{this moment}

As I lay in bed now, home from the hospital, and enjoying a home filled with baby Sydney loving, I'm thinking of a perfect moment last night.

It was late and Shea was tired and after another game of Phase 10 (our traditional hospital game) he snuggled up next to me in my bed. I asked him to stay beside me and sleep next to me, I needed comfort after a restless night the night before (still caught up in my thoughts of the traumatic labor experience). He lovingly held me close all night, and when Sydney stirred silently in her bassinet I scooped her up and relished the moments of us as three, close in the nights stillness.

I may have let a few tears escape me as I held onto the moment caught up in the warmth of pure love and peace, before doctors and nurses broke the quiet and began the day.

I kind of love the hospital stay after baby is born. And those moments with baby Sydney and Shea and I were precious and beautiful and will be kept forever in my mind.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD

Sydney Mae Stanger

Born April 26, 2014 at 3:53 pm

Weighing 6 lbs 15 oz, 20 inches long

Mom and baby are both doing well.

38 Weeks

Doctor's visit:

Baby's heartbeat was in the upper 120's to the low 130's which is perfect. She measured 37 weeks, a little small, but totally normal. I have had a total weight gain of 35 lbs. I had good blood pressure and baby and I both seem to be healthy and ready for delivery. No real contractions to report but I was checked and was at 4 cm and 70% effaced this time. So YAY for progress! Doctor asked about inducement at 39 weeks and we readily agreed and we were scheduled for Monday at 9 AM! Although with the progress I have made they proclaimed that I might have baby before. But I am not counting on it :) I do have to call at an hour beforehand, 8 AM to see if they have room. If tons of women have gone into labor that night then the inducements scheduled can get bumped. So we are just praying we wont have much longer before we get to meet this little girl of ours.

Baby And Me
At 38 weeks baby continues developing inside the womb,
Baby's growth has slowed down and even though most of the changes this week are small they are still important. She is continuing to add fat underneath her skin, getting all plump before delivery. The vast majority of her organs are mature and fully functioning. The only exceptions are her brain and lungs. These two organs are at a point that they will function outside of the womb, but will also continue to mature during childhood. Baby is continuing to shed lanugo, the fine hair that's covered her body for months.

I think Connor understands it is almost time for baby Sydney to come. He has started talking about her more. When Daddy asks "Who wants to cuddle?" Connor answers "Baby Sydney will when she comes." As I put him to bed tonight he rubbed my belly and said "I get to hold Baby Sydney ... first. (be)fore Bella." And in day to day activities he tells me things she will like or do. I am in love with this sweet little boy and how excited he is for his new sister.

Considering I and mostly everyone else was anticipating an early arrival from Sydney it has been a little like this as of late:

I wont lie the way she is positioned most days I feel like she is going to break my water any second. And I am always thinking oh great it is going to happen right here in the middle of Church or right here in the middle of the check out line at Walmart. It has been a secret panic of mine that my water is just going to break (my family can attest to this considering they had to listen to me worry about it off and on while they visited). But I just read this little tidbit online the other day: "Be on the lookout for your water breaking. It won't be like a faucet or geyser like sitcoms suggest, but rather a drip down your leg--which is a lot less embarrassing and allows you a bit more time to get to a bathroom and call your ob-gyn!" this brought me a little comfort with something I have no experience with, considering I have always had the Dr break my water during delivery in the hospital.

As we get closer to my now SET inducement date I am thinking Sydney is waiting around for the cue. Which to be honest I don't too much mind. I also have taken quite a while getting ready for this baby which has provided me with lots to do this last week. And now it wont be long before I am saying BRING IT ON!

Easter Sunday

Easter serves as a great reminder that our Savior lives and that through him we can return to our Heavenly Father again. “The reality of the Resurrection provides to one and all the peace that surpasses understanding” (Philippians 4:7) As I think of our Savior's sacrifice, which I am so grateful for, I think upon my children and my husband who I get to spend eternity with. I know no other comfort that brings me as much peace then the truth in the fact that our family will be together forever.

Our Easter started with a morning of hunting Easter eggs filled with jellybeans. They both were quite a blur and within moments were done! I loved their quick exclamations of Bella's "I see another one" and Connor's reference to the colors "I found a green one". Bella was in love with the search and would have been happy doing this all day (we quite possibly will be doing indoor egg hunts all week). I can't blame her, my favorite memories of Easter are the big morning hunts! The Easter Bunny got quite tricky as the years progressed for me ;)

Easter baskets were filled with all sorts of goodies! And a special Easter outfit, that bunny has style :) Sydney even got a little something too!

