Birthday Boy!

4th of July-Almost baby 27 years ago today...

In Oregon. With family. Perfect, sunny day.

Happy Birthday Bryce!

And...off to Germany tomorrow!

Our two babies....

probably doing the same thing right now....

We went to an outdoor play last night, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Brycen loved it. They did a great job. The singing was wonderful and overall, very entertaining. I think sitting in the second row helped keep Brycen's attention a lot as he sat motionless on my lap for 90% of it with his mouth slightly open as he tried to take everything in.

At a few of the scenes, Brycen got emotionally involved such as when one of the young men was dragged off to prison-Brycen screamed, "NO!" and during the fighting scene, he turned his head into me. At other scenes, Brycen would just giggle and he always loved the singing. Overall, a wonderful night AND he was free! Always a bonus, these days :)

We did get home late though and since Brycen wakes up no matter what time he goes to bed, at 8:30am--after lunch and a bath, Brycen didn't even make it down the stairs to change before he curled up and fell asleep on me.

With the same pillow, he was propped up on in the hospital, one day old (the fingernail of it is on the right side of the blog page under the "ABOUT ME" section). It goes on all our trips as he sleeps with it every night. The only problem--it's Mommy's favorite pillow too (hence why it was at the hospital for Brycen's birth). It's a good thing I love him so.

22 weeks today! My sister tells me often that it just looks like I overate at Cafe Rio (rather than pregnant) but look at that belly button poking through the shirt! That little guy is there and growing. We are SOO excited to soon have TWO little boys...four months from Friday!

Now, THIS is what I call....

Much needed bonding.

"MIKE! MIKE! MIKE! (Brycen as he runs out of the airport)...where's Jenn?"

Last Friday, Brycen and I said goodbye to our lovely townhouse in West Lafayette, Indiana until AUGUST 1st!! and began our summer of travels.

This week, you can find us in Utah. We arrived 1am (3am our time) Saturday morning to Grandma and Grandpa's house in SLC after a long day of traveling. We happened to end up having nearly a 5 hour layover in Phoenix, AZ where luckily my brother (Mike) lives and was able to save us from the airport. He took us out to dinner and gave us some much needed entertainment and company. Brycen wouldn't dare sleep a wink on the airplane and was literally bouncing off the chairs as he said, "Mike and Jenn", "Mike and Jenn". Sadly, Jenn wasn't able to be there.

Flying has become second nature to Brycen (his 37th flight) and for weeks (ever since we ordered our passports), he asked me every morning if we would be going on an airplane. As much as it hurt having to buy him is own airplane ticket now, having somewhere for him to "bounce" and go crazy, almost sold me on the idea that it is worth it. Almost. I'm sure after Germany, I will be.

We then had a weekend full of this....

And only a little of this...

(Mohawk courtesy of Uncle Mike. What do you think? Mohawk, a keeper? Notice: the red cheeks. 110 degrees in AZ that evening).

Which I know, vacation is all about. But I think in order to survive THIS vacation...we will need to spend a bit more time ZZZZing. Brycen is in denial and fights it but falls asleep within seconds every time I make him lean his head on my shoulder or lay down for just a minute.

Next week: Oregon.

For 3 and a half weeks after that: Germany! Stay turned.

CAMPING!!

We went camping for the first time ever (as a little family) this past weekend--making it all possible when we were given a tent this past Christmas! I was amazed at how much work it was to plan, organize, and gather things since I have never been camping without my parents...but we had SOOO much fun.

We went to Shades National Park here in Indiana with our good friends and Brycen loved it.

Brycen with our tent in the backgound.

Fire and food sure has a way of bringing men together.

Diaper time.

All three kids are saying "cheese" and yet not one is looking at the camera :)

He was in heaven.

Playground fun. Notice how green everything is! We have and are still getting so much rain this year!

Brycen is in a phase that he thinks it's so much cooler to have other kids' parents do things with/for him. I find it kind of annoying at times (making other parents do things for my child) but Tifani is a great sport about it. He has always loved her-- she makes things so fun!

Look at that grin!

