Summer's birth story

It's pretty short, sweet, and to the point.  We checked into the hospital at 10:15 am on Monday, 9/17 just like we were supposed to. Within about 15 minutes they had taken Travis and I back to a room and the boys were with my parents in the waiting room. At 12:15 I was wheeled back to the OR, where I first got my spinal. I'm not going to lie, this one hurt. And I cried like a baby. (They were not having luck getting it put in, and yep, it was painful) After that they got me laid down on the table and once I was numbthey brought in Travis and started cutting.Pretty soon Travis tells me the head is out and I hear the Dr say, "those are some big cheeks" and another moment later I feel lots of pressure and Travis looks down at me and says the most amazing words, "It's a girl" Now, I would have been happy had he said It's a boy,but to know I now have the best of both worlds, boys and a girl, was truly amazing. Summer Lucille was born at 12:51 pmon September 17, 2012She weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long.  

 First picture with our Summer girl

More pictures to come of my sweet sweet family :)

Fall Bucket List

I can't believe it's almost Fall.... Mainly because I have a Summer Baby still to arrive(they'll actually be here by the time YOU read this!) But with Fall in the air, the chilly mornings that are creeping upon usit's that time to make a bucket list of the fun things I want our new family of 5 to doover the next couple of months!

Many times I have said that our family goes to GreenBluff every year. (I've done this since I was a little kid!)We go many times each year, but October fest is my Favorite time!  I think we have a pretty reasonable list to work on and I can't wait to check a few things off the list!  What do you want to do this Fall? 

DIY pom poms

I found these pom poms on Pinterest, and knew I wanted to use them in Tyler's roomPinterest took me to this tutorial that gave me exactly what I needed: easy directions!   

  After looking over what I needed to make them, I ordered the paper lanterns from Luna Bazaar and then I headed to Joann's to get some fabric. I just purchased a basic thin cotton fabric. I think it was around $2 per yard on sale. -- Here is what you need: one 10" lantern and two 6" lanterns(the original tutorial called for a 9", but it only came in 8 or 10 at Luna Bazaar) -- 3 yards of fabric for each 10" lantern and 2 yards for each 6" lantern-- Glue gun-- ribbon to hang pom poms She also suggests a long weekend to work on this, but I'll tell you what, I could only handle so much at a time and I don't think I could have done this in a weekend!
As instructed, I printed out 3 and 4 inch circles and traced them onto card board to use as my templates,then traced circles onto my fabric, putting them as close together as possible to make as many as I could.
For the 10" lantern I used 155 circles (4 inch)and 130 circles for each of the 6" inch lanterns (3 inch circles)I will also say this: after doing two of the smaller lanterns with 3 inch circles, I really didn't like using the 4 inch circles on the bigger pom. I plan to make these for baby #3 and I will use 3 inch circles on all of my poms poms. I personally thought it looked better.

Here is a few circles to get my party started!

Start with your paper lantern

Take a circle and put a small dab of hot glue right in the middle

 

then fold in half

 

Now put another dot and fold in half again

 

It should look like this 

 

Now you are going to start putting them on your lantern

 

Make sure you are putting them at all different angles to cover all of the lantern

 

And the final result? They finally just went up and Tyler thinks they are pretty cool! 

 

I am really happy with how they turned out! And I can't wait to make some for baby #3 

Team green turned....

TEAM PINK!We are so excited to have welcomed Summer Lucille into our family on Monday!Summer weighed in at 7lbs 10oz and was 21 inches long.

She is just so precious! And we are so in love with this little lady!Lots more to come on Summer!

39 week bumpdate! It's D-Day!

How far along: 39 weeks

Total weight gain: 24 pounds!

Sleep: It's been awful the past few nights! I have been sick, and that doesn't help!

Gender: We are Team Green, And we'll know TODAY!!!

Names: Names are picked and I am so excited to see today which we'll be using!

Stretch marks: Yep

Best moment this week: Just knowing I am at the end!
But it is so bitter sweet to know I won't feel these kicks from the inside ever again.

Movement: Still strong, but less often. I think baby is getting rested for the big day!

