One sleepless night....

Okay so I know what all you are thinking...a sleepless night with a newborn?! Duh! But this was a different kind of a sleepless night. Tuesday morning we took Anastyn to her Newbown Well check. We had been thinking she looked a little yellow, so I wanted to have her checked for jaundice. The doctor said it didnt look that bad, but to have labs done just to check. After over an hour of waiting at Chandler Regional we had her labs done and ran a couple errands before heading home. On our way home we get a call from the Pediatrician saying that her levels were way high, and that she wanted us to have her admitted. WHAT??? Not that my hormones arent trying to regulate as it is, the thought of my baby having to be in the hospital was just too much. But what had to be done, had to be done. Kameron's sister was nice enough to take Porter for however long we needed to be there, and we headed to Mercy Gilbert to have her admitted. She got to "tan" in her Bili-Bed for as long as it took for her levels to drop to normal. I was worried how she would do since she HATES to not be bundled and laying on her back. But she is such a trooper and did GREAT!

A little bright, but she just snoozed away.

Our little trooper! This bed was intense...the light below her...and then there were two HUGE tanning bed looking panels that were hanging above her. It was the "Triple Light Bili-Bed!" I was impressed at what they have now a days.

We only got to take her out for 30 minutes at a time when it was "feeding" time as Kameron called it. I know, its like she is cattle or something. Thats what I get for marrying a guy from a small town I guess. And even though she has a little double chin, she is a LOT smaller than she looks. The tiny little thing only weighs 6 pounds.

Porter being a silly little monster on the way home!! You just gotta love this kid. Even after a long day and night in the hospital, he can still always make us smile!

Baby Anastyn relaxing in her boppy! We are just so glad that she is doing so well, and that we were able to nip the jaundice in the butt before it got worse. We only had to stay 24 hours because she did so well in the light her levels dropped really fast! She is such a good baby and is doing great! We have hopes that she is a sleeper like her brother was (sleeping through the night at 8 weeks!) and she is showing signs that she might be. Last night was great and she only woke up twice to eat. We just love her and are so grateful for this little blessing being in our home.

Officially hating Myself

Okay, so I can proudly say that I officially hate myself!! For the past two years I had heard a lot of delivery stories (something about being a mom and talking to other moms...the topic comes up all the time). And multiple times I would hear of people popping out their kids like its nothing when it was so hard for me when I had Porter. I would secretly...and sometimes not to secretly, tell my friends that I hate them for having it so easy. haha. I wanted more than anything to have a baby and be able to laugh and enjoy my baby without being in excruciating pain. Soooo, with that being said, Thursday morning at around 1:30 am I was woken up by some cramping. I had been having braxton hicks contractions for the past few weeks, but these felt different. I timed them for a couple hours and they got pretty consistant at 6 minutes apart. So I called the dr and she told me to head to the hospital. Kameron and I left with the thought that we were going to be sent home. When we got to the hospital they got me hooked up to the machines and checked me. I was at 3 cm and was contracting about every two minutes. After an hour, I had dilated to a 4, and was still contracting, so much to our surprise...it WAS real labor and I was being admitted!! It was about 6 am, and at this point is when we made the phone calls so that my parents could start to head up to Gilbert. (they live 3 hours away) Around 7:30 my doctor broke my water and the contractions got stronger from there. Since I was attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) I wanted to wait til I was at 6 cm before my epidural so I could progress on my own and not have my contractions slowed down. By 9:30 I was at a 6 and got my epidural....HEAVEN! Why people have babies without one I dont know. After the epidural I progressed to an 8 by 10:45, my parents got there about 11:15 and by 11:45 I was ready to push! Talk about cutting it close! My doctor was delivering a baby in the next room so I got to "practice" push for about 25 minutes to prepare myself. Once the doctor came in I pushed though a few more contractions and she was here! Kameron was also able to deliver her. He took a training class a few months back on delivering babies through work...so I asked is he wanted to and he said NO! He didnt even want to watch before it all started. But once there was a head in sight, I guess something peaked his interest and he was slapping on gloves just as the head was coming out. He said it was pretty cool when all was said and done, and I was glad that he actually did it. Everything went perfectly, and I cant even describe the feeling when it was over. After the past two years of wondering if I could, I now know that I can. I am so grateful for such an understanding doctor that risked quite a bit allowing me to have the delivery I wanted. And it couldnt have gone any better!! Well...maybe I could have gone without stitches, but hey I am not complaining. 11 hours from start to finish..woohoo, go me!

