she's here! she's here! she's here!

My beautiful Princess decided to arrive in a hurry on Sunday morning. I went to bed feeling crampy Saturday night, but I figured I would go to my weekly appointment Monday and be sent to Labor & Delivery from there. WRONG! I woke up at around 5am Sunday and contractions were already less than 5 minutes apart. I woke Scott and Riley up, we got in the truck, and I told Scott we needed to go to the ER closest to our house, which is not the hospital I was registered to deliver at. But I was IN PAIN and I just knew I couldn't make it to our hospital because it is a good 20 minutes away. Scott has already delivered one of our children, I don't need him to do it again on the side of the road in a Jeep Cherokee!

The ER is only a few minutes down the road from us. I walk in and tell them I'm in labor. A nurse comes to get me and says "You're in the wrong place girl". I tell her I know, but the baby is coming NOW. She says they don't deliver babies there, they don't have an OB dept. WELL EXCUSE ME FOR LIVING!! I thought an EMERGENCY ROOM was a place for medical emergencies, like HAVING A BABY????? I honestly couldn't believe she was being so weird about me being there. They have a sign right next to the entrance that says "We accept newborn infants". So they're fine if you want to drop one off but not really into the idea of letting you give birth there.

So I get into the room and on the bed and I am experiencing some serious pain. I asked for medication and they said no, because they don't really "do" babies there. Again, I have no idea what kind of ER doesn't have pain meds...but whatever. Tons of people were scrambling everywhere trying to get all the baby stuff ready. Some nurse is telling me to think of the pain like climbing a mountain. They're telling me to pant, breathe deep, whatever. Oh, this whole time Scott had to be in the waiting room with Riley. I was still asking for drugs and they just kept saying no, they had to wait for my Dr. to get there because they couldn't have the baby sedated.

My water broke. I thought I had the baby because it felt like something big came out...but that wasn't her. My Dr. arrived right after that and we started pushing. Well, I thought I was pushing but since I was SCREAMING in pain too Doc tells me I'm yelling, not pushing. So I gave it one good push and she was out. I am surprised I didn't pass out from the pain, it was excruciating. I'm not going to lie and say "Oh, you forget as soon as they hand you your baby". Yes it is worth it but do I not remember it? No way jose! This whole pregnancy I've been planning on having an epidural so I was not prepared to go natural AT ALL. I had no idea she would want to come out so dang fast!! I should have gone to the hospital on Saturday night instead of going to bed, but nothing I can do about that now, ha!

So once Kira was born we were both taken by ambulance to the hospital I was supposed to deliver at. They took us to a room in Labor & Delivery, even though I had already done that part :) When the ambulance guys wheeled me in to the room Kira was already there with Scott, Riley & my mom. Kira had to stay under the warmer for a little while. Then I finally got to hold my little princess! She is just perfect and precious and I love her so much already. She's already given me a few smiles...I know they're just involuntary facial movements but she makes a smiley face quite a bit! More than Riley did. I think she's going to be a sunny little girl.

The second hospital was SOOOOO much better than where I delivered. All the nurses, aides, even the cafeteria lady was so nice! They were constantly asking if they could get me anything. Everyone was just awesome there. I was tempted to stay the full two days just to get waited on a little bit longer but it's really boring being in there. I guess it wasn't too bad, since I had TV, my laptop, WiFi, my phone and family visiting...but it still feels boring. Plus my nesting really starts as soon as I actually HAVE the baby. Since I've been home I've cleaned tons of stuff that I've been meaning to clean this whole time, and I'm ready to do more today. I have a big to do list so I better get started!

not tonight

Ok so that was not it! I do think she'll be here within the week though. :)

this could be it

Yesterday I woke up feeling a little crampy. But it went away pretty soon. Today was the same thing. This afternoon I went to Hobby Lobby and since I've been home, I've definitely been feeling SOMETHING happening. I don't know if I'll have her tonight but I do think she's coming sooner than later. I'm trying to clean the house, of course! I know it won't get done while I'm gone and I hate coming home to a dirty house.

