Hello Porter Clark

He's here! Welcome Porter Clark Averett!

8 lbs. 14 oz.
21.5"
Born Friday 10/8/10 at 3:25pm

We came home today and big brother, Caden held Porter's hand the entire ride.

Cutest thing ever.

I'm loving our family of 4 already.

Big Boy Caden

Caden is growing up to be such a big boy.... he's definitely not a baby anymore. I've been focusing on being a better mother by making sure he gets the stimulation he needs and deserves. We're very lucky to have wonderful church friends that are proactive and plan activities such as playgroup {where we go to various locations around town as a group- i.e. the zoo, husker stadium, parks, etc.} and music makers {which is just like KinderMusik}. These activities happen to fall on my days off and we are very grateful for that.

Once I go back to work, my days off will shift and we will be left to figure out our own activities. Knowing this is on the horizon, and Caden would appreciate some activities while I'm home full time with him and the baby, I started planning mini preschool lessons for him. They only last about 10-30 minutes depending on the activity that goes with it. He is already loving it and I can see it paying off in his vocabulary and knowledge- which is so fun to see!

The other day, our little lesson was "A is for Acorns" so we went to East Campus for an Acorn hunt, and then came home to count our collection of acorns together. Then we sang a couple fall themed songs and colored an A is for Acorn page.

Since he enjoys this so much, I spent a few hours putting together a mini lesson manual to get us through November. I love teaching him and it has helped to map out our activities ahead of time.

As far as an update on the baby.... I had an ultrasound on Tuesday and the baby is measuring 8 lbs 4 oz. {although it's hard to know how accurate this truly is-- but my guess is that it's not too far off considering Caden was 8 lbs at this stage of the game). The doctor would like to induce me a week early. We are considering this and need to get him an answer tomorrow. Please be thinking of us as this seems like a really difficult decision. One part of me would like things to happen naturally, and the other part of me doesn't want to deliver a 10 lb baby.

I hope all is well with everyone.

xoxoxo

Big Helper

Oh, look at them go. They're like two peas in a pod.

Caden insists on helping Dad mow the lawn and when they're done, he comes inside so proud saying, "I mow yard, mom-ma!"

It's about the cutest thing ever.

And it makes me happy, especially in these last days of pregnancy. {I know this baby could come any minute- I had Caden 4 days from now during his pregnancy}.

We had a bit of a scare this week {you can read more about it here}, but things are okay.... it just made me realize how unprepared I am to deliver a baby again.

I was lucky to have Caden with me on Thursday during the ordeal and he was so cute. He would say, "You sad mom?" as he would hand me a tissue and then say, "wipe nose."

And that would make me cry even more.

Because he's about the cutest thing ever.

I go in on Tuesday to have an ultrasound to see how big this guy is.... anyone want to take a guess?

Hello 32 Weeks

{from the hotel during our recent trip to Colorado}

And how do I feel?

Great, thanks for asking.

I finally have a surge of energy and nesting has kicked in full time. It's amazing what I can accomplish when I'm running around like a mad woman! {And not traveling every other week!}

And I think the fact that Caden was early is pushing me to be even more on top of things.

In just a couple of months, we will be a family of four. I will be the sole woman in our home. I don't know whether that's a good thing or not, but it sounds like a lot of fun.

I can wear enough ruffles and bows to even everything out.

I just hope I can handle being a mother of a newborn again. Is it kind of like riding a bike?

A Dinosaur in Our Midst

So I am over half way through the pregnancy, and conversation spurs everywhere I go about babies. Most of the time, it's with complete strangers, and it's delightful - I really do love it.

While at the pool the other day, a new friend quickly figured out this was my second child and said, "with one child, you feel like you can still do everything you did before kids. With the second, you are tired and ready to slow down."

And that I am, my friends. When I found out I was pregnant, it was exciting and shocking at the same time. I had a full plate with deadlines surrounding the baby's arrival and was already overwhelmed and exhausted (much to my own doing). And then Caden decided naps and sleeping were for the birds so more exhaustion set in. I felt like I was living in a pressure cooker-- trying to juggle being a good mom, and being involved with things I loved so much. Then one day, things started being taken off my plate and some tough decisions were made. A lot of faith ensued. Followed by a lot more peacefulness and happiness in my life.

I didn't realized how quickly I was trying to rush through life. It clicked about the moment I was getting mad at Caden for not sleeping when I finally woke up and realized that I was only thinking about me. He didn't want to take naps, and whatever I had to do needed to wait. Now some days we spend a little quite time relaxing and cuddling, instead of me fighting him so I can hop on the next conference call.

I've always loved this little Dinosaur with all my heart, and now I appreciate my motherly duties even more.

{Caden with this R-ar feet}

It's a .....

Big Bro

Someone is going to be a big brother. I'll give you one guess.

Happy Friday everyone!!