Teachers...

My friends and I started a kindergarten/preschool co-op for our kiddos years ago and is has really changed and developed into something bigger each year. This year we had twelve families and we met at a local (very run down) church called The Church XP. We did science and art each week when we met and the kids enjoyed recess and once a month we did lunch all together too. I took some pics for the yearbook that Anne Eugenio put together (which is awesome) and wanted to show off some of my homeschooling friends because I. LOVE. THEM. They aren't all here...

Krista, Anna, Anne and April. We had a lot of A's...stay tuned. For real, we had Anne, Anna G. Anna C., April, Angela, Amber, Athena...I think there are even more I'm forgetting!

Laura, Angela (wearing Charlotte) and Krista again...with Oscar in tow.

Athena and Rebeckah. We are also missing Stephanie, Tessa and Christie...maybe a few more.

Leo's first two weeks...

Leo is a special addition to our family! He is a good baby, but really likes to be held. So far he isn't great at any binkie sucking but he really, really, really wants to suck on things! His sisters love him and Betsey spends a few quick seconds holding him every day. There is always a line up for who wants to hold him next...it's kind of hard to manage at times, because he's really not that solid of a sleeper. You'd think we could pass him around no problem and he'd stay sleeping...nope! He wakes right up, which really deters me from the baby holding time for the kids. It's hard. They really want to hold him all the time, but I want the sleeping time to happen! Here is Betsey having a chat with her little bro.

Ruby is the most sturdy when she holds him and he will usually settle into her arms pretty happily.

I love this sleeping kid!

His bedding came together, I made it and like how it turned out! I designed the artwork above his bed, it is the lyrics from Bob Dylan's song, Forever Young.

First bath!! He was a week old when we finally gave him a bath. He was really happy for the whole thing!

After his bath in his bathrobe.

More pics of Betsey with her brudder.

Alice popped in for a quick pic! Usually if one is holding him the others are in line.

This girl just loves Leo! She hasn't had jealously issues, but she is very concerned about the baby girl, Beach, that is in her tummy. She wants Beach to have all of Leo's things. We found an old pacifier that Leo can't use so we gave it to Betsey for Beach. I love Beach, she has been in Betsey's tummy my whole pregnancy. Beach can kick really hard (Betsey sucks in and pushes out her tummy for the kicks)! When we shop anywhere, Betsey wants lots of little girly things for Beach. I assure her that someday, when Beach is born, I'll buy her three of everything. Betsey knows she isn't big yet, but when she is big, Beach will be born. Sigh. I love my Bets.

Stoney's Ashes...

When it comes to a big dog's body, burial is not where it's at. Pet Cemeteries there days have a six feet under requirement, isn't that a chore! :) So we opted to fork over the massive amount of money to have Stoney cremated so we could do soemthing special with his remains. My mom got us a spring blooming Forsythia plant and we decided to put it in a pot with the roots surrounded by the ashes. The girls did a great job!

Leo's Portraits, 5 days old...

Right when I found out I was pregnant I was telling Jennifer Wilcox to get me on her schedule for May. She is so good at what she does and I lover her work! She has been cranking baby miracle photo sessions out for three years now and has such an impressive rhythm to what she does. Leo was in good hands and let her mold him and tug him and pose him in all kinds of different ways. It took THREE hours to get the shoot complete...those newborn photographers really earn their money! Not to mention that his newborn skin is all splotchy and red anywhere he is touched...but she edits all that ugliness out. THANK YOU JEN! I love the outcome!

Sunday, day two for Leo...

I didn't do a good job of taking pics of all the friends who came to meet Leo! Jennifer Wilcox came to meet him on Saturday night, his birthday. She brought me some "you no longer have gestational diabetes" treats. I was too tired to go downstairs, so I didn't understand the magnitude of her spoiling me until the next evening when I had a crack at a big bowl of delicious Peanut Butter Chocolate Tillamook Ice Cream with all the fixings. Mmmmmm.

 The second day of his little life he had more visitors. Sommer was first, she came that morning for a couple of hours and brought us a nice dinner. She passed Jordan and his girlfriend Ashley on her way out. It was nice hanging out with them most of the day. We just visited, enjoyed the little one and had dinner eventually. My dad came down after his church meetings. Chris and the girls went to church so they were gone for a few hours in the middle of the day. Mimi arrived after her girl's weekend after dinner and just when Jordan and Ashley left. Stephanie and Rachel also came that evening. What a loved little guy!

Midwife Ann came for another baby exam and did footprints of Leo and went ahead and gave the girl footprint tattoos on their arms. They were thrilled!

Mimi and Leo...It was too short, but such fun to have her here. The Thursday before he was born we had the day together and it was fun to shop, eat out and go to froyo with a few friends that night. She got the last of my pre-baby running aroundness. I'm so house bound now!

Happy Birthday to Leo Warren...and me!

