a day in the life.... (long post)

This is for me, so that I can look back and see what our days were like. I'll probably laugh when I reflect, however some days I can be found passed out from the exhaustion of it all.

Here is a view into our lives:

Sean's day is spent waking up at 6 so that he can enjoy quiet time before the crew gets up. He can be found reading, paying bills, checking stocks, packing his lunch, exercising, and getting ready for the day. He helps his wife load everyone into the car and is dropped off at work. At work (8-5 M-F) he can be found trying to comfort screaming patients, managing the drama that comes from an office full of hormonal women, returning phone calls, sorting out ridiculous insurance messes, and sitting down for a small breather. He is picked up, not so promptly, around 5. Depending on the day of the week, the next three hours can go differently. He is either taken to the church so that he can take an energetic toddler running through the gym, taken home so that he can eat dinner, both of those activities, or taken home and then racing off to the church to help lead a group of 12-14 year old boys as they tie knots, discuss video games, pick on one another, and anything else that a boy of that age finds fascinating. Around 8 pm he can be found reading and rocking Charlie to get him settled for the night. Throughout the day he is amused/annoyed/grateful for various texts/looks/discussions with his happy/exhausted/emotional wife. His head hits the pillow around 10. He is grateful if he gets a little time with his wife, but has learned that she is a little nuts right now and has to unwind before he can get a stable woman again. He also finishes off his day snuggling his sweet baby girl.

Sean dreams of having his wife back, consistent work-outs, hiking in the mountains, nice weather, purchasing stocks, and purchasing a practice.

Born to be a family man.

Enjoying the cannery.

His subtle ways of showing his love; bath tub messages with Charlie's bath crayons. I'm so lucky.

His one rule with me dressing up the baby-- no bows/flowers can be larger than Audri's head circumference. Oops.

Rachel's day starts between 2-4 when she feeds Audri, and then she goes back down for a nap. She tries to get up at 6:30 so that she can shower and get a healthy breakfast ready for a hungry family. When that plan fails (which it often does) she can be found with a pillow over her make-up streaked face, buried under covers. If she wasn't so ladylike/innocent/modest she may be found spewing choice words when she is woken up. She so gracefully throws on something she doesn't want to be seen in public in and loads the troops in the car. She drives slowly to the office to drop Sean off because she wants to enjoy the last interaction she has with an adult, until 5ish. She takes the long way home because she doesn't want to deal with the messy house and chores that await her and curses herself for not straightening the house the night before. She takes the shortcut and rejoices if she has showered and tidied the house. From 8-12 she can be found back in the cornfield starting various chores that she doesn't quite get to finish, stubbing her toes on toys, avoiding mirrors, dreaming of summer and days spent outdoors, singing and playing with her intelligent/busy/entertaining toddler, and feeding/burping/changing/holding her sweet little girl, all the while telling herself that this time is going to fly by and to enjoy these moments. From 12-1 she can be found feeding both children as well as herself, and getting, or trying desperately, them down for naps. From 1-4 she can be found face-planted into her pillow, returning phone calls, blogging, getting ready for the day, or sitting on her booty watching a show to relieve her of all her duties and ignoring all the other things that are needing to be done. From 4-5 we snack and get ready to go pick Sean up from work. In the car Rachel can be found pointing at tractors, trucks, trains, planes, and people that are ready for the day and seem to have things 'together'. From 5-8 she can be found preparing dinner (or just pulling it out of the freezer), enjoying broken up conversations with Sean, straightening up the house, bathing Charlie and Audri, singing fun songs with Charlie, or crying from a day that has been turned upside down, and listening to her husband tell her all about things that go on outside of her house in the lonely cornfield. From 8-10 she is found doing crafts, trying to enjoy time with Audri, bathing, eating chocolate, picking up toys, and spending time with Sean. When the house is quiet she reflects on the day and plans to do better tomorrow. She can also be found smiling over all the funny things her toddler said or did and how cute Audri looked with a ridiculously huge flower or bow on her head.

Rachel dreams of days spent outside, social events, living near family, losing her 'extra skin', a day of shopping, more chocolate, perfecting her role as a mother, and many many years with this wonderful family.

Helping Charlie locate Audri's features.

Spending my days in sweats.

Fitting crafts in whenever I possibly can.

An accurate depiction of our life: frizzy hair, no make-up, and a lap full of children.

