The first few weeks

It's been a good few weeks at home so far. Marc took two weeks off and my parents flew out the week after she was born and stayed for a week. I've only been by myself with the two of them three days so far. We haven't done much and I can tell Caiden gets really bored...frankly I'm bored too. I'll get the hang of it soon though and take them out.

This was our second or third day home from the hospital...we were right back into the thick of things. Caiden crawling up the banister while Grace sleeps on the landing in the background. 

Caiden has been a real trooper since we brought Grace home. All he ever wants to do is rub her head or give her a kiss. He's being really sweet with her and there doesn't seem to be many signs of jealousy!

I couldn't resist posting this one. They both look miserable...but Caiden was actually trying to smile, he really loves her so much. She on the other hand may not have been happy.

Aunt Sara brought Caiden a drum set...sweet, huh?!?!  NOT

My Dad built us a planter box for some herbs while he was here. 

It's amazing that this little human was inside my belly curled up almost exactly like this.

I have to admit I'm bummed I don't get more moments like this with her. I feel like with Caiden I was always letting him fall asleep on me but now that Caiden needs attention too she spends a lot of time in the swing. 

This was our first walk yesterday (by myself) -across the street to get coffee and a few groceries. It was a success for the first 40 minutes, then half way through the grocery store Grace started freaking out...I ended up having to pick her up and carry her half way through the store, then she cried in the stroller for the remainder of the walk home. It was only mildly stressful :/ and I wasn't sweating at all when we got home ;)

We also gave her her first bath yesterday. The stump of her umbilical cord fell off earlier in the week so it was time. She loved the water, it's almost like she had a smile on her face when she was in there.

Caiden's 2-year check-up & Grace's 1-week

We had Caiden's 2 year check-up and Grace's 1-week weight check yesterday. A bit late for Caiden since he turned two a month ago -but they cancelled my original appointment because his Dr. was taking a vaca and this was the soonest they could get us in. Caiden did great as always...he doesn't make a peep when the Dr. checks him and just stares at him like, 'what are you doing?'. He didn't have to get any shots -and won't until he's five or so. 

They weighed him at 27 lbs. 9 oz. (42nd percentile), 34.7 inches long (61st percentile) and his head is in the 70th percentile. We will go back when he is three years old.

Grace was back up to her birth weight of 7 pounds, 8 ounces so that was a relief. We will go back when she is one month old!

Grace's birth story

On Saturday, August 9, we had some friends from LA coming down to visit and stay with us for the night. We planned on a babysitter and a night out. I was four days away from my due date and was convinced throughout this entire pregnancy that I would probably not give birth until my due date or shortly after -since I went eight days late with Caiden.

On Saturday I was getting a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions. I didn't have many during this pregnancy so I was surprised at how many I was getting. Around 8pm when the babysitter arrived I noticed the Braxton Hicks turning into something different...no longer just a hard belly but a little "umph" behind it. The car ride to dinner I had a couple more -they were coming about every 20-25 minutes. About half way through dinner I leaned over to Marc and mentioned that my contractions were starting, I guess everyone at the table heard because they all looked at me with wide eyes and started asking lots of questions. None of them have kids so the conversation got pretty interesting. Mike thought we were going to be rushing to the hospital after dinner, the other couple, who we had just met that night, were very curious and asking lots of questions about pregnancy and child birth. I assured them all that these contractions were nothing major and just the start of what could possibly be a long couple days of early labor (even though I was hoping it would go way faster than it did with Caiden and we really would be at the hospital in a few hours).

Half way through dinner, around 9:30pm, I also texted my sister and gave her the heads up so she could start thinking about coming down from LA to watch Caiden. We decided that she could wait until Sunday morning since Mike and Brita were staying at our house tonight. If I did happen to progress quickly they offered to take care of him until Sara arrived in the morning.

