We're home

Hello. Henry and I are home and all is well. Henry's middle name is Elwood after my maternal great-grandfather. The next little while will be a big adjustment with my hands full, so I am not sure how often I will be posting. I have so much to tell and so many pictures to share. Henry is perfect and we are so grateful he is here with us! He loves to stick out his tongue! Getting him here was quite the experience. I have always thought it would be great to experience a natural childbirth and I am really glad I was sort of forced to experience it. It was pretty amazing, and yes painful. I was screaming during the delivery, just like all the movies that I would totally make fun of and think they were so unrealistic. There were some complications afterward. My uterus wouldn't "clamp down" which meant that I was hemorrhaging and losing a lot of blood. It was a pretty awful experience leaving me weak and drained and tender. Thank goodness for the wonder of modern medicine that was able to remedy things fairly quickly. I am doing great now and I have a perfect baby to show for it all, so all is well.

Henry is here....

This is Robin's sister in-law Andrea and she asked me to post on her blog all about the new man in her life. Here are his stats...

Henry Elwood

July 27, 2007

@ 4:35am

7 lbs 3 oz

19.5 inches long

He is so adorable and such a wonderful addition to the family! Robin got to the hospital just an hour and a half before he was born so NO epidural for her - she is doing good though and just lovin her sweet baby boy... enjoy the pictures!

Andrea

Charlotte is 19 months old

Gina writes her son beautiful letters each month documenting his growth and milestones. I am not as diligent or thoughtful, but would like to tell Charlotte about all the wonderful things she does as she is about to become a big sister.

My beautiful little girl,
You are 19 months old today and about to become a big sister. You are still my baby, so referring to you in this grown-up term of big makes me a bit sad. I know this will be a hard transition for you, it will be hard for me as well. I know at times I will not be able to hold you when you would like to be held or give you my undivided attention and I am sorry. For this reason I am almost glad that you are such a "Daddy's girl". I know that you will be able and happy to turn to Trent for comfort and affection. In another way I am not worried about you. You are always happy to follow your big brother and do what he does. You two get along and play so well, it is such a blessing and a joy to see the way you love each other. I know that will help you get through this baby brother's newborn phase as well.

Charlotte, you are a free little spirit. You are intelligent, you are giving, you are silly and very strong. This month at the doctor, the nurse commented on your amazing stomach strength as you fought me to sit up when you were supposed to be lying down. You are such a monkey. You can climb anything and you do. You are fearless, which scares me to death. You love playing in water, being thrown around and playing rough with Daddy and Tucker. You can be very stingy with your hugs and kisses and then you can suddenly turn around and hand them out very generously.

Although you are tough and wild and love being with the boys you also have you very girly side. You love to carry anything with handles around like a purse. You love to play Mommy to your dolls, wrapping them up and carrying them around while patting their backs. You are very patient and usually allow me to do your hair with little resistance and love to look in the mirror at the finished results. You beam when we tell you how pretty you look. You already like to try to change your clothes several times a day. You have not mastered the art of changing clothes, but you certainly enjoy taking them off and trying to put new ones on. You like to drape anything silky or colorful around you, like underclothes, or my swimsuit. You love shoes of all shapes and sizes and usually prefer to tromp around the house wearing only one. Your eyelashes are still as long and curly and they were when you were a tiny baby. You have a darling button nose and your dad's cute little ears.

You love animals and do the most darling animal noises. My favorites include the elephant, cow, and horse. Instead of quacking for a duck you say "duck, duck" in the same tone that we say "quack, quack". You love to be read to over and over. I love the way you bring me a book and back into my lap to be read to. Some of your favorite books include If You Give a Pig a Pancake, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, your 2 Bob the Builder board books, and anything with pictures of animals or babies. I enjoy our morning time together when Trent brings you to me in bed and you drink your chocolate milk while I read to you. This only lasts until Trent is out of the shower and you can spend your time chasing his legs as he gets ready for work, but I love it while it lasts.

