.introducing.

Meg Caroline Hoffman

12/27/2012

6lb 1oz

18.5 in

8:54 PM

Thursday began like a normal day and we weren't expecting anything to change that.  I had been really tired the day before and had put off putting Christmas away and instead took a nice long nap with Finn, but Thursday I was determined to get everything down so I wouldn't have to worry about it.  After Christmas was taken down I had arranged to have Finn have his nap at my mom's while I went to my mid-wife appointment that afternoon.  On the way to my parents, the car decided that today was the day to break down.  Roy was called to come and figure out the car issue, while my mom let me take her car to the appointment.

I had had a thought that morning to just throw the bags in the car...you know...just in case, but of course I ended up not doing it.  
When I got to the birth center the mid-wife almost didn't check me, but I just felt better knowing where I stood even if I hadn't progressed at all.  I'm glad I had her check because I had dilated to a 5 and was 80% effaced (no 7 cm and 90% like I was with Finn).  I assumed she would just send me home, and let her cook a little longer, but she decided that with my history she wanted to call the mid-wife that would be on call for the night and talk about breaking my water.  I was surprised to hear that, and started getting anxious.  I was kind of hoping that she would let me go, what with the car breaking down, and hoping I could get a little further along before they broke my water.  But it was decided that with the storm coming in, and the fact that the mid-wife had a 45 min drive in, and that it was a full moon (apparently that causes women to go into labor too) that it was going to happen that night...a perfect storm as it were.  Poor Roy was in the middle of dropping the car off at the mechanic when he got the call to head up.  I sat in the waiting area shaking with adrenaline and anticipation trying to get my head in the zone for delivering baby girl that night.  

Roy got there about 45 minutes later with my parents (who totally saved the day with letting us use cars and arranging to take care of Finn), and sister Angie (who took all the great pictures for us), and then we got the show on the road.  

They broke my water at about 5:30, and I was anticipating a quick start just like Finn, but Meg had other plans.  She took her sweet time, and I actually had a harder mental fight thinking it was going to be a long night.

Just after they broke my water waiting for the action to start

Since Meg was still laying on her side we did a lot of ball kneeling at the beginning to see if we could help her get in the right position...it didn't work.  She stayed on her side until the last minute.

Roy texting everyone, and my mom timing contractions.

Moved to the bed for a change of position, and to try and rest thinking it could be a long night of nothing.

Still feeling really good apparently, because I'm still smiling.

The mid-wife came to check on my since my contractions weren't feeling all that strong and I was still a 6-7 after an hour and a half, and of course Meg was still being stubborn about lying on her side...I was starting to feel very down about how long it was taking.  The Mid-wife did a pretty aggressive sweep of the membranes, and that seemed to do the trick.  The contractions started coming on strong and long, and it wasn't long before I felt like I needed to get in the water to help cope with the pain.

I had only 2-3 strong contractions in the water before I felt the need to push.  I must have only pushed through 3 contractions because I only pushed for 6 minutes before she was here.  I say that like I just walked through the park, which is absolutely not the case.  I felt like I must have been thrashing around in that water just trying so hard to deal with that urge to push, but according to everyone else they didn't even know I was about to have a baby because I was so calm about it...so not the case in my head.  The actual thought that crossed my mind was "I'm going to die!

I was so relieved when they placed her on me, happy that it was over, happy that she was healthy, just HAPPY!
The birth center was a great experience if you are a natural kind of girl (which I'm still debating if I actually am).  Roy loved that he got to sleep in a bed and that he wasn't a second class citizen like at the hospital.  He also liked that we got to go home early and be in our own place after a brief recovery.

Little Meg is indeed little, but she is also as calm and content as a newborn can be.  She is a great nurser in the sense that she is not lazy like her brother.  It still hurts like the dickens starting out though, which is really my only complaint of pain.  Soo much better then with Finn.  I have only had to take a small amount of Advil more because of nursing soreness.  The idea of taking on 2 by myself is still overwhelming, but I'm ready to take it on.  We are now officially a family of four and we are so happy she is here...we are truly blessed!

