Our family

 

 

 

admirers

 

 

 

We're trying to make him an X-man

 

 

 

 

He's got jaundis, but luckily we were able to take him home anyways and he just has to spend as much possible time in his bed as possible.

Stephen likes to push buttons

 

 

 

 

 

requested pictures

 

 

 

 

A lighter side of the story

I thought I'd put in my two bits about the experience. Rachel started contracting earlier that morning, but wasn't sure if it was labor or not. Once the intervals started speeding up, we went down to the hospital, where the contractions nearly stopped as soon as all of the measuring equipment was on. After worrying for about an hour that she would get sent home, the nurse re-measured the cervix and saw that it was indeed expanding.
From that point to child birth it was about 1.5-2 hours. The nurse said that it was the easiest labor she had ever seen. With a six pound baby and a wife whose 6'2 I can see how that is. At one point she screamed pretty loudly. "Contraction?" "No, Charlie Horse!" So there I was stretching her calf while the nurses were helping her with the childbirth.
When the baby was born I thought there had to be some sort of medical problem, because he was bright purple, but evidently that's normal. I must have missed that part in the dozen youtube childbirth videos Rachel made me watch.
Mark came with me when they took Christian down to the nursery, and the nurse informed him that only parent's were allowed. After mentioning that he was a dermatologist, the nurse informed him that he still wasn't allowed. "Well somebody's got to check the baby for birthmarks!" and with that he walked in.
Anyway, things are going well, and we're thankful for all the prayers and concern on our behalf.

A few pictures

Stephen was taking the pictures, so you all can't see how absolutely wonderful he is as a papa. The labor went pretty fast so I didn't end up getting an epidural like I thought. Christian is handsome like his father, okay really he looks older than his father with that old man face of his that he's got right now, but oh is he darling or what?

Christian has come . . .

I'll write more later, but Christian is here. He's 6 lbs, 18.5 inches and oh so good looking. He is in the NICU, but we'll hopefully will be able to get him back with us today.

p.s. The first time I saw this painting I loved it though I didn't realize it was a Nativity scene until later. Click on it to see the whole picture. Aren't births just beautiful?

If BYU wants to encourage women to pursue an education as well as begin their families, they ought to have closer parking for women who are dilated to a 3 and are 80% effaced, but are trying to wait until Friday to have a baby when they are done with all their major papers and have actually packed their hospital bag.

them birthing hips

I remember as a self-conscious 14 year old looking in the mirror and lamenting to my mom about my big hips. She told me I'd be grateful for those birthing hips later on. I responded by saying that that didn't matter much if I was never able to get married. Well, as luck would have it, I did get married and now more than ever am I grateful for my birthing hips. My doctor commented yesterday that my pelvis will be plenty big for my now 6 lb baby and I couldn't help but think of my mother's prophesy. Sigh, yay for mountain mamas. (Actually I've never been so grateful in my life for my height and long torso which have definitely made this pregnancy so much easier with less kicks to my lungs and kidneys etc.)

I guess the baby's head is at a zero. (This movie helped me understand what in the world that meant. Just to let you know, the baby's head is being born when it is at a +5). I'm also dilated to a two--though that doesn't necessarily mean I'll be delivering anytime too soon, but well it could be so . . . in my impulsive and impatient nature I of course am planning to deliver November 20th.

Last time I try to help . . .

Guess who forgot to pack Stephen's Sunday shoes so he had to wear his cadet roommate's which were two sizes too small . . . . yup, you guessed it. (I usually leave Stephen to pack his own bags, but for once decided to be nice.) He'll be back from the conference at Westpoint late tomorrow night. Ohhwee!



I do think these shoes are kind of spiffy looking.

Nathan's blessing

 

 

 

 

My newest nephew Nathan was blessed last Sunday. We were sorry we couldn't be there, but I thought I'd put the pictures up anyway. It'll be so fun for Kumquat to have another cousin his age (well, actually he's going to get quite a few).

36 weeks today/ 4 weeks to go

 

The lighting is bad, so the picture makes me look thinner than I am, but hey, who doesn't mind a good magic trick or two?

Everyone just pray I don't go into labor four weeks early. I'd kind of like the love of my life and twinkle of my eye to be around when little kumquat decides to make an appearance! Mr Fancy Pants (Stephen-love) is off to a conference and I have the feeling this is the first of many. *sigh* I guess all these mushy pictures will have to do until he comes back. hehe. Sorry all, but I'll probably be seeing my blog more than you will.

Our Anniversary/34 weeks

 

 

 

I'm making a really weird face on this last one, so I thought I'd cut it out. The beauty of digital.

Anniversary night

 

 

 

Fall