"You're not my real Mommy."

Last month (pre-baby) I must've been having a meaner-mommy moment with Aleeya with something like making her clean her room or clean up her plate or something else torturous like that. Because she calmly walked up to me and stated,

"You're not my real Mommy."

then she continued

"You're really Ursula dressed UP like my Mommy. Because my mom is really nice."

She got me thinking............with her and Iris wanting to be mermaids for Halloween since....well.....oh.....NOVEMBER 1ST OF LAST YEAR, I figured I mind as well just

GO AS "MYSELF" this year then, right?

I love dressing up, but I won't spend money on a costume for me. So it had to be something I had around. 

I had a black dress (used for costume things anyway), so I spray painted her gray skin part (because we all know I couldn't REALLY go in the dress she wears in the movie to a CHURCH THING!), threw on a "George Washington" wig that we had and bobby-pinned it so it didn't have the mullet-ponytail, and cut the bottom into 8 legs. (I sewed wire hangers in them). Super (NOT) crafty or skilled, but it definitely did the job. My girls favorite part was me going around singing "Poor Unfortunate Soul" with all the actions.

But my FAVORITE part? my little mermaids.......however, Kellyn wasn't too thrilled delaying her nap to be dressed up. 

 Our neighbor gave us a bunch of all costumes and some had sparkly dresses, so I cut them up and made a tube skirt and sewed on sparkley triangles for fins. Seriously, a NO BRAINER. But the girls were THRILLED!!!!! And I'm thrilled because I bought some gymnastics leotards for the white top and sewed on the seashells ever so lightly so I can rip them off after Halloween and we have new leotards! YAY.

I can't get over the cute little seashells though. My girls were sooooooo thrilled to be mermaids.

 Here's a better shot of them while I'm making them sit and wait for me to feed Kellyn in the church parking lot.

 Obviously I couldn't get more of the family "on board" with a Mermaid thing (nor did I try) because they already knew what they wanted to be. But as I sat there and watched this cute Lightning McQueen dance around in the church, it dawned on me..........

I TOTALLY could've made him be King Tritan!!! He's too young to care and it was just one more mermaid tail to sew. He could've gone topless (he would've LOVED that), had his glow-in-the-dark pitchfork thing, and thrown on a Santa beard. Drat, I totally missed that one.

But really, how many people actually get to go as their alter-ego to any public event?!?!?

Just me, I suppose............Mommy Ursula.

35

OH MY WORD!!!!! I'm married to a 35 year old!!!!!!!!!

But MAN, does 35 look good on him!!!!

Brooks' b-day was the week after Kellyn was born and the last day he was home w/ his "Paternity leave" from work. Let's just say I didn't plan very well ahead and had NOTHING to give him. I couldn't even leave the house to get him something. Birthdays are NOT (I can't emphasize that enough) a big deal to him, but I still felt bad. I couldn't even find a bow to tie around Kellyn w/ a note saying, 

"For your BIRTH-day I BIRTHED you another human. Hope it's awesome"

So I was really excited when he said he wanted to take the boys to Carowinds (a big "Lagoon" if you're not familiar w/ the place) for his b-day. The boys haven't been to an amusement park since Disneyworld 2+ years ago, so they were pretty excited.

 And once again, Brooks came through w/ taking pictures to document the fun.

 I love Camden's face in this one.

 this picture is just the epitome of roller-coaster fun! (apparently Emerson didn't keep his arms up the whole time)

 Wow, doesn't Emerson look all snug in that seatbelt? Yep, he's not going to wiggle around or go anywhere in THAT! (not). Clearly, he wasn't so sure about it, but after the ride he loved it.

Camden did from the beginning.......obviously

 Bronson actually WON that basketball!!!! Who seriously wins at those games?!?!?

Then Brooks went out and bought a leather couch for his b-day too (off Craigslist).

ANYONE who knows my husband would know this money-spending thing is NOT LIKE HIM!

But if you've ever sat on our couches in the living room, you would know that you mind as well be sitting on the cement sidewalk. Brooks was SERIOUSLY fed up w/ not having a couch to nap on, sit on w/o your backside falling asleep, and one to collapse in and read a book. Plus, me fresh from giving birth, it was nice for me to think I might have something soft to sit on.........if ya know what I mean.

