My Favorite Little Outfit

Not long after Riley was born, I went online to Old Navy’s website and ordered a few things for my new little boy. One of the outfits I got was this precious hooded one-piece in blue and grey stripes. (Oh my gosh, I can barely remember him being this small!)

I loved dressing Riley in it, and I was so sad when he outgrew it. When we found out Sprout was a boy, I immediately thought of this particular outfit and was so excited I would be able to use it again.

I put Rory in it for the first time on the day we dyed Easter eggs. It’s a 0-3 month size, and it absolutely swallows him right now. (Even newborn sized clothes are too big for him!)

 

But he still looks awfully cute in it. I hope there are a few more cool days before the heat is here to stay; otherwise, I may have to crank up the a/c and keep him inside so he can wear it again.

Although, looking back at his newborn pictures and at what he wore on Friday, he has two other really cute outfits with blue stripes that are all his own.

 

I don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about my boys in stripes.

Happy {Easter} Sunday, everyone! We have had quite the fun and busy weekend with lots of family, and we hope y’all did too.

Two Sprouts and Fifteen Safety Pins

As I mentioned before, many people brought us wonderful gifts while we were still in the hospital. I’d like to take a moment to highlight three of those gifts since they are extra special to me.

Just like he did when Riley was born, Nopsi created a custom painting of a sprout in honor of his new grandson. I love the way it turned out, and it looks great on the wall in Rory’s room. Thank you so much, Nopsi!

Also just like they did when Riley was born, QP and UJ gave me a tiny little charm in the shape of a sprout to add to my bean necklace. I can’t believe they found one so perfect. It’s even smaller than the bean to designate Rory as the little brother. Thanks so much, y’all; I love my necklace!

And finally, I must show y’all what Aunt Lizzie made for us. In addition to the awesome diaper wreath that now graces the door to Rory’s room…..

…..she got some inspiration from Pinterest for a truly unique piece of art. She used 15 safety pins to show how we went from a family of three to a family of four. Love it!

We got so many compliments on it while it was on display in our hospital room. One nurse even asked if she could snap a picture of it with her phone to show her friend. Thanks for the awesome gift, LPb; you rock!

Easter Egg Dyeing

On Tuesday morning Riley, Rory, and I took a field trip to Nola and Nopsi’s house for a fun activity: dyeing Easter eggs. Kate was over there, too, so we made sure to take a cousins picture before we got started. How cute are those three all dressed in stripes???

 

Riley had actually never participated in this particular holiday tradition before, although I’m not sure why we didn’t do it last year. I knew I wanted to dye eggs with him this year since he’s at a good age for it.

Rory slept through most of the process, and Kate was pretty much only interested in chewing on the box, but Riley seemed to enjoy making the eggs turn different colors.

He got a little impatient waiting for the colors to deepen, so he got down from his chair and played with his racecars and micro machines until the eggs were finished taking their color baths and dry enough to decorate. Then he got to work with the stickers, while Nopsi had to restrain Kate from diving headfirst into the color bowls. Silly girl.

When all was said and done, I think Nopsi and I had the most fun with the dyeing, although Riley did love decorating with stickers. He was quite proud of his green egg laden with fire truck stickers, and he insisted on putting two rocket stickers on Kate’s pink egg and a monkey sticker on Rory’s purple egg. Naturally.

It was a little chaotic, it was a little messy, but overall it was a great success. Thanks so much for letting us come over and dye eggs with you, Nola and Nopsi. We had lots of fun! And just think: next year we’ll be able to get all three kiddos involved…..

…..let’s just hope that doesn’t mean three times the mess.

First Doctor’s Appointments and First Bath

Since leaving the hospital, Rory has been to see Dr. N twice, once at one week old and once at two weeks old. Kenny and I both went to the first appointment last Thursday, and we chatted quite a bit with Dr. N about various things concerning Rory’s first few days at home with us (circumcision, breastfeeding, umbilical cord, sleep, fussiness, etc.).

Suffice to say that Dr. N said he was doing just fine, especially since he weighed in over his birth weight, which she said is a bit unusual. He was 7 pounds at birth, 6 pounds 11 ounces at discharge, and 7 pounds 4 ounces at one week. He also gained a little in length, measuring 19.75 inches, up a quarter of an inch from his birth length. Our boy is a champ!

