BRENDON at 2 WEEKS OLD

2 week Stats:

8 lbs. 5 oz.
21.5 inches long
 
This boy is a mini Brock, if you ask me.
He has very long arms and legs, a wide bridge in his nose, the same creases in his forehead and nose, dimples, the same eyebrow growth pattern - all like his Daddy.

 ABOUT BRENDON at 2 WEEKS:

- last night he only woke up once to eat at 4:30am. WOW! 
Let's hope this becomes a nightly habit.
- RARELY cries. Which amazes me. Remember Cohen? He screamed for a solid 2 months, due to reflux problems. Maybe that's why I feel like this newborn couldn't be more perfect.
- Nurses every 3 hours during the day, usually twice at night, sometimes only once.
- When he is not eating during the day, he is very alert or sound asleep. Noise does not bother his at all, thanks to a 2 year old brother. Blessing!
- He is getting quicker at nursing. Burps well.
- HATES being cold.
- Loves when someone talks or sings to him.
- The sleeves of most his jammies are too short, long armed boy.
- He has only spit up maybe twice, amount the size of a nickel.
- LOVES hearing music of any kind.

HE IS PRECIOUS.
I was convinced I wouldn't get two easy babies in a row....
but I was wrong.
Only two weeks has passed, but they couldn't be more perfect.
Let's keep it up Buddy.
We love EVERYTHING about you.
Even when you fill your pants right after they have been changed.


QUICK UPDATE ON THE MAMA:
{for those that are wondering}

I'm BEYOND sick of sitting and taking it easy.
This c-section recovery has been cake, I hate to admit.
Pain....what pain?
There has been stiffness, tight muscles, mild soreness, but not pain.
With two weeks down, I feel ready to RUN. Literally.
Yes, I am still trying to take it easy {Mom & Dad} but I think my buns are bruised from sitting so much. Once again - blessing.
2 weeks of recovery down, 4 to go.
OH BOY.

more and more goodbyes

 {Cowboy Papa and Co}

 Brock's family came to stay with us the week after my parents left. We were so lucky to see them all! {minus Josh and Kai- miss you both} The girls {Nana, Tiff & Jenn} came the first half of the week, then Nana stayed and Todd and Matt joined her from Wed - Sat. Once again, we were taken care of VERY well. I could really get used to having a maid service and work done around my house/yard. Cohen LOVED playing with Uncle Matt, bless his heart. This probably wasn't the most exciting trip for an 11 year old boy. He was a little bored at times with no cable at our house.

 Brock made it through his first week of Med School, WOO! 

And still made time for lovin' his boys and being with his family.

 Nana gave Brendon the best bath he has had so far. He was clean as a whistle, and my favorite part about the bath is his FLUFFY hair afterwords.

 The Kitchen's surprised us with planted flowers in our yard, 

and most exciting of all, a lawn mower and edger.

 Thank you again a million times.

We appreciate all the help you gave our family.

Can't wait for our next visit!

WE  LOVE  YOU.

farewell my dear parents

SAD.
They are gone. Back home to Utah. 
LIFESAVERS.
We were spoiled rotten with my parents taking care of us for 10 days. Cohen has been saying "Grandma's house is too far away!" for the past 2 months, and he finally stopped once my parents got to our house. 
It just felt GOOD to have them next to me for so long.
10 days is NOT long enough though. Greedy, I know.
My personal maid service and handyman were probably worn out by the time they left us. Cohen did not let them sit alone for a second. My laundry was always done, folded and put away, my house cleaned, meals bought and prepared, and we got a little home makeover from handyman Dad.
They got Brock a surprise one day... He came home to a new GRILL out back. My Dad said he HAD to buy it to make Ribs for us the next day. Nice excuse Dad.

 We can not THANK YOU enough.
Brendon's first week of life wouldn't have been the same without you both. 
You spoiled us more than you should have, but we are grateful for it all.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
WE LOVE YOU.


CHRISTMAS, will you PLEASE come SOON?

STUDENT Dr. KITCHEN

 It's official.

Medical school has begun.

Brock received his white coat and is now sworn in by oath.

Doesn't he look like a DR. already? 

When called on in lecture, the professor referred to Brock as STUDENT DR. Kitchen. 
I like it.
Couldn't be more proud of my man.

k i t c h e n   G I R L S   a r e   i n   t o w n

 Nana, Tiffy & Jenn are in LOVE!

We LOVE them here at our house.

Can't wait til the Kitchen BOYS 

come in a few days and join us.

p.s. HAPPY PIONEER DAY!
I love and miss UTAH. 

a few things i love about my BRENDON

 :: His grunts. Loud, long grunts.

:: The way he wraps his fingers around his thumbs to make a fist.

:: He has his Daddy's nose.

:: His extra dark eyes.

:: The many outfits I get to see on him in one day, due to the fact that he pees on them and multiple blankets daily.

:: The way he reacts to hearing his parents voices. Like he knows us well and feels safe and comfortable when he hears us near him.

:: His "satisfied" face after he eats.

:: The way he already loves his big brother, and doesn't seem to mind the many loves and snuggles he receives from him all day.

:: His fuzziness. What a fuzzy little monkey he is. 

Fuzz on his back, arms, legs, EARS.

WHAT HAS COHEN BEEN UP TO?

 

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma 

for the pool and sandbox!

What perfect late birthday gifts.  

ONE WEEK OLD.

