Two Days Old

     

Grandma showing baby Kylee to Paxton. He still didn’t really want to hold her!

                

June 17, 2010:

 

There’s always so much to adjust to after having a baby. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and on!!! I knew I’d need extra patience and I knew I’d need to give myself extra time to adjust to everything! Mike was fortunate to be able to take four weeks off of work. At first I wondered if it would be a bit long, but I appreciated all 28 days so much!

Lyric wanted to be my mini mom and help in any way possible. Paxton was beyond fascinated by the concept of nursing! The first time I pumped, oh my, he thought it was the coolest machine in the world! I don’t hide the idea of nursing or pumping from my kids, because I want them to know that it is a natural thing. Kylee was so sweet and calm, it was easy to forget she was around at times!

Coming Home!

 

                                        

 

June 16, 2010:

I was really hoping to be able to come home from the hospital as soon as possible! Between having to share a room,the not-so-pleasant food, both of us being poked and prodded every 15 minutes, and having to keep track of every time she ate and had a diaper changed, I felt like I needed my own space! I knew I wasn’t coming home to a quiet, serene house, but it would be better than the hospital!

Mike, Lyric, Paxton, and my mom came to the hospital. This was Lyric and Paxton’s first time meeting Kylee. Lyric was filled with so much excitement, she could hardly contain herself! Finally, her baby sister was here, and she was able to hold her. Paxton was extremely hesitant. He looked at her, but did not want to hold her. I think he was a little confused by it all. How could he not be? One day mommy’s tummy is huge and baby Kylee is inside of it, and the next day she is swaddled in a blanket!

I thought I was going to be able to leave right away, but then they informed me that Kylee’s bilirubin levels (jaundice) were too high, so they’d have to call the pediatrician to see if we could go home. So, my mom took Lyric and Paxton since we didn’t know how long it was going to be. All of my kids have had jaundice, so I felt irritated that we were going to potentially have to stay another night because of it. Thank goodness they ended up letting us go, as long as I took her to the doctor later that week to re-check her levels.

It was kind of a head trip for me as I was getting her ready to leave. It took me back to almost three years earlier with Paxton. I had him at that same hospital, so it was almost as though no time had passed at all! I put her in her cute little dress that my mom got for her. It felt so crazy dressing such a tiny baby again! We headed home and stopped by In-n-Out on our way.

Later that evening, Jamie and her girls stopped by so they could meet Kylee. We took a picture of the six of them on the same couch that we did with the five of them when Paxton was born. All of the sudden, we were a family of five! Well, it wasn’t exactly all of the sudden, in the midst of it, those nine months of pregnancy weren’t exactly a blissful blink of an eye. But, it is so amazing that these tiny babies come into the world, and all the pain and suffering is forgotten! I knew that I was going to try extra hard to love and appreciate this newborn faze, no matter how hard it could feel at times.

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