Two Months Old

 Two months old, I cannot believe it.  I feel like it was yesterday I complaining about being so pregnant in the summer, then I blinked and I am a mother of three.  Austin, you are such a good baby.  You rarely cry and you sleep through the night.  It was rough in the beginning but we are adjusting to three little ones and you are getting used to "love" from Michael and Ava. They truly love you so very much and miss you when you are sleeping.  Michael is always so worried and asks me everytime we leave to make sure I have you. You have no idea how lucky you are sweet boy. So what is new in the life of my adorable littlest man?  Here are just a few things:

• You were 7 lbs when you were born and now you weigh 15 lbs.  So yes, you like to eat a lot. 93rd percentile!
• You are a great sleeper.  I have realized that the noisier it is, the better you sleep.  You are used to all of the noise that comes from Michael and Ava.
• I'm not sure if you eyes will stay blue, but I can hope. 
• You make the funniest faces, I do believe you get that from me.
• You love to be outside
• You cannot stand it if we leave you in a room alone.  Even if you don't need a thing, you will throw a fit until someone comes in and sits by you, or brings you to us.

So I have begun to call you "chubbers".  Don't worry, I will think of a new nick name before you go to school.  I love you little man and I am so happy that you are mine.

Halloween

Well Halloween was pretty fun this year.  Michael finally understood how to get candy from people, although he wouldn't say trick or treat, instead he would ask "May I have some candy please?" and then flash a big smile.  Let me tell you, he got lots of candy.  Ava on the other hand just wanted to run and I mean run around and swish her dress. If she did manage to get candy, she proceeded to eat through the wrapper to taste it.  She was a handful and because she didnt' want to stay with us, we actually called it a night a bit early.  I have no idea where her stubborness comes from :).  And of course my little Austin just slept the entire night.  He sure looked cute doing it though.

This year, Michael dressed up like Woody from Toy Story.  He has really started to love those movies.  I thought surely he would want to be Buzz Lightyear because he is constantly jumping off of his bed screaming "To infinity and beyond!", well actually he pronounces it "indenity", but no Buzz this year.  My darling priss pot Ava was a lady bug, complete with glittery wings and shoes.  Let me tell you, when she knows she looks cute, she flaunts it.  And Austin wore Michael's Yoda costume.  Of course Michael was four months old when he wore it and here my two month old Austin could barely fit in it!

It was a fun and exhausting night but totally worth every second.  The next morning Michael asked if we were going to get more candy again and I was thankful that I could tell him that Halloween is only once a year!

Pumpkins

Due to the fact that we live in subtropical Houston, it is often difficult to tell when the fall season truly begins.  Is it with day light savings time?  Is it when Starbucks releases their spiced pumpkin and salted caramel lattes? Well, for me it is when the pumpkins arrive in all of their orange glory.  So when I saw this pumpkin patch as I was driving to see my parents, I knew we would be making a visit. 

It was fun to see Michael and Ava run around.  Michael quickly grabbed a wagon and began to put whatever pumpkin he could lift inside.  He was so cute when he strained to lift them.  Ava just had fun trying to climb on top of them...until she spotted this cute little boy.  I have never seen her do this, but she chased him down and hugged him.  The poor boy, he never stood a chance.  I guess that he was the closest to her size she had ever seen, so she instantly thought he must need a hug!

Then there is my darling little Austin.  He just stayed in my arms and was oblivious to the entire experience except when Michael discovered that the hay comes out of the hay bales and proceeded to throw it in the air.

When we made it back home, I thought the kids could paint their pumpkins and we could carve one big one as a family.  It started out nice enough, pretty colors and all. However, things turned when Michael and Ava realized that they could just mix all the paint together into one icky mess and slap it on the pumpkin.  Thank goodness the paint was washable.  The end result was an orange pumpkin with blackish purple blobs of paint.  Of course I couldn't resist dipping Austin's foot in the paint and putting it on his baby pumpkin.  And once again, he slept through the entire thing.