Oh, and I HAVE to post this picture........we got the plate in the mail.

It just makes me so happy.

What's in a Name?

KELLYN PAT

How ironic that one of my criteria for a baby name was easily read and pronounced, and I have TWO people this last week ask me how to pronounce it. :) My sweet princess' name is KELL-en....... it rhymes with "Helen" and "Ellen". Where did we get the name? Well, Brooks came up with it.........surprise, surprise. I think he was reading something that said Helen Keller or some road sign and it got him to "develop" Kellyn. However, come to find out, it was ALREADY a name before Brooks "thought" of it. :) I kept saying it in my mind over and over to see if I liked it, and by the end of the pregnancy, I LOVED it. It sounded so pretty saying it....so feminine and sweet.  Then in the hospital Brooks said, he was still thinking of other names because he was growing less fond of "Kellyn". I told him NO WAY JOSE!!!! I was too attached to it by that point (plus he didn't have anything else to suggest...........but you can BET he checked out every nurse's name tag that was in the hospital JUST IN CASE!)

I researched "Kellyn" and I found 2 meanings.........Gaelic- "fair and slender".....not to shabby of a meaning if you ask me, but I liked the other Germanic one better, "foreigner". That's exactly what she is. Fresh from my Heavenly Father's presence and sent here to earth as a foreigner. Her first home was with a Heavenly Father who loved her, taught her and prepared her little spirit to come to my family. I feel so grateful to be entrusted with yet another one of Heavenly Father's children.

"Pat" is after my sweet and absolutely fabulous Mother-in-law. My kids adore her, her sons all worship her and I really need to become more like her. She's one of my favorite people to be around and always gives Brooks and me advice that gives perspective in whatever we're going through.

And PLUS, it makes it easier for me to teach the kids how to burp Kellyn. We always rub the hand slowly up the spine and say, "Keeeeellyyyyyyn" and then really fast (as we burp her) say, "Pat Pat Pat Pat Pat Pat Pat." Her name works PERFECTLY for that.

So there you go...........all those who have asked why the name and how to pronounce it

First Sunday

Here she is ready to go to church for her FIRST Sunday (9 days old)

 Here she is AFTER I told her Daddy would NOT be going because he was staying home w/ 3 sick kids.

What can I say? She loves her Dad.

I TRY

And I TRY to capture little Kellyn's yumminess. Her kissable cheeks, her soft kissable neck and beautifully furrowed eyebrow muscles (because she's like Aleeya.....and her Grampy.....with very little eyebrows) and the ONLY thing I can w/o fail usually capture are her furrowed eyebrows. Seriously though, her face is beyond cute.

 It's been a while and I'm sure you've all missed animal postings, so here's the latest catch from Camden's baseball game (and NO it wasn't a ball)...........it was a CRAWDAD! Oh the joys of when Dad takes them to the baseball game.

 My mom asked if my other kids are helpful...........let's just say, YES YES YES!!!!

 They do a great job of "keeping her awake" and playing with her to get her on a consistent schedule. She gets tons of kisses and they help with the burping and some feedings (when I plan ahead and pump)

Kellyn is SO loved.

 And WHILE Kellyn is so loved and I try to capture pictures of her, Royce must've sensed the moment of Mommy weakness and slid the chair over to the sink and sat in it. Not sure why or what it accomplished, but he did it nonetheless.

 My FAVORITE moment from feedings............when the baby gives the 

"I GIVE IN!" look of the post-Thanksgiving-feeling after a good meal. :)

Kellyn- 0, Mommy- 1.

Ready for this?

Here are a TON of pictures from the hospital......but seriously, I DO have 6 kids that want to pose w/ our sweet angel.

When they moved me over to "Family Beginnings" section, I was in a TEENY room like everyone else. ONCE again the "resident" card was played and apparently some of Brooks' co-workers came over and requested my name be put on the top of the list to get the suite. It was filled, so the first day I was in this room, but the 2nd day I was moved into the 2 bedroom suite. 

Anyway, here is their FIRST time meeting Kellyn. I love love LOVE their faces. 

