Alaskans

In January, my brothers and sister in law came out to Arizona where they snuggled the baby,

 played and crafted with the kids,  

 and soaked up the sun.

 I'm so glad they've been able to come out to see all of my newborns! 

 Thanks so much for the fun few days, guys!!!

(the train ride at Schnepf Farms)

I can't believe she's five

 Well, the Brynnie-Pie turned 5.  Lucky for everyone the day is long past, so no need for a weepy, sappy mom (which is what I was, considering I was still post-partum).

These are the new b-day jammies she got to wear to her polar express Christmas party at preschool.  She is a BIG Hello Kitty fan right now.  Funny, I don't even know what in the world Hello Kitty is.  It's cute merchandise though, I suppose.

 We went to see the zoo lights.  Here she is posing like a cactus, and growling like a bear...

3 kids, 4 and under

(obviously this is OLD because Brynn is now five)

Well, baby Gabe is two and half weeks old.  And by the way, he is perfect.  :)  The recovery has been longer and harder than the other two.  But at the same time, I feel like I've been able to manage things better this time, than when I went from one kid to two.  Before I had baby #3, I went back on my blog to May 2009 to re-read what I had written about my first day with Brynn and new baby Bryce (after my help had left and Marty went back to work).  I sounded totally overwhelmed.  That had me a little worried.  I guess since then I have altered my expectations for myself and learned how to manage a little more chaos.  I also realized that not everything was going to be able to be "ideal," and that's ok. 

My hospital stay was actually amazing and I was surprised by the fact that when it was time to go, I really didn't want to yet.  I caught up on rest by sending Gabe to the nursery to sleep (who can sleep with a newborn grunting next to them?).  My nurses and family were the best, I hardly changed any diapers the whole time I was there.  Basically, I nursed the baby, loved on the baby (like CRAZY), handed the baby over and then slept or ordered room service.  Not a bad way to spend a couple of days. :)

The first couple of days home were wonderful, too.  Marty and my mom were there to take care of things, and once again I found myself in my own little world with my new buddy.  I kept finding myself saying things like, "This is SO fun!" or "Let's have LOTS!"  (Don't worry, I'm actually going to be pretty gun-shy after this pregnancy).

Then Mom left and Marty went back to work.  So I found myself on Monday truly out-numbered with three kids and only two hands.  I woke up feeling pretty good (Gabe was actually a pretty quiet sleeper those first few days), but also a little nervous!  Confident too, though, and I'm not sure where that came from.  I got my kids breakfast and ready for the day then sent Brynn off to preschool and Bryce off to a playdate.  More loving on the baby, a little rest, a little housework.  The kids got home and things got very busy, but still manageable.  By the time Marty got home, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself!  Dinner came to the door, thanks to a good friend, and I went to bed that night (or whatever "going to bed" is when you have a newborn with days and nights mixed up) feeling sore, tired, but pretty good about the day.  But I can't have that, now can I? :)  So Tuesday I got sick.  I don't know how someone manages to get sick a week after giving birth considering the fact I hadn't BEEN anywhere, but of course I managed it.  Plus Marty was super busy that week and I didn't see him a whole lot.  Thus, the rest of that week was pretty rough.  It was still manageable, but between no sleep at night and not having a lot of spare time during the day to just rest, it was pretty hard to take it easy enough to get better.  Thank heavens for good friends offering meals and play dates for the kids.  It was also nice to have a four year old around this time.  When things got crazy at lunchtime, I could say, "Brynn, go make a meat and cheese sandwich for you and Bryce," and she could just go do it.

The second week has been better.  I  moved the baby out of my room already.  I'm a light sleeper and Gabe has become the gruntiest baby ever and he was eating every two hours at night.  My doctor said I was probably waking him up as much as he was waking me up.  So I moved him out and now he eats about every 3 and a half to 4 hours at night. I'm feeling better and have more energy.  I still get overwhelmed sometimes, but I keep going back to the word manageable.  Nothing is perfect, and not much is ideal, but so far things are manageable.

