Mabel Sonya Plant

Born: August 6, 2013

at 2:33 pm

Weight: 7 lbs 6oz

Length: 20 inches

We couldn't be more grateful for this little stinker! She is healthy and doing great.

Here is the Birth Story:

Josh had been traveling quite a bit for work and my doctor (Heather Harrison) asked me if I would like to be induced.I told her yes. Secretly in the back of my mind I just wanted little Mae to come early and force Josh to rush home on the first flight he could find!! But Mabel wasn't ready to come early. On Saturday, August 3rd we had all the family over for Presley's baptism. Grandpa Burnidge was even in town. I moved tables, decorated, and worked my tail off to get ready for this. I thought it might help me get Mabel here. No luck. We scheduled her induction for that following Tuesday because that worked best for the doctor.

On Sunday, we had dinner at Al and TK's. Annalee and I went for a "curb walk"where one of my feet walked on a curb and the other on the street. It was strenuous! Apparently it's supposed to help you go into labor. We were hoping I could go into labor and force grandpa and Judy to stay in town a little longer. Monday I started to feel like I was leaking fluids, but no big gush. On Monday night we took Noah, Presley, and Charlie to Jason and Jennie's to spend the night. While there, chatting with Jason and visiting their neighbor's puppies, I felt a few little gushes of fluid. Josh and I went home and went to bed. I waited to feel contractions and got nothing.

At 6:30 am the next morning, we went to the hospital for my induction. The place was empty. I got started on the pitocin and could feel some contractions. We never found out for sure if my water had broken. It broke either while I was being checked or the night before. Who knows. Soon TK arrived as did Denise. Annalee was awesome enough to offer to take D's kids for the day. By around 11, I was getting ready for an epidural and Josh called Jason to come for his lunch break and help give me a blessing. It gave me so much comfort. Mabel's heart rate was going up and down so the nurse slowed my labor by turning off the pitocin. Josh checked and she had it cranked really high. I was worried it would make everything take really long, but my doctor came in and said she had a feeling the baby would come by 3 pm. By 2 pm I was actually ready to push! I couldn't believe it. I pushed probably 5-10 times and out came little Mae. I was sobbing like crazy!! It was such a powerful experience. It literally took my breath away! Actually it took Mabel's breath away too! She was pretty blue and had tons of fluid in her nose, mouth and lungs. I didn't get to hold her right away because they had a pediatrician come in and suction the heck out of Mae. TK was taking pictures and getting peeks of her in the isolet for me. She said she was so cute.

Denise posted this on instagram. I adore this photo

Finally they gave Mabel to me and it was love at first sight. She seemed to look right in my eyes. I just wanted to nuzzle her all day. Mabel's first night in the hospital was a doozy! She was awake all night long!! Haha. I just let her lay by me and nurse and she worked and worked at getting my milk to come in. Josh had read an article on breastfeeding in the delivery room and he instantly became my lactation specialist (It was so funny!). His confidence and support totally helped because Mabel nursed like a champ! It was amazing to watch those little instincts kick in. The second night in the hospital was so much better.

Every day we are getting into more and more of a rhythm. I think the best word to describe having a newborn is INTENSE. There is a lot of weight on your shoulders to keep this little person alive and thriving. I don't know how I did it the first time with Noah and all the complications he had. Even now as an experienced mom, I still get nervous at times. Luckily I have all the best helpers in the world. Noah, Presley, Charlie, Josh, denise, Annalee, TK, Jennie, Hailie have all been awesome. We had wonderful meals brought to us, babysitting scheduled, fun visits, etc. We feel super blessed!!

BeachyBirthdayBash

We just wrapped up another crazy string of Birthdays. Now that it's after midnight, Presley's birthday is over. We decided this year for the birthdays we would save presents from us and give them to each kid the morning of their actual birthday. Then that day we would do something special like a movie or a sleep over. We had one big party for all three kids again this year. 

Since Presley had been showing interest in reptiles, I was thinking of having a snake and reptile party with real snakes and reptiles, but it had been so super hot, I thought we really needed a water-centered activity. I decided on a beach theme since that has been what the kids really have loved about this summer. We rented a bounce house water slide and that took care of entertainment. 

