15 Months

Grayson is now a 15 month old (as of Friday 2/18). He is still a baby, but is quickly becoming a big boy. He LOVES to eat and loves to play with his brother, Ethan. He is still figuring out whether or not he likes Landon, but I'm pretty sure he'll come around. Grayson is our sweet boy and it melts our hearts and often brings me to tears when he wraps his chubby arms around our necks and gives us open-mouthed kisses. He is hilarious and is always smiling and laughing at his little part of the world. We are so happy he is in our family.

At his 15 month check up today he weighed in at 24.5 pounds and was nearly 31 inches long. He is growing very well, and has phenomenal gross and fine motor skills. Not many language skills, as he insists on saying, "Eh!" to everything. His one and only world is Mama which he uses for me and to indicate that he wants more food. We love this little guy!

Cabin Fever

Bobby, Carol, and Natali came to visit.

Campfire!



Ready for bed.

Valentine's Treat!

I totally have cabin fever. Ethan got to do so much fun stuff this week and I am jealous of him. hahaha. He had a sleepover at his Mimi's house (Dawsons) and went camping with Jared. We did do a few fun things here at home for my benefit. We made a campfire in the backyard in preparation for the campout and had smores. Yummy. We also had visitors! Yeah! The Dawsons came to visit and snuggle with all three boys. And, my mom came and stayed a couple days to get in her snuggles. I swear that I am getting out of the house this week!

Our First Week

Landon has been home a little over a week now. We are so happy he decided to join our family. And, like always, I don't always know what's best. I'm glad he is here now and not some time in the future as I would have planned. He is such a sweet baby and we love him so much. Here are some photos of our first week as a family of five! First outing as a family. We traveled to drop off Jared's car at the shop for some maintenance and then on to Babies R Us to pick up our double stroller. It's a little crowded back there. Once Jared finds a new job, we'll be shopping for something bigger.
Gigi continues her tradition of giving the boys their first bath at home. Here she is scrubbing Landon's hair. He did not enjoy the bath as much as his brothers did. Snuggling with my two babies.

Living it up in the bili-bed. Just a little GTL.

Gigi's favorite b-day present. Mom's birthday is on 2/3 and Landon was born on 2/2. They are birthday buddies. We like birthday buddies in our family. I am Dad's birthday buddy (7/29 and 7/31); Ethan is Uncle Brandon's (10/29 and 10/31); Lyla is Jared's (both on 3/26); Logan and Uncle Tony (11/29 and 11/27). Yeah for babies and awesome families.

Landon's Arrival

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 I went in for my 37 week check up and was told I was at 5 CM. After a quick consult I was told to go home since I wasn't having contractions. If I were to feel anything I was to go on in to the hospital. I went home, did a few more things to complete my pre-pregnancy checklist, and tried to stop the anxiety that all of this was creating. At dinner I felt a contraction that was very light, but had resolved that I had to just have this baby tonight. I started feeling some regularity to my light contractions between 7:30 and 8, so off we went to the hospital. (My last belly shot on the way out the door is above.) We were triaged at 8:30 and told we could stay since I was at a 6 and my contractions (though I could barely feel them) were coming at 2-5 minute intervals. We were given a room upstairs in delivery by 10 PM.
When I got upstairs, my mid-wife, Mary Kay, decided to break my water at about 10:30. At that time, I still couldn't feel the contractions and was continuing to progress and was at a 7. About 1/2 an hour after she broke my water the contractions began to intensify. I was moving along nicely and decided that maybe I could do it without the epidural. I always said I'd NEVER choose to do so, but the recovery with Grayson was so much easier on me than with Ethan. I thought just maybe I could do this thing. Jared, Mary Kay, and my nurse, Ashlei, were very supportive and awesome at working me through the toughest contractions. At about midnight, I was thinking and verbalizing that I really didn't think I could do this. At 12:10 AM, Mary Kay checked again and said that I was 10 CM and could start pushing. I pushed through 4 series of contractions and Landon was here! It hurt so bad! But, the instant relief after he was out was exhilarating! He arrived on 2/2/2011 at 12:18 AM and weighed in at 7 lbs, 15 oz and 20 1/4 inches long. He arrived 3 weeks early and was quite the chunker. His cheeks hang off his face. He did have a little trauma as he arrived with a broken collarbone on his left side. No permanent damage is expected and it is already healing up nicely. He's a tough guy.

Here's a pic of my team! They were amazing and I am so glad they shared this experience with me. Jared is the bomb, by the way. He just knows me so well and was so awesome throughout. He is a great coach, loving husband, and super-dad! Each time we have a child, my love for him just swells and I am reminded at how much I love him.

This pic kind of cracks me up because Jared looks more worn out than me. Guess I should be glad I arrived at a decent hour with makeup and nice hair from being out and about during the day.

First family photo! I love these boys!

Oh, Ethan!

So, Ethan has been coming up with some pretty comedic things lately. He has quite the personality and I wanted to record some things he's said because I am sure to forget in the years to come.

At dinner the other night we were having lasagna and he did not want to eat it. He simply stated, "This food is for you people. It's too yummy for me."

Earlier that same day, I had offered to play a game with him on SesameStreet.org and he replied, "No, Mom. I can do it myself. You go have sweet dreams." (He must have known labor would start that night and I'd need a nap going in.)

As we got in the car, Ethan informed me that Jared had removed a stick from my windshield wiper. I said that his dad was pretty cool for doing that and he said, "Yeah, Daddy's a good helper."

I love this kid!