Faces of Nolan

This little guy smiles, yawns, stretches, sneezes, eats, gets angry and has more gas then Gracie ever did.  He loves to be swaddled and loves his handles held.  Here are just a few great pictures of Nolan.

Big Sis, Lil Bro

We always knew Gracie would be a Great Big Sister.  Loving and caring for Nolan once he came.  She is so good about being gentle.  She wants to hold him as often as she can and loves to kiss and hold his hand.  Anytime he cries she is off to find a passi so he won't be so sad.  I love watching her love grow for our little Nolan.

checking each other out

holding hands

don't worry she is just giving him his passi

i just love this

Family

My parents made there way into town when I called and said my water broke.  They were here for 4 days, left for 2, then my dad came to be with me Wednesday and my mom came back on Thursday & stayed till Monday. It has been such a blessing having them here to help in so many ways emotionally and physically around the house and since technically I am not allowed to drive until Thursday they have also been my chauffeur.  My house is so clean, all the laundry done and I have one very happy little girl that loved all the extra attention and love.  Here are some of the fun shots we got from the time we had with them.

My mom with Gracie & Nolan

Grandpa & Grandma with the newest grandbaby

Grandpa & Gracie acting like monkeys

 I took a leap and decided to take my parents to 

the Holiday Tree Festival.  

Something fun to do before they left.  This 

is the Ohio State Tree we got a picture for 

Gracie's Uncle Alex.

 Tribute to Kansas

The Wizard of Oz Tree

 A very Soccer Tree for Miss Katherine

 The 4 of us with Santa

 The Grandparents with Santa

 Gracie loving Santa

 Grandpa & Gracie Practicing there dance moves

 lots of love

 little ballerina's for the Little Mermaid production

Did some dancing for Gracie and she loved it.  These

girls were little champs performing at our request.

Gracie loving the ballerina's

 And her pictures with the ballerina's they are Ariel's Sisters

Gracie & Grandpa practicing there moves after watching the ballerinas

Gracie's 3 Year Update

I decided it would be easiest to take both kids to the doctor at one time for Nolan's 1 week and Gracie's 3 year.  Good idea but thankful my dad was in town to drive me since I am not allowed to drive yet and Troy was able to meet us there which was a blessing.  Gracie did great getting weighed and standing against the wall to get her height.  Once in the room she stripped down for her check up minus the underwear which I think she thought was so funny.  Once Dr Weber came in she was running like crazy showing off for doctor Weber.  In the midst of the questions from Dr Weber to see what she could go Gracie went from showing off to saying, "I don't know" to all her questions.  She was wound but the poor girl had not gotten a good play in for a couple of days so I think being cooped up did no help her.  Dr Weber drew lines and Gracie had to pick which was longer which she did right away.  She new her colors pink, purple and blue but there after she went to orange for every color the doctor pulled out and  I don't know to all questions that followed.  It was interesting.  Dr Weber was a little shock by how much she talked and ran around.  In past visits Gracie usually sits very seriously and quiet during her visits not saying a thing, but on this day she was in rare form.

Her Stats:
Weight: 31lbs - 60% - this is good, she had gotten sick about a month ago and was down to 27lbs
Height: 3ft - 37% - We thought this girl had long legs but Dr Weber said she maybe a short girl.  We will have to see, her cheeks are starting to get pretty full again which usually means a growth spurt is on its way.
New to Her World:  Gracie is now a big sister and is handling it really well.  There are times she really wants some mommy love but that is not so different then before for us.  I think the thing she misses the most is playing with her friends.  I am going to have to get creative with activities this winter to keep her from getting board.  I think play dates will be a must during the week so she won't go to crazy.  Plus leaving in Ohio means harsh weather not something you can still go out in for walks or to ride your bike.

 Playing horse with Daddy

wonder where she gets her serious side from

1 Week

Nolan is a week old today which is so weird.  Over all he is a good baby. He eats well and sleeps well.  He smiles when you kiss his little mouth and makes some of the funniest noises.  Troy and I started a board with Parents listed on one side and Nolan listed on the other.  Every time Nolan defeats us in a diaper change he gets a point and whenever we defeat him we get a point, right now Nolan is winning.  On his second day home I was changing Nolan and he projected #2 all over the front of me, Troy had the same situation but caught it in a diaper.  As you can see changing a boys diaper for us is so different then Gracie in both areas:)

Feeding/Sleeping: Nolan's bilirubin levels were pretty close so we were to watch his color over the next couple of days. Day 2 in the hospital consisted of marathon feeding and then went into every two hours.  On Monday he decided to cluster feed all day, ever 1.5 hours and on Tuesday we got him back to 2 to 2.5 hours between feedings.  His night feedings first consisted of me waking him every 3 hours because I was so full.  The doctor told me not to do that anymore.  Let him sleep as long as he wants.  Which I agree so I will have to get up and pump for a little while.  We will have to see how long he will truly go without me waking him, so far 4.5 hours last night and I did finally wake him to feed.  Tonight I promised not to wake him at all, he went from 11pm to 5am, as soon as i heard the smacking noises from him trying to eat his hand I got him up, I was dying.  I am really trying to stretch myself to last longer.  During the day he sleeps mostly between feedings with some awake time.

