A Quicky

I have been away from here lately, because, well, to be honest, between being busy with company and road trips and the obvious one, the tiny little boy that needs me and only me and the (self-proclaimed) tiny little girl that likes to torment me all of a sudden, I am also really effing tired. Clearly Baby Jace didn't get the memo that being awake from 2am to 4am is not cool and should never happen.

I took the two kids on a road trip this past weekend. We went to my parents for four days so I could introduce Jace to my family and so I could celebrate at my bestie, Hummels wedding shower (which I do have a few pictures of, but I forgot my camera in Calgary, so they will have to wait until it makes its way home.). They were both so good that despite the popular you're crazy stance about a solo road trip with a two year old and 3.5 week old, I will totally do it again. Of course, having some major help on the other side is a bonus (plus another reason I will do it again! Thanks Nannie!!). We came home exhausted, but happy to have introduced Jace to my family and friends.

The weekend before that we had a visitor. My long long time friend, that started out as a little girl who rode the bus my mom drove, then turned into the little bit bigger girl who I taught Can-Skate too, then turned into the girl who I skated with, who had somewhere in there turned into my wonderful friend.



Caitlin came, and well, she is amazing! She loved on my kids more than I could ever have imagined... she let Maizey climb into bed with her the first night and got up with her at 5:30 in the morning the next night.



I always do love having people from home, in my home, and she was certainly a dose of home. Thanks Cait - we can't wait to do it again!

We are still finding our groove, but its really starting to fall into place. We are all adjusting and somehow we all seem to be surviving on much less sleep. Besides Jace, of course....he has the luxury of sleeping in the truck and in the stroller and whenever he feels like it. Most days it feels like he has always been here and I don't think any of us can imagine life without him.
For someone who wasn't sure about having a baby BOY, I sure do love him. He has found his little place in my heart and is there to stay.

First Week

We are emerging from the foggy haze that is life with a newborn... and it feels good. As in, I had myself and the two wee ones bathed, dressed (in clean clothes even!), fed and out the door by 9:00 this morning. You know what that means? Today + me = for the mother effing win.
My days are starting to be less about do I have the energy for this and how sore my boobs are and more about wow, this isn't as hard as I thought it would be. 



My mom was here for the first week and I would be lying if I said I was happy to see her go. Shes pretty damn easy to have around. She entertained Maizey tirelessly and we woke up to coffee made every morning and she cooked and drove us around. She was a lifesaver. Oh, and she had to deal with a poop-situation at the park... meaning a little blonde girl whipped her pants down at the park, just cuz she had to go...so Nannie is pretty much my hero.



Maizey isn't the most gentle kid around. She's rammy and excited and loses interest quickly in things. So it was no surprise that she was that way with her brother. She knows what "you need to be gentle" means...she just can't seem to actually DO it. When we walked in the door from the hospital the first thing she said was "I need to hold that. Give it to me." Aww, so sweet *snort*. She's calmed down now and while she still likes to hold him for only about 7 seconds, she can often be found sitting beside him in his chair or laying on his feet, snuggling him. She woke up in the middle of the night a few nights ago, sobbing and saying "I need to say goodnight to baby Jace" .



Oh, and she likes to "take his picture" (using an old, broken cell phone from her toy box)



Oh, and she likes to sing to him. Twinkle twinkle, little star...


(this is her singing face!)

My house is messy and cluttered with taped up diapers and receiving blankets and the washing machine hasn't stopped in an week...but this little man is starting to feel right at home.



And just like his sister, his little feet absolutely kill me.



We are adjusting perfectly to life as a little family of four.

The Night Jace Was Born

("On The Night You Were Born"

By Nancy Tillman)

"On the night you were born,

the moon smiled with such wonder

that the stars peeked in to see you

and the night wind whispered,

"Life will never be the same"

Because there had never been anyone like you...

 ever in the world. 

So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain 

that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name.

(The sound of your name is a magical one.

Lets say it out loud before we go on )

 

It sailed through the farmland high on the breeze...

Over the ocean...

And through the trees...

 

Until everyone heard it

and everyone knew

of the one and only ever you.

 

Not once had there been such eyes, 

such a nose,

such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes.

(In fact, I think I'll count to three, 

so you can wiggle your toes for me)

 

 

When the polar bears heard, 

they danced until dawn.

From faraway places,

the geese flew home.

The moon stayed up until

morning next day. 

And none of the ladybugs flew away. 

So whenever you doubt just how special you are

and you wonder who loves you, how much, and how far,

listen for geese honking high in the sky. 

(They're singing a song to remember you by)

 

Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo. 

(It's because they've been dancing all night for you)

Or drift off the sleep to the sound of the wind.

(Listen closely...it's whispering your name again!)

 

If the moon stays up until morning one day, 

or a ladybug lands and decides to stay,

or a little bird sits at your window awhile,

it's because they're all hoping to see you smile...

For never before in story or rhyme

(not even once upon a time)

has the world ever known a you, my friend,

and it never will, not ever again...

Heaven blew every trumpet

and played every horn

on the wonderful, marvelous

night you were born."

Jace Patrick McGiven

came into this world, our hearts and our life at 10:52p.m on Monday, September 26, 2011 

weighing 7lbs 14oz's.

Our life has, once again, been forever changed. 

I didn't know my heart could get any bigger...but it has.