2 Months Down...Many to Go!

I'm sure at some point everyone who blogs decides to write a new post instead of doing the other hundred things that needs to be done. Well that is me, I am not doing laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc; I am going to tell you all about one of my favorite things!

Dang! Isn't he cute! It is the one reason why we don't consider giving him back! But truly he is one of my favorite things right now besides my husband of course, and as of lately chocolate!

As of today, Kellen is 2 months old. At his doctors appointment he weighed 11 lbs 1oz and is 23 inches long. His growth is normal and he is doing good. He has this sleeping at night thing down and most nights is asleep by 9:30 and wakes me up at 7! Now we just need him to be able to hold his head up so he can use his bumbo and other new toys!

It isn't as exciting to hear about Brad and I but we are doing well. Brad is getting ready for his Africa trip in about a month so he has been working a lot. At times he gets less sleep than me but he is trooper. I started a second part time job as a receptionist at a local Montessori school and I love it. It feels nice to get back into that kinds of work and Kellen is able to be in their infant program while I work. Life is going to get very busy but I think that is what we are used to!

Someone is Happy

I thought I would post a little video of Kellen. Please excuse my high pitched voice. He is starting to smile and laugh when he sees a familiar face so that is nice. He is also starting to cry every time he goes down for a nap unless you hold him. I swear I haven't been holding him all the time....maybe I am just in denial

Christmas with Our Little Family!

Well the Holidays have come and gone and for once in my life I have hit January and not seen any snow yet! Brad worked most of the holiday nights but we were able to spend Christmas together. While we weren't near family it was nice to feel their love as well as spending Christmas with our little family. But don't worry Kellen and I were taken care of while Brad worked. We were invited to many Christmas parties by people in the ward and felt loved from them as well!

To start off with, it is way more fun to see pictures of this guy then us. We bought a little outfit for Christmas for Kellen and then an anonymous person dropped off some more Christmas outfits. So he was well dressed this Holiday season! 

Brad worked Christmas eve so we didn't open presents until 6 at night, Christmas day. But we got dressed in our pjs so it looks normal. Kellen obviously was spoiled this year as he should be but he slept the whole time! Brad did most of the shopping and I was glad because he bought some good stuff and things we needed. (Maybe minus the nerf guns he bought Kellen :) )

This is Brad trying to calm Kellen down. And yes he is wearing the stockings that we had hung up. He said they were comfortable!

 A lady in our ward did Kellen's baby pictures as well as our family pictures this year. She is an amazing photographer and it was so fun to work with her. She didn't even flinch when Kellen peed all over her blanket...twice. Here are some of my favorite shots, isn't she amazing. If you want to check her work out, www.emilyjonesstudio.com 

These are the Holiday cards we sent out. I scanned this so the quality isn't the best. I wish we could have sent them to everyone but we only had enough for family. Kellen was the best thing about this year and he came right before it ended! It is crazy to know that a year ago we were in Rexburg doing pretty much the same things we had for the previous 3 years. But now we are in Virginia, Brad has a great RN job, and Kellen has joined us on this crazy adventure. We have much to be happy about! Our family had friends have been on our mind, especially during this season and we hope all is well!

Sleepy Head!

Well come tomorrow our little one will be a month old! I would wait till next week when we go into the doctor to tell you all the details but another post won't hurt. Plus I love when people update their blog so I should only expect me to do the same.

This last month has been a lot of getting to know and trial and error moments. I've really enjoyed the time Kellen and I have spent with each other. And I am sure as soon as we figure each other out, he will decide to change it up!

 

Brad has been working a lot to take care of us but he does a great job of spending time with Kellen when he can. Kellen really likes to lay on dad this way and it usually soothes him quite fast.

Kellen is a really good sleeper and that is the reason why I can get out of the house and well shower. During the day I wake him up every 3 to 4 hours just because at first he was not eating well. At night though I let him sleep longer and he sleep for 4 or 5 hours. I think he likes to sleep more than eat sometimes. It seems like the only time I remember to take pictures is when he is sleeping. But he looks real cute when he does sleep!

He always smiles after I take the picture. This is one of the first I captured.

