Larger Than Life

First up, our baby (who's not a baby anymore) turned TWO! Holy smokes. Leo continues to be as precious as he was the day he was born. He's just a happy kid who loves to laugh and play with his sister and sneak kisses to baby brother. He's super smart - loves to figure things out and touch buttons (a mechanic in the making), asks so many questions (why...why...why, mama???), and continues his passion with all tools. He can talk endlessly about mowers, blowers, screwdrivers, weed  whackers and drills. Most important, he has a heart of gold and a sweetness about him that's almost unexpected. I love him to pieces.

We were without a nap the day before his actual birthday, when we had a small party for him at Kristin and Heather's house. The sight of a cake and sound of birthday song sent him into a tailspin of tears. Opening presents cured that. And because those who love him also know him best, he scored a toy drill from EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. Grandma, the aunts, his Godmother, us...all purchased drills for his birthday. Nana got one for Christmas. He's a regular Bob Villa.

Being a household of 5 has its challenges at times, but not nearly as many as I was anticipating. I thank my lucky stars each day that Jude is a perfect baby. He's so content and happy. That's been a lifesaver, particularly during dinner or when we are trying to get kids out the door in the morning. And sure, it's chaotic and there are a lot of voices vying for attention, but we have schedules and routines that keep us in check and sane. I only have 2 more weeks of my maternity leave - so let's talk again once I'm back to working 40+ hours a week and traveling.

My little giant Jude visited the pedi for his two month appointment this week. Technically he's two and a half months (10 weeks), but he still clocked in at a high 99% for his weight: a total of 16.12 lbs. His height (24.5") is 93%. He's so giant that he comfortably fits in 6 month clothing, and even then his thighs are bursting the buttons open.

To quote the doctor: "Wow! He's ginormous!" and "he's a tank!" or my favorite "he's a 2 month old stuck in a 4 month old's body". She, who sees children on a daily basis of all shapes and sizes, was amazed by his sheer mass. More to love, I say. More to love.

And finally, we are in full swing for the Christmas season - and we've almost done it all. The tree was trimmed. Santa has been visited. The house is decorated. Cards are sent. Candy Cane, our elf, has returned for another year of mischief and morning surprises. A roll of sugar cookie dough ready to be baked in the fridge. Lists have been mailed to Santa, and hopefully this year he won't disappoint (like last year, I've been told). Michael Buble's holiday album is on a steady rotation in the car. We've gazed at local Christmas lights. We've watched Prancer, Home Alone and Charlie Brown. We've crafted angels and reindeer out of toilet paper tubes. Bottom line: we are on a freight train to December 25th and there's no slowing down. Watch out.

Witches & Bros

While days melt into one another, I don't know what day it is and time is racing by - it's been fun so far. We are so lucky that Jude (to date) has turned out to be such an easy going baby. I think he understands he's up against Sadie and Leo - and their screams command attention.

Halloween was fun. We had a witch, a football player and a newborn (too busy to come up with something for Jude...). Sadie marched in the Kindergarten Halloween Parade, and the night of the 31st Leo made it to a few houses to get a taste of the tradition. And speaking of taste, he's discovered a love for peanut butter cups.

Jude rang in his first month in a photo session with a football (for scale, Alex insisted). He doesn't go to the doctor until the end of this week, but I'm so anxious to see his stats. He's already busting out of his 0-3 clothes, and we've already put a few 3-6 month items in the donate pile.

Hello Jude Hamilton

 

For such a long time I had trouble trying to picture us as a family of five. It seemed so surreal. But now that we are here, it is so natural. I can't imagine it any other way. 

Jude Hamilton Foster came to us on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at 2:18am. I was scheduled for a c-section that day at 12:30pm, but Jude had other plans, wanting out about 10 hours ahead of time. At dinner time on Tuesday I was feeling periodic cramping, so called the doctor's office to get an opinion. They had asked me to track my contractions for the next hour. The timing was all over the map - 30 mins, 15 mins, 22 mins...so I was instructed to just lay down and relax. But by 8:30pm, while laying down, I was seeing the contractions move closer to a 10 minute window. Just after 11pm we headed to the hospital to get checked out.

