What I Know Right Now...

I love my husband.

I love our children.

My mom is incredible.

I am overwhelmed with thankfulness and gratitude.

A week ago right now I was still pregnant.

This boggles my mind.

I couldn't love his hairy back, perfect ears, and long skinny legs any more.

Oh, and his toes and his nose and his hands and his peach fuzz of hair and......

Fresh air and walks are good for the spirit and soul.

Sleep is overrated.

Coffee is vital.
Hearing Gwendolyn say "bless you, Conrad" about puts me over the edge.
My days of one load of laundry a week (if that) are officially over.
The iBaby app is so helpful. No more bobby pin to remind me which side I last nursed.
Somebody looks a lot like his daddy's newborn picture...
Two ounces over his birth weight (so 8 lbs, 10 oz already!) at only five days old...doctor said "it's rare, but happens!"
Hence...the double chin.
We're going to church tomorrow--can't miss John Piper's guest preaching.

Having a mom who cooks and cleans for us is such a blessing.

My stove top has never sparkled so much.

The milk has arrived. In large quantities.

This recovery is so much easier than it was the first time.

I have kissed Conrad's cheeks probably 2,763 times and don't plan to stop.

Gwendolyn loves her baby brother. So much.

She's amazed me with her reaction...so helpful and gentle with him.

Texting is easier than calling or emailing. At least for the first few weeks.

Does it get any cuter than newborn clothes?

I have to get ready and dressed in the morning, no matter how tired or long the night.

I love mornings and the start of a new day.

The tears flow for no apparent reason...sometimes just b/c I'm so in love.

Thankfully I won't be an emotional mess forever.

I have two car seats in my car now. Two.

Making time to pray and read my Bible is something I need to still figure out.

Family dinners are still important.

Gwendolyn still needs me.

And I still need her.

Conrad slept in his bassinet for two stretches last night!

Gwendolyn was up for 1.5 hours crying for Mama.

We depend on the Lord for strength and patience.

I probably need to work on my patience.

Parenting is definitely sanctifying.

I miss my husband.

Conrad takes pooping very seriously.
He's a very quiet sleeper.
Having him in our room is so nice.
I love the dimple in his cheek while he's nursing.
God made him in His perfect image.

Middle of the night diaper changes are.not.easy.

Handing him over to be circumcised was extremely difficult.

All went well.

My heart feels like it might explode at times.

Amazingly, my house is not in complete disarray.

However, my bed may not be fully made again for months.

I could hold and snuggle a newborn for hours and not get bored.

Conrad's quick arrival caught us a bit off guard.

But was an answer to prayer in so many ways.

God hears the desires of our hearts.

I need to remember to eat.

I so love getting out of the house.

This definitely isn't easy.

I so desperately wish I could bottle him up.

How did we survive without smart phones?

Naps can make all the difference.

It feels incredible to sleep comfortably again.

My rabbit will officially now forever be neglected.

Our little "goose" makes the most adorable sounds when nursing.

His cheeks are so squishy smooth and his skin is flawless.

Running to Target for a few things now feels like a date.

I think I have the best of both worlds.

I am a mom of two.

He loves having his hands up near his face.

Gwendolyn still loves a warm lap and reading books.

She is one of my main sources of laughter.

We are so blessed with friends and family who have shown us such love.

Being your own newborn's newborn photographer is not recommended if you have really high expectations.

I have really high expectations.

So far, he's calm and alert and the boy loves to be held.

He has lots of awake time and is completely content to look around.

He's not such a fan of diaper changes.

We look forward to daddy walking in the door every day.

Conrad is such a Conrad.

Kind words of encouragement mean so much.
The second time around is easier and just as incredible. 

He will be one week old tomorrow. 

I was changed the moment they put him in my arms and we locked eyes.

I will never, ever, ever be the same.

I am so thankful for that.

Our little family of four seems so right.

We are going to make it, by the grace of God.

I think that's all I know right now *smile.

To be honest, I wasn't sure how to feel when blue balloons came out of the box during our gender reveal. I only knew pink and bows and dresses and baby dolls and I felt so comfortable as a mom of a daughter. But the moment they put him in my arms and I looked at the precious face of my newborn son, all of the doubt and fear melted quickly away.

And now in looking back and reminiscing about those balloons being released and one by one floating gently up into the sky....thinking about how in that moment those balloons represented the sleeping baby who is now right here in this room...it's almost as if God was whispering, "get ready...I have chosen for you the perfect little boy to fit into your family and you will call him Conrad Cross...just you wait."

Well I guess that's another thing I know...that God knows what He is doing and he knew we needed our Conrad.

Sweet dreams friends.

Love,
Sarah