October 29, 2011

Pumpkin fun!

Tonight we painted/carved our pumpkina and roasted pumpkin seeds! :)

She was so excited to paint her pumpkins. This was actually her first time to ever paint anything. And she did a pretty good job staying clean!



Sean carving our family pumpkin.

We don't have any candles right now so the flash light will do! :)
Our "pumps" as Lyla likes to call it!

While Sean was finishing up, Miss Lyla decided to dress herself.

I think it may be backwards! ;) LOVE her!


All we need is some candy and we are set for Halloween this year!

October 27, 2011

Mr. Cohen & Lyla

Mr. Cohen is getting SO big!!! Yesterday I had him doing some tummy time with the boppy... left the room for a few minutes...


and came back to this! He's got some strong little legs!


That same night, while I was cooking supper, the chunklet fell asleep watching me! :)


And some of the smiles we get out of him! :) Love him!




While we were gone for the weekend, Cohen slept 7 hours one night and 8 the next. Then the night we got him back he slept 9!!! But of course, all good things must come to an end and the little stinker was up about every hour or so the next night and almost the same last night! And now he doesn't want to be much of a napper either! NOT fun for this momma! I'm guessing he's going through a little growth spurt right now! We have his 2 month appointment Monday and I'm excited to see how much my little oinker weighs because he's been eating a ton! He's almost to long for most of his 0-3 month sleepers too! He is growing WAY to fast for me!

Lyla is still being a great big sister. She'll shush him when he's crying or loves to hug and hold him. She also wants to kiss him about a million times a day. Her vocabulary is taking off by leaps and bounds and is talking non-stop. Some of the things she says just makes me laugh especially while she is learning to form sentences. We hear a lot of you play me you now please. She started getting up anywhere between 3-5 in the am and now comes to our room to sleep. In our old house, all we could fit upstairs was a full size bed. So 3 people, sometimes 4, is just not fun sleeping quarters! Especially with Cohen not sleeping good. Or she'll wake up at 5 and come into our room and say, "Party". Um no, sweet girl. I'm to old and tired to party at 5 am any more! :) But the plus side of her sleeping in bed with us is that most of the time she'll stay asleep until 8! That makes me happy!

Basically, my babes are growing up and it is making me sad! :) Lyla is at such a fun age though, that I love it! And Cohen is out of that newborn baby stage finally and he's so much more enjoyable with his smiles and coo's!!!

October 25, 2011

KU weekend!

This past weekend, we had a little cousin weekend and headed to the KU/Kstate game. We were equally divided - 3 & 3! Of course, KState spanked KU, but we still had a great time. It was super hard to leave my babies - especially Cohen for the first time. But I'm glad we got away - I needed it!

We started tailgating around 7:30 - first one in the lot that we were at! Sonya made breakfast burritos that were delicious and we also had some jalapeno roll-ups and mimosa's!


Sonya & Ryan

Sean and I

Ty and Kayla


This picture would be when we were starting to feel our drinks! ;) I love Sonya! :) We played some football and washers and continued drinking!


Our group plus Sean's other cousin Jared!

Aren't we adorable?! :) Though, Sonya would look so much better in red and blue!


It has been a LONG time since this momma has drank and it didn't take much! I drank sweet tea vodka and lemonade and it is by far, my favorite drink! So good!


We tailgated for about 3 hours and lets just say that was enough for Kayla and I to not remember most of the game! ;) The sweet tea vodka really got to us. We pretty much walked together to the game telling people to get mammograms. Why? I don't really know. We are entirely so cool!
Also as we walked to the game, we were stepping off of the sidewalk, which Sean was helping us do, and we both managed to fall. And we fell just right, that I managed to roll my ankle. Again, so cool! ;) Sean just loves drunk Andrea. Good thing it doesn't happen very often.

Us at the game. Honestly, I don't remember much of it. I actually didn't even know that we even scored a touchdown.

Are they cute or what? They need to make a baby stat.

