A few pics

Here are a few pictures from today. We are trying out a new way for Christian to hold Archer using the Boppy pillow. I still help him out a great deal, but I think he feels like he is holding him more.

The other is of Christian in a robe that was given to us by the Harrell boys. They had out grown it and it seems to fit Christian really well.

Happy Birthday and Memory Lane

Today we celebrated Chris/Daddy's birthday. It was nice for him to be off work on his birthday. Archer and I took him out to lunch. The whole family celebrated with cupcakes for dinner. Christian and I sang to him (see video clip) and Archer did what he does best so far, he slept. He is a pro at sleeping and there are no complaints from Mom or Dad on that one.

Tonight we also made a 1st attempt at a family picture. We don't have one picture of all of us so far. Let's just say I will post it just to say we did it, but I hope to get a better one taken soon.

The boys gave Dad a digital frame to take back to work with him for his birthday. I spent a good part of Monday morning filling a 2G memory card with 500 pictures. I can't believe I was able to put that many on there and I skipped A LOT of pictures. It would be interesting to see just how many pictures I have on my computer.

This bring me to memory lane. I came across so many fun pictures from my and Chris' relationship. From the first pictures I remember us taking, to Paris, to New York, to fire truck rides, to teacups, to our wedding, to the birth of Christian and now the birth of Archer. Here are just a few of the pictures I came across.

The time Chris has spent at home this 1st week of Archer's life was priceless to me. We all bonded as a family, shared firsts with our sons and worked as a great parental team. One reading bedtime stories while one comforted a newborn. So today being his birthday is a great time to say how much we love him and appreciate him. We will miss him when he goes back to work and will be super happy to see him when he come home at night.

Test driving and cleaning house

I guess you could say Christian wanted to give the Moses basket his own test drive. He just couldn't resist getting in while Archer was feeding. Funny to see how one is so tiny in it and one just overflows from it.

We are taking advantage of today being Chris' last day at home and cleaning out some toys. Some will go into the attic for Archer, some will go to daycare, some will end up in the trash, and some might make it to goodwill. It kind of looks like our living room toy box threw up.

Busy Sunday

We had a busy Sunday around the Wenck house. We had lots of visitors wanting to see Mr. Archer. The list included Memaw, Dodaddy, Abby, Emmy, Uncle Jack, Gran, Pa, Sassy, Jonathon, Lucy, Lily, Lynn, Uncle Bubbie and Aunt Pat.

Memaw and Dodaddy had hoped to be here when Archer was born, but after my surgery being bumped twice, they had to head home without meeting him. They had a nice visit with Christian last weekend instead.


Uncle JJ served as caterer and had BBQ'd lots of chicken, ribs and sausage and Sara dropped them off on Friday...that made the whole day a little easier since the food was already here. Daddy served as the best host and food prep. I wasn't much help except for feeding Archer. I am the only one that can do that these days.

We missed having Aunt Debbie in town. We wish she could have come along too. Hopefully we will see everyone again this fall...maybe for a UT game or maybe Uncle Jack will ride in the Lance Armstrong Livestrong Challenge.

Archer was showered with love, attention and cute clothes...OH! don't feel sorry for big brother just yet, he was also showered with love, attention, clothes and toys.

It was a busy but FUN day for us. It was nice to see so many of our family.

All the Wenck Grandkids were together for the very firt time and I so wanted to get a picture of all of them...but the 3 older ones were very busy playing and the youngest was busy sleeping.

Now it is time to rest. Mom is blogging, Daddy is resting, Christian is napping and can you guess was Archer is doing?!? yes, he is sleeping.

Brothers

Here is a collage I created of close up pictures taken of both Christian and Archer at just a few days old. Pretty neat huh?!? You can see they are brothers, but they don't look exactly alike.

Brother Bonding

We had some brother, brother bonding time tonight. We put Archer in his bouncy while Christian played in the living room. Archer enjoyed watching Christian and I play with Noah's Ark animals. Christian also enjoyed patting on Archer's legs and touching his head (very gently). Christian even had a chance to hold Archer.

Christian has been a big helper. He helps get Archer's blanket and covers him up and he get diapers for us during diaper changes. Mommie's biggest helper that last 4 days has to be Daddy. He has been a trooper. He was extra busy today, taking Christian to school, watching after me and my medicine, changing a few diapers, doing some laundry and grocery shopping...oh yeah and making dinner too. All I had to do was feed Archer and change a couple of diapers myself.

1st night

Here is a pose that might be familar to a few people out there. I did the same thing with Christian (I will have to hunt those pictures down soon). Archer looks taller to me, but I don't have the other picture to compare it too. Debbie compare it to the one in your office at the MAC and let me know who looks bigger ; )
Archer is loving music. When he is awake and alert he loves to hear us talk to him and to listen to his toys that have music and some lights.
Here he is alert and looking at the pretty lights.

