Farmer Boy (not the Laura Ingalls Wilder book)

Last weekend we went strawberry picking at Ambrose Farms on John's Island.  An abundance of strawberry crop this year left a ton of perfect strawberries at a great price.  We went with our friends David and Amanda and baby Gabe (whom Sean used to be babysat with, and now misses greatly).  Sean got really into the role of Farmer Boy:

Plowing the land.  Very seriously.

So the plow is actually Gabe's push-tricycle, but Sean is still serious about his task.

Sean and Gabe causing trouble on the farm. Thank goodness for that seatbelt.

Sean and Gabe getting back to the business of plowing.  This time with teamwork: Together Everyone Accomplishes More.

I love Cody.  On the organic farm with one baby in a Bjorn and the other in muddy overalls.  He's so crunchy-con. 

A Beautiful Day!

Today was a beautiful day here in charleston.  And, thanks to Baby James only waking up once the last two nights, and a wonderful husband letting me sleep in this morning, I feel like i have a new energy and outlook on life!  Amazing what a little bit of sleep can do! We took a walk this morning and ended it with Sean's first romp in the sprinklers.  He was a little scared of the water at first, but got into it soon enough. By the way, I love FMLA, which has allowed cody to be home with us for two weeks to enjoy moments like this! 

And just for our fun daily dose of cuteness-- Baby James in his Alligator suit.  Notice the chubby hand patting his head at the top of the picture :).  Sweetness. 

A Better Look

I realized most of the pictures of Sweet Baby James we've posted he's been swaddled, bundled or mauled by his brother.  Here are a few close ups so you can get to know our sweet little boy. 

James is his own man-- 1.5lb heavier than SB at birth, he is fatter and rounder and a bit smushier.  However, his arms and legs still look like his brother's (and dad's)--long and skinny.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

He was inside of me just like that (without the onesie)...crazy.

My favorite.

Haircut

We've been up to a few other things besides staring at the new baby-- like a haircut for Sean!

(for reference, this was the "before" hair this morning at church).

Offerings of Love

Sean has been a great big brother so far--taking after his namesake, my big brother Sean.  He is alternately very interested in James and a bit aloof, pursuing his own adventures around the house.  Every morning when we get him up and after every nap he asks (with hope) if the baby is still here, and wants to go see him. 

One of my favorite things he has been doing is offering the baby his (Sean's) toys.  James hangs out in a Moses basket in the family room with us for most of the day (when he's not being held and cuddled), and I have found Sean's toys in his basket more than a few times so far.  It is quite adorable and sweet.  I documented a few instances, but not all by far:

This picture actually has three offerings-- the rings, the boogie snatcher which Sean thinks is a toy, and Sean's boat socks which he picked out specially for the baby.

Sean tried to offer the fire truck this morning, but we convinced him....

to settle for the small truck instead.

Caught in the act of leaving his blue raquetball.

Leaving Curious George is a big deal.  A true sign of affection, along with a gentle pat.

Big Brother

Today, Sean came to see his new brother, James.  Sean loves babies in general (or "Bebes" as he pronounces it), and was definitely excited to meet his very own baby brother.

After his first visit, Sean insisted on returning again to see James.  This time, he wanted to hold him, not just be held with his brother. 

Thanks again for all your support!
Cody, Erin, Sean, & James

We are proud to introduce...

James Martin Groeber!

James is named after Cody's Father, but that name runs throughout his family.  James is Cody's middle name, Cody's dad's name (aka Jamie), and Cody's grandfather's name (aka Jim).  St. James (the Greater) was an Apostle of Our Lord and Cody's confirmation Saint. 

April 13 is the feast of St. Martin I, a 7th Century Pope who stood up for the Faith against the Emporer without fear or hesitation.  For his faithfulness he was exiled and even abandoned by some of his own Bishops.  Erin and I also know a humble and holy priest who we greatly respect whose name is Martin.  Martin was a name that we had considered early on in this pregnancy, but had kind of lost over time.  When we realized that the delivery would come not on the 12th, but the 13th, we looked up in our trusty Butler's Lives of the Saints whose feast day it was.  We were pleasantly surpised to find it was St. Martin I.

