It is amazing to me how fast and yet how slow this first month has past! Cai is such a huge blessing to our family and we are enjoying getting to know the incredible wonderful him. Charis seems to be adjusting as now she loves to check on him, give him his passey and she will even love on him a bit. It has definitely been an adjustment but such a precious gift. I am definitely growing and learning so much about me and the members of our little family. These little ones just seem to grow so fast which makes me not want to blink in fear that I might miss something!

I finally found a little piece of time to finish up a gift for friends of ours who had a little girl right after we had Cai. I must admit that I started this project long ago but just finished it which is sad as it is not a big project but I think that things might take a little longer for the next little bit until I get the hang of life with two little ones. It felt good to be back at the sewing machine! It was kind of like reconnecting with an old friend. It has just been a few weeks but somehow seems so much longer. I am pondering about my next project as it is time to start using all this fabric that I started stashing away before Cai’s arrival! It is so good to be back!!!

I have been thinking that I am doing pretty well with my stir craziness but according to Brad there are signs of it around our house. I have been getting out some as I have mentioned in other post but I think that there is just something about living your day as you would live it and not being so dependant upon others. I am not sure what it is exactly. Our moms have been WONDERFUL to get me out and about and Brad has been willing to keep the kiddos (after Charis has gone down for bed) and let me run out for a bit but these six l-o-n-g weeks are wearing on me I do believe. Brad came home this afternoon and commented on how clean the kitchen was…several times! Finally he said, you are really getting stir crazy aren’t you? I really thought I had been covering this up pretty well but leave it to your husband to unearth the little things. I asked him how he could tell and he pointed out that I was starting to clean the house which really isn’t something that I spontaneously do. I have to use my free time to do something though. I think that Brad may call the doctor and ask her to keep me restricted as he likes this clean house thing. I am pretty sure that he could get use to it…2.5 weeks of a clean house left! Next week my mom is back to work and Brad’s mom will be working as well so I am going to try to take over life a little bit more hopefully only needing help to go to the grocery store and naps etc. We shall see how it all goes. In two weeks Brad’s grandmother (Great Great as Charis lovingly calls her even though she is only a great), Aunt and Cousin will be visiting so that week will hopefully pass quickly and then Lord willing I will have the all clear and you all will not have to listen to me blog about my stir craziness! Until then I will be cleaning the house.

Well, I made it out of the house again today! Charis has been pleading to go to the mall so with a lot of help the car was packed and we headed off! We gave the new double stroller a spin around the stores and it worked wonderfully! Charis did not get her fill of shopping so we headed over to Old Navy as well to see what all they had in stock. While looking around I stumbled across two lonely racks that had super deals on them! The deals were so great that I decided to take pictures so that you would believe me! Check out the pictures and be amazed! I was amazed! Some of the sizes are a little larger (the turtle neck and hoodie are 2T but hey .97 cents a piece) for Cai but hey a deal is a deal even if you have to wait a bit to wear it. I am really excited about the jacket find and it is a thick material so it will be great for this winter plus every little boy needs some overalls to play in. I could not pass up the army pants as Gpa would be proud! I was sad to not find any girls clothes on sale but Cai is really the one who will be needing clothes so this was great to stumble across!

Thanks to our Moms I have been making it out of the house with the kiddos which has been wonderful!!! Friday we made the big trip to the grocery store which even though it is Wal-mart it was still fabulous to be out! We made it through the whole store and we were waiting in line to “pay” as Charis says. It always bothers me that all the junky magazines are right there when you are checking out but I never pay to much attention to them. I was busy staring off into space enjoying the new scenery when I heard little Charis’s voice saying, “Mama, he needs to get dressed!” When I looked Charis was pointing at a magazine cover with Matthew McConaughey on the beach with no shirt on. I chuckled at her and agreed that he did need to get dressed then I was sad in my heart for all that I cannot protect her eyes from. There is so much in this world that can influence out little ones but we can take a proactive roll in praying for their little hearts and trying our best to watch through their eyes for things that can be harmful. I know that there is a lot worse that Charis could see but it definitely got me thinking especially having a boy now as well. Oh, be careful little eyes what you see!