Here are the invites I designed:

Josh wanted to keep it simple so for decor, I printed out a bunch of my favorite beach photos of the kids from this summer. I made a clothesline/bunting out of the pics and some scrapbook paper.It really had a nautical feel to it.

I had to make some birthday notes on my chalk boards of course.

Sadly, my iphone didn't do these scenes justice.The food and decor were really pretty.

Especially when it came to my sister's amazing cakes:

Noah requested chocolate, Presley got the frilly cake with a cherry chip center, and Charlie got the ombre cake with nutella and strawberries in the center! 

The grownups couldn't keep their hands off the cupcakes.

The bounce house was about 30 min. late. I was sweating bullets over that. Noah would have been mortified if I had to go to plan B, a sprinkler party!! The bounce house fit all age groups with a bball hoop inside and a waterslide out the front. I almost cried when I saw it arrive. Not even sure how many kids we had, but I know it was more than 20!!

We had a lot of excitement at the candle blowing! One of the little flags caught fire during the singing so Charlie blew it all out a little early. The faces kill me!

Another special treat was that Bob and Brittany Turley were in town visiting family. They brought their kids and it was so great to visit with them. Presley gave Ella the biggest squeeze when she saw her. She was ecstatic!

Check out the line for the cake! This gives you an idea of the amount of kids we had. I wish we could have had more. I hate having to leave anyone out. We had to draw the line somewhere, though. 

The cake tasted as good as it looked.

 The girls did a lot of chatting and giggling in the house. You wouldn't think there was a world of fun OUTSIDE. haha! There's Ella!!! 

 I have to say, the day was a hit. all the kids had fun and things worked out in the end. Our house was even finished enough for us not to have to explain what we plan to do with such and such space ever few minutes! Haha!

I have to give the kids props for working so hard to help us clean the house. I can totally rely on Presley to do a fab job with the vacuum. Noah is a master organizer and Charlie is quite the helper in the lawn care department. 

Next on the agenda: a baptism and a baby. I have the option to get induced any time after today. Not sure yet what to do....

35 Weeks

Presley helped me get this photo that I always wanted. I got the idea from Pinterest. I think we came pretty darn close.

Coronado Trip

We are were fortunate enough to get to go on a second summer trip to California. Josh had to do work in San Diego for four days and after quite a bit of traveling, really wanted the kids and I to come along. We needed to reconnect. the company Josh was working with put him up in a gorgeous Hotel called the Glorietta Bay Inn on Coronado Island. 

The trip was tricky because Josh had a flight booked for himself and plane fares were just too high for the rest of us. I was trying to recruit someone to come with me, but in the end, I drove the three kids by myself. It worked out well actually. We all got along great and the kids had plenty of room in the car to spread out. I had the radio keep me company while the kids slept and we made it there and back in one piece!!! Very very much worth the trip.

Look how cute these guys are walking down the main drag, Orange Ave. in Coronado. We were looking for dinner in one of the cute restaurants.

Being together made us all reconnect. the kids became best buddies again with each other. It felt like something we really needed.

While Josh worked in the day, the kids and I got to hang out with friends. It was so so fun!!

We even saw a celebrity on the Del Mar Beach! Drew Brees. I totally took a paprazzi pic!!

Oceanside Potraits

Here are some of our family portraits we took on our Oceanside trip. We had such a wonderful time. I'm glad we were able to capture it in photos.

Here is the whole group

 Then Josh's parents and siblings with their kids and spouses

 Then just us. 

Not the baby anymore

When you are about to have a new baby, it seems like most moms get a little sad that their current youngest won't be the baby anymore. I think when a child needs you a lot, you get this unique type of attachment to them. It's like you worry more when you are not with them because they rely on you more. I'm feeling that with little Charlie right now. Man does he ever test my boundaries, but he loves giving me hugs and definitely kisses!! He's so funny about those "smoosh your face kisses!" I know Charlie appreciates me reading to him every night. It is a treat he will just run and climb into bed for.

 I look back at the past year and how I worked to help support us when we moved to Utah. Then we were blessed with Josh's new job where I was able to quit my full time job and get to spend the days at home with Charlie. I'm so grateful for that blessing. Now my baby is growing up and having a sleepover with cousins. I can't wait to see him and Noah and Presley in the morning. I am lucky to be their mom!

Happy Father's Day to the AWESOME Dads in my life!!