The Groebers

Brother Bear Has Arrived!

Our second son arrived early this morning at 12:57 a.m.  Erin did an excellent job, and did not require an epidural.  She started pitocin to augment her labor around 4.30pm.  At 10.30 she was 3 cm dilated.  Another check at 12.15 showed that she was 6 cm, progressing niceley.  It was at this time that she requested an epidural, thinking that she had quite a bit of time to continue the very strong contractions.  Fifteen minutes later, she said, "Something is not right."  In that short amount of time, she had come to 10 cm and it was too late for the epidural.  So, she started pushing, and 20 minutes later, Brother Bear was born.  Erin did a great job and we are enjoying our quiet time with our new son.  He is 20 inches long and weighed 8 lb 10 oz.  A name will follow later.  Thank you all for your prayers!
Cody

Update: Still Waiting

We are in the hospital and still waiting for brother bear to come.  Pitocin did not go well the first bout but we'll try again soon.  We are hoping and praying for no c-section and would appreciate your prayers for a successful VBAC.  Updates to come...
Cody

Real News!

After lots of contractions last night and a trip to the doctor this morning, she confirmed my water has broken (who knew?), so we are heading to the hospital now!  Hopefully we will be holding our little baby tonight or tomorrow.  Please pray for a healthy labor and delivery for us...St. Gerard, pray for us!

We'll bring the computer with us, but not sure if they have internet at the hospital.  If not, I'll try to have denise or dad update on the blog for us. 

10 months pregnant...

...and no news to report.  In the meantime, here are some cute pictures of Sean hunting Easter eggs last week.

Welcoming any ideas for keeping my mind off the impending arrival.  I'm trying to distract myself, but haven't been very succesful so far. 

Beth

Micah's girlfriend Beth's birthday was yesterday, April 9.  Naturally, Micah chose April 9 as Brother's due date, which was actually the latest date anyone guessed (which is sad in itself, seeing all the guesses come and go!).  Unfortunately, Brother did not make an appearance on Beth's birthday.  However, Beth is special to us in her own way.  Micah is Sean's Godfather and Beth is just his favorite person in the world.  A few months ago Sean named his stuffed monkey Beth.  When Sean got his eye patch we patched Beth (the Monkey) and he has welcomed his patch ever since.  Over Christmas when Sean could only say "mama" and "dada" when we were with the whole Groeber clan he decided to say "Beth" too.  We would quiz him on names and the only one he would ever say was "Beth!"  When Beth the Girl comes to visit Sean is enamored and likes to sit next to her and hold her hand in the car.  Once when I asked Sean what we should name the new baby he said "Beth" (he also said "oats" another time).

So, as we sit and wait for new baby, Happy Birthday to Beth!

Beth the Monkey (with eye patch)

Beth the Girl (with Sean at his Baptism)

Beth, AA and baby Sean.

Still Waiting

For the last few days I've had the Rolling Stone's "I'm Just Waiting on a Friend" in my head.  Hmm.   My mom arrived from Detroit today to be on hand for the birth and postpartum period.  In my mind I sort of thought the baby would already have come by the time my mom got here.  Oh well...we'll try reflexology tomorrow and I'll give you another update then!

39.5 Week Update...

Unfortunately, nothing new to report.  As I said in a previous post, my doctor scheduled my induction for next wednesday, April 14.  However, the risks of a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) are increased with induction, so I really do not want to have be medically induced.  More than just not wanting to be pregnant anymore (although, that is a strong motivator at this point), I really want to avoid another c-section, and my best chance at a succesful VBAC is to start labor on my own.  So, in the meantime we are trying all sorts of old wive's tales to start the process here at home rather than in the hospital.  I started drinking raspberry leaf tea today, and I am having reflexology to try to jump start labor on Friday.  Any other labor-inducing ideas out there? In the meantime, I think the best homeopathic remedy is prayer, so if you are reading this, please pray for us that labor will start naturally sometime in the next week.

