New Year!

Can you believe it, 2010 is just hours away. This year has been a whirlwind for me. I look back at where I was last year and how my life was. Robert had just gotten home from Afghanistan and we were spending time with our family in Arkansas. A lot has definitely happened this year. The biggest thing would definitely be Brycen. I didn't think that I would have a baby this year, but he has been the best thing. I also have graduated from college. (I am still waiting on a final grade, but I have no doubts that I passed!) Robert re-enlisted into the Marines. My big boy turned 2 and has become such a big kid!

It seems that the years just fly by faster and faster. Honestly, I am scared for the future. My life is such a joy right now, that I would love for it to go by in slow motion. But I know that that won't happen. Brycen is already almost 3 weeks old! Where did the time go?? Before I know it, we will be planning his first birthday. :(

I have been thinking a lot about my New Year's resolutions. I have 3 that I am dead set on acheiving...

#1 Weight Loss

Is this a cliche? I think this has just become the number one associated thing with the new year. I have already seen my fair share of commercials for the Wii Fit, Jillian Michael's workouts, etc. But its true. Last year I had made my goal weight. And then... I got pregnant. And of course, I gained 45+ pounds. I am not one of those (lucky) women that leaves the hospital having shed all of the baby weight. I have only lost about 15 pounds. Sooooo that means that I am doing my diet to try and lose the rest. Robert is dieting right now so that helps a lot. I just need to start an exercise routine. I am thinking about doing a weekly weigh-in to chart my diet. I will start this on Monday.

#2 Take more time

I wrote on my last blog how the days just fly by. I am trying my best to just soak up these moments. I catch myself just staring at Brycen, trying memorize his face and everything about him. Things that I took for granted with Thompson, I want to make right this time. I want to take more time for my family an doing things together. This will be a lot easier since we are moving to Oceanside-- there is just so much to do! I plan on lots of trips to the beach. I want the boys to feel that I spent as much time with them as I possibly could. I want them to look back on their childhood and be proud. I also want to take more time for my marriage. Robert and I don't have "date nights" and I want to change that. I need to make us a prority again. And its so easy to do, especially when you have children. One thing I heard that has stuck with me is that I need to make my husband one of my top priorities, because without him I wouldn't have my children.

#3 Church

This has been weighing on me for a while now. I have always attended church ever since I can remember. When Robert and I moved to 29 Palms we never attempted to find a church. I always said that we were going to try and go, but never did. I have been researching a few churches in Oceanside and can't wait to visit them. I want the boys to grow up with a church family. I need a church family for myself and for my marriage. I will be the first to admit that I have not put God first and I need to change that.

2010, I am ready!

Much needed update

I am going to try my best to keep up my posting. But let me tell ya... 2 kids are HARD!! It seems like I wake up (many, many times) and before I know it, it is time to go to sleep (yeah, right!) again.

My mom was out here visiting for 2 weeks and just left on Sunday. Having her around was such a big help. I know that Thompson enjoyed Nana's visit and attention.

Of course, Christmas was in full swing around our house as well. Thompson has officially learned to say "Open a present" and wanted to do so every hour for about a week. Our family sent many gifts for him to open so each day we opened a present (or 2, 3, or 4) so that way he wasn't completely overwhelmed on Christmas day. This worked out well except for the fact that he wanted to open them all the time! :)

Brycen update:

Yesterday we went for his two week checkup. They said he was doing great! He is back up to his birth weight and grew almost a whole inch! Wow! We are going back in a week to make sure that he continues gaining weight just because he is so small. They also did his circumcision yesterday as well. They normally do it when they are born, but he was so tiny that they wanted to wait until he was a little bigger. Everything is going great with that. It doesn't seem to bother him too much, but honestly he has been sleeping for most of the time. He is doing pretty good on his sleeping at night. We get up about 3 times or so to feed, but other than that it is going well. I will admit that there are times when I am dead tired and he is not wanting to sleep and I will let him come lay next to me. I am not a co-sleeper (not that there is anything wrong with it, it's just not for me) and Thompson did this when he was little as well. At about 3 months or so, Thompson slept in his own room. I hope to be able to do the same with Brycen, even though he does seem a little more "needy" than Thompson was. I just say that he is need of some TLC :)

Thompson has been battling an ear infection and sinus infection for about 2 weeks now. We went back to the doctor today for another round of antibiotics. Hopefully it will knock out what is left.

That's about it on the updating.

Ok, there is no particular order to this... just a lot of pictures!

I thought he looked so cute in these pictures

The boys' stockings

Christmas morning

Brycen enjoying the festivities

This is basically what I get to see. He LOVES sleeping on his momma. And of course, how can I say no? :)

This is about the best photo we got on Christmas. Brycen was not wanting his picture made.

Thompson playing with his toys in his new Razorback gear.

My Christmas gift from Robert! I LOVE them!

