Sisters...YUCK!

So as many of you may have heard...I have a new sister.  Yucky!  Would have been great if someone could have given me a heads up.  Want to hear my story about my new little sister?  Of course you do!  Ok here it is:

So here I am minding my own business when in the middle of my slumber a stork comes to visit me.  This dude tells me that my mom is going to pull on her ears really hard (like this) and then a baby is going to come out.  The stork also tells me that this baby is going to be my little sister and unfortunately she is going to be incredibly good looking just like me. 

So the next day my grandparents take me to the hospital to meet this "sister" thing

I lay my eyes upon her....

And she is....Ewww yucky!!!

So since everyone was taking so many pictures of this "thing" I decided it'd be best to show them how good I still looked so I took a couple of pictures of myself...

Which turned into a couple hundred of pictures.  And before I knew it....

I was in the hospital for taking-too-many-pictures-of-self-and-looking-good-itis.  Luckily it was a brief stay.

As soon as I got home I tried it again.

At least they have remotes in the hospital. This time they got my gender mixed up.  I'd like to say I learned my lesson but we all know the camera loves me.

Then my grandpa and I went on a walk.  The end.

And then Mommy and Daddy came home! Yayy!!

But they brought that "thing" too.  I decided I needed to get on her level and give her a talking to.  "Repeat after me.  You will not play with my toys, play with my parents, play with my Bougie, eat my cookies, and write on my blog."

Then Aunt Cat came and her boyfriend too!

I gave him a talking to.  See how fearful he is of my authority?? Don't mess with Brady.

So even though this sister thing isn't the greatest all of the presents have been way cool!

My shirt described my mood so my parents took me out to get some fresh air sans the poopy baby.

And I got to ride a horse..cool.

Daddy then rode some balloons with me.

And a train.

And we touched some duckies.

This is my train and no sisters allowed!

Then we roasted marshmallows.

And Mommy carried Layla in her shirt instead of her belly.

And then my daddy became a captain and we got to eat cake.  (I am in training).

Then Daddy and Layla played sleepy.

So this is my life now.  I now live with this poopy, grunty, Mommy- milk loving thing.  And then there's baby Layla. 

I guess she can stay.  She's harmless.....for now at least. 

THE END!

2 Weeks Old!

Miss Layla is 2 weeks old today (well at least she was yesterday when I started writing this!), I can't believe it!!  She has been an awesome baby so far and that has made things SO much easier!  Right now she only gets up once during the night.  She usually eats around 10:00pm, 3:00am, and then around 7am.  She also sleeps a ton during the day although she is awake more and more each day. And when she is awake she's usually very happy.  Breastfeeding is also going so much better this time around and so far she is exclusively breastfed which makes me very happy.  Brady really does love his little sister but things have been a little rough here and there with him.  He has been nothing but sweet and affectionate towards Layla but has been acting out towards us and delivering plenty of tantrums.  I know that this is all normal but some days I feel like I'm going to go crazy if it continues at this pace when it's just me home with the two of them.  I'm so thankful that Brady is helpful with Layla and loves to give her kisses though, I really thought he would just ignore her! We've had some visitors lately which has been great.  Aunt Catherine and her boyfriend Andy came to visit Layla's first weekend.  Brady had so much fun with them, he made sure they watched lots of Caillou, played ball, played sandbox, and of course colored. We've also had some friends and neighbors come over to meet Miss L as well. Grandma left last Saturday so it's just been the 4 of us for the last 4 days.  Brian has 14 days off for paternity leave so everyday we've been trying to go do something fun.  Memorial Day weekend was awesome here weather wise and we spent it hiking, playing at the playground, grilling, and getting in some good naps!  Here are some pictures from Layla's first 2 weeks:

Layla meeting Aunt Cat for the first time

 

Cat with Andy (her boyfriend from Ohio) and Layla

Aunt Cat even got to play in Brady's house with him, lucky!

Brian, Layla, Brady, and Catherine skyping with Nana and Papa

Layla meeting Alma for the first time :)

Sweet girl kind of starting to get some cheeks!

I love the dresses and the bows and the pink and purple!!!

Grandma and Layla in matching shirts. :)

Sleeping beauty wearing her new sun hat

She is so calm when she's awake, it's wonderful! :)

Daddy and his Layla

Little miss with a frilly skirt on!

Layla Elane Ross

Well she is here!! Miss Layla Elane Ross was born on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 1:42 am weighing 7 pounds, 2 oz and 19.5 inches long!  It was a crazy fast delivery!  Here is the story of her delivery and tons of pictures of our new little princess!

