Month 1

Sweet baby Chase is 1 month old!



And the roundup of this month:

We blessed Chase 2 days after he was born while my mom and sister were here. 

Having them here was incredible!  They both served our family tremendously.  Mom and Emmy cooked, cleaned, and made me laugh every day.  We had such a fun time. 

Charlotte and Lincoln at Halloween story time at the library.


We took Lincoln and Chase trick or treating but limited it to only a few houses.  That kid  he runs around like a crazy person without sugar in his system so we didn't want too much candy.  He filled his (rather small) bag quickly and was so excited to eat it.  He ate a box of Nerds one at a time for about an hour and let us eat the good stuff. 



Chase

(18 days later) Introducing, Chase Christopher Haymore!!

7lb 7 oz, 19 inches, and we think he is just perfect.  Born Thursday morning, October 20th.

Born with a dark head of hair just like his brother had.  Boasts not one but two adorable dimples- beats his daddy's one.  Has the cutest clef in his chin just like both of his grandpas and dad.  And his hairy back and sweet widow's peak?  All his own :).

And now for the birth story, because I always like reading those.

I thought I was going to have Chase at least a week early.  I had contractions 2 weeks before I was due and was progressing along nicely.  By my due date, I was SO READY!!  But nothing was happening.  So, I did lots of walking, bounced on a yoga ball for hours, ate whole pineapples, went out for eggplant parmesean at a place notorious for putting women into labor... everything.  At 2 days overdue, I took Castor Oil.  That night (Monday), nothing happened.  I realized that night that I was supposed to take 2 tablespoons as opposed to the measly 2 teaspoons I took.  Despite taking the very wrong dosage, I had contractions all night and in the morning, woke Steven up to go to the hospital.  By the time our bags were packed my contractions had stopped.  That day (Tuesday), I took the proper dosage and still nothing happened.  Wednesday I was scheduled for induction so we went to the hospital at 6 am, was hooked up to pitocin by about 7:30, had an epidural at 10:30, and Chase was born 2 hours later.  Interesting note about my epidural, I felt exactly what was going on, it wasn't complete numbness like I experienced with Lincoln.  Wild!!

So far, Lincoln LOVES having a brother.  He shares his beloved doggie with him and likes to love on him while saying, "Oh, baby!  Oh baby!!"  

We kinda like him too.   

On Waiting...

The waiting continues.  Today is my due date, and I had every intention of having this baby a week or so ago.  


But I do get a little bit of enjoyment of replying to the question, "So, when are you due?"  
The responses vary from how great I look to how humongous this baby must be.  But thankfully no one is insisting that I am having twins yet (Dani :)).

In all the waiting, I have felt grateful and emotional for every amazing memory made with my family of 3.  A hot dog date to Costco.  Reading book after book with Lincoln on our bed before he goes to sleep.  Feeding the ducks during Steven's lunch break.  I know our capacity to love will grow with each child we have, but right now we love this buddy so darn much, and are concerned about him.  


I've tried to prep him for if he wakes up and we aren't there.  He says he wants to go to the hospital, too.  He says he wants to be a little baby, he wants to be in my tummy... despite his desire to be babied, I know he will be a sweet older brother.  I am so grateful for the example, helper, and friend I have in my brother and love knowing that Baby Brother and Lincoln will have that in each other as well.    

a few weeks old

4 months

6 months

Lincoln's favorite calm activity

 

P.S. this last picture reminds me of a recent episode of The Office when Pam is upset and someone tells her to "keep her chins up".  haha we laughed at that one for a while.  Poor pregnant Pam!

Overheard

Lincoln CRACKS ME UP!!  Whenever I need a good laugh I listen in on his monitor when I put him down for his nap.

Overheard:

"I'm going camping... with my DINOSAURS!!"

"Let's go peepee together, ok guys?"

"2 little monkeys jumping on Lincoln's head, one fell off and bumped his head!  Mama called the Doctor and the Doctor said, no more monkeys jumping on Lincoln's head!"

"I'll huff!  And I'll puff!  (blowing sounds) I'll blow your house down!!"

"We need to go shopping, and get more diapers!"

Sometimes I hear him just listing people's names.  The other day he was talking about Coen, Mary, Rebekah, Mommy, Daddy.  It sounded like a thankful prayer, almost. 

Lincoln is still set on naming baby brother Black Airplane or Purple Monkey.  When we bring up a name or two that we like he gets all upset and adament that his name has already been decided.  

Lincoln has also been adament lately about his strength.  When I exercise with my (incredibly heavy) 5 pound weights in the morning, Lincoln insists on getting out the 3's.  He grunts and carries them around, saying, "I'm a muscle man!"  He says that whenever I tell him something is too heavy or too hard, like lifting milk or a bag of oranges. 

Although I am anxious to have this baby, I am trying to really make the most of my couple weeks when Lincoln is my only child. 

More Driving than a Pregnant Woman Should Endure...

A more accurate title...

More driving than a pregnant woman should endure but too much fun to miss.


Friday night- 5 hours from Atlanta to somewhere, Mississippi.

We stopped the night to camp.  Steven's brothers have given him a hard time for taking his 8-month-pregnant wife camping, but I'll admit, it was my idea.  Lincoln has wanted to go camping for a long time and even though I didn't sleep much, it was so worth it.  We all had a great time.  The only downfall was it was 17 BAJILLION DEGREES and the raccoons we feared were rabid (This American Life, anyone?  That story freaked me out).  So fun, I can't wait to do it next summer with Baby Brother and not in Mississippi. 

Saturday morning- 1.5 hours to Oxford, Mississippi- BYU v. Ole' Miss!

We met up with some dear Nashville friends to tailgate and watch the game.  Once again, we had an awesome time, and Lincoln loved his first football game.  Now he cheers, "BYU, BYU!!"

