Kids Say the Darnest Things

With so much focus on Emmmett I'm trying not to forget to write down some of Miles' recent antics. He's talking so much and he has us laughing all the time. Maybe I notice it more because I'm with him all day now, but he's a funny kid. I've been trying to get him to talk on camera, but I'm afraid he's not interested in performing. Today I asked if he wanted to hold Emmett and he said, "okay, but no pictures, no camera." He's like a little celebrity shunning the paparazzi. Anyway, here's a few memorable moments I don't want to forget.

1. I just finished painting my nails and walked into the room fanning my hands to help the polish dry. Miles looks at me and says, "momma's doin' the robot."

2. Miles' favorite music video, Days are the Sunniest, came on TV and he says, "that's my jam."

3. Miles was having a particularly rambunctious day and was flailing about dangerously close to Emmett. In an effort to teach him about soft touching grandma uses the phrase, soft like a feather. Miles bounded over and said, "I'm like a big feather."

4. Miles was pouting about having daddy put him to bed while I fed Emmett. He kept asking for me and Casey said, "you have daddy. Daddy's good." Miles responded, "momma's better."

5. Miles was whining and I couldn't understand him so I said, "what do you need buddy?" To which he responds, "I need some jelly beans in my mouth."

Feeling Crafty

When I took maternity leave with Miles I spent tons of time putting together a beautiful baby scrapbook. I don't have that kind of time now that I'm home with two kids, but I do have some time so I thought I'd try my hand at a shadow box for some of Emmett's baby things. I was so pleased that I decided to do one for Miles too. It's been a long time since I had time for anything crafty and I had so much fun with these.

Week One

Today Emmett is officially one week old and I tackled my first day alone with the boys. It was much easier than I expected. Newborns sleep a lot so in addition to caring for my children I managed to organize my kitchen cabinets, clean both bathrooms, and squeeze in a 45 min nap. It was a pretty ideal day. I'm sure it will get more exciting when Emmett starts staying awake for longer stretches, but for now I'm just going to enjoy it while it lasts.

Miles is still doing great with Emmett. He's very gentle, doesn't seem to get jealous, and is pretty understanding of my divided time. Emmett peed on the couch today and the entertainment value for Miles was immeasurable. Miles is developing quite the sense of humor. He loves to purposely say the wrong thing like changing up the lines to his favorite books and he thinks these intentional goofs are hilarious. For him peeing on the couch was a silly example of something gone wrong.

I can't quite understand why everything seems so much easier this time, but I'm sure it has something to do with experience and then sense of calm that comes from having done it all before. Pee on the couch is just another day. These days it seems like somebody always has some type of mess. This morning Miles proudly proclaimed, "I pooped just like Emmett." Way to go bud, you are an accomplished diaper pooper for sure. Last night Miles managed to christen the king bed for which I only have one set of sheets. Then there's Emmett; he's a spitter upper. That is new territory for me because Miles never spit up. And of course there are the inevitable pee showers you get with a baby boy. So far Emmett has also pooped on me twice.

Emmett's Birth Story Pt 2

We arrived at 7am for the induction. After a full hour of checking in and signing forms I started the pitocin to increase my contractions. The contractions slowly got stronger. At 9:45 the doctor broke my water and I was 7cm. Right about that time the anesthesiologist arrived with the epidural and I was able to convince him that I needed a light dose so that I wouldn’t be completely numb and useless like I was with my last labor. The dosage was perfect this time. No pain, but I could still feel the contractions and I could still feel my legs.

Since I had only dilated 1 cm from 8:00am -9:45am the doctor decided to make a trip to one of the other facilities thinking I still had some time to wait. When the nurse came back at 11:20 I mentioned that I had started feeling some pressure so she checked I was complete. She quickly paged the doctor and we started some practice pushes. The practice pushes went well and I was told not to push while we waited on the doctor. The doctor arrived just in time and midway through my first contraction she also told me to quit pushing. I didn’t even realize that the head was out until I heard her suctioning and heard Emmett’s little squeaks. One more push and he was here. It was far too easy. Emmett Lee Shults was born on January 14, 2010 at 12:14pm weighing 8lbs 2 oz and measuring 21”. Around 4:30 Miles made a trip to visit and he was excited. He kissed, hugged, and held Emmett and didn’t seem the least bit jealous. I can’t wait to get them home together.

