First, second, and third...

My great friend Rebekah sent this to me and I was in laughter to the point of tears so I thought I would put it on my blog for me to always remember and for you to get a little laugh in. Who dosen't need a little laughter.

BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN


1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as
your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

_____________________________________________________

Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last
time, breathing didn't do a thing..

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

__________________________________________ ____________

The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and
fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and
discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

______________________________________________________

Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper,
a frown--you pick up the baby

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten
to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to
rewind the mechanical swing.
______________________________________________________

Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until
you can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it
off with some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

______________________________________________________

Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour,
whether they need it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to
complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

_______________________________________________________

Activities

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing,
Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.

_____________________________ _________________________

Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter,
you call home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to
leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees
blood.

______________________________________________________

At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older
child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children

______________________________________________________

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):

1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the
hospital and demand x-rays

2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for
the coin to pass.

3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his
allowance!

Lyla's Proud Siblings

Grandma got these shirts for the kids so they can wear them when Lyla came. I was excited to see them in them and they were happy for new shirts. I love these three. They make me smile from ear to ear.

My Sweet Little Lyla Rose is finally here!!




Lyla Rose
8 lbs 3 oz
21 1/2 inches
March 26th @ 11:55 p.m.




I find it so interesting the way things happen sometimes. I know Heavenly Father has a sense of humor the way that my little bundle arrived in this world. I am so glad I blogged what I did the day of my due date because it really makes what happened all that much more real. So, most of my close friends have heard the way everything came to be but for Lyla's history and for personal reasons, I want to document it the way it happened.
So, I woke up the day before my due date with major contractions. I thought that was it. I am in labor. I went to Sean and told him that I was sure that I was in labor. I waited around to see if they were coming regularly and they were pretty powerful. So, at 3:00 in the morning we traveled again to Roseville Kaiser (we got to know the place well since I had two false alarms previous to this time) and went to try to see if this was the final and last time. Once we got there, it seemed like all the pain came to a crashing halt and I felt like I was going to die. I knew this was another false alarm and I was getting so tired of all the junk I was putting Sean and I through. They told me that I was at a 3 but my contractions were not strong enough to warrant Labor. I left the place swearing that I would never actually go into labor and gave one last cry in the car and sighned myself up to getting induced a week after my due date because I was convinced I would not actually not go into labor on my own. Well, my last post was written in a tired and pessimistic state of mind. I decided after that event I had to be ok with whatever happens. I had decided to go to the zoo with my in-laws to keep my mind off of being on my due date and be with people who love me and don't put pressure on me. So, we had a great day at the park even though I was totally sleep deprived. After the zoo, I went and got Sean from work and we went out to dinner with the kids. Sean and I were both zombies and I knew I only had enough energy to watch the results show of Idol and then off to bed I was going to go. That is exactly what happened. We got in front of the T.V and Sean fell asleep almost instantly. At 9:15, I woke up Sean to go to bed. We both got into bed to say our prayers. It was Sean's turn. He talked about my due date and how thankful he was to have Lyla come into our family. Right after he said we can't wait to see her, I felt a huge boom in my belly as if someone punched my in the gut. I expressed my discomfort with a big OWWW! Then with that, fluid ran down my leg. I couldn't believe it. I said to Sean, "My water just broke." He looked at me with pain in his eyes and said, " You are kidding me." I told him I wasn't. We were both so tired and did not want to spend any more time traveling to Roseville and even considered going to South Sacramento because it was closer. I thought maybe I could catch a couple of hours because with Elijah my water broke and I had time to waste. I wasn't even in labor so I thought I had time. Well, it was not the way it went down with Lyla. The contractions were on every 3 minutes and they were intense. We went to Roseville for a final time with very little time to spare. I thougtht I was going to have the baby right there in our blue Mirage. When we arrived at the hospital, I was not able to walk. Sean went to retrieve a wheelchair and wheel me in the labor and delivery. I was in such deep pain, but it was so gratifying to go in there knowing that I was not going to be turned down this time. They asked me for a urine sample which I thought was pretty funny considering I couldn't even stand up or if I had any urine in all the fluid I was dispensing. Well, I tried to go, but once I got in the bathroom, the flood gates opened and my water officially broke for real all over the floor. I was in deep pain so they got me in triage and I was thinking I wouldn't even make it to a room. I thought, " I have been here so many times in this blasted room hoping to cross the threshold of an actual room and I am going to deliver in this room I have come to hate so much." I kept warning them that I go from a 4 to a 10 in a matter of seconds so they have got to get me in a room as soon as possible. I think they believed me because they moved me pretty quickly after that and I was finally in a room. It was so nice and spacious. We didn't get to really enjoy it like some others have. The rooms were huge. Once we got in there, the nurses moved fast trying to give me antibiotics for the Group B Strep that I had been infected with. They had to give me a dose of antibiotics before delivery and were barely able to give to me before the real pressure started to come. I couldn't deal with it. I wanted that baby out of me. So, I started to push. 5 or 6 long strenous pushes and Lyla was here. I looked the clock when I got in there. It was 11:30. I thought to myself, " Am I going to be able to deliver this baby on my actual due date?" I didn't know, but I thought I had a good shot. Well, I she was born at 11:55 with 5 minutes to spare. I was so happy. It is not very often you can have the baby on the actual due date. It was also on my good friend's Jazzer's birthday. All in all, I was thrilled to be done and not be pregnant anymore.

