3 weeks

Hayley bean is 3 weeks old. Sometimes it feels like she's been a part of our family longer then that. Here's whats going down with her right now:

she weighs 9 lbs 8oz. is 21" long
is sleeping anywhere from 3-5 hours at night.
is starting to sleep less during the day (yesterday she barely slept at all)
is starting to get a bit fussier (seriously though, her fussiness is nothing to complain about)
is smiling now. I love baby smiles!
she loves to be held and cuddled
she loves driving in the van or taking a walk (she will always fall asleep)
is starting to suck on her soother more
loves getting her diaper changed
is still the most beautiful little baby girl! We love her to piece's!

Grade One.

Nate started grade one on Tuesday. He was feeling pretty nervous the whole week before. He'd look at the calendar and say "oh no, I start school in 3 days". On Monday we went over to the school to see what class he was in and who is teacher would be. We got to see his class and meet his teacher so I think that helped out a ton. After that he didn't feel so nervous. We also found out that about 5 kids from his Primary would be in his class as well, so he was glad he would know some people. The first day went very well! He was excited and went and sat at his desk with no tears and looking very confidant. I am so proud of him! So far, he seems to like it. He did say he was sitting in his desk tired wondering when he got to go home. Ha ha ha...I guess it takes some getting use to.

Yes, he's wearing the same t-shirt he wore on his first day of Kindergarten!

Sunday

We finally made it to church on Sunday. We haven't been for a few weeks now. As we were getting ready, Nate was trying to convince me that Hayley was still too little to take to church. It didn't work. I bought a cute little newborn dress at Target when I was only a few months pregnant. I didn't know that we would have a girl but it was too cute to pass up. It is pretty small so I planned for it to be the first dress she wore to church. Sunday morning I go to put it on her and realize its a bit small. It was not easy to put on, and I wasn't sure I'd be able to get it off of her, but I got her in it, and she looked cute. Well, of course she slept in her car seat through most of church and then the last hour she was wrapped in a blanket, so its not like anyone got to see her in it anyway. Oh the things we do when we have little girls! I did get a cute picture though...

She'll be two weeks tomorrow. She is just too precious!

Its been one week

since Hayley girl joined our family. We couldn't love and adore her any more then we do. She has been such a good, happy, and content baby. I often joke to Ryan that we saved the best for last...lol. Only meaning that she's so good and already on a pretty decent schedule for the first week. Our other babies took a little bit longer then that. The other night she slept from 9:30pm-2:30am, ate and then settled right away and slept until 7:00am. I couldn't believe it! She of course sleeps and eats a lot, but also stays awake for a few hours a day where she's happy and content to just stare around. She really is a joy! The kids love her and are always wanting to hold her and help feed her. We took her to her one week check-up and the doctor couldn't believe how much weight she gained. She was born at 8lbs 1oz, weighed 7lbs 11oz when the nurse weighed her the next day, and now weighs 8lbs 11oz! She's definitely not starving over here. I am doing pretty good. I've had lots of help this week. Tomorrow will be my first day all by myself. I'm not worried though. Hayley is great, and the other kids are old enough to entertain themselves and each other, and are pretty independent! Its been a good first week.

We love our little girl so, so much. We're so happy your a part of our family Hayley girl!

The classic Hayley scowl.

She's here...Finally.

Well, our little Hayley Kim was definitely worth the wait! She is beautiful, perfect, and we all just love and adore her!

