Gwenyth Nancy Rude

Gwenyth Nancy Rude was born August 1, 2013 at 8:07am. She weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and was 19 1/2 in long.

Gwen has been such a delight! We have really enjoyed getting to know her!

The morning of the first, Jason and I drove to the hospital for our scheduled c section around 5am. Max was spending the night with grandma Karen and had been dropped off the night before so Jason and I could enjoy a little date just the two of us.  It was so relaxed compared to Max's c-section because with Max, my water broke and we were in a mad dash to pack our bags and get to the hospital.  This time, we had our bags ready, and I even had time to curl my hair and put on makeup!  

Before we left the house, I had Jason take a picture of a very pregnant me because I wanted to remember just how big I was!

I was in the operating room by 7:30am.  I got my spinal and we waited, waited, and waited.  The spinal didn't take and they told me I would have to go under.  Realizing that Jason was not going to be able to be in the room and that I would "miss" the birth of our daughter, I started to cry.  I was really bummed.  It didn't take very long to knock me out and the next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room to the nurse calling my name.  I had a very sore throat but managed to ask where Jason and Gwen were.  They were in the nursery and would be right down.  I couldn't wait to meet my daughter!!!

Dad and daughter hanging out in the nursery!

Meeting for the first time!

Our family of three before Max and Jason went to go get Gwen from the nursery.

About to meet baby sister!!!

We had many visitors during our hospital stay and all in all, things went very well!  It is almost like a retreat to be in the hospital and have the nurses take such good care of you.

Grandma Karen with all of her grandchildren!

Liz (and Lilah), Maddilynn and Drew holding Gwen!

MaryBeth, Chris and Addison.  Addie loved baby Gwen!

Gwen with her friends, the Halls!

Trying to recreate a picture we took of Max before leaving the hospital.

Ready to go home! 

Since being home, I have recovered from the c-section and we are getting a handle on having two kids.  (Two kids is more than double of one kid... I was never good at math, but trust me on this...)

Max loves his baby sister and gives her plenty of kisses... when he is not poking her eyes. 

We love Gwen and are enjoying getting to know her more and more!

Our first outing to the mall.

Jason is really getting this"two kids" thing down!

At 7 weeks, Gwen is now smiling at me and Jason.  We have her two month checkup on October 1st and look forward to being told how healthy she is!

18 Months!

What a milestone! Happy 18 months to my little man and happy 18 months of parenting to Jason and I! 

Max is such a pleasure to be around! I am so thankful that I get to stay home with him now! Thanks to my hubby for working so hard so that I am able to love on Max every hour of every day!

So much has happened in the 6 months that have passes since I last blogged!

Max has had two haircuts! One in February and one at the beginning of May. He was much better the second one around which I owe much to the lollipop in his mouth! 

He has his checkup tomorrow and I am anxious to see how much he has grown. He is wearing clothes ranging from 18 months to 2T. 

Max's first word was dog. He loves all dogs, especially our Peanut. Every time there is a dog on sight, Max let's us know!

Max also says shoes. I believe he learned this one because he realized when people put on shoes, they go outside! He loves the outdoors and could be out there all day long!

Other words include cheese, socks, daddy, baby, ball, and book among others. 

Max loves to read books and his newest book is all about welcoming home a little sister! We don't think Max has quite the grip on what is going to happen come August when his sister is born, but we hope to prepare him the best we can. When asked where the baby is, he does point to my tummy!

He also has helped start to set up her room and put away her clothes! We were given a lot of clothes and have also come across some great garage sale finds! I do love garage sales and tis the season!

Looking forward to a great summer of playing outside and preparing for little sister! Happy 18 months Max Robert Rude!

12 Months = 1 Year! (Very, Very, Belated...)

Those who know me, know I dislike math to a very high degree.  These are some numbers, however, that bring me joy!

12 Months in Numbers

2,065 Bottles or Nursing Sessions (Rough Count ;)

912 Wardrobe changes (Counting jammies!)

4 Teeth

1 Thanksgiving

1 Christmas

3 States (Max has traveled to Nebraska, Missouri, and well, he lives in Iowa)

100 Food Pouches (Very happily eaten!)

1,825 Diaper Changes (not exact, but probably pretty close!)

15 Super fun cousins!

9 Cool uncles!

7 Loving aunts!

4 Wonderful great-grandmas!

2 Fabulous grandmas!

2 Awesome grandpas!

2 Very Proud Parents

1 Super Great 1-Year-Old

Max at 1 year!

Max at 9 months!

Max at 6 months!

Max at 1 week!

Happy Birthday, Max! 

(also thank you to http://www.rachaelmariaphotography.com/ for all the photos!!!)

A day shy of 11 Months!

One month away from being one year old!  Where has the time gone???  As I sit down to think of the highlights and milestones over the past month, I realize that Max is a totally different kid than he was a month ago.  He has accomplished so many new things; it is so amazing to see!

Where to begin?  Max is crawling around like a mad man.  He is so fast!  Sometimes when I leave the room, he follows me laughing and crawling as fast as he can to see what I am up to.  Other times, he follows me a little more slowly, with his head down, crying.  This is usually when he is tired and it breaks my heart the way he wants to be with me, but is also kind of funny. ;)

He is also pulling himself up on everything; the couch, tables, beds, cupboards, toys, even mom and dad!  At first, he didn’t quite know how to get down, but now he has mastered that as well!

The tub has been one of Max’s favorite places to hang out.  He thinks it is so cool to be in the big tub with all his toys.  Max isn’t crazy about the bubbles, especially when I try giving him a bubble beard, but I think he will grow to like them.

Max still has just the two teeth.  We are taking good care of them and brushing them, which Max loves!  He wants to hold the toothbrush on his own, but that could get a little crazy, so I tell him that mommy is going to do it for now. 

Food, food, food.  Max still loves to eat.  His Grandma Kay spoils him with Gerber meals when he is at her house and on those days I think he eats better than me!  He has tried a couple kids’ meals at restaurants as well.  We discovered that there are a couple things he doesn’t really like and on the top of that list is broccoli. 

Max is really excited about his new friend that is going to arrive in early February.  Our good friends John Michael and Rachael found out their little one is a girl!  Max is going to show her the ropes on how to be awesome and introduce her to all of his other friends!  ;)  I am so thankful for friends with babies or that are getting ready to have babies; it makes this whole mom thing just that much better!

Here are some photos from this past month!

Max, Jason, and Jackson at a Rude family get together!

Max sleeping in my arms.  He couldn't sleep that night because of his double ear infection.  :(

Helping get his bath ready.

What a great helper he is!

Tub time!

More tub!

Playing on a Saturday morning!

Apple Orchard!

Tuesday Max and I joined some lovely ladies for a trip to the Center Grove Apple Orchard.  We had never been to the orchard before and were so impressed with all of the things to do and see!  Here are some photos of our trip!

Max in the corn pit!  That is his friend Madilynn in the background!

Max had so much to look at!

We were trying to get the goat to kiss our fingers.  Max thought it was so funny!

Max in the corn pit again, Nicole had buried his legs!

More of the goats.

We nicknamed this the goat suicide bridge.

This goat reminded me of my pet goat, Clyde, that I had growing up.

Nicole and Clyde.  (And Ashley and Sadie in the corner!)

These baby pigs were my favorite!!!  Max liked them too, he looked at them forever!

Max was a little impatient when we stopped at the "potty barn."

I love this little man!

There were some crazy chickens there!

Max is wondering what he is doing in a pool of corn.

Liz and Madilynn feeding the goats!