If you'll notice, Royce is NOT pictured..........Brooks let him spend the night at our friends' house. I guess it WAS a lot easier at Bronson's swim meet w/o Royce trying to dive in though. :)

Emerson made himself RIGHT at home.

Here are all the kids (minus Royce) with their presents that Kellyn "brought" them. It's their "FAVORITE" part of having a new baby, I'm sure.

LITTLE MONKEY

Besides wearing the cute monkey onesie, I couldn't STOP staring at what the nurses called her "finger toes".....but I call them her monkey feet. 

LOOK how long her toes are!!!!!! (she ALWAYS scowls when she sleeps!)

And the long LONG fingers of a monkey. They are so so beautiful and dainty.

I'm surprised Daddy even got some time w/ Kellyn w/ all of her admirers!!!

That night I was moved to the "suite". So I called Brooks and told him to bring everyone back later that night. He brought 3 pizzas and pop. The kids were in HEAVEN in this room watching cartoons.

The best part? Those couches were "wipe-able" w/ all the spills!! :)

Notice Aleeya is NOT in the upper picture. She would NOT leave Kellyn.....so she stayed in the other room of the suite w/ Kellyn.

Oh yea, here's Royce meeting his little sister for the first time. My baby girl and my baby boy!!!

Aleeya came equipped w/ a WHOLE purse full of things for Kellyn. Here she is brushing her "hair"....

Then with the bigger brush. She brought about 8 things......you can thank me for not taking pictures of each thing.

Here is Iris "patting" Kellyn. 

And during all this Royce was sitting there w/ Dad watching a good ol' football game. Since we don't have cable at home, it was kind of a treat for everyone. (I love my thumb-sucking-corner-of-his-yellow-blankie obsessed baby boy!)

The flowers my parents sent. All of those lilies are opened now (a week and a half later) and it is STILL so beautiful!!!! Thanks mom and dad.

The last part of my stay my nurse just said I was healed fine, the baby's good, so get some rest while I could.  It HAPPENED to be during my church's General Conference (where the prophet and apostles speak to us. It happens twice a year). I always listen to every session (8 hours worth total), but w/ the kids its usually not w/o interruptions. 

THIS time, I watched the last day (4 hours) just snuggling my newborn. It was amazing, tender, spiritual and touching. I loved every minute.

That night (Sunday) Daddy came to pick us up and here we are READY TO GO HOME!!!!!!

Belly

 I have so many wonderful pictures to upload/journal about from the hospital, but I'm going to quickly insert a post about bellies.

On Sunday when I got home from the hospital I sat down w/ Iris, who was holding Kellyn and talked with her about how Kellyn came OUT of Mommy's belly. And that Kellyn was the baby in my belly before.

I smiled at her.

Then she looked in my eyes, looked at Kellyn, then looked at my belly, pointed and said, 

"Then why is it so big?"

Monday when Emerson got home from school he brought me this picture of me, Emerson and Royce that he drew.

I told him how beautiful it was and if that was Kellyn in my round belly still and he said, 

"No, that's just your big fat belly".

Seriously, I've had some killer laughs over my kids lately.

And speaking of bellies (and things Emerson says for that matter), I was changing Kellyn's clothes and Emerson was by me and saw her belly button w/ the umbilical chord remains thing that will fall off in a few weeks.

He looked at it and said, "Mom, how come Kellyn has a raisin in her button?"

I love it.

Introducing..........

Kellyn Pat Smith

October 5th at 5:48pm

7 lbs. 13 oz.