When we got home from dinner I did my last belly photo -possibly forever :/

39 weeks, 3 days

Saturday night wasn't too bad. My contractions were all over the place, sometimes I'd have four in an hour and sometimes I'd have one. I think I was able to get some sleep here and there between them because they weren't too painful at this point -maybe an hour or two total. On Sunday morning we all woke up and went to breakfast. My sister showed up around 6:30am as well. They slowed down quite a bit when I was up walking and doing stuff. I remember at breakfast having a couple and Mike and Brita just looking at me and shaking their heads in disbelief that I was really having contractions and just hanging around going to breakfast. I had to assure them again that my early labor with Caiden lasted a few days and it seems to be heading in that direction this time around as well.

After a late breakfast we did one last group photo and Mike and Brita headed back home to LA.

After Caiden's nap we decided we'd go to Costco. Marc wanted to get his two sense in getting some frozen food and stocking up on other stuff for the next few weeks since it looked like it would be "GO" time at any moment. I remember being at Costco and not having one single contraction. I remember thinking how long it was taking for things to progress and wondering if I'd really be having a baby in the next few days.

Sunday night we had dinner at home and all went to bed. Overnight things definitely got "real". The contractions full on started and all night long I was up and down out of bed, bouncing on the yoga ball and breathing very heavy through each one. I was keeping track of them on an iphone app and they were pretty steady for a good three or four hours at 6-7 minutes apart and one minute long. Around 5am I took a bath, it was something I wanted to do with Caiden but never really gave it a good chance. This time I got the tub nice and full and it was amazing the changes it made. They didn't seem to last as long and they weren't as intense. I wasn't sure in the moment if it was the water doing it or if my contractions were starting to slow down again. I got out about 40 minutes later and they were back at it. I was really thinking we should be leaving for the hospital soon but Marc wasn't convinced yet. Around 6:30 Caiden woke up and my sis fed him breakfast. I remember my sister seeing me and saying, "Uh, I think you guys should leave!". --Sorry Marc, no breakfast for you...I was definitely ready. Let's GO!

The 20 minute car ride to the hospital was not fun. I think I had three or four contractions in the car and another two walking from the parking garage to the hospital. The walk was brutal. I remember Marc having to re-park the car between the lines and me leaning against a wall thinking I was going to fall over.

At 7:30am we arrived and they checked me --EIGHT centimeters! I was so proud of myself, I thought I was at a four or five. Marc and I just looked at each other and started crying. Marc said, "We're going to have a baby!"

They wasted no time taking me from Triage to a Labor and Delivery room. They asked if I wanted an epidural and I said yes but a couple of the nurses tried convincing me I could do it and that I was already so far along. I was sure! I wasn't interested in feeling the actual baby come out...if it was anything like Caiden I was already going to feel it even with the epidural and it was painful. I had already been in pain for a couple days and was ready for a break.

Dr. Riley came and checked me at 8:45am and asked if I was ready to break the water and get the pushing started. I thought I'd be pushing for a few hours like with Caiden so I said I wanted to wait an hour or two and rest and get a little strength back while I had the epidural. He said he'd come back around 10am after he went to the office to cancel his next few appointments for the day. Marc and I rested until 10:30am when Dr. Riley came back in and said he could see my bag of water and it was time to get it started.

He broke my bag of water, I pushed six times...AND SHE WAS OUT at 10:57am! Once her head was out Dr. Riley let me pull the rest of her out and lay her on my chest! She was just perfect!

Dr. Riley

I couldn't believe how fast the end happened. The early labor was just like Caiden but the end was so much easier...probably because she was only 7 pounds, 8 ounces. We only stayed in the hospital for one night and left on Tuesday afternoon.

We have been home now for a week and have a pretty good system going. Caiden is being awesome and always asks where Baby Sister is if she's upstairs sleeping. If Marc could just stay home from work for the next few months while she's still eating and getting up every few hours in the middle of the night to feed it would be nice -but he can't. So we'll see how I'm doing next week when reality hits and I've got a newborn and a toddler to care for all by myself ;)

Grace Rylee Mashhoun

Grace Rylee Mashhoun
Born on August 11, 2014 at 10:57am
7 pounds, 8 ounces and 18.5 inches long

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Baby Girl Ultrasound

Since we didn't do any late trimester ultrasounds with Caiden we wanted to do one this time around to see if we could get any good shots of her. Well, we didn't...lol, but it was still fun to go. She was so smooshed in there that the tech wasn't able to see very much. The placenta was right against her face and she was practically eating it so it was hard to get any pics where she wasn't a blob. He could tell her head was really, really low -which I already knew just from the pressure I feel, especially at the end of the day.

