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Monday, 23 November 2009

  • New Things...

     

    Now that I haven't had to use anymore A&D ointment for the past 5 days on Liam's circumcision I have been happy to report that I LOVE the choice of cloth I have gone for for this ever so sadly :( fast newborn stage.

    SO MUCH SO... that I intend to purchase larger sizes of prefolds as time and growth demands. These covers are great seeing as they adjust and grow with baby for several months yet (not just xs or s). The covers are great too since I use the same one for pretty much all day. I think I got 5-6 total which is more than enough! I even purchased some going out of stock one time deal offer wool fitteds, which I like, however you can't beat the $1-2 per prefold cost!

    I just think they're pretty cute too!

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    And Liam got some new books from friends, but lets just say the bigger kids are enjoying the bounty of his sharing little spirit right now.

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    Thank you Criscitellos!

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Thursday, 19 November 2009

  • A Birthday and an Update...


    Asher turned 3 yesterday! I can't believe he's 3! He seems like such a big kid and especially now that Liam is here and SO tiny (you really forget how tiny they are when they first come home). We even did this not TOO long ago with Sophia!

    We spent the day talking about and getting ready for 'the party', which was really just us and a couple/friends. But Asher was crazy wound up ALL day. We talked about it non-stop! He is absolutely the sweetest with Liam, and his personality is just that... sweet. What a blessing Asher has been to our family. We feel so privileged we get to have him! He's a gem.

    Right now though I'm just thankful everyone is sleeping today. We were a little too excited yesterday for even a nap.

    And life with 3 seems no different than 2. A little more busy here and there, but honestly I feel I haven't skipped a beat in much of our routine we had established once things settled down with the house project, and I was totally geared up for DISASTER!

     My mom ended up leaving early (we had to literally shove and push her out the door) so that she could go home to my grandfather who was having some health issues. He's fine now, but she was needed more at home we felt. She left Tuesday.

    Gabe is taking tomorrow off as was originally planned, but I've decided I'd rather him use the rest of his days to take off around the Holidays seeing as things are going SO well! And that is that. It really is a blessing!

    Liam is thee most chill baby ever. And this stage is just so precious. Gabe and I can't believe how easy this season is... no training or disciplining. Can you tell we are LOVING it?!?! We laugh at how hard or busy we thought we had it with Asher when he was born. This seems like cake???

    And it's just amazing how Liam fits right in and did from the start. We can't even imagine life without him and that's just how God is and how good He is. It makes me wonder why we even worry about how things will work out etc... You just feel stupid! At least I do.



Sunday, 15 November 2009

  • GOOD to be home!!!....

     

    Liam Oliver was born Friday the 13th at 4:13 am. I'm amazed and thankful for how great I feel and did right after giving birth, and there is just something to be said for how God designed it to happen... pretty awful on the up-take but the after effects well worth that price of pain.

    Gabe and I have had great hospital experiences with each birth of our children, but lets just say we both were twirling our fingers and ancy to get out of there and back to our bigger "little" kids and home where things are just, well, that... home! We were able to come home early Saturday afternoon and have already had our first night.

    So far Liam is a breeze! and I just feel really blessed for that. I will say I think there is also something to be said for NOT being first time parents. I think he's relaxed because we're so la-di-ta!

    And for a re-cap of labor with not so many details :) it was FAST! I've had both longer (if you can really call 11 hours all that long) and now a short labor, and my goodness of course I'd take the fast over the longer any day despite the higher level of intensity and no such thing as a break!

    Contractions started at 1 am. I told Gabe 'this' was it. You just know by baby #3 I guess and to go back to sleep but just in case (which I already knew the answer to) your bag wasn't packed to maybe pack it while things were"slow" HA!

    He layed there for maybe 20 min while I finally packed mine and I told him he better get up and get moving. I was already needing him to rub my lower back (something I've always had to have him do when things start picking up and I feel it in my back). So he showered and packed while I begged him to hurry so he could do that rubbing!

    I called my mom around quarter to 2 and told her to plan on leaving in the morning. I think I hung up on her!

    I called our good friend Carol who was on night call should something happen during those hours and told her to come, that I wasn't sure when we'd be leaving but at least if we needed to jet she'd be there and we could GO!

    Gabe dimmed the lights, lit some candles, and I walked until I got a contraction. He rubbed and then 2 min later we'd do it again. I just had a really hard time thinking that it was happening so fast, so I continued to want to hold off. Which I'm so glad I did. I LOVE being home and would SO rather be home doing it my way then hooked up to blood pressure/fetal heart monitors etc... But shortly after Carol came and I said after one pretty intense contraction that I felt a bearing down urge.. Gabe said "GET IN THE CAR!!"

    And since Carol wasn't in the mood to deliver a baby (or so she said :), although I was still in some denial I figured I didn't have a choice then after saying that.

    Our hospital is maybe 7 min away so it's also not like we were setting ourselves up too much for that.

    Of course I still envisioned my Dr checking me and saying.."well, you're now 3 cm" and my heart just sinking! For what I was then feeling I would have just been devastated!

    We arrived at 3:45. I was 8cm well onto 9 and he was born at 4:13.

