Decorating

I envisioned out morning would be fun with Christmas music playing and drinking hot chocolate as we decorated the tree together. Let's be honest... decorating for Christmas this year really was not very fun. Cannon was fussy and wanted to eat, Sage could not decorate the tree fast enough and was whiny and impatient and Harper didn't want much to do with it and just wanted to do her own thing. I talked her into helping decorate their little tree, but that lasted just long enough to take a picture so you know she was there! And this was the morning after her fun Frozen party, so notice that Sage is in her Elsa dress that she lives in now.

A Frozen Party

My girls love the movie Frozen. Who doesn't, right? But they love their grandma even more. Jeanne threw the greatest Frozen party that she has been planning for months. All her hard word was evident and paid off as all the girl cousins had the greatest time. They played a couple games, ate dinner complete with turquoise colored bread , painted their nails, got Elsa dresses and dressed up, sang to "Let it Go",  received Elsa and Anna dolls and had dessert. It was a success and my girls cannot stop talking about it and Sage lives in her Elsa dress. 

Cannon at 1 month

 The other day someone asked how old you were. I said 3 weeks even though the next day you would be 4 weeks. It's funny how when I was pregnant with you that I always rounded up how far along I was with you and now that you are here I keep rounding how old you are down. Please don't grow up so fast, okay? You are so very loved. Your sisters both just adore you and your dad and I do too of course. You sleep decent during the day, but night time the second we put you down you cry. You love to cuddle and spend the nights cuddled with mom. You like the swing and the bouncer. You also like the sound of the shower. I have never seen a baby eat as much as you. You are constantly hungry. Mom nurses you and you also take a bottle of formula because you want to eat every 2 hours around the clock. You are wearing size 1 diapers and newborn clothes. You have big eyes and your dad thinks they are going to be blue like his. I think you look just like your dad. A lot of people have said you look like Sage. You are losing the hair at the top of your head so you look like a little old man. You do not mind being swaddled and like the binkie. You really are a content baby. We are so grateful to have you in our family. You just belong. There are no shortages of hugs and kisses around here for you.

Cannon Taylor's birth story

                                             

Cannon Taylor arrived on Tuesday, October 28th at 8:34 am weighing 7 lbs 3 oz and 20.5 inches long. We could not be any more in love. He is the sweetest baby.

It was no secret that I was done being pregnant and ready for his arrival. I am not a good pregnant woman. As Fall approached I really wanted to make it until November 1st because I wanted to be able to go trick or treating with the girls. As Halloween got closer I no longer cared if I made it until then. In fact I welcomed him to come early.

I was surprised to find each week at my appointment that I was dilating. At my 37 week appointment I was dilated to a 3, which with both my girls I was at a 2 when I went in labor. I was hopeful! Sunday, October 26th I was having pretty regular and strong contractions, but of course as we started to time them they went away. I was also having shortness of breath, but thought it was from the contractions. The contractions went away, but the shortness of breath lingered through the night and all the next day with some contractions here and there. I called my OB to ask about it because I never experienced the shortness of breath with my girls. The on call doctor recommended I go to the emergency room because although rare he didn't want to take any chance of me having a blood clot. He said that at the very least to go to labor and delivery. I decided to wait it out but of Taylor talked me into going in and getting checked and his parents offered to come over and watch the girls.

We got to labor and delivery around 8 pm and they checked my vitals and my oxygen was a little low. I was not in active labor or having any contractions, but when they checked me I was a 5+. They were not sure if they would release me or admit me since I was not in active labor, but they also said that being so far dilated and being my third child they knew that as soon as I did start having contractions that it could go very quickly and they didn't want me to "have the baby in the car." They decided to send me to the ER to check out my shortness of breath because they were concerned about my oxygen levels.

