A Link

Sasha Hight (the photographer) put some pictures of Lincoln on her blog - check it out HERE.

A Mother's Right

I was talking with Jesse today, and he asked me if I posted any more pictures of Lincoln on our blog... and I said no. He seemed a little surprised and asked, "Are you going to post one? And then another one? And then another one? And..." you get the picture.

This was my reply: "Every mother has a right to brag about how cute their baby is!"

Jesse didn't have a good comeback for that one... he just shrugged and said, "Ya, I guess that's true."

So if anyone thinks I post too many pictures of my new baby... now you know why. I just can't help it. :)

Photo Shoot of Lincoln

I had a photographer (Sasha Hight) come take pictures of Lincoln and they turned out so adorable! He was 8 days old in the pictures.

This is one of my favorites.
Cute smile, legs stretching out everywhere. :)

Lightning Storm

There is a lightning storm going on right now...(about 10:30pm)... The lightning is going off in every direction. There are a few drops of rain and a little thunder, but it is mainly just the lightning. I managed to get a picture of it! Jesse & I went to watch it for a few minutes on the Green Valley hill - so pretty!!

I love how it lights up the clouds behind it!

Thumb Sucker!

A few times that Lincoln has been hungry, he has found a finger or his thumb to keep him occupied for a few seconds. Today he kept with it and sucked his thumb for quite awhile! Looks like Jesse and I have a thumb sucker on our hands!

Caught in the act...

Lincoln also loves to roll over onto his side to sleep sometimes... What?!? And he has actually rolled all the way from his back to his stomach once. Doesn't that usually take 3-4 months? We have a strong baby!

Cuddle time with Daddy

A lot of people ask me if he has lost weight since he was born. When we left the hospital last Sunday, Lincoln weighed 5 lbs 5 oz, so he had lost 4 oz in the hospital (pretty good for a premie). His doctor appointment the next day he weighed 5 lbs 6 oz, and the next day he was 5 lbs 7.5 oz. So since he's been home (at least as of Tuesday) he has only gained weight. His next appointment (2 week) is on Thursday, so we'll see how well he's eating!

Lincoln loves to sleep with one or both hands up near his face or above his head. I guess it is a Bird baby trait... but I also sleep with my hand near my face still... :)

Another question I get is if he lets me get any sleep at night. As long as he eats right before I go to sleep (pretty late - about 11:30), he only wakes up twice during the night to eat. That seems really good for a newborn, especially a premie. I also try to take a nap during the day so I'm not so tired.

Family Pictures

Here is our first family picture.. or a couple of them. :)

Baby Shower

Since Lincoln decided to come so early, the baby shower from the ladies at work (Fitness Ridge) had to be rescheduled (it was originally scheduled for the 17th... which they kindly moved to the 22nd). It was good to see them all again and it was sweet of them to come.

One girl, Hollie, wrote a poem along with her gift which I thought was so cute. I thought I'd share it because it is so good!

A Hiker's Guide to Motherhood
by Hollie Reina

At the trail head you'll find that you're starting off blind
and the path looks rocky and hard.
Many people will say how to start on your way
and they'll tell you how long and how far.

You might not want to go and you'll step out real slow
thinking why did I do this and how?
Just remember your feet and that baby so sweet
and the joy that you're feeling right now.

You will climb many hills and take many spills
and you'll feel like you've been left behind.
You'll get slogged down in sand and not want to stand
and ask how much is left of this grind?

But life is a thrill as you crest each new hill
and the view before you is grand!
The further you go the more that you'll grow
and you'll see it in one tiny hand.

At times it is tough and most certainly rough
but you'll find strength where you least thought you would.
Now get on your way there is no more delay
on the hike that is called motherhood.

Eyes Open

Lincoln was wide awake and I got a good picture with his eyes open.

He's such a cutie!