The tech weighed her at 7 pounds 9 ounces...but said this could be plus or minus a pound -so I feel like it's not a great indication of what she'll end up at. They measure three things to get this weight -the head, abdomen and one femur bone. Since she is still going to cook for another couple of weeks I'm probably looking at an eight and half pounder?  But who knows. 

He also didn't see much hair, just some little sprouts so it will be interesting to see if that is accurate considering Caiden had a pretty good amount of dark hair.

She has slowed down A LOT in the past three days. I'm pretty sure she's resting up to make sure she can keep us up for days on end here very soon. I haven't had any contractions, and only a couple of Braxton Hicks contractions weeks ago so I'm sure I've still got a few weeks before she makes her debut.

Caiden's birthday party

Well, okay...so we didn't have a party per se, but he was spoiled all day long. Aunt Sara and Dustin came down, he ate so many cookies, we sang "Happy Birthday" a dozen times, he opened so many presents, and we went to the beach after his nap. I would love to have a birthday like that!

He woke up in the morning to Sara and Dustin who arrived the night before. He gets so excited to see them and when we tell him that they are in the spare bedroom he'll throw open the door when they are still sleeping and run to the bed saying their name. Then we went downstairs and for the next four hours he opened presents, played with them and ate birthday cookies. I'm pretty disappointed with myself that these are the only photos we got all day.

Giving Sara kisses for his gift.

Having a tea party via Skype with my parents and all the stuff they got him.

A new Schwinn trike!

After his glorious three hour nap we headed to the beach! Caiden and me and Marc discovered sand crabs! There were millions all over the beach. You just pick up a pile of sand and they would come pouring out...pretty disgusting actually but Caiden loved them. He would say, "Caiden got 'em!", and we would make up names for each one.

I was pretty sad to see the day end. I can not believe he is two already, time is just flying by. The saying, "the days go slow, but the years go fast" has been going over and over in my head recently and I'm embracing every single day I have with him. Every night Marc and I say how much more fun and cute and precious he is and we love spending every minute with him. Happy Birthday, Caiden Max!

Caiden: 24 months...2 YEARS!

Where do I even begin telling you about what this boy is like. He has a pretty mild demeanor for the most part, just recently have I begun noticing little outbursts if he doesn't get his way...maybe the terrible twos are starting? But really, overall he's a good kid I think. I have to admit the closer I get to my due date I really start to cherish every last day I have with only him. I know having a sibling is the best gift in the world but the thought of having to split my time and love between two of them is so foreign I just don't know how I'm going to do it...and I'm a bit nervous about how I'm going to just survive on a day to day basis.

He's becoming more and more adventurous every day. Just last week he was watching some 5 year old boys at the park jump from big rock to big rock -so clearly out of his league- and he wanted to try it. I caught him in mid air ready to crack his head open. Then at the beach last week another boy was jumping over a pile of sand and he wanted to try. What happened? He ate a mouth full as he tripped over the pile. He loves to jump...and he loves to show you. He'll jump all over the yard if you keep egging him on. He loves to hang off of things, too. The island in the kitchen, his high chair tray, monkey bars. It's so cute watching his mouth fall open as if his mouth is hanging too.

He's really good at cuddling. In the mornings him and I still lay in bed before going downstairs for sometimes up to an hour just reading or watching nursery rhymes (I'm going to miss that). He says, "Mama's pillow" and snuggles up on it. And he's been accustomed lately to seeing my pregnant body taking a break on the couch and he'll grab one of the pillows and hand it to me and climb up and snuggle. 

