1 week old

Everest is a week old!

 he likes to chill in my sweat pants and cardigan, that's how he rolls.

 mommy & me

I have such white babies! Where is that 1/4 Venezuelan blood!?

                                  Long skinny legs

 Our Everest hasn't spent much time with his eyes open, but this morning he was very alert so I took a billion pictures of him :)

 I love this face.

 I love how comfortable he is laying on his back. He likes to be swaddled but doesn't need to be.

 His sweet eyes are getting better every day as the swelling goes down we get to see more and more of them {and they look like they are going to be BLUE!}

Life is slow and sweet right now. The basic necessities of life are being met and nothing else matters. Our world is small and filled with my favorite people in the whole world.

 C captures his siblings so well :)

bring on the sun

It takes a village, right?

right now my Mom is still here and Jones has paternity leave and it is wonderful. Someone is making dinner, while another cleans and the other changes a poopy diaper. 

Someone moves laundry while, while someone else checks on the kids in the backyard and the other picks up C from the bus stop. It's a team effort. 

Even with 3 of us we get tired. Jones has really helped me at night (as much as possible without nursing) and this morning we both sleepily got up around 9 am. Naps might be in order today.

Before Everest got here I looked and looked for a bassinet. I really wanted a place to put him when downstairs that was out of reach of his older siblings. I never found anything I liked that was under $100 {actually most the bassinets I liked I could only buy in the UK or somewhere like that for $300-$1400}

Frustrated I asked Jones if he could make me one. 

Lucky me, he said yes and I absolutely love what he did. It was a collaboration, which is always so satisfying.

It has wheels and a place for baskets for all the babies STUFF.

Baby likes it. He just snoozes away in there.

Yesterday it was HOT and sunny so we went out to the coast for a little fresh air. It was a pleasant simple outing. I love being outside with my family. It felt soooo good even if it was in the 90's.

Today is another beautiful sunny day. I might just sit on my back porch and soak it in.

On a side note. I bought C some red sneakers. He was very happy.

Red is the Fastest color :)

Everest

{disclaimer: if you want to hear it from me first hand, STOP READING :) just wanted to get it written down before I forget.}


Well after I wrote my post last night I went to bed and woke up at 1 with contractions. They were close and strong enough to keep me up so I went down stairs and watched some TV on demand. Around 3 they seemed to be slowing down so I tried to fall asleep. Then, just before 4 in the morning I had a pretty strong contraction. I didn't really think I was in labor but I found myself calling my Midwives. They said the thought I should come in. Ok, I thought so I waddled upstairs and woke up Jones. By the time the next contraction came it too was pretty strong and I was starting to have more conviction that I should be going to the birth center. I told my Mom we were leaving and said we might be back soon. Her reply, 'I don't think so' :) apparently everyone else thought this was serious. It was just happening so fast. Our car ride was 30 minutes and each contraction was strong but I had time to talk and compose myself again between them. This kept me feeling like it was only the beginning. As I always have, I kept the mind set that I had 8-12 hours ahead of me still. I didn't make Jones think I was in transition, or serious labor. When we got the Birthing Center it 5:00 in the morning. We settled in and my midwife checked me. "7cm dilated, head right there" he said. Yup. ok. yup I through the contraction. When it ended I got in the jacuzzi tub. It was warm and I waited nervously for the next contraction, these suckers really hurt but they took their time, leaving me to worry each time for the arrival of the next. Jones took his place by my side but still seemed casual about it. We weren't in go mode yet. Then the contraction came and it HURT and what?! I think my body is pushing? I asked Jones if I usually feel like that in transition. Another pause followed by a contraction like that. "maybe you should get the midwife" I said. At this point I still thought, this has only just begun, and in my head I found myself panicking a little. It hurt and my body felt out of my control. How did I do this the last three times?! "You have done this before" I said to myself. Jones repeated it to me. My midwife came in checked me and said "you are 8 cm but I am going to help open it a little..." as soon as the words left his mouth, a head started to come out! horrified and painfully I exclaimed "He's not ready! we haven't done anything yet!" Everyone around me reassuringly said at once "yes he is!" and "you can do this" Like I had a choice, as my body pushed and kept pushing without stopping and out came my son's head, still in disbelief and pain I couldn't believe it as another big push and out came the rest of him. WHAT!? I looked at Jones, and at Everest and back at Jones. I couldn't believe it. He was here. 45 minutes after arriving at the birth center and he was here.

