We missed the memo where we were told that having 2 kids (rather than just the one) completely changes the ballgame. What used to take 5 minutes (leaving the house, for instance), took an hour with just one kid, and now takes 90 minutes with two. How on Earth do people have more than two kids and expect to be anywhere promptly or on time?
Nevertheless...
THE LONG AWAITED INTRODUCTION
On May 20, 2014, at 9:59AM, via Cesarean, Jen gave birth to our son, Steven James Edward Brunsman. Steven weighed (are you sitting down?) 9 Pounds 4.9 Ounces, and measured 19 1/2 Inches.
By comparison, Clairelynne, who was born on September 14, 2012, at 10:09pm, also via Cesarean, weighed 6 Pounds 7.9 Ounces, and measured 19 1/4 Inches.
Here are the newborn comparison pictures for your enjoyment. It's not the best comparison picture because there's no frame of reference for size (my hand is in Claire's photo), but trust us, he's a bruiser!!!
THE NAME, STEVEN
St. Stephen was the first martyred Christian Saint (according to tradition, anyway), but we (Dave) also named him (slightly) after Steven Spielberg. Regarding the "V" versus the "PH" spelling, we thought that he'd likely shorten his name to "Steve" at some point in his life, and the "PH" would become a "V" anyway, so, why don't we just roll with it???
THE NAME, JAMES
James is the middle name of Jen's Grandpa (on her mother's side) and is the first name of my Grandad (also on my mother's side), so that seemed to be a fitting tribute to family history and tradition.
THE NAME, EDWARD
Edward is the middle name of my Grandad (same one as above).
Essentially, we gave Steven the middle names of both of our maternal Grandfathers. It just so happens that "James" is also the first name of my Grandfather as well.
The name means (Steven) The Crown (James) Who Supplants (Edward) Who Guards Prosperity and Wealth.
A FEW PICTURES FROM THE HOSPITAL
Here's a photo of Jen and me before the Cesarean Section. The smiles on our faces, this time, are real because this wasn't an emergency C-Section, we'd made it to our target birth date, and we weren't going into this surgery completely blindsided. It's amazing how a little bit of perspective can change a man (or woman).
The first picture here is of the same chair (and message) I was supposed to sit under when Claire was born. Again, no sitting - just pacing. And the second is of me in my surgery outfit (scrubs???).
And here's a photo of Jen and me meeting little Steven for the first time.
And, of course, we had a few visitors. This first picture is of Jen's co-worker, Gretchen.
Before giving birth, Jen had trained Claire to point to her (Jen's) belly when asked, "Claire, where's your brother?" It was rather cute.
Gretchen was kind enough to bring Claire from the babysitter to the hospital to visit us. Steven was in his bassinet away from the bed (and he was crying). Claire was interested in the sound and didn't know what to make of it. Jen said, "Claire, that's your brother crying." Claire immediately pointed to Jen's belly, and we said, "No, Claire. Your brother is HERE now."
She didn't take it well at first, but we did manage to get a couple of pictures.
Claire met Steven, and we were able to get our first official "Family of Four" photo.
And then, while taking Claire back to the babysitter, Gretchen snapped this photo. Eyes on the road, Gretchen :-)
Our roommate, Anita, came down with her son, John. Ian (Anita's husband) wasn't feeling too well that day, so he stayed home.
This is photo of Jen and I enjoying our Hospital Celebration Meal with Steven.
AN ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY ABOUT THE NAME
I always liked the name "Steven" as a boy name and Jen wasn't really a big fan. I had been pushing the name (all three names) for quite some time. Jen also wasn't a huge fan of giving two middle names.
One evening, when Jen was pregnant, while we were walking around the block for exercise, Jen said, "I'd really like to include "James" in the name."
With a snarky (half-joking) response, I asked, "How does it feel to want?"
And Jen said, defeated, "Fine, we can name him Steven."
So then, the inevitable conversation about two middle names was next (during the same walk), and Jen was adamant about not giving our son two middle names.
BACKING UP TO THE DAY BEFORE...
