Friday, January 23, 2009

Tyler's Birth

Wow! What a whirlwind two days it's been! Labor began Thursday around noon and it has been non-stop action since then. We're definitely looking forward to being home together as a family and are thinking Tyler and I will be released tomorrow (Saturday) around noon. I knew if I didn't post this blog now, while still in the hospital with the wonderful nurses waiting on me hand and foot and all my meals delivered, dishes taken away, no laundry to worry about, then it'll be a few weeks before I can post my thoughts. For those of you wondering, we were able to have a natural birth again as we did with Ethan and we appreciate all your thoughts and prayers for a safe and wonderful labor and healthy baby!

Rob and I are definitely tired, even though he came into the world at a decent hour, you just don't get much sleep between nursing every 3 hours and the nurses popping into your room through out the night taking vitals on you and the baby. Highlights of the birth though was that I started slowly. I went into the doctor the previous day and hadn't progressed any yet. The doctor's office checked me on Thursday around noon and I was at 3 cm dilated, but still too early to go in. After a great walk in the 68 degree beautiful weather from the hospital to Chick-Fil-A for lunch and back with Rob, my contractions finally started coming where we had to pause for a minute on the walk back. (Maybe it was their spicy Southwest Chicken salad that finally brought on my labor!) We checked into the hospital around 2 pm at 4 cm dilated. My mother-in-law arrived shortly after to take the kids and my sister also came soon after to support me and witness the miracle of birth. It was awesome having her there and Rob enjoyed being able to go get food or go to the bathroom without having to leave me alone.

It moved pretty slowly during the afternoon - walking the halls of the hospital, using the exercise ball, squatting, leaning, kneeling, massaging, shower time, whatever sounded comfortable to me at the time. It took 5 hours to go the next 2 cm, and I thought it was going to go well into the night! I reached 7 cm around 9:30 and stayed at a 7 for the next hour - doctor is now on her way... However, following the tradition of his older brother of going so fast at the end that the doctor just misses the birth, he's already copying Ethan! After transition, my water broke in the bathroom at 10:41pm and Tyler arrived just 7 minutes later, almost on the bathroom floor if it weren't for my great L&D nurse, Rob, and Jennifer helping me back. We did have the on-call OB nurse there to catch him (barely!), but yes, again, the doctor was in the parking lot. Funny how you pay them so much and my babies seem to deliver themselves! We are doing great though, minus Ethan throwing up this evening all over the hospital floor with yet another bug he's caught. Nice to be staying in the hospital tonight though, as I may be getting more rest than poor Rob taking care of sick Ethan! Enjoy the picts we took today of the whole family and Tyler with the grandparents.







New Baby Boy!

Just a quick update to tell everyone that new baby Tyler was born on 1/22/09 at 10:48 PM.  He weighed 8lbs, 0oz and is 20" long.  Everyone is doing wonderful and we can't wait to get home.
Tyler's first bath

Tired mom, dad, and new baby

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Ethan's First Haircut

I took Ethan to Snip-Its earlier today for his first haircut and it came out great! Ashleigh even complemented him on how handsome he looked on the drive home. I love it when my kids are well mannered and considerate to one another! Here are some before, during, and after pictures.

Ethan in the chair before his first haircut

Ethan getting his haircut

All done! That wasn't so bad, right?

Ethan and I after the haircut

I'm slowly taking care of all the things I meant to do during the holidays, but let slide until after they were over. I guess it's a form of nesting, but I haven't gotten the big burst of energy that comes with it, so I'm still waiting and trying to be patient. This week, in addition to the haircut for Ethan, I also took Ashleigh into the dentist for her first real cleaning and X-rays appointment. She did fine, but we definitely need to do a better job of brushing her teeth and doing it twice a day!

These last few pictures are from a birthday party we went to a week ago at an indoor bouncy castle place. The kids loved it and I even jumped a little, but it didn't do a thing for putting me into labor or moving the baby down, but that's alright because I got some good exercise in the process.

Ethan watching Ashleigh jump


Ashleigh on the obstacle course

Ashleigh looking so precious!

Me this morning at 38+ weeks
Rob was at work, but Ashleigh is getting really good with a camera now

Friday, January 02, 2009

Christmas and New Year's Celebrations

The family on Christmas Eve

Four generations on Christmas Eve
Daddy, Ethan, Grandma Debbie, Great-grandma Jolene, and Ashleigh

Open Zeba! Ethan with his new Noah's Ark

Rob reading Brown Bear to Ethan

Daddy, Grandma Debbie, Grandpa Terry, and Great-Grandma Ethel on Christmas day

Me, Grandpa John, and Uncle Steven on Christmas morning

Brunch at our house on Christmas morning

Ashleigh and Uncle Steve playing Marbulous

Grandma Carole coloring with Ethan

Happy New Year! It's now 2009 and we're looking forward to the birth of our little one in just a few weeks. I've been feeling well with just some minor back soreness and heartburn at night, but this pregnancy has been the easiest of the three by far!

For Christmas, we went to Christmas Eve Services at our home church, Calvary Chapel Aurora and in addition to the worship band, they had an orchestra, adult choir, and kids choir on stage. I was thinking next year Ashleigh will be old enough to sing in the kids choir. We had a quiet evening at home after church watching Nativity Story with Ashleigh, then on Christmas morning, we had my family over for brunch and went to Rob's parents' house for Christmas dinner. A nice Christmas, especially with the Wii and Wii Fit for ourselves. We've had a lot of fun playing with friends and family already!


Our friends, Meg and Steve playing the Wii

New Year's Eve, we were home with the kids and I was resting, watching movies with my feet up and playing Uno with Ashleigh while we watched the East Coast bring in the new year. To be honest, I didn't even make it until midnight with a playdate in the morning, a doctor's appointment in the afternoon, and no nap that day. I did go until 11 pm, but the endless Uno game went a little later than I wanted to stay up, so Ashleigh and I went to bed at the same time!

I'm now packed for the hospital, the Christmas decorations are down, and the computer is set-up downstairs, making room for the crib in the office. Now we just need a baby! I really wouldn't mind if this one came early as my other two were late. Just a short time now to wait...