This Weeks Adventure!

This week has been a whirlwind as we have started to adjust to life with two children.  It is already so much fun and so many memories have already been made.  It was very strange to come home with a few hour old baby.  We had to check Keller's vitals every four hours and make sure that he was doing ok.  It was also really good to be in our own home and let him begin to adjust to our house.  The first day was a little interesting as he adjusted to life on the outside.  He has done great though and is eating and sleeping well!  At first the only place he would sleep was in our bed.  He looked so tiny spread out in our queen bed all alone.

Avery, my mom and my aunt Jean all made Keller a birthday cake.  Ok really I was the one that was craving a pound cake with white icing but we told Avery it was for Keller's birthday. This week I have managed to eat the entire cake!  While we were making the cake Avery dropped the measuring cup into the mixer and cake batter went everywhere. It was priceless!

This is my dad holding Keller.  It took him a while to decide he would hold him and wasn't going to break him but he did great. Keller's middle name is after my dad!
Mommy still has to do the chores.  I needed to do the laundry and had Keller in my arms.  Good thing newborns can sleep anywhere!
Avery has really enjoyed having a brother. It is such a neat experience to watch her fall in love with him.  She wakes up in the morning and the first thing she asks is "where is my baby brother?"  She wants him to go and do everything she does. She has been such a big help. She gets diapers (goes through the entire pack until she finds one with elmo) and helps change his clothes.  A few days ago he even pooped on her legs : )  She screamed non stop for five minutes about how dirty her leg was even after we washed it.  I thought she was done with him after that but she keeps coming back for more.  

I am so excited about the two beautiful blessings that God has entrusted us with.  Please pray that Mike and I would make the most of everyday that God gives us with our precious family.  

Keller Joseph has arrived!

Keller Joseph Boland was born on Tuesday morning at 8:45 am.  God proved his faithfulness once again with the timing.  Mike, Avery and I have been praying for a few weeks that Keller would come at a time that would allow my family to come and help for a few days before school starts back.  The time was drawing near but God in his perfect timing had a great plan!  

I woke up on Tuesday morning at 6:00 and was having contractions about 4 minutes apart. Knowing how fast Avery came I knew we better get in the car.  A friend came to stay with Avery and we left for the birth center around 7:00.  We had a thirty minute drive so we didn't get there until about 7:40.  By  8:20 I needed to push and Keller was born about 25 minutes later.  It was a great experience to be at the birth center where we felt very confident and cared for.  Keller weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces and was 21 inches long. 

We left the birth center around 1pm and took Keller for his first doctors appointment.  We got back home just in time to wake Avery from her nap and let her meet him. She was pretty quiet at first and just wanted me to hold her but it didn't take her long to warm up to her new brother.  By last night she wanted him every where she was. He even had to go to the bathroom for bath time.  It is fun to see how much she loves him and how proud she is to have a baby brother.

This necklace was given to me at a Mother's Blessing shower here in Orlando.  Everyone that came brought a bead and told something they would be praying for our family. It was such a blessing to know how many people are praying for our us. 

This is Michelle. The midwife that delivered Keller.  She did a great job and was very loving and patient.  
Mike and Keller minutes after he was born.
Everybody says he looks just like Mike!
He is such a blessing!  We are so excited to be adding a little boy to our family!  Thank you for your prayers for the delivery. Please continue to pray as we begin the journey of raising our little ones. 

Beach Blast

With only two weeks until baby Boland was due to arrive Mike and I decided to take Avery to New Smyrna beach for one last alone time with Mommy and Daddy.  Since we have moved to Orlando we feel like we have been full speed ahead.  It was such a blessing to slow down and really enjoy our family.  Avery was elated to have all of our attention. 

Things are still going really well here in Orlando and we are feeling more and more settled everyday.  We have already made some great friends and feel very loved and accepted.  Avery is adjusting pretty well also. This week has been a little harder as we talk more and more about the baby coming.  She seems excited on one hand but a little unsure on the other.  We are praying that God will help her transition go as smoothly as possible.

Mike is still really enjoying his job.  He is also finishing up his assignments from his last class.  He will start Greek I on August 3rd.  I am doing well also.  Trying to patiently wait on the baby's arrival.  We were pretty convinced he would come last week because I am already four cm dilated but he is comfy.  My iron has also been really low so I have been working on that this week and trusting that it will increase before the birth.  We are so excited for the opportunity to have a little boy join our family.  

Thank you for your prayers.  We wouldn't be where we are without you!