First Bath

Scarlett does not like it when Ali cries. Cracks me up

Scarlett's new things

- "baby sleeping" then goes "sshh" with her finger over her lips

- says " bye, see ya later" to everything and everyone

- loves to put the baby's binky in her mouth and haul it off... silly girl

Ali's new things

- her cuteness has increased

Alice's Birth Story

I lasted exactly 38 weeks with Scarlett and I lasted 38 weeks and 1 day with Alice. Guess my timer dings at 38 weeks. So here is her story

Feb 15- I had my 38 week check up and my doctor said I was 90% effected and dilated 3cm. I asked him if I would last another week and he smiled and said " I am no fortune teller but probably not". I really wanted to go the full 40 weeks with this pregnancy but guess it was not in the cards.

Feb 16- I woke up around 4 am having painful contractions. They slowly became regular and more intense throughout the next couple of hours. Nick helped me time them with our fantastic I-pad ( yes, there's an app. for that) . When they were 4 minutes apart I picked up the phone to call my mom and then... they stopped. Thats right, just stopped. Nick was upset because he then had to go to work. Poor guy. Later in the morning I headed over to my mom's house to let Scarlett play and me rest. I knew this baby was coming in the next day or so I needed to catch up on sleep. Come the afternoon I started to have irregular but very painful contractions. I figured that they would go on like that for a couple of hours. I was right. Nick picked me and Scarlett up after work and we headed home. I then just labored at home for a while waiting impatiently for my contractions for be about 3-4 minutes apart. Around 10pm it was time. I was ready to be done, those contractions were oh so painful. My parents and Clarah came over to watch Scarlett. Nick gave me the sweetest blessing before we left, I am so thankful for the priesthood. My mom came with us, she missed Scarlett's birth so it was so nice to have her here this time. We got to the maternity ward and they told us they were super busy and all beds were full except their triage room. I would probably have to have the baby in there, only 5 feet from the next bed. What?!. I told myself it was going to be okay and the most important thing was a healthy baby. I was dilated to a 6 when they checked me 30 minutes later. Did I mention I was not going natural, I love epidurals. I wanted one so bad at this point. Then they came in with great news, a room had opened up. It was a huge birthing room and I ended up being able to stay there the whole time. IV, some fluids, blood work, tons of questions, and some more pricking... that was the next hour. It was a blur.

Feb 17 - Then around 12:45 I got an epidural and labor became peaceful. I talked with Nick and my mom. I was so excited to finally meet our little girl. When my water broke I was at 8-9 cm and I could feel my body start to transition. I get nauseous and super shacky. I knew that I only had 10-20 minutes left. I asked my mom to leave so Nick and I could have some time to talk. It was in those quiet 10 minutes that we chose her name, Alice Patricia. Her middle name is after Nick's sweet grandma Patricia Dunhill. You could not meet a more gentle, giving, and kind women. After months of deliberation we looked at each and said "that's perfect." My nursed checked me again and I was ready. The doctor came in and after 15 minutes Alice entered the world at 3:01 am. Then the next 30 seconds got scary. I did not hear her cry and every one started to move around very quickly. She had a triple nuchal cord and the cord was wrapped around her body 2 times. She was so, so blue. Finally she cried and proceeded to do so for the next 10 minutes. I love hearing that sound. The doctor said that everything would be okay and that I was able to deliver her without a c-section because her cord was so, so long. She never showed any signs of distress on the monitor during labor. I feel so blessed that everything went so smoothly and that Alice got to us safely.

It was been a glorious last couple of days. Little Alice is divine. She is a little bit of heaven in our home. Scarlett loves to look at her and gets very nervous whenever she cries. "Baby tay, baby tay (okay)?". She brings Alice her blanket. I love my two girls. With Alice I am more content. I more content with her newness and dependency. With Scarlett I could not wait for her to smile, then laugh, then roll over... always wanting the next stage. Alice is my baby for just a brief moment, I know that now.

My favorite part about Alice... when she is done eating and her face is all red and wrinkled from nursing. She leans her head back, her mouth opens just a little, and she is falls sound asleep. In that moment I know she is happy to be here.

Nick snuck this picture in. Having a contraction at home.

