Baby Cakes!

*forgot to actually post this one....

Kate Krichelle is here! I am so happy to have her on the outside and to meet her. I always get so excited to see what she'll look like, who she'll remind me of. And really, she doesn't remind me of anyone in particular. She is just Kate. She has some facial features that remind me of my MIL and for the most part she is Dave's baby (as far as looks go). I too her to church the other day (my previous ward to see the Primary Program) and a sister, Janie Ford, asked to see her. I moved the blanket and she said "Helllloooo, Dave!" So I'm not the only one that sees the similarities!

Labor wasn't too bad, but let's be honest, it is called labor for a reason. (As the contractions really started to pick up I started to panic, telling Dave I really don't want to do this again!) I was at my Brothers house to celebrate my nieces 1st birthday and started having some pretty good contractions on the drive there. They kept going through dinner and at times I couldn't catch my breath they hurt. I just kept thinking they would go away and didn't want to draw attention to myself, so I sat in the living room and started to time them. Thinking they'd really just go away and then I'd look like a fool going to the hospital to have my 3rd baby to have them tell me I wasn't in labor and just to get sent home. Dave was insistent, getting nervous that we were 20 mins from home and then it was another 20 beyond that to get to the hospital! I relented and we left the party early. I tried to get Dave to just let me labor at home, since we had to stop on the way to the hospital to get my bag, and he was not too keen on delivering a baby at home. He had a good argument when he said that I needed to be on antibiotics for my step B. So we left. By the time I got to the hospital I was having contractions so close I couldn't get even make it up the 3 sets of stairs to get into the hospital without stopping at the bottom of each flight. I get in there and it just so happens that my Dr is the one that is on call for the night. Apparently they have Dr's who rotate through sending the night and it just happend to be MINE! I was excited, coiencidence? I think not! I did not want to labor in the bed, but they had to keep me on monitors for an hour. I tried different positions to get comfortable, but when those contractions come, nothing helps! They decided to keep me and start giving my the IV antibiodics, but then after about an hour my labor slowed. They put me on pitocin after I'd had enough of the medication and that's when I realized my epidural didn't take. It was awful to get it a second time. I had Dave tell me about the vacations we'd been on, re-living the memories helped get my mind off it. I slept about an hour and then woke up because there was so much pressure. I didn't think I could be ready to deliver since I was only at a 6 and 50% effaced, but yep, I went to full in 40 minutes! I made sure to ask and have a mirror positioned. I originally wanted it recorded, but realized those weird grunts and moans were coming from ME and that I didn't want to re-live those on video! So I opted for the mirror. I pushed her twice and she was out. It was awesome to see her born! What an amazing moment that is. They put her right up on my chest to check her out. She was beautiful! Born at 4:02AM weighing in at 8 lbs 6 oz and 21 inches long. I have never been so tired when I hit the wall at about 7AM after laboring all night. I felt bad for the nurse in the post-partum room who was trying to ask me questions and I really couldn't come up with an answer, I was exhausted! Dave took Kate to the nursery and I was out for that hour and then bring on the visitors who knew she came and wanted to come see her. I am so happy to be home with 3 kids now. It's weird to say three, but I am loving it. The kids call her baby cakes and want to hold her all the time, all-be-it for short stints of time! :) Love our party of 5!

Pretters!

Can I just say that my little boy is adorable! I just love him! He is such a happy kid and so easy going. Unlike his sister who hates loud noises and for the longest time I would only vacuum while she was asleep, Preston LOVES the vacuum. My mom bought him his own. It is quieter and the handle folds down to just his size. He helped me clean the basement after we moved out. He got every little speck off the carpet! He sat for probably 20-25 mintues, just vacuuming! I couldn't believe that he was so patient. He also like to "wipe" anything with a wet rag. He is actually a pretty good help. Hoping this lasts! Love my baby boy!

1st day of Pre-school

Hailey started pre-school 2 days a week. We were on a long waiting list to get into a neighbor who has been teaching out of her home for 29 years. She is amazing! It's one of those dream teachers who doesn't teach because she has to, doesn't have kids at home and is so patient and compassionate! Hailey made a school bag her first day at orientation and then insisted on decorating it. She already loves it but is having a hard time keeping her hands to herself. She keeps telling me that Ms.Pam tells her to not touch others. (I am sure she tries to hug all her new little friends and some of them don't like it!) My baby girl is getting so TALL!

new house part II

The outside of the house, in the dark with Dad out front.
Had to have a little fun with the primer before covering the GREEN! (love you too babe!)

