He is almost a month old but he stills feels brand spanking new.

Maybe its because I haven't slept in 23 days. Its been one, long, never-ending day.

This photo was taken last week sometime and he already looks completely different. Thats how I know time is passing.

We've had some jealous issues. Or could it be spoiled rotten issues?

:)

Thankfully the Wolf has a lot of supporters to help him get through this rough time of not being THE center of the universe.

The other day I had lunch with Max and Cathy and Wolfgang ran errands and went to the Zoo with Grammy. They ate Cheetos and PB&J's.

They rode the zoo train and the Wolf stood the entire time.

Freedom!

He is also taking sides, sportswise.

(go go go!)

I am

Exhausted.

Useless.

Thirsty.

Overwhelmed.

Sore.

Lord, help this time of healing pass by quickly.

Therapy

What an emotional time this is for me. Posting this blog is very therapeutic.

I have moments of absolute bliss. I look at this baby, sleeping at 11:30 in the morning, and any other problem I am facing is absolute nonsense.

Just look at him. How is he mine? How am I so lucky? Again.

He does a lot more sleeping than Wolfgang did. I like that about him. :)

But when he IS awake (like from 3 to 6 in the morning), he is a crabby patty.

And I am a crabby patty.

I was reading my journal from the month after Wolfgang was born and it was so much harder than this.

Right now, I have all the help in the world with Wolfgang. Its so nice.

But I'm healing a lot slower. Its hard not being able to pick up my Guggy Gooster. I miss him. I can't wait to be able to carry him out to the car or into the bathroom or up to the dining table. I miss his chubby little self.

So there are the hormones that make me cry. There is the pain and the being awake at 3 in the morning that makes me cry.

I do a LOT of crying. Mostly in the evening when I feel the worst.

And I miss the Wolf.

This time will end soon enough and I'll be able to help all the overworked people who are picking up my slack. Until then, gimme some Kleenex.

Wolf Hair

Man was The Wolf's hair getting crazy. We had to do something about it.

Grammy suggested this cute little kid's place and so she and Randy took him this morning.

The stylist found Dora for him.

And then he told her the look he was wanting to achieve while she snapped on his cutting robe.

And then he waited patiently while she went into the back to mix the products.

"Are you sure you're using a Number 6?"

The shaving begins.....

How cute is that little yellow chair?

Consulting with Grammy.

Fwee-fwew!

Then came the destruction of the livingroom.

And the smearing of pizza on the face.

Max

The boy has arrived!

Max Randall Gauthier.

He's pretty cool.

I went in at 5 on Friday morning for a C-Section. (Just got out of the hospital today, by the way)

I was a little nervous.

The operating room REALLY looked like one. The delivery room in Africa was tiny and as Randy reminded me, they had to move all the furniture out of the way.

The "cutting" was a little past 7:30 and by 7:54, he was out and screaming.

He was 8 pounds 8 ounces. Big considering he was a week and a half early. And he was only 19 inches. Short and stocky!

I couldn't believe it. My sweet little Max!

The whole procedure was a bit more violent than I had anticipated, but it went well with no complications. Randy watched. How??!!!

Back in the room, Wolfgang finally got to see what we meant by "baby Max". Max got a kiss and then he was promptly ignored.

It was fun having family there to show him off to. Another stark contrast to our experience in South Africa. I had other visitors too but somehow managed to not get any pictures.

Tine came and brought me cupcakes and Cathy was there many times bringing me "what can I do?" 's.

My mom, my sister Hayley (and hubby and baby) and my brother Adam came down from Lubbock to see us. I was in quite a bit of pain so I stayed put in my bed.

On Sunday they moved me to another ward where I had this HUGE room. It was weird. And nice. Cristin came up again with Randy's brother David and his wife Kristi (and their kids who could only come as far as the nursery window)

So I was there for 3 nights and almost 4 days. I've had a hard healing time mainly because of previous birth injuries. Like the tail-bone. But today I got my staples out (gag) and they let me come home at about 1.

Wolfgang has had a fabulous weekend at home with Grammy and Papa and Daddy. He got some tools to work on his car with.

And when the cousins came in they had a little birthday party for Emily. The Wolf loves that whole process.

And then he and Grammy made a coming home cake for me. Coconut!!!

And chocolate!

Yes!

He has fun

It takes an entire household to keep Wolfgang busy.

It might be different if he could walk and do more for himself. But seeing as I am out of commission, everyone tends to the Goo.

He has fun.

He loves baking brownies. This was about 5 minutes into it. A big blob of chocolate on the left sock.

He has fun stirring.

Notice the first evidence of taste-testing.

He's pretty cool. Likes to chill while Grammy does the heavy lifting.

Oh darn. There goes the other Goo-sock.

Oh well....

He loves watching home videos.

They make him happy.

And weird.

He loves my cane. And his backpack. And he tolerates the helmet that saves him many an injury.

Papa gives him a ride as soon as he walks in the door from work. How great is that?

And Daddy. Well, Daddy is Wolfgang's favorite playmate.