Elmo guess whose TWO?

It is hard to believe that Austin is already two years old. Time sure does go by fast and as a parent you try your best to soak in everything because you realize quickly that everyday they are changing before your eyes. We did not plan a big party this year as we weren't sure when Hunter was going to be arriving and didn't want to have to bail on our own party to leave for the hospital. Haha. Instead we just had our parents over and David's Aunt Phyllis and Grammie who were in town. Hunter and I went to Party City the day before to get Elmo supplies...Austin LOVES Elmo. We got balloons, napkins, plates, and hats! I even made Austin an Elmo cupcake which I think turned out pretty cute I must say for having come up with the idea on my own. Friday night (the day before Austin's birthday) David and I stayed up putting his birthday present together: a train table. It would have been a sight to see I must say because towards the end David needed my help but I was nursing Hunter so of course being a second timer it was not a problem. I got down on the floor sat in the middle of the partly put together table with Hunter who didn't seem to mind and we helped daddy complete the table. Haha! We finished putting the whole thing together at around 1am. After I fed Hunter at 5am I decided to stay up while all my boys were sleeping and make pancakes for breakfast that I could reheat on the griddle. I was determined to still make Austin's day special! Now normally Austin will come in our room in the morning but instead he went straight to the living room and started playing with his train table. I looked at the monitor and didn't see him and then heard some noise in the living room so I woke up David and sure enough there he was standing at the corner of his table playing. Oh the memories he has given us! I love them all. We played all morning and into the afternoon with his table and then he went down for a nap. When he woke up everyone was at our house and we played outside, ate pizza and cake, and then opened presents. Overall I think it was a great birthday...he had fun and that is all that matters!

How it looked when we were done at 1am...

Where we found Austin in the morning...what a great memory!

Carrying all his choo-choos! (He looks so determined...haha)

Enjoying his birthday breakfast: pancakes with syrup and strawberries! Yum!

Family picture with our party hats on!

Homemade birthday cake with another Elmo.

Close up of Austin's birthday cake...I just love sprinkles!Austin's Elmo cupcake. I even asked Austin who it was and he said, "Elmo" so I guess I did pretty good. Haha!

Diving right in...

Yummy!

And then there was TWO...

I just wanted to make a post with a poem I received from one of my parents on becoming a mother of two.

And then there was 2

As I hold your two year old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship, I suddenly feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: How could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me, as you've never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, "Please love only me." And I hear myself telling you in mine, "I can't," knowing, in fact, that I never can again. You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again. But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying him- as though I'm betraying you. But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection. More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine.

The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times- only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other. I watch how he adores you- as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you, I've given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong.

And my questions is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you- only differently. And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you'll never share my love. There's enough of that for both of you- you can each have your own supply. I love you- both and I thank you both for blessing my life.

Hunter Ryan Colschen

Hunter Ryan Colschen was born on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 9:42 am. He weighed 5lbs. 9oz. and was 19 inches tall! David was gone away for TWHS girls varsity state soccer game and when he called me Friday night to tell me goodnight I started to have some pains. I felt bad that he was going to miss the game and was more worried about it being a false alarm but it turned out it wasn't. David's mom came and stayed with Austin while he slept and my mom drove me to the hospital at around 1am I think. When I got there my blood pressure was elevated so they ran some more tests and it should that I had developed pre-eclampsia. At this point David had arrived which I believe was around 3am. The only cure for pre-eclampsia is delivery so they admitted me and induced my labor at around 5 or 6am. I was contracting but not regularly and still hadn't made any change in dilation and was still just at 3cm which I had been at for two

weeks. After getting sick I think it was three times (twice in triage) and once in our room I got an IV bag pumped in me and was set to have an epidural. I was getting sick because of the pain I was having due to the high blood pressure and other things that were going on because of that. My doctor was supposed to be at the hospital for a short while and arriving around 9:30 so my nurse and I were determined to have me ready to push by then. After having my epidural they broke my bag of water and we were on our way this was about 6am. The nurse came in at about 9 to check me and I was at 6cm. We thought we had time before Hunter would arrive....WRONG! At 9:20 I was sending David rushing out of the room because I felt like Hunter was going to be born without someone to catch him...yes I felt him coming out of me. Scary! The nurse came back in checked me and was like okay he is right there and sent someone to call the doctor to see where she was at. The nurse Kim who I will never forget was amazing and had me focus and breathe through the contractions until my doctor arrived and then shortly after she got there Hunter was born. The feeling is not different the second time around. It is still amazing and unforgettable. Austin came up shortly after and right away loved him and wanted to hold him and give him kisses. It was so sweet! Below are just a few pictures from that day.

Just born...

Getting weighed...

Mommy, Daddy, and Hunter

Brothers! (Austin giving Hunter a kiss)