Andelyn's Blessing

Last Saturday we ventured out of our home cocoon and drove up to Idaho Falls for the blessing of our new niece, Andelyn. It was also the first time Auntie Em was able to meet baby Kate.

  

Emily and Ren met us at Rumbi for dinner, and then came swimming with us us at the hotel pool.

The kids were enthralled by the hotel. I guess it had been about 4 years since we stayed in one, so they didn't remember much, but it was almost comical how exciting everything was. From the "marshmallow beds" to the free breakfast to the lamp with an outlet built into it, everything was SO COOL. Let's not mention how small the room was, or how loud the crazy, cramped kids were...

The blessing day was very sweet. Emily sewed the blessing dress herself! Baby Andee is so smiley and cute at three months.

Short and sweet though the visit was, it's always nice to spend time with family.

We actually remembered to get a few pictures together! Auntie Dana took a turn with the precious girlie.

Great Grandma Jean came with my mom and was able to meet both babies. She also brought me the beautiful quilt she made for Kate! She makes each baby in the family a quilt, and we treasure them. It will look so pretty in her nursery!

Hanging at Home

I've never stayed home so much in my life. This is our first winter baby in Utah so we've never been cooped up after a birth, but we're playing it safe. And even though I do get cooped up, I am enjoying the slower pace of life and trying to soak up the good times with my family. I have this quote tacked above my dresser right now... words to live by.

On Martin Luther King Day Mike stayed home and played with the kids. Ty had been begging to build a snowman, so build they did-- a snow family!!

The girls' cute dolls watched them from the window.

Three mornings a week Ty has preschool and it's just Jake, the baby, and me. We love the quiet!!! We lounge in our pajamas as long as we can.

We play dress up with Baby Kate and take pictures. The kids all love when her eyes are open.

Most afternoons my kids find me and Kate on the bed, taking an afternoon nap together.

Sometimes when I nap Ty is left to entertain himself. He usually colors or builds or plays on pbs kids, but this day he must've been too bored and tired!

Another shot of my nap companion... all the heart eyes!!!

Last week Mike announced that he wanted to buy a fancy camera. He had been researching cameras, but I didn't know he was serious. Well, nothing like the birth of your last baby to help you pull the trigger! We had fun one afternoon taking pictures of her for three hours! We got some sweet ones, although the learning curve is huge on how to make them look professional.

Once in awhile I get a burst of energy and bake up a treat. These chocolate strawberry cupcakes were delish.

I feel like I have to take pictures of Baby Kate every day to remember what she looks like. She is already growing and changing!

Jake is very sweet with baby. He likes to bring her her blankie if she's crying, and gives her lots of messy kisses.

Ty asks to hold her the most. He is obsessed.

Speaking of Ty, he read his first book last week!!!!! Ms. Janell noticed he was smooth on saying his alphabet sounds, and sent him home with Bob book #1. He read it to me 10 times! Since then he has gone through the first 5 books, and is so good at sounding out each letter. It's fun to watch the world of words open up to him!

Everyone always wants to be where the baby is. I love the sweet spirit in the home when there is a newborn.

We have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of kindness we've received since Kate was born. It's been hard to even keep track of all the gifts, treats, and meals sent our way. We have the best neighbors, friends, and family and feel so blessed!

Welcome Baby Kate!

Kate Amelia Andrews was born on January 11, 2016 at 9:54 a.m. and was 7 lb 9 oz and 20.5 inches long. She arrived without difficulty and with a full head of dark hair! 

The delivery went amazingly well. I don't know why I was so nervous! Mike gave me a blessing the night before with the family, and I had lots of people praying for me. 

