Life these days

It happens with every pregnancy. The last 4 weeks seem never ending, and yet the first 4 weeks of the newborns life goes by all too quickly. It was no different this time around! I can't believe my little Stella has already hit her 1 month milestone! That curled up, wrinkly, furry baby is quickly slipping away, as I notice her thighs starting to chunk up! I have almost finished mourning the loss of another newborn stage though, as I start to see her smile, interact, and watch her facial features develop. I had little hope for her delivery initiating itself, given my last two inductions, both a week overdue. But when her due date came around, I opted to have my membranes swept by my OB, to see if that would get things moving along. Though I had previously had this done 3 times with Tegan, but to no avail! ha! I went in to my appointment the morning of my due date. I felt cramping for the rest of the day, but didn't think much of it until around supper time, when it seemed more consistent, and I decided to time them. 5 Minutes apart. They seemed to come and go a little, and I remembered how real labor felt, and at this point I could still walk around, and talk with no problems. I got the kids ready and into bed, and sat to watch Game 7 of the NBA finals with Clark. Still feeling the contractions, but nothing really painful. I was adamant that I was not going to be sent home from the hospital, so I went to bed. I figured if it really got bad enough, the contractions would wake me up, and I would know for sure! It was a challenge sleeping, and I woke up several times, though not with any real pain. It still seemed like any contractions I was having weren't all that consistent either. I was finally awakened at 3:45am with a contraction that hurt. I figured I would get out of bed, and walk around to see if it would go away. They didn't, so I began timing them again. 2 Minutes apart. Hmmmm. They started to hurt much more now too. So at just before 4:00am, I woke up Clark and told him I thought it was time. Then the contraction would fade, and I'd change my mind. Then another one, and it was definitely time to go again! I changed my mind a few times, but by the time we were actually leaving, I couldn't physically walk through the contractions. Maybe I had waited a little long. haha. We arrived at the hospital at about 4:20am. After checking in at emergency, we were on our way up to the Labor & Delivery Unit. We hadn't quite made it to the elevator when my water broke. Note to self, don't do that while standing next time. Grossest feeling ever. I finally got to a bed at about 4:25am. I was 4-5cm dilated. After the usual question drill, my blood was taken. I was then told there was a delivery room ready, so we were moved. I walked there, and literally felt like the baby was going to fall out! When I eventually laid down, I was 10cm, and ready to push. So nervous! As if the contractions weren't painful enough, I had no time for an epidural, and was pretty sure I couldn't handle it! Nevertheless, at this point there's no going back right! She was born at 4:58am, June 21st. We named her Stella Maesie. Her middle name is a combination of Clark and my Grandma's middle names. My Grandma's middle name is Maisie, and Clark's Grandma's middle name is Mae. She was 7lbs 6oz, and 20 1/4 inches.

I have to admit, the recovery without the epidural seemed easier. It sure was nice to be able to walk afterwards! Clark went home after I was moved to the Maternity unit. He slept until the kids woke up, then brought them to see their new baby sister. Teegs was a nightmare trying to keep contained though, so they weren't able to stay all that long.

We were home by noon the next day, and I was feeling pretty good. My parents and younger siblings were on their way here, and arrived that evening. They stayed for 4 weeks, so I had plenty of help for the whole first month of Stella's life. It was great. I was sad to see them leave, but Grandma already has another trip planned in a month or so. Stella is a wonderful baby. She looks similar to both of her siblings, though a little more like Cameron I think...and more so when she's asleep. Still unsure about eye color obviously, but as they start to lighten up, they are looking blue, which isn't much of a surprise! She has the tell-tale Platt peach fuzz hair, just like Cameron and Tegan had, so although I don't know for sure yet, I am expecting another blonde curly babe! She is starting to get into a little bit of a routine, and I have had up to 6 hours at night, though it's more like 3 or 4, and gets a little more frequent closer to morning. She would sleep for longer stints right next to me in her earlier weeks, much like her sister, but has now thankfully settled just fine in her own bed! She sleeps very hot though, so she is wrapped in a swaddle wearing nothing but a diaper every night! Sleeping hot might be something we all should start getting used to. Our family is leaving our little city of Lethbridge for the time being, and moving down to California. Clark has made the switch to Vivint Solar, and leaves to head down and start working on Monday. The kids and I will be sticking around here until Stella's passport arrives in about a month. We're sad to see Daddy leave again for that long, but I will be a busy Mommy, so hopefully the time passes quickly!

