Shelby- 1 month old

September 6, 2014-
Shelby is already a month old, and it really has flown by!

Somehow I "planned" to have both Shelby and Hannah during finals week for Scott. As unfortunate as that sounds, it was also amazing, because he had a couple weeks off from school a few days later. So we have been completely spoiled having him home for a smooth adjustment to life as a family of 4. 

The last month we have had both our Lewis and O'Bryant grandparents come to visit, and we have also been able to go to California and Utah and visit them! 

Stats: 9lb 3 oz, 50th percentile for weight, 25 percentile for height. 

My Favorites: Watching Hannah with Shelby. Hannah is very aware of Shelby. She says, "oh no, baby!!" anytime Shelby cries. She also loves to "hold you, baby?". She always calls Shelby, "baby", even though she can say "Shelby"perfectly. But mostly it comes out as "shel-boo" 

Her favorites: Singing. For some reason I never sang much to Hannah, but my first night with Shelby in the hospital was long. She would not sleep until I sang her to sleep. She loves it.  Shelby prefers laying on the floor rather than her bouncer seat or swing- totally opposite of Hannah. She also loves to be outside. She also prefers to be carried in the football position, at least that's true when I'm holding her.

Challenges: Shelby hates the car... Somehow we got so lucky and she slept the whole time on both our road trips, but every other time, she screams the whole way :( She also doesn't want to be put down, ever. She really does not like having the hiccups, and gets them multiple times a day. Poor girl!

Sleep: she's just starting to figure out her days and nights, correctly. Most nights we spend 1-3 hours at a time bouncing her and pacing the house, usually around 2am. Besides that, she will sleep 2-3 hours before waking to nurse. 

Milestones: at 4 weeks she is smiling, on purpose! 

first bath.. which she did not like. 

 Just as we began a 3.5 hour road trip, I changed her diaper. She decided to go, twice, in the middle of it!! It was absolutely everywhere.. And I didn't have a change of clothes handy, sooo, yep! I just sat there in poo clothes :)

These next two photos melt my heart. Hannah was so interested in Shelby when we brought her home from the hospital. I watched Hannah, multiple times, just stand and watch her, contemplating what to do. Eventually she started to leave things for Shelby by the swing. She even left her beloved balloon.. my heart!!! 

Happy due date, Shelby!

While at my parent's house in California, my dad took some "newborns" for us! 

 Sleeping all day, partying all night..

First day of church! 

yes, I took her to church at only 2.5 weeks old. She stayed in her car seat, covered, pretty much the whole time. We'd been everywhere else with her, I figured I didn't have any excuse to not go to church! Plus, I really wanted to keep Hannah going to nursery, since we had finally been having tear-free success!

Hannah loves holding Shelby

 Real life is looking like this these days. 

And I love it.

While in Utah we stopped to visit my sister and her family. 

Quincee is always so smitten with babies!

Caught some of her first smiles!

My mom makes these incredibly beautiful and special quilts for each of her grandkids. They take over 50 hours to make! I couldn't love them more!! Each one is so unique. 

Birth story- Shelby Lewis

Well, on Hannah's first birthday we found out we were expecting another baby! Although it was mostly planned, I was completely shocked, overwhelmed, excited, anxious, and just positive it was going to be a boy. 

I was not nearly as morning sick with this pregnancy, but had the weakest immune system for the first few months, so I was always sick. Bleh! Just like my first pregnancy, I had regular Braxton hicks contractions from before 20 weeks, on. Always several an hour, sometimes a few minutes apart, for hours. I really hoped I would know when I was in labor. Especially since I was induced with Hannah, so I was still unaware of what "going into labor" felt like. 

July 12, 2014

8 months pregnant

I was due August 12th. 

At only 38 weeks I had been feeling a lot of stronger contractions, nausea, and flu like. I couldn't imagine I would go into labor early, but didn't experience any of this with my first, and was imagining these were signs that labor would be soon. 

Sunday, August 3rd- my mom and grandma were passing through town due to a funeral, and decided to stay for a couple of days, in case I went/to pressure me into labor. That night we walked until I thought I would die. I even jogged a bit. Contractions were not strong but 3 min apart for hours, then they slowed down.

Monday, August 4th- I was at a 3, for the second week in a row. I had my membranes stripped. This made my already regular contractions about 5 minutes apart and uncomfortable for hours, but then slowed down again. So we went out walked/jogging again. I came home and did squats and bounced on a ball. 

Tuesday, August 5th- I woke up really irritated. I was feeling a lot of pressure to go into labor, since my mom and grandma were in town for it. (THEY weren't putting pressure on me, I was on myself). But I was not even 39 weeks yet, so I suddenly wondered why I was even expecting it. I didn't want to talk about or think about my contractions that day. I don't think I did a whole lot that day to push myself. We went shopping at the mall, and I colored my hair that night. More ball bouncing. Contractions were strong and uncomfortable, yet all over the place, all day long. 

I woke up in the night feeling terrible. I had barely slept in several days because of contractions, anxiety, and excitement. It was another sleepless night. But this time I was convinced I was in labor. My contractions were so strong, right in my back, painful enough that I was bracing on all fours for each one, yet they were 8-12 minutes apart. All. Night. Long. I didn't wake anyone, cause I knew I couldn't go to the hospital until they were closer together. But I got up and packed, ate, got dressed, and all ready to go. 

