Penny's Birth Story

Dear Penny,

I started to write this not long after your birth but just finished it on this eve of your first birthday. This is your story and the theme seems to be that you bring sweet surprises to us - from the moment we found out about you to your grand entrance into the world, you have helped me each step of the way realize when I am busy making other plans God is always weaving the best one.

Your brother and sister came both 3 days before their due dates so I thought Friday the 25th would be the big day and you were born just a few hours past that!

Well for a few weeks I had contractions on and off but it wasn't till Thursday night before I really started timing them and thinking they might get more intense but it was a good thing they stalled out because Rhett ended up having a stomach virus so we were up and down with him throughout that night. Ava told me that night before she went to bed that she didn't think that night was the night you would be born and per usual her old soul intuition was correct.

Friday night when I was going over again what would happen if you came in the night, Ava said she thought tonight was the night and a little after midnight I woke with contractions. I went to sit in your nursery alone, I rocked in your rocking chair and thought of you and prayed over you as I timed them, they seemed to be consistent and had some intensity, so I woke up your dad and we called Amy around 1:00am to come over to stay with your bother and sister. Amy and I were talking and laughing in the kitchen as we packed up the last things and the contractions were still around 7-10 minutes apart. I thought we better go ahead and leave for the hospital to be on the safe side. We drove to the hospital and things were still mild and manageable, another middle of the night car ride. It was my easiest car ride of the 3 experiences, not to much pain yet and could soak in the unique place of quiet and calm all around knowing our lives and family are about to start a new chapter this night.

Your dad offered to drop me off when we arrived but I asked that we park and walk in together because again things were pretty mild. We checked in around 2:30 and went to triage. The nurse said they were pretty slow that night and no one else was in line in front of me for an epidural so they would speed things along. As we are in triage things start to pick up speed and the intensity was building, I notice the contractions were only about a minute apart. There was a lot of trouble getting my IV going but once it was in we headed to labor and delivery around 3:30.

The nurse accidentally set off the baby alarm in transit so we had to stop for a baby count. We talked and joked with the nurses at nurse and I could easily talk in between contractions. We were then into our room and I just set on the edge of the bed so I wouldn't have to get up again for the epidural. The contractions starting to feel more overwhelming. We are waiting on my IV bag to finish which is a requirement for the epidural. I feel like she's being a little evasive on my questions, "how long does and IV bag usually take?" etc. She asks me some questions that make me start to realize I mat not get that epidural, like "Have you ever wanted to try natural birth?" among other things. I told her something like "a part of me always wondered but not right now". Your dad has been sworn to secrecy the other things that came out of mouth during this time.

Then in about a 5 minute span one of the contractions hits me hard again, my water broke and I am screaming and panicking with the level of pain as I let her know my water just broke, She has me roll onto the bed, she checks me and makes a phone call and then I let her know I felt pressure and had to push and out you came! The nurse was right there to get to you, others start entering the room and I remember thinking I can't believe that just happened! I'm glad it happened this way and I'm glad it's done! There you were, tiny and perfect and loud.

You are so many firsts for me including my first "all natural" birth.
It was a special day for sure and one I will never tire of celebrating. I love you sweet girl, my baby is turning 1 and that is all parts heavy and wonderful. For all the sweet firsts you brought me you are all so many tender lasts. I love you Penny-pie, we can't picture our family and life without you and we love you dearly! Happy Birthday!

These Days: 6 months of Penny!

Penny here we are, 6 months of you! Time to catch up on your milestones and monthly pictures! 

1 month

Month 1: We survived your dad being out of town to New York for work for a few days and early days of Jaundice lights and checks. We loved getting to know you and settling into our new normal. Your grandma's took turns coming in the first few weeks to take care of us, as well as lots of love and visits and meals from other family and friends. Our village is pretty awesome, it always reminds me how grateful we are for it when they show up just as strong in our happy times as our sad times. This village loves you! It's already happened that a lot of the hard parts of the early days have faded and we are left with sweet memories and that the hard parts that haven't faded are just as much the fabric of that time that I will always hold close.

2 months, photo by Daicia.

Month 2: You enjoyed your first Lahmeyer visit in your second month when dad was gone at deer camp. You love to smile and those dimples are one of your sweet trademarks. You smile biggest for your brother and sister. Those dimples, big eyes and fuzzy head are so you and we all fell further and further in love with you.

3 Months, long lashes and sweet baby checks a few of my favorite things. 

Month 3: We celebrated your first Christmas. Something cozy about the holidays with a tiny one to hold for naps and pass between family members. Your cheeks and lashes so much fuller and so sweet! You met lots of out of town aunts, uncle and cousins for the first time.

Month 4: I started back to work just very part time, one night a week. The first night you refused your bottle even thought you'd taken one several times with your sitter but luckily after that you have found your grove and do okay when I'm away and we have a great sitter that is so sweet and patient with you. Most of the kids I work with on my nights away didn't get to have the start that your having now and when I hold you close after nights with them, I think about how precious it is to hold you and love you in this tender time and my heart is always full and achey at the same time when I can't help but think of those things and it's a swirling time of grief and gratitude for how big it all feels in this moments. 

