More Amber

I took a few more pictures of Amber. I just can't resist. 

She has been a great baby. She sleeps well; eats well. She lost 14 ozs in the first couple days, which is 11% of her body weight, so the doctor had me focus on feeding her really well to get her up some. She was getting a big jaundice too, but as she got better at feeding and my milk came in she seemed to be doing better. 

I am anxious to get back to normal. I am very impatient with the healing process. I am dying to get a good sweaty workout. I got diastasis recti with this pregnancy, which is where your abdominal muscles separate leaving a little bulge. Gross. Totally fixable with core exercises though. 

Amber's newborn pictures

I was so excited to do Amber's pictures. I don't think I am done yet. I like being able to leave up my backdrops and things, and just bring her in when she is nice and sleepy. I don't have that luxury when I have a scheduled photo shoot. I have to work with what I get.

Anyway, here is my beautiful Amber.

Amber Lynn

She is here! And she is wonderful. 

Labor and delivery went just fine. Labor was fairly long, but delivery went quickly. 

For those who love to hear a labor and delivery story...

It all started at 1 a.m. June 15th. I started having contractions 10 minutes apart.  They lasted ALL night. Never got to to be "5-1-1" (5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour). That is when I was told to go in. If I followed that rule, I never would have gone in. I eventually went in at about 10:30 a.m. with them ranging from 5-20 minutes apart. I knew they may send me home, but I was tired of waiting and the midwife freaked me out earlier in the week saying I would go quick, and not to wait to go to the hospital. 

I was hooked up to a monitor, and I was so irritated to have only 5 contractions in the hour they monitored me. And only 2 of them really hurt. I was sure they'd send me home, but the nurse checked me, and I was 5 cm and "the head is right there!" she said. 

I was admitted, and got my epidural. As soon as it kicked in I pushed her out in a couple pushes. We spent more time waiting for a contraction to come than pushing. It was strange. It was a long drawn out labor, but it was pretty mild. I don't think I ever got to a "10 on the pain scale" with my contractions. Not sure which would be better, quick and hard, or long and mild?

It is funny because Nate was scheduled to work the day Amber was born. I thought about having him call in, but because my contractions hadn't gotten any closer in 6 hours, Nate could probably go in. He works right next to the birthing center, so I figured he could come over and my sister-in-law could drive me if I needed her to. So Paula ended up taking me and staying with me until Nate showed up later, then she stayed to see me get an epideral (foreign to her). Her labors are so fast and intense that mine was weird to watch. Pretty funny to see her so entertained.

Amber looked pretty beat up. Splotchy red spots all over. 

These are the next day, much better. I can't wait to do her newborn pictures in the next couple days. 

 She has big, beautiful eyes. And she has this tiny little mouth, so she is adorable, especially when she is awake and looking around.

Happy 5th Dallin

Well, Dallin didn't have to share a birthday with Amber. He was happy about that.

After his party he told me it was his best birthday party so far. I am so glad he had fun. He just had a couple friends, but it was a very rambunctious crowd. The poor little sisters that came, got knocked over and trampled on everywhere they went.

Nate was very helpful. I had planned everything, and he carried everything out. Did all the games and everything. 

Here is his best girl friend, Bonnie. They are both quirky and sweet, and I am sure will be friends for life. She is so cute. She always calls him by his full name. "Hi, Dallin Spence." "Thanks, Dallin Spence." Look at their eyes. I love kids' eyes; how they expressive they are and they just shine through them. This is my new favorite picture of Dallin.

 Ariana, digging for treasure in the sandbox. Ashlyn searching for gold pieces.

 Dallin chose some classic party games like, Pin the Skull on the Pirate ship. He practiced so much during the day, he won.

Opening gifts. He was excited about every single one. Even the toothbrush and toothpaste we got for him.

 

Dallin really wanted a piñata too. My favorite part was watching Cowen's face. He is the one in blue. He thought it was so hilarious when the piñata would hit someone on a swing back.

I think Joel finally got a hole in it, and Tanner demolished it. Look at that face. Can't wait to watch him play ball this summer.

Spectators. 

Ashlyn, and the little sisters were afraid to bat the piñata.

 I didn't take pictures of the Chocolate Marshmallow cupcakes I made. They were from an awesome recipe I found on Pinterest. 

39 weeks

Welp, here I am, a week away from my due date. Things are looking more promising now, I mean, they ought to right? The midwife said I should go into labor soon, and "the way you are presenting, you will go fast," she says. I am 3 cm and fully effaced, or as she put, "your cervix is mush." That is for all those who like the gory details. 

