Lily's Blessing

We blessed Lily the first week of February. The dress she is wearing is the dress me and my sisters were blessed in. Actually, it is the dress (minus the lace) my Dad was blessed in as well (come on people, it was the 50s). It was really great that she was able to be blessed in that dress. We did the same thing with the boys (no, Clint wasn't blessed in a dress, he was blessed in a cute little knit romper), and it has been so nice that the kids were able to be blessed in that same clothes we were blessed in. It isn't important, but it is a nice connection to have with the kids.



Me and Lily. She makes a great belly hider. Which is only fair, since it's her fault.

I told Clint it was too muddy for the boys to go out and play. He said it wasn't. Now class, who was right? It made a cute picture though, and I was at work, so I didn't have to clean it up.

Ashton's Valentine party at preschool. I always like going to their little parties. It's fun to see his classroom and talk to his teacher.

We are so blessed!!!!!

My cute purple girl

My adorable little boys in the Hanna Andersson sweaters Nana got them for Christmas.

We have been so lucky since Lily was born!!! We have such wonderful friends, family, and community. Ever since the first day we came home, we have had a meal. We've gotten meals from friends, church members, Clint's coworker, and even families from Ashton's preschool (it's a Methodist preschool, and a fellowship group from the church that goes with the preschool arranges the meals). Also, a Mother whose son isn't even in Ashton's class saw that I was pregnant, and gave me her left over tiny diapers from her newborn. We have had people stop by with muffins, cookies, and even breakfast the day Lily was born. My friends pick Ashton up for preschool, and drop him off when it is over. The other morning, after Lily only slept for one hour the entire night, my good friend and neighbor saw that Clint's car was still at home at 7:30 am, assumed we had a bad night, and called to see if she could take the boys. My Mom has come over in the afternoons to help. I don't think I have ever felt so loved and taken care of, and I am so grateful to everyone we know!!!!!

Introducing Lily Sophia!

This is Lily Getting her first bath. She loved it!!! She was submerged, except her face, and she was so calm and peaceful. She was born on the 9th of January, at 1:36 AM. She weighed eight pounds (so did both the boys!!), and she is 20 inches long. It was a really fast labor and delivery (4 hours) which I'm not convinced is preferable. Gilbert's was twice as long, and at least twice as easy. I had an appointment the morning of the eighth, and I was two centimeters dilated. The midwife, Cherie, swept my membranes, which put me into labor right away with Gilbert, but I didn't have high hopes since I wasn't quite due, and I was overdue with Gilbert. I was crampy all day, but nothing that was real labor, and I had been crampy for two weeks anyway. I went to work, and decided we would get donuts in the morning to celebrate Lily's due date, even though she wasn't here. After work (9pm), I came home and finished watching the Mavericks game till nearly ten, and decided to go to bed. As soon as I tried to go to sleep, I started having contractions. I got up, sure that they would go away. But they didn't, at least not all the way. They weren't very regular. At ten thirty I called my parents and told them not to go to bed, because I thought that maybe/probably I was in labor. I didn't call the birth center though, because it was getting late, and I didn't want to bother anyone if it was a false alarm. I would have a pretty light contraction, and then another one six minutes later, and then I wouldn't have one for twelve minutes, but it would be a really strong one. So I sat in the recliner, read a book, and waited for them to get more regular. They got slightly more regular, and weren't going away, so finally at 11:45, I called Cherie, since she had told me it could be fast, and not to labor at home much. I called my parents, but told them not to rush. However, at that point the contractions changed to 3-5 minutes apart, and pretty intense. We called back and told them to hurry. My Dad stayed with our sleeping boys, and Mom came to the birth center with us. It's a half an hour drive to the birth center, and I breathed very quietly through the contractions, because if I made any noise at all Clint slammed on the gas, which wasn't comfortable. When we got there (about 12:30) Cherie checked me, said I was dilated to a 6 (good thing I didn't wait longer to call). My water broke, and Cherie said to take a power walk, and I'd have a baby. Yeah, not so much. I wasn't that into power walking. It lasted about five minutes. Then I tried the shower, which was great with Gilbert, but this was going so fast!!! That only lasted five minutes as well. Then I just paced around the room. After a while Cherie checked and said I was a ten, but I didn't feel like pushing yet, so we waited. I read that a "resting period" between when you are fully dilated and when you are ready to push is normal, but I had never had it before. Finally I felt like pushing-but only a little bit. With the boys my body pushed whether I wanted it to or not, but with Lily, it was more like "oh, I think I'd like to push now." And it was hard work!!!! I didn't have to consciously push either of the boys. It still only took ten minutes and two contractions though. We found out why it was harder when she was born: she was posterior (face up), which is much harder to birth. We got to take her home about six hours after she was born, and it was so nice to rest at home. She was beautiful right away, not wrinkled or scrunched at all. She has a really round head, and chubby cheeks, and really blue eyes. Her hair is blondish, and of course, she has less than either of the boys. She doesn't sleep much at night, but we love her anyway!!! Her brothers like her, although Gilbert does occasionally try to hit her in the head or snatch my nursing pillow away.



Clint and Mom bathing Lily at the birth center.

Cherie giving lily her newborn exam. Thant's the bed I had her on!!! I wanted to take a picture of the room when I went back Friday, but someone was using it. I'll take one at my six week visit hopefully, and of Lily's footprints they put on the wall as well.

Lily pretty soon after she was born.

Lily and Daddy chillin'

The Birth Center from the outside. It is an old Victorian house in Dallas. It's really beautiful inside.

Lily and Daddy

Christmas

Gilbert Insisted on riding over to my parents house with his lawn mower sitting on his lap. Pretty funny.

Ashton's favorite present was his legos.

Gilbert's favorite present was his lawn mower.

Our Christmas tree after Clint wrapped all the presents. I went to bed before it was finished. Sad. I was soooooo tired.

Camille's boyfriend Cole sitting on Ashton after Christmas Eve dinner at my parent's house.

Gilbert and Cole bonding.

Camille and Clint dancing to Christmas music.

Ashton's school program. He is on the back row. I was so cute. They kept swinging those bags around and hitting eachother.

Random Pictures

Wow!! I'm so far behind that I am going to post a whole bunch of pictures, and not much writing. This is Daddy the horse. He carried both our boys, and Ashton's friend Carter at the same time!!! Super Daddy.

Ashton all dressed up for the Primary Program in November. His first white shirt and tie.

Gilbert sleeping. I can't resist sleeping pictures. Especially when he is clutching his teddy bear.

Clint Dancing with the dog, who is excited to be inside the house for once.

The boys are happy to have her inside as well.

No baby yet

Self explanatory......

Baby Shower

Last month I had a baby shower. It was great!!! My friend Breanna hosted it, and my Mom and Sister helped with the food, etc. Baby girl got tons of really cute outfits, and it was fun to visit with everyone and feel so supported!!! Now I get to go look in the baby's dresser at all the cute outfits.