"They" say never to compare your children

But I say... go ahead... who do you see?

Second day of life

Caden

 Rigg

Ryder

2 or 3 weeks old

Caden

Rigg

Ryder

And just for fun...

A valiant effort to get the boys together...

oh well, they can only get better... right?



She would have been three today

Today is Caden's third birthday. I mentioned once before that (before this past September 22nd) I always looked to Caden's birthday as the day to celebrate her life and the day she died was a sad and somber affair. Now, even though I do want to acknowledge her birthday and celebrate her life, I want even more to celebrate her Heaven Day... because she is with Christ, and living like she never could have here.

I miss her like crazy. Every now and then I gaze around my house... my life, and I realize there is something missing... a shadow of curly blond hair, a giggle, a dolly, pink... a beautiful little life... a girl. She was and is still such a precious gift. We ache with the loss of her. We long to have her close. We grieve over a partial family.

But we have HOPE.

We know that everyday we live without her is one more day closer to eternity with her.

Lord come quickly

remember to pause the music at the bottomof the page to hear the video.

Confessions from the1st week

The first week with a newborn and a toddler has come and gone... we are now on week 2.

How is it going? I think it is going well. Although I do have a few confessions.

My biggest accomplishment today was gathering up all the pieces and parts that belong to Mr. Potato head, which had gotten lost amongst all the other toys.

I teared up and almost lost it at the song "your gonna miss this" by Trace Adkins in the car yesterday.

I am slightly terrified about Andy going back to work next week... flying solo will be a whole new experience!

We have let Rigg poke a pacifier in the baby's face, eye, ear, nose more times then I can count.

In the hospital, before I was discharged, a lovely woman came by and dropped off a post-partum diet pamphlet. I stored it on top of my donut box.

I only put Rigg in real clothes and not jammies two times this week. OK, it may have only been one time.

I sat and watched Rigg eat a small piece of paper because I was too tired to get up and take it from him. I am sure he needs more fiber in his diet anyway...

I keep looking in the mirror and sucking in... as if that is going to help...sigh

I have watched so much Elmo this week I am starting to think in third person.

I promised to call Jennie on Wednesday... and have yet to do it... sorry Jen.

I am savoring my not-so-secret stash of tootsie roll pops...yum

The Captain has a new skill. He can hold a baby and it does not affect his game on his XBOX!

I have been so busy I have not had much time to contemplate that Monday is Caden's 3rd birthday.  I will post her birthday video and some pics...so Heidi, be prepared.

OK... I am going to go have a tootsie roll pop and snuggle the wee one. Do you have any confessions you want to share?

An angel and Lou

I always look forward to the labor and delivery part of pregnancy. I find it so exciting to be in the hospital and just living those few short moments before your life changes forever. The anticipation and nerves and ice chips...ahhh.  Knowing that in just minutes you get to see the little one who has been slowly taking over your body, mind and life these past few months is one of the most exhilarating feelings.

Then there is the after glow...all the visitors and family that come to oooh and ahh over your new baby. All the nurses that go on and on about how cute they are and how they fight over holding them in the nursery... I love it all.

With each child I have had wonderful experiences. But this time I had 2 unexpected blessings.

After I was moved and settled in my post-partem room most of my family returned to see and love on Mr.Ryder again. As my mother-in-law walked in she asked if I knew anything about the angel and frame for Caden. ?!?!?!?! What? Needless to say, I knew nothing of it... so much so of nothing, I had no idea what she was talking about. She explained that by the nurses station there was an angel and a frame with " In Celebration of Caden Joelle Chastain" on it...and it was the only one there! I said I would try and figure it out. So I asked my nurse. She didn't know, but said she would try and find out who made it. When she found out I was Caden's mommy, she looked into it a little more.  A wonderful lady who happens to attend BSF with me, used to work on the post partem floor. She made the frame and set it out for all to see.  Evidently it has been out there quite awhile! So along with everyone coming to love on my new little man, I had many nurses come in to say hello to Caden's mommy! I cannot tell you what that meant to me. To be acknowledged not just as the mommy of 2 little boys... but for people to know I am Caden's mommy. I said many a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God...who gave me such a wonderful, unexpected gift.

The next morning, after I was freshly showered and fed... I called and asked the nurses to bring Ryder back from the nursery. A few minutes later the door opens and in walks Lou!
I can tell you have no idea why this is so darn exciting... So I will explain.
When Caden was born she broke her collar bone. She had to be taken to and from x-ray by a nursery worker. The lady who was assigned was named Lou. She was so nice and sweet and she LOVED Caden. She would go on and on about how beautiful she was and how much she enjoyed holding and rocking her in the nursery. She was always the one who would bring Caden to and from the nursery. She went on and on about Caden so much that she touched my new mommy heart in a way the other nurses didn't.
When (the Captain and) I had Rigg I asked about her. I was told she was very sick. Lou has always been one of those people that flit through my mind on occasion. So I began to pray for her... the lady who loved my Caden.
AND THEN SHE WALKS INTO MY ROOM WITH RYDER!!!!!
I jumped up and practically yelled her name. I think I scared her a bit... you know "who is this crazy lady who knows my name?"  kind of thing...  When I realized she was startled and confused I explained who I was and that I had been praying for her and that I was SO happy to see her. She stayed a bit and talked with me, told me about being sick and that she had heard about Caden... she was broken-hearted. She then told me that she had lost a son at the age of three. I listened and cried. We hugged and thanked one another. When she left I said yet another prayer of praise and thanks for another unexpected gift. Lou came back later and gave me a present... a beautiful bracelet. Now I can remember Lou in more ways then one.

And because I have no glorious segue sentence... Here are some pictures of our last day at the hospital before coming home.

More Pictures!!!

We are home.
We are enjoying family time.
You get to enjoy a slide show!

don't forget to stop the music at the bottom of the page before starting the video.

Ryder Andrew Chastain from Richard Cobb on Vimeo.

Meet Mr. Ryder

More pics to come... but for now, enjoy these. I am enjoying my time with my newest son, snuggling and cuddling and resting until tomorrow afternoon when we re-enter "normal" life... whatever that is.

does today seem like a good day for a birthday?

Well Ryder thought so. He woke me @ 4:25 this morning telling me to get going. After 5 hours in the hospital, 3 pushes in 3 min, we welcomed the newest Chastain into the world.

Ryder Andrew was born at 12:17. Weighing in at 9 lbs and 6 onces and 22 inches long.

He is healthy and pink with long fingers and more cheeks then he knows what to do with.

Praise Jesus with us for our new son. What a blessing.

Gettinn' stuff done

Tonight I was able to accomplish some things I had wanted to do before Ryder arrives. You might remember what the nursery looks like...and the name decal over the changing table.

Well, it has now gone from this...

to

This!

Now the space is all Ryder's.

We have also been working on Rigg's big boy room. I have opted, so far, not to share much because it is not finished. But the Captain took pictures tonight as we were getting some stuff done, so I will share. It is still a work in progress.

 Me, in all my pajamaed glory, putting up Rigg's new name decal.

Super fun lime green dresser...I just love this.

Lockers I found on Craig's list. Rigg's new favorite past time is to put Rufus or other toys in the lockers and shuffle them around.

Here is some of the bedding and the inspiration for the colors.

And here is the main man himself, looking super cute!

 

and eating staken' shake while no one was watching...

and kissing baby Charlie.

I think we are ready for Ryder now... maybe he was just waiting for me to get his name on the wall... well, if that is the case, I have done my part!

It is hard to believe we have come so far... from Unobservant Andy...To just waiting for the little man to arrive. God has been so good to us.

Come on Ryder!