Welcoming Wally

I've been meaning to write a longer version of Wally's birth story (a shareable version-- I wrote all the details within the first couple days), but for the sake of the blog, here are the basics:
Sam and I went out for one last date to see Ender's Game, and my water broke in the middle of the movie (at about 12:30pm). I was in early labor for almost ten hours, so we didn't go to the hospital until 1am. I labored there with the help of Sam, the shower, the tub, an epic playlist of '90s hits, my doula, and vitamin water before giving birth to our ginormous baby boy at 7:34 am, thirteen days after my due date.
After Bria's traumatic delivery, I took my preparation for this birth very seriously. I worked so hard to achieve spontaneous labor and an unmedicated birth, so I think it comes as no surprise that when Wally was finally born, all I could do was cry "I did it!"
It was the most amazing and powerful thing I have ever done. So, you know. I am Woman. Hear me roar and all that.

Christmas report

Our entire holiday season was very mellow this year, including Christmas. On Christmas Eve we went out for a nice dinner just the four of us (Wally slept through the whole thing!). Then home for a quick round of singing Christmas songs in new Christmas jammies. 

Christmas morning Bria had to wait and wait while I fed Wally before we could venture out to see what Santa brought. She was overjoyed to see he brought her Star Wars Legos-- just what she wanted! That Santa sure aims to please. Sam and Bria set up a Lego station in the kitchen and work on it bit by bit every day.

We spent the afternoon with Marc and Jenn's family. It was a perfect day making us feel so lucky for all the love and joy in our lives. 

Merry Mangum Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family! We wish you all peace and joy in the coming year.

Sibling Love

So far Bria's favorite thing about having a baby brother is "helping him." She adores little Wally so much, and sometimes cries when she has to go to bed because it means she can't be with him anymore. Seriously, this girl is the best. 

Introducing...

Wallace Boston Mangum

Born 20 November 2013

7:34 am

9 lb 15 oz 

21 inches

Fall in Fairfax

Until moving to Virginia, spring was always my favorite season, but it only took one year and now I love fall more than anything. The weather is mild and cozy. And I never get over the trees blazing like fire. (Ask Sam-- every walk, every drive I am constantly interrupting conversations to say "look at that tree! Look at those leaves!") We've loved living in a new neighborhood this year to see some new trees and enjoy new paths on many long, long walks. And we have loved our first year of raking! It will probably lose its luster in coming years, but this year we have loved every moment.  

All Hallows Eve

Bria decides months in advance what she wants to be for Halloween each year, and this was no exception: Catwoman. Even after some conversations where Bria learned that Catwoman is not exactly a hero, she was totally set. Sam and Bria watched the '60s era, Adam West Batman movie together and we took costume inspiration from there. 

Considering Sam and I dressed up as batman and robin when I was pregnant with B, we decided it was fitting for Sam to dress as batman this year. 

We trick-or-treated at the mall near our house for a warm up and I dressed as a ticking time bomb. Because that's what I am. After Sam and B left for actual trick-or-treating, I stayed home and eagerly anticipated all the trick-or-treaters we would get-- we had heard our neighborhood gets tons of traffic. Alas, we only got one!! Our house is the last on the street and kind of tucked back, so I suppose it didn't seem an obvious stop. I was so sad! (Especially because I bought pounds and pounds of candy.)