However, in my defense, the images always turn out amazing. Albeit a bit obsessive, I can not apologize for my infatuation with documenting our growing family through the talented eye of an amazing photographer.
Can you really blame me...
Monday, July 11, 2011
Obsession
I have definitely caught some flack for the amount of photo shoots to date with Cari Vaughn. I mean, every time I tell Ren we have a new photo date scheduled, he silently rolls his eyes which say "really?, again" (even though I know he secretly likes it because he is always so excited to get the pictures back.) And I am pretty sure my boss thinks I am literally crazy with my excessive planning of photo shoot locations, attire & timing. I believe her exact words were "You have done more photo shoots than a super model." (said in a sarcastically loving way.) Which does make me laugh because maybe it's a little true...
However, in my defense, the images always turn out amazing. Albeit a bit obsessive, I can not apologize for my infatuation with documenting our growing family through the talented eye of an amazing photographer.
Can you really blame me...
However, in my defense, the images always turn out amazing. Albeit a bit obsessive, I can not apologize for my infatuation with documenting our growing family through the talented eye of an amazing photographer.
Can you really blame me...
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy Birthday U.S.A.
I remember it as one of my favorite holidays as a kid. Summertime up north, well, nothing beats the feeling. Something about the long, gray winters makes you appreciate every hot, humid day and stretched out evening that you can get. I love the fireworks, the red, white & blue, the patriotism for our country. The smokey smell of barbecues and bonfires for roasting smores. The sparklers and driveway fireworks before watching the grand display. It's summertime Americana at it's best.
This year we headed to Auburndale to celebrate at Ren's parents' lake house.
Patriotic Cupcakes. Good idea... huge mess!
And you know I can't resist a good reason for a festive hairbow:
Pooltime
Finish it off with a PERFECT sunset and watching fireworks go off in every direction around the serene lake.
Yup, it was a good day. Happy Birthday America!
This year we headed to Auburndale to celebrate at Ren's parents' lake house.
Patriotic Cupcakes. Good idea... huge mess!
And you know I can't resist a good reason for a festive hairbow:
Pooltime
Finish it off with a PERFECT sunset and watching fireworks go off in every direction around the serene lake.
Yup, it was a good day. Happy Birthday America!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Life Since 5.23.11
... its been good, no ... its been great.
I have to say, I was a bit nervous to add another one to our group of three. I didn't want to upset the balance, we had a good routine going, we had it all figured out (yeah right!)... so how would throwing a new little person into the mix work? Would I still have time for Conor, would he be resentful or jealous, how could I love another human as much as I loved him? Silly me.
Molly's Birth Story
Molly Caroline Nolte arrived to us at exactly 9:00 am on Monday, May 23, 2011. It was a planned c-section, as I had one with Conor, so there really wasn't any discussion as to having one this time too. I was definitely more nervous this time around, since I knew what was to come, and I was fully awake (as last time I was in labor all night and doped up on pain meds, so I just wanted the baby OUT!) But it was nice having a date set and knowing exactly when we would meet our baby girl. I was much more relaxed about the whole thing not having to go to bed every night wondering if I would go in to labor. So the date was set for May 23rd, exactly one month to the day before my 30th birthday, and we were to be at the hospital at 5 am. There is something exciting about being up before the sun to do something so special. It's like you have a secret from everyone, something that you are getting to do that no one else is.
On the night before we kissed our boy goodbye, the last kiss for him as an only child, and left him with Bubbe and Zayde as we headed to dinner at Texas Cattle Company. We ate and talked about what we thought it might be like to have TWO kids, to have a daughter, how Conor would be as a big brother. We reminisced about how crazy we used to be when we met, all the parties we went to, the places we have traveled together, the many moves we have made and how happy and settled we are now.
The next morning we were up before the sun, anticipating our new addition to come... and we couldn't stop smiling!
Whoa Belly!
Checking in.
On the way to the hospital we got a call from Ren's sister Jenna saying she was right behind us. Yes, at 5am, that is one dedicated Auntie! She followed us to the hospital and sat in the waiting room as we were waiting to be admitted. We looked at magazines and laughed about how we were both here two and a half years ago and talked about how fast the time goes by. They finally got us into the room where I had to trade my clothes for a lovely hospital gown (my new wardrobe for the next few days) and Ren got his honorary scrubs.
