Finally some photos of Owen! (and Colt, OF COURSE!)

Well, here are a few pictures over the past several days since coming home. What a difference it makes when I can't be the photographer...not many photos get taken! Now that I'm feeling better and up and about more, there WILL be more photos to come!

Colt has been wonderful. I still don't think he really "gets" it, but he loves patting Owen, rubbing his head on his side, and giggling when he moves. We made it through our first weekend, which is the true test since Colt is at daycare during the week. It was an easy decision for us to keep him in daycare while I'm on maternity leave. He NEEDS the routine, and I really wanted this time with Owen like I had with Colt for bonding.

I have to say, all that time I worried about whether or not I would feel bonded to Owen, if he could "live up" to all the amazement and feelings I have for Colt...I need not have worried. It was almost immediate how natural it felt to have another baby, how in love I was. I think it's really amazing to have experienced both being a mom through adoption and through pregnancy. The feelings I had those moments both my children were placed in my arms: exactly the same. Amazement, wonder, joy, love, and even being overwhelmed. I'll admit I was relieved that the feelings were the same. I wasn't sure if they would be.

Of course some things are different, the biggest being the physical recovery this time around. However, we are MUCH more relaxed this time around. We're not overanalyzing every cry or poop or sneeze. We're able to move around with much more ease, talk louder, less worry about feeding. So that's been a relief. And I'll be honest when I tell you our nerves and lives are much easier this time around because we don't dread every time the phone rings. Most of you adoptive parents know that feeling. I don't miss that at all.

We'd forgotten how small they are, how snuggly, how delicate. Newborn size diapers are astounding, still. We're just having a blast drinking in the moments. Owen is amazing and beautiful and we feel so blessed that he's here.

I'll post the "birth story" soon. Once I'm completely healed and feel like I can wrap up that ending. I wrote about Colt's birth story, and I can't wait to write about Owen's. After all those months of being very iffy about pregnancy, I'll admit I am completely and totally amazed with what I went through giving birth. Nothing special or out-of-the-ordinary from other births, but still special to me and I want to make sure I write it down for our family.

Hope you enjoy the photos! From coming home in the first pictures, to just this morning. Enjoy.

Checking In

Just checking in. Pictures coming soon, I've got to download them off the camera.

We're doing well here. I'm more than ready to feel better though! I know it takes a while, but it just seems like with a toddler at home and a newborn I just don't have time to feel this lousy!

We've taken it pretty easy. Yesterday we went to have Owen's jaundice levels checked. They were still a little high but thankfully not high enough to put him under lights. That was one of our nightmare moments with Colt so I'm thankful we're ALL spared that! He's up to 7 pounds, 1 ounce and never really lost weight after birth.

We've been spoiled with visitors and people bringing food. We're just laying low at home and enjoying our little guys. Colt has been in PRIME mood lately, very grumpy and whiny this week. Combination of being off his schedule, away from his parents, and playing and walking hard at school. Today he seems like he might be getting back to his sweet self. He likes to touch Owen and giggles when he moves. However, he does NOT like to see him drink a bottle and not get one himself. We'll work on him!

Well, I'll get to the pictures soon, just wanted to check in. Still in a haze of being a mom to TWO boys!

Colt meeting Owen

We're all still here! All doing well! I'm feeling much better, just sore and achy but I know it's only temporary. As far as we know, we're headed home today so it will be nice to go home.

Last night was the moment John and I had been waiting for - the brothers meeting each other for the first time! Colt was SO tired, plus there were a lot of people so he was a little whiny and trying to show off. But he had his moments. He was very interested in touching Owen's hands and his face, and also liked burying his head in Owen's side like one of his stuffed animals. When Owen cried, you could tell he was concerned.

The best part of the night was when my mom and stepdad were getting ready to leave. I finally was able to get out of bed and finally Colt wrapped his arms around my neck (me being in the bed was scary to him, I think). He wouldn't let me go, and reached out and grabbed Owen's little hand, too. What a mommy I felt like then!