We spent about 4 hours in the ER and I was the most uncomfortable I have ever been. The labor delivery nurse wheeled me through to the hospital to the ER. After getting checked in they said it would be hopefully no longer than an hour wait. Taylor pushed me over in the wheelchair and my hospital gown to a corner of the busy waiting room. Before Taylor even had the chance to sit down they called my name and were ready to bring me back. Being pregnant and having shortness of breath takes priority. Lucky us. We were so grateful. The did an EKG, an ultrasound of my legs to check for clots, blood tests, a chest x-ray and a CT scan. In the end everything checked out just fine and they determined I did not have any blood clots. With all the stress I was having a bunch of contractions and at one point was afraid I was going to deliver the baby in the ER. Taylor was of course such a good support and was so helpful in keeping me positive and making me as comfortable as he could.

They sent me back to labor and delivery where I was still a 5+/6. The nurse said she could give me an hour hooked up to everything before calling the on call doctor. She felt that he was going to send me home although she was rooting for me to stay. As soon as she got me hooked up to everything I started having a ton of contractions. After the hour was up she checked me again and I was still a 5+/6. Because of all the contractions the on call dr gave the okay to admit me. At that point it was about 4 in the morning.

I got my epidural around 6 am. The epidural always gives me a ton of anxiety. I feel like it is the worst part of labor and delivery. This time I vocalized my anxiety and so my nurse was able to help calm me and also let the anesthesiologist know. My anesthesiologist was Dr. Peterson who happened to be who gave me my epidural with Harper and who got really mad at me for not arching back enough and holding still. I was super nervous to have him again because I just remember him being so mean and upset with me. My nurse calmed me down by telling me how good he is and told me about his personality and to not take it personal. She expressed to him my anxiety and he was sooo nice about it. He talked me through it and with Taylor and my nurse holding me and encouraging me, telling me what a good job I was doing, it went much smoother than my other epidurals. I still screamed and cried, but I was able to stay still and keep my back arched. Just thought of it now makes me sick.

They broke my water shortly after and then started me on Pitocin around 7:30 am because I was still a 6 and my contractions had slowed down. About 8 she upped my pitocin and almost immediately I started feeling a little uncomfortable and pushed the button for a little more epidural. My nurse helped me switch the sides I was laying on and when she tried to hook me back up to find the baby's heart rate she was having a hard time because she said he had dropped so low. She decided to check me again to see where I was at and to all of our surprise I was at a 10! Taylor was laying down watching Mighty Ducks on the ipad and wasn't paying much attention. I remember her saying I was at a 10 and looking over at him and saying, "hello! Did you hear that?!"

At some point between 6 and 8 Dr. Froerer came in and checked on me and asked me to remind him about my other deliveries. I delivered Sage at a different hospital and I remember pushing for what seemed like forever and having to deliver her with forceps. Because of my experience with Sage Dr. Froerer tried to avoid that with my delivery of Harper and had me rest and descend once I was at a 10 to reduce the amount of time and stress of pushing. Once she dropped lower on her own I only needed to push through a few contractions. It was a night and day experience from my delivery with Sage and was hoping this delivery went as smoothly as it did with Harper.

The nurse called Dr. Froerer and let him know I was ready. He asked about how high the baby was and she let him know he was low and ready. He came right over and within a couple contractions our little boy was born! Taylor sent a text out before I started pushing and 7 minutes later he arrived at 8:34 am. He had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck a couple times, but I never felt scared or concerned. Everyone was really calm and they got it unwrapped really quickly. Taylor cut the umbilical cord for the first time and the nurses took Cannon for a few minutes because although he was making noises he wasn't crying. His first little cry was such a beautiful sound. I got to do skin to skin pretty quick after and he almost immediately started rooting and wanted to nurse.

Although it seemed like a long ordeal with the ER visit, my actual labor and delivery went really smoothly and quickly. I felt peaceful and was so excited to meet out little man. I know a lot of new moms who cannot wait to get home, but I savor the time at the hospital with my little ones. I was extra lucky this time because Taylor's cousin Kristi who is a nurse was working. We were able to request her and she took extra good care of us. All my nurses were really great.

Taylor went home and picked up the girls. Grandma and Papa came from Paradise to watch the girls so they also came to the hospital. Taylor took the girls to pick up cupcakes on the way over so they got to sing happy birth day to Cannon and have a treat. We kept the visit short and sweet but the girls immediately adored their brother. They both wanted to sit on the bed with me and Sage wanted to hold me. She held him for a few minutes and then said she was done. It was a little overhwhelming for me to have them there because they wanted to touch everything. Taylor took them back home with Grandma and I got to rest and just soak up time with Cannon. He came back after putting the girls to bed and stayed the night with me. Taylor's parents, Tony & Jeanne  also came by that evening and met our boy.

