Early Baby

In a complete surprise, our third baby girl decided to make her debut early! Keira Rhys was born Tuesday, May 5, at 9:07 pm. She was 6 lbs, 9 oz and 19 inches long. I think it's pretty interesting that all our girls had their own timetable - Ava was on time, Norah was a week late, and Keira was a week early.

I was having mild contractions all day on Tuesday. I didn't think anything of them since I had exprienced false labor with Norah. So I just went about my day - even going out to get a baby memory book for Keira.

After we all had our afternoon nap, my contractions were a bit stronger, but I still gave them no thought. But something did tell me that I should get the girls' overnight bags together - they would be staying with my parents while I was in the hospital.

I began making dinner, and noticed that my contractions were even stronger - but still not painful. Mason wasn't home yet (which surprised me, since he's usually home by then). Around 6:30 though, I got my sign that I really was in true labor - the mucous plug! I called Mason, but he wasn't answering his cell phone (I knew then he must be on his way home, since he can't answer his phone on his motorcycle, LOL!). I then called my mom, and she promptly came over.

Mason came home around 7 pm. I told him he needed to eat fast because I was in labor! It was still a bit surreal to me, since my due date was a week away. Mason mentioned that the reason why he was late was he was getting things together to work from home for the next few days - he had a feeling the baby was coming very, very soon.

We got to the hospital around 7:40 pm. At 8 pm they checked me, and I was dilated to 6 cm, with my water still intact. I chose to leave it that way since it acts as a cushion. At 8:40 my contractions were noticable stronger and getting more painful - they checked me and I was at 8 cm! Then 10 minutes later my contractions were very strong, and I was at 9 1/2 cm. The nurse paged the on-call OB, who then broke my water. I began pushing a few minutes later. Keira was then born at 9:07 pm. I didn't have an epidural or any other pain meds.

So onto some pics!

This is right after birth




Mason in the nursery with Keira


The hat Mason picked out for Keira. He said the nurses didn't like it, LOL!

Whoa, two months went by?

I just realized I haven't updated in about two months. Time just flies - that and I'm a lazy blogger. I freely admit that!

Ava and Norah each had their birthdays - Ava turned 4 and Norah turned 2. We just had a family get together for Norah, but Ava had her first "friend" birthday! We did a safari-themed party complete with an alligator cake - at Ava's request. It was fun seeing all her little friends together and doing crafts and playing.

Ava has had fun being in preschool - she can now write her real name, and not just H-boot anymore!

As for me, I'm two weeks away from my due date. I soooooo can't wait to deliver this baby girl! It's difficult keeping up with two kids when you can't run as fast after them pre-preggy body. That, and I want to be able to paint my own toes again, dang it!

"H, Boot"

Over the weekend Mason and I decided to try and be a little more pro-active in helping Ava learn to write a bit. She knows her letters and can recognize her name, so we started with that. Yesterday morning before Mason left for work, he tried to help Ava write her name. She of course, being the almost-4-year-old that she is, refused to copy the letters. Mason went to collect his gear for work, then Ava approached him with her piece of paper. He asked her if she practiced the letters, and she said she had. He then looked at the paper, but instead of seeing the letters "A-V-A," he saw what looked like an "H" and then a picture. When asked what they were, Ava replied, "H-Boot! My name is H-Boot!!" Mason then just rolled his eyes, and had a bit of a laugh.

Fast forward to that evening at dinner. Mason told me that we needed to get creative in helping her to want to write. I told him that she will practice her letters in preschool - and I even showed him her papers that she brought home earlier that day. It was full of "M's" and "N's" that Ava had practiced. Up at the top of the paper however, Mason noticed something. The teachers all write the students' names at the top in dotted letters so they can practice writing them. On Ava's paper however, next to her dotted name was - you guessed it - "H-Boot!"

Mason was just speechless, LOL!

Valentines and Crazy Birds

Last week in Ava's preschool class, they exchanged Valentines. Ava was super-excited, and she picked out "Bolt" Valentines to give. We also had fun Valentine-themed pencils to go along with the cards. Needless to say, I was quite amazed when I picked her up that day! She had a box filled to the brim with Valentine goodies from her classmates - not only pencils, but erasers, play-doh, and an assortment of goodies. It was like Christmas all over again!


