Caught up

Thanks to a two hour nap by both kids, an already clean house, laundry drying in the dryer, dinner already made, and grocery shopping done I was able to finally catch up with all I wanted to blog about. It is a little out of order, but I am glad I was able to finally do it. There are a lot of new posts so if you want to see what we have been up to then scroll down. If not, I promise I will never know the difference:).

Disgusting...

*For those of you with week stomachs please don't look at the pictures!

Brooke is one of the most frustrating eaters in the world. If she doesn't want to try something or eat something, or smell something and then she does one of those things either on purpose or by accident she gags and throws up. Here is the most recent episode - when Jason was wiping her nose she got a little tissue in her mouth and threw up all her bacon, bread and cheese she had just eaten. This is a weekly occurrence and one that I really can't handle. When I smell, see or hear through up I will through up too. Luckily I learned a good little trick for not smelling it. Tape a fresh and potent dryer sheet to your face and you can't smell it anymore. Oh the lovely life of motherhood!

The face of a two year old tantrum

The picture says it all......

Sick Swimming

We are all sick over here with a cold and a nasty cough. At least we are all sick at the same time. Jason decided to stay home yesterday. Even though we all weren't feeling very well, Brooke has a really hard time if we stay in all day long, so we went for a walk that ended by putting our feet into the pool. It felt so nice that we decided to go change and swim anyways. Probably a terrible thing to do when we all weren't feeling good, but the water was so nice and it was a perfect pool day. Preston looks like such a babe in his swim suit. It is huge but I think it is so cute because it is a little surf suit. We haven't let him swim in a pool because I think he is still too young. Brooke loves the water but still has no idea how to swim. We tried to teach her a few things but she really didn't want to do them. I guess we will be waiting tell next summer to do swimming lessons. It was the best "sick" day I have ever had.

Preston's First Bath

No, I am not just now getting around to giving Preston his first bath.....gross! I just forgot to add this to our blog. We gave Preston his first bath ( we didn't have the hospital give him one because his temp. was a little low) one week after he came home. His umbilical cord was only holding on by a tiny piece and we thought he was ready for one. He did pretty good, and only cried a little. Now he absolutely loves the water and loves bath time. Most of the time he takes a bath with me, and he loves to be held and nursed while in the tub. He normally always falls asleep immediately afterwards because he gets so relaxed. So crazy to see how much he has grown and filled out since we took these pics. Why do they have to grow up so quickly??

First Curls

A few weeks ago I curled Brookie's hair for the first time. It turned out so cute and she really loved looking at herself in the mirror. She did great sitting there for the first side of her head. I had to bribe her with candy to get the other side done. She is such a cutie!! She also finally got to wear the super cute dress her Aunt Vicki got her when she turned one. She is so petite it just now fits her. It is size 18 months.

Weekend trip to Newport Beach

We decided to take a little mini vacation to Newport Beach this weekend. We had a great time and it was so nice to just get away. I also fell in love with Newport Beach, I would move there in a second, it is so beautiful and clean. :)

We started off our vacation to Crescent Beach. It was a much colder and windier day then we had planned for. Instead of staying 3-4 hours we only stayed about 1.5. Brooke who has always been hesitant at the beach before, took to it with no problem. She walked right out into the freezing waves and wanted to stay in them the whole time. It was sad though because she was shaking so much from being so cold. Doesn't she look cute her in "swim soup?" that is what she calls her swimsuit. She was so fun and cute to watch! Preston loved the sound of the waves and slept through the whole beach experience.

After the beach we headed back to our hotel. We stayed at the Marriott Spa and Resort across the street from Fashion Island. We went to the pool for only about 15 mins and decided to go back to our room and get cleaned up. We walked over to Fashion Island and ate a yummy meal at El Torito Grill. Then we walked around and Brooke enjoyed all the waterfalls and the cool koi pond to look and play on. Jason and I enjoyed all the fancy shops and the Tiger Woods sighting. I walked right passed him and as I did I said "Hey, It's Tiger Woods" to Jason and I think I embarrassed Jason. (We also saw Nomar Garciapara and Mia Ham last time we were at Disneyland.) After we were done walking around, we decided it would be fun to go back to our hotel and make smores because they had fire pits. By the time we walked back over Brooke had fallen asleep so we just chilled in our hotel room and watched TV. (We still don't have cable so that is quite a treat for us, except that there is nothing good on TV. What happened to all the good shows??)

When we woke up the next morning we thought smores sounded delicious for breakfast!:) We went down to one of the fire pits and had a great time toasting marshmallows and eating chocolate for breakfast. Brooke wouldn't eat the marshmallows after they were toasted so she just had plain marshmallows on a stick. She also kept sneaking more chocolate when I wasn't looking. I told her the fire pit was hot and not to touch it, so when Jason held her on her lap to help her toast her marshmallows she was all freaked out, and kept saying "burning." Whoops! I guess I put a little too much fear in her.

