Jace's Pictures

Check out Jace's newborn pictures at Marc Photography.

http://marcphotography.zenfolio.com/p1007092746

Thanks again Andrew & Tiffany for doing a wonderful job!

Snowy Day

Jordyn has been cooped up in the house for a couple days now because of a cold and a cough. Today she seemed to be feeling better so we decided that it would be good for her and her cough to get some fresh air.

I think it took more time to get ready than what we spent outside

Jace even came outside (don't worry grandmas...we kept him nice & warm)!

We did lots of fun stuff, like go for a walk with Jordyn's new sled, made snow angels, threw snowballs, and went sledding down a hill...

...but Jordyn had the most fun doing what she does best....pushing the stroller. She hasn't been out for a walk in quite a while but this is still her favorite thing to do!

Here is a video of her sledding...she had fun, but is quite expressionless!

1st Bath

Jace finally had his first official bath in the bath tub a couple of days ago. It took a while for us to be able to soak him in the tub because his belly button needed to be cauterized to get it to dry up. Jace actually liked the tub which was surprising because he would scream whenever I washed him up before. Jordyn was such a good helper!! She didn't stay very dry though!

Happy Holidays & I'm Back

I'm back to blogging...hopefully. I haven't posted in a while because it has been a crazy couple of weeks. Having a new baby at home and chasing around a very active 16 month old would have kept me busy enough alone, but on top of all that we had Christmas parties, Christmas shopping (I procrastinated), and snow plowing. I normally LOVE the snow...especially snow storms, but this year I could have done without so much right at Christmastime. Jer ended up plowing pretty much around the clock for a week straight. I actually think I got more sleep than he did even though I was staying up with Jace at night. I procrastinated on the shopping...mainly because before I had Jace it took all my energy just to walk into the store. I couldn't imagine actually doing some shopping too. Needless to say, I could have used Jer home to help with a new baby, Jordyn, Christmas shopping, and present wrapping but that was not the case this year. The holidays flew by and we stumbled through them. Hopefully now that the snowstorms are over for now and the parties are mostly done, Jer and I can settle down with our new family....and maybe I will post on the blog more regularly again!

Anyway, things are going well so far with Jace. He is a very hungry boy!! He is growing and healthy and that is all we ask for! Jordyn is adjusting quite well. She has her moments, usually when Jace is crying. When he cries, she cries...but it is a really face cry. I think she just wants some of the attention that he is getting at the time. She is quite a little helper already. She loves to bring Jace his bottle and pacifier and she always lingers at the diaper changing table to hand me everything I could possibly need and more for Jace's diaper change. Aside from that, she is keeping pretty busy in her new box (why did I even buy her Christmas presents??). She hangs out in her box with her books, dolly, pots and pans for hours at a time. It's quite entertaining.

Jer took some time off from work for the holidays and to help out with Jace. It's a good thing he did that since he spent most of his time off so far plowing. They don't have a ton of work right now so he might take another couple of weeks off. I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I love having him home right now. We will see what happens though because he tends to go stir crazy very quickly!

Other good news in our family is that my brother and sister-in-law, Bryan and Katy, had a daughter, Rogue McKenzie. She was born 2 days after Jace on December 10. I'm sure Jace and Rogue will have a lot of fun playing together soon! Congratulations Bryan & Katy!! (Rogue would have gotten her own post, but things got too crazy around here. Sorry Rogue...we LOVE you!

That is our house in a nutshell for right now. Here are some pictures:

So far, Jace hates having a bath

Jace and his new cousin, Rogue

Welcome Rogue!!

WELCOME JACE H VELDERMAN!!

Jer, myself, and Jordyn are so happy to announce that we welcomed a new baby boy into our family at 4:54am this morning (12/8/2008). His name is Jace H Velderman. He is 9lbs, 8oz and 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing wonderful!! My water broke at home at 1:00am and I started having contractions about 1 hour later. We got to the hospital at 3:45am and I was dilated to a 9 and I had him an hour later. He came so much quicker than Jordyn! Jordyn is staying at Grandma Dirette's house and is probably being spoiled!! She was already here to see her new baby brother. She was more excited about his balloons though! Here are some pictures for you:

We are so blessed. Praise and thanks to God!!

It's Finally Done!!

As most of you know, Jer and I recently decided to open up and remodel our loft (previously used for storage). We needed to make room for another addition to our family! We decuded the best thing for us to do would be to move our bedroom upstairs. Anyway, as of this past weekend, our loft/bedroom is finally completed. Here are some before and after pictures:

BEFORE

AFTER

Also, Jer got our outside Christmas lights up this weekend. Jordyn was quite teh little helper. Here are some pics of that:

Prettiest Mom

This is a poem that my mom forwarded to me. It is so true....you look at things so differently when you become a mom and you find a whole new appreciation for your own mom. Thanks Mom!!

I just wanted to share it with all the other moms reading.

Prettiest Mom

Before I was a Mom:

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom:

I had never been puked on, pooped on, chewed on, or peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom:

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy ove r a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom:

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom:

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom:

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

before I was a Mom.

Don't forget to give your child a hug today!