Brooks

We welcomed our sweet baby Brooks into the world on Monday October 24, 2011 at 11:36 pm.  His due date was November 1, and lucky for me and him I was able to put myself into labor, so that he was born 8 days early.  He weighed in at 9 lbs 11.3 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long.  It was a rough delivery, but we all survived, and Brooks is healthy, which we are so grateful for.  I will tell his story soon, but for now enjoy a few pictures that my sister Candace took of Brooks in the hospital.  

Michael Turns 4!

Michael's birthday was on October 19 and he turned the big 4.  Michael is full of energy, fire, and love.  He is the smartest boy I know.  He is constantly asking us questions and trying to figure out why and how things work.  Michael loves his family, and is a loyal friend to everyone.  Michael's favorite foods are sandwiches and salads.  He is a very good eater, and I'm so grateful he is no longer allergic to dairy and soy.  Michael loves pre-school and each week his teachers tell me that he is a perfectionist when it comes to craft time and coloring.  Every Sunday we love to hear what Michael tells us he learned in primary.  He definitely pays attention to everything his teachers are teaching him.  Michael is so particular about his clothes, and it drives me nuts!  He will not let me pick out his clothes, and so he is usually wearing some unusual outfits.  We have come to an agreement that I get to help pick out his clothes on preschool days, and on Sundays(although this is still not a smooth process).  He is still obsessed with his "sister" blanket, and I'm not sure when or how we will end that phase.

Since Kyle and Michael have birthdays two days apart we decided to go to Red Robin earlier in the week for their birthday burgers.  For his birthday my mom we started the morning off with a giant donut from Vierra's.  Later that morning I took him to the bird refuge by my parent's house with my mom.  Unfortunately I was ready to pop and didn't feel like chasing the stick wielding boys around, so next time we'll take dad.  That night we had pizza at our house with my parents and his cousins Kate and Blake, followed by a trip to Chuck E Cheese.  We aren't Chuck E Cheese people, but with the free birthday tokens, we obliged to Michael's request.  The kids had a blast, and I'm hoping to avoid that place for awhile.

Nana and Papa got him a ball signed by Jimmer.  Michael is a big fan of Jimmer and his hair!

 

Pretty Please

Dear Baby Boy,
Please stay inside of me for one more week.  Pretty, pretty, pretty please.  Your big brother Michael's birthday is tomorrow, your dad's is on Friday and my doctor is going out of town Friday-Sunday.  Plus, we don't have a name for you, and I still have lots of little things to cross off my list.        
Love,
Mama

What are my odds?  Just got back from the doctor.  I'm dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced.  I'm 38 weeks today, and here's to hoping I make it to week 39! I actually feel great right now, so I'm hoping that means I'm not going into labor anytime soon.  Inevitable that I'll have 3 birthdays in one week.

Sometimes

Sometimes this boy makes me laugh
Sometimes this boy is smart

Sometimes this boy is too smart

Sometimes this boy is witty

Sometimes this boy is sweet

Sometimes this boy is wild

Sometimes this boy makes me cry

Sometimes this boy is loving

Sometimes this boy is nice 

Sometimes this boy wants to cuddle

Sometimes this boy is independent

Sometimes this boy is picky

Sometimes this boy cries

Sometimes this boy is spiritual

Sometimes this boy is in time-out

Sometimes this boy is funny

Sometimes this boy is crazy

Sometimes this boy makes me yell

Sometimes this boy is obedient

Sometimes this boy doesn't listen

Sometimes this boy is prayerful

Sometimes this boy puts me over the edge

Sometimes this boy wants a story

Sometimes this boy makes a mess

Sometimes this boy interrupts

Sometimes this boy asks lots of questions

Sometimes this boy wants to learn

Sometimes this boy is outgoing

Sometimes this boy is friendly

Sometimes this boy has crazy curls

Sometimes this boy is not patient

Most of the time this boy is just like me!

Today Michael and I went to the Columbia River Temple for a primary activity.  He found out shortly after leaving our house that he couldn't go inside the temple until he was older.  He was devastated and sobbed the whole way there.  It didn't take long for him to perk up.  

Big Baby?

I went in on Friday for an ultra-sound to check on the baby and see if the polyhydramnios is causing any problems.  His kidneys checked out great, as well as his heart and everything else, which is a relief.  The tech said most women at my stage of pregnancy have fluid levels at 10 cm and I have 24 cm (which I know is mild compared to what some women have with this condition).  I believe my fluid numbers should start dropping as we get closer to my due date, which they have already started to do. In addition to the extra fluid, I'm also carrying a big baby.  At 36 weeks the baby is measuring 8 lbs 2 oz right now, and he is in the 94 percentile for all of his measurements. Let's just hope he decides to slow down his growth.  The tech was doing measurements and checking his organs, so I asked if I could see his face.  I'm so glad I did.  I love him already.  Now if we could just figure out a name!  We've got a few on our list, but definitely haven't narrowed anything down yet.  

Maybe it's just the picture, or maybe he really does have big cheeks and pouty lips.  When I showed this picture to Michael he wanted to know how the doctor got in my stomach to take a picture of the baby. 

Pumpkin Patch

Been up since 3:50, decided at 4:30 I'd had enough, and knew there was no way I was going back to bed, so I got up and decided to do some laundry and cleaning.  My nesting instinct kicked into overdrive the past week or so.  The not-so-great thing about measuring full term for the last 6 weeks is that I have to get up at least 2 times to go to the bathroom every night and I cannot find a comfortable sleep position once I do go back to bed, and then all I can think about is everything I could be doing.  I'm sorry to all you women out there who have had multiples, I'm sure you're thinking I have nothing to complain about...and you're right.  But still!  Being this big, for this long, has gotten really old. At least I'm not on bed rest, and at least my baby is healthy.  I have an ultra-sound in a few hours, followed by yet another NST (I'm so sick of those things), and then a doctor's appointment.  My goal date for baby is October 24th.  After Michael and Kyle's birthdays, my doctor is on call and still a week early.  Plus then I'd have time to get everything crossed off my list, which pretty much changes by the minute.  

This week for preschool I taught (now I don't have to teach until after the new year, which now seems so far away), and we also went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch at the Country Mercantile.  We were able to take siblings with us, so I took Preston, which I'm not sure was such a good idea to do without backup.  He loved it, but I spent the entire time running after him because he ran the opposite direction of our group.  He was in heaven being with the older kids in wide open spaces.  He's such a stinker!  Speaking of Preston he is doing so much  better every day with his speech.  We could not be more happy.  Kyle says he knew all along that everything would work out, but I definitely had my worries.  It is fun to hear him express himself and ask specifically for something.  Makes life a little easier with his temper tantrums and opinions.  I'm sure most people wouldn't be able to understand him, but can!  We need to have his tongue checked again to see if it needs clipped a little more, which if it does, should help.  Preston is getting so tall, and he is definitely taller then most kids his age.  He is quickly catching up to Michael.  

 Note to self: DON'T take pictures sitting down.  Oh boy.    

 Look at all those bums...this wasn't even half the group of kids.  What you can't see is that they are way up high on a big hay bale tower.

 We love the Country Mercantile, plus they only charged us $3 per kid as part of a school rate, and the adults didn't have to pay anything.  We had a tour guide who took us around to the different activities and the price included their pumpkin and cookies and punch.

Update

Even though I had to be at the OB  for 3 hours today, I'm feeling much better about my current state.  My NST came back fine, and I'm still only dilated to a 2.  I am 50% effaced, but I don't think that means much.  The doctor is confident that I should be able to last a couple more weeks.  Very good news!