Day 7 Lego Land!!!!

Our trip was winding to a close. What better way to spend the day than finding ways to terrify our children for our amusement. :)

Where do I begin

I suppose from the beginning. San Diego is a great city. We had such a terrific time. I couldn't live there- 65 degrees is a little chilly for me, by the time we left I was craving sunshine and heat. It was May Gray-so maybe during June and July it's warmer and brighter. San Diego's downtown area is so fun. It ranks #2 just behind Chicago for me.

Day 1

Arrive and walk the Gaslamp Quarter have diiner at Sea Port Village. I LOVE SAN DIEGO!!!

In 10 years Noah will be 17... WHAAAAAAAAAA!

Even though I really do savor the moments of the present, I can't help but look into the future that seems to be knocking at the door. The older I get the quicker life seems to flash by. In many ways that's probably why I like to try and cram as many wonderful memories in as I can. Why vacations tend to take budget priority, and things like new kitchen cabinets can wait.

So the kids sold thier quads at the last few garage sales we had along with some toys, saved up birthday money and decided to pool thier resources and buy this monster. We have been eyeing it for about two years now, and this spring they finally had enough to buy it.

They love it! It's fun but a pain to take down. Here are some pics from Noah's birthday party.

Let's See If I Can Pull This Off

I began the week with a list of "let's see if I can pull this off" things to do. Top five on that list were:

#1 Trip to Costco with baby to get supplies for blessing brunch- I nursed her in the parking lot, put her in a sling and whala, no problemo. WOW! I can totally do this!!!!

#2 Leave baby with Jared to take pics at Sushi Ten restaurant grand opening. Hmmm. This was scary. But an hour and a half later baby was still happy and I didn't feel like a horrid mom.

#3Bring family to another photo shoot at the same sushi restaurant for a birthday celebration.

Family was awesome, and despite Hannah's momentary freak out at what was served for dinner when she happened to be "starving", we all had a great time.

#4Get me, baby, and kids ready and to church on time at 9:00am for Bradeighs blessing. We made it at 9:00 exactly. I wanted to get there early but got distracted taking pictures of the kids and my mom before we left. Point is-I made it and Bradeigh did not have a diaper blow out despite not having a bowel movement for three days. (She likes to save up). Hurrah! Hurrah!

#5 Host a family gathering after church. Thanks to every one's help this went smoother than I anticipated. Thanks for all your support and love!

So I feel like I'm ready for Noah's b-day party in a couple weeks and am relatively confident I'll be able to take on San Diego with the kids.

It's Bath Time Baby!

Despite my efforts in sponge bathing, Bradeigh was beginning to smell a little on the funky side; so finally the moment had arrived....Drum Roll....to give baby a bath. This was a very exciting moment in the Green household. We all piled into the kids bathroom, filled a tepid bath for baby and oohed and awed over her sweet rolls of chub.

All of a sudden a cry rang out."MOM!! We need the camera! This is Bradeighs first bath, we almost forgot to take pictures!!! Dad! Run, get the camera", Hannah ordered. Noah runs out with Jared in search of both cameras. (Noah really wanted to use our "run around" camera to take his own pictures).

In the past Jared held the honor of first bath giver-this time it was all me, and Jared got to take this super cute picture.

Now the moment is gone...she'll never have her first bath again. I'm glad it turned out to be such a monument es occasion.

We love you BABY! :)

1 Week Old

I'm not sure how I'm supposed to nap when Bradeigh does. How can I sleep when she makes such cute faces in her sleep. I seriously can just stare at her for hours. I remember doing this with Hannah and Noah too. I decided if I'm going to watch her sleep I may as well watch her through a camera lens. So here is my project - BABY week by week.

She's here!

March 30th , 6:00am

Jared: Good Morning! Any Contractions?

Me: No, not really any worth mentioning. My uterus and I aren't really on speaking terms

right now...

8:30am- Kids are off and Jared and I decide to go grocery shopping, rather than walking because frankly, I'm just tired of walking.

8:45am- Fry's Grocery Store-

Me: Produce doesn't look very good.

Jared: Nope, produce doesn't look very good.

Me: Cereal is on sale. Actually, I don't want to but any more cereal...

