And then there were TWO!

Can you believe it?  I'm the mother of two! (All you other mothers of 3+kids have permission to roll your eyes)  Our little man has been in our life for just over a week, and I am head over heals in love with him. He is pretty much the cutest thing ever!

His birth story is WONDERFULLY boring! I had asked my doctor if I could get induced, mainly because I went 8 days overdue with Sadie and STILL had to get induced. 8 days over with baby boy would put me in labor on Christmas Eve...um, no thanks! So we set the date, just 4 days before my actual due date.

  

39wks 3days

Here I am checked in to Labor & Delivery.  I should have moved my cardigan to get the full effect of that belly.  Oh well, trust me, it was plenty big!

Well, they started my pitocin at 9am. I got my HEAVENLY epidural at 11am [insert Little Mermaid's "Ahhhh, ahhhh"].  I was 10cm by 3pm.  My doctor had 2 more appointments at her office, and I said I could wait for her before pushing.  The doctor came at 4pm, and took position NEXT to Cory.  Cory was there ready to catch!  

I was really nervous about being alone at the top of the bed while the party is going on at the foot of the bed. Luckily that wasn't an issue.  I was bent in half enough that I felt like I was right there with everyone. 

It was so special watching Cory deliver. It made everything even more impactful that this little life belonged to us, and that he will be a part of us forever and ever.

 Introducing:

Easton James Kogelschatz

December 12th, 2011 at 4:22pm

Weight: 5lbs 15oz

Length: 20in

P.S. Yes, I got to choose the name!  ;) 

Doctor in Training

Can you believe it?  Baby boy is ALMOST here!!!  And yes, his name is still "Baby Boy."  We've got our name list whittled down to a few, but my clever husband threw me a CURVE BALL! 

He says I can name our son WHATEVER I want if he can DELIVER THE BABY!?!?  That's right!  My NOT-QUITE-a-doctor husband wants to pretend to be my real doctor! 

 

Aaah!  I did my wifely duty, and asked my OB what her thoughts were.  Her response, "Sounds great! I'm on board!"  Am I the only one that finds this a little unnerving?  I get it, all he has to do is catch, but it's an IMPORTANT catch!

Well, I've fallen in love with a name.  And I'm assured that the doctor will be hovering inches over Cory ready to SHOVE him out of the way if need be.  Sooo....I *think* I'll let him do it!

I warm up to the idea more and more each day.  Cory has been the one to "catch" the baby before during his medical rotations...he said that it was pretty amazing knowing your hands were the first to ever touch that person.   I'd love for Cory to be the first person to hold my son.

Am I crazy for letting him do this?  Am I crazy for even hesitating about an amazing opportunity?  Goodness, I don't know. 

Still a nerd...

I saw Sadie playing with our alphabet magnets on the fridge and I realized she was getting the letters that are in her name.  She put them together but not in order.  I was curious what she understood, so I asked her how to spell "Sadie."  By golly, she told me!  "S-A-D-I-E"

 

When Sadie colors, she ALWAYS makes me write down EVERYONE'S names.   She does it to her nursery leaders too!  She comes home with pictures of Jesus and down the side it says "Sadie, Mom, Dad, Nana, Papa, Mickey, Goofy..."  So I guess that's how she picked it up! 

Halloween was....

 
 CREATIVE...

 

SILLY...

 SQUISHY....

  

FESTIVE...

 YUMMY...

 CUTE...

 

 SWEET...

 

PERFECT!!!

Wow, Thanks!

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments!  It means a lot to me that everyone was willing to share their own experiences and offer such supporting words!  I'll probably be re-reading your comments in the future when nursing-issues inevitably arise!

Thanks again!!!

Try, Try Again!

I've been hesitant to even write this post.  Why?  Because people have some S-T-R-O-N-G opinions about breastfeeding.  I totally respect everyone's viewpoint, but I'm...fragile with this issue.  So be gentle with me!

Sadie Rose & I had a less than stellar nursing experience.  Turns out that was most likely from her moderate to severe case of GERD, or acid reflux. (-that deserves a post of it's own, ugh!)  The breastfeeding, the pumping, the bottles for each feeding were beginning to break down my soul.