Our first picture with our little girl! She looked just like Porter, that it took Kameron and I back to what seems like yesterday when he was born.

Within two hours after I delivered, I was showered and feelins MUCH better.


The next morning Porter came to meet his new baby sister. And depsite what this pictures implies...Porter was LESS than impressed to say the least. He wanted NOTHING to do with her. It was funny because we really couldnt even get him to look at her. It took him 5 hours before he would even give her enough attention to give her a kiss.

All loaded up for her first car ride.

By that night when we got home he had learned to love her. He all of a sudden wanted to hold her...and even though she was sleeping...I wanted to sieze the opportunity because who knows when he would want to hold her again.

Porter giving baby sister a kiss good night!

Our first night was not great to say the least. She didnt sleep hardly at all, and lets just say Kameron and I were very tired this morning. But hopefully she will do better and better as she gets a little more used to this new world! Despite the fact she was 4 weeks early, she has been perfect and is small...but not as small as any of us had expected. As far as the recovery goes...I feel GREAT! I tore pretty bad and had to get quite a few stitches, but on a pain scale of 1 to 10 this felt like a 1 compared to the pain of my c-section. I never knew that having a baby could be this easy. I may just have more....some day! Now that we are home, it should be interesting to see how Porter adjusts, but he is going to be a great big brother once he gets used to the idea. We just love her and cant believe how much she changes every day. Now having the delivery that I wanted....and deserved after Porter's, I can't explain how grateful I am for the opportunity to try and succeed. Our family feels a little more complete now, and we look forward to seeing what Anastyn's personality is like. If its anything like her brother's we are sure in for a treat!

She has arrived!!

Anastyn Marie Lee - 12:36 pm April 23rd, 2009
6 lbs. 14 oz.
20 inches long

Little Miss Anastyn decided to join our family 4 weeks and 1 day early!! She looks JUST like her brother and we just love her. I will post later with the story of how it all went down, but baby and I are both doing GREAT! I was able to deliver naturally and avoid my much dreaded C-section. We are now home and adjusting to having a baby in the house and Porter is learning that he no longer rules the roost! Baby is crying now gotta go....I see a pattern starting....

36 Weeks...and some GREAT news!

I cant believe that we have reached the final weeks of this pregnancy! Even though this pregnancy has been nearly perfect, I am starting to get the "Get this baby out!" feeling! I can no longer paint my toenails, rolling over in bed is more work than its worth, my hips are breaking in half, and I get winded and start sweating doing simple house work. Not to mention the fact that I feel like the huge exploding woman, and some days I swear I can feel myself getting bigger!! I had my first of my weekly appointments this morning and my doctor checked me to see if I was making any progress. Being that I have a month left, I didnt expect much. Well to I think all of our surprise (Kameron was there too) I am 2 cm dilated and almost 100% efaced. This is WAY more progress than the doc had expected to find, and is great news that I have a really good chance of having this little girl early and avoiding the much dreaded C-section in just 3 short weeks. We also had an ultrasound because my tummy is measuring small, but found that everything is smack dab in the middle of the normal range, and she is measuring at 5 lbs. 12 ozs. And yes I said SHE!! I was adimate about confirming that there is NOT going to be any surprise parts showing up at delivery! So keep your fingers crossed for me that I can have this baby in the next couple weeks!! We are so excited, and a bit nervous that the day is rapidly approaching. Everyone pray that I will have enough time to get to my hospital...40 minutes away...and not have to delivery on the side of the 347! Any day now Miss Anastyn, we cant wait to meet you!

A little Celebration...

We had a little celebration for Porter's birthday and invited a couple of his little buddies over for cup cakes and ice cream.
Porter opening his new movie...he was very excited and I think we have watched it like three times in the last 24 hours.

Here he is blowing out his candles.

Porter, Wes, and Hudson enjoying their cupcakes...or should I say Enjoying their frosting! It was so cute to see Porter's face with all the phone calls he got from family singing to him over the phone. Happy 2nd Birthday Porter!

