Abigail’s Birth Story

 

After carrying her longer than I really thought I would have to, and even going through the process of scheduling induction with my doctor, Abigail Ruth decided to come into the world just a few hours before her due date! 9:55pm on October 30th she arrived, on her own perfect time. Following my usual pattern of quick deliveries, I had arrived at the hospital at 7:30 that evening. Contractions started irregularly in the morning around 7, then moved to about every 15 minutes—still not really painful—by about 2 or 3 pm. I cleaned the house a little, did laundry, went to the grocery store, enjoyed some time with my big kids…

Brett came home from work about 3, but I still wasn’t ready to leave for the hospital yet. I knew as soon as I got there, I’d be hooked up to IV’s and wires and I really just wanted to go about things as normal to make it through the early stages of labor. Finally, around 6:30 or so, the contractions became more frequent, about 8 or 9 minutes apart. My mom was almost at the house to watch Leah & Andrew, but we went ahead and called another couple from church to come stay with them for the last hour until she got there, and we left for the hospital. Once I got there, the contractions started coming every 4 or 5 minutes, and progressed quickly. I was at 5 cm. when they first checked. I was in the triage room the first hour and a half or so, since apparently the hospital delivery rooms were full, but once I got into the room, I was almost ready to push. Dr. Mock (a young female doctor who was really nice and personable—we loved her!) broke my water and I was still around 7 cm. but already starting to feel the need to push.

It was only about 15 minutes after my water broke that I started pushing, and then it only took about 3 pushes, less than 10 minutes, before she was out. This time I requested a mirror and though I did have my eyes closed much of the time, I was able to see her head before she came out, and it motivated me to keep going. I couldn’t believe it as they placed her on my chest, so perfect and beautiful. I had a superficial tear right where I tore during the last delivery, so they had to do some stitches. She weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz.—almost 2 whole pounds bigger than Leah was! And was 21 1/2 inches long—she’s a tall girl! While still in the delivery room, I got a chance to nurse the baby. She latched right on and has had no problems with nursing at all—it is such an amazing blessing after 2 difficult-to-nurse babies!

She does have some issues with gas and discomfort, and last night, our first night home, was pretty rough. She cried a lot and only slept when she was held.  She’s slept really well through the daytime, though, so it’s just a matter of reversing her day and night. Both Leah & Andrew adjusted to that pretty quickly, as I remember, although Andrew dealt with these gas issues the first 6 months of his life. I’m hoping that won’t happen this time around, though, and her issues will soon work themselves out so we can get some sleep. She really does seem to be very laid back—it doesn’t bother her when Leah and Andrew get all up in her face, and she really only screams when she’s getting her diaper or clothes changed. She did great on the car ride home (after she got over the initial shock of being in her car seat) and adapts well to different settings.

Big brother and sister so far love their baby Abigail! Leah keeps saying how beautiful and sweet she is, and Andrew just wants to kiss her all over her face. They both argue over who gets to hold her first, and they do well when they get to sit with her in their lap. Andrew is still learning how to be gentle, and both of them are having to learn that she’s not really going to interact with them like they want her to at this point. I’m hoping their love for her continues and I am able to divide my time in such a way that they won’t get jealous.

   

 

 

Leah’s Water Fun Birthday Party

 

Last Saturday, the 18th, Leah had a super-fun 4th birthday party with all her friends from church. I wanted low-key but still memorable, so we set up a kiddie pool, slip ‘n' slide & sprinkler in our backyard. I had planned some games, as well, but really they just enjoyed playing around in the water all afternoon. We had a total of 6 kids, mostly 4 year olds, along with Andrew & one big sister. I think they all had a blast!

 

 

This whole tub of water balloons was gone in seconds. Who needs organized games when you can just throw them at your feet?

 

Not all of them enjoyed the slip ‘n slide, but it definitely got some use!

  

We set up the food outside. I wanted somewhat of a princess theme, but not overboard. Mostly just girly. I kept the cake simple and sweet, with a princess crown and wand.

     

The candles had a hard time staying lit outside, but she loved being sung to. And they all loved the food!

  

The birthday girl had no problem being the star of the show. She talked non-stop the whole time, telling her friends what to do and telling all kinds of stories about her day. I have no doubt she enjoyed being the Princess.

Time for presents! She got fairy wings with a wand, 2 versions of the Candy Land game, a doll whose hair you can style, some puzzles, and dance leotards. Andrew even got a present! Someone brought him a dump truck—he was in heaven!

 

 

 

After it was all over, this little girl was ready to go inside and play with her new things. She said the presents were her favorite part. She and Andrew snuggled up on their new bean bag chairs from Grandma.

 

Andrew’s Car & Truck Birthday Party

 

I like to do birthdays big! I don’t know why I feel compelled to decorate & have presents and a special meal at every birthday, even if it’s just our little family. I just want the kids to have great memories of their special days! We had a great little party last night for Andrew’s 2nd birthday. It was our family plus Uncle BJ, and it was so much fun! I think the kids had a blast, and I was so happy with how everything turned out, especially on my very minimal budget!

I tried to get him to show me he was 2 years old, but every time he was just silly.

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Most truck/ car-themed parties I saw actual decorations for used construction trucks or monster trucks or tractors, but Andrew is really just into cars and trucks in general. So I used a combination of all of that, to make sort of a transportation theme. I made these little circles myself, with construction vehicles. My favorite thing was the stoplight, which said Happy Birthday Andrew. I used that as my color scheme. As soon as Andrew saw the decorations and we told him it was for his birthday, he walked around saying, “My birthday! My birthday!”

       

Andrew kept saying “My birthday’s up there!” He was fascinated with the balloons, and I think he thought his “birthday” was the streamers & decorations. He didn’t eat much of his cheeseburger for dinner.

We were able to get way more presents than I thought. He got a bat and ball, and insisted on holding the ball to open the next present, which was a HUGE semi-truck that can hold other matchbox cars inside of it. He loves to put things inside his trucks, so I thought, why not buy one that is made for that? I should have made him open this last, because after that, all he wanted to do was play with this truck. He woke up this morning wanting to play with his truck.

  

     

The tractor from Uncle BJ was the second big hit. It now goes wherever the big truck goes. He must have played with them for at least an hour after the party.

   

BJ got Leah a ladybug stuffed pillow, which she loves!

Nana sent a box with some clothes and other things, but by the time he got to that, he wasn’t as interested. He already had 3 great new things! Should have switched the order of the opening!

  

I was so excited with how the cake turned out. I just saw an idea on Pinterest and went with it! We have a little car play mat that came with a bunch of road signs & construction cones so those came in handy. I just printed the other little signs on the computer & glued them on cardboard & sticks. A little green food coloring & some black decorating icing & voila!

Even Andrew was so pleased with the results. Note how differently he reacted to the singing of “Happy Birthday” than his sister did when she turned two!

   

Time to dig in! This takes great concentration!

  

Maybe I should have re-thought the green? Do you think he liked it?

Apparently vying for some attention, Leah got into the winter gloves & hats in our closet and proceeded to play with her toys while wearing mittens. In the middle of July.

And BJ showed Andrew how he could ride his big truck.

Probably my favorite part of the day was just playing around after we were all cleaned up. They stayed up giggling and laughing until about 9:00. No one was grumbling or complaining. Could have been the sugar, but more likely just the fun of being around family!