Joshua: 1 month old

It’s hard to believe that a whole month has gone by already. Our little Joshua is a joy to our lives. He’s a pretty easy-going baby, eats every three hours during the day, and then gives me a four hour and a five hour stretch at night. He likes people to stand while holding him so that he can hold his head back and look around. He’s very alert during his awake times and seems to love being around Seth and Sam’s voices. Josh is chubby and his hair has a reddish tint to it.

His face did an involuntary smile and I happened to catch it. I can’t wait until he smiles on purpose!!

We’re surviving here with a newborn in the house. We were blessed by Ben’s parents taking Seth and Sam for a couple nights this past weekend and we were amazed how quiet the house was—and how easy life is with “just” a newborn! Aunt Holly also came for a night to help out…we had a wonderful time and she helped me immensely around the house. Josh loved being held by his Aunt Holly and would just gaze up at her pretty face.    I look like such a tired, haggard mama in this picture—but I love it because it’s a great memory of getting to read to all my boys. I’m so blessed! He’s such a cute baby and we’re savoring getting to hold him a lot!

Who Does He Look Like?

One of the most frequently asked questions about Josh is, “Does he look like Seth and Sam?” I finally compared some pictures today; it is kind of tough to compare pictures, because the twins were premies, so they looked quite different than Joshua when they were born. At the very least, it was fun to see pictures of the boys again—and to remember, if I survived twins as infants, I can do this with one baby! Here’s Sam and Seth the day they went home from the NICU Seth, Sam (I think?)

So you tell me: does Josh look like his brothers? I’d say pretty darn similar… He doesn’t have the dimple in the middle of his chin—that’s the greatest difference. He also has a reddish tint to his hair. Oh, and all the clothes that the boys are wearing in their second or third month of life—well, Josh is wearing those clothes now.

One last thought: you know you’re the parent of twins when you feel bad for your singleton child because he’s alone in all his baby pictures. Poor Josh.

Catch Up

Oddly enough, I don’t have a lot of time to blog these days. In fact, I feel like I don’t have time for ANYTHING.

So here’s a quick summary of life with Josh at three weeks:

-He’s a pretty good sleeper. He’ll give me at least two 4 hour stretches at night, and once even went 5 1/2 hours.

-He’s a fairly mellow baby. Some crying, but usually there is a reason.

-He loves to eat and is gaining weight well. I love it. I’ve never had a chubby baby before. At a little less than 2 weeks, he had already surpassed his birth weight of 8 lbs. 1 oz, and was 8 lbs 11 oz.  (at that appointment he was 60% for weight, and 90% for height—thank goodness…finally a tall kid!)

-People have asked if it’s easier having one infant. “YES!” However, having one infant with two toddlers is challenging. No breaks. You can’t sleep whenever you want. You can’t sleep in. You’re tired, cranky and short with your older kids. Which leads to the second question I get a lot, “How are Seth and Sam doing with a baby brother?” Overall, I think good. They are such independent and mellow kids that I know it could be so much harder. We’ve had a few more fits and whines than usual, but they keep each other company. I’m so thankful for twins! Right now they have been outside for an hour playing together (while Josh naps—which is why I get to blog).

-Seth and Sam are such great helpers with Josh, especially in the car! They love being in charge of putting his binky in. The other morning we were attempting to get out of the house, and Josh was screaming in his car seat as I was gathering my purse. I found Seth sitting next to him patting him trying to calm him down. It was so sweet! Look at that fat chest Double chin and rolls on his legs!

We have been blessed with many visitors and helpers. I’ve been so thankful for people’s generosity in bringing us meals and spending time at our home. What an amazing support system we have! Josh meeting GG Grandma for the first time Aunt KK!

While my mom was here she created a construction zone for the boys. They spent the entire week perfecting their area using all different kinds of art media. It was a wonderful activity, and something only my artist mom could come up with! (Sam, Seth)

Ben and I were so proud of ourselves: we went to a family gathering in Estacada when Joshua was only 2 weeks old! We would have never done that with the twins. Sammy with Aunt Tani We got lots of giggles about Sam lounging in this duck in the pool. He looked so silly!