One day we'll all be looking at the camera with smiles.

Charlie's day is the most entertaining of them all. He wakes hungry anywhere from 7-7:30. He gets loaded into the car in his jammies and stares at all the things his mom points to. As he says good-bye to his dad he wishes he could go to work with him. He gets home and spends the hours of 8-12 running around, watching a movie, sitting in a sink full of bubbles (so his mom can clean the kitchen), smothering his sister in kisses, singing any of the following: 'Twinkle Twinkle', 'Do As I'm Doing', 'Itsy Bitsy Spider', 'If You're Happy and You Know It', 'I Am a Child of God', 'I Love To See The Temple', 'ABCs', 'Elmo's Song', 'I Have a Dream' (from Tangled), 'I'm A Little Teapot', 'The Wheels On The Bus', 'Old MacDonald', 'B-I-N-G-O', 'How Much Is That Doggy', 'Popcorn Popping', and 'Love One Another', doing various art projects, playing with play-doh, putting vinegar on baking soda, playing dress-up with mom's post-labor items, and any other cute or mischievous activity to keep mom on her toes. He enjoys watching the trucks and tractors work in the surrounding fields and across the street at the cemetery. He eats/plays with his food around noon and then runs away from his mom as she tries to get him to sit and read books before his naps. He is so energetic throughout the day that he sleeps well during his nap. He will sleep anywhere from 2-3 1/2 hours, but his mom won't let him sleep past 4 because he won't go down for bed if he sleeps that long. He wakes up and climbs out of his crib to see what he's been missing out on. From 4-5 he tries to wake up. He loves to be cuddled and is excited to pick dad up from work. He is ecstatic when we go to the church to run around in the gym. He loves it so much that he dramatically expresses his desire to stay when we pack him into the car. He enjoys eating dinner as a family. Squeals can be heard, from the little dude, as he gets to take a bath with Elmo bubbles. As he is getting ready to go to bed he happily lays down and lets dad brush his teeth with his 'Thomas the Train' toothbrush and asks for more and more 'paste' on his toothbrush. He loves his dad putting him to bed and enjoys looking for goldbug in his Richard Scary book, and singing songs. He is out and usually sleeps soundly, but occasionally will wake up and want to hang out in our bed from 2-4.

Charlie dreams of eating as much gum as he can stand, running free outdoors, always being naked, climbing to the tops of bookshelves and cupboards, being around other children, spending time with Grandpa, and blowing bubbles.

He is entertaining and so loved.

Playing at the church in his gift from Santa. Audri just wanted fed.

Sweet cousin love. Lacey and Charlie are 7 weeks apart and love each other!

Getting a break from our house-- 40 degree weather called for a trip outdoors in Charlie's new wagon from Grandma and Grandpa.

Always loving Audri

Trying to avoid getting in his car seat.

One of my favorite toddler moments: Charlie found my post-labor box and ran around the house acting like a horse.

Vinegar and baking soda project that provided enough of a distraction so I could mop the floor. 

Costco is better than Disneyland!

Entertaining us all

Charlie's FAVORITE person. No one exists when grandpa Randy is around.

Audri spends her days sleeping, eating, wanting to be held and then put back to sleep. She can be found repeating this cycle between 2-4 am, 7, 10, 1, 4, 7, and 10 pm. She loves her sleep and sleeps well through the night. She can be found, on a daily basis, being dressed up by her mother. She is tolerant of the bows and flowers that she wears, but is grateful that her dad put a stop to any flower/bow that is larger than the circumference of her head. She doesn't enjoy crying and just squeaks most of the time. If she is really mad she can scream, but that only happens when she has a bubble in her tummy or hasn't pooped in a couple of days. She even enjoys being sat on and smothered in kisses by her brother. She loves to be cuddled, baths, and is irresistible to her parents. She is greatly loved.

She dreams of food, sleep and baths.

First day home without extra help.

Let the dress-up begin!

Sleeping through EVERYTHING!

The one time she fit into this dress she never left her car seat. Go figure!

Loving this sweet lady (and her cheeks, of course)!

Through all the chaos, life has greatly changed. We are grounded to the house for a bit, with hopes to leave, run, and socialize one day.

I want to remember all these crazy days, but mostly that we smile and laugh daily.

