One Word Wednesday!

Nothing

Better

Than

Saturday

Morning

Snuggle

Time

A Fun Phillips Fact

Over the weekend the hubs and I were talking babies...our babies and somehow we put together a fun random fact:

I had my first baby Q, bright and early (12:45am) on Wednesday April 4, 2007. We brought him home on Saturday April 7.

The day before Easter. I would love to tell you we made Easter dinner, but the host reads this and I am afraid she'd call me out! I was so dissapointed, and I tried to suck it up, but I just couldn't do it.

My next handsome guy, B, came in the afternoon on Thursday Sept 3, 2009. We left the hospital on Sunday September 6.

The day before Labor Day. Needless to say we didn't leave for the beach that day!

Baby girl came on Wednesday December 28th. We left the hospital on Saturday December 31st.

New Years Eve. Yeah, we were home. Saw the ball drop.

I know I am a lover of all things holiday, but think this is kind of funny.

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend we didn't have much planned. Two birthday parties were the extent of our plans. Chad took B to the first one and mom, C, and I went to the second one. Both bounce parties. Thankfully B's party was early which led to a nice little nap!

My parents came up for the day on Saturday. We had given my dad University of RIchmond basketball tickets for Christmas and this was the game. They got beat up pretty good, but I think they all had a great time. Since my brother and his oldest boy went to the game, my sister in law came over and brought their 4 year old. It was great to see her and the boys all played great together!

Unfortunately, I didn't take a single picture, even though it was the first time they had all met and held Little Miss.

Sunday it was too cold and rainy to take Little Miss anywhere. Chad got to run out and do a few errands including the grocery store. I was actually a little jealous. That's saying a lot considering I despise the grocery store.

This week isn't looking too exciting either. Thats ok, we could use a little down time! Lots of time for games, crafts (maybe a pinterest pin or two), coloring, and reading! And it makes it a little easier that it is winter time and not beautiful outside!

What have you got planned for your week?! Something fun? Fill me in!

The Nursery

You can check out the finished nursery here. I'm so glad to have this space finished for Little Miss. I love it and I think she is going to as well! Hope you do too!

Our week so far....

We've had a really great week so far! It's almost over, but we plan on having a really great weekend too!

On Monday Grammy & Granddaddy made their way up to Richmond, to meet Little Miss, play with the big boys and help mommy out!

Since Little Miss made her debut at Christmas time, we didn't get away to celebrate....so we got to celebrate in January. I think the boys really enjoyed having Christmas last so long! It's been almost a month of presents! They are getting spoiled. Every time someone comes we open presents! How awesome is that?!

Look at all that paper!!

Tuesday we headed to the Science Museum of Virginia! Everyone had a blast and Q was more than a little excited to show G&G Rat Basketball.

Wednesday G&G helped get the boys to school. (Side note: I am really missing driving!!) Grammy got to enjoy "the minivan regatta" (car pool) and pick up process. They are always in such a good mood when you pick them up! B likes to tell you about his day and Q is starting to tell you more and more!

I got to enjoy some thrift store shopping with Grammy and a few hours of downtime!! I got a nap one afternoon and a few hours of just laying down on another! Little Miss was not going to let me nap! It was fine, I got to hold her and snuggle her all by myself in peace and quiet while the boys were playing with their grandparents! It was a win for everybody! Besides the boys getting to and from school, I didn't ask them to "help" much. I don't think they felt like they were much help, but they were! Just being here and making the boys smile and play with them is a HUGE help! And for that I am greatful.

Can't wait to do it again! I don't think it will be long. Grammy learned we have a Home Goods and an antique mall within a mile of the house!

One Word Wednesday!

Clothes!!

Calm Down....

It's no secret I LOVE Pinterest. Honestly, I have gotten some great ideas. And not only have I pinned them, I have actually done a bunch of them.

Yesterday the boys and I created the calm down jar. Originally from Chasing the Fire Fly. (Actually, she credits someone else, who credits someone else, etc etc. But I found her recipe easy and her site was the one I had pinned!) I wont give you the how to, because it's pretty easy and she explains it. The idea of the jar is to shake it up when feeling overwhelmed, grumpy, stressed, or frustrated with your sibling. You sit and watch the glitter fall and by the time the glitter is settled, you should be too. We haven't had to use them yet, but it's only been a day. Believe me, they will get lots of use!

Here are Q & B with their bottles. It was great, I got them to drink a quick 8oz of water and it took a few minutes of our day. We are still home bound (3 more weeks!) so a few minutes is precious!

I found this pack of glitters at Michaels!! How fun are all these colors?

And here are the boys with their jars! They were so excited and loves Shaking them and watching the glitter settle.

Q used silver. It was pretty but didn't photograph well.

B used a dark blue.

I could have filled it up a bit more. But the boys were excited and ready to play!

