newest niece: baby Seymore

 Nora had her baby at the wee hours of this morning! The whole family has been praying for her because Garrett has been away the last 5+ weeks for military basic training and they move to Colorado in less than two weeks.  Nora is a trooper, she just amazes me. Being pregnant with my sister is one of the best things ever.  Having baby girls so close together has been amazing, I'm just sad they're moving so soon.

Aubrey Liesl Seymore 8 lbs. 5 oz.

She has round cheeks, looks more like her sister than brother, and has perfect pink skin.

 Cousins 11 weeks apart.

In our family it's tradition to give a 5 layer brownie from Sweet Cakes to the mother who just had a baby.  Sara got mine after Beatrix.  It's pretty epic!  Since we visited before it opened we picked up a brownie from AJ's, the next best thing.  She's still get her 5 layer brownie later!

Congrats to the Seymores' for baby 3!!!

Rupert birth story

Rupert is coming up to two weeks old and it's gone by quick!

Before too much time passes I wanted to share his birth story.  Naturally each one has been so different.  Elliot was born in a hospital in England, delivered by midwives.  I had gas and air and then an epidural.  He was my biggest baby at 7 lbs. 12 1/2 ounces and I tore with him so healing too longer.  Avery was born at Banner Desert Hospital and Dr. Holmes delivered her.  I had an epidural and she was smallest at 6 lbs. 7 ounces.  Zara was my first natural delivery and we didn't know her gender.  She was born at Mercy Gilbert Hospital and came before the midwife arrived but thankfully a nurse came in just in time to catch her.  My waters broke the same time she came out and she was 6 lbs. 9 ounces.

Since Zara's natural delivery went so well I knew I wanted to have another natural delivery with this pregnancy.  This time with the midwives at The Birth Haven in Gilbert which just opened up a year ago.  This pregnancy was different from the others because my morning sickness wasn't as bad.  I was heavier this time and I felt it.  I also had a lot of round ligament pains and started having Braxton Hicks daily since 30 weeks.  At 37 weeks I was dilated to one cm and 70% effaced.  At 38 and 39 weeks I was dilated to three cm and 80% effaced.  Since the girls came a week and a half early I really expected him to come earlier. 

^ ^ The tiniest little goosebumps after a bath. ^ ^

The day before he was born I had a lot of Braxton Hicks all day.  Like every seven minutes most of the day.  They never hurt so by the end of the day I just went to bed.  During the night every half hour or so I woke up to a little pain.  I was in pre-labor.  They could have gone away any minute so I tried to sleep through them.  During the night Avery came to our room so Andrew took her back to bed and fell asleep with her.  When he got back it was 3:45 and I told Andrew I was started to have some contractions but to go back to bed.  At that point I started to breathe through my contractions.  Half an hour I woke Andrew up and said to start getting things ready.  Not long after that I asked him to call my Dad to watch the girls.  By the time Dad got there I was ready to go.  Before leaving the house I even had a couple contractions where I started to feel the urge to push but knew I wasn't ready yet.  I didn't worry about delivering in the car because my body was going to wait until it was in the position I've delivered all my babies in.

It took less than 20 minutes to get to the birthing center.  I had a contraction in the car when I got there.  I went in and headed straight for the bed in my room and had another mild contraction.  Andrew went for the luggage and I had another contraction.  This time I felt the urge to push again.  Andrew made it back in time for my next contraction where I turned to my back and pushed.  His head can first with a little effort, then the rest of his body slid out.  My waters broke at the same time, similar to Zara's delivery.  They put the baby on my lower abdomen (he had a short umbilical cord) until Andrew cut the cord and I held him skin to skin.

Rupert Francis was born two days early at 5:47am, 7 lbs. 6 ounces.  He was here!  After birthing there are a lot of emotions.  I was so happy to be done, happy it went well and that I didn't tear.  Happy not to be pregnant and to have a beautiful baby boy.  So proud of myself for delivering naturally again and proud of Andrew and me for making such a sweet baby.  Just soaking in the moment.  Andrew and the midwives told me I did a great job and it was nice to hear that.  Such a long journey.  I now hold the record at the birthing center of fastest delivery upon arrival, something like 6 minutes.  Pretty cool.

It's getting to the point that pregnancy seems like a distant memory and we're all getting used to having a baby in the house.  He is really loved and the kids are doing great with him, although sometimes I think Zara loves him too much.  Still adjusting a little bit and we haven't made a trip with all of us in the car yet.  That milestone is tomorrow.  Looking back I wasn't emotionally ready to get pregnant when I did.  I wanted to wait a little more.  Now that he's here I know this was the perfect time for Rupert to come.  We need him and we love him so much!

he's here!

We'd like to introduce you to our newest family member.

Rupert Francis Freeman 

7 lbs. 6 oz.

20 inches

born at 5:47 am on Friday, September 26, 2014

This little boy is such a dream.  My heart is so full and I can hardly believe how lucky I am to have such a perfect baby.  The kids have been really good with Rupert and Andrew has been an especially amazing and supportive husband these last few days since the birth.  I want to share the birth story soon!

A little video

Andrew and I have been working on this video for a few weeks.  Hope you enjoy it!!

And YAY!!!!

music: "The best day of your life" by, A Fine Frenzy

news

It really has been too long since I've posted here.

But what better way to return than with some good news?!!  If you follow me on instagram you already saw this photo.  Expecting a baby brings a lot of different thoughts and feelings.  And now that morning sickness is mostly behind me those thoughts are mostly good.  In truth we are thrilled.  Before long Andrew and I will be parents of four children?!  In the meantime I'm just enjoying every day of life with just three kids, and feeling the miracle of those baby kicks.  

auntie marilyn

 On Monday I got a new nephew and niece.  Chris and Kristy gave birth to their third child, Theodore, and Nora and Garrett gave birth to their first child, Maggie.  It was a day filled with wonder and miracles.

