Sunday, August 23, 2009

Ainsley's 1st week home!

Ainsley's 1st bath at home. Gavin and Avalyn were so excited to give Ainsley her 1st bath at home in the sink. Ainsley wasn't quite as excited. She did a little better when I put a towel on her little body, but otherwise she screamed. I am sure she will grow to love the bath, like our other kids.




Avalyn loves to wash her hair.


Sweet heart- sleeping in the bouncy chair. She scratched her face up pretty good the 1st week, so I bought some hand booties and her face is healing quickly!

sleeping in Daddy's arms
A few moments not asleep- she has been a good sleeper and it has also been nice to see her awake throughout the day unlike big sister Cambria (Cambria slept constantly for the first month or so, probably because of her sensitivity to light).

Gavin loving on his new sister. Gavin and Avalyn absolutely adore little Ainsley. Cambria still isn't quite sure about things. Since she doesn't make much noise, Cambria hasn't really noticed her much. Cambria knows something is different and mommy isn't as available and she isn't a fan of me when I am nursing. She tries to grab Ainsley's head and move it or climb right on my lap when I am nursing, but doesn't seem to notice her otherwise. They will hopefully be really close someday and it is just a matter of time till Cambria takes notice of this little baby, but for now she is still in her own little world.

Kindergarten Fun!

Gavin's 1st week of kindergarten went great! He had a half day on Tues. and then full days the rest of the week. He said they learned a lot of rules, but seemed to like it. He loved buying choc. or strawberry milk at lunch and loves riding the bus. It was pretty quiet without Gavin around- it's still amazing to me that he is gone for 7 hours a day already. Avalyn was very quiet and pretty lonely, she kept saying the bus was late and she would run to the front when we mentioned him to see if he were home and the strangest reaction (to me) was that she didn't want to leave the house. There have been a lot of changes around here lately and the kids have been adjusting extremely well.

1st day of school! Kyle dropped him off and did his best to take pictures- he said Gavin was in the mood to make silly face in all the pictures.



Ready for school!

The bus! I was a little worried about putting my little boy on the bus, but we couldn't be happier with the decision. It picks him up at 7:47 and drops him off at 3:30 right in front of our next-door neighbor's house. The bus driver is so sweet and Gavin loves riding on the bus. It is so convenient and perfect for our family right now- not having to pack all 4 kids in the car or worrying about being on time has truly been a blessing!

Open house- Kyle took him on Mon. night to meet his teacher and see his room.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Check it out!

We have been so blessed to have a couple wonderful professional photographer friends and we have been spoiled to have one of them live so close. We met the Selanders at church and were apart of a small group with them a few years back, they don't attend our church anymore but we have remained close friends with them. They have a great photography business- on top of being a stay-at-home mom to 4 and a police officer. They have captured so many special moments for us since we have lived here in Omaha and I was thrill when Jana was able to bring the family over on Thurs. to have dinner and takes pictures of our precious little Ainsley (at only 6 days old). No family pictures this time, Cambria was running a fever and went to bed really early and Kyle and I decided we'd just wait and do that another day. She put a few up on her blog so check them out and if you need a photographer in the Omaha area they are absolutely wonderful! I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures and to see the baby announcement! Thanks again Jana- we love you and your family so much!
Here's the blog-
http://jselanderphotography.com/jblog/

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Special Blessings!

The birth of baby Ainsley was a very special birth, because my sisters and mom were able to be there. Since we live so far from family and all of our kids have been born unscheduled no one has ever been able to be here. My mom has always been able to fly up as soon as I was in labor, but has never made it in time. In fact we have always had just a few visitors in the hospital- so everyone who complains about all the company that comes around to help when they have babies just remember there are those of us who usually have no one. We have been blessed with wonderful friends who have all stepped in to watch the rest of our kids when we head to the hospital and until my mom makes it here. This time was different and so much fun!

My mom and Ainsley right after Ainsley was born!

My younger sister Kathryn and Ainsley

My big sister Christine and Ainsley!