Your communication is still pretty limited. The only signs you use are for milk, more, food, dad, please and the occasional animal sign or airplane. You say mommy and daddy often and something close to Tucker. You say belt and buckle and love to play with any buckle you can get your hands on. You say kitty, please, thank you, uh-oh, owie, no, tickle, bye, and sometimes Nana or Papa. You imitate words we say, but usually only get the first half. I know you understand every word we say and that you will speak more in that cute little voice when you are good and ready. You like things to be your idea.

Charlotte, I love you so much. You bring such joy and contentment to my life. You bring me smiles, lots of laughs, and tears of joy. I watch you in wonder and wish you didn't have to grow up so fast. I love when you let me tickle your soft legs and arms and especially when you request those tickles by placing my hand on your leg. I am so thankful to be your mother and hope I can manage to secure a loving close relationship with you throughout your life. I want you above all to be happy.

All my love,
Mommy

Could 3 be even MORE fun?

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Busy Tuesday

Yesterday we sure kept busy. At 9 am we went to Stephanie's (Mabel and Oliver's) for play group with Mel, Gracie and Gus, Abbie and Sophie, Lindy, Kimber, Maddy, and Ellie, and Jill and Cohen. Afterward we headed to Nana's where Tucker played with Spencer, Claire and Chandler and I talked to Karen and Charlotte took a nap that was much too short. Then we joined Grandma Donna, Aunt Susan, Jill, Abbie and Sophie for a tasty lunch at Souper Salad.
We headed back home where it was nap time. Tucker went to sleep shortly after we got home. Charlotte, however played in her crib with her doll for an hour and a half before I convinced her I was not getting her out of her crib without a nap! She just had to take one before Tucker's party! She finally slept and once she woke up we hurried to grab Tucker a cake and head to Peter Piper. We were joined there by Trent, and then Blake, Andrea, Ashlyn, Bart, Dusti, Kade Kyler Kolbe and 2 of their cousins, and Grandma and Grandpa. We all had a great time, eating greasy pizza, playing games, eating cake and opening presents!

Now if we could only get this baby out and celebrate his birthday. I am so ready. Any guesses on day and time? Weight?

Any time now

My wonderful children have been keeping me entertained and busy while I impatiently wait for #3.
Friday morning I found Charlotte napping like this.

Friday at my Dr. appt got my membranes stripped. Friday afternoon I had a constant dull ache in my back and lots of random contractions, not painful ones, that made me think I would go into labor anytime.

Sunday, not too many contractions. Trent and I were released from our church callings and I was able to give my last lesson in Young Women's. Hardly any girls were in town, so I am going to have to stalk them to say goodbye. Who knows, I might be able to make it to their Wed. night activity-although I'd prefer to be in the hospital.
Sunday after church we had an early birthday get together at my Mom's for Tucker. His birthday isn't until Saturday, but with this baby coming we wanted to get some celebrating in now. We got to celebrate with Nana, Spencer, Claire, (Dad and Mark are off on a pre-mission trip visiting all the church history sites for a week!) Sarah, Gabe, Chandler, Jackson, and Karen. My mom made a fantastic, really yummy dinner for us all and we hung out and opened presents and ate cake and ice cream. It was a wonderful, low key family celebration. We will celebrate with Trent's family Tuesday or Saturday, depending on this baby. Tucker had lots of fun and got some really cool presents, his favorite being Dinoco McQueen. I think I need to find a synonym for celebrate. . . He was thrilled especially to spend time with Jackson and I wish I had gotten a picture of the hug he gave him when he walked in the door. Jackson is just 9 months older than Tucker and is so hilarious. When Tucker opened his Spiderman and Green Goblin figures I heard Jackson say, "If you let me be Spiderman, I'll be your best buddy." Tucker was not swayed.

After partying at Nana's, Trent and I ditched the kids and went to the blessing of Lindy's baby Ellie at her mom's.

What a weekend!

Now that's some GOOD mail

Thank you so much to Gina and Tori for sending me mail this week. What could be funner than getting mail? Gina sent me a fantastic package with 3 different bottles, a hilarious onesie, and a birthday present for Tucker. They are dinosaur feet stilts and he has been loving them, Thank You!

