My Favorite People

In order from youngest to oldest:

Emma: She is so sweet. She's so teeny. And I love having her lay on my chest and nap with her little newborn purr. I barely remember this with Olivia and I'm trying to soak it all in. She's a great eater and doesn't have much time for sleep - so I think she'll take after her mama and big sister. 

I'm trying to take a million pictures because I know how quickly this time flies by. Having a newborn round 2 is so much easier than newborn round 1. (Don't get me wrong, having a toddler throws in a whole new level of crazy.) But we aren't nearly as worried about Emma. I was obsessively googling how to get Olivia to sleep, assuming every new plan would work, and getting frustrated with her when it didn't work. This time, I'm much more laid back. The first 4-6 weeks there's nothing we can do. She'll eat when she eats and sleep when she sleeps. We are trying to make nights and days different so she'll eventually get that down. And, don't get me wrong, I still get frustrated at 4 am when all she has done is eat and I've had 0 sleep - but I don't blame her. She's just a teeny one and being a week old is such a big change and hard work.

She looks similar to her big sister - but I think she'll look pretty different when she's older. Her coloring is different - with her white eyebrows and eyelashes (compared to Olivia's dark ones). And there's something about her face shape and cheeks that just makes her look like a different baby. But I think we'll be able to tell they are sisters.

She's slowly waking up from that newborn coma and starting to cry more - but she loves a good cuddle. And I know how quickly they go from cuddling to saying "no mama" so I'll take everything I can get. I just love kissing her wrinkly forehead and having her warm heavy self lay on me. And those teeny feet!!

Not worried about holding her too much or spoiling her. As much as I did with Olivia, she turned independent in a heartbeat. I'll never let go, Jack Emma. I'll never let go. 

Olivia: Wow does she seem big now. I know proportionally she's larger than Emma. I have seen her with other babies and she is larger. But, for some reason, I swear she's gotten bigger, heavier and older in just a matter of days. I can't believe she was ever Emma's size. And I wonder where all the time has gone.

She's doing SO well with her baby sister. She always wants to "huggle" her. (Idk what that means - hold? snuggle? hug?) She always says hi and bye to "Emma baby" and wants to know where she is at all times. She is so thrilled to have a baby sister, help with diaper changes, and include her in everything we are doing. I tell her every night how proud I am of her. How things are different right now, but that pretty soon Emma won't need all of mom's time. Pretty soon Emma will be able to sit up and laugh and play. And that once Emma can laugh that Olivia will make her laugh harder than anyone else. And that I'm proud of Olivia for being so patient during this hard time - full of change. She really seems to get it. 

Meanwhile, Livi has been sick. She got sick the day my parents left. Her fever is better, so she's in school, but still has cold symptoms and has been extra tired. We've seen a few cranky nights that we don't normally have and I'm hoping they go away once she feels better. 

BUT - Dan and my parents have been around to give her extra attention, so we'll see if this changes quickly.

Dan: Where to even begin with Dan. Throughout the entire pregnancy, he was going above and beyond. I was so sick the first half, and with the heat of summer - he would always offer to pick up Olivia if I just couldn't make it. With all my hip and back pain, he was the one running around with Olivia outside, jumping on the trampoline, and even going up and down the stairs to get things so I didn't have to. He was also awesome on the nights of "I have nothing planned for dinner - can you figure out something for you and Olivia?" Most of you guessed that he loved the excuse to order a pizza.

Throughout labor, he was my rock. First of all, HUGE points for making me go to the hospital when I did. Second, HUGER points for noticing the epidural wasn't turned on. :) He kept telling me that I could do it, even through the pain. He was an advocate for me when I was feeling pretty weak. He held Emma to make sure she was comfortable when I couldn't. And he was sneaking me shot blocks and not telling me how pale I looked when I needed it most. 

After we both had been up for over 40 hours, he held Emma for a few hours so I could get some sleep without worrying about her crying in the hospital basinet. After he left to sleep in his bed, I kept telling Emma how she had the best dad in the world. That her big sister would tell her, but she didn't know how lucky she was.

