Another birthday!

So I'm starting to feel old. Not only do I have 3 kids, but now I have a 5 year old! We had fun with Lexi's birthday this year, and thanks for my mom for helping with everything, we got to do some fun things.

First, we decorated cupcakes to share with Lexi's class the next day.
Then, my mom made Lexi's favorite breakfast, crepes, (while I fed the baby) and the girls got to eat in their bedroom.After school Lexi's friend came to play for a few hours.

Then, after another birthday spaghetti dinner, we celebrated Lexi's birthday with her Nana, Papa, and aunt too. The girls got a combined big gift this year.
A new play kitchen! I don't know who was more excited - them or me!
We served "mud and dirt" cake, with plenty of worms and slugs, with garden shovels.

We're so lucky to have big sister Lexi in our family!

Busy weekend

So here's what we've been up to:

My parents came to visit (Dad went home but Mom's staying for another week)

Kaytlin had a birthday

Easter

We blessed Addie (but didn't take a single picture! We're going to have to recreate it)

John got put into the new Bishopric

Roasting marshmellows (I didn't want to smell like smoke so this was taken with me inside the house)
It's tradition to color eggs with Nana

Rainbow cake

We celebrated Kaytlin's birthday this weekend and she helped my mom and I make her birthday cake. A friend of mine said this was a pretty easy/fun cake to make and she was right. I wanted to try something new but not go totally overboard. Kaytlin was able to help with most of it and it turned out great!

5 day-old pictures

I learned two things:

1. taking newborn pictures isn't easy

2. you should wait until the umbilical cord comes off to do it.

John and I love watching her make little faces when she's dozing. We got lucky and caught one of her smiles. We love this happy little girl!

From the eyes of a child

Lexi and Kaytlin have been so excited to have a baby sister. Here's some of what their experiences have been.

Lexi goes to preschool at the public school in town. John drives her there most days and has gotten to know a lot of the kids and staff. For the last 2-3 weeks virtually every time he takes her to school just about anyone who sees them asks if the baby sister has been born yet.

When she came to see us in the hospital she was so sweet and gentle with Addie. I know she's going to watch out for Addie just like she has always been so loving and protective with Kaytlin.

We printed off a picture of her and Addie to take to school (and she showed it to everyone)

She has wanted to stay home from school because she misses her two sisters so much. Oh, and I must say I've been milking the baby-loving stage.

She wants to hold her in the morning, but I make her get dressed and make her bed first. It's great! No complaining, in fact she darts off and gets it done and over with!

Lexi sees it as her job to soothe her baby sister anytime she cries by singing "I Love to See the Temple." It actually works a lot of the time which is nice.

Kaytlin, who loves babies anyway, has been so excited for Addison to come. She would hug and talk to my belly all throughout my pregnancy. When John left to come for the birth Kaytlin burst into tears because she wanted to come so bad. Her Nana asked what they could do to help her feel better. Through her tears she said, "Maybe you could paint my nails?" Such a girl...

She's been so gentle and loving to Addie. Every time she left the hospital or now when she goes to bed she coaches me on how to care for her baby sister. Goes something like this:

"Now Mommy, you need to take good care of my baby sister okay?"

"Okay, I will."

"And if she cries that means she needs her binky. Remember her binky Mom"

"Okay, I'll remember."

"And if she cries again you need to feed her okay?"

"Okay."

"And Mom, if she cries again you probably need to change her stinky diaper, or maybe she's tired."

"I promise I'll take good care of her Kaytlin."

"Okay Mom, just remember her binky okay?"

It's pretty cute, she has the most concerned look on her face and really thinks it's her job to make sure I know what I'm doing.

I'm loving this "honeymoon" stage right now. The older girls are so eager to help in any way, it's like a race to see who can pick up the wet diaper first and throw it away. They just love to hold her, kiss her, and let Addie hold their finger in her hand ("it's she's hugging me").

Baby pictures!

The details

So this may be too much information for some, so read on only if you want to.

Background:

With Lexi I was induced and she was born 3 hours after they start the pitocin (spelling?)

I was also induced with Kaytlin, she was born after 4 hours

I was really hoping to go into labor on my own, especially since epidurals aren't an option here (not that I got one with the others) and getting induced makes for a more intense labor.

Earlier this week (since this is not a private blog I'm leaving out the date) I had woken up several times during the night to some painful contractions. This wasn't all that new, because I've had painful contractions for several days off and on. I thought I might have been leaking some fluid, not that my water had broken, but was concerned since my amniotic fluid levels have been pretty low. After calling the hospital they suggested I come in and get it tested.

Third visit to the hospital this pregnancy. I was scheduled to be induced in two more days and was secretly hoping they'd just get it over with. Test showed it wasn't fluid, but as I was there I was having regular contractions 4-8 minutes apart and I was dilated at a 3 and 50% effaced. They were debating whether or not to admit me or send me home. In the meantime they wanted me to take some time walking and sitting around the hospital and to get some lunch and then come back to do another stress test (monitoring baby's heartbeat and my contractions).

The contractions stopped being regular, I only had like 4 or 5 in the hour and half. I did see my Uncle John and a guy from church at lunchtime and hung out with them for a while. My midwife saw me in the cafeteria and thought I looked fine (not at all close to having a baby).

So back to get monitored. John was dying this whole time, wanting to come be with me but I wouldn't let him waste another day just sitting around the hospital. I was there about an hour and my midwife was going to come and make a decision - induce or go home. Then at 2:30pm my water broke! Perfect! Now I get to have the baby (and it happened at the hospital so I don't have to be embarrassed or clean it up!)! John was so happy and relieved and picked up my to go bag and raced on over.

My contractions were getting pretty bad by the time John got there (about 3:15 pm). The nurse asked if I wanted any drugs (again, epidurals not offered here) or wanted to get in the jacuzzi tub, or anything like that. I was pretty sure it was too late for anything to help. Sure enough I was ready to push not long after that. The nurse checked me (dilated at a 9 and totally effaced) and ran to call the midwife.

With Lexi the doctor wasn't at the hospital when I was ready to push and I didn't push for like 20 minutes. That was way worse than pushing. So I didn't care if the nurse was out of the room and the midwife wasn't there, I was pushing no matter what! Good thing they got there quick because I pushed a few times and then at 3:52pm Addison was born.

Thank goodness they didn't release me!

I tore a little, but have hardly been sore. Addison's umbilical cord was around her neck a few times so she was pretty purple at first, but was fine. They put her on my belly and she peed on me, but was really calm and content.

I ended up staying two nights at the hospital and really enjoyed the time to bond with Addison, rest and read. The nurses were so friendly and took great care of us. My in laws have helped out so much with Lexi and Kaytlin and of course John has been awesome.

I'm feeling really good and am just so grateful that everything went well, we're healthy and so grateful for all the help of family and friends.

New addition

Addison May was born this week. 8 lbs 0 oz, 19 1/2 inches long. She and I are doing well. More to come another day...