Beau's Blessing

On Sunday, February 6, we were able to bless Beau at church! We were so blessed to have a lot of family join us. Taylor's parents came and 3 of the 5 other siblings came. My Nana also came out for it. We were so grateful to all of them for coming and spending the special weekend with us...I just wish I took more pictures!! Ah, I hate that. With Isaac, we took a lot more pictures with other people, but I hated the family picture we took...so this time I made sure to get a good family picture but we never got pictures with our other family....maybe with the next child I'll get it right!! It was a crazy day because it was our first BIG snow storm of the winter....I was so worried that church would be cancelled...sure enough, it wasn't, but the last two hours of our three-hour block were. My sister drove into a ditch on her way to the church building...so it was a crazy morning. Then our little brunch afterwards was great, but not everyone could be there at the same time or had to leave, and Beau needed to be put down, so needless to say...pictures didn't quite happen. And we were grateful to have our good friends, the Harline's, join us for the brunch! Here is our family of FOUR:

Sweet little Beau...Beau and Isaac both wore the same blessing outfit.

See...he was ready to go to sleep.... but we have a picture of Isaac in this exact spot on this couch, so we wanted to do one of Beau.

Daddy and Beau. Taylor did a wonderful job giving Beau a blessing.

Mommy and Beau

Beau and my dad. Beau is named after my dad, so I love this picture. Beau Kevin -- Kevin is my dad's name.

Chilling on my dad's lap

I missed the smile! so this is like a half-smile :)

And big brother, Isaac, was happy as can be to have so many uncles and aunts to play with!

My dad and I

It was a wonderful day--a day I had been looking forward to for months. I'm so grateful we could share it with so many family members who had to travel to be with us.

ONE MONTH

Beau is 4 weeks old...and we've (I mean, I've) survived!!! :) Beau has been great, he is the most chill and calm little baby. He is adjusting to life with his big brother--aka, hugs, kisses, being held, his NOISE, etc. And at the same token, Isaac has been SO great with Beau. Isaac started preschool two days a week at the beginning of this month and as soon as he gets home he goes over to Beau and says, "Beau, you miss me?" and/or "I'm home now Beau!" It's so cute! Lately Isaac likes to ask Beau if Beau remembers him, "Remember me, Beau?" I've worried about Beau waking Isaac up at night (since we put Beau in his crib at 2 weeks old and his room is right by Isaac's) ... but it's been great, or Isaac has adjusted well. :) To keep with tradition, here are one month pictures of Beau with "Blackie" ... remember him? (Isaac made him at Build-A-Bear)

Haha...can't quite hold that head up....

...or maybe he just wants to cuddle with Blackie... :)

Or, he just wants to eat his clothes ....

When do they start holding their heads up?

Recovery was not the easiest thing in the world--or I had different expectations. After having a c-section with Isaac, I kept hearing that natural births have such a better recovery. Well, I thought the recovery with Isaac wasn't bad...so I guess I thought a VBAC would be a walk in the park....WRONG. It took about 5 days to walk normal, and about a week and a half before I felt pretty good. On top of the recovery has been the {joy} of nursing... ok, not really. :) The success in that statement is the fact that I am still at it...this is longer than I lasted with Isaac, wahoo! :) It is getting better, though, and I look forward to it being a "walk in the park" :) ((When does that happen?!?!?! ))

We think he may have blue eyes, too...all my boys are going to be blue-eyed in this house!

Again, Isaac has been a champ this past month. He has adjusted great to being a big brother, has started preschool and has re-started his soccer class (that we stopped because I kept forgetting about it). Life with two kids has been pretty natural, it probably helps that Isaac is older and can understand more. The biggest thing is the fact that it takes longer to get out the door and that 9 a.m. church is hard! (However, we have been early the past two weeks that we've been! That's a big accomplishment!) So, last night Isaac and I had a fun night together while Taylor was busy with church and Beau was sleeping. Isaac was in DESPERATE need of a haircut (see below), but before we started we had fun playing air guitars and fake harmonicas while we danced to the music!

The before picture (while playing the air guitar)

And the after--so cute!

My two boys! Beau's head kept bobbing to the side so I would fix it, and after I put him up, this is how Isaac helped me....

Haha! Such a big helper (which he is) but check out Beau's face, haha!! Sure love my boys!