Overdue Catch-up

I was going to start this post off by saying how bad I feel not keeping up on my blogging. Yet, after going through all the other blogs I follow, and seeing that I am not even half as bad as you guys, I don't feel quite as guilty at all! However, things here are definitely a-changing, and it's time I put it down in writing. Both my little kiddos had their birthday's! Cameron turned 3 in November, and had himself a cute Thomas the Tank party. Grandma sent up some awesome plates, cups, a banner, and balloons, and I made him a Thomas cake. Grandpa even happened to be in the area on business, so he was able to stay with us for a couple of days, and made it to his party. He had plenty of train presents, and Clark and I got him a train track table for his ever growing train collection. He still plays with it at least once a day, and loves to line up all his trains on the track.

Cameron is sure growing up. I notice his intellect evolving every day as he learns words and phrases that shock me! He is a very intelligent guy, and I love our conversations during the day. He sure entertains me! He is still a Platt anomaly coming in at a consistent 80th percentile for height, though his skinny, athletic body is not such a surprise!

We had another little birthday a month later, when our baby Teegs turned one! I unfortunately was really starting to feel the morning sickness by this time, and it was a challenge for me to pull her birthday off in the way I wanted to. It was definitely on a much smaller scale to Cameron's first one, but I tried my best! We just invited close friends and family to our house for cake on Sunday evening. Clark and I got her her first little dolly, and she received some cute clothes from extended family.

She has definitely come into her own over the last 6 months. She can scream with the best of them when things aren't going her way! So much for my quiet little angel!! Though she took her first steps well before she turned 1, she didn't actually start walking everywhere until around Christmastime. It was sure been fun to watch her progress so much physically, and emotionally over the last few months. She is a little peanut, coming in at around the 30th percentile for height, and skinny just like her brother, though she definitely sports plenty of junk in the trunk! What a sweetheart she is, and we are so lucky to have her cute face in our family.

Since our kids are just so darn cute and cool, it seemed unfair to the world for us to stop at two! ;) A couple of weeks before Halloween, I found out I was expecting again.

Clark was still at work for the day, so I decided to go and buy our family's pumpkins as a cute way to tell him the good news. I bought one for each of us. When he arrived home, we were all sat outside waiting for him. He noticed the pumpkins, and began counting. He asked why there were 5, and I smiled. He guessed right away, and was a happy fella.

I am just about half way along now, and we just had our ultrasound a couple days ago.

Here in Lethbridge, it is their policy not to disclose gender personally, but to wait until the radiologist has examined the results, and sent them over to the OB/GYN. So sometimes it can take a few days after the ultrasound to actually find out. Of course, it was Clark and my agenda to weasel it out of the technician then and there! We were in luck. We had a super friendly guy, who could tell we had zero preference for gender this time around, and at the very end of the appointment, he showed us gender, and asked what Clark thought it was. He guessed another little girl, and the technician said, I would guess you are right. So another little lady it is! I would absolutely have been happy either way, but now that I know it's a girl, I really am excited for Tegan to have a sister so close in age. Not only that, but they also have a girl cousin that is smack bang in between both of their ages, so it will be an army of estrogen as they grow up together! I called my parents right away, then came home to make some cupcakes as a way to tell our close friends and family in the area. Chocolate cupcakes, with a question mark on top, and inside, some pink icing to indicate a girl.

Christmastime was sure fun around here. I love being at my parents house every other year, but enjoy being in our own home just as much. Especially as our kids grow older. We are finding lots of family traditions we like to incorporate into our festivities. The kids always get new jammies to wear on Christmas Eve. I love watching them open up their presents. Cameron is really starting to understand the concept, and surprisingly enough, Tegan certainly didn't need much help either!

Christmas morning was spent in our home for Santa presents, and gifts from each other. Clark's parents briefly stopped by, then we all got ready, and headed out to Calgary to stay for a couple of days with Clark's sister and her family. It was fun for all the cousins to get together, and we were all spoiled with gifts, and plenty of yummy food! I seriously LOVE turkey dinner!