I had been having contractions for the past two weeks off and on. They would be regular for a bit and then just taper off. Finally on Monday they started coming more regularly in little spurts all day and I began to have bloody show. Around 5:00pm they started to come quite regular and were getting stronger. By 8:00pm, they were quite strong and I was feeling quite a bit of pressure so we called Ryan's sister Shannon and when she got here we took off to the hospital. The kids were quite excited that the baby was finally going to come...and so was I. By the time we got to the hospital and were hooked up to the monitoring machine, my contractions seemed to be getting less intense and less close together. Seriously. This is not happening I kept thinking. Then I heard what every laboring woman never wants to here after being checked by the nurse "well, there's not much going on up there.  Your not really dilated and still very thick". What. No. I am not going home. So we walked around for a bit. It was getting hard for me to walk because my legs kept cramping and the contractions were getting hard again. Back into the room, the nurse checked me and finally said something reassuring. "Yep, your definitely making some progress!" So at a 11:00pm we were admitted and got comfortable in our birthing room. After a couple of hours the contractions were getting very hard and intense. I came to the hospital really wanting to do it with no drugs (I've done it with and without the epidural), but when they checked me again I was still dilated at 3, and I worried I'd be in for a long night so I requested the epidural. It actually came quite quickly and I was all set up by 1:40am. As soon as it kicked in I couldn't believe I actually wanted to do it without one. I was ready for a long night, but to my surprise I dilated really, really fast and was ready to push. She was definitely harder to push out then Ty and McKenna. At 2:17am she arrived! The first thing the nurses said was "she's chubby" and they were right. Oh, and yeah! Finally finding out she was a girl was great! I couldn't believe the rolls she already had on her. When they told me she was 8lbs I was shocked. Ty was my biggest at 7lbs 11oz, and I just never thought I would ever have anything over the 7 lbs area. They put her on me right after they were done all their tests and I fell in love instantly and couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful she was. She was happy and content while Ryan and I held her, but when the nurse took her to do some more tests she was not happy, and she screamed and screamed. It was hard to calm her down after that. Once we got settled in our private room (yeah!) we were able to settle her down and take some cat naps here and there while they came in to check us every half an hour. In the morning we called all our friends and family, and had visitor's all day. Of course auntie Shan and the kids were our first one's. The kids couldn't believe she was really out. Nate looked her over and then asked to play on Daddy's phone! I knew he wouldn't be that interested. Ty and McKenna both took a couple of turns holding her. We were lucky enough to be able to come home around 5:30pm. Yes, I may be crazy, but I prefer to be in my own home. Not a huge fan of staying in the hospital.

We are settled in at home and my Mother in-law is staying for a few days. She is wonderful and I'm so glad to have her here to help out. Our first night wasn't too bad and she's been sleepy and happy and content all day. We are so happy and grateful to have her home! She just fits!

See for yourselves....she's gorgeous!

8 lbs 1oz! Love her chubs!

Waiting.

Isn't it so hard to wait patiently for something you want so badly! I'm still waiting for this little bean to make an appearance. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since all my babies have gone over my due date, but its still annoying and frustrating. Everyday I think "this could be the day...the 12th is the perfect day to have a baby", and every night as I climb into bed I think "please don't go into labor until the morning...and tomorrow is a new day...maybe THE day!" Most nights I climb into bed and the contractions begin. I think "okay, I'm going to try and sleep through these as much as possible", then I wake up a few hours later, and there gone. Guess I better start getting out of bed and walking when that happens again. Then maybe something will come of them.

We spent the weekend in Cardston for Heritage Days. We had a lot of fun! The kids loved the parade and got a ton of candy. Ryan was in the family ball tournament so we spent a lot of time watching him play ball. It brought back a lot of memories for me watching him play. Its been awhile since he's been able to play. Back when we were dating and engaged I would go to his games all the time. All I can say is he's still got it! We took the kids to their first fireworks show. The boys were so animated and funny. They loved them, and if you know Ty, he could not keep quiet the whole time. He had to make noises or comment on each firework. It was so funny. McKenna just laid her head on Grandma's lap cuddled in her blanket with her little face peeking out and had no reaction. She doesn't really like loud noises. When it was all over I asked her if she liked them and she said no. I said "but they were pretty!" and she said "well I liked the pretty one's!" It was a really fun weekend. I was really hoping I would go into labor so we could just leave the kids out there, but no such luck.

Monday was back to reality. Monday was my due date. We went out to Adam and Britt's, and spent the day out in Raymond to keep my mind off of the fact that it was my due date. We visited with Grandma and Grandpa and had a nice day. By Wednesday morning the kids and I had had enough of each other. Really a bad combination...a grumpy Mother, and kids who were whiny and disobedient because their tired of having a grumpy Mother! So in the evening Ryan shipped them off to my amazing in-laws. They are having much more fun out there I am positive! It has been peaceful around here. I have been cleaning and cleaning...hoping to clean myself into labor, but no such luck. So here I am waiting....waiting for something to happen. Waiting for this little bean to want me as much as I want them. Hopefully the waiting ends soon. The kids will return on Saturday. Please come before then little one!

Maybe I need another day out in Raymond. Visiting with my Gram. She is so like my Mother and I am desperately missing her right now. Then I can go hold my sweet little baby niece. Maybe she will inspire her cousin to finally want to come! One week overdue folks! I've decided I need to stop putting my life on hold waiting for this baby to come! Life goes on! The little bean has to come at some point...he/she can't stay in there forever...right?

Baby update.

My due date has come and gone...and still no baby.