Our family of four

It seems like a really long time ago that Natalie Chiles, a local San Diego Newborn Photographer, took these amazing photos of our family of four. 

It's been FOUR months since we welcomed Carson into our family.

We have all changed and grown so much since March.  Leila has been showing more interest in her little brother. She no longer needs to sit on top of me while he nurses and loves to make him laugh.

I don't feel crazy anymore, but am quickly remembering with the passing of one challenging stage comes another. Jeff is feeling more adjusted too! He is a self-proclaimed baby-hater (Okay, that may be too harsh...but true nonetheless.) and is looking forward to a stage when Carson is more interactive.

                     

Looking back at these photos reminds me how happy I am that we got them taken. Natalie made us feel so comfortable during this shoot. She took time before Carson was born to check out my sister's apartment to make sure the lighting would work and sent me countless emails with questions and ideas to ensure we'd be thrilled with our photos.

The photo shoot lasted a couple hours, with a nursing break, lunch break, and clothing change for some of us. We hung out and chatted as a family on the couch while she took some candid shots, then she patiently waited for Carson to fall asleep for the shots of just him.  I know Natalie was as excited as I was to get this photo (and many others) of Carson smiling.

I love that when you Google "Natalie Chiles", this is one of the images that comes up.

To top off our experience, Natalie came over and shared the newborn photos with us personally. She wanted to see our reactions in person! That really proved to Jeff and I that she was proud of her beautiful work. As you can tell by the pictures, she should be! My only regret...not having her take photos of Leila as a newborn.

He still curls his long toes like this!

Natalie recently took newborn photos for a friend of mine and I can't wait to see how they turned out. 

Check out Natalie's blog here for more photos, craft ideas, and recipes. You can be sure I'll be begging her to do a family shoot for us in the future.

Carson's arrival {The Birth Story}

Just hours past my due date...there was no one on the freeway at 4:30 am Thursday morning. If there was, they would have been mighty annoyed at how slow Jeff was driving. While contracting I could not handle him driving 55 mph (in a 65 speed limit). It seemed like we were going 100 mph at least. I felt every rock in the road and the slightest turn of the wheel made everything worse.

Once we arrived at the hospital, I felt much better. Walking through the contractions was key! We headed up to triage and got bombarded with questions from just about everyone. This was a specialized hospital for women and newborns...don't they realize a woman cannot think clearly or talk while having contractions?!

After being hooked up to the monitors, checked to ensure my water had broken, and slowly making our way upstairs (all while having contractions in my legs and back) I was beyond ready for the epidural. Luckily the anesthesiologist was ready for me before I even had my IV in place.

By 7:00 am I was feeling good and was already dilated 5 cm. Aside from Carson's heart rate decelerating a few times during contractions, I was able to finally relax. Three and a half restful hours later I was fully dilated, kind of. I had no idea one side of the cervix could dilate before the other. One side was 10 cm, the other was 8.5 cm, so the doctor compromised and called it 9. Waiting time.

Around 3:00 pm my contractions had done their job. Carson was in position and I was dilated for real. It was go-time.

For some reason when I was set up to push my contractions began to get further apart, or so they said, I could hardly feel anything. It was awesome. I joked about how comfortable I was and that I could totally push for two hours at the rate we were going. I didn't expect go-time to last an hour and twenty-three minutes. I pushed a little, waited a bit, pushed some more, waited some more, and finally it was time for the show.

And a show it was. Jeff counted nine people in the delivery room, including ourselves, to watch Carson being born. My two nurses, one doctor, two baby nurses in case Carson's heart rate decorations were caused by the cord being around his neck, one random blonde, and a loud-mouth cheerleader.

At the end of it all Carson was placed on my belly, Jeff cut the cord, and we heard him cry for the first time. I couldn't have been more satisfied with how things went. My doctor was patient as I waited at least five minutes between each push, the baby nurses were not necessary, and that loud-mouth cheerleader knew exactly what to say. You can do it! 

It was truly a beautiful ending to a peaceful delivery. 

Our family was complete.

Carson's due date {The Birth Story}

On my due date I began assuming the worst. I started thinking I would be pregnant forever, even though I logically KNEW that was crazy talk. I posted this on Facebook:

So...who else stayed pregnant past their due date? I would like to start a club. The most pregnant person can be President. It better not end up being me.

