Bryce

I am usually posting about Tyler and some sort of issue or problem we are having or I post about myself and some sort of issue or problem I am having, so poor Byrce usually gets left out. He is such a good baby. So I am dedicating this post to him.

Bryce is now almost 7 months old. He is rolling over, sleeping through the night, putting his own binky in and truning his music on in his bed when he does wake up. Now our little guy is eating cereal, veggies and fruit and loving it. He even feeds himself crackers. I can not believe how fast it goes.

In no time flat he will be crawling for the first time, saying his first word, getting that first tooth and taking that first step. I can't wait to see all of his firsts like we did with Tyler. This time however I will be back at work and Bryce will be with my mom so I am hoping I won't miss any of them.

So this post goes to our little guy Bryce who is always smiling, almost never cries, he's a great sleeper and fantastic eater...the best baby boy. One that makes you want 10 more like him. Not really 10....maybe 1. Maybe.

I'm Back!

Yes it has been about 5 months since I have written. Which means that Bryce is 5 1/2 months old! He is doing great as am I, my husband and Ty. Tyler adjusted to being a big brother fast. He helps bring me diapers for the baby, throwing away diapers, putting the binkie back in the babies mouth, making the baby laugh and consoling Bryce when he cries. You wouldn't believe how fast your toddler will grow up once they are a big brother or sister.

Well having two is tougher than one, but it seems to be getting easier or I am just getting better at it. Bryce is such an easy baby. Remember how I was terrified of having a new born again? Well Bryce is so easy that I am going to miss having a baby once he is bigger. He rarely cries, he sleeps through the night, he is always smiling and giggling, just a very pleasant baby.

It's been a long time!

Ughh....It's been along time, but here I am. Bryce is now almost 7 weeks old. It's tough to sit at the computer for more than a few minutes at a time. I have a new found respect for mothers...esspecially mothers of more that 1. Having a toddler and a newborn is crazy busy.

Bryce does not like to sleep during the day unless he is being held. Everytime he falls asleep and I put him down he immediately wakes up. Tyler on the other hand has gotten used to the baby, but he keeps telling me to put him down.

Luckily they both sleep good at night. Bryce usually gets up once during the middle of the night, around 2 ish. Then gets up for good around 6. Ty has also been getting up at 6, so sometimes I have to have both of them on my lap at the same time.

Jim is a teacher and therfore is done with work until late August, however he works a summer job at the JCC camp with Autistic kids, coaches legion baseball, plays softball on Monday nights and plays baseball for a collegiate league a couple times a week. s if that isn't enough he is starting to tutor a homebound student in July. So even though he has his summers off from school he doesn't really have them off. But we need the money since I am a stay at home mom and now we have two kids.

I am thinking about going back to work. It is really tough living on one income with the two kids, and sometimes I think I would appreciate them more if I wasn't with them all day. I'm not sure however if I want to go back to work full time or part-time. Daycare is so expensive and I really don't want them to be there full time. Esspecially Bryce, he is too young to be with someone else full-time. So I don't know what to do.

Tyler and Bryce

Well everyone says that two is easier than one, I believe this to be false. Maybe when Ty is4 and Bryce is 2 it will be easier because they can play together and keep each other entertained, but right now it is tough. Tyler loves his brother, he always is asking "where baby" or "where Bryce"? Or he says "let's go Bryce" or "come on Bryce". But Tyler is very jelous and has been acting out, especially when I need to be holding the baby to feed him or when I am changing him, or when I am trying to get Bryce to sleep. Ty has been doing things he would have never done before such as climbing on top of the hot tub to play with toys we put up there, climbing on top of the futon and turning the thermostat up to 80, pouring the dog food into the dog water, coloring on the walls, ripping his Notre Dame penant in half, and the list goes on and on. I have been trying to keep him in his daily routine as much as possible. In the morning when he wakes up, I go in his room to get him, get him his juice and we watch cartoons. I have been taking him outside to play and for walks as much as I can, now that the weather is warm again. And when he is acting up I try to have some one on one time with him, if time allows.

Bryce has been really good so far. He sleeps alot, and sleeps much better at night than Ty did. Bryce loves to eat, if he is awake, he wants to eat. Although he has started eating an oz and falling asleep and then waking an hour or two later and wanting to eat again. This has got to stop. He is also pooping constantly. It seems like 10 times a day, a little bit at a time, and then as soon as I change him he wants to be changed again! For a little guy, boy does he stink!