^ ^ 1// my parent's at the hospital 2//a note my dad wrote to my mom 3// my dad holding Maggie ^ ^

Since Monday I have taken about 200+ pictures of Maggie, but Theodore is in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and he and his family needs our prayers.  Our hope and prayers is that doctors will find out what is causing is sicknesses and heal him so he can come home.

We're also praying for no long-term health problems.  This has been a long week for the Stapleys and as tests are being taken and they live day-to-day we can only hope for some normality sooner than later.  All of this makes me even more grateful for my family's good health.

someone is growing up

Time seems to have escaped me. I don't like going too long between posts because I feel like I have to catch up.  But I won't.  At least, not everything.

Yesterday Zara had her four month check up.  FOUR MONTH!  She's been such a darling to me I just can't stand watching her grow so fast.  Because I want a record of her facts, here they are before I forget.

:: weight - 12 lbs 10oz., 25 percentile

:: length - 26 inches, 97th percentile

Yep, she sure lengthened out the last two months.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  To be perfectly honest, no matter how short/long, chubby/lean, tanned/fair (etc) Zara is I will always think she's perfect, because she's my baby.  Oh yes, all mine!  And I'm enjoying every minute of the sunshine she brings to me!

house of hooligans

Last Friday was my 6 week postnatal check-up.  Before leaving my midwife asked me how I'm adjusting to having a baby again.  In all honesty it's not the baby that's difficult, but having three kids.  Right now I'm taking life one day at a time.  I'm not complaining.  I really love my family and I'm very happy but sometimes I'm just very busy.

I'm glad I passed the 6 week mark because now I'm running again!  Woohoo!  It's a little ridiculous how fast I get winded but it's a start.  I'm also glad to be recovered because Louise had her baby Easter Sunday.  She was born in their car on the way to the hospital.  We were able to visit Hazel that afternoon.  Louise and Hazel came home from the hospital yesterday.  With five children in my house there never is a dull moment.

Hazel Grace: 6 lbs. 14 oz., 20 inches

Grandpa holding Hazel, Grandma holding Zara

My my, they grow so fast!

Louise baby shower

Last Saturday the ladies in my family threw Louise a baby shower. It's her first girl so she totally needed one! Any excuse to buy adorable frilly pink things and Ooo and Ahhh over them! Since Louise lived in Utah the majority of the last ten years it was mostly just family. Us sisters decided we need to do this again with or without a baby coming! By that I mean chatting with yummy food while the husbands have the big kids.

The goodies everyone brought and made were delicious. Since Zara was just born I was put in charge of invites. I commissioned Beth Allen to custom make these. She is really very talented artist. I think they turned out lovely! She has an etsy store if you're interested in seeing more of her work.

book review: HypnoBirthing

Read HypnoBirthing and have a natural delivery. Check! Two more of my 2012 goals accomplished! Have you ever heard of HypnoBirthing? It converted me to natural deliveries and is a wonderful book. HypnoBirthing is a type of natural delivery with breathing techniques and a level of deep relaxation that makes having a baby almost "pain free". There are classes you can take if you want to be more involved but I just read the book. The beginning of the book explains the background to HypnoBirthing and shares some interesting stories. Then it gets into breathing techniques and eventually it takes you, step by step, through the birthing process. It inspired me to take control of my body and really focus on relaxing while breathing through the contractions while I was in labor with Zara. One thing I disagree with HypnoBirthing is that it tells you to breathe the baby down, not push. With Zara it was incredible how strong I felt the urge to push her out. I believe that pushing is a natural part of delivering a baby. Overall this book was a wonderful inspiration. Remember that women having been having natural deliveries for centuries and natural deliveries are quite normal in other cultures even today. If you're pregnant, please read it, even if you plan on having an epidural. I had a natural delivery, not a hypnobirth delivery, but Andrew said this one was the best of the three. I didn't rip his arm off this time and he didn't feel as helpless watching me in pain because I seemed to have everything under control with my calm breathing. Plus, natural deliveries go faster than epidural deliveries. As you can see, I am enthusiastic about natural deliveries! I hope I haven't bored you with my ranting!

couldn't resist

The first few days after a baby is born is spent in defining the features of that individual. Sometimes this goes on for much longer. Does the baby have her daddy's lips? his mommy's eyes? the "family look"? I think Zara has a lot of the same features as Elliot with Avery's coloring but I've gotten to the point that I see her as herself now and not just a compilation of other's features. I still thought it would be fun to put all my three kid's baby pictures together. It was difficult finding good photos of all three at the same age. I'm not sure hold old they are in these photos but I think Avery is a little older since she was my smallest baby but has put on some chubs in this picture. I've noticed that we had a different camera with each and my camera skills improved with each. It makes me grateful for my awesome camera I have now. Seeing these pictures reminds me how much I love being a mom. Thanks for letting me show off my darling babies!

our new arrival

I am so grateful this little one decided to come 11 days early and I'm so proud that she is my first natural delivery. Andrew has been a huge help with Elliot and Avery so I can enjoy every precious moment. My blessings are overwhelming right now. I'm officially a mother of three!

Grandchild #9

Last week my sister, Julie, found out she's having a girl? After 5 of my sisters, sister-in-laws, and me having boys first, Julie's the first to have a girl first. I'm so happy for her and her husband James -who has been beyond himself in ecstasy over his little girl. Their little girl brings the girl to boy grandchild ratio up to 3:1 with 6 boys and 3 girls.

(going shooting July 2010)

Congrats you two!