After we checked out of the hotel we were off to Balboa Island. The funny thing is that we were a mile away but it took us 1.5 hours to find the spot that I use to park with my mom and walk when I was younger, which is where we really wanted to go. After a lot of driving we found it, and walked the little street and then the beach, where all the amazing houses are. Jason got to go into a really modern house that was having an open house. I thought it was the ugliest house on the whole strip that we were walking (just not my style) but it was still a cool 6 Mil! We also had to get a frozen banana and a smoothie before we headed home. It was such a great vacation, and it was nice to get away and spend all of our time focusing on our little family! I really do love them!!

Things I want to remember for my next labor....

After giving birth to Preston I haven't really been comfortable with the way that my labor went. I wanted a natural labor, and once my water broke and I never went into labor on my own the fear from the hospital and my Dr. made me go in and do all the medical interventions that I specifically wanted to avoid. I did them because of course when my doctor says "it's best for the baby" or "it might have _____bad effect on the baby if you choose to wait," then of course when I am in that moment I am going to do whatever he wants me too. He is supposed to be the expert, right??

After Preston was born and we came home, I researched all the reasons why they said I needed to be put on pitocin and not wait for my body to naturally start labor. And guess what they were terrible reasons. I know if I would have let me body go into labor on it's own (not on the hospitals "must deliver within 24 hours" rule) then I would have had a healthy and natural birth and I know none of the bad things they said could happen would have happened. Who ever made up a rule that says you have to have a baby within 24 hours anyway?? So lame!

I am writing this so with my next labor I can remember that as long as I go to a hospital to have a baby I won't have the labor that I want, because OBGYN's only know how to manage a labor. They don't know how to naturally let it take it's course that God has made women capable of doing with out any intervention.

I do know that there are rare cases when you need an OBGYN but that is the exception not the rule. Most women have perfectly healthy labors, especially when all the hospital interventions are left out of it.

So things I want to remember for my next labor -

1. I know that I and my body are perfectly healthy and capable of natural child birth.

2. OBGYN's don't know what birth is supposed to be. To them it is just a process of bringing a healthy baby in to the world by any means, not necessarily the one's that are best for mom and baby.

3. Epidurals give me back and headaches that are terrible for months after I have the baby.

4. The natural adrenaline rush I had with Brooke was so great and I needed it so much after I had her. I felt completely sluggish and tired after I had Preston.

5. I want a midwife and want to birth in a birthing center or at home.

6. No matter how great I think a Dr. is, hospital's don't understand nor are they capable of helping women to have a natural birth.

7. The pain of childbirth is not pain but is rather an experience of life that helps you to really feel. It is also extremely temporary, while a lot of hospital interventions as small as they seem, may not be.

8. Don't compromise what you want because you don't want to hurt your Dr's feelings or feel like you are strange because you are questioning why he wants to do something.

9. As long as I keep having babies in the hospital I will feel robbed of the experience I really want.

To all those who are reading this and are thinking I am crazy - I know everyone has there own idea of birth. Mine is that birth is a normal and natural process. I also am scared of having babies in the hospital because I feel like I am giving up all my decisions and choices the minute I walk into the hospital.

My GYM

Brooke has been having a hard time with being a big sister so we decided to enroll her in a class. We have a My Gym right next to our house but the first time we tried it, she did not like it at all. I'm glad we decided to try it again because she loves it now! She has some free time to play and climb as she pleases and then she has circle time where they stretch, work on a new skill, dance, sing, and play with objects in creative ways. It has seemed to help a little with the transition of us having another baby in the house. She does everything so well in class and I really do think she is the cutest and smartest kid whenever we go! I love her so very much and I am so glad she is my cute girl!!

We are going PRIVATE

We have decided to make our blog private. If you would like to be able to view it still, please leave your email address as a comment. Thanks!

Preston is 1 month old!

The time has flown by since Preston was born and I can't believe he is already a month old. Preston is a sweet and calm presence in our family. He likes to just look around and study things. He is a little bit more fussy then Brooke was, but it is because he LOVES to be held by his Momma all day long. He is already a Momma's boy and I love that he is my little man! e makes the funniest noises when he moves and stretches and eats ( we call them his dinosaur noises or as Brookie says it "dinosaurn".) He is getting bigger and bigger and has been eating constantly! I don't know how much he weighs right now but my guess would be around 8 pounds which is a hugh accomplishment for the 5 lbs 5 oz he weighed a few days after giving birth to him. We love him so much and are so glad he was sent to our family. These first few weeks with a new baby are always so special to me because I can feel the "freshness" from the heavenly place that they came from. We love you Preston!!

