Charlie is ONE month old!

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie!  You are so precious!  You are so loved, but oh buddy you cry a lot!  I hate it for you little man.  Reflux is real... I am sorry your tummy hurts all the time, I wish I could take it away from you!  So, I have taken all dairy away from myself to help your little belly aches and thank goodness it has helped!  So, I can legitimately say "I love you more than Ranch dressing, ice-cream and queso." <-- and that is A LOT!  

Fun Facts about you Charlie:

You love:

-your paci!

-to eat

-your swing

-your swaddle

-to be snuggled on your side

-your big sister loves you

You hate:

-to be hungry

-to have an upset stomach

-spitting up

-being on your belly

-being sleepy

  

It is fun to see how you and your big sister are starting to look alike!  Here is a side by side comparison of Lucy and Charlie!

Charlie is here!

One of the last pictures of BIG MAMA!

Charlie is here!  It's a BOY!  I thought it was a boy, but I knew it was a girl... haha!  I still can't believe we won't have all girls!  So fun we have a SON!

Charlie's story of coming into this world.

Long story short: I was induced at 40 weeks and 4 days.  I had pretty bad anxiety leading up to his birth while pregnant and wasn't progressing, so my kind kind kind midwife allowed for me to be induced.  You hear horror stories of people being induced, but I kind of loved it.  It felt like checking into a hotel.  Going to sleep on Sunday, March 26th we knew that we were going to wake up and have a baby.... it was great!

So, the alarm goes off at 4:30am on March 27th... we load the card and head to Greenville!  Clint called on the way to the hospital to make sure there was still a bed available for us to be induced and they let us know that we were all set and we were on "Side A," this means you have the BIG birthing rooms that you labor, give birth, and recover in!  Everyone wants to be on this side!  So, I started doing jumping jacks I was so excited!

Look at this HUGE room!  Getting all settled!

We checked in, got all unpacked into our room, started the IV (side note: I passed out during this and for the rest of our stay I was red-flagged as someone who might pass out...).  At about 8AM they started me on the beloved drug Pitocin to get things moving, it succeeded at it's job!  Then about 11AM they broke my water, and things REALLY got moving.  I'm asking everyone for the epidural at this point.... Thank you Dr. Jones for working your magic!  This was about 12PM and I was 6cm.  From there on out I was able to "labor down."  Little did I know how soon Charlie was going to be born!  Around 2:30pm I was calling in the midwife because I felt it coming if you know what I mean!  They brought the crew in, at 2:39pm I started pushing and then BOOM Charlie was born at 2:42pm!  He came out like a rocket!  When he was born Clint was the first to say to the room if it were a boy or girl and when he said, "It's a BOY!" I just started crying and kept saying "It's a Boy, It's a Boy, It's a BOY!"  Charles Clinton Rouse III weighted 7lbs 11oz and was 19 inches long.

Here HE is!

Sweet little boy!

First time Clint holding him!

Since he came out like a rocket, he didn't get a good "squeeze" on his lungs, so he had to go to the NICU for a couple of hours to get all of the liquid out of his lungs.  This was scary and sad that he had to be taken right away, but gosh SO SO SO thankful he was only there for such a short time.  My heart aches for all of those mamas and daddys that have their babys in the NICU.  Bless y'all!

Charlie also was born with a breathing conditions called laryngomalacia.  This is a big word for floppy cartilages  over his larynx that make him a noisy breather, eater, and sleeper.  He will grow out of this hopefully by the age of 1.  From here on out he will be known as our "recessive baby" with his BLONDE hair and BLUE eyes!

Oh Charlie!  I am so thankful to be your mama! I love that you will grow up and be bigger than me one day and I will look up to you, but until then I will rock you and kiss you and snuggle you!

You are SO loved Charlie!

All 3 Charles Clinton Rouses!

Waiting room filled with family!

Headed home!

Lucy is becoming a BIG sister!

The news is public!  It feels like Clint and I have been keeping the biggest secret of our life (for the second time...same feelings and emotions to when we were pregnant with Lucy).

