Fun with Grandma Lori

My mom came up for the week and we had a great time! We spent one day at the beach with cousin Alysa.

We packed our "freezer" of food.

Brought our trusty water bottle.
And the sunblock of course. ( I have been informed there is now an spf 100. I want that.) We had our new shoes on (because he forgot to wear any and we had to go buy them - I had a lot of things to load in the car and I didn't realize that I needed to check his feet for shoes. And to think, I was worried that I didn't do my niece's hair. Obviously I had bigger things to worry about than that.)
We ate our sandwiches.

And stood on the table.
We played on the playground.
(Em: I am truly sorry about the hairdo)

and rode the ferry.

We had fun by the water with Grandma Lori.
I love you mom and I am glad you made the trip out to visit. It was fun to show you around the town and show you the things we do. Owen and I miss you already and we can't wait for the next visit!! Thanks again for coming to see us.

Tooths

Owen told me the other day that Alysa (his cousin) had a new tooth growing in. I explained to him that all of his little teeth would fall out too one day and he would get bigger teeth like her. I told him that the tooth would go under his pillow and then the tooth fairy would come and bring him some money. He responded by telling me that he had enough money and didn't need any more. I said that was fine and maybe she could bring him something else. He looked at me very worried and sad and said, "and anyway, I really like these tooths."

Hopefully we still have a few years before the little guys fall out, cause anyway, I kind of like those little tooths too.

I Love My Life

Adjusting to Two

I love having two kids. It seems like little baby was always a part of what we do.

The only real disaster we have encountered was my moment of theft. After shopping at the newly designed, newly rearranged Walmart (oh how I wish it wasn't actually that much cheaper than other stores), we headed out to the car. I put Owen in the car, unloaded the groceries, put baby sister in the car and there they were, the box of taco shells. Her car seat was in the back of the basket and the shells were tucked up on the side of the seat. I stood there holding the stolen item and contemplating what to do. Both children are in their seats, I was tired and really ready to be done. I REALLY did not want to go back in. Moral dilema indeed. Even more so in that during this particular shopping trip Owen and I had a long discussion about stealing as we moved throughout the store . I explained what it was, that we don't take things without paying for them and that if we do we could go to jail. And then a few short moments later, his mother stole the shells.

Going back in was not an option. Instead, I called Greg and told him to stop by Walmart on his way home and pay for my shells. Hopefully this is an isolated event and can be attributed to a learning curve of having a car seat in the basket and an almost 4 year old.

Similarities?

Ivy: 3 days old.

Owen: 3 days old

Life with Baby

I love it.

I love her. I love watching Owen with her.

Little Ivy Robin is so sweet and so good.

We went home on Wednesday evening (it would have been afternoon but we couldn't pick the name). She had lost a little weight and left the hospital weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces and at her doctor's appointment on Thursday she weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces. This is probably due to the fact that she likes to sleep a lot and eat a little. The first few nights I had to wake her up to eat. Last night she helped out and woke me up. She has a nice new cradle next to the bed but for some reason she prefers the bed with everyone else. As long as she is in the bed with the three of us she is content to sleep soundly.

Owen is more than willing to help out, he likes to watch her diapers being changed (he likes to look at the poop even though it makes him gag - there is a boy for you), he always wants to hold her, he kisses her all the time, he attempts to pick her up and carry her places (we let him do a lot, but we are holding back there), and he says he loves her all the time.

I had some friends over on Thursday to meet her and they asked her name. I asked Owen if he remembered her name. He said "Mike". My friends looked at me like I had lost my mind. "No, not Mike." Then he thought for a minute and said, "I mean Ike". Closer at least.

We had thought of Ivy once before she was born but neither Greg nor myself gave it much thought. After she was born it came up again and after knowing her it seemed to fit. We found that in addition to meaning a climbing plant, it also means: growth, renewal, connection, friendship, and opportunity. Perfect.

She is perfect.

And Now it is Done!

One day before her due date, everything was done and we were ready.

She was born yesterday (6/30/09) at 5:09 pm weighed in at 8 pounds 3 ounces and she was 20 inches long.

I woke up yesterday morning and it felt like any other day. I got up and showered, did most of my makeup, checked blogs, checked emails and got up to go downstairs and dry my hair. That was when my water broke. No contractions, just water breaking. Since I felt fine, I figured I would hurry and dry my hair and finish my makeup (I really didn't want to go with scruffy wet hair and no mascara). Owen was just waking up. I let him know baby was on her way and we had to head to the doctor. He wanted to get dressed in something without buttons, he chose his big brother shirt on his own and his favorite black sweat like pants. He lifted up my shirt and told the baby he was sorry she had no name yet. He also asked why I had to go to the bathroom a million times before we left. I explained that there was water inside that was protecting the baby and since she was going to be born, it was coming out. He started to gag. Lovely.

I packed the essentials on our way out. 1. Owen. 2. Owl. 3. Camera 4. Camera Charger Just In Case and 5. Little Laptop. (that is all, no clothes for either of us, no contact solution, no glasses, no toothbrush). Just the essentials.

We jumped in the car and headed off to pick up Greg. I arrived at Greg's work and after a few threatening texts and an unanswered phone call we almost left him. Luckily he came out just in time. We arrived at the hospital and we were told to take a seat while they checked me in..."No thanks, I will just stand". Not nice to sit on the couch when you are all wet. Gross perhaps, but nothing I could do about it.

Noni was at the hospital to meet us and take care of Owen as I promised him he could come. We checked in and forever waited to be admitted. They checked me and confirmed my water had broke (huh, you think?) and eventually we were moved to our room. We waited some more, still no contractions. By now it was about 12:30, my water started to break at 9:30 and we had been at the hospital since 10:30. They finally checked to see if I was dialated more than a 2 (from my previous week's appointment). I was a 5. The nurse started the petocin and said to tell her when I wanted the epidural.

A room with a view


The petocin kicked in and I started feeling the contractions. By 3:30 it was too much to bear and I asked for the pain medicine. The nurse brought in a pain medicine to give me while we waited for the epidural. It did nothing. I am not even sure of its purpose. It made me really dizzy and the pain stayed. Luckily the anesthesiologist was right behind her and came in to do the epidural. The contractions were horrible and not even my yoga breathing could help. The epidural was in by about 4:30 and I kept telling them that I was feeling a lot of pressure. Both the nurse and the anesthesiologist seemed to know something I didn't and started moving around a little quicker. With the epidural in and me stating in a loud panicky voice that I felt a lot of pressure, the nurse checked me for only the 2nd time all day and said I was fully dialated and having the baby. Everyone was moving fast, doctor was suddenly there, the pressure was horrible (with Owen I didn't feel anything so this hard pressure was new to me). I started pushing and with the help of the suction thing she was born at 5:09. The nurse informed me that I almost didn't get the epidural had she known I was that far along. Thank heavens for checking me AFTER. Bless that nurse. (and I have no idea what I was waiting for).

Little black footprint feet


They asked Greg if he wanted to do anything for the delivery or cut the cord, we both replied NO and informed them he would simply stay up top and hold my hand.




She is sweet and sleepy. I am sore but ok.


Owen survived his night without me. He informed me last night as he was leaving that he was actually going to cry. He did, I did. I missed him. He called me from the bed with his dad and said there were actual tears going down his cheeks. They are on their way in now. Baby is asleep and I am loving free Wi-Fi in the hospital.


Owen seemed to love his sister, he kissed her and said we get to take her home. He said he couldn't even believe he had a sister.


I can't believe it either. And now we will move on and get better and figure out our life of being 4.
(right after we figure out her name)