Are You Lurking?

For those of you out there that read my blog...tell me! I know of several people that read like Alexis, Luneray and Lana. However....I have been told by a little birdie that there are family members of mine out there that complain about the lengthy times between new photos of my darling family...I didn't even know you were reading! I don't know if you don't tell me! Soooo...leave me a comment or something (for those that don't know how at the end of an entry is the word 'comments' just click on it and you can leave me a message - just keep in mind the messages are public so don't go talkin' like a sailor k?).

Speaking of family members, lately my daughter has been reminding me a lot of my Aunt Patty...It appears that she is a 'multi-sneezer' I don't think she has sneezed only once since she has been on the planet. Plus she is cute, so you know, there is another similarity.

Today I tried bathing both kids with me...that was not as bad as I thought it would be. Jake did as he always does and just sits in the bottom of the shower and plays with his toys and allows me to shampoo and soap him as long as I let him keep playing. It seems to work for us and he is starting to 'help' with the washing of his hair and tummy now too. Abby sat in a bath chair under a wash cloth (because that was enough to keep her covered she is so little) and was pretty content and even snoozed a bit while I soaped myself and Jake. Got her washed and then wrapped in a towel in the bouncy chair so I could dry me and Jake...It actually worked out pretty well. We'll see how it goes as she gets bigger...of course I don't plan on letting them bathe with me every day, it was simply the most time efficient today.

Harder than I thought was figuring out how to go to the store with both of them in tow...now that was a new adventure. When Jake was tiny I just plopped him, car seat and all on the 'kid seat' of the shopping cart. Now that he sits in the seat I didn't know what to do with Abby since I couldn't put her seat in the cart. I ended up putting her on in the baby sling (I love, love, love my sling it is an 'ultimate baby wrap') and letting Jake sit in his usual spot in the cart. It worked out pretty well and we were only there for a few essentials like diapers so it wasn't too long of an outing (which was good because by the time we had gotten out of the house it was past nap time for Jake).

We stopped at McDonald's on the way home and I tried the McRib because I thought I remembered it being good...it was not. at. all. In fact I would have to describe it as downright gross. The sauce was ok (just their standard bbq) the bun was actually good. The 'meat' had a weird flavor and an indescribable texture that I will never again experience if I can avoid it at all. This must be why they don't keep it on the menu...they bring it back when people have forgotten how awful it is and then it stays long enough for people to try it again (presumably only once) and then it disappears from the menu again for a few years. Yet another reason to avoid this place alltogether.

Nice Weekend

Not much new here lately. We are getting into a routine and settling into life with Abby around and loving every minute of it (even the minutes that I am awake at 3:30 in the morning because I know she is only going to be this little for a minute and I am trying to enjoy every second of it. With Jake too but knowing that unless there is an accident somewhere along the lines, Abby is my last baby and I really want to take it all in as much as I can).
Friday Abby and I went to knit night and got to see the ladies. I brought my knitting but didn't end up even taking it out of the bag. It was nice to get out of the house for a little bit though.
Yesterday was a full day for our little family. We got up and went to breakfast and then headed to the mall to buy Brian some new clothes. First we looked for shoes since the only ones he wears currently are Doc Martin boots (these are the only shoes I have known him to wear in the last ten years except for occasionally he'll wear Converse or golf shoes). No luck at Sears so we headed to JC Penny - no luck there either. Then we trekked down to Payless and actually found some that not only did he like, but they had in his size. On top of that they cost about half of what a similar shoe would at the other joints. By this time Jake was toast and wwwaaayyy past nap time and though Abby was asleep my boobs were about to explode so I know she had to be getting hungry. I LOVE the sling I had her in and I was able to hook her up and nurse her while we walked back to the other end of the mall. Back to Sears we went and found him 3 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, some socks and a new belt. So he is all decked out. We hit Jack in the Box on the way home and got lunch and a couple of smoothies - I gotta tell ya'll Jack in the Box makes one of the best smoothies I have ever had.
Today is our lazy day for football. Jake and I will take a walk this afternoon and maybe kick the soccer ball in the yard but mostly it's a lazy day for hanging out in jammies (course we are dressed but still that is the 'feeling' of the day). Brian even got Jake out of bed this morning (which he does for me most mornings) but he kept him in the living room so Abby and I could sleep a little longer wich was a very nice treat for me.
Well, the Hawks are on so I am going to go drop some yummy cocounut shrimp into the FryDaddy and watch my boys toss the ball around the field.

