Courtney's Baby Blessing

Brock gave Courtney a beautiful Baby Blessing this past Sunday. After the blessing we headed over to my mom's house to each the yummy brunch I prepared. The food turned out pretty good which was nice since I hadn't ever made the recipes before. It was so fun to have such a large group of friends and family . . .about 40 people came (kids included). We truly appreciated the support and missed those who weren't able to make it.

First Homework Assignment

Brady's 1st homework assignment was to make a poster about himself entitled "Brady is special) for preschool. He cut all the words and pictures out by himself (not the photos though) and glued them to the poster. I think it turned out pretty nice, and judging by some of the other kids posters I am proud I let my child do there own with as little help as possible. I don't think we are ready to have homework, but it will be interesting to see how it goes once he starts Elementary School!

Bath Time

Brady and Lauren got to have a big bubble bath in our jetted tub upstairs. They had tons of fun and Courtney even joined them for a minute. She loved it too!

Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas spending lots of time with family. We had the traditional Nativity at my mom's house the Sunday before Christmas, a delicious prime rib dinner Christmas Eve @ my mom's, Jenny McMuffins Christmas morning, Santa visits, cookie making, and snow playing.

Santa brought them a kitchen with some pretend food, Lauren got dress up clothes and a new outfit, Brady a marble track and clothes. They got some fun gifts from the grandparents too! Lauren got her 2nd barbie doll and barbie movie, more dress up stuff (one of her favorite things), Brady got walkie talkies, a batman action figure, new tool belt and toy tools, plus a big remote truck. It was so fun seeing the excitement in their eyes! They loved everything!

New Years Eve we had my mom over for a delicious crab and steak dinner, with sweet potatoes and mushrooms. Brock and I rang in the New Year taking care of Brady and Courtney. Just after midnight Brady came upstairs sick and continued throwing up for the next couple hours while Courtney did her usual nightly routine. .. crying and needing her pacifier, patting and holding her (I think Brock got the best deal on this one:).

Courtney is a month old now which is hard to believe! She is getting so big already. Time goes by SO fast, and the kids seem to change quickly.

We are hoping for a wonderful New Year, watching our kids grow and learn. Brady will start kindergarten in the fall and Lauren will start Preschool (just to name a few exciting things)!

SHE'S here!

Courtney Bryant was born December 3 @ 4:50 AM. She came before I was to call the hospital @ 6:00 AM to go get induced (hopefully, unless lots of mom's were there in labor). It was such a surprise to go into labor on my own (the first time!), it was super quick, and it was a girl. I was in definite shock.

My water had a slow leak @ 1:00 AM. . .so slow I wasn't sure if it was lack of bladder control since it was a small drop or 2. Then nothing happened until I started having contractions @ 2:00 AM and man they hurt! Every 5 minutes for the first 20-30 min then every 3 min so I called my mom. She came over and we got to the hospital around 3:15 AM.

After waiting for another mom to check in (who didn't even appear to be in any distress/pain. . .I couldn't even sit down on the bench because my contractions were even more painful and frequent and they brought me to tears). I got to my room by about 3:35 AM. Once the nurse checked me she was super surprised I was as far along as I was. I was 8+ dilated and fully effaced, my water had "broken" but only a small leak, thus a bulging bag with the head right there. She called for another nurse to help out since things were obviously progressing quickly. I even had time for an epidural (thankfully) which made the last 30+ min of labor/delivery more enjoyable. Then my Dr. came in and the rest is history!

Brock was the one who got to announce the sex, and man I was super excited and surprised. She weighed 8 lbs (right in the middle of Brady and Lauren's weight) and was 20 inches long. She came out screaming and is doing great other then the little mix up between days and nights and she sure is a little spitty.

Courtney is the best sleeping newborn during the day, but loves to cry usually hourly all night long (did I mention she is spitty/refluxing), and eat every 2 1/2 to 3 hrs at night! She is even awake for a stretch of time each night. I guess we have only been home for 2 nights now, so here's hoping the nights get better. . .soon??? I guess I forgot how it is to have a newborn again. I have been trying to get her to eat more often during the day, but she is a sound sleeper (like her dad) and really hard to wake up.

Because of the flu concerns this season, the kids couldn't come up to the hospital. Thanks to my mom and Brock's mom for watching them. Brock took a small video of their first meeting. I was so fun to see their reactions. They were both chomping at the bit to hold her. . .and that's still the case.

We all love Courtney to pieces and are so excited she made a safe arrival to our family.

Almost there. . .

Not much time left. . .I had my check up today and things are going good. I am already 2+ dilated and 70% effaced. . .ahead of schedule according to my doctor, and he could feel the head too! It could happen at anytime, but I still think the baby will come when I am induced in 2 weeks. . .I guess time will tell! I am super excited and can't wait to bend again. I think you must forget how such a simple task can be so difficult.

Update overload. . .Happy Halloween & lots more! (see below)

We had a fun night carving pumpkins, making homemade pizza's, trick or treating, and then sipping hot cider afterwards. Becah, Marc, and Riley came over for the fun festivities too. It was a busy night, but super fun:)