 At Nolan's 1 Week Check Up:

Height: 21" - 90% - If you recall at birth he was 19 1/4.  The nurse said no way did they measure correctly at the hospital.  

Weight: 8lbs 4oz - 63% - proof of how much this little guy is eating

Head: 14"- 66% - still smaller then miss gracie

Info:  Nolan is doing good he has an umbilical hernia which will have to be watched, a little weird and scary. 

 

 first sponge bath

getting lots of love from his sister

Blessed

Today marks week 40, my due date.  I only thought it appropriate to post my thoughts.

This pregnancy has been so different for me emotionally.  Many know that I have had a very hard time this time around with my emotions.  This could be due to hormones and/or any other contributors but either way I struggled.  By the end of the pregnancy I just wanted the baby out and safe in my arms.  I know that sounds strange to think this world is safe but having something happen in the last week would just kill me and with all the stories right now I was a little stressed about this baby coming and wanting everything to be ok.  The post partum part of pregnancy with both Gracie and Nolan are hard on me.  My body is a mess.  My hormones are changing, I am tired, my body is losing weight and there are just so many changes that emotionally I feel all over the place but in this time comes a lot of reflection on so many areas of my life.

Tonight, the four of us went out for a walk and my mind jumped from thought to thought.  As I watched Troy run around with Gracie I thought I can't believe this is who I married, I can't believe I turned him down the first time he asked me out.  As I told Troy my thoughts I just could not believe how much has changed and how blessed I was to have him.  This evening consisted of a lot of thankful prayers of how blessed I was to have such a great husband who loves and cares for me even when I am crying for no reason.  I have two healthy kids, a great husband, a home and a loving family.  I remember all to well thinking about what my future would look like, who I would marry, what my kids and my life would look like.  God has blessed me beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of and I don't thank him enough for all that he has done for me and all the blessings he has given to me and continues to bestow upon me and my family.  I now just pray that he protects my family because there is only so much I can control and only so much I can see.

Nolan Alan Schenk

Our Story of Nolan Alan Schenk coming into our world...

Nolan Alan Schenk

7lbs 7oz 19 1/4" long

Born 11/10/11 at 12:15 am

Hospital measurement not accurate, at his 1 week he was 21" long.  

They checked twice and said the hospitals really don't worry about 

this being accurate at all and there is not way 

he got that much longer in a week;)

