Helena Louise

Yesterday afternoon we welcomed our second beautiful daughter, Helena Louise Anderson, to our family at 2:13 in the afternoon. She weighs 6 lb 8 oz and is 19 inches long. So far, she loves sucking on fingers and being held. Big sister Tempe was skeptical at first (she yelled "No, no, no!" when we first asked if she wanted to hold the baby) but is warming up to Helena. To get all of the details of the birth, keep reading!!

*** DISCLAIMER!!! I'll try not to make this too graphic, but if you're not interested in things like dilation, better stop now. ***

At my 37 and 38 week appointments, I was 4 cm dilated with a bulging bag of waters and having lots of irregular (but painful) contractions. My midwife was concerned that since I was already so dilated and contracting, I would go really fast when I went into labor, so she asked if I wanted to augment my labor by having her break my water. At first I wasn't sure, but after a few more days of an aching back and fruitless 5-minute-long contractions, I agreed, so she scheduled us to come in Sunday morning at 7 am. When we got to the hospital, they hooked me up to the monitor to see if I was contracting on my own, and I was, but they weren't very strong and they weren't at all regular. Esther (my midwife) checked my cervix around 8, and we were all surprised to see that I was 6 cm already. How could I possibly be 6 cm and not in labor? I don't know! Esther broke my water and we all expected me to go really fast... but 4 hours later, I still wasn't contracting! We decided to use Pitocin to get my labor going, and as soon as the nurse hooked the Pitocin up to my IV, I started having pretty strong contractions. This is what I looked like during my contractions:

Just kidding... that was me goofing off.

After about an hour of pretty painful contractions, I decided that I wanted to get an epidural after all, so they brought the cart in and got it all set up, but the anesthesiologist was tied up in another room and I had to wait for her. I was in a lot of pain, but I just kept thinking about that epidural... until I realized that I felt like I needed to push!!! I admit, I panicked when I realized that the anesthesiologist wasn't going to make it before I delivered. I feel like I was out of control the first few times I pushed, but after a few contractions I realized that it was only when I was actually pushing that I was in a lot of pain, and I started to relax between contractions and get on top of the pain. Jason said it was pretty funny because I was screaming bloody murder while I was pushing, and then as soon as the contraction ended I was perfectly coherent, making jokes and laughing and asking Esther questions... then another contraction would start building and I would start screaming again!

Luckily, I only had to push for about 15 minutes before Helena was born. When they put her on my chest, she was screaming (like mother like daughter) and I was just shaking. I couldn't believe that I had actually delivered a baby without drugs! It was an amazing feeling, especially because when it was over, it was over and I felt 100% better. The very best part about it was I had no tearing or cutting, which means no stitches!! I can't believe how good I feel and how easy it is to get out of bed and walk around. I almost feel like I didn't have a baby at all.

Jason and I are surprised at how different Tempe and Helena already are. Tempe was very quiet and very, very low key as a newborn... Helena voices her displeasure when her diaper is changed or you try to move her when she's comfortable, and she likes to be held constantly. I love that even though my girls are sisters, they already have their own distinct personalities!

Tempe and "Baby Sister"

The whole happy family!

"Three years is a long time to be married"

*** A prize to whomever can name that quote!!! ***

Today Jason and I are celebrating our three year anniversary. We agreed not to make a big deal out of it, since we are having another baby soon and we splurge a lot anyways, so this morning I just made breakfast (usually we just eat cereal!) and exchanged cards. Then, after Tempe was in bed, Jason went and got us something to eat from Applebees and we had a nice dinner together. Now he is watching basketball and I am catching up with some emails. Pretty boring, huh? I guess that's what happens when you're an old married couple!!!

I'm so grateful for the past three years. I have been so happy, and hopefully Jason has, too! So far, we have had such a wonderful marriage and I'm sure it's all because Jason is so understanding and loving. I really don't deserve him, but I am trying to be a better wife.

Here are a few pictures from our wedding:

Don't we make a cute couple?? Here's to another three years together, and many, many more!!

Bawk! Bawk! Owwww...

Yesterday Jason and I decided to take Tempe to the petting zoo in Ft. Collins. She has been practicing her animal sounds (she knows about a dozen now) so we thought it would be fun for her to actually see the animals that make the sounds! She liked looking at the animals, but she was a little nervous about touching them, especially the horses. When she noticed the cows eating hay off the ground, she shook her finger and said "No, no, no!" We tried to explain that the animals eat off the ground and it's ok, but she was pretty skeptical. She also kept pointing at the pigs in their muddy pen and saying "Yuck, bath!"
Her favorite animals to see were the chickens and roosters. The rooster kept crowing, and that made her a little nervous, too (it was really loud!) but she liked to say "Doodle-do!" after he did. She was having a great time watching the chickens pecking around when one came up to the fence and pecked her fingers. She jumped back and Jason grabbed her. Luckily, she wasn't hurt and she didn't cry... but it made a big impact on her! She spent the rest of the afternoon saying "Bawk! Bawk! Owww..." and holding up her hand where the chicken pecked it. Today she was still doing it, but she must have forgotten which hand got hurt, because now she's holding out the other one.
In other news, I went to the doctor today and I am 4 cm dilated!! Woohoo! When I had Tempe, I found out that I was 3 cm about 3 days before I went into labor, so hopefully it will just be a matter of days now. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, because I know some people walk around 4-5 cm dilated for weeks, but I really feel like it will be soon. I have the nesting urges pretty strong now (just ask Jason, I keep asking him to move things and put things away and help me get everything organized) and I have a lot more energy all of a sudden. I think it's that last little energy burst that comes at the very end. So maybe my next entry will be about our second little girl!