Tori sent a darling card, silly homemade magnet, and gift card to Target that I am excited to go use! Thank you for the joy of mail!

Today I had my 39 week check-up. My doctor says I have his permission to go into labor anytime. I haven't progressed much since last week (2cm dilated and 80% effaced), it will take real labor contractions to do that. So hopefully anytime now, although I am trying not to get my hopes up for anything before my due date (the 26th). Now off to naptime.

How do you feel?

I've been hearing this question a lot. In many different tones and with many different inflections. How do I feel? So much could be said.
Excited, nervous, anxious, lucky, scared, delighted, panicked, unsure, unprepared, ready, not ready. . And as for physically: tired, large, achey, spontaneous leg spasms, constant acid reflux, some Braxton Hicks, hot, either starving or totally without appetite, and surprisingly after saying all this I feel really well overall. I honestly feel that my pregnancy symptoms are so small compared to so many pregnancies that I know of that I cannot complain. I would not trade my pregnancy for anyone else's.
So usually when I hear the words, how do you feel? I sum it all up nicely with: Good.
It's pretty accurate.

Wet Diaper

This morning Tucker and Charlotte were in the bath. I took Charlotte out, dried her off and put a fresh diaper on her. At that point she immediatley took off running as usual to avoid clothing. By the time I grabbed Tucker a couple of toys to play with in the bath (as per his request) and returned to him Charlotte had already climbed back in, complete with diaper.

Charlotte had her 18 month check up today- a couple weeks past due. I managed to put her hair into one pony-tail. It was cute, but didn't last too long before the sides fell out. She had to get one shot and didn't even cry!

We decided to stop at Sonic on the way home since we were so miserably hot in the car. The drive through was so slow that we were even sweatier and more miserable by the time we got out of there, but the cold drinks were great! My rearview mirror temperature guage read 116 while we were out, and while we were waiting in the drive through it even read 119! It's probably not completely accurate, but it's usually pretty close.

Lake Powell Review (from what I've heard)

The kids had a great time at Lake Powell. Tucker was pretty much inseperable from his cousin Kyler who is a year younger that him. They spent lots of time pushing dump trucks in the sand and playing on the floating trampoline with a slide. Tucker told me when he got home that he was going to grow gills from being in the water so much. That's what his uncle Bart told him:)

I was told that Charlotte took all her naps on the boat and had a lot of fun playing in the water.

Trent even put her hair in pigtails for the family pictures they took!

They watched movies in their down time.
Apparently Tucker was none too happy about getting pictures done with all his cousins. He was not smiling in a single shot.
They are enjoying a quiet day at home today, recooping from all the excitement.

Not going to bed alone

My beautiful husband and children got home this afternoon after being away at Lake Powell since Tuesday morning! It was very strange and quiet for the last 5 nights. I had some great me-time that I know I won't enjoy again for a very long time. At the same time my heart was broken every night when I got off the phone with my kids and husband and had to cry. Hormones, you know.

Anyway, some of the things I did while my family was on vacation are:

took long baths alone, slept in until 8 once and 8:30 another time ( after initially waking up at 6 to find myself alone and not needing to get anyone chocolate milk), went to the new Harry Potter movie with my mom, 13 yr old nephew and 12 year old brother(very good fun), went to Super WalMart alone where I was able to look at anything I wanted for however long I wanted and buy Tucker birthday presents without his knowledge, had a girl's night (I'll have to get pictures from Karen), got a pedicure (Tori kept saying I should), and did some good packing, cleaning, and nesting. By nesting I mean washing baby clothes and folding them, which was so fun and got me all excited, and I also set up the bassinet. Yay for babies!

