Month 1

 I wrote this a while back, but never got it posted. So...I'm going to post this and try and put up the month two later this week. So much has changed since I've written this, but wanted to still have it down.

One month has already gone by, I mean...so fast! The first month is such a blur, and honestly just seems like survival mode. I much prefer month two and beyond when things tend to settle down a bit.  Haynes is doing great! He does have one sad looking left eye though, I guess his right eye, but when I look at him it's the left one. He has a blocked tear duct that just makes his eye get so gunky, I'm hopeful it won't take the seven plus months to heal up like our doc said it can. I've taken a friends crazy advice and started putting a drop of breast milk in the eye and then rubbing the duct, so we'll see how that works. (so...I wrote this forever ago and am finally posting, the breast milk worked and his eye healed up in no time).
In terms of sleep, this guy varies daily, one night he rocks it barely waking me, then the next can be up every two hours. So, I'm hoping he settles into a rhythm soon, preferably the routine of sleeping long hours :).  Haynes really prefers to sleep on someone, and as soon as he can roll over he'll be on his belly. This round we haven't swaddled, he loves his hands by his face, so the few times we tried it, I felt like he grunted and struggled the whole time trying to free his arms. The wonderful thing we've had with both children early on, is no intense crying. When Haynes does wake up, he does heavy sucking sounds and light grunting (real crying does come if you don't hear or respond to his first pleas though), so he doesn't wake up his sister. A friend gave us a turning light color clock for Lane, and I love it. She started waking up early lately, so this clock tells her she must play in her room until the light turns green...and she does, right now at least.
I just wrote out our schedule for the next couple of months, and hope Haynes is flexible! I've decided to keep Lane out of any preschool until next year, but have her signed up for lots of activities. She is starting a new class of swim that's twice a week, and has three other kiddos instead of her current once a week private lesson. She's also going to try gymnastics for the first time. Let's be serious, she's going to be too tall to do this later, so it's just a fun thing to help her learn a summersault and have fun.
I can't believe I didn't do a whole blog about this, but about two months before Haynes arrived, Lane was fully potty trained! It's been wonderful, and I really am so proud of her! I bought a cheap potty way back when she turned two just to introduce her to it, but what sealed the deal for us was Fisher Prices potty that sings when pee or poop hits the sensor. So, if you are struggling with potty training, try the fancy potty...it just might work! Lane really is all about her brother, sometimes too much...please don't wake your sleeping brother to play or talk to him is something I say throughout the day. She's anxiously waiting for the day he can truly play with her. I've captured many sweet moments with the two of them you'll see below.
Here's the photo dump:

The activity mat is my favorite newborn toy 

Lane left and Haynes right! I love side by side comparisons 

All the cousins came to visit! Lily, Mary Alice, Lane, Everett, and Haynes held by M.A. 

A great big sister!

Hanging with Papa

This picture looks like a funny muscle man

Already being dressed up by big sister! Sticker fun

I'm so upset this is the only graph that I can find from your one month appt. I'll provide the stats when I see the paper at your next appointment. 88% Height

At the end of month one you started smiling...spoiler alert....you SMILE ALL THE TIME NOW!            I LOVE IT!

Such a chill kid, who puts up with me and Lane a lot

So, sorry this was late, I really did write it forever ago. Be on the look out for my month two post soon. I'll have some Lane updates and pictures in that one too.

Haynes Wesley Dorman

He's here!!! On June 26th at 3:15 in the afternoon, our family of three welcomed a new member! Haynes arrived weighing 8.6 pounds and 20.5 inches long (thankfully smaller than the 9.6 we thought). The delivery went MUCH smoother this round; a working epidural is amazing. I was induced again like with Lane, but only had to wait a day past his due date. The overall labor was an hour longer than his sisters, but I got to take it easy this round, and only pushed for less than 15 minutes.

So far Haynes is nothing but sweet sugar and snuggles. He would honestly sleep on me all day long if I let him (sometimes I do :) ). Everyone has told me boys are more snugly, and I agree.
Lane is handling life with "brother"/"Tree"/"Haynes" well. Those are the various names she has for her little brother. She is very gentle and sweet, and seems to "get" it. Everyone has asked how she's doing, and so far I can say that things are great. I feel like I'm double timing it at home, but thank goodness for nap times, and wonderful people feeding us. I might cry when my meal schedule comes to an end.

Haynes scored a 8 then 9 on his Apgar test, and a 7 on his jaundice test, so we are very blessed with a healthy little boy. He was back to his birth weight and then some at his two week doctor appointment, so we are happy to report he's not starving like his sister orginally did ;)The only time a brain tumor comes in handy is pumping breastmilk. I have a serious supply! I started nursing and found out that was not working out well...mainly because I would sit there and nurse for 45 minutes, to then have to still pump afterwards. So, once again I am exclusively pumping. This time around I don't have to build up my supply though, so I was pumping only three times a day and averaging around 35 ounces of milk, but I've backed it down to only two times a day now with 24 ounces of milk. My doc and dad doc only advise me pumping till 6 weeks though (the major downside to a brain tumor...to have a major supply and not be able to use it just kills me)! I go see my endo doc on August 6th to talk over the issue though, so who knows. Please pray over that one.

