Fantastic Four

 Yesterday Cameron turned four.  I find it hard to believe that he has only been in our family for four short years.  But what a great four years they've been.

Unfortunately for Cameron, I had a baby four weeks ago and a birthday part was just about the last thing on my list of priorities at the moment.  Right above showering daily.  (Furgetaboutit.)

 Usually I do a fun little birthday post, but again, baby 4 weeks ago.

So, here are the 4 things I want Cameron to remember about his 4th Birthday.

 #1: For your "party", we took you and your best friends (Olivia, Abby, and Grace) to Chuck-E-Cheese's.  It was the best I could do.  And the best idea I've ever had.  You were one happy little four year old dude. 

Holy. Success.

 #2: For your birthday weekend, we celebrated with a BYU football game at Grandma and Grandpa Great's house, then a trip to Seal Beach where you almost got swept out to sea while I was nursing your sister, then a visit to Grandma and Grandpa Campbell's, and then a BYU women's soccer game.

Par-tay.

 #3: I want you to remember, most of all, that you were surrounded by love on your 4th birthday.  Your sweet Grandma Campbell wanted so badly to get you a present that she walked by herself from her Care Center to Rite Aid to pick out a superhero puzzle and a little stuffed dog.  (Which you named Captain America and you sleep with every night.)

 #4: At church, I sent your dad a text about how I felt so bad that it was your birthday and I had to be at church for 5 hours, I didn't have a cake for you, and I hadn't had time to do a single thing to celebrate you on your birthday.  When we walked in the door from church, we discovered that Dad had gotten home early from a weekend trip, cleaned the whole house (it was baaaaad), decorated, bought you some presents, and set up a hidden camera to record your reaction.  (Which was absolutely priceless.)

You, my dear, are one lucky, loved, little four year old.

Happy Birthday.

3 Weeks

It's been 3 weeks and it simultaneously feels like she's been here forever and she was born just yesterday.

We cannot get enough of this little Bailey Jane.

One Week of Baby Bailey

Day 0 and she: delivered like a boss + has a mullet of dark long hair +  wins every staring contest + hasn't been put down once + is more loved and adored than she will ever begin to know.

Day 1 and she: is the calmest baby ever + has her daddy wrapped around her teeny finger + is surprisingly alert + broke her brother's heart by being a girl.

Day 2 and she: has a hairy monkey back that I can't get enough of + sleeps for 4 hours at a time + has serious elf ears + looks like a little baby bird when we "finger feed" her.

Day 3 and she: slayed her first doctor's appointment + got called a boy twice + does a scrunched-up arched back thing when you pick her up + only likes it when her dad swaddles her.

Day 4 and she: doesn't fit any of her clothes + is so unbelievably patient when she wakes up in the middle of the night + has a pouty lip that kills us all dead + is constantly fought-over for everything she needs.

Day 5 and she: has already pooped on my hand + makes the BEST faces + is everyone's favorite toy + survived an outing to the library + seriously NEVER cries + cracks Cameron up when she "eats my body."

Day 6 and she: loves when I sing Taylor Swift songs + makes the most concerned-looking face when she poops + got her first sponge bath (didn't love it) + and smiled at me.  On purpose.

Day 7 and she: grunts like a pig when she wants to eat + likes staring at the ceiling lights + does a big lip smack every time she finishes a bottle + smiles in her sleep + is absolutely perfect in every single way.

Introducing Bailey Jane

Our sweet Bailey Jane made her way into the world on Monday, August 31st at 1:52pm weighing 6lbs. and 5oz. and we are absolutely ENCHANTED.

After a rough few nights of sleep (or lack thereof), I went in for my scheduled induction at 7am.  Luke was already in the hospital and just finishing up a fun little 24 hour shift (in which he also got very little sleep).

After a short wait, a Pitocin drip, an epidural from a close friend, a much-needed nap, a foot massage from the world's sweetest nurse, and about half of a push, our little Bailey came calmly and smoothly into the world. 

Luke excitedly announced that she was a girl, and for the first time ever, I cried when I got to hold her.  (I have always found it so strange that I've never cried when my children are born!  I cry during beer commercials, on the Cars Ride at Disneyland, and at every one of those videos of soldiers surprising their kids.  But not when my own kids are born.  What is wrong with me?!?)  She was so calm and content, but she was determined to look at us that she was holding her own head up and looking at everything and everyone.  She's going to be a curious little girl.  

I can already tell.

The kids got to come see her that afternoon.  When they first walked in, Cameron got so excited because he thought she was a boy.  He was a little heart-broken to find out the truth (but the girls, of course, were thrilled).  He told me later that he was so glad that I have another baby boy in my tummy.  Oh, dear.

The poor kid.

Although, he did get a pirate sword "from his little sister", so he forgave her pretty quickly and promised that he'll let her play with it whenever she wants to.  

(That's the ultimate sign of a little brother's love.)

 Bailey is the most patient baby ever.

She is absolutely alert when she's awake, but also totally calm and subdued.  She's an eye-contact champion and the sweetest little thing.

 

 She's got us all eating out of her palm and we think everything she does and every move she makes is the best thing in the world.

 Welcome to the world, Bailey Jane.

We're glad you're here.