Come on, Baby, come on!

Tempe is so excited for her baby sister to get here! She loves babies at church and she loves to take care of her baby dolls--she likes changing their diapers (they all have to wear diapers) and putting them up in her high chair for a snack. I'm sure she will be just as excited to "help" with Baby Sister! Today I put the infant car seat back in the car, and because Tempe still has to be rear facing (she's only 17 pounds), the baby's car seat is right next to hers. She was so excited when I put her in the car and she saw that Baby Sister will be right next to her!

We thought maybe today would be the day, but no such luck. I had false contractions all day long, but they never got regular or more intense. I just kept telling myself that even though it wasn't active labor, the contractions were still productive (hopefully)!

Strawberry oatmeal, anyone?

Tempe was fine all day yesterday, and besides sleeping a little late and acting tired this morning, she seemed fine before church... and during the opening hymn and announcements.... but as soon as the sacrament hymn started, she sat up straight, took her binky out of her mouth, and threw her breakfast up all over everything! All over her dress and shoes, and the bench, and the floor, and the diaper bag. Jason and I were just frozen in horror, and then he grabbed her and we ran out of the chapel. The family sitting next to us (whom we don't really know very well) were so nice and accommodating. The husband followed us out and said "Don't worry about the mess, I'll clean it up so you can take care of her." I was soooooo grateful to him! So we stripped Tempe and cleaned her up as best we could, then Jason went back in to get our stuff and help finish cleaning up. Her dress was so gross I ended up just throwing it away--it was velvet, and I just did NOT have the stomach to rinse it out and try to wash it.
Now she seems fine again... I don't know WHAT HAPPENED! But it was so embarrassing.
So if anyone in my ward reads this, I am so sorry! We had no idea that she was sick (actually, I don't think she really is). I've heard of that kind of thing happening in Sacrament meeting before, but I never thought it would be us!! Now all I need is for my water to break next week during Sacrament.

A Rainbow of Information

I'm stealing this from Jen's blog... here are some things that you may not know about me! Enjoy!

What was I doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was almost 13 years old and I was in 7th grade... yuck. I should stop here! That was the most embarrassing, awkward time of my life BY FAR!! I'm sure Jason would be very upset if I don't mention that I was one of those obsessive, annoying Hanson fans. See, I told you it was embarrassing!!!

What was I doing 5 years ago?
5 years ago I was almost 18 and I was a senior in high school. This was a time of my life that I DID like. We lived in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and I loved it! I had great friends (Chris, Christina, Laura, Brad, Brett, Matt, Elise, Kimball, my brothers...) that were so much fun. We did some stupid stuff together! One day when we either had a half day at school or just skipped, we all went out to lunch. It was right after our graduation caps and gowns had been distributed, and my brother had his trumpet in the car, so we had a "graduation practice" in the parking lot after lunch. LOL, it was so stupid! But we had lots of fun together. Unfortunately, I've lost touch with most of those fun people. My family moved to Tennessee a year later when I was in college, and I haven't been back to PA since. Maybe someday I will get a chance to go and visit!

5 Things on my to-do list today:
1. Read my scriptures (done!)
2. Post office--send Tyler's birthday package (done!)
3. Children's museum with Tempe (done!)
4. Lunch with Chandra and Janice (done!)
5. Clean the kitchen (done!)

I Enjoy:
Scrapbooking and other crafts
Playing with Tempe
Spending time with Jason
Going out to eat, especially if we get dessert
Spending time outside in nice weather
Taking Tempe on fun outings
Eating lunch with my friends
Going to school
Shows that mock pop-culture, like The Soup
Visiting my family
Daydreaming about the house we may buy someday!
Relaxing in a nice hot bath after a long day
Catching up with old friends

5 Things I would do if I became a millionaire:
1. Buy a GREAT house
2. Pay off Jason's student loans
3. Finish school myself and set up college funds for our girls (and future children)
4. Give a scholarship to another student mother like me :)
5. Put the rest in savings!

5 Things people don't know about me:
1. I worry that I talk too much and drive people crazy!
2. I worry that people only hang out with me because they pity me :(
3. I worry that I am not a very good mother
4. I watch WAY too much TV.
5. I crave coffee drinks (not plain coffee, though)

5 Jobs I have had:
1. Cashier at K-Mart (in PA)
2. Waitress at Freedom Village (in PA)
3. ??? at Hobby Lobby (I don't know what they hired me to do... I didn't do anything! in TN)
4. Candy counter at BYU Bookstore (in UT)
5. Teacher's aide at The Open School (in WY)

You're invited to my pity party

Please join Kate at her pity party!

Date: from now until the baby is born (probably at least 3 more weeks)

Time: all day, every day

Place: mostly the couch or the bed; sometimes the floor

Anyone who has suffered through the last month of pregnancy probably knows how miserable I am by now... my back aches, I get a stitch in my side from this giant lump I'm carrying around, I have sciatic nerve pain that literally stops me in my tracks, I can't breathe, I have heartburn if I even look at the refrigerator, I have to pee all the time, and I feel like my pelvis is about to split in two any second!! Oh, and I keep having contractions that are so intense I can barely hobble around the room.

I've been preparing and hoping for a drugfree childbirth this time, but seriously, I'm so uncomfortable and exhausted now before I've even gone into labor that I don't think I will have the energy to labor without drugs! I guess we'll see in a few weeks.

So until this baby is born, I am going to give in to my misery. I'm going to lay on the couch and eat ice cream; I'm going to get behind on the housework.

I would write more, but I have to lay down. It hurts too much to sit up any longer!