Dave and Hailey painting the purple room.

Preston was so proud of himself for climbing up the ladder to get on the roof all by himself while my back was turned! He loves to be with and help Papa.

The practice climb. Shingles are missing and bare roof is exposed, another to-do list item.

Here are some pics of the house. We really should have taken pics before and not just during the process. My "fave" fix-ups would have to be the fist hole in the wall, the master bedroom doors kicked in from the outside, the water softener precariously balanced on a board and tied to the gas line with a phone cord....still working on getting the house all fixed, but since we are moving in tomorrow, it is at least ready to have our stuff there. I have to give props to my carpet cleaner, he is a miracle worker! I can now move in and only have my germs and dirt there! Here's hoping we don't find anything else major that needs to be repaired! We turned on the faucet outside the house, only to have Dave come running out yelling; "Turn it off! It's flooding the living room!" Turns out it wasn't only the living room, but also the storage room downstairs! Ah, the joys of home ownership, it is now my problem!

NEW HOUSE

I wish I had some pics to post, that is the next thing on my to-do list...but it is official, we are home owners (again)! I am so excited to have a new house to bring the baby home to. It is already proving to be so much work and I am just tired. We knew going into it that it needed some love and cosmetic repairs, so we didn't go in blindly. I sure wish I had more energy and could do more around the house, but I have so many family members that are handy and are willing to help it has been wonderful. I feel that my credit card is on fire from being swiped so much, it doesn't have time to cool down in between shopping trips! I am not sure in what universe I thought that repairs, cleaning, packing and moving was going to be a good idea while 8 1/2 months pregnant! But I think it will be easier while the baby is on the inside. Although taping baseboards for painting while leaning over my beach ball stomach makes it hard to breathe, I survived! So in the mean time know that we are preparing to move and praying the baby doesn't come before next weekend!

4th Birthday Pirate Party

I can't believe that my little girl is 4 years old today. I was remembering yesterday morning at about 9AM that I went into labor with her and yet she wasn't born until today. It took a lot to get her here, but now that she's here I can't imagine life without her. In fact it's hard to remember what life was like when she wasn't here. She is such a happy girl, great helper, loves to help me cook and unload the dishwasher. Enjoys dancing, singing (including making up her own songs) coloring and anything Disney Princess. She plays really well with her little brother and is looking forward to being a big sister (again) soon. She is such a girly-girl, loves pink and will only wear dresses or skirts. She told us today "I'm all grown up now!" (not even close, sister! Little does she know I want her to stay little for a long time yet!)
She wanted a "pirate party with friends" this year, which I thought would be great considering that most of her little friends are boys. We played various pirate themed games including: a treasure hunt, pin the flag in the pirate ship mast, made balloon swords, gave all the kids tattoos (hopefully won't be hearing about any angry parents for that one!), decorated pirate hats and of course the quintessiential break the pinyata. (and thanks to Costco it was cheaper to buy a huge thing of candy, so the kids were not even fighting over candy with 5 pounds to split between them! Some of the kids stopped picking it up because it wouldn't fit into their treasure boxes.) It was a wonderful party and Hailey had a great time, that's all that I really wanted was for her to have fun and celebrate her. It makes all the planning and preparation worth it. So glad to have my little girl, whose not quite so little anymore, and won't be my baby for too much longer.. .Happy Birthday, baby girl!

Honey, what did you do today?

Cutting coupons on the kitchen table.

How much would you pay for my groceries?

My total was almost $18, handed over coupons and my out of pocket total was $1.85! That's an 89% savings! I haven't done that good, ever!

I am sure as wives we are asked this almost everyday by our adoring husbands, and since I have been a mother there are days that I can't really give him an answer...not sure what I did, but it was something because here it is 5:00 and I got through the day. My side hobby as of late is couponing, and although at times I want to curse it, there are days like today when I am addicted! So here is what I DID today! :)