Levi's Special Visitros

Levi's first visitors were Omah, Joshua and Kayla and they came around 4:30pm the day he was. 

 

Joshua was so excited.    

 

Joshua saw us in our window on the way in and started waving at us.  He's got some good eyes.  

 

When I met them at the door to the labor and delivery unit Joshua was so, so excited he could hardly stand still.  He saw his daddy down the hall and took off running for him.  Kayla quickly followed behind.

Look at that face of pure excitement.  This was when he

first laid eyes on his brother.  I really wish I had taken video. 

 

 Kayla was a little unsure the first few seconds.

 

 

 

But she quickly warmed up and wanted to touch him.

 

She also wanted to give him her baby's bottle.  

Joshua giving Levi his monkey they picked out for him.

Such a proud big brother.  As he was gazing at his little

bro Joshua said, "He is so adorable!"

 

Joshua immediately asked to hold him.

I love his face of anticipation here.

 

  

 

Kayla just loves her baby brother.  She kept wanting to

lay on him and would stay like this for minutes at a time. 

Shortly after Omah, Joshua and Kayla showed up Papa, Uncle Andrew, Aunt Anna, Mimi, and Aunt Brooke came to join the party.

 

 

   

 

Doctor Andrew.

 

Stealing my dinner.

 

Daniel took Kayla on a couple of walks in the hall and when they would get too far from the room she would ask where the baby was and then head back to the room.  



 

We got the okay to leave the hospital 24 hours after Levi's birth.  But before we left Omah brought Joshua and Kayla to see us and have lunch with us. 

 

Daniel met them at the hospital entrance and right when they walked up to the L&D unit Kayla asked where the baby was. 

 

Joshua came right into my room and greeted me with a very happy, "Hiii Mommmy, where is Mimi?" 

 

Both kiddos were very happy to see their brother again.  I had just got done feeding him and they were all over me trying to see him and give him loves.  

 

I love that my big babies are thrilled about their new little brother and I hope and pray that they all three grow up to be the best of buddies always looking out for one another.  

 

 

 

 

Levi's Bith Story

Levi James born on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 10:41am.
8lbs 6oz (exactly what I weighed)
21.8 inches long

I was having anxiety about giving birth for the 3rd time.  I think because I knew what to expect.  Most everyone tells you that your births get shorter and a little easier with each one so I was really hoping to have an experience mush like Kayla's, fast and very manageable.  The bigger I got though, the more I was welcoming the onset of labor. 

Levi’s due date was September 22^nd according to my doctor but was September 25 according to my calculations and our first ultrasound.  I don’t know why the doctor kept it at the 22^nd.  On Tuesday the 23^rd I was having light contractions that were 10-15 minutes apart from 3:50am-about 6:20am.  Daniel stayed home that day as we thought we would be headed to the hospital sometime that morning.  Well contractions stopped for the day as soon as I was and about.  We figured that night or the next day Levi would come so we went to bed early to rest up.  Contractions started again at 9:30pm and were soon coming every 5 minutes.  They weren’t super intense but I had to breathe through them.  Finally at 12am we called Omah to come over so we could head out for the hospital.  Kayla came so fast so my doctor told me once I started feeling any pain she wanted us to head to the hospital just to be safe.  We thought for sure that since Kayla came fast that this one would be fast as well.  Not so much!

We arrived at the hospital at 1am and the nurse checked us into triage.  Daniel and I both looked at each other and smiled thinking, “HA, we will show them that I am further along then they think and that I really need to be admitted into labor and delivery.”  With Joshua they stuck us in triage then were surprised when they checked me because I was a 6 and sent me to labor and delivery.  We thought it was going to be the same thing. 

When they checked me in triage I was only at 3cm!  We were both so surprised.  We were even more surprised when after 2.5 hours later and after about an 1 of walking I was checked again and hadn’t progressed.  What?!  We were so discouraged.  We finally gave up on the walking and decided to just rest instead.  I slept  the best I could in-between contractions for about an hour then we got up and did more walking.  Around this time a new nurse came on and she asked me in all seriousness, "So what is the plan?  Do you want to have a baby today?"  Um yea, that is the plan.  Besides, do I have any other options?  What sort of questions is that?

Around 6 am they finally admitted us to labor and delivery where we waited for my doctor to show up to discuss our options.  The nurse told us the doctor was open to breaking my water at 3cm or starting us on Pitocin.  I didn't want to do either especially since I was still in early labor.  We walked around a little more discussing what to do. We surely didn’t want to go home since contractions were already coming 5-10 mins apart, I wouldn't know when to come back. 

