Porter Jackson Karch

Our little guy made his entrance to the world on January 5, 2013 at 11:48am.

It all started the evening before when I decided to drink the "magic drink" that I have heard about.  Its an old midwives' drink that doesn't make you sick or give you the runs and pretty much always puts people into labor right away.

So I drank it at 3pm, threw it up at 3:30, and then drank it again at 4:00.  This time, much slower and it didn't come up.  And low and behold, had my first contraction at 5pm.  By 10:00pm my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart so we decided to head to the hospital.  My mom came over to sleep at our house cause Hads was in bed.

When I was checked we were informed that I was only 2 cm (grrrrrr) so they allowed us to walk the halls for 2 hours to try and get to 3 cm.  My contractions were pretty intense so I was positive that by the end of that 2 hours I would be at LEAST 3 cm.  I mean, this was my second child and all.  But, nope, no such luck.  I was still 2cm.  So, they sent. us. home. Yeah, I was NOT impressed.

I labored at home from 12am-4am and OH MY I was in pain.  Seriously.  I watched Dragon's Den in between contractions as Dman napped on the couch. Haha

When we headed back to the Hospital at 4am, we were admitted cause I was 3 cm. 3cm???  Really?  Did I mention this was my second time doing this?  Why was my body being so slow?  I was frustrated.  But at least we were being admitted, right? Except for the fact that as soon as we were admitted, my contractions stopped.  Just stopped, with the odd one every 15 minutes or so.  We tried walking to get them started again.  But nothing.  For 2 hours.  I was baffled.  My nurse suggested that I was just so exhausted that if I napped my contractions would probably start again.  So I napped, and sure enough the started back up!  By that point I was now 4cm so my doctor decided to brake my water to get things speeding up.

I have never had my water broken before.  With Hadley it broke as I was pushing.  Well, let me tell you.....I thought an oxytocin labor was intense.....HA!  Within 5 minutes of breaking my water, the most intense contractions I have ever experienced started up. So I demanded the epidural right away, and I got it but the darn thing took an hour and a half to work!!!!  Apparently I have a shallow spine and they had to take it out and re-insert it at a shallower depth.  Meanwhile I was dying.  But nevertheless, it finally worked and I decided to take another nap. I was exhausted.  I fell asleep at 9:30ish and when I woke up a couple hours later I felt pressure and asked my doctor to check me.  And when she did, voila, I was 10 cm and the baby was crowning!!

They quickly set up for delivery, I pushed for 10 minutes, and Porter literally just popped out.  My very first thought was holy cow, he is tiny.  My second was hello Hadley number 2!!  They could have been twins.  Porter has Dylan's nose and Hadley has mine but that is the only difference.  It is seriously weird.

I fell in love with him instantaneously. He is just the cutest, most easy going little guy.  He took to nursing right away, he loves to cuddle, and other than a few tummy issues he is content as could be.  I thought having a boy would be weird but so far, its not at all.  I just adore him.  Hadley fell in LOVE with him right away too.  She was mad at me for about a week.  I think she was hurt by having to share me.  But she didn't take any of her hurt out on Porter, just me. Haha better that way I guess.  That was the hardest adjustment for me - having to take time away from Hadley.  Having to split myself between the two.  I just felt really guilty initially.  But we have all settled into our new roles now I think.  It has taken a little bit longer to get back to normal this time (hence the month late post).  Probably because two requires way more time than one, and P-dog likes to be held all the time.  Which means I have been having trouble getting things done!!  But we are surviving. We implemented babywise sleep training right away again like we did with Hadley and at 3 weeks old Porter started doing 7 and 8 hour stretches through the night.  So even though it sucks having to get up once at night when I have been used to sleeping through the night for the last 2 years, I am grateful that I am getting rest!

Here are some pictures of our little man:

On the way to the hospital.

Freshly out.  Spitting image of Hadley.

I know I look like a wreck, but I was SOOOO happy to see my little girl.

First time meeting her brother.

Loving her brother.

Just chillin on the couch.

Love this guy!

Playing catch up

Christmas.

This is a very late post, but better late than never right?  

I have to document it for my family's sake at least.

We had a great Christmas.  It was nice to be able to enjoy our time together and with Hadley as an only child before the baby came.  We tried to do lots of fun things as a family.  We went to candy cane lane, the zoo lights, our church's nativity display, did lots of baking, went to the pool countless times, and just hung out.

Christmas Eve was spent with Dman's side of the family.  We had a yummy appetizer themed dinner, read the nativity, and opened presents.