Bottles

I would like some advice or suggestions about bottles. Neither of my two children have ever once taken a bottle. Yes, you heard right. This time around I am determined to have my baby take a bottle once a week or so after he is a few weeks old. This will give Trent the opportunity to feed him sometimes, give me the chance to leave the baby occasionally, and allow me to take a bottle to church or other public places where it may not be the most convenient to nurse. Anyhow, I know there are a lot of choices when it comes to bottles. I also know that mothers have very strong opinions about these things, so what do you say. What kind of bottle do you like best, which do you dislike? Avent, Dr. Brown, Gerber Nuk, Soothie, Playtex? Do you like using disposable liners? I think different babies may like different bottles, so I may just have to try some different ones out, however I would still like everyone's input and advice if you have it. Thanks.

Our 8 things

I was tagged by Tori to post 8 things about my husband and I.

1.Trent and I first met when I was 16 and he was almost 19 at pole vault camp in Flagstaff. Trent does not remember this. I do, cause he was the best pole-vaulter in AZ high school AND he was hot!

2. We met again on a semi-blind date when he was home from his mission and I was a silly 19 year old. I say semi-blind, because as number 1 states, I already knew who he was and what he looked like. He was the one going "blind". At the time I was pole-vaulting on the Mesa Community College track team and he was pole-vaulting at Paradise Valley Community College team. We went on a group date to Applebee's and bowling. When I got back from the date, my little sister Karen was staying there. When she asked how it was I said "a little boring."

3. Our first kiss was after our third date. We were laying on the floor of my apartment chatting and dorking around. He kissed me when I was mid-sentence. I was pleasantly surprised. He was so cute and shy. The next day was Thanksgiving. I went to an LDS singles dance that night with my big brother. It was pretty lame.

4. After dating a couple of months one night Trent told me he loved me. I was totally caught off guard. I didn't say it back immediately, but decided to go for it when he walked me out to my car a little bit later. I was a little scared and whispered it in his ear.

5. Trent and I were both going to school full time, working, and keeping busy with track practices and meets while we were dating. We were so tired most of the time that a lot of our time spent together consisted of sitting at his or my apartment watching Blind Date on TV.

6. Trent wanted to propose to me on my birthday, but my ring wasn't ready until a couple days later, on his birthday. So for his 23rd birthday he got a fiancee. He had already asked my dad and everything. I, of course, cried like a baby when he asked and could barely get out my "yes".

7. We got married in the AZ temple on August 18, 2001. We had to get pictures done at 6am to avoid the heat. Trent was still wiping sweat from his forehead between each picture. After our reception that night we discovered that his truck was "decorated" with all kinds of stuff. I couldn't believe that he wanted to stop at a car wash on the way to our hotel on our wedding night. We didn't.

8. Trent is a wonderful, rational, well thought out, analizer. He balances out my emotional, spontaneous, up and down craziness. He is calm, I am an emotional wreck. He is kind and gentle, I am tempermental and sensitive. I am very complimentary, touchy, feely and he is quiet and restrained. Most of this makes for a good balance, other times it causes conflict. But we push on. I know that we will make it. I never doubt that. I know that he loves me, trusts me, and believes in me and he knows that I do the same.

Today I wanted to take a relaxing bubble bath. I was even accompanied by a book and a root beer float. Very indulgent!

I also received a bouquet of flowers! They're gorgeous. I have the most thoughtful SIL Dusti. What a sweet, wonderful surprise! She says I'll be missed at Lake Powell. I know I am going to miss them all way more though.

You guys are the best!

Thanks so much for all the great comments. I am feeling the love. I do not feel like crying today and that is great.
The house stuff is getting figured out. I will, of course, post about it when I know more details. Though I may have to move with a brand new baby in tow, that is definitely not the worst thing in the world.
We had a fun Fourth of July evening at Bart and Dusti's. Thank goodness for an awesome pool to play in since it was 116 degrees. We all had a fabulous time swimming, eating, and playing. Tucker did sparklers and enjoyed the fireworks. I left with Charlotte at about 8:45 since she was about to fall over asleep any second. She was out like a light as soon as I started driving.
I wish I had gotten pictures of all the pool fun, but I was too busy with Charlotte and didn't want to risk getting my camera wet or lost or melted by the sun, so I left it inside.
I did however swipe these pictures of Trent, Blake, and Bart off of Andrea's blog.