There is one thing for sure, this little one has got a great set of pipes. One of the many things she shares with her sister!

I swear this girl knows how to smile already. It is so cute.


Such joy on my face only says one thing...Yes, I am not pregnant anymore.



I don't know who is happier that I am not preggers anymore, Sean or I. He was a good sport with no sleep and 3 trips to Roseville only to come home empty handed. Not anymore. We finally got our prize!




One look at Lyla was amazing. I was happy that she was a healthy 8 pounds 3 ounces and 21 1/2 inches. She is a great nurser and she is calm (for now). She has already brought our family so much happiness to her older sister. It was the cutest to see Jules holding her. She is in hog heaven. I know they will be good friends.

The first thing that Jules said was, " Mommy, your baby popped out." She was so excited to hold her.

My 3 beautiful children! Who would have known I would have cookie cutter kids.



I didn't expect to be so happy getting up in the middle of the night to feed her, but every moment spent with her is pure bliss. Maybe because I know that this baby is the last I am going to have. I know people say that I will change my mind, but I want everyone to know that Lyla is my last child I am going to have. I feel very at peace with that decision. I am happy that she is my baby and that I can dedicate every moment knowing that phase will be the last time I will go through it. It has already done wonders to my parenting. I appriciate every moment where if I thought I would have another, I might not feel that way. I am very content and feel very blessed to have had 3 healthy children. How lucky am I. Heavenly Father has truly been good to me and I hope that I can be a great mother to my 3 adorable children. There is no greater happiness in this world.

Grandma Marcia and Claudia. Lyla, you are so lucky to have these amazing woman to be your grandmothers. I feel so blessed that they were both very available to me during this time and I want to say a big fat THANK YOU!!!!

The new and improved Smith Family 2009

Wow, was I ever glad to get home. But to reach such a warm welcome did my heart some good. I love my family.

Notice the Baby Ticker...

My due date has arrived and all I feel like doing is locking myself in my house and not socializing with the outside world. Part of me knows I need to get out and try to get moving, but frankly nothing is sparking the arrival of this little one. I feel like she is never coming out. I know that is totally ridiculous, but that is how I feel. I have walked more in the past week than all my pregnancies combined and I am only dilated to a 3. I just don't know what Mother Nature is trying to pull. I make all these plans with people thinking in my mind, " I so won't be there for that" to only be there. Milestone after milestone, I have made all my March commitments. Enrichment, play dates, my little Jazzer's birthday which is today (Happy Birthday) and all my work up until this point. I have no idea what to do now. How do I fill up my days with things when I am so anxious of my little one's arrival. As many know, this is the LONGEST I have ever been pregnant, and frankly I don't think it suits me very well. I was at the park yesterday and someone told me that I looked very uncomfortable and ready to be done. I am wearing makeup still and doing my hair, so it is obvious to me that I am showing the world that this state is no longer attractive on me if it even was in the first place. Both my kids are home today. I didn't want to drive them to and from school. But, now I have to figure out how to fill up my day with tasks so I don't go crazy. How do I go on like this. For all those who went over their due date, please impart advice to me so I don't go crazy. I know it happens to many, but I want to know survival tips to help me get through. So here's to another milestone in my life. Going to my due date! Oh, how lucky for me!!

