Master Nolan

My due date on 10/23 came and went, something I really didn't expect. Then there was the fact that I had calculated when I first got pregnant that my date was 10/19. Who knows though. I really wanted a baby born in the month of October. It didn't happen. On Halloween we dressed up the family in our Star Wars theme minus our Ewok and set out in the neighborhood. We didn't stay out too long. All the kids were kind of over it, surprisingly. Brian had to work that night so he was kind of hoping all the walking would get labor started. It probably did but not in enough time. Honestly I am not sure when I noticed the contractions but about the time Brian got home I was on the verge of calling him. This was roughly four am on November 1st. I tried calling my sister (her phone was OFF!) and had to call my mom a few times to wake her.  We got the kids up and took them over right away. With this being baby #4 and my contractions coming about every three minutes we didn't want to wait too long. The contractions didn't last very long but were very consistent. When we got to the hospital I stayed with Brian because I can remember sitting in the area outside of triage laboring with Teagan and it felt like FOREVER for Brian to come back to me. So we parked and I walked real slow. Once in triage they hooked me up and all and that bed was the devil! My back was hurting so bad! Turns out Nolan was posterior or sunny side up. It seemed that it took a long time to get into my delivery room. Once there I could not handle the back labor and got my epidural. Of course I was dehydrated so they had to give me lots of fluids before I could get my epidural. I knew I should've stopped for that Gatorade at Circle K. After the epidural I labored and used a peanut ball. Worst thing EVER when you can't move. It helped to bring Nolan down and at 11:50am I started pushing. He was born at 11:53am. Oh I have never felt the ring of fire until this birth. And I am sure it was nothing really since I had the epidural. Man did it hurt down south! Well the doctor allowed me to naturally tear. YIKES! I have always been cut before but apparently they don't do that anymore!!! Would have been nice to know, thanks doc! Well the pain was of course worth it as Nolan Cade was born. I am pretty smitten! He was 7 lbs 11 oz, and 21 inches long. Definitely all boy!  

Nolan Two Months

Nolan weighs 10 pounds 13.5 ounces. He is 23 1/2 inches long. Now smiling and cooing.

Merry Christmas 2014

Oh I need to post so bad! I just wanted to write up about Christmas and how excited I am this year. With being tight on funds Brian and I were pretty clueless as what to get our kids. Then there is the fact our children already have SO much stuff. What will they remember when they are grown? That awesome Lego set or that Barbie? I know for me personally I do remember a few awesome gifts, but that is not what I think of when my parents come to mind. So instead of a thing, we opted to give The Gift of Time. Each child will get to do something special each month with either Brian or I. So a special one on one date they will get to look forward to. Six dates with Brian and six dates with me for each child.  We came up with most of the ideas, but the kids will get to pick two of their own choices. I am super  excited about this and the kids came and asked me what it was before we got up to open gifts. I think once we start doing this they will start to understand, and really appreciate it. I feel this gift is more on the lines of what Christmas is all about. If it works well I want to do this gift every year. We didn't include Nolan this year as he is one so little, and two he already spends LOTS of one on one time with us haha. To keep track I made up this poster and we will mark the date of the event for each child. Can't wait to begin!!! Merry Christmas to all!

Nolan One Month

Nolan at one month weighed 9 pounds 3.5 ounces. He is 22 inches long. Not smiling yet. Sleep about 5+ hours at night!

That can't be right!

So when we had Ashlyn five years ago I knew I wanted more kids. It was just a matter of timing. When we got pregnant with Ashlyn, Brian was working but we knew a furlough was coming. We didn't know how long he would be out of work, but we had faith that adding a child was the right move. In hind sight it might not have been the best but we survived and made it. He was furloughed for 18 months all together. A few years ago I knew there was no way to add another child into our already very crowded house so I decided to get an IUD. Moving into another home never seemed possible. We were so stuck and living it felt in limbo. We weren't miserable but not completely happy! Last year we had some family issues and it kind of forced our hand to either stay where we were or to make the leap and hope we would be okay. We decided to move and found a larger house. Now like I said I have wanted more kids so a bigger house means more room for another addition. We still waited though to make sure it was the right move. We moved in May 2013 and in October we decided to start trying and I had my IUD removed. Now the reason for my post and excuse all the rambling :) when I got to my OBGYN I stepped on to the scale and about DIED!!! It read 175 ONE SEVENTY-FIVE!!! I wanted to cry! That is what I have weighed when I was at the end of my pregnancies with all my kids give or take a pound. How the crud was I so heavy. When I questioned the nurse about this being a side affect of the IUD, she said oh no your hormone levels are probably just off. Well those were checked and came back fine. So I am hoping it was a side affect. So I had the removal and I don't own a scale so I am not sure how much I weighed before getting pregnant in January. I don't get too sick but I did go through times food was not appealing at all and ate very little. When I got back on a scale at my first OB check up, I was down about twenty pounds. That was a relief because if I had not lost any weight I don't think my body could handle a weight near 195.  I think I have a body weight cap. Like I mentioned with my other pregnancies I was at or around 175 at labor. Well I am at 38 weeks 4 days and weighing 170. Last week I was 172 but I was weighed on a different scale so maybe my most recent number is off. But anyways I am almost done and the scale is around my weight with the other kiddos. Now I know why all my pants still fit because I was prego fat to start out with. Sad and makes me want to finally do something about my body after baby is here. So here is hoping he comes soon, and the start to getting rid of these extra pounds.  

