  They are pretty proud of Drake and Stella, and I am happy we live so close to them so that my kids can have a relationship with them.  Drake absolutely adores these two and I know Stella will too.

 While I was home recovering, Josh took Drake to the open house for when they revealed the new Aggie logo.  Drake was so excited to see Big Blue and the Aggies.

 Yep.... we have two kids in diapers.  YIKES!  Some days I feel like all I do is change diapers.  Good thing I am not a single parent! I would not be good at it!

 Drake playing with Hannah and Elli. They sent me this picture one day when they had him up at their house.

 Drake is a little jealous of Stella and wants to be a baby again. 

 The good new is, he loves her now and is a pretty proud big brother!

 Aunt Lexi

 Uncle James

 She has Josh's cheeks.  I love kissing those things so much!

 We have tried to keep Drake busy so he doesn't get to bored. 

He has been painting...

Making a garden stone with his hand print in it with Grandma...

 Playing with his new friend "Grandpa Crunch"...

Helping Grandpa great fix his fishing boat...

Going to the park...

and playing with Aunt Jordy.

 Like I said earlier, Drake is adjusting to this whole sister thing and is starting to realize that she just isn't going to go away.  

 Drake has a very strong personality.  He is very independent and knows how to push my buttons.  With that brings a lot of frustration on my part, but also a lot of laughter as well. He is so funny!  He does and says the funniest things every day!  Lately he will not wear a diaper. He doesn't want to go on the potty either.  He peed in his laundry basket the other day and later that night peed on Josh...(Don't worry I cleaned it up really good)  Good thing the kid is cute!

Stella Rose Wood

 We are so happy to have Stella Rose in our family.  I had a scheduled C-Section on April 19th at 7:30 a.m.  Stella was born at 8:09 a.m.  She weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19.5 inches long.  She has so much dark hair.

 Josh before the surgery

 The first time mommy saw baby Stella. 

 Stella wasn't breathing very good on her own, so they kept her in the NICU for 24 hours.  She did great and learned how to do it on her own and was up in our room with us in no time. 

 Grandpa Kevin and Stella

 Grandma Lisa and Stella

 Poor little thing had to have an I.V. put in her head. 

 Grandma and Grandpa Wood

 All hooked up in the NICU

 Daddy and Stella

Our first family picture of four!

Drake looks really happy in this picture, but he was not so happy with his new baby sister. He also wasn't so sure why mommy was laying in bed and didn't feel good. He just wanted to get into everything in our room.  He was pushing the buttons on my bed, eating my food, jumping on the bed, pushing the buttons on the breast pump, and pushing the call button to the nurse.  When he walked in to see Stella for the first time he went straight over to her and pulled her binky out of her mouth, put it in his and said, "Mine binky!"  I knew right then and there we had some tough times ahead of us. Now i look back at those days int he hospital and just laugh at what a little fart Drake was, but at the time I was in tears and thought my life was never going to be the same!

We finally got him to at least act like he loved his sister for a picture. 

 My mom came down one morning to help me shower.  She told me to yell at her when I needed some help.   I got in the shower and was actually doing just fine on my own.  I got all the way ready and when I came out of the bathroom I found my mom and Stella laying on the little couch both sound asleep!  Good thing I didn't fall in the shower, or she would have never known!

 Aunt Lauren came down a few times and hung out with me and Stella.  It was fun to just sit and talk to her and let her bond with her new niece.

 Chad and Liz with Stella

 Aunt Robin and Stella.  Robin was able to stop in a few times while I was in the hospital and snuggle Stella. She was also able to see her in the NICU.

 My two siblings, Stella and Me

 Uncle James and Stella.  He was on his mission when Drake was born, so all of this newborn baby stuff was new to James. He and Lexi came and visited a lot and were so excited to see baby Stella.  

Putting her footprints in her baby book

 They gave Stella her first bath in the NICU, so Josh wasn't able to do it. But, she needed another one while we were there and Josh was able to do that one.  

 Worn out after getting a bath.

Time to go home.

Easter Sunday

Drake thought Easter was pretty fun this year.  He was so excited for the Easter bunny to come and visit him, and thought it was so funny when he found his Easter basket hidden in the oven.  After church we went to Dan and Holly's house for dinner and an Easter egg hunt.

 Uncle James and Drake looking for eggs.

Grandpa Kevin and Drake