Tons more pics on our family photo link to the right.

Emmett's Birth Story Pt. 1

So approximately 2 weeks ago I got the word that Emmett's arrival was eminent. I was 36 weeks, 4 cm and 75% effaced. In case you aren't up on all the specks of cervical change a 4 is supposed to be considered active labor, but I was not actively laboring. True to my personality my cervix had been quietly making preparations far in advance of the big day. The doctor was sure I was having a baby that week. Right in the middle of our busiest time of year at work which was inconveniently interrupted by winter break and a blizzard I started frantically trying to prepare.

At week 37 the doctor expressed her surprise at my still pregnant self and pronounced that I was 5cm and almost completely effaced. She wondered aloud about inducing me saying that I would go fast and she'd hate for me to not make it to the hospital. However, in the end she decided that she didn't want to induce a 37 weeker unless she had to so she let me go with more time to cook and a warning to go straight to labor and delivery if I had 2 contractions in a row.

Today I showed up at 38 weeks, and she was amazed to see me. I was 6cm and 100% effaced. It was enough of a novelty that she asked if the ER resident working with her that day could check since they never see 6's in the office. He checks and she says to him, "remember that, this is what oh shit call OB feels like." Then she instructs him to push a little harder and see how far back he can feel. His eyes get wide and he says, "is that the head?" It was. Luckily I'm not overly sensitive to being put on display. Anything for education. After the lesson she starts talking induction reminding me that my labor will go super fast and that I don't want to have this baby at home. Here's how that conversation went.

Doc: Why don't you just go home and get your stuff
Me: Right now?
Doc: Well, today or we could wait until the morning if you'd prefer.
Me: Yeah, I think finishing out the day and being prepared sounds better.
Doc: I'll just call L&D to set it up.
(on the phone) If I start her at 5:30 am she'll have that baby before I get my kids dropped off at school. She doesn't need to be there early. She'll go fast. *Pause* Start her on a very low dose. She won't need much pit, just let her smell some.

So now I'm preparing for Emmett's eviction tomorrow.

Still Pregnant

38 weeks and this baby's still cooking. I almost wish the doctor hadn't declared two weeks ago that it would be "any day" because then I wouldn't have put so much effort into preparing early. I feel like we're always on call. Cell phone at the ready, bags packed, prepared to rush to the hospital at any moment. Birth isn't supposed to feel like an emergency waiting to happen. Now with the added pressure of the doctor saying that because I have made so much progress, we will have very little time when active labor strikes it's been a bit tense. Oddly I feel okay about it. I would like to make it to the hospital, but a short labor does sound pretty ideal. As far as I know I'm still sitting at 5cm tracking the contractions and waiting for something to happen.

We've been talking more about Emmett to get Miles ready. So far it appears that he's pretty excited. He talks to my belly, he knows the baby gear which has recently reappeared is for Emmett, and he has enjoyed opening baby gifts always asking, "that for Miles?" He seems to delight in the doubling of some things always pointing it out with satisfaction. "Two diaper pails, one for Miles and one for Emmett." The wooden letters on the wall, "that say Emmett, that say Miles." Some things he seems more possessive of. He's always been fascinated by what happens to things that Casey puts in the attic. For example, he regularly asks about his high chair even though he hasn't used it in several months. Now that I mentioned using the high chair for Emmett, Miles likes to follow up his question of, "what happened to my high chair" with an "I need it." Luckily he probably won't remember that most of the baby gear used to be his. I can't wait for them to meet.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

One of Miles' most favorite books