YES!  We are pregnant AGAIN!  Praise the Lord! We can't wait to continue to grow the Rouse House.  It is such a privilege and joy to be carrying another life inside of me.  People ask several questions, was this an accident?  Does this pregnancy feel different?  Have you been sick?  Are you freaking out about having a newborn and a "terrible two" year old. 

And YES.  To almost all of those except this pregnancy was no accident. 

Clint and I both want to have a large family and to have our children close in age.  So, Lord willing we were able to become pregnant again.  Our hope and prayer is for Lucy and this new child to be CLOSE.  Not only close in age, but close friends.

YES...This pregnancy does feel different.  That have been several days early on that I forgot I was pregnant.  I had to stop myself from grabbing the cookie dough, deli meat, and sushi.  But, I have been more emotional time this time around (may be the hormones), but I am pretty confident it is because I know what is it come and IT IS SO SWEET... and so so so exhausting.

And YES, I have felt sick! yuck!  I have only thrown up once (sorry TMI).  But, boy have I been nauseated and have had zero appetite which made the sick to my stomach worse... Just nothing sounded tasty from week 6 to week 11.  But, now... BRING ON ALL THE FOOD.  

YES, YES, YES... I know we will have our hands full.  We will have 2 under the age of 2 for almost 3 months.  Pray for me.  The Lord is good.  I am confident in HIS timing and HIS goodness.  May this season draw me closer to Jesus and that I can depend on him all the more for all energy and patience.

I have been reminded over and over again in pregnancy and raising a child that Jesus has given me this opportunity to nurture, guide, and disciple these babies that they may come to know Him ultimately.  I have been reading Missional Motherhood (shamless plug: everyone needs to read this book) and it has been so refreshing to my soul.  A few little experts that have changed my mindset on motherhood:
"Christ created motherhood for himself.  Since God is the creator and we are the created, God is the one who gets to design motherhood."
"He created human life in his image; so smile, mom.  Because God is profound, his design for your motherhood is profound."
"Being a disciple maker (aka a mom) means that the gospel is our one, main message...Making disciples is the priority of missional motherhood... The gospel is not good advice for moms; it is life-giving news."
AND THIS RIGHT HERE KICKED ME IN THE GUT>>>
" No maternal glory, missional ministry, or nurturing accomplishment can bear the burden of cleansing your sin...It feels like our biggest need is a car that runs better, or a child who obeys fully, or a friend we can confide in, or a husband who appreciates us, or a church that values our gifting, or a ministry that fulfills us, or a body we ar proud of, or a bank account that doesn't worry us.  Any one of those things may feel like the biggest, most pressing need we have.  But they all pale in comparison to our need to stand in the presence of God, to whom all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority belong forever."
(Ok... so have I sold you on this book?)

So, I will leave you with these simple prayers through scripture.  Jesus is so good.  He knows our desires.  He knows the hair on your head.  He is the creator and giver of NEW LIFE.  Not only new lungs being formed in my inner most parts, but He is the giver of NEW LIFE IN HIM!  Jesus is the giver and author of FULL life found in him.

Lamentations 3:21-24
" But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (The Message)
"God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something HOLY and BEAUTIFUL-as beautiful on the inside as the outside."

Oh, and here are some fun sweet pictures to announce this fun NEW FULL season.

(Photo creds go to the very talented Lindsay Corrigan!)

Lucy is 1 year old!

I can't believe this!  When did this happen?  Lucy is 1 year old!  12 months!  This has been such a great year!  I love this sweet little girl some kinda crazy.

Things I want to remember about her 12th month of life:
-She loves her daddy so much and she lights up the most when he comes into the room
-She is getting the best tan.  I especially love her tan lines around her wrists and arm roles.  At her 1 year doctors apt. her doctor said, "There's nothing wrong with a bronzed baby!"
-She is still rocking her curly rat tail.  I am hoping that it will grow out to meet the rest of her hair
-She LOVES the bath tub!  That is the first place she will crawl in the house.
-She LOVES the beach.  The sand and water doesn't bother her at all!  She is like a little sea turtle making her way from the sand to the water on the beach.
-If you say, "Lucy clap/splash!" She does it on que.
-She DEMOLISHED her smash cake at her birthday party.  She LOVED her cake and ate so much of it.