Way "2" Many!!!

My little man is officially way too many years old! I cant believe that two years ago today, Porter joined our little family. Where does the time go? Seriously! Not a day has been the same, since he has arrived...they have been better than they were before.

The day we came home from the hospital...April 22nd 2007 - 3 days old!

Porter at 4 months....seriously, dont you just want to bite him!! I miss those rolls!

Porter's First Birthday!

19 Months

Porter at 2 years...(almost)

This little man is so smart, and such a talker. He sings his ABC's, counts to 14, among singing a LOT of other songs. He can pretty much repeat anything we tell him to, and he doesnt ever stop talking. Anytime we ask him if he wants to do something, or take a nap...he will say "Tomorrow!" haha. My favorite thing he says is when we give him a snack, or help him with a toy he will look at me and say "Oh Tank You Mommy! Oh Tank You!" Seriously...adorable. Porter is also such a big boy that he has been sleeping in his big boy bed for the past week! Once I buckled down and made him do it, he transitioned SO well. It actually breaks my heart how fast he got used to it. (one nap and one night...and he was as good as transitioned!) It just proves that he is no longer a baby, but a toddler! Ahhhh, I'm so glad I am having another one...I cant handle my baby growing up!

Porter Grant Lee - Mommy and Daddy love you so much, and just can't get enough of your little sense of humor. You are so full of evergy that you wear mommy out everyday. But I wouldnt want you to be any other way. You are my little helper, and have the sweetest disposition. Not to mention you can give some of the funniest faces I have ever seen. You are such a joy, and I can't believe you are getting so big. You will make the best Big Brother out there, and always remember, you are mom's favorite little Monster. Mommy and Daddy love you, and are so proud of you! Happy Birthday little Man!

~Love Mommy!

Think PINK....

....Thats what we've been doing at our house! I talked Kameron into painting the top half, of the already brown bottom half nursery, PINK! I mean, how can you have a girl and NOT want PINK?? Okay, maybe some of you dont want PINK, but I do! It has been a work in progress, since we got rid of the armoire that held Porter's clothes for the past two years and added shelves....among all the other little projects I wanted to add to her room. After a lot of work and SOO much help from my wonderful husband (he did all the hard stuff and I did all the fun decorating and organizing) our nursery is now patiently awaiting the arrival of our little princess!

The shelves Kameron put up...and he didnt even swear, I am so proud of him!!

The adorable bedding my Mom made...seriously..she made EVERYTHING. She is pretty much amazing! I wish I had a fraction of her talent.

And yes...we have FINALLY settled on a name! ANASTYN ------ LEE! The middle name is still up for debate. haha. It beat out Harper because I think its more uncommon. I have NEVER met another little girl with this name. So, Little Miss Anastyn, your Mommy, Daddy, and Big Brother can't wait to meet you!! Please come and join our family soon!

Stop...Drop...and Sleep!

Yesterday during naptime I couldnt get Porter to stay in his room. I had tried many many attempts at child proof door knobs, but it would take him about 2 seconds to figure them out...pop them off...and come walking out. After much searching and many different brands and types of knobs, we have finally found one that has mastered my almost two year old. Its made by the Red Cross...go figure. Anyways, I threw that bad boy on the inside of his door, and he was NOT so happy that he was a prisoner in his own room. But after a few minutes of crying...all went quiet. I wondered where he had fallen asleep since I knew he had crawled out of his pack'n play and cant get back into it. In hopes that he had layed down on the "Big Boy" bed that he refuses to sleep on, I went in to check on my little monster. To my disappointment, this is where I find him sleeping....
See the shoe peeping out from behind the blanket that is acting as his curtain? (I havent decided whether I am keeping the curtains I bought for his room or not!)

Fast asleep on the floor. Now why would you fall asleep on the floor when there is a perfectly nice bed to sleep on? If only I could get in that head of his. (Disclaimer - I do take his shoes off to sleep, but they are his favorite and he put them back on before he fell asleep!)