The responses made me feel better when I realized all the ladies that commented were actually not pregnant anymore.  Phew. Relief. Peace. Time to bounce on the ball, go for a walk, and eat eggplant.  I knew I had a doctor appointment the following morning and we'd be handing Carson an eviction notice, the sooner the better.

Even Leila was annoyed that Carson hadn't arrived yet.

Jeff happened to have the next day off so he planned on coming with me. We talked about taking our bags with us to the doctor, just in case the wanted to induce that day like they did with Leila. I went to bed after a glass of wine, a shower, planning to go to work after my 8:20 am appointment. I felt relaxed and accepted the fact that I would have to be induced.

Forty-five minutes after his due date expired I heard a pop-like clicking noise. It sounded like a kick would, if you could hear your baby kick. In my sleepy state I assumed that's what it was.

Since I was up I used the bathroom, as any 40 week pregnant lady would do. Funny thing was that I just kept peeing. When it stopped and I stood up I couldn't even make it to my bed before I peed myself. Yellow flag. Peed some more. Orange flag.  Laid down and peed more. Red flag.  This is not pee. 

I instantly googled "water breaking" and came across a website that had quotes from real moms about what it felt like when their water broke.  I almost texted Amy asking about her slow-leak water breaking experience from last month.  Luckily for Amy I found what I needed on the internet.  

By 2:15 am I decided to wake Jeff.  I wasn't convinced it was time to go to the hospital, but figured I should give him fair warning.  His main concern as my pregnancy got closer to the end, was that we'd have to rush to the hospital, frantic and unprepared.

At 3:00 am I considered calling the hospital to find how far apart and how long they should be before they wanted me to come in. (I was set to ask this at my appointment the next morning, I swear.) At this point they were getting closer together...twenty minutes, thirteen minutes, eight minutes, six minutes...and all at least a minute long. 

I felt a rush of adrenaline when they told me because my water broke I needed to come in immediately. 

Immediately turned in to an hour as I packed up last minute items, gathered everything we needed, called my mom, ate a snack, and procrastinated getting into the car. I was not looking forward to being contained to the seat in my car while contracting even though I knew the hospital was only fifteen minutes away.

I called my sister in Chicago since I knew she was probably the only one awake at this early hour. She pumped me up and wished me luck.

This was really happening. Today. Now. Thankfully I was not going to be President of the Overdue Baby Club. And even better...I was barely a member.

Up next...Carson's arrival {The Birth Story}

The BABY-IS-HERE Great List {3.18.13}

This Monday I am feeling so much better than I was last week.  Although I was able to be grateful for my pregnancy, having Carson here to complete our family is really the greatest feeling of all.

Leila holding Carson for the first time

Carson made his appearance at 4:23 pm on March 14th after a long, but relaxed day (thanks to the epidural that actually worked this time).  He is 7 lbs 3 oz and 19.5 inches long and must feel like a celebrity because of all the photos taken of him.

This week's great list...in photos:

 

... a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy.
-Abraham Maslow

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Come back each week for my newest list and don't forget to check out Betsy's list each week too.  Warning...positive thinking is addicting!

Want to write your own list?  

Just grab the button, add it to your post, and come back to tell us about it.

Share some joy...

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It's a...

B-O-Y!

Jeff and I couldn't be happier!  I noticed the "goods" right away when the ultrasound tech scanned my belly looking for the correct starting point for her measurements.  I didn't say anything at the time, I just let her do her job.  Finally when she got to the legs there was a clear shot.  I asked, "Are those the legs?" She immediately laughed and then said, "It's a boy!"

A healthy boy, that is.  All of his measurements were right on.  The technician said he weighs about 8 oz right now, which puts him in the 41st percentile. (Really?! There is a percentile chart for unborn babies. That's just strange to me.)  

So...now it's time to shop!  

Please Mommas, share where you buy your baby boy clothing.  I hit Old Navy and Target just hours after the ultrasound and came home with one stinkin' piece of clothing!  

Is there a secret boy clothing section that I missed?  There were like four items in each store for boys!  I don't do animals, trucks, dinosaurs (guess that is an animal too, huh?), stupid sports related sayings, or most sayings in general.  I'm screwed aren't I?  (Funny how I didn't notice the lack of boy clothing when I was busy shopping for adorable, stylish, and fun baby girl clothing.) 