 

As always, the staff at Newton-Wellesley Hospital were stellar. The nurses took me in, hooked up up to every monitor and IV they could find and tracked my progress - which was now 6 min apart. My doctor wasn't scheduled to be in for surgeries until 8am, so I had a choice to make: wait for her, or go with an unknown doctor in the middle of the night. After a few more painful contractions, the decision was unanimous to just move forward. 

Just before 2am I walked myself into the OR. The team in place quickly got me prepped and before I knew it, they were pushing down on my ribs to unwedge a baby from my gut. At 2:18am we heard the first joyful sounds of a crying baby. It's a sound so unique and delicious that you can never forget.

Alex declined the cutting of the cord - citing that the nurses were the real professionals - but was in for the grand 9 pound weigh in. My giant baby (compared to Sadie's 7.15 and Leo's 7.7). 

We were able to come home on Saturday afternoon. Ever since, this little girl has been head over heels for her brother. There's a constant barrage of kisses, hugs, cuddles, pets on the head, hands, cheek, pleas to hold. She is something.

Jude has been such a good, sleepy baby so far. He loves to snuggle, which is addicting. We've already hit up Target, Market Basket, the library, the hardware store...a genuine man about town. Unlike his sister and brother before him, I've been able to sleep BY MYSELF this whole week! Amen! Sadie and Leo both slept on me for the first few months of life. Literally, on my chest as I sat up, since they'd scream if I put them in a bassinet. But Jude, is a happy clam in his swaddle and Rock n' Play.

He's creeping back up to birth weight, eating like a champ. Has already grown a half inch and was able to lift and pivot his head a few hours after birth - something that is seen typically in a one month old. A tiny powerhouse. 

 
As for Leo, he's been a gem too. He likes to dote on the baby with an offering of books and blankets. He gets giddy and giggly when he looks at Jude. I was afraid of his reaction, but he's been great. The only trouble really has been very early morning. Leo has always been an early riser - sometime between 5 -6am. He'd usually get a cup of milk and snuggle in bed with me, as I prayed he'd drift back off to sleep. These days, however, he thinks 4:30 is up and play time, and snuggles turn into tossing and turning and accidental slaps to my head. We'll get to some happy medium eventually.

I was able to capture the first sibling photo, in front of the first fire of the fall/winter season. Sadie trying to hold her smile, as we beg Leo to stand still and turn around. Instead he chooses to show the baby his new leaf blower. Right in his face. Welcome to the family, Jude.

Nashoba Valley Winery...For Apples

I like to try different orchards each year, in search of that 'perfect place'. This year we went to the Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton - which is half orchard, half wine tasting hoopla (note to self, go back sans kids). It was pretty near perfect. 

Maintaining a farm is an awful lot of work, and Leo was raring to go! Per usual, he was armed with is leaf blower/weed whacker and got busy immediately. There was a lot to cover with all of that land. 

  

It was a hot day for late September, into the 80's by 10am. Leo wanted to be carried, taste every apple and pick up all of the rotten fruit from the ground (then look at me with a grossed out face). Sadie ran around as fast as she could, trying to gather as much as she could. I'm ready to put these two to work. 

It was a lovely Sunday to spend with the kiddos...apples, cider donuts, snacks in the shade, watching the fish...and pretty much the last one before chaos ensues and we embark on a family of 5. 

California

 {Sadie on the deck of our room, overlooking the Pacific, eating peanut butter cups at sunset}

Sadie, Alex and I had been California Dreamin' for two full years. I had been to the Terranea Resort a couple of times for work, and in 2012 while there, I made the vow to next time take Sadie with me so that we could suck up some sun and visit Disney. In '12 I was pregnant with Leo at the time, and I knew that he'd be too young to enjoy or appreciate the trip - so it was always the plan to just be a solo for my girl. 

So while the trip was a grand vacation (for some), I had to work. We arrived on Friday morning to LAX and took the 40 minute drive to Palos Verdes, which would be our home until Wednesday. Each day, as I worked, Alex and Sadie made plenty of use of the hotel pool, waterslide, hot tub and took numerous walks on the cliff rocks on the edge of the ocean. This little piece of Cali, just north of Long Beach, isn't known for lush beaches. It's a rocky, high coast line that is still equally as beautiful.