The kids are completely in love.  It's funny, when we brought Bryce home from the hospital, we didn't think we'd have to worry about Brynn around him, but we were WRONG.  She totally didn't get it, she thought he was her toy and liked to do things like, oh, scratch his eyeballs just to get a reaction.  Bryce is a rough and tumble boy, but has always had a very gentle side to him.  I've never had to worry about him hitting or destroying things in the house.  And he has stayed true to himself with this baby.  He is as gentle as can be and never touches without asking.  He'll be screaming and playing one minute, and then next minute he'll lay down next to the baby and start whispering soothing things in Gabe's ear.  It's so precious, I melt every time.  And neither of them have been acting out in jealousy.  In fact, Bryce is a happy camper now that mommy can hold him again (it's been a couple of months).  The only thing I've noticed is that the kids have been fighting a little more as they've gotten stir-crazy cooped up in the house (I'm paranoid taking the baby anywhere and it's actually been raining here in sunny AZ, can you believe it?).

Anyway, our newest little family member has just fit right in and it's just like he belongs here.

Gabe Martin is here!

Well, Monday night was a big disappointment. I was scheduled to go in for the induction around 9:00 that night, but got a call around 7:30 to let us know they didn't have beds and were going to have to push back the induction. It was a big blow, first of all because I was having deja vu of my induction with Brynn being pushed back for almost two days. And I just felt like the time my mom was able to be here was really going to be ticking away if we had to wait that long. So Marty and I took a short date to Fry's to get a Redbox and some ice cream to try to take our antsy minds off of just waiting. I really did not feel like being at home. But then when we got out and about, I realized I really didn't want to be there, either. I only wanted to be at the hospital. So when we got home I just decided to go to bed early and try to get some sleep. Marty and I tossed and turned all night, not knowing if they were going to call at two in the morning that night or two days later on Wednesday. But we got the call Tuesday morning at 10:50.


We got to the hospital at about 11:30 and of course had all the checking in and everything to do. After I was finally admitted and ready we found out I was only at a 2. We started the pitocin at 1:00 and it seemed to be fairly slow going as at 5:00 I was still only at a 3. Although, considering the labor and delivery I had with Brynn, "slow going" is relative.

 Leading up to the epidural I was having a lot of back pain, which I don't remember having my other two deliveries.  It was a big relief to sit/bounce on the exercise ball.  But pretty soon after that I had progressed enough on my own and decided I was ready for the epidural.  This is the first pregnancy I've had where I've really considered trying it without one, but by the end of this pregnancy, I decided I had been through quite enough pain, thank you very much.  After that, things went pretty smoothly.  There were small things - like how the anesthesiologist forgot to turn on the pump for the epidural.  So after the first dose of medicine wore off I asked my doctor (she came in to break my water at 7:00 pm) why nothing was really numb or anything anymore and she snooped around and said, "Hm, maybe because the machine is off and you're not getting any medicine."  The other crazy thing was that anytime I tried to either sit up or lay on my back I'd get extremely light-headed and nauseous and my blood pressure would go way (way way way) down.  I think they decided it was the way the baby was putting pressure on the veins or something.  So I had to spend most of the delivery from that point on on my side, on ephedrine, and with the oxygen mask, which really bothered me.  But I suppose there is a reason they call it labor, right? ;)  As my three labors/deliveries have gone, I would place it somewhere in the middle.  Brynn's was super traumatic, Bryce's was ridiculously easy.  This one wasn't bad either.  Funny though, as difficult as the experience is, the overwhelming feeling is one of a beautiful, sacred sacrifice.  Anyway, by 11:00ish pm I knew it was time to push (and not a minute too soon).  I pushed once and there was his head, pushed a second time and there was my sweet baby Gabe!!  He was born on 11-29-11 at 11:07, weighing in at 7 lbs 5 oz and was 20 1/2 inches.  And was perfectly healthy and handsome!

 Hehe, look at his old man hair!  Bald on top, hair around the edges.  Before I had this baby, I predicted him to be my first redhead, and he just might be.  His hair is much lighter and less thick than my other two babies.

 So, he does resemble my other two babies, but he has his own look, too.  When I first saw Bryce it was the strangest feeling because it was like looking at an exact replica of Brynn.  I was like, "Wait a minute, I already had this baby a couple years ago, where's my new one?" :)  And to me, B & B still look SO much alike.  What/who are you going to look like, baby Gabe?  I think he's a Johnson....

