4 years old!

August 25th, Connor turned 4 years old. Wow where has the time gone. I can't believe he is already 4 years old. He's grown up so much in the last year.

Pictures from his birthday party.

On his actual birthday I took Connor and Bella to Fawn Doe Rosa. Connor absolutly loved it. We went through the park twice because he had so much fun and didn't want to leave. He especially loved trying to feed the bunnies and the geese.

He had no problem letting the does eat from his hand, but this was all the closer he wanted to get to the buck, and then he just threw the food in front of him.

So Sweet!

What a handsome little man!

Later that day we went to New Richmond to visit my parents and we saw the ice cream truck in the neighborhood. (The cutest thing, they have an ice cream truck that drives through the neighborhoods, plays music, and stops when the kids come running for some ice cream.) Connor got a watermelon bomb pop and it was the biggest popsicle I've ever seen. In the picture he had already eaten some of it.

Connor's Moves

So Connor loves to dance and move to any music you play. Ever since he was a baby he's always been able to move to the beat, and usually be in sinc with it. He also loves to show off his new dance moves and is always coming up with new moves. When Bella was born my friends came over and he was showing off his moves and they caught them on video. They are posted on their youtube site. So if you go to the following link, you will find 4 different videos of Connors moves. They are pretty funny.

www.youtube.com/leschijw

Thank you to all of Bella's visitors

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that came to visit Bella and the family in the last few weeks.

Grandma Nay

Grandpa BOB

Auntie Hailey

Auntie Ashley

Grandpa Greg

Grandma Sandy

Grandpa Jed

Auntie Sarah

Uncle Dane

Aunt Shell

Grandma Alice

The Meyers (Bob, Carey, Jaylee, and Jovie)

Kelly, Ella, and Lindsay

Terri, Alexis and Laura

My apologies to Theresa, Holly, Lindsey, and the McKibbens (Alisha, Paige and Tammy) I never got a picture of you with Bella, but I still want to thank you for visiting!

Bella Mae Brown

Bella Mae Brown

Born July 23rd, 2009

at 12:57 a.m.

weighing 7 pounds 3.5 ounces

measuring 19 1/4 inches long

(if you want to read the labor story, it follows all the pictures)

Sadly, the next 2 pictures are the only pictures of Ben and Bella and Bella and me at the hospital. Actually, I think it still is the only pictures that we both have with her. We forgot to take pictures of the 3 of us, and the 4 of us. Guess we should get working on that before she is any bigger:)

(and yes I am nursing her in this picture, but it's the only one I have of the 2 of us, so I posted it anyway)

Big brother Connor!

Daddy's and their girls

First few minutes at our house.

And for those of you interested.....The Labor Story!

Early Wednesday morning (2 a.m. early) I woke up with contractions and couldn't get back to sleep. I didn't think too much of it as I had been having contractions since I was 19 weeks preggo. Anyways, as I was laying on the couch they started to get stronger, something new. I started timing them, and they were pretty sporadic so I just kept it to myself. I didn't want to keep Ben home from work and then not end up having a baby. So when Ben got up for work, I just told him I was having contractions, like the many other nights I couldn't sleep. I also had a lot planned for the day and kept telling myself I was going to accomplish those things. So at about 8:00, Cory Thompson showed up to drop off his son Trenton. I knew I was going to be watching him for the day. However, I did tell Cory to keep his phone on him because I had a feeling "today might be THE DAY." We had breakfast and then we loaded up in the van and headed to Stillwater. I needed to get some shopping done before the baby and I also wanted to give Connor a special day at Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater before the baby came. So we went and did some shopping, and yes I was still having some pretty strong contractions. I'd be pushing the cart in Target and have to stop every so often for the contraction to pass, but I still didn't think that much of it because there was no pattern to them. We went and had lunch at Culver's, and as I was sitting there, that's when they started to get a little stronger. But I was still determined to take Connor to the park. We headed for Teddy Bear Park and as we drove by I think everybody who lives in Stillwater must have had the day off and went to Teddy Bear Park because I couldn't even see in the park there were so many people. Needless to say, I wasn't up for tackling that battle. I told the little man that we would stop at the park in Somerset instead. We stayed at the park for about 30 minutes but it was about 90 degrees outside and I was starting to have a hard time walking so it was time to get home for naptime.

