Busy May

May is always a busy month for us...Ray's birthday, my Dad's birthday, Mother's Day, Xavier's Birthday, the end of the school year crazyness for educators...but also lots of fun.  Here is a little taste of what we've been up to.  Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone.  I'm so thankful for all the men and women who serve our country and protect our freedoms.

CINCO DE MAYO
After a night of Ray and I partying hardy (sarcasm) at the Ridgefield High School prom aboard the Portland Spirit, we started the next morning at the water front celebrating Cinco De Mayo with Grandma Julia.  Xavier enjoyed a few rides and we all enjoyed yummy Mexican food!

REDMOND TO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS AND MOTHER'S DAY

The weekend of May 11th to 13th we packed up and headed over to Central Oregon to be with my family to celebrated my dad's, Ray's (31), and Xavier's (3) birthdays as well as Mother's Day.  My brother and his family were able to be there is well.  It's always lots of fun to get the whole family together.  Unfotunately I don't take very many pictures because my mom and dad are like the poparazi.  So here's what we have...

Ray's Birthday (May 10th) the night before we left.  Xavier had to help blow out the candle.

 At the American Red Cross (where my Mom works) open house.

Emery's time with G.G.

XAVIER TURNS 3!

This year Xavier was really in to his Birthday.  We've been reading "Arthur's Birthday" and it just so happened that Arthur has the same Birthday as Xavier (it even shows it circle on a calander!).  So for the past couple months since we got that book, he's been gearing up for his birthday party.  May 25th was this past Friday.  He got his first present in the morning before we left for work...a Lightening McQueen potty seat (the even cooler thing is that he used it MANY times that day).  Later that evening Grandma Julia and Papa Ray came over to help us celebrate the birthday boy.  We went out to dinner then came home to open presents and eat some "cake with fire" (candles).

"Helping" make his cake

Birthday Sundae at Billygins

Taking the bull by the horns

New race track for his HotWheels

Saturday, May 26th we had a birthday party with a few of our close friends and their kiddos.  Xavier had a great time (and so did Mommy and Daddy!)  Thank to everyone who was able to make it!

Xavier standing in front of "The Spread"...hot dog bar

All the  kiddos running around...Xavier, Jacob (Wang), Kai (Boatsmand), and Isabella (Tobin)...and Emery too :)

Opening presents with Kai and Isabella watching...THANKS everyone!

Sucess at blowing out the candles!

OTHER RANDOM MAY MOMENTS

Helping Mommy get ready for Western Day...party of HBHS's spirit week.

 

Little posers.

Turned my head for a minute and she was eating soil!

FIRST time bowling!  Thanks YoungLife 

A little milkshake with whipped cream to go with!



Introducing...Emery Grace Lions

Emery Grace Lions was born on August 30th 2011 at 12:16pm.  She weighed 8 lbs 4 oz and was 20.5 inches long. 

The long awaited birth of our daughter finally occurred.  Although I truly desired to go in to labor naturally (especially because I had to be induced with Xavier), I also had to be induced with this time around. 

The Birth Story
On Sunday, August 28th, I was quite swollen in the feet and hands and decided to check my blood pressure at Safeway on the way back from church.  It was a little on the high side so I called the advice doctor at the clinic I go to and he advised me to come in to get it checked by a nurse the next day as well as get some blood work done (checking for preclampsia...gestational high blood pressure).  I had HBP with Xavier and thus had to be induced, but was hoping I could get through this pregnancy without spiking my blood pressure.  SO, at the check up on Monday, my BP was even higher than the day before.  They called the available doctor to come in and chat with me.  The doctor said, it's high enough (my BP) and I'm far enough along...oh, wait, you're 4 days overdue, that we need to do an induction.  She seemed pretty concerned so I asked, "like right now?" (I started to tear up because I was all alone).  She said probably tomorrow depending on how baby is doing.  So they a did a non-stress test to monitor baby and she was doing just fine and thus the induction was scheduled for the next day, August 30th at 6:30am.

That night we went out to celebrate the last day as a family of 3 at Beaches.  When we got home we took one last picture in Emery's room before she arrived.

