catch up

I'm just going to throw a bunch of pictures on this post and highlight what's been going on :) 

♥ We've had more visitors-Sydney and Allison came to see us...Sydney will be back in town all summer, so I am so excited about that! Babcia came to stay with us for a week! We were very spoiled. 

♥ We went to the pool, park, jumped on the trampoline and Easton had his last t-ball game one week and started gymnastics the next. 

♥ Emerson had to go to the ER :( She was very congested and it turned into a cough, so I went to take her to the after hours clinic just for peace of mind and they don't take babies until they are 3 months old, so we had to go to the ER. She had the parainfluenza virus, which can lead to croup, bronchitis or pneumonia. Luckily between the humidifier, saline drops and suction she was able to kick it before it got worse. 

{the only thing that would soothe her gassy belly}

{Sibling Love}

 and one more time...an overload on the newborn session, but we got our CD back last night. 

Happy Thursday! 

One month

Emerson, 

You were 1 month old on Thursday! It went by so fast! You are a very good baby and only get fussy when you are hungry or are uncomfortable-you had a handful of gassy fussy days but we transitioned you to new formula and I think we got that figured out. You are starting to really fill out lately and went from newborn clothes hanging off of you to now wearing your 3 month clothes already. You are 22'' and about 9 pounds now. You have been a great sleeper, usually only up once a night! We go to bed at 9:00 and you usually wake up between 1:00 and 3:00 to feed and then sleep again until we get up to start the next day. 

I am loving my time off with you! We walk your brother out to the bus in the morning and he has to have you out there to wave to him when the bus goes back by on the way out. :) Easton loves you SO much and has been such a good big brother to you...and you love hearing his voice and feel so content when he holds you. You have already been to several places since we feel confident taking you along for the ride and for the most part continuing to do what we would normally do...you have been to the park, pool, beach, out to eat, up to mommy and daddy's work, etc. 

You really like being outside, taking baths and tummy time. You have started smiling on purpose lately instead of just in your sleep, so that is fun :) We love you SO much sweet girl, and you have made our family complete. ♥ 

flying by

So, Emerson will be a month old this week! What?! Last week I had a few friends come by to visit and hang out with us while Easton was at school, and then when he gets home, I try my best to have something we do out and about each day. I got to see a couple more of our pictures from our session...here are a couple of just Emerson. I can't wait to get the rest and start printing some for her nursery. 

 Last week we had t-ball games and made a trip to Chuck E Cheese. I pretty much felt like a rock star accomplishing that one by myself. Especially since Emerson was super gassy and not a happy camper. We have had a handful of days that she has an upset stomach and is either sleeping or crying for the most part. 

 Play date with Millie ♥ 

 And this is from yesterday...we were headed to the splash pad and it ended up being closed for a random fishing event, so we made the best of it and Easton had fun doing a scavenger hunt while we were there. 

Today we had a family pool day :) And are doing some things around the house, getting ready for another week. I signed Easton up for gymnastics again for this summer as well as martial arts! Excited to see how that goes...and he will be going to vacation bible school for the 1st time. I can't believe he is almost done with another year of school! 

maternity leave check in

Well, yesterday was 2 weeks of being on maternity leave. Drake was off for the first bit and headed back to work on Monday. The adjustment has been good...I'm just literally getting nothing else done besides taking care of these 2 cuties, and I wouldn't have it any other way. While Drake was here, he was able to take Easton to and from school and help me out which was nice...I even convinced him to start working on some shiplap for our living room :) Hey, might as well take full advantage of that time off! Easton is still obsessed with his sister! He keeps asking when her belly button will fall off so she can take a bath with him. ♥ 

 BFFs on face time 

 I have spent a lot of time just holding and obsessing over Emerson :)

 And clearly pumping a good bit since Easton came over and did this the other day :) When I was breastfeeding one of the first days we were home, he walked over very confused and asked what Emerson was doing. I said, "She's eating buddy." To which he quickly replied, "Why is she eating you?!" haha

 After Emerson getting a lot of attention from me since we have been home, I wanted to make sure Easton got to do something special with me, so we went on a mommy-son date to Disney on Ice this weekend. It was nice :) 

And...now we are adjusting this week to daddy not being here, so I was officially "that mom" out at the bus stop on Monday with no make-up and a robe on feeding my baby and trying to get the other one out on time. haha My sweet boy...already riding a school bus! So weird, he still has another year of preschool after this year and has already seen so much of a big kid school life. I just hope he doesn't get bored and continues to grow like he has these last couple of years. 

 This whole stay at home mom life is awesome! A hot mess...but awesome! We get brother on the bus and then get Emerson going for the day, I have tried to start walking the neighborhood with her in the stroller this week, and then we get back and she will nap while I take a shower and pick up the house a little bit. The true challenge will be when summer break starts and having both of them for almost 12 hours by myself.

Emerson is doing well with sleep overall. Usually up twice a night, but had a couple nights where she was only up once. Last night she went from 9-4:30, it was nice! We also had some pictures taken last week of the kids :) I am obsessed! ♥ 

Overall, everything is going good...I know this time with them will fly by, so I hope to soak it all in. Have a good week! xoxo

Emerson's Birthday

I sit here at my keyboard with my breast pump attached to my chest, hair in a messy bun, a body in pain and very puffy eyes...and I feel so blessed in this moment. Being a parent is the most beautiful, indescribable emotion ever. I don't know where to start, so I will just start typing and whatever comes out is what I will have...just an honest, probably all over the place post about the day our family became complete. This is Emerson's birthday. 