I put the boys down for a nap, and did some cleaning and started to pack my bags for the hospital, finally. Ben came home from work around 4 and we all went outside and played bean bags. Kristin came to pick up Trenton around 5, and we went in to make supper (BLT's my favorite) Once the Blt's were eatin, everything changed. I think she was waiting for me to finish my list of things for the day. The contractions started hurting and were coming every 7-8 minutes. I decided I better take a shower (and shave my legs because I didn't want anyone to have to hold up my legs that hadn't been shaved in the last 9 months:) and finish packing my bags. I told Ben he better shower and pack too, but I don't think he quite took me seriously yet. Especially since I come to find out later that he was on facebook chatting and changing his status as I was upstairs in pain. I still wasn't quite convinced that it was "the time" yet so I took a walk down the to the end of the driveway and back. Halfway through I had to stop and wanted so badly to lay down because the contraction hurt so bad, but since the driveway is gravel, it wasn't that appealing. But I think this is when I knew it was time. I told Ben and he started going crazy. He was doing the dishes and texting everyone he knew and asking me a million questions. Who do I call, what do I say, when should we go, what are we doing with Connor, etc....As he was pacing the living room, I went and tried to install the carseat between contractions, and finally I told him, let's go.....

We got to the hospital around 7:30pm. On the way there I jokingly told Ben to call ahead to tell them to have the anestesiologist (sp?) ready for my epidural, well he got out the phone to call, but I stopped him as I didn't even know if it was real labor or not. So anyways we get there, and the doctor comes in (and remember my doctor is on vacation, as well as Ben's mom) so I get however is on call which at the time sucks to me. But anyways, he checks me and tells me I am 7-8 cm already. My mouth dropped, and then I realize we are here to stay. They ask me if I want the epidural and I said yes and they went to call the drug man. Then they came back and asked me if I was sure since I was already so far along, by the time he got there (30 mins.) it could be too late. At the time I was in no pain at all. The contractions had faded and it didn't hurt, so I told them that I didn't want it at the moment. But Ben was in my ear telling me to get it now (I think he was afraid of what I would do to him or say to him if I didn't have the drugs). But I stuck with it and said no for the moment. I got up and walked around to try to get things going again, I bounced on the ball, and tried all kinds of things and when they checked me 2 hours later, still pretty much the same. The doc said he was going to start pitocin if things didn't pick up soon, so we got up and did some more walking which finally did the trick. The contractions were back as well as the pain. And I started telling myself, why did I say no to the drugs before? But I kept on going. He checked me again and I was 9 cm and my water still hadn't broke so he did that for me. Here is a picture of Ben and I when I was 9 cm dilated right after he broke my water. Still not too much pain.

Not much longer and the true pain of labor started. I had only one cm left to go but it wasn't budging and all I wanted to do was to push her out and have it be done. But they wouldn't let me push until the last lip was out of the way. So I had to keep moving positions until I finally said, I'm pushing and I can't stop. It's funny how your body just knows when it is time and there is nothing much you can do to stop it. Even when the doctor says not to push because he isn't ready. Well sorry doc but when the baby is ready to come out, she's coming and don't you dare tell me to stop because it is virtually impossible. I won't go into the pain of pushing because there is absolutly nothing you can compare it to. But after about 20 mins of pushing she just popped out and I was so thankful it didn't take almost 4 hours like it did with Connor. She was so beautiful and perfect and I couldn't take my eyes off her. Except to yell at the doctor while he was stitching me up because I could feel the needle go in everytime. But she was here and I just couldn't believe it, I still don't somedays, it is such a miracle.

Everyone now asks what I will do next time we have a baby. Drugs or no drugs. There are so many pros and cons to each. I would love to be able to say that I would do it drug free again, but I think you just have to take it as it comes. This time everything went so much quicker, she popped right out and my recovery was amazingly faster. But the pain that I was in for those last few hours was excrutiating. Whereas with Connor, it took forever to get him out, but I wasn't in near as much pain. So I think next time, we'll play it by ear. But it truly is an empowering thing, knowing that you gave birth naturally. I never thought I would say I did it. And it is even better knowing how proud of me Ben is. Everyone he sees, the first thing he tells them is that I did it without drugs, and it just makes me smile, knowing he is so proud of me!

