It's Raining!!!

Big storm today in the bay area and I am LOVING IT. Dallin is at preschool and Thad and I are chillin in our cozy house, listening to good music and loving the rain. Does it get any better than this??

Harvest Time

I love the fall. One of the things we love is the Harvest Festival. We brough aunt Kelli and cousins David and Jeffrey this year. Thad's first trip too!

After eating lots of honey samples and watching the Blacksmith, we headed out to 'harvest.' Dallin and Evan picking popcorn here:
Cousin David! He is quite the farm hand.

Me in the corn field. Not a flattering picture, but it was the only one to show I was there. Don't you love my orange Hunter boots? :)

Baby Thad's first Harvest Festival. He's 7 weeks today here:

Shucking the corn. Those husks are dangerous! Jeffrey and I both got band-aids from the first aid station.Happy Fall!

Conference, preschool and baby Thad

First, a few pics of the fam soaking up general conference this past weekend...

Other big news is Dallin started preschool! He goes two days a week. I dropped him off the first day and when I returned, this is how the conversation with Evan went:

Evan "Did Dallin cry?"

Me "Nope."

Evan "Did you?"

Did he even need to ask? Of course I cried!

What a cutie..

Evan gave Dallin his first buzz cut. It was a little painful to watch; Dallin did not like it. This picture makes me sad.

It was all made better when it was over. Evan invented the "ice cream shower" where you eat an ice cream bar in the shower while getting clean. Dallin loved it.

Here's more past pictures to catch up. First, a visit from Uncle Sam and the cousins.

Here's more pictures from the past few weeks. Thad is great! He is gaining weight rapidly and changing so much. I already feel it's moving too quickly. At his one month appointment he weighed 11 pounds 2 ounces. Wow!

Workout

This just arrived in the mail (I bought it):I think it comes with a guarantee my body will look like this in three weeks! I'm still officially in my "six week recovery" period, but boy am I ready to get working out. Locals, you're welcome to join me at my place!

Thad Has Arrived!

Thad Aiden Gilstrap is here!!

He was born Saturday, August 22nd at 7:19am weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces and measuring 21 inches.

doesn't my mom look so pretty here?

Looking back I was in labor all day Friday with contractions about 15 minutes apart. With family in town, my mom and I dropped off Kate and Jim in San Francisco in the morning, then ran a few errands on the way home. Since it was our five year wedding anniversary, Evan and I went out to lunch since I wasn't sure I would make it to dinner!

Being Kate's birthday as well, something got in me to decorate my whole place. Thanks to Martha Stewart for the inspiration. Evan thought I was crazy, but what's a women in labor to do with herself?? (my mom would say nap)

At 2am we headed to the hospital to learn I was dilated to a 3, almost a 4. Everyone kept saying "well, you're right on the line, you're right on the line..." Bottom line, they sent me home. I wasn't surprised or really even disappointed since this happens so often. Looking back, it was a mistake.
We got home, I labored all night. At 6am I woke Evan and we were admitted to the hospital by 6:40am. They did a quick check and I was at a 7. They quickly got things in motion--lots of people were flying around the room. After getting changed, the IV and a quick epidural, I literally laid back down from the drug and they said I was at a 10 and the baby was at a +2. All of this was within about 20 minutes of walking in the door! So, three quick pushes and Thad was born!

We had a bit of a scare which required us to be in the hospital a bit longer. Thad stopped breathing four times so they monitored him longer. It was very emotional, quite draining, etc. but it made coming home with him that much more anticipated. Without the beeping of machines and constant noise and lights, home was a heaven sent! He is doing perfectly well now. The Dr.'s dismissed it finally as a newborn immaturity meaning he would stop breathing when having spit up or reflux. Apparently they grow out of this in days.

I've decided that I have very cooperative kids...at least initially...when it comes to the date they are born. I did not want this baby born on our wedding anniversary and I wanted an even number (weird, I know). Thad obliged. With Dallin, I needed to be done with finals and I wanted an even number and the first day of spring, and, well, he obliged as well.

Thad has been a dream baby so far! He is eating well and gaining weight rapidly. This is sooooo much easier than it was with Dallin! I am just in love with this little guy. Pictures/stories to come. Thad is waking!! (and Dallin just peed on the floor...)

39 Weeks and Thankful

I'm grateful for a healthy body that is able to carry a new life. And I'm so so grateful that everything with the baby appears to be healthy. Just read a friends blog which is a good reminder of what I have to be grateful for..

My Dr. says rarely do women go past their due dates for their second children, but if I did I could be induced any day after. So that means for sure by Monday August 24th this little guy is going to be here! I'm dialated to a two and having contractions (not the real ones though).

Evan is putting up with me. He decided that today was a good day to fix the dead HDMI cable in the wall that we've been living with for six months. With rotozip? in hand, I insisted on following him with the vacuum. And then when he wanted to sit down for five minutes, I nearly broke down in tears reminding him that we have a new baby coming who cannot be subjected to sheet rock dust, not to mention my sister and mom coming into town!!! These feelings are very real in the moment! So, we are still in a bit of a construction zone, but I plan to meditate a lot (and hire a cleaner Tuesday!)

We did the biggest Costco trip ever today. Best purchase: $18.99 Ironman costume for Dallin. What a happy boy. I'll have to take a picture. I wasn't going to buy it because all along he's wanted to be Buzz Lightyear for Halloween and I thought this three year old would have Ironman regret, but when the tears at Costco escalated to sobs, well, I folded. I'm hoping that I haven't purchased five costumes before Halloween actually comes!

Sign of a True Mom?

Need I say more? I drive one of these now. Who thought? (For the record, Evan wanted this more than me, but it is nice I have to admit)