We'll be needing a lot of help the next few days while we get used to being a family of 4. But we'll get there. We are so blessed and so thankful God has given us these two beautiful boys to raise. More updates and pictures to come, especially for the grandparents who can't see him just yet! Love you all!

OWEN PETE ANDERSON!!!!!

John here. Well as most of you all know, Owen arrived at 4:50 P.M today weighing in at 6 lbs 13 Oz. He was 20 inches long and is 100% healthy! 10 fingers and 10 toes! He is VERY cute! Mom is not doing too well tonight. With the combo of meds and an empty stomach and losing so much blood today, she passed out onto the floor tonight. She is doing a little better, but needs to gain some strength tonight! She'll be better tomorrow...she's a fighter!
In the meantime, here are a few pics of Owen! Enjoy!

It's baby day!! Owen will be here shortly!

Colt Walking!!!

John again. Here are some videos of Colt walking. He can do it on his own, but he thinks he needs to hold on to your hand.
Enjoy!

Just checking in

Just checking in with a few pics of Colt's favorite things: one, this bowl toy called (I think) Biboli? I didn't really get it, but he LOVES it. It's supposed to be an imagination toy, encouraging kids to do whatever with it. Climb on it, sit in it, fill it with stuff, or like Colt - push it around. He plays with it every day!

He also LOVES to stand in our pantry. He's only just recently tried pulling things off the shelf. But it's one of his favorite rooms!

Also, I had a doctor appointment today. I'm currently 2 cm dilated and 90% effaced. Guess it's truly any day until Owen arrives! I'll check back soon!

Snow Day Blessing

So for the last two days, the state of OK has been in a State of Emergency due to ice and snow storms. This time, it did end up pretty serious, however we didn't lose power at my house like I was sure we would. Thursday I spent the whole day pretty stressed and tense worrying that we'd lose power, with lots of ice and sleet coming down. Yesterday the ice had moved on and it snowed for over 12 hours. It was beautiful and it ended up being a delightful snow day.

It helped that we had friends here to play with, too!

In any case, as Colt is napping this morning and we're preparing to venture out to reduce cabin fever, I am just SO thankful. Because I realize what a blessing these last two days have been for me and for Colt. With my office being closed (though still working from home) and not venturing out to daycare for Colt, we spent the days together. Playing, singing, LOTS of laughing, exploring, talking, eating, and even some snuggling (he's much too busy to snuggle these days). I realized today I won't have days like this anymore in a few weeks.

Next time we're stuck in a snow storm I'll have two little boys to share my attention. And while it's going to be a blast, I'm also so grateful that I had this time with Colt. Right before Owen is born, we had two days of playing with nowhere to go, nothing to do, and my attention all on him...just being mom and son. What a blessing it's been and what fun I've had. I'm so blessed to have this amazing little boy to raise. I'm lucky to have him call me Mama.

So thank you, God, for giving me these two days. Thank you for helping me to realize how special this time is as Colt's time as an only child comes to and end. Thank you for keeping our power on so we could spend our time playing and not trying to stay warm. Thank you for Colt.

I can't write anymore, I'm crying too hard. I'm one emotional, 9-months-pregnant Mommy!

Stream of Consciousness

Stole this blog idea from MckMama....

Loved my weekend. Spent all day Saturday with Colt so John could work on Owen's room. We had breakfast with friends. Lunch with Mom and sister. Finally took 1-year photos before he outgrew his birthday outfit. Target portrait studio ROCKS. Had dinner with new friends. Awesome queso. Watching "The Pregnancy Pact" on Lifetime. Thankful I have sons not daughters, but already thinking about life with teenagers. Worst part of pregnancy so far...I'm hot ALL THE TIME. It feels like 110 degrees in this house. Thankful the house has been getting picked up lately since we have a playroom. But my master bedroom is closing in on me. Everything is dumped here to "get organized".

