Briggs - 3 months

Dear Briggs (Brigg-a-Boo)-

To think we made it another month :-)  You are three months old and how you have discovered your personality.  I knew it was too good to be true to have two easy going babies.  You are, well, a little high maintance.  I know, I know, I don't know how this happened.  You love to be held... all the time.  Getting you to take extended naps in your crib has been a bit of a challenge.  You do, however, sleep fairly well in your swing or again if you are being held.  I haven't quite got you on a schedule yet, and that is my fault.  This whole packing thing is really taking up a lot of our time.  Hopefully by this time next month, we will have moved into our new home and will be completely settled.  A girl can hope.

You are not grumpy all the time.  Like a said, you like to be held.  So as long as someone is holding you, you are such a happy and smiley baby.  You are also sooo strong and love to kick and stretch your legs.  We bought you a "Kicken' Coaster" for you to play in, but I still think you are a little too short, you get that from your dad.   Hopefully in the next couple of months, you will learn to love it.

Firsts for this month:
 Well, you attended your first party.  We had a party to celebrate your baptism.  We had over 50 people over for a pool party at Mimi and Pop's house.  Can you believe your family is that big. 

You also went on your first vacation, well weekend getaway.  We rented a cabin/summer home with the Rietzs and Koechels up north in Sholow to celebrate Uncle Joshie turning 40.  He is old, I know. 

Another major accomplishment is you can now rollover from your back to your belly.  You actually do it so well that no matter how many times I lay you back on your back, you are determined to sleep on your stomach.  Speaking of sleep, you have also begun to sleep through the night... for the most part.  We won't discuss last night though.  That was rough!!!  We put you down about 8:30 and you have been waking up around 5:00 or 5:30 to eat and then fall back to sleep.  Now that makes mama happy.

Other than that, things are about the same.  You still LOVE your fingers, even though I have bought you really cool binkies?  Your sister still adores you.  We have been really working with her on knowing that you are her brother and she is your sister.  She keeps repeating, "Boys are brothers and girls are sissies."  You still enjoy being in the pool and taking baths and the occasional kisses from Zarady.

Briggs get Baptised

This past Sunday Briggs was welcomed into the family of God as he was baptized at Brian's childhood perish.  We were lucky enough to be joined by most of our family in this momentous occasion.

Briggs's Godparents are Brian's brother, Brent and my Goddaughter, Annie

After the ceremony, we had everyone back at my parent's house for a celebration.  Because we live so far away from our family, this was the first opportunity for much of our family to meet Briggs.  I spent a lot of time getting ready for the party, and overall I was so happy with the way that it turned out.  We even lucked out and avoided the rain.

On the menu was Brian's famous Italian beef, Jack Daniel's Chicken, Calico Beans (thank you Sherry for the recipe) and pasta salad.

My favorite part of the party was the dessert table.  I made a fruit pizza bar and let me tell you, it was DELICIOUS.  I made three batches of sugar cookies, assuming we would have extras, however that was not the case.  In addition to the fruit pizza bar, my Aunt Sandy made the most adorable Noah's Ark cake.  This woman is amazing.

God Bless Baby Briggs.

Mr. Briggs - 2 months

Dear Briggs,

It seems like a life-time ago since I posted your 1 month update. A lot has taken place during this month and you have taken it all in stride.

You took your first airplane ride this month and were a trooper. Mommy was lucky enough to have you sleep for most of the flight, we can't say the same for your sister. You have had the opportunity to meet most of your extended family. Of course the all just love you and think you look just like your daddy.

You and Stella both experienced your first parade and your first 4th of July firework show. And in true new baby fashion, you slept through both.

You still love taking a bath and we even bought you a new seat so you can take baths with your sister. You splish and splash her with your feet the entire time. And since you love the bath so much, mommy has even taken you swimming a few times... Although you are not quite ready for swimming lessons.

Briggs, you are such a strong little baby, it is only a matter of days until you are rolling over on your own. Which is probably a good thing since you prefer to be on your belly anyway.