So...to be continued!

*yawn*

I haven't been much of a blogger lately. I'm in the home stretch of this pregnancy and I'm just TIRED! Every free moment I get I've been scrapping custom orders. Right now I'm finishing up a superhero-ish book then I get to make two girly books for a set of really cute sisters. So I have plenty to keep me busy :)

I've been trying to raise $1,200 for the March of Dimes. It is an organization that is very near and dear to my heart! A couple weeks ago Riley, my mom and I went to a kick-off event at the Phoenix Zoo. It was a fun time but I really don't recommend going to the zoo with a three year old when you're eight months preggo. Unless you have a really energetic person there to do the wrangling for you! My mom has some issues with her back so she can't run after him much better than I can.

Here are some pics from that day!

dream a little dream

Rest In Peace Corey Haim

sent off a baby

No not a real child, one of my books. Well I guess it's my client's book now, until she gives it to the birthday girl on Saturday. I'm always nervous when I send out a book because I don't know if the person is going to like it. When I do custom orders I ask for color choices or themes, but I've never had anyone say "You HAVE to do this on the front and you HAVE to do that on page three". Usually they give me a general idea but say "Just do what you do". This is awesome because I get to be totally creative and flattering that people trust me to make something nice...but at the same time I'm always wondering if what I come up with lives up to what the person had in their mind when they made the order.

I'm extra nervous about the book I sent today because it doesn't match the theme of the birthday party. The deadline for this one was pretty short so I wasn't able to search for enough paper & accents to make a whole book that would match the party. I really liked the colors too, I would have loved to make a book specifically for the party...but it didn't happen. So I'm wondering if the one I did will be good enough.

My next project is already underway, it's a semi-superman theme! Lots of red & blue and boy stuff. Very cool. :)

Birthday Fun

We had a great day yesterday. Things got started a little later than we expected but that was ok. It was just us plus my mom and Uncle Danny so we could be flexible with the times. We wanted his cousins to come and celebrate with us but one was sick and the other two are in Palm Desert, CA for the weekend. Next year he'll have a proper party but I think he was just fine with being the star of the day!

We started at Smeeks in downtown Phx. This store is just SO CUTE. It's kind of like walking into a gingerbread house. It has tons of different candies and lots of fun novelty stuff. It was hard to watch Riley and look at everything at the same time. It's the kind of place you want to have time to just hang out in, because there's so much stuff!

Next we had lunch at this really fancy place, COSTCO. :) My original plan was to have Scott take Riley to the park while I went to Costco and got a pizza to bring to the park...but we were all pretty hungry by then so we just ate there. I've been craving that pizza since then so thank you Costco! Apparently Kira loves your pizza because I never thought it was that great before.

After lunch we headed to Encanto Park. Riley & Uncle Danny like to fish so they did that for a bit. Then we took Riley to the little rides area of the park, called Enchanted Island. He only ended up going on one ride, the bumper boats. He wanted to ride the roller coaster, but was too impatient to wait in line. Then he got on the little airplane ride, but when the guy was going around making sure the seatbelts were done right he asked to get down. I guess he was nervous to be on it by himself? Maybe next time he'll be up for it. After that he played pinball and video games while I had nachos & an icee. I swear I am the cheapest date because nachos w/that totally fake orange cheese product and an icee make me so happy! Sure I'll take a filet mignon but if you offer me nachos, I'm yours.

We did cupcakes and presents then played until we were ready to go home. It was a long and tiring day but it was really fun! I'm sure I would have been more energetic if I wasn't carrying this baby girl around my midsection.

here's some pics!

i have a 3 year old!

Happy Birthday to my Riley Scott!!!
Today you are THREE YEARS OLD

It's hard to believe you started out like this
so tiny, not even 5 pounds when you were born! preemie diapers were too big and we fed you from the tiniest little bottle that looked like a beaker from chemistry class. you had to stay in the NICU for seven days before we could take you home.