Home from the Hospital

Yesterday Lincoln did so well with all of his feedings that he got to come home with us! We are so excited to share our home with him. We have a lot to get used to, but it is all worth it for our little boy. We are so blessed to have him in our lives.

Even Lincoln was happy to be leaving!

Newborns are so peaceful.
5 days old

Have you ever heard of a Moses basket being used today? I already love the one we got - a portable bassinet to have anywhere in the house. They can be used until your baby can roll over on his own... so not very long.

Little Lincoln

Baby Bird has a name. :)

Lincoln Hunter with his daddy. :)

Close up with eyes open (sorry so blurry)

After a feeding, Lincoln was all tuckered out...

Lincoln with Grandma & Grandpa

Lincoln's bilirubin levels were a little high so today he has been under the "bili" (UV) lights. His antibiotics have been stopped, and his IV comes out tomorrow morning. Basically, he's doing really well - just needs to learn how to eat!

Baby Bird Has Arrived!

Baby Boy Bird came July 15th at 7:09PM and weighed 5 lbs 9 oz and is 19 inches long. We are so happy to have him finally here and doing well!!! He had a little trouble breathing right after he was born - and needed a little help getting started, but by about 1AM he was breathing only room air without any help. He's a lot bigger than we all thought he would be, which is great!

Night before the induction... a little nervous...

In the delivery room...

Dr. Chalmers (I recommend him to anyone & everyone)

First moments after delivery

Jesse with the baby in the NICU

Close-up

And I caught a little smile on camera accidentally :)

I was induced at 7:15AM, and labor "kicked in" about 9AM. I was trying to deliver naturally, but being induced made it much harder. I ended up getting an epidural at about 2pM. I could still feel a lot (still a little painful, but much more tolerable) and I could still move my legs and bend my knees, which was perfect. After another 4 1/2 hours of labor and 15-20 minutes of pushing, Baby was born!!

No decided name yet... We're still working on it... but Baby will probably be in the NICU for at least another week, maybe up to 2-4 more weeks - until he can figure out how to eat. At first he was just "fed" sugar water through his IV, but now the feedings are done through an NG tube and he only has a little more antibiotics left (hopefully).

We love our little boy - he is such a blessing in our lives and we are so happy everything has turned out so well so far. Hopefully he can come home sooner than later!

Update

So... everything still looks good and I'm still not naturally going into labor - so... I am being induced at 6am tomorrow morning. The baby's head is low (station= -1) which is really good considering this is my first baby. I'm barely dilated (between 0-1 cm) and 60% effaced, so I don't need any cervical ripening agents. At this point I am pretty calm (you could call it bored) and it's just waiting for tomorrow morning now.

Wish me luck!!! (I will need it, I'm sure...) Baby Bird (7th grandchild on my side, 21st on Jesse's) is coming tomorrow!

My Water Broke!!!

Our baby will be born this week for sure! I am nervous about bringing home such a tiny baby (6 weeks early) but we are both excited to meet him!

I noticed last night that something was different... and at 5am this morning it was even more noticeable... so I went to the doctor and I was admitted to the hospital at 10:30am. This has been/is the plan:

1. Steroid shot (betamethazone) for me to help the baby's lungs more fully develop. One was this morning at 11am, and the last one will be tomorrow morning at 11am. They take 48 hours to take their full effect.
2. The doctor will check to see if I am dilated tomorrow afternoon. If I am dilated - nothing more at that point. If I'm not dilated - a drug will be given to help me dilate through the night.
3. Wednesday - if I haven't progressed into labor naturally by this point (it would be good if I do), I will be induced in the morning.
   
4. So the baby is coming this week!!!

The doctor also said that the baby will probably be in the NICU (newborn intensive care unit) best case until next Tuesday or Wednesday. And they will probably start him on antibiotics because one of the biggest risks is infection. But labor - here we come!

