Down on Howell's Farm...

My cousin Lauren was back from CA for the month of July. Normally we would of had her stay the night several times over her stay but with waiting to go into labor and then getting up 2-3 times a night I just did not have the energy to entertain anyone. Sadie had her stay last week and we decided to check out a farm in Cummings. The kids had a lot of fun and we look forward to going back in the fall to visit the maze and pumpkin patch.

Ellie is obsessed with farm animals so she was in heaven and loved petting all of them and playing on their playground. Hadley of course decided that sleeping was more fun!

Introducing Miss Hadley Jean

Its official, she is a big girl!

Due to some training Jess has to go to tomorrow, I had to be induced last week and we could not wait to see when I would go into labor. I called last week to schedule the induction and the only day my doc had open was Friday which happened to be Ellie's 2nd birthday. Since I really did not have a choice i went with it hoping I would go on my own. No such luck. Here is a picture of me before we left for the hospital Friday morning. Yes I know I resembled a whale. I was enormous!

At 8:40am my doctor came in and broke my water. They had been monitoring me since I came in and I was having regular 3-5 min apart contractions before they did anything so the doctor is pretty sure I would have had her that day The contractions took over right away and no more intervention was needed. At about 1:15pm I got my epidural and was 5-6 cm dialated. I was still feeling a lot of pain but just the edge was gone but at about 2:15 she checked me again because the monitor was showing I was close. I was a nine and she said if I felt pressure to call her back. At 2:20 I was feeling like it was time and I was fully dialated. 24 minutes of pushing and out came Miss Hadley Jean. Although I felt almost everything it was wonderful! It was so much faster than the 2 1/2 hours of pushing with Ellie.





Hadley weighed in at a shocking 8lbs 14oz and was 22 in long. She was 1 1/2 lb and 1 1/2 in bigger than Ellie was! ellie was nervous being in the hospital and seeing her for the first time but she warmed up and loves her so much. She wants to hold her and hugs and kisses her all the time. We are all so in love. She is a great baby and sleeps so well. She has been waking only twice a night and nurses like a pro!

still pregnant!

I am still pregnant. Today I am 39 weeks 1 day. I never rmade it this far with Ellie. I am dialtaed to 3 and 75% effaced as of Friday and I am starting to feel as this baby will never come.

I spent 12 am til 3 am the other night with contractions 10 min apart and then bam they stopped. Not funny! I live with the knowledge that my doc said she would induce me on the 21 if there is no baby by then. I will add a pic when I look good enough to take one. It is hard to get ready every day now :)

Ellie and Jayce's party

We decided to have Ellie's party early due to my due date being so close to her birthday. To make it even easier we planned Ellie and Jayce's parties together! We decided to do it at a place called the Playground for Kids in Ankeny. We hosted a private party so our guests and us were the only kids there. it was awesome! The kids had a blast and the birthday boy and girl had so much fun (even if ellie was scared on the inflatables!)

Enjoy our pics!

36 weeks 3 days

25 days to go!!!!!!!! I look enormous and dont feel as big as I look but I am prepping myself for labor. I have been reading up and trying to remember everything. I am praying for a quicker easy labor and going to try no epidural. Cant wait to see if it is a boy or girl!

Huge Giveaway!

My friend Cara who has the store I blogged about awhile back is having a huge giveaway!! It is her 1 year anniversary of the store and she is celebrating with giving away a $200 gift certificate!! Check it out and enter today! The button is on my page for her store and her blog address is http://bubblesandbowsboutique.blogspot.com/2009/06/happy-anniversary-giveaway.html

It will lead you directly to the give away!

Congrats Uncle Louie

My brother Louie participated in the State track meet. He qualified in all his events (100 m dash, 200m dash, 4 x 100, and the 4 x 200). We went down on Thursday and watched him qualify in the 100 and 200 for the finals on Saturday. because I was so burnt :( we decided to skip Friday where he and his 4 x 200 team took 2nd placce and the 4 x 100 team qualified him for the fnal on Sat. Sadie and I with all the kiddos went down on Saturday to watch the finals. It was very exciting and the kids were good. Louie ended up getting 6th in the 100m dash and second in the 200m dash, the 4 x 200 and the 4 x 100. And the best news of all is that Madrid won the class 1A state track title! It was so exciting and we are so proud of him. Now it is on to baseball!