Family Pictures

 For the first time ever other than weddings we hired a photographer to take pictures of our family.  They turned out so nice!  Here are some of my favorites.  Compliments to June Derksen Photography! 

Rhone and our family of 4!

2 weeks before Rhone was born (38 weeks)

I've been meaning to write something for quite some time now, and now that I'm actually here I'm not sure where to begin!  I started writing a post on Rhone's birth a while ago, but that really seems like the distant past and so much has changed since then!  So I will just say Rhone Mark was born on December 29, 2013 at 8:12 pm after about 14 hrs of pre-labour (contractions 10 min apart or stopping) and 3 hrs of intense labour.  My experience all around was much better than the first, though I won't go into too many little details. I felt so much better physically which I believe contributed to my emotional state being positive as well.

We arrived at the hospital at 5:00 pm had the baby and were home the next morning by 11.  I ended up being moved from the birthing room to a regular room which was actually much more comfortable for sleeping.  There was no place for Mark to sleep so he had to go home for the first night, but that was ok for us.  Home was only 5 min from the hospital and at least one of us had a good sleep which was much better than both of us being exhausted right off the bat!  We had a lot of company again the first few days including our good friends from Ontario the day after he was born!  I feel a bit sad I didn't even get a picture with them!  My Mom and Dad kept Adalyn for a few nights after Rhone was born which gave us a much more relaxing transition into life with a newborn again. 

The first time Adalyn met Rhone!

Watching Adalyn meet Rhone for the first time was so special!  My Mom and Dad brought her over to see him and he was crying when she came.  She was quite shy at first and hung close to her daddy, but warmed up very quickly.  I had a lump in my throat introducing him to her.  He was crying and Adalyn ran to find one of her dolls and said her baby was crying too.  She put her baby up to her shoulder like I was holding Rhone and patted it, just like she saw me doing.  Then she handed her doll to me and made me put it up on my other shoulder like Rhone was doing. She has grown into her role as big sister so well.  The other day on our way home from church Rhone was crying and she chanted in a soft calming voice to him 'We're almost home Rhone, we're almost home!'  She seems quite sensitive to his needs most of the time (unless she is wanting attention for herself, which happens from time to time.... :) )  and always needs to give him a hug and kiss good-night when she goes to sleep.  She seems to have grown up a lot since he was born though maybe it is just my perspective. 

Adalyn changing her baby

Reading a book to Rhone

Our first family picture as a family of 4!

Blessed is the woman with a full lap.  :)

One thing we are both finding a little difficult at this stage in our lives is alone time together.  Rhone doesn't have a set bedtime yet and usually goes to bed around 10 or 11 which is when I want to be going to bed too.  Adalyn and Rhone don't necessarily nap at the same time in the afternoons either.  It seems as though whenever Rhone wakes up then Adalyn goes down for her nap.  I feel much more like a mother at all times and that I don't get much time just alone.  Some people spend too much time alone though and I think I would rather have the first one. 

 We haven't done too much this winter.  I ventured out a few times with Rhone and Adalyn, but Rhone hasn't seemed to enjoy being outside much.  He has a hard time breathing and has scared me a bit when he can't seem to catch his breath and has spit bubbles foaming out of his mouth.  Not sure if this is normal for a little baby in the cold?!  He also hates wearing his hat.  I'm excited for spring time and not having to bundle everyone up!  We did get to take Adalyn out skating for her first time.  She did pretty well considering she's only 2 1/2.  By the end of our time out on the ice she could make it a short distance without holding on to us.  We also managed to take in our towns little family day and took Adalyn and Rhone on a sleigh ride.  

All bundled up for a 1 minute walk down the driveway to get the mail.

Hanging out with cousins after the sleigh ride

Weather's slowly warming up!

 Another very exciting occasion was Auntie Mary Beth's visit!! We've been having lots of fun with her!  More on that to follow hopefully!