Isn't she adorable? She is 3 months younger than Brycen and we get to party with her every Sunday in Nursery.

The three kids swinging. Brycen insisted on being pushed by their dad.

Leaving us to do this :)

Family picture with matching legs and all :)

Scattered thunderstorms were predicted all week and nothing came of it but that night...our tents were surely pushed to the limits with the hardest rain I have ever heard. In fear of our tent failing us and getting us soaked...I didn't sleep from 3-7 am as the rain got harder and harder and the thunder louder.... while Brycen seemed to sleep better in the tent than at home. He loved having his bedtime routine in the tent and falling asleep looking up into the trees (long before the rain-fly had to go on) and slept right through the neighbor's loud music, the Mommies and Daddies playing games and making more s'mores, the crazy humidity, rain and thunder, and car doors opening and slamming as people frantically packed up the next morning. I was amazed.

We waited out the storm (by just waiting for the kids to wake up) and were rewarded because the rain stopped just in time to cook breakfast, build the fire again, and pack up. The next thunderstorm was just starting as we drove out. We had plans to try some of the beautiful hiking the park has to offer but due to the weather, flooding, and muddy trails; we didn't. We'll definitely have to go back sometime. I hope this marks only the beginning of our camping experience.

Well...what I call camping. Bryce thinks camping where running water refers to more than a nearby stream and you set up your tent next to your car...really, doesn't qualify. But he was sure glad that I had convinced him to bring air mattress to sleep on since that is what kept us dry from the puddle that formed in the middle of our tent that night.

Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!

******Warning. Lots of writing. I wrote down Brycen's birth story once but I can't find it so in celebration of the special day, I wrote a bit here. If you only want pictures, scroll on down to the ***********

2 years ago on my 22nd birthday, I sat in the hospital in Provo, Utah to begin the induction process for Brycen to be born. Even though I never wanted to particularly share my birthday with one of my kids, my days were numbered in which my mom was able to be in town; and the birthday induction actually ended up being a miracle. For my doctor was under some kind of law/obligation? (not sure) that she couldn't have someone induced until the individual was at least a week overdue or had a medical condition.

On the morning of my birthday, I had my 41 week appointment (even though, 41 weeks wasn't technically until the next day) and had for the first time ever in my life and still ever, high blood pressure. That alone, allowed my doctor to let me begin induction a full 24 hours early.

By the time I got to the hospital, my blood pressure was completely back to normal (a true miracle I had it in the first place, I'm telling ya) and the nurses were alittle suspicious to why I was being induced for "high blood pressure" since clearly, I didn't have it. They called my doctor while I prayed that they would let me stay. Not sure what my doctor said but I am forever grateful since I did indeed get to start the process that night.

The entire day of May 8th was full of pain, fatigue and hunger. Long labor process. And stress. It was the last day my mom would be there. It took me 6 hours after they started the pitocin to get to a 1cm dilation. I could see the panic in my Mom's eyes after they checked me, the realization that she might actually leave for Boston in the morning without meeting her grandson, was starting to settle in. Since life back in Boston was already falling apart without her, extending the trip was not an option.

More miracles followed though and somehow I arrived at a full 10 cm dilation and was able to finally start pushing at 9pm, May 8th (my doctor had 2 other patients in the hospital in labor at the exact same time that night...and I was the last one she came to, at one point I was so tired, hungry, and in pain, I remember saying/crying/screaming, "Doesn't anyone care about me??"). Meanwhile, the epidural they gave me at 1pm (took 6 hours to get to 1cm, it was clearly going to be a long day) stopped working...those warnings of getting it too early are totally true. Oh and the whole no eating and drinking thing. No one told me. I should've eaten breakfast that morning and probably slept the night before.... but we were way too excited/anxious/scared. Ice chips got old real fast....(to this day, Brycen LOVES to eat ice).

They had the anesthesiologist give me another dose...and still nothing. So, they took me off the contraction machine and told me to tell them when a contraction was coming since I felt them all right.

