Happy Halloween

We have been celebrating Halloween all week by making decorations, going to a few parties and preparing for our party. Derek and the kids went to the ward trunk or treat and had a great time. Jensen was the firefighter, Siesa the firefighter dog and Derek was the fire. Elise was going to be a fire hydrant but we ended up not going.

Tonight we had a party. We played a few games and then had pumpkin pie that we made from a pumpkin, not the can. It was very, very good. For dinner we had Worms ((green spaghetti noodles, blood (spaghetti sauce) brain pieces (cauliflower) and jello pumpkins. Siesa was a little confused why we were calling it by the wrong name but Jensen was all into it. He was informing us all the it was not really worms, blood or brain because as he said "how would we really get brains from someone's head?"

Every time we dressed up, Siesa and Jensen wanted to wear different costumes, silly kids. Good thing I have numerous costumes to choose from. Tonight Jensen was thinking about different Halloween costumes and was saying something about skeletons. He said that if he saw a skeleton he would be able to see all the bones and joints. Then he said, "Next year I want to be a joint for Halloween." Derek told him that Mommy would really have to work hard on that one.

First Photo Shoot

Elsie 1 week old.

I took these pictures a few weeks ago. I was very pleased at how they turned out. It is fun to have a baby again.

The BIG 30

Happy Birthday Derek!

Derek's birthday was pretty causal this year but he did get to sleep in, take a nap, go on a bike ride and eat a great dinner of salmon and shrimp with butter sauce, steamed asparagus and orange and tarragon salad, yum, yum.

We made him a pumpkin pie instead of cake this year. Jensen picked out re-light candles for his pie so that was funny. Jensen was so excited and was laughing that Derek could not blow them out, he ran over to help so Jensen, Siesa and Derek were all trying to blow out the candles. After the excitement of that was over Jensen got concerned because he wanted to eat the pie, and "how can we eat it if the candles wont blow out?" so funny.

I Love You Derek!

It's a girl

Introducing

Elsie Drysdale
Born Oct 5, 2009 at 4:44 am
7 lbs 11 oz 20 inches long

Home birth rocks!

If you didn't know that we were planning on doing a home birth don't feel left, out we didn't really tell anyone. Here are some of the reasons that we didn't really tell anyone. First, for some people we knew that it would cause a lot of stress and we didn't want to tell some people and not tell others. Second, we were very excited and very confident in our decision to do a home birth that we didn't want to hear negative feedback about our decision. We knew the risks we were taking and those that we would have taken by going to the hospital. We were very prepared for the birth with all the necessary supplies and a very qualified midwife (she's delivered over 850 babies at home) and it was every thing we had hoped for and more. For everyone that thought I was delivering at Northside hospital we would have had the baby there had there been complications. I had an OB that I was working with that knew I was going to have a home birth and he was my back up if I needed medical intervention. Thankfully, I didn't but it felt nice to be prepared. We didn't plan on doing a home birth for the beginning of the pregnancy, it wasn't until about 5 months along and not looking forward to the birth and going to the hospital that we found Debbie and decided to do it at home.

Here is our birth story
At 12:30 am I was sleeping when my water broke. I was extremely exciting because I was one week over due. My official due date was September 27th but I have almost gone two weeks late with my other kids so I figured it would come more like the 5th of October (I was wishing that it would not be too late.) I just happened to pick the right date. I called Debbie (my midwife). I was not having any contractions so she told me that they would start and to get some sleep until they did and of course to call when I wanted her to come. Derek and I got everything cleaned up and as soon as we laid down to go back to bed my contractions started coming 2 minutes apart. My labor started at 1:15 am and 3 and a half hours later Elsie was born. I can't even say it enough how pleasant it was to be at home. No one told me what to do, Derek and I were able to work though contractions and I was always asked before anything happened. After the birth was over and I was stitched up and I was clean I got into bed, the kids woke up. They slept through the whole event which was great. Siesa's face when she woke up was priceless. She walked out of her room turned around, Debbie held the baby up to her as we told her what had happened she looked all wide eyed and smiled. Jensen was just as excited. Debbie gave him a tutorial about the placenta and sack, he didn't want to touch it but found it very cool to be able to see what the baby was in while in my tummy. I also thought it was pretty cool to see. Most of labor I was giddy, I am still amazed at how our bodies can create life, and after nine months of living in water a perfectly formed baby comes out and starts to breathe. I want to thank Derek for all he did I could not have done it with out him, he is a great birth coach. Even my midwife was impressed. I love you!
The proud papa

Debbie weighing the baby

Just a few hours after Elsie was born another priceless moment. Sitting on the bed seeing the baby. Our first family photo being a family of five Can you tell the kids just woke up? It was great to have the kids be apart of the experience.

Jensen told Siesa that Elsie would "be a baby for a long time" or in other words, she can't play or do anything fun so let's just go play some soccer.

Siesa can't get enough of the baby. She constantly wants to hold her, touch her and give her lots of kisses.

Elsie's First Bath

One cool moment was Elsie's first bath. Derek and the kids were able to give it to her. The kids were both very excited about it.

Elsie's First Birthday cake

Becca Yancey a good friend of ours was also here for the birth, she was on kid duty. Thankfully, they slept through the whole thing. We were so grateful she came and was here for the birth. After the baby was born she went down stairs and iced Elsie's first birthday cake. Thank you for everything Sister Yancey!

Grandma Jensen, Siesa and Elsie. We are very glad that grandma can spent the week with us.

Waiting, waiting, waiting

Me at 39 weeks, can I get any bigger? Half of my maternity clothing doesn't fit. Come baby come!

Applesauce and Labor?

I am now one week over due and my whole week I have been trying to keep busy to not be too consumed with wanting to go into labor. So on Friday we went to a farmer's market I have never been to. We bought 3 bushels of apples and made 40 quarts of applesauce. When I was buying the apples the man asked who was going to make the applesauce I said me and hopefully making it would put me into labor. He was a little surprised by my answer. I can't believe that we were able to actually make that much applesauce. My mom is coming tomorrow and really I thought that she would help me do it but the kids were such a good helpers we had a great time making it. We had a great little system down. The kids helped turn the machine and squish the apples then we would wash and rise some apples and while they cooked we would play. The kids never tired of doing it. Siesa went through about 5 outfits because she would wash the apple with her 2 year old excitement get very wet and go and change. Half of the time she took off her clothing and would help naked. I got some very cute pictures of my little helpers but our computer is not working at the moment (thank goodness for Derek's work laptop or we would have had a hard time watching conference). The applesauce is soooo good because we used 3 kinds of apples Roma's, Gayla's and golden delicious. Jensen especially can't get enough of it. We also made a big pan of apple crisp. YUMMY! It didn't put me into labor but at least we have good food to eat. O Well.