4 months

First Bible Class!

Month 5: You moved out of the bassinet in our room to your own room! You still were getting up about once a night to nurse and wouldn't go down till about 10ish at night but its so fun to come get you out of your crib in the mornings, often it's daddy that gets you in the morning but sometimes me when you sleep a little later and you have the biggest smiles when we do. Your sleep windows became more evident and we started getting more into a predictable routine. Also Just before you turned 5 months you got RSV, apparently it was an epic season of RSV around the OKC area,we had several trips to the doctor to check you, luckily no hospital stay but long nights of you sleeping on our chests as we listened to your weazing closely and checking fevers and tring to make you as comfortable as you could be but it was pretty rough few days. We stay in for a few weeks after that to make sure you were all clear, luckily you bounced back pretty easily once you got through the worst of it.

5 months

Month 5 you found your laugh!

First Swing!

 Month 6: You are starting to "Talk" and babel at us, you  like to hum yourself to sleep and it makes me laugh a little each time because it's such a deep and big noise from your littleness. It actually reminds me of the guy in swing blade, which will be funnier when your old enough to see that movie. We continue to enjoy our Tuesday and Thursday time when Rhett and Ava are at their schools and we get some time just the two of us to do our chores and run errands.

6 months!

Overall you are so sweet and easy going, you fight sleep sometimes so that's when you have no problem letting us know how you feel about things. You love to be bounced to sleep- so usually I use the exercise ball in your room to put you to sleep and we've figured out if we put you on your side to sleep you do pretty well staying asleep when we lay you down. It's the typical mom space right now as I enroll your sister in 1st grade and brother in preschool and you are hitting the 6 month mark that these days are equal parts, precious, exhausting, beautiful and fleeting. We love you Penny, our family feels whole and I feel a contentment when we are all in the same room or driving down the road all together. I don't know what all the future holds but even with the hard parts of now it's a pretty great time and your a big part of that! Happy 6 months Penny Pie!

Portraits of Penny

Penny is now past the 3 month mark and that technically mean she's moved from newborn to infant stage. While I embrace this next stage, I also find myself holding close the past 3 months as the hard parts seem to fade the beautiful parts are being tucked away.

I'm still simmering my thoughts and working on documenting her birth story, it was so unique and big to me as it felt like a wildly different birth experience than I had the first two times that I think I'm still processing it in different but good ways.

While those thoughts continue to simmer, I wanted to be sure to document our two photo shoots during Penny's early days, that turned up several treasures:

Mandy Stansberry did her individual newborn photos, I enjoyed watching her process and we got so many sweet ones of our girl:

Annaleise came to the house to do some lifestyle family ones for us, She worked her usually photo magic and I just loved how these turned out too:

There's nothing like a good mom shot, we are so often behind the camera,
it's such a treasure getting captures of  being in the mix

Is there anything better than beholding your husband loving your tiny babies.
11 years in he can still drive me crazy and melt my heart, usually all on the same day. 

Penny on her quilt, Pink and Gold will always make me think of her and this time. 

Then there were 3,
God's gifts are truly amazing and beautiful.

One of the best quotes I heard from a wise therapist friend to describe the experience of growing families, is that love is multiplied and time is divided. Such truth, it's often a juggling act of the very best kind. Love these 3, I won't always juggle it gracefully but I will never stop being grateful for the gift of trying. Onward we move to another new chapter.

2015 Holidays!

 2015 Holiday season rundown in pictures:

We spent Thanksgiving in Broken Arrow, we had fun the day before Thanksgiving hitting a bunch of fun childhood spots of ours that included a visit to central park, lunch at Tastee Treat and an afternoon at the roller skating rink.  

traditional playing in the leaves at grandmas

Penny met Aunt Lori

and uncle Matt (And Aunt Jen and Uncle Misa but don't think I got a picture)

cousins helping in the kitchen at MeMe's

back home we had a fun family Christmas Tree decorating night

Rhett and Uncle Aaron

All the kids were in the Mayfair Christmas Program
Rhett stood on stage in awe of a room full of people

This girl was all about preforming for the program, she gave it her all and it was so fun to watch! 

The grandparents all came to watch them preform.

Santa and Mrs. Santa made an appearance. 

We went to Rhett's Growing Tree Jingle Jammie Program

Our 2015 ornaments,
Ava's mermaid that broke when it was accidentally dropped moments
after receiving it but later successfully repaired.

After the devastation of the broken ornament we picked out this one at the store,
so after repairs Ava scored two this Christmas.

Rhett's train ornament

Penny's baby's first Christmas ornament

We hosted a Christmas party for our Bible Class at church,
Ava helped me put together a few Craft stations for the kids that were there. 

back to Broken Arrow for Christmas! 

Christmas Eve

Pirate Rhett opening gifts at Askew Christmas 

hanging with the great grand-parents on Christmas Day
We left town earlier Sunday Morning to bet the ice in OKC. After 3 days of being iced in we headed down to H-town.
First road trip with 3!

Bell Christmas in Houston, Mom and Dad and all the grandkids!

8 cousins and counting! (6 under 6!)

We were blessed to spend so much time with people we love in the places we love, it was a great way to close out a pretty epic year!