Seeing Santa

Steve's work had a Family Holiday party. I chose not to take Norah due to germs but Braden, Olivia and Steve had fun telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas!!

Catching Up

So as you can see - I've been delinquent in blogging! It's not a bad thing - my time has been spent snugging any one of the three cuties in my life, napping, reading books, playing games and well to be honest - nursing!! :) I haven't had time to read, to blog, to catch up on email, run errands, to take baths or other things that I typically enjoy doing for myself but I know that time will come again before I know it.

It's amazing how I've been able to enjoy Norah despite the sleep deprivation, the lack of productivity around the house, and disappearance of free time. These were things that majorly overwhelmed me when I had Braden, were frustrating when I had Olivia and now just seem part of the ride. I know how fast they grow which I continuously remind myself of and how I'll miss this cute bundle someday. I know I'll look back and be glad that I didn't wish it all away.

Norah is a great baby. She loves to nurse, loves to cuddle and nuzzle her head in your neck and sleeps a lot. She is generally calmed quickly and is becoming more and more aware of her surroundings. She loves to look at her mobile on the changing table and can track your movement if you are looking at her.

Braden and Olivia continue to do very well. Olivia has attached herself to daddy more which is great for their relationship but makes me a little sad. I am just not as available as I used to be so she's turned to Steve. We still have our time in the mornings while Braden is at school which is special.

Braden loves school and is glad to be back this week. He is missing his buddy Evan who he is usually with each day in the afternoons but since having Norah things have changed. In February it'll be back to normal but for now Kristin has found alternate care to give me a break - bless her heart.

I'll blog some pictures from the past three weeks with small captions!! All three kids are napping so I may get a few done - we shall see. :)

Norah's First Week

Well we're home and Norah is officially 10 days old! She is already growing way too fast. Braden and Olivia continue to be very gentle and sweet with her which warms our hearts. We've been busy as usual. Here are a few updates...

Our coming home photo in front of the now famous bench!!

Big sister Olivia with her baby "Norah."

Daddy and his new toy!

Norah's first Doctor visit happened at our house and we combined it with Braden's 5 year checkup! Her second check-up happened on Tuesday when we went in to have her frenulum clipped. She was slightly tongue-tied. It was really hard on both mama and Norah.

Olivia snuggling with Norah.

Braden and Olivia looking dapper at my aunt Pam's funeral last Saturday.

We also enjoyed going through the Country Spring Christmas lights last night and then tonight Braden and Olivia were able to attend Steve's Family Holiday party where they made ornaments, ate yummy treats and visited with Santa. It's such a fun time of year and we are so thankful that Norah is now apart of it all.

Pictures of Norah

Well - Norah is onto her second name so far! My dad came to see us and informed us that my grandma hated her middle name Viola. He thought that she'd much prefer we pick something else. Oops... so we renamed her Norah Grace Dupee. Grace is Steve's great grandma's name - and was our original plan before my grandma passed away. :)

Here are a few pictures and now it's time for me to get some sleep!!!

Welcome to the WORLD Norah!

We were blessed with a beautiful baby girl this morning! We have named her Norah Viola Dupee. Viola is the middle name of my grandma who just passed away. She was 8 lbs 14 oz!!!!! and 20 1/2 inches long. A big girl. :)

Here is the labor story so please feel free to skip ahead or stop reading!! I used the breast pump last night to help things move along since I was a few days overdue. It did start mild contractions but I fell asleep and they went away. I woke around 10:30 and used the pump again which started contractions at about 11:00. They progressed pretty quickly and became intense right away. They were fairly short(35-40 sec) and random (1-2 minutes apart) so I wasn't sure where I was in the process.

I called Wendy (our doula) and she suggested I take a bath to help regulate things at about 12:30. As soon as I got into the bathtub the intensity changed. I was having a really hard time with the pain and finding a way to breathe through them. They were fast and furious!! :)

We called Kristin because my parents were still 45 min away. Bless her heart she came and stayed with the kids while we got into the car. On the way to the hospital (we arrived at about 1:30 or 1:40) I felt like i had to push. We got into the entryway and I could feel the baby coming. So - needless to say - Norah was born at 1:55 in the entry way to the hospital with me on my knees holding on to a bench. It was also fast and furious - all a little overwhelming.

Everyone was great help. The best part is that Norah is a healthy little girl with a whole life ahead of her. I can't wait for Braden and Olivia to meet her. :) I'll post pictures later today. Steve and I think she looks more like Olivia than Braden but has a little look of her own as well.

Happy Birthday Norah!!

I think Baby is on it's way!!!!

So I've been having contractions and they are pretty intense. They happened a little bit earlier tonight and went away so I'm not sure if these are here to stay or will diminish as well... EEEEEEE!

Weekend Update

Well - no baby yet. :( We're waiting anxiously for labor to start ... believe it or not I can't wait until I feel that first contraction. I've wondered on a few nights if things were going to progress as I had cramping but as you can see... once I went to bed everything settled down. I also thought my water may have broken earlier this week but I'm pretty sure it's nothing. I'm trying very hard to be patient. Think baby thoughts for us please!!!!!! If nothing has happened before I have an appointment Monday at 4:15.

Braden and Steve are currently bowling with their Y-Tribe! It's Braden's first attempt at bowling and I can't wait to hear how it went. I should have sent the camera along but that would require me to take it out of my hospital bag and I forget that it's up there.

Olivia is sitting in front of me practicing cutting white paper with her scissors making, "snow-flakes," and singing "Jingle Bells."

One of the other things going on in our lives is that my Aunt Pam is very ill. This is the daughter of my grandma who just passed away and the sister of my dad. She went into the hospital less than a day before my grandma. She has been sick for quite some time with different ailments but this time it seems to be a toxic combination. They know she has a horrible case of pneumonia as well as Influenza and may have H1N1. They also think that she may have cancer but can't check for it while she is in the condition that she is in. Apparently she has ARDS - Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome now. She is not getting enough oxygen and her lungs are starting to harden. I don't quite understand it all.

I can't stop thinking about my cousin Michelle who was the one to find my Grandma in her apartment and then to have this happen to her mom. Her entire life is being turned upside down - I can't imagine how her heart feels and how she is coping. It's too much for one person to have to deal with.

The picture above is of my aunt Pam and I at my cousin Michelle's wedding which was mid-September. I am so thankful that she has Tom in her life and that both my grandma and Pam were able to see her beautiful day.

I will keep you all updated but please keep both Pam and Michelle in your thoughts. Life certainly is cyclical isn't it. I anxiously wait here to have a baby and also to hear if my aunt is going to live. WOW - it's too much to think about.