Just keep swimming

Life in the Tatum house is pretty predictable these days: Eat, sleep, poop, cry, repeat. And as for the sleep part of that equation that is mostly just Jack doing the sleeping. Mommy and Daddy are kept busy with big sister playing house, babies, princesses, bubbles, candy land, legos, doctor, kitchen, going to the park (and that's all before noon). No seriously. Jack is still good, but he is definitely more aware of the outside world and for the last week has had extended periods of crying. I guess that's to be expected. He likes to be carried in the front pouch which is helpful so mommy can still get out and take Hannah places. Jack eats a ton. The recommended amount under 4 weeks is 24 oz of breat milk in a day. Jack eats at least 32, but I'm told it's okay and he is just growing. Good thing mommy has a ton of milk in the freezer, so much big sister might not have room to store her beloved pancakes any more. It's so much fun getting more and more toys out for Jack. Last week we took out bee friends and now we have our old friends yodeling goat and musical computer. That's about all the news here. I will leave you with some pics because lets be honest that's what keeps you all interested.





snuggle buddies for mornimg cartoons




my greatest blessings! The last few weeks my favorite time of day is six am. Jack is normally asleep on my chest and Hannah is just waking up and comes and lays next to me on the pillow. I feel like the luckiest mommy and for a brief moment there is silence and snuggles:)

It's Back!

Sweet Jack is just 2 1/2 weeks and already I am getting emotional about how quickly he is growing. Every day he looks older and bigger to me. He also seems more awake and alert each day. I can tell he is already starting to cluster his naps into more defined increments. He also increased feeding size (this boy can eat!) Over the weekend Jack had his first Daddy/Son football day while mommy and Hannah went to Disneyland. This week we also started tummy time and took out the legendary 'bee friends' activity mat. Jack is working on holding his head up and is getting pretty good. Hannah learned that bee friends was her favorite toy as a baby and so now frequently encourages Jack to play with it. It's funny how something as simple as a musical mat can bring back so many memories. So far Jack seems to love bee friends too. He watches and makes good eye contact.

Like I said, emotions have been coming out strong this week. I already want him to slow down. Tim would call me crazy as he is anxious for the middle of the night feedings to be done, but honestly they really don't bother me. I know this time is so short, a brief moment in time and I hope when I look back on my life it's the simple things like bee friends and midnight feedings that I can be proud of and smile about. Today as the three of us journeyed to Target, the song 'My Wish' came on and I started crying (hormones I know). I've always loved this song and it was also the song Tim and his mom danced to at our wedding, but now I love the song even more. Listening to the song thinking of Jack was just overwhelming. I love him so much and just want his little life happy. And with that, I leave you with the lyrics by Rascal Flatts:

"I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish..."


BEST BUDDIES ALREADY (P.s. I do dress Hannah every day as well, but the child finds one way or another to only wear underwear, don't ask)

Two Weeks

My little man is officially two weeks old. I cannot believe how fast time is going. Jack is so good. I just can't explain how easy and sweet he is. Today we went to our two week doctor's appointment and I had no questions because he is just perfect. It was a weird feeling because with Hannah I always had questions and was always getting referred to specialists. With Jack we were in and out. He looks perfect! He weighed in at 8lbs. 6 oz. The doctor weighed him twice to be sure because it is typical for newborns to be back at birth weight at the two week check. Jack has far surpassed that. I told you he eats and sleeps a lot. Growing boy needs his rest. I was worried I was over feeding him, but they were very pleased and even said I should be proud because each oz. was due to my hard work. As most of you know I am not a fan of breast feeding and I really would prefer not getting out of bed every three hours to pump milk, but I do it so that Jack gets the best. It made me feel good that I am helping him grow big and strong. I don't know Jack, it's going to be hard to beat your daddy in height, but maybe. The whole family is doing well. It's a weird feeling knowing that I have two kids, and I couldn't be more blessed.







Daddy wore this outfit 30 years ago

Happy One Week Birthday!

I honestly can't believe sweet Jack has been in my life for a week already. In some ways it's hard to remember life without him and in other ways I feel like I was just at Hoag anxious to see his cute face. Jack is literally the dream baby (knock on wood). We had such a hard first few weeks with Hannah that maybe this is normal, but he is just so easy and good. Tim and I both laughed saying that if he was our only child we would be bored. Jack loves to eat and then goes right back to sleep. At night he goes four hour stretches and doesn't even need to be held. He never needs to be rocked or walked. We haven't even had to pull out the five S's of baby whispering. In his first week of life he has gone to the doctor and got a perfect bill of health. He also went on two short outings. Prep time for the outings is about two hours. I'm going to have to get use to going out with the kids because it's a bit crazy. His umbilical cord fell off around day five. We think he has blue eyes like daddy, but still hard to tell. He also got his first bath which was the most we've heard him cry, but as soon as he got his towel he was happy again. Jack had a special photo shoot and slept for two hours. He got an A++. Hannah is in love with him and seems really proud to be the big sister. I feel so blessed to be this little guys mommy. Each day I love him more. Obviously I am tired, but I just can't imagine life without him.

