Liam Gil

He's here!  He's here!

If we are Facebook friends, you know the newest Rammelsberg made his appearance on December 10, 2015, making him just over a week old today.  We are so in love with him!  This is the first opportunity I have had to make a post since D day, and I am somewhat sleep deprived, but I will try to hit all the major events/answer all the most common questions I have been getting.

Liam's Birth Story

As you may recall if you have been following my blog since Elliot was born, she was delivered via emergency C-section.  This left us with a choice to make with this birth.  We could try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarian) or schedule the repeat C-section.  It was a very difficult decision I struggled with for most of my pregnancy.  My OB was amazing throughout the whole process.  He was supportive of whatever I wanted to do.  He said given my previous birth experience I probably had about a 60% chance of successful VBAC.  He didn't encourage either the VBAC or the C-section, but said four words magic words that stuck with me and made me feel good about our ultimate decision: "Either choice is reasonable."

After a lot of thought, research, and prayer, Erik and I finally decided that we would schedule the repeat C-Section for December 10, but if I went into labor before then I would try to VBAC.  The reason I decided this was mainly because my birth experience with Elliot was generally terrible.  After laboring for 26 hours and pushing for 3 hours, I was completely exhausted when we finally did the emergency C-section.  I don't remember meeting her for the first time, or the first time I fed her.  I didn't want to risk that happening again.

Well, as you can see, I did NOT go into labor before December 10, so the C-section went forward as planned.  And it was really beautiful.  The hospital where I delivered was very supportive of everything I requested, including immediate skin-to-skin contact and holding off on the bath.  As soon as they pulled him out and made sure he was okay, they put him on my chest and he started nursing, while I was still in the OR being stitched up.  I was present for every part of his birth, and not exhausted this time around.  I do not regret my decision at all.

He was a perfect 7 pounds and 14 ounces.  Much smaller than we anticipated!  I was expecting a nine pounder!  Elliot was 8.5 pounds when she was born, so I just assumed he would be bigger.  But he was the teeniest, cuddliest little bundle of curled up legs and squishy cheeks.

What's in a name?

Liam Gil is named after our fathers.  Erik's dad's name is William, so we took the end of his name.  Those of you who know my dad are saying, "wait, isn't your Dad's name Cres?"  Yes, it is.  But our entire family calls him "Gil" and for a lot of reasons we decided to go with that rather than his "real" name.  I know Liam is like the most popular name for boys right now, but going with the family names was ultimately more important to us than being more original.

And then there were four.

One of the most beautiful moments of my life was when Elliot met her baby brother.  She came in, all smiles, wearing one mitten, and immediately fell in love with him.  They are so cute together.

She brought him all kinds of toys and cards from her own collection, and placed them carefully in his little crib at the hospital.  (Pictured above.)

The perks of having a Christmas baby.

EVERYONE has mentioned how awful it is to have a birthday so close to Christmas, so I have been a little bummed that his due date was in December.  However, the hospital does super cute things for babies born at Christmastime!  For example, they gave him a stocking to wear with a matching hat!  Have you ever seen anything so adorable?!!

Since we have been home...

Despite having a C-section, I was discharged from the hospital the day after he was born because I was recovering so well.  For us it was a relief to be home, with Elliot, all of us together as a family.  It was also nice to be home in our own bed!  And the little guy let us get a decent amount of sleep for a newborn.  He has been sleeping about 3-4 hours at a time through the night, so I typically only have to get up twice a night to feed him, then he falls immediately back to sleep.  On nights when Erik takes a turn feeding him on milk I pumped earlier in the day, I get around 7 hours of sleep in a row!

How is Elliot handling it?

Elliot is, as always, a champ.

She takes things in stride very well.  But this.  This was a huge adjustment for her.  She loooooves her brother.  He gets frequent kisses and requests to be held from his sister.  But she is also feeling the jealousy of lost attention, has had a little sleep regression, and a little bit of toilet training regression.  We feel so guilty sometimes about all the adjustments she has had to make and will continue to have to make.  But we are told she will adjust and I just keep reminding myself that I have a younger sister and I don't even remember a time without her.  So we hope that will be the case here.

She is the best big sister though.  And so proud to show off her brother!

I am going to leave you with some out-takes from the first photo shoot with both of my kiddos.  These are the ones that didn't make the cut for this year's Christmas card, but are too stinkin' cute not to share.

Thanks for reading this long post all the way to the end!  We wish you all a wonderful holiday season.

With love,

the FOUR Rammelsbergs

Fall Frolics 2015

We have already established that pregnancy has made me have zero energy to write.  So I am going to take this opportunity to photo dump basically everything we have been up to this fall.  A picture is worth a thousand words, right?  In the past, I would have had a separate post for each of the events pictured below, but let's be honest, that's not happening.

It has been an odd fall here in the Tri-Cities.  At first it was soooooo hot.  Have you noticed there have been no pictures of my garden this year?  That is because it was the most pitiful it has ever been.  Usually, by the time fall rolls around I am collecting the majority of my summer bounty.  No such luck this year.  I had prolific carrots, beets, Swiss chard, and herbs and that is about it.  It finally started to get a little overcast around Halloween, we had a few rain showers, and now it is cold, cold, cold.

So, without further ado, here is what we have been up to this fall!

Baby Shower!!

My amazing bestie, Lauren, along with her mom, Pat, threw me a gorgeous baby shower in September.  She really went all out, especially considering she herself was pregnant with Baby Ramm's bestie.  (She has since given birth to Isaac Peter and I get to meet him next week!)

 As you can see, the weather cooperated and it was a perfect fall morning for an outdoor baby shower brunch.

