Birth Day!

All the kiddos at Jamie's the night before, ready for a sleep over!
My traditional hospital gown pose, 38 weeks 5 days.

All ready for the day!

My dad enjoys monitoring the baby's heartbeat and my contractions on the screens.

Just passing time......

Getting ready to push, going into deep concentration.

Here she is!!!

Will her hair be curly like brother's?

8lbs 14oz

Getting her ready to be swaddled up for momma!

Nothing sweeter :)

Proud daddy holding his second baby girl.

Number three! How does it all happen so fast?!

June 15, 2010:

My whole pregnancy, I had hoped that I'd be delivering at 39 weeks, like I did with Paxton. I had been induced due to his size, he ended up being 10lbs 1oz, so I figured the same thing would happen. The last few doctor appointments can be so frustrating because not much happens! I guess I was always secretly hoping he'd tell me some really exciting news, like what, I'm not even really sure!

At my 38 week appointment I was really hoping he'd start talking about inducing. At the beginning of the appointment, it didn't look like he was even going to bring it up. I was there with my mom and both of my kids. Finally, conversation started into that direction. It looked like she was going to possibly be on the bigger side if I went full term. So, he said he was going to check with the hospital and call me with the date and time I needed to be there. I was so relieved and anxious to hear when it'd be! I knew it was going to be the next week some time.

We left and ran all of the last minute errands, knowing it would be my last chance to get some things done for a while! Soon after, I got the call that we needed to be at the hospital on June 15 at 6:oo am. I felt a mix of emotions. Relief, excitement, anxious and a million other things!

I had intentionally waited to do everything to get ready for the baby. So that meant I had six days to do it all! Thank goodness I had an enormous amount of help. My mom and Jamie came over and just knew what they needed to do. It was such a huge relief for me. I had another lady come over and help to some deep cleaning. I wanted ever square inch cleaned! I called and scheduled for the carpets to also get cleaned.

The day before I had her, my mom took me to get a pedicure so that I didn't scare the doctor with my feet :) It was a very nice way to relax and it felt so good on my poor, aching feet! We ate some dinner, got ice cream and were also able to fit in a stop to Burlington Coat Factory and found a few last minute things.

Jamie was nice enough to have my kids spend the night at her house since we had to leave so early for the hospital. My goal was to get to bed nice and early, but that didn't happen. So when 3:30 am rolled around and I couldn't sleep, I knew it'd be a long day!

At 4:00 am I called the hospital to make sure there was a bed available for me. I had been so nervous that they would be full and post pone me, but thank goodness that didn't happen! We were on our way at about 5:15 am. It's always such a surreal feeling to know that you are on your way to have such a life changing thing happen!

I was really hoping that she would come a little earlier than Paxton had. With him, we got to the hospital at 7:00 am and he wasn't born until ten that night. But, with being induced, you never know how it's going to turn out! I had some really good nurses and my doctor came in several times to check on me and break my water.

My mom, dad, and Jamie all came in the early afternoon. I knew that I was going to get an epidural, so I went ahead and did it sooner rather than possibly waiting too long and not being able to get one! It took effect and I felt great!

A while later a nurse came in and had me sit in a different position, criss cross applesauce, as she called it, rather than laying down. That kicked everything into high gear! Within about 35 minutes I was ready to push. We had to wait for my doctor to come in because the nurse didn't want to deliver her :) One contraction and three pushes later and she was here at 7:47 pm.

I've always loved the whole labor. It's such an amazing experience. It makes all the pains of the whole pregnancy feel so worth it! I love when they place that fresh baby onto you for the first time. Meeting that little human that you have felt moving inside of you for the first time is so precious.

She weighed in at 8lbs 14oz and 21 inches long. She seemed so petite compared to Paxton! Her head was so small and her legs seemed like little bird legs! I am so glad that my mom, dad, and Jamie were able to be there and experience her birth with Mike and I. It is such a beautiful experience to welcome a baby into the world fresh from Heaven!

Recital 2010

Little Miss Rockstar getting ready to perform!