Homeless newborn

I am so sick of being jerked around by banks. We should have a house. We should've closed last week on our house and that hasn't happened. In looking at other options we are being pushed around by a whole new bank. I am so tired and stressed out. We have a place to live for now, but what about on the 22nd when we told our landlord we would move out? I don't think we will actually end up homeless, but it is very distressing to not have a concrete answer or date and time to be in a new place!
Also I am stressing about the whole Lake Powell trip decision. I feel somewhat pressured by Trent and his family that I should go. Like it's my duty or obligation. Then on top of that I have this internal struggle. Do I dare let Trent go with both kids? What if something happened to one of them because they weren't being supervised closely enough? Do I let Trent go with just Tucker and feel totally guilty because Charlotte misses out on all the fun and the great-grandparents and Idaho cousins don't get to see her? This would mean I would also miss out on seeing the great-grandparents and family that we don't see very often.
Then I think to myself, what would it be like if I did go? A 6 hour drive each way hauling a big trailer, with the kids, a full bladder, cramping legs and probably being very uncomfortable. I don't anticipate going into labor early, since I have gone to 40 weeks with both of my other pregnancies, but there's always a chance. So in trying to avoid going into labor 2 weeks before my due date will I even get to go out on the boat? I am pretty sure that sitting in heat all day long making sure my kids don't drown will not really be that relaxing or enjoyable for me.
I keep saying that I will make my decision after I see my doctor this Friday, but I don't really know how much that will help in my decision either, unless I have already started to dilate (which is probably really unlikely with my history.)
So last night over my french toast dinner, it started coming out. I just started crying. My children were pretty bewildered and my husband seemed a little concerned, but very unhelpful. I'm pretty sure he just doesn't know what to say. And now as I sit here thinking about it I feel like crying some more. But I won't right now. I am sure I can cry more later. As always, thanks for letting me let it all out in blog form. I apologize for the very fun read.

How Fun

Saturday morning was my Diaper Party. A diaper party, you ask? That's right. Since this is my 3rd baby and a full blown shower was neither necessary or probably appropriate, my sisters- in- law Andrea and Dusti were kind enough to throw me a beautiful diaper party. No gifts required, just bring a pack of diapers. It was fabulous. The food was pretty and delicious. Dusti and Andrea set up Friday night and poor Dusti got sick in the middle of the night and was unable to come. But luckily all the cute things she had planned were already at Andrea's ready to go. To eat we had fruit, bagels and cream cheese, breakfast pizzas with a hash brown crust, caramel popcorn, and cookies. We drank orange juice spiked with sprite. Everyone loved the food! The table was sprinkled with pacifiers and the wall was hung with blue and white onesies with sayings such as Tax Deduction, I pulled an all-nighter, Automatic Sprinkler, and What happens @ Grandma's Stays @ Grandma's. There were individual bath-salt door prizes. I think everyone had a nice time. It was a small party and I wondered to myself (as I often have before) why I don't have more close girlfriends. If you read Abbie's 100 things post, you may have learned that in high school we spent most of our time with boys. Other than that I have a couple of girlfriends here and several out of state. I miss my girls! (Candace, Amelia, Gina, Tori, Michelle, Briana, Katie)
Anyway, it was a great party and I got lots of diapers and a couple bonus gifts. A darling new bag from my awesome SIL Jennifer and a Sonic card from Ashley and boxes of wipes from Lauren and her mom, so sweet!Here you can see my sister Sarah measuring to guess how big my belly is. Almost everyone guessed like 6 inches bigger than I really was!

Trent had both kids at the lake with his Dad and brothers and nephews. That left me free to head over to my cousin Jill's baby shower after my party. She had already been to mine, so we both had days full of baby party goodness. I have never eaten so much yummy food in that short of a time period.

As soon as I got home and checked my email, I got comfortable (took off my pants) and laid in my bed for a little rest. I had been there for approximately 4 seconds when I heard the door open and a darling little voice saying "Mommy".
It was a wonderful day!