Me I am feeling good. A bit tired, but good. I have started my diet yesterday. I'm not doing so good. It is really tough to diet after nine months of pretty much letting myself eat whatever and whenever I want. Started with this weeks shopping trip there will be no more soda, no more chips, no more ice cream in our house. Once what we have is gone it's gone. There will be many more fruit and veggies in our diets. I think this will help my energy levels increase a lot. I gained 25 lbs with this pregnancy, not too bad, but I still had a few pounds left from my first pregnancy with Ty, so I have some work ahead of me. Wish us all luck!

Welcome Bryce Thomas Casey!

Well, he's here! Sorry it took me so long to share the good news. Friday I went to the hospital for a non-stress test. I was on the monitor for about an hour, when the dr. decided that he was going to induce labor. Due to a lack of nurses I wasn't induced until 12:30 PM. Everything went well and went very quickly. Too quickly for an epidural. If you know me at all I am a huge baby when it comes to pain. I see no reason to suffer if you can have an epidural. I had told them all day that I wanted an epidural, but when it came time I dialated too fast. The contractions where storng and very close together and I was terrified. At about 3:20 the Dr. came in and checked me and I was fully dialated and ready to go. I started pushing at 3:27PM and at 3:32PM we had a healthy baby boy! Yes it only took 5 minutes to push him out! Bryce weighed 7lbs 12 oz and was 20 inches long.
We are both doing great. I feel much better this time than when I had Ty. Second time was so much easier and I attribute that to doing it natural.
Tyler also loves his new brother, but he is starting to get jelous. He's been acting out, doing things he would have never done. Jim and I have been trying to pay as much attention to him as possible and doing things that we know he will really enjoy such as playing outside, taking walks, and I even took him to see the horses the other night. His big cousin Karisa took him on the horse with her, which he loved! He's our little daredevil. I know it will take him sometime to adjust to the baby and not being the center of our world. But it kills me to see him so hurt. He will love having a little brother to play with in a year or two,which I will love too.
It may take me longer between posts, but I will try and post as often as possible!
So far Bryce loves to sleep so we are getting a good night sleep, but I don't want to jinx myself!

Is today the day?

Today might be the day! I went to the dr's on Wed and everything was good. I was already 2 cen. dialated, he is 7 1/2 lbs, and in head down position. Dr Kim did a non-stress test and he was concerned that the baby wasn't moving a lot so he scheduled another appt for Thursday. Again on Thursday I had a non-stress test and he was even less active than on Wed. I was sure it would be different because Kim and I had gone for lunch at a mexican restaurant, shopping and then to Starbucks. Well, he wasn't and Dr Kim still seemed concerned. He scheduled another non-stress test at the hospital this morning. I need to be there between 7 and 7:30, my test is at 8 and if baby still is not active then he will be inducing labor. I am scared and excited all at the same time. I am worried about Ty. I feel like it is so cruel giving him a new sibling. So many people have more than 1 child, and I want him to grow up with brothers and sisters, but I can't help feeling like he is going to get pushed aside and be very hurt. Did any of you other mom's feel this way when going on baby number 2? I am sure these feelings are normal.?

I think Tyler knows something is going to change. He has been very clingy lately. He wants to be held and carried everywhere. He snuggles much more, rocking in the chair with me while he drinks his juice or watching cartoons sometimes for way too long. But you see he was never a cuddler, and I really enjoy snuggling with him. And this morning we got a wake up call from him at 5:30! He never gets up this early.

Where are you?!?!? Bryce???

Well I made it through the wedding this weekend and the display shower. Thank God! And everything went well with both.
The baby has decided that he is going to stay in there at least for now. I have 11 days until my actual due date. As of this week he should be around 7 1/2 lbs. This is starting to scare me. I know, I know many women have babies that are 7, 8 or 9 lbs. But Tyler was only 6 12 1/2. So I am nervous about having a larger baby. Although, Tyler was really small and looked so fragile. A bigger baby wouldn't quite be so fragile. Maybe it would be nice to have a little meat on his bones.
This brings me to my next dilema. Jim and I have had many people lately tell us that Bryce is a girls name or that they know a girl named Bryce, and then we saw a girl in the news paper named Bryce. So what do you think? Does Bryce scream girl to you? Do you think it sounds like a boy name? I couldn't find Brice or Bryce under girls names in any baby books, only under boys. So we need your help!

