Witt is 3 Weeks Old!

Witt Cravens, you are 3 weeks old!  It feels like you just got here yesterday...slow down time!  Here are some things going on with you as a 3 week old.

• You LOVE to be held!  Your big brother has never been much of a cuddle bug.  Even as a newborn he was more content to lay in his bed to fall asleep rather than be rocked.  It broke my heart and I told your daddy "I hope our next one likes to cuddle".  I got what I wished for!  You are a very content baby, but at times you will scream at the top of your lungs when in your swing or in your crib and the instant I pick you up you stop crying, snuggle up close to your mama and fall right to sleep.  
• I could set a clock by you!  I wanted to keep you on a 2 1/2 eating schedule for a few more weeks (and a 4 - 5 hour schedule at night...I love to have scheduled babies!), but you were not having it.  Late last week I decided to forget about the clock and just nurse on demand and let you sleep (during the day) until you woke up.  You are now on a 3 hour schedule around the clock and you are doing much better than when Mama tried to schedule you :)  You eat at 7, 10, 1, 4, 7, 10, 1, 4 on the dot and if I'm not ready to feed you that instant, you make sure I know you aren't happy :)
• We are working on good night time sleep in our house....You really like to moan, grunt, and wiggle between the hours of 2 am and 4 am which keeps your Mama wide awake.  We might be moving you to your crib in your room sooner rather than later due to this :)
• You had your first real bath last week (your umbilical cord fell off at 2 weeks, 1 day) and you loved it.  You get so relaxed in the bathtub and don't even mind having all your hair washed !
• Your big brother still loves you and even likes to hold you these days (but only for about 5 seconds, then he tries to push you off his lap).  I think he has kissed your head about 28 times so far today.  You two are going to be the best of friends!  
• We are having SO much fun with you and we love you so much!

Super Big Brother!

The past few posts have been all about Witt, so I thought it was about time to fill you in on how Jack is dealing with being a big brother.  I could not have DREAMED that he would do any better!  I really thought he would completely ignore the baby, but not at all.  The first sound out of his mouth when you get him out of his crib in the morning and after his nap is "Baby?".  He always has to know where his baby is :)   He climbs up the railing of Witt's crib to see if he is asleep, he helps swing Witt in the swing, he rocks him in the bassinet, he brings him his paci when he is crying...all the things a big brother is suppose to do. After he has given Witt about 10 seconds of attention, he runs off to play. He has been a GREAT big brother so far!  As for jealousy....I am not seeing it at all, BUT, he has started throwing some MAJOR tantrums this week and I'm sure it has something to do with the arrival of baby brother. I just telling myself I better get use to it because it is probably a preview of the terrible twos :)  Allen and I are working on types of punishment for his behavior and I have to say this is the toughest part of parenting we have dealt with in our 17 months of being parents.

We are so proud of big brother Jack!

This is what you get when you pull out the camera and tell Jack to smile :)

Witt is 2 Weeks Old!

Witt Cravens, you are 2 weeks old today (well yesterday...Mama is running a little behind)!  These past 2 weeks have flown by, but at the same time I can't remember what it was like before you were here.  You are such a sweet sweet baby and here are a few things going on with you as a 2 week old.

• You weigh 7 pounds, 13 ounces and are 19 1/4 inches long!  You hit a growth spurt over the weekend and did nothing but eat and eat and eat!  You are already such an overachiever by not only gaining back your birth weight, but also adding an extra pound in 2 weeks!  
• We are slowly getting on a schedule and for the past few days (once we got over the growth spurt) you have been eating about every 2 1/2 hours during the day and have stretched a few feedings out 4 hours at night (which I pray you continue to so!).  We have been working very hard during the day to keep you awake more and on a routine of eat, play, sleep, repeat.  Due to you being a little early and a little jaundice, keeping you awake has been a chore, but the past few days you have been so alert throughout the day which I think is helping with your night time sleep.
• You continue to be such an EASY baby!  You only cry when you are hungry or want to be swaddled to go to sleep.  You do love being held, but are also content in your carseat, swing, bouncy seat, crib, and bassinet.
• You already love to stroll (just like big brother) and we have strolled at least once everyday this week.  You are wide eyed and just look all around when we are outside.
• You sleep in your bassinet at night in your Mama and Daddy's room and take some naps in your crib in your room and also nap some in your swing.  
• Your big brother has figured out that you are a little person and when you cry he will go and get your paci and either bring it to me or try to give it to you.  He is already such a good big brother to you!