We brought him home Thursday, October 30th. Sage was so excited when she got home from school. Harper kept saying, "baby baby!!" and gave him lots of love. Cannon sure is adored and loved.

Sharing a room and getting ready for brother

We decided to bite the bullet and put the girls together. We were planning on waiting as long as possible before having them share a room, since baby boy will be in our room for a little while. However, the other night we decided to bring Sage's old crib that we had brought up to Paradise back down and set it up for Harper in "Sage's room" (their room now). It has been 3 nights and it is amazing. It has taken 5-10 minutes each night for them both to fall fast asleep. Harper tries to talk to Sage and jumps up and down and giggles, but Sage ignores her. Sage comes out sometimes and says Harper is waking her up so we will go in the room and tell Harper to lay down and that it is night night time and then she is quiet. Also, we were worried about Harper waking up Sage in the night because she has been waking up for milk in the early morning the past month. One night it didn't wake Sage, but when it has been early morning 4:30-5 am, when Sage is a light sleeper, she has woken up. Harper goes back to sleep after having milk and surprisingly Sage has also and they have even slept in! They have been waking up between 7:00-7:30. One morning Sage even slept until 8 am! That never ever has happened. Harper seems excited to share a room with Sage and Sage loves it too. Sage is so excited for brother to come. 

Cannon's room is just about ready and we have washed all this clothes. Hospital bag is just about packed. I just have a few more things left on my to do list and they are not anything crucial that need to be done. I have been having several contractions, but nothing consistent. My induction is scheduled for the 7th of November- 21 days, if he doesn't come before then. I think he will come early, but we'll see. Maybe that is wishful thinking. I wanted to make it until at least Halloween and now I wish he would come yesterday! Can't wait to meet our little mister. 

Family Home Evening Funny

The other week we learned about the creation for Family Home Evening and this past Monday we learned about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Sage could not believe that our Heavenly Father told Adam and Eve not to partake of the fruit. She said, "well, that is really rude! Why can't they eat the fruit? We can eat fruit!" It was really cute and took everything we had not to laugh.

Picture Overload and update on the girls

I really wanted updated pictures of the girls to print for their room before the baby comes. Our good friend Caitlin with Caitlin Nicole Photography captured some beautiful pictures that really capture their personalities. With getting ready for Baby C and blogging for Motherhood in the Major Leagues,  I have neglected our family blog a little. I am really good at instagraming though. It is so easy since I always have my phone on me and there is a company that I can print my entire instagram history into a book along with all my captions, so that makes me feel better. I love it because I get a record of the "every day" things that may seem insignificant, but that are fun to look back on. However, with new pictures of the girls I do want to take a minute and record a few things about each of them that we don't want to forget.

Our Harper

sweet

cuddly

 scrunches up her eyebrows (love that expression of hers)

obsessed with her blankie; it comes everywhere with us

likes to play baby dolls

says "thank you" all day long

very helpful

happy, but hard to capture her smiles

tends to be more serious

brave/fearless

loves dogs

likes to play on the phone and ipad to see pictures and watch videos

copies everything her sister does

likes to dance

hides behind the curtains when it's time for bed

great sleeper

loves babies- we have a feeling she is going to smother Baby C with too much love

Sage Bug

sweet and oh so sassy

phrase we hear most often from her, "You're not going to be my best friend!"

when she doesn't get what she wants, "That's rude!"

loves being a big sister

loves going to school

loves dance class

loves going to story time and zumba at the library

her teachers say she is very "mothering" and a "leader"

She is always worried and concerned about others

likes to dance and sing

loves her baby dolls and playing "mom and dad" with her friends

loves her friends

very affectionate- needs lots of hugs and gets really sad if her friends won't give her one

independent 

misses her dad every day when he is at work- she always asks what time he'll be home

We love our girls.