Waiting for the boys

Brennan loves to dress up, as I've mentioned. Yesterday he found some of Dallin's chef clothes, which gave me the idea that we should make cookies before the boys got home from school. I haven't baked cookies in a few weeks, and I've missed it! Plus we needed something to do while waiting for the boys.

I love making cookies with just 1 little person. That way we aren't too crowded "helping" or fighting over who gets to put what in the bowl or who gets to lick the beater.

As soon as the cookies were in the oven, Brennan rushed outside to wait for the boys. He does this every afternoon. He sure misses his brothers, and he couldn't wait to tell them we made snickerdoodles.

How am I supposed to get anything done around here?

I love this baby so much. I could sit and stare at him and kiss his soft little cheeks all day. Oh wait - that's exactly what I do.

mid-sneeze

Okay, so this angle gives me a big double chin, but it's a sweet moment and the only one I have of me.

There's something about holding a little baby that makes it impossible to do anything else.

Sometimes his big brothers think they should have a turn holding him, so I have to share.

Spencer's teaching him to play the piano already.

Levi thinks they're a bit on the loud side, but he'll be running around the house yelling and wrestling with them before I know it. This baby phase just doesn't last long enough.

2 weeks old

Wow, where did the last 2 weeks go?! Hard to believe this is the time I usually have my babies - at least a week late. Levi is turning out to be a pretty mild, easy baby. Most importantly, he sleeps well at night. He usually gets up twice to eat, but he goes right back to sleep in his bassinet each time. I tried falling asleep during feedings, but then he'd get up hourly to eat. That didn't work out, so I try to make sure I stay awake long enough to put him back in his bed when he's done.

As you can see, I love yawning pictures.

Here's Levi's first bath at home. He screamed the whole time.

Finally calming down.

Brennan has been adjusting pretty well, although he has gotten very clingy, especially to Dave. He really liked hanging out with him the whole 1st week. Ever since then he has started this whole routine every time someone leaves the house - for school or work. First he has to give them lots of hugs and kisses. Then he runs to the window and screams until someone opens it for him. Then he waves, yells goodbye and blows kisses through the window.

But as far as Levi is concerned, he adores him. I often hear him say, "I like you baby. Do you like me?

He especially likes to hug and kiss him when he cries. Unfortunately this usually makes things worse, since hugs and kisses just don't cut it when he's hungry.

Pioneer Parade

Dave and the boys were in our town's annual Pioneer Parade Saturday. They are involved in the school's Performing Arts Club again this year, and they learned a line dance to perform to Cotton-Eyed Joe for the occasion. However the sound system wasn't very loud, and they never stopped walking long enough for the dance, so that didn't work out too well. But the boys had a blast anyway, and Dave survived the craziness of finding a parking spot downtown and finding Dallin, who got lost in the crowd between the car and the parade. Even though the group didn't all do the line dance together, Tyler did it enthusiastically on his own throughout the parade route, receiving lots of cheers and clapping for his performance. Meanwhile Levi and I enjoyed a quiet morning at home. The boys were so disappointed for me that I couldn't go, but I told them I would be okay just watching the video and looking at pictures.

Welcome home, baby

We checked out of the hospital less than 24 hours after Levi was born. As much as I enjoy being there (I'm not being sarcastic - I actually do like it. It's peaceful and quiet and they bring me food and take away the dishes), I get restless and want to sleep in my own bed. Plus Dave always takes a week off work so I can just rest and take care of my baby. I thought that was pretty standard procedure, but apparently not. Answer my survey on the right. If you haven't had kids yet, choose what you think is most likely to happen.

The boys are lovin' this baby! They come home from school all excited every day and take turns holding him.

He sleeps all day and cries all night, as is typical of all my newborns. After all, this is the same baby I was pregnant with; he did the same thing then, kicking me awake at all hours of the night. But last night he slept 4 solid hours in his bassinet, and I woke him up to eat.

Levi is starting to have moments of alertness, but they don't last long.

Brennan's blowing kisses.

I can't get over how cute this little face is. Love the bright eyes!

My parents came up to see Levi Monday evening. He is their 32nd grandchild, 22nd grandson.

Levi Parker

Levi was born Friday, October 2nd, at 4:02 in the afternoon. We arrived at the hospital at 8:00 that morning, and the nurse started the Pitocin a little after 9:00. The doctor broke my water at 1:00, and I got the epidural around 2:45. He started out sunny side up, which was making it take longer to progress. So the doctor had me bounce on an exercise ball to help him turn around. Apparently that worked, and things moved along much quicker after that. I would have asked for the epidural sooner, since the contractions were very painful and close together by then, but I really wanted him to turn around and I couldn't do the ball thing with numb legs. The epidural didn't work completely, since some of the contractions were still pretty uncomfortable, but they were much more manageable. The doctor came in when I was 10 cm, saw that I was starting a contraction, and told me to push. One push, and the head was out. There was still time left in the contraction, so she had me push again and his body followed.

My first reaction: he's huge!! His cheeks, arms and legs were so plump. This really surpised me, since I didn't really feel that big; he was even induced a week early. I was guessing he'd be around 7-7 1/2 lbs. But at 8 pounds 12 ounces, he's our biggest baby. It's a good thing he didn't go 9 days late, like some other babies I know. At first we thought he had my mouth, like Tyler. But once the swelling went down, we realized it's actually a Dave-size mouth, like the other 3 boys.

Dave and I had a great day together, playing Phase 10 before things got exciting, supporting me on the ball so I wouldn't roll off, and breathing through the rough times. I love you sweetheart!!

My amazing doctor. I'm so happy she was willing to induce me. Plus I really like that whole ball idea. She kept telling me, "You make this look too easy!"

One of the few pictures I have of Levi with his eyes open. It's just so bright out here.

Mid-yawn

He's got some long, narrow feet! He looks like a mix between Spencer and Dallin, with lots of dark red hair.

One of my favorite things to do after I have a baby is take pictures of them on my hospital bed. I always pack a book to read, but I never get around to reading. Babies are way more entertaining.

Dave burping Levi after a feeding. We enjoyed watching conference together in my hospital room this morning, and then we came home after our "special meal" of filet mignon and sparkling cider from the hospital. Levi is our 2nd conference baby - Tyler was born April 6th and I remember watching conference that day too.

1 more day

Tomorrow is the big day! I've been so happy the last couple of weeks, just knowing I had a specific date to look forward to. In past pregnancies my due date has come and gone without a baby, and I am not a nice person. I would leave right after sacrament meeting because I didn't want to see anyone. Just having people look at my face and then my belly would make me burst into tears. One man actually said to me once, "I thought you were going to take care of that this week." I wanted to punch him. My doctors think it's just fine for me to go 2 weeks late, and I'm not okay with that. I mean seriously, what is the point? I've had a few babies and know my body. It just needs a little kick start to get going, and then things move along quickly. I'm very regular and know exactly how far along I am. So why just wait for those babies to get bigger and bigger and me to get more and more uncomfortable? It was for this very reason that I switched doctors, choosing someone in the area who has a reputation for giving her patients what they want. So when she asked me a couple weeks ago if I was okay with getting induced early, I wanted to cry and give her a big kiss. As of Tuesday I am between 3 and 4 cm dilated and 75% effaced, so she said I'm definitely inducible. Sounds good to me!