Had book club today. Didn't read the book, but heard it was all about extramarital affairs and not very good. Glad I didn't waste any money on the book. Wish I could get the drive to go to the library. But if I did, my books would always be late. Like movies. How is Blockbuster still in business? I've never been to Redbox, too afraid I'll never return the movie. I don't even really watch movies anymore. There's always HGTV.

Wrapped up a 4-month project at work that ended up not going as I planned. I still don't think it's hit me. Only have a few weeks left before maternity leave. Weeks. Haven't filled out my leave paperwork yet. Thankful John and I have already saved to cover the insurance deductible!

Insurance makes me sleepy. It's past my bedtime! With Colt going to sleep by 7:30 I'm now used to heading to bed before 9:00. Trying to enjoy it before Owen comes. I REALLY hope he sleeps like Colt slept. I know lightning doesn't strike twice though. Maybe we'll get lucky?

Watching a commercial about prescription for longer eyelashes. Seriously? Who would talk to their doctor about short eyelashes?

Going to bed.

Getting ready

Well, it's been a crazy few weeks around here. Specifically this last week.

First of all, check out my little man getting ready for church. Doesn't he look handsome? Don't you love pictures in my messy bedroom, on our messy unmade bed?! But he looked so handsome that day I had to take photos. A few hours later he promptly threw up all over the outfit but...hey, at least it's recorded for history.

Anyway, we had a strange bout of sickness for Colt at the beginning of the year. I think he started the stomach virus that is going around. Through all that we found out he had an ear infection (YES, less than a month after getting tubes) and the antibiotic made him even sicker. But as soon as we took him off that and dairy he was back to normal.

Then, I started to develop a headache, which turned into a lingering headache (not migraine) which prompted my body to respond in other such ways that I ended up going to the hospital to have my blood pressure checked. Blood pressure was fine, but they noticed I was having pretty strong contractions every 2 minutes. Now, I couldn't feel them but they ended up checking me to make sure and I was not dilated at all. Went home with a pain med for the headache.

Two days later, I'd been at work all day and came home where my sister was watching Colt while John was at a business dinner. Everything was fine, Colt was playing, Julia and I were eating, and then we were getting him ready for bed. And all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I started having severe pains in my lower abdomen. They grew progressively worse and spread through my entire abdomen. After a few minutes I was on all fours, unable to stand, sit, or walk and crying out in pain. My poor sister...she was terrified and trying to wrangle Colt. She called my mom and John and I ended up BACK in the hospital (on my doctor's orders).

Most intense, terrifying pain I've ever experienced (well, it was on-par with the worst migraine I've ever had) but I could hardly move. To have the nurse even hook me up to the monitors was painful. What was happening is that my uterus was in one strong, constant contraction. It was as hard as a rock and not letting up for HOURS. The monitor was not showing strong contractions, because I was in ONE the whole time!

Eventually, they determined I was dehydrated. They gave me a shot of muscle relaxer to stop the contraction. Which helped some, but still left intense muscle pain. So I got a shot of Demerol (wow!) and sent home. The next morning came and I was STILL unable to walk without assistance, let alone get in and out of bed. Luckily I had a doctor appointment that day. He was pretty much unconcerned and called it severe round ligament pain. Gave me muscle relaxers and orders to stay in bed and rest. A few days later I did feel 100% better.

ALL of that to tell you the next part. We have been really dragging our feet about getting ready for Owen's arrival. We've been busy, we've been enjoying Colt, we've been getting through the holidays, we've been living in denial. But two trips to the hospital to see contractions gave us both quite a wake-up call.

I know it sounds crazy, but I've had such a hard time accepting and getting excited about this pregnancy. I'm not ungrateful, just haven't been quite so accepting of God's plans this time around. But now...well, now I'm getting excited not just because Colt is going to have a little brother to grow up with, but because we're going to have another son. I'm getting excited for OWEN because he's Owen and he's joining our family. And that's a pretty big step.

