Gavin's Birth Story

At my 40 week appointment I was happy to hear that I had progressed from 1 cm the week before to 3 cm. I allowed myself a little hope - this is the most I had ever been dialated at 40 weeks pregnant. Maybe, just maybe, this baby would come before my traditional '5 days past due' babies? (Ha.)

40 weeks

40wks1d

Walking walking walking at 2 days past my due date

I spent the next few days walking and staying busy (even going to my Zumba class!). 5 days past due came and went. I still felt good, was pretty comfortable and was toying with the idea of allowing myself another week to go into labor. After careful consideration though, Ryan and I decided that we should schedule an induction at 1 week overdue, Tuesday November 12.

Zumba-ing at 5 days overdue

Last picture as a family of 4

Eeeeearly on the 12th at 1am we received the call to head in to the hospital.  We arrived around 2am and got settled in. Around 4am I was checked and found to be 4 cm and 80% effaced AND was having mild contractions 7-10 minutes apart. However, Gavin's heart rate was dropping during contractions so I was given oxygen and rotated laying from side to side. We proceeded cautiously and I just rested for the next few hours.

Around 7am I was given a low dose of Pitocin. Around 8 I received an epidural from a very nice anesthesialogist who really hit it off with Ryan. He also had a med student with him so the whole process was painfully slow while he explained in excruciating detail what he was doing. The epidural itself wasn't too painful, thankfully. I think it was 9 or so before Dr. Grier arrived and broke my water (6cm now) and I dialated steadily over the next few hours. I was ready to push at noon on the dot and Gavin Micah was born at 12:16pm! He was 9lbs 14 oz (!!!!!) and 22 inches long. I held him on my chest for the longest time just talking to him and looking at him and letting it all in. Ryan and I were thrilled that he was finally in our arms!

(Taken by Tara!)

Ready to go home!

10 on 10

It's been awhile since I've done a 10 on 10! Today was a nice, normal Tuesday so I was actually about to remember to take a picture every hour. Miracle!

7ish 

Morning coffee. I'm loving Target's Buttery Caramel grounds with a hazelnut or sweet cream creamer. Mmmmmm

8ish 

It was cool enough out this morning to leave my front door open for a bit. This "cool", overcast weather is so nice - although I'd bet by the weekend it'll be warm enough to swim again!

10ish 

Grocery shopping + buying a few supplies for a nesting project I'm working on

11ish

32 weeks today!

12ish

Night night

1ish

Mani time

2ish

One of the best parts of my day

4ish

Folding laundry and watching Prison Break (love that show, so good!)

5ish

McFadden boys over to play! 

6ish

Breakfast for dinner

Movie night! Up + popcorn & mini m&m's

That's my day in a nutshell! 

Baby #3

Soooo, this may be a little overdue, but...

I'm pregnant! And it's a boy!

This is the first time we've tried for a baby (our boys were, um.. surprises!) We started praying late last year for clear direction on when to add to our family, and found out we were pregnant in February! 

Here's our little bean at 7 weeks

Our boys making the announcement for us. They're VERY excited!

Around 9 1/2 weeks

12 weeks

16 weeks

17 weeks

18 weeks and on our way to the gender ultrasound! Spoiler alert - it's a BOY!

I made these gender reveal cupcakes to take to family night that night. 

Green for boy. Baby Gavin is on the way!

20 weeks and halfway there!

21 weeks. I don't have a full length mirror at home, but there's one at Kohls!

These 2 pictures were taken 2 weeks apart. Both times Gavin had his hand by his ear. I'll bet he'll play with his hair or ear when he's tired - can't wait to see it in person!

22 weeks!

As far as pregnancy symptoms, as per my other pregnancies, I feel pretty good! I have no actual side effects that really bother me. I had mild nausea here and there in the first trimester but never threw up. Surprisingly, I have also been less exhausted than I was with my boys! They both still take a nap in the afternoon so I lay down and rest and 15 minute power nap is enough to get me through the day. I'm so thankful for easy pregnancies! Who knows what kind of pregnancy I would have if it was a girl, I'd probably be sicker than a dog, ha!

Gavin's due date is November 5th. It can't get here soon enough!

InstaFriday

Owen started soccer! It's pretty adorable. Yes, it's a bit crazy to do soccer in the middle of summer in AZ but it's also crazy to stay cooped up in the house with a 3 and 4 year old!

His first game was last Saturday. All the kids took turns being a goalie. When Owen wasn't standing around with his jersey over his head, he was doing a great job hustling and dribbling the ball!

My 26th birthday was on the 15th. Ryan had classes the day before and most of my birthday, so Dad, Lynn and Jesse came to take me out for dinner. We went to my favorite mexican place - On the Border. The boys did great and we ended up visiting for 2 hours!

The morning of my birthday Ryan had to leave for school pretty early. He did leave a card and gift cards around the house and in the car for me to find! <3 p="">

After a fun morning of Zumba I headed to the mall with Ruth and my boys. She captured these shots of my boys loving on me. When Ryan got home from school we went out for a night on the town with Jeff & Ruth. Carrabba's for dinner (shocker) and then to see Man of Steel (laaame). Unfortunately I didn't get any pics that night. We were too busy having fun!

My birthday necklace arrived! It has the first initials of all 3 of my sons. I looove it and am almost afraid to wear it because it's so pretty and dainty!

We've been doing a lot of this lately: 

Because the weather has been like this lately:

So I've been drowning my sorrows in this lately: 

SO GOOD

The other morning I came into the kitchen and saw Owen at the table quietly eating a breakfast that he had gotten out himself. He got his own bowl, spoon, poured his own cereal with milk, without making any mess. He just seemed so grown up to me in that moment!

Nana & Papa went with us to see Monsters University! Our movie theatre has new recliners with buttons to recline them up or down. You can imagine that kept our boys busy for a while, ha!

The 4th of July was a fun, nice family day. I made these festive pb&j's for the boys. 

Fireworks with the fam! See Austin and Lexie holding hands in the top pic?

Made a nice summer change from brown to blonde today!

And I'm not kidding, I really am going to get a pregnancy post up SOON!