Wedding Season Has Begun

Tomorrow night is my first big wedding for this wedding season. Tomorrow I will be 38 weeks pregnant. Bryce has decided to wait, at least for now. I went to the Dr's yesterday and Dr. Kim says that I am not ready. What that means I am not sure. Baby needs to wait until Monday, April 30th. I have the rehearsal tonight, wedding tomorrow night, off on Saturday and then a display shower on Sunday. So Sunday night or Monday will be fine with me! I will keep everyone updated to baby and my progress.

No Baby Yet!

Well it was a beautiful weekend. We spent a lot of time out doors, taking walks, playing with the ball, going to see the horses, playing with my aunts puppy, and grilling out. We also went shopping and out to eat. Lots and lots of spicy foods. I am trying to coax Bryce out!
I know I have 2 1/2 weeks left, but you see I am a wedding planner and have a wedding scheduled for this weekend. So Bryce needs to come out by Tuesday or stay in until Sunday. I am terrified that he will show up the day before or day of the wedding, so I have tried almost every natural induction method. Spicy food, walking, some streches, sex, basil and oregano, foot massages, basically anything I could think of or have read about within reason.
Have any suggestions? Maybe something that worked for you or a friend? I would love to hear from you!

30 Days and Counting

Wow! 30 days left! I can't believe it. And boy am I nesting big time! I have been washing clothes, blankets and sheets. Putting our new bouncer together (Thank you, Kristy!), packing my hospital bag, buying a new comfy outfit to wear home from the hospital and cleaning like crazy! Today I had my weekly check-up, nothing new really. I only gained 1 lb! Wahoo! Unlike last week, when I gained 8 1/2. Next week I will have another ultra-sound and I can't wait to see this little guy again.

We also have pretty much decided on his full name. Bryce Thomas Casey. I think it has a nice ring to it and it goes well with Tyler James Casey. Don't you think?

2 Week Dr.s Appt.

Yesterday was my two week check-up with my OB/GYN. Everything is normal for the most part. Besides the fact that I gained 8 1/2 lbs in 2 weeks! Yikes! Before this I had been doing really well. In the begining because I was sick I lost 8 lbs. Then over Christmas, since I was feeling much better, I gained 9 lbs. So, ok, then I was really only up 1 lb. The next month I gained 5lbs. Again the next week I gained 5 1/2....not too bad. The next time only 2 1/2. So I was up to 14 and then this visit add on 8 1/2!! Again I say yikes! I blame it on water retention because my legs and feet are starting to swell. Not as bad as when I was pregnant with Tyler though. Now I start going every week, so I will keep you updated on my progress.

6 Weeks and Counting

As of today I am 34 weeks pregnant, only 6 weeks to go! And since we had Ty two weeks early it could be even sooner! I feel like I am going to explode! I feel huge, like I couldn't possibly get any bigger! The baby is very active, but not really kicking, more like he is running out of room and trying to stretch!

Have I mentioned how scared I am? I am worried about having 2 kids, 2 kids under the age of 2. We already have a very active 21 month old, how will we keep up? How will everything get done, feedings, changing’s, naps, baths and everything else? Tyler is sleeping through the night, so how will I be up all night with the new baby and up all day with Ty too? Will I have time to rest, cook, clean and shower on top of everything else?

I know everyone says your heart grows when you have a second child and that there is enough love for both, but I can't imagine loving anyone as much as I love Ty. Yes he can be a royal pain in the butt and drives me nust sometimes, he he is also the cutest, sweetest little boy in the world. Of course Bryce will probably be a mini Ty, just as cute, just as sweet and just as crazy!

Pregnancy: The 2nd time around

When I was pregnant with our first son Tyler it seemed so much easier. I had a fairly easy time, no morning sickness, heartburn at the end, and my delivery was a cinch. Afterwards was another story.

This time I had awful morning sickness for about the first 14 or 15 weeks. I felt like it would last forever. It wasn’t just in the morning either; I was nauseous from morning until I went to bed. I was so nauseous that I could barely eat and even lost 9 lbs.

Heartburn this time has been a killer. From day 1, I have had this awful burning sensation in the back of my throat. Everything gives me heartburn! I have to take Zantac twice a day, which most of the time helps. I could also take Tums, but they make me want to yack. Sleeping at night is difficult, three pillows makes the burn bearable.

The second pregnancy you also begin to show much earlier. At 6 months I feel like I did when I was 8 months the first time. Very uncomfortable! I toss and turn at night, from side to side, trying to find a comfortable position.

Baby #2 also seems to be much more active than Tyler was too. This is scary since I have a very active toddler. We are in trouble!