Things that are really different the second time around are...the labor, it's seems to be a common thing with everyone...it's much easier this round. It's also funny how you look back and wonder how you ever thought the true infant stage was hard at all. I really do remember thinking it was SO HARD when I was in that phase with Lane, but gosh, the second time around it makes me wonder what the heck I did all day. They seriously sleep so much. Balancing two kiddos is a lot of work, and I feel like poor Lane has been on a little bit of houe arrest lately, but once Haynes is a bit bigger I think this fall will be fun. I can see him chilling while we hit up the park and get back into our groove a bit.

Luke has been wonderful! I must admit I think he ROCKS the baby phase...he's never told me it's a favorite phase of his, but he is SO good with really little kiddos. I seriously do not think I changed one diaper the entire first week of Haynes life. The only part that Luke really struggles with is interrupted sleep, poor guy just struggles so much with that, so in another week we'll slide Haynes into his nursery.

Lastly, before I put up all the fun photos...I must give a shout out to my wonderful mom. She came and stayed a week with us, and seriously did every night feeding, even at one point moved him into her room to let Luke and I rest a couple of nights without even hearing a baby cry. I mean, words cannot express how wonderful she was. She cooked, cleaned, and just frankly made life amazing. So, thank you mom for EVERYTHING!!!

So, we have the sweetest video of Lane meeting her brother for the first time, but they said my file is way to large, so maybe I'll copy the original then with the other one I can trim it down to fit in here. It's just SO sweet, so maybe stay tuned for that.
We love you Haynes Wesley Dorman!


It looks like his chest is caved in here, but it's just those man boobs from breastmilk :)

Hello Spring!

Hello friends and welcome Spring!!
Let me just start by saying this blog will be back to monthly updates in June, well maybe July. First I wanted to announce that our family of three will be expanding to 4 this June. We have a little boy on the way, and hopefully we'll have a named picked out here before too long. Right now I am promising an update monthly on this little boy's life, like I did for his sister. I really am going to try and not let him fall under the sorry you were second category.
With the new baby on the way we are getting a bit more anxious to sell our current house and get into another one, so prayers would be much appreciated as we look to transition. We toured some homes today, and I think we may have found a winner if we can move our property before too long.

In other news, the reason I have time to write a blog right now, is Lane happens to be out of town for a week. This Sunday we loaded her up and met my parents in Statesboro to exchange Lane for a week. I definitely do not have the clingy child screaming when I drop her off at Sunday school, and the same was true here. She was so happy to have Gran and Papa take her home for a week. It sounds like she is having a blast, and I am getting in some much need errands and relaxation. I made myself a to do list that I am slowly working off. I must admit some of the items on my list were a pedicure and to get my hair done, but items nonetheless. Before I drive up on Sunday to get my sweet Lane (who I really am missing), Luke and I are taking advantage of alone time with dinner dates, and a mini trip someplace this weekend, that we haven't decided on yet.

For a Lane update, I guess I can only say that she is constantly changing, and growing up quickly. She has been taking swim lessons and loves it. Up to now I have been in the water with her for the lessons, but starting in April she will move up the three year old class with just the instructor and 3 other kiddos. I'm interested to see how she will adjust to that change, but with summer and a new baby coming along, I really want her to feel comfortable in the water. I don't plan on ever not being in the water with her (other than these lessons), but you know what I mean.
Here are some pictures (not in order), since I know many of you only care about these:

Princess Lane

Daddy is in TROUBLE! 

Doctor Lane (Thanks you Aunt Stacie for the Christmas gift) 

Lane's two year weight chart

Lane's two year height chart (I always thought it was a bit off the way they measured, but this one she actually stood for, so...she really is tall)

Lane's two year head chart

I seriously laugh ALL DAY LONG!!! This is one funny kid

Just relaxing before we head to swim class!

Sunday strolls are a favorite for this family! 

First big girl hair cut! (Thanks Honey) 

Still loves the boat thank goodness!

I must say the fact that she'll chill on the dock with me now is very nice!

Lane Lately

Hello Friends,
 Lane will be 20 months in a couple of days, and life right now is very busy. She LOVES to jump, go on boat rides, the beach, coloring, and well...there is not a whole lot she doesn't like. She is a wonderful kid that rarely requires scolding. She can communicate very well, so I think that has helped us keep from getting frustrated with each other, and meltdowns low.  She has started asking "but why"? and she also likes to say "Lane do it", so my patience will be tested a lot in the next couple of months I'm sure.
 Luke and I took a trip to the Dominican Republic a month ago, and left her with my parents for a full week. The longest she has been without at least one of us there. She had a ball with Gran and Papa, but I also think she missed her mom and dad :)
Her last appointment was 18 months, so these are pretty outdated now, but here are the usual charts:

We have a very busy fall with lots of traveling, so hopefully she'll be a good road warrior and traveler. I love watching Lane learn and grow. I'm sorry I can't even begin to fill you in on all of the details from my last blog post to Lane today, just know that she is a bright light in this world, and I wouldn't trade her for anything! It was impossible to put all of the pictures I wanted up, since I take about 30 a day, but here are a couple:

Lane LOVES water!

Just a sandy sandwich on the beach

Fun with friends

Already dragging boys around! 

The girls together again! Celia, Charlotte, and Lane

The boating Queen 

I love her hair in dog ears!

Swing Love

Lane loves her daddy 

She loves to color