Brielle's first weeks

It's my first day home alone with all 3 kids and I should be sleeping...or doing laundry. But instead I'm surfing through the hundreds of pictures we have taken this month. Between a baby and christmas there are TONS of pictures! And I want to make sure that Brielle gets enough "face time" in our blog book. So here is yet another photo dump of the first few weeks of her life. Some things about Brielle: -She will sleep through ANY loud noises. If it is quite, she has a hard time sleeping -She poops like a kid I've never seen! Seriously she ruins several outfits a day! -She has such a calmness about her. I'm hoping she will be my chill child! -She smiles so sweetly in her sleep and her eye lashes are really very long! -At two weeks my good friend Lyndi took some newborn pictures for me. She slept through her whole photo shoot and then peed all over everything -The mark on her head is starting to look more like a birth mark than a bruise. Only time will tell if it will ever go away! -She loves to cuddle by her daddy. But what girl in our family doesn't?! He's so warm and cuddly. -She sleeps most nights 3-4 hours in between feedings which is awesome! But she gets really gassy at night too -She loved her first bath and so did her big brother and sister I love how having a new baby brings a reminder of heaven. I continually find my self wondering about heaven and what she knows and where she just came from and who of my deceased family members she has met. I love the sweet reminder to me of what matters most of having an eternal family. Sure love this sweet little one!

Brielle Carmina

Brielle was born on Dec 10 after a long 39 weeks growing in my body. This was by far my hardest pregnancy but easiest labor and delivery! I went in at 5:30 AM and was all hooked up to the monitors and ready to go by 7:30. I had a few very light contractions and asked for my epidural pretty early on this time. It was the best epidural I've ever had. He was quick and nothing hurt (the other ones were pretty uncomfortable for me) and i was completely numb in my torso but not my legs. It's called a walking epidural I guess because I could move my legs and it was great but had no pain at all! I progressed quickly and by 10:30 I was dilated 10 cm! I had a little harder time pushing than the other two because I was so numb and couldn't feel when the contractions were coming but at 10:49 AM we had a baby! Chad got to deliver her although he told me while the doctor was out of the room he didn't want to. But the doctor didn't really give him a choice and got him all gowned up. He said he would do it again though. Her heart rate dropped a bit and the doctor said to get the vacuum ready and I didn't want him to use it so I pushed one last big push and she came out. I had my first skin to skin time immediately after she was born which was incredible. With Carter and Mollie they were both whisked away and I didn't see them for 30 minutes! After I cuddled her for about half an hour they finally took her and weighed her and bathed her. She was a whopping 7 pounds 3 oz and 20 in long. My biggest baby yet. She, like Carter, didn't cry at all and was very blue when she came out. They were a bit worried but she soon turned pink and was just fine. The room was quiet and it was just me and Chad in the delivery room. It was so peaceful. Very soon after though both our parents and Carter and Mollie were oohing and ahhing over the baby. Carter and Mollie both fell completely in love right away. They both wanted to hold her and kiss her. They helped the nurse listen to her heart and Mollie was convinced the baby was hers and wouldn't let go. It was a sweet moment I will never forget. They have been the best helpers and are always willing to get me what I need. Mollie has had a little bit of a hard time with adjusting but over all they have been really good. And here is the photo dump!!! Enjoy!

Watch me grow

This pregnancy has by far been the hardest on me. From awful heart burn starting the week I found out i was expecting to all the other unpleasant symptoms, I've had them all. I'm so anxious to have it all over but it scares me at the same time to think that i will soon have 3 littles to care for! I'm hoping to be induced on Dec 10 but the doctor said my cervix has yet to show that it is ready and he won't induce me unless some things start happening! So Ive been bouncing on a exercise ball, eating pinapple, doing reflexology and anything else I can think of to get things moving! I'm so anxious to meet her although she doesn't have a name yet. We have liked Emmy, Brynlie and Adale so far but none of them seem perfect yet. Her middle name will be Carmina after my grandpa's grandma. I hope we can decide on her name soon. These pictures have been taken over the span from July to today. It always amazes me how womens bodies adapt and change to grow such tiny little creatures. Today I'm feeling quite large and thought I'd share hopefully the last picture of my bulging belly. Next time I blog it should be all about our little girl!

Thanksgiving week

The weekend before Thanksgiving we took off for a 10 day trip to Idaho! We had some rental things to take care of in Twin Falls and got to see some great friends while we were there and then we went to my moms for the week while Chad went back to Utah to work for a few days. It was fun getting to help my mom with Thanksgiving festivities. Carter and Mollie stayed busy playing with toys and dress up clothes and were really good the whole week. The kids even got in on helping make rolls, cheese ball and pies. We had a turkey-less thanksgiving because a pie spilled in the oven and by the time my mom got it cooled down cleaned up it was time to put the turkey in but we still had one more pie to bake. So we threw the turkey in the roaster oven with 4 hours to cook....it wasn't long enough. At 9PM our turkey was finally finished. But there is always so much food at family gatherings it wasn't missed at all! Our Reed family gathered Wed night at my parents house for dinner. We all sat around the ping pong table and ate and shared what we were thankful for. My grandparents were able to come and it is always so humbling to hear the things they are grateful for. All week long everyone kept feeling the need to photograph my pregnant belly! Don't mind the shots where the flash shows right through my shirt!! Thursday morning we went to Arco to have yet another Thanksgiving dinner and spend a few days there. We really got our share of goodies there. On Saturday my cousin Ericka threw a "baby sprinkle" for me. It was fun to see more family and get together. We played a few games and ate yummy food. One funny game was called Tinkle in the Pot where you had to walk with a ping pong ball between your knees and drop it into a jar at the other end. Not as easy as it might sound!! The baby got some really cute things including a crocheted bee costume from my aunt. (My dad raises bees so bees are the new rage at our house!) By sunday I was completely exhausted and we headed for home with a completely loaded down car. We got a flat tire on top of Malad summit and had to unload our whole car to change the tire and pay quite a bit of money to get someone to come sell us a new tire. But it was so worth it to be home and sleep in my own bed after 10 days of being gone! Now its time to hunker down and get christmas all taken care of and get this baby girl here!!

Chad's birthday

So my SD card was ruined and i lost ALOT of pictures! But I wanted to make sure that Chad's birthday got in our blog book even though there are no birthday pictures to go with it. Chad had to work on his birthday but the kids were waiting by the door to celebrate once he walked through the door. We had cake before dinner and played for a while and then we were off on a kid free date! We saw Thor and ate at Panda Express. I'm so grateful I found Chad and the man he has become and wonderful person he is to me and our children. I've learned alot from him this year and am so glad I married someone who makes me want to be better. This last year has had its rocky moments, but he has been my anchor and rock through the tough times. He always knows what I need and how to make me feel better. I'm truly glad for birthdays because I think our hard working men often get brushed under the rug and taken for granted. I'm glad there is atleast one day a year we get to celebrate him. Love you Chad!