Carson is 2 weeks old!

2 weeks with 2 kids. Whew..It feels like it has been so much longer, but flown by at the same time. It's amazing how fast you forget how life used to be and adapt to the new "normal". We can't picture our life without Carson in it. You have a lot of people talk to you about having kids when you are expecting. When you're pregnant with the first you get all kinds of advice. When you are pregnant with the 2nd you get a lot of smiles and people shake their heads. They know what you are in for, but know it's best if you figure it out for yourself. There is no advice to prepare you.

The last 2 weeks weeks we have been figuring life out as a family of 4. It has been an adventure at times. Here are some things we have learned:

1. Callie is an awesome big sister. We never imagined she would adapt and welcome a baby into the family as well as she has.

2. As mentioned in a previous post, but still worth mentioning again..boys pee on everything. Carson gives us a look of complete satisfaction after he empties his bladder on us/everything within a 5 foot radius.

3. After you have had a newborn before the 2nd is a piece of cake. Going from no kids to 1 was a lot harder for us then 1 to 2. Stay tuned over the next few months to see if we still feel that way.

4. Once you have worked 3rd shift nighttime feedings and broken up sleep feels normal.

5. Carson loves baths. He lays back like he is in a sauna. Callie enjoys spraying him down to keep him warm.

6. With 2 kids you take a lot less pictures. Including big sister in everything means no hands for a camera. It's about the memories. We will get more pictures one day hopefully.

7. There will be moments when both kids are crying/whining at the same time. All you can do is smile at each other. Even in the chaos we know how blessed we are.

8. Carson isn't the best luck for sports. Since his birth there have been 2 UNC losses & the Panther's didn't win the Super Bowl.

9. Getting both kids to bed at the same time is a beautiful thing, but they will be sure to pay you back in the morning by both waking up at the exact same time wanting to eat & potty/a diaper change.

10. Going from 1 kid to 2 kids does not mean laundry/dishes/cleaning doubles. It's an exponential increase.

Check back after Valentine's Day for pictures of our little heartbreakers. Thanks for reading! 

Carson Michael Joyner

We are proud to announce the birth of Carson Michael Joyner! He arrived on 1/26/16 at 8:40 AM weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces & measuring 20 inches long. A due date baby! He entered the world with a loud scream that even shocked the doctor and nurses. It was the smoothest and easiest (relatively speaking) delivery we could have asked for-Thanks Carson!  

The birth story: The afternoon before I went to the doctor and she had a few "tricks" to get him out. What she did must have worked! After the appointment we went to the mall to walk for the 4th time that week, eat at the food court (pregnant woman's dream come true), take Callie to ride the carousel, and enjoy sometime as a family of 3. I woke up feeling what I thought was just cramps..but within minutes realized I was in active labor with contractions every 2-3 minutes. We made it to the hospital 6 cm dilated. Carson was on his way fast! My favorite doctor walked in the room and 1 push later our perfect son was born. 

Love at first sight

Love my boys!

  

Hands & heart full

First meeting- isn't she glowing?

Joyner Party of 4!

Cuddles while mommy showers. Waiting on a woman ;)

Life with a little boy is a little different and a learning curve for us. He has peed on his nursery walls at least 3 times, all over Daniel during newborn pictures, and in my face on my first day home alone with him. So far he's a really good baby and sleeps well at night. Big sister Callie is in love with him. She enjoys singing to him during diaper changes, holding him, and telling him "it's okay" when he is crying. 

Thanks for all the calls, texts, visits, gifts, flowers, meals, and well wishes. You have once again shown us just how blessed we are. Shout out to our awesome church for providing meals for the first 2 weeks since we have been home..I'm not sure I even remember how to cook. Check back in a few days for a post about us settling in at home & hopefully his newborn/family pictures will be back! Thanks for reading :)