It's Been Too Long

I used to consider myself an avid blogger, until my laptop became completley unreliable and started crashing every few weeks a couple of months ago. It's certainly not the only reason that I don't blog, I admit I lost interest as I was spending a LOT of my time on the computer editing images from photography sessions. However, life has slowed down, yet picked up at the same time.


We did welcome our newest little guy, Karter Makanaakua into the family (7 lbs 8 oz, 20in). I had hoped for a regular delivery but instead ended up with yet another cesarean. That's okay though, he's  here, my body is recovering and healing, we are still baby mooning and completely in love with this little guy. One thing though, I will NEVER let a man cut me open again. This cesarean has been more painful than the others and I felt like they did a hack job in stitching me back up. Leave it up to a man to not worry themselves with details. 'Nuff said about that. I realize after yet another experience, I cannot take heavy narcotics. I felt the same way that I did with Keilana that eventually landed me in ICU with her delivery. I won't go into details of her birth experience, but after 12 hours on the stuff they gave me with Karter's cesarean, I was done and switched to Ibuprofen and percocet. Good stuff, I tell ya, and enough to maintain my pain. Good enough that I was up walking around the next day and enough that they nurses and doctors allowed me to leave after the second day. We were in the hospital for a total of 3 days and next baby, I will take that 4th day to get some extra recovery time.

Karter is an excellent baby thus far. There have been a few rough evenings that I attribute to an upset stomach and "bubble gas" as Kayden says. During the day he eats every 2-3 hours and at night he will sleep anywhere from 5-8 hours, depending on how tired he is before going down for the night. He is still sleeping most of the day as a 2 week and 3 day old should but I am noticing him being more awake and alert the last 4-5 days. He has started to stay awake for 1-2 hours at a time and will look around at his surroundings, going crossed-eyed trying to focus on something. Yesterday he voluntarily smiled. I read that babies don't typically do that until 2 months old, but he did. I was talking to and playing with him and he repeatedly smiled 4 times before losing it and wanting to go to sleep. Some will think it's hogwash, but I believe it because I think Keilana was 2 or 3 weeks when we captured her first smile as well. He enjoys snuggling (he really seems to like me wearing him in the Maya Wrap), dislikes his car seat, loves to suck (which is why I caved and gave him a pacy at one week old), despises his diaper being changed and, in fact, this makes him the most angry.

Keilana is smitten by him and sometimes I wonder who his mommy is. I know if she had the ability beyond a 5 year old, she would do any and everything for him. She certainly acts older than a 5 year old towards him and treats him so much like a little Mama. I sense that in the years to come, these two will become close and Karter will look to her as his second Mama, indeed.

Kayden is still adjusting but loves his brother nonetheless. He just needs to spend more time with him but as a 3 year old, a baby that can't do much other than eat, poop and cry doesn't appeal and interest him very much. Kayden shares his toys with him and will interact as much as he can but knows that he has to be gentle and I believe this intimidates him just a bit. Today he was sharing his toys with him and put a medal around his neck saying he's the coach. So despite the limited interaction, I know he loves him and looks forward to when they can wrestle, play cars, and run around together. So I believe that they will be good playmates in the future.

I have some great photos to post but as I mentioned, I have been without a computer and for 2+ weeks I might add. Not good, I tell ya! So with all that said, it is time for bed.