At church I saw other moms with bottles, and I swear, I have NEVER felt jealousy like that!  I LONGED to be like them.  To just whip out a bottle whenever, wherever.  I'm not a "boobs-out-in-the-open" kinda girl. -Especially if there are men around. I'll leave and go to a private place. But those who know me, know I'm a "center-of-attention" kinda girl. (maybe it's the middle child in me craving attention? Hmmm)  I HATE to miss out on the party which is undoubtedly going on while I'm locked away in a spare bedroom.  So not only was Sadie having awful eating issues, but I was becoming resentful of being tucked away.


So breastfeeding eventually died a guilt-full death.  Full of sleepless nights, full of tears, full of interrogating every young mother around me.

I've been going back and forth with my conviction for breastfeeding Baby #2.  Wondering if it would be worth the effort.  Wondering if I'd be able to stick with it. Wondering if I even WANTED to stick with it. With Sadie I was able to borrow a pump.  This time, the pumps I knew of were already in use, so I had to decide if I wanted to buy my own. I had a hard enough time breastfeeding WITH the pump, I KNEW I would fail without it. Thought about renting, but after 12weeks, it would be the same cost as a pump I found on sale.  SO....

 I bought the pump!  Here goes nothing!

 

 Me TRYING to be excited!

 

But I feel a little more like this.

I don't know if I'll have any more success this time, but we'll give it a try. Ya know, I did learn a bunch from Sadie's experience.  I've learned that even if we quit, our new baby can be just as smart, happy, and healthy as Sadie turned out to be. That may sound like I'm preparing myself for failure, but really it's just taking off some of the pressure.  That pressure is what killed me last time.  (I still don't understand why strangers feel the need to ask if I'm breastfeeding. Weird, right???)  I learned that I'm not the only one that had issues with nursing, which really helps me be more relaxed now when problems arise.  And I learned that we all survived.  In the end, regardless of what we choose, we all lived to tell about it, and we'll live again.

Wish me luck!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, EVERYWHERE!

Cory and I have been married 6years and we have NEVER carved pumpkins on our own!  A sin, I know!  One year we carved pumpkins with family, but never did our own at our own home.  Well, with Sadie now an active participant in holidays, this lack of tradition had to change!  And so we were off to do Halloween right this year!

First things first: Finding the PERFECT pumpkin!

 I *think* that one might too big, Sadles!

 

 That looks good to me,
but I don't think Sadie is sure...

I'm beginning to think
you aren't taking this
pumpkin-picking very seriously!

 The search is back on!

By the way, I l-o-v-e-d this pumpkin patch! 

Sadie was endlessly entertained!

 

Is there such a thing as TOO MANY PUMPKINS?

There we go! We're making decisons!

That IS a cute smile,
but you still have to choose!

 SHE FOUND IT!  The PERFECT one!

Our little family of pumpkins!

(Stay tuned for painting & carving)

When it's cold outside...

I get my CRAFT on:

And Sadie Rose gets "COZY"

Sadie informed me that getting "cozy" means at least 3 blankets!  That's my kind of cozy!

 Oh, and I've been getting....

BIGGER!!!

(30wks)

BFF

Okay moms of multiple kids.  This one is for you!  I'm needing your help.  Baby boy will be here in 2&3/4 months (but who's counting?).  While I am THuh-RILLED to meet my little man, I just started to feel guilt about leaving Sadie...

I know, I know, I'm not "leaving" her.  And Sadie is really excited for "Baby Brudder."  But I'm feeling some anxiety about my relationship with her changing.

When Cory's gone so much for his school responsibilities, then it's me and this girl!  All the time!  Sun-up through sundown. Now, sometimes we need a break from each other; but we're a team, Sadie & I.  In fact, Sadie often says, "Go to Daddy's house!"  That means, "Go Home."  She sees us as this little traveling duo that just visits other people's houses, Ha!  

A friend of mine told me that kids don't know that they are a completely separate person from their mother until around age 3.  I know that sounds kind of silly, but part of it makes sense to me.  My gut is TIED to that little girl.  I don't even believe that we're two separate people.  :)

Well, I guess things change, and I know that this change is for the better.  Sadie will learn some independence from me.  She'll learn how big and grown up she is by helping with the baby.

 And I'll get a new precious life for my guts to be tied to.  :) 

Nesting, Anyone???

I have the URGE!  We MUST start cleaning/fixing everything that a newborn DOESN'T need!  Starting with, re-caulking the bathroom!

 The bathroom wasn't dying for new caulk...but it didn't NOT need it either.  But, for some reason, I NEEDED it done!

It was a bit of a site seeing me squat and reach around my ever-growing belly!

