River's Birth

I know some people love to hear details about labor and delivery, so here you go! If you don't care, feel free to just scroll down and see the pictures. :)

I had an appointment on my due date, and was still only dilated to a 3. I was not a very happy camper. I woke up that night with painful contractions around 1:30AM. I decided to labor at home until my contractions were 5 minutes apart, and then call mom, who lives 1/2 hour away. I wanted to stay home longer, where I could labor more comfortably, but decided I was going to get an epidural as soon as I got to the hospital! :) Around 3:30AM my contractions abruptly went from being 7 minutes apart to being 3.5 minutes apart. After 15 minutes of them staying at 3.5 minutes apart, I hurried and called mom. Mom got to my house around 4:30AM and Logan and I hurried to the hospital (about 2 minutes away). When I got to the hospital, they quickly admitted me (they didn't even make me go to triage -- I was obviously in active labor!). They checked me, and I was dilated to a 7! Yay! They were a little worried the anesthesiologist wouldn't have time to put in an epidural, but fortunately, she was willing to do it!

My doctor came in around 6:30AM and broke my water. I was then dilated to a 5. Yes, a 5! I didn't even know it was possible to go backwards! They sat me up, hoping that baby's head would lower, and that I would quickly dilate. Again. At 7:30 I was dilated to an 8! At 8AM I was fully dilated. My doctor came back in around 8:10AM and after pushing for two contractions, River was born at 8:19AM! My gigantic 9 pound 9 ounce, 20.5" long baby girl! Only 8 hours overdue. :)

Obligatory scale picture. I promise 4345 grams converts to 9lbs 9oz. :)

Marmie brought Lucy and Kaya just in time to see River getting cleaned up!

So happy to have Mom in Utah this time around. :)

 I was a little sad that not very many people visited us in the hospital when Kaya was born (mostly since my parents and ALL of my siblings were out of the state), so I was VERY happy that so many people visited us! I definitely felt the love! :)

Yess wins the prize for coming to the hospital both times!

Tice and Shelby get bonus points for bringing us Nielson's!

Not pictured was Shamus, one of our friends from the ward who brought as a Marie Calendar's pie! It was so nice! And delicious. Our nurse appreciated it too! :)

I'm so happy that Cali and Hannah and their families were visiting when River was born! It was such a treat to have them here. It was especially fun for Lucy and Kaya, who loved playing with their cousins when they stayed at Marmie's house!

Cali and Josh basically drove straight to the hospital!

Hannah came over as soon as she could!

Also great timing, was that Logan's parents got home from their mission the day after River was born! Logan picked them up from the airport, and they (and JD and Kate!) came right over to meet River! We are SO happy to have them home! I'm so so sad we didn't take any pictures though. Here's one taken a few days later:

I'm so so grateful that River arrived safely and healthy. It's crazy that we are now a family of five! But so far we are loving it! I am also grateful for so many friends and family that have helped us these last four weeks! I love you all!!!!

Happy to be a family of five!

Ready to go home!

Lucy's as busy as a bee!

Lucy has had a busy month! She just started spring soccer, and has been taking ballet since January. I guess we just had to fit all her extra curricular activities in before Little Peanut is born! :)

Little kid soccer is so entertaining. Basically the kids are either swarming around the ball, rolling around in the grass, or just standing there staring into space. We love it.

Lucy excited for her first soccer game!

Lucy's is on the yellow Bumble Bee team. We signed Lucy up with a bunch of other kids in our ward -- hence the disparity of boys and girls. She doesn't mind though. And she isn't afraid to chase the ball along with the boys (although often she just stands there and picks her nose). Her favorite part of soccer is the mid game snack and after game treat. :) We love watching her play!

It's easy to spot Lucy!

Running with the swarm!

Today was Lucy's first ever dance recital! It was so much fun! The recital was just her class, and was only 15 minutes long. So basically, it was the best recital ever! :)

Since the recital was 15 minutes long, they were able to show us what they did in class. They did stretches, jumps, leaps, toe taps, a creative movement story, and it culminated with their final dance (shown in the video below)! Lucy was a joy to watch!

Doing stretches!

We're so glad that Marmie could come!

After we went to Bruges Waffles and Frites. It was delicious. The girls were very excited to get the "Monster Waffle" for dessert. It did not disappoint!

