Come on.....brand new bike (baby)

I promise that I won't always post about our new baby.  I just want to get everything down that happened or I thought.  So bear with me.

About two months before I had Kielle, Cruz asked one night at family prayer if he could be the first to hold her.  Since I hadn't even thought about it and none of the other kids had "called" it, I said yes.  He was in seventh heaven.  While the baby was in my belly, every night he would give he a kiss.  No every night he still has to give Kielle a kiss on the forehead.  He's a great big brother.

Many of you remember the Macky (McKay's new nickname) begged for another baby back in 2009 and many times since.  When I helped Betsy as she had her jaw surgery that summer she asked me one day how taking care of eight kids was.  I answered by saying "easy."  She followed back by saying, "does that mean you will have one more?"  So when I had told her early on that I was expecting and that I would need extra help because I get extremely sick and dad would be traveling she (first) thought I was playing a mean joke, and then (second) she was ecstatic.  She has been a great big sister.  Every morning she comes in and takes Kielle, changes her, dresses her, and has her own one on one time while everyone else is sleeping (we are on an awful summer sleeping schedule.)  It's been great to have the extra "big" help.

Katanya is such a big helper before the baby.  She loves to surprise me with jobs that she has done in secret.  She loves to hold Kielle as much as she can too.  Her famous line is, "But I haven't held / loved her today."  With also being the youngest in the family giving up her spot, it hasn't been hard at  all (as it shouldn't be at seven years old.)  I secretly think that she can't wait to be able to play with her as in more than just holding a baby.

Kirsten my peacemaker.  She is only okay if Kielle isn't crying or pouting and only if she is happy.  She doesn't like it when she is sad in anyway and her feelings have always been very tender.  She also is a great big sister.  Her sweetness and care shows.  She has always been a great friend to ANYBODY and she will be a great friend to her sister without a doubt.

I guess this just means, I'm a proud momma, and 

I LOVE MY KIDS!

Always happy to come home from the hospital

(With the convenience of Instagram and Facebook, I've been slower at posting on my blog.  I'm sorry for the repeat of some pictures.)

 

Kielle and I came home on Sunday.  

We have taken it easy the past week and the kids have rotated through each other numerous times a day for their turns in holding her.  After getting her through the first three days, she has finally figured out (a little more) that night time is for sleeping.  I was only able to get eight hours of sleep the first three days.  Somehow, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I think adrenaline always kicks in and you make it through it. 

With this baby, it has been a really easy and fast recovery.  Probably my easiest.  I have gotten through several projects that I needed to organize and do.  Its also weird having someone their that watches her.  I know there is a huge age gap but its actually been really nice!

Kielle's debut

The picture below reveals all the details, but not the story.

Kielle (key-ell) definitely resembles our other kids, but my pregnancy with her was nothing like my past pregnancies. Which is why I was not surprised that her labor and delivery was anything but routine.

My water broke at 6:25 AM.  I've never had my water break before.  I woke up in bed and remember thinking something felt weird.  I got up to go to the bathroom and realized that I was about to "splash".  My water hadn't broken yet but I knew it was coming.   As I ran into the bathroom, it broke, luckily inside my bathroom (on the tile.)  My labors are normally less than four hours so Jacob and I hurried to get to the hospital thinking we wouldn't have much time.

 

Jacob loves the super bright overhead lights in the delivery rooms (he calls them the "action" lights). In 2006, I had an emergency C-Section when Katanya was born. I really wanted a VBAC  so long as it was safe. The doctor said that as long as my delivery was progressing she would let it go for 24 hours before we would have to go the C-Section route. My labor was slow and for the most part fairly mild. I progressed so slowly. My labor ended up being 15 minutes shy of 15 hours. 

For the first time since McKay, my epidural worked.  The anesthesiologist was amazing.  He said he had a hand full of techniques he would try if it didn't work and he seemed to know what he was doing.  It worked right away.  Because we weren't sure if it was going to work, they put the epidural in around 10 AM.  I was comfortable and not in pain for most of the labor.

Finally at 9 pm, I was fully dilated and ready to deliver.  The delivery was my easiest yet.  It is true when they say "good things come to those who wait."  I truly believe that a slow and patient labor probably helped with my chance of a successful VBAC. 

Kielle honestly came out wanting to eat and smacking her lips.  I wonder sometimes if she is going to grow as fast as Kirsten did.

Our friends that were staying with the kids that night brought the kids over to meet their sister. 

We had picked her first name a few weeks ago were no where near being able to agree on middle names. The long labor gave us time to talk about names.  Kielle came from a list of names I came across 3 weeks ago.  Its origin is Hawaiian.  Athena came from the goddess.  Kirsten had been reading Percy Jackson the night before so at the hospital I went over a list of complete (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Celtic) goddesses and really liked Athena.  After all she is the goddess of wisdom so how could Jacob not like it?  Magdalena came from Jacob.  He had heard the shortened name Magda and looked up the long name - Magdalena.  He also liked the fact that it was an Eastern European name.  I wasn't ever worried about not having a name nor agreeing on anything beforehand.  Life always works itself out.  We are so blessed to have little Kielle join our family.  I already can't imagine life without her.

