Charlie Day 2

Charlie on the second day of life!

Daddy showing Frank his new baby brother

When Frank arrived to the hospital... he hat on the couch and wondered where his chips were {see yesterday's post} so daddy got him some baked doritos... and he would not put them down... Here he is with pop-pop and charlie

Love this picture of pop-pop, Frank and Charlie

Frank was very excited about his Charlie Train... for the first few days when we would ask where is Charlie, he would hold up the train and say... he's right here!

Charlie also passed his hearing test! Just like his big brother

The Day Your Brother Was Born...

On the day your brother was born... Frank woke up to find mimi... not mommy to take him to school... he then spent much of the day at school asking where is mommy/daddy were.... he fell and got a HUGE bump on his melon... had a potty accident... refused to nap and spent all of nap time rocking with his favorite teacher Miss Kris... all of this left him exhausted when daddy came to pick him up... so when they went to get balloons for baby Charlie... Frank looked like this...

Becoming a big brother is -exhausting-

First Day Visitors

Everyone was s excited to come and Meet Charlie! Frank5 spent most of the day at school... then Daddy picked him up and brought him to meet his baby brother Cha-Lee {as pronounced by Frank}. He sat down and had a little dinner-time snack

Mimi spent a few days with us watching Frank and helping us out while we were getting adjusted to being a family of -four- she was so helpful and amazing while I was in the hospital! Thank you Mimi :)

Grandma Hartge and Baby Charlie

Frank3 and Charlie

Frank5 was more interested in his chips and guac at first... then he quickly became interested in Charlie

Such a LONG day! Mommy was very tired!

But it was all worth it for this sweet little face!

Hello Charlie!

A very early (5:00 am) Monday morning Frank4 and I headed to the hospital to meet our newest baby. We were very excited to find out what this baby looked like and more importantly if it was a boy or a girl! Daddy Frank caught a last picture of me pregnant with baby #2.

While hooked up to the monitors... we notices I was having strong contractions 8-10 minutes apart... I thought it was just the baby moving constantly... but apparently that was contractions... {much different that pitocin contractions}... looks like the super moon got something started!

At 7:30 I was wheeled into the OR. They prepped me for surgery and Dr. Kennebeck/Dr. McCluskey came into the room with Frank. I thought it was funny that Dr. McCluskey was Frank's senior resident while he was doing his OB rotation and now she was helping to deliver our baby. Similar to Frank... Charlie did not want to come out... Frank said it was the only time he has ever seen anyone need to use a vac on a csection... but eventually they pulled his head out... I thought he was completely out and i shouted... Boy or Girl!? The Dr replied," I can't really tell by the ears... but it has a lot of dark hair!"... Then suddenly they shouted it's a BOY!

Baby Charlie came into the world looking a lot like his brother... and a lot like mommy :)

One of the main reasons I wanted a VBAC was because when Frank was born I had to wait two hours to hold him while I was in recovery. I had talked to Dr. Kennebeck about this and she promised, barring any complications, I would be able to hold him in the OR.

I was overjoyed to not only be able to hold him... but to carry him to recovery and keep him with me the entire time. He was able to nurse immediately and stayed by my side practically the entire day!

Welcome to the world Mr. Charles Casey Hartge! Charles is my grandfather's name {Charles Isaiah Hayes} and Casey is Grandma Hartge's maiden name.

It's A BOY!!!

We are very excited to announce the arrival of {Charlie} Charles Casey Hartge on March 21st at 7:41am weighing in at 8lbs and 20 1/4 inches in length. Pictures to come soon, however these are the pictures taken in the hospital today. PASSWORD: 0321charlie

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A New Adventure

Packing up for the hospital for tomorrow morning... I can't believe I made it to 40 weeks again! Not even the super moon could put me into labor!! But we are pleased to have a little baby on the first day of spring 3/21...As I pack my bags... one pink and blue onsie... and of course gifts for the big brother from the new baby {If you are a Thomas the Train aficionado then you can guess the names we have picked out}

We are very excited to become a family of -four- and even more excited to meet this new little one... we will be at the hospital at 5am to begin our newest adventure!

A View From Here...

One week {and one day} to go... and the view from here is:

At least -if- I could see my toes... I would be looking as a fresh pedicure :)

Our "countdown chains" to baby are getting less and less... which is exciting to me at least...

Bags are packed... infant car seat has been put in the car... the room is ready... and while I am aware that I will me MORE tired once this little baby arrives... I will be very happy to be able to move a little easier and to finally meet this little one... apparently all the spicy food... walking... and many other means of trying to convince this little one to arrive are not working... and though it has been a wonderful 39 weeks... time is up kiddo! We are ready to meet you already!