That face!

Leila has the cheesiest "smile" face...

Was this learned or do all kids make a similar face for the camera?

Unless you tell me otherwise, I am blaming her father.

I get it now

I hate to admit it, but when I was simply just a daughter and not yet a mother, Mother's Day was just another day.

Yes, it was a day to celebrate mothers everywhere, especially mine, but not a day that I could really understand.

I get it now. I recently realized that Mother's Day is more important to me than celebrating my own birthday. (My birthday has always been an excuse for a week-long celebration!)

My feelings toward my own mother have changed since becoming a mother myself. It is overwhelming to realize how much she loves me. I am forever grateful for everything she has done (and still does!) for me.

My wish on this Mother's Day is for Leila to feel the love that I feel...forever.

Leila and Grandma, January 2012

Leila and Baba, July 2011
Leila and Grandee, September 2010

Leila and I are so lucky to have such wonder mothers in our lives!

Happy Mother's Day!

Toddler art {Mother's Day gift}

This project couldn't be easier, cheaper, or more adorable...and BONUS!...it fits right inside the cards Leila got for her Grandmas and her Great-Baba.

Materials:
paint
paper
paintbrush
craft stick
green pipe cleaner
Sharpie or other kind of marker
white glue
stickers (optional)

1. Paint your child's hand and carefully press it onto the paper. Let it dry before you cut around the outline of the handprint.
2. Paint the craft stick green to look like a stem.  I used a sponge-like paint brush but fingers, Q-tips, or a regular paint brush will do the trick.  Set it aside to dry.
3. Put glue on the back of the handprint flower and position it onto the painted craft stick.  I wanted mine were short enough to fit nicely into the card/envelope I was mailing.  Lay the flower flat to dry.
4. Make a small loop on one end of the pipe cleaner to look like a leaf and secure it to itself.  Wrap the long end of the pipe cleaner around the painted craft stick, make a loop for another leaf and tuck the remaining part of the pipe cleaner into itself.  (You can also use paper to make leaves. Melissa suggested making green footprints for leaves!)
5. Add the year, a message, and stickers if you'd like.
   

Happy Mother's Day!

This is for real.

The Elmo Gang (est. 2012) has three members. Leila would like you to believe that she is in charge.

She's probably right.



My dad (aka Grandpa) and my uncle Pat are the other two members, and yes, they also wear Elmo tattoos.

Don't worry. You can tell by their age that they are not dangerous, a menace to society, or taking over your town.

You may spot them near a bus stop,

or near the marina

trying to recruit new members.

They spend their days picking flowers,

walking the streets,

and rocking the good life

in a neighborhood near you.


Yes, Leila is clearly in charge and loving every minute of it.



You can be sure that "the Elmo gang rides again". -Grandpa

Looking forward to the weekend

It doesn't matter if you work outside the home, from home, or not at all. The weekends (Friday included!) are always worth the wait.

Today I am kicking off my Friday right...alone.

It has suddenly hit me that my parents (and aunt and uncle) will be leaving May 1st after their two month visit to San Diego.

No longer will I be able to enjoy a "day-off" from Leila, have my laundry washed and folded, or have dinner prepared and cleaned up by someone other than myself.

No more shopping trips with my mom, afternoon beers, or chances to go to the grocery store by myself.

I am going to soak up my freedom and make sure that Leila can spend as much time with Grandma and Grandpa before they head home.

It's a win-win situation for everyone involved!

Wishing you a relaxing weekend!

The Name Game

I've known parents that have taken days to name their newborn baby. I've read stories about mothers and fathers hating the name they picked for their child so much that they legally changed it. Most parents-to-be that I know, can't pick just one name, so they wait until they meet their little one to make the final decision.

Our story...

As soon as I found out I was pregnant I started thinking about baby names.

Who am I kidding? Years before I was even married, my best friends and I spent many afternoon drinking champagne and talking baby names.

I started list titled, Names I like, on my computer; one column for girls, one column for boys.

