A story book.

Once upon a time, in a land of Goldenrods and Bluegrass, a man and wife lived happily in a quaint little home in the country. They dreamed of children, little ones running up and down their halls and playing ball in the backyard. So they prayed and they prayed....and one day God granted them with not one...but TWO babies  to be delivered at the end of July.

So the wife...she grew and she grew...and she grew grew grew.

Until one day, those two princes, they decided they wanted to see their mommy and daddy three and a half months early. The first prince, born to have his daddy's middle name, was Blake Alan. 

The second prince, born to have his great grandpa's name, was Conor James. Both, born two of the tiniest princes, were a vision of perfection and love. 

Sadly for the man and wife, the angels sang and danced with the prince Conor, they sent a promise to the man and wife that they would see him again. So on that warm bright April day, after hugs and kisses from his mommy and daddy,the angels explained that little Conor was needed somewhere else. So he danced away in the golden streets of heaven, and promised to guard and protect his LITTLE big brother for his whole life.

 Bathed with flowers, and love, the man and wife, they prayed and they prayed for the safety of their child on earth. They prayed for their little prince Blake, and held close to the promise of their angel prince Conor to guard and protect his big brother. 

And protect he did...Blake kept growing and growing! Despite the evils trying to take their prince, Conor continued to protect and guard Blake. He sent him health, love, and prayers. Blake got stronger, and stronger, and the little prince became known as "the miracle baby".  As the months passed, and the spring turned to summer, and the summer to fall, the man and wife grew more in love with their precious princes. And soon with a little help from above, the man and wife were able to return to the land of Goldenrods and Bluegrass with their miracle prince, and their angel prince close in their hearts. 

But alas, this isn't just a story, its our life...and our life does not end....it continues and today our little Blake and angel baby Conor turn 5 months.

And We can't help but look back on their journey....

 before the size of both my hands together..

Now our little prince is a bit bigger...

 ID badge that used to slide on and off his ankle all the time...they couldn't even keep it on it would fall off.

Our little prince with his first knitted hat...

 Its a little small now-a-days.

 What used to be huge, now itty bitty.

Blake's second hat

and now....

Note Blake's too big Blood Pressure cuff...

 and now.....

His first outfit- he little feet didn't even fill the bottom of the onesie.

 And now I don't think his leg would even fit into if he tried.

Blake's home-made onesie...cute as can be...

 Now a little small compared to his onesies he wears today.

Our first family photo. Blake on the ventilator- 

 first time holding after a long time (2month) wait.

 Our first professional family photo....

5 months and we can hold him anytime we want now!! 

Always protected by little brother Conor, and always has his prayer blanket with his identical angel pin that Conor has on in his burial outfit...

From the first week its never left his side.

 And Still snuggling away with it.

Its been a long bumpy journey, and very bittersweet. Today Blake and I visited Conor. Conor's headstone will be in a few weeks, but today we decorated the site with a flower from each plant in our garden outside our house, and I sat and read a book to both my sweet boys. 

 Happy 5 months to my precious miracle baby Blake and my sweet angel baby Conor!!

Sleeping Baby.

Sometimes I can't help but just stare at my little man while he sleeps... He likes to make sounds while he sleeps, I like to think he is talking to Conor every night.

Game Day.

Are YOU ready for some football?!?

We were at the Hargis household! Blake was dressed and ready Sunday morning ready to root for his very first "home" for four months team....the colts!!




Daddy and Blake cheering on the colts!


Mommy and Blake half time playtime!


Blake was really upset when The Colts lost... He was being a bit dramatic!

So we tried to calm him down... Bath time always does the trick!



Splashing around and lovin it!


Just relaxing!


All clean and dry....


Now it's nap time!!


He is a snoozing!! Dreaming of next Sunday and more football!!

Trucking along...

September 5, 2012
What a week so far! Its been a dreaded week for Zach and I both. The dreaded week of going back to work!! After a long what felt so short stent off work, we finally have to go back to the real world, away from NICU's, hospitals, and sadly away from our little miracle baby! Zach's first day back was Tuesday and I think it was hard on both of us. But after many phone calls and some "facetime" we survived it! When daddy got home snuggle time ensued!! If he can make it, I know Sunday will be hard, but as many mothers have to, I am sure after many tears and one long 12 hour shift...I too, like Zach, will indeed survive being away from Blake for that long! (BIG SAD FACE OVER HERE!)

Daddy and Blake talking on the phone.