I had a baby! The last baby I will ever have (that never, ever better be an ironic or humorous claim)!!! He is a boy and his name is Leo Warren Pierce. He weighed nine pounds and five ounces, was 21 inches long and had a (big) 15" head. Here's the story... 

 It was my birthday...and my actual due date...I never thought that would happen. I was in Betsey's bed because she had come into our bed, and I felt crowded, so I played musical beds and moved to her bed. I woke up around 7am thinking maybe I was having contractions. I dozed and read a book and dozed most of that hour, feeling excited that I might be going into labor on my own. The plan was to drink a castor oil concoction the next morning if I didn't have him already, and I really, really didn't want to do that. Mimi was in town the 16th-20th, but was gone the 17-18th at a retreat with her sisters-in-law and she would have been back for the birth if I had him on the 19th. I really wanted her to be there, she was there for Betsey's birth and I wanted someone who could take good pics for me to be there. Rachel was my backup photographer, but was busy that morning with a piano recital for her kiddos. 

My mom was up at her house and I knew she had plans to go to the temple that morning, so I texted her first. At this point, I was feeling long, mild contractions and wasn't entirely convinced it was the real thing. Text to my mom at 7:57am: I think I might be in labor...not 100% sure due to previous contraction runs, but this is seeming more consistent and painful...Seriously, on my birthday!??! 

 I didn't hear back from her, but went into our bedroom and found Ruby and Betsey awake, Chris sleeping, in our bed. I sat down and told them what was going on. Chris woke right up. :) Around 8am I had Chris time the contractions. They were about 2 minutes a part and 2.5 minutes long. I called Ann, my midwife at 8:22. She said that real contractions only last around 70 seconds but that mine could change really fast and to call as soon as the "real" ones began. I wasn't super stoked that she wasn't on her way because I really felt like this was the real thing by that time. 

I called my mom and she hadn't gotten my earlier text but was on her way, believing it was really happening. I had Chris time the next four contractions and they were shorter by then and still about 2 minutes apart. I texted Ann after timing the next few contractions at 9:08 and told her it was the real thing. She was in her car en route to some newborn house visits and she said they would reroute to my place. 

I laid down on my side of the bed and told Chris to get the tub set up. He was on it. I think the kids were helping him, and I laid there, cell phone in hand as a few birthday wishes started coming in. 

At 9:14, Stephanie texted me a happy birthday and wanted to know if she could come over to drop something off. I responded at 9:16, "I'm having a baby! He is seriously coming today. I will text when he is here and you can come... Stephanie: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Oh my gosh! Excited! Good luck! at 9:17 Me: Sooooo don't want to do this! :) but I do, but I don't. at 9:18 

Then Jen Wilcox texted me about my birthday and wanting to see Gatsby. "Happy Happy Birthday Rebecca Dear!!!!! Have you seen Gatsby yet? I want to take you for your birthday. Is that something you would like to do? at 9:26 Me: I really want to see it, but I swear it is rated R. I am in labor. at 9:28 Jennifer: Suck him in! You can't have him on your birthday!! It is PG13!!! at 9:29 

At this point, I was thinking that I was definitely in more pain and starting to want to focus a bit through my contractions. I put my phone down. Ann got there at 9:35 and came in to check me. She found that I was 8cm dilated!!!!! Woot, woot! 

She started hollering orders to her student midwife saying things like, "no, we don't have time for that...do this..." I notice in the labor flow chart she didn't chart anything until I was in the tub. I could tell she felt bad that I wasn't in the water yet and was 8cm dilated. That wasn't her fault, we just didn't have it ready and I think Chris and I both thought we'd have more time. So I stayed where I was and was breathing through contractions at this point. They checked my blood pressure, fetal heartbeat, my temp, etc a time or two while I was there and they were setting up the tub. 

Here is the flow chart...I won't document the Fetal Heart Rate because it was always 140s, and they checked it six times that hour. 

At 9:58 I was in the water. 

At 10:06 I drank a few sips of water. 

At 10:17 I asked Ann if I was complete because my water was in tact and I wanted to have my water broken if I was 10cm so I could get the baby out. Emotionally, I was feeling desperate and very opposed to what I was about to do/and was doing. I haven't ever had that emotional experience during labor. Sure, in past experiences there were fleeting thoughts or moments where I was not thrilled to say the least, but this experience for me, was very different emotionally. I DID NOT WANT TO DO IT. All that got me through was the obligation and knowing that I was in some control of making it happen. 

So, Ann checked me before she figured we'd break my water. My water broke while she was checking me and I was complete. That was at 10:23. 

I told her I was feeling "pushy" soon after, which I can't say was super true, I wasn't feeling like I had to push, but I was just so uncomfortable (in a way I don't remember with the others, I wanted to be deeper in the water, I was HATING it) and I knew from my labor with Ruby that I could push a baby out on my own, pushy or not. I also knew that since I was having contractions (which I didn't have with Ru at this stage) that if I pushed with my contractions, I would likely get him out pretty quick. 