On the way

Post #999

Last night I told McKay that she could not set her alarm any earlier than 7:00 AM because I wanted to sleep. She was not happy to hear that. The irony is that my water broke this morning at 6:25 AM and I ended up being her alarm.  Also,  when I got to the car I realized that I forgot to put on shoes.  Jacob ran back into the house and grabbed me these. For some reason he felt so rushed that he grabbed his flip flops for me to wear....... more to come! #inNeedOfMinolaBlahnik

A numbers game

Our family blog is coming up on it's 1000 post. I'm sort of hoping that "Baby G" (girl) will make her debut so she can be the 1000 post.  And yes, we still have NOT decided on a name.  I'm actually not really stressing about it since it will work itself out.

 

This picture is actually when I was 36 1/2 weeks along.  The baby basketball picture below is at 37 1/2 weeks.  Its a little more current.  After our last ultrasound, the doctor said that it would probably be my biggest baby yet.  Now this has me a little worried.  My biggest baby was Cruz weighing in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces.  They had figured at 36 weeks the baby was already 5.75 pounds.  I'm just hoping she comes a little early like the rest of mine have.

So we have bets going on for when she decides to come and how much she weighs.  Her due date is July 12.  I can't get induced because I'm opting for a VBAC and they won't start me due to my last C-Section.  So here are our guesses.

Jacob - June 27 - 7 pounds 6 ounces
Amy - July 2 - 7 pounds 2 ounces 
(7/2 and 7/2, trying to play the number game)
McKay - July 1 - 7 pounds 11 ounces
Kirsten - June 30 - 7 pounds 3 ounces
Cruz - July 5 - 7 pounds even
Katanya - July 3 - 6 pounds 10 ounces

We would love to hear your guesses!

It couldn't hurt to try right?

 I'm officially 2 1/2 weeks away from my due date.  So my brother and his wife are visiting this weekend and my sitster-in-law and her family came in for a short hello too.

The girls decided to try to get the labor stages just a little more advanced.  They had me do a minute of vigorous tummy rubbing followed by 3 minutes of squats and lunges (x2).  This was there labor dance.  I was so sore in my thighs by the second time that I volunteered to go run a mile with them if they had bellies too.  Of course they did.  It was fun.  I made it slowly jogging with only one bathroom stop and one "catch-my-breath-stop."  And as my kids have asked me numerous times, no I don't think a baby will be coming tonight.
And although I'm pretty sore tonight, I can't wait to get out and do this for real.

I've always been one that hated waiting.

18 and a half Weeks! 

(Check out the new foot header.)

 

We couldn't wait any longer.  We snuck a peek on Saturday.  

It's a GIRL!

We are all so excited.  The kids loved being able to see her and her profile and her crossing her ankles and moving her toes.  

Cruz wanted a brother but was quick to say, "Yay, I'm the only one that gets my own room in the house."

We have our official "anatomy" ultrasound in a little less than two weeks.

I really hate taking pictures of me while I'm pregnant so I'm trying to do it for the first time with this little one. 

Officially done

We are officially past the stage of diapers. (There is no coming back.) Katanya was a toss up between Kirsten on being the easiest.

We are now DONE....

• with diapers.
• with wipes.
• and dirty bums.

On to the next stage of life.

Blessing Day

Aaron blessed their baby boy, Thomas David, today. It's always fun to see family and catch up on times. Now for this storty. It happened last Tuesday.

McKay: Mom, when are you going to have another baby?
(I was caught off guard)
Me: Why?
McKay: Cause, I'm bored.

So I let her get all the baby she could get today.

Then we stopped by my other friend's, who happened to bless their baby, who by chance happens to be in the same ward. (Talk about luck). And she held their little girl. Hopefully that will help her get a little unfocused on me having a baby.

Face of an Angel

Take a look. Innocent, sweet, cute, adorable are all words that come to mind. This is my baby.I had been blessed with three very easy, very mellow babies. All of them that slept the night early on in their little lives. None of them very picky, all of them happy and playful. Did I mention VERY EASY? Needless to say,my fourth, has been the exact opposite! She has been very strong and independent from birth, and I was grateful for this trait. Now, I don't know what to think. This sweet angel teases and knows just how to push my buttons. She still refuses to eat almost all foods. I've never had a biter until her. I often feel like I fight her with everything simple thing that happens in life. She's fearless and I spend most of my day trying to keep her from falling off chairs, or jumping off couches and beds. Then nighttime comes, and bedtime is another battle. Her precious attitude has made me glad that she is the last and not the first. Although it's not just me that puts up with her.... (busted....)
Kirsten and Cruz had climbed in her playpen to protect themselves from Katanya hitting them on the head with a doll. She knows how to tease and loves it. Many times she will run and grab something you are using or working with and start running around the bar saying na, na, na, na, na, na, or she runs and hides.

Where did she learn this?

Although, after all is said and done (and she is in bed and asleep) we still love her.

Snags

My little snaggletooth. I haven't ever seen a situation like hers. She has her two bottom teeth in and the a top side tooth. Very unique.