Austin's pictures from the hospital and going home

Every night this week I've found Owen sound asleep in his bed with the overhead light on. I found him wearing his glasses or in the middle of a pile of clothes or school books. He's exhausted. He's got less than 9 weeks of school left and it will be his biggest hurdle yet. My mother's heart can't take it some days. And I've forgotten to mention he's joined the tennis team at school. I've only seen him play one match due to the fact he plays when I'm at work. Total bummer. But he's really loving it and hopefully it's a sport he'll play the rest of his life. And it helps him relieve the tension of studying so hard.  

But all of that got me to thinking about boys...boys finishing high school and baby boys being born. It will always be that way. Boys almost out of high school, all grown up, while baby boys are being born. It's a part of life. My boy isn't a baby anymore and I'm OK with that. But I also miss little boy kisses and little boy hugs and little boy goodnights. And stressless little boy lives. Thank God little boys' lives are filled with t-ball and digging in the dirt and climbing and throwing any ball they see. I see little boys and girls every day at my job. They run and play and act like twits and are super sweet and run to their Moms or Dads when they come to pick them up. Yesterday an 8th grader was pushing a 3 year old girl on the swing. He didn't have to do it. It was the sweetest. Then a 4 year old boy pushed a 5 year old girl off the slide. It takes all kinds.

Everyone says kids growing up goes by so fast. And it feels like it does, but time really hasn't sped up. I'm the mother of an almost 19 year old boy, and we lived every single day of those 19 years. But it FELT fast. I didn't miss much, except his single to win a baseball game when he was 13 years old. That nearly broke my heart. And when I said to God, "Why did I have to miss that?" I clearly heard him say, "He needs you there more when he fails." I understood what He meant. 

And so I'm glad he's almost 19 and out of high school. And sure I wish I'd done some things better than I did. But I know I loved as good as I could and tried to make the best decisions possible. I was as proud as any mother ever has been and took as much care to help him reach adulthood. It's been a great 19 years. And there's more to come.

So as these babies grow up, I know you won't forget, even on those really tough days, to get every hug you can, or every messy kiss that comes your way. Remember to write down the funny things they say and their favorite book and food and sport. And 19 years from now, you will have written on each of their hearts, the love you have for each one of your kids. And they will always know where home is and who loves them as purely as can be. It's all in a day's work of a parent. And as hard as it is sometimes, it's absolutely worth it.

First born Lucas made Lauren and Austin parents. He won the lottery of parents just as they did with their boy. The years ahead will be filled with so much fun. I can't wait to watch and see.        

Lucas just after he was born.

Getting checked out by the doc.

And not happy about it. 

So many first things ahead for him.

Look at that face.

He needs to be....

In those arms.

Is it just me or is he working the raised eyebrow 7 seconds after he was born?

The happy newly made parents.

So precious.

Snuggled with Mom the best place to be. Look at that tiny hand!

Leaving the cutest hospital ever.  

Rori's checking out the new creature from afar.

And why her Mama's holding it.

The other best place for him to be, all cuddled up on Dad's chest.

Poor Rori.

I'm up! I'm up...

Aunt Car Car came to meet Lucas.

Checking him out.

He's got that "Aww shucks I know I'm cute." Down pat. 

This child is so snuggly. 

Carlie is already wrapped around that tiny finger. 

Her goose is cooked. He gets whatever he wants from her. 

Wise Ninja used to say....I'm sorry but that's what came to mind. 

Now that's relaxed. 

And that.

Chubby baby feet!

You could put him in a glass of tea. Get it?

Already parting wisdom through the eyes. 

I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 10.

So snuggly!

And I love that blanket!

Cushy and fab. It's like a blanket commercial.

Luscious lips.

Rori finally got up close.

I'm sinking!!!!

Are you looking at me?

I have this printed out and hung. Because....O.M.G

As everyone should know by now I like to do pictures in order, but this was one of those times it wasn't possible. And it still gives me the quivers. I'm still on track for doing multi posts this week, but I'm not sure I'll finish it all. 

But come back for more! 

I know I will.

This is a posting done at 2:26. 

Some babies may be up, but this one's going to the sheets.

Night to all.

Explanation

I had to stop at the d or I wouldn't have made the 1:41 posting!

Whew!

That was close.

The making of a big brother

Here's the deal people. There's almost always two cameras at all our family events. And yes we're taking some of the same pictures, but lots of times we get different perspectives of the same life happening. I like it a lot. In this group, Melanie's are heavy on the William boy child. I've entitled it, the making of a big brother. And while we have no idea what William was thinking that day, one day he'll be able to see what it was all about, and understand how important it was. And I think he will love it. It's like our own photographic journal of our life. It's super cool to me. 

And when you see the short boy amongst all the tall people, you see how many family members he has. It's a lot. He's got his peeps of all ages, and I think he likes it. He keeps things real and moving fast. He's pretty fab like that. 

Let's see what he was up to while Mom labored and Dad waited. 

See? That's me in the purple taking that super cute picture from the other post and there is no white streak. Still so annoyed.  

College grads using William as an excuse to color. 

Getting in some laps.

Cleaning off the old nose. I won't say snot and gross everybody out. 

Reflecting on his time as an only child. Yeppers bub, it's ova.

But he's already over it looking adorbs. 

A selfie with Gee.

It's still not go time. 

Same cuteness as before. 

Lindsey's not uncomfortable enough yet. 

I look like I'm helping a lot, while Carrie's rubbing the feet. looks like a job for Whitney. 

Car Car has arrived as well as Pops. 

Dad and James on the way to the nursery. 

Then checking on the other boy. William looked so shocked when he saw his Daddy holding that foreign creature. He was all like, "Dude, the joke's over. Put that thing in the blanket away and lets goooooo."

But he got a ballon instead. 

And got in some floor swimming time. Germs...OMG.

Must...reach...the other side....

His balloon was magical. 

Really magical.

But not as magical as the Icee. This is what I think he's saying. "Don't even THINK about coming near my Icee. Just walk away."

Happiness IS an Icee. As well as knowing your baby brother can't have any....yet.

Icee's gone but he looks happy about the baby bro. 

That's right little brother, I drank it all.

Ugh, he drank it all. 

The crowd.

And some more. 

And more.

After a good Icee, gotta be teching it.

Dreaming of one day having an Icee bigger than his brother's. 

Gee with grandson number 2. 

And so ends the hospital pictures of James' birth. After he was born on Friday, we didn't see him in person again until the following weekend. He was almost full growd by then! OK, that's not really true, but it was a long time! 

Now it's almost my 1:41 bedtime. But before I go I have to say we had 22 children in Gap today and that's too many. They all wanted to do something wrong on the playground. Oy. 

Also, when I went to get Olivia this afternoon, there was a whole mess at the traffic circle as one car sat there forever not going. And when he finally started going, I saw he had 6 cars backed up because he didn't go when it was his turn. I bet those people were as mad as Olivia. 

I have four minutes until it's 1:41 and I can post this at exactly the same time as last night. I think I will. 

But I have no more stories to tell. Except we had red beans and rice tonight and only John and I ate them because the rest of our family don't like them. I think they are nuts. Red beans and rice is yummy. 

One minute to go. 

OK. 

I'm done. 

Boom! Posted at 1:41 two nights in a row.

And it d