Too Cute

I took this picture yesterday morning. I thought that it was super cute and that it would be a shame if I didn't post how cute my kids are.

Since I started pumping and giving Tate a bottle, McKinley has had time to interact with him more. She also is way into feeding him, even though it only lasts about 2 minutes. She is such big helper even at 17 months. She helps with giving him a bath, feeding, changing his diaper, and when he cries she goes running to help him find his binkie. Yesterday she even tried to get him out of his swing.. not good.. but way cute that she wants to help.

Slowed down? NOPE!

Well the last two weeks have been a little crazy. Today is the first day that I have actually been on my own without help since I had Tatum. I am actually enjoying 'my space' again and the house is quite. I know that not eveyday is going to be like this, so I am soaking it all in.
Last Friday was Bret's works summer party at Lagoon. I wasn't sure if I was going to go or not (I mean I did just have a baby) but decided that I didn't want to miss seeing McKinley go on her first rides at Lagoon. Since Tatum goes everywhere I go, we all went. I know I am crazy for taking my 6 day old son to Lagoon, but we all had a lot of fun. McKinley was SO funny on the boats and I took her on the new Sea Odyssey ride and she LOVED it. I don't know who enjoyed it more, her or me. Every time we got hit with water she would just start giggling... it sure was a lot of fun.

On Saturday we went to Danny and Katy's open house BBQ to celebrate their marriage. They had it in Katy's parents backyard and it was SO nice. I seriously think that every wedding reception/luncheon should be like this was, low key. I think that our family was one of the last to leave.

Its hard to believe that Tate is already almost 2 weeks old. Time has just flown by and before I know it he and McKinley will be playing together. I think I had forgotten how much work a newborn was. My body is finally starting to adjust back to the 'how to operate on NO sleep' mode, and getting used to feeding every two hours... man alive that is a killer. Here are some pictures that we have taken of him since we've been home. Look how much he has changed already... oh and he and McKinley look nothing alike!

McKinley and Tate the day they were born

Tate today 12days old

So it finally happened!

This past weekend was quite eventful. Bret's family over the 4th of July always has a big get together, they have a BBQ on the 3rd with a movie outside then a sleepover with early morning golf and a day of water-slides, crafts and b-s-ing. The night of the 3rd Bret had school so we weren't able to go up for the BBQ. While Bret was at school my mom convinced me that I wanted to take McKinley to the Riverton Parade. It was SO incredibly hot!! I think that they should do parade's during the spring and fall that way you are not sweating to death while watching them. Anyway, we ended up sitting next to my cousins (totally by coincidence) and my mom's neighbors. McKinley was more into catching candy then my 6yr old sister. It was a crack up. The parade lasted almost a whole 2 hours and wasn't actually all that bad.

After the parade Bret came to pick McKinley and me up to go to Layton for the 4th. We got there really late and still watched the movie I don't think that we all went to bed until 1am, even McKinley. The next morning we got up at 6 to go golfing. I know, I know I am crazy being 39 weeks and 6 days pregnant and going golfing, but if it didn't induce labor, at least I had fun. Bret, Jayson and I were on a team and finished only 4+. I have to say that is not too bad considering we usually are in last place each year. This year we were in 2nd.

Bret and McKinley sleeping out under the stars...

Jayson and Bret while golfing

When we got back we ate breakfast, hung out, ate some more, did our craft and by that time it was almost 6. I told Bret that I wanted to get home to put my feet up (they were incredibly swollen), take a shower and get in a little nap before we went to watch fireworks later that night. But we all were having fun talking so we stayed a little longer, until I got up to go to the bathroom because I felt like I was starting to go without assistance (which actually happens quite often when you are preggers). I stood up went to the bathroom and seemed to be just fine. McKinley was playing with toys and I told her that we needed to pick them up so that we could get ready to go home. I bent over to help McKinley pick up her toys and that is when it happened, my water broke! I looked at Bret and told him it really was time to go and told him why, he went out side and told everyone what had just happened. We packed up our stuff, came home to get the stuff for the hospital stay, left McKinley with Danny and Katy and were on our way to the hospital.
On the way there I started to have an emotional break down. I didn't play with McKinley that much that day because she was playing with her cousins and I really did not want to have a 4th of July baby. We got to the hospital around 8 checked in, got a room, answered questions for the nurse, got out of my GROSS WET clothes and talked to the nurse about how fast my labor was with McKinley. I told her how bad I did not want a 4th baby and she then took her time to do everything. Which I was fine with because I wasn't having any contractions. The dr. came in and we talked for a little while and they then started my petocin around 11pm. 2 hours and 56 minutes, 3 pushes and a very happy mom (because it was the 5th of July) later we had our little boy. He was 6lbs 15oz and 20" long. He was quite small considering my belly was huge!

We took one look at him and knew that all the names that we did like just didn't fit. Around 11:30 that morning he finally had a name, Tatum aka 'little tater' Bret Kettenring.

We have now been home for 4 days and it seems unreal still. Last night was the first night that we actually got a decent amount of rest. I am well, Tate is well and McKinley is finally warming up to him. Although she has become quite a daddy's girl since having Tate home with us. We are so lucky to have such a cute healthy baby!

See you in a few hours

I went to the Dr again on Monday. She stripped my membranes again and said with as stretchy as my cervix was and as dilated as I was she thought that by stripping my membranes again that would do the trick. As she walked out the door never mentioning she was going to be on vacation next week or to set up another appointment "just in case" she said "well, go for a walk and I'll see you in a few hours". Many walks later I am beginning to wonder if her few hours is really days. Guess she again won't be delivering my baby. I am kinda disappointed that she won't be. Well unless of course I go at least another week, which I guess is always possible.
I decided this morning that being pregnant really isn't all that bad, other than these few aspects...

1. Not being able to bend over
2. Not being able to sleep
3. Desperately needing to pee every 2 minutes, only to realize it was only a dribble worth
   
4. Not being able to chase McKinley anymore
5. Not being able to change Kinney's diapers... wait maybe this is a good thing!
6. Staring at the scale in horror as I see the numbers just get higher and higher
7. My swollen feet and elephant ankles
8. Not being able to wear my wedding ring and to have to listen to the old ladies in line at the store make comments about my being single with a very young toddler and pregnant AGAIN
9. The heat!
   
10. Heart burn, Heart burn, Heart burn
11. Being kicked in the ribs, stomach and bladder
12. Everyone calling to see if we've had the baby yet
13. Everyone telling me that the reason I haven't had him is because we haven't picked out a name
    
14. Unwanted advice about what I need to do to get him out, e.i. Sex, Walking, Curb walking, Castor oil, Spicy foods... the list goes on
15. My uncontrollable and very unpredictable mood swings
16. Phone calls about other girls that were due after me that have all had their babies
    
17. the WORST thing is knowing that it is just around the corner, and that all these things will disappear when he is here, and yet not knowing when its going to come. Yet again maybe that is part of what makes it fun too.

Other than that, being pregnant really isn't all that bad. I actually handle being pregnant very well until about the last week. That is why I decided that Dr.'s should never tell you what your due date is. It should be an estimated month not an estimated day.
Anyway, chances are I will go into labor tomorrow and have a 4th of July baby, the one day I DID NOT want to have a baby.
Next post I promise there will be pictures of a new baby! If not, I don't know what I will do with myself!!!!