Maybe he should have been a doctor, scrubs look GOOD on him... just sayin'!
As always, Ren kept me, and all the nurses, laughing as we waited to go into the OR. I was anxious now. I knew that a c-section was a routine procedure, but it is still major surgery. I was nervous about the spinal, I was nervous that the baby might not be ok, all the crazy thoughts that rush into your head before something this major happens...
And of course, the doctor is running late. Traffic. So we are just waiting for her to arrive, so I can get the scary part over with and meet this baby girl that I have dreamed of all my life.
Finally it is time. I am being wheeled into the OR. Ren can't come in until after they put the huge needle in my back to numb me from the waste down. So I am alone in this sterile room with doctors and nurses and I am shaking, just wishing my husband could be there with me. They get the spinal tap in and I am laid down. Starting to feel the numbness as Ren comes in, sits down and holds my hand. Things are better. They turn on some music, 93.3 I think, and all I am thinking is "really?, I am going to be listening to bubble gum pop/rap music as my daughter is born?" But there is no time to object. They have started. It is an odd sensation. You can't feel anything, I mean it doesn't hurt, but you hear all the instruments clanging around, and you feel them pushing and prodding and the pressure of them moving your organs aside. And you know what is happening, and can you imagine if the drugs stopped working and you could actually feel them doing what you know they are doing, gulp. It feels like it is taking forever, surely longer than it did last time, is she ok, why is it taking so long .... but Ren is there, holding my hand, telling me everything is going to be ok, over and over. He must see the look on my face. I just want this part to be over, and to here her cry and then I will be ok.
I look over at the clock on the wall. Its 8:59. Then I hear Adele singing "Rolling in the Deep" coming from the radio. Our favorite song. This is a good sign. I just concentrate on the music. "we could have had it all-a-all, rolling in the dee-ee-eep"... lots of pressure and ... she is out! And I hear that first sweet cry and all is well again. Ren tells me she has bleach white peach fuzz hair and she is perfect. Sigh.
Recovery
I see my baby girl. She is beautiful. All 7 lbs. 1oz. of her 21.75 inch little body. I get a quick kiss before she is whisked away and I am wheeled to the recovery room to beginning the healing process. They bring her to me in the recovery room and she is screaming... oh no... but she latches on right away and is instantly comforted. She is already a pro at nursing, this is gonna be good. In the mean while Ren is in the waiting room delivering the good news to all and they all move to our room and wait for me to come out of recovery.
Jenna told me the next day that as Ren held Conor in his arms and introduced him to his baby sister for the first time he told Conor "this is your baby sister. I love her so much and I love you so much. You guys are both my world now. You are my best friend and she is your new baby sister." ... melt my heart.
Aside from itchy eyes and nose (a side effect from the anesthesia?) I had a pretty routine recovery from a c-section. It hurts like hell. But only lasts for about a week. And I smartened up this time, staying on top of my pain meds to avoid the pain as much as possible this time. You live and you learn, right?
But, this baby girl, oh this baby girl. She is so sweet, and so quiet and all my fears from before hand?... well like I said, silly me.
And her daddy, he said he never pictured himself with a little girl. Well, watch out, because he is already wrapped.
This might be my favorite picture of all time:
This girl is gonna be LOVED!
Every time Conor came to visit he told Bubbe that he was going to our "apartment," the things he comes up with! He also asked the security guard "give me my sticka please" each time he came to see his new baby sister. That is too cute.
Home
Now that we are back home and settling in we really feel complete. Conor is an amazing big brother. He brings us diapers and wipes to change baby Molly. He tells her it's gonna be ok when she cries. He tells me when she "needs" her binky or if she's hungry. A few of my other favorite phrases from the big brother:
"Hey baby Molly, what's your name?"
"She's openin' she's eyes!"
"She's soooo cuuuute!" (said in a super high pitch voice)
"Baby Molly Carolina"
"That's MY baby sista"
"What's wrong wit baby Molly?"
"I want to hold baby Molly." ... and we get the boppy out and he holds her. And they way he looks down at her with this proud, sweet, smile that really is a picture of what love looks like, well, it makes me melt.
And then he looks up and watches TV, like "ya, I'm holding my sister and watching TV, no big deal."
We had lots of visitors and lots of love and we are so thankful for all of our friends and family for the love, the support and the FOOD!
