Welcome Zachary!!!!

On Monday the 24th I went to my Dr. appointment at 8:30 a.m.  After a weekend long of constant, yet irregular contractions I was hoping to hear that things had progressed.  I was dilated to a 4 and 75% effaced!  My Dr. asked if I wanted to have a baby that day!  He said if I wanted I could wait and probably go into labor on my own within the next day or two or we could go to the hospital in a few hours for him to break my water!  I though...hmmm....why prolong the inevitable!

I quickly called Chris (no answer).  Called my mom and told her to get ready quick!  Called my friend and neighbor, Rachel to see if they would take Brady after he got home from school.  Called my friend Natalie to see if she could come pick up Olivia.  Called Chris again (no answer.  Seriously!!!)

DROVE to Chris' work WHILE having harder contractions.  Told him I was "in labor" and the plan to go to the hospital and speed things up a bit.  He said, "ARE YOU KIDDING!  This is my busiest day of the week!!"  I waited in the car while he tied up loose ends at work.  We drove home, finished packing my hospital bag, got Olivia out the door and headed on in!  SURREAL.

11:00 a.m. got checked into my room, dressed in the gown, giving vital info etc. to nurse.

12:00 noon- My Dr. arrives.  Makes small chat as he is a family friend and hadn't seen my mom in 7 years and had never met Chris. 

12:15- breaks my water, at which he comments that it is no wonder that my "children don't like to come out on their own- I have membranes of steel!"

12:30- start walking the halls while experiencing mild to moderate contractions.  Continue making "the rounds" for the next hour or so.

2:00 p.m.- My water finally completely "breaks" and more moderate to hard contractions begin.  Continue walking, and walking, and walking....

Approximately 4:15 p.m.- Go back to my room.  Getting too uncomfortable to walk.  Sit on birthing ball until contractions become too intense.  Walk over to bed and "collapse" onto floor with contraction.  (Mind you, when I say contraction I am talking front and back labor- double whammy!  AND NO PAIN MEDS!!!)

At this point I lose all track of time.  I am just trying to survive.  I use the mantra "JUST BREATHE" over and over and over and over as I get through each contraction and try to feel what my body is doing and when it is ready.

This time I know when it's time to push.  My mom goes and gets the nurse!!!  I squeeze the HELL out of Chris' hand and silently pray that I will get through this.  I have no choice.  The Dr. and nurses come, everything is prepared and ready to go!  TIME TO PUSH!!!  Chris gets "suited up"- he is helping to deliver this baby!  He does AMAZING as he is instructed by the Dr.  He encourages and reassures me.  I have my eyes SQUEEZED SHUT SO TIGHT but I hear his voice and it is good to know he is right there.

The nurses are great.  They are calm and patient.  I am pushing harder that I have ever pushed before.  The Dr. announces that the baby is posterior, meaning facing upward.  Babies are "supposed" to be facing downward when delivered.  The Dr. states that delivering a posterior baby is like adding an additional 3 lbs. to the baby's weight.  This delivery is HARD and I feel like it's never going to end.  I break the bloodvessels in my neck and jaw from pushing but finally he is born! 

Zachary Morgan Graf

5:29 p.m.- Miracle of all miracles a new infant comes into the world and I hear his first little cry!  I am still concentrating so hard on "survival mode" that I do not open my eyes until I feel him placed upon my chest by Chris after he cuts the cord.  My eyes feel glues shut but suddenly I feel this warm infant on my chest and SEE my baby for the first time!  He is PERFECT.

8 lbs. 1 oz.

20.5 in.

It is so hard to focus, to breathe.  The nurses are encouraging me to slow my breaths and to try and let my body relax.  It takes me several minutes before I can.  Baby Zachary is being taken care of by the nurses and I am being taken care of by my Dr.  Another amazing experience of my life has taken place.  I am a new mother all over again.  I feel pride, happiness, accomplishment. 

The next several hours are a blur of busy nurses in and out.  Holding the baby and then watching him be held.  Proud daddy and Grammie.  (Daddy is busy facebooking everyone the details- we forget to take a picture of him)

   

Chris leaves and gets the kids, who finally meet their new little brother at around 9 p.m. that night! 

They bring balloons and Chris brings a bouquet of flowers. Olivia is SO EXCITED and ALL SMILES.  She kisses and rubs his head.  She wants to sit right next to me and be with him.  Brady is more nonchalant.  He smiles and kisses his brother but hangs back a little more.  He eats the cookies and crackers on the table next to my bed.  We kiss goodbye and I am left with my new, sweet baby to myself.

DAY 1:

Zachary means "The Lord remembered" or "The Lord recalled." 

Morgan is of Welsh origin and means "bright sea." 

I love names that have meaing to them and I also love nicknames (Braden = Brady, Olivia = Livy) so Zachary was a good choice in both regards.  We plan on calling him Zach. 

Morgan  is also my maiden name.  I grew up on the ocean so I've always loved its' meaning.

Proud Daddy!!!

"Stork" Dinner

The hospital where I delivered served us a fantastic meal: Steak, baked potato, steamed carrots, fruit salad, green salad, sparkeling apple cider and cherry cheese cake.  There was so much food we were stuffed!  It was wonderful to have some special time with Chris and the baby before heading home the next day.

CHEERS!!!!

Autumn walk along the river.

My Aunt Donna and cousin Megan were able to come down from Montana to visit for the weekend that my mom flew in from Maine.  We went for a nice afternoon walk along the Snake River in downtown and enjoyed the crisp fall air, beautiful scenery and on my part lots of contractions!  I started having contractions that afternoon and continued throughout the rest of the weekend with irregular front and back contractions!!!

