Weekend in Dallas

A few months ago, some dear friends from high school started planning a weekend trip to Dallas.  I knew that Janie would only be about 2 months old for the trip and I also knew I would be nursing her.  First of all, I didn't want to have to be the only one that brought a child.  My friends insisted that they wouldn't have minded, but I knew it would be somewhat of a burden.  Second, I didn't want to make the drive to Dallas all by myself with an infant.  I was afraid that a 5 hour trip would turn into an ALL DAY drive.

I kindly suggested to Corky that we all go down together, stay in the same hotel as my friends, and he could have a daddy/daughter weekend while I hung out with the ladies, still being available to feed Janie. Corky was game!

The whole weekend was wonderful.  Not only did I get to see some of my best friends but I still feel like I had quality time with my family as well.   I know for sure that my kids had a blast.  As we were packing up to come home Gracey said,

"Mom, are you going to do this every year with your friends?"

I said, "Oh, I don't know.  I wish I could, but probably not."

Gracey responded with, "Well I hang out with you all the time, and it is fun, but I had a really great time hanging out with Daddy!"

It was pretty sweet.

And just as sweet as my kids are, it was pretty sweet doing grown up things too.  We all got massages and pedicures, and eyebrow waxing.  And when we weren't doing our spa treatments, we were shopping or eating.

As much as we played, our age and lifestyles certainly showed at night.  We were all hunkered down in our pajamas, chit chatting and sleepy, around 11:00pm.  And when it was time to go to sleep, all I had to do was walk down the hall of the hotel and be with my family.

 It was so fun to catch up with these ladies.  I am so glad that we have managed to stay friends after so many years.

Easter Eggs

Kool Aid Easter eggs are all the rage on Pinterest this year, so I thought I would give them a shot too.  Unfortunately, the Walmart here in town is super lame and didn't have a blue kool-aid.  And I am super lame too and thought I was getting the lemon-lime flavor (for the green color) when I actually got strawberry kiwi (which is red).  So our colors consisted of reds, yellows, and purples. I can't blame Walmart on that one.

My girls thought it was way fun, and I loved how it didn't stink like vinegar.

There was much concentration going on, as you can see from the tongue.

And how can an evening of decorating Easter eggs be complete without the classic game of kool-aid poker, you ask?  It can't.

Gone Fishing

The Easter Bunny was so nice this year and decided to bring Gracey and Emily each a new fishing pole.  There is a pond on the golf course that the girls like to go to for an "adventure" every now and then. They also had heard that it was stocked with fish. Ever since they'd heard that they have been begging to catch something.

Easter evening, we (all 5 of us) piled into the golf cart and we head over with nothing more than the fishing poles, the little tackle box that came with the pole, and a pair of needle nose pliers for the "just in case."

It didn't take long before the fish were biting.  Unfortunately for Gracey though, Emily was the only one to successfully catch not one, but two fish.  Both fish were able to be put back in the water safely.

Corky has never been much of a fisherman, and I haven't done much of it either since moving away from home after high school, but we managed to help our girls figure it all out.  We had a great time doing it too.

I do not know why I was compelled to bend so far over in this picture,
but in case you are curious, Emily is saying, "Word!!"

The golf course is so beautiful this time of year and the weather is just as great.  I predict lots of evenings will be spent down at the pond.

2 month well check

Janie had her 2 month check up last Thursday, and her stats came as no surprise.  

Weight: 12 lb 8 oz (90%)

Height:  23.75 inches (90%)

She also had to get 3 shots....she was pissed!  Simple as that.

2 months old - How is that possible?

Today marks Doug's...errr....Janie's 2 months mark.  It has gone by so incredibly fast and I have to say, the transition has been very smooth.  She has made it easy.

Before she was born, Corky and I were preparing ourselves for a fussy baby.  We thought there was no way, after having Gracey and Emily be pretty good babies, that we would be lucky enough to have a third.  Would you believe me if I said she is our easiest baby so far?   She pretty much goes with our family's busy flow, and from day one, only fusses when she she is hungry or needing a new diaper.

 Yes, that is how all babies are, I get that.  But rarely does Janie get so wound up that as soon as one of those needs gets taken care of, she doesn't go back to her happy and smiling self.

