simple things

These past few days have been filled with simple things... like trying to teach Joel that hitting his baby brother in the face is a BIG "no-no" (not so easy when he still hasn't fully grasped the concept of "no"). Whenever someone is holding Lucas, Joel decides that he must have that person's attention. OR he decides he must have Lucas's binky...

These past few days have also been filled with the simple task of getting to know our new little one. He is precious; so laid back and content.

(Big streeeeeeetch! and such tiny little toes)

um... hello?!

So, I sneezed (if this doesn't make sense, read the end of my previous post). I will keep this nice and short, since that is how it happened:
I had been having cramps on and off throughout the day on Wednesday, Sept. 30th, but wrote it off as intestinal issues. At about 3:30pm, I decided to sit down and take a break from my last-minute projects and tasks. It was then that I realized my cramps had a pattern. Still thinking it was nothing, I began to time how often my cramps occurred. Every 5 minutes. Hmm. I called Robert, but told him it was probably nothing. I then called my grandma (who would be watching Joel while I was in labor), but also told her it was probably nothing. After I talked to my sis-in-law Christina, I knew Robert needed to come home from work - just in case. I called both him and my grandma and told them to head over. Cramps every 4 minutes. HMM. I frantically ran around the house, grabbing last-minute items for the hospital bag... putting on mascara (foolish, yes... but I don't care)... printing Joel's "daily routine". At 4:30pm, my grandma and Robert both arrive at the house. Cramps every 3 to 4 minutes. Wait. Contractions. NOT cramps. It hits me that I am having contractions, though I try to deny it in-between each one. Robert and I take off for the hospital immediately (I figured I would be turned away because I hadn't dilated far enough OR because I wasn't truly in labor). At 5:30pm, I was admitted into Triage where I was checked. I was 6cm dilated. We are admitted into Labor and Delivery right away. Contractions are finally becoming so intense that I can't walk, move, or talk between each on. Hard Labor has started. I got an epidural started just after 6pm, which was followed by my doc breaking my water. No turning back now. At 7pm, I am at 7cm. At 8pm, I am at 8cm, but am told I could have been further (my catheter is blocking the baby from progressing, so it gets readjusted). The doc comes in at 8:10pm to start pitocen (he told us - somewhat jokingly - that he wanted to eat dinner). I am at 9cm. Ten minutes later, at 8:20pm, I am at 10cm and begin pushing. Push through first contraction. Push through second contraction. Push through third contraction. STOP! Head. Shoulder-body-feet-BABY! Six minutes. Done. WHAT?! Yeah, It still shocks me. I went from seriously not knowing I was in labor one minute, to holding a precious baby boy the next. But before you swear that you hate me, reflect on THIS (trust me, 24 hour labor, a vacuum, and a 9+ lb baby are NO PICNIC). I have now experienced one of the worst and one of the best deliveries I've ever heard of.

We introduce

Lucas Taylor Root

Wed, Sept. 30th 2009 @ 8:26 pm

7lbs 13oz, 21in long

brown hair, steel-grey eyes

View the entire photo album HERE

one last hurrah

So, despite my growing lack in motivation, I have been able to accomplish a few last tasks. It seems like EVERYONE has been or will be having babies! I have made so many diaper cakes recently that I DREAM about rolling diapers. Odd. Two of my beauties... (Oh, and they contain MUCH MORE than just diapers)

I was asked to co-conduct a Relief Society activity, "Bows, flowers, and headbands!". Somewhat stressful to prepare for since I wasn't really given any direction to go in (not to mention nearly 9 months preggers). But we pulled it off nicely! The turn-out was great, too.

Lisa Marie, the small maroon flower, small cream flower, and polka dot bow are yours!

Lastly, I have finished everything I wanted to complete in the nursery. Such a GREAT feeling. It started with pillow shams (made from a curtain matching the bedding set). Then the mobile was hung and bins were purchased for diapers (green for Joel, blue for Lucas). It ended with the glider. Robert's brother gave us a glider he didn't use; the cushions of said glider were... well, let's just say they had to go. So I made new cushions from scratch (NOT easy when cushions need to have VERY specific dimensions). There. My last BIG project before pushing out a baby.