Before delivery. Check out that mop of hair.

dimples?

On our way home

Coming home was so peaceful. Scarlett was down for a nap, the house was vacuumed, and my mom had made this cute banner.

Flowers from parents and grandparents

New Addition

Alice Patricia Strobelt

Feb 17, 2012

6 pounds 11 ounces

I did not cry at all until I took this picture. I love my sisters. Scarlett has no idea yet how much her little sister will mean to her

Valentine's Day

Scarlett started to feel better after her nap. My mom came over while she slept and dropped off some Valentine's. Scarlett was so excited to play with her new light up ball and I was dying to eat the Nothing Bunt cake. I made the "sweetheart dinner", which is really just a great chicken dish that my neighbor makes every year for Valentine's day. It was way good and Nick wants it to become a tradition. No objection there. Best part... since Scarlett was still a little sick she went to bed early and Nick and I had a peaceful candlelit diner. It was better than a restaurant. We watched a movie, had cake, and were in bed by 10pm. It was the perfect Valentine's day.

PS I am writing this early in the morning because I am having some awful/painful contractions. Will we have a baby soon?!

Flowers Nick gave me. He loves to give me flowers that are "alive". I love it!

I gave Scarlett a ballon in the morning and she still will not let it out of her sight. Best dollor spent ever!

Valentine's Day sicky

Scarlett has been sick for two days with just a fever. No other symptoms. I hate dealing with fevers as a mom, it stresses me out. She is warm, red, and her eyes glazed over. Oh, I hate it. To make it worse, the pediatrician is always "probably just a virus that just has to run it's course." Sheesh. One good thing... she snuggles. I love it. She will take a nap right next to me and hold my hand. She is so busy and independent that I need days like this. I just wish her little body wasn't so warm. To make me more stressed is being 38 weeks pregnant and having a baby coming any day. I do not want to bring a baby home to a sicky house. And the fun of having two kids start. But at least I can rock her to sleep today:).

Making Valentine's and playing just the day before

Then out of nowhere ...

Sick but adorable

A little teary

I have been a full time/stay at home mom since December and I have loved it. It was true inspiration to be able to spend time with just me and Scarlett. We have grown so close and are the best of buds. Soon things will change and it won't just be me and her during the day. I get teary. She loves my attention and playing with her. Though I will still be able to do those things, there will be another baby needing me as well. Why does this make me sad? It makes me happy too. It is an inner conflict. I am so excited on one hand and then on the other very nervous/sad. Change is just hard for me, no matter how wonderful. I wish Scarlett could understand how much I love being with her and how precious this time is. I tell her but she just grabs my hand and wants to play. Scarlett I love you to the moon...and back!

To make it even worse or maybe better Scarlett's cuteness has doubled these past weeks. She can really communicate well and says the funniest things. She calls Nick "daddy Nick" and loves to call him at work. Not to mention freaks out when he comes home. When I go up and down the stairs I get very winded these days and breath heavy. Scarlett comes up to me and pats my bum "you tay mom, tay mom (okay mom)". She also talks non stop. Last night she woke up because she was cold. Nick went in her room and sure enough she just started to talk up a storm. " cold inside, dropped my doll, want ballon..." It was so funny. When that girl is awake her little mouth is going. It's adorable until my ears hurt about 4pm.

I had just run up and down the stairs to grab the camera. I was winded. This is her very concerned look when she asked me if I was "tay mom". I said yes and then she gave me a big hug and patted my belly. She will be a great big sister.

Our new play room

We have a big closet under the stairs that is just her size ( 4ft high). We cleaned it out and put everything on shelves in the garage. Scarlett loves to just run in and out and not have to bother with the door.

I made the chalk board and the doll house I got around christmas at Target for only 20$ on clearance (score!). That back wall is green, everything else is cream. In the left hand corner you can see our toy chest from Ikea, I love it!

She loves to sit at her table and play with puzzles and her new felt board. She also loves to rub those balloons on her head and stick them on the ceiling (Nick taught her that trick). She is slowly getting used to playing in here and not right next to me. I love having some place to put all the toys! I only have to hang the magnet and chalk boards. Got it done just in time