Then this evening it was attack of the crazy birds! Outside in the courtyard of our complex, there is an arbor where some birds have had their nest for a few years. The grill is also out there, and while I was grilling some meat for dinner, the mother bird decided it was time for her last chick to leave the next. There was a kerfuffle of feathers, the baby bird flopped onto the picnic table, then onto the pavement, and scuttled under the grill's gas tank. The mother flew away, and in the process hit my head with her wings. I felt bad for the baby bird, but I had to keep Ava and Norah from trying to touch it (just in case the mom came back). I guess it's not everyday you see a baby being kicked out of the house, LOL!

Can't say THAT!!

I've been keeping a log of all the funny things my kids say - but last night really had me in a fit of laughter. While at my parents' house for dinner, Norah needed to be changed. So my dad (giving us a bit of a break from diaper duty), promptly offered to do so. Ava followed him to the bathroom, then reported back to us that Norah had "passed wind." My mom told her to say that Norah "fluffed," and then Ava matter-of-factly told her "I'm not ALLOWED to say fluffed!"

Needless to say we just broke down into the giggles. Gotta love the things kids say!

New Year already?

Holy moly, I can't believe it's 2009! This year already has started with a bang - we bought a new car on New Year's Day. Our third baby is due this May, and my Jeep just won't handle three car seats across the back. We finally decided on a Mazda CX-9. It's super sexy with leather seats. Yes, we spoiled ourselves, but hey - we're going to have this car until Ava's in college!

Yesterday we had our ultrasound to find the gender of our baby - only to have the sonographer say that she was 70% sure it was a girl. Apparently this little one was a bit more shy than Ava and Norah were. In all honesty I'd be surprised if it was a boy, but just in case, we'll have two names on hand, and a few boy outfits. (Yes, I'm an obsessive planner).

And I finally have a custom My Little Pony! Whoo hoo! For all you non-pony people, it's a My Little Pony that's been stripped of it's original symbol and hair and totally customized. It's of my online pony persona "ashes" (so now you know partly why this blog is called "ashes to ashes"). It arrived yesterday, and I totally love it. You are all probably thinking that with my art skills I should be making my own ponies, but hey - with two little ones at home, I'm still lucky I can find time just to draw and paint!

Here are pics of my custom pony. The artwork in the background is my own, which I sent to the customizer for reference.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! This truly is a beloved time of the year. Soft twinkling lights, smiling children, and hope seems to burn a little brighter and everyone is a little kinder.

Yesterday was spent over at my parents' house. Ava and Norah loved seeing their tree and wondered which presents were for them. Dinner was fabulous, followed by a dessert I remember from my childhood - peppermint ice cream served in homemade chocolate cups. Ava and Norah still aren't up to having a full Christmas Eve type "program," (with them still being so young) so their bedtime story was the account of the Nativity from the New Testament, of course followed by a reading of The Night Before Christmas.

Ava was so wired that we could still hear her rustling around in her room at 11:30 pm. But that didn't deter Mason and I from setting up "Santa's presents." For Ava it was the Cherry Blossom Market complete with play food, while Norah's was a baby doll with a stroller and carrier.

We were all so tired that Ava didn't wake us up until 9:30 am. Of course we didn't know how long she had really been up, LOL! We asked her if Santa came, and she said, "No" but then we asked her if he had left presents, and she coyly said, "Yeeeeeeeeeees....." She and Norah were excited to see the bounty that Santa had left.

The toy of the day for Norah was her battery-operated puppy. You know those yappy things you see tied up outside the front of toy stores? Well, she's totally in love with it. She carried that thing around all day, and ran away every time Ava asked to see it.

Ava on the other hand, spent equal amounts of time between her market, her RC My Little Pony Scooter (although Norah had fun making it do donuts - no joke!), and her books and other toys. My parents came over later in the day for more presents and dinner. It was a fun day all around.

I think tonight we will all sleep soundly. :)