 Blake and Mommy time, in his mommy loves me onesie!

 See how exciting our days have been without daddy.

I must bore him to sleep.

 He didn't seem interested while I was fixing my hair.

Tuesday night we had our very first, very unconventional, baby shower. It was a whirlwind of emotions as always. I can usually hold myself together pretty well but Tuesday was a hard day. I felt like the Count from seasame street 1-2- TWO, twin, twice the amount, 2 minus 1- only one...am I rambling yet or confusing you because this is how my head felt all day. Full of confusion, I had been waiting for this day, so upset that it was taken from me my first children were suppose to greeted to a completed nursery, full of toys and gifts bought by loved ones in their honor at my very first baby shower. Instead, I headed into that night knowing no longer would I be getting two of everything, and what is suppose to be one of the happiest times was going to have a cloud over it with the constant reminder that my two had become a one. As always I try to turn it around...I took that cloud. I held on to it and instead of it being a black glommy cloud in my head I had transformed that cloud to a bright white cloud. So instead of drowning in self pity and grief I fastened my angel necklace securely around my neck, placed Blake in his car seat and headed to my very first baby shower... with BOTH of my babies. As hard as it was, I can not be more appreciative of everyone that came! And a special thanks to my wonderful In-Laws!! Thanks to my beautiful mother in law Monica, my loving Aunt Pam, and special Aunt Sonya and both wonderful cousins Haley and Katie! You truly made this "unconventional" baby shower everything I could ever ask for!!

Blake's Onesie Wreath. 

A Very Hungry Caterpillar Shower. 

 Cupcake Caterpillar.

 Baby Watermelon

Cousin Katie and Blake

 Great Aunt Pam and Blake

 Aunt Kelsey and Blake..

 Cousin Haley and Blake.

Blake had and still has a few doctors appointments this week, busy as always!! 2 weeks ago Zach, myself and Blake went to meet his pediatrician for the first time. A weight of 6lbs 8oz was recorded. Since then our child literally will NOT stop eating. So yesterday when I was on the way for a weight check I was sure we had hit the 7 lb mark...if not we surely had to be close! As routine we reached the office, Blake and I were met by his nurse, we stripped off his clothes and to the scale we went. Unfortunately, I was wrong Blake was not 7 lbs. Instead.... he was 7lbs 8oz....a POUND heavier than two weeks ago!! So we have now renamed him PORKY instead of monkey! I don't know if I can call him my lil' man anymore, because my lil' man is becoming a porker and isn't going to be lil' very much longer! I LOVE IT!!

My lil' BIG porky!!

Yesterday our almost 5 month old, 5 week adjusted aged baby, was seen and examined by his doctor. Everything looks great and he is growing. And even though you would never guess he was almost 5 months old by looking at him we are about to venture into an unknown territory. Our little BIG man is really going to be a BIG boy- our Pediatrician said for us to start (SLOWLY) introducing solids into Blake's diet.

So to Walmart we went.... This weeks menu....
Applesauce!
For the next week will be dipping Blake's binkie (pacifer, fooler, booble, whatever you call it) into solid foods and getting him used to the different texture and tastes. Then will soon begin to spoon feed him....what an interesting site that will be! Here is some insight to our first experience with solid foods...

Blake was starving and I was taking too long!!

 Now for our first bite.

 Applesauce everywhere!

 Don't worry he licked it all off...saving none for no one!

Blake's sleep schedule is pretty much routine now- he, like his momma, is a night owl. (Which will not be a good thing for Daddy when I got back to work Sunday) We are trying to break that habit. He is sleeping well during the day taking a few 2-3 hour naps here and there, he does not go to sleep for the night until around 11:30- 12:00 despite our valiant efforts to get him to go to bed at a decent hour. Blake then wakes up at 2, and 5 for feedings and wakes up for the day around 8 or 9 in the morning WHO COULD ASK FOR BETTER?! It's definitely been an adjustment living on someone else's schedule instead of our own. But I think we are getting used to it, and coffee has become our best friend!

Late night snuggle time!

We took Blake outside for his very first rain...

 That then turned into Blake's first Thunderstorm...

he didn't like it much.

 He liked the inside much better!

Family Pics with BlackBird Photos

This past Saturday we were pleased to share the afternoon with a talented lady, Ms. Chelsea Crooks, with Black Bird Photos (To see all the photos click link) 

She took our first family photos and even though Blake cried the whole time, she still managed to capture some awesome photos!