My wonderful friend Paulette spent a total of 5 hours with us taking newborn pics. The first 3 hours were one day and he wasn't sleeping and was not a happy boy. She offered to do it again and the second time she did it he was asleep the whole time and we got all these great shots. Thanks so much Paulette you are amazing!!!

I know what a babe!!!

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's......

...Captain Administrator??

Jason has "spirit" week for work where each day is themed and you have to dress accordingly. Today was Superhero day, and we choose to make him a costume to be " Captain Administrator." We said the his powers were to cut costs, reduce falls, build census, and develop culture. I think the costume came out pretty good even though I was short on time and didn't get to make him the awesome belt or arm cuffs that I wanted to. He was pretty embarrassed that I was taking pictures of him as he went to work today, and even said that I better not blog about this (sorry honey), but isn't this a moment to remember? My husbands first day as a real Superhero? The only thing that could make it any better would have been an awesome pair of blue tights to show off that Superhero Tush!

On a more serious note, Jason really is the Superhero of our family. He always knows how to make us smile, and gives us kisses when we get hurt, he always takes care of us so good, he helps us to be better people, he is always there when we need him most. Thanks honey for all you do! Love you!!! ( Yes, I am hoping this gets me out of trouble for posting these pictures of you.)

Caught in bed with 2 men!

Every night I get to sleep and cuddle with these two super cute guys!! I know, you don't have to tell me I'm a lucky girl....I already know!

Redecorating Part 2 Brooke/Preston's Room

Here is the before of Brooke's super girly and pink room.

The after of Brooke and Preston's room.

I wanted to hang the pictures so it was earthquake proof. I decided to hang a curtain rod and just clip the photos to it. I love the way it turned out, except that a few of my photos are starting to curl.

Redecorating Part 1

I meant to post these a long time ago, but never got around to doing it. I redid my room back in November. Here are the results.

Before

After - I wanted to do something completely different. I love the way it turned out!

I didn't take a before of my bathroom because I forgot, so here is one that was during the process.

After. I resurfaced my cupboards which were a maple color and painted them black.

Brooke is 2 Years 2 Months

This post is a little late but we have been a little preoccupied with our cute new addition. Brooke is growing up so quickly. She is super funny and smart, and keeps me laughing all day long with the funny things that she says. She is an excellent big sister (except that she loves him so much she wants to squish him a little too hard.) We have been having to get creative with how to keep her busy because we have been home so much with the baby. Here are a few pics from this past week.

Brooke thinks it's hilarious to wear her night time princess panties on her head (and makes Jason and I do this as well). Having fun with shaving cream and sporting an awesome noodle necklace. What could be more fun than playing in a diaper box? Oh playing in 2 diaper boxes!! Choosing to paint her self with our pudding instead of eating it. Loving on her little brother after church. Just being a cute and silly girl. Getting morning snuggles from Preston while drinking her bottle, and eating only the chocolate and sprinkles off her donut.

Some things that Brooke says that crack us all up -

When she wants something she says "okay" like it was your idea when you agree to doing it.

The way she says "oh nicely" after asking for something that she wants because mommy always wants her to ask for something nicely. This really needs to be video taped because it is the cutest thing ever!

The way she heard a baby crying in the grocery store and said "oh baby sad, need boo boo milk to be happy"

The way she says "slide" while slowly moving her tongue from one side of her mouth to the other.

She calls cucumbers "cute cumbers"

Instead of saying that she kept her panties dry she says that she kept her panties "drive."

Just about every sentence that comes out of her mouth.

Preston's Birth Story

It all began at 6 AM, when I woke up and thought my water was or did break (I was still groggy). When I got up I felt a gush of water and walked to the toilet, sat there for a moment and thought "Did my water just break?" After contemplating the situation a little I yelled to Jason "My water just broke!"