For the next hour or more Jones and I kept smiling and laughing in disbelief. It was over before we even knew it had begun. 4th kid and we were still being surprised. Just the night before, I had asked for a blessing. In it Heavenly Father reassured me that Everest was ready to come. That he would come safely and that my body would have the strength and ability to deliver him. As I looked at my newest son I felt so strongly that again this experience was a gift. That my Father in Heaven made me a promise and he wanted me to know that he keeps his promises. I know he loves me and I felt the spirit testify to me that this was one of those times he was letting me know it. That faith or assumption weren't required but the promise had been given to me and kept so that I could know it.

I am so grateful for my husband who loves me and believes in me, and for my sweet new son. I am grateful for my Children who all flocked around me when I came home and can feel the importance of today. I am grateful for my Mom, for her sacrifice in being here {and for the peanut butter cookies she made.} I am grateful for modern technology which allowed me to share today with all my family spread over thousands of miles. Their love and support made our excitement for the day multiply.

I am so blessed.



        Everest 8.7 lbs 22 inches long 

39 weeks

I made it to 39 weeks! My Mom is here and we are ready to go. :) I am feeling good. Although today I have had a few more contractions and generally feel huge and uncomfortable when I try to stand for very long. I was able to enjoy my relaxing sit on the couch and watch conference weekend. I feel tired but encouraged and am trying to look at this week with hope and excitement. My due date is Thursday and I keep trying to imagine what it will be like if Friday rolls around and there is still a baby in my belly :) Meanwhile I shall try not to eat us out of house and home and crochet as many flowers as I can {I think I am personally almost at 200!}

38 weeks pregnant

 I am 38 weeks pregnant! I have never felt this good at 38 weeks. I mean I have the usual, my back hurts, I am huge can't wait to sleep normal sort of thing and I have even had some late nights with contractions but not as much as I usually do. I feel good.
Well mostly. I get a bit emotional and frustrated with my kids these days. When Tober is being dramatic and Alfred is destroying everything I find myself feeling overwhelmed by it. Alfred can open doors and no longer sleeps in a crib. This means there is no containing him, no safe place. He has drawn on EVERYTHING and almost everyday I find something he has broken irreparably.
Remember his big portrait? It doesn't exist anymore. This is how it looked at phase one of destruction. Now it is in the trash in about 6 different pieces cause he tore it apart.

one of his murals in his room

                       Look at that face, guilty as can be.

Whenever things get crazy like this I just have to remind myself it doesn't last. We will ride it out and then be right back there again with Everest.
It's the circle of life. Despite their craziness I love my Babies sooooooo much. I love my husband and my family and can't wait to meet my newest son in just a matter of weeks.

My little ducks

Yesterday was a hard day. Alfred was a handful, getting into everything, not listening, destroying dumping, yelling. He has decided he is old enough to get out of his crib, so we have started the process of having him sleep in his bed. This means constantly having to go in and tell him to get back in bed, shorter naps leaving him grumpy. Exhausted. I am exhausted. So much so that this morning I slept through my alarm and C missed his bus. Looks like spring break is starting early. Having C home seems to have calmed Alfred down if only a little bit. He likes to follow his bid brother around, and C is there to put an end to some of Alfy's shenanigans before they get too out of control.
Jones' car has been in the shop for a couple of weeks but it looks like we'll be getting it back today.
Only 3 more weeks to due date, and since I have never made it to due date it feels like Everest will be here so soon! Jones is building me a bassinet for downstairs, and I am going to pack our birthing bag this weekend.

I guess that's all, off to crochet more flowers.

Spring Gingham

While thrifting the other day I found this cute gingham little girls top for $1, but sadly it was a size 2...oh wait I know an adorable almost 2 yr old girl! Alfred's girl ;) Evie baby.
So I bought it and came home and made a skirt to match. :) As. It happens Brown paper packages tied up with strings actually are some of my favorite things, and sending them is al,ost as fun as getting them. Love ya Evie baby! Jones and I will gladly be your adopted parents/parents in law! (yes I wrapped it in pages from an old Anthropologie magazine)