My doctor, which was a new one in the practice that I hadn't met yet, showed up around 7:40am, checked me and told us I was at a 5 almost a 6. I told her I was so happy I could hug her.  We decided to hold off on any interventions  just yet anyway, since I was progressing on my own.  Contractions started to pick up in intensity and we did a little bit more walking.  When I reached 7cm we asked the doctor to break my water.  My water was broken with Kayla at I think 8 cm and she was out like 30 minutes later so we hoped this would speed things up like it did with Kayla.  My water was broken at about 8:45ish.  Contractions  picked up but an 1.5hours later I was still a 7.  I was starting to worry that one intervention was going to lead to another.  But I went from 7-10 in a matter of minutes and let me tell you it was intense, I thought I was going to die.  The last 30 minutes or so of my labor was brutal.  I don’t recall it being that bad with the first two.  I felt so out of control in pain with no end in sight.  With the first two I was never really aware of transition but I was with Levi.

Along with being brutal it was very traumatic to say the least.  Right at the end the nurse had me lay on my side saying the his heart rate was dropping.  She also made me wear an oxygen mask.  That didn't work at getting it back up so she gave me some fluid in my IV and had me switch sides.  Then I heard her tell another nurse to get the doctor in to access.   It took a while to get his heart rate back up and I thought I was looking at a C-section.  Thankfully it came back up though.  Afterwards I asked the nurse, "Since its over now, can you tell me, where we looking at a possible C-section?" and she told me no. 

Up until I reached 7.5cm I was handling contractions well.  I was able to laugh and joke in between them. 

Sitting on a birth ball at 7cm waiting to have my water broke. 

I had two delivery nurses waiting for me to deliver, a nurse coaching, and then my doctor just sitting, yes she was literally on the couch sitting, waiting for me to push.  She said I had a thin layer of cervix left but if I felt the need to bear down then to do so, so push I did.  Pushing helped take the pain away during contractions so I kept pushing but it felt weird since no one was there telling me what was going on.  Before I knew it I felt his head.  No one was doing anything so I yelled asked very nicely, “Is that his head?” The nurse looked and calmly shook her head yes.  I am not sure if they didn't think I was really pushing him out or if this is how the new doctor does things.  I kind of liked being totally in control but I also like when the doctor is there telling me what is going on.  Finally after a few more pushes the doctor and nurses came over to start delivering Levi.  His head was out in just a few pushes but then his shoulders got stuck.  I saw a look of panic on my doctors face and then she ordered for the nurses to pull back my legs back and then another jumped on my stomach and started pushing.  Daniel said all the pushing that got out Levis head wasn’t moving his shoulders out.  I knew that I needed to give it all that I could to get him out.  I gave my best pushes and he was out in just a few seconds.   

The nurses put him on my chest, we did some skin to skin while we admired him then he latched on beautifully when I nursed him and the rest is history. 

To say that this birth experience was a bit traumatic for me is an understatement but he is here, we are both happy, healthy and doing well and the birth is all behind us now.

Levi was my longest and hardest labor and biggest baby.  But oh so worth it.  Once I laid eyes on my boy all the pain was forgotten.  One of the first things I noticed about him was his big, strong hands! 

Daniel was an amazing support as always.  I don't really want him talking to me as I am having a contraction and I don't want him touching me either.  I just want him there.  He knows me well enough to know when to encourage me and when to just be there silently and he does an awesome job!  At one point when things started picking up I told him to come and massage my back.  I actually I think I mentioned him to massage me along with some grumbling.  Then as soon as he touched me I snapped, "Don't touch me!"  Guess I thought a massage would have helped but quickly realized, nope, not what I needed. 
 

 

 

   

 

First family selfie.

First bath.  The nurse said he was one of the only babies who didn't

scream through his first bath.  She commented more than once on how calm he was. 

 

Hearing test.

 

 

Daddy's Home!

Most days when Daniel comes home from work the kids and I are playing in the cul-de-sac  As soon as Kayla sees Daddy driving up the street she immediately drops what she is doing and runs over to his car with her hands held high for him to pick her up. 

Daniel scoops her up through the window and sits her in the passengers seat.  She sits like she is a queen as they circle the cul-de-sac to go say hi to Joshua.

It is the sweetest sight and he loves the greeting he gets from her. 

 

 

 

Kayla Grace at 18 Months

Our baby girl is growing so fast and is just the cutest thing ever!  She has such a precious spirit and her antics are so sweet.  We get many random kisses from her through out the day.  She is so smiley and cheerful.  She will often look at us with the cutest smile and sort of shrug her shoulders in a bashful sort of way. 

She has such a gentle personality but at the same time she has a very confident and independent streak in her and knows how to take charge. I can't wait to see how these traits develop and merge as she gets older. 

Well Baby Stats:
Height: 31inches/45%
Weight: 21 lbs 7 oz/25.5%
Head: 18.5inches/70%

Here is what the princess is doing at 18 months old...

*She started walking at 16.5 months and we have so enjoyed this new phase in her development.

*She wants to do everything her big brother does including ride on all his big outside toys. She really shows no fear when it comes to ride on toys.  One of her favorite things to do is get in the Cozy Coupe car and fly down the hill on our street until she runs into the curb then she gets out, pushes it back up the hill and does it again. 

*Speaking of outside, she loves being outside. She will go get her shoes and try to put them on.  When I finally put them on for her she walks to the front door asking to go outside.  