She is really beginning to recognize certain voices and faces.  Just yesterday I was dropping Emily off at school.  I set the car seat down in the classroom while Em's teacher and a few students came over to say hi to Janie.  There were 3 people in Janie's face, but as soon as Emily went over there and began talking, Janie cranked her head right around to see her and started grinning ear to ear.  She knew Em well and it melted my heart.  She loves both of her sisters very much, and they love her.

Some exciting things that have happened for our little person - Just tonight she gave us her first bit of giggles.  I was holding her in my arms and giving her a good bounce while at the same time making loud laughing noises.  She was all smiles to begin with, but then would react with a little laugh after each bounce.  We captured it with the video camera and it is so precious.  

Even more exciting than that is what a great sleeper Janie is.  She has been consistently sleeping 8+ hours a night for more than 2 weeks.  She gave me a few full nights before, but they were sporadic.  Even then I wasn't complaining too bad, she only would wake up one time at night.  It seemed as soon as we got back from our trip to Utah, and she was able to sleep in her own room again, she has slept like a log.  I usually nurse her between 9:30-10:30ish at night, then she wakes up again as I am sending Gracey off to school at about 7:30, sometimes a little sooner.  Gracey loves it when she wakes up in time to play for a minute.  Janie almost always wakes up happy and not too frantic to nurse right away, as long as Gracey is making funny faces at her.

We sure do love her.  She has been a true joy for us all.  Other than it taking a little more preparation to get out the door with a newborn, and me being less productive because I get caught up in lots of snuggles throughout the day, she has been a very natural adjustment to our family.

I wish time could just stand still.

Flying West - with extra baggage!

After having my mom be in town for 9 days after Janie was born, I was really sad to see her go.  As this picture shows our goodbyes, I was not the only one!

I was suddenly missing my family in St. George more than usual.  Corky, being a loving and supportive husband, said, "Let's ride this train of emotion and book some flights for Spring Break.  Hurry, before the cheapskate in you talks yourself out of it!"  I had been so weepy and emotional, and hyper-sensitive to the fact that babies grow up so darn fast, that I thought it was a great idea.  I really wanted to meet my new nephew Brooks and I wanted my family to meet Janie before she got any bigger!   I know each stage of a baby is oh-so-precious and special, but there is something about that brand-new-baby stage that you have to actually feel and snuggle in your arms to understand.

So we booked our flight and hopped on a jet plane.

As we walked down the terminal, I could hear peoples sighs of relief as we continued walking past their gate.  Once we got to our gate and waited, it was very noticeable that people were looking at our family of 5, including a newborn, and hoping we wouldn't be a disruption on their precious flight.

On Allegiant Air, unless you pay extra, it is open seating.  We always choose to go cheap and just do open seating, especially since having passengers under 12 years old we get the luxury of boarding first.  So we board the plane, me and the girls on the row with 3 seats, and Corky on the row with 2.  I passed Janie off to him to be held for a few minutes and she was quite the passenger repellent.  Finally a guy sat next to Corky because it was truly the last seat on the aircraft.  Luckily this guys was cool and was excited for his own daughter to be born soon.

I must say, all three of my kids were a dream.  My older girls watched a movie on the ipod, played with a couple of small toys, and took turns sitting by the window.  Janie was beyond well behaved.  She didn't sleep at all but was awake and alert the entire time.  After I nursed her during take off, all she wanted to do was stare at the lights.  Passengers around us I think eased up a bit when they realized how sweet her little personality was. Some grandmas were making googly eyes at her, another lady stated how she missed her sons being young, and a group of bachelors (heading to Las Vegas for a bachelor party) told us twice, that our kids are the best behaved kids they've ever seen.

This proud mom sure was relieved when it was all over, but I don't know that it could have gone any smoother.

One funny thing though.  As we were coming off the airplane, the tone of the passengers completely changed.  Those who were waiting to board the plane for the next flight were full "Oh how cute!" and "What a sweet little baby!"  I would bet a million dollars that they only could honestly say that because we weren't on their flight!  Even the people on our own flight didn't even look us in the eye until the flight was all said and done and our girls were behaved, then it was all smiles!


Some people.