The nursery, in all its glory...

Now. Baby (fetus baby) update. I am dilated to basically 4cm and pretty much fully effaced. I feel like if I so much as sneeze, the baby will just fly out. No more doc appointments; the next time I see him I will be giving birth. If I don't go into labor on my own, I will be induced at 5am on October 8th (Joel's first birthday). So... soon (which is NOT a word I would use to describe when we will be thinking about having #3, thank you)...

For your viewing pleasure (Joel enjoys watching it)... :)

looking back

While stalling with, well... everything, I pulled up our family photos from July. I just can't get enough of this man. He is my life.

And I am his; doesn't this last picture just make you think, "Back off, Dad. She's mine". I can't imagine what life will be like with two handsome little men (plus my handsome hubby, of course)... But there will surely be photos quickly after our newest one joins us (be prepared, Emily). Soon...

boo-boo, toddles, baby

Boo-Boo:
Accidents happen, even when you are watching. I was working on my Africa project last week (half way done, Danielle and Nikki), ironing and sewing like a madwoman. Whenever the iron was on, I kept both eyes on Joel to assure his safety. Any time he was within three feet of the ironing board, I watched him like a hawk to make sure he didn't put his hands ON the ironing board (there was no way he could reach the iron itself - it was practically hugging my body). As he was standing next to the ironing board, he began to cry. I figured the sound of the steam freaked him out. After two or three minutes, he was still going at it (and getting louder by the second). I KNEW he did not put his hand on the ironing board, so I couldn't figure out why he was crying so hard. He was thrashing around so much that it took a while for me to find what was causing all the tears; his ring and pinkie fingers of his right hand had been burned. The fingers were red and puffy from knuckle to tip. Joel was inconsolable for the next hour; he only stopped crying when he had passed out from the exhaustion of crying. I was devastated. I had been watching him and had no clue how this could have happened. The next day, while ironing (Joel was upstairs taking a nap), I discovered that he most likely put his hand UNDERNEATH the ironing board. The bottom of the ironing board gets as hot (if not hotter) than the top of the ironing board... The burns looked fine the first two days, but on the third day, it looked as if he would lose all the skin off his ring finger from the joint nearest the knuckle down to the tip. The feelings of devastation swelled within me again; I felt like the world's worst parent. Luckily, the open sores under the blistered skin healed before the blister began to peel. Now Joel has a calloused finger that is peeling (kind of looks like leprosy).
Before the underlying skin healed...

Toddles:

As Joel nears his first birthday (3 weeks!), he is nearing the "toddler" stage. Yesterday, he took his first TRUE steps. He had been taking a step away from an object and falling to his knees for the last few weeks. But yesterday he took two steps, looked down, realized what he was doing, then took three or four more steps! He refuses to have help walking if he knows that is your intent (there are ways to trick him to get him to walk with help). He has been more bold with walking in the last 24 hours; it was not just a one-time thing. My mom thinks this Saturday will be the turning point (we are visiting with family friends who were my "cure" for walking when I was 11 and 1/2 months). We shall see...

Baby:

For anyone on facebook who saw my status about the false alarm with my water breaking, here is the story (and I wont go into SO much detail that it is awkward or uncomfortable). I was going to the bathroom yesterday and, as I was about to stand up, I felt a trickle. A trickle that I was not controlling. I just sat there with my mouth open, looking around, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Did my water break? Or did I "piddle" against my will? The feeling was VERY similar to the feeling I had when my water broke with Joel. When my water broke with him, it was not a huge gush; it was more like a constant trickle that I couldn't control. The only reason I knew that I was having contractions with Joel (in the beginning) was because I knew my water broke (I was in the doc's office when it happened, so he tested to make sure my water broke). This time, I couldn't decide whether to be concerned or to write it off. A couple hours after the incident, I started having massive cramps... Are these true contractions? Or are these Braxton Hicks? They started coming so hard that I couldn't think straight and barely made it home (I was driving as they came). I finally called my OBGYN to talk with a nurse (I am stubborn about NOT seeking out medical attention - both of my parents are in the nursing field; it's a product of my upbringing). False alarm. So, if you thought I flat-out wet myself... you were wrong. I have too much pride to let that happen (or to admit if that happened). No baby for now, but NO LONGER than 3 weeks.

stud

So, my son is a stud. Ladies man. BIG pimp. Why? He caught the garter at a wedding reception, leaving all other single men devestated.
I do normally put pants on my child; he had just had a diaper change before going to bed.

