Life happens

So much has changed in our lives since I wrote last and honestly I have no excuse for not being on here and updating. I'm going to confess that many days I don't feel like our life is anything special to write about.  I know there may be a mom or dad out there that is going through the same things we go through and would like to know how we do life (and if there is I would LOVE to hear from you). We could all learn from each other. So today I'm not just going to tell you about the good things that have been happening in the West household, but the bad, the ugly and sometimes funny. Here is a quick list of the past couple months

• Our Peanut was born in January, we applied for her birth certificate and passport in February, we had to make a trip to London two days before we moved to pick them up because even though we were assured they would be in our hand way before that, they weren't.
• We flew on a semi full airplane for 10 hours with a 2 year old and a 2 month old. I can't complain too much because both kids were FANTASTIC, we only had 1 blowout and 1 change of clothes for mom and Peanut.
• About 2 weeks after we arrived back in Texas, Peanut got RSV and Little Man got croup in the same week, so breathing treatments, and steroids all around
• All of our belongings arrived approximately 2 months after we got home, thankfully everything was in one piece and working, I think I might have had a meltdown had something been broken.
• During all of this Little Man refuses to poop in the toilet but will gladly turn his rear end to you while he tells you he already pooped :|
• Bubba got a possible job lead in Washington state for it to fall through 3 days later, we are still a little bummed about that one, but we are very hopeful that a new job is on the horizon and we will be able to share that good news soon.
• It's now June and we are living in my parents house that is for sale and everyday we hope that we get a call from their realtor saying that it's being shown, so far no such luck. It REALLY needs to sell!
• Peanut is going to be 6 months soon and I am still having trouble getting her to sleep through the night, any suggestions out there???
• Little Man is FINALLY using the bathroom and in underwear with maybe 1 accident a day (I really hope I didn't just jinx myself)

As you can see our house has had some ups and downs the past couple of months and we are getting ready for some more changes in our lives. Our kids are troopers and it doesn't seem to phase them to much when we make big changes (and for that I am extremely thankful).  Hopefully by this time next year I can say that we have been settled for a while and there won't be any major moves or changes in the immediate future, but for now we play it by ear. I love my family and their flexibility to our life and I love that my husband supports me staying home with Little Man and Peanut. If I sound like Debby Downer (and I hope I don't) I'm not really sorry, life happens, the good, the bad, the funny and the ugly.  So since so much has happened, here are a few pictures of us :)

The many faces of Peanut

Isn't happy unless big brother is near

Helping unpack a few boxes

Little Man always helping

My favorite picture from her newborn photos, she is definitely a daddy's girl :)

Introducing...

We would like to introduce the newest member of the West family, Addie!! 

Miss Addie, our little peanut :)

Our little peanut arrived 3 weeks and 2 days early and was a complete surprise! At 26 weeks I was diagnosed with chronic hypertension, so we knew that she would be anywhere from one to seven days early.  But on Jan 11 at 12:30am I got out of bed and my water broke! I actually just stood in shock and finally woke Bubba up and told him. He half way laughed and told me to quit joking and go back to bed. I went and called the hospital and they told me to go ahead and drop Little Man off and get to the hospital! Wait, what? I didn't believe that I could actually be in labor. I hadn't had any contractions and we had just been joking earlier in the evening how funny it would be if she came early on her own and I didn't have to be induced. I went back upstairs and woke Bubba up again, telling him we needed to finish packing stuff, drop Little Man off and get to the hospital. That sure did wake him up :) At this point, my adrenaline was going, I felt like I couldn't even think straight. I kept saying "this isn't really happening!" We got Little Man loaded up and made the 20 minute drive to a friends house. By the time we got there I was having contractions that were lasting 30-45 seconds every 10 minutes. I had a hard time leaving him, I knew he would do fine, but we were about to turn his world upside down. He started tearing up as we were leaving, but I was strong and just gave him a hug and kiss and told him I would see him in the morning. We got back in the car and made the 15 minute drive to base. By the time we got there the contractions were lasting longer and getting stronger. We got up to L&D and they checked me out and determined I wasn't crazy and I was actually in labor. (THANK GOODNESS) By 2:15am we were in a room and they were hooking up the IV and taking blood to make sure I didn't have pre-eclampsia. My paperwork that I had filled out 3 weeks before had been filed wrong, so my awesome nurse sat in our room and asked me the 200 questions. Once she had finished, the dr arrived and she was going to do an ultrasound to see how big our peanut was, but decided against it when the nurse told her how quickly my contractions were coming. Instead she checked me out and informed me that whenever I was ready to start pushing I could. With that I had a contraction, rolled on my side and screamed "I need to push, get her out NOW!" The dr ran back over to the bed and 2 pushes later, at 3:57am our little peanut was born. She was 5lbs 9oz and 18 inches of healthy baby girl.We ended up being in the hospital for 4 days, because she lost too much weight the first day and then we had to wait on her to pass her car seat test.

Little Man was very excited later that day to meet his little sister and has been the sweetest to her ever since we have been home. He loves to hold her, help with diaper changes and kiss her.

The last 3 weeks have flown by and have been equally crazy with getting her into the system so Bubba can make sure she is on his orders when we move in March. Moving definitely makes everything a little more crazy and stressful but I really think it has made us closer as a family. We definitely have to lean on each other more.

They already love each other :)

The shirt says it all, he really is the best big brother

 

Our happy family :)