He's Here!

My sweet Jack Bryant, Mommy was so proud to welcome you into the world on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 10:21am. Our journey together has been one of the best memories of my life and now that you're here I can't wait to see what the world has in store for you. Mommy had a doctor's appointment on the 21st and was already 4cm, 70% effaced. The doctor guessed you would be here in 24 hours and she was right. At 2 am mommy woke up with contractions and I knew you were on your way. I woke daddy and called granny to come stay with Hannah. We were so excited to meet you. The week leading up to labor was a little difficult due to terrible back pain, but labor and delivery was a breeze. You were so good to mommy and made things smooth and quick. You had so many loved ones there to meet you. Granny, Grandpa, Nana, Gramps and Hannah stood outside the deivery room door and heard your first cries. They even heard mommy laughing as I pushed you out. You came out lungs a blazing with lots of cries. You felt so light when they put you on mommy's chest, but really you were an average weight 7 lbs. 9 oz. You are also a long 21 inches. Everything about you is perfect and mommy loves you so much. You have had so many visitors during the first few days of life. I hope you always remember that from the moment you were born you were supported by friends and family who would do anything for you. You enjoy eating and sleeping. So far you seem like a really calm sweet baby who tries his best to be good. You were even giving mommy four hour stretches between night feedings on night two (knock on wood). My Jack, you started as a dream and became a reality, a secret only you and I knew until Christmas morning, you were a Christmas miracle and now a gift from God. You are my Jack and though outside of my belly now, please know you will forever be carried in mommy's heart because you are a piece of me and I love you more than life itself. Happy Birthday Baby Boy. Can't wait to document this next year of life as you experience the world around you!

This picture was taken moments before you were born. The doctor/nurses were saying "Time to have a baby." Hannah was such a proud and happy big sister. She waited patiently for you to be born.


You were delivered by Dr. Flora who made the whole experience fun and easy for mommy


First family photo


Since the moment you arrived Hannah has been bringing you toys, books, stuffed animals, balloons, etc. She loves to sing you songs and say "It's okay Jack." She can't stop giving you kisses, hugs and patting you. She tells mommy that she can take care of you.


On our way home


I love you JACK BRYANT

Farewell Baby Bump

Today is the post for my final bump watch pic. Month 9, week 37! Hard to believe we are here. Time really goes so quickly. Today I had my weekly appointment with the doctor and wow there has been a lot of action in one week. I am 3 cm. dialated. Which is crazy. 3 cm was active labor with Hannah. Some woman aren't dialated at all at 40 weeks, so 3 is considered big time. I am 30% effaced so still have a ways to go in that department and she made a big point of telling me how super low Jack's head is. She even had a hard time reaching the cervix because the head is so low it was blocking the whole thing. She said it is so low that there is no chance of a c section unless some really wierd freak thing happened. So basically, long story short, she said Jack could come tomorrow or it could be another week. I love getting the updates, but it almost makes you more anxious sitting around because you really feel like it could be any minute. I know 37 weeks is still early for the majority of women, but my mom had early babies and so far that seems to be my bodies natural tendency too. So with that said, dare I say it. If I had to guess, I'm thinking that my next post will have a precious picture of my son. CRAZY! Any day...stay tuned.

Bump Watch, Final Days with JACK


And for a fun compare and contrast, Here is me at the same time only with Hannah.
Bump Watch, Final Days with HANNAH


People keep telling me how small I look, which is kind, but I think they are just being polite. I don't know judge for yourself, but I think I am bigger with Jack. Hannah just looks pointier. With Jack I have gained 30 lbs. With Hannah I gained 22 lbs. Which is ironic because I'm being told Jack will be a smaller baby then Hannah. We will know soon!

We made it!

I am so excited to say that we made it full term. Granted the march of dimes recently changed full term to be 39 weeks but 37 is traditionally known as full term where lungs are developed and baby is ready to go. Things are progressing very smoothly and I have a gut feeling jack will be here soon. Two weeks ago Tim found a 'worm' in the shower after I got out. Turns out doctor confirmed that it was the mucus plug. Since then contractions have picked up and as of last Thursday I was 1cm dialated. Ill get checked again on wednesday. The dr also commented that she thought jack would be smaller then Hannah. Can't wait to see. 21 days to go but could be any time now really.