family of four.

Our first few days as a family of four after bringing Max home have been good.  Ben seems to have taken to his role of big brother well.  He is always concerned about where Max is if he isn't in the room with us and wants to know what is wrong if Max is crying.  He has been our little helper and has wanted to help feed and burp Max and help make/wash his bottles.  He seems to relish his new role.

I am getting around pretty good after a week of recovery.  I'm still a little sore sometimes and I'm not ready to run any marathons, but I have been pleased so far with how fast I'm recovering.  I did pretty fast with Ben too, but you just never know, especially chasing a two year old around the house. 

We have just been taking it easy here at home for the past few days since getting out of the hospital.  Mom made us a few meals on Sunday night and dropped them off so we have been enjoying her excellent cooking and enjoying a break from fending for ourselves.  She is coming to stay a few nights soon and although Max is sleeping pretty well at night I am looking forward to a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep to speed the rest of my recuperation.

I took a few pictures of Max today, but to be honest they all look about the same.  So here is what I thought was the cutest... so you can all get your baby fix:)

Baby Max

We have finally welcomed Maxwell Bradley to our family. He was born Monday October 12th at 8:45am and was 6lbs. 6oz. and 19 1/4 inches long.

He is a cutie pie! The first thing I said when I saw him was "he looks like Ben." He definitely looks like himself, but you can tell already that he and Ben are brothers.

We are still in the hospital and won't get out until tomorrow, but we are recovering well. The worst part is that I miss Ben so bad after not seeing him since Sunday night. He is doing good though, staying with my mom at night and has been visiting different family members during the day. When we call to talk to him he isn't really even that interested in talking to mommy and daddy but wants to talk to baby Max. I make cooing noises into the phone and he talks to Max. He says things like "Oh Max, you're so funny." and "Love you Max!" It is very cute:)

Max is sleeping A LOT! He wakes up to eat and be changed but not a lot otherwise. I have noted already that when he is comfortable he will definitely protest if you try to move or disturb him. He is also pretty strong already like Ben was. He was lifting his head off the bed right after delivery when the nurse had him on his tummy.

So, we head home tomorrow and the adventure really begins:)

just us three.

To Ben:

Tomorrow our family becomes four. I have mixed feelings about this big change for all of us. I am excited to welcome Max to our life but can't help but wonder what changes his addition will bring. The single greatest joy in my life to thus point has been being your mommy for the past 2 1/2 years. How will adding one more change our special little bond? I can only hope that it will strengthen it and that the bonds that you and Max will form as brothers will be one of the greatest relationships of your lives. I just want you to know that you will always be my baby.

I love you!

Mom

puzzle.

One of Ben's favorite things is puzzles. This love affair started before his second birthday with little wooden peg puzzles. You know, the kind where you lift out a piece shaped like a cow and the only place it will go back is in the same spot. It took him no time to master those.

By his second birthday he had moved on to small wooden jigsaw puzzles... You know the ones, about twelve pieces, farms and cars and stuff. That challenged him a bit... at first:)

Now, at 2 1/2, his latest puzzle he has mastered is a 63 piece 'I Spy' puzzle for ages 5+. Maybe it's just cause I'm his momma, but I find that pretty darn impressive. It is getting hard to challenge him. And it is so cute when he says "help me mom" when he is so much faster at doing them than I am.

Prep.

Spent the weekend getting a bit more done around the house in preparation for the big day.

7 days and counting!

Feeling a little more ready. I actually packed my hospital bags before heading to the OB today just in case:) since my blood pressure went up with Ben and forced me to head to the hospital prior to labor beginning I figured better ready than not for this one. Everything was great though and we are good to go for next week.

I'm only going in to see patients two days this week so that my fill- in doc can get aquainted with the practice while I am still available for questions and what-not, and so the moms (Brad's and mine who are graciously working as receptionists while I am out) can get an idea of what they need from me before I am out of commission for a bit. So, I am off for two more days before I work two and then two more off before the 12th.

I have a couple things left to do, but am mostly done. Just gonna spend my last few days with Ben as an only child and savor the undivided time we get now:)