I like weekends

Oh...I love those dimples! I have never been so excited for a weekend (ok, that's not true, most of my life I have looked forward to weekends). I got spoiled last night (due to my request of course) and Chadd took the night shift. So I slept from 9pm until 6am uinterrupted, unless you count waking up at 12midnight and 3am because I heard Christopher crying!

All dressed up in my monkey outfit

I'm all dressed up in my monkey outfit. We have a big day. At 10am we went to mommy's work and she had her annual review with her boss. It went well, it's pretty much the same thing every year. Then we are waiting to go check out a potential daycare center in Wyoming at 230pm when daddy gets home. Don't I look cute? I think I'll take a nap now!

Too cute for words

2 week checkup went well

Everything was great at Christopher's 2 week checkup. He's weighs 9 pounds 0.6 ounces! Big boy! He eats a lot, that's for sure. He goes back at 2 months to get shots. I stopped by the lab and visited with my coworkers after his appointment. It was fun to show Christopher to everyone. We stayed for almost an hour. Then we went back to the clinic at 330 so Ashly could get some vaccines as well. Gee, you would think if I was on maternity leave I wouldn't spend so much time at Fairview! Speaking of work, I got the full 12 weeks off! Yeah! I'm very excited. I don't have to go back to work until May 4. Very grateful for that time I can spend with Christopher.



Ashly had an orthodontist appointment yesterday, so the three of us made the trek to there together. Christopher did well and slept the whole time. I'm getting more used to the running around with him. It helps if I feel ok and rested. Yesterday I did not. When we got home, Ashly watched him from 430-730 so I could sleep. It's awesome to have Ashly around! Then Chadd came home and helped too. It's nice relief after being alone all day with him. Although, I'm cherishing every moment I get to spend with him!

A fun weekend

Just hanging out with daddy! I think they are becoming good buddies! Tummy time is fun. Christopher can move his head back and forth. I go to the other side and talk to him until he moves his head the other way to my voice. Other than that, he's kinda stuck. We had a great weekend, the four of us. We ventured out to Target. I wanted my first trip to the store with Christopher to have some reinforcements so I wanted Chadd along. It went well, I think I'll be able to handle it! I just have to time it right between feedings so he's content.

The 7th graders helped put on the church service today. Ashly's job was to sing with the band "Testify" that sings and plays all the songs up front. She did a good job. I went to watch and left Christopher and Chadd at home so Vicki, Ray, Cindy, Mike and the kids could stop by and see him on their way to ski. Ashly went with them...she sure does love to that skiing thing.

Ashly is a great big sister

Ashly is doing such a great job helping with Christopher. She loves to hold him and rock him and feed him. You are such a big help, Ashly - and a very important part of our family to be the big sister. Christopher is going to look up to you, Ashly - and be your little buddy for the rest of your life! I have two pretty great kids, huh!!!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa

Thank you so much mom and dad for coming to help. I really appreciate all you did for us. You allowed Chadd to focus on work and me to get some naps in! Thanks for all the meals you prepared, helping with laundry and cleaning, and helping give rides to the clinic and for Ashly. We all had so much fun spending time with you and we miss you a lot today! Thank you again for being there for us!

In the Normal Range

Bilirubin is down to 11.4. We don't have to go back to the doctor until his two week checkup next Tuesday. Yeah! We had both grandparents over last night. Ashly and Christopher have such wonderful grandparents that love them so much. It's was so great to have everyone together for a nice supper.

Bilirubin getting better

Christopher's bilirubin has dropped to 12.4. Getting better. We got to stop the lights today and we are taking him in to the clinic for a recheck again tomorrow (Wednesday). Hoping it keeps going down, and not up. I told the doctor I thought his color looked better yesterday and he looks at me and says, "Of course, you can't tell just by looking at him...especially against a yellow shirt!" I looked over at Christopher and sure enough, Ashly was holding him against her yellow shirt. Guess I didn't think that one through! Ha! Everything else is going good.

First bath, First feedings

Here's a picture of Christopher's first bath! He didn't cry until the end when he got cold. And pictures of Ashly and Chadd feeding him for the first time. Cute!

Bilirubin down some

Christopher's bilirubin was down a couple points yesteday (15.7) so that was good news. The doctor said to keep the bili blanket on him all weekend and call to make an appointment Monday morning to see her. I'm sure they will check it when we are at the clinic. Hopefully it's down enough by then to be done! At least it's a fixable problem that we will be done with soon. It's been a hassle to have the blanket which is hooked up to a machine. But it could be worse, so I'm not going to complain!