2.5 hours later of full on pushing and being told "he is only one push away, push harder!" after the first thirty minutes, Brycen's head broke 3-yes,3-vacuums (devices suctioned on to their head to help pull them out) and in the rule book, that calls for an emergency c-section.

As soon as I heard that, I was bummed. Not that I'm against c-sections. After everything and being "one push away", I felt like I had failed. I didn't try hard enough, if only I could give it alittle more. My doctor was estimating that he would weigh 7 pounds max since my stomach was measuring so small and yet, I couldn't do it.

I closed my eyes and refused to look at anyone as they prepped me for surgery. They talked and I responded and I occasionally peeked out but only to do one thing, look at the clock. Once, I saw it reach midnight, all I could think was, "at least we will have a day between our birthdays".

After my body didn't respond to a spinal tap, they refused to proceed with the surgery with me being able to feel it even though I said I wanted them too (I really, really wanted to be awake for it) so I had to be put to sleep. Later I found out that Bryce was kicked out of the room as well and I am still pretty bitter about that. At least one of us should be able to be there for the birth!! But apparently the husband's job to the doctors is to only comfort his wife and since I was out, so was he. So sad.

Well folks, the story DOES end happy (and maybe sometime soon I'll post Bryce's version of it-I found it humorous)! Our big bundle of joy arrived at 1am May 9th weighing in at 10 pounds 10 ounces.

6 hours before my mom left for the airport.

And my birthday will never be or mean the same. In a good way.

*****************And here we are birthday weekend 2 years later...

Saturday, May 7th-my birthday.

For my birthday, my mom gave me a gift card to Rainforest Cafe. I heard it was a fun place but expensive so the gift card was perfect.

Looking at the bill.

We weren't too impressed with our visit. For the price of the food, we were expecting something amazing. And even though they had fish tanks everywhere (Brycen's favorite), the thunderstorms every 20 minutes and then the sight of their mascot walking around waving (a frog) made Brycen hysterical. No joke. I prayed that the frog wouldn't come back. It took 10 minutes to calm Brycen down. He was shaking and screaming, "Go.....Please. Home." Slightly embarrassing and if we didn't just get our food, we might've.

Poor kid. I don't think Disneyworld or land is anywhere in our future.

My free birthday sundae which Brycen promptly claimed as his. I asked the waiter if I could not be sung to though and I think that caught him really off guard. I have this thing about being put on the spot and if I'm not expecting it, it's really not bad. But since I witnessed another girl being sung too just moments before....I decided I could do without. My friend also surprised me at volleyball the night before with cake so I had my fill of being sung to, for sure.

Since the only Rainforest Cafes around here are in Chicago, we decided to make a little trip out of it and attend the temple. We took turns doing sessions and I was literally saved by a couple in my ward from a very awkward situation and I will always remember them for it. Overall, a good day.

The next day was Mother's Day and we drove back to Indiana in time for church. In the car ride, I used my handy Kindle that I received for my birthday. Reading will never be the same. Lovin it!

Monday, May 9th! Brycen's Birthday!

We went with our close friends, the Belts, to an indoor waterpark in town with tickets given to us from another friend. We had the place to ourselves. Literally. No one else but us. So awesome.

It took awhile for Brycen to get into it but he sure did.

Loves for the baby.

So much for taking more pictures this time around. I use the excuse that I'm never "picture ready" so these will have to do as my unofficial 15 week photos.

It's there. I promise. SO much earlier than with Brycen, but I don't mind.

Gift from our friends. He gets his multi-tasking skills from me. :)

Showing Dad his new tools.

Cake time was the best. So much better than last year when we had to pry open his mouth to convince him that he would like it.

Dad went in to grab a lighter and took alittle too long.

He LOVES sprinkles.

(and don't mind the pink cake. It was the only ice cream cake option the store had. And since we were in the process of moving this week, I just didn't have the time to do much else. It was delicious, though!).

Getting sung to! He enjoyed as well. Last year...he cried, basically hated the entire thing.

Loved blowing the candles out so much, he had Dad re-light them so he could do it again. So much fun to watch.

The day was a perfect mixture of fun, sugar, and friends. What a great weekend.