Baby D Birth Story: Charles Kent

Watching TV waiting for that baby to be born

Last pregnant picture of me ever taken.

First family of 4 picture

  I was so ridiculously excited that Baby D was born. Words cannot describe the feelings of seeing your baby for the first time. There's a baby. That I grew. For 9 months. I just spent 6 months in nausea with shooting leg pains and random RLS and lack of energy and moderately bad heartburn and then took a huge needle in the back and still felt pain and pushed this big little guy into the world And NOW I get to hold him. (cue lots of tears because it's not like I gave those up real fast or anything.) If you have had a baby maybe you'll know what I'm talking about. If you have not, I sound like a crazy person. I'm alright with that.

I mean, this little guy was definitely different looking than Henry. People explained to us how surreal it is that when you have a second baby, it isn't the same as your first/oldest/other baby. Sounds dumb, but SERIOUSLY it was weird. I mean, how many times do you experience the same symptoms and have the same "disease" but with a different outcome? How is it possible to produce a different human? Again, I sound crazy, but it's the truth. This baby wasn't Henry. He didn't have a cleft chin and he had bigger hands and feet. It was a completely different human. So strange and so perfect.

After I pushed Charlie into this world they whisked him away to clean him all up and I stayed in bed (obviously) and kept saying stuff like "OH GOSH I'm so happy to not be pregnant any more. Hallelujah!" and I'm sure I sounded ridiculous. I have video evidence that proves the fact.
Also, side note: If I ever have another baby I want to hold it as soon as it's born, barring any major complications. No clean up necessary.

It felt like it took way longer for the nurses to bring Charlie to me. I started to get nervous because of the horror story people sell about not bonding and breastfeeding NEVER WORKING because you don't immediately hold baby ASAP but I got him and he was the cutest and I loved him so much. It felt 100% surreal that I finally had this little guy.

It was wonderful to spend the evening snuggling and loving this little baby. I was also running on that last 1% of energy that seems to last foreverandeverandever and I finally had to crash around 10 and slept like a rock until 6 hours later when it was time to feed Charlie again. Breastfeeding went waaaaay way waaaay (like 100x) easier with Charlie than it did with Henry, probably because of experience and probably because Charlie is overall more patient and calm than Henry was. He ate really well and actually woke up and was cranky to eat, which was something I never experienced with Henry.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Breastfeeding tangent ahead.  Please skip if you desire.
 And if you are going to breastfeed please do yourself a large favor and get a prescription for Newman's Ointment which is a steroid/antifungal/moisturizer that is safe for you and baby and will prevent terrible infections and things that can make nursing way harder than it needs to be.

Also, my most important piece of advice for any mother who is planning on breastfeeding, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LACTATION SPECIALIST BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOSPITAL.
Breastfeeding will be harder than you expect and if you're like me you're going to wonder why the eff it hurts so much/if you're doing it wrong/if baby is getting enough milk. Even if you're confident with your skill, it's nice to go for the reassurance that your baby is getting enough milk and you ARE doing it alright. And it's reasonably priced, I paid $30 because insurance didn't cover it. end of advice. And of the weird breastfeeding tangent of this blog.

It was surreal to have Henry visit at the hospital. Honestly, it was really hard to reconcile his existence to Charlie's when I was in the hospital, away from Henry. When Gabbe and Duck brought him to meet Charlie it seemed like he couldn't have cared less about a) seeing us and b)seeing baby Charlie. He put up with it though, and was interested enough in all the cool machines to hang around a little bit.  It was sad to see him go, but the time we spent in the hospital really felt like a vacation, and we were treated good in there.

Henry's favorite hospital toy.

In all, Josh and I spent 2 days agonizing over Charlie's name.  In the end, Charles Kent won.  Charles because we liked the name and it fits with our other old man, Henry.  Kent because of a) my father and b)Josh's middle name (and simultaneously a family name) and c)It's a one syllable middle name.  Which I've got going on in my family, and I like the ring of a double single syllable name.  We picked his name the day we discharged, and hung out all day because we didn't have to leave until 6.  Abbey had Henry that night, so we were in no rush to get home, and ended up staying until around 6:30 because our nurse liked us and wanted to make sure we got dinner before we left.  It was sweet, and when we left I felt a little more prepared to do this crazy adventure all over again.