Food cravings: not really

Labor signs:

Random contractions, but nothing regular

Belly button - innie or outie: It's flat

What are you looking forward to this week: Today! I am so excited to hold my sweet little 
one in just a few short hours!

Health: I have picked up a cold this week and it's been no fun!
Tyler got pink eye so I have been washing hands like crazy and keeping everything sanitized
to make sure I am doing what I can to not get it!

I will post baby's stats as soon as I have a chance, but don't forget to
LIKE my facebook because that will be updated sooner!

Blog Angels- Spread the Love

 

You might have heard the name 'Blog Angels' popping up all over your social media over the last few months and wondered, what ARE they going on about?

 

Blog Angels is run by Rosie at Craftbotic. Every two months 100 bloggers get the opportunity to help each other out, build friendships and community in the Blogosphere.

 

The principle is easy. By signing up to be a Blog Angel you are promising to help another blogger for a whole month.  The least you need to do is comment twice a week on their blog, but the possibilities to do more is endless.

 

In the first two rounds of Blog Angels we had people commenting, guest-posting, giving social media shout outs, new blog design features and warm words of encouragement. Some people swapped addresses and sent little packages. The choices are endless.

 

So what's the catch? Well, it's all done in secret. For this round, things are changing slightly. Here are all of the details:

1. Sign up is on 15th September. The form you fill in can be found at Rosie's, but also on these sites:

A Little Piece of Me

The Houtz House Party

Lipgloss and Crayons

White Lights on Wednesdays

 

 2. The form is slightly more detailed to help with the matching process. It still takes less than 5 minutes to complete though.

 

3. The project will start on 1st October and will be secret for the first two weeks. This will allow you to get to know your blogger, build up a relationship and start to act to help them. You would need to as a minimum comment twice a week on their blog.

 

4. After two weeks you link up a 'reveal' post at Craftbotic on 15th October.

 

5. You can then communicate with your blogger and give them more specific help, build friendships and develop your role. This is the newest part of the project and came out of a long conversation with the angel regulars.

 

6. On the 31st October you write a 'reflection' post reviewing your experience of Blog Angels and what you achieved with your Blog Angel.

 

It's pretty simple. These small steps will help you to be part of growing community of bloggers who care.

 

On a serious note, there is always a 'drop off' of Blog Angels. Those folk who get busy and disappear. Apart from being incredibly uncool, it is completely unnecessary. Please make sure you have time to help out in October BEFORE signing up. If life gets crazy you just need to email and let Rosie know. Orphaned bloggers can then be reassigned.  In Blog Angels the only thing you are guaranteed is the opportunity to help some-one else.

 

What an amazing opportunity that is! The first 100 people to sign-up before 25th September will be taking part. We all hope that it will include you!



38 week bumpdate!

How far along: 38 weeks!

Total weight gain: 24 pounds

Sleep: Mostly okay, considering I can't get comfortable!

Gender: We are Team Green, So we'll find out in just one week! 

Names: One boy name and One girl name are picked!

Stretch marks: Yep

Best moment this week: Zachary starting 5th grade, dinner brought over by my
parents for the 3rd week in a row, knowing this baby is going to be here so soon!

Movement: Yes, lots of movement still and it's so painful
(but I will miss it so so much!)

Food cravings: banana bread- I have ate a lot of it this last week!

Labor signs: I have definitely been having contractions, but
they have not been regular

Belly button - innie or outie: it's just about flat

What are you looking forward to this week: This is my very last week of being pregnant,
EVER AGAIN! I am really hoping to enjoy it as much as I can, and just take it all in 
because I know I will miss it all too soon!

Health: I am tired, my hips and pelvis ache, my lower back aches, my tail bone aches,
but baby is moving like they should be, and my blood pressure is normal, I am not swelling,
so right now I am counting my blessings.
 

Everybody loves a wedding!

 Yesterday Travis and I attended a wedding for a friend of ours and co-worker of Travis'. It was a beautiful day for a wedding and it was held at a great location!

 The Mr. and Mrs.

The hubs and I-- Just 9 days before baby #3!