We had a good first night at home (I think we did). I feel like I got more sleep than I did when Christian was first at home (I don't think Chris would agree with me on that one). Christian went to bed at his usual 7:30 and then bounced around his bed until about 8:15. The rest of the family stayed up. We all settled down to sleep for the night after Archers 10:30 feeding. I asked Chris to set an alarm to make sure I woke up in 3 hours to feed Archer because I thought Archer would sleep right thru his feeding. But I was wrong. Archer woke us up right on time at 2am, just before the alarm went off. Dad changed him and then he ate again. Off to sleep again. He woke up again around 5am, I thought he was hungry but he had just come unwrapped and didn't like it.

Archer and I napped in the living room to give Dad a few more hours of sleep before Christian woke up. Christian even was able to sleep in today. He slept until 7:30 which is about an hour longer than he would normally sleep in on a week day.

Oh don't get me wrong....Momma is tired and will be getting a nice nap in today and a good hot shower, but all in all I thought Archer's first night at home went great.

Now to go convince Daddy to make Momma a latte...I think she earned it : )

Welcome Home

Welcome Home Archer Jonathon!

We are so happy to have you join our Wenck World.

After much delay Baby Wenck is here and his name is....

Archer Jonathon Wenck

Born: 8/18/2008 at 06:45 pm
Weight: 7lb 7oz
Length: 20 3/4 inches

Teri and Archer are all doing well : ) Chris and Big Brother Christian are doing well too.

Now for a little history behind his name. Thanks to all those that played along with the name game. We hope you aren't disappointed. Archer Jonathon is named for both of Chris' grandfathers. Archer is in honor of Arch Anderson Greenwood (Chris' maternal Grandfather) and Jonathon is in honor of for John Alfred Wenck (Chris Paternal Grandfather).

And yes, we understand that there are those out there who will be happy to know we have a CJ and an AJ. (Pa, Uncle JJ, Mark)

"Don't call us, we'll call you"

This is my theme song today. "Don't call us, we'll call you."

That is basically what I have been told by Labor and Delivery today. Along with "don't eat or drink anything". There are delays and they will call me when they can find me a room. Surgical room is waiting for me, just no room to put me in for the pre-op prep or post-surgery.
So far no news on the baby front for those checking in....and I'm not sure when that might change (yes, change you read my frustration in this post).

Come on Lucky 8

Silly as it maybe I think this little guy is waiting for tomorrow.

I joked around a few weeks back with some friends that July 28th would be a great birthday. It would help me remember my family's birthdates...Mine is the 25th, Chris the 26th, Christian the 27th, Baby the 28th...pretty clever huh?!?

But no such luck having him that day....Then I moved onto 8/08/08. Now that would be a really cool birthday. The Olympics started on that day in Beijing because the Chinese find 8 to be a very lucky number.

In China, six, eight and nine are considered lucky numbers, since their homophones have auspicious meanings. Eight was originally deemed auspicious by the Cantonese, since in Cantonese, eight reads as 'Fa', which means to make a great fortune in the near future. Later, the auspiciousness of eight was taken up by all Chinese. Thus, numbers ending with these three digits are firm favourites.

Now it looking more and more like his birthday will be 8/18/2008. We are really hoping so!

On a silly side note for those out there who know I am an Elvis fan. Elvis funeral took place on 8/18/1977. I heard that on the news this week when some show was talking about Elvis Week and my first thought was that 8/18 was going to be this baby's birthday.

Lest everyone forgets what an Elvis fan I am...please remember Christian's halloween custome this year.

Waiting for a Wenck

On the suggestion of a friend I thought I would update everyone on what we did while "Waiting for a Wenck"

After we got over the bummer that was being bumped to Monday, we had a great day.

Christian spent some great time with both sets of his grandparents. I got a 2 hour nap!!! (score for Mommie). Plus they let me know I wasn't going in and I was able to eat without getting too hungry. Then after Christian and I woke up from our naps we all headed to the Hyatt with Memaw and Dodaddy for an afternoon swim. Then off to a nice dinner at the Hyatt. We all enjoyed ice cream on a cool (yes, cool and breezy) part of the hotel bar area. Christian watched the birds and played with acorns from the big oaks trees.

Now Christian is having a sleep over with Memaw and Dodaddy. They have a big day planned for tomorrow that includes a ride on the Zilker train and I'm sure there will be ice cream involved. Christian has also received several presents today from his grandparents. One set gave him a complete Noah's Ark set which he loved and then an Airplane with a pilot and tiger as passangers from his other set of grandparents...Again he loved it. This is combination Christmas and birthday all rolled up into one for him while of the complication of having to share his parents with a little brother yet.

Because of his sleepover plans, this means Mommie and Daddy will have plenty of time to sleep in tomorrow morning. More rest for the soon to be weary. And we thought tonight would be sleepless, but now we get to sleep in.