A friend of ours had brought Jen and I two slices of a delicious red velvet cake (now you'll understand the previous two pictures) the day before. Jen had already eaten hers (she was pregnant, after all).
OK, so, during our walk, I traded, "I'll tell you what, Jen. I'll let you have my slice of red velvet cake, if we can have two middle names. The only thing I ask for is one small bite (and that we give our son two middle names)."
We're happy to introduce our son, Steven James Edward Brunsman!
A DARE/CHALLENGE ABOUT THE NAME
Jen and I have always been adamant about not sharing baby names until after the birth because, quite honestly, we don't want to hear about and deal with the well-intentioned opines of others.
Several months before Steven was born, Jen's Dad said, "Well, whatever name you give to your son, there's no way you could make it longer than Claire's."
Challenge accepted...
Challenge won...
Clairelynne Marie Brunsman (24 letters (not including spaces))
Steven James Edward Brunsman (25 letters (not including spaces))
We were so proud of the accomplishment that we felt it necessary to include our name creativity in Steven's Birth Announcement. Hey! What's the fun in having kids if you can't have a little bit of extra fun at their expense?
WHILE WE WERE IN THE HOSPITAL
We hired a babysitter for Claire while we were in the hospital. Here's the last "Family of Three" photo, taken when we dropped Claire off with Sabrina the evening before the planned C-Section.
Surely, leaving Claire with someone overnight for the first time was a bit bittersweet, but obviously totally necessary. Apparently the experience wasn't bittersweet for Claire, though. She had a great time (Perhaps not on the swing, though)!
And then, when we were finished with the business at the hospital, we went to pick Claire up and to introduce Steven to the babysitter, Sabrina.
SIBLING RIVALRY
Since being home, Claire has been very interested in helping with Steven, but she's also been very interested in reverting back to being a baby. Obviously, this behavior is to be expected, but the problem is that you can't foresee exactly when she'll rebel and how she'll rebel.
Claire likes to help with feeding Steven.
One day, I was feeding Steven, and Claire wanted my attention. She climbed up onto the bed, and, as hard as she could, smacked the end of the bottle into Steven's face.
Claire also likes to push Steven in his swing.
One day, Steven was minding his own business, swinging in his swing, when, while we had our backs turned to them for one second, she decided that she wanted to sit in the swing too (right on top of him).
But she's also very attentive to Steven. She likes to read to him...
She likes to take naps with him in the back seat of our truck...
And she likes to hold him, too!
THE SANTA CLARITA TEA PARTY
We had prepared to give Claire a few gifts upon our arrival home from the hospital in the hopes of weakening the blow where she realizes that she's not the only kid in town. She already had a tea party set, so we got her a pots and pans set to expand her knowledge about everything kitchen.
She absolutely loves playing tea party with her friends Dolly and Beary (yes, I know... very creative "friend" names).
Claire likes to have the same kind of fun with Peyton.
Here's a photo of Claire in Peyton's bed...
But Peyton claimed her territory...
And then Claire offered a compromise.
They're still friends.
"THE SECOND BABY IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT"
We've been told, on multiple occasions, that, with the second child, everything will be completely different. Jen and I are only 3 1/2 Months into the whole 2-child thing, but, with what we've seen so far, that "truth" is actually much more profound than anyone can imagine (unless you already have two kids and know about this "truth"). WOW!
Clairelynne is one of those kids who, right out of the gate, has been fighting (which is a good thing). As a matter of fact, when we first met her in the NICU, the nurse handed her to Jen and said, "This one's a fighter."
Claire was early to roll over (both ways), she was early to use a sippy cup (we had to force that one, though), she was early to crawl, she cried a ton, hated being swaddled (or bound in any way), didn't particularly like being held, etc...
Steven, on the other hand, still (STILL) doesn't care about rolling over, and actually hasn't rolled from his back to tummy yet. He doesn't really cry a lot, loves being swaddled and warm, loves (and wants to) being held, etc...
Claire was a dink when she was born and Steven was a behemoth (still is).
