Halloween 2011

Our good friends, the Mathews brought us dinner and their girls went trick or treating with Emry in our neighborhood. It was Bryn's feeding time so Angela and I stayed back while the dads took the girls. Too cute!

Trunk or Treat!!!

We headed to "Trunk or Treat" at our church last night. Emry was so stinkin' adorable in her strawberry costume. It took her a couple of trunks to warm up but she finally quietly said, "trick or treat" and "thank you" once the candy was dropped into her bucket. Bryn was our little tiger and enjoyed the stroller ride.

1 Week Old

So hard to believe our sweet Bryn is already a week old! Time just flies... We are so thankful that she's been such a good baby. She eats every 2-3 hours, is starting to be more alert little by little during the day, and I have to wake her during the night to feed. She has done better than her sister with bath time...cries a little but is content for the most part. Daddy is home with us today and tomorrow and then I'm on my own starting Monday. I pray for a smooth transition to caring for two small children by myself...I know many women before me have done it and have found a successful routine. We will find our groove and rock it! Here is a pic of little Bryn at a week old. :)

Sisterly Love

5 Days Old

Our sweet girl is already 5 days old! She is so sweet, sleeps all the time, and breastfeeds really well. We'll work on getting her on a schedule in a week or so. She has her days/nights mixed up but that will get better with time. Emry was oblivious and uninterested the first two days we were home but now she's really stepping into her big sister role. She loves to give Bryn her paci, retrieve things for mommy and baby, and gives her kisses and hugs. My favorite is when we ask her what baby's name is, she says, "Name isth babe-bee Binn." So freakin' adorable!

Her kinked neck doesn't bother her a bit!

Giving baby sister her "pasth-ee."

Our little peanut.

Delivery Day

I woke early this morning with great anticipation about meeting our new son/daughter. So many questions racing through my mind..."is it a boy or girl? Will labor/delivery be longer or shorter than Emry's? Will baby be a healthy weight?" etc... I was rallied at 4:45 when my nurse came in and said I could get in the shower, which I quickly did, only to exit the bathroom to hear my SCREAMING neighbor. That quickly raised my anxiety and put me on high alert. Being my nosey self, I asked my nurse if this woman elected to deliver naturally without meds. Nurse confirmed that she had a lot of meds, but unfortunately they weren't working. Thankfully Steve made light of the situation and nicknamed her "Moaner Lisa" (fitting statement for an art teacher).

So, back to our delivery... My day nurse came in around 6:00am, checked me and said I was already dilated to 5 cm. on my own. After that, she started the pitocin which quickly brought on mild contractions. Around 7:30am, epidural was put it and once again, it moved all the way up to my collar bone on my left side just like with Emry. Sooo, the anesthesiologist turned the drip off for a while until I could feel the pain again. Then it was programmed on the lowest setting. Dr. Billharz came in around 8:00 and broke my water and then the contractions REALLY started coming fast and hard. At 9:49, I started pushing with hope that I would push less time than I did during Emry's labor/delivery. The doctor and nurses were all suspecting the same thing. Unfortunately, 45 minutes came and went pretty fast and I could feel A LOT with the epidural dose being so low. My nurse continued to assure me that I was doing everything right. It was just that baby kept getting caught on my pelvic bone. After 2 hrs. of pushing and making no further progress (nurse said baby's head was right there), I became someone else. I was "Moaner Lisa", sweating profusely, writhing in the bed, crying hysterically, seriously contemplating throwing in the towel. I couldn't imagine doing it any longer. After saying "I need help!" and "why isn't the doctor here yet?" the nurse called him again and he finally came up. He shared that baby was sunny-side up and that he was going to try and turn it with his hands while I pushed. After several contractions that didn't work either and once again I said, "I need help, please." He gave a detailed description about the vacuum and forceps and their potential risks. I quickly said to please do whatever he felt was best and what he was most comfortable using. So, I pushed through one contraction without it while he got everything ready and on the second push during the next contraction, she was out at 12:18pm! Steve said it looked like the doc almost dropped her and Steve was woozy b/c he saw how her head looked while being suctioned so he burried his head in my shoulder, and I could barely see due to puffiness b/c of crying and pushing so long. They forgot to announce if she was a boy or girl, so finally I looked up and said, "Oh...she's a girl!" Not quite how we imagined the moment of surprise. She cried a little at first and then stayed pretty quiet. Her poor nose was flattened and her head was fairly bruised but she was still an adorable little peanut weighing in at 6 1bs 13 oz, 19 in long.

Her battle wounds already look so much better and she's such a good baby. She's really starting to resemble Emry. We absolutely lover her to pieces and any doubts I had about not being able to evenly spread my love between two kids, have completely vanished. We feel so blessed and grateful that God gave us this opportunity and I also thank Him for getting me through such a long and draining delivery (I talked to Him a lot). Bryn was soooo worth it! I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Ready to be induced!

Our sweet angel.

Lovin' on my baby girl. (notice my puffer-penguin face)

Healing well and starting to resemble Emry.

BFFs

Sweet Peanut is Coming!