We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. to check in, and by 7:30 they had me all hooked up to my IV with pitocin. At 8:30 Dr. Melendez checked on me; Valley has an office just across the hall and he was the doc in clinic that morning. He broke my water and the nurse (Jody) said I was dilated to a 5. I asked at what point I could get an epidural, and she said I could have it whenever I was ready, and went and called the anesthesiologist. She had turned up the pitocin to ? by then and I was having some pretty strong contractions. I was so glad to see the doc walk in about 8:45 because they were really starting to hurt. He worked quickly and by 9:00 I was resting again. By about 9:30 I could tell the contractions were getting really close, and my nurse called the on-call doctor, Dr. Ollerton who was at American Fork hospital. But just a few minutes later I got a panicky feeling and had a contraction Jody called a "mother maker" and she announced that I was complete. Luckily, Dr. Melendez ran across the hall and geared up quickly, and on the next contraction I pushed once and Baby Kate arrived! 

There is no way to describe the feelings you go through... complete joy, intense relief, overwhelming fatigue... all at once. Mike was able to cut the cord and then they laid her on me for a minute to bask in the wonder. Then Mike followed to the baby table as they suctioned, weighed, cleaned, poked, and prodded her. 

The proud Papa!

My mom had gotten the girls off to school, and then she picked them up at lunchtime to come and visit us. They were so excited to meet their baby sister! They came bearing balloons and gifts and wearing ribbons my mom made that said Big Sister and Big Brother.

Everyone took a turn to hold the bundle of joy.

This is my parents' 13th grand baby! Mike's mom was getting over a cold and was sad to not be able to meet her for a few days, but Kate is their 30th grandchild!

The time in the hospital was so special... almost sacred. Mike and I were able to bond with our new baby and with each other for those blissful few days. We were at the new hospital in Lehi called Mountain Point Medical Center, and the care was amazing. We were the only delivery there that day, and the nurses practically tripped over themselves trying to do things for us. (Jody even brought me chocolate pudding and oreos because she thought I needed a chocolate fix in the afternoon.)

 Mike did his very favorite thing as soon as possible-- a nap with the baby on his chest.

We got a fancy steak and salmon dinner with cheesecake and sparkling cider that night, and the kids came back again to share it with us.

We also had more special visitors, Rebecca, Karissa, and Kiera, who sweetly came bearing gifts for the baby and chocolate for me!

Our night nurse caught us all in my bed and thought it was so cute she insisted on taking a picture.

The first night went pretty well. The nurse brought us a binki and Kate loved it right away. She was also a good nurser from the start.

The next day we were still the only patients on the floor so checkout went really quickly. Kate passed all her tests and we were able to pack up and go around 2 pm.

Mr. Curious bugged the nurses until they looked it up... Kate was the 336th baby delivered at Mountain Point since they opened on June 3rd, 2015.

 The car seat always makes them look so teeny tiny! And off we went.

We got home just before the girls, and when they arrived we took our traditional homecoming picture by the front door.  Can't believe we're a family of 7 now!

 Everyone wanted another turn to hold their baby sister.

Grandpa Randy arrived that evening after some car trouble, and Auntie Dana brought doughnuts to celebrate and meet the baby. I'm sad I didn't get a picture with her.

Mike took another day off to be home with us. This is what he did with all the time on his hands.

And this is what I do when I have extra time... accessorize and take pictures of our sweetie pie! The kids all took this home-printed photo to show their friends at school.

We think she has a dimple! We only see it occasionally, but I caught this one to prove it!

Photos make her look chubby with her hefty cheeks and round nose, but really she's teeny tiny! This 0-3 month outfit drowned her.

Ty probably asks to hold her the most. He absolutely adores her and is pretty good at bouncing and calming her when she fusses. He is going to be a great helper!

Kate was my nap companion one day and I was just completely smitten with her. Could I be any luckier than to snuggle my beautiful newborn?

Grandma loves her too. They sat and snuggled in the rocking chair for quite awhile. My mom has been an angel this week--she got the kids up and off to school while I slept in, did all our laundry, cooks meals, and rocks the baby when she's fussy. I'm afraid I'm in trouble when it's all my job again.

Baby Kate didn't like her first bath. After this picture she screamed bloody murder until she was warm in her clothes again.

 Why the long face Baby?

When the family all left for church today, Kate and I played! She is like a little doll and I can't get enough! She is worth all the extra work because we are so in love with her!