.a little Christmas.

It was nearly as perfect as Christmas can get I think.  We had our Christmas Eve storm that blanketed our little part of the world in several inches of fresh snow, and left behind a bright and sunny Christmas day.  For a Utah girl, I don't think I could have planned it any better...a white Christmas is the best way to get me in the mood.  The only thing to dampen my Christmas mood was the lingering cold that I've been fighting for a few days.  Nothing like being 9 months pregnant and being sick I tell ya!
Christmas Eve, the boys and I ventured out to the stores to do some Christmas shopping just for me (Roy's idea, not mine).  We picked out my big gift this year...a bed set, and then made our way back as the storm was hitting.  That night we had all got together for soup and bread before the Sullivan nativity.  There is something so good about warm soup and bread, being inside with family, and watching the snow gently fall outside...just cozy!
The nativity was simple and wonderful.  Finn was supposed to be a Shepard, but didn't want anything to do with it. So instead he occupied himself with cooper the dog.

The cast of Nativity characters 

By far my favorite picture of the night.  Tom as Joseph is one happy papa!

Finn enjoying Cooper the dog far more then anything else.

The candles caught his attention too.

"hot" is what he kept saying

Sully as one happy angel

Christmas morning was spent playing with Finn's train set, that Roy scored for free by the way.  Finn could not be pulled from it, not even for his other gifts.

 He especially loves the magnetic crane!

After a minor fit we did get him distracted with some new bath crayons in the tub (I hope he'll forgive me for posting these pictures later).  I love his skinny little buns!
I have to say the best thing about this Christmas was just having my little family together.  Having Roy home with us and having him do all of the little things just to help out just made the time so enjoyable.  He also picked out some extremely nice gifts as his way of saying thanks for everything I do...what a guy (He's going to hate me for saying that), but it's true.  It was such a simple a relaxing Christmas, that I just wanted to keep it going, but today Christmas is back in it's boxes, and we are preparing ourselves for baby girl.  Our family is about to get a little bit bigger and merrier!

.37.

Like I said, we've been busy enjoying all things that the Holiday brings.  We got out and went sledding, ice skating (done more by Roy and son) in the snow storm last Saturday, and we got out to see the lights at Temple Square last night...along with a bonus train ride.  I'm tired and waddle more then is normal,  but I just want to spend all the time we can while it lasts with just the three of us because it's quickly coming to an end.  At my 36 week appointment I had the mid-wife check me and I was only dilated to 1cm.  I big relief in a sense because I want to get through Christmas first.  Today at 37 week I measured at 3cm and 50% effaced, so some progress but not too much...I can deal with that.  I also lost weight since last week (SURPRISE!)  I didn't know that was possible either, especially around the holidays.  I always gained or stayed the same with Finn's pregnancy, again I can deal with that.  Besides dilating, I feel tired most days (even as I write this I'm debating about doing the sink full of dishes), still have my ankles, and have been getting heartburn after eating way too much chocolate...'tis the season right?  Now we just wait!

.31 + 2.

Life has been slower then normal these last few days, which in some ways has been a blessing since I'm really not feeling myself.  I would try to describe it to you, but it wouldn't make much sense...so I'll just leave it at that.  Tuesday, however, was my 31st birthday so the day was spent in celebration.  Actually the festivities started the night before with a nice dinner with the Wards and Mikey (whom Finn can't get enough of).
Tuesday all my sisters and mom went to lunch for birthdays/baby shower.  My family are so wonderful and caring.  I told them I didn't want to have a second shower, mostly because I feel guilty for asking for more.  But they still brought gifts for baby M.  I love those women!!!

I think after lunch I took a bit of a nap (perfect gift to myself)!
That night Roy took me downtown for a surprise carriage ride and dinner.  It was a perfect evening that was just wintry enough to make the carriage ride cozy, but it wasn't bitter or stormy.  Plus we got to see all the lights without all the crowds...bonus!

 At dinner, they sat us down at the huge group booth.  Maybe they thought the 9 month pregnant women needed some extra room.

