Just a little smile...

...how can this not brighten your day?

Life moving on

Our wide-eyed little guy. He has become so ALERT the last couple weeks... when this baby is awake, he's awake! 

When Justin went to Winterfest last month, Wyatt and I spent the weekend at my parents' house. We had a blast! Aunt Steph even came for a night. We went out to dinner and talked about how we couldn't remember the last time we'd been out, just the four of us (plus the boy, of course). Here's Wy staring at all the toys over his playmat at Grandma and Grandpa's.

I went into work a couple days last week to do an ad for the Oakland Press while Elliot was home with new baby Jace. Wyatt was a champ, sleeping in his travel bed on the couch for a couple hours, then on me for another hour, before waking up to be held by Norman for awhile.

Using his new bath cover from Grandma Linda for the first time! So cute! This kid loves baths... and with all that hair, he gets one at least every other day. :)

Snoozing on his playmat in the sun.

Last week for the first time, I was in the other room when I heard a rattle, rattle, rattle and came running. It's unbelievable how excited I got to realize he learned something so simple!

I'm such a sucker for his sleepy face, especially his adorable little open mouth. I take a picture like this nearly every day!

Five Weeks

Believe it or not (we barely can), but five weeks ago right now I was at the hospital, in labor with our sweet Wyatt. We're definitely in that "time is flying by/but doesn't it feel like he's been here forever" phase. Here are a few of our favorite recent photos:

My cutie boys:

Trying to capture a sleepy smile on Valentine's Day:

Possibly Wyatt's cutest picture yet:

I thought it might be a good time to write a summary of his birth day for all the inquiring minds who want to know... so... here it is. I woke up at 6am not feeling well, and later realized I could time my not-feeling-well-feelings--contractions! I think they were about 7 minutes apart at that point, and I hadn't had a single one previously, so that seemed like a lot to me. Finally I got up and got ready for work, anxious to just sit at my desk and time them for awhile... I had a check-up scheduled at 1pm and decided I wouldn't do anything before then. So I got to work (where I told Elliot I might be in labor... which I'm sure he loooved hearing), and began timing the contractions. Until 11am they were consistently 6 minutes apart, and then at 11 they suddenly just stopped. Then let's just say around 11:45 my water broke!

I left work in a hurry and called the doctor's office, and the doctor told me to go home and get my bags (and my husband) and come in for my appointment. We rushed around the house grabbing bags, and I have to admit I cleaned up the kitchen and emptied the dishwasher. :) Got to the doctor and found out I was dialated to a 4. Drove across the street to the hospital, called my mom on the way, and then was admitted to triage around 1:45pm. We waited there for what felt like a year, and during this time my contractions came back hardcore. There also wasn't any phone/internet reception in there, so we couldn't let anyone else--Stephanie, Justin's parents--know what was happening... super frustrating. Anyway, we finally got into a room where I managed to change and meet our delivery nurse, Margarita. After sitting there about 10 minutes I totally caved and decided I wanted the epidural that I said my whole pregnancy I didn't want. Luckily I was able to get it very quickly, and it was perfect. Instantly I felt completely relaxed! My parents got there during this time and I said I'd like to see my mom.

Margarita wanted to check me before anyone came back because my contractions were so close together... she said, "at the rate you're going you could be a 6 or 7 by now." Then all of a sudden I heard, "you are dialated to a 9! If you want to see anyone they need to come back RIGHT NOW!" We hadn't brought our bags in yet, so we had no camera at this point. Justin went and got my mom and sent my dad for our stuff... this was at 3:50pm. We visited with them both for about 10 minutes and then Margarita sent them out and told me I had to push! I think that started at about 4:15pm and at 5:05, Wyatt was born. And that's when the real adventure began!

