Spelunking with Babies

  For the past couple of months, Tim and I have been attempting to spend one weekend a month having an "adventure" with our boys. This month, we decided to drive up towards Mt. St. Helens and go explore Ape Caves. Beniah and Elijah were super excited about this adventure and asked questions for days before our trip. (Yay repetitive questions!) Beniah asked if we could invite Grandpa and Grandma along (who were more than happy to accommodate their grandsons request). This past Saturday, we picked up Grandpa and Grandma and rode rather snugly up to Ape Caves.

Isaac and I don't get to look at each other during car rides, 

so this was a fun experience for both of us. 

 "Will somebody talk to me?" Elijah asked at one point during the trip.

 Beniah saw this view on the way up and begged me to take a picture of it for him.

 Flashlights at the ready for Ape Caves!

I had thought that having Isaac strapped to me would make him comfortable to walk (or rather ride) into the dark cave. He could feel my hand on him, my voice in his ear, and see the light from my flashlight bouncing off the cave walls, but alas, he became more and more agitated so that by the time we were 1/3 of the way through, he was full blown wailing. I decided to turn around and let Tim, the boys, and the grandparents finish the exploration of the cave while I took the wailing baby out to the sunlight (fyi - the tears did stop once we were outside of the cave).
About 30 minutes later, we were all back together again. The boys were thoroughly impressed with how dark the cave was and were ready for lunch.

 The car ride home was with a much more subdued and tired crowd.

Adventure complete. Mission accomplished!

Photoshoot with Chelsea and Ezekiel

     I met two of my closest friends in the sixth grade (my husband Tim and Chelsea). Technically, I knew Chelsea before 6th grade, but my first strong memory of her was when my teacher (a.k.a. future father in law) asked those of us who transferred from the other Christian school in the area if we knew Chelsea. I piped up that I knew Chelsea and was awarded a new seatmate. Fast forward 18 years (has it really been that long since sixth grade!), college, marriage, and who can count how many other life changes between the two of us, and we're still close friends.
  This has been a big year for Chelsea. Not only is this her 25th year of being in America, she also graduated college, and Ezekiel turned 7 and has lived almost 5 years longer than the doctors said he would when he had liver failure. Every birthday for Ezekiel is a huge reason to celebrate.  So, Chelsea wanted to get some photos done to commemorate these huge events and I was more than willing to play around with my camera and work on my photography skills.

The Hustle and Bustle of Christmas - Part 2

With Tim working at Amazon as a customer service tech support, we had to head home so he could work his shift on Christmas Eve. While we were sad to leave my parents house after a ridiculously short visit, it did give us an opportunity to visit (and show off Isaac) with Tim's aunt who stopped by before her flight out of Portland.

Christmas morning arrived and we enjoyed our customary Hungarian coffee cake for breakfast before we read the Christmas story and exchanged presents.

Isaac's first Christmas!

  We had a Christmas catastrophe when Isaac's diaper leaked all over his favorite quilt that he has slept with ever since the day he was born. Thankfully, the swaddle blanket that his Great Grandma Luse sent him kept him content while the quilt was washed.

Elijah loves his little baby brother and occasionally wants to hold and snuggle him.

Christmas night, the Hawaii and the California cousins arrived at the grandparents house, so we drove over the next morning to  reunite with our cousin friends.

The Whittaker Newmas (Christmas around New Years Day) was celebrated.

Cousins were held.

Elijah actually wanted his picture taken...

...and to have a chance to try out his photography skills.

(I think a cheap digital camera is going to be on his wish list soon)

Isaac turned 1 month old...

...and stole his auntie's heart...

... and the rest of the family's hearts too.

Isaac FAQs

 During our hospital stay, we were relatively quiet on Facebook, in emails, and on this blog, mainly because the internet was spotty in our hospital room, but partially because I kept falling asleep at random moments. I don't even know how many cups of my requested peppermint tea went cold because I would fall asleep as soon as I was given the tea.

So, this post is an attempt to answer those questions (although some were answered in my previous post) and to show off my adorable baby some more.

What are Issac's STATS?
  Isaac was 7 lbs. 9 oz. He is 20.5" long with a 14.5" head.  He was almost 2 pounds lighter than Beniah and Elijah were at their births.

  


How was the c-section?
   Considering that the doctors were wrist deep in my belly (that line is for you Tim), this c-section was my best surgery. The anesthesiologist placed my spinal perfectly and I had absolutely no pain or "hot spots" this time around. It was really nice to not be given more morphine during the surgery and to be more "with it" in the recovery room and enjoy cuddling with my baby boy. The main problem I had with the surgery was not being able to painlessly laugh when Isaac peed on himself and Tim's face.

If you had to choose one aspect of Isaac that is your favorite, what would it be?
   My favorite aspect of Isaac would definitely NOT be his wonderful baby smell that comes and goes depending on the cleanliness of his diaper. My favorite would be his Vulcan right ear.  The nurse told us that his ear was probably pressed against something in utero and would round out over time. We'll miss this quirky little ear when it rounds out.

Live long and prosper, little one!

What was Elijah's reactions to Isaac? 
   Elijah loves his baby brother and comments on how cute he is and has asked to hold Isaac, but he does seem to have a bit of jealousy over how much I am holding Isaac. At one point, Isaac was starting to get upset so I bent over to pick him up and Elijah said (in a pathetically sad voice), "Mama, don't pick him up." Thankfully, Tim was right there to care for Isaac so I could cuddle more with Elijah. It's definitely going to be a juggling act between caring for my baby boy and my little cuddle bug.

 

"Look at his little mouth!"

"Looking at babies is not nearly as fun as coloring with Daddy."

How did you deal with hospital boredom?
   I made both boys a big brother bag and filled it with some Target dollar spot toys and coloring books. I used this bag idea that I found on Pinterest and modified it to include 2 handles.

 

Of course, the tablets came out to be played.

Other than randomly falling asleep and cuddling my baby, I had one of my closest friends and her son come over for a visit.

 

Tim, of course, took the opportunity to cuddle with his son

But once his arm went numb, Tim began taking many random photos (mainly to tease me about the page long list of photos that I wanted). While there are a lot to be deleted, he got some pretty clever ones.

 

 

How are you feeling?
    I am feeling much better now that I am at home resting and watching my boys play together and love on their little baby brother.

Elijah is happy to be a big brother. He was just not happy with the number of cameras pointing at him.

The Whittaker Five preparing to head home.

 

 

We are all very proud to have Isaac join our family!