We love you so much, Baby Witt!

Witt's Birth Day

I'm trying to play catchup on the blog :)  I don't have any great pics to add to this post now, but will add them once I get a hold of some of my mom's pictures from the day Witt arrived.

The Story of Witt's Arrival

(as told by Allen and as told by Terra)

 8/14/2011
11:00 p.m.  
Terra is having contractions, but doesn't wake me up. 
I actually started having contractions around 8:00, but just thought they were Braxton Hicks.  We went to bed around 10:00 and I woke up at 11:00 with what felt like a Braxton Hicks plus cramps.  I got up and moved to the couch just thinking I was laying wrong.  At 11:30 I started timing them thinking..."This could be it".  At 1:00 I was pretty sure I was in labor so I did a load of laundry, packed Jack's bags.  Reorganized some stuff around the house, charged the camera...you know, just stuff you do in the middle of the night when you are in labor :)

8/15/2011
2:30 a.m.
Terra wakes me up and we call the doctor.  He says we should go ahead and go to the hospital.
I waited until I was contracting every 3-5 minutes before waking Allen up.  He was very calm which surprised me!  We called Dr. Martin and he said to go ahead and head to the hospital even though I'm not in alot of pain.  I had already progressed a good bit when I went to my dr appt the Wednesday before so we didn't want to take any chances of getting to the hospital too late to get an epidural!  I told Allen to get up and ready, but not to rush...and rush HE DID NOT.  Here I am in labor and my normally very high energy, fast moving husband took his precious time showering, getting dressed, packing a bag, taking the garbage out, ect.  We FINALLY left for the hospital at 3:15.  (Jack was spending the night with his CC and BigDaddy so I could sleep in the next morning...sleep in I did not, BUT it couldn't have worked out any better because we didn't have to worry about what to do with Jack in the middle of the night!)

5:00 am
After being in triage for an hour and half, nurse says we are staying and Dr sends orders to start pain meds when Terra wants them.
Allen was CONVINCED this was a false alarm and we would be sent home.  It wasn't until we were in a room in labor and delivery and they started an IV of fluid that Allen realized we were having a baby that day :)

6:00 am
I quickly head to Shipley's and get donuts for the nurses.  Got to keep them happy!
Yes, my hubby is sweet, but the real reason he got 3 dozen donuts for our nurses was to get a room with 2 beds once we had the baby and were put in a real room.  He remembered how uncomfortable the couch bed was from last time, so he thought donuts would help him get a real bed... it didn't work :)

7:30 am
Started pitocin.
The IV fluid slowed my contractions down a bit so Dr. Martin decided a little pitocin might get things back on track...it did of course and my nice regular painless contractions became more regular and much stronger (and HURT).  

8:15 am
Doc broke water.  Epidural on its way.  Nurse predicts baby will be here before noon.
Dr. Martin told me I was already at 5 cm and decided to break my water to speed things up even more.  I remembered how even more intense contractions get once your water breaks, so I asked if the anesthesiologist could head my way with an epidural (Stat!).  :)

9:00 am
Just got epidural!  Feeling good!
Just what Allen said...feeling good!

11:45 am
Complete and ready to have a baby!  Nurse calls doctor and tells him to head over and head over quickly!  Terra starts pushing.
My epidural had stopped working in everything other than my legs.  I was in a tremendous amount of pain but the nurse told me that the baby would be here in a matter of minutes and that I could do it.  I remember closing my eyes to block everything out and I don't think I opened them until he was born.  

