Grateful for hinges!

As some of you may know, I am the primary chorister in my ward. It is a trying calling for me, but much loved by many of you (if you have any fun ideas, please send them my way!!!). Anyhoo, I have several kids in Junior Primary that make the calling so entertaining. Many of the little ones sing loud and very off key. We were singing "Hinges" and when it came to the very last line, one little five year-old who was singing particularly loud, sang, "I'm so glad I have hinges or else I would crap!" We had about a two minute break for me to catch my breath on that one. Boy am I glad we have hinges!!!

Impromptu girls' night and Scary checkup

(All these pictures are almost a month old--I haven't uploaded my new pics of Rowan)

Yesterday we had Rowan's 2-month check-up. She weighs a whopping 12 lbs 4 oz. and is 24 inches long (the doctor commented several times about how she weighs as much as a 4-month should). She got three shots and did fairly well (just needed a little lovin' from mom afterwards). During the full body check, the doctor found a mysterious object in her eye. Upon further investigation, he realized it was not on the surface, but rather in her eye. To save you the details, he basically had no idea what it was and is referring us to a specialist on the 27th of Feb. up in Spokane, WA. I was only freaked out about the financially end of things yesterday, but today, I am a bit more worried about what this will become. We shall wait and see.

Rowan had been sleeping clear through the night all last week, but for two nights in a row, she decided to wake up 4-5 times. It was maddening! I was VERY grouchy for two days (poor Ian and kids!). I hadn't been able to get anything done during the day either because Niev or Rowan seemed to always need my attention so my house was a disaster. Now some of you might not understand what a disaster is. I define a disaster as not being able to see the floor, not able to prepare a proper meal because all the dishes are dirty and there is no counterspace to cook on, and laundry is piled up. When Ian got off of work, he was wanting to play a game with me so we played one game then I told him I better get to work on cleaning the kitchen and making dinner. He wanted to play one more game. Then Rowan was hungry so Ian asked me to feed her. I was getting very frustrated since it was already past 6 p.m. and I had no idea what was going to be for dinner. Then a knock came at my door and Ian told me to put a shirt on. It was one of my very favorite-est people in the world, Jen from my ward.

Ian had called her earlier in the day while I was at the doctor with Rowan. He planned an entire night out with Jen. We went to dinner and then went to Barnes & Noble. Now to some of you this may not be very exciting, but Jen is a very well-read person. She seems to have read every great book ever written, she has great taste in books (meaning she was repulsed as much as I was by the horribly written vampire book! Sorry to you die hard fans, but it was awful.) and so we just walked around talking about great books, our husbands, and laughing. It was just what I needed. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated Ian for being so kind. He is so good to me that sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve such an unselfish, kind, thoughtful and generous man. He can be a real butt sometimes, but for the great majority of the time, he is fabulous! I came home ready to love my family again and want to snuggle with my hubby. I cannot tell you what a big fan I am of Jen and Ian.

Niev is growing up so big. She says the funniest things and loves Sesame Street (old school episodes, of course, because Elmo annoys me). She loves her little sister and wants to over-love her by laying on her to give her a hug or bite her to give her the biggest best kiss ever!

Niev with her kitchen that her Daddy made her for her birthday

Niev on "Christmas morning" with her Aunt Vickie homemade apron

Rowan's blessing & Niev's birthday

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind (to say the least). Rowan is now 7 1/2 weeks old and only waking up once during the night. Some nights she will even sleep all the way through the night (I count my lucky stars on that one!). Anyway, this is allowing me to be more human and Lora-like. We found out that she was being "colicky" due to the fact that during labor I was given an antibiotic that killed all the good bacteria in Rowan's stomache. She was always in so much pain and now we have that under control so I am beginning to see how people end up with three or more kids. I was beginning to think that only crazy people would have another baby after two kids!

My nephew came home from his mission in Cancun and so I drove alone with both girls to Parma, Idaho to see my family. Ian thought I was crazy, but both girls did amazingly well. While Ian's mom was here for Christmas and New Years, we celebrated Niev's birthday with a pumpkin pie. Then in Parma, we also celebrated Niev's birthday with cake and ice cream. Once I got home, we had a small get together with one of Niev's friends and had cake and ice cream again! Niev would walk around the house singing "Happy Birthday" to herself. She was beginning to think that every other day was her birthday. She is a very fun two-year old. It is hard to think that two years ago, she was as little as Rowan.

Last weekend we had Rowan's blessing. My parents, grandma, brother and sister-in-law, sister and family came into town for the event. It was a great time. I enjoyed having everyone here and playing games while catching up. Rowan looked beautiful in the same dress Niev wore during her blessing. My grandma (who is 87) had made it and will always be a special heirloom in our family. She also made a beautiful crotcheted blanket for Rowan.

Niev used to only respond with "mmm-hmm" instead of "yes" so we have been working on saying a full and real "yes". So now she will say "mmm-hmm yes, yes". It is really the cutest thing.

Sisters are the best of friends!

Who's idea was it to have two kids?

Here are a few more pictures of Rowan and I as we left the hospital (and yes, Rowan is strategically placed to cover the many rolls left after a baby has left the womb).

Thought I should update you all on our little, but growing, family. My mom came into town to help out with Rowan when Rowan was born. She was a HUGE help! We hadn't gone grocery shopping in weeks when she arrived, but somehow my mom made some pretty delicious meals with the pathetic amount of food that we did have in the house. She was a life-saver!