So I layed him in his 'Big Boy" bed in hopes that he wouldnt freak out when he woke up. To my surprise, he was so happy with himself when we made a big deal when he woke up in his BIG BOY bed! That night I decided to try a different approach to get him to sleep in his bed. I put him down in the pack'n play...then shortly after he fell asleep, I moved him into his Big Boy bed...and prayed that he wouldnt fall off and freak out...and sleep through the night. Right after I moved him he woke up a little, so I sat next to his bed for a few minutes so he would relax...then left him still awake. He did GREAT and fell right to sleep. He did wake up at 4am, so I went in there and when he wanted into his pack'n play, I told him no that we are sleeping in his big bed. So I layed down with him this time...(yeah that would be a great picture! Me 9 months pregnant and Porter in that tiny little bed) and rubbed him arm til he fell right back to sleep. He then slept in til 7. So I think we will be keeping with this theme til he gets used to his bed. I cant believe how big he is, and how fast he is growing. We love you Porter Monster!

Easter Cousin Fun!

This past weekend, my sister and I went down to Sierra Vista to hang out with my mom since my dad was in California for a family emergency! Both our husbands were working, so we loaded up all 4 kids and headed south. My sister in law Nicole joined the fun saturday morning and brought her 4 kids since my brother went with my dad.

Porter enjoying his fish sticks, and alphabet potatoes.

The kids minus Miss Jadie. They had so much fun eating, they all got their Initials in potatoes...Grammy is the best!

Porter coloring his first Easter Egg with Grammy.

Later we had an Easter Egg hunt in the backyard.

Porter and Jadie stopping for a picture for the big Hunt!

Almost all my parent's grandkids. Elijah wasnt here, and baby Brylin was asleep inside....and well, we all have yet to meet #10, our little princess! A little over 4 weeks to go!

Here is Lexi and Porter playing with the confetti eggs...hollowed out eggs with shreds of paper and confetti inside...you crack them on eachother and run crazy! The kids LOVE it! Lexi was trying to crack the egg on Porter's head....talk about consentration! haha.

Porter standing in the shreds of paper...he didnt quite get the concept, and would find an egg and break it on his own head and crack up laughing, it was hilarious.

After running crazy for eggs, we all sat down and celebrated Easter by having dinner Saturday night because we all heading back home Sunday. As you can tell...Porter enjoyed all the yummy food.

Before bed all the kids went up to the top of the stairs and let off "Rocket Ballons"! They would shoot ALL over the front room and the kids had so much fun.

Porter in his Easter outfit...Can we say Stud?! He couldnt be any cuter.

My brother and dad surprised us all by driving through the night and were waiting at home for us when we got home from church. This made the kids VERY excited because that meant that Tata could take them all on a Rhino ride! And Porter LOVED every second. My dad said he had a smile for the whole 10 minutes they were gone.

***Now to explain the pink sweater....when packing for Sierra Vista, I didnt think to pack a sweater or jacket, or pants for that matter. So his cousin Lexi was sweet enough to let Porter borrow her sweater so he woudnt freeze on the "Vroom Vroom!" It was so cold it even snowed on the mountain tops. (my parents live at the base of the mountains)

Porter didnt seem to mind the girlie jacket at all, and continued to play out back for the rest of the time we were there.

When we got home, we were very happy to see Daddy and decided to have another little Egg Hunt so Daddy didnt miss out on any of the Easter fun.

Porter found all 25 eggs without a problem, and wanted to eat all the eggs right away.

Look mom what I found!!!!!

Then it was time to see what the Easter Bunny brought. Isnt his face priceless? He saw his new little "Vroom Vroom"........

But his excitement directed immediately to the 'Boom Boom" instead. (Porter obviously has a thing for sounds, and calls things by the sound they make) Why is it that the cheapest toy is always their favorite?

And Kameron opened his basket. It was a great Easter, and a fun weekend. A girls weekend is always needed and should happen more often. Thanks Mom for the yummy belgain waffles, buckwheat pancakes, tacos, ham, and especially STRAWBERRY PIE!! I want more...a whole pie more!

You Gotta Eat Your Puddin'...

We have found that Porter, like Bill Cosby, is a BIG fan of puddin'! The chocolate and Vanilla swirl to be exact!

He couldnt shovel it in fast enough!

I am pretty sure I have the cutest kid EVER!!