Ryan joined us for Easter as well. Lucky boy the Easter Bunny didn't forget him either!

After having a sugar rush we had a bit of breakfast before getting ready and heading to church. Which Connor was surprisingly really excited for, he kept asking when we were going all morning (definitely a first). We talked about Jesus and the story of Easter as we went to church, although I am pretty sure Connor's version involved giants and monsters. When we got to church he whined a bit about joining Bella in nursery and then decided to break down about primary --- the usual tantrum. But as I walked into Sunday School with him and gave him his seat next to me he quickly changed his mind and was all too ready to join his class, even for singing time! Then when it was time for pick up he was anxious to tell me, "It was really fun, my class was!"

I was happy to have such happy little ones, that went down for nap right away. All too soon it was time to leave for Grandpa and Grandma Stanger's for Easter Dinner and an Egg Hunt!

Our Easter was pretty simple and low key but we loved it and are developing well earned sugar comas days afterwards, as a result of all our Easter treats. I love that Connor's favorite treats are the "baby chicks", peeps, just like me. I also feel very proud that he is so quick to remind me, after a few treats, that his belly will get sick if he eats too many. I wish I could say, Bella and  I were doing just as well in that area :)

Happy Easter!

Hello Goodbye

After visiting my Grandpa (and family) in Utah we had a special visit here in Idaho with my family. I loved every minute of it. All admit I was jealous of their Utah adventures but appreciated having a little time with them too.

Since I was 9+ months pregnant we were not super active for most of their visit, and spent most of the time on the couch. The kids were in love with their playmates and it sure gave me a little break from chasing them all around.

Ryan enjoyed showing off the car he scored in Utah. Lucky kid.

We played at the park on a windy/cold day (which was unfortunately the forecast for most of their visit).

We also enjoyed visiting some of the local favorites; Gator Jacks, Original Thai, Cocoa Bean, and Paradise Donuts.

We went on a short walk, braving the wind.

Of course most of the time was all of us crowded in our little apartment just enjoying being together.

Of course "Grumpy" made a great wrestling mate, and I am pretty sure that was the most popular activity of all. 

I am pretty sure Bella was so smitten with Amberlee she'd take her over me, as Mommy, anytime.

We also enjoyed some Easter Egg Dying, which I was grateful for, considering I wasn't quite sure I would be up to the ordeal without lots of help :)

And boy was this boy proud of his eggs! 

I really enjoyed our short Martin visit. I was so happy and grateful for the huge distraction they were as week 36 and 37 flew by, and now baby and I are nearing the last couple weeks before delivery.

The Big Screen

Shea and I have been thinking of taking Connor to the movies for a little while now, we have brought Connor and Bella along with us many times to the drive ins, but as for the big screen movie theater, this would be the first.

We wanted to make sure it was a movie Connor would have an interest in and we wanted to make sure we waited till it hit the dollar theaters, because we are cheap and wasting the money if Connor wasn't feeling the whole experience wasn't too alluring. 

Once we heard about the new LEGO movie we were set. Considering Connor's love for the Lego cartoons and games we knew he would be all too thrilled. We talked about it a bit here and there while we waited for the movie to hit the cheap theaters. And soon enough the time came and we planned for our Saturday night adventure. 

Connor was so excited the day before, and kept telling us "I'm e-Sited" over and over. He kept asking us "Are we going to the big giant tv?"

Finally it was time, as we drove there I asked Connor to show me his excited face!

We went all out and got MOVIE THEATER POPCORN, A TREAT, AND A DRINK for our little man!

Bella (and my brother, Ryan) joined us on our adventure. Bella was a little young for the theater experience and didn't care for it quite as much, but she did well (provided that the Apple Soda and Popcorn were in arms reach). She was so excited when the movie was over and clapped and yelped! I know we will have to have a similar adventure with her when she gets older and can enjoy it more. 

I loved all of Connor's sweet comments (although they were a little loud for the theater) it was so sweet seeing him so involved and loving the movie.

The movie was a perfect pick for Connor, and Daddy enjoyed it just as much as him. Especially the father-son part at the end with Will Ferrell. We had such a fun time, even if we ---Bella--- got a little restless at the end. (She was very ready to run around and play after all that sitting still.)

I love making a big deal of all the little things. I think it makes being a parent so much fun and I can't wait to do something similar with each child.