He eats like a champ and isn't too picky...yet, which is a really good thing because he can't eat half the things other kids eat. The no dairy, nut and egg thing really throws a wrench in a lot of meals that are prepared, especially when we are at parties. And it's not just the exact food to watch, we have to be careful about where the food he does eat is cooked and prepared -which makes eating at restaurants with him almost impossible. And also watching him like a hawk making sure he doesn't pick up another kids cup and start drinking from it. I'm usually on it but slipped up a few weeks ago and I turn around and he's got a mouth full of regular milk. Within 30 seconds he comes over to me with puppy dog eyes gagging, I put out my hands and he vomits everything into them. He goes on gagging for a few more minutes then seems to be OK. Then an hour later he had a horrendous poo. Poor kid. His sensitivity to milk is so strong, I'm really not sure there is an end in sight in the near future. He knows if I'm eating cereal that it has the wrong milk in it and he'll point to it, rub his belly and say, "belly hurts". It's so sad. 

His talking skills are above average I'm sure. He enunciates very well and many people comment about how well they understand him. He's been singing his "ABC's" for months now, counts to 20 (missing a few here and there, switching some numbers up every once in awhile and adding the number "7" whenever he feels like it -it's his favorite I guess?), he speaks in almost complete sentences and can 99% of the time tell me exactly what he wants so I'm not guessing and so he's not wining. I feel very lucky because it makes life so much easier. 

His favorite saying right now has to be, "Caiden do it." It's really just when he's eating and he wants to do it himself, but I'm sure putting on clothes, shoes, and pretty much any other activity is going to accompany this phrase a lot more often in the near future.

He wakes up anywhere between 6-8am. He takes a dreamy 2-3 hour nap around noon everyday going down without a peep and almost immediately falling asleep. Bedtime is a different story. Marc usually does bedtime...bathtime, pj's on, reads a few books and then he proceeds to milk it for all it's worth. If you don't hold him "this" way, or talk to him "that" way he stands up and throws his blankie out and cry's until you go back in and pick him up and hold him until HE is ready to go down. It's a dreaded task every single night. I'd like to say he's a good sleeper once he is down but he still wakes up in the middle of the night sometimes and screams bloody murder. Almost like he had a bad dream or something. If we go five nights without him waking up we feel very lucky -right now we have two nights under our belt. It's going to be really tricky when this new baby comes into the picture.

He loves Curious George. He has a couple of books that he got as gifts before he was born and they are in the rotation every single night. He calls them "Pizza George" and "Ocean George", and will ask for you to read them whenever you are in his room. I recently purchased a couple of new ones because Marc was ready to go bat**** crazy reading those same two books every single night. I discovered the show on PBS as well and it is the one show that I will legitimately turn on knowing it will give me 15 minutes to eat breakfast, catch up on emails, brush my teeth, go to the bathroom in peace...you know, the simple things in life. 

Happy Birthday, Caiden Max! We love you more than you'll ever know!

Here are also some photos from the past few weeks.

We found an organic garden about a mile from our house a few weeks ago. They are only open on Saturday's but they also have two goats, chickens, roosters and ducks. Caiden's favorite animal is still a sheep, he calls it a "baah, baah", and this one he's feeding looks like a sheep (but it's a goat) so he was in heaven.

This is Caiden with his blankie, he loves it more than you know!

Whenever he puts it to his face he always does this thing with his mouth.

I've been doing tons of activities with him -every day going somewhere new. This day we went to the Birch Aquarium. 

Last week I took him to the beach three times. I've got it down to a science. We usually leave by 10am, drive 10 minutes, get a killer parking spot, stay for an hour and a half, rinse him off in the outdoor showers and get home by noon to feed him lunch and put him down for a nap. Here he is checking out a hole with some older boys.

I never knew that kids had such a love for sand holes. You seriously see every family bring a shovel and the Dad head out to dig a hole when they arrive. The first thing he did when he found this gigantic hole was lay in it. 

We've been going to Seaworld about every other week as well. Again, we usually just stay an hour or two in the morning and see a couple of different things each time, although he loves the Dolphin Show and wants to see it every time. He also sleeps with the polar bear that Sara got him when he was a baby from Seaworld so he loves to check them out when we go.

I could just eat them cheeks!

Here he is sleeping with his blankie and polar bear.