The Staff

I wish I had a picture and names of the entire staff that helped me while I stayed at the hospital.  I can't say enough about what a pleasant experience it was.  Sure, the discomfort of my abdomen being sliced open sort of sucked, but as far as being taken care of by others, I definitely was. 

My night nurse was the best!  She was so so so sweet.  She would leave me alone and let me rest if I needed that, or come in my room to help me with the slightest thing.  She would take Janie for a couple of hours if I requested some more sleep, then bring her back to me when it was time to nurse. There was another night nurse on shift that was great too.  She wasn't assigned to me but she would still come in and visit with me, encourage me when I slowly walked the halls, and made me feel like I was actually fun to be around, and not temporary cripple that I actually was.  I know all nurses are SUPPOSED to be kind and helpful, but mine really were.

Here is one of my nurses helping the girls listen to Janie's heartbeat.  She was very patient as the girls kept wanting to hear.

My doctor, Dr. Soheai.  She was great.  Some say she is overly cautious but I like overly cautious.  It is way better than being not cautious enough.  About half way through my pregnancy, I went to her with a long list of concerns.  Literally, a page long list of handwritten notes that I wanted to talk to her about.  I was ready to take my business else where if my questions weren't answered in a way that made me feel comfortable.  Of course, plenty of my concerns were due to my mad paranoia that I was experiencing at that time, but she really put my mind at ease. 

I am so glad that I stayed put.  I don't think I could have handpicked a better staff to have been a part of, and made my experience as good as it was.  From the receptionist at the front desk of my doctor visits, to the medical assistants that weighed me each time.  From the radiology technician that did my weekly ultrasounds that happens to be a close friend of ours from church, to the surgeon that assisted Dr. Soheai, who also happens to go to church with us (and is married to the radiology tech that I just mentioned). From the nurse anesthetist that was so careful and precise with my spinal block, to the O.R. techs that helped me relax before the operation.... I am so grateful. 

Living in such a small town and delivering in such a small hospital, there naturally were concerns.  However, having faith in the abilities of the professionals that took care of me proved to be the best decision this time around.

Date Night - Interrupted Already

February 11. 2012.

Our hospital has a nice little tradition for the new parents, providing a "Dinner for Two Date Night."

Corky and I got to choose from a special menu and were served dinner on a nicely decorated table.  Just as we were about to enjoy a nice (still hospital food) meal together, Janie started piping up.   

And so begins the trend already.  Taking turns holding the babe while the other hurry and scarfs down the food. Then trading so the other parent can eat. 

"Teach Me How to Dougie"

When I was about 4 months pregnant or so, and I was feeling Janie start to move, I would joke often with the older girls that she was doing a dance in there.  Corky heard the song "Teach Me How to Dougie" one day, and joked that she was in fact, doing the "dougie."  From that moment on, the baby that was in my belly (which we didn't know whether it was a boy or girl yet) was called Dougie.  Even after knowing full well, another daughter would be joining us, she was still "Dougie."

It is fitting since Corky has given Gracey and Emily each a boy nickname.

Gracey - Gary


Emily - Ernie

and now we have,

Janie - Dougie

Janie is nearly a month old, and to be honest, is rarely called by her given name.  For the most part, she is still called Dougie.

This picture is so fuzzy because, as you can only imagine, Corky, Gracey, and Emily started doing "The Dougie" while holding our own little Dougie.  I wish I had the picture from the other angle but I could only move so much (or not at all) in my hospital bed.

Don't know what I am talking about as I refer to "The Dougie"?  Watch this.  And forgive me if it is stuck in your head for the next 3 weeks!

Meeting their new sister

As expected, Gracey and Emily were so incredibly excited to be able to meet their new baby sister.  They came to the hospital around lunchtime and I could tell they had been trying to be patient all morning long. The image of them walking into my hospital room for the first time is burned in my brain in the happiest of ways.  Neither seemed nervous or afraid, and both did not hesitate when it was their turn to hold Janie.  Pictures speak much better than my words do in this case, so here are a bunch of pictures of those first precious moments.

This picture below might be my favorite of the day.  Gracey and Emily were in their own little world together and completely in awe of their new baby sis.

Before leaving the hospital that day, Gracey and Emily decorated the room with some hand drawn pictures for Janie.  They were sure to not forget her little crib.