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was pretty slow. Normal I guess when you have 2 small children and an newborn.
Saturday we didn't do much. It was super cold outside. Well, super cold if you are 13 days old. However, daddy took the big boys outside.
We B spent some time on the potty.

That would be Q reading to him. They sat there awhile. No luck. We keep asking byt he seems uninterested.
Sunday it was more visitors! This time it was Uncle Dirk, Aunt Michelle, cousins Paul & Piper!

We celebrated Christmas and got some lunch! It was cold again, but that didn't stop the kids from playing outside! Everyone had a great day! B was a little worn out!

It was a great weekend and we have a big week ahead of us!!

One Word Wednesday!

Home +

Bound =

MESS!!

In training

We have a boy in training. Potty training. Ugh. My least favorite parenting activity. I don't know why. It just is. Even before I had kids I knew it would be. My idea was just to let them decide when they were ready and let them steer the course. Either plan on being home or short quick errands. I am also not above bribery. No reason to not reward them with an M&M or two!! Ask them all the time. (I still ask before we leave some place!) I had no intentions of visiting every restroom in every store or restaurant in Raleigh. Other than that, I can't claim to know the road to victory.

Q was pretty easy. He "played" on the kiddy potty a few times and then on February 14th, 2010 he walked in and said he wasn't wearing a pull up anymore. And he didn't. Even night time was pretty easy.

I guess I am scared of the mess. The grocery store is already a hassle, then you add in potty breaks across the store, an "I need to potty" the minute you get in the car etc etc. And I have boys. How easy are boys?! You open the door and drop the pants. Wait until Little Miss starts...ugh.

Lately B has been having a fit about wearing his diaper and/or getting diaper changes. But he never mentioned wanting to wear underware or using the potty. Then finally I asked him if he wanted to use the potty and he tried. So Sunday Chad went up into the attic and grabbed the training potty. He went once.

Today since we were homebound, I thought it was as good a time as any to give it the ole' college try. I brought the toilet down stairs asked him if he needed to go when it was time to get dressed. He took off his pants and diaper and they never made another appearance. He spent the whole day naked. His choice. He did great! He used the potty three times and all three times in the potty. All by himself. At one point we were upstairs and he went running downstairs to go.

I'm so proud of my baby big boy. I can't believe we are there already.

Weekend Wrap Up

Since I was just over one week post op, we didn't plan on doing much. In fact we don't plan on doing much for the next 4 weeks. Great for the wallet. I'm sure Visa is wondering what happened to me!

Because we are hanging out close to home, this let everyone know we were available for visitors! And let the visits begin!! I love having company. I don't know why, but I do. Since I was a little girl I have always loved having visitors. I didn't really do much to prepare for my latest gathering, and I don't think they were expecting much. Which are the best kind of visitors to have! Just being with and spending time with family makes me happy. Especially since we have this new joy in our lives to share!!

Uncle Todd, Aunt Sarah, and cousins Josh and Caroline came to visit us. The weather was fantastic. It is the beginning of January and everyone was playing outside with no jackets!! This weekend last year we were in the middle of an ice storm. I know, because I was trying to paint the guest bathroom in order to put the house on the market. Home Depot had to deliver the paint to my house (since they mixed the wrong color)and I wasn't dragging the boys out in that!

Don't you love it when you watch a grown man let a baby put such a smile on his face?

Little Miss is a bit out of focus but look at that smile on her Aunt Sarah! I think both girls are just beautiful!

Cousin Josh, was pretty excited to hold Little Miss as well, however, she wasn't as interested due to timing. It was feeding time and Josh really didn't have what she wanted.

Speaking of pretty girls, check out these two! Caroline has lots to teach Little Miss and I can't wait to see the things they get into together!

We had lunch downtown and celebrated Christmas! Even though we spent the day together, they left much too early for their drive home. Something about the kids having to get ready for school and all. I mean, who needs school!? But I am glad to have had a Phillips' fix! I'll take as little or as many hours as I can get!

We'll get some more family time with another set of Phillips' this weekend! Can't wait!

A birth story

As promised here is my latest and last birth story. There isn't too much sap here as I like to keep that in a little journal for my self and for each child later. But these are the deets for those that have asked. Not surprising, I have lots of friends that really like a birthing story. What is more amazing than the miracle that is life?

CGP (Little Miss) joined our family on December 28th, 2011 at 10:08am. She was a whopping petite little thing coming in at 6lbs 8oz and 19.5" long. She is the smallest of my babies.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a good relationship with my OB. Sometimes I think I put too much pressure on her, because she had big shoes to fill. My last practice and all their Drs were amazing. However, the more I saw her the more I didn't like her. But by the time, you see them on a regular basis and decide you would really like to change, it's too late. Since we had only been in Richmond a few short months, I didn't have many references to go on. I had to go with my gut. I guess the hormones got in the way and I didn't have very good intuition that day.