Now that we have discussed your "good" firsts, let's also discuss some firsts that we would like to turn into lasts ;-). You have discovered that you really like to sleep when people are holding you... So much so that you really don't like to sleep any other way. Now I don't necessarily blame you for this, since we have been at Mimi and Pops's house for so long there is always someone who wants to hold you...so you have become a little bit, how can I say this nicely, spoiled!! You want to be held and are not afraid to let us know. When you were first born, I remember one of our friends telling us that you had such. "wimp cry". Well you obviously took that to heart and beefed it up a little bit, actually a lot.

You are usually easy to calm with a binky, however you still unfortunately prefer your fingers.

Briggs, with all the ways that you have grown and changed this month, by far my most favorite thing you have learned to do this month is smile. You have the most amazingly cute little smile that just melts my heart. Stella is constantly saying, "mama he's smiling at me. He likes me.". Yes Briggs, you do like your sister and right now she likes you. I hope and pray you always have a close relationship and that you count on one another.

I am sure when I write this next month, we will have a lot more firsts. But, if I may, I have one request one for you to work on... let's try to work on sleeping through the night ;-).

Love,
Mom

Dear Baby Briggs (1 month old)

Dear Baby Briggs (aka Little Man),

Today you are one month old.  On one hand it seems like just yesterday you entered the world and blessed our family, but on the other  it seems like you've always been a part of our family.  I can barely remember what life was like before you arrived.  In the past month you have had a ton of visitors, both to the hospital and our house.  Mimi came for a week to visit and Pops surprised us when he arrived in the middle of the night for the weekend.  After they left, Grandma Susu and Aunt Wendy came for a week.

Overall, you have been an extremely easy baby.  You sleep ALOT, especially during the day.  But I have to admit you have also gotten better about sleeping at night, as long as we have you in the swing.  We will however be working on moving you into your crib shortly.  You are generally a pretty happy baby except in the evening when you seem to fuss/cry for a couple hours.  I really think it is just your way to get daddy's attention.

One thing that we really need to work on, however, is your eating.  I'm not saying that you are not a good eater... you must be because you keep putting on weight.  It's more that you are a messy eater.  It seems like every time you eat, mommy needs to change clothes because you just don't hold on.  It's really more like you enjoy sipping your meals rather than drinking :-)  I have been concerned on a few occasions that you weren't getting enough, but you gained a pound in one week.  Yes, one pound in a week.  At that rate you will be surpassing your sister's weight by the time you are nine months old. 

I forgot how many diapers newborns go through... Wow!!  And yes, I have been surprised with a fountain on a couple of occasions when I didn't get the diaper on quick enough.  You love to take baths and especially get your hair washed.  Unfortunately, however you have lost a lot of your hair from when you were born. 

Your sister absolutely adores you and always wants to help.  She can hear your crying from the other room and will run in to give you your binky.  I think you actually prefer your fist, but mommy keeps insisting on the binky.  She loves when you look at her and that is really starting to happen more and more.

My favorite memories so far have to be during some of our midnight feedings when Stella wakes up and doesn't want to be left out.  She comes in your room, climbs into the rocker and lays across my lap while I am feeding you.  There have been many a nights that we have all fallen asleep together on that chair.  It's times like that that I realize how lucky I am to be your and Stella's mommy.

It's the thought that counts... right?

I would be lying if I said that we have been good about going to mass lately.

Our routine used to be to go to 5:30 mass on Saturday evenings and then go to dinner afterwards. However, as Stella has gotten older going to eat at 6:30 or 7:00 is not practical. So we tried Sunday morning mass for a while.  That worked better in terms of the time, however I feel like we spend the whole time reminding her to talk quietly, pumping her full of goldfish or trying to keep her occupied. I really can't remember a homily since she was a year old.

We are wanting to get Briggs baptized, back in Peoria, next month.  In order to do this we need a letter from our perish stating we are members. I am feeling a little guilty about asking for this because we have been so spotty on our church attendance so I insisted that we go to church this past weekend. I decided that we would go to 8:00 mass. A bit aggressive, I know, especially when I made that decision at 7:00 and church is 15 to 20 minutes away. By the time we all got ready and to Scottsdale it was 8:15 before we walked into church.  But hey, it's Catholic, so as long as you're there before the Homily it counts... right?