Jared: To Walmart then?

Me: I hate Walmart...

I have to stop here and just mention last week (outside of not having a baby) was really wonderful. Jared and I had a great little date week. Lots of walks, lots of laughing at the situation. We had a great time speculating all the crazy birth stories we could end up with. In fact one morning we took a jaunt to the Donut Wheel for that jelly donut I had been craving for weeks- and I became hysterical after imagining myself giving birth right there in the parking lot with powdered sugar all over my face. Another morning we went for a three mile stroll that got the contractions going and we imagined hitching a ride in the back of one of the landscaping trucks. During one of the contractions I started laughing hysterically again, and this time Jared wouldn't let me stop walking- so here I am bent over in a contraction laughing saying I think I feel my bag of waters, and Jared laughing pulling me behind him saying lets break it. There was a woman across the street walking her dog who became our first spectator of the day. My sister in law Amy came over with Zane and Gabriel and we had a great time with them-they were an awesome distraction. Saturday we all took the kids to Funtastics and had lunch. By the time Monday rolled around though I had really lost my sense of humor.

Fast forward to Monday night.

7:30: Kids in bed, contractions start

Me: Well...they're starting again

Jared: How regular?

Me: Pretty regular-but this is the time of night they usually do this. I'll let you know if their is a change.

8:00pm

Jared: Melanie, they seem really close I think we should call someone to stay with the kids.

Me: Oh.....What if it's just another false alarm.

Jared: I think we need to go in.

We call the Hillmans, in the mean time the contractions are picking up momentum. This is good.

Hillmans arrive and we're off.

By the time we're through triage and to our room, my uterus has me well aware of just how limber and strong it is. The nurse is figuring out the "mobile" baby monitor so I can walk if I want to. I let her know I won't be needing that after all, (I'm way past the walking through contractions phase). The nurse leaves and Jared and I are alone.

The contractions were so strong and close they had no pattern or rhythm I could work with. I began whistle breathing which Jared found really amusing. This was the point I recollected all my friends stories of how great epidurals are. They checked in, got the epidural, took a nap, pushed and out came the baby. That sounds so nice...I look over at Jared and say- I'm so tired, my legs hurt I don't think I can do this.

Jared is very encouraging and tells me I'm close. He checks the room for supplies- no sign of Dr. or nurse. He just maybe delivering after all. Jared resumes applying pressure to my legs just above the knee. Helps so much.

Dr. arrives sometime after midnight, maybe before I'm not sure. Just relieved she's going to break my water, I feel like I need to transition to pushing. She asked Jared if I made those marks on my legs as I motion to Jared to squeeze again- HARDER. Jared explains this trick we learned during Noah's birth. She breaks my water. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that feels so good.

Jared instructs them on how the squatting bar works (they had never done this before.)

Then helps me up. I begin pushing. It feels good but I can tell the baby isn't far enough down yet. I have to push harder and longer. I begin pushing longer and Jared reminds me to breathe. I think- breathing can come later right now I just need to push. Reading my thoughts- (or counting 40 seconds since I held my breath to push) he tells me more sternly to breathe. Okay- I'll breathe. I feel her crowning- the Dr. wants to know if I can lay back. I shake my head no and she says okay no problem you do whatever you need to do. I can feel babies shoulders- one more push. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh she's here!

I lay back while Jared clamps the cord and they give her right to me. She begins suckling right away, the room is so peaceful, I thank the Dr. and she laughs and thanks me. I'm so happy, our baby is here, born spontaneously 40 minutes into March 31st, on her due date. 8lbs 10 oz. 20 inches long. No complications, not even one stitch -(no epesiotomy no tearing). I'm so thankful.

The day and a half hospital stay wasn't bad either. The staff treated us so well, and gave us lot's of privacy. Not once did anyone lecture me about baby sleeping in bed with me. We had the same nurse each day (she dibbed us :) who also happened to be from the Chicago area originally.

Home has been wonderful, Hannah and Noah love thier cuddle time with baby. Our neighbors have been bringing us amazing meals, and diapers have been being dropped off at our doorstep. Sweet Bradeigh is as content as can be. Jared went into work this morning. Now it's time for me to shower. :)