Ray's mom, Julia, got to our house early in the morning on Tuesday to be there for Xavier.  We arrived at the hospital on time, and by 7:30 my petocin was started and my contractions came along with it.  I had been 4cm dilated for the past week and was still that way when the doctor came in to break my water at 8:30.  After the breaking of the water the contractions began to get a lot strong and longer.  My parents and grandma (aka GG) arrived around 10:00, but only stayed for a short time so I could labor without a huge crowd.  Thankfully Ray and my best friend Laura were there with me the whole time!  I couldn't have asked for better support people.  Around 11:00 I asked to be checked for dilation in order to determine if I would get an epidural or not.  I was about 6/7cm dilated and was having very intense contractions so I opted for the epidural.  The anesthesiologist was very quick and I had my epidural in and "working" by 11:45ish...time was all a blur, so this is just a guess.  Usually the epidural takes about 10 to 15 minutes to fully take effect so I was still feeling my contractions (and my entire lower body) for a bit after the epidural was in...although my contractions were slightly lessened in intensity.  I mentioned to the nurse about a distinct pain during my contraction and she asked if I felt any pressure.  I felt some, but not much.  She had me turn on my side and with my next contraction I suddenly had the overwhelming urge to push.  She quickly had me role back over and checked my progression...sure enough I was fully dilated, effaced, and ready to push.  The nurse left to go get the doctor and I went through 3 or 4 contractions with Ray by my side telling him I wanted to push, and almost not being able to control not pushing (such a different feeling than with Xavier because I had had my epidural for so long that I couldn't even feel the contractions)...I think Ray and Laura were a little nervous that they might be delivering the baby.  I could definitely feel everything and was able to push little Miss Emery Grace out in 3ish contractions at 12:16.  Praise the Lord for 2nd births being faster than the first (full 24 hours with Xavier and only 6ish with Emery.) 

She is absolutely perfect (and everyone says she looks a lot like her big brother)...we're so incredibly blessed.

Fresh out of the oven meeting Mommy for the first time

Daddy taking a peak at his new "Lovie"

On the warming table

First Bath...wasn't the happiest camper

Daddy time...you can the see the blonde patch on the front of her head

Meeting Autie Laura

Ready to go home from the hospital



Waiting

It seemed like the month of August just dragged on as we were waiting for the arrival of our sweet little girl.  I was sure she was going to come early so I had my eyes set on the "teens" of August.  Thinking with this time line in mind made the time go even slower and helped make me feel even more like a whale.  I definitely got bigger in this pregancy.  Not overall weight gain (about the same...45lbs, holy crap) but actaul belly size.  The little sweetie gave me my first (and 2nd, and 3rd...) stretch marks on my lower stomach...ugh.  Oh well, the price we pay for having children.  I was lucky not to get any with Xavier and thought it might be the same this time around. 

Abover are a few maternity shots done by my amazing friend Karina Tobin.  She's actually a wedding videographer, but has been dabbling and learning the art of photography...actually she's a teacher first and foremost.  Basically, she's really tallented and was able to capture some great prego pictures of me and the fam.  Thanks friend!

Fair time!

The begining of August was fair time for us.  We first visited the Benton County Fair with my brother and his family on August 5th, then the Clark County Fair on August 9th. Although we took Xavier to the fair last year he was only 14 months and wasn't really "in" to anything yet.  This year was WAY different...like a whole new world for him.  It was wonderful to see the excitement and joy of the animals and rides to him.  Ray and I like just looking around at the people and exhibits and of course we love the fair food. 

Here are a few picks of Xavier and his older cousin Kyah at the Benton County Fair.  As we walked through the animal stalls, exhibit halls, and food area, Kyah kept asking when are we going to the fair...to her the fair was all about the rides and I think Xavier picked up on this notion as well.  We had a great time and a great day as we celebrated my neice Alyssa's 1st birthday later that afternoon in Philomath at Matt and Leslie's home.

The faces of pure joy!

 This ride was a little much for the X man...it started off with an excited face...

 ...and ended with "Mama, all done!" everytime they came around.



At the Clark County fair we met up with our good friends Karina and Isabella Tobin.  Isabella is 20 months and quite short (Xavier is just barely 36" tall...just tall enough to ride the kiddy rides).  Xavier did a couple rides on his own before we decided to try to get Bella onto one.  We were able to sneak her on to a ride that didn't do much but go around in a circle.  But since Xavier and Isabella love each other, they loved riding together!



Baby Girl Lions Room

After much thought, we decided it would be best to just save money and keep everything from Xavier's jungle nursery the same...just "pink"ified.  So here is what it ended up looking like.  The blank wall to the right of the rocking chair and above the book case will have her name on it in big wood (painted) letters.

BEFORE