Doesn't Logan looks so handsome with his new haircut?

Lucy rarely takes naps anymore, and I don't even try to make her. I just let her play quietly, so I can catch a break while Kaya's napping. The other day I came downstairs to see that Lucy had made herself a little bed and was asleep! I think we are wearing her out!

Lucy is FOUR!

Here is Lucy's birthday interview:

Favorite food: Nutella, swallow zucchini. (?????)
Least favorite food: Coffee.
Favorite color: Purple and pink.
Favorite TV show: Peg+Cat
Favorite movie: Cinderella and Frozen and Monster's University and Monster's Inc. That's like FOUR shows!
Favorite book: I can read every single book. I love the cat book.
Favorite song: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. My favorite song from Frozen is "Let it Go" just like Kaya.
Favorite church song: I am a Child of God
What do you like best about church? Going to Primary
What is your favorite thing to do with Kaya? Play with her
What do you like to do? Color, build with duplos and play with toys!
What don't you like to do? Build with legos, I don't like anything else.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A witch.

Here are a bunch of pictures from her birthday! We love this little girl!

Kaya is TWO!

It's crazy to think that my little baby is already two years old! We love her so much!!!

Weight: 28 pounds (65%)
Height: 2'-9" (30%)

Favorite Foods: "Chocolate chips! A grilled cheese sandwich. They are so yummy!" Avocado, tomatoes, candy
Favorite Book: "Curious George"
Favorite Song: "Let it Go"
Favorite Color: "Blue"
Favorite Toy: "My pillow. My Nemo backpack."

Likes: "Eat." Also, playing with Lucy, coloring, singing, wearing skirts (she's been refusing to wear pants lately, which is annoying since she only has three skirts), taking off her diaper, dressing up, climbing and hanging on things, blowing out candles
Dislikes: When Logan and I doing things for her, when Lucy takes her stuff, sleeping in, nursery

Kaya is an independent, adventurous, and opinionated little girl. She chooses her outfit everyday -- and she often chooses Lucy's too! Yesterday, she decided she wanted to be potty trained. She took off her diaper and handed me some underwear. She and Lucy play together SO well, it warms my heart.

I love this picture so much. It is Kaya to a T. She is wearing mismatched clothes of her choosing, fairy wings, mismatched shoes, and is saying, "I'm going to get you!"

First night in her big girl bed!

On the "caraself" for Kaya's birthday!

Kaya was so happy that Marmie, Papa, and Caleb were there! =)

Washington DC!!!

While Logan was in Ghana visiting his parents for two weeks, I decided to take the girls and go visit Hannah in DC! We had such a blast!!! It's so fun that we both have kids similar ages -- my girls loved their cousin time! Gideon and Lucy played SO well together, and we only ever had the normal amount of melt downs. =)

The girls were absolute angels on the flight. I was so nervous traveling by myself with two kids! I brought tons of stuff to entertain them, but barely used half of it. They are the best!

Thanks for the sticker books, Marmie!

Friday we went to Great Falls. It was gorgeous, but SO HOT! Even Kaya kept telling me, "I'm too hot, Mommy!"

Saturday Hannah and I rented a double kayak and paddled up and down the Patomic. I would definitely recommend it -- it was so much fun!

Notice the monuments?

Sunday we went to church, hung out around the house, and went to the park.

Notice Neal's photobomb -- he probably just felt sad that we hardly took any pictures with him. Sorry Neal!

Leah loved me!

Okay, I'm sick of trying to detail our trip -- so here are the rest of the pictures! =)

If you steal my camera, I'm going to post the embarrassing photos you take. =)

This is pretty typical of pictures with me and the kids! =)

The kids section of the Natural History museum was amazing!

Best friends!

Playing on the tractors at the Farm

At the farm we also got to meet up with my dear friend Kara!!!! It was so nice to see her and her darling boys! We miss you!!!

Isn't this the most amazing photo of four kids?!

Neal took us up to the top of his office building -- it was gorgeous!

Saying goodbye. =(

Thank you Hannah and Neal for such an amazing trip! Now, as Lucy put it the other day, "Gideon and Hannah should come to our house now. Not just us go to their house." Yes, they should!