Joyful, Joyful

Wyatt James arrived on Tuesday, January 20... and we haven't been able to stop staring at him since. In fact, that's why it's taken two weeks to blog about him. I'm just going to post some pictures right now... his birth story is pretty awesome, so I'll save it to share another day. Suffice it to say I worked until noon and he was born at 5:05pm. :)

He is completely perfect, 6lbs 6oz and 19 inches long... with more hair than anyone can believe (except for me--I was sure he would have a ton of hair and had the heartburn to back it up)! He is such a joy.

Our cups overflow!

Christmas recap, two weeks late

Two weeks is better than nothing, right? We had the most wonderful week of Christmasing. The progressive dinner was great--I think everyone enjoyed "the kids" as hosts--and Justin and I certainly LOVED putting our basement to real use for the first time. We set a 16-ft table, and it was so nice to seat my entire family in one long row. The menu was brisket, our favorite cheesy potato casserole (no sour cream!), fresh green beans, and bread--simple and sooo good.

After everything was finished, we drove to my parents' to spend one last Christmas Eve night. Before going to bed, we sat by the tree in the dining room with only those lights lit, and it felt like a real-life version of Silent Night. So calm, so peaceful. It was pretty special. 

My parents generously gave us, among too many other things, a Canon Rebel. Can't wait to use it with the baby! Here are just a few of my favorite still shots from the weekend:

We spent the morning playing around with the camera and getting ready for the fam to arrive. I love Christmas in that house! So warm, so cozy.

Here's a great picture of my Aunt Sue and Uncle Kirk with Cooper, Jason's Christmas present to Steph (she got him about a month ago... after only having to wait 24 years!):

And Morgan, taking a break after opening presents. Check out her "sleeves" ... must be what the kids are wearing these days:

Friday morning we got up and hit the road for Higgins Lake. We arrived in the early afternoon and enjoyed our second Christmas dinner, then opened presents again! Justin's parents gave us a Canon FS100 camcorder. I love this gift because Justin has seriously wanted a camcorder for YEARS, and waited patiently all this time. I think the grandparents just want to make sure they have full access to baby action with one click!

Justin, looking cute while putting together a new desk chair for his mom and dad:

We stayed in Higgins Lake until Monday morning, so there was plenty of time for relaxing, movie-watching, eating, shopping, and hanging out with everyone. Sunday night was spent with Eric and Alex Carroll, who more often than not we only get to see at Christmas... and I have to say, it's one of the things we most look forward to in the whole season. I love to look back over seven Christmases now and think about the fun times we've shared... and I'm especially thankful they adopted me into their "boys' club!"

Sunday night with the Carrolls kicked off a week of great times with friends. Monday was spent in Livonia with Chris and Andrea Moyer and (newly engaged) Liz Baiocchi. Tuesday we had an end-of-the-year party for the teens at church, Wednesday we spent New Year's Eve at Shannon and Elliot's, along with Kelly and Ashley, Thursday we went to my grandpa's for the day, Friday was a nice, relaxing date night, and Saturday was Amy Boris's wedding! Yesterday by the time we got home from church, we barely had the energy to change into sweats before collapsing on the couch, literally for the next several hours.

Before I wrap this up, I was thinking about those seven straight nights with friends and how there isn't ONE picture to show for it, which is kind of sad. But then my very favorite John Mayer song came to mind. "Didn't have a camera by my side this time / Hoping I would see the world with both my eyes" ... "Today I finally overcame / Trying to fit the world inside a picture frame..." I just love this song. It's so true, often I think we miss being in the little moments because we're too obsessed with trying to capture them. And obviously, there's merit in preserving the memory... but last week it was so nice to kick back and laugh until our bellies hurt without stopping to pose for a picture. Those memories last, too. And every year at Christmastime, I'm thankful for the friends who come home and the late nights spent this very way! So yes... it was a good, long break.

Christmas Eve already?!