Welcome Beau Kevin Housley!!! December 29, 2010

Our little boy has arrived!! Here's the story.... my actual due date was Dec. 31; however, based on one of my three ultrasounds, my doctor was going off of January 4, 2o11. We were getting a new insurance deductible on January 1, so I realllllly wanted him here before the end of the year. My doctor is very conservative, and when I told her I wanted to have him by the end of the year, I believe her words were, "well, sometimes what we want and what we get are two different things." well duh..... :)

At 38 weeks I was dilated to a 2 and 30 percent effaced. I was so excited, and she even scheduled me to be induced on the 29th. However my excitement was crushed the next week. At 39 weeks I was exactly the same, at a 2 and 30 percent. I was two days from my scheduled induction and now my doctor wasn't too excited to induce me. She said she still would but my chances of a repeat c-section were high and she would recommend waiting. Ugh....now we were faced with a choice. (such is life, right??) I had the "end" in sight and now she wanted me to wait another week or TWO?? We still felt we should proceed with the 29th, but we were cautious to make sure we were making a good choice and not just an emotional choice.

The morning of the 29th arrived, Isaac slept over at my parents so Taylor and I could get to the hospital by 7:30 a.m. The thought was to try the "balloon" which mechanically dilates you to a four. When we got all checked in, we learned that I was now dilated to a 3 and 60 percent effaced (the most I've ever been on my own!) They started the process for the balloon---SO PAINFUL, literally had the thought "forget this, do a c-section!" --- and then, after all the pain, the balloon didn't take. So they started me on pitocin. At my last appointment, my doctor didn't want to do pitocin, but since I had progressed more, she was willing to start it. I was worried because I was on pitocin with Isaac and it didn't do anything and I ended up having a c-section with him. Luckily, the pitocin did what it was supposed to and at lunch time the doctor broke my water.

Prior to breaking my water I was asked if I was ready for an epidural. I wasn't--but when the first contraction after my water breaking hit, I was ready!! By the second one I told Taylor to go get the nurse! Epidural went in well and then it was such a great afternoon. I really don't know how to describe it, but it was almost serene and peaceful. Both Taylor and I slept. At 2:45 p.m. I was at 4.5, at 3:50 p.m. I was at a 6 and then by 4:05 p.m. (15 minutes later) I was at a 9 and ready to push. At 4:25 p.m. I was at a 10 and pushing. Beau was born via VBAC at 5:47 p.m. I must say, Taylor was sooooo great through the pushing stage. I would keep forgetting that I had to hold my breath, and he would be there saying, "good job Val, you're doing great, hold it, hold it, good, almost done...." He seriously was the best coach through that hour and I am so appreciative of him!! Oh and I should mention, the 29th was our FIVE YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!!

Beau Kevin Housley

7 lbs 4 oz

19.5 inches

We were anxious to leave the hospital, so as soon as 24 hours after Beau was born came, we were discharged and on our way home! The above picture was taken of Beau right when we got home. He is wearing the same outfit Isaac wore when we took Isaac home.

So, life with two kids....seems so natural! Beau is a great baby. I'm not feeling exhausted, and perhaps that is because I am not working like I was with Isaac. However, the recovery has not been fun!! As of yesterday (Monday) I was finally feeling pretty good. I had no idea what to expect since Isaac was a c-section and until Monday I kept saying, "And they say this recovery is better than a c-section??" But my mom reminded me yesterday that I am up and about much quicker than I was with Isaac, so I will try to focus on that instead. But I can say that now I am feeling much better in all aspects. Beau nurses well and it has gone much better than it did with Isaac. I still have a love/hate relationship with nursing, but I am planning to stick to it.

Speaking of Isaac, he has been a GREAT big brother. So far I would say there hasn't been an adjustment issue--is that still to come?? He loves his brother so much and we talked about him so much before he came that now Isaac is so excited. Isaac always wants to kiss and hug Beau and hold him. He tells me when he is crying and will try to comfort him by saying, "It's ok, Beau." We don't hold back on letting Isaac play and be loud...Isaac will run through the house and will yell or scream and Beau sleeps right through it...hopefully that will continue!!

So life is good and wonderful!! We're so glad he is here healthy and well!

Taylor came up with the name "Beau" and his middle name is after my dad. We've known since the 20 week ultrasound what we were going to name him and have referred to him by his name ever since then. So Isaac has known who "Beau" is for a while.

My handsome boys!! I love having two sons! We've heard that Beau looks a lot like Taylor and has Taylor's chin.

Isaac put a Cowboy's football by Beau during his nap...it was so precious. We got a little toy motorcycle "from Beau, to Isaac" that we wrapped up and gave Isaac at the hospital, while Isaac brought that teddy bear we made from Build-A-Bear that was "from Isaac, to Beau." Obviously Beau didn't care too much, but it's cute when Isaac plays with the motorcycle and I ask him where he got it he says, "Beau!"