My blood pressure held out much longer than it did with Emry's pregnancy but unfortunately it's on the rise. Since I'm 38 1/2 weeks, my doc said it's best if I'm induced. I'm currently sitting in the hospital bed tying up loose ends for work, enjoying a Sprite, and waiting for Steve to get here. He's frantically getting things ready at the house and waiting for his parents to arrive from West Des Moines. They'll be staying with Emry overnight and caring for her while we're gone. My parents are driving down early tomorrow to help with Emry as well. We're very thankful we had enough time to organize care for her. At 6:00am tomorrow, the doc will give me pitocin and break my water. We'll see what happens from there. With Emry, my labor/delivery was a total of 7 hrs 45 min, and my nurse is predicting it'll be shorter than that this time around. Let's hope she's right!

Even though I'm physically ready to have baby here in my arms, I'm a little nervous about being a parent to two children. I know there will be rough patches and we'll all have some adjusting to do, but overall, I think our family will feel more complete. I'm eager to witness Emry in her big sister role. She already loves giving my belly kisses, covering it with her blankie, and giving baby hugs. So stinkin' cute! God blessed us with the opportunity to be parents twice over and I trust He wouldn't give us more than we can handle.

So here's to a good night's sleep and the safe arrival our new bundle!

21 Months

Our sweet baby girl is just three months shy of being 2! It blows my mind how fast time flies. Steve and I love watching her mature and learn new things. We're pretty biased but she's such a bright girl and catches on so quickly! In honor of Halloween approaching, here is a pic of our little strawberry.

Here's what she's up to at the ripe old age of 21 months:
- Can count and recognize numbers 1-10, in sequential and random order
- knows colors: pink, orange, brown, black, white, grey, green, blue, purple, red, yellow
- knows following shapes: square, circle, triangle, rectangle, oval, heart (started to tell us that a square has "fo sides")
- knows quite a few letters (need to write down exactly which ones) and a few of their sounds (s, t, b)
- Sleeps from 7:45/8:00pm-6:30 or 7:00am (we make her stay in bed until her clock says "7:00."
- saying sentences with 3-5 words
- says "thank you mommy or daddy" without being prompted; says "please" with reminders from us
- loves pointing out numbers and letters when we're running errands (especially at Walmart)
- is a parrot and repeats EVERYTHING
- attempts to color in the lines
- still drinks whole milk
- loves giving baby "kissthes" and covers my belly with her blankie
- getting better at independent play
- LOVES books and becomes attached to her favorites
- has only pooped on the potty once (fluke) and refuses to try ever since. We'll officially start potty training after baby is born

We're eager to see her in her big sister role. I hope she adjusts well!

Pumpkin Patch Trip #1

Steve and I took Emry to Carolyn's Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch, in Liberty, this past Wednesday. We brought her here last fall and it was fun to see how much more she was able to do and enjoy this time. Pumpkin patches are the essence of fall, my favorite time of the year. We're hoping to take Emry to a few more but that'll depend on baby. :) Enjoy the pics!

All aboard! Giving the conductor her ticket for the train ride.

Just moments before a chicken got the best of her finger. Tears began to flow and she wanted daddy to "kisth" it.

Our sweet punkin.

"Cheeeeese."

Isn't this the sweetest...heading over to the Combine with daddy to go for "a ride."

Pretty big stuff. :)

Almost 38 weeks

Went to doctor's appointment this morning and everything is going well. Here are baby and my stats:
~ BP: 126/86
~ Baby's Heart Rate: 137
~ Dilated to almost 3 1/2 cm.
~ still 75% effaced
~ belly is measuring at 37 weeks

I have not been sleeping well the past few nights which is quickly catching up with me. I so wish I could rest during Emry's naps, but work calls! Also having LOTS of Braxton Hicks contractions and some are considerably painful. I feel guilty complaining, but I'm just getting to "that point" where I'm ready to have my body back, not run to the restroom every five minutes, be able to lay on my back at night, and have normal looking extremities (I have a perpetual left club foot). Baby is technically considered full term so if it wants to make its grand entrance any time, I won't protest! I go back to the doc next Thursday and they said if I haven't gone on my own by 39 weeks (Oct. 23rd), we can schedule an induction. Woohoo!

37 Weeks

Went to the doc this past Thursday, at 36 1/2 weeks and things are continuing to go well. I'll be exactly 37 weeks tomorrow. My weight gain from last appointment was a little shocking but my love for a late night bowl of ice cream several times a week, probably doesn't help. Here are baby and my stats:

Baby's Heart Rate: 136
My BP: 130/84
Belly is measuring on schedule

The doc checked me and I was dilated between a 2-3 and about 75% effaced. I was very happy to hear I've progressed a little but this doesn't necessarily mean things will happen soon. My left foot is beginning to balloon as well as my hands. I've also been waking up with puffy eyes so for selfish reasons, I'm a-okay if baby wants to make its appearance a little early. BUT...I know it would be best if it continued to grow until at least 39 weeks. Only time will tell, so now it's just a waiting game. Here are a few bare belly shots of our not-so-little peanut.

Family Love

We headed to West Des Moines, this weekend to spend time with Steve's parents and my mom & Ted. Keith and Linda so graciously hosted all of us again. Emry was on attention overload and soaked up every minute of it! This was a good lead into the time she'll be spending with them once baby comes in a few weeks. She also got to see her aunts, uncles, and a few cousins. Love you all and can't wait to see you soon!

Swinging with Grandpa Ted.

"Lull-oring" with her cousins.

Admiring the fountain at brunch.

On the way home. She surprisingly kept the headphones on for about 30 minutes while watching Yo Gabba Gabba. Such a big girl.