Surprise...Its an Uncle!

Also on the Bridge Run Weekend Sean and I were both woken up from our afternoon naps by some special, surpise visitors--Pop, B and Baby Uncle (Un-co! says Sean).

Matching alligator suits for the boys.

Here is the first non-skype introduction.  Sean was so curious about how a baby and Pop got into his room during his nap. 

It took about five seconds for sean to warm up to Gabriel, then he couldn't stay away from him all weekend.  Lucky for us, and thanks to his months of babysitting with Gabe and Greta, Sean loves babies more than anything in this world.  All weekend he was trying to hug and kiss Gabriel.  I had to pull him off the baby a few times.  He also gave Gabriel all of his books and toys, which was so sweet. 

Several times Sean would climb into his rocking chair or onto the couch, put his arms out and demand "Baba!" Here he is trying to hold the baby by himself, with a little undetected help from me from behind.

Here's a better shot of the baby (and Bijal), sans Sean smothering him.  Gabriel is very sweet and good natured.  Sean will be beside himself when we bring home a baby just for him, hopefully sometime this week.  On that front, no news. My doctor scheduled an induction for April 14, so I have about 10 days to go into labor on my own.  I'm starting the raspberry leaf tea and going to have some foot reflexology later this week.  Prayers for a natural labor are welcome!

Bridge Run Weekend

Last weekend was the annual Cooper River Bridge Run.  Cody has run in it every year since we've moved here, while I have gestated on the sidelines.  We all went down to enjoy the festivities and watch Cody finish on Saturday monring.

In order to get a good spot to watch the finish (there are 40,000 runners and lots of spectators), we had to get up pretty early, and it was still pretty cold outside.  Sean was a bit nonplussed with the situation.

SuperDad--cody finished with a great time, thanks to the brilliant signs, no doubt.

The Beginning of a New Era!

Yesterday, Good Friday, was my first day as a stay-at-home-mom!  For those of you who weren't aware, I am restructuring my work responsibilities so that I can work from home only a few hours a week, and be at home full time with the little boys.  This situation has been a goal of mine and Cody's since we got married, and my ability to do it has been an answer to prayers-- literally.  We prayed for a long time before making this decision, and were blessed that my boss agreed to this structure.  I am ecstatic to be home with the babies!  To celebrate, Cody made me a cake on Thursday night (I was in the mood for strawberry cake??????? so he called his mom and got a recipe and made it for me!) after having my favorite, French Toast, for dinner.  A great way to celebrate small victories. 

When I came home from work on Thursday (for the last time!), Sean was the only one here with Bridget.  The other babies had already been picked up by their moms.  I came home to find Sean weeping on Bridget's shoulder.  Not a tantrum cry, but one of the saddest cries I have ever seen-- head on shoulder, just weeping.  Bridget said when the other moms came to get the babies they all talked about this being the last day of babysitting and they all said big goodbyes because Sean wouldn't be with them anymore.  As soon as they walked out the door he started crying.  It was so sad.  Luckily, we had them all over for dinner on Friday after church so we were able to show sean that we would see the babies still. 

The last morning of babysitting for the three amigos.

Sean "reuniting" with Greta the next day.  "I'm so happy to see you! Its been sooooo long!"

Our first day home together and Sean and I were a little ambitious, doing a ton of chores and making dinnner for our friends.  I was exhausted at the end of the day and told cody not to expect the same pace from me every day as a stay at home mom.  But, after two days of it, I am loving it and so looking forward to this chapter of our lives. 

In the meantime, just waiting for baby to arrive.  No signs yet, but I had a pedicure today, so maybe that will do the trick.  keeping my fingers crossed :).