Nolan's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

Today, Nolan's school took a field trip to the Relleke Pumpkin Patch.  Unfortunately neither Bill nor I could go, but Papa and Kelby volunteered to take Nolan.  I told Nolan a week ago Papa and Aunt KK would be taking him to the pumpkin patch for his field trip on Friday, Nolan counted down the days until he would be able to go!!  Nolan was so excited to spend the day with Papa and Aunt KK.  I knew Kelby would take plenty of pictures for me, so I felt relief that I would be able to experience Nolan's field trip through pictures.

Nolan had a lot to participate in at the pumpkin patch.  He rode on a hayride, climbed hay bales to go down slides, fed lots of different animals, climbed a spider web, ventured through a corn maze, rode a pony, had his faced painted and even picked out his own pumpkin!  Nolan kept Papa and Aunt KK hopping today!!

Papa said they were lost in the corn maze, but luckily Nolan found the way out!! Whew....

Nolan chose the brown and white pony to ride on, but didn't know his name. Nolan kept saying he was holding onto the "horn" on the saddle.

Nolan chose the ghost design for his face painting.  This didn't surprise me because the boys are obsessed with ghosts right now.  We read the book "Ten Timid Ghosts" every night and both Nolan and Carter now have the book memorized and can read the book to Bill and I.

Of course, I had to take a picture of my baby boy when he returned home.  Nolan was excited to show off his pumpkin, which he picked out all by himself.

 Thanks to Papa and Aunt KK for making this little boy feel so special!

Laying Low and Hanging Out

These past few weeks have been weeks of adapting to our newer schedule.  Everyone is doing fairly well; Blake has continued to have a few visitors stop by, Nolan had Halloween Story hour at school, and Carter is growing up right before my eyes.

Meme and Poppy dropped in to see Blake and visit with Nolan and Carter.

Blake is good at keeping calm and hanging out while Nolan and Carter play and create craziness! :)  It won't be too long and Blake will be fighting over trains and building with blocks along side the other two.

Carter is talking a lot and even forming sentences like a pro.  Sometimes Carter can be a little bossy.  The other day I told Nolan to pick up his toys and Nolan started to throw a fit.  Carter looked at me and said, "Mommy, Nolan make bad choice!"  I couldn't help but laugh and of course, so did Nolan!  Carter loves to put together puzzles, build with blocks, and play with his trains/trucks.

Uncle Joe visited from Chicago one weekend.

Nolan's school held a Halloween Story hour last weekend, where some students and their siblings could join in for some Halloween fun.  Bill and Nolan went, while I stayed at home with Carter and Blake.  I didn't want to expose the other two to any unnecessary preschool germs.  Nolan chose to be Emmet from the Lego Movie for Halloween this year.

Blake is starting to become a lot more alert and stay awake for longer periods during the day.  Blake still has his crazy hair, and I don't think it will even begin to lay down in the near future.  Blake is eating like a champ and is starting to form a double chin.  Cute little baby boy! 

There's our weekly update from the Purcell household.  

 

Blake's One Week Well Visit

Today Blake met Dr. Hulsen for his one week well visit.  Blake was evaluated, weighed, and smothered with cuddles by Dr. Hulsen.  Blake weighed in at 6lbs 13.5oz, which places him in the 25th percentile for weight and measured 19inches long, which places him in the 25th percentile for length.  Blake is such a peanut, but Dr. Hulsen was thrilled he has met his birth weight already!!  Blake is a great eater and I am blessed with an over abundance of breastmilk.  Dr. Hulsen said Blake looks great and she doesn't need to see him again until he is one month old.

Bill and I had the day to snap a few pictures of Blake, since we weren't pleased with the ones the hospital took.  Blake wasn't very cooperative, so we will attempt more later.

Welcome Blake William!!

I went into the hospital at 7am Wednesday, October 1st.  Nana snapped a few last minute pictures before Bill and I headed to the hospital.  It was pretty early and everyone was still a little sleepy.

Blake William was born on Wednesday, October 1st at 12:41pm. Blake weighed in at 6lbs 13oz and measured 17.75in long.  He is a little peanut!!  Dr. Hulsen broke my water at 8:40am and only a few hours later Blake was in my arms. Blake was born rather quickly and had a rough transition to breathing, like his older brother Carter.  After a longer stay in the delivery nursery due monitoring, Blake finally joined Bill and I upstairs at 11pm Wednesday night.

After Blake had his footprints taken, Bill took him to the nursery for his "bath" and check-up with the baby nurses.  Once Blake was all scrubbed up he was brought back to me in recovery.  I noticed Blake was grunting when he was breathing, so the nurse took him back to the nursery for observation.  Blake was never put under the oxygen hood, but he did have to stay in the nursery for quite awhile before being brought upstairs.  Bill and I kept making trips downstairs to check on him as often as we could.

Below are a couple of pictures of Blake while he was being monitored.  He was a pretty happy camper, but was taking his time breathing without grunting.

Nana brought Nolan and Carter to meet Blake, but since Blake was still in the nursery for observation the boys could only look at him through the glass windows.  Blake is such a great brother, he gave Nolan and Carter presents!

Finally, Thursday morning Nolan and Carter met their little brother Blake.  Bill went home in the morning before school and daycare to pick up the boys and bring them to the hospital to meet their brother.  Both boys were in absolute awe of Blake.  Nolan was very protective of "his baby."

Thursday Blake and I hung out while Bill took Nolan to his transportation parade and Carter to Liz's.  Bill brought Nolan back to the hospital with him to hang out with Blake and I, while Nana brought Carter later in the afternoon.  It was fun hanging out with Nolan and letting him experience Blake without anyone else in the room.

Nana took our first family of five photo!

Friday afternoon we busted out of the hospital.  Blake was bathed, dressed, footprinted, and out the door.

Once Bill and I made it home with Blake and settled in, Bill went to pick up the boys.  Nolan and Carter couldn't wait to hold their baby again!  Boppy, Memaw, Bekah, Aunt KK, and Jimmy stopped by to see baby Blake too!

On Saturday Gigi and Grandpa Tub stopped by to meet Blake and brought lunch for everyone!!

Since Blake's hair was starting to become greasy, we decided to give him a bath on Sunday.  This kid was blessed with tons of hair!  Blake loved having his hair washed, but didn't like being dried off!

Papa and Nana came Sunday after church.  Papa finally met baby Blake and Nana was able to steal another snuggle!

Wow!! Has all of this really happened in only 5 days.  What a whirl wind.  Blake is settling in at home perfectly.  Nolan and Carter have adapted much better than I would have guessed.  They love their baby brother and like to give him kisses.  The boys do fight over who gets to hold him first, and Carter usually doesn't want to give him up in the end.