My friend Sarah from work
Mimi & Bubbe
Cousin Zac & Aunt Gwen
Aunt Gwen, Maria & Bubbe
Tim
Terry
Our favorite little psychedelic outfit:
Natalie
And we had some special visitors from California. My mom and sister were able to come out and stay with us for a week to meet our new baby Molly.
I have to say, I was a bit nervous to add another one to our group of three. I didn't want to upset the balance, we had a good routine going, we had it all figured out (yeah right!)... so how would throwing a new little person into the mix work? Would I still have time for Conor, would he be resentful or jealous, how could I love another human as much as I loved him? Silly me.
Molly's Birth Story
Molly Caroline Nolte arrived to us at exactly 9:00 am on Monday, May 23, 2011. It was a planned c-section, as I had one with Conor, so there really wasn't any discussion as to having one this time too. I was definitely more nervous this time around, since I knew what was to come, and I was fully awake (as last time I was in labor all night and doped up on pain meds, so I just wanted the baby OUT!) But it was nice having a date set and knowing exactly when we would meet our baby girl. I was much more relaxed about the whole thing not having to go to bed every night wondering if I would go in to labor. So the date was set for May 23rd, exactly one month to the day before my 30th birthday, and we were to be at the hospital at 5 am. There is something exciting about being up before the sun to do something so special. It's like you have a secret from everyone, something that you are getting to do that no one else is.
On the night before we kissed our boy goodbye, the last kiss for him as an only child, and left him with Bubbe and Zayde as we headed to dinner at Texas Cattle Company. We ate and talked about what we thought it might be like to have TWO kids, to have a daughter, how Conor would be as a big brother. We reminisced about how crazy we used to be when we met, all the parties we went to, the places we have traveled together, the many moves we have made and how happy and settled we are now.
The next morning we were up before the sun, anticipating our new addition to come... and we couldn't stop smiling!
Whoa Belly!
Checking in.
On the way to the hospital we got a call from Ren's sister Jenna saying she was right behind us. Yes, at 5am, that is one dedicated Auntie! She followed us to the hospital and sat in the waiting room as we were waiting to be admitted. We looked at magazines and laughed about how we were both here two and a half years ago and talked about how fast the time goes by. They finally got us into the room where I had to trade my clothes for a lovely hospital gown (my new wardrobe for the next few days) and Ren got his honorary scrubs.
Maybe he should have been a doctor, scrubs look GOOD on him... just sayin'!
As always, Ren kept me, and all the nurses, laughing as we waited to go into the OR. I was anxious now. I knew that a c-section was a routine procedure, but it is still major surgery. I was nervous about the spinal, I was nervous that the baby might not be ok, all the crazy thoughts that rush into your head before something this major happens...
And of course, the doctor is running late. Traffic. So we are just waiting for her to arrive, so I can get the scary part over with and meet this baby girl that I have dreamed of all my life.
Finally it is time. I am being wheeled into the OR. Ren can't come in until after they put the huge needle in my back to numb me from the waste down. So I am alone in this sterile room with doctors and nurses and I am shaking, just wishing my husband could be there with me. They get the spinal tap in and I am laid down. Starting to feel the numbness as Ren comes in, sits down and holds my hand. Things are better. They turn on some music, 93.3 I think, and all I am thinking is "really?, I am going to be listening to bubble gum pop/rap music as my daughter is born?" But there is no time to object. They have started. It is an odd sensation. You can't feel anything, I mean it doesn't hurt, but you hear all the instruments clanging around, and you feel them pushing and prodding and the pressure of them moving your organs aside. And you know what is happening, and can you imagine if the drugs stopped working and you could actually feel them doing what you know they are doing, gulp. It feels like it is taking forever, surely longer than it did last time, is she ok, why is it taking so long .... but Ren is there, holding my hand, telling me everything is going to be ok, over and over. He must see the look on my face. I just want this part to be over, and to here her cry and then I will be ok.
I look over at the clock on the wall. Its 8:59. Then I hear Adele singing "Rolling in the Deep" coming from the radio. Our favorite song. This is a good sign. I just concentrate on the music. "we could have had it all-a-all, rolling in the dee-ee-eep"... lots of pressure and ... she is out! And I hear that first sweet cry and all is well again. Ren tells me she has bleach white peach fuzz hair and she is perfect. Sigh.
