Jimmy 1 Month

Wow. Jimmy's first few months were NOT fun. Jimmy cried, and cried, and screamed and screamed, and spit up everything he ate all day and ALL night. This photo shoot was done by our amazing neighbor Lindsey Jensen. It took 3 hours because Jimmy cried the entire time, pooped on Lindsey twice and peed on her half a dozen times. That's our boy! 

Jimmy meeting his two Great Grandmas :

I'll never forget the morning that I tried to take a quick shower and Adaliah came running in "Mom! dad needs you!" I turned off the shower and i could hear Pete yelling up a storm and making loud noise of frustration. Yep. Jimmy had a giant spit up, followed by a blow out, and then peed on Pete while he tried to clean up the mess. Here's pete trying to clean Jimmy up in the sink. 

Jimmy literally did not sleep AT ALL during the night. I was up with him EVERY NIGHT from 9 pm- until 3 or 3:30 am. It was the longest, hardest few weeks of my life. Pete moved out the bedroom and gave me a thumbs up for good luck. I spent a lot of nights balling my eyes while bouncing a screaming baby. It. was. Miserable. I text this picture of me to my friend Katelyn "I'm nailing this mother of 4 thing! And I don't even look tired!"

 One day Elizabeth was watching very intently as I changed Jimmy's diaper. I had been waiting for my girls to ask about his different anatomy - being the first baby boy in the home. I got done and Elizabeth asked, "Mom, I want to see that monster on Jimmy's bum." My eyes got wide thinking that she was referring to his privates as "a monster". I made sure she I heard correctly and she assured me yes- the BIG MONSTER on his bum. then she flipped him over and showed me what she was talking about. 

March highlights

Easter came early this year! It's not very often that Easter Sunday if before Pete's birthday. 

Most of March was just learning to survive with 4 kids and easter festivities. We were able to do a couple fun things outside of that. "Miss Kristie" who has taught both Adaliah and Elizabeth in preschool was married and we were invited to attend the reception. This is Elizabeth watching in admiration as they have their husband and wife dance. 

Pete set up the tent in the back yard and sleep in it with the girls a few nights.

Adaliah was the student of the week and got to bring the class stuffed animal home. This is the picture she brought back to school.

She also went through a phase in March that she would change Norah's diapers. That was very helpful.

And Norah started getting excited about her potty chair....mostly just to sit on in naked while doing some light reading.

Jimmy is here!

This pictures was taken on Pete and I's date night on February 27th. We were at the outlets walking around and I got a glimpse of myself in the mirror and had to stop and laugh..and snap a selfie. Can you believe that belly?!  

I took this at my last doctors apt on Feb 29th. I was feeling a little sentimental thinking this might be my last maturity apt...EVER. 

The Birth Story:

To be honest I was hoping he would come on the 29th- we thought it would be fun to have a leap year baby. When that day came and went...the next 5 days seemed like a life time. I was contracting every 3-5 mins all day and all night. I was ready to meet this boy.

On Friday, March 4th, Pete and I got a babysitter and went out for a date night. We went to Studio Pizza and then to ice-cream at thanksgiving point. My contractions were so intense I was timing them and stoping in my conversation to breath through the pain. But I didn't think too much about it- this was all pretty normal for me.

We got home and started watching a movie. I text my visiting teacher Melony Mckay and asked if she could help out in the middle of the night if we needed her. She agreed to keep her phone on and ready.

I tried to go to bed but I couldn't sleep at all. My contractions slowed way down but the intensity was highnted big time. I kept praying that I would know when to go to the hospital. At about 2:30 am I had a strong prompting to go to the hospital. I woke up Pete and he got in the shower and started packing an over night bag. I didn't feel any urgency- my contractions were still 8 mins a part- but every time I prayed about if I should really go or not- I would get a very intense contraction reassuring me it was time. 

 I called Melony and she came to the house around 3:30. We chatted for a little bit- I gave her instructions for the morning and then we headed to the hospital.

I cheacked in at about 4:30 am. I was only at a 4. They monitored me for 20- 30 mins and I had progressed to a 5 so they moved me to the labor room at around 5:15.

I had planned and prepared myself to do this one natural. I had read some hypno birth books and had gone through some exercises with Pete so he could help me during the process. Pete was amazing. He helped me stay calm and relaxed and did counter pressure through my contractions. In the labor room they let me soak in a hot bath. I had a play list on my phone of classical music and hymns. It was dark, and peaceful, and everything I hoped it would be. 

Then at about 6:00 am transition  hit and everything became very...intense. I got out of the bath and tried to relax as I prepared for labor. The doctor came in and said I was only at a 7, but he was confident that if he broke my water I would progress very fast. I agreed to it...and literally 15 mins later I was holding my baby boy. It was the most intense 15 mins of my life- but we all survived.

James Peter was born at 6:33 am

19 1/2 inches

7.15 pds

I was so glad I decided to do this one natural just so I could experience it. It also felt like the birth was a team work effort for Pete and I. He was so involved with helping me through each contraction and helping me stay calm and relaxed. It was one one of the most INTENSE  yet bonding experiences. Bonding with Pete and with baby James. 

He was born Saturday morning at 6:33 am and we were heading home just over 24 hours later, on Sunday  afternoon.