Family Archives - Page 12 of 19

Category: Family

Jonathan’s Birth Novella

Posted on October 6, 2020October 19, 2020 by Lauren Lane

Jonathan’s birthday started on the most treasured day of the week for his brother, Harrison. Thursday. Trash day. We woke Thursday, July 30th believing that we would be waiting yet another day to meet our new sweet little one. Both Nathan and I thought that when Jonathan would make his appearance, labor would start in the early hours of the morning, just like Harrison’s labor. So awaking Thursday morning, I was disappointed that it would be one more day VERY pregnant on a VERY hot, humid summer day.

The boys gathered the trash and wheeled the trash cans to the curb, a favorite weekday activity for Harrison! And then I grabbed my one cup of coffee and set up camp with Harrison in the driveway to wait to wait for the trash trucks to come “dump the rocks out.” (Harrison’s interpretation of the trash truck’s job.) One truck came by, and about 8:30 in the morning, as we were waiting for the recycling truck, contractions started.

Our Newest Addition!

Posted on August 18, 2020August 17, 2020 by Lauren Lane

Hi friends! It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post, and in case you were wondering where I had gone, our newest addition to the Lane family arrived on just in time to be a July baby on Thursday, July 30th.

Jonathan Brooks has been a complete joy for our family. Harrison is loving being a big brother, and we are settling in to our new normal as a family of four. I’m going to take a few more weeks off from blogging, as we adjust to Nathan heading back to work and me juggling the two boys during the day. I do get around to posting daily pictures and videos of the boys over on Instagram, so pop over there to keep up with us until I can work in time to write, and say ‘hi!’

7 Quick Takes (v. IV)

Posted on July 22, 2020July 22, 2020 by Lauren Lane

If you’re new around here, every once in awhile I like to round up seven quick things that are making me laugh or melting my heart about Harrison currently. It’s an easy way that I can memorialize these small little bits of his personality as he grows, hoping that I can remember the things that made each stage special.

-1- I mentioned to Nathan the other day that I’m going to miss when Harrison starts referring to himself in the first person. And he pointed out that in fact Harrison does refer to himself in the first person when he says, “I need a hug!” Ok, ok. This one time I’ll allow the use of the word “I.”

Pregnancy: The Third Trimester

Posted on July 21, 2020July 19, 2020 by Lauren Lane

My final trimester of pregnancy is coming to a close. <Insert happy dance!> In all seriousness, I have made a very conscious effort to enjoy this pregnancy more. To embrace my body that is growing another human being, rather than get frustrated at the number of pounds gained or how I looked. I am unbelievably grateful for this body that is able to sustain life, and I know that is a privilege that so many would ache to have. But, I am ready to move to the next phase of meeting this new little man.

This popped up on my Instagram feed the other day, and it really hit home. This time three years ago waiting for Harrison, the fear and anxiety I had over the birth, how we would survive with a newborn, how Nathan and I would transition to parenthood were all-consumiing. And this time around, even though I know it won’t be the same, there’s confidence that we will be alright. And we will figure it out. And yes, it will be hard. And yes, there are going to be things that we didn’t experience with Harrison that we’ll experience this time, but it will all even out. And we’ll be ok. Better than ok. It will be hard to imagine our family without the newest little guy.

A Room Fit For a Big Brother: Harrison’s Big Boy Room

Posted on July 14, 2020July 12, 2020 by Lauren Lane

Back in February, we found out that we were going to be adding another little boy to this Lane clan (in just a few short weeks now!). Knowing the gender of our newest little Lane set about deciding what to do with Harrison’s sleeping situation. Would we buy a second crib? Would we keep Harrison in his current room or move him to a new room? Toddler bed or regular bed?

We decided it would be easiest for Harrison to move to a new room, and for him to give his crib to his baby brother. We already had everything set up in his room as a nursery. Rocking chair, dresser low enough to put our diaper changing station on it. It’s the smallest room in the house, and perfect for a little baby. And fortunate for us, was already decorated for a little boy! So I set about designing a new room for Harrison.