It was a great birthday spent with some of my favorite people!

.welcome december.

We have officially welcomed in December this week!  I love this time of year, even though it is full of so much that I barely have time to breath or think for that matter.  I decided that this week it was now or never on getting a tree and all the other decorations up.  My body has been feeling more tired then usual (I guess that's a side effect of changing food into a person), so I mustered up the small amount of motivation and hauled the boys out to pick out our tree.  We chose to place the tree strategically between the two couches as to make it less accessible to curious little boys, but we knew there was really nothing we could do to deter that Finn of ours.  He's already discovered the few ornaments that we left within reach for him, and went head first off the couch into the tree leaving a void in the boughs of the pine for all to see.

To say that he is stoked about the tree is an understatement!
Roy has been fighting a bug of some sort since Thursday, but we felt like we had dodged a bullet by Saturday.  But surprise, he woke up Sunday with a high fever and feeling downright miserable.  So I flew solo at church.  To sum it up...EXHAUSTING!  Wrangling a 22 month old alone, while giantly pregnant, will test your stamina, and not something I want to do again anytime soon.  Thankfully, by Monday morning Roy's fever had burned itself out, just in time for the monthly changing of the sheets!

Despite being tired, I have stepped up my exercise trying to summon all my extra energy my body can spare.  It does seem to have helped out this week, giving my days a little bonus of endorphins to get me through Finn's escapades of milk spitting, ornament breaking, and all around busy-ness.

(he was so proud to pose for this picture documenting his milk spitting...crazy kid)

My nesting is tapering off, but sneaking in under the radar...

little hats for little girl...who am I?

.the case of the missing duck.

Finn's cuddle blanket of choice is a soft yellow duck that looks something like this-

It's his go to for instant comfort and is a never fail for falling asleep.  We started with one, but after a sick episode we realized how valuable a second would be in cases where the original had to be cleaned.  Unfortunately, Finn can distinguish between the original and it's replacement, but we have never had a problem with the first ducky.  That is until this past Thursday.  I was watching our neighbor friend for the day so to say I was more distracted then usual would be an understatement.  Ducky was last seen on the couch and has since been spirited away to some secret corner of our small house.  Roy and I have implemented search after search in hopes of finding where an active toddler would have deposited it, but have come up empty handed.  Every night since, as we fight through the crying of a toddler without his security blanket, I keep thinking, "we live in such a small space, it's got to be around here."  Roy has determined, after a 5:30 wake up call, that today he was making a last ditch effort to find ducky.  For all our sakes I hope he finds him!

.i promised myself.

I promised myself I would take time this Thanksgiving and take some actual photos.  Not just the, I have my ipod I'll take an instagram shot, that I seem to be taking more and more of.  I planned to try and capture some of the magic of the holiday, but alas, when it comes to reality, life sometimes has other plans for you.  I dealt a sick toddler most of the day Thursday, so the few photos I did get were...yes from my ipod...and not really good I might add.  Oh well, I'm glad at this point that I got those.
The day before Finn got sick he enjoyed a little exploration time in the cupboards.  Every time I think this kid has figured it all out, he surprises me with something new.

 Thursday morning Finn was still relatively happy so we made some hand and feet turkeys.  I wanted a craft to remember his cute little hands and feet, and found this simple one (if you can call tracing a squirming 22 month old's hand simple).

 ...still happy

But as the day wore on, Finn wore out.  We all gathered at my sisters house to enjoy the festivities, but as you can see, Roy and I spent most of the time holding Finn and watching Curious George...good times!

I captured a few of the highlights, like dropping our "discontented" pumpkin off the balcony.

 And my masterpiece of a key lime pie.

Of course we stuffed ourselves beyond guilt, and had to record that my brother (even after eating more then three people combined), had abs as flat as a pancake.  It was only too funny to compare with the 33 week pregnant lady!

Even though we were preoccupied by dealing with sick-o Finn, we had a really lovely time with my family, and had some time to reflect on all that we are grateful for.