Wednesday started without a thought in my head that this may finally be the day.  Although I had been having contractions they were no different then the day before so I thought nothing of the ones I had.  Gracie and I had lunch together and then headed home for naps.  Naps are a must at this point in pregnancy but today I decided to try and finish a sewing project so I could get all my sewing stuff put away for awhile.  4pm rolled around and Gracie was up and around.  Something strange had happened I kept wetting my pants, so I thought, now at this point in pregnancy it is not normal for me to pee my pants but this pregnancy had been different so I thought maybe...  I went to the bathroom to see if maybe my water had broke like I have heard stories of but nothing.  Then it happened 3 more times and I thought well I will just call the doctor.  Once I talked to the nurse she touched based with the doctor and they wanted me to head for the hospital but not to rush.  I texted Troy and started doing a quick pick up around the house...just incase.  I went over the hospital list to make sure everything was by the door.  I then called Troy told him he needed to take me to the doctor.  At this point I knew he was at practice but was not sure where or at what point in practice.  My poor husband had to run up the practice field hill and all the way back to the sports complex where his car was parked.  At this point I called him again because at that point I had"peed my pants" a couple more times and was getting worried.  I called my mom to get her bags ready and I waited.  At this point I was having a couple hard contractions but not close enough together that I thought the hospital would keep me. Honestly I was all ready for them to send me back home.
By 5:30 I was checked in, in a hospital gown and answering questions.  As I sat there explaining that I was not 100% sure this was my water leaking a huge gush happened and my water did in fact break, ok now I was a believer.  From that point on the contractions started.  Nothing like the ones with Gracie this is what they called back labor.  I heard of it but never had the slightest clue what it meant or how bad it could hurt.  I was moved to my room and was ready for the epidural.  They had to try 3 times to get it in right.  I got the shakes so bad I could not sit still which made it a little hard for the anesthesiologist.  But finally it was in and a lot of the pain went down except for the baby pushing on my pelvic bone.  Each time a had a contraction we gently pushed his head away.  Thankfully after that point I did not feel much.  At 11pm the delivery nurse was concerned that the baby was turned face up and not face down so she shifted me on my side.  Then she shifted me completely on my left side and then the pain started like mad in my back.  Very quickly the pressure was there and we called my nurse Angie, who was awesome, that I thought I was ready.  She was given the go ahead for me to start pushing at midnight so I did a warm up push and then another and was told to hold on the baby is here, I could tell, but no one was doing anything.  I asked what was wrong and I looked at Troy and asked what is wrong with the baby.  Nothing his head was right their but we had to wait for the doctor to come in the room.  At which I responded who cares about the doctor.  All I could think is I am sure these nurses have done this a million times I am good, no worries lets just get this done.  Angie told me not to do anything crazy.
Two contractions later the doctor was ready to go and two more pushes at 12:15 out came a healthy baby boy.  There were some exchange of words from my doctor to Troy and I heard Troy say "its ok just cut it."  At the time I had no idea but later found out the cord was wrapped around the baby's head twice.  Troy said the doctor had to cut the cord it two different places.  I also had a fever at this point and so did the baby so I was administered antibiotics for the next 24 hours.
If you wondered when we decided on the name well as soon Doctor Jaggadish handed the baby to the nurse they asked what the baby's name was and I said Nolan without event thinking twice.  Troy loved this name as well and was excited to hear my answer.  For us it was perfect, Nolan Alan Schenk.

To Our Beautiful Gracie

The following are letters to Gracie.  We wanted to write her each a little something before her new brother came into our world and although it is personal I don't want to forget to add it to the scrapbook.

 my sweet gracie,

our first born

the one because of whom we were first given the names, daddy and mommy

the one who changed our lives forever

who taught us how to love more deeply

and because of whom, we have a greater understanding of the Father's love for us...

you are truly a gift from the Lord.

you are loved.

you are cherished. 

being the first born

there are different burdens you will bear

but we know God has equipped you for what He has called you to. 

your world is about to change

and you are about to receive one of the greatest gifts... 

a sibling

this sibling will be a tool the Lord can use to teach you the world is not about you

to help you learn the importance of sharing

to love through anything

how to forgive

 how to put others before yourself. 

this is just the beginning of all that you can learn...

what joy you will find in having a best friend who understands you in ways 

others never will

a bond only you two will understand. 

i knew i would love being a mother,

but i never knew how deep my love would be for you.

a daughter, 

one who brings so much joy into my life. 

you are more than i ever dreamed of. 

gracie, you are the spitting image of your mother

you have an overwhelming love and caring side

you have naturally come by your fun wild side

but I can see you have taken on the serious side of your father

you miss him when he is gone

you want him around every moment that he is home

gracie you are so loved

God knew how perfect you would be in our lives as the first

he knew how much you would teach me and show me

the healing that you have brought to parts of my life

Lord, thank you for a gift that we are so undeserving of.

even now I am sad that our little world is going to change

but i am excited about this expected arrival of our first son

Only god knows your birthday

He knows the name that is yours

We have dreamed of you

Prayed for you

Hoped for you

And loved you

Before we even knew of you

With anticipation we wait

Gracie,

                  Yesterday was your third birthday.  WOW!  It seems like only last week I was bringing you and your mom home from the hospital to stay.  I really was apprehensive about being a father to a daughter because I grew up with only brothers and didn’t know anything about a daughter.  The apprehension faded fast.  All I wanted to do was to hold you in my arms and let you sleep the time away either on my shoulder or in my arms.  I can remember just watching you for hours some nights not wanting to put you to bed, but instead just hold you sleeping while I rocked you.  I have never seen the love of a mother to a daughter.  Your mom, Gracie, loves you with all that she has.  It is something very special for your father to witness the way she cares and loves you.  At this time in your life you are defiantly a mommy’s girl.  You remind me so much of her and I just enjoy seeing how a like the two of you are.  You have brought so many smiles and laughs to your mother and I it’s hard to imagine something brightening our days more then you have.  Your personality just radiates a fun-loving caring spirit that has blessed us over and over.   I will never grow weary of your head on my shoulder, your little hand holding my fingers, or the way you wrap your little arms around me to give me a big hug. 