What did he DO with the garter? Why, put it in his mouth of course.

I guess this means we need to watch him carefully around pretty little girls...

fall

I don't care who you are or what you say. For me, September equals fall. You don't think bright colors when you think of September, do you? No. You think of yellows, oranges, reds, and browns (yes, you do. Don't argue with me). So I packed up this:
My pathetically few summer items

And I brought out all of this:

Unfortunately, the paper pumpkins did not survive. They were sadly laid to rest.

I love fall. I love that it starts cooling off. I love that holidays pile up upon one another. I love the foods; the smells. I LOVE fall!

smile on my face

Simple things make me smile. Like new pots for my plants.
The new pots make them look so small!

And finding a piece of heaven at Safeway. I was going to do this from scratch, but someone did it for me (no, not my loving husband)... my new best friend Betty.

Oh how I have craved chocolate cake (the sprinkles were my childish indulgence).

Oh yeah, and this little guy finally making it safely into the world makes me smile almost as much as the birth of my own. Welcome to the world, Adam Anthony Sisneros (can't wait to meet you; wish you didn't live in Texas)! Congratulations Matt and Jodi (my bestest best best friend); I'm so proud.

You gave your mom QUITE a scare; but then again, how can anyone be prepared for an emergency C-section?!August 25th, 2009 at 3:00am (on the dot!)6 lbs 12 oz, 19.25 in ten fingers, ten toes!

or not...

I lied. I am not done. I don't think I am the type of person that will ever be done. I tried relaxing on Monday and Tuesday. No good. I went crazy. More so than I now feel like with my unhappy child (who drives me nuts on a regular basis. Teething is not a fun stage). Wednesday I came up with an idea and began that project. This one will take some time, but it is something I have wanted to do for three years. Lets just say this: plus this: equals something that will be ridiculously awesome (Nikki, you will appreciate this one).

So, at my baby shower last year I received the CUTEST quilt from Robert's Aunt Nancy. I love it so much that I decided both boys need to have one. Lucas will get the one Aunt Nancy made; Joel will get the new green one I made yesterday.

I am still smiling about the fact I made this. Hidden seam. Hand tied. Oh yeah.

I also made a blue plush blankie for Lucas yesterday (Joel has a green one). I don't want one boy to be jealous of the other over stuff, so I am making sure they each have their own items (and yes, I am color coordinating them. Joel gets green, Lucas gets blue).

Today has been spent making diaper cakes (and NOT cleaning the entire house. Amazing, I know... that will be tomorrow). I have at least three baby showers coming up in the near future, two of which within the next week. Rolling and rubber-banding diapers is about as fun as it sounds...

Yes, Crystal, one is for you. :)

I physically (and mentally) can't sit still. It just doesn't happen for me. Who knows what I will undertake next....

the end

The end. Not really. I have finished all of the projects I had set out to accomplish (minus the rocking chair... ugh). Plus more.

Kitchen window valences...

Done.Lucas's framed name for the nursery...Done. Backpack for my mom for Key West... Done.Stinkin' cute dress for my niece Taylor...Done.A handful of bows and flowers for Taylor's headbands... Done.

Guess what?! I am done. Sure, I may find projects to occupy my time along the way. But I have completed everything that sparked my interest. I had one productive summer. Now I shall hibernate for the fall and winter... Oh, and give birth somewhere in there.

For those of you who are curious as to how I get everything done with a 10 month old; I often ignore him (not even kidding around here). He doesn't bother me and I don't bother him. He is very independent and would rather be doing his own thing anyway. Sometimes I work while he naps, but when he is awake he is preoccupied with the piano or windows (like at this moment, for instance. He is banging away on the piano). We have a good relationship.