We started to clean the house, and make arrangements for Brooke. After a few hours and no consistent contractions we decided to go to Target and walk around and try to get some errands run at the same time. (I know the hospital tells you to go right away when your water breaks but I really wanted to see if I would go into labor naturally.) After coming home and putting everything away, getting Brooke down for a nap and watching a few shows on hulu, I decided to call my Dr. and see what I should do since it had already been about 6 hours since my water had broken. He told me to come to the hospital immediately because I was GBS positive with this baby and the risk of the baby getting it goes up a lot once your water has been broken. I really didn't want to go yet because I wanted a natural labor and knew that once I went in I would be put on Pitocin. I also knew once I had Pitocin I would get an epidural because I am an all or nothing kind of girl. (Sad to say but so true.) Either all natural or all medical is my philosophy. After another 2 hours we finally walked in to the hospital. I was starting to have contractions every 10 minutes or so, but after observing me for another 1.5 hours they said I needed to be put on Pitocin. I got on Pitocin at 4:30 and was already dilated to about a 3.5. By 7:30 I told them they better come in and give me my epidural (they wouldn't give it to me until I started to dilate from the Pitocin, but then they didn't check me. I told Jason they better go get someone, because since my mind was already made up that I was getting it, I was mad and couldn't relax to help manage the contractions. (By the way my contractions with Brooke were way easier to relax with then with Pitocin!!(That stuff hurts!) I got my epidural at 7:30 but it only numbed my back, buns, and right leg, I was still feeling all my contractions, long story short after trying lots of positions, more dosage etc, they had to give me another epidural, because the catheter had gone in crooked. After that one kicked in around 8:10 I was completely numb everywhere. It was horrible!! The Dr. came in and checked me and if I didn't see him I would have never known he was down there, that's how numb I was. He said I was at a 5. I was then happy (because I was sad at how my labor was going so far) that I had gotten the epidural because I knew it would be another super long labor like with Brooke. For the next hour I chatted with my Mom and Dad, and Jason went and got some food. After watching the monitor and noticing that my contractions were coming right on top of each other, I laughed and said I think I'm going through Transition right now. (So much different then with Brooke!!) The nurse came in a little latter and said she wanted to check me since I had been having some pretty good contractions. At 10:15 she checked me and said oh my gosh you are at a 10 and his head is right there. I started to laugh and she quickly closed my legs and said don't laugh the baby will come out and the Dr. and your husband aren't here. After calling the Dr. and Jason (Who is in big trouble for leaving me alone for 1.5 hours to go get "food" during labor) they came in and after 2 super small pushes Preston came out at 10:30. The labor was so easy, it was such a difference from pushing 2 hours with Brooke not to mention the short labor compared to the 26 hour one with Brooke.

Preston came out and was the most peaceful baby, he didn't cry except for the air to get into his lungs for the first time. I kept asking if anything was wrong because he was so mellow. It just turns out we have a little sweetie!

The hard part came afterwards, when Prestons mouth was so numb from the double epidural that he had no want to eat. I had to express and syringe my colostrum into his mouth for the first 2 days. It was stressful and filled with lots of tears because I couldn't understand why my baby didn't want to eat. Especially since he was so tiny when he was born I didn't want him to lose any weight. It was scary but he is eating now, so that's all that matters. I also can't believe how much an epidural robs you of your natural endorphins and adrenaline that help you to recover from labor. I felt like a truck hit me after giving birth with Preston even though the labor was really so easy.

So while my labor was nothing that I planned it to be, everything thankfully turned out okay and we are all healthy and happy. I am learning to roll with the punches in life. I may never have the totally natural birth that I want to, but I am okay with that as long as we are all healthy. Once again I had to put my trust in the Lord and give it all over to him. I am learning that it is so much better when you put it all in his hands.

Introducing Preston

Preston Aaron Postl

Born April 30, 2010

10:30 PM

5 lbs 13 oz

18" Long

Super Duper Sweet!!

(more details to come soon)

Trust..

Sometimes I wish I could control how things turn out. My insurance runs out as of May 1st. However I am due on May 7th. This means that we will be switching insurance, hospitals, doctors, and nursing staff right before we have the baby. We will also need to meet a whole new deductible, even though we have already met our other one for the year. Even worse, May 1st is a weekend and so the soonest I can have my initial prenatal intake is on the 3rd of May. The soonest I will be able to see the Dr. is the 5th of May. What happens if I go into labor before those appointments, but after my other insurance has run out? As someone who is never a procrastinator, but always a preparer I am scared that things will not all be in place when I go into labor. I have been praying that if it is God's will and if Preston is already fully developed then if he could come now before our insurance runs out, then it would be best for us. However I have a feeling that it will not happen, because my baby probably is not ready to come into the world. I once again am faced with the need for patience and faith in the Lord that everything will work out according to his timeline and not mine. (This is a constant lesson and theme in my life.) As someone who believes that babies should come when they are ready and are fully developed according to themselves, not when a due date says it is, I turned down the option to be induced with my Dr. now and have put my trust in the Lord. It was so hard to do, but I am feeling good and more confident about the decision. Now all I can do is pray that everything will go well and that God will help me endure the rest of this pregnancy. The waiting game continues but now with a little more trust and faith in the Lord.

Taken 38.5 weeks.

Baby Preston's Big Top Baby Shower

Lana threw me an awesome baby shower about a month ago. It was filled with lots of good friends, cute decorations, awesome treats, fun games, and lots of love. It really was the funnest baby sower I have ever been to, and we all had a great night. Thanks to everyone for helping me to celebrate our new little boy coming to our family!

Yummy Treats!!

Super Cute "Big Top" decorations!

Lots of super cool people, and awesome friends!

Tons of fun "minute to win it" games.

= One super fun girl's night and baby shower.

Thanks so much to the amazing Lana for putting everything together! I loved it!