Picture Time!

Could you please stop with the flashy thing already?

Sorry this has taken so long for me to get together...Here are a few pics from the last two weeks:Sorta Smiling for ya!

Having a snooze

Daddy's Comfy!

Jake and Mommy snuggling while Abby has a snack.

I think I'll call her 'Sissa'

I like to rock her in the bouncy chair (mom doesn't know how to orient a photo apparently).

Our first outing - we went and preselected our Christmas Tree. Abby enjoyed the sling and Jake loved tromping around in his rubber boots. Daddy took the picture so he wasn't in it :( Oh well, someone's gotta do it.

After tagging the tree we had the customary cup of hot apple cider. Jake likes the 'warm juice.'

And last night just before bed...Abby is having tummy time and Jake and Daddy are keeping her company.

Abby had her 2 week well baby check up yesterday and is doing great! She is still jaundiced but they told me it can take 6 - 8 weeks to go away. She now weighs 7lbs 6oz an is 201/2 inches long - so she is a full inch taller than when she was born!

Still here

Yes we are still here but two are harder to keep up with than one and you know, having a baby does require a bit of recovery time...
Jake is responding well to having another creature living in his house, overall he has been very clingy to Mommy but since that really seems to be all of his 'issues' at the moment I am certainly not complaining. He does seem to really love her too. He gives her lots of kisses and asks to hold her often. He also doesn't like to go anywhere without her (like up to his room or out of his carseat-He always reminds me to bring her with us...it's kinda cute).
Abby is doing well. She was a little jaundiced but nothing to be concerned about. She is eating well and sleeping very well (except for last night but so be it).
I am a very very lucky Momma to have two kids that are this well mannered. I hope it stays this way...then again someone is almost two so we'll see.
I will post more pics later. But since Jake is visiting Grandpa Ron right now, I am going to have a shower by myself (ok..actually Abby needs a bath so I'll probably take her in with me but still, I won't be tripping over rubber duckies and turtles today).

Introducing Abigail

Well, she is finally here. Abigail Elizabeth Labrecque. 6lbs 11oz. 19 1/2 in. Born at 10:57am on Thursday, November 6th.Apparently she was ready too because she came very very fast.

Here is how our Thursday went. Shouldn't be too graphic but if you aren't sure about what you want to know, scan rather than read...

We went to the hospital and got registered at about 7am and then headed up to Labor and Delivery. They got me all settled, checked vitals on me and monitored the baby. When my midwife, Donna, arrived she checked my dilation (I was at 5cm) and broke my water at 8:45am.
They monitored for about 15-20 minutes and then I was free to walk around. It only took about another 10 minutes for contractions to begin on their own. They came in about 5 minute intervals right away and by the 4th or 5th I was definitely in 'real pain' they quickly dropped to 3 minutes apart and then 1 minute apart. I was very uncomfortable and hot. I decided I was at the top of my pain tolerance and knowing that I probably had several hours of labor left decided to ask for the epidural. When the nurse checked me she said that I was already at 7cm and that It would probably be at least an hour before I could get the epidural because there were 3 people ahead of me in 'line' and she didn't think I would have time because of how fast I was moving. I told her ok and asked to get into the birthing tub.