No Good Reasons

I have run out of reasons to delay this return to the bloggersphere.  We are officially moved in to our new apartment (minus a box here or there) and I have both boys in bed and have spent too many nights perusing Hulu to see what shows I should watch while I wait for fall TV to start up again, so....

We're Back.

I am re-capping the summer for my conscience with some pictures with captions.  The format will probably be terrible but once this is done maybe I can start the blogging with some current events.  

The size of my babies when we left.

Mal getting married and all

More wedding

So proud of our little girl.

Mal and awesome woman who made it all possible. (sort of...but seriously Alyssa is the best)

Cuter cousins could not be found

Working magic on the 4th of July

Fun with Gpa Williams

SLEEP!

Played with Alaina this summer.

Saw a deer in Grandma's backyard and it changed Henry's life

Also a sucker for Chevy's cause we ate there 5 times in 4 weeks.  Free dessert?

Watched lots of Olympics till swimming and gymnastics ended

The story of Kino's summer.

Oregon City Trolley

Henry at his cutest.

Went on a fancy date with Abbey and Jacob.  Also enjoyed living closer to them than we may ever live in our lives.

Henry starting to play with Charlie.  So sweet.

ANNIVERSARY GETAWAY HALLELUJAH. (3 years! Heaven and my first night away from children since Henry's birth!)

Melts your heart sort of.

Just hanging with the VS pink dog at the mall.

Yes I crafted this from a nail polish covered dark wood table.

Lots of walks with Grandma Calvert

Sleep!

Charlie super excited that Josh has a stethoscope. (so proud of Josh and that Med School has finally started!!)

Learned how to color.  Is allowed to do whatever he wants at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Aunt Nat the Great.

I will miss living with Nat...we'll be reunited at Christmas!

Henry is all about trucks, ALL THE TIME.

Easter Wrap-Up 2012

I have no idea what I did on Easter last year, so it was a little important to me to actually take pictures this year so I can remember our only Easter with just one baby!

The Easter bunny came early! He brought Henry some big blocks and a new pair of church pants, the Brothers' album by the Black Keys for Joshy, a JoAnns gift card for me, and even remembered a teeny purpled collared onesie for Baby D.

Henry loved the gummy Easter bunnies laying around.  It took him awhile to figure out that the eggs had candy in them, but was soon throwing the eggs (to get them open) like a pro. 

It's been a tradition for Mal and I since we've been at school to exchange Easter baskets...it's our way of keeping some of the surprise and fun in Easter because neither of us really know what to expect! Love you, Mal!

The three of us got dressed and headed down to Sugarhouse to spend Easter with Jacob, Abbey, Ben, Max, and Kate (later joined by Spencer's fiance, Hillary and her sister, Carley). It was sort of an ordeal because we had to pack an uncooked turkey, Honeybaked Ham (best part of Easter!), Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cake, 30 hard boiled eggs, and over 100 samples of urine and get to church in Salt Lake by 10:40 am.  Easter miracle, though, because we did it. 

  We never got a family picture of all of us, but I love these two of Josh and Henry before we got in the car!  Abbey was sweet and found this adorable green tie that is actually in Henry's size (he's been wearing 24+ month gigantic ties).  I also will state for the record that these are and probably will forever be my favorite church shoes EVER for Henry.  Josh has a matching pair, and these tasseled shoes just make me think of my Dad and his church shoes.  It's a family thing, I guess.

We had fun sharing a row with Jake and Abbey at church and they were kind enough to watch Henry (who had a cold which we found out the next day was also his first ear infection) so Josh and I could go visit Rachel and Chad in the hospital with their new baby girl!

