Mia's Birth Story

Mia Louise
born three days before her due date,
on May 28th, 2015 at 11:01am

It was a Wednesday evening. On Wednesday evenings, we have House Church {it's a small group with church} and this week was our last official meeting for the year so we had a potluck with a bonfire and fellowship while the kids ran around and played. We didn't get home till after 9pm that night and the kids weren't in bed till way pass their bedtime. And same for us.

After going to be around 11:30pm, I woke up around 1:30am and just felt off. I'm not usually one to wake up in the middle of the night {even while pregnant} and not be able to fall back to sleep. I got up to go to the bathroom and then got back in bed, but couldn't sleep. I wasn't having any contractions that I could feel, but I did feel kind of crampy and still couldn't sleep. I went downstairs and sat on the couch for a little bit and had to go to the bathroom again, this time I had a bowel movement. {sorry for the TMI!} I'm not sure about you, but that usually doesn't happen to me in the middle of the night, so at this point I began to think, maybe this was the start of labor! {eek!}

About a half hour later I tried to go back to sleep. I was able to rest for about an hour or so but felt like I needed to go to the bathroom again and this time, when I got out of bed my water broke. About 3:45am I woke Russ up and told him what was happening, and then called the mid-wife and explained to the nurse that the last time my water broke I had the baby with in a couple hours, she didn't hesitate and told me to come right in. Around 4:45am we headed to the hospital.

By this point contractions hadn't really become regular or painful. We got settled at the hospital and around 5:45am I was 4cm and 80% effaced. Around 9am contractions really started to become strong and painful. Around 10:50am I started pushing, I pushed twice and she was born at 11:01am. Once contractions really started it was crazy how fast she came {which I was thankful for!}

As soon as she came out I could tell she was tiny. And she was! {And because of that I didn't tear, which made recovery so much quicker!}

Mia weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and was 19 inches long

It was also Blake's last day of preschool

and Russ was able to make it in time to pick him up from school.
{thankful for my sweet friend Krista, who came to watch the kids and not only helped get Blake off to school, but also took pictures for me!}


That afternoon the kids came to the hospital to meet their new sister.

It has been such a joy to have another baby and watch Blake and Lily fall in love with their little sister. Looking forward to the times ahead as a family of five!

Mia is One Month!

A lot has happened since I last posted. So I'm just going to start back with where we are in life today. If I were to go back and try to catch up, it would unfortunately, never happen. But I'd really like to get back into posting more, since this is like our family scrapbook! 

As of yesterday we now have a one month old baby girl! 

Mia Louise was born on May 28th! 

{her birth story is to come}

I can't believe a month has gone by already. I never new four weeks could go by as fast as the last four did. Its amazing how fast time flies when watching a baby grow and change. 

One Month Stats:

Weight: 7lbs 6oz {almost gained 1lb since birth!}

Length: 19in

Wears: Newborn diapers and newborn clothes {she's a tiny one!}

Mia is most of the time, a content and happy baby. She is doing great with nursing, eating about every 2-3 hours durring the day. She loves being carried in the front pack and I'm thankful for that since it's the easiest way to carry her while chasing her brother and sister. She also is happy in her swing and likes to be swaddled. 

At night she is sleeping for about 5-7 hours and then again for 3-4 hours. {so thankful for a good sleeper and hoping it doesn't change}

Went on her first trip to Medford at 3 weeks old, met lots of family excited to see her. 

Mia has been a blessing to our family! Blake and Lily love her so much and are always asking to hold her and wanting to help with diaper changes and baths. We are so thankful God has blessed our family with another little girl to love! 

We love you Mia!

These two love her so much!

Blake, Lily and Mia all at one month!

2014 In Review

Not sure where the last 6 months went! I'm going to try to make this a short-sweet-and-to-the-point but since I'm going to try to recap the last six months it probably won't be. Ha! So hang in there with me if you want :)

In July we had our annual summer trip to Black Butte. It was a fun relaxing trip filled with all the usual things, swimming, some shopping, bike riding, walking, running on the golf course, going to the fish hatchery and having fun!

From Black Butte we headed to Russell's cousin, Lauren's wedding in Salem. Blake was a ring bearer in the wedding and did a great job! 

It was a beautiful wedding!

In August we spent sometime at the Stevenson's new place in Newberg on the hottest day of the year with no air conditioning....

Bath in the pool was the only way to cool off!

We also spent sometime in Medford

 Grandpa Lowell always brings donuts!

Roasting marshmallows at Papa's and Nana's

 Riding the train at the Train Park

I began my adventures in canning!

We made applesauce, spaghetti sauce, salsa and jam! 

We ended summer with a swim at the pool with Aunt KK!

In September Blake started preschool! He is going to Santiam Christian and is loving it!

He is in the 3s class on Tuesday and Thursdays. His teachers are Mrs. Grosenbach and Mrs. Connor. 

Russ was baptized! He was baptized as a young kid and felt like God was calling him to recommit his life. It was a special thing to be a part of and have the kids witness too. 

At the end of September Lily turned 2!!! We had a simple party for her at the park. 

Daddy brought the birthday girl pink flowers.

Here are her 2-year pictures...

She has gotten quite the personality over the last year. She is talking non-stop and tries to do everything her brother does. And we found out on her birthday that she is going to be a BIG SISTER in May 2015! She is very excited that mommy has a baby in her tummy (she has no idea whats coming ha!)

October had many trips to the pumpkin patch (three in all) and we had an Iron Man and a Cupcake for Halloween

November 1st Russ and I left for our first kid free vacation or really our first true vacation since our honeymoon! We went on a cruise in Baja California. It was like the one we did for our honeymoon. It went from Longbeach, CA to Catalina Island, to Ensenada, Mexico and then a day at sea. We went with our friends Brandon and Krista and had a great time! We finally got to rent a golf cart on Catalina Island (we were too young to rent on when we were on our honeymoon). The kids stayed two days with Russell's parents and three days with my sister and they did great!

We had Beaver season tickets again this year, and the majority of the home games were in November this year. It was a disappointing year for the Beavers, we are hoping with a new coach things will be different in 2015 (although I was sad to see coach Riley go)

Blake went to more games then me this year, but we all went to the Civil War together!

For Thanksgiving we headed to Medford this year. It was a quick trip since the Civil War was that Saturday. It was great to see the extended side of the Bartlett Family!

In December we went to Zoo Lights and Blake was in two Christmas Programs. His preschool class had on and he was finally old enough to be in the one at church.

 Preschool Program

I love how the focus was on Jesus!

Church Program

For Christmas we headed to Medford. Michelle and I went down together and then Russ and Carlos came down the evening of the 23rd. We had a great Christmas!

2014 was a great year! Thankful for all the blessings the Lord has given us and looking forward to everything 2015 holds!

(hopefully in 2015 I'll blog more)