I'm still very protective of Colt, especially because he's too young to prepare for this life-changing event. I'm cherishing the alone time we have as a family, the ease in which our routine flows right now. But slowly and surely, I'm beginning to get excited for Owen to join us and mess us all up. Those same things I thought about Colt (what will you look like? what will your attitude be like? who will you become? will you sleep? will you love adventure? will you be a cuddler?) I'm now wondering about Owen.

I'm sad that it's taken me so long to get to this point, but really glad that I'm able to see what a blessing it is to be excited by God's plan and for our second son.

It has sprung us into action, we are done with the playroom and have only the nursery left to put together. A small shower is being planned for me. And I'm starting to wrap up projects at work and think about maternity leave.

We're having another baby!

Me, too, Buddy

Forgot to post my favorite picture from Christmas morning after all the presents had been opened. I hate seeing the presents end, too!

Better late than never!

It's not even been a month since Christmas, so I can still post photos! Finally found the camera cord and had a moment to post. Pretty self-explanatory. Between the blizzard, Christmas at both grandparent's houses, more visits with great-grandparents and Aunt Lind, and then finally Santa's visit to our house 5 days after Christmas...Colt was overwhelmed with toys. He has enjoyed them, actually! I wondered if he could ever play with SO many. We've saved a few still in boxes for a little later, but so far he's having a blast with his new toys.

He was sad to see Christmas end and family leave, but he's since recovered and is busy trying to walk and find the vacuum cleaner every day. So...Merry 2009 to us!

Also, no New Year's Eve pics this year. Our usual plans went awry, so Colt and I stayed at home, one of us going to bed at 7:30, the other at 9:00. Paaaaaarty!

For the Great-Grandparents! Thanks for the Cookies!

This is for Colt's Great-Grandma!
Thanks for the cookies!

I'm alive, still pregnant, and chasing after a toddler

Ai yi yi...what a post to leave hanging here for over a week! I'm much better than I was in that last post. In fact, I was much better by Monday and so ready for the Christmas decorations to be put away! I was ready to have my house back. We finally got around to that this past Saturday.

The last week has been fairly uneventful. I continued to do minimal work and try to enjoy "vacation" as best I could. No more days off until Owen arrives! I did some cleaning, minimal nesting, and LOTS of nagging John to get the playroom and nursery started/completed. I will be 33 weeks pregnant this week. The fact that we have not registered, taken inventory of what we have in the house or what we need, not even started on the nursery, and pretty much continued in our blatant denial that another person will be living at our house anytime in the next 7 weeks is starting to get very scary to me. We now officially have less time to get ready for Owen than we did for Colt.

JOHN - PLEASE GET OUR HOUSE READY!

Ok!

The rest of the week we spent together and had lots of Colt time. It was fabulous! And even though a strong antibiotic for an ear infection (in an ear that he has tubes less than one month old!) caused some vomiting and gross diapers over the weekend, he remained in a great mood and we had tons of fun. In our own house, even! I guess I'm gearing up for never being able to leave the house once we have TWO kids.

Unfortunately Colt and I had to miss our annual New Year's Eve party at his friend, Anna's house. She got pretty sick and he was just getting over a cold. But I think we all know that neither of us would have made it to midnight. Or 9:00 for that matter. Colt went to bed on NYE at 7:30, I crashed at 9:00. John did go to the party but he was awfully tired the next day!

So...that's what's going on here! I've seen a lot of interesting posts going on in blogland, especially the ado.ption blogs I follow. I want to comment on some of these things but I'm having a hard time finding the right words and also wanting to remain low key without going private. But know that I'm following you all and thinking about the various issues our little blog community is facing.

New Year's Resolutions:
- Finish Colt's baby book before Owen arrives
- Finish our house projects before Owen arrives
- Try to enjoy the last few weeks of pregnancy (weeks...not months, we don't have months, we have weeks!)
- Figure out how to sanely be a mom to two little boys

I don't think I can take too much else on for this year! Great thing about being 8 months pregnant on New Year's Day? I don't have to resolve to diet or work out!

