Latest Addition!

We are beyond excited to welcome our little baby boy to our family. I am thrilled to have a healthy little guy in my arms arriving with no complications after such a long, emotional pregnancy. We are so very, very blessed.

Introducing

Cole Albert

My middle name is Nicole--so in a roundabout way after me

Albert is after Jared's dad and many, many other Wandry men

Born 7.27.11 at 1:17pm
7 lbs. 9 oz. 21 inches long

And the overload of cute pictures:

Grandma Laura holding him for the first time just after birth

Grey & Elise checking out their new brother
(Grey said, "Oh he is so cute and tiny!" Elise was scared)

 So excited to have a brother

 Cole's namesake

First bath

Daddy is roughing him up already

Going home

A visit from Grandpa Dave

The Labor & Delivery

I am recording my labor story, mostly for myself--it is really long and may make some uncomfortable, so feel free to skip it! Heather don't read this until AFTER baby girl comes. :) 

35 weeks arrived and the doctors gave me the green light to start walking and returning to more normal activity. I was thrilled, and also convinced that between the complications and the early arrival of my other babies that he would come early. I scrubbed the house, finished organizing, made many stock-up costco trips and kept things ready for going into labor at any time. 37 weeks -- dilated to a 2 and not effaced. 38 weeks -- still dilated to a 2 and not effaced.

Sunday morning (7.24 and almost 39 weeks) I woke up with tons of cramping and semi-regular contractions. Went to church and kept watching for things to get more intense. We went for long walks, I sat on my ball rotating my hips a lot, did lots of squats and things just kind of stayed the same without getting more intense. I was pretty much in early labor from that point on. Good times...

I had an option to be induced on Wednesday morning because of my GBS and agonized over the decision. My mom was leaving town Saturday and I really wanted my mom to be here for the delivery as well as taking the kids to her house. Ultimately I decided against it. I wanted to keep things as natural and healthy as possible and my experience with pitocin previously was extremely painful. So I went in for another appointment on Tuesday and found out I was dilated to a 3 and 75% effaced. I was very hopeful that the "labor" I had been in for almost three days at least did something.

Wednesday morning I woke up at 4:30 to go to the bathroom and noticed that the contractions were strong enough that I couldn't go back to sleep. So naturally I got up to fold laundry. At 6-ish I called my mom to come over. They were getting pretty regular. I had been having so many contractions for so long that I was kind of used to the pain and kept wondering between each contraction if it was going to stop. Since I was Group B Strep positive, we needed to be at the hospital a good 5 hours before delivery, so we decided to head over and arrived around 9:30am. At that point I was dilated to a 4-5. They got the saline and antibiotics going around 10.

Leaving for the hospital

Getting settled in for the day

My contractions were still going strong, but I had been so anxious to get things going for so long that it felt good! I was excited and walked around and around the whole third floor doing lunges and working that baby down. My doctor came by at 11:40 and I was dilated to a 5 and 90% effaced. She went ahead and broke my water. We went for another walk and quickly my contractions got a lot closer together and extremely intense. I got in the jacuzzi tub for about half an hour which felt amazing and really helped me relax. Then got out and tried a few different positions. I started getting a little nervous with the intensity, but we had an amazing nurse that was so helpful and by my side almost the whole time. I finally found comfort lying on my side with Jared pushing into my back and my mom rubbing my feet. My poor mom had left to grab lunch while I was still smiling and laughing and came back to find me throwing up and in pain. I kept wondering if I should ask to get checked again because I felt that I was either close to or in the transition phase but I was so in my little world that speaking took too much energy.

Suddenly at the peak of a contraction I told my mom & Jared I had to push. My mom went running out yelling to the nurses to get in there. I was still lying there with my eyes closed, but could hear everyone rushing in and shouting things. They started yelling to page my doctor and the resident doctor because the baby was coming out!! They made me hold the baby in for THREE contractions which was the most unbearable thing I have ever done. It was so powerful and intense and I was freaking out pulling on the side of the bed begging for the doctor. She finally came running into the room in her stiletto heels yanking the scrubs on and trying to get her gloves on as fast as possible. I don't even know if she had sat down yet, but in one push his head was out. The cord was around his neck, so she hurried and cut it. Next push they had me watch the rest of him be born (1:17pm). They laid his warm little body on my chest and I was in so much shock at everything that had just happened. It was the most intense and amazing experience of my life. To be able to feel every sensation and every pain was absolutely incredible.

Tired...

He didn't make the full time with the antibiotics so we had to stay 48 hours afterwards, but luckily it didn't cause any problems. He was absolutely perfect!!