Oh, how I do wish that I could be lifting a lot more weight that I am allowed currently! After a C-section it takes, what feels like forever, to get the all clear to lift anything that you wish. I am up to 10lbs, well actually I have been at 10lbs since leaving the hospital. I go back to the doctor in two more weeks and hopefully I will be allowed to lift a little bit more. 20lbs would be helpful as then I could lift the baby car seat with Cai in it. I am super excited for the 6 weeks all clear! I am coming straight home and lifting Charis and giving her a huge hug and kiss while she is in my arms and then I am loading up the kiddos all by myself and going out of the house!!! Our mom’s have been absolutely fabulous with all of their help but it is hard to depend on them for everything like going anywhere (with the kiddos) and even getting Charis in and out of bed for naps I feel bad to call upon them so much but I know that the Lord is teaching me something in all of this. I just need to listen. Charis and I both are enjoying the extra time with the Grandmothers and that is a sweet gift in itself. I will try to enjoy this time of not lifting as I am sure that there is plenty of weight lifting coming my way…I just miss my little cuddles with my Charis.

I am sitting here realizing that this could possibly be the first time that a real since of quiet has fallen over the house since we arrived home from the hospital. There have been moments of silence but this quietness that has fallen on the house tonight is peaceful and reassuring. Charis has finally chatted herself to sleep, Cai is sleeping peacefully (at least until the next feeding) and Brad is still trying to find the end of the internet! The birdies are chirping away outside and the sun is starting to sink to find its bed for the evening. Ahhhh! Life is moving along quickly! Cai already seems to have grown up in ways. His cheeks are fuller and he opens his eyes for longer periods of time. Charis seems to be adjusting to life somewhat as she seems to have accepted Cai in her own way and will even love on him and give him kisses before she heads off to bed she is even eager to greet him in the morning. Brad is hanging on for the ride and seems pooped from playing mom and dad! He has been absolutely incredible with the kids, working and taking care of the house. Wow! I think that I would of long since fallen apart by now. I am hanging in there a little bored with the home front and longing to be free to run errands but that will come with time. I am missing picking up and snuggling with Charis but my incision is healing and just a few more weeks before I get the all clear to pick up Miss Charis. Life with two is definitely not boring but it is rewarding in so many different ways on so many different levels. I often feel torn between the two but I think that with time and healing this will work itself out. I am sure as Charis and Cai grow and get to know each other a little more our world will be different as well. These days have been sweet with the family and we have had SO much help from our extended family as well. Charis will be sad when I am fully recovered as her mornings with mom are probably just not the same as mornings with Gma and Granny. For now I am off to enjoy the quiet stillness of the house before hunger sets in with Cai or Charis decides sleeping is overrated and she would rather chat a little more. Hope that your evening is quiet!

He is here! He is here! I have the dark circles under my eyes to prove it! Cai made his big arrival via c-section on May 30th at 7:46am. Brad and I were up early that morning anticipating all that would take place over just the next few hours. All went smoothly and we had a little one to show for it! Cai’s arrival was a lot smoother than Charis’s but I felt like there was so much more to anticipate as we introduced Cai and Charis to each other. It was sweet to have the family time with just the four of us as Charis was the first one in the family to meet her new little brother. She was very interested in him but not quite interested enough to hold him. She has come a long way in the last few days and is often asking for him and checking in on him. Brad and I are hanging in there…I think. Life is definitely different or shall we say fuller in a sweet way. Brad has been an INCREDIBLE help in these last few days taking care of all of us. He is quite the trooper! Our families have been fabulous as well. I am starting to have energy again which is really a wonderful thing because with my energy today I took a shower! It is the little things ya know! Tomorrow is a big day as Cai will have his first doctors appointment and I have an appointment as well to get my staples out! We will have to rest up tonight for such a big day tomorrow. This new little one is definitely a blessing to our family! Bonding has been a sweet and precious thing. I am really missing playing with Charis though. It is still hard to get up and down so tickle fest and playing are not apart of the picture right now although I had the sweetest blessing of reading her a book tonight! It blessed my mommy heart to have a few minutes with her just sitting still…I think that she still likes me. Well, the alarm is going off (Cai’s alarm that is) time to feed but I wanted to give an update! Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts!