Pete's birth

Pete, I was once again, overdue.  Sure, only by a day, but once you get to your due date, anything over is miserable.  The Saturday night before you were born was miserable.  I was up and down all night long in the bathroom.  I was up before 6, put on my make up and did my hair as usual, but had no intentions of going to church because of the night before.  Then, I lost my mucous plug. Claire was up at about a quarter to seven, and we sat in the rocking chair at MooMoo's house, just rocking together for a while.  Seven was when the first contraction happened.  At seven thirty, I told MooMoo that it was time for a baby to be born.  I woke up Daddy about 7 minutes later.  Both MooMoo and Daddy decided they needed to shower before we left.  I told them it was fine, but to make it quick. I called our midwife, Candy, and let her know that I was in labor and expected to leave the house within the hour.  Within 10 minutes, I was at a point where I could no longer talk through contractions and was really ready to leave.  Uncle Kyle and Aunt Abby were home, Papa was doing his chores.  They knew they could take the big kids to church.

We made it to Candy's house and I just started walking around the room.  I wasn't really in the mood to have my progress checked because I was afraid I'd be disappointed with how far along I *wasn't*.  Eventually, I moved my pacing to the bathroom, where I made laps around the scale.  Eventually, I had to pause during contractions and just lean over.  Candy and Carrie asked me to come to the bedroom, if I could.  They were afraid that I'd have you over the tile in the bathroom and that your little noggin would hit the floor.  In the bedroom, the contractions got harder, I shushed your MooMoo, and I was at a point of just being DONE.  Carrie suggested that because I felt only a small urge to push - and not a big one - that maybe my water was blocking your way.  So, I laid down.

Sure enough, she was right.  She said I was fully dilated and completely effaced - she could break my water and you could be born!  That's what we did.  A few contractions later, you were born at 11:23 am...and you tried to breathe immediately, taking in a bit of amniotic fluid.  For the next few minutes, there was relief that you were born, but you wouldn't cry.  We could see you breathing, but you weren't making any noise.  Eventually, after suctioning you clean again, we got you crying.  The next hour was spent cluster nursing and attempting to get your temperature up.

And so, we went home to MooMoo and Papa's house to meet your siblings.

The first picture we have of you

Daddy, Mommy and Pete

on the way home

Charles Joseph Meals ("Pete")

November 27, 2016, 11:23 am

8 pounds, 1/2 ounce

19 1/2 inches long

13 1/2 head circumference 

Claire's birth

Claire,

You were due on February 12, but no one thought you'd wait that long. We were prepared - had been for weeks, literally. I was at MooMoo and Papa John's house in January to wait for your appearance. However, due date came and passed with no sign of you. Then it was daddy's birthday. Then Livvy's. No sign of you. Then Uncle Kyle's birthday passed. And MooMoo's. No one could believe how late I was. I got question after question. "Do you feel any closer?" "Do you think you'll go soon?" "When are you going to have this baby?" It all just frustrated me.

On Friday the 21st, Candy called to let me know she had scheduled an appointment for the following Tuesday for a nonstress test to check things out. From there, we'd have a few days before I'd have to be induced (or she would try breaking my water). On Saturday morning, MooMoo treated Oma, Aunt D, Livvy and me by getting our nails done. That afternoon, I went for a 4 mile walk/jog. That evening, I went with Daddy, Livvy and Ian to the top of the hill to Uncle Kyle's cabin. It was a bumpy ride. I went to bed feeling nothing. 

That night, I woke up sick. My stomach was upset and I felt like sleeping on the bathroom floor. By about 5:30, MooMoo and I wondered if I was in labor. I wasn't feeling contractions really, but I had "waves" where I felt like I had to use the bathroom, but couldn't, and it was awful. We called Candy about 6 on Sunday morning (the 23rd), who had us check for progress, but MooMoo couldn't tell anything so we went to Harrison.  When we got there, I was a 3 and not in labor, so Candy asked if I could stay around and rest.  So I tried to nap.

At about 8:45, I woke up with contractions and continued to labor, eventually getting into the jacuzzi tub about noon (at that point, I was somewhere past a 4).  This labor was the worst I've had.  I don't know if it's from lack of exercise (probably so) or lack of mental preparation (probably so), but the last hour or so was torturous.  I eventually got out of the tub, around 1:30 or 1:45, and was checked (at a 7...3 more to go!).  After the okay from Candy and Emory, I started pushing and you were born at 2:16 pm (7 lbs, 10.7 oz/21 inches long/ 13 in head circum.).

We never found out the gender during pregnancy, so it was exciting to finally know if you were a boy or girl.  Livvy had been dying for a sister and I was happy that we would be able to bring you home to her.  We had already decided on your name, Claire Pauline, but it still seemed surreal that you were actually here.

Due to loss of a little more blood than usual, we hung around Candy's for about an hour.  MooMoo bought Arby's sandwiches and brought them back for us.  Eventually, we got to go home and meet your siblings.  Livvy and Ian adored you from the beginning.  Ian kept asking to "hold it" and Livvy hovered around you no matter who was holding you.

You are now a week and a half old.  Your siblings still adore you, although Ian sometimes asks for people to put "baby down!"  You are nursing great, sleeping well, and are very strong.  You are alert and smiley.  You are a content baby, not crying unless you are wet, dirty or hungry.  You still have the stump of your umbilical cord - I think you're going to have an outie. =)

I've enjoyed being your mother so far and I can't wait to see what the rest of life brings for our family of five!

Ian's birth

Ian, 

The night before you were born, our family was invited to Greg & Lori's house for dinner.  MooMoo and Papa John were sick, but Aunt D went with Daddy, Livvy, and me.  Daddy had to work late, so we arrived at the Lentz house about 6:45 pm.  We sat down for dinner at 7 pm and the contractions started at soon as I took my first bite.  We stayed at the Lentz's for almost two hours before we went home.  The contractions were about 7 minutes apart at that point.  When we got home at 9 pm, Daddy and I got Livvy ready for bed and kissed her good night.  After that, Daddy filled up the van with fuel and went to work.  I called Candy (our midwife) and let her know that my labor had begun.  She said to call her in an hour unless the contractions got harder (if they did, I was supposed to call sooner).  A little after 10 pm, I called Candy back and let her know I was still having contractions.  She said to come on in to the clinic in Harrison and we arrived there about 10:45 pm.  I was checked for progress and was about 5 cm dialated.  We filled up the jacuzzi tub and I hopped in.

Up till this point, it was just Daddy, Candy, and me at the clinic.  Candy called two helpers and they arrived about midnight.  MooMoo got there about 12:15 am (March 2) and I continued laboring in the tub.  I vomitted many many many times and Daddy said it looked like all I ate at dinner was green beans.  A little after 1 am, Candy suggested that I get out of the tub to see if changing positions would help speed up my labor.  At this point, the pains were about 2 minutes apart and very hard to breathe through.  I was checked for progress (8 cm) and moved to the bed, where I stayed for the duration of labor.  Less than an hour later, I was ready to push!  You were already so low down in my pelvis that my pushing time was very short (maybe twenty minutes?).  

You greeted us at 2:35 am on March 2, 2012.  You were 7 pounds 10 ounces, 21 1/8 inches long.  Your head was 13 inches around.  Your umbilical cord was very short.  You were very alert and very strong.  We had a hard time getting your footprints because you kept moving.  I was able to nurse you twice before we left for home and you nursed well.  We left shortly after we were cleaned up and was back at MooMoo and Papa John's house around 4:45 am, where we woke up Papa John and Aunt D to meet you.

Your first week was without any complications.  MooMoo stayed up with you at night and came to get me when you needed to be nursed.  You didn't like to sleep, especially at night.  When you were one week old, we took you to be circumcised, which you handled like a champ.  However, by the next week, when it was time to pull back a bit of skin, the skin around your circumcision had healed together.  MooMoo had to gently rip this back apart - and that made us stay in AR for another week instead of going home, just in case something went wrong.  As it turned out, nothing went wrong with this particular part of your circumcision, but you developed an infection in a lower section of your penis and we had to go to the doctor, who prescribed antibiotics.

Ian, you slept terrible for the first 3 weeks of your life, but once we got home, it was like a switch was flipped.  I don't know whether the trip home just wore you out or what, but you slept 5 straight hours the first night home.  You've kept up this good sleeping pattern since that night.

You are orally fixated.  You take a pacifier 1-2 times a day.  You smiled early - by four weeks - as well as started cooing at a month, too.  You have excellent head and neck control - you always have.  You're verrry strong (Candy mentioned it at your birth).  You love to hold our hands and stand.  You spend time every day in your new swing and your bouncer.  You like to grab at toys hanging down and talk at them.  You follow sound very well.


You respond to Livvy's voice and actions.  You smile when she talks to you and hugs/kisses you.  You occasionally will stop crying when she talks to you.


You're still doing very well, other than your ear infections (both ears).  You're currently on antibiotics but you take medicine like champ.  Your sleeping's a little off, but I think it'll go back to normal once your ear infection clears.


Baby boy, you are so sweet and I can't wait to get to know you better.

Two years old

Livvybaby,

You are two years old! I can't believe it's been that long since we met you. You've brightened our lives so much and I don't know how life could get any better. You are constantly talking, singing, and playing. There is rarely a day when you don't take a tumble, but you look at me, say "Safe!" and move on your merry little way. You have grown so independent and want to "do it by-self!"

This is what a normal day looks like for us right now:

7:30-8 am - wake up, diaper change, breakfast

8:30-12ish - we play. Usually, we just play with baby dolls, books, blocks, etc. You get to watch TV about once a week. When we do watch TV, you like Barney and Sesame Street (especially Elmo's Potty Time). You love your Curious George books (and we just found the shows!) and watching Thomas the Train mini-videos on your Leapster Explorer. You like to "pourk" things out of containers (ie, blocks or toys). You got a tea set for Christmas and you like to pretend to have hot tea with me. You also like to fix things with your wooden tool set.

If it's a pretty day, we might adventure to the park during this time. Since it's been winter, we haven't gotten to go too often, but when we do, we're there for hours. You love to slide and climb up stairs. You'll even roam over to the sandpit and play there, just stomping and jumping.

12ish-3:30 or 4 - nap time! You are down to one nap a day and it's length varies on how active you were during the morning. It's typically about 3 hours long and you'll be refreshed.

3:30 - Snack time! Although you snack all morning, when you get up from your nap, you're usually hungry. You'll eat something like chicken nuggets or yogurt or cereal and then occasionally you get a wacky (chocolate no-bake oatmeal cookie) or something similar.

4-5ish - Play some more. During the afternoon, I usually have to entertain you more (as opposed to the morning where you're content to play all by yourself) We wait for Daddy to get off work

5:45ish-8:15ish - We most often spend the evenings at Oma and Poppy's house. We'll have dinner there and play with Oma. We help with dishes and you like to play on Oma's iPad. You watch the cars go by outside the windows.

8:30-9ish - You get ready for bed: Check your diaper, change into pjs, brush your teeth, and pray. Then, you go to bed! You've been sleeping in a toddler bed for several months now (we found out trying to climb out of your crib) and you're doing very well in it. You've recently started to use a blanket to cover up and you like the pennant quilt Aunt D made for you. You still use your special blankets to chew on when you go to bed. You don't sleep very well without them, even if it's just a short catnap.

You are able to make LOTS of sentences and are usually able to get your point across, even if you don't know all the words. You have a good grasp of pronouns - you, me, ours, mine, etc. You can sing your alphabet, the 1234 Sesame Street song (by Feist), the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Walking After Midnight (by Patsy Cline), and pieces of other songs. You pick up words from conversations between other people so we all have to be careful about what we say when we're around you. You can count to 10 (when you want to) and can say what sounds the letters Q and P make. You can recognize the letter O and the letter I. You are so smart!

You're not a big fan of animals. You can name numerous animals, but you don't like to touch them. You're finally warming up to Sheba, and, just this past week, you played with baby goats at Aunt Jackie's house. You don't really like to pet cats or dogs, but you are very interested in watching them.

You are 25 pounds and currently still riding rear-facing in your carseat.

Baby girl, you have no idea how much I love you. I thank God that He gave you to us to be our daughter. I can't wait to see you grow up even more, but I'm cherishing every second I get to be with you.

I love you,

Mommy

Survey

How far along? 34 weeks, 5 days

Weight gain/loss: 15 ish?

Maternity clothes? In all shapes and sizes. So ready to be in "normal" clothes again

Stretch marks? I haven't noticed any new marks from this pregnancy *fingers crossed*

Sleep? Starting to get rocky. Waking up at least once to pee

Best moment this week? Seeing Livvy feel her brother's hand ("Wanna touch him again?" No Mommy)

Food cravings: Spiced dilly beans (spicy pickled green beans)

Gender: Boy

Belly button in or out? Out since like...12 wks

Movement? Tons. Ian Kennedy (as we've named him) is still moving quite a bit. Enough to kick his sissy around when she's on my lap. Just recently, he's starting to play with Daddy and let us touch and feel his hands and feet.

What I miss? Well, Dr Pepper, if you must know.

What I'm looking forward to: Baby shower this weekend and DELIVERY!

Weekly wisdom: I can't do it all. Relax, enjoy time with Livvy, and exercise!

Milestones: Baby boy's about 5 lbs!

October 2011

Livvy is now 20 months old and growing like crazy. She makes three word sentences ("Wear dem boots," "where the ball go?" "der it is" etc.) Still wearing 12-18 month clothing, but her legs are LONG. Waist is 12 month size, length is 18 month size - pants that fit are very hard to find. She is obsessed with Cinderella and Bambi is a close second. Outside is always the favorite

activity.

Moo Moo bought a Cinderella costume, complete with shoes and a crown:

A princess always needs a pedicure:

Looking for candles ("nannels") in the jack-o-lantern ("jackanannern"):

Cheesin' it up:

Sleepy baby:

We're going through shoes like crazy, whether it's outgrowing them or wearing holes through the soles. Livvy is such a ball of energy with a killer personality. Curly blond hair, big brown eyes...ah, my baby girl.

But this baby girl will soon be a big sister - Momma's due in early March. I'm trying to savor the last few months of having one child and getting to spend all my time with Livvy. It's only another chapter - one that I wish didn't have to end, but I know that Peanut will bring even more joy to our lives.

Oh, how I love my little family.

Baby Steps

Livvy took her first steps last night - toward MooMoo. Of course, it thrilled my mom.

I didn't see them. I'm still waiting to see her walk.