Post-Thanksgiving Family Time

The day after Thanksgiving we did end up keeping with tradition and participated in Black Friday. We kept it simple this year and just went to the Biltmore. Ended up being a fun outing and the boys met us for lunch after. Audrey received lots of ooh's and ahhs from the shoppers and was snug in the Ergo the whole time.
 

 

We knew this Christmas season was going to fly by, so Opa helped us get the lights up and kick off the holiday season.
 

 

We had our celebratory toast (a Dutch tradition), in honor of Audrey's arrival.

Opa's Birthday celebration.

 

 

 

 

The kids love bowling! Audrey was getting her first lesson. No bowling shoes her size yet:)

The 1st year Willem has willingly sat on Santa's lap. A company was having their Christmas party at the bowling alley and the observer Willem is, he noticed that each kid who sat on Santa's lap received a present. Well if Santa was going to give him a present, he was all about sitting on his lap.  As you can imagine, a lot of sadness ensued once he realized he was not getting a present. Well, at least we finally have a picture of him smiling on Santa's lap.

 

Audrey is 1 Week Old & it's Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a nice, low key Thanksgiving with our family at Paw Paw's house. It was the first time Maw Maw and Carla had met Audrey, so she got lots of time in their arms. The boys entertained themselves playing soccer in the backyard and the firepit was a hit, as always. We've learned that like their mom, the kids much prefer eating the raw marshmallows to the roasted ones. But roasting them is so much fun!!

We have so much to be thankful for. A few years ago when we were applying to residency we were just hoping to match near some part of our family. 4 years later we find ourselves surrounded by family. We couldn't have hoped for anything more for our kids and for ourselves. And of course our special blessing this year was Audrey. We've known her but a week but can't imagine our family without her.

Audrey's 1st Week

The day after Audrey arrived, the kids went to school like normal. They were sad to leave her and ran into the room as soon as they got home. I had lost a lot of blood and needed Jason to stay with me until my Mom got back from taking the kids to school. Luckily, Jason was able to stay home until noon. It was nice to wake up in my own bed and be at home. I felt really weak and dizzy which was new to me. Hadn't experienced that with the prior deliveries so it threw me off a bit.  

 

Luckily, my Mom and Dad were there to help me. Dad brought over breakfast and stayed with me while Mom took Ellie to school and picked up some things we needed at the store. Audrey did well the 1st night, waking every 3 hours to eat. She slept in our bed most the night and continued with the same routine that whole first week.

 

I mostly sat on the couch that first week and Ellie and Willem would come and snuggle with Audrey and I. We watched cartoons together and they would tell me about their days. 

 

 

 

 

 

We've been really lucky so far! We were worried it may be a hard transition for Ellie being that she is 2 and used to being the youngest, but she just loves having a baby around. She wants to help with everything and believes only her and I should hold Audrey, but overall it's been way better than expected. 

 

 

 

 

Amy came to our house the day after Audrey was born and then again 2 days later. Then we took her into the office a few days after that. She is one healthy baby girl and they say I'm healing nicely and just to take an iron supplement and eat steak once a week for awhile.

 

 

Julie came in a few days later to visit Audrey as she wasn't going to be here for Thanksgiving. She is an amazing Aunt and appreciated the snuggle time with a child who still appreciates a good nap.

 

audreys first bath

It's been hard for visitors to get a turn to hold audrey as Ellie wants to hold her non-stop.

Our good friend Stephanie dropped by. We are really lucky to have such great friends. My friend Lisa set up a meal schedule for the first few weeks which really helped make life easier. Thanks to my Mom being home with us I was able to really just enjoy Audrey those first few weeks.