We walk in as quietly as possible and sit down right as the priest begins the Homily, whoo we made it.  Immediately Briggs starts to get a fussy so take him out of his seat to hold him.  And then it happens, he projectile vomits his entire feeding all over himself, me, the pew and my brand new Coach purse (that Brian bought me, a whole other story for a different time).  I grab the closest thing to me to start quietly cleaning up.   I then get up to leave and take Briggs to the bathroom for a mini bath and a change of clothes.  Of course Stella needed to go with.  We get everything taken care of and head back in with enough time to hear the end of the Homily.  As Stella goes to get into the pew she cracks her head on it.  Not a little bump, but hard.  Hard enough that a people in the pew a couple rows ahead looked back.  She begins sobbing, I had Briggs to Brian and again I leave, taking her outside. 

By the time, she settled down and we went back in for the THIRD time.  Everyone was professing their faith.  We again quietly and carefully entered the pew.  Thankfully we made it through the rest of the mass with only the usual disruptions.  We practiced talking very quietly and ate an obscene amount of goldfish

As we left the church I turned to Brian and we both laughed.  Yes we went to church, we made it... But did we really get out of it what is truly intended,  or is it just that thought that counts?

ABC Art Class

Now that Stella is no longer going to Ms. Robin's house I wanted to find ways for her to interact with other children.  I know that she is really going to miss her friends there.  So I decided to get her involved in some classes at the Gilbert Park District.  The only problem is that for the majority of the classes you need to be either 2 1/2 or 3 by the first day of class.  Stella misses that 2 1/2 cut off by two weeks.  I did, however, find one class that she could take... ABC Art.

Today was the first day of class and I have to be honest I was a bit nervous about how she would do, she was youngest kid in the class and I was hoping she wouldn't cry... but she instead she was so excited.

Waiting to go in.

She walked right in and did great.  She sat with the other kids when they read the story at the beginning.  Did great during centers.  And even played with the other kids at the end.  Although the class is only 45 minutes, once a week, I think it will be good for her.

Sitting at the table getting ready to paint

Waiting for the other kids to finish up

The finished products from today's class

Welcome... Hayden Briggs Campbell (Better late than never)

 On Saturday May 12th, we welcomed Hayden Briggs Campbell into the world.

Birth Story...
On Friday afternoon, I started having contractions again.  I decided to take a nap because this usually helped them go away.  My philosophy was if I can sleep through them, they probably aren't really that bad.  By the time Brian got home from work, they were a little stronger but again nothing that I was going to die over.  We went to dinner at Zipps and at that time I began timing them.  They were about 7-8 minutes apart.  After dinner we came home, put Stella to bed and watched a little Dexter.  When it was time to go to bed, I just couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep, but again I wasn't going to die.  I went from the bed, to the chair, back to the bed.  Around midnight, I decided that maybe we should go to the hospital... So I took a shower, picked up the house (no one wants to come home to a messy house), packed Stella's bag, repacked mine and had Brian DROP me off at the hospital.  Yes, I wasn't sure if they were going to admit me or send me back home and I didn't want to bother the Bollards in the middle of the night just to be sent home.  Again, the contractions were uncomfortable but I have been in far worse pain :-)

By 1 am, I was admitted to the triage unit of the maternity ward and was hooked up to the monitors.   They watched my contractions for the next hour and at 2 am decided to admit me because the baby's heart rate was dropping each time I had a contraction.  The plan was to start an epidural and then break my water, hopefully speeding up the labor process.  I called Brian to have him meet me at the hospital.  Paul came and picked up Stella.  Before Brian even arrived the epidural was already in place.  Brian arrived right before the doctor and I mentioned to him that it felt like I had "a lot of stuff going on down there."  And sure enough when the doctor arrived to break my water, we realized that it had already broke on its own.

For the next few hours, my each time I had a contraction the baby's heart rate would drop but the contractions really never got closer together.  They decided to start me on pitocin to speed the process along so we could get him out before he became really distressed.  They started me on pitocin and within a few minutes his heart rate dropped again and didn't go back up.  They immediately took me back off the pitocin and began having the C-section conversation with me.  We played this for a few more hours and at 10am they came in.  At this point my contractions were no closer together and I had not dilated beyond a 5 (I was a 4 were I arrived at the hospital).  The doctor told me that they would give me 2 hours to fully dilate and if I didn't they were going to take me in for a C-section.