 At 10:28 I wanted to try being on my hands and knees in the water because I wanted more of my belly in the water. I turned around, hoping to find some more comfortable experience. Not so much. I just kept pushing and pushing. 

10:32 crowning. I could tell his head was almost out, but was worried I wasn't going to make it happen because it took a few pushes, unlike the others. I asked Ann, "Am I making progress?" She assured me I was. 

10:34 I heard her say, "I see eyebrows, I see eyes..." 

10:35 His head delivered. I was so happy because I figured if I wanted to give up, she could make the rest happen. I also figured I could do the rest in one more push. She told me to give her one good, long push, and she was worried that his shoulders were stuck, so she did something to turn him on the "oblique". 

Still 10:35, he was all the way out. I love that immediate relief. It's like going from near death to lounging on Davis Beach in an instant. I knew he was there and I was sure he was okay, but I just wanted to chill. I didn't turn around for maybe one minute. I just laid there...so, so, so glad it was over. So sure immediately that I was NEVER EVER going to do that again. Ever.

10:36 His APGAR was a 10. PERFECT!

10:38 Placenta out

10:40 Membranes out

10:40 due to my bleeding with Ruby's birth, they gave me some precautionary pitocin, a shot in my hip. 

10:44 cord clamped and cut

10:48 I was out of tub and on my bed

All the kids were there with me, and my mom was tasked with taking pics with a camera she didn't know how to use, but I think she still got some good shots! Chris thankfully took good pics with his iphone too, and of course that one is auto, so it exposed right. I'm grateful for everything we have!

Midwife, Ann. She loves her job.

 Lisa, the student...charting everything that happens.

 Oma with Betsey and my too complicated camera.

 When I rotate this image, it smashes for some reason, this is what people who aren't busy birthing a 9 pound baby get to do...take fun pics of themselves. Ruby said, "I remember taking that while you were breathing funny." Anyway, I see such a resemblance...maybe it is the signature straight line smile?

 Hating my life.

 More hate.

 A break.

Hahaha...Alice plugging her ears while I pushed. :)

Love this shot! I think Chris has video of this moment.

Does she have the best job in the world (if you can deal with that responsibility)? She just got to hand me my fourth born child!

He cried right away. Love that.

Chris is always emotional. Love him. I would be too if I weren't so caught up in the physical aspect of it.

I really like this shot. Not sure why. I think I was focused on delivering the afterbirth here. I don't ever remember having to push that part out, but in this case, it did take a little focus and effort.

After we cut the cord, I needed to get out of the tub so we could gauge my bleeding.

All four of our kids in one shot!

Right when I got in bed, Ruby brought me a huge cookie she had bought me with her own money at the YMCA while there for gymnastics. She is so sweet. I had gestational diabetes this pregnancy and couldn't have really any sweets for too long...so once that placenta delivers, the gestational diabetes is gone with it and she wanted me to have something tasty right away! Love her!

Lisa, the student midwife. There is also an assistant there, but I don't think I have any pics of her. She was at Betsey's birth too and she is Ann's daughter, Alyssa. She's attended a ton of births as an assistant.

First thing to do is get that little guy on the breast. Here I am getting him latched for the first time with three kids mounting me. Eventually we got Betsey off of me because it was a little too much.

Other side...

Next is baby's newborn exam. We got his stats! He was a big baby, but not my biggest...Betsey gets that award.

I think he resembles ET here.

Oma with Leo before his exam.

He was born so wide-eyed.

Alice trying to comfort him with her finger in his mouth.

Mmmmm...as tempting as it is to leave this pic out, it isn't the worst one I am posting. We took him into his room to diaper and dress him.

Time with the sisters...

 When everyone finally left around 2pm, it was mommy, Leo and daddy rest time. I didn't sleep much...I read and dozed and wished I was sleeping. Leo and Chris were zonked. I took a few pics...

 I love his chubby fingers!

 In the evening, I ventured downstairs for my, I mean our, birthday party.

Oma and the kids...minus Betsey (which is a miracle, she doesn't allow a lot of space between she and her Oma)

Opa came to visit, he was there when we woke up from our naps and stayed for the birthday fun. Here he was reading us something from his ipad. 

 I requested a homemade chicken pot pie and Alice cut in the words...so sweet! Love her.

This little girl has been so excited to be a big sister. 

 Blowing out the homemade carrot cake candles. The girls were hard at work while we napped baking and making dinner.

 Sound asleep...

 I'm so glad that day is over, and that Leo and I have many more birthdays to look forward to celebrating together...that will have nothing to do with pushing unless we are eating push up pops or he's in a stroller at the zoo...I am smitten with him. He has the craziest, squeakiest newborn cry I have ever heard. It makes us all laugh. I also feel like he is my child most attuned to mommy...he just seems to like me best for soothing him, etc. He is a pro eater and didn't have any jaundice worth mentioning. He had cloudy eyes for a day or two but never got very yellow looking...and then it was gone fast. YAY! Obviously this is my most special, memorable birthday to date...and I'm sure that has very little chance of ever changing.