20 inches long

The novel-length birth story

On Tuesday, I had an epiphany.....I needed to move on and live. For a week I was sitting there cleaning, planning, killing myself thinking, "is it now?" "will it be today?" "was that my LAST night's rest for a while?", etc. I wouldn't even plan ANYTHING because "I might have the baby". It was mentally exhausting and physically. Tuesday I decided I was going to plan like baby girl was coming next week...and late. I planned dinners for the rest of the week and more meals to put in the freezer. I didn't cancel any appts. and volunteered stuff at the school. I even told Brooks we were going out on a date on Friday night (I'm such a modern woman asking the MAN out, I know). It was liberating and really helped calm my lame anxieties I get before childbirth.
Well, Friday/date day came......and I texted Brooks in the morning something like, "Um, something might be going on, but I'm not sure."
During the night on Thursday I was awakened a few times w/ a few burning Braxton -hicks but I just ruled it out because I'm sure my bladder was full. However, it still was different then usual. Then when Brooks came home at 9:15 to go over and be the "mystery parent reader" to Camden's class, I said, "I don't THINK I'm in labor (I didn't want to cry wolf!!!), but even if I'm not, I don't know if I'll be up for bowling tonight and maybe we should just get a smoothie and play Scrabble tonight." (yes, we were planning on going bowling, and I was going to cream Brooks for the record but if I DID lose, I was definitely going to blame it on the whole 9 months pregnant thing!).
The "action" stopped in my body and the girls and I headed outside to sidewalk chalk on the driveway a little around 11. Then my water broke.
SIDENOTE: Just a few weeks before I was telling Brooks how I've ALWAYS wanted my water to break because it sounds so exciting and mine never has before the last stages of labor in the hospital. Also in the weeks leading up to the birth the ONLY thing I would pray for would be that the baby would be healthy and that I would go into labor at a peaceful time for the kids so I wouldn't have to worry about them. You'll see that my prayer did come true and everyone was at peace and I had ample time to prepare.
So I guess my wish came true with my whole water breaking. I wasn't 100% sure it was my water, because it wasn't a huge gush like the movies. I went inside and texted Brooks at work: The texts went something like this......
"This may sound weird, but I THINK my water broke."
"Are you sure you didn't pee your pants?"
"Want me to smack you?"
"I have a patient right now, so I'll text after to check in."
Hmmmm, that made me wonder, so I got online and googled how to make sure it was my water (which as I look back now it's silly I questioned because I just kept leaking and leaking). It gave me some pretty obvious facts about amniotic fluid that I KNEW it was my water that had broken, but I didn't have any contractions.
After Brooks' appt, "Are you okay? Want me to come home?"
"No, I'm fine, I haven't had any contractions, so no worries."
"Okay, I have 2 more appointments, then I'll come home for lunch."
15 minutes later I get a phone call from Brooks saying that ALL the doctors at his clinic told him in NO WAY was he going to stay there and that he needed to go home and get me to the hospital for fear of infection once my water has broken. I told him to hold off so I could get things done because the LAST thing I wanted to do was get to the hospital EARLY or heaven forbid, be turned away after organizing babysitting and all.
I called the boys' school and asked if they could have my boys ready and waiting for me in the office so I could check them out early. The secretary told me they don't do that and that the parent has to be there. Then came the moment I've waited for my WHOLE life, and I said, "M'am, my water just broke and I'm going to have a baby, would you mind having them ready for me to pick up?" Of course she would.
I slowly packed a bag for the kids and cleaned up a little, and loaded the younger 3 in the Yeti to go pick up the boys.........only to find out I COULDN'T FIT IN THE PARKING LOT!!! They had some lunch thing at the school and cars lined both sides of the school driveway and cars were supposed to be able to fit through. And yes, cars COULD, just not my 15 passenger van. So I parked way far away and walked to the school, hoping I wouldn't keep leaking in an obvious manner. The kids were waiting and we got in the car. The boys were sooooooo excited. I drove the 20 minutes to get them to the babysitters and 20 minutes back, then I texted Brooks when I got home that he was "allowed" to come home now so we could start our Friday date. :)
We got to the hospital around 3. Neither of us knew where to park and all I knew is that it was the 6th floor we needed. Considering Brooks works there, I just assumed he would've known these things. So let's just say it's a GOOD thing I wasn't REALLY in labor or pain because it wouldn't have been fun. Then we went up to the front and found this sign RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
Seriously, best sign EVER!!!!!

Getting ready to go in......clearly ready to pop.

