Logan turns 1!

It feels like just yesterday I was doing this....

And now my little newborn baby is a little boy.

They said it would go fast.

Did I believe them?

No!

How about now?

(Sniff sniff)- It goes by even faster than they said it would.

There is a newer primary song that is called "Sacred Families". Part of the chorus says:

"God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be. This is how he shares His love for the family is of God."

I can't even begin to thank God enough for the blessing of families...ie: (because today's his birthday) for Logan! This has been one of the hardest years of my life, but by FAR the most rewarding and joyous. I can't imagine living a life without children.

I went to Fred Meyer today to pick up some groceries. One of the clerks came over to talk to us because Logan was giving his typical adorable nose crinkle grin. She was very pleasant and gave Logan lots of compliments. Then she hit me with this comment, "I got rid of my husband. Now I don't have to share the hugs. I get all the hugs to myself." She went on for a minute with that kind of talk. All I could think was how sad her comment was. I didn't say anything. I still can't think of what exactly I wish I could have said....other than "I don't mind sharing my hugs! He's well worth it. Plus, I don't think I'd get any more hugs with him not around."

I know that those words from a simple primary song are true. I have never felt closer or felt God's love more than I have in my family. I know that this is how He shares His love. I know that families are of God.

I am so thankful for my sweet Logan. He is such a fun baby. He is cheerful 100% (-14) of the time, has the best smiles, gives the best hugs, makes us laugh, gives me purpose, and just makes life so much better. I love my little boy. I can't thank heaven enough for him.

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15).

(I'll post the festivities soon...)

The boys

Logan is becoming more and more aware that Shaffer is a real human being. For the first week or so Shaffer was an inanimate object to Logan, but now he's starting to realize that he makes cool noises, is fun to look at, and touch (and by that I mean slap). He's always trying to escape to go over to where Shaffer is so that he can watch him.

This is the first time we have actually been able to use this double stroller with 2 kids in it. I felt much less silly with it yesterday than I had the previous 7 months. I always took Logan running (and by that I mean walking) in it and everyone gave me funny looks or told me that I was missing a child. Now I won't get those smirks and questions because I will actually have 2 adorable babies in it. Hooray!

This is Logan's Napoleon Dynamite imitation. He always drinks his sippy this way.

This was both Logan and Shaffer's first Halloween. Funny huh? I was lame and didn't dress them up simply because I didn't want to take them anywhere. I really didn't think it would be smart to take my 2 week old out in the rain and cold. Josh was sick too- so instead we stayed home and carved a small pumpkin, let Logan play with the pumpkin "guts" (and laughed hysterically when he tried to eat part of the pumpkin and found out it doesn't taste very good), made (and devoured) sugar cookies, passed out candy to adorable Trick-or-Treaters, and played games. We still managed to have a really good time despite not dressing up.

We went over to the Hillsboro Farmers Market earlier in the afternoon to check it out. It was fun but very small. We got some amazing flowers, and a scrumptious pulled pork sandwich and hot chocolate. Totally worth it even though we looked at everything in about 15 minutes time. =)

Logan's newest developments are that he loves to point at everything. He also loves music and loves to dance to it. He has a stacking toy that makes music when you touch a button and he is obsessed with it. He figured out how to push the small button, so now it's constantly going off and he bobs his head and kicks his feet to the music. It is adorable!

-He is also learning how to throw a fit. He tried to bite Josh the other day, which as most parents can probably attest to, is actually funnier than anything but you have to play serious so that he knows he can't keep doing it.

-He likes to pull all the books off of his shelf just for kicks- he'll take one or two and put them under his hands and slide them across the floor while he crawls.

-He has the best smile ever. He crinkles his nose and gives the biggest cheeser smile. It melts my heart every single time. He is super friendly and happy- always giving that big smile.

As for Shaffer, he is still sleeping most all day. I love it when he is awake- I think he has the cutest eyes. He just had his 2 week check up and weighed in at 7 lbs, 15 oz. which is nearly a half pound over his birth weight! He was 22% for his weight and 70% for his height- long and lean the nurse said. He is built skinnier than Logan. Perhaps they will prove me wrong, but I feel like even if he and Logan weighed the same that their frames are just different. Logan is built more like me and Shaffer seems to be built more like Josh.

They are both so cute and so much fun. Right now things are actually pretty easy with 2. Do I dare say that? Things are pretty much the same as having 1 because Shaffer sleeps all the time. I'm sure it will get a lot crazier when Shaffer starts to be awake more and when he becomes mobile. We are loving having both of them though and don't have one complaint about having them so close together. We wouldn't have it any other way....not that that means I'm going to do it again this way, but with these 2 we are happy and content. =)

Pictures & Blessings.

Shaffer is now 10 days old! On one hand I can't believe he is that big already, while on the other hand I feel like he's been a part of our family forever. I feel like an official mom now that we have 2 kids. I'm sure that sounds funny and I'm not quite sure how to explain it...perhaps it's that I feel like I really don't have enough arms now?! Having one isn't easy by any means, but it's definitely more busy with 2. I'm sure I'll be saying something similiar when we have 3, 4...possibly 5 or 6 kids (spaced a little further apart this time)! And it's true what they say- your love just expands, it isn't divided. I can't tell you how in love I am with Logan and Shaffer. They are so fun and so adorable. Having another baby has made me so grateful for Josh too. I know this will be cheesy and mushy but honestly I am more in love with him than ever before. He amazes me!

We have had a great 10 days. My mom was here and was a life saver. (Thank you a million times over mama!) My dad and brother, Travis were able to come from Klamath Falls for a few short days to see Shaffer; and because they were here and because of the new babe my brothers got to come over. It was a lot of fun to be with everyone.

