First Bath

As you may remember from the other kids, my mom has the tradition of bathing the kids until their cord falls off. Considering I rarely have two hands these days, well even one free hand, this is about five days old.

She did fairly well - there was screaming and what have you, but she recovered quickly.

After her bath she was ready for her first doctor's appointment. There she found out she had lost about a pound in two days, but all is well. She also caused her brother some pain for the first, but certainly not last, time - MR. RYAN had a get a flu shot - oh it's just the beginning :)

Jackson was all caught up - thankfully, I didn't want to have to deal with his mood change after a shot!

Andi Anderson

This picture is OBVIOUSLY AFTER my EPIDURAL! This pregnancy and labor and delivery was VERY different from my other two. Where to begin.... Because both the boys were early and because I was HUGE, I thought for sure I would go into labor early. This is an awful way to enter the last few weeks of your pregnancy because you are on pins and needles each and every second. So needless to say, I was going crazy waiting for it all to begin and each false alarm was very upsetting.
But then Tuesday morning around 2:50am I thought it had to be it. My contractions were SO real but they weren't very close to one another. With the boys I felt them when they were about 3-5minutes apart and at that interval, you can pretty much count on going to the hospital. But here I was, in pain, but only 8-10 minutes apart. I woke Andrew up around 4am because they went to about 6min. and we talked and planned and so forth. But then at about 5am, it all stopped. I got up to take a shower and see what was going on - nothing. I think about 5:30am I fell back asleep. 6:30am the boys woke up and so we were all up - Andrew made crepes and I had occasional pain but I didn't know what to think of it. So I decided that either way, I was going to go to the doctor's to check things out.
9am the office opened and I called. At that time I was also back to ten minutes apart and thinking this could be it. My nurse, Donna, told me to come on in and maybe they would break my water. Annette arrived here at 10:15am and Jackson was very understanding that we had to go to the doctor's to get Baby Andi.
I got there and was dilated to four and not really in active labor. After walking around for 20minutes, I came back dilated to 6, fully effaced, and ready to go. After breaking my water at 12pm, the show really started. I had never been that far without an epidural and I do not recommend it. We went straight to the labor and delivery floor and I wanted to scream. I felt so gross and so miserable. A LONG half hour or so later I got the drugs - YES!!!! You wait nine months for that pleasure and so I really feel I got jipped because I only had the "goods" for about an hour and a half :( Which meant, I wasn't feeling it as much as I have in the past and so I really felt things this time. Granted it wasn't drug free, but it was more than I wanted.

After maybe five minutes of pushing, Andi made her way into our world! We thought she had dark hair - turns out it's WAY blonde!

My parents were waiting OUTSIDE the door of course but were in there the minute they got the word.

We couldn't believe the resemblance to Jackson.

Later Annette and Tori brought the boys - our first attempt at a family picture was interesting to say the least! At first Jackson was not thrilled to be in the room - he saw my IV's and basically turned the other way and left me in his dust! But once Andi was brought into the room, Jackson was willing to come back and wanted to see "Baby Anni". Just like he was with Ryan, Jackson was so in love! Ryan, ummm not really sure what was going on :)

We were just there 11 months ago, Andi is healthy, and I couldn't sleep due to all the noises and the thought of my sad little man away from us - SO we asked to leave a day early and so after our 24hours from delivery, we were able to leave!!!

We can't believe just a few months ago Ryan was in this very seat looking this small. Actually - SMALLER. Ryan was 7lbs 6oz and Andi was 8lbs 3oz (but leaving today she's only 8lbs - still my biggest because Jackson was 7lbs 12 oz).

It's great to be home. We were blessed once again to have our families so close, willing and able to watch the boys. But I think we will all rest better tonight being back together under one roof in our own beds - there's nothing like it :)

Mr. Ryan is now officially the BIG BROTHER!

Andi has been very sleepy since we have been home - what a day for us all!

Reflection: Church @ 1pm

Last Week: I left with an exhausted baby and a screaming, wet toddler. "I want to go home, I want to go home." We came home at about 3pm and went straight to bed until just about 6pm.

This Week: Andrew and I are sitting here, dressed for about an hour now, trying to figure out what to do. Jackson begged to go to bed around 12:20pm and Ryan was already knocked out. We were hoping to get them up after that nice 30-45 min. REM sleep, BUT both are still passed out despite the door being open, dishes being banged and all other efforts not to make their sleep pleasant.

Next Week: Trying to figure out a new strategy!

Love So. Cali.

First - something that has nothing to do with Southern California... Jackson now has a "big boy seat". I need to take a picture in the light, but for now, here he is. HE LOVES IT and I am stoked because it's always great when a new transition goes smoothly!!So on to tonight. We had an amazing dinner at The Basil, a local Thai Cafe. Seriously the best ORANGE CHICKEN I have ever had in my life, and Andrew makes really good orange chicken. Not really Thai, but the chicken sa-tee was incredible as well. Highly recommend it - someone, we don't know who, recommended it to us and we thank them! Then off to Coldstone - I am not a huge ice cream person, not at all really, so my family really appreciates my random craving. But then the night just kept getting better! Once home, we headed over to the jacuzzi that is usually just heavenly bath temperature. All were very pleased with my desire to go there as well. So yes, it's winter, middle of January, it's about 50 degrees outside, and we had ice cream and went swimming - love it. It would be th perfect night if I now go into labor!

Ryan found the splashing wars to be HILARIOUS! I wish I could upload his laugh - a true fat man laugh, or belly laugh if you will!

I hope to have a neck again one day :)

Boys Being Boys

The picture below was going to be of Ryan stuck on the railing like a monkey, but by the time I got back in there with the camera, he made his way down.

He found and loved some tissue paper from a gift.

Jackson asked for some pasta - when I came back in the room, I saw he had put Ryan's bib on himself... DORK! Oh and yes, he took it off when he was finished.

I Got In Trouble

The scene: Andrew, aka the train, just brought Jackson into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Jackson is sitting on the counter and Andrew is looking in the drawer - I walk in...
Andrew: "Hold on Bud, let me go look for my toothbrush" seeing me "Did you put my toothbrush somewhere?".
Me: "Yeah I packed it."
Jackson: with a scowl and a deep exhale, "You took daddy's toothbrush! Ahhhh, ridiculous!"

Get Back Up

Watch It

Pack the Bags

I was measured today and apparently my belly has "hit that magic number" - whatever that may be - and I am dilated to a three.... so any time now! TICK TOCK TICK TOCK!

HAPPY 2009!

We brought it the year 2009 the best way possible this year! It surely was an LDS gathering as we partied hard with many little children at our feet. We were able to hang out with friends and not worry about the kids or crowds. And the best part for me was doing the countdown at 9pm - well sort of, we were a minute or two too late, but hey, it counts!Many got competitive with the WII - I didn't bother getting up off the couch to try it out... Jackson took my spot though.

Ryan and Jackson didn't dare miss bringing in the New Year - both celebrated with a toast.

Our very first day of 2009 couldn't have been better. Andrew didn't have to work and the weather was gorgeous. We enjoyed our time as a family at the park and of course, we then all got naps - perfect day :)

The random child you see in the racecar gave Jackson the courage to try out his tractor - yeah!!!

But Jackson could not keep driving without his "lil broder" - so he came running to get him. When he realized he couldn't really pick him up, he made dad come and get Ryan.

So here's to a New Year with three children and many days of exercise!!!