We walked in and saw a few of Brooks' co-workers and we stopped and chatted. Everyone told Brooks to make SURE to tell the nurses that he was a resident and request the suites, etc. We got up to triage and when Brooks said, "I was told to tell you I'm a resident......yadda yadda" I wanted to crawl in a hole. I'm sure the nurse was thinking, "Wow then, aren't YOU special." But she was just looking at me and I KNOW thinking, "you don't look like you're in labor honey", because she said, "Did a doctor tell you to come here or are you just coming here?" We told her my water broke and that the doctors told me to come in. Granted it wasn't MY doctor that told me to come in (more like Brooks' co-workers) but I didn't need to clarify. She didn't seem so sure, so I  mentioned it was my 7th and that seemed to work. Then she told me triage was full so she'll just take us on down to labor and delivery. While walking Brooks worked his magic and dropped the resident status again and got me my own suite in the "Magnolia Wing" where I was all by myself in this huge and nice room. Hey.......maybe the whole occupation/name dropping thing DOES work.
They wouldn't check me because they didn't want to risk infection w/ my water broken and all, but I asked, because SURELY if my water broke I must've been at a 7 or something, right? Well, I was at a 2 and "POSSIBLY a 3". Unbelievable. I NEVER go to the hospital until I'm at least a 4!!!! I got super discouraged thinking I was going to be there all day. I was having constant contractions though and by 5:00 they got nice and painful. That's when I got an epidural and asked again to be checked. A 5. REALLY?!?!?

I couldn't help but think about the kids and how I wanted them to sleep in OUR house in THEIR beds because Bronson had an early swim meet in the morning and that I was going to take forever to get to a 10.
Brooks just reminded me it was our date night together and we could take as long as we wanted. The nurse kept laughing at us, and said then brought me an Italian Ice (how cool is this hospital?!?). That actually WOULD be something Brooks and I would get on a date.
They kinda had me propped on one side more then the other. Well, the side that was up started feeling really weird. I had some major concentrated pain in one area and kept telling Brooks that I was feeling more then I should be and it was hurting. I pumped my epidural a little and it was still hurting. Then something REALLY starting hurting and not feeling right and told Brooks that something was wrong and I needed the nurse. It was 5:20 (twenty minutes after the epidural) and Brooks couldn't find a nurse because we were so far removed. Brooks hurried and put on some gloves and checked and he looked at me and said, "Um honey, the head is right there. You're at a 10" Then we hit the button and asked them to send in the nurse. I looked at Brooks and said, "What do I say to the nurse?!?!? I can't say, my husband checked me even though you don't want many 'checkings' because of infection and he says I'm at a 10." So when she came in I told her I was in a lot of pain and would SHE mind checking me.
She calmly put her hand to check and then got on her phone and called the doctor, "Dr. Twedt, you better come here now. My patient is at a 10. 80% efaced and at a level 3" (whatever that means). As she was making the phone call Brooks mouthed the words, "I TOLD YOU" to me. He thinks he's so cool.
The nurses came in and said they would NOT put my legs up in stir-rups yet because they didn't trust me that I wouldn't push. Good thing too, because I probably would have. Brooks wanted me to hurry and have the baby before the doctor got there so he could deliver the baby. The doctor showed up and I could see the disappoinement in his face. I tuned out for a while and before I knew it Brooks was all decked out in a gown, gloves and all scrubbed up and ready to deliver the baby. My doctor was so cute to let him do it.
With one contraction and 3 pushes, our little Kellyn was born.
 (I may note that the nurse took a TON of pictures but they weren't really modest.....to say the least, but these ones seem to be okay)

 My handsome doctor

 Brooks was too busy w/ the baby and so excited, the nurse finally reminded him to hand her over to me. :)

HI BABY GIRL!!!!

 Taking her temperature and weight.

 During "Magic Hour".....when everyone leaves you, dad and baby alone so you can bond. However our hour turned into about 2. She was such a snuggly little thing and nursed so well. She scowls when she nurses, its so funny.

As weird as this sounds, it felt like such a partnership and special/sacred team experience w/ Brooks in this delivery. He wasn't just a hand to squeeze, it was me doing my part, him doing his w/ the baby and our Heavenly Father giving us strength to both do our part.
One of my FAVORITE things about mine and Brooks' relationship is our partnership and teamwork. We are always on the same page w/ every little thing from parenting, to expectations, to values, etc. However this experience brought it to a new level and made me cherish my husband even more. We did it.....together..... And we have a beautiful little girl to show for it.