Day 3, Sunday March 27

Day 2, March 26

Oops. Didn't take a single picture all day.

It was a rainy day with a pancake breakfast and soccer games for the boys,

and laying in bed for the girls.

Day 1, March 25

Baby Pics - Enjoy

Let me just preface this post by saying that this is Chad, filling in for professional blogger Katie. Both Katie and the baby are doing really well. I know Katie would never say this on her own blog, but I certainly can - She was a complete All-Star today. The contractions went for a solid 4 hours, and she just barrelled right through them. I am so proud of her - that girl is absolutely amazing. If you didn't see the Facebook post, the baby was born at 2:07 PM and was 7 lbs 12 oz. and 19.5 inches long. Without further adieu, Baby Carina.

Katie is going to kill me for posting this, but the baby is less than a minute old...come on.

Keepin' It Real Wednesday

We pride ourselves on early, consistent, bedtimes for our kids. We have firm routines and we stick to them.

But Ollie is the kid who teaches us not to have pride. Despite having the same, strict routine with him since January, this is what "bedtime" looks like -

An hour after we have put him to bed, after we have ignored his screams, we see his light on and find this:

Some things to notice:

Gabe sound asleep despite the light.

Ollie's nightstand moved from beside his bed to in front of the light switch in order to turn on the light

No pants on, and diaper next to the baby gate.

A smile on Ollie's face.

Books and money on the floor.

Not pictured - the humidifier and Oliver's water cup (which were previously on the nightstand) thrown over the baby gate into the hall.


I know we will figure it all out, but for now, it's more than a little frustrating every night, I gotta admit.

Good News!

She Flipped!

Homemade Gifts for the Girl

A couple of months ago, my mom presented me with this sweet little baby quilt that she made. I love the chubby ballerinas, and what is sweetest about the whole thing is that she bought the fabric when she first found out I was pregnant (the first time), over eight years ago, just in case it was a girl. It wasn't, of course, and neither was the next, or next, but she kept the fabric all along, hoping to use it. I love it. Thanks Mom!

Another homemade gift that stole my heart was made by my talented friend Shyann. You should have heard the "ooohs" and "ahhhs" that filled the room when I unwrapped this beautiful little dress at my baby shower. Everything about this dress is perfection - the colors, the style, the ribbon in the back, the flower clip that goes with it...and most of all the skill with which it was sewn. Really, these pictures don't even come close to doing it justice. It is a dainty little number that I can't wait to see on my little girl. Chad giggled like a school girl when he saw it too. Thanks Shyann!

Hot Day

It was eighty degrees yesterday. I forgot how hot 80 feels in March, and I dressed my boys way too warmly for a picnic in the park. It was crowded with kids in shorts and besides a few moments of fun here and there, we were all a little miserable.

When we got home and the kids asked if they could play in our sprinklers, I immediately said, "YES YES YES!!"

It was blissful.

Hanging Out

There is a full moon tomorrow night. A "Super" full moon. I will be 38 weeks pregnant, but this time, I won't be hoping for any gravitational pull to put me in labor. I will be laying on a board that has been propped up against my couch, upside down, probably reading or watching/listening to the Gilmore Girls.

What? How do you spend your Saturday nights?

I found out on Tuesday that in between weeks 36 and 37, my baby turned breech on me. Total shock. I knew her movements had changed a great deal, but I figured it was just because she was growing and had less room. Turns out it is because her head is in my ribs and her feet are caressing my cervix.

What I have tried so far to "flip" her:

The breech tilt

The forward leaning inversion (shown later on the page)

Sticking an ice pack on her head while sitting in a warm bath (to try to encourage her down towards the warmth)

Having a chiropractor perform the Webster technique (twice so far)

Obviously nothing has worked so far. I cried when my midwife checked today and gave me the news and it wasn't until my Saffron date with Chad that my mood melted away. I've been rocking back and forth between obsessiveness and calm the last few days.

On the one hand, I know that I want to try everything I can to avoid a c-section. I know it wouldn't be the end of the world to have one, but I know that recovery is much more difficult, and if there are things I can try to avoid one, I should (and I want to). On the other hand, I could try as hard as possible and she could never flip, and the later I get in this pregnancy, the less likely it is to happen. And I need to have a life (and sleep). Maybe that sounds dramatic, but my chiropractor has mentioned me going in every day. With almost an hour drive to get there, plus the time it takes to get it done.....I really really don't have that much time my average day for something that may or may not work. And I can't be waking up at 3:30 every morning, obsessing over whether I am doing enough, and then snapping at my kids all day.

So I am trying to take it day by day, praying that I will be guided to do the things I need to do to keep my baby safe, one way or another. I keep telling myself that, one way or another, she will be here in a couple of weeks, and I will be happy and grateful for that whether I have had an incision or not.

March Showers

Baby Shower

Today the lovely ladies of my ward threw a baby shower for me and Sarah - a gorgeous and incredibly sweet red-head who is also expecting her fourth child just a couple of days after me - also a girl. We had soups, salads, and lots lots of pink gifts.

This is the only picture I have of my friend Bonnie, hostess extraordinaire. She is always doing something for someone!

We all had a good laugh about what people must have thought when she went to pick up the cake.

I felt very loved by how excited everyone was to adorn my little girl in the cutest and sweetest little outfits. One outfit in particular made me cry. My mom gave me my blessing dress. Made 30 years ago by one of my mom's friends and still in perfect condition, my little daughter will now be blessed in it. Thanks Mom!

Thank you to everyone who came and helped with our shower. As Chad went through the gifts with me at home, he was just dumbfounded by the genorsity of everyone. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such thoughtful women.

Afternoons with Gabe

When I get Oliver to sleep during naptime, I come downstairs (on the days that I don't fall asleep as well), and ask Gabe what he wants to do. This is our time to do the things that Oliver might normally make more difficult. We play Just Dance, practice piano, make snowflakes and paper chains, and read books without interruption. Today we got to try out the new Play-Doh toys that Gabe bought with money he had been saving up. Do you know how relaxing (and fun!) Play-Doh can be? Gabe makes jokes, and talks my ear off about his imaginary "war" (which is really just what he calls his fantasy land, full of dragons, snakes that talk, and men made of lava and water).

Gabe is almost 5 1/2 now. Since he is has an October birthday, a lot of his friends are already in kindergarten. I know he is ready to go - he can read and he listens to instructions quite well - he loves his preschool days twice a week. I am glad though, that I get these extra moments of alone time with him. I know that those moments will be harder to find in a month or so, and for now I am cherishing them.

Keepin' It Real Wednesday

Dear Nieces and Nephews,

Thank you for coming to my birthday party.

Thank you for the birthday hugs.

Thank you dancing with me.

But my little pals,

When I said, "No presents!"

I meant it.

Not even surprises left behind in the upstairs toilet.

Love,
Aunt Katie