Chadd is going back to work tomorrow. I'm sad. He has been such a wonderful help, I wish we could have more time together. My parents are coming until Thursday so I will still have awesome help. I won't be on my own until next week!

Ashly's 13th Birthday

Happy Birthday Ashly! She turned 13 on Wednesday, February 11th. Now she's a real teenager. I think she had a pretty good birthday amongst all the Christopher chaos. Chadd's parents took her out to eat at Norman Quacks, then she had confirmation. For confirmation they helped Family Pathways sort cards into categories. And we had angel food cake for her (her favorite) and she opened lots of presents from family. Thanks for all the nice gifts. Ashly had a school dance last night and spent the night at a friend's house. Tonight she is going to help at the church dance for special needs kids. She will get church service hours for that and hopefully it'll be a good experience.

High Bilirubin

Christopher had a checkup today at the clinic. Everything is great, except he was looking pretty yellow. So when they checked his bilirubin it was 17.9 (for my lab tech friends!). That's high. Homehealth is dropping off bili blankets this afternoon. I don't know how these work so it'll be a learning process for me. Then the homehealth nurse will stop by tomorrow to take a blood sample from him and recheck his bilirubin level. I'm really happy that they offer these homehealth visits because Chadd and I became the paranoid parents today at the clinic, sitting in the waiting room with all these sick kids. I don't want Christoper to catch anything. Chadd and I both had the same thoughts as we got in the elevator after our appointment and made sure the door closed before the dad and his sick daughter holding a puke bucket could get on. I know it's rude, but all of a sudden I turned into that kind of parent! I think we'll stay home for a while! He has his next scheduled doctor's appointment for 2 weeks, and that is on Tuesday, Feb 24th at 945am.

Christopher Glen Larson

Yeah! Christopher has arrived! He was born on Monday 2/9/09 at 8:43pm. He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. We got home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and everything is going great. He is so sweet, I am enjoying every minute of him (and he charmed all the nurses with his cute little dipples!). He has a doctor's appointment tomorrow just for a routine checkup. I don't anticipate any problems.

Martin and Tangy

That's what she named the fish. Just as I predicted. Once she went downstairs...5...4...3...2...1...(the sound of running up the stairs)..."Mom, why are there fish in my room?" Her exact words! I guess I know my daughter pretty well. She says she likes them. I told her I would keep them if she didn't want them, but she wants them. Whew!



Well, I'm off to have a baby. Better get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a big day!

Ssshh....it's a secret

Well...it's a secret until tomorrow, that is. What do most parent's do when their kid is gone for the weekend on a church retreat? Buy them goldfish, of course! Chadd and I bought Ashly two goldfish, as you can see by the picture one is gold and the other is multi-colored. She has no clue we did this, and she didn't really ask for fish. But I just got this crazy idea that she might think it's kinda fun to have some. I'm picturing I'll pick her up at the church tomorrow around 1pm and she'll go downstairs to her room, and at some point come running back up the stairs saying, "Mom...why are there fish in my room?" Should be fun! Happy Birthday Ashly :)

Things are looking up

I'm in a much better mood since I found out that if I don't have the baby by Monday, that my doctor has set me up to go in to the hospital at 6am and get some pitocin. It kinda freaks me out a little, but there was no way I was going to refuse the offer. I'm going to be really nervous, but I'm going to try hard not to worry about anything, unless there is something to worry about. Chadd is at a Wild game tonight and Ashly is off tomorrow morning at 630am for a confirmation retreat for the weekend for church. I think I'll just make some final preparations this weekend for the baby...and wait. I have a feeling my life is going to be a lot different at this time next Friday night. But I can't wait!

Blah, Blah, Blah

Well, I figure I mostly write about the good stuff in life on my blog, but we all know life is not perfect. As a matter of fact, right now, I feel "blah." Work is short staffed and we are training students and new employees and I have a hard time getting out of there when I'm supposed to. I'm exhausted and tired. I got to spend last night on my hands and knees scrubbing up Ashly's puke because she happened to spray the shower, toilet and wall last night. She spent the day home from school today with the stomach flu. This is the third time this year. Crazy. Luckily, she is feeling better tonight and hopefully will be off to school tomorrow feeling better. And I AM SICK OF BEING PREGNANT! Well, that's how I feel in a nutshell. I have my moments where I remember I am lucky and nothing is really wrong - we are all healthy, baby is good, still have our jobs, have a nice, warm home - but then, my hormones kick in and it doesn't seem to matter, I still want to cry. I only have 10 days to go...