Baby Update

Just got back from my dr. apt. I have progressed to 3-4 cm dilated, 70% effaced and the dr. said the head is low, very low. I'm just trying to keep my legs crossed until next Tuesday. Jed and Sandy are up on Lake Superior with no cell service until Friday night, and my dr. is on vacation until next Tuesday. We'll see if she cooperates with that plan:)

Connor is very patiently awaiting the arrival of his little sister. Every day he asks me if she is coming out yet. I think he thought we were going to the dr. today so that she could come out, and when we left the clinic without her out, he was a little disappointed. He is so excited it melts my heart everyday. He loves to snuggle up to me and just rub my belly and sing songs to her (that he makes up). His eyes light up everytime she kicks him. He was also very excited the other day when he watched my stomach twitch every couple seconds because she had the hiccups. He is going to be the best big brother, he is the perfect age now where he understands what's going on and can be excited about it. I can't wait to see his reaction the first time he gets to meet her!

Have a great day and I'll keep you updated on any news.

Family Photos

Well, I finally decided it was about time we had some family pictures taken. Ask my mom, she'll tell you I'm a little late in that department. Connor is now almost 4 years old, and the only real pictures we've ever had taken of the three of us together were at our wedding. So the other week, I enlisted the photography expertise of our friend Missy Luchsinger, and her take some pictures of us by the river in Star Prairie. Missy also did our fabulous wedding pictures, so I knew she would do a great job once again. And she sure did. They turned out amazing, I wish we would have done it sooner. But now we'll just have to have her take pictures more often. If you would like to check out the pictures you should be able to by going to this site....

http://www.pictage.com/682187

And if you would like more information about Missy's Awesome Photography business you can visit her website at http://artgirlphoto.com/

BABY UPDATE
As far as baby news goes. I had my 36 week apt last week. I've been having contractions every 5 minutes periodically throughout the day so my dr thought it would be a good idea to check and see if I was dilated at all. It turns out I'm dilated 2cm, which is a good start. But my dr will be on vacation starting tomorrow and won't be back until the 27th. So as much as I would love to have this baby now, I would really like for my dr to be there, so it would be good to hold out until after the 27th. But there is no controlling mother nature, so we'll just have to take it when it comes:)

Camping on the St. Croix

The last weekend in June we had our 2nd annual camping trip with the Mattmiller's. This year we ended up on the St. Croix River just north of St. Croix Falls. We got lucky and got a great campsite on the river, and the boys made it even better with their "BENgineering." Creating all kinds of things that were sure to be needed during the weekend.

The Mattmillers (Terri, Brian, Laura, and Alexis)

Connor and Daddy at the campfire

Family Photo

Connor and his friend Alexis

At about 3:30 am Saturday morning, a storm decided to make it's way through our campsite lasting until 10:00 am. This makes for some boring times while camping. However, if you were to ask Connor what his favorite part of camping is, he would tell you it's playing in the rain and mudpuddles with his trucks. He was mad when the rain stopped and his puddles dried up.

Cooking pancakes under the "BENgineered" tarp (that really did come in handy).

Family Breakfast

The little man's second favorite part of camping, getting to eat s'mores! He likes to stick his marshmallow right into the fire and light it up, just like his momma!

Here's a belly shot for you.

The men (and Alexis) washing the dishes in the river.

"BENgineering" once again. Ben made a rope swing for the kids to swing on, and it was a big hit. Connor didn't want to get off of it. The only bad part is that he couldn't get it to swing by himself, so all day long he was asking us to push him.

After many attempts at catching fish during the weekend, they finally landed one Sunday afternoon.

Connor in the tree.

Brown Family in the tree!

Sunday afternoon Connor and I stayed at the campsite while Ben took the Mattmillers and all there camping gear back to the landing. Connor was so tired he fell asleep watching the boats go by, waiting for his dad.