Recovery
I see my baby girl. She is beautiful. All 7 lbs. 1oz. of her 21.75 inch little body. I get a quick kiss before she is whisked away and I am wheeled to the recovery room to beginning the healing process. They bring her to me in the recovery room and she is screaming... oh no... but she latches on right away and is instantly comforted. She is already a pro at nursing, this is gonna be good. In the mean while Ren is in the waiting room delivering the good news to all and they all move to our room and wait for me to come out of recovery.
Jenna told me the next day that as Ren held Conor in his arms and introduced him to his baby sister for the first time he told Conor "this is your baby sister. I love her so much and I love you so much. You guys are both my world now. You are my best friend and she is your new baby sister." ... melt my heart.
Aside from itchy eyes and nose (a side effect from the anesthesia?) I had a pretty routine recovery from a c-section. It hurts like hell. But only lasts for about a week. And I smartened up this time, staying on top of my pain meds to avoid the pain as much as possible this time. You live and you learn, right?
But, this baby girl, oh this baby girl. She is so sweet, and so quiet and all my fears from before hand?... well like I said, silly me.
And her daddy, he said he never pictured himself with a little girl. Well, watch out, because he is already wrapped.
This might be my favorite picture of all time:
This girl is gonna be LOVED!
Every time Conor came to visit he told Bubbe that he was going to our "apartment," the things he comes up with! He also asked the security guard "give me my sticka please" each time he came to see his new baby sister. That is too cute.
Home
Now that we are back home and settling in we really feel complete. Conor is an amazing big brother. He brings us diapers and wipes to change baby Molly. He tells her it's gonna be ok when she cries. He tells me when she "needs" her binky or if she's hungry. A few of my other favorite phrases from the big brother:
"Hey baby Molly, what's your name?"
"She's openin' she's eyes!"
"She's soooo cuuuute!" (said in a super high pitch voice)
"Baby Molly Carolina"
"That's MY baby sista"
"What's wrong wit baby Molly?"
"I want to hold baby Molly." ... and we get the boppy out and he holds her. And they way he looks down at her with this proud, sweet, smile that really is a picture of what love looks like, well, it makes me melt.
And then he looks up and watches TV, like "ya, I'm holding my sister and watching TV, no big deal."
We had lots of visitors and lots of love and we are so thankful for all of our friends and family for the love, the support and the FOOD!
My friend Sarah from work
Aunt Gwen, Maria & Bubbe
Tim
Terry
Our favorite little psychedelic outfit:
Natalie
And we had some special visitors from California. My mom and sister were able to come out and stay with us for a week to meet our new baby Molly.
We played dress up...
And lounged in the sun...
And baked some cookies...
We blew bubbles in the front yard at sunset. There were several Starbucks runs, a few well visit trips to the doctor, and an adventurous outing to Brooke Pottery.
I wish we all lived closer and didn't have to squeeze everything in to one or two weeks a year. A very extra sad goodbye this time. Come back soon!
In Other News
So this post has been a LONG one, but there was a lot to catch up on. Now that most of the visitors are gone and that "newness" of newborn is wearing away, we are settling in quite nicely. The biggest news is that our little two and a half year old is now sleeping in his toddler bed. The transition was smoother than I even thought it would be. He has always been a great sleeper and he loves his new big boy bed. He is also working hard on potty training and I am proud to say he pooped on the potty for the first time all by himself. We are getting there!
He is such a sweet little soul. He is a wild & curious little boy. And we love him to the moon and back!
And Ren got to do his first "Father/Son Sports Fan" thing with Conor and was so proud and excited. Percy Harvin from the Gators was signing autographs in town and Ren got up early, decked Conor and himself in Gator gear and headed up to the Proud Gator to get the 13th ticket to meet Percy. I think Ren was more excited than Conor.
(Shouldn't they have posed in front of the Gator apparel instead of the Bucs stuff? Just saying...)
Anyway, Conor came away with a signed 16x20 for his wall. I love how my husband loves our children.
Sweet dreams.
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About Me
- Nicole
- I am a mom to two wonderful kids, Conor & Molly, married to my wonderful husband, Ren, & full time worker as a graphic artist. My plate is certainly full but I wouldn't change a thing. So thankful for the many blessings in my life.