Seriously, how could you be mad waking up at 4 to feed this face! It is crazy how in some pictures he looks a lot like Kevin. That is his nose for sure!

I think I took this picture to show how long he is. Most of the time he likes to scrunch up but when he stretches out he looks quite long! Taking after his dad I hope!

Brad having some fun with his hair! His hair is golden blonde so it gets greasy quite fast. I find myself washing his hair a lot just so people can see the true color.

Hopefully I stick to the month by month pictures. I tried in his bobby and then moved him to the couch. I am not a professional but hopefully we will enjoy this later! Kellen has been so much fun and I have really enjoyed the firsts. 

This shows his slow demise of falling asleep. I guess I was boring him!

He Makes the Closes Look Good!

The dust is starting to settle here at the Close home and I figure it is a good time to show everyone the new addition to our family! The last two weeks seem to have blurred and gone slow at the same time. Brad and I can't be happier that Kellen is with us and can't wait till all of our friends and family can meet him!

Tuesday the 15th I started to feel some false labor pains, they kept me up all night but by afternoon I was able to get some sleep. By Wednesday night the contractions really started to hit. Another sleepless night left me quite grumpy and frustrated. I don't think my contractions were horrible but because it was some of the first pain I had felt, it sure felt horrible. By Thursday I was tired of timing my contractions and ready to go to the hospital. Brad had just finished his third shift in a row so he slept for two hours before we went into the doctors. We had to see a different doctor because ours was busy. When she told me that I had not progressed I couldn't hold it in anymore and started to cry. I felt bad for crying but she understood, although I am sure it caught her off guard. We went home and 2 hours later came back, found out I had progressed enough, and our doctor told us he would admit us to the hospital!

Here I am on the car ride over to the hospital (only 2 minutes from the drs office) and then right before we went in. 

Getting in and admitted was fast and before long we were in our room and getting settled. I gladly accepted the epidural and the doctor was very fast and before I knew it, I was feeling a whole lot better than I had in the last two days. I was so excited for sleep. When I got my epidural I was at 6cm but it slowed my progress way down and Brad and I spent some time sleeping and watching the VT game. 

Where I got to sleep

Where Brad got to sleep. He obviously didn't fit too well. 

At about 2 am the doctor finally gave us the good news that I was 10cm. At the time I realize that I pushed for a really long time. I just thought you know four hours is average (I couldn't remember the stats from the birthing class). My mom told me that with most of her children she pushed for about 4 contractions! But yes I pushed for 4 hours and then at 6:02 am Friday 18th Kellen Bradley Close was born. He weighed 7 lbs 8oz, 21 inches long.

I don't know how moms can look so good after giving birth so I am neither surprised or disappointed  I look this way. Soon after the birth they moved us downstairs to our room and got us all situated. I am pretty sure both Brad and I looked horrible because they offered to take Kellen and do all their routine tests so we could sleep. 

After the two days of being in the hospital Brad and I were very ready to go home and be in our own house and on our own schedule. 

The ever so needed picture of going home. 

We joke that Kellen couldn't have planned it better of when he came. I wasn't due till the 20th and my mom and sister were coming in the 21st. Brad had Thursday through Tuesday off so we got the right amount of time together and we came home from the hospital the day before my mom and sister came. It was so nice to have my mom and sister for the week and we had a lot of fun. 

We took a trip up to Star Mountain to see the city, it was windy so it was a short trip. We tried to go out at least once a day just so I wouldn't go stir crazy. My mom and sister spent a lot of time cleaning, chatting with me, and helping me a ton. I was very sad to see them go but we get to see them in February!

After his first bath at home. 

In his hat Grandma crocheted him. It has little flaps and is the cutest thing ever!

Grandma with the hat and blanket she crocheted him! My mom is quite talented!

Brad and I are so happy that Kellen is finally here! It is crazy how you can love someone so much after only seeing them for a moment. I am so grateful and glad that I get to feel the way that all the moms have felt and talked about. It might be my extra hormones but I find myself tearing up a lot when I look at him. I am excited and nervous to see what the upcoming months will bring! Brad is so wonderful with Kellen and the bond is quite present. Brad is so good with him and takes care of him a lot better than I do. It feels wonderful to start our little family!