Oh, what a night!

For the first time last night, I was praying that I would not have this baby last night. I know it is shocking for someone that is 40 weeks pregnant. I have to say that it had to be the most stressful night for me. My poor little girl came down with her asthmatic cough. Out of nowhere she starts coughing and there is no predictability about it at all. She has no symptoms beforehand and it really sucks when it happens because there is no rest for her. She was weezing and coughing all day and through the night.
Now I have been through this millions of times with her. I know what to do when it comes on. But each and every time, the worry of not knowing if I should take her into the E.R. never seems to leave me. Of course it always seems worse at night because she had been coughing every second from the early evening on. As she has gotten older, her coughing fits are getting harder to fix. They freak me out.
Well, with all this going on, I had a huge dilemma. I was having pretty serious contractions. My plight was do I take my little girl to the E.R. and then go to Labor and Delivery. What do I do? I think the stress of the situation made my contractions more powerful, but the fear of leaving my daughter with some stranger of non family kept me home. I cried tears of frustration and prayed to Heavenly Father that Julianna would be able to get just a little sleep and that I would not have this baby tonight so I can be close to her if she needs me. Well, Heavenly Father answered my prayers. My mom came up in case I did go into labor that she would be here and frankly to my little one is just as good as mom. I am grateful for that because that solved alot of my stress and I was able to go to sleep and so was Julianna. She got much more rest than I thought she would and I got some rest if the big day happened in the next 12 hours. I did contract most of the night but I have had too many close calls that I was not willing to go into the hospital without knowing for sure that I would be actually having this baby. It was a huge relief and I feel much better knowing that I was here if my little girl needed me.
I did murmer last night. I am glad that Heavenly Father saw fit to bless me still. Thank you, thank you and thank you. Now, can I have this baby now?

Watch out for the KNOW IT ALL GRANDMA!

I go to Chick Fil-A today and I was in the little play area. I was having a hard time being in there because it is a small room and alot of stimulation from kids screaming. I am only getting bigger so it felt very claustrophobic already. Well, there was this lady sitting on the other bench and kept talking about herself and her kids and grandkids. Elijah had a toy that he got from school that day and he kept throwing it up the slide. I told him repeatly not to do it and he just wasn't getting it. So, I was losing patience when he threw the toy down the slide and I retrieved it and put it in my purse. He came down and was looking for it when I told him that he was not getting it until we leave. He started to get upset and I repeated that he was not listening and he had to deal with it. Well, out of nowhere, this woman piped in and I quote, "Elijah, you know why they don't allow kids to bring toys in here is because it can hurt someone else." Elijah was trying to explain himself and then got upset and ran out of the playplace. I sat there in disbelief at this woman. I ran out and talked to Elijah and explained again why I did what I did and then finished it off with " that woman had no right to talk to you about that. That is mommy's job." He went back in without any other issues and I came in with my ears burning from holding back a world of words that I had to fight back from saying to this Know it all Grandma.
Biggest Pet Peeve. Discipline my children when I am sitting right there. Do you not think that I can't address my own kids. It was a major annoyance. But, I am glad I did not overreact because I do not want to be someone who is confortational. But, I was close. I just wish people would allow others to parent their own children. I mean we carry them in our womb for 9 months. I think we should have the privelege of displining them instead of some stranger sitting in Chick Fil-A.

Can you say Chick-Fil-A!

Talk about Love at first sight. Jules has been crazy about things, but I have never seen such devotion spent on anything like these baby chicks. On Sunday, Grandma gathered all the grandchildren together and placed a chick on each lap. There was pandemonium in that house like I have never seen. Each chick was handled differently. Some with care and others I felt sorry for the lives of the baby chicks. Julianna was with those babies for the rest of the night. We had to tear her away when we had to leave and she was bawling the whole way home. Or at least unitl she passed out from the excitement. I have a feeling that she is going to be a great big sister. So precious!

