End of Summer Bummer

I had all the windows open today, and the breeze was chilly enough that I contemplated closing them! Too soon, too soon! We haven't done anything summer this year. With being pregnant and having new baby it's been hard to get out, but at the same time, it's been worth it. There's always next summer. I think I'm going to make a list of fun fall activities so we don't miss out on another season.

Daxton is six weeks old and is doing great. He seemed collicky for a little while, but he seems to have gotten over that. He is bigger than Quinn was at this point. It will be fun to see how he changes and grows. His dimples are cuter than ever, and his jaundice is starting to clear up. We are still adjusting to having a little baby, but we love him so much it is all worth it.

We blessed him last weekend at our church. Christian gave a beautiful blessing. I am so grateful to be married to a worthy priesthood holder. We also enjoyed the company of Christian's parents. Kevin stayed just for the weekend, and Mary Ann stayed through Friday. It was so great to see them again. They are what we miss most about Utah.

Quinn has been a lot of fun. He is saying more and more words and makes us laugh everyday. He has been a good big brother and even gave Dax a kiss today without any suggestion from me or Chris. He's learned how to go down stairs, he can identify a lot of different animals and do their sounds, and he helps me by throwing away Daxton's diapers. He is such a good helper.

In a mad rush before Christian's parents got into town we finished painting the main space of our town home, we switched out the mammoth entertainment center for my painted dresser, and I put together my welcome sign. It feels really great to have some things done to personalize our space. It feels even more like home. I really love it here.

Big Brother Quinner

Quinn is about 16 1/2 months now, and I am loving this age. Everyday I am just baffled that this vibrant, intelligent, and magnanimous child is really mine. He has so much personality, and he is so adorable.

Quinn has always like to sit and stack and sift through things that aren't toys, just household items. I thought it was just a phase, but it has lasted since he was getting into things at 9 or 10 months. When we are playing inside it mostly consists of him taking something out of it's box or container and putting it back in.  Think crayons, flashcards, movies, puzzle pieces, food, etc. We think he is going to be an organized and neat person...crossing my fingers.

Yesterday we were at my parents and hanging out in the basement. We had to wait for baby brother to finish eating and change his diaper before we could leave so my dad set Chris up playing Grand Turismo on the Playstation. Quinn was wondering around and came across the case for the game laying on the floor. Instead of stepping on it or playing with it or something that another toddler would do, he picked it up, closed it, and put it back on top of the console-organizer thing where it was originally. This boy loves to clean up! He sings the song and everything.

Anyways, he is saying a lot of words and is trying to learn more everyday. He has been a great older brother, and he makes us laugh everyday.

Quinner is my mom's little shadow so she decided to try to lash him to her hip to save her arms. It actually kind of worked.

Quinner was eating some meat sauce and started drinking it from the bowl. He got it all over himself.

I really hope these cleaning skills carry on to his teenage years.

Baby Dax is almost three weeks old and doing great! I'm still adjusting to infant care. We forgot how much new babies cry, but compared to toddlers his needs are simple; eat, eat, sleep, eat, and poo.

Welcome Daxton Stanley Steadman

 Baby Dax was born on July 16, at 6:40 am. weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz., 21 in. long. 

I woke up to my first contraction at 5 am. I waited for the second one to be sure before I woke up Christian and called my mom. We quickly got our stuff together while we waited for my mom to arrive at our house. I couldn't help but notice that my contractions were especially painful for just starting out, and they were close together. I wasn't worried though because they didn't last very long. About 20 minutes in I had to sit down during my contractions and do my slow breathing to get through the pain. My mom finally got there, and we were off.

I probably got to my hospital room around 5:45. I struggled to change into the gown and answer the nurses' questions because my contractions were so painful. They told me one of the midwives, Ann, was on her way and if I thought I wanted an epidural to let them know. I was concerned because I really wanted Liz to get there since she was the one I had seen the most. We saw Ann at our very first appointment, and I liked her, but I was more familiar with Liz.