Brycen's birth announcement

Busy, Busy!

With two little ones, who would think I would be busy?

Thankfully, Robert and my mom have been such a big help! We did manage to get some great pictures yesterday!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Brycen Matthew is here!

Well, I have been asap for a couple of days. Good reason though, our baby boy is here!

Thursday, I was supposed to have my doctors appointment at 2pm. As I was in the bathroom getting ready, my water broke! So I call the doctor and they said to go on and head up to Labor & Delivery to get checked out.

But not before we could get pictures, of course!

I get to L&D around 2:30pm and sure enough my water had broken. (On a side note...I really now believe that it had broke the night before. See my previous post! :)) They check me and I am 4cm dilated. I wasn't having any contractions, so it was pretty much just like Thompson's labor. Water broke and no contractions...

At about 4ish they get me into a room and get me all hooked up. They started my IV and finally around 5:30, they started me on pitocin. At 6:45 I received my epidural.

I still wasn't in a rythmatic contraction pattern, so they kept raising the pitocin dosage. They checked me again at around 7 and I was still at a 4. And at 9 I was still at a 4. I was pretty disappointed, but knew that as soon as my labor became "active", then it would really start. I started to finally get into a pattern and they checked me again at 10:30 and I was finally at a 5! YAY! Progress! But, with all of the pitocin and my body starting to do its thing, I was having contractions that were only about 2 minutes apart. Brycen wasn't recovering too well from all of them so I had to be put on an oxygen mask. Definitely made me nervous, but I knew that they were watching him. At midnight they checked me again and I was 6! I figured that if I kept progressing, then hopefully by 3 or so I would soon have my baby boy.

Boy was I wrong!

At about 12:30am I started feeling some pressure. Like last time, I thought the epidural was wearing off. The pressure was coming during my contractions, but by 12:45 it was constant throughout. Robert was so great. He just stood beside me reminding me that I needed to breathe. We got the nurse and she came in and checked me and sure enough I was 10cm dilated and at a +2 station. It was go time. She ran and got the doctor and the other people and at 1am we started to push.

Brycen Matthew Riedel was born at 1:08am. He weighed in at 6lbs 8ozs and was 20.2 inches long. He wasn't our 8+ lbs baby we were expecting, but he is absolutely perfect!

Daddy is proud to hold his baby boy

Momma got her turn

The next day Thompson came to meet his baby brother. This was probably the most proudest moment of my life. I will never forget the feeling of seeing both of my sons together.

We are so in love with this little boy. He has the prettiest face and the skinniest little legs! We couldn't ask for anything more.

We are so stunned by the resemblence of Thompson and Brycen. Here are some pictures of Thompson (on the left) and Brycen (on the right).

We made it home yesterday evening and we are doing great! Brycen is such a content baby. I was nervous (still am) that he was going to be the complete opposite of Thompson, who was the best baby!

Another great thing, you know how I have been in homework mode for the past few days? Well I finished my LAST class Thursday at noon. An hour and half later, my water broke! Is this child not the best?! He knew that his momma was on a deadline. So sweet! I take my final on Tuesday and as long as I pass, then I GRADUATE!!! Life could not be any better!

Today is a great day! My mom is on her way to spend 2 weeks with us! Robert and Thompson left this morning to go pick her up from the airport and they should be home any minute! I can't wait!!

Still Kickin'

Just checking in. Ha! I am still here as you can tell. I am just dropping in real quick before I finish my last day of homework. Wow! I am so glad I can say that.

I have a funny story to tell, really embarrassing on my part, but still very funny. I go to the bathroom around 20 times a day. Not. Kidding. I get up at least 3 times a night. Well last night I jump out of bed! I just knew that water had broke! I felt this huge gush and my underwear were soaked, so I ran and got on the toilet. I sat there and sat there and nothing else happened. So I figured that if my water had truly broken, when I got up and walked around I would start leaking. So I did. I walked around the house and nothing else came out. I decieded to try a few squats and the same thing, nothing came out. Hmmmm...

So needless to say I really, REALLY peed on myself last night. It was a first for sure! Lol.

I go to the dr. today at 2. I don't know what to expect today. I am hoping for progress, but now I am to the point of where Brycen needs to stay put for the next 3 days until his Nana can get out here. So??? I guess we will just see! :) I'll be back later for an update on that!

39 Weeks!

We have made it to 39 weeks! Thompson came exactly 1 week early, but I have a feeling that his little brother has decided that he is just going to stay in there! Why not? He has a warm, cozy place to sleep, an all-you-can-eat buffet, and nobody bothering him. Doesn't sound too bad to me. :)

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

I don't think I like anything being compared to a watermelon! And the 7 lbs baby they describe in their summary is probably my 8.5 lbs of joy! I think that part is what gets scarier and scarier every day-- knowing that the longer he is in there, the bigger he is getting! Eesh!