Audri's Photoshoot

My amazing friend Natalie came over when Audri was between 8-10 days old (I can't remember exactly) and took some newborn pictures for us.

I filled my bedroom with space heaters, fed and changed her, and then decorated her with headbands, bows, and a tutu that I made. I may be biased, but I think the pictures are gorgeous and captured her newborn-ness really well.

My favorite!

I love that this one captured her cheeks in all their glory.

I think that this one and the next one look the most like her.

Her hands are often near her mouth. Once she can control them better we may have a thumb sucker?

This one doesn't really capture what she looks like, to me, but I love the umbilical cord in this.

Love her little face, not mine, in this one.

Calming her down so that we could continue. I like this because I am rarely in any pictures.

Blessed

For Audri's blessing we were fortunate enough to have family come into town. It made it extra special. A week and a half ago we were able to have Grandma Joanie come and stay with us (she has been a HUGE help and wonderful company) and stay through the blessing. Saturday, the 19th, Phillip, Brittany and Lacey were the first to arrive. Grandma Laura and Grandpa Randy came a couple hours later, followed by Micah, Eve, Ethan and Ivy. We went over to the church, brought lots of toys and sporting equipment, and played for an hour or so. We got our wiggles out. That night we had dinner, birthday cake (for Brittany and Lacey) and then headed off to bed. My parents and my brother's family stayed over at the Anderson's home. They are good friends of ours, and in our ward. It was a perfect arrangement. Sunday morning we woke up and got things moving, ate breakfast and headed to church.

The blessing, given by Sean, was wonderful. I only wish I could remember all that was said, but I was entertaining a small toddler and wiping my own tears away. All I know is that she was blessed with a wonderful blessing.

We came home and made lunch, packed everyone up and said good bye to most of the company. My parents, and Joanie stuck around to visit (Joanie's here until Wednesday, and I dread her leaving. She is wonderful company--seriously).

One of our favorite winter activities

visiting

Snuggling

Best buddies watching Tangled in the chairs Grandma Joanie bought for them. They have the sweetest little relationship. These cousins love each other!

I can't wait for these two to play together. Uncle Micah, Ivy and Audri

Grandpa and Audri. I think there is a similar picture of me and my grandpa.

Sweet Ethan is so good with Charlie and Audri

The blanket I finished a week before her arrival

I saw this dress at Baby Gap when I was pregnant with Charlie. I kept thinking it would be such a sweet little blessing dress and was always tempted to buy it. Right before I became pregnant with Audri it was on clearance and I couldn't pass it up. I LOVE it! I wish she could wear it again. It's been hanging in the kids' closet for over a year now and I would often pull it out and just stare at it I loved it so much.

The bracelet was a gift from friends in our ward and the headband was assembled by me.

Charlie wanted in on our little photo shoot. I need to remember to include him in everything, or find something to occupy him with. 

Love these booties that were a gift from a friend in our ward. They stay on her feet really well.

So happy to have family in town to share the day/weekend with. Uncle Micah with Ivy, Aunt Eve and Ethan, mom, dad, me with Audri, Sean and Charlie, Phillip and Lacey, Brittany (25 weeks pregnant), and Grandma Joanie.

Trying to get a wiggly Charlie to take a picture was nearly impossible. I am glad we got this one. Love them.

Audri's Story

Audriana Belle

Monday, December 10th, I went in for my weekly doctor's appointment. (Our doctor is actually in the bishopric in our ward, and we are good friends with him and his family. Weird? Well, it wasn't weird once we got over the first 'exam'. I was in Charlie's one year checkup and felt very strongly that he was supposed to be our doctor for the next baby....little did I know, I was pregnant at the time.) Anyways, I was dilated to a one, 39.2 days pregnant, and we had decided that we would try stripping my membranes. Two hours of cramping, and stronger but not regular contractions went by. I thought this would be the night. I loaded Charlie in the car and we went to stroll around our town's tiny mall. The contractions stopped, and I would be lying if  I said I wasn't disappointed. 

Sean came home from work to a grouchy and very disappointed wife. Poor Sean and Charlie-- full term pregnant women are not fun to live with! My mind was consumed by one thing-- I was so anxious to meet this little lady! At 7:15 pm we sat down to have Family Home Evening. By 7:30 my contractions came back. It wasn't until 8 that I realized they were regular, slightly painful, and not going to stop. I started taking notes.
My doctor has a 5-1-1 rule. Wait to call until you have contractions that are 5 minutes apart, 1 minute in length, and continuing for 1 hour.

