Tis the Season

Life here in Arkansas has been a bit crazy lately. We had a major ice storm that closed down the whole town  for close to a week, not that the kids and I get out much anyway, but it was amazing the lengths they go to to keep people off the roads. Schools and businesses closed for days. We, being crazy northerners, decided to get out a bit and went to Fayetteville for part of the down time, 11 cars off the road on the way down and 13 the next day on the way home. We learned a few things, one that food storage is very important, so are batteries, flashlights and an alternative heat source-even if that source is family and friends. I gained a greater testimony of the social and emotional blessing of being part of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have only been here for a few months and because of the wonderful people in our ward I have people I would trust with my children, my house, and that I feel comfortable going to for help. We have moved a few times, but always we have family to break the ice and to go to (we do here to but they were too far away for me to go to in the middle of a snow storm with two kids on ice roads by myself.) I have never had to be an adult and fend for myself. Or, maybe I have, or I didn't really this time and it was just an inward 'ah-ha' moment. Either way I am grateful.
A couple other things we learned from the snow: Nathan was able to go sledding and still loves it, Asher does not like the snow on his feet but he is willing to touch it. We didn't bring any of our cold weather stuff here. I don't miss Rexburg winters at all, and we are super excited for Christmas!

There is a video, I'm sure most people have seen, called "What does the fox say", Asher thinks it is hilarious and today we realized how much he is starting to pay attention to the things we watch! 

(here is Asher's favorite version of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZM-72_Hr0k)

Our ward had a pancake brunch with Santa as a special guest. Asher liked the pancakes, the primary kids singing, and running around with his friends, 

but he did NOT like Santa, Nathan was so proud :)

Asher watching the first snow fall of the big storm at our friend's house.

Tucker and Millie after a long day of running in the snow.

Our lucky babies cuddling with their dad.

Asher and I made cookie dough (sadly they never made it to cookies...) while we have been trapped indoors due to weather, flat tires, sick babies, 

and me not wanting to practice juggling two by myself.

Asher at 17 months and Miriam at one month

Asher didn't need to be shown twice what to do with a beef rib!

Came out of the room to this guy trying to get an orange from the fruit bowel on the counter. New this week he can climb on the table, open the fridge, reach on top of the counters, take off his diaper, and say Tucker, point to his nose, quack like a duck, bring me my phone, and wipe his nose with a tissue.

Love em naked!

She has grown out of all her newborn clothes, this outfit included. Time flies!

My life is wonderful. I am tired, my house is a mess, I only get dinner made half the time. I apparently send Nathan off with conversation in my sleep in the mornings, and I haven't gotten out of the house in days. But my husband is amazing and handsome, my children are healthy and happy, and I am blessed this Christmas more than ever before. 

Comparisons: Him and Her

My two children on their first day of life.

My nephew Jack and Miriam on their birth day.

More of my children on their first day of life :)

 My beautiful babies.

Picture overload

The last couple weeks have been a blur. I woke up yesterday and it finally hit me there is a baby in that bassinet at the end of my bed and she is mine. And she is beautiful.

Some fun pictures from the hospital! Such a great day. So glad to be past it.

It was so fun and such a blessing to have Grammie and Grandpa Childs come stay with us for a while after Miriam was born. I am incredibly grateful to in-laws who love me and my babies so completely.  

It was nice to not be pregnant for Nathan's birthday, and to have his mom and dad here even if we didn't get the staycation we were excited for. A baby is a good present right?

 Our dog Tucker found this scorpion and Nathan caught it in our kitchen! It was alive and stinking. I'm so glad Asher or I didn't find it, who knew there were scorpions in Arkansas?!?!

Asher turned 17 months and Miriam turned two weeks last Wednseday, November 19th. I can't believe how cute they are and how much fun it already is. And how fast time is going. 

Nathan decided to sport the fu manch for no shave November. I was shocked how well he pulled it off when he wasn't making creepy facial expressions...