Nothing too much is going on here. We had the best rain yesterday! It maybe rains 2 days out of the year here and I just enjoyed opening the blinds and watching it. Very calming.

Thompson has been doing great. Definitely still a 2 year old and definitely still a boy! We are trying to break him of him telling us "No!" That doesn't go over too well with his daddy or I. Also, I think I have found out that he would much prefer cookies, ice cream, and chocolate shakes over anything anymore. He asks for all of them around 20 times a day. Not kidding. Poor kid. So deprived. Don't worry Nana and Papa-- we are not starving him, and most of the time he does get one of those treats a day (or 2 if his momma wants another excuse to have another!).

So, I am going to be sitting here. Waiting. Praying. Hoping. Wishing. Pleading. And maybe some begging. :)

EVICTION NOTICE!!!

I found this and thought it was so cute!

I am issuing 7 day notice for EVICTION.

Tenant will have 7 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day.

After which, he will be physically removed from the property.

He's being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made!

Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure.

And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home.

On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.

After 7 days from this day that he doesn’t comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

Love,
Mommy

Think I am just about there...

You know... to that point where I am starting to say, "Is he EVER coming out???", "I'm going to be pregnant forever!!!", "Why oh why will he just not come??!!".

Yep. I am there.

I am not too miserable, just really REALLY anxious. I want to meet him! I want to bring him home to his big brother. I want to see his precious face. And I know that I have just a few days left, but seriously... I have every pre-labor sign possible and still NOTHING!!

I go to bed each night thinking "Ok, this could be the night." Nope.

I clean the kitchen for the fifth time of the day in hopes that I won't have to dirty it up for a few days.

I have washed my hair so many times in the past few days because I don't want to report to the hospital with greasy hair going on.

Our bags have been sitting by the front door since Thursday night and frankly, I am tired of telling Thompson to stay out of them!

I am anxious to show Thompson that there was a REAL baby inside my tummy-- I think he is about to the point of calling me a liar.

All of these things, so little I know. But come on!

My mom comes in on Sunday and I would LOVE for her to be here for his arrival, but I think I might lose my mind between here and then. But so far, it looks like it is going her way!

Oh yeah, another thing... I really do not want a 9+ lbs baby. Call me crazy, but that terrifies me to death!! Yes, many people have bigger babies everyday, but it's just not my cup of tea.

So... dear, Brycen-- I am about to serve you with an eviction notice. Hopefully things won't have to get hasty, but your momma is ready to see you!

Christmas 20 Questions

Christmas 20 Questions
1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate most definitely, but only the homemade stuff!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Santa's will be unwrapped. That is the way he left them for me growing up and I think Thompson and Brycen will love it too.
3. Colored lights or white? Only white.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No
5. When do you decorate for Christmas? Right after Thanksgiving dinner
6. What is your favorite holiday dish, excluding dessert? Hmmm... probably broccoli/rice/cheese casserole or cranberry fluff!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Definitely Christmas morning. Waking up extra early to go through our stockings to see what Santa had brought.
8. When and how, did you learn the truth about Santa? To be honest, I really do not remember. 10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? This year it is with bright colored ornaments. I am still looking for a topper. Next year I am thinking golds and reds.
11. Snow. Love it or hate it? Love it as long as I don't have to get out in it.
12. Can you ice skate? Not so much.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not one in particular. I always loved getting clothes and whatever was in my stocking.
14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? Spending time with my family and remembering why we celebrate the season!
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Here lately it is cheesecake-- my new fave tradition. But, I always love red velvet cake.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas morning and all of the get togethers
17. What tops your tree? :( Nothing right now.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? I love giving, but I am not going to lie... I love opening presents as well! :)
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night
20. Candy canes. Yuck or yum? Yuck!

Still Here, Still Here

Don't worry, nothing has happened! :) The first day I had quite a few contractions, but they eventually subsided. I have felt great and that is what matters. Like I have said before, I am not to that point yet. I have 1.5 weeks left and now it is more so just anxiousness.

I am not going to lie, I was getting really excited thinking that he might be here so soon! Who wouldn't?! But, he will make his grand entrance when he is ready.

So, until then I am just enjoying my time. I will check back tomorrow!

Really?!

I just home from the doctors! I am a little nervous and a little excited! She guessed that Brycen was atleast around 8lbs right now! Can we say big boy?? If I delivered on my due date she thinks he would be around a 9.5lbs baby. Whoa!

She then checked me and said I was around 2-3cm dilated and 75% effaced. We decided to go ahead and strip my membranes. (If you don't know what that is, I will spare you the gritty details) She told me that it would help labor if my body is ready. But, she said that I did great. She told me that she doesn't have a crystal ball, but expects to see me within 48 hours.

What?! Really?!

So now it is time for panic mode... sorta. I am finishing up homework and getting the house ready. Just in case.

:)