Milka Milka

Lately Bridgette has fully embraced her southern accent and has started asking for her milk in said fashion, "Meeeeeeelka, Meeeeeeelka". For those of you who don't know, this is a long drawn out "i" that SOME southerners adopt. I have been absolutely shocked by her sudden twang, since Travis and I do NOT say our "i"'s like that. I have been accused of holding my "i" out longer, but never turning it into an "e". Oh well. I ignore it and go on, but WOW. :)
Mason is getting so big. He is nursing very often during the day, but thankfully has given me some 3 and 4 hour stretches at night. I am VERY tired during the day though. :) He made his inaugural trip to Walmart yesterday and invariably I had to ask several people to not touch him. Seriously folks, young babies do not need strange hands touching them. Ah well. Tomorrow is his 1 month check up (2 weeks late due to his busy doctors schedule). Ill update you on his stats then!
Here are some photos from Malerie's shower.

Updated pics and Bridgette goes to school :)

I am putting some pics of Mason's first bath a little late. I forgot that I had not downloaded them. This was about 2 1/2 weeks old when his cord finally fell off. Now he gets to sit in a bath chair with his big sister for baths. Bridgette LOVES it! :)

Bridgette went to her preschool for the first time this year on Tuesday. She was so excited to go to "school". This is actually a Mother's Day Out program from 830-2 at our church, but they do some school activities and encourage play. She really enjoys it and needs the socialization. Things I love about MDO: I get some one on one time with Mason, nap whenever he naps (aahhh), get to go to the grocery, etc. Things I HATE about MDO: Bridgette inevitably gets sick over and over again during the year. Ok, I know, kids that go to daycare have the same issue and I know it is good for her. Mommy just hates it, ok? She had a great day at school. The teachers remarked about her abnormally large vocabulary, and the fact that she was extremely unhappy that she could not carry around her "milka-milka" or take it with her to nap. I didn't realize this (because she could in the infant class), but she made it hehe. It was so sweet when I picked her up, she yelled MOMMY and came running. Then she said "Where's the brother??", and I pointed to his car seat. She gave us both HUGE hugs and kisses, then proceeded to tell EVERYONE bye bye by name hahahaha.

Something I keep meaning to write about is that Bridgette looooves her Grandmom and Grandad Sparks 9technically great grandparents). They live on a farm with horses, Classy and John Boy, and "moo-moos". Bri loves to go to their house, ride the golf cart with them and pat-pat Classy. Its so sweet. So, she has a Little People Barn with animals and 2 little people who she has affectionately dubbed Grandmom and Grandad. Also every toy horse she has is named Classy. Well she always wants to play with them and even take them with her to nap. When they actually come over to visit, Bridgette runs to them, asks them about the horses and cows, and just generally loves paying with them. :)
Now of course she loves all her grandparents, but this is just such a cute imagination and association she has with them.
Mimi Nina and PawPaw Marshall started a tradition of taking Bridgette to breakfast on Saturday mornings. They went to IHOP and she didn't eat much, haha but enjoyed herself!
Travis and PawPaw Marshall built anamazing pergola on the back deck just in time for Aunt Mal-mal and uncle Robert's engagement party on Sunday! Lots of exciting things coming up....stay tuned! ;)

Mason Hamilton Fawver

There are so many things to blog about that I get overwhelmed and forget to blog at all. So this one will probably be a long one! :)
On August 11, Travis and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary at Ruth's Chris! YUM. It was so funny, because Mason was just 5 days old and I was nervous to leave him. So, when we sat down, I told the waiter, "Make this dinner snappy, we have a newborn at home." Apparently he was a father, because he responded with a quick, "Yes Ma'am" and a wink and he made the dinner very enjoyable, but rapido! :) (That's Dora sneaking in on me there haha).
Around that time, Mason was diagnosed with jaundice. He was looking a little bit more tan every day, but Bridgette was so very jaundiced that I hardly noticed. So, we went to the doctor for a few days to have it checked and as he became more adept at eating (and my milk came in more), he got better quickly. He was also diagnosed with a blocked tear duct in the right eye, and eventually required eye drops to help it. So, it is getting better too.
In the meantime, I was still trying to get over a nerve entrapment on the Right leg/pelvic area. It was so very painful and difficult to predict what would set it off. But finally as my swelling decreased, the pain subsided. Praise God.
For those of you who followed Bridgette's blog, you may recall that one of my most favorite memories of her nursing was that she "sang" a baby "milky song". She would coo and sigh when she nursed and it was the most beautiful sound on earth. Well, God knew that I needed to hear it again, so he gave me sweet little Mason. He sings his own version of the milky song. :) I am in heaven. 4am, sitting there, nursing my little angel, listening to his own music. AHHH
He is sleeping pretty well. Most nights he gives me a 3-4 hour stretch in there, and I feel like a million dollars compared to a 1-2 hour stretch. :) He nurses pretty well...but that brings me to the newest of problems....
He and I have thrush. BOOOOOOOOOO. It is one of the most painful things on earth I think, because it is constant insult. You cannot bear to have the baby latch, then when it's all over, you have burning shooting pains through the breast. I could not sleep night before last because of it. Thankfully, I was started on medication and we are on our way to recovery.
Speaking of medication...I am also being treated for Group B Strep, that I was told BEFORE delivery I did not have, but wait! After delivery somehow I turn up positive...hum. They better be glad Mason was ok after delivery. Don't get me started....
Let's talk about Bridgette. She is the best big sister ever. She is very sweet and helpful. She is also almost 2 in every sense of the word. She throws fits, has preferences that amaze me, throws toys, books, etc to get her way. I was at my wits end with her one day and someone suggested a time-out. I had tried this before with little success, but maybe I was doing it wrong. I really feel like she has done well with it. She gets it, and doesn't want it. WHEW THANK YOU. Another bargaining tool is watching Dora. She will do a lot to get to watch it.
She is also sleeping in her big girl bed now upstairs. I am very proud of her. :) She is also going potty sometimes. She told us yesterday she needed to go. I am in no way going to push this though.
Last couple of things: hormones are real and they can destroy you. HAHA, just kidding, but man I am really having night sweats and hot flashes. I wake up every night soaked. I HATE IT!!!! On a lighter note, hehe, I only have 9 more pounds to pre preg weight!!! WAHOOOOO. Now if I could just get the ok to exercise.....