 A little about BRENDON at one week old:

 :: Rarely cries - only when a cold wipe touches his bum to be changed. When he wakes up and is hungry, he'll fuss for a min but no cries.

:: Nurses VERY well. Eats every 3 hours during the day, last night during the night I only fed him twice, once he went 4 hours and once 5 hours in between feedings. Let's hope he keeps this up. No complaints about nursing, 

other than let's just say he has one heck of a suck. OUCH!

:: Very content just laying by himself.

:: He poops and pees more than most newborns, would be my guess. I guess it's a blessing he has a VERY good digestive system.

:: He seems to like his sponge bath. LOVES getting his head rinsed under the tap.

:: Has VERY long hands/fingers/feet/toes

:: Sleeps most sound when swaddled.

:: Loves his hands by his face.

 Tubby time / Grandpa caught his smiling from a gas bubble I'm sure.

 The many faces of Brendon....I love the pucker face.

 THE FEET

 Doesn't mind being in his carseat, at least for now - knock on wood!

 We are in absolute HEAVEN having my parents here, taking wonderful care of us all. They adore their grandkids. 

I LOVE seeing them create strong relationships with my children.

THANK YOU MOM AND DAD.

I owe you forever.

H e  h a s  a r r i v e d...

 Brendon Lee Kitchen

July 15, 2011

11:31 am

7 lbs. 9 oz. 20 in.

 Let's start from the very beginning...

 Take one last long look at this massive belly, cause it's the last time you'll see one of these baby bellies on me for quite awhile.

 What an interesting experience - setting my alarm clock, waking up and showering, doing my hair and make up, packing my bag and leaving with plenty of time to make it to my "appointment" on time. I will admit that it was convenient knowing when I was going to deliver so we could be prepared, but it just about drove me bonkers counting down until the time came.

Brock and I sat in this room and twiddled our thumbs for 

a bit while they were getting ready for me. WEIRD.

Ready or not....here comes the baby.

I was taken by surprised when I did not feel ANY pain getting the spinal epidural that numbed me from below the bust line down to my toes. The whole process was SO quick. I only cried once when they wheeled me into the operating room to get me prepped and ready, and Brock had to go wait in the other room til I was ready. Tears streamed down my eyes, but not for long. The O.R. was full of the sweetest ladies I could ask for. They all swarmed around me, asking my thoughts and feelings, made me laugh and made my nerves go right away. Within a few minutes the blue sheet was up blocking my view, and Brock was at my side. I felt no pain, very little pressure even throughout the surgery. Every now and then I just felt my lower body shift back and forth.

Brendon was out, I heard a raspy cry, Brock took a peak {he was pretty bummed he couldn't watch the whole surgery - hospital policy} and my eyes started streaming.

A quick kiss before they took my 

fresh baby boy away to the nursery with Daddy.

My parents had Cohen and met Brock at the nursery window 

to see Brendon have his first bath and get snuggly warm.

After what felt like a century, I was taken to my private room to get my hands on my new little one. The nurses had to monitor me for just over an hour after surgery to make sure all went well.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. Dang, we make handsome boys.

Such a sweet experience witnessing my 

two boys meeting each other for the first time.

BROTHERS.

Cohen could not be more sweet and soft with Brendon.

He adores him and asks about him constantly, 

and includes "baby Brendon" in everything we do.

A VERY proud Grandma.

My parents are LIFESAVERS, staying with us for about 10 days to nurse me back to health, and take care of my little family of four.

When my parents and Cohen met me and Brendon in our room for the first time, Cohen walked in with these beautiful flowers and said "here ya go mama!" so excited that he accidentally dropped them in the floor.

Aunt Davita, Gabe, Corbin, Em & Brendon, Chels.

They gave Brendon his first Dallas Cowboys 

jammies when they came to visit.

MY BOYS.

I couldn't be more happy to be so out numbered.

Reed, Melissa & Brooklyn Garza.

We appreciate their love and support oh so much.

My handsome son.

The best two ladies in the whole hospital - and I was lucky enough to get them BOTH as my nurse and Brendon's nurse.

Norelis & Jayna.

So patient, sweet, very informative...I wanted to take them home.

I forgot how much I HATE putting a newborn in a giant car seat.

So nerve-wrecking. I will admit I had my sucker on hand in case he started gagging or choking on our car ride home as I sat next to him in the back.

 

One of the first things I noticed about Brendon is that he looked COMPLETELY different than Cohen. His mouth is like Cohen's {and mama's} but everything else about his face is JUST like his Daddy's in my opinion. I LOVE IT! He does have dimples but they are hidden more on this chubby cheek baby. Also, Cohen had very short stubby hands/fingers/feet/toes and Brendon's are SUPER long and skinny.

Cohen was so excited for Brendon to come home so he could show him his toys. Army guys were the first thing he showed him.
Before we know it, they will be running around chasing other.

We are in love.
Things couldn't have gone more smooth at the hospital.
We talked the doctors to let us go home a day early, so we only had to stay two nights.
Now we are HOME, resting and recovering.
Brock started Medical school orientation {another post} the day after we got home, so things couldn't be more CRAZY and exciting.
Brendon is SO great. A very good-natured baby, at least for the first four days of his life. He is nursing VERY WELL and is a pooping machine. He eats every 2-3 hours.
Every day his "look" changes so much.
Cohen is being the sweetest boy to his little brother.
We are so lucky to have two handsome healthy boys.
WE ARE IN LOVE.