I have loads of “internet” friends that I adore following on Instagram for their amazing home style. But somehow, anytime I set about to do a home project myself, I get 85% of the way there, and then that last 15%, which is usually wall decor, just kind of hangs around for months…sometimes years. We literally have walls and rooms in our house that don’t have a single thing hung on them after six years of being here. (Can you say also fear of putting nails into a beautifully painted wall??)

Here’s a peak of the walls/room before painting…

Friday Favorites {07.10.20}

Posted on July 10, 2020July 8, 2020 by Lauren Lane

It seems like it’s been awhile since I’ve blogged just a random Friday Favorites! We’re one week into our potentially three week quarantine waiting for baby Lane #2. A lot of you have asked me over on Instagram why Harrison is home again. So, I thought I’d chat about that here as well.

We sent Harrison back to daycare at the end of May at the recommendation of primarily Harrison’s pediatrician, and my OB agreed that, while a risk, was a low risk to send him back to daycare. My OB also, though, at the same time recommended that Harrison come back out of daycare three weeks before my due date, and join Nathan and I in “quarantine” waiting for baby’s arrival. I think the three week recommendation is based on the guidance from the CDC, but don’t quote me on that!

So given that, and after talking to Harrison’s pediatrician, who also agreed that would be best to ensure that we are at the lowest risks as we can possibly be going into delivery for COVID, Harrison’s staying home with us again from now until some period after baby’s arrival. Initial suggestions from his pediatrician were to keep him at home for at least 4-6 weeks after baby’s arrival to allow the new baby time to build up their immune system. So here we all are again, one big happy, expectant family!

The One Thing I’d Change With My Second Baby

Posted on June 30, 2020June 29, 2020 by Lauren Lane

Recently, we sat on our back patio with some friends who had just announced that they were pregnant with their first. What an exciting time of life to have our friends starting to have babies! But they asked us a question, as I kept one eye and ear on Harrison running around the patio kicking and throwing a ball. If we were going to do it all again, which we are, what’s the one thing that we would absolutely not do this time around.

I didn’t have a good answer. Parenting is such a personal thing, in my opinion. Every child is different. Every family is different. The only thing I could really think of that I would do differently is allow myself some more grace to live in the messy state of life that is figuring out life as a family of three.

What’s Up Wednesday {06.24.20}

Posted on June 24, 2020June 22, 2020 by Lauren Lane

The days of June have come and gone so quickly! I knew that things would really feel like they were speeding up as we head into the home stretch before meeting our newest baby boy! July is already baby month! Or at least, we think so. I guess if he decides to be very late, we could end up with an August baby as well. Harrison was two days past his due date, and right or wrong, I’ve got it in my head that I’m going to have the full forty weeks before this little one arrives too.

Tell me – did your babies arrive early, on time, or late?? Were second babies more on time or earlier than first babies??

I’m linking up with Shay and Sheaffer to share with you what’s going on in our life lately!

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:

Sunday: For Father’s Day, we’re going to do take out from a local restaurant!
Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Salmon & sautéed spinach
Wednesday: Chicken nuggets and Mac & cheese – Nathan has insisted from the first day that we were dating that Mac and cheese must be served with chicken nuggets. I’m guessing that combo reminds him of his childhood
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Carne asada tacos

2: WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Preparing for this newest little Lane boy has me super reminiscent of the early days of bringing Harrison’s light into this world.

Growing Into a Boy Mom

Posted on June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 by Lauren Lane

Almost three years ago, Nathan and I were in New York just the two of us. I was pregnant, and it was on that trip we had planned for Nathan and I to find out whether baby #1 was going to be a boy or a girl. I had imagined this moment in my mind so many times. I had seen so many pictures and videos of gender reveals: the excitement and joy! I kept wondering what was wrong with me, though. I had this sense of dread at finding out the gender of our baby. That somehow that would make it even more real. And even more so than that, if we got right down to the core of it, I was terrified that I was going to have a boy.

We opened the little envelope alone together in our hotel room. And a little blue ribbon fell out. Nathan said something like, “You’re going to be a boy mom!” And that’s when I looked away, and the tears started. Like the tears streamed down my face, and my mind went into a panic.