Too Big

My bella is getting way too big. We went to her pre-school graduation party June 2, and she was adorable! They did the pledge, sang some songs, got their "diplomas". Oh it was just precious! She is growing too fast. It has been amazing to see her growth this past school year. She has learned so much. Her biggest accomplishment is learning all the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they make. She has gained a lot of confidence. She has a high self-esteem. She is sensitive to others. She made a lot of friends. Playing with friends has become a huge priority to her. She loves her teacher, Miss Sandra. She tells me how beautiful she is, and how much she misses her. It is so sweet.

She is also sleeping in her room again! I never thought this was going to happen. It helped that my mom came for a visit and I told her how proud Grandma would be of her. I also promised her not just 2 gum balls the next day, but FIVE gumballs of her choosing. (She loves gumballs lately...maybe it's the cute "bubblegum" song she learned in pre-school...hmmm...)

She is also OBSESSED with puzzles. She can't get enough of them. She will do a puzzle for hours. She is getting really good at them too.

Last night she said, "Sometimes things make sense and sometimes they don't. Everything doesn't have to make sense, though." Wow...deep.

Villains, throwing fits, crappy day, the usual

It's the little things ya know? I really want to make sure I don't forget these little things that happen day-to-day that make me chuckle or smile.


B: Mom! Where is Baby Brother???
M: He's in his bed in my room. Is that alright?
B: OH! I thought a villain took him!

Paislee lately when she is throwing her little fits (there are many in a day) will say "I don't want to!" But it's the way she screeches it that really is funny. The first word is high, the second low, etc. So she sounds like a dying mongoose.

Kailia lately has been saying "Wee-ah" which can mean anything. I've noticed a pattern where she means "Open this", but again, it does have many uses.

Bella really wanted to name Phinn "Ella", "Mystery" or "Fawn". Some good names...(for a stripper)! Just kidding.

Kailia is very fascinated with Phinn nursing/eating. She points and giggles every time. She calls it "Baby mo" (Baby milk). ha ha.

A moment I never want to forget is the first time Bella got to hold Phinn. She was so overwhelmed with emotion and love. Tears welled up in her eyes and she was trying so hard to hold them in. She had been waiting for that day for a long time.

I love how Paislee and Kailia say, "Awwww!" when they are disappointed about something. Their tonality when they say it is hilarious! They sound like little mini teenagers. When Bella is disappointed she says, "Harsh!" They are too young to be throwing around this attitude.

Phinn was crying in his bouncer and Bella was trying to comfort him. I guess Kailia got the wrong idea and thought Bella was making him cry. Boy, did Bella get the chewing out of a lifetime! Kai was pointing her finger up and down yelling at her. Not quite sure what she said exactly. I could pick out "baby" every few words though. There were probably a few baby swear words too. So funny.

Last night Phinn only woke up twice. Hooray! He woke up at midnight to eat. Then, at 5am I actually woke him up to eat. It's amazing what a solid chunk of sleep can do for you. I was up by 6am and took a shower without any children present in the bathroom. I sorted and threw in a load of wash, checked my email, and wrote this post! I'm not getting used to it yet, though.

Yesterday was my first day with all 4 kids out and about by myself. I had my 2 week check up. I wasn't counting on it being a blizzard, in May, outside. I ended up (with Levi's help) getting the kids into the car after a quick breakfast. Paislee would not stop crying for some reason. They were all wearing their p.j.s still. Hair was looking really scary. So, I get to my mom's house and her huge tree has cracked in 6 places from the weight of the snow. I couldn't pull up in the driveway, so I had to haul each kid- one at a time through the snow to her front door. After I dropped the kids off with my brother, I made it (alive) to my appointment 30 minutes late. Phinn starts crying while we are waiting so I pull him out of his carseat. They call my name finally. I ask the nurse to hold him for me while I produce a urine sample. I hear laughing. It turns out Phinn totally peed all over her scrub top! So embarrassing. At least it's newborn baby pee though, right? It's got to be more pure. After the appointment, we pick up the girls. Turns out I forgot to change them that morning and forgot to leave diapers with Blair. So, Paislee and Kailia are soaked, stinky, and even more whiny and grumpy. All in all, it was a downright crappy day. We left that morning at 9am and got home around 12:30. Four kids 3 and under are really, really hard! I don't think we'll be leaving the house this summer.