Fast forward to life at home with Emma, and Dan is taking on all of the Olivia duties. He's making sure she has just as much attention and fun as she did before. (He's currently playing with her on the trampoline). He's doing drop off and pick up until I finish healing. He's back at work, yet also helping throughout the night. Last time I figured that if he was going back at work, I should do all the night shift so he can get a good nights sleep. With a toddler, you can't exactly sleep in or sleep when the baby sleeps. So he's been wonderful taking over Emma duties, getting her a bottle, or just jiggling her back to sleep when I'm beyond exhausted. 

Its going to be a wild ride with these two ladies, and there's no one else I'd rather have by my side.

My Parents: They had their bags packed a few weeks in advance and were ready for the call. I think it took them about 4 minutes to get in the car when I texted them on Monday. They then slept on the couch (no guest room) in case we were heading into L&D Monday night. (I can't imagine if we had to wait 30 more minutes for them to get up and over to our house from their hotel). They stayed with Livi, got her to and from school, brought her to the hospital, and entertained her so well. 

They cleaned our house, kept everything picked up, did our laundry, cooked us dinner every night (and insisted on them cleaning afterward until everything was spotless). They cooked during the day to stock our freezer with ready made meals. They cleaned up the garden. And then they were graciously kicked out after a few days. I wanted to figure out life with the four of us before Dan went back to work and it was just me. And I know they would have loved to stay and love on these two girls longer. Olivia keeps asking "where Papa and Gaga go?" and I know it wont be too long before they're back.

I don't know what we would have done without all of their help!

Emma's Birth Story

This is going to be a really long and graphic post - but I never want to forget any details. So, you've been warned.

The last week or so of pregnancy I was in so.much.pain. Dan even called my parents a few times to 'get ready' because he thought I was in labor by the way I was walking. I reassured him that I would know exactly what labor felt like.

On Monday I had the ultrasound to see if Emma was 9 pounds (haha!) to talk induction. I woke up that morning unable to walk. Talk about pregnancy waddle. My legs couldn't close - I could mosey sort of. I rearranged work meetings to do as little walking as possible and draw as little attention to myself. I texted Dan "10 minute back massage I'm in labor in 24 hours." You owe me a back massage.

After the ultrasound guessed an 8 pound baby, I went in to see my doctor. He said she's definitely not too large, but my fluid levels were low, which usually means a problem with the placenta, and he wanted to go ahead and induce me the following morning at 7am. I was already 4 cm and she was "SO" low. I called my parents and told them to head our way. 

Then things got serious. I knew we were being induced the following morning, but I just had this fear that I wouldn't make it that long. Dan had picked Olivia up from school so after we put her down for her nap, we were rushing around to get the last minute things finished.

I was exhausted and we went to bed around 9pm. At 1130pm I woke up to one contraction that was kind of painful. I woke Dan up "we should probably head to the hospital now." He jumped out of bed, hopped in the shower and was ready to go in record time. I got out of bed and the contractions got further apart and shorter. I told Dan "I don't want them to send me home for just a few hours - let's go back to bed." After laying down a few minutes, contractions picked back up and at 12 I said "maybee we should go to the hospital." Dan jumped up all ready to go and made the bed AGAIN. I got up and everything slowed down. I googled and it said if your contractions slow down when you get up and moving, its false labor. I knew the feeling, and I knew that this wasn't false - but I still didn't want to be turned away. Or be the girl who went to the hospital after only 3 contractions.

At 1230 Dan said 'get in the car, we're leaving.' He could tell I was in pain and wasn't going to screw around.

I called to let them know I was coming in. I couldn't talk during contractions, so I kept passing the phone between Dan and myself to answer her questions. Dan looked at me "should we take Randolph or Providence? What's traffic like at this time?" Hysterical. 

The nurse said nothing to eat past dinner. Played this game before, honey. I scarfed down a protein bar in the car.

We checked in around 1:30am and since I was their 7am induction, they skipped triage and sent me straight into the labor and delivery room - the same room Olivia was born in! The place was empty, though, so very different than our experience with Olivia.

