My very own Male Helpers!

António has fed Vicente and has even attempted to change a nappy, quite successfully might I add! Sebastião on the other hand is more interested in kissing the baby nonstop or if Vicente dares to cry he will immediately force a dummy in him! It´s quite wonderful to watch my three men interacting. It’s quite unbelievable I have three sons. How lucky can one be?!

Growing Old...

Yesterday I had a brilliant idea NOT! I decided to go out for lunch with my men and my grandparents. Yes, all together at a restaurant with no sane adults besides Zé and I. Come to think of it, Zé was probably the only sane adult present and his sanity wore off very fast! My boys behaved beautifully, can´t say the same for my grandparents but what can one expect of two 87 year old one of whom has Alzheimer’s and the other is your typical Portuguese very male type man who has had a kidney removed in the past month. Debbie and Pai, if you are reading I know you can just picture our outing... or probably not LOL! I won´t go into details because it’s quite depressing and the parts that we manage to have a good laugh are quite embarrassing.

Growing old is too sad for words... I need to hold on to the wonderful memories I have of my grandparents when they were younger. We did manage a photo of them with the three boys, but even that took forever!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY PAI

How can one forget such an important day as a father´s Birthday? Well... I did! No excuses, I just forgot. Pai, forgetting your special day doesn´t mean you have been forgotten. We think and talk about you daily and the plans we have made for an England trip are also on a daily basis - all we actualy need to do now is GO! The boys have something special for you so I hope you have a good connection and are able to see it. Just click on the video link. Something else will be delivered any day soon.

All our love (to the moon and back)

The Lopes Vieira Guerreiro´s!

Waking up to an amazing Surprise!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
What an amazing way to pull me out of bed! We got a gorgeous "diaper cake" hand made with extra love by Julie. I wish I could have shown it live. Julie - you did an amazing job. I am overwhelmed. I am so lucky to have you as a dear friend not only because all you do and send us is just perfect but especially because you are and always have been there for us. No matter how many miles away we are I know you are my dear sister. How can one not remember all the kind words and gestures and the way you have spoiled our family. I will cherish this morning for years to come as I will our friendship.
All our love,
The Guerreiro´s

Relaxing at the pool!

I love summer! The weather is just right - not to hot but warm enough to have a nice day in the garden and a quick dip in a knee length pool. The kids loved it, especially Kiko. I have been spending every morning alone with Kiko. Zé stays home with António and Vicente. We leave the house at 10 a.m. and just walk around downtown, run errands and whatever until 1 p.m. He then goes for lunch with grandma Alda and takes a nap. Alda brings him home in time for dinner. This way I get to have quality time with Kiko and then the afternoons are a breeze with António and Vicente. I either rest or just do stuff around the house, like hang pictures. I now have a beautiful picture frame mural in our bedroom. Will take pictures soon. I don´t know how I´m going to handle 3 when Zé goes back to work. ONE DAY AT A TIME.

An amazing Baby!

Life is busy but going on nicely. Adapting to a family of 5 (four men) is an amazing experience! Vicente is a true champion. He has only been waking up once for a feed during the night - so that’s one bottle around 10 p.m and the next around 4 a.m and then again at 9 a.m - Can´t have it any easier. He is a truly settled and happy baby. Went to the Ped today for the normal check up and all is well. He has gained back his birth weight and is as perfect as expected!

My rib is still painful but with enough pain killers I manage to get by. I do think its better or maybe I just got used to the pain. I am not lifting stuff around, well I do lift Vicente but that’s it. Just trying to build a routine, at least until Fatima comes back from her Holiday. I still need to add "going to the shop" in my daily routine but I need longer days. It’s a bit overwhelming trying to fit everything in a day and that’s the big impact this third child has in our lives. I guess once school starts for the boys I will manage in a more appropriate way!

Things have taken a turn...

Quick labor indeed but what started out as a nurse trying to help by pressing my tummy while I was pushing Vicente out turned out as ONE BROKEN RIB for me! So pain started on Wednesday afternoon and by dinner time I just couldn´t handle it and Pedro took me to Hospital. After a couple o X-Rays - diagnosis - broken rib! Cure: 2 months taking things easy and not lifting anything heavier than a mobile phone - YEAH RIGHT! So now I am on pain killers that actually work wonders and taking one day at a time.

On a brighter note, Vicente is a great baby. He sleeps, eats and eats and sleeps. When awake, he just stares at anything he has before him. António is very much in love with his baby brother and Kiko; well... let’s just say he can literally squeeze love!

I want to thank all the text messages, phone calls and visits I have had this week. I really appreciate them and the boys are loving all the extra attention.

Going Home today

I had a wonderful night. Slept for 8h none interrupted. Asked the nurse to take Vicente into the nursery around midnight and they only brought him back at 8 a.m. HEAVEN! The funny thing is there were only two babies spending the night in the nursery. Vicente and Madalena. Madalena is the 3rd child of another couple... This morning at bath time I noticed something that my dear friend Mafalda said last night on the phone. First child, mum and Dad go with photo cameras and some actually film their child’s first bath. When you see mummy alone, you know its the 2nd child and then you see a baby and a nurse - no parents - it’s bound to be 3rd child. See a pattern?!
Vicente was bathed by his nurse today and no I wasn´t there but I was next door talking to the pediatrician and filling out paper work. Does that count? LOL!
Anyway, all is well and we are both in perfect health. Waiting for Zé to come and get us - now that might be a long wait!

Kiko meets Vicente

Last night Kiko came to visit his baby brother. It was quite amusing because he wispered the entire time and didn´t really know what to think of the baby. Loved holding him in his arms but wasn´t to interested in kissing him but would not let go either! Overall it went very well and he left as a happy toddler blowing me and baby Vicente kisses.

We sent some pics for António to see and he called me right back saying his baby brother was so cute that he wanted to kiss him non stop. Looking forward to there meeting too and in very much need of a pic. of me and my men!

Our family is now complete!

VICENTE IS HERE!

Vicente was born yesterday, Monday 4th of August 2008 at 2.01 p.m. He weighed 3.280g and measured 51cm.

José spent the weekend in the Alentejo at my mum´s, so I was home alone with Kiko when my water broke at 3 a.m I waited until 8 a.m to ask my brother Pedro to take me to Hospital. My cntractions were still not very regular and totally pain free so I was very calm. Around 11 a.m I was checking in at the Hospital and the regular contractions started around noon. I was fully dialated by 12.45 and José had finally arrived for the birth. After 7 min. in the delivery room Vicente came shooting out. Everything was so quick and painless that I couldn´t possibly wish for a better birth. He is a wonderful baby. All he has been doing for the past 24h is sleep - he´s barely eating and I am getting my much needed rest!