Declan's birth story

For those who are interested here is Declan's birth story:

I went in to see the Dr on May 30 (since Mia was early she decided to do all test, measurements etc early just to be sure) and she did the strep B test and checked my cervix at 35 weeks. I was 4 cm dilated and 60% effaced. I went back to work on Thursday and than again on Friday. Friday night and Saturday I was having mild contractions, which given my history made me nervous. Saturday Pat and I spent at my brother DJ's house helping him get it ready to move into. I pretty much lounged around and wasn't much help but needed to be near Pat so he could drive me to the hospital on short notice if need be. The contractions continued off and on so we went into the hospital on Saturday, stayed for about an hour than they sent us home. On Sunday, our small group threw us a 'sprinkle' baby shower. My water broke towards the end of the evening about 8:20 pm as we were leaving the party. We quickly left, stopped at home to drop Mia off with my mom and headed to the hospital. I was still 4 cm and not having painful contractions, so they started me on Pitocin. Pat and I hung out talking and he was telling me jokes until I couldn't stand the pain any longer. I got an epidural around 12 midnight and around 1:10 I pushed maybe 3 times and my little peanut was born at 1:15 am on Monday June 3rd. I delivered at Grant Medical Center and the experience I had here was stellar. I had the best L&D nurse and my doc was on call for the hospital that weekend so she was ready and available to deliver my baby.  Since Declan was premature they had the NICU nurses in L&D and had prepared me that he would probably need oxygen and would probably have to go straight to the NICU once he was born. Thankfully, he came out screaming and never had to leave the room! We did end up staying the hospital an extra day because he was jaundice, premature, was tongue-tied and was losing weight but we had great care and support while we were there. This experience was vastly different from our first, we were able to sit back and relax a bit, take in the experience a little more since Declan's arrival was a little more controlled than Mia's

Here are Declan's newborn pictures taken at 4 days old

Mommy and baby meet!

Our little peanut has doubled his birth weight since birth and is fitting in well into our little family. We love him!

Christmas and Lots of Snow!

We spent Christmas 2012 at home this year. We Skype'd with family and lazed around most of the day. It was great. Here are some of my favorite pics:

 Merry Christmas 2012

SO excited!

Lego Castle

This Monkey hat is now her favorite hat to wear!

The aftermath round one

We also got quite a bit of snow which delayed my MIL's flight giving us a few more days to play in the snow! This was the first year Mia really cared about playing in the snow and she loved it!

Nashville

We have had quite a lot happen in the last few months, and since I find myself in a rare position: Mia is asleep before 9pm. I find myself with a little me time :) This is a miracle since she normally doesn't fall asleep until 11:00pm or later! So, I thought now would be an excellent time to sit down and update my blog (since paying bills didn't sound quite as fun!) and it has been since November since I have blogged about anything!
Thanksgiving and Christmas were a whirlwind. Mostly d/t finding that the projected plan for my mom's cancer treatment took a turn toward a more extensive surgery, we had to make many adjustments including bumping up our celebration of my mom's 50th birthday in February! She had never been to Nashville so we loaded up the car and headed to the Country Music Capitol and the Opryland hotel!. But here are a few of my favorite pics:

 Decorating  a Gingerbread family

Mia got her first Cowboy hat and a 'Patar" aka guitar for Christmas

We got to hear a live band and see the Rockettes at the Grand Ole Opry

And to top it all off this kid was SO excited to go for a 'horsie' ride!

Happy early 50th Birthdays MOM! 

Thanksgiving Day 3

I am thankful for Doctors who give up their lives/families to take care of sick people, who are up well before me and stay at the hospital later then I, to make sure that their patients are taken care of. They sacrifice so much and I am grateful for them.

Thanksgiving Day 2

I am thankful that my mom's surgery went well and that she is in Ohio where such a great team of Doctors and nurses are able to take such good care of her.

Thanksgiving Day 1

I have alot to be thankful for this year, so I am doing 30 days of Thanksgiving on my blog again this year. I have to forewarn you that I may post several days at a time just because my life is slightly hectic right now :)
Day 1: I am thankful for my husband who continues to support me, know what I need, and loves me anyway!

Vacation 2012

Be forewarned, this post will have lots of pictures! For two weeks this summer my little family joined our bigger family for a beach family vacation. We had a blast. The first week we pretty much went to the beach every day. On the second day, Mia got knocked over by a wave and was terrified of the water, she didn't even want Patrick or I to go in. We also went on surrey rides, went to a Phillies game and stopped at Pat's cheese steaks, visited with the Cotters and rode some rides. Pam and Jared came down mid way through the week, we went jet skiing with them and Pam taught Mia all about sand fiddlers.

 Fetching water from the Ocean

 Our camp

 Surrey rides 

 Before the Phillies game

 Learning all about sand fiddlers

 Returning the sand fiddlers to the sand

 Mia was definitely in her happy place at the beach! She still asks daily when we can go to the beach house

 Notice the sleeping baby in the tent! Pleasantly surprised she slept on the beach!

Mia reading ALL her books

On the rides with her friend Drew

 This is my favorite picture!

The second week, Lindsey, Abram, Royce, my mom, and grandparents joined the crew. My cousin Matt and his family came down for a trip to the boards, we went to Storybook land, rode Lots more rides, went para-sailing  and to the Cape May Zoo. Overall, best family vacation we have had to date. Can't wait to do it again next year!

 Royce Bean

 Grams helping Mia feed the goats

 Mia cruising with Grams supervising

 The sign says it all

 Mary's little lamb. Mia was so concerned because she wasn't with her mommy and daddy

 The best picture of multiple attempts at a group shot

 Nothing better then cousins in a hole, with some water and sea foam

 'Catching stuff'

 Sea foam

 More rides!

Finally saw the Giraffes and Zebras at the zoo!