At least they took a long nap, though. I didn't know how much more crying and whining I could handle! Levi ended up going to my mom's to help cut up and haul away that tree. He didn't get home until after 8pm. So it was up to me and only me to get them all fed, bathed, and to bed. By the time he got home, he was so exhausted and sore. He could barely move his arms. Today is going to be a good one though. For starters, it isn't snowing outside.

Phinn Arthur

The day we left the hospital is the day we came up with Baby Boy's/Billy Bob's name. Actually it was literally 5 minutes before we left the hospital. We both really liked the name Phinn. Levi wanted him named after his dad, Kevin Arthur. I wanted to spell his name "Finn" but that would make his initials spell out "FAT". Levi said "No big deal". But I had to put my foot down on that one. So Phinn Arthur Tippetts. It sounds like royalty. He almost needs a suffix like the IV or something.

I am in love with this boy. I didn't think I'd adjust to having a boy so quickly, but I did. Boys are just as fun as girls...just a little different. We couldn't ask for a sweeter, more patient baby. I love holding him on my chest as often as I can, to let him sleep. He sleeps so well this way. I held him in the hospital this way as often as I could. I knew once I got home back to normal life, I would be spreading myself to five different people, cooking, cleaning, etc. etc. etc.

I've been slowly taking his newborn pictures a day at a time. We get interrupted a lot and we both get frustrated. So these are his newborn pictures PART I- more to come. I still need to get Levi in a few with him. I also got some taken at the hospital by a professional and I love them! I just don't know if I can spend the $125 to get them on CD.

He is here! (finally)

Baby Boy Tippetts arrived Monday, May 10, 2010 at 8:24 am. He weighed 7lbs 12oz and measured 21in long. He has dark brown hair, navy blue eyes, long skinny toes & fingers, and is such a handsome little guy! He is so very sweet. I am amazed every time I look at him.

He was delivered by C-Section, which went great accept for the spinal block / anesthesia. That took two tries to administer and didn't go up high enough. I actually felt the doctors pulling apart my stomach muscles and pulling out my uterus! AGHH! But we did it, and we are grateful to be healthy and watched over.

I am so happy he is finally here. I know his three big sisters and dad are excited too. Levi is mostly excited for me to recover and to come home. Being Mr. Mom and running a business by yourself, it turns out, is a lot of stress and a lot of work! It doesn't help that Paislee is getting 4 teeth right now and is being an absolute monster!

I know our "hands are full" (I hear it all the time from everyone), but I just feel so very blessed and honored that Heavenly Father is entrusting us with these precious children!!! Being a mom is the best.

Oh yeah, still have not decided on his official name yet. For now, it's Billy Bob. We are going back and forth between Finn & Hayden and various middle names.

Who are all these little people following me?

Paislee's "bootsies"

Kailia is our skinny little runt. (She & Paislee still fit into 6-12 month clothes and they are almost 2!)




Sometimes I look at my tail of "little people" that follow me around and it hits me again that they are my children! That sounds totally crazy, I know. Sometimes I kind of forget that I am their mom and that they are my responsibility. I've been hearing all the Mother's Day ads and think, "Wow, mom's are so special". Then I think, "Oh yeah, I'm a mom!" Weird. Here are the latest things that make me glow about my own little ones...

Bella-
She is getting so dang smart. We are working on sounding out letters to make words. She loves getting her bathtub foam letters to spell our words with me. "Mom, what does that spell?" One of her favorite things is library books. She would have me read to her all day long if that were possible.

She is getting sweeter every day too. Whenever I am aching from a contraction she asks me if I am okay and then will rub my belly for a minute. She is such a sweet, thoughtful and considerate girl. She rarely complains when I ask her to do something. She is so patient and sweet with her little sisters. I am very blessed to have Bells as my oldest child.

She was so heartbroken when we thought Baby Brother was coming last Monday. Bella was very excited to hold him and finally bring him home. When we picked up the girls from Nana & Papa's she asked me where he was. I had to explain that Heavenly Father said he isn't ready to come yet. She was almost in tears!

