Sweet little man

James is very snuggly& sweet. We love him!
He is quite the opposite of his "angel baby" sister in some things tho! He screams murder when he is tired-I'm serious, I've never heard a newborn scream so loudly bc they want to be asleep! Definitely related to my side of the family! He acts like he has never eaten before when he is hungry, & has a volume level at a million decibels all the time. BUT when he doesn't have any issues, he LOVES to be snuggled & wrapped up& be held (i could leave Faye laying on the couch or play mat all day, she didn't care to be held). He sleeps fairly well& eats waaaay better than his big sister ever did. WHAT A RELIEF! I've had some stressful moments with breastfeeding, but nothing compared to the absolute nightmare of low supply/bottles/pumping/crying/worrying that we had last time!!
Faye is obsessed with him. First words out of her mouth after naps, in the morning, before bed, or 100other times per day, are "baby Jimmy night night?" "Where baby Jimmy go?" "He awake!" "I wanna see baby Jimmy!" Etc.
I live that she loves him so much!
So glad this little man came to our family!

James Elias Barttels

Baby boy had no name for the first 12 hours of his life, but finally we came around to a name!
James Elias. After his daddy's middle name & my great-grandfather's middle name. An Old & a New testament Bible name.
He is SO FAT. A GREAT eater. VERY snuggly. More hair, darker eyes (they might be blue, but I have a feeling they will be hazel like the rest of us), and SO MUCH LOUDER. I mean, the crying decibel level?? Wow. Opposite of Faye.
HOWEVER- he looks just like big sister. Different nose, but seriously, so similar! Apparently I only make one kind of baby! I didn't realize how similar they looked until I started looking at pictures of her at the same size. Those Barttels genes are strong!

Our home is full of love, without sleep, and happily settling in to being a family of four!

January 16th, 2013

Monday, January 14th:
Took Faye to dance class then went directly to Disneyland and stopped at Wendy's for lunch on the way. Played with Auntie Coco, "the boys!" and Melanie. Walked all over & then RAN (BIG PREGO LADY RUNNING- I would have LOVED to see that happening, they don't call it a jogger stroller for no reason) from Happiest Place on Earth to car so I wouldn't have to pay for parking. Had many contractions & rejoiced! Drove straight to Dr. office. Faye sleeps in car. Daddy picks up Faye from Dr. office, I run in, expecting the worst (aka ZERO dilation & zero effacement) but literally JUMPS with glee as she leaves Dr office after he tells her she is at a THREE!! Hooray!! Since I'm already overdue 4 days Dr. says I can schedule an induction if I so choose. YES I SO CHOOSE!
Wednesday it is.
Call & tell Mother Wendy to pack her bags, texts everyone she knows that she is dilated so much bc that means she WON'T have another baby 10 days over due!! Hallelujah!
Eats Athen's West Greek salad to celebrate & makes ginormous batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Tuesday, January 15th:
Let Faye eat & do whatever she wants- it's her last day of being an only child. She eats cookies, drinks juice, takes out all toys, plays with mom & then Grandma gets here just in time to bring her a ton of presents from Christmas!
I am in IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE- MUST.CLEAN.EVERYTHING.IN.SIGHT. mode. Brad comes home from work with huge list of "honey- do's". Bathrooms are scrubbed, vacuumed, fan blades cleaned, basically anything that can be put away, cleaned, dusted, moved, thrown away- is. Eat dinner with Grandma & Uncle Kevin. Hang out, relaxing talking, watching episodes of Dr. Who. Have tons of contractions. Realize that labor feels like getting the flu- nauseous.
Finish packing bags- leave for hospital at 12 AM. Kiss my first baby as she sleeps and say good bye to our home of three. It will never be the same.

Wednesday January 16th:
Get to Hoag hospital at 12:15 AM.
Baby "No Name" Boy Barttels born 10:25 AM.
9 lbs 8 oz. 20.25 inches long.
Family of four!!