As soon as the nurses left the room I told Chris I wanted an epidural. The pain was becoming too much to handle, and I did not want to feel it anymore. The anesthesiologist walked in right before Ann. Ann quickly informed me she had to check and see how far I was dilated before I could get an epidural. My contractions were so close together and painful I could barely let her check. I was already at a 9! It was too late for any type of pain medication. There was nothing I could do but find a way to endure the pain.

Liz finally came into the room after what felt like an eternity but was probably just 30 minutes or so...I really have no idea. By that point I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. She calmly sat on the bed and told me I was in the worst place to be having contractions. She suggested if I walked around or sat on the toilet it would be less painful. I think I just shook my head because I didn't know how I was supposed to move. She again suggested that I move to the toilet and try that. I had a contraction after which she said it looked like I wanted to push. I told here I didn't know if I could push. She said to do what my body told me to do. I didn't like that answer because with Quinn the nurse told me when to push.

Somehow we made it to the toilet, and I knew I couldn't hold off pushing much longer and expressed my concern about having him in the toilet. They moved me back to the bed and got out the birthing stool. I never managed to sit down, but instead had Daxton while standing with my hands resting on the bed. I had not planned to have him standing up (tmi? I'm still in shock over the whole thing)

I was momentarily terrified after I had Daxton because I couldn't hear him crying. I knew Quinn came out immediately crying so I was worried something was wrong. After everything went down, Dax was healthy and in my arms, Liz said it was a really beautiful delivery because Daxton was born with his amniotic sac still intact. That is why I couldn't hear him crying; he was basically born inside of a water balloon. I wish I could've seen it or gotten a picture. Chris saw it, and the midwives said it popped just from handling it. From the stats I found on the internet this apparently occurs 1 in 80,000 births, and Asian cultures believe it brings that person a lifetime of good luck. We will see if Dax experiences a lucky life.

I can't say enough about how great everything went. Our family has truly been blessed. Apart from feeling the pain, the whole experience was 100 times better than having Quinn at the Provo hospital. I am so grateful it was a quick labor and delivery (an hour and forty minutes). I don't know how anyone goes longer than that without an epidural or anything. Since I had no painkillers I had no negative side effects after Dax was born. I could get up to go the bathroom, I had my appetite shortly after, and most importantly, no headache! Hudson was great. They didn't rush us with anything. Daxton's first bath was with me in the jetted tub in our room. They didn't rush us at checkout, they weren't constantly checking on us, the nurses were very nice, everything was great.

Daxton is healthy and doing well. He has two cute little dimples, dark hair, and he has a more slender build than Quinn had. I can't wait to watch him grow and see how he changes and develops. I am so grateful to have him in our family, and I am especially glad to not be pregnant anymore!

Quinn is doing good with him. He hasn't really acted out or anything from having someone else taking some of his attention away. I am grateful he has a little brother he will be able to play with soon enough, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Dax is only two weeks old, and I want to enjoy him while he is an infant.

This and That

Here are some pictures of what we've been up to lately.

Quinner found himself a good book to read. He's learning at a young age how to be chivalrous.

We were playing outside and like a classic boy Quinn went straight for the dirt then rubbed his eyes. He looked like a ruffian/raccoon. 

Dad got a kite and attached it to a fishing pole so he could feel like he was fishing.

 

 

Grandma and grandpa built a teeter-totter for the grandchildren. 

Grandma wanted cookies so she made dozens of two different kinds in one night. She really goes all out, but it was fun to have Quinner help.

 

37 Weeks

I am ready to have this baby, well kind of. I'm excited to not be pregnant and have my little baby out with me, but I am afraid of the labor and delivery. I am going to try to do it without an epidural, so this delivery will be nothing like Quinn's. Other than that, everything is going well. Baby has dropped, as of last week I was dilated to 3 cm, my hips are sore, and I'm having frequent braxton hicks contractions. I thought I was going to have him last week. I had this feeling of urgency along with contractions almost every night, but no baby.

I am trying to convince myself that he will be on time so I stop killing myself with anticipation. He just cannot come next week! My mother will be over two hours away at girl's camp.  We will see if he cooperates.