We're so happy to be a family of FOUR!!!!!!

Build-A-Bear

Soon after becoming pregnant, I saw a children's book that talked about welcoming a new sibling. In the book it talked about bringing a present for the new baby from the older sibling, and also a present from the new baby for the older sibling. We thought that would be a cute idea, so a few weeks ago we got a little toy that is now wrapped and in my hospital bag to be a gift "from baby to Isaac." Then Taylor and I thought it would be cute to have Isaac bring a stuffed animal to the hospital for baby. I came across a coupon for Build-A-Bear, so that's were we went last night. I've never been there, always thought it was way pricey, but was pleasantly surprised!!! It can be as cheap as you want or as pricey as you want. It was pretty cool and a great thing for Isaac to see and do at his age. Here's Isaac with his bear, which was about to be stuffed.

His bear, which was named "Vanilla" (Still not stuffed)

Isaac holding baby brother's bear, which was named "Blackie" (man we are original!)

He got to push the pedal to make the stuffing go. He is watching his being filled.

Giving both bears a "bath"

I don't know how long it will last, but it was sure cute to watch Isaac all cuddle up with "vanilla" last night and carry him around all morning. :) It was a fun family outing and Isaac even put baby brother's bear in his crib. (Here's to hoping we'll remember to bring it to the hospital!!)

More Christmas Stuff

Are you ready to see a grown-up, soon-to-be big brother??

Both Taylor and I think he looks so grown up in that picture!! We took Isaac to the Flying Horse Club for a Breakfast with Santa the other weekend. We got him dressed up in his Christmas Sunday outfit and he did great. Look at how cute he is...

Papa and Isaac

Isaac and Katie (this was at the very end, so Katie was very done! Not to mention, sick... :( ) But Isaac loves "baby Katie"

Couldn't get enough of him...

Isaac wrote a letter to Santa and got a letter back from him...this is Taylor reading it to him.

He thought that was pretty cool, or he thought it was cool because I made a big enough deal out of it. :)

And last but not least, we made a ginger bread house tonight while watching The Polar Express. I don't think I've ever made one, so I was anxious to do one with Isaac. He loved licking the icing.

Concentrating so hard...

Love that I captured this one!

Taylor trying to get him to smile...

Isaac and the finished product.

Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully the next post will be announcing the arrival of our little boy!!!

Pregnancy Update: 38 weeks

well, some may not care to know, but I sure appreciate that I wrote this down when I was pregnant with Isaac. So, today I had a doctor's appointment and learned that his heartbeat is good, he seems to be a "perfect 7-pounder" (Ha, we'll see!), is lower or dropped, and that I am 30 percent effaced and dilated to a TWO! If he doesn't make his appearance in the next week and a half, my doctor scheduled me to be induced on Wednesday, December 29....which is also our FIVE year anniversary!

I know a lot (or a little) can happen between now and then, but can I just take a moment and tell you how excited I am that I am already dilated to a TWO at 38 weeks?! The farthest I've ever been is a 1.5!!

Wahoo!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

November + First Santa Visit

We're still keeping busy and counting down the weeks until this little baby boy debuts--which will be in 3 1/2 weeks! Here's a little update on us... back at the beginning of November, my curling iron broke and Taylor took it apart in hopes of repairing it. Needless to say, it was beyond repair, but Isaac sure liked getting his tools out and pretending to fix it!

Taylor spent Thanksgiving in Utah while Isaac and I stayed behind since I didn't get a green light to travel. It wasn't ideal, but it's what we felt was best since our niece got baptised in Utah...still waiting to see those pictures... ahem! ;) One of the days over the break we went bowling--I was surprised with how "well" I did 9 months pregnant...actually, I shouldn't say that since for a majority of the game, Isaac was beating me! (And we even had bumpers and I barely beat him!) :) It was so fun to watch Isaac bowl and get excited when the pins all fell down and how he didn't think it cut it when they didn't all fall--I had to tell him numerous times that "8 out of the 10 was really good!"

Dec. 4 was my dad's work Christmas party. I was nervous how Isaac would do sitting on Santa's lap since he freaked out at seeing the Santa at the mall, but he did well! He was still shy...but at least he was ok with going to him!

He got a train from Santa!

And Isaac really liked showing Baby Katie "how to sit on Santa''s lap" as he likes to tell me... :)

We have at least one more Santa visit coming and some jam-packed weekends ahead. Before you know it, this baby boy will be here.....we can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!