At 11:00 they came in to check me because they had lost my contractions off the monitor.  She said that they were going to take me in for the C-section but somehow I was fully dilated.  Within 24 minutes Hayden Briggs Campbell was born.  For the most part it was a very easy delivery, except once his head came out his shoulders became stuck on my pelvic bone.  The room went from having four of us, Brian, the nurse, doctor and myself to having 4 additional nurses in 15 seconds.  It was crazy, but in the end everyone was okay.

Hayden Briggs Campbell was born at 11:24am.  We weighed 8lbs 10oz and was 21 inches long.

Why is it that I always end up on oxygen?

Momma and Baby Briggs

Stella and Briggs

Daddy, Stella and Briggs

First "Family of Four" Picture

Entering a New Phase

Over the last week I have had a lot of emotional ups and downs.  I blame most of it on hormones, but I can't blame it all on that.  When I was pregnant with Stella, Brian and I talked about the possibility of me staying home but I wasn't ready to give up the classroom.  I had such a hard time going back to work, but I still was a teacher at heart.  As last year ended, I knew that if it was my last year in the classroom I would NEVER go back.  Rough year to say the least.  When I got pregnant this year, I knew that the time had come for me to stay home with my babies.  I had a great group of kids, a wonderful co-teacher, overall it was a great year.  However, my heart was no longer in it as it had been in the years past.   

I would be lying if I didn't say that I have been looking forward to my time in the classroom coming to an end.  I have pinned a thousand things on pinterest that I want to do with Stella or meals that I want to make for dinner.  (And as a woman who is nine months pregnant, the thought of a few naps sounded super enticing, as well.)  I have been marking the days off on my calendar for the last few months.  I wouldn't want to admit that I had short-timers syndrome but I was looking forward to my last day... until it came.

About two weeks ago, my principal asked me to sit in on interviews to hire our new math teacher for next year.  A little weird to hire your replacement after you have given your heart and sole to a place for nine years.  The first interview was a little hard, but it did get easier.  Then last Tuesday came, the day before my last day in the classroom.  I was so excited, actually not really that sad at all.  As I laid down in bed, I checked my email, as I do every night, the master schedule for next year had been emailed out.  And for the first time it hit me, I wasn't going back... my name was not on it.  That was weird.  And as I laid in bed that night, I knew that I was excited about the next phase of my life, but a part of me felt like I was giving up a little part of me.

Wednesday morning came and I was still really emotional.  I could not make myself stop crying.  I walked into the bathroom, to get a little emotional support for my husband (YES, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER).  He laughed a bit and asked if it was pregnancy hormones, but he did remind me that I could always go back after one year.  I felt so much better (NO).  Just like I always do when I get his pep talks :-)

After dropping Stella off, I called my mom as I usually do and cried to her for a little bit.  She knew exactly what to say.  My mom reminded me that I will always be a teacher, but instead of teaching other people's children I will be teaching the two most important children in the world... mine.  And with that, I wiped the last of my tears, pulled into school, and had the best last day in the classroom a teacher could ask for.

For now the lessons that I teach are no longer taught in a classroom, but are taught everywhere I go.  I can not wait for what life has in store for me and my children.  I know how fortunate I am for having the opportunity to stay home  and I will try to always remember that (even if I realize that the grass is indeed greener on the other side)

"I tell mama I go pee-pee on the potty... Woo Woo"

Disclaimer: If you can not tell from the title this post falls into the duties human nature category. I tried not to be graphic, but at times the words pee-pee and poo-poo may be used. If this is not what you are looking for, I suggest you read no further ;-)

It seems like we have been working on potty training Stella for what seems like FOREVER. I don't know what my excitement was to get this feat over with. At about 20 months old she began bringing diapers to us when she went the potty and would want to be changed. I took this as a good sign to start the potty training process. And so it began. Brian and I went out and bought her the top of the line potty that sings to you when you take care of the magical deed. I wanted to get the cheap standard one, but nothing but the best for Brian's baby girl. We began working on potty training at home and Miss Robin began at her house. Each time Stella would go she would get a sticker and to be honest she has gotten A LOT of stickers. Stella is really good about using the potty... as long as we put her on it. Not so good about telling us when she needs to go. Hence the potty training challenge.