 My wonderful doctor, Barbara Newman, who has delivered all three of my babies.  I absolutely love this woman.  She is so easy to talk to, never makes me feel stupid for asking questions, lets me call the shots, and in general she just takes really good care of me.  I remember when I was in labor with Brynn, Marty was hungry but kept putting off going to the cafeteria because he didn't want to leave me.  It was just a few days before Christmas, but she said, "Go ahead and eat, I'll just hang out."  So she just sat and chit-chatted with me about Christmas, what I was going to eat (morning sick the whole nine months - I couldn't WAIT to start eating again!), and other little topics.  Then just before this last pregnancy they built a hospital which is literally just down the street from me, but she doesn't deliver there.  So I tried another doctor - just once - and remembered how much I loved Dr. Newman enough to make the long drive out to her office and the other hospital.  She wasn't going to be on call over the Thanksgiving holiday, but she gave me a special card to take with me to the hospital in case I went into labor that weekend.  She said, "You drove all this way, and I am going to be the one to deliver this baby.  You make sure they call me, even if it's on Thanksgiving day." 

And Marty, of course, was amazing as always.  He's gentle when he needs to be, backs off when he needs to, holds me when I need it, sticks up for me and my preferences, and is so intuitive about the whole thing.  I love the feeling of being so "in this thing together."  It's beautiful (I'll try to stop using that word, now).

I know it's hard, but just try not to be jealous of how great and non-icky I look in this picture (ugh).  The first time the kids met their brother is definitely on my top 5 list of best parent moments ever.

 They were both totally smitten.

 THANK HEAVENS Grandma was around.  I don't know what we would have done without her.  The day after I had him she spent a good part of the day at the hospital with me and let Marty go home with the kids.  She was so calm and has such a gentle quiet voice and mannerisms.  She loved on my baby while I slept and got anything I needed before even telling her I needed it.  That's such a mom thing.  She also worked her tail off at my house which was a huge relief considering how anxious I felt about getting so behind on everything.  Bryce was broken-hearted when she went back to Utah.  He was weepy and pouty all afternoon after Marty took her to the airport and has said multiple times since she left:
Bryce:  Mommy, where's Grandma?
Me:  She's back in Utah with Grandpa."
Bryce: (pause).....I neeeeed her!"

What can I say?  We are in baby heaven!!!

Last thoughts...

Well, this is it.  By tomorrow I should be holding the most heavenly thing I ever get to touch.  I am so ready and excited to welcome the newest member of our eternal family.  I wanted to write down a few last thoughts on the pregnancy, but now that I get here, all I can think about is how badly I just want my baby! 

The kids have been so excited.  I've been kind of surprised at how well Bryce seems to understand what's going on.  He's been asking me most days if the baby was ready to come out.  About a month ago I was laying on the back and all of a sudden felt a sharp pain in my stomach.  I look down and Bryce is trying to shove a half eaten pretzel in my belly button.  I asked him what in the WORLD he was doing and he said, "I giving the baby a nack (snack)."  He kisses my belly all the time and I just think he's excited.

Brynn has been excited also, although the last few days she seems like she's been developing some serious anxiety over the whole thing.  Last night we had a long talk about what it was going to be like when we went to the hospital and when we came home, etc.  We told her we knew she was going to be such a good big sister and we were so proud of her and she started getting really emotional and trying not to cry.  I couldn't figure out if it was because she was worried or really excited or what.  I think maybe she just understands the depth of the situation and got a little overwhelmed emotionally, just like I have the last day or two.   This is a big deal!

Marty is SOOOO baby hungry!  He mentions being baby hungry multiple times a day and has started randomly stealing babies in church and from our friends.  He is the cutest daddy.  I can't wait to see him silly with a baby again. 

As for me, I just need to be DONE with this pregnancy.  It's been rough.  Worth it, but rough.  I know Brynn is ready to have her mom back. The other day she said she was going to have daddy cut off all my hair so that I would look like a boy so that I couldn't have a baby in my tummy again.  That was kind of hard to listen to.  She's been a total trooper, though.  Very patient and helpful, but she's ready for the whole thing to be over with, too. This is the first time we will have left for the hospital not being sure about a name.  We're close, I just need to see him first to be sure. 