Now what newborn wouldn't want such a perfectly caulked tub???

Petting Farm

My little Sadie Rose is afraid of...just about everything, but she is definitely NOT afraid of animals!  It doesn't matter if it's a dog bigger than her, she LOVES them all!

  I got a Groupon coupon for This is the Place.  I've lived downtown for 3years and have NEVER gone! A crime I now realize!  Oops!  (by the way, L-O-V-E groupons!)

Complete with a pony ride!

Cutest little baby goats!

I think Sadie was in HEAVEN!

Does anyone else see something WRONG with this picture???

This is my prenatal vitamin and it's the size of my PINKY!!!  It takes me 2 or 3 tries every night!  And I'm a good pill-swallower!

When I was preggo with Sadester, DHA was "the new, cool thing."   But let me tell you, DHA makes your pills GINORMOUS!!! Is it worth "enhanced brain & eye development, and improved immune system?"  How often do we even use our brain, eyes, and immune system anyway?  Okay, fine. I'll choke down this pill, but I appreciate a bit of pity!   ;)

The Bump!

20 weeks!  I'm half-way there!  Can you believe it??? I can't!  A couple weeks ago, I met a fellow preggers girl.  Our belly-bumps were identical!  I was all excited to see if our due dates were close!  ....they weren't close...at all.  She'd due about 2 MONTHS before me! Uh, that's A LOT!

Oh well, I've learned to love my growing belly.  It's kinda fun wearing fitted shirts not having to worry about sucking in. :)  I'm feeling my little buddy kick more and more, which is so fun!  I'm well into the easy 2nd-trimester, so I've got SOME of my energy back.   - Enjoy these happy pregnancy posts while you can.  I'm sure in a few short months I'll be cursing my belly and pleading for this baby to come out!

Look Who's 2!!!

 Okay, fellow moms, how come nobody told me that babies grow up???  Okay, fine, I read it on ALL of your blogs, but I was hoping it wasn't going to happen to me.  I was hoping that maybe, just MAYBE, mine would stay my baby forever...and ever!  I've always had a tough time with Sadles (pronounced "say-dulls") growin' up.  Remember when I had to buy bigger pj's EXACTLY like her newborn ones because I couldn't bear boxing them up??? (click on "remember when" to see the post). 

 Well, here she is!  My little baby girl!

  

Birthday pj's!  Love the tu-tu jammies! 

Sade found her pinata early. 

She thought it was just another gift!

She loved to pretend eat it. 

Apparently she only eats pretend sweets... 

she still turns down real desserts for peas.  

Silly girl!

 Spent the day at the Splash park!

With her fave cousins, of course!

 

Not too fancy of a cake, but Sadie liked it!

Really, she loved everything!

From the presents....

 

To the pinata!

 

I'm just left wondering....

...when did THIS...

 

 ...turn into THIS????

I don't know, but I'm glad she's MINE!

 

Happy Birthday, Sadie Rose!

Riverton Knows how to Party!

Who knew little Riverton, Utah could be so fun???  They do a Fourth of July celebration that gets BIGGER and BETTER every year!  Here are some highlights:

No, that's not Cory holding Sadie.  That's my bro-in-law, Aaron.  Cory was on a dirt-biking trip, at least he wasn't gone for school!

My little Sadie Rose is the world's BIGGEST scaredy-cat, bless her heart!  So I didn't know how she'd handle the rides...  She was quiet on the carousel, but I *think* she liked it...
 

 

After the carousel, Sadester was LOVIN' all the rides!  They had lots of perfect, puny rides for her! They even had some roller coaster-ish rides and Sadles would shout out, "RIDE IT! RIDE IT!"  Too bad she didn't quite make the 48" height minimum.  Sorry girl!

 

Sadie was a loves merry-go-rounds,  she was a little impatient waiting for it to start.  Let's get this thing going! 

(the horse conveniently hides my growing bump, belly picture coming soon, I promise)

LOOK AT THAT FACE!!!  LOVE!!! 

Next Day: PARADE

Toddlers aren't known for their attention span, or at least my toddler isn't.  So I didn't know how long she'd stay put for the parade.

 

But she did PERFECT! Her favorite part: waving at the "princesses"  (beauty queens from all the neighboring cities)

Thanks cousins, Kennedy & Madelyn, for inviting us!

 

Had to get a pic of her festiive outfit! 

I love baby flip-flops!