Pictures coming soon, I promise.

I wasn't dreaming of THIS white of a Christmas

Wow, I am a mess of emotions tonight. I get this way about Christmas every year. It's just you lead up to this day and have so much family and food and blessings around and then BOOM!, it's over.

This year was really hard for many reasons. Work has been super stressful and I didn't think I'd get the time off I'd hoped for. I put off shopping until last week. We never put ornaments or even garland on the tree because I was too tired. Colt has been sick with a cold. And then...the big one I wasn't expecting: a blizzard.

See, in Oklahoma we rarely get snow and have only had a white Christmas like 12 times in a 100 years. We just don't see very much here. Cautiously for the last week, there had been predictions of a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. But no one, even the weathermen, had any idea what was to happen.

In Oklahoma City between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Christmas Eve we got over 14 inches of snow. We literally had a Blizzard, complete with whiteout conditions. And before the snow started, we had hours of sleet and freezing rain which coated the roads in at least an inch of ice. We have snow drifts over 4 feet IN OUR FRONT YARD.

My family is in town staying at my mom's and I was determined to get over and see them, let them see Colt, and spend Christmas Eve with them so John and I set out in early afternoon. It was a white-knuckled drive and there were several times we almost got stuck. And once we arrived at my mom's, there was no leaving. Especially with a one-year-old and a pregnant wife, John wasn't going anywhere.

We didn't intend to stay there though. John is a pretty brave driver and probably would have braved the roads home. But my sister called and said she was stuck in the middle of an intersection and he and my stepdad headed out to help her. While helping her, John blew out his knee (he's had three knee surgeries, involving both knees...they're bad) and they had to leave her car in the intersection and just concentrate on getting everyone home.

So, John was laid up and the roads were so bad we couldn't even get across town to get home. So, we stayed the night at my mom's house. All 3 of us, my sister, aunt, stepdad, mom, and grandparents. It was a super tight squeeze...and Colt wasn't feeling well and had a hard time sleeping. He finally ended up getting 6 hours of sleep. John and I got about 2 hours each.

And the whole time I'm just mad and irritated and worried about the stupid weather and John's knee. Instead of being excited for a white Christmas, instead of counting my blessings that we were ALL safe and warm and under one roof, instead of enjoying my yummy dinner...I was irritated. Instead of being thrilled for extra time with my beloved grandparents and aunt...well, you get the picture. We were snowed in and I was worried about wearing the same clothes and not having our stuff and our beds.

The morning was better...I woke up with a better attitude and just grateful that we weren't one of hundreds stranded in their cars, at the airport, or in shelters. We were safe. We enjoyed breakfast and presents and lunch. And then my brother-in-law came over to take us to John's family's house for even more Christmas festivities.

And now, we're home and I feel like I wasted such an amazing Christmas. I really loved it. I did! And I was SO grateful that we were there, instead of stuck at home without family. And now I'm oh-so-sad that it's all over.

As Colt and I settled in to watch yet another viewing of "Mickey Saves Santa" on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I cried and cried. It's our last Christmas with just Colt. And every year I worry it's my last Christmas with my grandparents making the trip and that the next year they'll stay in Missouri instead of coming here.

Things I DO want to remember:
-How Colt played with my aunt Linda and she had so much fun teaching him how to play with his new leapfrog and Mickey toys.
-How we all started watching "A Christmas Story" last night when it first came on and kept watching it throughout the day...as always.
-All the cooking my grandma did.
-How Colt lights up when he sees my mom and doesn't want anyone but her.
-Laughing with John through the sleepless night.
-How Colt wanted to open all his Aunt Renee's presents for her.
-The way his Uncle Matt plays with him and has great patience for him.
-The whole season, watching Colt's face as he saw Christmas lights and trees.
-How he played with my mom's Hallmark singing snowmen and pressed their buttons over and over to hear Jingle Bells one more time.