When Derin made it home, we were able to carve the pumpkin as a family.  That was interesting too, since I have a son that doesn't truly like to get dirty and a daughter that likes to go all in, all the time.  Nonetheless, our Jack-O-Lantern face revealed itself to my artist husband and the magical moment of lighting the candle commenced.  It was fun for about two mintues and then the kiddos were off to something else but I will take what I can get. So while I wait for the cooler weather to make its way to me, I will sip a soy spiced pumpkin latte and and look at my three little pumpkins.

One Month Old

It is amazing how time soars by us.  This is evident when I blink and the next thing I know, my babies are taller and just a little more independent.  So I don't know why I am surprised that Austin is already a month old.  I was worried about Michael and Ava being jealous and unsure of a new baby.  It is quite the opposite and now I worry that they are going to smother him with their love.  I never thought I would have to say "stop kissing the baby".  So loved and he doesn't even know it. 

Austin has gained four pounds since he was born and now weighs 11 lbs.  He was grown three inches and sleeps like a champ.  I don't know how he sleeps through the drumming, singing and running around that his brother and sister constantly expose him to but he just sleeps on.  I figure that he is just going to have to adapt to it.  Gone are the days of trying to keep the house quiet as to not "wake the baby".  Now we just want it a little softer than a sonic boom and all is well.

So Austin here is what is new for you:

• You have two adorable dimples when you smile
• You eat CONSTANTLY but that's okay, I love spending time with you
• You make the silliest noises, honestly you sound like a goat.
• You are incredibly alert
• You make these sweet noises when you sleep, I film and record it because I love it so much

I can't wait to see what each new second with you brings to our family.  I love you Austin Ryan, all the way to the moon and back.

 

Austin Ryan DePalermo

I am so glad to finally be writing this and to finally have my son in my arms.  By now it is well established that my third pregnancy was not expected nor anything that I could have prepared for.  I had horrible morning sickness and was super exhausted all the time.  It was totally different than what I felt with Michael and Ava.  So, I don't know why I expected his birth to be any less of a surprise. 

Both Michael and Ava had the same type of delivery experience.  My water broke, contractions started and a short time later, I had a beautiful baby.  Not the case with Austin.  I was 37 weeks pregnant and I felt that with each passing day, he was never going to arrive.  He was measuring big for his "age" and so we expected him any minute.  Well, finally on the morning of August 30th, he decided he was ready to meet me. 

I began to have contractions and started timing them with my phone.  This was new to me since I didn't have to worry about timing with the first two, I was definitely in labor with them, no question. When the app on my phone popped up a warning that said I was having contractions so close together that I needed to go to the hospital I thought okay, time to wake up Derin.  I called my doctor, and of course its after hours so I get an answering service.  The sweet and slightly deaf person on the other end of the phone was asking me all of these questions and I couldn't answer.  All I could do was try to breathe through the contractions, so when she said my name was Stephanie and she had my birthdate wrong, I didn't have the strenght to correct her.  Luckily, my doctor is a rock star and she knew who it was and she told me to head over to the hospital.

When I finally arrived after packing up two children, they began to put in an IV and prep me for delivery.  I thought they were just going to check me because afterall, my water didn't break like it did with the first two.  My doctor laughed at me and said there was no way she was sending me home.  My baby was going to be born that day.

So we were all set for delivery and it was now a waiting game.  Something that I wasn't used to.  Usually my family can barely make it to the hospital and this time, they had time on their hands.  Not to disappoint, Austin made his arrival in his own special way. The only thing similar about the delivery is that all three of my babies were born at 37 weeks. And yes, the epidural failed and I could not imagine anything more painful but in a matter of seconds all worry and pain were gone because I was holding my third baby, my new baby boy.  Austin Ryan DePalermo: 7lbs, 7oz, 19 1/2 inches long, August 30th at 3:04 p.m.

 

Michael and Ava came in to meet their new brother and both of them were so very sweet and loving.  Seeing all of three of them together makes my heart grow just a little more.  How is it possible that I have the capacity to love them this much? And what's more is that this love grows more each day!  The family came in and Michael announced his name. "Everybody, this is my baby brother Austin"! I cannot believe we were able to keep his name a secret, but we pulled it off and I love it.  My family is complete now and I am satisfied.  I thought that two children was all that I needed but God knew better and I could not be any happier.  So welcome sweet son, you are loved beyond your wildest dreams.