Ode to the Costco Lady

I must say that there are some people that really know how to treat a pregnant lady of 39 weeks. I was at Costco (my home away from home in a sense) and feeling huge and pretty much uncomfortable beyond words. I was with my 2 children and my mom. Walking by was who I will call the Costco lady or should I call her the Costco Fairy. She looked at me and said, "You are so pretty!" I was stuck with amazement and maybe even a tear that came from my eye. There is no other feeling that hearing a person making you feel the way you should feel. So, I say, thank you Costco Lady. You made my day!

What is up?

Okay, I have walked like a mile each day and am feeling the most labourous contractions when I walk, but when I stop walking, I don't have any at all. I hate not knowing the time of when I will actually go into full labor. I loved Elijah's pregnancy because my water broke and I didn't have to doubt if I would get turned away because I wasn't dilated enough. With Julianna, I had contractions but sped it up with a little castor oil with the help from my friend Jessica. Ideally I would like to do most of my labor at home so when I go into the hospital I can just pop that baby out. I don't like not knowing. For all those who get induced, I think that is the best. You know the day that you actually have the baby and you can plan your life around it. Right now, I could go and I have no idea if it will happen during an appointment with my clients, driving the kids to and from school or just watching t.v. with my hubby. I guess I should just enjoy the suprise element of the whole situation, but who wants to really be that suprised awaiting such a huge event. All in all, I can't wait to see this baby. I was admiring a cute baby girl of 2 months today at church and I actually felt a baby pang. I think that was the first time I have felt it this whole pregnancy which comforted me in a time of doubt. I do want three kids. Go figure.

Baby Shower at Boudin's

I got a call a couple of weeks ago from my beloved Beth expressing her interest in throwing me a shower to celebrate this pregnancy and baby. My response was something like, " Absolutely not!" I just had a baby girl three years ago and I feel uncomfortable with the idea of having a shower." Well, she thought that it would be more of a laid back gathering of friends at my favorite restaurant and just enjoy that time. She called a celebration of Motherhood. So, the place where they chose was Boudin's in Sacramento. That shows how much they know me. I think my all time favorite meal is soup in a bread bowl. I thought that didn't sound too bad. Well, that is exactly what it was. It was all my favorite people in one place.
Of course, Jazzers and Beth went all out. I wish I would have gotten the table that they set up. It was adorable. They had flowers in cute vases and little bottles with cadberry eggs. Also, chocolate covered strawberries that was all too appetizing. I had a great time with everyone. It is so much fun to get together with the people that mean so much to you. It made me realize how lucky I have been with my friends. I have had alot of people in my life since I have lived here that have come in and out of my life. I have been more than blessed with AMAZING women who show me what it truly means to be christian. I love all those who have made the effort to come out and celebrate motherhood with me.



Jessica, a friend who always has a smile on her face.

The PARTY planners, Beth and Jazzers!

Kimberly and Erin

Debi and Rene

Natalie and Lisa

March Madness Countdown!

I am so excited that today is March 1st. I actually made it to the month of my supposed delivery time. I feel like I am in a marathon and I can see in the distance the finish banner awaiting my arrival. I feel liberated and also really sour from the journey, but so excited for the finale of this long pregnancy. I know I still have twenty days left or so, but I am feeling so ready to be finished. My sister in law was due the same time I was by a week had her baby on Friday. I didn't know how to feel about that, but I know that I am happy for her. I feel like my time will eventually come and I do have things I need to accomplish before D-Day. I have two weeks left of work and I know for the best interest of my financial life and my clients looks I need to hold out for 2 more weeks at least. I also have a special celebration that my sweet friends are throwing for me this week and I am honestly looking forward to that. I know that this last month will be a milestone for me. The last pregnancy I will ever have, so I am going to soak in the final rays and hope that I can live through the next twenty days of painful charlie horses in my rear. Yes, you heard me, my rear!