 Grammie Morgan and Livy

 "Aunt Sandy" and cousin Megs

Aunt Donna and my mom

40 (or "42" weeks, as I measured 2 weeks ahead the entire pregnancy)

   

Olivia. 3 years 3 months.

Olivia has become quite the fast little bike rider and loves to try and keep up with big brother, Brady!  Whenever I am out front or mowing she speeds up and down the sidewalk!!!

This is what happens when you give a crazy little girl some Oreos before bedtime (her face was MUCH messier just prior taking these pictures!  Oh, and the Oreos were due to a very hungry and pregnant mommy going shopping and giving into cravings!!!)

Some facts about Olivia:

• Olivia seems to have some "OCD" tendencies, about which I am half joking and half a tiny bit concerned.  She has to have things JUST RIGHT such as...ice in her water, she wipes her bottom after going the bathroom MULTIPLE TIMES (I"m talking for like 5 minutes!) and throws a huge fit if you try to wipe for her or get her to hurry up.  She is very meticulous about her bedding and like sher blanket a certain way and keeps trying to just sleep on top of her blankets because she says it makes them look nice that way.  If I don't make her bed in the morning she will!!! 
• She has become a VERY picky eater and does not like sandwich meat, jelly, potatoes (of any kind except french fries), oatmeal, sauces etc.  It is very rare for her to actually eat a complete meal unless it consists mainly of "JUNK", of which I rarely serve, so many nights she goes to bed on a half full/empty belly
• She LOVES to color with colored pencils and markers.  Crayons have gotten "old."  Most days she likes me to print pages off from the computer instead of drawing in coloring books.  We created an art wall going down the stairway to display all of hers and Brady's creations.
• She is talking much better and pronouncing most letters now.  She is still hung up on the letter "S" and if you try to correct her or encourage her to say a word right, such as "snow" instead of "tow" she gets mad and says, "I am Olivia JulieAnn Graf and that is how I talk!"

Those are the main things I could think of off hand.  She loves to help with EVERYTHING and gets herself dressed and puts shoes on all by herself.  She is learning how to buckle herself up in the car and for some reason likes to get out from the driver's seat, which I usually let her do since it's just been her and I on most excursions.  She sits well for me to do her hair in the mornings and still likes puzzles and books.  In fact, she memorizes lots of words from stories and movies and will call you on it if you try and change the words or skip a page!

She keeps me on my toes and is very active and often sassy but she is also sweet, helpful and sunshine that warms my soul everytime I look at her and her beautiful smile and blue eyes!!!! 

Tubby time + Colored water = LOTS OF FUN!!!

Livy's favorite birthday gift was a little container of tablets that color her bath water (thanks Auntie Nickie!!!)  Everytime she takes a bath she gets to choose what color she wants!  It is so much fun and I had to get a tubby picture with every color! Oh, and I hope no one is offended by the top picture!  Those buns were just too cute not to post!!!

"39 weeks" and counting....

Here I am in all of my baby #3 glory!

This picture was taken at 38 weeks and now I am 39 weeks and counting...

I have consistently measured two weeks ahead during this pregnancy and although my Dr. never officially moved my due date up he does not want me to go past my due date by too much as I would technically already be 2 weeks "over" at that point.  That means that when I go in for my next appointment on Monday the 24th (my "due date") they'll schedule an induction for either Wednesday the 26th or Monday the 31st (those are the days they do inductions).  I would like to go into labor on  my own with this baby as I was induced with both Brady and Olivia, but I also know that my body responds well to induction so I am ultimately going to be fine with whatever the outcome is.

Lots of contractions so far but nothing steady.  Somedays I have them all day and other days they are more sporadic.  Some days they are more painful than others.  Some days they are 15-20 minutes apart.  Feeling pretty good for the most part though.  I have decided to pack up all my last minute projects I was trying to cram in and just do the things I HAVE to do.  No more stressing out for me!  Right now I have a totally spic and span house, all baby things bought and ready, diaper bag packed, hospital bag packed, car seat washed and waiting by the door.....

WISH US LUCK!!!

Pumpkin Patch. Fall 2011.

For General Conference weekend we went down to Grammie and Grandpa's in Burley.  It is kind of a tradition that we've had when we've lived in Idaho and the kids love going to the pumpkin patch in Rupert every fall to get our pumpkins!  (See last years' post for lots of pretty pictures!)

Brady has now lost four of his teeth, including his two top teeth!  It's so fun watching him change, grow and get so big!!!!

Dinner out! Texas Roadhouse style

When Chris first took the job promotion in Idaho Falls we lived apart for about 2 months (10 weeks).  Thank goodness we have awesome cousins who are going to school and live in Rexburg who graciously opened their home for him to come and stay!  As a thank you we brought Ben and Rachel out for a nice dinner at Texas Roadhouse and had a really nice evening together!  We're so glad you guys live close by!!!

Ballerina. (and the little clogging boy)

Olivia started a ballet, jazz, tap class at the first of September and she LOVES it!  Every Tuesday she gets to dress up in a pretty outfit and dance in front of mirrors for 45 mins!  It has been so fun to watch her dance her heart out smiling the whole time!  I can't wait until her first recital!

Cute outfit Grammie Morgan sent for Livy's birthday!

And here is our little clogging boy!  Chris clogged for 11 years (or so) and had so many opportunities for travel and fun that we thought it would be a great outlet for Brady as well.  We hope that he enjoys it (and seems to thus far) and has many opportunities through competition and perhaps scholarships as well!