Oh well! I guess all is well that ends well. We are hoping Baby Wenck arrives safe and sound whenever he gets here, whenever that might be. Hopefully Monday! but it is up to him.

So I guess the moral to this story is when the hospital bumps you, make the most out of your remaining free time. Baby Wenck will be a wonderful addition to our family very soon, we just need to be patient and wait for him.

Another bump

So we have been bumped again. Good news is that I can eat, bad news is that I was bumped until Monday at noon. I guess Seton SW is getting too popular...the secret is out.

and the saga continues.

Bump, Bump

Well we have a bump and it isn't the baby bump kind. Our surgery time of noon today was bumped until 4:30pm. So all those hoping to see pictures of Baby Wenck, we are sorry, but it won't be until later today that we have him with us.
More updates to come.....hopefully SOONER than later!

I'm the Big Bubba

So the count down starts. Christian is up and ready for his little Bubba to make an appearance.
Now if we could just get into the hospital to have this little guy.
More to come soon!

Baby Talk

There has been increasing baby talk from Christian in the last 2 weeks. He now asks Daddy to make a baby out of playdough and to draw baby in chalk. He even pushes his babydoll in his baby brother's swing we already have out and set up.

Last night was maybe the cutest though. He was pushing baby doll in the swing and then said "Ah, baby crying"

I said "Ah, he's crying? Say shh baby, its okay"

Then he sweetly and quietly said "shh baby, its okay"

I think we have a professional big brother on our hands!

Moses and Tragedy averted

Here is a Moses basket that someone from church sweetly thought to give to me.
Gran gave it her magic touch with lots of cute quilting.
Pretty cute huh?!?
She added the new handles, quilted the bumper pad, replaced the cushion with a new one and bought several new sheet sets for the basket.
Here is a happy Chris. If you are familar with our kitchen set up you will recognize that the Barrista isn't in its normal location. The plug that is usually used by the Barrista went out today. This was heard in the kitchen this morning "AHHHHHHH My Barrista isn't working!!!!" So Chris and his quick thinking move the Barrista to another available plug...Thank goodness Daddy wasn't without his coffee...we would have all be in trouble.

The Wild Things Are

"...If the trees were simply stuck on the surface of the floor, then the image would say, 'Here we have the wild... there we have the ordered.' But with the trees growing out of the floor, unity is realized and the picture says, 'Order and disorder exist in tandem,' pronouncing the belief that the ordered and the wild are related in an integral way." --Scott Mutter, Surrational Image

How are you managing the ordered and wild in your life? Can you find balance between them and understand the meaning in the balance? We must realize that all things belong and have faith things happen to encourage us and keep us growing.

This was Seton's Mission Message for today...hmmm does that hit home for us or WHAT!?!?!?! Wild and Order all together and having to learn about one from having the other in your life.

A funny thing is that Christian has recently become taken with the book "Where the Wild Things Are". He loves to have it read to him and sometimes he will sit on the couch by himself and flip through the pages alone. I think he seems something in the Wild Things and the order that comes from playing with the Wild Things.

Breaking Records and Art imitates Life

Here is the Headline from Today's Austin American Statesman (online version)

Number of 100 degree days almost tops record
Austin hasn't been this hot for this long since 1925.

Yes, this is the summer I am 9 months pregnant...OUCH, but I have to say I'm glad I'm pregnant in 2008 and not 1925. Air Conditioning is my BEST FRIEND this summer. I'm not sure A/C would be as prevalent or efficient in 1925, so all in all I'm lucky. I have stayed out of the heat whenever possible. We have spent some good times in the pool this summer too. I need to add this to Baby Wenck (#2) baby book that this might be the hottest summer on record in 80 years.

Many have asked or stated "You didn't plan this baby very well now did you?!?" Well to be honest I am a BIG Planner (not a big surprise to most of my blog readers I'm sure). But when it comes to making babies the Master Planner is in charge, not me. And as I like to say, God has the best sense of humor. I see him laughing at me saying "Oh my child, you just think you have this second baby all planned out the way you want it. "

Then I remember....
Psalms 139:13-16: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

But we are hanging in there well. Not much longer before our family of 3 becomes 4.

Now here is how Art imitates life. Chris and I have recently started watch the Bill Engvall Show on TBS. If you like Bill Engvall and his Blue Collar Comedy, you will probably like the show.



No, I've never had a dream where Chris was cheating. But I have had a dream that just seemed so real that I was mad at him when I woke up. And this happened in the 1st year we dated and it still comes up.

Now the other funny part was when she gets on him in the episode about getting a physical. Chris and I have also had this discussion. We are now convinced that writers of the Bill Engvall show have camera in our house or something. But maybe the truth is more like, these are silly things that lots of couples fight about.