Ben has been getting ready for hunting season; therefore, Sam and Seth having been playing a lot of “hunting” which means building guns out of every toy imaginable, and “booming” a lot around the house. I caught Seth hauling around the rocking horse this morning as his “dead elk he needed to skin.” Ben went on a “hunt” with them throughout the house yesterday, letting one boy use his compass and the other his binoculars to help him find the deer. What a good daddy!

We attempted church yesterday for the first time. We made it halfway through. Let’s call that a victory. Here’s Josh in his first church outfit: a little cheesy, but cute. Apparently not cute enough to keep him from screaming halfway through the sermon.

I think he looked like an old man with his pants pulled up and tie shirt. Tough life of a baby LOVE IT!

Joshua’s First Days at Home

Lots of pictures, but not lots of time. Here’s our life this past week and a half: Love the fuzzy hair This might be one of my favorite pictures ever. Yes, he’s held most the time and very doted upon My dear friend Katie visited—we had to get a picture now that we have FIVE boys between the two of us! Boy life will be fun with all of them playing together in a couple years! Ben found his old jerseys in a box and the boys were SOOOO excited to wear them. Can you tell? Best picture! Ben then showed them how to put their football pads under the jerseys. The bike helmets are serving as their football helmets. Nice football face Sam. Baby Josh sleeps A LOT, and always looks cute doing it. Happy and tired mama. Unfortunately, Seth and Sam got colds the day after Josh was born, so we’ve been trying to have them keep their distance (which has been really, really hard!) They love trying to get baby brother to hold their fingers and pat him lots. Sweetest little face  My mom has been here since Sunday helping and I couldn’t be more thankful! This last picture is from today. I think he’s growing up so much already!

Meet Joshua Jeffery Morris

Joshua Jeffery Morris

August 31st, 2013

6:42 am

8 lbs, 1 oz

20 inches long

Our true miracle baby.

I’m in awe that we have a little baby boy in our house. He is such a miracle. Waiting 2 years to get pregnant has helped us savor each moment with this precious little one.

And another miracle happened regarding his birth: I was scheduled to have a c-section at 11 am on August 31, due to excess amniotic fluid, (also, I couldn’t be induced because my last delivery I had a c-section). I was very disappointed and really wanted to try for a normal delivery. We had already gone to the hospital the weekend before only to have it be 12 hours of false labor. Our bags were packed on Friday night to head to the hospital for a c-section. And then…and then…I went into labor at 1 am that morning! Due to the false alarm the weekend before, we wanted to be cautious—but by 2 am, contractions were strong and we were told to be very careful about my water breaking at home because of the excess fluid. We headed in, they checked me and I was at 3 cm, my water broke, the labor went extremely fast, I thankfully was able to get an epidural at around 8 cm, I pushed for an hour and a half—and we had our beautiful baby boy. He was placed on my chest and Ben and I wept for joy! Such a miracle! I’m in awe of how God answers prayers and the desires of our hearts. 

We are so in love with our Joshua and so thankful for God allowing us to have another child. What a miracle! He didn’t cry when he came out—in fact it took Josh a couple hours to cry for the first time. Instead he just looked around and was very calm. By 9:30 am that morning, instead of me being prepped for a c-section, my boys were meeting their brother for the first time. So amazing!

Seth was very excited to hold baby brother. In fact, he held Josh first, and then after the grandparents held him for awhile, Seth said, “I think it’s time for me to hold him again.”

Sam, on the other hand, was a bit stand-offish. In fact, he still hasn’t held him. Each time we ask if he wants to hold Josh, he has a new excuse of why he shouldn’t. Instead, Sam’s as curious as ever, asking a million questions about why Josh looks “so silly”, why the hospital room was a certain way, what was with baby’s belly button, etc.

We were blessed with many visitors at the hospital to meet our little guy:

   Papa Titi, (no good picture of just my mom because she was so gracious to always let the boys hold Josh with her) GrandmaGrandpa Deedo  Nick, Katie, and their girls I love this picture of all their hands touching him…so precious!

Clara and Aidah Miriam Auntie Alicia and cousin Judah The Gowen’s (represented here by sweet Annalise kissing Josh)

And then, a little over 48 hours after having Joshua, we were able to go home!