As we are walking into our room Dan goes "she wants an epidural." I was all, 'slow down, buddy, I still have street clothes on.' But then told the nurse "yes, epidural is the birth plan." The nurse said that I'd have to have a bag of fluids and a blood test. She checked me and I was 7 cm, and after hearing how fast Olivia came, she did her best to hurry through everything. She kind of effed up the blood test and the IV so I was stuck a few times, but I appreciated her speed.

The anesthesiologist was just hanging out waiting for the blood work to come back from the lab. I don't know what the lab was doing, but it took forever. Eventually I said "please - epidural - I'm begggging." The nurse hurried and in just a few minutes the anesthesiologist came in. He had me sit on the edge of the bed while he sterilized my back. 

All of a sudden my water broke and I could immediately feel Emma coming out of me. I said "I'm pushing!" I couldn't stop. My body was pushing her out. (I can see why people say laying on your back is the worst for labor - that if you let gravity do the work, they come right out.) 

They paged the OB immediately to come in and my nurse said "lay back." I said "oh no, I've made it this far, give me the drugs." She said "you are sitting on her head!" I then use both arms to push myself up off the table, curled over like you are supposed to when getting and epidural and said, "put in the epidural!" The anesthesiologist was great and got it in immediately. They flipped me on my back and little miss Emma sure was on her way out. 

(I think the pain would have been more manageable if they told me I couldn't have an epidural. But since I was always so close to getting one, and the anesthesiology was waiting around - I was getting impatient).

On my back, my body was no longer pushing her out and I had to actually work to push. Also, it was pretty painful. When I'm in pain, I hold my breath. So I was running out of energy / air to push. Her head half way out in a few minutes and then she just got stuck. Her heart rate was fine, and I could feel her wiggling around, but she wouldn't go much further.

Then I hear Dan from behind my head "should this machine be on?" They didn't turn my epidural on. I don't know that I had the energy to respond but mentally I was going ape on everyone in the room. "Oh yep - got it on now" the nurse said. I hate you all.

My OB kept saying "one more push and she's out." At one point I snapped "you said only one more push!" He said "I'll stop making promises" and pulled up a chair.

After about an hour of pushing - and about 15 minutes of a working epidural - Emma came out with her little hand right at her face thanks chicka, could have made that a little easier on me at 3:35am. Exactly 4 hours after the first contraction and 2 hours after arriving at the hospital. 

Dan was told to watch a few youtube videos on catching a baby if we ever have a third. Funny.

After she was born, I had lost a bit of blood - and because of my low iron, they had to run a few tests. Dan got to hold her awhile because I was a little weak. Luckily, we learned from our last baby to pack snacks and Dan was sneaking me those shot blocks that marathon runners eat - which I swear brought me back to life. 

It was a whirlwind. And more painful than I had planned on. But Emma wanted to make sure that no one kicked her out - and she came on her own accord. I am so grateful. I was hesitant for an induction. Not the process itself, but, even though it was the doctor's recommendation, I was worried she wasn't quite ready. But she reassured me she was. 

I'm also so thankful that I wasn't at work (in the mornings, with traffic, work can be 1.5 hours away from the hospital). You guys would have seen Emma on the news as a highway baby.

When my actual OB, Thor, came to see us - he said he walked in at 7 and started getting mad at the nurses that his 7 am induction was not on the calendar - said he had JUST scheduled it the evening prior. They informed him that not only had I had the baby, but we had already been moved off of L&D. 

Once she was in my arms all the memories of the pain (from both the pregnancy and the delivery) disappeared, and I told Dan I wanted to do this a million times over. She's so perfect - and I can't believe it was her sweet little self that caused me all that pain. 

Overall - Emma arrived safely, on her own accord, and I couldn't have asked for a better outcome. 

But, next time, can we preorder the epidural?

Happy Birthday!!

Happy birthday to ..

Emma Alexandra

Tuesday, February 9th, 2016

3:35 am

7 pounds 13 ounces

20 inches long

I'll put the full birth story up, but for now we are basking in newborn snuggles.

Catching Up Part 2

Painting with real paint is kind of her favorite thing. This was her finishing up the artwork for her big girl room.

Paintbrush + Finger Paint is extra fun!

Riding Harry in our grocery store. He is one cent. How can I say no?

Helping mama cook dinner. Takes ten times as long but she loves it!