I regret that I didn't enjoy it more at the time. But it will go down as one of the most memorable Christmases I've ever had and gave me precious time with my family. Blizzard 2009...you can't get me down!

Now off to get some sleep and hopefully wake up over my post-Christmas depression. Pictures (what few I took) coming soon!

Merry Christmas to you all!!

It's Christmas Eve - so let's talk about Colt's birthday!

I'm watching winter weather storm updates at 5 am here on Christmas Eve. We're supposed to get snow, but first ice and I'm all kinds of irritated. Snow is one thing...but I want to be able to drive in it and ice puts a damper on that!

Here is that long-awaited birthday update. I don't have to explain the pics...you can probably decipher them yourselves! But I will say the picture of John and Faith (our cat) asleep is after the BIG Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party with close friends and family...we were EXHAUSTED.

Also, John made the cake. Yes, MADE.THE.CAKE. Decorated it and all...he's very talented! The top 4 pics are from his actual birthday day at school, where he had a cupcake party with his little friends.

Also, he hated the spreading cake all over himself. He started out getting made because we stripped him. Then the paparazzi came and started taking a million flashing photos, then the thick icing was caked in his fingers and he lost it. It also could have been the severe upper respiratory infection and croup he came down with mere hours later...but at least during MOST of the party he had a complete and total blast.

What a great day!

The first moment in my arms

Indulge me...only 2 hours left of his first birthday, I'm doing a lot of reminiscing. This isn't the first moment I saw him, though. We'd snuck a peek at him in the nursery, a moment I'll remember every detail of for as long as I live. A few minutes later we went into N's room, and she formally introduced us to our son. She handed him to me...and here is that moment forever captured in time.

I am so, so blessed.

Happy Birthday Colt!

Dear Colt,

It's here! You're officially one year old! I have been spending a lot of time thinking back and reading blog posts from December of 2008. Wow! First of all, I was a much better writer at that time! But most of what stands out to me is the depth of my love and excitement for you before I even really knew you. To think of how that has grown in the last 12 months is astounding. The human heart is capable of some profound things.

Most moms talk about how they can't believe how fast the time goes, and it's so true. I feel like at least in this first year, I have appreciated every little milestone. I know as things get busier and you get older time will pass and I won't have as much recollection. But I have celebrated every tooth, every smile, every clap, every crawl, every doctor appointment, every new food...I'm living a dream come true every day.

I find no greater joy than in figuring you out. Knowing that singing "The Wheels on the Bus" while changing you each morning keeps you calm during this ritual you detest. Knowing that when I sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" you will twist your hands like I do for the spider. Knowing that you really want to eat with your hands and are so past the baby food. Watching you as you know exactly where to go to find a change basket or the faucets to turn on in the bathroom. Watching you light up and chase after your beloved kitty. Listening to you squeal with joy when Mickey Mouse comes on the TV. Seeing you watch Daddy swing a golf club and already share in his passion (or maybe it's just that anything Daddy does, you love). Even knowing that when Grandma is around, I may as well not exist excites me to the depths of my soul. I am so blessed and honored to be the one that knows these things.

You have completed me in a way I didn't know needed completion. Yes, I felt empty arms without a baby for many years, but THIS completion and utter joy is something I didn't know needed to be filled. You have filled me with patience. You have extracted me from things like the computer and TV and lazy Saturdays because I'd rather be spending that time with you (or sleeping to recover!). You've caused me to reevaluate my priorities and my definition of success. You've made me a mom and a better person.

I love you SO much, my little 1-year-old. You have fulfilled my every dream. You're a living, breathing, constant, every day example of answered prayer. Please know that my arms are always open, my shaky voice always willing to warble a song, and my ears are always listening for your voice.

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mommy

Colt's first Christmas program.

Hi Everyone. This is John. Jess gave me her login and PW so I could post a video of Colt in his first Christmas program! Enjoy!