 We were really spoiled and babykins got lots of awesome swag.

 There were a few baby bellies present that day!  My friend Hailey, on the left, is due basically hours before me.  It has been nice to commiserate with her this entire pregnancy.  The latest complaint we both have, at 36 weeks now, is "What is with all the pelvic pressure?  Are we going into labor?!!"  (We aren't.)

The Best Big Sister was obviously present for the shower.  She was a champ.  I love her.

Pre-Halloween Shenanigans

 Due to Erik's work schedule, many of our pre-Halloween festivities were done the day before Halloween.  But we managed to squeeze in most of the traditional activities.  Like...

 ...carving pumpkins!

 ...and going to the pumpkin patch!

Halloween

The main event was Halloween, and it was by far the most fun Halloween yet.  It was the first year Elliot has been super into it.  We went as a family of pumpkins to a local church Trunk or Treat and really lived it up!

 She was convinced this was THE Ariel, and still talks about meeting her.

That night, after the festivities, Aniiah came over and helped Elliot overcome her trepidation over venturing out in the dark for some good old fashioned Trick or Treating in the neighborhood.  They were SO cute, holding hands and bursting out into song together.

Of course, there is still one of the main events of fall coming up.  Thanksgiving!  And what a time to be pregnant!  Sure, I will have thirds!  Pass more of that pumpkin pie please!  I have every intention of posting about our last holiday as a family of three, but as we have seen, sometimes the best-laid plans and all that...

So the next time you hear from me it will either be accompanied by a pic of me smiling ear to ear, a drumstick in each hand, or beaming with a fresh Rammelsberg in my arms.  Either way, you don't want to miss it.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

#SecondChildProblems

Unfortunately, I believe the title of the post may just be the story of new Baby Ramm's life.

I just counted them, and by this point in my pregnancy with Elliot I had posted a whopping TWELVE times.  Twelve.  I think for this poor kid I did the announcement of his being, and then the next blog post was possibly about Elliot's birthday?  In my defense, when I was blogging about my first pregnancy, I didn't have an Elliot running around being three (hello sass!).  This pregnancy has also just been all around harder.  The first trimester I was sick as a dog on a daily basis, and though it has petered out some, I still have morning sickness every once in a while in the third trimester.  I have also been super exhausted.  I am way more tired this time around.  I think it is maybe because I am older?  Who knows.  At any rate, this pregnancy has made me feel that it is unlikely there will be a Baby Ramm 3 in the future.  (Remind me of this in about a year, when I will start getting ideas.)

Paradoxically, this pregnancy has also seemed fast.  I feel like the months are just flying by.  I can't believe we are almost to the end of September.  Only twelve weeks to go!  And that is IF he stays put until his due date.  We are not ready!!

Anyway, as I alluded to above, my fear is that this new Rammelsberg, though dearly loved, is already experiencing what all second children the world over know to be true: mom and dad are TIRED.  You know that saying, "when you have more children your love doesn't divide, it multiplies"?  If only that were true for energy!  So, in the event that he ever comes across this blog post and decides to read it, I want to at least acknowledge the ways in which he is getting the shaft, in the hopes that he will know I know, that I am sorry, and that I love him very much.

• The nursery is not so much the crown jewel that Elliot's was, as it is the office converted into some kind of space that will fit a crib, a changing table, and a rocking chair.  New coat of paint?  Nope, we're good.
• First Christmas you say?  Well he's going to be somewhere around two weeks old, so I don't think presents will be necessary.
• "Erik, do we need to take a birthing class again?!!" "No, we'll just find something online."
• Oh, I guess we need to figure out where that infant car seat is, maybe give it a wash.
• Speaking of washing, how do you bathe a newborn again?  Or swaddle one?  Or deal with his umbilical cord?!  How did I forget all these things in just three years?!!!!

Le sigh.  I am sure this hashtag will be used frequently as the days and years go by.  We love you baby boy Ramm.  Please don't hold it against us.  Instead, do what all second children the world over do: blame it on your sister.

Peanut Butter & Jelliot

Yay!  Elliot turned 3!  Like a month ago.  And I am just now getting around to posting about it.  Some of you may be saying "I wonder if she is going to get around to sending out thank you notes?"  Funny, I wonder that too!

 

But for now, I am just proud to be doing this.

 

So every year I put a ton of effort into Elliot's birthday and make really cute decorations, and then forget to take pictures of them.  So this year I made sure to capture the little details.  The theme was "Peanut Butter and Jelliot", in honor of Elliot and her favorite sandwich.

 

 

PB&J Skewers

 

Salads

Two kinds of cupcakes, Purple Swirl and PB&J.

You can't be too careful with all those peanut allergies!

 

The goodie bags. (Goodie bag cred to my Mom, who put these together.  Thanks, Mom!)

The banner.  Hands down the most time-consuming element.

 

Paper chain, made with love with the help of Auntie Danielle while she was in town.

 

 

But the thing was, Elliot did not give two shakes about the awesome décor.  All that mattered to her was the BOUNCY HOUSE!

It was quite a bit larger than what we expected from the picture we saw online.  Notice it dominates our real house.  That girl loves to bounce.  And bounce she did from the moment they dropped it off the night before, until they came to pick it up the day after her party.

 

 

We also did the other traditional birthday things, like...

...play with friends,

...blow out birthday candles,

...open presents,

...and pose for the annual birthday doorway shot. (What?  That's not a thing.)

 

After everyone left she jumped some more.  But this time in her underwear.  Ok, ok!  Her diaper. 

("I am going to wear diapers forever!" -Elliot Rammelsberg)

It's a good day if it ends with your hair looking like this.

Good job, parents.  You've made it through another year.