Friends!

I was so lucky to see some of my best friends from high school. Arianne and Julie were both in town visiting at the same time and we had a last-minute get together at Tatum's mom's house. Good memories at that house. :) I miss those girls!!! (Thanks for the picture from your blog Arianne)

Julie (1 of her 3 kids), Tatum, Me (Elise), Arianne (2 of her 5 kids)

Fun week

After Elise's birthday party, we had an awesome week (note sarcasm).

Tuesday Grey woke up with a super swollen ankle and calf. We thought it was a sprain from jumping in the jump house at the party. When I got home and looked closer that afternoon it looked more like a bug bite. We have some bad bug genes in our family, so I decided to have it checked out. Luckily it was just a bad reaction and hadn't turned into an infection or anything too scary.

Wednesday after spending time with a friend, we got home and Grey and Elise were both warm. I thought it was from the sun until he started vomiting all over the bathroom floor.

Thursday we found mouse poop in our kitchen and realized the mice were back. Had to clean and disinfect the house again.

Glad the baby waited almost another week to show up--get rid of the kid and mouse germs first.

Birthday Celebrations

Elise got nice and spoiled this year for her birthday.

Saturday evening was our family celebration beginning with a trip to our favorite place for dinner--Sweet Tomatoes--with Grandpa Dave & Grandma Laura.

After filling up on salad, pizza, muffins and ice cream we headed over to Chuck E Cheese's for some play time. Elise did NOT like anything that moved, so Grey used most the tokens. But she ran around like crazy getting onto everything in the place.

 (notice my mom comforting Elise behind Grey--she freaked out as soon as it started moving)

 Opening gifts from Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt P & Uncle Joey

Monday morning--her actual birthday--we let her open our family gifts when she woke up. She got a baby set with a carrier, stroller, high chair, bottles, etc. She & Grey have been playing with them non-stop. I really hope it gives them their own baby to play with when the little guy comes!

That evening we had friends and grandparents over for cake and ice cream and to let the kids jump in the bounce house.

And the cake that caused the biggest disaster including a broken mixer whip flinging icing all over the kitchen, dripping and melting icing onto the floor and down the dishwasher in the hot kitchen, trying to cool the cake & icing in the the fridge and freezer and getting it all over, messing it up and having to redo a few petals. Whew! Glad I finished it...

 Elise wouldn't look at anyone when we were singing at her--then wouldn't blow the candles out.

 And her face after Grey stepped in to blow them out for her....

What a fun time to celebrate her second birthday. We adore her!

In the works...

Lately I have been going into over-drive trying to finish up everything I couldn't get to for the two months I was on rest. Although apparently it didn't need to be too hurried. This baby is still fattening up in my tummy.

I made this mobile for the baby room:

Finally finished deciding on fabric and sewing a blanket and crib skirt:

And for the kids room, I have had this on my mind for a while now. I created this with one of my photographs of the temple, added text and styling, then had it printed on canvas. And luckily the kids are as excited as I am about it.

Terrific Two's!

Two years ago today, we met our teeny, tiny, blonde baby girl.

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl!

She is my

baby-(crazy) loving, greyden-following, sweet and spunky, people-watching, wandering, makeup-wearing (when I am not watching), princess dress and shoe-obsessed (especially super high heels)

little girly-girl (who must always have lipgloss on and toenails painted).

Oh how I love the incredible joy, excitement, fun and slight exhaustion she brings into our home. Happy birthday little monkey!

Cuteness

I have been taking some pics recently of the kiddos--getting ready for Elise's 2nd birthday and documenting my favorite people. I know I am one of those moms, but I think my kids are pretty freaking adorable!

Greyden at 4 yrs 9 mos

Elise at 2 yrs

And my munchkins together

Daddy & Son Camping

This was Grey's first camping trip and obviously I couldn't go, so Jared was in charge of pictures and telling me every little detail. I think it is pretty much the cutest thing ever. They had a blast--even with all the rain. And here is the play-by-play because I am sure you think it is as cute as I do. :)

Driving up--a little rainy

The campsite

Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows for s'mores

Breakfast of pancakes & eggs

(G was especially excited to have his own mess kit)

A hike through the forest

(G hoped they would make it to the "icy mountain")

Driving home with the fresh mountain air

Elise & I had our own fun. My mom & stepdad took us to Smashburger for dinner. Then Elise & I went to Michaels for crafty stuff before snuggling up in bed together for the night. When we woke up, I went to work and scrubbed down the house. Obviously it did not put me into labor. This baby is very happy and cozy in there apparently.