With feeding, we had to fight to get every ounce down Claire's throat, but with Steven, we can't feed him (quantity and speed) enough.
I guess the only thing that's similar is that they both have blue eyes, fleeting hairlines, and they both sleep through the night (and they both came out of Jen's uterus).
The differences really are striking - even at this early age.
FOR INSTANCE:
Here's a side-by-side of Claire and Steven in the same car seat (Claire is 2 1/2 Weeks old and Steven is 4 Days old).
Then, here's a duo of Claire (on top) and Steven (bottom) laying on Peyton (Claire is 3 Months old and Steven is 4 Days old).
Then, Claire (top) and Steven (bottom) sitting at the corner area of our couch (Claire is 3 Weeks old and Steven is 2 Weeks old)
Finally, here are the two in their going-home outfits. Both outfits are the exact same size (6-Months). Claire is swimming in hers and Steven, well, he's swimming too, but he fills his out a lot better.
And if you're wondering how long it took for Claire to grow into her 6-Month Going-home-from-the-hospital outfit... She was 10 Months old here and the outfit is still quite baggy. I think we finally packed that outfit up when she was 18 Months old.
BUT WE CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCES
Before Steven was born, we (Dave) picked out a special bottle of red wine for us to enjoy upon returning home. Good name for the brand (haha), but we didn't really care for the wine (for the record).
Even though the taste wasn't really appealing to us, we still celebrated :-)
THE FIRST HOME VISITOR
Grammy Graham (Jen's Mom) came to visit us as soon as she could.
Lynda had fun with Claire too...
For making the trip, we allowed her to give Steven the first bath.
OUR BIRTH TEAM
The top picture is of Dr. Metcalf with Jen and Steven, and the bottom picture is of the rest of our Birth Team (L-R), Nadine, Andre, and Dr. Ortega.
SOME OTHER HOME VISITORS (in no particular order)
This is Mitch Pohl (from Church) and Liliana Watson (Anita's mother).
This is Ari Labrzycki (Anita's sister) and Joanne Pulley (Ian's mother)
This is Bobby Burgess (past neighbor) and Martine Gonzales (from Church)
This is Roberto Correa and Tracy Britton (both friends from film sets). There's an amazing story to share about Roberto, but for now, that'll have to wait until the next blog post, as this one is already way too long as it is (hopefully you're enjoying all of the photos, though).
And finally, this is Chris and Darci Plessner with their two girls.
THIS CHICK SLEEPS WEIRD (A THIRD (AND FINAL) INSTALLMENT)
Final, at least, from the Pack n Play
CONCERTS IN THE PARK
Every summer, the City of Santa Clarita puts on the "Concerts in the Park." It's a free, cover-band concert event in a huge grassy area, every Saturday during the summer, and the turnout is somewhere around 15,000 people (not kidding). They've had bands such as "Led Zeppagain (Led Zeppelin)," "The Atomic Punks (Van Halen)," "Bostyx (Boston and Styx)," "Boogie Nights (Funk and Disco)," and many other awesome groups, spanning many different musical tastes and preferences.
This year we attended "Hotel California (The Eagles)," and "Hollywood U2 (U2)."
The music is terrific and the crowd is awesome. We often times see friends (some of whom we hadn't seen since the previous summer), and we just hang out and have a great time. Claire loves to dance with the music.
That's about all I can write about for now. We took a trip home for the summer so that we could get Steven baptized (it was very special and there are a few hints about it (if you don't already know about it) within this blog post) with family, and to introduce our kids to everyone, but that story will have to wait until the next blog posting (whenever the heck I can get that done!). I'm still waiting on certain family members (nudge, nudge) to mail their photos/videos to me. We're also shooting for potty training Claire, so we'll report about that experience, and we'll tell you about Roberto's story, some major milestones in Claire's development including, Speech Therapy, bedtime arrangements, story time, and how she helps around the house.
So, until next time... thanks for reading!
Love,
Dave, Jen, Clairelynne, and (finally) Steven (and Peyton too!!)