We went for our first walk yesterday. It was crazy to have 2 babies! My recovery has been incredible this time. I feel nearly 100% already...whereas last time I was taking Oxycodon for weeks. I think I took it for 2 days this time. It's amazing how different deliveries can be. My epidural worked great (last time it wore off by the end of pushing for 3 hours, so I felt A LOT), and I only pushed a few times, my IV worked perfectly, we had an AMAZING nurse, etc... I still want to write more about the labor/delivery but I don't have much time these days. The thing that sticks out in my mind the most about being in labor was how blessed we were. We received blessing after blessing and miracle after miracle. By the end of the day Josh and I both just sat there and talked, in awe, about how blessed we had were. It was a spiritual experience for me...in the sense that I really felt like God was watching over me, strengthening me, and blessing our little family. Above everything else I am especially grateful for a healthy baby.

My mom gave Logan his first hair cut while she was here. It was a bit difficult...he didn't want to sit still and it was hard to keep him preoccupied, but she managed to do it. he was growing a thick mullet in the back and a small strip on top, so she trimmed those down. Much better!

More more and more...

Here are some pictures that show more of Shaffer's face. Most of them have been far-away shots, so here's a few more that show his true cuteness.

Shaffer has a lot of blonde hair that I just can't get enough of. Logan didn't have much hair, so compared to him Shaffer has tons. He is also very small and skinny. I amazed at how small newborns are; I don't remember Logan being that teeny. He is a really good sleeper and actually has a really hard time waking up at night to feed. I got reprimanded yesterday by a lactation consultant for letting him sleep too long in between feedings at night. Whoops!

He has a hard time sleeping at night unless it's with me. Funny thing is that I feel the same way. I guess that when you've been attached to each other for 9 full months it's hard to break the habit.

My mom has been spoiling us rotten and making us all sorts of good food. She made these chocolate covered oreo, cream ball things that were to die for. It's exactly the type of food I should be avoiding right now (...seeing how I've got a few extra pounds to shed), but I just can't help myself. And as you can see here, neither can Logan. I intended on giving him a small piece of mine and he grabbed the whole thing and went to town. I just love my boys. They are so cute!

More of Shaffer.

I will write more about the labor/delivery a little bit later, but right now I just wanted to get a few more pictures up for our family!! Here are Shaffer & Logan- one of their first moments together!

We are all doing well at home. I actually feel pretty good (I guess it helps I didn't push for 3 hours this time- yay!), and I'm on this constant high from having a new baby around the house. He is so cute and so much fun. I am quite sleep deprived and that part isn't very much fun, but honestly if I'm going to lose sleep this is the way to go. =) We love having Shaffer around and I love watching Logan be with him.

I will write more later, but for now...enjoy!

Shaffer Lynn Rohatinsky

Shaffer Lynn Rohatinsky was born today (October 18^th) at 3:55 PM. He weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.

The funny thing you may have noticed is that we changed his name! We had been calling him Easton for weeks now, and even did so after he was born. However, without even talking about it we both independently felt that Easton wasn't his name. We both thought he looked like a Shaffer, and when we talked about it we really felt like that was his name, so there you go!

Everything went really well. We had a scheduled induction at 7:30 AM this morning. They got Jena started on the pitocin, and after a few hours she had progressed really well. She got an epidural and things kept progressing. They checked her around 2:00 and she had dilated to a 6 or 7. Then after a few hours she started feeling some pain so we called the nurse in to check her epidural. The nurse checked Jena and said, “Holy cow his head’s right there!” She called the doctor in, and three pushes later Shaffer was out!

That was a huge blessing after having had to push for three hours to get Logan out! Jena was really grateful to say the least. She got a little nauseous afterwards, but after some nice zofran she got feeling better and both she and Shaffer (and me too in case you were wondering) are doing well.

On a side note, the bad part is that because of the flu / swine flu, no one under the age of 18 can come up to see us. So, Logan is out of luck. Anne (Jena’s mom) has been watching him, and she came to meet Shaffer and I took Logan out for some good eats at Arby’s. On another side note, I ordered and ate five Arby’s melts (just to get the 5 for $5 deal). After finishing all five, I was cleaning up Logan’s toys and the Arby’s employee (seeing that I had ordered five for myself) came to bring me a bag. He saw that I had finished them, and simply said, “Wow!” while I saw a girl behind me whisper to her mom, “He at all five!” To which I responded in my head, “Lay off, I’m starving” in a Chris Farley voice. Anyways, I digress…

Shaffer and Jena are doing great, and we are hoping to be able to go home tomorrow night. Thanks for your help, support, and prayers; we were really blessed today. Can’t wait for everyone to meet Shaffer!

Coming Soon....

This is pretty much how I feel right about now.

Excited beyond belief.

I had my 39 week check up today, and although I haven't changed one bit, miraculously my doctor said she will induce me.

When?

THIS COMING SUNDAY!!!

....As in October 18th, at 7 am.

I don't know why she changed her mind (remember she said she wouldn't induce me unless I was 7 days over due), but she is going out of town and said she wanted to be the one to deliver this baby.

I'll take it.

AND...I did pray that she would be open to the idea of inducing me early (I was thinking we would meet somewhere in the middle...like 4 days overdue...but I'll take 4 days early instead)!!

Conclusion: I am so excited, beaming with joy, and thrilled beyond belief to get to meet my little boy in less than 3 days. I also have to testify here that God does hear and answer prayers...even when we don't deserve them, and when they are perhaps selfish (as demonstrated here). I am so thankful for a Father in Heaven who is merciful and kind to a poor, over-pregnant, undeserving daughter of His.

Wish us luck and perhaps pray for me around 9am-9pm on Sunday....I will likely be in a lot of pain around those hours. =)