I love these girls like crazy! They are three of my favorite friends! 

You know Shantel from Our funny little family? Yep, this is her. Love her!

Travis either doesn't smile, or smiles too big. :) I love this cheese ball! 

It really was a great day, great food, great company. 

All my bags are packed...

I'm ready to go. I'm standing here outside your door. I hate to wake you up, 
....But I'm about to have a baby!

Since I've had 2 babies already, I'm all too familiar with packing bags for the hospital

and what works for me, and what doesn't.

My first stay at the hospital ended up being way early, 

and I was no where near the packing stage. (32 weeks)

My first husband ended up running home a baajillion times to get things we needed and wanted.
(We were at the hospital for 12 days total.)

The 2nd stay was a planned repeat c-section

and my bags were packed and when my water broke 3 days early.

I just had to toss in a couple of last minute things before we left.

This time will (hopefully) be no different.

So I thought I'd share what is going in my hospital bags. 

My bag: nursing tanks and a nightgown with easy nursing access 

(though I do use the hospital gown for the first day)

--yoga pants with a higher rise (over your c-section incision for after the first 24 hours)

--chap stick

--cell phone/charger

--camera/charger

--laptop/charger

--blanket- just a light thin blanket. 

--Boppy

--prenatal vitamins
--razor
--toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash/lotion, deodorant, etc. I bring the travel size)
--make up (just in case I want to feel human)
--toothbrush/toothpaste
--hair brush/ties

Travis' bag: --changes of clothes

-- contacts/glasses and contact solution
--pillow

--cash/change for vending machine

--snacks
--toothbrush/toothpaste

(Mine and Travis' really are just one carry on size bag) 

Baby's bag: (which I've already shared)

This one differs for me this time, and got a little out of hand :)

--Going home outfit
--jammies

--socks

--mittens to cover hands

--blanket

I have clothes for both boy and girl (and some gender neutral) then I'm covered either way-

I know, that's why I said it's a little out of hand!

Can you think of anything I might be missing? 

Yay for "Change"

Quite some time ago (March) I wrote THIS post about my "boyfriend" coming to town...You remember? 
Well today? Today, my friends, I have good news. I just went to browse Rascal Flatts website and was checking out their tour dates, and you know what is NOT listed? A Spokane, Washington concert!!! 
Now normally, this would not be good news...But today, this is very good news!
I was hoping to see them for the 11th time, Hey, maybe I'd even get to meet them again! 
But their was a conflict.... I'm having a c-section just 4 days before the concert...See? MAJOR CONFLICT. 
Of course I'd rather be cuddling my little baby than sitting at a concert any day!But I was a bit bummed that I was not going to be sitting there singing to my hearts content. Now Rascal Flatts.... I expect to see you in 2013.... 

First day of school and Summer bucket list

Wow, the first day of school...And this year? I have a 5th grader....Is this even possible? Am I old enough to have a 5th grader?Most days I don't believe it myself, but I really do have a 5th grader. 

 Zachary was able to find out who his teacher was on Friday afternoon.   His school has only three 5th grade teachers to choose from, but his answer was simple.Whoever his best friend has, he wants. Of course! I should have known that! So Friday afternoon we headed over to the school to check out the class lists. And his teacher? Mrs. Carroll. His best friends teacher? Mrs. Carroll. Can you just imagine his excitement???  IT WAS HUGE!  So now, today is the day. The plan was for him to ride his bike, because that is the cool thing to do.
But come this morning, he decided he wanted me to take him because he didn't want me to be sad.
(ohhh... so nice of him.... Obviously, he was nervous!)

So at 9 we headed to school, but the parking was insane. I knew this would be the case, but I didn't get ready early because I didn't plan on taking him to school today.

At one point I suggest that I will be okay if I don't get to take him in and he got a bit weepy. He was nervous, he finally said.

After driving around for almost 15 minutes I finally found a reasonable close parking spot (keep in mind I am carrying a toddler and a HUGE belly and have no interest in walking very far) and I take him into his room.

We get in there, he sees his best friend, all nerves are gone, and he waves "bye" to me. That was that...

