Mackenzie

Since Caleb's arrival, most of our posts have revolved around him. I wanted to dedicated this one to my sweet (and sometimes very sassy) girl!

*Mackenzie is extremely independent! She is a take control girl, who prefers to do things all by herself. Whether it's dressing herself, getting into the car/carseat, or retrieving a snack from the fridge, she prefers NO assistance! I am hoping this quality will be helpful in the future when it doesn't take her a decade to complete a task!

*She is quite the manipulator! She can pull a fast one on you before you even realize it & is rather convincing in her arguments.

*She is ridiculously smart and amazes us daily with the things she knows & her vocabulary.

*She is already using early reading strategies! She can open up a book and recite and retell the story using picture clues! When we read stories before bed, she wants me to read 1 page and then she wants to read the next. . . so very cute!

*She has an amazing sense of direction (a quality inherited from Grandma Buzzard). Sometimes on car rides I will quiz her and see if she can give me directions home. She can also tell me depending on which way we turn out of the neighborhood, different things we will pass.

*She loves anything that has to do with the Disney Princesses. She is adamant that Cinderella only wears her hair up and Sleeping beauty only wears her hair down. There is no convincing her otherwise!

*She has a vivid imaginatiom and LOVES to pretend. She also loves to play hide and seek, red light/green light, and a chasing game she invinted called "try to get me!"
Dancing, singing and putting on "shows" are also a big hit these days!

*She is ridiculusly strong willed and can throw the Guiness Book of World Records biggest temper tantrum ever! There is no doubt that in life she will use this determination to do great things and follow her own path.

*She has a very tender heart. She does not like to see others upset. When she went to Caleb's one week appt, she was near tears thinking that he would get a shot. Luckily, he didn't get shots until his 1 month appt, and she refused to go b/c she didn't want to see him cry. Such a good big sister!

*We are finally past separation issues when leaving her with others or at her daycare providers house. Hallelujah!

*She is in L-O-V-E love with her brother. She tells him (in the sweetest high pitched voice) "ahh, aren't you the cutest boy ever?" She loves to give him kisses and hugs and is a good assistant when we need a burp cloth, bib, paci or wipe.

*She is the most amazing little girl and we love her to pieces.

This shirt says it all . . .

Caleb - 1 month

I can't believe 4 weeks have passed since Caleb's birth! Our lives have changed in so many ways since his arrival! Sleep is a distant memory, we are on man-on-man defense with two kids and it takes twice as long to do everything (this said as I type and feed "Lil Man"). Yet, we wouldn't change a thing. . . well, except for his sleep habits! We celebrated his 1 month bday with a trip to see his great grandma, Monty. She loved all over him and introduced him to everyone, including the mailman. . . no joke! It was a great day complete with lots feedings, naps and a photo shoot at home.



Here are some pictures & fun facts about our "Lil Man":

*Caleb's nicknames are "buddy" and "Lil Man"
*He eats every 3-4 hours
*A few nights he has gone 4-5 hrs b/t feedings (heaven!)
*He can down a bottle in about 7 mins....ALL 4 ounces!
*He belches like a grown man and has the worst smelling gas (Sorry buddy, I am sure one day this fun fact will embaress you, or possibly gratify you)
*You love car rides, but don't enjoy getting buckled in your carseat
*You are laid back, unless you are hungry, wet or gassy
*You began experiencing some serious gas and digestive issues a few weeks ago, and as a result are taking .6 ml of Zantac for reflux
*You are more alert these last few days and are beginning to notice more of your surroundings
*You make LOTS of noises when you asleep, which is why you no longer sleep in a basinette in our room
*You prefer to sleep in your bouncy seat throughout the day and night, however, I am trying to get you more comfortable in your bed
*You do not mind noise, which is good when you have a very loud and verbal 3 year old sister (who by the way adores you!)
*You have long, skinny arms, legs, fingers and toes (much like your Mama)
*You have a full head of dark brown hair and big beautiful eyes
*You have a quiet cry (but you don't have a problem turning up the volume when your needs are not being met in a timely manner)
*You are the PERFECT addition to our family. We couldn't love you more!



Happy 1 month bday, Caleb!

Three Generations Of Buzzard Boys

Sweet Siblings

I am sure the day will come when Kenzie and Caleb will want nothing to do with each other. They will read this post and roll their eyes in disgust that there was ever a moment in time that they adored each other. For now, I am savoring the moment and enjoying watching these two love on each other. There is nothing sweeter than the bond between siblings. I can only hope that as time passes, their love for each other does not fade.

Hospital Stay and Homecoming

Many people may argue that a 3 night stay in a hospital is in NO way similar to a mini-vacation. However, when you have Nurse's available 24 hours to deliver pain meds, answer questions, bring you your baby from the nursery, along with 3 hot meals a day served from a pretty decent cafeteria...that YOU don't cook OR clean. . . what else do you call it? Sure, it comes with some discomfort, needles, iv's, and limitations, but in the end. . . our little man was worth it all& I'm still calling it a vacation!

As sad as we were to say goodbye to the wonderful hospital staff, we were equally excited to see Mackenzie and introduce her to her little brother. (*Due to H1N1, the hospitals policy would not allow siblings under 16 to visit, therefore her first interactions with Caleb were when he was 4 days old). We were a little worried b/c Mackenzie commented ALL through my pregnancy that she ONLY wanted a sister...and her name MUST be Maddie. We were a little apprehensive to share the news that the baby was in fact a boy named Caleb and that he would never be dressed in pink! We took a hysterical video (which I hope to upload soon) that shows her disappointment; however, I am happy to report that by that evening she was in love with her brother! She has proved to be a great big sister. She is very helpful in retrieving diapers, finding his pacifier, burping him and kissing his little head. We couldn't be prouder of her. She has had a lot to adjust to and will be a GREAT big sister!

Our first few days home as a family of 4 have been more than I could have imagined. Jeremy has been beyond helpful taking over household jobs, helping with bath and bedtime, and letting me rest and recover. Mackenzie has been patient in waiting for us to care for Caleb and has really bonded better than expected. It's amazing how things return back to you that you have forgotten, how deeply you can love someone you barely even know and how complete we now feel as a family.

Below are some picture from our hospital stay and from our Homecoming!

Leaving the Hospital. . .




Meeting Baby Brother
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Opening Caleb's gift to Mackenzie, a baby doll


Helping Mommy feed Caleb


Mommy and her favorite little girl and boy



Nana and Grandpa welcoming Caleb home



Caleb's first sponge bath (4 days old)









Heading out to our first Pediatricians appt










6 days old Stats: 6 lbs, 12.8 oz (10th-20th percentile), height 20 1/4 inches (50th-75th percentile)


Snuggling up with Sissy for a nap



Our family of 4

Our first Photo Shoot

Today, the hospital photographer came in to take Caleb's picture for their website and for First Photo. Little man was a natural! He knew just how to strike a pose, work the camera and show off his killer looks. I don't want to toot my own horn, BUT....Mommy got some pretty great pictures herself. I think the hospital photographer was actually a little jealous of my close up, eyes open shot. . .looks like someones got a little competition!

The link to the online hospital pics is:http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage.asp?UrlID=3113089371
password: Buzzard