Our really random Fall

Brynn right before a birthday party.  This girl and her poses.

This picture is a funny story, and I can't believe it's almost all I have to show for Marty's amazing birthday.  His brothers and family and Dad drove down from Utah on Labor day weekend (Marty's birthday) to SURPRISE him.  I was in charge of keeping it secret and getting him out for a little while the day they came.  Well, Marty was IMPOSSIBLE.  Seriously, I had no idea how STUBBORN he could be.  Long story short, we were gone much later that day than we should have been and his family had to break in through the back window and wait around for us.  But the look on Marty's face when he saw them all in his house was so priceless.  I honestly was worried he was going to pass out, he was so shocked.  Anyway, we had a wonderful time and I am so grateful they were all able to come out for a few short days for Marty's big 30th.  

Here are the kids with the cousins, 

 And games with the Johnson boys.

 I told you this was random.  This is our new temple wall.  I made the frames with scrapbook paper and black paint. Marty and I visited a whole bunch of temples on our honeymoon and loved it so much that we decided that whenever we travel anywhere we'd make sure to see any temples that are around.  So, finally six years later we got all of our pictures together and ta-dum!  There are a few prints I'm missing, but if we find those, we'll be able to expand it even more!

 Speaking of temples, we've been taking the kids to the new Gilbert temple periodically and taking pictures to document the growth of the temple and the kids. 

 Oh, HEY!  Remember how this was the hottest August on record for Arizona?  And I was lucky enough to be pregnant for it?  And I thought the summer was NEVER going to END?  And now it's November and FINALLY beginning to cool off?  Just wanted to make sure you know how triumphant this picture is of us finally outside and enjoying the weather.

 Oh, this is cute.  Brynn picked up the idea of a field journal from a movie and decided she HAD to have a field journal to record her observations in.  Then we called Uncle Corey who has real life experience with field journals and she's been even more determined.  Brynn can stick with something for so long and work at it so determinedly.  (new word?)  Her last picture was labeled "I see mi cran box."  I love trying to interpret four year old chicken scratch.

 Two playful kids I can't get enough of.  True story:  this is the infamous Buzz Lightyear suction cup that my very strong two year old used to pull the entire TV off the entertainment center.  Have to keep an eye on this one.

 Constantly dancing.

 Brynnie-Pie's first piano recital!  It was just a simple five finger pattern I let her do before my other students performed.  But I think she was pretty cute.

And I'll leave you with this hideous belly picture courtesy of  Brynn.

Remember Halloween?

Little Red Riding Hood

This was before the trunk-or-treat.  And yes, we went trick-or-treating also.  And yes.  We ate all the candy.  Now let us never speak of being 7 and a half months pregnant at Halloween again.

The cutest little skeleton you've ever seen.

 And by the way, give me a moment to sing praises to good friends for free costumes. :)

 And here is Jimmer Freddette and his basketball.  Sigh.  It's humiliating.  As if I weren't enough of a spectacle already.  Now let us never speak of being 7 and a half months pregnant at Halloween again.

 It was fun to have a Marty with dark hair for the evening.  Although, I have to admit, I was slightly worried about not getting the all the black out of his hair before going to work and having him get in big trouble!  Of course I didn't tell him that until after I sprayed it dark....

We did other fun Halloween things.  Of course carving a pumpkin.  We are big, huge fans of Halloween at our house.  I don't remember being all that into it, and then I had Brynn and she looooves Halloween. 

 Another fun thing we did on Halloween was to read our favorite Halloween book, "Big Pumpkin!" about a witch who uses her home-grown pumpkin to make pumpkin pie for her Halloween guests.  Then we made our own real pumpkin pie.  I always thought pumpkin pie was gross until my sister-in-law convinced me to try it with a real pumpkin.  And then I loved it!

And here is a new favorite smile from the Brycer-Boo.  Fun fact:  Bryce has started calling himself Brycer-Boo.