 Hadley got really into all the present opening!! She took sooooooooo long to open all of her presents though because she loved each one and wanted to play with them.

 Thanking her Grandpa for her present.

On Christmas morning we woke up to the presents that Santa brought and again, opened them much to Hadley's delight.

Then we headed on over to my family's house for, you guessed it, more presents!!!  Followed by a yummy brunch and hanging for the afternoon out whilst checking out our loot.

 

Hadley was "helping" Daddy play golf on the wii.

We wrapped up the day with Christmas dinner and watching the Santa Clause 

(a Wilson yearly tradition).

Movie watching snuggles with Nana.

It was a really great time.  Nothing extravagant, just good times and too much good food!!  It was especially fun this year because Hadley really got it.  We tried to take the opportunity to teach her about our Saviour and the true gift of Christmas.  She loved pointing out baby Jesus whenever she saw him.  And of course, she fell in love with Santa and the whole gift opening thing.  It was really fun and special for me to watch the excitement of the season through her eyes.

39 weeks: update and thoughts.

Let me start this post by addressing my unborn son....I am sorry I have not even mentioned one thing about being pregnant with you up until this point.....39 weeks.  

I feel like a cotton-headed-ninny-muggin.  But you need to believe me when I say, it has nothing to do with a lack of excitement for your arrival.  That couldn't be more far from reality.  I thank Heavenly Father for you every single night in my prayers.  My dreams are filled with your addition to our family - you and your sister interacting.  My thoughts are often spent wondering who you will be.  I can't wait to meet you and learn about your personality.  And cuddles....I can't wait to cuddle and mug you!!!! No, no, the reason that I have not dedicated any posts to you, my son, is that your sister is crazy. Nuts. And this momma is TIRED! Time is so fleeting that I really never have any of it to dedicate to just sitting down and writing out my thoughts.  So here they are, at 39 weeks - better late than never!!

This pregnancy has been pretty similar to Hadley's with a few key differences. One, I have not gained nearly as much weight as I did with Hadley.  Which is odd because I have eaten worse this time around.  With Hadley I didn't so much as even want to see unhealthy food....the thought of grease made me want to vomit.  Where as this time around, I have been craving junk food.  Baked goods have been my weakness!!  But the pounds aren't packing on.  With Hadley I gained, this is embarrassing, 70 lbs!!!  And with this one right now I am at a 31 lb gain.

The second key difference is that with Hadley I had NO mood swings.  Seriously, I has SO many people tell me that I seemed happier pregnant than non-pregnant.  And I was.  Not so much the case this time around.  Ohhhh boy, my inner anger and rage have been hard to deal with.  Seriously some days I wake up and I just want to punch a wall for NO reason.  I have been trying really hard to keep that all inside though and not release the beast, and I think I have done an okay job.  Hadley really hasn't seen the mommy-beast, but poor Dman has on a few occasions. That's been a really tough struggle for me.

Everything else like the sickness, and insane back pain, and tiredness have all been the same.  Well, I am more tired this time around but I completely attribute that to having a toddler.

I really cannot believe that I am already at 39 weeks.  I try to wrap my head around having two kids, but I just don't think it will feel real until it actually happens.  Its like before you have your first, you really have no idea what to expect.  While I know what to expect baby-wise, I just don't know how I am going to handle two, how our family is going to change, and most importantly, how Hadley is going to handle a sibling.  I was scared, like really scared, for a really long time.  But just within the past few weeks Hadley has come out of her terrible two's (YAY!!! And knock on wood....) and so I have been able to get more comfortable with the idea of an addition.  

I am actually excited to have a baby around again.  While they are hard and pose some challenges to freedom, I love baby cuddles and smells. I love just staring at my freshly fed and milk drunk baby.  I love watching my baby sleep. Of course, I do realize that all of this will happen post 

7pm (the Hadster's bedtime).

I am getting nervous for the birth because I know what to expect this time!!  If I tear bad again, I don't know how I am going to function after with having Hadley.  When I had Hadley I could barely walk for a couple weeks after, not a luxury I have this time around. So I am praying that all will go well and that he won't be too big.

I am still questioning the boy factor.  I really would not be shocked if he came out a she.  Dman thinks I am nuts because we clearly saw that he was a he on the ultrasound, but I wont be convinced until I meet the baby.