 How precious is this little girl?  I know right!?  Just about 2 seconds after I took this picture she face planted into the grass... #momfail

Lucy is 11 Months!

11 months! 1 more month y'all until Lucy is 1 year old!  This is becoming my favorite season mixed with Mother's Day approaching and Lucy's birthday!  I am having all the mama feels: from crying to laughing, from snuggles to escaping reality.  

I am clinging on to every moment.  Moments like holding Lucy tight while she has her bottle still filled with nutrients that my body makes (still amazed... but kinda SO ready to give her cows milk). Treasuring moments like when she wakes up at night because she can't find her paci and I get to rock her back to sleep.  Loving the times she looks up at me and says "dada."  The saying is true, "babies don't keep."

This 11th month of life has been FULL!  Oh, I love these days with Lucy!  We play hard, sleep hard, and eat hard.  REPEAT!  Oh, but I love it.  It is such a joy, honor, and privilege to be Lucy's mama.  

Things we have done this month:

-You have visited your second Young Life Camp for our first Family Camp at Carolina Point.  SO excited to spend a month there this summer.

-You spent two weekends at the beach!

-You went to your first Prom... well kinda!  We went to take pictures!

-On April 23rd you said "Mama!" <-----SO FUN

-You went swimming with friends at the Woodmen 

-You love giving High Fives!

-You clap and bounce while sitting and wave your arms when you get excited!

Things about you I don't want to forget!

-You will not sit still while getting your diaper changed.  To the point we had to order a "PooPoose" that is proven to keep a baby still while changing a diaper.  Best $60 we have spent.

-You LOVE Easter Eggs.  Specifically an orange one that you carry around.

-You still love your paci and bottle.

-You love Reynolds.  You get most excited when he comes in the room.  And are always looking for him.  He is warming up to you more.

-You love a book! 

-You love little details of things.  You are super observant!

Lucy is 10 Months!

Y'all Lucy is in the double digits! 10 Months, holy smokes!  If there was a contest on the best and cutest baby (I know I am biased), but it would be Lucy Rouse.

Let me paint a picture.  It is 12:15pm right now.  Lucy went down for a nap at 11am, she played herself to sleep in her crib.  And now she is awake happily playing and talking to herself.  I bet if I left her there she would be content for another 30 minutes.  I may know this because this is how she is in the morning, too.  So, Saturday morning consist of Clint and I snoozing while Lucy plays in her crib.  We may have done this until 9:45am on Saturday... Yeah, we are those parents.

Anyways.  10 months.... This has officially been the fasted 10 months of my life.  Fastest and BEST.  Oh, I love being a Mommy to this little independent, joyful, go with the flow girl.

New this month:

This phase in life has been filled with bruises, black eyes, busted lips, busted gums, knocked heads, slips, and falls.  She is into everything and pulls up on everyone and falls from everything.  She is tough, but she is also very sensitive.
A few bumps to remember:
-She got her first black eye while in the bathtub in Statesville.
-A week later she busted her lip and gum at Grannah and Pops house.  This fall resulted in her cutting 3 top teeth!!

She had her first Easter.  Which is was one heck of an Easter.  One for the books... Lucy had a fever of up to 103.5 (still unsure what from, no other symptoms, I think teeth... but all doctors say there is no proof that teething causes fevers...) So, when Lucy is sick her Mama is STRESSED and can't deal with anything including having to pick out shoes to wear.  We spent Easter at our house (she couldn't be around any babies so this included going to Goldsboro since little cousin Isaac was there!).

We spent a week at the beach!  Lucy loved swimming in her bathtub in the from yard at Beaufort and she loved the new sandbox Clint built.  She also loved having so much time with her Aunts and Uncles and little cousin Isaac.

