Wolfie the Bunny- Bris Book Review

Its time for another Bris Book Review!  Since baby Oliver's arrival, we have been reading different books on welcoming a new sibling into the home.  Wolfie the Bunny is my favorite book so far.  Wolfie is the newly adopted baby Wolf in a house of a mom, dad and daughter bunny.  Dot, the bunny, is not so sure about Wolfie, especially when her parents are busy taking pictures of his every movement and saying how cute he is.  She is very aware of the fact that he could "eat them all up!"  Their parents make Dot take Wolfie to get some more carrots from the store together and while there they meet a bear who wants to eat Wolfie.  Dot could run away, but instead she fights off the bear and saves Wolfie.  It is a sweet story of sibling rivalry and the unconditional love through sibling bonds.  I also love it because it teaches acceptance for those who are different than us.  The unique illustrations really make this book a delight to read and look at.  Check it out for the littles in your life!  My 2 year old Addison loves shout "He's going to eat us up!" when I read it to her.  6 year old, Elizabeth, and 9 year old, Mason, get a kick out of the story as well.  Save more than $5 on it today at Amazon!

Thanks for following along!
xo
K

Oliver Newell

It would figure that by baby number four it takes me three months to share his birth story.  But that's how it goes when you have four littles taking up every moment of your time!

The day started as any other Monday did. I got up, fed the kids breakfast, packed lunches, brushed hair, and rushed everyone out the door in time to catch the bus. I actually woke up feeling refreshed and energetic, unlike other mornings where I would have given anything for a few more minutes of sleep. I got my little sidekick, Addie Guth, ready and we went on our way.  I normally took Addison with me when I had my checkups, but this time I had taken my friend, Kim, up on the offer to watch her while I went in.  I dropped Addison off at her house to play with her daughter Emme and I started driving to meet Tommy so that we could go to my appointment.  Almost immediately, I started having contractions.  They weren't really different from my typical brachs and hicks contractions, but they were coming quickly.  I probably was having them every 3-4 minutes.  I insisted that it was no big deal.  Even when the doctor examined me and told me that I was almost 5 cms, I brushed it off and claimed that it wasn't the real deal. This was my fourth time.  I would know for sure when it was time. She wanted us to go to the hospital, but I made Tommy take me home first.  We went home and the contractions continued.  I finally admitted that we should go.  But even when we got to the hospital I kept saying to Tommy that I just wanted to go get Addison and go home.  After doing a non stress test for the baby they let me get up and walk around.  We strolled two doors down from my delivery room to get Tommy a Popsicle.  On the walk back I had a weird pain and turned to Tommy said "oh no."  I finally was able admit that it was time and that I wasn't going to be leaving the hospital that day. This little person was making his or her way into the world.  Almost immediately, I started with some of the most painful contractions out of all of my deliveries combined. They started, climbed up, and as they climbed down another one would start again. There was no break and I was getting no relief. The doctor came in and offered to break my water. As she broke my water, his head emerged and they urged me to push. One strong push (and a lot of screaming) later and he was out.  I was absolutely shocked to find out that the little person growing inside of me was a boy. A sweet, perfect little boy. There is nothing like the first moment you meet your new baby.  Seeing their face for the first time, holding their skin against yours, checking their little baby fingers and toes... This moment is like none else and Oliver was no exception.  He has got his mama wrapped around his sweet little finger!

Now for a name.. For those of you who have been following for awhile know that when Addison was born we were told that she was going to be a boy and we had planned to call him Oliver. We planned on having a boy and were surprised in the delivery room to find that he was actually a she!  So this little man coming just made the whole thing make sense. We believe that the mixup occurred so that God could let us know that we weren't finished yet. As soon he was born, I wanted to call him Oliver, but I wasn't in a rush to make a decision on a name. I wanted to let it come to me after snuggling, nursing, and getting to know him.  The morning that we were scheduled to go home I started to panic a bit about making a decision. I was getting tired and the whole thing was stressing me out. It was then that a text came through from my sister claire which read "God sent you your Oliver. I don't see how his name can be anything else but that."  I knew that it was true and I picked up the form, then and there, and signed his new name to it.

Mr. Oliver Newell.. You are such a sweet, lovable baby.  Your favorite place to lay is on my chest, right on my heart.  You love a good swaddle and it calms you right down when you are worked up.   Your eye color is still undecided.  One day its teal blue and the next its grey brown.  You have a flirtatious, half grin smile that you give to all of the ladies.  You are such a casual, laid back little guy.  Even the clothes that look best on you reflects that style. Your little coos can heal anyone's bad days.  We are so thankful that you have come into our family to make it even more complete.  We love you to the moon and back little bro bro!

xo

K