It was fun to go to the hospital and see Rach, Chad, and Sierra Belle and prepare a little bit for the baby we'll be having in less than a month.  Sierra is sooooooo adorable!  Rachel is a champion child bearer and Sierra was born at 9 lbs 9 oz and 22 1/2 inches long.  She was adorable and didn't have any of that weird scrunched up newborn look...she just looked like an adorable perfect tiny little baby girl.  I can't even explain it.  It just made me really excited to meet the baby boy I'm growing.  We didn't get to stay nearly long enough, but it was great to visit.  Congratulations, Rachel and Chad!

 

The rest of the day in Sugarhouse was great.  Henry loves when we go there because he gets to chase after Ben and Max all day and have all new toys to play with.  We had fun setting up the Easter table, putting together an Easter egg hunt for the boys (and Kate), and getting all the food ready for dinner.  Jacob and my combined powers made the best turkey breast I've ever had in my entire life.  The Easter spread also included Honeybaked ham, deviled eggs, cheesy funeral potatoes, a Caesar salad, rolls, glazed carrots, and HONEYBAKED HAM.  Seriously, a Honeybaked ham.

I wish we had pictures of the food.

Dessert was this Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake that is the most delicious thing.

Our party groups at the end of the day.  The Ladies and the end of an Era of Calvert Couples living in Utah together.  Party in the Northwest next year with Amber and Mike!

In all, it was a fantastic Easter Sunday. It was wonderful to spend with some of the family we have in Utah, and it was a good way to sort of start saying our farewells to Utah. I am so grateful that we have lived close to so many fun siblings through our time in Provo! I won't dwell on it too much (yet) otherwise I start getting sad to say goodbye. We so appreciate our Savior, Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice. Happy Easter.

Puh-regnancy

I think the worst part about pregnancy is the lack of desire to do things at night.  It's 7 and Henry is in bed (yet to fall asleep...hopefully that part happens soon) and I have 10 items on my "to do" list.  They're all fairly simple, but I would just so much rather sit at the computer or sit on the couch than do any of them.

Any suggestions?

Also, this baby is coming May 3rd unless he decides he wants to get here a little earlier, which in and of itself is a terrifying possibility.  Every day I get a little more ready, mentally, for a new baby.  As I get lazier, the prospect of having a newborn sounds more and more appealing.  And definitely the prospect of a normal sized body with normal sized clothes sounds pretty great.

That's all.
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Little Man of the House

It's been awhile since I blogged about Henry Rex.  Since his physical growth has slowed down, it seems like he is learning things sooooo fast!  It's weird to accept that my little baby is becoming a toddler and I can't stop it, and nor should I because the last thing I want (probably) is TWO babies.  Henry is growing up too fast, but I suppose it's better with this other babe on the way.  Favorite pictures, then some boring facts about Henry that I'm writing mostly for journal's sake, so it's not necessary to read.

Henry has discovered climbing.  He climbs on furniture and boxes and dishwashers and stairs, and anything that his brain believes is worth climbing.  He's also discovered his balance and can take steps up and down small stairs without falling (usually) and before turning around to descend a staircase, will take a few minutes to see if the banister or rail will help him descend without resorting to hands and knees.  It's adorable, but really really terrifying.  He also understands and can sometimes make sounds for a cow, chicken, sheep, elephant, monkey, dog, bird, and cat.  He says "balloon" regularly and before that, his favorite word was "ball" and now uses them fairly interchangeably.  It's probably my fault because all the balloons we have aren't actually inflated with helium, so they're pretty much really light balls anyway.  Henry will wave at the phone when he sees me talking on it, probably assuming Dad is on Face Time.  He has an adorable little wave.  He understands going outside and upstairs, and will start pointing at the front door making his "question" sound if he hears me mention any of the words.  He uses baby signs for: more, food, milk, nap time (or it could be his blanket), all done, and pacifier.  He likes to watch Little Einsteins and will pat/clap along with them (sometimes) and as of late, thinks it's hilarious to pat and raise his arms in the air because we say "Blast off!" when he does it.

His tantrums decreased in number, but we still have the occasional rough day.  I'm counting my blessings now because I know he has yet to hit the terrible twos.  Henry has 10 teeth (4 molars, what?!) and the longest eyelashes ever.  And don't worry, he still has plenty of head bruises.