 {enjoying the sunset over the ocean, post dinner - a luxury we rarely get to see living on the east coast}

Perhaps the best part of the trip was the fact that our Sadie learned how to swim. We traveled with a floatie, which she used on day 1...but she quickly gained the confidence she'd been lacking. This is a girl who would not get her face wet in the shower, mind you. But in a matter of hours she was fully immersed in water and was able to swim in a 5' depth without help. She still needs some practice and strength, but she could certainly maintain. 

On Wednesday we packed our bags and took a ride to Anaheim for our final adventure. We stayed nice and close to Disneyland, so that on Thursday morning we could hop out of bed and get there for the gate opening at 9am.

I was admittedly nervous about going - I was tired after working 5 days on my feet. I was 33 weeks pregnant and Sadie would be required to do all of her own walking. It was a sunny day and the sun felt extra hot. There were a lot of people in the park, but the lines went pretty fast. The longest we waited - which Sadie begged for - was to meet Tinker Bell and the blue fairy in Pixie Hollow. We were there for about an hour until we could step in for a 2 minute photo op.
 

Sadie met Minnie and Goofy too. We made it to a ton of rides and sites - her favorite being Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain roller coasters. I begged her to go to the Haunted Mansion with me. She was reluctant but made it through. We feasted on Dole whips and grilled cheese. Hit up the same parade twice, just so she could see Anna and Elsa from Frozen.

 

She was allowed to buy one thing at the park - which turned out to be her Minnie ears, bedazzled in white and pink sequins and a long veil. 

 

In the end, we made it, no sweat. Eleven hours total in the park without any complaints. The sun was down, our feet were tired and dirty, plus we had to pack up to leave for Massachusetts the following morning. 

 

Now that the trip was over, we could focus on our other big doings...First, my main man made it finally to the toddler room at school. He naps on a mat (no crib!), eats lunch at a table with the kids (no high chair!), and gets this adorable hook for his lunch with the sweetest face adorning it. 

 

Our girl officially started kindergarten too. She takes the bus from home in the morning, and goes to HCCC to meet up with Leo two days a week. So far so good, she loves it and is excited to hop out of bed every morning. 

Next weekend she'll be starting soccer, and she's signed up to be a Daisy Scout too. Don't worry, she'll come knocking on your door this spring when it's Girl Scout Cookie time. 

 

Summer of '14

This is the summer that my babies changed. Sadie went from little girl to a young woman on the move. She's more savvy. She's so smart and complex in her thinking. She's gotten taller and leaner, no more of those cute baby rolls to pinch from my year of nursing (which equates to super chubs). She's a girl on the move. Running races, confident to go in water by herself (though not ready to fully swim or submerge her head), practicing math skills, making artistic creations like she's a freshman in art school. I could go on. We are so incredibly proud and amazed to see this transition.

We are only 3 weeks away from kindergarten, where she'll have a whole new classroom of friends and experiences. Former music teacher, turned kindergarten teacher - Mrs. Hastings - will have the pleasure of getting to know our girl. Watch out, Placentino Elementary School.

And then there's my bubba boy, who makes my heart flutter on a daily basis. He's turned from baby to little boy in a blink of an eye. He's incredibly independent. And while he's learning to talk (just starting putting words together for sentences!), he's amazing at communication. He'll take your hand and guide you to what he wants. He'll answer yes or no calmly, in order to get what he needs. He loves anything with a motor - lawn mowers, weed whackers, garbage trucks, tractors. The leaf blower is his all time fave. Leo will use a stick under his arm as his faux blower. He's now enchanted with my hair dryer too. He's the type to sit down and figure something out or mimic an action he's seen. He's enamored with his sister (Sadie comes out as "HeeHee") and will copy anything and everything she does.

Summer has been busy. Full of Monday night track races, ice cream cones,  pounds and pounds of nectarines and peaches these kids gobble up, Tuesday concerts in the park, trips to the Cape to go swimming or play skee ball. And with summer zipping along, this means I only have 9 more weeks until baby arrives. We'll officially welcome him into our family on October 8th at noon. Get ready world, the Fosters are about to conquer.