Things Lucy does:

-She says "bye bye" and waves all the time.
-She just started saying more "d" and "y" words.  Still no clear "mama" or "dada"
-She crawls everywhere.  Pulls up on EVERYTHING.
-Loves Picaboo.  When you say "Where's Lucy?" she will hide and then we say "there she is" and there she is! haha!  It's the little things y'all...
-She loves all food.  She has a fond taste for bananas, sweet potato, cheerios, green beans, peas, pumpkin, noodles, cheese, yogurt, blueberries, strawberries.
-She is wearing size 3 shoes, size 3 diapers, 9-12 month clothes
-You have 6 teeth.
-There have been several times of me rocking you to sleep and you have fallen asleep with your fingers in MY NOSE.  yes... you come from nose picking genes.
-You love Reynolds and sometimes choose to crawl to him and not me.  He doesn't quite love it...

Lucy Rouse!  You are so loved!  There isn't a day or minute that goes by that I don't thank the Lord for you and thank him that I get the privilege to be your Mama.  I love you Lucy!  I pray that the Lord will use me and equip me to love and lead you each day.

Lucy is 9 Months!

Y'all it just hit me there are only 3 more months left in her sticker pack to take pictures each month.... I cannot believe this sweet child of mine is NINE MONTHS old! I say this every month, so here we go again... This is my favorite age!

New this month:
-Lucy loves to stand all the time!
-Lucy will pull up on anything and everything
-Still not crawling, but she can get around just fine by rolling where she needs to and then pulling up on it! But, I feel like crawling will happen any day.  She gets on all 4's or on her hands and feet and gets rocking!
-She is very content with a toy in front of her!  Especially if it is something you can pull toys out of.  So, we play that game a lot... I put the toys in the basket, you pull them out... repeat every 7 min.
-Lucy loves to eat scrambled eggs!
-Yogurt is a new menu item you are really digging.
-We tried a sippy cup...didn't know exactly what to do.  Just got real mad until we gave you the bottle!
-Bananas and Sweet Potatoes still make up most of your meals!
-Lucy's vocabulary has moved from just squealing to more sayings like "baba" or a ton of motorboat noises or toot noises which produce SO much slobber!  Slobber is the main cause for outfit changes these days.
-Lucy celebrated her first Valentine's Day!  You received so many cards and thoughtful gifts!
-Lucy loves her sleep! Praise!  Your sleep routine is 9pm-9am you have a solid hour nap after your first bottle, then a long nap (usually 2 hours) in the afternoon.  This mama needs that time to just refuel.  (And I ask myself...How do people have more than one baby!?)
-You still love your bottle! And I am thinking only 3 more months of making the ingredients for these beloved bottles of yours! Yay!
-Lucy got her first little boy cousin! Isaac Radford Hyde was born on LEAP DAY!  She was thrilled to be a big cousin, all she wanted to do was poke his eyes and take of his hat, or suck on his paci.  I do hope and pray they have as sweet of a relationship as Clint has with Isaac's Mommy.

Walking into the hospital room to meet Isaac was so emotional and joyful!  First of all, Teresa and Radford now have a son!  It feels like I was just in that be holding my baby!  And, look how BIG Lucy is compared to her precious little cousin and our newest nephew!

 (Can you just see how proud Lucy is!?)

And this picture right here just says it all!  I love how Lucy is resting her hand on Isaac and looking up to her Daddy!  And the way that Clint is looking at Isaac with such JOY!  It is moments like these you just have to sit back and say, "Thank you Jesus!"

Here is our little wiggle worm posing for her 9 month picture!  She just wants to stand!

Can a little girl look any more like her daddy!?  I mean look at these big brown eyes, sweet cheeks, and pouty little lips!? Gosh!  My heart is exploding over here on the other side of this screen!

It doesn't matter what it is near her, she wants it!  So, here we are surrounding her with scripture, aka her Story Book Bible.  May she always be reaching for the Word! lol

I believe this is when Clint walked in and started singing "Who da monkey who da monkey" while dancing to get her to smile!

"I'm getting out of this place Mom..."

Oh sweet Lucy!  You are such a gift!  I love your smile! I took these pictures right before soaking your hair with baby oil to try to get the cradle cap out of it.  We have washed it 3 times and in the words of your Grannah you still look like a "Grease Monkey."  I promise you are loved Lucy!

"Okay, Mom.. Did you get one so you can post ANOTHER picture of me on Instagram!?"

Happy 9 months of life our little Lucy!  You are so loved!  I love living life as your Mama!  The greatest JOY and GIFT of my days!