And we are pretty cute too. Except we do not need to make a baby stat. :)

Funny story. Miss Kayla likes to run her mouth just a wee bit when she drinks and somehow (I don't really remember) she started yelling at this guy and Mr. Tyler saved the day. Apparently I felt that a picture needed to be taken. Again, don't really remember but it was on the camera!! :)

After the game, we were all a bit hungry and devoured Kayla's awesome cheese ball! Then we headed down to Mass St and did some shopping and ate at Mad Greek while the boys headed to Buffalo Wild Wings for more beer! I think we were all a bit hungover because as soon as we got back to our hotel room we passed out for a bit. Kayla wasn't feeling the best and stayed at the room while the rest of us headed to KiKu's for some hibachi food! :) Yum! Us girls then decided to sleep while the boys headed to the hotel bar for a for drinks! :) We originally planned on going out that night, but sleep sounded so much better! Oh how times have changed!

It was SUCH a fun weekend and I can't wait until we can all get together again!
And it was so GREAT seeing my babes again too!!

October 22, 2011

Cohen's Birth Story

I never wrote down my birth story with Lyla, and I loved (yes, really) my experience this time and I don't want to forget it.

I was scheduled for an induction on Thursday August 18th. Mimi (Sean's mom) arrived around 5:15 and we packed the durango and kissed Miss Lyla goodbye. We also took a few last bump pictures and we were on our way. We arrived around 6 a.m. and they got me to the room right away. They started all the basic, standard things and asked a bunch of questions. They put in my IV and actually got it on the first time. Originally, I had planned on just having a hep-lock (an IV that isn't hooked up to anything) but since I was an induction I had to be hooked to fluids and then also the pitocin to start my contractions. They checked me at this point and I was still at a 4, which I had been since my last doctor appointment. The contractions started right away but were not to strong or painful and I was comfortable between and during them. Avry, my doula, arrived around 8 and things were still going well. Once she arrived, I moved off the bed and sat on the ball for a while while Avry massaged my back. Normally, when on pitocin you are not allowed to walk around and need to be hooked up to the monitors at all times. Well my nurse was super and while I was up once to pee, she let me walk around the ward once. Around 10:30 the contractions were still there but were not super strong nor very painful. Dr. Lloyd came by and checked me and I was still a 4 and so he went and broke my water. The fluid was clear and Cohen's head was engaged so I was able to get back up. I sat again on the ball for a bit and with the first contraction I could definitely tell they were stronger to where I actually had to breathe through them. A little later I moved to the bed and leaned over the top of the bed on my knees for a bit. At this time I was having horrible back pain with the contractions as Cohen was sunny side up and causing me to hurt! Avry had to push hard on the small of my back during my contractions. Not long after that, the contractions got even more intense to where I began to moan to get through them! Sean was great at keeping me calm and helped with breathing during the contractions. I then moved to standing and leaning over the bed, while swaying my hips. This felt the best and it wasn't long before I started having bloody show and the pressure to push. My nurse, Ann, checked me and I was a nine at that point. I remember saying at this point that if I hadn't progressed, then I was so getting an epidural! I got back to standing and it was just a few minutes before my body began to naturally cause me to push. I got back into the bed, was checked and I was a 10. At this point, Sean turned on the video camera and from now til the time Cohen was born, it was less than 3 minutes! I could literally feel Cohen coming through my birth canal and it HURT. At that point I remember saying, "I'm done" and that I wasn't going to do this anymore. Of course, I didn't have that option and after I got over the intense pain and pressure I pushed. 1 push and his head was head and another and he was out at 12:57 p.m. I did have to have a 2nd degree episiotomy. Cohen came over very purple and bruised, but he was here and healthy! His apgars were 8 and 9. Sean also got to cut the cord.

I then had to be stitched up and deliver the placenta, which I asked to look at. I know, weird. But I had never seen one, besides a horse's placenta. I was shaking uncontrollably while all of this was going on. Cohen was then brought to me where were did some chest to chest. After I was all stitched up, I got to nurse him which he did just great with.