Your life and our lives as your parents are about to change.  Within a week we will be welcoming your baby brother, Nolan Alan Schenk, into our family.  I am so excited to see you as a big sister.  I am so excited to see you and your mother share your big hearts with our knew family member and can’t wait for his arrival.  I wish I could explain to you in a way that you’d understand about how needy your little brother will be.  I want you to know that even though Nolan will need a lot of love and care, your mom’s and my love will not waiver or diminish in any way.  I know that you will love Nolan very much and will always be very protective of him like you are with your younger cousin Sawyer.  I know that you will be a great help to your mother even at such a young age, because it’s just who you are.  I know you will teach Nolan many things and will always be a great big sister.  It gives me great comfort to know that even at 3 years old you will be here with your mother and brother helping them any way you can.  My prayer for you is that you will grow into a Godly woman.  One who seeks God with her whole heart, mind, and soul.  Your mother has Jeremiah 29:11 framed on your wall “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  My hope is that you will trust in God’s plan for your life and not grow weary of seeking out what that is.

One of my favorite books in Bible is Proverbs.  I want to share with you a passage from Proverbs 31:10-31:

^“10A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

I want you to strive to be this kind of woman Gracie.  I love you so much!!!

Babies

No this is not about my babies but about Gracie's babies.  I wanted to document this before I forgot.  All children go through different toys and favorites.  Gracie loves having one friend in each arm so there are always at least pairs.

From Left to Right - this is Abby & Cabby

Cabby was Gracie's first cabbage patch given to her by my parents.  I think the doll scared her for some time.  When Abby came around she fell in love with her right away.  If troy and I were to ever help carry her babies we were given Cabby to carry.  I can say that she did change favorites for a short time until they were replaced by new friends.

meet rosetta & tinker bell

these 2 girls were given to Gracie as a reward after potty training

daddy hippo, mama duck, gracie duck,
baby duck & the princess duck
this group started Gracie love for everything mama and baby
if she sees to hearts and one is bigger then the other that big
sticker becomes mammy sticker & the other baby sticker

bunny bear, mama bunny & baby bunny

these 3 ladies have stuck in Gracie's favorite

they sleep in her bed every night and often go on outings

if one of them is left behind it is always bunny bear

38 Weeks

Well, this will be my last pregnancy post for this little guy.  It has been an intersting journey this time around.  Although I like being pregnant this pregnancy was much hard on my body emotional and physically but every bit of it is worth having this little guy be apart of our world.

At 37 weeks I started having contractions on and off.  Nothing big but they were there.  This last appointment I went ahead and did what I dread and asked if they would check to see if there was any progress at all.  Knowing that Gracie was 2 days past her due date I was expecting a no.  My doctor checked me out and to my surprise I am 4 centimeters dilated and 90 effaced.  Wow, ok!  She said if I make it to next week they would want to induce me.  I am scheduled to see the doctor Wednesday & if there is still no baby they will induce me on Friday.  Troy is hoping I hold out till Friday and I am just hoping to get as many days with Gracie as I can.

So very soon life will be so different.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

To the sunshine in our lives,
You have made our world so much better.  We have learned so much about ourselves individually and as parents.  You have been such a blessing and a delight.

Your Birthday could not have been more perfect.  We asked you on several occasions over the last month what do you want to do for your birthday?  What do you want on your cake?  Pink was the color every time.  You wanted your cake to have a pony and a ballerina on it, aka princess.  So we did just that.

the very pink birthday cake I made

Gracie's very big present

Gracie has been asking me for a bike for months & every
time I have asked about the color she says pink, so pink it is
and with the baby carrier in back which is what I think she
will play with more then actually ride it for a while

she had to get her bunnies settled in before we could even start

very excited little girl

our little family before we turn to 4

she now understands how to tear open gifts

all smiles as we sing

ready for the candles

with a little help from daddy

going for the cake cone

then the sugar cone

sawyer enjoying the birthday celebration

Gracie crowning her auntie Kristen as a princess

Sawyer willingly accepting a dance with Gracie

It may not have lasted long but it was very cute

 Troy let Gracie & Sawyer ride the horse

These are my favorite little series of pictures!

 Gracie riding on daddy's back

&

Troy giving Sawyer big eyes

 Sawyer showing uncle Troy what he thinks of his eyes

 the stare down

 hilarious

 wrestling

Gracie trying to save Sawyer

Our Guests

Uncle Cliff & Jess

Uncle Kyle & Auntie Kristen 

miss nora

And my parents that some how I do not have a picture of,
not sure how that happened.