Cullyn Dean {Birth Announcements}

Screen shots of the little man's birth announcements.  Both are double sided.  All photos taken by A Photo{graphy}

K + E {Children's Photography Shoot}

A Catch Up Post Of Sorts {+ LOTS of Instagram Photos}

Outside my window..it's finally warm! {Ten days ago it was snowing and yesterday we broke a heat record with 103*}

The time is..3:21p

Today I feel..happy we finally have good weather and I'm getting several things accomplished, excited to take the kids to the park after naps, and sad I have to go back to work soon.

I am thinking..I have TONS of blog posts started in my head that I wish I had time {& energy} to post!

At the moment, I am thankful..the nice weather, working part time in June, and for getting internet at our house yesterday so I could upload photos {to eventually make photobooks} to Shutterfly.
I am wondering..what the heck happened to my milk supply... :(

I am going..to the chiropractor {hopefully} tomorrow.

I am wearing..shorts!

I wish..I had the time to focus on my photography business.  I would love to make it full time and stay home with the kids!  I also wish it was possible to get a tan while outside, but that's impossible when you're trying to make sure your newborn is shaded 100% of the time.

I am reading..I finished Hearts in Darkness yesterday and hope to start Beautiful Disaster tomorrow.

I am working on..this blog post, photobooks for the kids, thank yous, birth announcements, and laundry.

I am hoping..to enjoy the next two weeks as much as possible, get my camera out MUCH MORE, and work on my running again!

I am hearing..silence {it's nap time} except the sound of the ceiling fan and chatter outside

I bet you didn't know..my baby turns ONE MONTH on Sunday {how is this possible?!}  ::SOB::

One of my favorite..feelings is the feeling after a good run.

Weekend Plans..

[Thursday] iCubs baseball game with friends {thankful for box seats since it's supposed to be raining}

[Friday] Cookout & campfire with lake friends

[Saturday] Barbecuing & hanging at our lake house with friends

[Sunday] Celebrating Mother's Day with my in-laws.

Cullyn {2 Weeks}

You're 2 weeks old!!  Although it's gone so fast, I almost can't remember what our family was like before you arrived...you complete us!  There hasn't been much adjustment for anyone, you fit in so well.  You are a wonderful baby...you sleep 3-5 hour stretches, drink breastmilk & formula from the bottle, and eat 3 ounces every 3 hours. 

You love your stroller, baby carrier[s], swing, and of course our arms!  You don't really care for baths, diaper changes, or getting dressed!  :)  You wear size Newborn clothes & size Newborn diapers. 

As you can imagine, we've taken you out much more than we did Jordyn at your age.  You've been to the doctor, the mall, a girls afternoon, the park 3 or 4 times, out for ice cream, and the grocery store multiple times.

Although you're a very calm child 95% of the time, when you do cry you go from zero to ten in a millisecond!  You use a pacifier ['binky'] more than your sister.  I kind of wonder if you'll continue to use it.

Your sister is constantly checking on you; she must always know where you're at and is always giving you anything she can find that belongs to you.  She does not like it when you cry, in fact she starts crying too.  You have received approximately 308459490 kisses from your big sister...she simply cannot get enough of you!  

[Stats]
You weighed 7.5 lbs at birth, 6.14 lbs when we left the hospital [2 days old], 6.14 lbs at your first appointment [5 days old], and 8.6 lbs today at the doctor [17 days old].  You're now in the 38 percentile for weight.  You measured 19 inches tall at the hospital and 21 inches today, putting you in the 65th percentile for height.  Your head measures 14 1/4 inches and 55th percentile. 

Cullyn's Birth Story

You made your way into this world very quickly!  

About 7am I starting having {what I thought were} light contractions.  Daddy went to work and I joked that 'today might be the day.'  I gave Jordyn a bath and continued to get myself ready for the day.  At 9:30a we had your 39 week appointment {at 39w1d}.  Your OB {Dr. Olesen} was in the hospital for deliveries, so we met with another physician.  She checked us over.  Everything looked good.  I was dilated to a 3 and 60% effaced {so not much progress}.  I told her I thought I had been having light contractions all morning, but she kind of brushed be off.  We scheduled an induction for the following week, but in the back of my head I knew I would meet you before then.  

