A request for a video of Max

So, I had told you all that Max can turn over (from tummy to back). Finally caught it on tape! Enjoy! Also check out Ella's blog http://ellaeyes.blogspot.com/!

Welcome home to Maxwell Edward, Our Sweet New Baby Boy

Ok, so some of you want details of my labor, some of you probably don't care and some of you just want to see pictures...maybe some of you want both, but anyway here is the story of how it all went down:

Sept 19th the day before Max was born (his due date was the actual 20th...not many baby's are born on their due date). Mark woke up and ran 9 miles (he is training for the Baltimore 1/2 marathon in a couple of weeks). I went to the pregnancy center to work with a volunteer that was teaching a parenting class and get video taped for the new promotional video. I get home and we decide to go to the zoo for 2 hours and walk around to see if labor could come on...I was already 3 cm dilated. No dice, we put the girls down for naps...for some reason I watched college football instead of taking a nap, hindsight says that was a poor decision. The girls wake up we make homemade pizza and watch Cars together, it was a good family night:) But, we were all pretty tired. At night we sing to the girls and pray in their room. I usually lay beside Luci in her bed and Mark with Ella. When I stood up to kiss Ella on the top bunk, I felt just a little trickle...for a second I thought my water broke, but then thought nothing of it.

Mark wanted his haircut, so I did that, he made me laugh and more liquid trickled...at this point I told Mark what I thought was going on. He took a shower and I called my midwife. We had already discussed Castor Oil as an option since I was not looking forward to having to use pitocin again. So, since I wasn't having any contracts yet, I decided to take 2 oz of Castor oil...straight up, I didn't want to put it in OJ or anything that I like just in case I vomited a lot. It is pretty tasteless in my opinion and the texture reminds we of those race carbohydrate gels...so I drank a shot and chased it down with some water. This was @ 9pm. We called a family friend, Andrea, to sleep @ our house that night to take care of the girls until our parents got there.

At 11 pm I start having contractions...and for the most part just mild diarrhea. Contractions went from 10 minutes apart to about 4 minutes apart and it is now 1:30am. We called our midwife and she told us to come into the hospital. We were finally checked into The Johns Hopkins Hospital around 2:30 and I was 6cm dilated. My midwife asked me if I wanted an epidural. I said maybe...contractions were getting harder and around 3:45 I said I wanted an epidural....but I wanted to go to the bathroom first...well let's just say @ that point I didn't have to go to the bathroom, I needed to push out a baby, so 15 minutes later, Max was born (4:05am)...Really an awesome, FAST experience. Can't really compare to the 40 hours of labor with Luci. Max was 7 lbs 15 ozs and 21 inches long...my guess was 8 lbs...I was pretty close:)

Mark was very supportive and seeing family and my girls meet Max for the first time was great! God is so good!

Now for some photos...in opposite order... most recent then birth:

Daddy snoozing with Max


Me, Ella and Max enjoying a quiet moment together

The new big sister Luci and Max


again


So alert!


He loves to cuddle


My favorite


Luci meeting him for the first time


Ella meeting him for the first time


Daddy and his baby boy


Me holding him after labor


Too sweet!

girl's aprons

So tonight I took some time to make Ella and Luci aprons so they can cook with me. My mom and dad got me a book with some patterns in it. I used that plus improvised a bit... I will take pictures of them wearing them tomorrow, but I wanted to just post what they look like after all my hard work:) Now remember I am a beginner, when it comes to sewing. So here they are: Luci-blue and brown and Ella-pink and brown!

Opps, I can't believe it has been a month again since I have posted....

I feel like a blog slacker, but we have had a bit to do here:) We have had visitors...plus getting ready for Baby Humphrey #3 in less than four weeks!!!!!!!! The girls have been keeping us all busy, but I wouldn't ask for anything less. Here are some recent pictures of the girls. Enjoy!

Ella @ Fort McHenry


Ella 'eating' with chopsticks @ PF Changs


Luci loving her food too, but uses her hands just fine!


At the zoo with Osondu and Rachel


Yup....my pregnant belly!


Moses got shaved and the girls are so much more affectionate with him since he doesn't get them all hairy, I love this too (I don't have to clean up after his hair all the time!

What's new since we have been home!!

We have been trying to take it easy since we have been home. But, still having fun! Here is some of the most recent pictures:) Enjoy!

Luci with her baby doll in a sling (sorry it is blurry)

Ella with her baby in a sling (getting ready for when they see Mommy doing this with the new baby:)


Luci enjoying her new bed (bunk beds)


Picture of the whole bed (Ella sleeps on top)


Ella loves sleeping on the top, she is such a big girl!


Enjoying Luci's chair from Maw Maw and Paw Paw


Luci after waking up from a nap, love her hair (and expression)


Baltimore skyline from the Harbor on our Anniversary Date Night (thanks mom and dad)


We took the water taxi around and went to Fells Point to eat


Random picture of Luci putting herself inside her DOLL'S pack in play...she need help getting out!