Gunlock Garden

Since Terrel & Janet live out in Kayenta, they go to the Gunlock Ward (Gunlock is a small rural town about 35 minutes from St. George). The ward made a community garden, and each family could take a row (or 3) to plant whatever they wanted. For the past couple months we (Kurt & Ashley, Nate & Audrey, Jesse & I, and Terrel) have planted & weeded our few rows. And yes, although it is harder to bend over, I am doing my part, too. :)

McKay came and helped yesterday -
Here he is with our family sign.

Kurt & Terrel

Each row is about 200 yards...
This is to give you an idea how BIG that actually is...
(We took up 2/3 of one row, 1/2 of another, and 1/4 of another -
the irrigation system doesn't water the ends of the rows as well.)

Audrey with some crookneck squash

Terrel holding a hoe
Jesse (cheesy smile...)

Nate holding a handful of HOT peppers

We also planted watermelon, tomatoes, carrots, onions, canteloupe, cucumbers, zucchini, beets, & other squash and melons (we can't remember/tell what kinds yet...). We will have more food than we know what to do with!!!

Pool Time at the Slemboski's

Natalie & Jimmy have a pool in the backyard of their rental, and with the pool is a water slide! I've even gone down it a few times because it is pretty fun!

Here is Ellie going down the slide

And here is Claire (Dryden & Ellie watching)
Jesse about to jump off the top - Cannon ball!
Ella McLaws wanted to go down the slide, but she recently had surgery on her ears so she borrowed my swim cap to keep the water out... She liked it at first, but after going down the slide she wouldn't smile for a picture anymore.

Audrey teaching Claire how to dive
& Jude enjoying the warm hot tub.
Afterward we had Oreos and milk for a treat. :)

Ellie & Audrey

Jacob

iTunes on Shuffle

Do you ever get sick of your own favorite music? Here's how I deal with it... listen to iTunes on shuffle for 50 songs without skipping one song. Here are a random 50 songs from my iTunes:

Sun - Maroon 5
Stuck in a Moment [you can't get out of] - U2
Sunshine - Keane
Clocks [live] - Coldplay
Just One of Those Things - Frank Sinatra
Ammunition - Switchfoot
You Were Meant for Me - Jewel
Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne
Sleeping In - The Postal Service
Flood - Jars of Clay
Strawberry Swing - Coldplay
Violet Hill - Coldplay
Under Water - Switchfoot
My Sundown - Jimmy Eat World
Save the Last Dance for Me - Michael Buble
This Beauty - Amanda Rogers
Crazy for this Girl - Evan & Jaron
It's All I Can Do - The Cars
Break Myself - Something Corporate
Broadway - Goo Goo Dolls
Viva la Vida [live] - Coldplay
Too Bad - Nickelback
Bad Day - Fuel
Numbness for Sound - Howie Day
Love Song - 311
Beyond the Sea - Celtic Women
42 - Coldplay
Hero - Mariah Carey
Come Lay Down - Howie Day
I Don't Want To Be [stripped version] - Gavin DeGraw
Hands Clean - Alanis Morissette
All Eyes on Me - Goo Goo Dolls
Satellite - Dave Matthews Band
Your Heart is an Empty Room - Death Cab for Cutie
South of the Border - Frank Sinatra
Wannabe - Spice Girls (ha ha)
Not Coming Home - Maroon 5
Green Eyes - Coldplay
I've Got the World on a String - Frank Sinatra
Evening Falls... - Enya
The Hardest Part - Coldplay
Undone - The Sweater Song - Weezer
Quit Playing Games (with my heart) - Backstreet Boys (ha ha)
Chopin: Berceuse In D Flat, Op. 57 - Peter Schmalfuss
I Will Buy You a New Life - Everclear
Breathing - Lifehouse
Cautioners - Jimmy Eat World
You Already Take Me There - Switchfoot
Woo Hoo - Blur
Chopin: Impromptu #4 in C# Minor, Op. 66, "Fanatasie Impromptu" - Bianca Sitzius