These two....what can you say!? They are quite the pair.

This picture cracks me up! Quite the personalities. My mom loves playing right along with them!

Three days before giving birth, I felt a little drained and ready to not be pregnant!

Daddy and daughter, so cute :)

June 12, 2010:

Lyric was so excited for the recital this year. She tried out a new class, Jazz/ Hip Hop, and loved it. Her teacher, Miss Jessica, was amazing and did great with the girls. Their routine was pretty fast paced with lots of moves. She did so good learning the routine and keeping up with it.

The girls were told they needed to be "sassy"during their dance. Lyric had no problem acting that way and didn't even need to be reminded :)

They did their dance to the song "Rockstar" by Prima J. She enjoyed it so much that she is taking a little Jazz class over the summer. She loves dance class so much. It's a good way to express herself and help build her confidence. It's also fun for her to meet new little girls her age.

The recital started at 4:30. She was the second act, so we had to make sure we weren't late! We were also able to watch cousins Jordyn, Lexi, and Peyton. So fun to see all the girls perform. My mom came and watched the girls. Afterwards we all went and ate at a Mexican restaurant.

Recital Rehearsal

Up on stage with Miss Jessica, her teacher, and the assistant, Kaylin.

Paxton had to bring a few things in this "small" bag to keep him entertained.

June 11, 2010

Lyric had her annual recital rehearsal the day before the actual recital. They have this tiny five minute window to get up on the stage and run through their routine one time. It's a little intimidating because it's the first time they are performing their routine on the big stage rather than doing it in front of the mirror during class. I wish they got to run through it a few times, at least.

Last Day!

June 4, 2010

Lyric is done with preschool and moving on to kindergarten! It's hard for me to believe. She has thoroughly enjoyed her experience at preschool this past year. She got quite sad when I informed her that preschool was coming to an end, but she quickly got very excited when I reminded her that kindergarten was coming just around the corner!

Grandma bought her this special outfit to be able to wear on her last day. She had lots of fun and they got McDonald's Happy Meals for lunch there. Life as I know it is coming to an end, and life with a school schedule will begin! I feel a little nervous, but she is so incredibly ready!

Baby Sprinkle

May 25, 2010:

I was lucky enough to have my mom and sister, Jamie, throw me a baby "sprinkle." It was just supposed to be for some of the fun little necessities, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how generous everyone was! Jamie had it at her house and she and my mom did such an awesome job putting it all together. There was such a delicious set up of food and desserts. I was a little embarrassed having all of that done just for me, but I was so appreciative! I had a fun combination of people from church and friends come.

The yummy spread of food!
35 weeks 5 days

Big sister, Lyric,was able to come to the shower too!All of my loot :)

Me with the shower hostesses, Jamie and Mom!

Me and Tuesdee, a friend from high school

The most amazing diaper cake made by my mom!

Me with Bree and Kim, both high school friends, all three pregnant!

Cute girls helping open the gifts

Cute little homemade booties and hat

Preschool Graduation

Official graduation picture taken a few days before the graduation

Waiting for her turn to walk to the stage
Receiving her diploma

Showing her diploma and bible

Her and her "preschool girl," as they have so affectionately nicknamed each other since they started going to preschool together! Who knows where they came up with that!

Family picture :)

May 16, 2010

Lyric had a cute little ceremony at her preschool to celebrate graduation. She was very excited for the evening and had all of the songs memorized that they had been practicing. She wouldn't tell me what she was going to say she wanted to be into the microphone, because she wanted it to be a surprise. She ended up saying she wanted to be a ballerina teacher.

They had a cute little slide show of pictures they showed from the school year at the beginning. It's a little Mennonite preschool, so they received their "diploma" and a little bible as a graduation gift. She's so excited to move on to kindergarten, but will often tell me she's a little sad and will miss it. She says she's glad she gets to drive by it whenever she is on her way to grandma's so she doesn't forget what it looks like.