She asked how the baby came out. I didn't want to traumatize her too much so I told her the dr. cuts a small cut on the stomach and pulls out the baby. So, last night she says:

B: "I don't ever want to get married mom!"
M: "Why?"
B: "Cause I don't want the dr. to cut open my stomach!"


Kailia-
Oh my gosh...I can't even stand how dang cute it is when she dances. She still LOVES to dance to every song she hears. I love it when she'll imitate whatever Bella does. My favorite is her robot. Even in the car today I couldn't help watching her bob her head to the music in my "mommy rear-view mirror". Maybe I should keep my eyes on the road.

Kailia is such a little parrot. I love getting her to repeat words or sentences.

"Go-di-go" is still "Water"
"EE-ah" we are pretty sure means "Open this"
"Nannies" is "Candy"
"Bee momma" is "Please mom"

And yes, I think it is true that twins come up with their own language. Paislee understands her even when we don't!

Kailia still loves pushing people's buttons. Like calling her Aunt Star, "Nana" just to make her mad. She loves taking whatever toy one of her sisters has, and will run off giggling. What a cute little stinker.


Paislee-
Such a funny girl. She really walks to the beat of her own drum. I love it. Lately she has loved her "Bootsies" these cute pink cowboy boots her Aunt Shilo got her. She insists on wearing them and loves stomping the floor with her bootsies.

She is obsessed with Bella's fish. (I am amazed that Mystery has been with us for almost an entire year.) Every morning at breakfast she has to say "Hi" to "Fishy" and climbs up on the counter to get a closer look.

Pais is an animal lover altogether. Yesterday at the duck park, she woke up all the ducks who were nice and cozy on the grass. She screamed and ran toward them as they quacked grumpily and waddled away. She still kept chasing them and almost ran into the pond 4-5 times. After pulling her away and bringing her back to the playground 17 times, I decided it was time to go.

Blah! Part II

Today's appointment went alright even though I was depressed and frustrated. Fortunately, my doctor was pretty sympathetic to everything I went through last night- the contractions, the shots, the puking, starving for 6 hours for no reason, etc. He said there wasn't a reason to deliver yesterday since I was just contracting and not dilating. He's the one with the medical degree, so I'll just have to trust him and be patient. I am not a very patient person! My contractions have been about 10 minutes apart during the day. They are about 5-8 mins right now and I am sitting...I guess I'll wait to see if they get so strong I can't handle them anymore.

On a good note, I did schedule my very last appointment with him for next week. So I guess that gives me some hope that I won't be pregnant forever. Why do the last few weeks of pregnancy seem like endless torture? My goal is to try to enjoy them as much as possible. I will enjoy my girls and the time I have for resting and naps!

Blah!

Sunday night I start contracting. From 9-10pm they were 6 minutes a part. From 10-11, 5 minutes. 11-12 4.5 minutes. Finally I get so tired, I take my Uni.som and go to sleep. All day Monday same thing. Intense, strong contractions only these were 2-3 minutes a part! So I call Levi he drops EVERYTHING he is doing to take me to Labor & Delivery. My sweet neighbor comes over and helps me get the girls packed and ready to go.

I get to the hospital and yep, I am still contracting. They call my doc and he orders a shot of Morphine to "knock the contractions out". If it were false labor they will go away. So I get my morphine shot but no anti-nausea medicine (because I am allergic to the kind he ordered). My contractions are more like 1-2 minutes a part now and super strong. The morphine did NOTHING but make me feel like I was floating on a cloud so that I didn't care about the pain.

After 4 hours of steady, strong contractions, I wasn't dilating. I am getting a C-section, so I don't see why it mattered. So, doc has the nurse give me turbutaline. This made me super jittery and slowed the contractions a ton. After 5 hours, he orders another shot of turbutaline. And my contractions are completely gone. They send me home.

In the meanwhile, I wasn't able to eat or drink anything in case I was going to deliver. So I am as thirsty as a sinner in Hell. So I get a big, ole' cup of ice and water only to puke it up all the way home! What a waste of 5 hours. I am so mad! I was ready to meet our new little guy. I am 37 1/2 weeks pregnant, so considered full term. I guess my doc just didn't want to work last night. I have to go see him today for my regular appointment and it will be sooo hard not to glare at him the entire time.

Wish me luck!

Here are some ugly cat pictures just to show how annoyed I am.