My first big decision to make was to have a VBAC or a repeat c section. I was pretty sure I wanted the C section, but was trying to justify having sugery if I didn't "need" it. When I had decided and told my Dr, I wanted a c section, she seemed dissapointed but willing, since it was a repeat. I had several personal reasons for wanting one. This was week 37. The nurse came in and let me know we were going to have a baby on December 28!! I would be 38 weeks and 6days. At the same time she told me I was having really early signs of preeclampsia. YIKES!

At my last visit week 38, I tried talking to my Dr about the preeclampsia and my c section concerns. My biggest one being how the epidural & spinal make me feel (TERRIBLE). I told her my blood pressure dropped the minute I got my epidural with my first baby and I had to have oxygen and something in my IV to bring it back up. Same thing with my second baby and first spinal. She explained what happens with these procedures and it made since, but it wasn't taking away the anxiety.

After a pretty busy Christmas season Wednesday December 28th rolled around and Chad and I left for the hospital at 7am. I tried to find my happy place and go there immediately. But I was going on a couple hours of sleep due to being happy and anxious and excited to meet my girl, and sad that this was my last pregnancy etc etc. I was pretty calm until it was actually time to go back to the operating room.

The room was FREEZING and I was shivering like crazy. I was nervous about getting the actual spinal but that was nothing compared to what I knew was coming. I will admit, I was hoping that maybe, just maybe those feelings wouldn't happen this time?! No such luck. They laid me down to strap me in and like a freight train it hit me. The elephant. It was standing on my chest. I was focusing on breathing. I was trying to go to my happy place (preferably with a margarita). I couldn't get there fast enough. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. And......lights out. I fainted. Well, that is what happens when your blood pressure plummets. Thankfully, there is no better place to do that than on the operating room table with a room full of Drs.

But a minute after I came to, the Dr was ready to get down to business. I had been "stablized" and felt fine. That darn elephant finally found something else to do. A couple of minutes after that and I heard her powerful lungs. I saw her beautiful pink little body. And the tears flowed. They brought her around for me to see and when she heard my voice she opened her eyes. Ahhhhh, now that is love at first sight.

The rest is just medical details. They wheeled me to recovery (the same room I would be in for the rest of my stay) while "holding" my baby!! Shortly after that we got to nurse. She did great. While I was in recovery, my nurse told me about my fainting spell and how they were actually pretty worried. Which is why it took them a little longer to get Chad. I also learned it was a good thing I had a c section because Little Miss had a knot in her umbilical cord. It was loose, but during a delivery can become tighter resulting in the need for an unplanned c section. Finally, some justification I made the right decision. This time, I'm glad I listened to my gut!

Then they took her to the nursery to observe her, get her temperature up and give her a bath etc. She had some fluid in her lungs (common for c section babies) and ended up spending pretty much the whole day in observation, before getting her bath, and before seeing me again. She never had to be put on oxygen and we were praying to keep it that way. Around 6pm she was released from observation and was able to come to the room and meet her big brothers.

They exchanged presents and went home with grandma over stimulated and exhausted from their big day. Q was actually very nervous all day so for him to come to the hospital and see everyone was ok and healthy was a big relief for him! It was a big day for everyone. We were all tired. It seems like such a blur now and it wasn't that long ago.

On her release day, Saturday, her weight had fallen to 5lbs 15oz. The peditrician wanted her seen on Monday for a weight check. He didn't like that she had lost that much but didn't feel the need to suppliment at that point. Little Miss and I went home and got right to work on that weight gain. On Monday she went and checked in at 6lbs even. Still no reason to suppliment, but we were willing, if needed! Yahoo! Other than that he said she was perfect. As if, I needed him to tell me that?! But he wanted her back today. And today. Today, my petite baby girl checked in at 6lbs 12oz!! She gained 12oz in 5 days!! Let's just say her peditrician was very happy and he might have even studdered a bit when he saw that!

It isn't the most amazing birth story, but it's hers. I didn't want an amazing birth story. I like to keep things bland and simple when it comes to babies and surgeries and Drs and deliveries!!

It's been nine days now and we havn't stopped smiling yet. God has blessed us once again and we are so thankful. We have been trying to soak it all in.

Our Little Miss Magic at one week.

You singing what I'm singing?

Tonights post was going to be all things birthing story, so I will warn you that means tomorrow nights post will be. So on Saturday if you wake up with a hankering for a good ole fashioned birthing story I'm your girl. If not, you were warned.

However, as I went to write tonights post, Little Miss woke up and wanted my attention. My mother hands her to me and all I could do was laugh.

THAT BOW!! (Which by the way one of the nurses whipped up right there in the OR when she heard "Here SHE is". I was quite impressed that I of all people had a "Martha" for a nurse. Only appropriate, don't you think?!)

Immediately the vision in my head went south. It was bad. You thinking what I'm thinking?!

Source

You singing what I'm singing? Name that tune. I'm sure it will be stuck in your head all day! Your welcome.

One Word Wednesday!

Busy

Being

Blessed

By

A

Beautiful

Baby

Girl