Wednesday, August 6th- Morning finally came and I announced I was finally in labor, only to realize my contractions were stopping. I was so bummed. We went walking again and my contractions were back on, yet not as painful, so we went to the hospital to get checked. I hoped they would admit me and just push me along with pitocin. I was just hurting so much, I couldn't imagine they'd send me home.. Wrong. I was STILL at a 3! I cried the whole way home, and really felt stupid. My grandma went home that afternoon, since it was a false alarm, and since her weekend trip was turning into a very long trip! I figured it would be several more days of false contractions. 

But, within a couple of hours the contractions were starting again, and seemed to be getting closer together. It had never crossed my mind that I could possibly still go into labor that day. It didn't take long before I knew I was in real labor. We ate dinner, put Hannah to bed, and head to the hospital about 7:30pm. I was deffffffinitely in labor this time.  They quickly got me in and sure enough, I was at a 5 and was admitted! 

I was so ready for an epidural at this point, especially after all night of these contractions already! Finally that sweet relief came (most painful epidural ever though!)

I finally started to relax and get excited, when less than an hour after the epidural, I was feeling contractions again. Each one was getting stronger, and I was feeling anxious. Suddenly my epidural alarm started to buzz saying there was air in the track. The nurses assured me that was why I was feeling everything and it would be back to working in a few minutes. Not so! So much for that! Luckily, I was just about ready and my doctor was on his way. When he got there, I pushed for just a few contractions and our little Shelby was born at 11:12pm! She was healthy as ever, weighing 6lb 10 oz, 19.5 inches long. She's got light brown/dark blonde hair, and is so sweet! 

As I was gazing into the eyes of my new little one, I was paying no attention to anything else, and later learned my uterus would not stop bleeding and was hemorrhaging. With some injection of meds they had it taken care of, but man I'm sure glad I didn't have an emergency delivery at home or in the car or something! 

We were quite exhausted.

Little Shelby wouldn't sleep in the night..

I was also extremely ready to go home, even though I wouldn't get to until the following morning.

She had me convinced that she would be a pacifier baby!

Doesn't seem so after all 

Finally, Dad (because he got up and went to school the next morning), Grandma and Grandpa O'Bryant, and Hannah arrived around noon the next day. 

I could not wait for Hannah to meet Shelby!

Grandma and Grandpa spoiled Hannah at the hospital gift shop with a new fluffy white stuffed cat, and a balloon. I wish I had a picture of her when she walked into my room. It was the cutest thing ever. She pretty much ignored Shelby for the first little bit. I think she didn't know what to do, and there was a lot of attention on both girls. But she was very interested in her when I sat down and really showed Shelby to Hannah.

We had been talking about this mystery "baby" for so long!! 

I was so looking forward to having the girls in their matching outfits. Their bows were totally over the top, and I knew it! But I still thought they looked adorable. 

Blogging- here we go again

I try really hard not to have regrets in life, but man alive why did I stop blogging?! I just looked back and read through my posts here, and although I'm sure baby details are boring to most, I sure enjoyed  re-reading it and seeing how far we've come with Hannah. Especially now that we have Shelby- Who is 1 month old today :) 

I'm going to give blogging a go again. But no promises that I'll be consistent, or even interesting ;) especially since I made this major decision only 5 minutes ago

So here we are, 1 month ago! Still can't believe we are old enough to have 2 kids!! Life is truly wonderful. 

Biggest updates lately: 

- Hannah will be 2 on Thanksgiving. Whhaaaa?! How! We really really like her. She makes my day so happy and funny. She has so much energy and is hilarious and the biggest show off. 

- Scott graduates dental school in May. This blows. my. mind. I just felt like it would never come! And that we would be (poor) students forever. But we really will be starting his career next summer. SO excited. 

Here's Scott, and silly Hannah. Cause a blog post requires as many pics as possible

On a side note, Hannah would not walk or wear her shoes on that hike. Simply because she kept getting dirt in her shoes. But then we lost one of her shoes... Guys!! I am still so sad. :( Not because they are even cute, they were hand me downs from someone I don't even know. But she could put them on herself, and she loved them, and they were free, and in dusty rocky Vegas, you need rubber play sandals that are crocs. We have another pair, but she will not wear them. So sad. 

Moving on.. 

- We have absolutely no idea where we will be going when he graduates. This makes me a nervous wreck. But I've finally stopped taking his "decisions" seriously, since it was changing every month, and accepted that we probably won't know until May or later. California, Utah, Texas, Nevada, and Arizona, are on our list. Oh, and Oklahoma, which he just told me. dontwanttotalkaboutit

- We had a baby!! You already know that.. But she is soooo dang sweet and adorable. Shelby was born August 6th, 2014. More on that later! 

- I'm still running my little etsy shop and it is fun and busy as heck. It has come such a long way since I started it just before Hannah was born. One of the best decisions I've made in my life, for many reasons. Thefabricgalboutique.etsy.com 

@thefabricgalboutique on Instagram 

- Scott cut 6 inches off my hair the other day. I've never had him cut more than 2", but I was desperate and knew it would be a while until I got to a salon, since I can't even remember the last time I got my hair cut by someone other than him! I don't have a pic, but it's a nice change. Bring on the post baby hair loss! 

That's all I can think of. Same ol same ol around here!

Lots of fun posts coming to your feed, soon