Arynn's Birth Story

On February 26th around 4:30 am, I woke up with light contractions. We were 40 weeks and 6 days. Around 5:30, I woke Jake and told him today might be the day. I still wasn't convinced because contractions were 8 minutes apart, and nothing like the fast and furious labor we experienced with Addy. Jake went ahead and called into work to tell them he wasn't going to be there and then he called Nana. She arrived around 6:15 and we got to the hospital by 7:15. Jake wanted to make sure we could beat rush hour traffic. We were a little gun shy after our experience with Addy.

9 pounds 7 ounces
21 inches long

Once we got to the hospital we found out we were going to have a baby soon. I was dilated to 5 and contractions were coming regular but still around 8 minutes apart and very manageable.  Our OB was not on call, but Dr B was very nice and reassuring. He made sure the staff was on top of my platelet issue and to our surprise they had came up since the previous week. He offered to break my water around 8:00 to help speed things up, but I declined. I was okay with a slow labor this time.  

Meeting family for the first time.
 

Sometime later Dr B came back and offered to break my water, Jake and I still weren't ready to have any interventions so he left and then came back to tell us my Dr was going to check on us around lunch time. Dr. S came in around noon we were dilated to 9 almost 10 and he offered again to break my water, I still didn't want to just because I remembered how much more intense the labor was after that happened with Addy. I really wanted to just let things happen naturally. He told us he would eat lunch and come back in 30 minutes. 



Nanny Lee holding her 5th great-grandchild. Arynn is named after her mother, Mary Lizabeth, who would have been 113 years old on March 4th.

At 12:40 Dr. S came back, this time I was complete, but no urge to push. Arynn was still -3 station and posterior. He said if I would let him break my water she could rotate and come down like she was supposed to. I wasn't convinced but Jake knew if we sent him away again he might not make it back in time. So we agreed.



Mimi holding her 5th grandbaby.

Everything happened just like he said, I guess 50 years of delivering babies counts for something. : ) Arynn was born at 1:00 pm, no complications for either of us and Dr. S didn't even have to reschedule his afternoon patients!

Nana checking out her 3rd granddaughter's chubby cheeks.

Arynn made her appearance during the day so we had visitors come and welcome her. We actually were able to take pictures! (This didn't happen with Addy because she came in the wee hours of the morning and then went to the NICU) Bro. Ben came and stayed for a while but had to leave before he got to see her, so we don't have any pictures of him. 

Gary and Ann meeting baby Arynn.

We were so blessed with a wonderful labor and delievery. God knew the exact timing that was needed. We are thankful for all of the prayers about mine and Arynn's health. Not only did God answer those prayers but He blessed us even more with an easy labor, delivery and a speedy recovery. This has been the best postpartum experience compared to all of our other babies!

First photo as a family of seven!

We have been completely overwhelmed by the kindness and love shown to us with our 5th baby. We jokingly said it has been more like a first baby! We have had many meals prepared, gifts for Arynn and myself, prayers on our behalf, calls and visitors. We feel loved and blessed to have so many friends and family showing their love. We are thankful to everyone and love each of you! We are happy to have a new blessing in our lives! Welcome Baby Arynn, we love you!!!

Back on Track

It has taken 2 weeks, but I am finally caught up! Birthdays and Milestones have gotten me behind, but now we are back on track. If you are just now checking in, make sure you go all the way back to the end of April to see all that has been updated.

Addy @ Five Months

Addy Kay, you are five months old!

You are officially crawling and sitting up!

You wear a white edge prefold and medium covers. You wear a size 3 disposable at night because I cannot find anything that you will not leak through! (suggestions,  please?) You mainly wear size 6-9 month clothes, some 3-6 month and some 12 month, basically whatever is clean and will fit! Your size two shoes are almost too small. 

According to the bathroom scales you weigh around 17 pounds. You are still sleeping in your crib, but not as well. I think you are getting a tooth and want to nurse for comfort but we may try cereal soon. You are supposed to take a nap when your brothers do school, but so far you have different plans. I hope it is just the tooth disrupting your schedule, because you used to be a great sleeper. 

You laugh out loud a lot. You love to try and eat paper, you like to sit in your high chair and chew on a spoon during meals. You are not a fan of the bottle. You will take a bottle, but continue to cry and insist on nursing when you are through so it is not really worth it. You hum to yourself when you are sleepy and nursing. You chew on your toes and anything you can get in your mouth. When you get really excited you open your mouth wide and crinkle your nose! You are pretty good at playing in the floor and entertaining yourself, but if I walk by, you remember I am not holding you and you cry while crawling after me. You like to be held from 7:00 pm until bedtime, no one else can substitute, it has to be Mommy. I enjoy holding you on my hip as we finish our night time routine, but you are starting to get really heavy! You are such a blessing and we love you so much!

One o'clo-o-o-ck and all is well!

Okay, so it is one o'clock and all IS well, I'm just very behind on our blogging. But today we finally got back on track! We started school and I feel "back to normal" so maybe now I can devote some time to getting caught up. I'm going to be posting a lot about the past few months, I'm sure this is old news to most, but this is my journal/baby book/scrapbook and I don't want to leave anything out. Please be patient with me while I get caught up! :)

First Day of School

My Mom always took pictures of me on my first day of school, so why not carry on the tradition? The plan is to start the first full week after Austen's birthday, but we were a week behind this year. By starting our school in July, we miss out on all the really hot weather, and get out in April for the really nice weather.

Ava

Ava takes her nap during school, but of course Sissy was going to have her picture made too!

Aiden-2nd grade

Can't you tell he is super excited about U.S. History? Actually he was very excited, but he would never want anyone to know!

Austen- Pre-K 

Now that's the kind of enthusiasm I like to see, or is that fear?

2011-2012 Class of Mashburn University ;-)

  Enough with the photo shoot, now let's get to work!

Sweet Dreams

The day of Bryan's party, we spent the whole day with him. Errands, movies, lunch, grocery store, home, hair cuts, then back to Nanny's that night. We were all sooo tired.

This boy just couldn't make it anymore! That night, we walked in the door, took off of our shoes and were headed to the boys' room. Aus only made it to the kitchen and found the softest spot he could to land on.

Poor boy, wish I could sleep that sound. Sweet dreams!

Basic Training

Nanny invited the Burks' family over for taco salad and cake to celebrate Bryan's 19th birthday and send him off with our best wishes for Basic Training.

YOU ARE SPECIAL BRYAN!

Especially with your tuxedo tee!

He really enjoyed posing for these pics!

Wait! We missed you blowing out the candles, re-light them, take two!

This picture is so funny to me, they use the same hair dresser and apparently she can only do one hair style! Quick, someone get that girl a bow!

So Bryan left the next morning for Fort Sill, Oklahoma. It will be another long 16 weeks before we see him again. Hopefully he will make it home by Thanksgiving! If you read this Bryan, we love you, miss you and are so proud of you!