In other more recent news-
It took a few days, but Finn has gotten through the worst of his cold, only to come out the other side a miserable ornery cuss!  I might be feeling more this way because I just don't have the energy to deal with his tirades, but he is definitely going through an awful stage right now.  Very whiney, clingy, busy, naughty, destructive, and EXHAUSTING!  I tell him all the time, "I love ya kid, but you're driving my nuts right now."  Keeping my fingers crossed that he gets some of this out of his system before baby girl gets here.
Speaking of baby, a friend of ours gave us a few newborn diapers she had found.  As I was putting them away, I couldn't help but marvel at how tiny they were.  I just held one and stared at it for awhile trying to fathom how little those babies actually are (which is weird that you can even forget)...I can't lie, it made me a little bit excited to hold baby M.  As of right now she is posterior so the mid-wife gave me some exercises to do to help her turn over.  She is so active though, that I doubt she'll stay in one position until the very end...so that gives us some time to get her turned the right way.

.like coffee, but without the coffee.

Ughhh, I take it all back, everything I said in that last post about the third trimester agreeing with me.  All of a sudden, I feel like my body is full of caffeine because I'm jittery and restless, particularly at night when I want to sleep.  My brain is literally shutting down for the night, and my body can't be still.  You can imagine this makes for very long and sleepless nights.  Add onto that the sciatic nerve pain that is continually making me limp around like a gimp, and I can say that if there are many more days ahead like this, then I'm ready for little girl to come in any degree of pain just to be done.  I think I remember this being easier the first time around.

.getting there.

We're into the single digit with weeks left remaining, and I'm excited and nervous all mixed up in one.  I can't wait to be able to move without hurting, I can't wait to have the anxiety of labor over with, and I can't wait to meet baby girl.  But I'm nervous for all the changes that having another baby in the house is going to bring, and I'm nervous about how the labor will be, and when it will be here (anytime after Christmas and before the 15th works for me).  Overall I don't usually have time to think about it too much, except when I should be sleeping.  I'm able to stay active and busy with Finn and try enjoy these last few weeks of just him and me.
This last trimester has been good to me overall.  I've even been able to sleep better these past few weeks, and I cannot tell you what a relief that has been!  Last night I began feeling more cramping contractions along with my braxton hicks until about 2:30 in the morning.  I almost called the mid-wife for fear of what my body might be trying to do, but they eased off and I haven't felt them at all today.  Hopefully it was just my body prepping and doing it's thing.  You would think having gone through this before there would be less uncertainty, but in some ways I feel more.  I guess all the unknowns will be answered in the very near future, but I'm hoping we can make it through the Holidays without any surprises.

.a little bit of everything.

I've been less then diligent about keeping up with this blog the past few weeks.  It seems that every time I have an idea or something new to share, I put it off until the moment has passed and I no longer feel inclined to blog.  Life is feeling a bit in limbo right now (as I remember it did right before Finn was born), mostly because you are aware the rhythm of life that you have been used to is about to change forever, and you're not sure if your ready for that change.  I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else but me, but that's how I've been feeling and I guess I'm just trying to take it all in before it changes. In the mean time here are just some of the randomness floating around la vista dr recently.

Brushing a toddlers teeth can be quite literally, "like pulling teeth"!  Today, while getting him in the car, I noticed how awfully disgusting Finn's teeth were.  We brush everyday, but it's quite difficult to wrestle with an almost 2 year old who for some reason decided that recently he hates getting his teeth brushed.  When we got home this afternoon I plopped Finn into the medicine hold and scrubbed those white nubs down good and thorough.  Finn, of course screamed through the whole ordeal, but at least I can rest assured that they are clean.  If there are any secrets to successful teeth brushing that I don't know about please feel free to share them with me.

Making weekly menus can be some of the most tedious work.  Does anyone else feel like they cycle through the same 10 go to meals?  Especially at this point in my pregnancy, I just don't feel like branching out and trying something new that will require me to do more work (i.e. look up a recipe).  Roy is no help in this matter when asked what he wants for dinner he reply's, "food"...absolutely useless!