She walks around the cul de sac like she owns it and can
usually be seen pushing this lawn mower around in it.

*People are always stopping us to comment on how beautiful she is.  We also hear how pretty her hair is.

*She loves her babies and Polar Bear.  She walks around holding her baby saying, "Ssshh" and giving it kisses.

*She is still our all star eater eating everything and anything and often looking over at our plate begging for our food.  She says "mmm" after almost every bite and throughout her whole meal.

*When we get her up from nap or in the mornings she likes to put her blanket over her bear and then shrug her shoulders and ask, "Where is it?"

*She likes hiding under a blanket for us to find her.  And of course we can't forget how Joshua taught her to walk around with a blanket on her head which she thinks is so funny.

*She is so friendly waving at strangers in the store and at the car next to us at red lights.

*Her vocabulary is expanding so much.  She has at least 30 words and has very recently started saying a few phrases that come out like one big word.  Most are probably only understandable to us though.    My personal favorites are how she says more and snack (nnnnaacckk!)   Everything she says is said in her sweet little voice except for snack.  It is the only thing she says in such a demanding voice.  As Daniel says, she says it with such gumption!  "NNNNNACK!"  She has started saying, "I want a snack" but it comes out like "Iwannack." 

*Her favorite part of her bedtime routine is reading books.  When we say, "oaky lets read a book" she gets giddy and sits on your lap so expectantly.  She likes books with animals and babies.  She will often give the character kisses. 

*She knows a handful of her body parts.  Her favorite is eyes.  She points to the eyes on her stuffed animals and babies.

*She is a Mama's girl down to her very core.  She walks around all day saying "Mama, Mama."  When I am out of sight she will ask whoever she sees, including strangers walking by in the store, "Mama?" as she shrugs her shoulders.  When other people are around she will point to me and tell them, "Mama" just so they know who I am.  When she is riding in the car with just Daniel he said she says my name for most of the drive.  Daniel says most times it sounds like she is saying, "My Mama?" 

*When I am holding her she will randomly give me a hug or a kiss.  Melt my heart! She also pats my chest and says, "Mama." 

*She started calling Daniel, "Ba-ba."  After repeating "Da-da" over and over to her she finally got it and now calls him "da-da."  She is starting to ask for him when he isn't around and it is so precious.  She loves her Daddy and gets so excited when he comes home from work. 

*She loves being chased and will just laugh and laugh.

*She is down to one nap and doing really well with it.  She goes to bed between 6;30-7 and wakes around 7-7:30 and takes a 2-3 hour nap.

Here are some pictures of the little Miss...

Watching home videos from when Joshua was a baby. 

She just loves watching home videos.  She gets so giddy seeing

 the small babies and these home movies hold her

attention for about 15 minutes. 

Whenever she sees a helmet in the garage she points

and says, "at" (hat) and then wants to either

wear it or spends time trying to buckle it. 

 

This girl loves walking everywhere.  She will just walk and walk all around the cul de sac.  She hates being in confined to the stroller during walks or in the cart while we are getting groceries. 

The other day I took the kids on a small hike on the trail behind our house.  I was surprised at how far she walked without asking to be carried. 

 

Walking around the outlet mall with Mom. 

First ride on the grocery store horse.

 

 

One day she kept demanding, "nnnack" (snack), yes demanding.  Soon after this is where I found her; helping herself to her own little "nack."

Begging for a lick of her brother's sucker.  Who could deny that face? 

This is her, "I am so tired, get me home and put me to bed look."

 

She goes through phases where she always wants to wear this necklace and it doesn't make her very happy when I have to take it off for her nap.

 

Even when she isn't wearing clothes she wears it.

 

Daddy's prettiest helper. 

 

Enjoying a popsicle.

Craft time with Joshua.

"What? I am just eating my lunch."

 

Baby girl's first sucker.

Cutest Bronco's fan ever! 

 

Speaking of football, she loves any and all balls.  The other day she picked

up a basketball at the park and said, "hut,  hut." Too cute!  It is football

season so anytime uncle Andrew is around he has his football which

I think Kayla really thinks is her football.  She is always asking for the ball. 

 

This girl is so cute playing with her brother and

his friends.  It doesn't even phase her that she is the only girl

and they are much older than her.  She thinks she is one of them

trying to do everything they do.  I hope that confidence stays with her. 

Real girls play with dump trucks, at least the ones with brothers do. 

 

Waiting for "da-da" to come home.  We joke that she gets

so excited for him to come home because she

 knows it is dinner time then. 

 

She is the only 18 month I know who will eat a burrito. 

We had breakfast burritos one morning and I gave her just

eggs but she kept begging for bites of Daddy's burrito so

I made her her own and she ate it up. 

First pigtails!  Joshua got a kick out of her pigtails

and told her how cute she looks.   

Omah and her dolly girl.  

This was her signature sleeping pose as a newborn. 

I love that I captured her doing as a toddler.  So precious. 

 

We are just beyond blessed with this sweet, little Angel.