I am just getting anxious.....excitement and nervousness all mixed in one.  Big changes, but exciting changes.  I can't wait to meet our new child.  I love that they come with different personalities, and I have learned a lot about myself and about Heavenly's father's trust in me with having Hadley.  I am excited to see what this child will teach me and who Heavenly Father sees fit to enter our family.

I guess I am technically full term now, so can I say any day now??  I don't know.  I was late with Hadley and I think I will probably be late again because that just seems to be what my body does, but we shall see!!  Maybe the next post will be an introductory one???  AHHHHHH so CRAZY!!

Until then, Leah.

Santa love.

Last year the Hads and Mr. Clause did NOT get along.  He freaked her out big time.

This year, totally different story.  She LOVES Santa.  Anytime she sees him she gets sooooo excited.  I think it has something to do with the chocolate advent calendar we got her this year.  It has a Santa picture on it and everyday the HIGHLIGHT of her day is getting her "Santa treat".

So I didn't know what to expect when we went to get pics with the old man this year, but I had high hopes.  And sure enough, Hadley did not disappoint!  She loved him and did so well.  She greeted him with a "Hi Santa" and as she sat on his lap and asked her questions she did her best to answer them.  It was so cute.

Christmas??

I cannot believe how fast Christmas is coming!!  I don't feel prepared at all!  There is just lots happening right now it seems what with finishing up the basement (it is finally restored......um, yeah, 5 months after the flood!!) and with a baby due in less than 3 weeks!!! AHHHHHH

So I am trying my best to get in the Christmas spirit and have some fun.  Dman is done exams tomorrow and when he is we are hitting the Christmas activities hard!!

The other day Hadley and I decided to make a gingerbread house.....HAH!!!  Really, really messy activity with a 22 month old.  But she lovedddd it.....she was on a sugar high for a couple of hours! So I thought I would share considering I have to get something posted on this blog!!

After we made it, she decided to eat the candy right off the house!

Hahaha isn't it beautiful!!!  She had a huge hand in making this and I didn't want to squash any of her cute little creativity with my perfectionism so I let her go to town and we ended up with this beaut!

Love her, love it!

Halloween

Oh my Hadley, she is a character and this Halloween was the perfect example of why.

Let's start with the getup.  This year miss Hads was a cute little elephant.

Thank you Carter's - I love your $12 costumes!!!

We really didn't do a whole lot for halloween outside of trick-or-treating this year cause I had a bad case of the flu.  But we carved our pumpkins which we all got really into.

 I posted a "whose pumpkin is better" competition on facebook, and I am very happy to say that I won!!  Mine is the one on the right and Dman's is on the left.

Then we went out trick-or-treating on Halloween, and let me just tell you, Hadley was hilarious!!   Dman and I were seriously busting a gut laughing at her as she trick-or-treated.  It was -13C with the windchill but that didn't deter this girl AT ALL.  She went to over 50 houses and we were out for 2 hours!!!  She is 20 months!!!!  She caught on really quick to the fact that if you go to these doors, knock, and look cute, they give you candy.  So this was the drill: she would SPRINT from house to house, approach the door, knock, and when they came to the door say "I want treats" (pronounced "I wan teats"), as they placed them in her bag she said thank you every time, and then without hesitation waved and said "bye" as she headed off sprinting to the next house.

Every 10 minutes or so we would ask: "Hadley do you want to go home or do more?" and every single time her answer was "more!!!".  I finally had to call it quits when I was getting tired and cold.  I wonder how long she would have gone for.  People were giving us some disapproving looks towards the end when they opened their door and looked WAY down only to find a little toddler.  A couple people actually said, "oh don't you think she might be cold?". haha oh boy.

Here she is going through her loot after.  She got a full bag.  That's our girl!!!  Its a little known fact that Dman and I went trick-or-treating every year until we were 19!!! haha We even debated going when we were 21 and totally would have had we not been married.  That's what you can get away with when you are blessed with have a baby face!!

That was our 2012 Halloween.  It was soooo much fun thanks to our girl!

A really late 18th month post.

So lets really call this a 19th month post.  The Hads is actually 20 months as of last week, but everything I wrote down is 19 month related.

Seriously, I know how crazy things are in my life by how frequently I blog.  I just can't find the time anymore!!  But I am taking a break from photography until after the baby is born so I should have a LOT more time on my hands now.  Man, I was busy!!

Anyway, onto miss Hadley.