11:50 am
Doc is called again and told to hurry.  He is pulling into the parking lot.

11:55 am
Wittman Moody Cravens is here!  Baby is perfect and Mom did GREAT!
Our sweet baby boy was born!  At first, I thought he looked just like Jack, only with a head full of dark hair, but now I don't think they look alike at all other than their eyes.  I fed him ( and he was a great eater from the beginning like his big brother) and then our family came back to meet little Witt.  Jack wasn't sure what to think...he just wanted to touch his feet :)
 

Witt is 1 Week Old!

Witt Cravens, you are 1 week old today!  This week has flown by and we already love you SO much!  Let me tell you some things about you as a 1 week old.

• On Friday you weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces.  You are wearing newborn clothes and have a couple of preemie gowns that fit you.
• You are a GREAT sleeper (so far...hope it stays this way).  It took a few nights for you to realize that nighttime is sleep time, but now you are only waking up to eat 2-3 times and go right back to sleep.  You nap most of the day, but about 3 times throughout the day you are very awake and alert for at least an hour showing of your big beautiful eyes :)
• You are a very good eater and you nurse every 2 to 2 1/2 hours during the day and about 3 to 3 1/2 hours throughout the night.
• You love your swing.  You have spent more time in the swing this past week than your big brother did his entire infancy.
• You are a squeaker and even in your sleep we hear little squeaks come out of your mouth.  Jack will hear you "squeak" and run to check on his "baby".
• Your brother is quite taken with you!  The first day you were home from the hospital he didn't pay much attention to you, but now he walks all over the house looking for you and saying "baby" until he finds where you are.  He loves to touch your toes and he has gotten in a little trouble for pulling them.  We have to tell him over and over again to be gentle with you.  One thing is for sure, you are going to grow up to be a tough little boy!
• You are such an easy baby!  I hope it stays this way because even with you being an easy baby, things are a little chaotic at our house these days :)  You are happy all the time unless you are hungry or want to be swaddled to go to sleep.  
• We love you SO much and already can't imagine you not being a part of our family!  Happy 1 week birthday, Baby Witt!!!

Introducing Wittman Moody Cravens

Wittman Moody Cravens 

"Witt"

August 15, 2011

11:55 am

6 pounds, 13 ounces

18 1/2 inches long

We are home and are loving being a family of four!  I will update soon with the birthday story and big brother Jack's reaction to bringing a baby brother home :)

A Little Raider Football

My brother, Cade, kicked off his senior year football season on Thursday night and Jack was there to watch his quarterback uncle's every move (well, he watched him for about 5 minutes then thought the John Deere gator parked on the practice field was more interesting).  We are excited about football season finally being here and this little Raider thinks going to a ballgame and running wild is about the greatest thing ever!

Sitting on Go!

Witt is 37 weeks (measuring closer to 39 weeks) and cooked and ready!  I had my weekly doctor appointment on Wednesday and was shocked (and happy) to hear how much I had "progressed".  I won't go into details using all those words that make some of my "not-yet-a-mama" friends squeamish (like dilation, ripening, and thinning..haha), but lets just say everything is definitely getting ready :)   My doctor seems to think Witt will come on his own any day now, but if he is not here in 13 days then I will be induced.  I have been having lots of contractions that come and go and every night I think I'm going into labor...haha.  I feel like a first time mom all over again.

I think Jack is as prepared as a 16 month old can be for the arrival of baby Witt.  We play in the nursery often and he walks around the room saying "Baby" over and over again.  Sweet guy doesn't have a clue :)

The nursery is almost finished and I'll post more pictures when it is all put together.  Please pray for a safe and easy delivery and a healthy baby boy!  We can't wait to meet him!