    All I can say about the rest after getting there and before delivery is WOW! That and I've never seen so many people moving so fast.

    No broken clavicles this time. And I'd like to think I had something to do with how fast it was, but I didn't do a lick of exercise, I ate anything and everything I wanted. I really can only hand it solely to the Lord (and I happily do!) especially since right after having him he had 3 major bowel movements. One all over me and 2 right after. I think he needed to get out of there asap!, and God was simply watching out.

    The kids absolutely love and adore Liam. Even Sophia who I'll admit I was worried how she'd be with me holding him etc...

    My mom is here to help for a bit until Gabe will then take some time off of work to be home too. I'm just enjoying the extra time to snuggle this little man and lounge around in bed nursing in the morning until we feel like getting up.

    Gabe and I are loving this busy special season we're in with a young little "growing" family. What a privilege and gift.

     

    Asher meets Liam

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    Sophia meets Liam

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    Welcome Home sign made by Carol

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    Balloons from the Criscitello's

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    Not sure about Grammy

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    Grammy and Grampy VW

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    Sophia loves "baby"

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Sunday, 08 November 2009

  • This is Weird....


    I know most go late. I just never have. And because of it, it just doesn't seem normal. I'm assured it most certainly is just that... normal. We are getting used to it with each passing day however Gabe frequently calls during the day while at work asking if ANYTHING is happening. I tell him 'no' and to stop calling. I usually tell him something along the lines of, "I'll call when something does...and it just hasn't yet.... so stop calling!"

    He's just a little excited!

    And I can't say we're complaining in the least bit!

    We have gotten ample things done and crossed off the list of things to do on the house/yard/   life!! than originally thought and even intended! It's been great, fun, relaxing (finally)... exactly what we needed coming out of this major house renovation and into what will be a new phase of life, one we look forward to with much anticipation and excitement!!!

    We've had friends over again to hang out and play games... eat ice cream Ockrin style (it really is the only way if you ask me). And it's just been a blessing to have a 'space' to do that in again. By no means are we done-done, but the things that remain can be chipped away at and life can still go on with the normalcy we really were missing. It is rewarding to see the fruit of our hard work and labor, but by golly.... I'm glad we're here.

    I'm blessed by how many have volunteered/asked/keep asking if they can help out in any way with our bigger kids when we have this baby. The plan is to call my mom as soon as something starts, but should it be in the night she won't leave until first thing in the morning. There could be some overlap until she gets here and I'm touched by neighbors, friends, people I don't even know that well who say they have there cell phones on and to call at any hour of the night.

    Sometimes I really miss having family nearby for things like that, but how can I when I simply feel I already do! It really means alot, so thank you to those of you who have gone that extra mile.

    I'm certain baby is just getting fatter at this point.. and therefore so am I! I see new babies all over the place now with the recent baby boom via church/fb and I am now dying to see this little guy, and hold him, and snuggle him, and have him wear his new little hat (thanks Carol, I LOVE it!)

    Okay baby, stop making us feel weird, and come!

Tuesday, 03 November 2009

  • Gearing up for Baby...


    In other words... getting my house back!!! It's been FUN to say the least. Baby is officially 'allowed' to come now!.. though only if he's ready. I've seen 2 friends go a day or 2 shy of 2 weeks late, and if it means mine needs a little more chub too then I'm happy to wait :)

    Also tonight Gabe and I are going OUT!!!!

    Out as in a date.. not 'out' as in our church's annual members dinner :) Okay in all fairness we felt like we were on a date without the kids and good food (that was even free)! and we had fun too!

    We will be heading to our nearest mall in Massena to hopefully finish up some Christmas shopping and just get out!!!

    Can you tell I'm excited?!?!?!? We might even treat ourselves and eat out at the food court :)

    I feel great still! I've amazed myself and Gabe with all I've gotten done in just the past 48 hours ie.. book cases and chairs I've managed to carry up and down stairs as I move things back to their proper place on the main level now that our floor is in! Just check out fb. It's exciting!

    I've got a non-stress test scheduled for Thursday. I have never made to one of these appts in the past. This could be the first.

    As of this past Monday I have gained 29 pounds. I'm told it's all in my belly. I'm so curious to see how big this child is. I'm told I look HUGE!!! (I most definitely feel it) and to take the basketball out from under my shirt.. jokes over!

    No joke.. there REALLY is a baby in there. I left my b-ball moves back in high school at MCA years ago where they belong!

    In case you didn't see this on facebook... and I have quite the range in weight guesses (7.6-9.7). Take yours if you haven't already. Asher was 8. Sophia was 8.13



    Sophia is going to miss her pillow to hug while she drinks her bottle. And talks non-stop now about "new baby" and a new baby "brother".





    I'm getting anxious and excited to see how this labor is going to play out. They have both been so different. But I'm really looking forward to it!!! I think it's so amazing and unique how God designed it and I'm trusting Him and my body to do what it's designed to do. Other than that I don't and haven't given it much thought. I've never read any books to prepare and I most definitely haven't had time to do that this time around. I honestly think that's how it's supposed to be though.. that and I'm not much of a reader! :)