Stats at 18 months were (I don't remember the numbers):

-20th percentile for weight

-60th percentile for height

-90th percentile for head

She loves:
-Her dogs (charlie in specific)
-Books
-Barney
-Dancing
-Being outside
-Rice with soya sauce
-Yogurt
-Cheese
-Her family
-Bunny
-Crazy playing with Daddy

At 19 months Hadley is a ball full of energy more than ever!!  Lets not sugar coat anything - this is a HARD stage!!  Especially being 28 weeks pregnant.  I find myself exhausted pretty much every second of the day.  Hadley has definitely hit the terrible two's.  Our sweet girl is still there, but mixed with an alter ego who I don't care so much for.  If she doesn't get her way, watch out!!  We are working on it with time out's and such and I am hoping it will end before the baby comes cause she has been at this whole tantrum throwing, bratty, whiny, crazy thing for a while now.

What's really helped though is that she is talking up a storm!!!  Right now we are at 70+ words.  She is seriously adding a new one (or 2) to her vocab daily.  And she can put some sentences together.  Its made life WAY easier cause now I can understand what she wants and I can reason with her.  She understands EVERYTHING we say.  Thank goodness!!

And its made her about 100 times cuter in my mind cause she is able to do things like greet daddy with a "Hi daddy" when he walks through the door each evening.  Or in the morning when she walks into our room its "Hi mommy!!".  Or at night when she is falling asleep and pulls up her sleeves and request "tickles".  Or when she helps me clean out the dishwasher and with each dish says "here you go mommy".  Or at bedtime when we read a story and she knows she is only allowed one so when she picks one out she puts her finger up to indicate one and says "only one" (pronounced "own waaah"). Ah, SO CUTE!!

Here is a video of her talking.  I only got a few words in cause I made the mistake of asking her to say "soother" and then she wanted it. haha But you get the idea.

She also moved to a big girl bed!  The first couple weeks went stellar (ie. went right to bed and never got out of bed) and then we hit a bit of a wall after the excitement of a new bed wore off, where she wouldn't go to sleep for nap and bedtime.  But we have that figured out now and she is back to sleeping great - despite the fact that she is trying to cut naps out - that's my next point.  I have to lay with her for about 20 minutes each night, but I kind of enjoy it.  I figure she wont be this little for long and pretty soon she wont want me to cuddle with her every night so for now I do it and I don't mind it at all.  Its our special time together.

Naps, now those are a different story.  She is trying to cut them out in a big way.  Some days if she is REALLY tired then they are super easy.  But on normal days I am currently resorting to allowing her to fall asleep on the couch watching Barney.  I have tried making her naps shorter, cutting them down earlier, and letting her cry it out in her room.  But NOTHING work other than Barney.  So, for now that is what we are doing.  At least she is still taking one everyday (with the exception here and there - like today) even if they are only a hour or hour and a half sometimes.  Ugh, that just about kills me going from a solid 3 hr nap.

She used to hate TV and wouldn't sit for more than 2 minutes to watch it but one day about a month ago, wham, she decided she loved Barney.  And now that's all she wants.  She is allowed to watch 2 episodes a day, which I feel is a bit much, but the break that it gives me is sooooo needed (an I know will be needed even more so when this baby comes) that I allow it.  At least she loves barney and not some of the other garbage out there. 

Have you noticed the trend with this post that I have?  It seems, as I am learning more and more each day, that parenting is a balancing act between my mental sanity and what she needs.  Its picking my battles and deciding when to just give in.  Pre-Hadley I never would have thought I would have given into anything, because what is that teaching them, right?  But now, I realize that you can't fight everything.  Its just not possible.  Or it is, but the only memory she will have of her childhood is "Hadley no", "Hadley, don't do that", and crying all the time.  I am super strict when it comes to manners and being nice.  There is no grey area there.  There is a standard that is expected of her and if she doesn't meet it then there are consequences.  But then, I find myself allowing cheezies at 10am sometimes, or maybe 3 episodes of Barney here and there, or fine, I will lay with you for 45 minutes tonight cause I know you just want mommy.  Those are the battles I choose not to have.

Its hard to think of specific changes because I feel like she changes in little ways everyday, but overall, she just isn't a baby at all anymore.  She is SO SO SO independent.  Like at the park, she climbs all over the things that only the big kids do.  Moms are always asking me how old she is and when I say her age they are shocked and I always get something along the lines of "that's it!?  She seems so much older".  Yup, tell me about it.  I am curious to see if that lasts or if it fades.  I think she is just smart - its who she is.  A little strong-willed, firecracker.

Anyway, now that I have written a book, there is a catch-up on the Hads.  We love her!!