Saturday night- 4 hours to Nashville- slept 5ish hours at Nick and Farrah's house.

Sunday morning- 3 hours to Knoxville- baby blessing for Logan (son of Paul and Amy Haymore)

Sunday night- 3 hours back to Atlanta.

Ugh...

I totally went to Duke... and had lunch

Hi there, nice seeing you.  Remember me?  I am pre-pregnancy Amanda.  I am active and somewhat slender.  I wear cute clothes and have cheekbones.  I am strong and like to work hard with the boys.  Oh, and I don't have gas. 

I hardly remember this girl!  Seeing pictures of me these days makes me start planning my workout and diet routine for the week after Baby Brother comes. 

But that is vain and problematic.  See, I have this soapbox I like to get on called "being skinny isn't what is most important in life".  When I'm skinny, I get on it.  I know its true- many people place way too much importance on being thin, to the detriment of their kids, homes, scripture study, self-esteem... the list goes on and on.  I have known too many people who become truly obsessed with the numbers on the scale and lose themselves to reaching crazy goals.  But on the other side, it is important to take care of yourself!  Put good things in your body, exercise it (non compulsively), and take care of it as the gift it is from Heavenly Father. 

Balance, my friend, is what I am seeking when it comes to my body and self-image.

So, for the next 8 weeks, I have a few things to keep my mind off of my chubby arms and round face, and once BB comes, I'll try not to cry at my postpartum jiggley tummy :).

My Nesting To Do List... the urge to get things done has definitely kicked in. 
     1. Relearn the beginning of Rachmoninoff Prelude in C# Minor and FINALLY TEACH MYSELF THAT DANG HARD ENDING
    2. Make a Baby Book for Lincoln
    3. Crochet a bajillion baby presents for friends and their bambinos
    4. Halloween costume for Lincoln (he will be the cutest dog this side of ATL)
    5. No less than 4 (non-OB) doctor appointments (Eyes!  Dentist!  Yes!!) starting the second we get on Steven's insurance
     6. Get a GA driver's license and plates for the car
     7. Save all the videos floating around on different computers of Lincoln to something somewhat permanent


Hopefully making this list public will help with a little accountability.

    
   

Puerto Rico

Before Steven started work last week, he took me on a little vacation to Puerto Rico.  His goal was to woo me with his Spanish skills, I think.  ;)

This was our first vacation without Lincoln and you can see by the pictures we took our first few hours there, we were giddy without the burden of responsibility.

We had a great time during the 5 days we were there.  One day, we played the tourist and walked around Old San Juan.  The city has two massive forts built in the time of pirates, treasure hunting, and conquistadores.  We were able to walk almost the whole city and enjoyed the cobble streets and colorful apartments.   

 

We also hiked in a jungle, sat on the beach, canoed in a BIOLUMINESCENT bay (way cool)
 did some more sitting and swimming at the beach, and lots of eating out. 

My not-so beachey reading:We Wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families- STORIES FROM RWANDA by Philip Gourevitch.  Awesome and very informative- facts about the long and sordid history between the Tutsis and Hutus- much more detailed than what we have heard before, and follows how the rest of the world reacted during and after.  France's connection with the war... lots of interesting stuff, highly recommended 

The weather was cloudy and rainy at times, but overall, it was perfect.  Steven and I talked so much and I learned things about him that I hadn't heard in our 8 years of knowing each other.  We had a great time, but man oh man, it was so hard being away from Lincoln for that long!  I wanted to bawl when we picked him up on Sunday.  We missed our little buddy so much!

This Summer So Far/(My Begrudging Move Away from Nashville)

We've moved from our beloved Nashville home to the Haymore Castle in Atlanta.

We've had some fun visitors.

We took Lincoln to Destin Beach in Florida.

 

Lincoln and I visited family in Vegas.

Lincoln became a swimming FIEND!!  When we get him up in the morning and ask what he dreamed about, he says, "Jumping off the diving board!"

We enjoyed Daddy time while Steven studied for the Bar Exam.

Lincoln is getting to know his GA cousins better.  We live with 3 sweet little girl cousins and so most of the toys Lincoln plays with are pink and involve princesses.  Today he was riding a 3 wheeler (pink) and as he pedaled by, I noticed the little license plate on the back read BABE.  Awesome.  There are some boy cousins close by so he gets to crash cars and pretend fight with them often ;).

I am a terrible mover.  Whenever we move I get angry.  When I go to the grocery store, I say to myself, "This Kroger sucks!  I can't find anything!!."  At the library, I get frustrated that all the kid books are stupid and they don't do an amazing puppet show like in Nashville.  When I go on walks I am sad that I can't meander and wind around like I could in our Belmont area.  I compare and compare.  Although I am not enjoying the grocery stores or library, there are some great things about Marietta.  We live close (extremely close) to lots of family.  There is a Dollar Theater close by.  Nashville is only 3 hours away.  GA peaches are only 99cents. 

There are lots of fun families in our neighborhood and ward, I'm sure we'll make great friends and love it... bla bla bla...  All that really will happen but its no fun to start again.

I am bouyed by a talk (article?  Devotional?  I can't remember) I read.  A young couple spoke of moving apartments frequently while attending school.  Many of their neighbors lived in a temporary mindset- not unpacking or investing in making friends.  They read a scripture (that I can't remember or find) about the saints who were making their way out west.  They set up a temporary camp in Winter Quarters and although they knew they would only be there for a short time, they were advised to plant gardens, start building homes, and live as for years.

I have no idea how long we will be in this ward, home/castle, but I will try to settle in, make plans, and quit waiting for the last move, the real thing.  I will live as for years and enjoy my time here.