Then it was just our little family through Christmas time. I wondered at times if I was insane having more than one child. I think we concluded that Rowan is a bit colicky and we got her some chamomile pills that help soothe her. It was a bit stressful some days with Ian working and Niev and I trying to help calm this crying baby, but luckily Gramma Buh (Ian's mom) came to save the day!

Gramma Buh LOVES Christmas. She lives and dies Christmas. Can't wait for the next Christmas as soon as one Christmas is over. SO, we decided as a surprise/present to Gramma Buh that we would postpone our Christmas until Gramma Buh arrived (of course we had to get special permission from the big Claus himself first). Ian was very excited about doing this. He almost blew it because he kept calling her as she was driving from Portland to see where they were at. It was great to see her shock and excitement at this idea when she arrived. (More on Christmas later!)

Niev has adjusted to the baby much better than I ever imagined. She loves to give her kisses (on the lips only) and hugs (more like huge body slams). She asks to hold the baby ("Hold you me, baby") and loves when I pump so she can feed the baby herself. Whenever I am feeding the baby, I have to keep my ears open for what Niev is doing. I have documented with pictures a few of the things that she has done while mom is feeding Rowan:

Lots of coloring!

A bit of cooking!

Some tears of joy!

But a LOT of cuddling her little sister!

She also got into my tub of oil and dumped five spoons and two batteries in the huge tub. I'm just glad she didn't end up spilling it on our carpet (who has ever heard of high-pile carpet in a kitchen!).

We are slowly adjusting to no sleep, consistent crying and no time alone and quiet, but as of right now, we wouldn't change it for the world! (But ask me again in a few more weeks of no sleep and maybe the answer will be different.)

Finally...Pictures!!!

Please excuse my tardiness in posting pictures of our beautiful new babe. If Rowan is sleeping, Niev is being demanding and if Niev is sleeping....well, that means I am trying to snooze as well (Rowan tries to prevent this of course!).

When I went in for my doctor's appointment, he checked me and I had not progressed in any area. I made an appointment for the following Monday. Although I still didn't feel ready for a new baby, I was very discouraged leaving the doctor's office. (I wasn't even dialated to a one and the baby really had not dropped.) On Thursday night just past midnight, I kept waking up with slight belly pains, but I was so drowsy that I didn't realize that they were contractions and just kept thinking I was trying to fart. Finally at 5 a.m., I realize that I am having contractions, but they are about 10-20 minutes apart (just enough to be annoying as you still can't sleep much, but very mild on the pain scale). When I wake up Friday morning after a horrible night's sleep, I still can't tell if it is the real thing or just fake contractions. I finally call Ian in from work at about noon and ask him to start timing the contractions for me. We madly start cleaning the house (it was a disaster and I would have been very embarassed if my mom saw my house in that much of a mess!). By 3 p.m., I am to the point of not being able to walk, but the contractions are only 10 minutes apart (although consistent). We went to the hospital and after waiting, what seemed like an hour, they finally checked me and I was dialated to a SIX! I ordered a epidural (love those things), but they said it would probably be about an hour. They gave me some Newbane (spelling???) to take the edge off and it made me so dizzy I couldn't even open my eyes. I also was very sleepy from not getting much rest. They gave me the epidural, checked me again and I was already at a 10, but they wanted to wait for some of the Newbane to wear off so me and baby would be more alert. Finally after waiting for over half an hour, I started pushing. Pushed for 11 minutes (a total of about four pushes), much better compared to the three hours+ of pushing with Niev and a beautiful little girl was in my arms.

Adjustment has been trying and tiring, but Niev loves her baby sister, I am glad to be recovering well and Ian is completely overwhelmed with work, church callings and trying to help out around the house. Rowan is starting to adjust to this planet, but still is quite a screamer. We are enjoying spending time together as a family. I am not a very good newborn mom so I might not post very consistently because I will be ticked off most the time due to the fact that for the next three months or so I will not sleep well or get a hot meal seeing as Rowan seems to always know when food is on the table and she wants her share!

Rowan Ainsley has arrived!

Niev would like to introduce her new baby sister, Rowan Ainsley Strawn, who was born Friday, December 12 at 5:23 p.m. Mommy and baby are at home doing well. Pictures coming soon!

She's a girl!

No we haven't had our baby, but Niev is starting to actually let me keep a clip/rubberband in her hair! She actually looks like a girl. Lately, I have had SEVERAL people tell me what a cute boy I have so I decided to put my foot down and actually FORCE her to wear a rubberband on Sunday. I told her we couldn't leave for church unless she let me do her hair. Then I mentioned how adorable she was with her hair fixed and continued to tell her that she couldn't take it out until church was over. Of course, I expected to pick her up from nursery with her hair a disaster, but to my surprise, she actually had kept it in. (As soon as we got in the car, she ripped it out, but HEY, beggars can't be choosers...she does listen...church was over!)

Since Sunday, she has let me do her hair almost every day. She may not keep it in, but at least it is progress.

Before:

After (this is after she pulled her sweatshirt over her head, so it isn't pristine, but you get the idea):
As you can see, I am not a girly-girl and have no clue how to do kids' hair. I don't even know how to my own hair unless it is really short!

By the way, I lost my mucus plug today. That is one step closer to having this baby girl. (I know it's gross; they really need to come up with another name for that gush! It wouldn't be so gross to talk about if it was disguised by another name.)