Jack's Big Boy Room

The beginning of June we moved Jack from his nursery into his "big boy room".  The room has been our guest room for the past year but we already had it furnished with bunk beds for whenever we had another baby, Jack would already have big boy furniture...we just didn't realize that Jack would still be in a crib when a "new baby" came along :)  So when we moved Jack, we moved his nursery furniture with him and got him new big boy bedding.  We just finished hanging pictures last night and I LOVE LOVE LOVE his "all boy" room!

Jack loves his bunk beds!  We all climb in to read books at bedtime and he loves to wrestle with his daddy in the bunk bed :)  We already had to dismantle the ladder due to a little monkey who has learned to climb...so the top bunk is off limits for a couple of years.  When Witt is about Jack's age, our plan is to put them in the same room, so this will then be both boy's room.

I was planning on leaving the changing table in the nursery, but then we decided to go with all white furniture for Witt, so Jack got to keep this piece.  The top will come off and it can become a dresser once we don't need the changer any longer (which feels like will be forever from now!). 

The crib is lowered all the way and he is starting to try to figure out how to climb.  We have awhile before he can climb out though and when he does, we can take the front rail off and the bed has a toddler rail to put on to help with the transition to the bunk bed :)  Jack loves his bedding...he like to point to the trucks and trains and his Mama loves his name above the crib!

The nursery is about 98% ready for Witt and I will share pictures when we finish the final touches!

Ramblings From A 16 Month Old

Hi there!  Jack Cravens here.  My mama said I could take care of this blog post since I am such a big boy and I can tell you all the things going on in my life right now.  I turned 16 months old over the weekend and Mama wonders where the past few months have gone.  I don't walk anywhere, I run.  I love to climb onto everything and am often not very careful once I make it to my up high destination and will fall off.  I keep either a bump on my head or skinned knees all the time.  I LOVE to be outside and will sit on the doorstep and cry when it's time to go inside (I am figuring out that this isn't working for my benefit any longer).  I'm still not much of a talker, but have I long list of words that I can say, but only when I want to.  My new favorite words to say are "hot", "pickle", "baby" and "Cuba".  I am becoming a picky eater and some days just don't want to eat.  Mama gives me a something she calls a milkshake on the afternoons I haven't eaten very much, but she's not fooling me... I know it is some kind of healthy, full of protein, vitamins, and calories drink, but it's chocolate so I drink it anyway.  I am on the lean side weighing in at 22.5 pounds and measuring 30 inches tall.  Mama tells me I'm so skinny because I never stop running.  My favorite things are to play cars and trucks,chase, and hide and seek.  I also love to ride my 4-wheeler, walk Cuba on his leash, play in the sprinkler and with the water hose, and swing.  I am going to be a big brother sometime this month and have been practicing by swinging the baby's swing and rocking the bassinet and bouncy seat.  I'm a little confused though because Mama keeps showing me pictures of babies and I will tell her "Baby", but when she asks me where Baby Witt is, I know he is in her belly and will point to it.  I'm not sure how a baby is in her belly, but I guess I will figure it out when the time comes.  Mama and Daddy tell me I'm full of personality and they are always laughing at me.  When they laugh about something, I will double over and put my hands on my knees and give a big fake laugh!  I'm also showing my stubborn side these days.  I don't like to be told "No" and am starting to throw little tantrums when I don't get my way...Mama says I'm just like my Daddy!  Mama tells me I'm such a good, sweet boy and she can't imagine a day without my hugs and kisses :)

Mama and Daddy tell me I am growing up WAY too fast.  Mama likes it when I crawl in her lap and want her to read me a book, and Daddy likes it when I want to wrestle with him.  He says the 2 of us going to get to do lots of big boy stuff when Baby Witt gets here, because Mama is going to have to feed the baby a lot and I'm okay with that... I really like getting breakfast with my dad and then going to Home Depot (something we do almost every Saturday morning).  I think I like this thing called growing up :)