After getting into the water it was a little more bearable to have a contraction but not much. I guess it made it easier for me to relax the rest of my body and let my uterus do all of the work. I only got a few contractions in the tub before the urge to push came. I have never felt something so primal before. There is no force that could have stopped me from pushing. My midwife was not there yet either and it was rather interesting to see how many nursed and other midwife's who were there came out of the woodwork in the span of a few seconds. I guess I had dilated to complete in less than 10 minutes from the time she had checked me last. My midwife ran into the room just as I had another contraction and then it was time to 'let 'er rip' so to speak. I pushed 8 times and Abigail was born. Brian was going to catch her but her shoulder got stuck and Donna had to maneuver her a little but she handed her straight to Brian and I got to cut her cord while Brian held her.

Overall it was the experience I had hoped it would be both with Jacob and then, since I was not able to do things that way with him, I wanted to try with Abigail, and I am very happy I was able to do it. I was not absolutely set on having a natural birth this time because I knew how painful it would be but I wanted to at least try again and go until I knew I was at my maximum pain level - by the time I got there I didn't have a choice and I am kinda glad.

While the nurses cleaned her up I delivered the placenta (harder to get that out than the baby)and got dressed and was given medication to make sure I didn't have the bleeding problems I did last time. Then I got to nurse her and get into a gown. After proving I could pee we got moved to our postpartum room and got to rest for a while (except for the nurses pushing on my belly - that is the worst part of having a baby, let me tell ya.)

By that afternoon we were settled enough for visitors...Jake was wound up like a two dollar watch and pretty much ignored Abby but I did get at least a hug before he was up and running again.

Once everyone left we got dinner and then the three of us just hung out for a while.
Our night went pretty well as far as Abby sleeping and all of that. We did have the standard interruptions from the nurses checking vitals and giving me medication, but for the most part it was a pretty easy night.
On Friday Brian and I had breakfast and pretty much hung out until they discharged me at noon. Here is Brian and Abby having a little rest while I was eating breakfast.
When we got home Jake was very happy to see Mommy and Daddy but still was 'actively ignoring' Abby. I had no problem with that and I want him to warm up to her on his own schedule. And he did, by Saturday morning he decided he wanted to hold her.He has held her a couple of times since then and even got down on the floor to have his diaper changed at the same time she was having hers changed and held her hand when she started to fuss. It was adorable.
We are all doing well and I will post more pics a little later.

The Plan

Tomorrow we go in for induction. I probably won't post again until after we have been home for a little bit. So Thursday baby it is (assuming that L&D has room - if they are full then we get pushed back or told no). I'll post again as soon as I am up to it.
:)

Wow.

I am awed a bit by last night's events. I am pleased to be able to have witnessed this part of our country's history. I am not a very political person at all and my personal political views are not relevant here. I got a bit choked up while thinking about what it means for us as a country to have Barack Obama as our next president and I am proud that we have come far enough for this to be a possibility.
It is the first time since I have been a registered voter and cast my first vote that I have not thought 'well, this guy is better than that one, but nothing is going to change.' Now I obviously can't tell you if things will change for better or worse, but in my gut I know that something will be different this time around. If nothing else it means something to our children. My daughter will be born into a world where even more is possible for her. I know it's not a pleasant thought but when you sit down and tell your child 'you can be anything that you want to be' sometimes that is a lie. Face it, if you have a paralyzed child, it is doubtful that they will ever become an astronaut, if you had a daughter or a black child a hundred years ago, president was not on the list. Now that possibility is there because it has happened. Maybe we will have an astronaut that can't walk someday too.
It is a big change, and I hope it means that more big changes are to come for our country and I hope those changes are only for the better. I know that all people can not be pleased all of the time. If you make one person happy, it's likely that what you did will not sit well with another, it is a true balancing act and I hope that this time we will all be pleasantly wowed.

Ok. I'm officially ready.

This kid can come out now. I have a clean (enough) house. My bag is packed. The carseat is installed. Brian has gotten to go to his football game and have a great day. I think everything I need to get done, or get through is done and over with. So come on out dear child, your eviction notice is posted and you have 3 days to vacate.