So Happy First Day of 5th Grade, Zachary.You are going to be amazing this year.You are going to work hardand achieve a lot! I can't wait to see what you do this year! And I love you.  (But on the way out Tyler realizes his bubba is no longer walking with us, and proceeds to scream the entire way to the car, and all the way home, "buuuuuubbbbbbaaaaaaaa")Next,Remember when I made this bucket list?Well, we got a lot done, but a lot is still hanging out there. Some of these things are just not going to happen until next summer, but some of them we can still do. Maybe just Tyler and I, or maybe with Zachary too.But we can get things done still! Here is what we got done!  

 Watch for a new bucket list coming soon!

37 weeks bumpdate! Full Term, baby!

How far along: 37 weeks! So excited to be FULL TERM!

Total weight gain: 23 pounds as of this morning

Sleep: It's so hit and miss. Sometimes it's great, other times it's terrible!

Gender: We are Team Green, So we'll find out in 2 weeks or less!

Names: Oh boy..... Basically, we don't have a boy name at this point.
That is what happens when your husband has too much time to think it over.
We have a couple that we like, but nothing set. 
But we have a girl name, for sure. And I won't let it change!

Stretch marks: Yep

Best moment this week: Making it to Full term is wonderful!
So grateful to still have an inside baby that is doing good and still growing!

Movement: Still tons and it mostly hurts

Food cravings: nothing really

Labor signs:

No, but definitely having Braxton Hicks

Belly button - innie or outie: in- it's never popped and I don't think it will

What are you looking forward to this week: I'm just looking forward to being one step 
closer! So glad we are almost there! 

Also, Zachary starts 5th grade this week and that is pretty great too! 

Health: As far as my Dr. is concerned, my health is good.
I have shown no signs of Pre-Eclampsia during this pregnancy which I am so grateful for.
At my last appt I measured at 35 weeks, so just a week behind, but he wasn't
concerned about that.

As far as how I feel: now that I am full term I will be happy to have this baby anytime!
I wanted to make the 37 week mark, and make it to September, and those have
now both happened! But I'm tired, my belly is dropping so I have a ton of pressure on my
pelvis and hips. The baby's movement is pretty painful most of the time.
( I tell Travis to remind me of this last one in a year from now when I want another baby!)

But I really am just excited to hold this sweet little one! 

A little comparison

 Shall we?

 36 weeks, 6 days with Tyler                                                                  36 weeks, 6 days with baby #3

 
What do you think? I am bigger? smaller?higher? lower?

August/September Goals

September, for real! I have been waiting for you all year! This is my baby birth month! And I am excited to have a September baby!!!  Even though another month has flown by, but I feel like I got a lot done! My main goal for August was freezer meals and boy ties, and while neither of those things got done, a lot of others did get completed!  The project I have been working on for Tyler's room is complete and needs to be hung up, so I will show pictures once that is done.  Also, I have been making some little gift bags for the boysfrom their little brother or sister. I have collected all sorts of goodies, and after the baby is here I will be sharing those bags!  As for the ties, should I make something like this?

or something like this?

They are both so cute, I can't decide! :) For September, I really don't want to make many goals.I know that I will be so busy with getting last minute things done around the housefor the first half of the month.And cuddling a sweet little baby and recovering for the second half.  As far as what I still have to get ready? -I would really like to clean the carpets, and I am hoping that maybe this weekend it'll get done. -Also, I need to pack my hospital bag, which I'll do this weekend.  -I want to make sure laundry/dishes are done at all times so I don't have to worry about that while I am in the hospital, or when I come home. -I have been making sure the house is just clean in general.  -I might try this week to make some little ties for a boybut I'm really not going to go out of my way to get them done.  -That project I have been working on for Tyler's room? Well,I am going to be making that for this next baby too and if I have a boy I will make them the same color as Tyler's, but if it's a girl, I might change it up a little,so I'll have that project too. And it's pretty time consuming.   -I thought about making these

But I think I will wait until the baby is here to know what colors I wantAnd I found this on Pinterest, of course, but the link is no good, otherwise I'd share it!  -Really, it's just odds and ends to do to be ready!