Asher has been so great at finding things to entertain himself, he is already growing up faster since Miriam came home. God blessed me greatly with such a sweet, easy going, smart boy!

I feel like our sweet girl has also grown a lot since coming home: 

 And these are a little over due, but here are a couple one week pictures! I love my little lady.

Our New Addition

As most of you know we had our baby!
Tuesday November 5, 2013 10:42
My sister Jill called me pretty early on Tuesday morning and said she was in the hospital and going to have her baby! We chatted and I was so excited for her and wished so badly I could be with her and share in her experience. (I was in tears when we hung up, and I really think talking to her released something in my body that sent me into labor, or God knew how terribly I did want to share this with her and he figured a way it could sort of happen.) Hearing her talk about her contractions made me come to terms that I had been having steady, though not close together, contractions for about three days. I talked to Nathan and we decided I should probably call the doctor just to see what was going on. At my previous doctor appointment, about a week earlier, I had been dilated to a 2 and about 30% effaced. We said if I wasn't going into labor we would go see Ender's Game. About an hour later they said I was dilated to a five and almost completely effaced. I was sent to labor and delivery never to leave the same person again.
I had a much better time managing my panic attacks at the needles, I only really freaked out at the epidural but even then I was able to relax my body even while sobbing, enough they got it in perfectly and quickly.
I had excellent nurses who were firm and exact-just what I needed, no Ruth Dayhuff, but as good as it gets in Arkansas. I tested positive for a fairly common infection so I needed a few doses of antibiotic. They started those at 4pm, broke my water around 9. I was so grateful that Nathan was patient and willing to stay with me for hours to not miss a thing. It was extra great because my sister in law Sarah had stopped in to visit and we were all having such fun :) she ended up still being there when the doctor came in! I could feel plenty of pressure even with my awesome epidural button and suddenly mid conversation the nurse took one look at my face and called for the doctor. I put my feet in the stirrups, laughed at a joke from Nathan, felt a contraction, pushed three times and heard a little cry.

 After all the needles and blood we were feeling pretty good.

 

They keep a warmer in the room, Nathan found it after they turned it on.

She came out fast and perfect. We liked a lot of names for her but when we looked at her sweet round face and said them out loud both Nathan and I felt like she was a Miriam. I am glad we agreed. It was surprisingly hard to stop calling her Rue, and when I was on my pain medications I actually couldn't pronounce her name so that made me wonder if we had gotten it right but now it fits perfect and I can say it without a problem.

6 lbs 14 oz 19 inches long

 I am so grateful for the wonderful friends and family who have stopped by and for those sending love long distance. Asher is adjusting, he seems to enjoy her as long as he can be held too. Tucker doesn't know what to do when he hears her little whimpers but he is good and stays at a distance. My recovery is going well and is so much faster than with Asher (even without the kidney and blood infections.) 

Mercy hospital has tracking security devices they put on all the babies that shut down elevators and lock doors if one gets too close to a stairwell or elevator. When her discharge nurse came and cut the band our room filled with nurses and the phone started ringing. Come to find out they had discharged the wrong baby in their computer system so when they cut the band it set off the alarms, Nathan was stuck on the first floor because everything had gone on lock down till they figured it out.

I felt like it was a little extreme but looking back I'm glad no one would be able to take my baby!

 First diaper change!

 Reunited finally!

 Asher is not sure what to make of her at a distance,

 and is really weirded out up close!

Her grandma hat that was made by hospital volunteers, and a blanket made my Grammie Childs.

Grammie and Grandpa Childs are staying with us to help and they sure have! Its been fun to watch them with my kids (cause I have two! Super crazy!) Asher has been enjoying the extra attention and fun snacks and I don't know what we are going to do when they are gone. 

We are home, healthy, exhausted, and happy and couldn't wish for a better situation than she has put our little family in. 

She is now five days old and Adam and Sarah let us use their nice camera to get some pictures, I snapped these this morning. Hopefully I can get more and some with Asher later.