Hailey's First Pictures

I almost felt incredibly guilty for not purchasing the pictures from the hospital photographer, but when she told me I had to pay $130 for 8 pictures, I didn't feel that badly anymore. Hailey has a mommy attatchment problem and will cry if she's not being held. It doesn't matter if she's fed and completely happy, the second I put her down it's waterworks and screaming. Seriously girl, I love you too, but my goodness. The photographer kept trying to calm her down, taking all this time to pat her on the back, and I kept trying to tell her just to start shooting, but she wouldn't. It was so much work for the shots that she did get, but I didn't think they were anything to "write home about". Not saying that I felt like I am better than a professional, but under the circumstances, I felt like I could take better ones at home...when she's happy. 

So, today, after over an hour of trying to lay her down, I finally accomplished it. She stayed sleeping....out of my arms. Although I was covered in spit up all over my shirt and in my bra, I seized the moment and took pictures even though I should have cleaned myself up first. I'm gross, oh well. Welcome to parenthood, I say. 

And....here's baby Hailey in all her glory. She couldn't be more adorable!

Here are some more pictures from the hospital. This is as close Claire has been to Hailey since she was born. Right before we found out she had a fever and threw up on the way home from seeing us. She still is not better and is still throwing up, but we're happy that her fever is gone. 

FAMILY OF FIVE!!!!!!  

It was really hard to get good pictures because of the terrible lighting in our room mixed with little Miss Opinionated, but we did end up getting a few. 

This one cracks me up. I think she sat indian style inside of me because of the way she holds her legs and feet. Brian was concerned that she had club foot, but they're totally normal when they're straight. I think it looks like she's running away or doing a dance move....

Sporting the owl hat I made for her because she was such a "night owl" inside of me. Since she has been born she has very much lived up to this assumption and I feel like I'm passing out most of the day because of it. 

She HATED the car seat. 

Hailey Scarlett

So, I was induced today! She's FINALLY here! I didn't tell my family or friends that we were getting induced, but Brian told all of his, so it was a little funny. He got calls and texts all day long and I got to sit there without anything....and I liked it. It was nice not to have to give hourly updates.

We were really hoping that she would make her debut a lot earlier in the day, but she didn't come until late afternoon. With all the follow up stuff that they do and the down time, the kids won't be able to come see her until tomorrow morning. I'm a little sad about that, but I'm sure they don't care. :)

So I love to remember my progress, so here is the rundown on my labor and delivery:
6:30 am: Arrived at hospital
6:45am: dressed in the most hideous mustard yellow hospital gown that ever existed.
8:00 Pitocin started
9:45: 2+ amd 50% effaced. Broke waters. I thought this was a little early, but he kept telling me we'd deliver in a few hours with the waters broken this early on...since it's my 3rd.
10:15: Epidural. I wasn't quite ready for it, but they wanted to get it in on a low dose before they were unavailable. Light enough that I was getting tingly in my legs, but I could still feel my contractions.
11:30: 3. Inserted Catheter.
12:45: Increased pitocin. Feeling more of my contractions again.
1:10 4 and still about 50% effaced. Can feel a little hair
1:45: 6 and -2 station
2:10 7 and -2 station. Put on oxygen. Pitocin stopped so she can recuperate and come down.
3 pm: she is soooooo wiggly in there! Having a party.  Waiting to get checked and feeling very antsy to see her.
3:40: 8-9, 0 station. I am sooooooooo HUNGRY!
4:20: 10 and time to push.
4:59 : Happy birthday!!!

Here she is!!!! She was a lot of work to get out...but she's 7 lbs 12 oz 19.5 inches of worth it!!

Dinner, Family of Four

Waiting for a baby isn't exactly fun when you're a week over-due, I'll be honest; however, waiting for your third to come is a whole heck of a lot easier to wait for than number 1 was! I'm so grateful that these two little maniacs keep me busy (although I'm tired of bending over to pick up their toys).

Yesterday was excruciatingly boring. I haven't had anything planned in days because....well....I have been hoping she'll come and I don't want to be unprepared, right? Brian takes the car to work on Wednesdays, so we were home bound and stuck inside because of the rain. About to lose my mind, I decided that a family outing at Rainforest Cafe was just the ticket and what better way to celebrate a new baby than going out to dinner for the last time...in a long time. Plus, we NEVER eat out, so it was extra fun for all of us. The kids loved the monkeys we sat by and they ate every ounce of pizza....which has never happened.

Phone pictures.....please excuse them....

Jared's Birthday

It's a little hard for me to believe that this little boy is 2 years old....until I see what he's done to various rooms/closets in my house, and then I believe it one HUNDRED PERCENT. He is a tornado and I've had a lot to learn as far as clean houses and patience go. This little boy has me smitten to the core and I'm a sucker for all things Jared (...and Claire....we have a major adorable problem at our house). He is far too cute for his own good. 

We let him open his birthday presents the night before his birthday so he could enjoy it all day long and that way Daddy could be home to play with him for a little bit. It turned out to be a great decision because the next night quickly got taken by another event. For a little boy who can't get enough cars in his life or his hands we got him a hot wheels track. To be honest....I think I've become a bigger hot wheels fan than he has (as far as the track goes). He loves the cars. I think the track is mega cool and I think it's a great disservice to little girls that their toys aren't as cool. 

What does a firetruck say?

"OOOOO..... 

"EEEEEEEE" 

Jared's actual birthday was a lot of cake-making. I spent all morning trying to get the cake done without the kids eating it all first. I let them have two cupcakes, but then it was havoc telling them that they couldn't have any more. Jared was very upset at that, so it took me forever to actually frost it. When I finally got it done, he was upset I wouldn't give him the toys on the top, so we walked to the park and played in the sand.  

When we got back, I successfully made dinner without him remembering his cake...until Brian came home and said that naughty word. He refused to eat dinner anymore after "cake" had been spoken and only ate the frosting when the time came to get cake-faced.  

I was so proud that he actually blew out one candle!  

So, instead of playing with toys that night, our friends invited us to go to the Dallas Mavericks party for passholders. During dinner my contractions were 4 minutes apart and I think Brian was getting a little worried that we wouldn't make the party...but I told him to calm down, they weren't painful. After an hour they were gone anyway...of course.

 Brian was super star-struck and got a picture with this dude.....

I'm so sorry that I'm lame sauce and don't know his name. It's also a terrible picture and I'll get a better one that my friend took. ;) All I know is that he is very, very, very tall. :) 

The music was SOOOOO LOUD! A little too loud for my liking...and obviously Claire's at this point. Claire had a lot of fun though. She loves the Mavs and has become quite the adorable fan.

Sand "castle" anyone? 

...And what did Jared do during this enormous party for his birthday filled with extremely loud music, fun, and basketball goodness? He slept....the entire time. Didn't move a muscle I tell you. It's as if obnoxious music spoke to his sleeping gods and tranced him into the best nap he has ever taken. We left the building at 9:34 and at 9:35....in all that quietness, he woke up immediately. ????? I'm still confused about that one.  We went home and spent the rest of the night, 'til 1am, watching Frozen (Oshee is how Jared says it) until we were too tired to stay up with him. Luckily he went to bed rather easily (thank you late night nap).

Face painting. Claire is a princess. 

Henry is a werewolf...and it was awesome. 

This is Claire's "scary" werewolf face. :)  

Gosh, it was a fun day! I love birthdays.