I'm sad that all that good snow we got last week is melting away.  Finn, like his daddy, is not a fan of the cold.  He is curious about all the white stuff on the trees and ground and wants to step in it and touch it, but as soon as it touches his bare skin, he starts shaking his hand and saying cold in his whiny voice.  I guess I'm all alone in this family as a fan of winter for right now.

I keep getting asked when baby M is going to arrive,  all I can say is her due date is anywhere between the 8th and the 18th (10 day grace period).  I keep hoping for a 38 week arrival like Finn, but I can't help but think she might come on Finn's birthday...and I really don't want that.  It's out of my control, but I'm really hoping she doesn't come on the 15th.

The last couple of weeks I've been feeling "stuck" again...trying to change and wanting to change, but not seeing any momentum change in my life.  However, I'm realizing that I'm needing a lot of patience in this matter.  I'm needing greater faith in the Lord's timing and path for us.  Even this week we have been greatly blessed with daily miracles that let me know that the Lord is intimately aware of us and our needs.  All I can do is keep trying and know that his blessings our ever present in our life, instead of wishing for instant change and gratification.

I had more thoughts, but as I've been writing they seemed to have slipped into the dark corners of my memory, where a lot of things go lately.  I'll be catching up to speed with baby at the end of this week so I won't be gone too long.

.october wrap-up.

My goodness, can it really be the second of November already?  I think we lived up our October sufficiently with the sorts of activities fall is perfect for.  This wrap up is brought to you by instagram > @suboka12 (it seems to be the easiest way for me to take pictures and keep track of all the good times we have).

We rode trax down to Gardner Village and saw the Witches.  Even though we could have driven easier and cheaper then riding, it was out of the question because Finn is in L.O.V.E with the train.  Finn especially loved all the pumpkins and insisted on touching all of them.

 The Olympic Oval had a Halloween carnival so we decided to give Finn a dry run on the whole trick-or-treating concept and then took a few laps around the ice.  I took it very slow and pushed Finn in the stroller to give me some more support, but I can definitely feel how my hips and joints are super loose now being 6 months along. 

We enjoyed a few days of cooler weather, and had our first snow of the season.  We spent the day cozied up inside playing and reading.

A few days before Halloween we carved (and drilled) our pumpkins.  Finn seemed to really dig the idea of pumpkins, and would wake up every morning and find the pumpkins out on the porch.

The weather warmed up the week of Halloween so we took advantage and took some walks to play in the leaves.

 Finn especially loved throwing them up in the air.  I discovered on this walk how incredibly "BUSY" he has become.  I turned around to put the phone back in the stroller, and turned back to find Finn attempting to get himself down into the canal (thankfully no longer full of water).  I screamed and ran getting his attention, which successfully stopped him in his tracks but had him in tears because I was yelling.  I grabbed him and hugged him saying I was sorry, but explained how dangerous it was he was trying to do.  Needless to say, I'm keeping an even closer eye on this kid of late.

 We had our annual Sullivan Halloween party filled with good food, games, hay ride, treasure hunt, bon fire, and spooky movie.  Finn and Kay are stoked for the hay ride!

Like I said before...this kid has become very busy lately so it's hard to get a picture of him being still.  I got a picture of his dragon tail...it was my favorite part of his costume that and it only cost $5 to make.

Trick-or-treating was a test of endurance for Roy and I.  Finn understood what was going on, but like I said "BUSY". He wanted to get into everything, go into every one's house, eat all the candy with the wrapper on, and grab all the pumpkins of course.  We had a good time, but we called it a night by 6:30.  We came home and had homemade soup and bread, and afterwards Roy went to work fixing a toy for Finn.  Finn cannot resist a chance to work with dads tools!  We both loved how he climbed up onto the table and got on his belly to have a better angle in which to help dad...to cute!

Finally we welcomed in November with a sick day (a mom sick day=a day in pajamas for Finn as well).  We spent the whole day watching Curious George and recouping.  Not the ideal day, but as my sister said, every kid needs a good TV day every once in awhile, but we aren't going to make a habit of it.