I thought I had an appointment on Thur., but it was actually me showing up a day early (I wrote it wrong on our calender). I had been having some severe pain in my side for several hours prior to my "appointment" so since I was there I asked if I could just talk to a nurse or something. They said I could meet with the PA (who I had seen the week before, while my doctor was on vacation) and I said that would be fine. She checked me out and said everything looked fine and the pain could just be me progressing. I was about 4 cent. and 85% effaced and she said it would probably just be a few days. We were thrilled with the progress and when I called my sisters and mom they said they were going to be on their way. I was a little worried now about how long it would actually take, hoping they wouldn't drive all that way for nothing. I kept my appointment with my doctor on Fri. afternoon and my sisters said they would be here for that. They arrived a few hours before my 3:30 appointment, we didn't tell the kids and they were so excited when they walked through the door. My sisters and mom went with me to the appointment, planning on how they could talk my doctor into inducing me. My older sister Christine went in with me and did just that. I was still around 4 and 85%, but my doctor had no problems talking about an induction (especially with my sister saying we drove from Texas and her and my other sister had to be back for teacher in-service week). They can't induce on weekends, so she said we'd have to do it right then or on Mon. She checked to see if she had anything else going on and then sent us on over to labor and delivery. It was so exciting- by the way I have the BEST OB! By 5:00 I had my IV in and 5:30 pitocine and shortly after my epidural. At 6 before my doctor left for home she broke my water and I was well on my way (4-5). Everything was so perfectly timed, including the anesthesiologist being up there to give another epidural and just walking over to give me mine. We sat around and watched a movie, during which I realized the epidural was only working on one side- not fun. I rotated sides a few times and around 9:15 they turned me again and I felt relief come over my whole body and the pain went away. Shortly after the pain stopped I felt a tiny bit of pressure (I was really numb from trying to get the meds to work on both sides, but felt something) and asked Kyle to go find the nurse, since it had been over 2 hours since they had checked (when they broke my water). He said he'd wait, but I said he should just go ask, he walked out the door and my doctor walked by (she had just delivered another baby) and said she'd check. She walked in checked me, crossed my legs (jokingly) and said it's time. The nurses ran in and got things ready, I pushed a couple times and within 2 min. she was born. It was so exciting and my mom and sisters were able to be there the whole time! My mom has 7 grandkids and has never been to any of the births and my sisters and I have never been there for eachother's delivers. Ainsley was here by 9:30, healthy and screaming and as cute as can be. The whole time the other kids (including Kathryn's son Briley) were at home with the best babysitters my niece Hadley and nephew Hayden. It was perfect timing and all such a wonderful blessing, I couldn't have asked for better last delivery or a better outcome! My sisters drove back Sun. night and my mom is still here helping out till Sat.! I do hope to live closer to family someday, but for now we will gladly accept such special visits from Texas. We miss everyone already and look forward to the next time we are together. Thank you God for allowing everything to work as it did and thank you to my wonderful family! We love you all!

At home making breakfast the day after Ainsley arrived!

Yummy! Next up a visit to the hospital!

Cousin picture- at Briley's nap time

Christine with her babies and Ainsley

Hayden and Hadley- the best babysitters! Thanks so much!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Ainsley Brooke is here!!!

This is Kyle. Sarah is doing great and recovering at the hospital. I just thought I'd let everybody see our beautiful bouncing baby girl. Here are a few pics. There will no doubt be more to come. Ainsley is 7lbs 6oz and 20.5 in long. She is the cutest as well as loudest baby in the nursery at the hospital. She has a sort of loud, high pitched squeal for a cry. It's funny. Baby and Mom are doing great. The rest of the kids are going to go meet her now. That should be a lot of fun. I'll try and post some more pics tonight or something.














Monday, August 10, 2009

Ready...and waiting

I am passed 38 weeks now and have never been pregnant so long. Thought I'd pass the time and blog a little. I am not feeling great and haven't been for the past 2 weeks. I have Braxton Hicks all the time and have had one false call at the hospital a week ago. At this point I am just waiting till I am crying in pain or my water breaks- hopefully that happens with plenty of time to make it to the hospital in time for an epidural. I was hoping to have her in time for my sisters (who are both teachers) to come for a week, instead of the 2 days they usually come over a weekend. School starts this week for Kathryn, so that time has passed. I have been struggling with depression over the past couple of days and have been praying that it passes, the crying stops and I feel like doing more. I know it's just fine that she isn't here yet, but my hormones or something is driving my emotions and I just don't feel right. I am hoping she comes before Kyle has to return to work full time, he has been on leave for several weeks now for summer school and has been able to spend more time at home. He does get time off after the baby comes, but feels bad taking them since he's been on leave for so long because of school. I know this might not happen, but I can hope- he returns to work at the end of the week. Thank you for all your prayers and I hope Ainsley will be arriving shortly and I start feeling better.
My nesting isn't quite so strong these days, I am just tired. I finished all my projects over a week ago and am happy with what Kyle and I have accomplished over the past few weeks. Kyle is still working on his med. school application (maybe that's what she is waiting on), but has done so much around the house to get organized and cleaned up. Please pray as he works on that application. Here are a few pictures of some of the projects we have been working on.

We painted our room, bought a bed and I finally found a night stand for both of us. It is nice after nearly 8 years of marriage to have bedroom furniture- I know I could use a few more pillows, but just haven't found any that work.
This is our former "sticky" kitchen table. We bought this when we got married, it was unfinished and we stained it ourselves. After years of being cleaned the top finish had come off leaving a very sticky table that couldn't be cleaned. I finally got around to painting it. It took a couple of days, but am happy to have it done and not sticky. It will not be our kitchen table for much longer, because we don't all fit- but I had always planned on making it a game table and the square in the middle will be perfect for a checkered board pattern (this was not planned when I painted it, but Kyle thought of it when he saw it).
The car seat cover. This wasn't the easiest project. Our infant car seat handle broke at the end of Cambria using it so I decided I would buy a car seat cover and barrow a car seat from a friend. My friend had a car seat for me to use and I found a car seat cover on ETSY.com. Ordering the car seat didn't go quite as planned, when the lady lost my order form and sold the original cover I ordered. I picked one off of her sold list and she was able to ship it to me quickly. I was happy with fit and it was very well made, but I thought the dots were white and I wasn't crazy about just being black and pink. I was able to find some stripe ribbon (on clearance $1 for all of it) and I took my glue gun and put it to work, this is when I wish I could sow. It looked very cute and after looking for a head rest for a while I found one at a consignment store for $2.50- it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but the price was great and with the doggy Avalyn had bought for Ainsley it matched perfectly!

Waiting for a Baby!