Part of my birth plan for Cohen was to delay the eye ointment and Vit K shot for 1 hour and to do so while he was nursing. The nurses were great about following my birth plan and you have no idea how happy I was that I was able to have him naturally! I remember at one point, right before I was checked and I was at a 9, thinking that I wasn't going to be able to do this. I had starting crying but Sean and Avry were great at getting me focused again and in control. I will say that if I had not had Avry with me, I wouldn't have been able to do it! She was amazing! Sean was amazing as well and did so great coaching me through the pain, but Avry's knowledge of birth and her suggestions and soft words were what got me through it. She suggested different positions, massaged my back, kept me calm and focused. If you are considering using a doula or want more information, I definitely recommend contacting Avry! You can also go to her website here or her facebook page here.

Overall, I would choose to go the natural route again versus the epidural! I felt amazing after Cohen's birth and was up and dressed within 2 hours of having him. I got to see him have his bath and was even taking pictures. I was also much more aware of the birth this time. I'm just so proud of myself that I was able to achieve this as I'm a baby when it comes to pain. And before I had him, I remember thinking, there is no way I'm going to be able to do this! Luckily it was a short labor which made getting through it easier. It was definitely intense, but well worth it!

October 21, 2011

Good byes

After we visited Max's grave on Saturday we headed to GB to see my Aunt and Uncle before they move back to Georgia. They will be missed! ;) Hopefully a trip will be had sometime soon!


I loved her outfit so we had a 5 minute photo shoot!


My adorable little boy... I love button ups on little boys!

My aunt Barb... I'll miss you!!

A little family picture. We took SO many and only 2 turned out semi decent! With each kid, it gets just a little bit harder! ;)

My aunt and uncle!

Granna (who Lyla calls GiGi now) and Pops



Kevin and Kelci and the babes!

The boys relaxing!


We had a great time visiting and eating! ;) Mom made some great food and I ate like a million cookies! Lyla loved her time with Uncle Bro (Kevin) and Aunt Kelci. (Kelci, she's saying your name right now! ;) ) Cohen loved being loved on and snuggled with! Kelci and I talked baby and I'm even more excited for my new niece or nephew!

Great family weekend!

October 20, 2011

A visit to Max

Last Saturday, we were headed to GB and stopped to see Max. This was our first time to see him since his funeral and it was pretty dang hard going there. Instant tears seeing it. We found it pretty quickly and it is a beautiful head stone. The picture on the front of it got me the most as that was taken by me the last time I saw him before everything happened.



Kevin's metal from one of his races.

Sean and I want to get a Jayhawk something to put at his site from his aunt and uncle!



And Cohen meeting Max. It makes my heart so sad that these two boys won't get to meet until heaven!

Life is crazy sometimes. I would have never thought in a million years I would be visiting my nephew in a grave yard. Or that my kids would be seeing their cousin by visiting a head stone. Breaks my heart...

October 19, 2011

The pumpkin patch!

On Sunday we headed to the pumpkin patch for a family day! Mimi got to enjoy it with us and we had a beautiful day to go! But boy, it was busy! ;) We never made it there last year, so I'm glad we were able to go this year. I even made Lyla's ghost shirt in like 5.2 seconds because I totally forgot.
Our family! :)

Her ghost shirt! So cute!



Daddy and Ly


We rode the little train and I thought Lyla would LOVE it because she loves trains right now. Well she threw a fit getting on it but by the end she was good and enjoyed it! She's in a super scared mode right now with things.


Me and my girl!

Mimi and her kiddos.

Isn't she sweet?!


Then we went and played with daddy for a bit!







Then she loved on Cohen for a bit!
(Not so sure he enjoyed it!)


Then it was pumpkin picking time!






A pumpkin for Cohen!




Our pumpkin!!



And lastly, Cohen got to lay in a crate of pumpkins! We did the same with Lyla and neither liked it so much! ;)


I'm looking forward to carving and painting our pumpkins! Also eating pumpkin seeds! Yummo!