So, we had our false alarm last Friday night when I was still 1 cm. Monday after work I had my weekly check-up and I was at 3 cm. When he checked me, he definitely spent longer than usual and it hurt, so I think he was trying to help get my labor going knowing that I was hoping to avoid my c-section which we bumped back to Friday to give me a couple more days to go into labor on my own. Little did I know that I wouldn't need those extra days at all. About 6:00 Monday I was talking to Drake as he was closing up at work and asking him to try and get home because I was having contractions again and I didn't want to go in again with a false alarm, but just to have him here because they were very spaced out but oh man they were SO intense when they were happening. 

He came home to me moaning and groaning in the bath trying to get some relief. Once he saw me during a couple contractions he said we needed to go in, but I was still against the idea since they were so random at that point, there's no way it was the real thing. Finally after a couple hours of the intense ones, I told him to call my parents, we needed to go. They were almost to our house and I waited for a contraction to stop and then made my way through the living room to give Easton a big hug bye. Saying good-bye to my only child for the last time. The next time I would see him, he would be a big brother. Such a bittersweet feeling. 

Once we got to the hospital, triage checked me and I was at 5 cm and 80% effaced. They got me admitted and I made my way to L&D. A couple hours must have passed...filled with paperwork, lots of missed veins, and contractions. I got an epidural and felt so much relief and was checked and was 7-8 cm and 100% effaced. When they did the epidural, my parents were outside waiting and they see a nurse go and get orange juice and crackers, thinking something happened to me...nope, just Drake about to pass out. haha The nurse had to take over his duty of holding my hands through that part. Overall, I couldn't believe how well things were moving along. Would I actually get to have that moment where my newborn is placed on my chest after I push?! 

About 2:30 am I was checked and was 9 cm! Oh my gosh, this was going to happen anytime! After that we waited and waited...I never had the urge to push and was at 9 cm for hours. Continuously changing positions and just laying there staring at the monitor making sure my contractions were staying strong enough so I could push when the time came. They came in and decided to break my water to help move things along. I was still doing good and with no pitocin after being clear about not wanting any. Finally, they called my doctor up to see what we needed to do next. He checked me and just had a look on his face...he knew how much I did not want a c-section so I guess he was dreading to tell me what had to happen next. 

He explained to all of us that my body did exactly what it needed to do, my contractions were good, I was dilated and everything else showing all good news. But, when he checked me, the head was not able to come down into my pelvic bone. My bones were just too small for her to fit. He was very thorough in telling us but at the same time told me in just a few minutes when he handed me my healthy baby it wouldn't matter how she got here. He was right. He left the room and I cried. I cried from anger, from fear and disappointment. My monitors started beeping like crazy. But a couple minutes later, when the nurses came in with nasty stuff for me to drink and all of their things to prepare for the OR, I just became focused and knew I had to settle down and get through this. It was going to be okay and God was in control.  

They wheeled me back and there I was...again. I started to have some anxiety and was trying to breath through everything. I felt nauseous and had some tears going down my cheeks. Hotel California was on the radio-why I always take note of those random things I have no idea. They prepped me and poked me to see how much I could feel in different areas of my body. They brought Drake in and then my doctor pulled the sheet back and asked me if I was ready and said, "Let's have a baby!" There was definitely more comfort this time around at least going through it with my doctor that I had seen all of my pregnancy, knowing he would take care of me and do his best job during the c-section. 

Overall as I laid there I was listening to the doctors and had my eyes closed, just trying to stay in a relaxed state. Drake would ask if I was okay and I would just shake my head yes. Because if I truly opened my eyes and talked about what was really happening I would panic. When they said I would start to feel some tugging, I knew we were getting close. And  then I hear the suctioning and crying and they tell Drake to look over the sheet at our girl ♥ 

I saw her and was so overwhelmed with love. She looked just like her brother did when he was born. How in the world did I get this lucky?!

And this time since she did not have to be rushed away like Easton did, I was able to have her there to look at and distract me as they were sewing me up. He said I would be more sore than I was after my last one because he had a good bit of stitching to do on the inside this time making some repairs. My cervix had a tear in it that he had to fix and it turns out, that he could see through my uterus because it was so close to rupturing! If I would have gotten my vbac and started pushing, it could have easily burst and it could have been fatal. So it looks like I should be thanking God for that c-section I thought I didn't want. 

Our girl is perfect ♥ Born at 6:56 am. Weighing 7 pounds and 19 inches long. 

When Easton came to meet her, he was excited and being shy. I still can't believe I have 2 babies now. And honestly there is absolutely nothing I can try and type out here that could even come close to the way my heart feels right now. I am the happiest I have ever been. 

I was a little nervous at the idea of transitioning to our new life as a family of four, but when we got home and I look at Emerson and then Easton is right beside her, it is a constant reminder to me of how fast it goes and a reminder to cherish every second, even when it's hard. 

He has blown us away with how much he loves her! I was hoping he would want to be a helper and be a part of things, but wow! He is asking to do so much for her and constantly talking to her and asking where she is. 

Now I am off of work until summer break starts...so I get to stay at home with them until August! I am so excited about the memories we will make and am so thankful for my life right now. Emerson, you have made our family complete and are so loved by all of us! 

"Emerson loves Easton and Easton loves Emerson. That's it." 

-Easton Wade