His second appointment at two weeks went just as well. I took him yesterday while Riley was napping at Nola’s and Kenny was at work. He weighed 8 pounds and measured 20.5 inches long, and his head circumference was 14 inches. Wow! His circumcision is basically healed, and Dr. N pronounced the rest of him perfect. He goes back at two months for another check-up and his first round of shots.

 

I also talked with Dr. N about his umbilical cord since it has started to bleed onto his clothes a bit. She said that was normal and cleaned it really well with alcohol before we left, which we are to continue a couple of times a day. Kenny and I are just hoping that Rory’s cord isn’t as stubborn as Riley’s was. But until the blessed day comes when it’s gone, it’s sponge baths only for the little one.

We gave him his first one last Friday night, and he actually did okay with it. We turned on the heater in his bathroom, laid him on a towel, and wiped him down with a warm washcloth.

 

The only part he didn’t really like was when I washed and rinsed his hair. But it had gotten really greasy-looking, so it had to be done. He doesn’t have quite as much hair as his brother did at this age, but I do wonder whether it will be as wonky!

Ever since that first bath his skin has been peeling like crazy, which I remember happening with Riley. But it is still so unbelievably soft and smooth. I wish it would stay like that forever, but I know it won’t so I’m savoring it while I can.

Kenny and I have also noticed that he has little notches in his ears, one on his right ear and two on his left ear. I’m not sure if they’re permanent, but they’re awfully cute!

We’re so grateful and glad that the little screech monkey is doing so well. He does have his fussy moments but what else can we expect from someone so little and helpless? And even though I’m tired from having to care for a newborn again, I’m trying my best to cherish every moment with him while he’s young.

 

I know firsthand just how fast time goes by…..

…..it seems like just yesterday we only had that little wonk potatoes to love.

Video Wednesday: Good Morning

As I said yesterday, Riley really is doing well with the addition of Rory into our household. On Saturday morning, he very sweetly climbed up onto the couch next to his brother, who was still asleep in his bouncy, and told him good morning.

He then proceeded to sit there calmly for a few minutes while he watched a bit of Mickey. I guess he just wanted to be close to his little brother, which Kenny and I just melted over.

Two sweet boys who will hopefully become really good friends. Can’t get much better than that.

Happy Wednesday!

To Bean, Love Sprout {Big Brother Gifts}

A couple of months before Sprout was due to arrive, Kenny and I started talking about a special big brother present for Riley. We wanted to give him something that ostensibly came from his brother in the hopes of easing him into having another little person around his house.

As you may have read, he’s been asking for a garbage truck. So we did some research, asked Ashley (whose son loves garbage trucks) for recommendations, and finally settled on the Tonka Strong Arm truck. Riley was pretty excited to unwrap it, and it really is a cool truck. Huge thanks to Kel-Kel for going to pick it up at the Toys ‘R Us in Slidell!

 

I also ordered Riley a personalized Super Incredible Big Brother book from I See Me, but that was more from Kenny and me. The book is really cute, and it even came with a Super Incredible Big Brother medal.

Riley has also gotten many other big brother gifts from various friends and family members. Grandma gave each of the boys a new pair of shoes: LSU booties for Rory and light-up Toy Story tennis shoes for Riley. He’s so funny when he tries to walk in them and see the lights at the same time. Nola and Nopsi gave him a few new trucks in the hospital, and Karen, Bridget, Aunt Dede, Aunt E, and Kel-Kel each got him a little something as well. Thanks to everyone for thinking of him!

Riley is doing really well with the addition of Rory. Most of the time he ignores him and just goes about his business of playing, but he has asked where his little brother is if he’s not in the room with him. He also shows interest when Rory cries, especially when he’s on the changing table. He’ll run into his room and peer inquisitively at him. And in order to include him as much as possible, we’re trying to get Riley to tell us what he thinks Rory needs when he cries. So far he mostly has responded with “change his diaper.”

 

He’s a smart one, my Riley-bean. And I already know he’s going to be one heck of a super, incredible big brother. Rory is certainly a lucky little man.