Thursday, October 25, 2007

Eli is home! We came home on Monday morning while Landon and Ella were at preschool! It was nice to be back at home to our surroundings and not eating hospital food. Landon and Ella were excited to get home and see their baby brother sleeping away. Eli has adjusted to the loudness of our house - singing, dancing, screaming, and talking. Right now he can sleep through most anything and I hope that continues.

Landon and Ella both get very excited when they see brother awake and active and they can talk to him and hold him. Gammy gave them "I'm the big brother" and "I'm the big sister" shirts to wear, Ella wore hers for 3 days in a row and they still ask to wear them often. As soon as they wake up they ask where the baby is and what he is doing. Ella seems to mainly mind if the baby is crying and asks me to pick him up, luckily he cries very very little (knock on wood). Soon I hope to get some pictures of Ella mimicking the faces that her baby brother makes as he yawns and as he roots for food.

Eli mainly gets excited about eating but has spent lots of time awake over the last few days and luckily most of it has been during the day. I am trying to get used to the frequency of his meals and to the numerous diapers. I forgot how often you have to change them but it is still so much fun. Landon and Ella look like giants to me now and changing Ella's diaper is not nearly as fun as seeing that tiny little diaper that you can't imagine would fit anything. Mike and I are constantly amazed at just how strong Eli is as he tries to hold his head up at times and fights really hard during diaper changes. Luckily I am feeling less and less sore after surgery and am getting around much better and can now get in and out of bed without having to grunt and groan with every small movement.

Mike has headed back to work but Gammy and Nannie have been here helping with all of the much needed attention of Landon and Ella, fixing meals, washing clothes, running errands and taking the kids to school. We have also been blessed with lots of friends who have brought meals and checked on us.

Children are truly little miracles that have enriched our life together and we thank God each day for our blessings! I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Elijah Bryant Joyce

Thursday, October 18, 2007

This is our last post before baby #3 arrives. I am worried that Landon and Ella are going to be in real shock. At least Ella is, as she is still telling us that she is the "baby" as we have been getting ready pulling things out of the attic. The bouncy seat is hers, the mobile, any toy she sees and even the new packs of diapers. Landon is very excited but may be more excited knowing he has friends coming to see him. We still are not fully settled on a name but we are pretty close. I think I have everything in order for the most part and luckily have lots of help if I don't. I appreciate everyone's phone calls and prayers as we get ready for another life change.

Pictures today are from an outing to Celebration Station and also to our church picnic. We have been busy with lots of activities over the last few weeks and know that it will only get busier. Our calendar isn't as packed for the next few weeks but I know our time will be very busy with having 3 kids here!!!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Oh how big oh how big can I get? Can you tell I am in the late stages of pregnancy? I am feeling so big and it is October and was in the 90's on Monday!!! I am looking forward to cooler weather this weekend! Landon is counting down the days as much as I am until his little brother arrives. Ella likes all the stuff I am pulling down from the attic but seems to think it is all for her and the mention of a baby sends her into a thinking that she is again a baby. The big question will be how they react once he is actually here.

Last week we headed to the fair a couple of times for the kids to enjoy the rides and games. Surprisingly Landon loved ALL of the rides, especially the roller coasters and Ella loved the rides the first trip but the second when she didn't have her riding buddy and also tried the shaky, jerky roller coaster she decided she wasn't into rides. The two that she really wanted to get on they told her she was too small. We spent about 5 hours there each trip and I was so worn out by the end of both trips that I can understand why it comes only once a year. Or maybe part of that was being 9 months pregnant and not sitting down for hours on end, I was secretly hoping it may send me into labor but it didn't. I did enjoy some fair food and bought some cotton candy which neither of my kids liked at all (couldn't believe it but that's ok with me).

Recently we also went to Mike's 20th high school reunion. A full weekend of festivities. The kids enjoyed the football game and the picnic. Most of all they just loved being around Gammy, Nannie and Pops to get a lot of spoiling. Mike and I enjoyed catching up with friends we hadn't seen in a long long time. It's amazing how much some change after 20 years and how little others change. Which category do we ourselves fall in? No one really said, so I am assuming more than less or they would have said you hadn't changed a bit.

Outside of big events we have just been trying to get ready for baby and keeping busy with everyday stuff. I hope you all are doing well and enjoy some of the pictures.