Well that all changed this last weekend!! We were on our way to the grocery store and Stella informed us that she go poo-poo. I told reminded her that we don't go in our diaper but in the potty and that we would change her when we got to the store. She kePt saying it over and over and I kept telling her that we would change her at the store. When we got to the Store, Stella and I head to the bathroom only to find that her diaper is clean. When I s
told her that she didn't go she said, "No mama I go.". Was she actually telling me she needed to go? Yep, she was. So I sit her on the really big normal potty and squat down to hold her. Might I add that this is no easy task at five months pregnant. She sat there for a couple of minutes before getting spooked and no longer wanting anything to do with siting on the potty. Mission Failure!! I tak her off put her clothes off and we find Brian in the grocery store. About ten minutes later Stella states that "I go poo-poo mama". So I do what any potty training mama does, I pick her up and rush back to the potty. I squat down again ( I am going to have killer thighs by the end of this) and she decides that she wants me to sing. At this point I will do anything to keep her there long enough to take care of business. And sure enough after three hours of me squatting she finally went. ( it probably was only a couple of minutes but it sure felt that long). We were cheering and jumping up and down. I am sure the other ladies in the bathroom thought I was crazy but oh well. We were so proud.

The next day at Miss Robins house Stella told her a few times that she needed to go as well. We knew we were definitely on the right track finally. However, the highlight of my week came Tuesday night when she told me she had to go, went and then wanted to call daddy. She was SOOO excited. As I dialed the number she was twirling in circles jumping up and down. When Brian answered the phone she yells "I tell mama I go pee-pee on the potty Woo Woo!". Brian and I couldn't stop laughing at her. I guess it is the little things in life.

Now by no means do I think we are ready to throw away the diapers, but I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and a wonderful light it is indeed.

New Year - New Goals

As you can probably tell, I have let my blogging get away from me. It is not that I don't enjoying doing it, rather I haven't made myself take the time. I really try to limit the amount of time that I am using the electronics in our house for two reasons 1) because I want Stella to play with the other toys that she has and 2) I want it to be a treat for her so basically I use then when I need/want to get something else done. So how does this have to do with me blogging you ask? Well Miss Stella has an overwhelming to desire to play with the I-pad when it is out, so I don't really get to use it anyway. Next question... Then why have you not blogged after she has gone to bed? Well that one is easy, I have been lazy and tired ;-)

So as I was thinking about New Year's goals, getting back into blogging was one of the activities top on my list. I decided that I would set a small goal for myself and at least participate in the 10 on 10 activity that some of the other blogs that I follow do. I have always really liked the idea, just never done it. And from there I would keep up with my blog more often ;-)

So my first 10 on 10 of 2012

10 pictures on the 10th day of every month

(Document a snapshot and find the beauty of your every day life)

I decided that at least for the next few months I would take a picture of my ever growing belly. I swear that I am as big now at 22 weeks pregnant that I was when I gave birth to Stella. I can only imagine what these next 18 weeks will bring.

Next, I want to take a picture of Stella each month because I can not believe how much she is growing and changing all the time. I had to brib her to stand still long enough to take this picture with a gummy bear.

One of my other goals was to drink more water. I have been having a lot of headaches with this pregnancy and Brian is convinced it is because I don't drink enough water. So to help myself with this cool I change my water to sugar-free grape kool-aid. Not as cool as changing water to wine, but it works for me.

This chap stick is AMAZING. I got it from Target for a couple of dollars and it is my new addiction. I guess it could be worse.

It is only the second day back to school and my front table already looks like this :-(

Oh potty training... I swear we have been working on this FOREVER. She is really good about going when we make her sit down, but she still is not telling us when she needs to go on a consistent basis.

The weather has been so nice lately that we went to play at the play land today. I figured before things start to get crazy at work and I need to stay a little later, we should enjoy this nice weather and day light while we can.

After we played we had to pick up Zarady from Doggy Day Care.  Z has been going to day care once or twice a week for a few years.  I, personally, think that it is a bit excessive but it does keep her in good shape and she really does enjoy going.

The last of the Christmas presents arrived today.  Stella got so many babies and other fun things that we had to ship some of our things back.  Now to put them away, throw away the boxes, and hopefully our house will all be put back together.

So there you go, my first of hopefully many blogs for 2012.