Bridgette Loves PORK CHOPS

Well, I made pork chops for dinner tonight and Bridgette gobbled hers up, then proceeded to eat her daddy's. I made sweet potato fries (which I just KNEW she would love) and would you know she preferred the meat. Of course she is her daddy's girl. :)
She is getting bigger and bigger...especially near our little baby boy. She is 27 pounds now. I am so surprised by how much she can do on her own. With very little help, she changes the diapers on her babies. Precious. SHe can sing all sorts of songs. And while she is reading books, she can recall what every page is about and nearly say every word just like I would. I love her so much.
Mason is growing and becoming more and more alert. He eats very well. I have spoken to so many mothers about having a second (and third..etc) baby, and you just cannot fathom that you have the capacity to love a baby as much as you love your first miracle, but then miraculously God gives multiplies your ability to love, maybe exponentially and instantly you fall in love all over again with another little soul. This is exactly my experience anyway. I love Mason and Bridgette so much it hurts sometimes, especially as Bridgette becomes so independent. "Bridgette do it" is her constant refrain. I am proud of this though. Just missing her being so little. I am gonna post a couple of pics of the two of them as newborns. The close up is Bridgette.
Also Bridgette loves playing with the kitchen that brother brought her. Cool gift huh? :)

Bridgette and Mason

Well these two children are sweeter than I could ever have asked for...they are so loving. Bridgette just thinks her brother is so special. She always worries that his feet aren't warm :). She wants him to suck this thumb like she does. She is sleeping very well with us and Mason wakes at night every 2-3 hours to nurse, but goes right back to sleep. We are all so blessed. The hardest parts of having a toddler at home are 1. can't go upstairs where the bedrooms and playrooms are, and 2. can't pick up my baby girl, who I love to carry and cuddle. It's been a little awful actually. She has taken it pretty well, with minor tantrums. Daddy heads back to work tomorrow so we will see how that goes.
I have a nerve entrapment on the right side that is really causing me some pain from my c section. Nerve pain is the worst, because it is unpredictable, burning stabbing pain that pain medication really doesn't help much. Just praying that gets better quickly.

WELCOME BABY MASON

Our family expanded to 4 on August 5th at 834am! We are so thrilled! Here is a rundown of events and some pictures!!
We checked into the hospital at 6am, and immediately, the experience was smoother and easier than our first delivery. We met the doctors and anesthesiologist (we had mutual friends), then we walked into the delivery room and I was given a spinal. It took immediately and I had no problems. Travis was escorted in and the procedure took less than 20 minutes until we had our precious son Mason!! He was pink and crying. It was a precious moment. Travis got to hold him quickly and while they stitched me up, I was watching them and got to kiss him multiple times. It was pure bliss compared to Bridgette's birth! :)
He quickly nursed, then we introduced him to Bridgette. She was in awe of him. She kept her eyes on him and smiled and patted him. She kept saying, "Hello Brother, little eyes, little ears, little toes...etc." You get the picture. She would kiss him then smile great big!
Then everyone else got to come in and meet our sweet addition. It was just wonderful to have everyone together, for me to be AWAKE haha, and our baby to be peaceful with no distress. More later! Here are some pictures!!

3 more days until BABY MASON is here!!!!

BRIDGETTE LOVES LITTLE GYM :)
Well, as you can imagine, I am riddled with emotions! I am VERY excited to add another child to this sweet growing family. I am VERY excited to hold his sweet little body in my arms, to nurse another baby, to be responsible for another life. I am looking forward to Bridgette's reaction and seeing Travis with his SON. :) Lots of happiness and joy.
Also, there is some apprehension and fear...just do not want another delivery like the first. I am praying for a controlled experience, but I am aware that God is in control in all circumstances. Still...that nagging fear is there. Also not looking forward to being exhausted, but again, temporary. And very worth it.
Bridgette has asked me every day "Mason tomorrow?". She kisses my belly and tells him she loves him. I really can't wait to see how wild she will be over him. She just loves babies so much. Today we changed her baby's diaper over and over. I will have a REAL helper if I can manage to teach her that! haha
Have I mentioned before how much she LOVES rocks? I tell you she will find them anywhere and be endlessly fascinated by them. We go to our stream (wildlife preserve) and she will throw rocks into the water until I make her leave (kicking and screaming)! It's so funny what intrigues her.
She also really loves to "Hide". She especially loves to do this with her Daddy. They climb in the bed and squirm under the covers and she wants people to come and find her. It's so funny. She also likes to have people hide from her around the house and she will go find them. Uncle Westo taught her to "sneaky sneaky" which is a hilarious crouching tip toe walk while saying "Shhh". It's so funny.