Her and cousin Peyton have been able to go to school together since January. It has been quite fun and special for the two of them. There is nothing that excites them more than when they get to arrive at preschool together, or when they get to go in the same car home with each other. I have been extremely lucky lately to have Jamie pick her up every morning and take her to school.

Kim's Shower

May 1, 2010

Kim is a friend that I've known since sixth grade when we lived in Corcoran. Her family joined the church and we became good friends right away. After our freshman year of high school, my family moved, and we lost contact. Last June, through good ol' Facebook, she found me! We reconnected and gotten together for play dates with our kids. Our oldest our seven months apart, and the next two are 3 months apart. Now, we are both pregnant together. Funny enough, it wasn't really planned that way, but we are exactly three weeks apart. She's having her third boy. We've enjoyed experiencing the pains of pregnancy together :)

She had a fun little shower that I was able to go to. We took this picture together, which I think is the only one we have together. She didn't believe me when I told her how big I got when I was pregnant, I've been able to prove myself right to her!

Photographers

Paxton's special Mickey Mouse. He has to sleep with it every night. Don't even know how the obsession started!

Lyric's "Lamby." Jamie bought this for her one night, as promised, and it also became an obsession. This girl sleeps with so many stuffed animals, it almost pushes her off her bed!

Showing off her Kitty Cat towel

If these two find my camera, I can always be sure to have a few surprises when I download my pictures to the computer. They love taking pictures of each other, and of really random things!

32 Week Appt

April 28, 2010

At most of my appointments, my mom has been able to come and has also been really good at taking some pictures. This was my 32 week appointment and man do I feel about twice the size now compared to these pictures! My doctor is super nice and will typically pull out the ultrasound machine when my mom and kids are there so they can see the baby. Lyric loves seeing her baby sister and Paxton loves to walk around with the ultrasound picture afterwards. He know Kylee is in mommie's tummy, but I'm not sure if he totally gets it!

Chuck E. Cheese

Lyric and Lexi trying to earn as many tickets as they can!
Paxton played countless rounds of basketball. When he talks about Chuck E. Cheese, that all he cares about!

Jo and Aly on the roller coaster simulator

Decisions, decisions........

All of their loot!

April 9, 2010

While Carly and Alyson were visiting from Utah for Jordyn's baptism, we made a special trip to Chuck E. Cheese. Jamie was doing her last day of long term subbing, so my mom, dad, Carly and I took five of the six kids with us. Pey stayed with Tucker and napped.

They each got "only" about 120 tokens to spend. They didn't even complain when they ran out, it was just the perfect amount for them. My mom wanted to make sure everyone got their satisfactory fill! Afterwards, they combined all of their tickets evenly and picked out their prizes. Always shocking to me to see what the choices offered are. Like, not even Dollar Tree quality, but the kids loved it! They each picked out cotton candy and a few other trinkets.

Easter Sunday

Getting six kids to pose can be a little trick, I actually think it's mainly the two youngest :)
Paxton was wanting to run with the other kids and not be in this picture!

Family group shot, Tucker's mom and dad were also able to make it down from Utah.

Technically, Easter Sunday fell on the same Sunday as General Conference this year, so the kids got to wear their Easter outfits the following Sunday, which also happened to be Jordyn's baptism. We were lucky enough to have Carly and Alyson here, so we had an extra fun couple of days. Chuck E. Cheese, swimming, cousin pictures and lots of playing were a few things on the agenda.

Like always, my mom did such a good job at putting their outfits together. Paxton is always, quite literally, the odd man out, and it gives grandma an extra job to find a boy outfit to coordinate the girls! I had bought a polka dot dress to match the girls, but decided that in my pregnant state, it was not very flattering :)

Jordyn's baptism was so special. Jamie did an excellent job putting it all together. I think I'll just have her replicate the same thing for my kids :) Paxton was beyond fascinated with the whole concept. He's not shy about expressing his emotions and doesn't mind using his football field voice in a quiet setting. Thank goodness for the safety glass in front of the font, or he probably would've been tempted to jump in and join her.