Happy baby

Casey's hobbies

The older Casey gets, the more creative he gets. Not a day goes by where he doesn't wow me by his talents. He can build amazing things out of blocks, legos and train tracks.

He likes to create his own unique creations with the legos rather than following the instructions to build something. Over the weekend Matt and him created a police airplane that was the size of Joshua.

Casey loves his alone time with Joshua in the afternoon. He loves playing with him and trying to teach him about the world around him. He has such a gentle touch with his new little brother. Today Joshua couldn't stop smiling at him. I swear he smiles at Casey more than anyone else.

Casey's latest interest is photography. Yesterday he had so much fun taking pictures of Joshua. I love this picture that he took for me.

One month old!

One month has come and gone in little Joshua's life so quickly. He has already made it through his first nasty Wisconsin illness, cooed at his mommy, attended his first Friday play group, and rolled over from belly to back.

Here he is sucking his thumb

Casey loves playing with him. He makes sure Joshua has a
nuk when needed and is always cuddled up in a blanket.

One of his many "little brother" shirts

His new outfit from my friend Stephanie

Here he is with his new friend Aubrey.
She couldn't keep her hands off him!

He loves to cuddle up high on daddy's shoulder

precious moments

Tomorrow Joshua will be 3 weeks old. We have already learned so much about what he likes and dislikes.

Likes

• to be held
• the baby sling
• bath time
• eating
• watching his brothers
• being talked to
• sleeping (while being held)
• being swaddled
  

Dislikes

• dirty diapers
• being put down
• his car seat
• gas
  

Here are some snapshots of the the past week. Such precious memories.

One week old

It is hard to believe that Joshua is already a week old! He has been such a blessing to add to the family. It is fun to watch the boys with him. Casey likes to give Joshua his nuke when he is upset and sing silly songs to him (really loudly). Caleb enjoys holding him and watching him sleep.
Matt has been a great help at night with cleaning and playing with the big boys who are dying for some wrestling time with their papa. He also gets some time to give the little guy cuddles.
I thought it was hard to get two kids to cooperate for a pictures...

We have been blessed to have so much help from family the past week. Right now Grandma Jill is here helping me run the house and take care of the boys. It makes the transition a lot easier when you have help!

Special Visitors

During our stay at the hospital we kept our visitors to a minimum to ensure we got a lot of rest time. Here are some of the special visitors who just couldn't wait to meet our little Joshua.

Grandma Karen

Grandpa Lew and the boys checking out the new little man

Grandma Sheryl

Grandpa Lew

Casey giving his new brother kisses

Caleb couldn't wait to hold his new brother

Grandma Jill and Casey came for a special afternoon visit

Uncle Andy and Aunt Christina

Buntrock Bunch!

Joshua's first day of life

It's 3:00am on Tuesday, March 1st...

I get up for my 4th or 5th bathroom break of the night not feeling the greatest. I thought that perhaps it was just gas. After crawling back onto the couch and getting comfortable I felt a pop and a sudden gush of water. This was it...Joshua was coming today!

I waddled up the stairs to wake Matt with a "don't freak out honey but my water just broke!" My mom came to the rescue to watch the big brother's for us as we headed off to Community Memorial.

We got settled into our room around 4:00. They did an exam and determined that it was my water that broke (I knew that already) and that although contractions and dilation had begun, they could hold off until 7:00 for the C-section. So at this point it was all about resting and breathing through the contractions.




Around 6:30 they were going to take me to the OR to get me prepped for surgery. Matt needed to get ready to. This consisted of getting scrubs on. Can I trade with you honey?


Matt asked me how I was feeling. Seeing as though I had been through this before I knew what to expect so I wasn't nervous. I guess just ready to be done with the pregnancy and excited to meet my new son. Matt said a prayer for us and off I went!

For those who are curious, the OR is a very small cold room. My Anesthesiologist prepped me by cleaning my back, and numbing the spinal site. As soon as my OB and her partner arrived the spinal was done and they laid me down. It was only a few short moments before they were ready to begin. All I felt was a lot of tugging, pushing and pulling.




Not long after Joshua was born! They showed him to me briefly and then he went with the nurse and Matt to his little table where he was looked over and cleaned up. I was excited that he was in the same room as me. I could hear everything that was going on. I was shocked that he was 8 lbs 3 ounces.

While the doctors were finishing things up and putting me back together I waited patiently to see my new boy again. When Matt brought him over to me the first thing I noticed was how big his hands were. This was my biggest baby yet!

It wasn't long before we were all reunited in our room and I got to hold my little man. There is nothing like the feeling of holding your baby in your arms for the first time. What a precious gift.

Joshua is a true blessing from God. We are so thankful for him. We can't wait to see how he fits into the family. We love you Joshua Andrew!

Joshua Andrew Buntrock

We are so excited to welcome Joshua Andrew Buntrock into the world and into our family. He was born March 1st 2011 at 7:23am. He is our heaviest baby at 8 lbs 3 ozs. He was 21 in long.

Here he is a few seconds after coming into this world.

I am such a lucky dad to have a beautiful new boy but I am also such a lucky husband to have the wife that I do. Joy has done such an amazing job today! She has gone though great pain in order allow this boy to be born. I am constantly amazed at how strong she is and how self sacrificing she is for the ones she loves. I love you honey, I am so proud of you!

We love you Joshua!