After the appointment, we went over to Aunt Ashley's house.  I knew that if I went home I would just look at the clock and fret over if this was 'real' labor or not and when to go in.  So we spent the next hour hanging out at Ashley's.  About 11 I decided I should at least go to the hospital.  I text my OB and I knew she would most likely keep me.  So we ran to Walmart {since mama forgot to pack diapers for Big Sis} and then I headed to the hospital {with Aunt Ashley and Jordyn}.  Daddy was at an important meeting for work until 3p, so I didn't want to bug him until I knew this was the real deal.  {Plus, after having Jordyn, I just knew this would be an all day event}  However, he text for an update when we were on the way to the hospital and insisted on heading our way.

About 11:45 we checked into the labor & delivery floor at Mercy Hospital.  By 12:05p daddy was on the L&D room with us.  I was between 6&7 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and water was bulging.  Aunt Ashley took Jordyn home to nap.  At 12:15p Dr. Olesen broke my water {in an attempt to deliver you before her scheduled c-section}.  They started my IV and took lab work.  By this point contractions were getting much longer and more frequent.  I was so thankful daddy was there with me!  I started begging for an epidural, but we were still waiting on 'rushed' lab work to come back.  

Finally, at 1:12p when I was dilated to an 8, Dr. Hart came and gave me the epidural.  I promised not to wait this long before coming in next time!  By 1:20p the edge was taken off, and I started requesting daddy take some photos.  At 1:40 we decided to start pushing and you were born at 2:24p.  You were 19 inches long and 7lbs. 5oz.

Your birth was so different from your sisters in so many different ways.  Not only did you come quicker, but you also took a while to cry.  I found myself less emotional this time, but I savored our first few minutes so much more.  We had skin to skin {Kangaroo} time and I nursed you right away.  I knew from the second you were placed in my arms that you were smaller than your sister, and although it wasn't by much, you were smaller.  Although many things were different, you look like your sister's twin {just 18 months later}.  You had the most beautiful lips, with a cute button nose, tiny little ears, and strawberry blonde hair...just like sissy.

Mama and daddy have been blessed with two perfect, healthy, beautiful babies.  Praise God.  

What I Say About MY Loved One...

After this post, I figured I should fill you in a bit more on my loved one.  Sometimes I forget that you guys don't all know us in real life, so you don't know the everyday stuff.  So here are a few things you would know if you've met my husband in person...

Adam...
--misses his truck
--will always help a friend, family member, or stranger out
--makes dinner every night
--gets Murdock & Jordyn ready and dropped off at daycare each morning
--is a night owl
--has a beautiful voice [& is the lead singer in a band]
--was my best friend for a year before we started dating
--LOVES TV
--will eat or drink almost anything
--is better about keeping up with our friends & family than me
--has a HUGE heart
--enjoys hunting, golfing, fishing, boating, poker, & smoking meat
--loves to host friends & family
--is only serious when he needs to be
--knows pretty much every song, the words to it, & who sings it
--hard-working and determined
--LOVES our lakehouse!
--makes Jordyn laugh & smile like nobody else! {I refuse to take her photos without him there!}
--is learning the guitar and is interested in the harmonica next
--prefers to make dinner over eating out
--likes sour candy, but prefers meat/potatoes over any dessert
--loves live music
--has tons of friends
--tells me I'm beautiful often
--will help with anything I ask him to
--don't attend church regularly, but can school most people when it comes to bible knowledge
--used to sing to me every.single.night before bed {yanno, when we used to go to bed together}
--talks to his mom every day

Okay...I should stop.  I'm sure you guys don't care as much as I do...haha! :)  Basically he's the perfect match for me.  I always say {and totally mean!} he is the half the makes me whole.  We are each other's opposites.  He brings out the fun in me and I add structure to him! :)  I don't know what I did without him!!

Introducing...

We're busy snuggling our little guy, but I'll be back soon with a birth story post...hopefully this will hold you over until then.