Soon enough you were home and growing like a weed!

This little bunny was your first favorite toy. For some reason you would just grin and giggle at him...you thought he was the best!

Your first Halloween costume...you were most interested in trying to get that strap in your mouth

Second Halloween, that head piece was too floppy for your liking!

And third Halloween, you looked SO CUTE as Captain America!

You're a big kid now and one of your favorite things to do is have chicken nuggets at McDonald's...you LOVE to play with other kids!

Other things you are up to....

• you LOVE the alphabet and letters. i hear you singing the alphabet about 10 million times a day, possibly more. you can sing it to match any tempo or beat.
  
• you love playing in water. when you go to grandma's house the first thing you have to do is go in her backyard and water all her plants
• you are getting the hang of potty training. we're not there yet, but we're making progress!
• you are a chatterbox. whenever we go anywhere you are usually jibber jabbering away and people think it's hilarious.
  
• you are very good at sharing. you always let other kids play with your toys...I think you're just happy to be playing with other little people!
• you're really big and tall. no one ever believes you are the age you are. i can hardly believe it myself
• i have a feeling you are going to be an excellent big brother.
  
• just like mama, you love CANDY
• you love to sing. when you're not concentrating on the alphabet i hear you humming little tunes to yourself as you play.
• your favorite "celebrities" are Mickey Mouse, Handy Manny, Dora, the Imagination Movers and everyone from Yo Gabba Gabba
• your memory is ASTOUNDING. you were talking about Fireworks from the 4th of July until after Halloween. if I need to remember something, I can tell you to remind me and you'll actually do it...this makes me proud of you and sad for my poor mommy brain.
  
• you are a great kitchen helper. you like to "read" the recipes and get me each ingredient. this works best when there are pictures of each item, like when we make cupcakes :)

All in all, you are the best three year old a mama could ask for!

potty time

Riley will be THREE tomorrow! He's starting to get the hang of potty training :) Yesterday he woke up w/a dry diaper and immediately wanted to go peepee on the potty, and boy did he! I was sooo proud. He went a couple more times yesterday, then wanted to go again first thing today. Very happy mama here. I keep telling him when his baby sister gets here he won't be "allowed" to wear diapers because only one kid per house can be in them. When I say this he completely ignores me but I know he hears it! He has a way of totally ignoring what he doesn't want to hear, it's going to be really obnoxious when he gets older if he keeps it up!

Today we're going to a cake supply store. I've heard nothing but good things so I'm totally geeked. I want to find something fun for Riley's bday cupcakes. Two things that my kids will have every birthday no matter what is balloons and cupcakes!

Happy Birthdays

March is chock full of birthdays in my family! Today is my dad's (and Dr. Suess), Riley and Scott's Aunt Cheryl's (his other mother) is on Friday, my Grandma on my mom's side is next week, and my Uncle Danny's is also in there somewhere! And I happen to be 34 weeks pregnant, and I have a feeling this girl would like to be a March baby too. So I'm sure eventually there will be one big "March Birthdays" party for everyone because this is just crazy! I guess people in my family get more amorous in the summertime...I know this baby was the result of lots of swimming! ha! Ladies out there who want to get preggo that is my advice, go swimming with your man.

Speaking of Riley's bday being Friday, it's going to be a fun day! We're taking him to a vintage candy store in downtown Phoenix called Smeeks. I've never been there but everything I've read about it has been ravingly positive...plus it matches the crown I won for him!

After that we're going to Enchanted Island at Encanto Park. It's a little spot at the park where they have kiddie rides like those little cars that just go in a circle...little boats that go in a circle...a merry go round...nothing too exciting! Perfect for three year olds. This place has been around since before I was born. I guess I should feel old bringing my own kid to celebrate his birthday but I'm just excited for it! Seeing my nieces and nephews grow up...that makes me feel old. Weird huh?