After an hour I realized that we probably needed to get Charlie to our friends' house, the Watkins, for the night. I was anxious about how he would handle his first sleepover (not at grandma and grandpa's), but knew we had no choice. We dropped him off at 10 and decided to hang out for a little while before heading in. My parents decided that they would be coming down and left their house around 1 am.

Dr. W

My doctor said to come on in to the hospital. I told him I wasn't feeling pain yet, just discomfort, but he wanted to check me anyway. Since he was already there he decided to keep me, even though I was only at a two. I felt like a wuss. I was a woman in labor, only at a two, and checked into the hospital. Embarrassing.

Lovely...

After five hours of being at the hospital, I had only dilated to a four. I tried relaxing in a hot bath, different positions to help breathe, and anything else to keep my mind off of the intense pain. I'm a real pansy. Thankfully I wasn't sent in the 1800s or 1970 for that matter. I gave in to the drugs. My husband was appreciative. I was appreciative. Our nurse was appreciative. Again, embarrassing!

A wonderful and supportive husband.

The glorious angel came floating in with the magic stuff around 4:30. I was dehydrated and my blood pressure dropped down to 60/something. I couldn't see anything but fuzz and my hearing was muffled. They had to pump in the fluids and get me stabilized with other drugs. I started having traumatic flashbacks of Charlie's birth and was suddenly scared that I would go through the same thing. After 30 minutes my heart was beating rapidly, my blood pressure had stabilized, and I was in a happy place. The ironic thing about this whole delivery is that my Dr., Anesthesiologist, and nurse were all LDS. I was lucky and was able to receive a blessing.

Very grateful to have my parents there.

My parents showed up around 5 and we got to visit with them for a bit before they decided to head to our house for a nap. We made sure they put their weight guesses up on the board and sent them out. I thought they would be able to get a good nap in.

Our amazing nurse Danielle-- none of the others could compare.

Sleep came for all of us around 5:30. It was wonderful.

At 7:30 I was checked. I was expecting to be at a five or maybe six. Nope. I was at a ten and ready to push her out. We called my parents, which woke them from a dead sleep, and they headed on in. Luckily it's only a five minute drive from our driveway. Small town blessings.

I am a lucky girl. My friend (also our doctor's wife) Brittany, came to take pictures. With Charlie I don't really have any because they rushed him on out to the NICU. My mom was up at my head taking a video (which I have watched daily) and my friend, the professional photographer, was snapping away.

I pushed three times with every contraction. On the fourth contraction, tenth push, out she came. Our doctor let Sean deliver her. They laid her right on me and I bawled. Again totally different than with Charlie. With him I sat there numb, completely unable to cry. The first question I asked, through tears, was if she was really a girl. It was confirmed and I cried some more.

She was perfect! She screamed and pinked up so quickly. It was a perfect delivery.

So happy they didn't have to take her from me.

Embarrassing, but I like this picture-- says so much.

look at that hair!!

                                     
                                     
We were playing around with two names and decided that we would know when she came which one to choose. As she was clearing her lungs with great screams, I knew it would be the stronger name of the two. Audri.

                                   


                                   

Love this picture!

Sean likes formal names that he can shorten, so her name is Audriana Belle. She weighed in at 7.l3 lbs and was 22 inches long. She came out at 8:28 am on December 11 with chubby cheeks, a head full of hair, and a hefty appetite.

                                      

So happy!

                                     

Still so happy!

                                     
Charlie came in to meet his sister around 1 pm. She had a gift to give him (a train). He was soft and loving with her from the beginning. He is a great big brother!

All day every day.

Audri is so sweet. She sleeps, only waking up to be fed and changed every three hours. She is a blessing.

I am leery of germs-- tis the season, I guess. I am nervous around germy little hands. Charlie has to wash his hands so often. Poor kid! He thinks it's a good trade, if I let him hold his sister. He runs up and says 'hold you hold you?' or coooot beebee (cute baby).

This was such a wonderful birth experience and recovery; it makes me feel like I could have ten kids. (I can't tell Sean that-- he would be all over the idea.) We can't stop kissing her sweet cheeks. We love her and love this small family of ours. We truly have been blessed!