Girls:
Ava
Leah Renee
Sophia
Leila Renee

Boys:
Dylan
Isaiah
Ethan
Nathan

My mom bought us a baby name book. Betsy sent me daily texts of names she had heard. It was the most popular topic for conversation when I was around. But we still didn't know the gender of our baby.

I'm sure I didn't sleep the night I found out I was having a girl. The name game had officially begun.

Jeff and I started "trying out" names for our unborn baby girl. One week we called her Sophia. One day we called her Nadia. Valerie and Betsy refused to call her anything but Valeriebetsy.

Leila was the last name we had to try.

To this day, Jeff and I know we picked the perfect name for Leila. Somehow it just fits her personality! One of the meanings of Leila is "night beauty" or "born at night". Turns out she was born in the middle of the night, 12:26 a.m. to be exact.

We wanted a family name for her middle name. Renee is my cousin...the last one of us girls born, the first one to have a baby. I admire her family values, trust her advice, and love her positive spirit.

And I have to say, Leila Renee has a beautiful ring to it.

This is Renee with Leila Renee!July 2011

I'm linking up this week with Mama G over at Growing up Geeky. This Tuesday's topic was baby names! Check out some other TAT posts or link up a post of your own.


Naming your little one(s) can be fun and stressful. There's a lot to think about...

How did you decide on your baby's name?

I always feel like somebody's watching us.

The paparazzi must have been waiting for us.


If it were the real paparazzi sneaking photos of us to post in the tabloids, the caption would surely mention our age, weight, and a dig to our favorite sports team. So glad I am not famous. No one talks smack about the Bears.

A fresh look

We are very lucky to have friends and family that will come and visit us from all over the country. Lucky for them, really. San Diego is America's finest city!

This month my parents are coming for ten days before heading off on their next adventure. There are many reasons I love when they visit (I'm not just saying that because I know they're reading.) They stay at a rental, make dinner, get me drunk, take care of my child, help with laundry, and make me feel loved. Since Leila was born they have visited more than ever.

The very best thing about their visits is their reaction to Leila after not seeing her for a few months. It seems to me, and those around us that 15 month old Leila is the same as 12 month old Leila. I know this is really not possible. She was walking last time they visited and well, she's still walking. No major physical milestones but plenty of cognitive one. Those are the changes that are more subtle over time.

Just so curious what they'll say. Maybe a mention of her baldness or a compliment on her first haircut? Maybe they'll notice her eleven teeth or that she spits out vegetables? Maybe they can understand her "talking"? They will definitely notice that her curiosity and sunny disposition hasn't changed a bit!

Look! She can still wear the same outfit at 12 months and 15 months.

Old traditions

I'm a sucker for traditions. My all time favorite is Friday night pizza. This has been my family's tradition for as long as I can remember...since Diet Rite came in glass bottles. Occasionally our new little family of three continues this tradition (with Aunt Val of course!)

Pizza night!!!





Happy Friday!

Ho. Ho. Ho.

Jeff and I planned to take Leila to see Santa last Friday. Being the rookie that I am, I did not expect that we would have to shell out $22 to get a picture with Leila on his on lap. I also probably should have known that I was not allowed to take my own picture unless I paid for a photo package.

Forget it, we agreed no picture. Maybe no Santa for that matter since the line was a few families deep.

I went back to shopping and Jeff took Leila walking around the mall. I didn't think twice about what they were up to. I was way too busy buying a new pair of jeans! (Thanks in part to last month's challenge.)

When we got into the car Jeff said he had a surprise. He showed me the picture he bought of Leila. I about died it was so perfect!



Not for a second was I upset that he took her to see Santa without me. They did just fine without me. Imagine that?!?!




Did I mention that Jeff taught her what Santa says? "Ho. Ho. Ho." just like the Santa in A Christmas Story. Hilarious!

Christmas photo FAIL

Most of the time it is me behind the camera taking pictures of Leila. On Thanksgiving I handed the camera over to my sister in hopes of the perfect family Christmas card photo.

Here are some of the pictures we will NOT be using. Can you guess why?

I now know who Leila gets this face from.


Look! I can make fun of myself too.


Jeff is literally holding up the palm branch here.


Looks like I'm the only one that can keep smiling for this long. (Notice Jeff and Leila making the same face again!)


Turns out we did get a "good enough for who it's for" Christmas card photo. You'll just have to wait and see :)