Being Dallin's birthday today, I am kind of hoping it doesn't happen today. Mostly because I have a very well planned out pirate themed birthday party planned for him tonight, and I don't want to reschedule; already did that once. It might be fun to have 2 kids with the same birthday, actually.

I don't think this picture really shows how huge I am, but I am BIG. Everywhere I go I hear whispers, "She is ready to pop!" and stuff like that. This is the biggest I have gotten around. Dallin was my next biggest, and I was an inch or two smaller around with him. My weight gain is comparable  though, at about 20 lbs. He was 8 lbs 7 ozs, so I hope Amber isn't gonna be 9 lbs. Especially if I go so fast that I can't get an epidural. Why do doctors/midwives tell you things that freak you out!?! 

This is the last picture I am going to post before delivery. Wish me luck!

37 weeks

When I went to the doctor today, I was sure I had made some progress since last week (1 cm dilated). This week I was the same. Boo hoo. It was an uncomfortable week. Last week I measured 36 weeks, like I was supposed to. This week, being 37 weeks, I measure 35 weeks. That means she is very, very low. So I am waddling these days. My belly button even popped out with this pregnancy, that has never happened before. 

Camping

Yes, we actually went camping when I was 36 weeks pregnant. We went to Umpqua Lighthouse State Park where there are delux yurts, so it wasn't really "camping". The yurts have a bathroom with a shower, kitchenette, beds, heat, and a TV with DVD player. Here are some pictures. I couldn't have done it any other way at this point in the pregnancy.

Here was our view. The best part. It was gorgeous.

We went to the beach first thing. It was chilly and windy, but the kids wanted to play in the water. All the boys, and Ashlyn fell in and got soaked. 

 There were a bunch of dead crabs on the beach, that the kids enjoyed squishing between their fingers.

 They went on a scavenger hunt hike with the dads.

Smores were the best part of the camp trip, for me. :) 

 ...and for Nate, I think. 

He was such a good sport. I was bossing him around the whole time playing the I'm-miserably-pregnant-and-can't-function card a lot on this trip. He never complained.

 

 It rained the second day, so we actually left before checkout time since there wasn't much to do. 

Kids rooms are done

I forgot to post this when I finished. I painted these flowers on the girls' wall. I told Ashlyn to smile and this is what I got.

Today I did these. Since we decided on a name, I felt I could go buy the letters. No turning back now.

 Then my friend, Suzanne, cut these vinyl quotes for me. They turned out so cute. Here is how I used them in the kids' rooms. 

Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day. It is so fun when you have kids that understand that it is a special day. This was probably the first year that they got it. Nate made videos of each of the kids talking about me, and it was so cute. I will treasure it forever. I didn't post them because I think only a mom would appreciate them. Nate got me these lovely roses. Two dozen of them!

We visited my grandmas this weekend and took some pictures. I didn't get a picture with my grandma Tanner though. I love that my kids get to be around their great grandmas. I hope they will have memories of them.

Even I can see the resemblance from one generation to the next.

And another picture of my rapidly growing belly. I am about 35 weeks. My belly button has actually popped out with this pregnancy. A lady in my water aerobics class (yes, I have resorted to water aerobics with senior citizens for exercise these days) told me I "blossomed overnight". I have a feeling this baby is going to be big. I am feeling very large and slow lately. Plus I've had a cold, and all the coughing is killing me! 

I think we finally decided on a name, I think. Amber Lyn. 

Potty training success!

Recently Ashlyn has got this potty training thing down, with a little bribery. She loves to swim, and is dying to take swim lessons. She has been a spectator, watching Dallin learn to swim, and was always bummed she didn't get to swim. I told her if she was potty trained she could do swim lessons. Who wants to pay for lessons AND those expensive swim diapers? So she got motivated. She started with one of those nasty potties that they go in, dump and clean out. That got old fast. So we got her a cushy Dora (who she loves) seat. So much better!

During this whole process, Ashlyn hasn't wanted to wear panties for some reason. That all changed when she could put a picture of Dora on her bum. :) Word of advise, just get the ones they want. She has about 15 pairs of undies now because she isn't excited about the first pack we bought months ago. Oh well, maybe baby girl #2 will be more easy going, and will use them.

I think this picture is hilarious; you can see toilet paper flying in the background. 

 Ashlyn took her baby in the tub with her. Probably shouldn't have been in there, but she did need to be cleaned. She dried fast in the sun.