On Monday evening we had a steak dinner and spent time with our families before I was set to go into the hospital for the induction.  I was really hoping to go naturally but it didn't happen!  Those last few hours were really emotional for me.  I was really nervous to be induced and to give birth again.  More so, I was really emotional about the changes that were coming to our family.  I felt for Brady because his world was about to be turned upside down and I knew that our relatively calm life would be a little crazy for awhile.  We said goodbye, went to the Redbox to rent some movies (inductions usually take forever), and arrived at the hospital at 7:00 pm.  They hooked me up to IVs, asked a bunch of questions, and by 8:30 the cytotec was in to start softening my cervix.  We popped in The Descendants and settled in to watch the movie and hopefully get some rest.  Since I had gestational diabetes they had to check my blood sugar periodically so I figured we were going to have a lot of interruptions throughout the night.  My blood pressure was high too because I was crazy nervous so they were also monitoring me for that too. Most of the time the pill does nothing and you end up starting pitocin in the morning, so that's what we fully expected to happen.  At about 10:30 I started having some cramping in my back that was happening about every 2 minutes.  I told the labor nurse that I was feeling pain and she said nothing was showing up on the monitor but that I could be very well just having some contractions.  They continued happening every 2 minutes and I told Brian that he should come over here and pause the movie because I thought I was in labor.  After a couple of minutes I told Brian to go get the nurse because I was feeling weird. I stood up and my water broke all over the floor. My water didn't break Brady so it was a crazy feeling!  I went to the bathroom and then she checked me. I was at 5 cm.  I had come in at 2 cm so this was quite the progress.  Contractions were still coming every 2 minutes so she suggested the whirpool.  I sat in there for awhile and couldn't believe the amount of pain I was in already.  I decided that if I was going to get the epidural, I needed to get out and get it now.  We walked back to the room, she checked me, and I was at 7 cm in a matter of about 20 minutes!  She said well the epidural guy (don't feel like spelling his actual title!) is about 30 minutes out and I don't think it's going to be worth it at that point.  I was super scared then, a natural labor is not something I was anticipating AT ALL!  So I powered through each and every painful contraction.  I started feeling a lot of pressure and she checked me and I was still at a 7.  I got up and went to the bathroom again and sat on an exercise ball.  At that point I started to feel the urge to push, she checked me and I was 8-9 cm.  At this time they said you need to call the doctor NOW!  I could hear them saying they couldn't get ahold of her either and all I could think was this child is coming out soon!! I  was then at 10 cm and my body started pushing her out. Dr. Taggart got there as soon as she was crowning and within 2 contractions she was born!  All of this was in a matter of 3 hours.  And this time no tears, no stitches.  I got to hold her right away which was just about the best feeling ever!! It feels pretty cool to be able to say I had a natural labor even though I fully wasn't intending on it! 

All hooked up and ready to start the induction!

 

Just hanging out in the whirlpool room. This was taken in between contractions!

So much pain! Pretty sure I flicked Brian off after he took this picture!

And she's here! So much love!

Love her so much

The three of us right after she was born

Miss Layla

I'm here!!

The way the movie was paused.  Thank you George Clooney for attending Layla's birth

Our princess. She is the sweetest, calmest little thing!

We named her Layla because we just loved that name.  We didn't personally know any Laylas and we just thought it was a sweet girly name.  We like the song too!  Her middle name, Elane, is a combination of her grandmother's names Eilleen and Alane.

I love the frilly hats and bows!!!

Nana meeting Layla. Papa stayed back with Brady (who interestingly enough woke up at exactly 1:42 screaming. Weird, huh?!  It's like he knew!!) Nana, Grandma, and Grandpa came up to the hospital when Brian sent them a text that I was 8 cm and they made it to the floor right after she was born.

Grandma meeting Layla

Grandpa with Layla

Papa meeting Layla

Nana and Papa

Our family of 4

Layla with all of her grandparents. So blessed to have them all there!

Big brother Brady meeting his sister!

Ahh so you're the baby we've been talking about forever!

Brady opening his present from his sister.  Also, the video of meeting Layla.

Going home! (Wednesday, May 16)

Checking out Layla

Such a pretty, sweet girl!

Going on our first walk with the double stroller!

I think she liked it! :)

The second day we went to the squadron picnic and aircraft tour.  Layla and I spent the majority of the time in the car feeding but it was fun nonetheless!

So I have been freaked out for months about bringing home a new baby.  Anytime I would hold another kid Brady would have a huge meltdown.  We tried everything to prepare him.  Telling him about HIS baby, reading stories, practicing with a baby doll, etc.  He has been doing SO great with her, I can't believe it.  He is gentle with her, wants to bring her her blanket, pacifier.  He tells her that she's cute and silly and can even say Layla.  He's been a little out of sorts with us, but that is to completely be expected.  We've had tantrums and some jealousy but it's been worlds better than I thought it would be!  He hates when she cries too but it's getting better.

Brady kneeling by his little sister

Hi Layla!

Kiss, Layla!

So sweet!

Love seeing Daddy with his little girl

Little Miss having her first bath at home

This morning Brady took us all by surprise and asked to hold her!  He was so sweet with her!

All of my babies! :)

We are so blessed and can't thank you all enough for your well wishes!! I'll try to be good about putting up pictures! A special thanks to our parents.  We can't thank you enough for watching Brady

and the house and Rascal while we were gone, not to mention the support you all have given us! We're lucky enough to have Grandma on loan for another week and are so thankful for her and her help!  Off to go feed the princess! :)