4 weeks old

This picture was actually taken when Will was 3 weeks old...but since he's not technically 4 weeks old until tomorrow, and I am already doing this post this will have to do. :) Plus, I think it's a cute picture!

Will is just the best baby! He is so sweet. He rarely cries. A cry means "Feed me" or "Change me". He and Walker are so different as babies. Both precious and perfect in their own way, but so different nonetheless.

Will is a very happy baby most of the time. He's had a cold the past few days...the joys of having a newborn with a 3 year old in the house and he's been pretty congested, but he hasn't missed a beat. When he's awake he is totally alert and happy. You'd never know he was "sick" if you couldn't hear his congestion.

He sleeps great at night. He wakes up to eat and goes right back to sleep. Even if he doesn't immediately fall asleep, he's content on his own making baby noises and looking around the dark room until he does fall asleep. I can rock him if I want, but it's for me...he totally doesn't need it (for now) and will go to sleep just fine on his own.

Last night he slept almost 5 hours before waking to eat...this was a first. Normally he goes about 3 hours between feedings at night. I probably would have contemplated waking him for a feeding had I actually woken up myself. :) But, that didn't happen and we all survived it just fine.

He's smiled a few times at me...Cliff says it's just gas. But his gas smile is different and a mommy knows that. Cliff's just jealous that I'm getting the smiles! :)

Speaking of Cliff...I can't let this post get by without commenting on what an incredible dad he is and always has been. I am so blessed. So many women have husbands who don't feel it's their "job" to take part in the daily efforts of child rearing. I am not this woman. He is the most hands on dad I know...he loves his boys, loves to play with them, loves to help take care of them, and takes pride in being the disciplinarian that they (Walker so far) respects the most. Cliff definitely takes his role as head of our household seriously in so many ways, one of them being bringing up our children in a Godly environment and making sure that they understand and respect authority. The three of us couldn't be more blessed!

I find myself a little differnet of a mom with Will than I was Walker...mainly in that I had SUCH a hard time leaving Walker for any length of time for months. It's been different with Will. I miss him so much when I'm gone, but I don't struggle with the actual departure the way I did with Walker. Mainly because I know the reasons I leave him for (doc appts, special time with Walker, date nights with Daddy, etc...) are necessary parts of a healthy family environment. I will say though, I absolutely LOVE coming home to those adorable faces. I haven't been away from Will much, but I have already realized that part of being mommy the second time around is just easier.

As far as the kind of mom I was with Walker compared to Will, there aren't many differences. I had Walker out and about a week and a half into his life...we just never were those parents who stayed cooped up for 5 weeks. Not knocking those who do, it's just not us. One thing I've learned as a mom in the past three years is that you have to do what works for your family. We've been the same with Will...in fact, I've actually found myself a little more resistant to go out with Will than I was Walker. Mainly though because I have a 3 year old in tow now, lol! I will say though that knowing I have a 3 year old to bring in all the germs we could possibly handle has caused me to be a little more open to having little ones around. We've had several visitors come with kids...something I totally would have stressed about with Walker. But, when you already have a germ machine living in your house, what's a few more?? :) Will has been to church, to a jumpy place (no other kids were there just Walker & Ava and I knew it would be that way, otherwise we wouldn't have gone...), to the doc (a few times), out to dinner, and now to the zoo! Oh and to two sets of his grandparents houses. This doesn't even touch all the places I'd taken Walker by the time he was 4 weeks old...we had several lunch dates per week. :)

The biggest difference I see in myself as a mom the second time around is how willing I am to let others give advice and help me out. With Walker, I felt like he was only completely safe and cared for if he was in our arms...how silly is that? But, he was my first and I was overprotective. I was BY THE BOOK with his schedule and routines...everything had to be "just so..." We are NOT that way with Will. The time will come when schedules, etc are important, but I don't let myself stress about everything being the way I've read it needs to be. With Will, I know that others advice and help is truly a blessing...and one I am willing to fully indulge in!

SO this post wound up being more about me than Will...lol...but I guess there just isn't very much to udpate on when they are only 4 weeks old!