I do not know what is going on with this blog, but for the past three days I've been trying to upload pictures to post and it won't work! It just keeps telling me "bad error." The first time that was kinda funny, but now it's just annoying! Anyway, I guess you'll have to wait to see pictures of the baby's room, our basement, and my hugely expanding form... I know, what a Christmas disappointment. :)

I guess, being that it's been over a month since my last post, I should give an update. Team Remsing is doing well... I think I can finally say we are READY to meet this baby. There are still some little things to be done, but his clothes are washed, furniture is set up, and mom is feeling uncomfortable--so yes, ready is a good word. Pregnancy and I have gotten along pretty well, but I am now to the point where I'm excited to leave it in the past and have my little guy here to hold! My doctor told me on Monday that things are still "textbook perfect" and he will be fine to come any day. Now--there is still a month left till my due date, but if everyone can pray for a January 20 delivery, I would appreciate it. That is my grandpa's bday and he is hoping for a birthday buddy. :)

Justin has been working his tail off to get everything ready. The basement looks amazing and is just waiting for some crown molding (and a good cleaning of the storage space... but that is a different, and probably boring, post altogether), he finished up the semester with two A's in two classes, and our Christmas lights look awesome! I can't seem to remember all the other things I want to mention, but suffice it to say that the last five weeks have been busy busy with very little time for rest.

Today is my family's annual progressive dinner. We have been doing this for the last five years, ever since my great-grandma passed away, because Christmas Eve was always her night. Even when she moved in with my grandparents, she would make dinner (ham, chicken nuggets and pizza rolls... really and truly... because none of us kids likes ham!) and then we would crowd into the third bedroom used as her personal "living room" to open gifts. The progressive dinner is fun... but each Christmas Eve I miss her laugh and that special tradition. Anyway, today we are kicking it up a notch and the KIDS are hosting the day! Appetizers at Keith and Tarah's, a movie at Erin and John's, dinner HERE (in the basement, no less), and dessert at Steph and Jason's. Cross your fingers for me!

Friday we'll head up north for the weekend, and then come back to a week off! Can't wait to catch up with some old friends and spend this holly, jolly time of year with our families. Christmas is HERE!

Wishing you and yours all the best!

Project and more projects

Let me just say that lately we have had projects coming out our ears. I could share some pictures, but I think it will be more fun to wait till the end. :) Last weekend we finally, finally painted the basement. It actually turned out to be pretty fun--Justin had a lock-in Friday night, so Saturday morning he got home and went to bed, and I headed straight downstairs to begin. I lugged down our 24" iMac to watch movies and got everything set up just so. I think I was a little more excited than anyone should generally be about painting for a couple reasons: 1) it was such a long time coming, and 2) that dark blue paint has been taunting me since we bought it during the Martin Luther King Day weekend sale--which was, of course, in JANUARY! Anyway, just as I finished the first coat (three hours later), Justin got up and came down to help. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, we painted all the dark blue, cream on the bottom half for the wainscotting, and all the doors and molding, while going through four gallons of paint and six movies. It was pretty fun... one of those weekends where we were exhausted by the end, but feeling great about what we'd accomplished.

This weekend was about cleaning and organizing closets. I took a half day on Friday and completely emptied the closets in the baby's room and the office, then spent all yesterday packing clothes up to donate, throwing things away, storing things in tubs, and generally cleaning everything up. Since we're very clean, clutter-free people to begin with, I thought this would go quickly, but it took wayyyy longer than I anticipated! (side note, somebody commented at church this morning that I must be nesting, to which I replied that I think my whole life is nesting, so I can't really tell the difference). :) Anyway... three bags of garbage, three boxes of donations, two tubs for the basement, and three clean closets later... here we are. Justin and I agreed that once the basement is done and we can organize the storage area (where everything is currently shoved), our house will be 100% organized. What a feeling, just to be on the brink!

Today Justin is working on the molding in the basement with Jason, and my mom and Steph just left after helping me paint the baby's room. Although I'm enjoying all the projects, I can't wait for them to be finished so we can just sit back and enjoy everything.

Hope everyone is enjoying this (suddenly snowy) Sunday afternoon!