This was during our cringe worthy potty training days, hence the tarp on the floor. But Dan calls her stroller her "homeless cart." Because she packs on everything she can to cart it around the house. Baby. Baby carrier. Other baby. Bracelets. Farmhouse. Stickers. Make up bag. And not pictured, two sippy cups.

She loves her some bubbles.

I was running low on activities so I decided to have her string cheerios onto a pipecleaner and then we could bend them into a bracelet. She was more interested in eating the sample than making her own. Oh well. At least I got to sit for a bit.

Olivia insisted on wearing this 12 month skirt she found. It was the same day her little friend CJ was coming over. Dan was appalled that she chose the shortest skirt possible when she had a boy over and made her wear little bike shorts underneath. I was just proud that she picked out a quilted navy skirt and riding boots. Little fashionista.

Doc McStuffins band aids are the coolest things around!

Catching Up Part 1

Getting all of the unshared Olivia pictures off of my phone!

Sweet little girl sleeping in the car with her pink toes and baby doll.

When we went to my parents this summer, Dan and I could NOT figure out how to get the fan turned on. We did the pull strings, used the light switch, every combination we could think of. Olivia grabs the remote (which we didn't know existed) turns on the fan, and then immediately uses it to call and chat with her friend Lorelei. Probably about how dumb her parents are.

Very rare that we catch her sleeping with enough light in the room to take a photo. 

Most of the time she's like this:

When she insisted on one pink hand and one purple hand. Love this sweet girl.

Crazy hair don't care. And all the pacis. 

More sleeping.

She did all of this and then told Dan she was ready for school. Lunchbox. Check. Mismatched outfit. Check. Bow. Check. Baby stroller and make up bag. Check. Check. Dad's Cole Haans. Check?

Some cucumber water, a cell phone and some truffle fries is all Olivia needs to go out to dinner at the hipster restaurant uptown.

39 Weeks

Black is slimming, right?

I'm getting a lot of "Oh my god"s when I walk by. Its exactly what you want to hear when you are up 45 pounds. I've said screw the diet and eaten about 92 cookies this week. Its the only week I haven't gained any weight - where I had been averaging 3-4 pounds a week. Go figure.

Doctor thinks baby girl is large. So he is having me come in for an ultrasound on Monday and if she's 9 pounds or larger he will induce on Tuesday. If she's not, we will keep on trucking. 

We've gotten no where on names and everyone says thats why she's not coming. That she's like "Imma sit in here until you figure this junk out." Touche baby girl. But eventually you'll be evicted.

Dan hasn't finished his to do list (ahem .. I know you read this) but beside carseats, fixing some child locks and a dresser, we are all ready for baby girl. Drug out all the baby stuff and immediately stickers covered the play mat with two dolls laying on it, and lambie was buckled into the bouncer. Glad to see it's all getting used. 

Secretly hoping I wont be back with another one of these next week.

World's Best Puppy Chow

Target used to sell puppy chow in their holiday section. It was the best. I never cared for it when homemade by others, but this was thick and chocolately and hardly tasted like cereal. I went on a search for the best puppy chow and every recipe was the exact same. So I did what any pregnant lady would do. I doubled the chocolate and peanut butter - and kept the cereal around the same.

This is so good - don't ever make it any other way again. 

This recipe uses the whole box. Because, what do you do with two cups of rice chex? It's really silly to not use the whole box.

This was SOO good that I made 3 boxes worth for the holidays. You can freeze it and pull the bags out when you need. 

Had a little meltdown trying to do 3 batches at once - as my bag kept breaking. But Dan and duct tape to the rescue, and we survived.

World's Best Puppy Chow

1 box Rice Chex
3 cups chocolate chips
1.5 cups peanut butter
1 stick of butter
5-6 cups powdered sugar

Melt the peanut butter, butter, and chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth. 

If you have a giant bowl, use it, but I had to use a trashbag. 

Empty the box of cereal in your bag, pour in the chocolate mixture, and shimmy it all around until coated. You can also stir. But 'shimmy' is more accurate in my process.

Pour in the powdered sugar until coated. Don't go light here. Make sure you really coat those pieces.

Serve in a bowl, held up on your table of a pregnant belly.