Due date was changed from 10/19 to 10/23. Man if it was still the 19th I would be 39 weeks today. Wonder when he will make his arrival?!?! That's one of the hardest things to wait on. When will baby be good and labor start. But I am almost done!!!

Do you wanna build a snowman?

I feel like I am building something over here! Party planning, I seriously LOVE it, but I may or may not get way over my head! I am slowly knocking off projects for the #extremefrozen party. I have been using that hashtag on Instagram so I can look at what I have done. Today I made up some hair accessories, but now I can't find my clips that I know I had. UGH I am hoping to run into Sally's up the road and see if they have a box of clips. Then I drew up an Elsa dress and planned to transfer it to a blank canvas. Well my transfer paper is for darker colors and the canvas is white. So it didn't work. I painted the canvas silver but it's still REALLY light colored so I will add another coat of paint and then try the transfer again. Next week I need to buy all the stuff to continue decorations. Hopefully I can decorate Friday night, so party day will be stress free and I can focus on some food prep. Oh and I am kicking myself that I didn't order more beads. The necklaces I made are beyond cute and I would have loved to make more and sell them for profit. UGH hopefully I can get some soon! I still have lots to do, but I also need to remember I am 34 weeks pregnant and need to not over do it as well. Oh it's a fine line!

First Day of School

So I meant to blog this but life happened. We started our second full week of school today so at least I am blogging in the same month they started...that's saying something! RIGHT!!! August 6, 2014 was the first day of school for all our current kiddos haha with one on the way Ashlyn is still the baby for a little bit! So all the kids started school, Teagan is in the fifth grade, Rayle is in third grade, and Ashlyn is in full day kindergarten! I have mixed emotions about her being gone all day. It's weird to be kidless of my own children because it's been ten years that I have had a child always in the home. I am still watching Thomas so I am not completely alone, but it's different since he is not my child. I was a tad emotional saying good-bye to Ashlyn, I blame my pregnacy hormones!!! She also did not want me to leave. I finally had to walk away and let Brian take over or I would have been a HUGE mess. The boys it was a breeze where Mister Teagan had no wish to kiss us good-bye. We did still get a hug though. Rayle was still cool with hugs and kisses. Can't believe how much our children are growing up! At times it crawls along but then I sit back and boom Teagan has this year and next and then off to junior high! Ack! I know I will really cherish Nolan and his baby days because it truly goes by way too fast! The first day the kids all got off the bus smiling so it was a success. The rest of that first week went well! The following week started with homework and that is where there have been some struggles! Ashlyn is not too excited about homework but hopefully the routine will help and she'll learn to at least tolerate it! This year the kids do at least have an earlier bus drop off time, so that's nice! We get home from the bus around 3:30 so there is time for a little bit of fun in there with homework and dinner as well. Ashlyn starts up with tumbling again soon so that will be fun as well! Hopeful for a great 2014/2015 school year and with the mix of a new baby to boot!

I curled her hair the night before, she loved it!

UGH Rayle and Teagans pictures were so dark! Sad but he looked good!

Something about wearing new shoes, and clothes for the first day of school! It's awesome!

This is my all time favorite picture from that day. The kids faces crack me up. Brian was worried I would hurt myself. I saw something like this on Pinterest and I have been waiting to do it! I think it is a very successful first day of school mommy is excited picture!!!

Teagan in front of his door. 

Me and Teagan

Dad and Teagan

Rayle ready for third grade. 

Me and Rayle 

Dad and Rayle

Ashlyn starting her education!

Me and Ashlyn

Dad and Ashlyn

She was excited about the swings. 

Getting off the bus!

Rayle was quick about getting off. 

Teagan ready to head home. 

Great first day, hopefully we will have lots of great days with only a few cruddy days mixed in.