Talkies

Benjamin in Grammie's swimming gear, which he wore to swim around the bathtub.

Ben: Mom, I have the hiccups and now I don't want to keep them!

Katie: Sam, could you give Charlotte's diaper a sniff and sea if she's poopy?
Sam: (sniffing tentatively) No, I don't think so
Charlotte makes a loud pooping sound
Sam: Ah! We got one!!

(while playing with his toys)
Ben: Oh no! I'm stuck in a girl movie!

Ben: Mom, I could only put one toy away.
Katie: Why?
Ben: Because I don't want- because it was too hard.
Katie: Sound like it might be just because you don't want to.
Ben: Yes. You're right.

Sam: Which shoes do you want for Charlotte?
Katie: How about the little gold ones?
Sam: Oh good! I was hoping you would say that!

While playing with action figures
Ben: Can you be in the shape of a triangle when you're acrobating?
Sam: I don't know.
Ben: If you can't say, "oh, man!"
Sam: What do I say if I can?
Ben: "Whoo-hoo!"
Sam: Oh...Whoo-hoo!

Ben: I can do whatever I want whenever I want!
(this about sums up Ben the last couple of weeks)

The Story of Charlotte

I woke up earlier than usual to call the hospital and ask if there was room for us that day. There definitely was. I hung up he phone and told the boys, who had come into our bed during the night, that their baby sister was going to be born today. Can we say, excitement? They have been waiting for this forever! I wanted to get ready right away, but for some reason we did't have any hot water, so I settled for attempting to clean up as much as possible, still considering the possibility that my water would break on it's own or my contractions would start or something, but nope. Zach took the boys for a run and I cleaned up and finally got some hot water to take a shower. We dropped the off at the Lloyds house after Zach had given me a wonderful blessing.

I was being induced because she was a day overdue, but mostly because my kidneys had started to hurt me (similar to the pain that I had to be hospitalized for with the boys) and I didn't want to be on morphine when Charlottle was born because it makes me very loopy.

We got right in and right into a room and they started me on the pitocin and then nothing happened for a long, long time. Besides having a lovely nurse to chat with. After several hours with minimal progression, my doctor came in a broke my water. About an hour later the contractions started to get very strong and I got the blissfully wonderful epidural. The anesthesiologist must have concluded that I was in a lot of pain, even though I was trying to put on my brave face (I don't know why I do this. Am I trying to prove that I am above labor pains? Because I am not. Not even slightly.) and he gave me a kind of epidural that works very quickly because you get a direct shot of the medicine into the back. It took a while to set up because, according to him, I have very strong tendons, which is a good thing for me, though I'm not sure why.

It started working almost instantly and was awesome. I rested and slept for a couple of hours and then Zach and I watched some shows together. I started to feel pressure and it got stronger very quickly. Even after trying the button the pain was pretty strong, so I requested a booster. He gave me two, but they didn't work. Very sad. But, by then I was having to stop myself from "bearing down" because she was coming so quickly.

I only ended up pushing for about twenty minutes or so. (*Update* - when I went to my six week appointment I found out from my doctor that I only pushed for ten minutes!) Zach was stroking my forehead and holding me and being amazing. I'm not going to say it wasn't extremely painful, because it was. But then it was over and they laid this purlpey-red absolutely perfect creature right on my chest and I saw my little Charlotte.



So utterly amazing.



Daddy and Daughter



Ben (holding Charlotte) and Sam are absolutely in love with Charlotte. They adore her. They give her kisses and tell her how cute she is and help me pick out her clothes. Actually, they are pretty strong willed about what clothes she should wear. Apparently, Charlotte is the cutest when she is wearing dresses. Sadly she only has two, but they want her to wear one of those every, single day.





A picture Sam took of Charlotte's hand. Really quite amazing, I think.



Charlotte Lucia.

Charlotte Lucia

Born February 10th at 10:35 PM.
Weight: 8 lbs 4 oz
Length: 21 inches
Status: Absolutely perfect.

More details coming soon.

a few remarks on pregnancy and what not

38 Weeks

I know that I haven't done a very good job of documenting this pregnancy. At all. I think there are about...four photos of my tummy. And that's allowing that someone somewhere may have taken a picture that I'm not aware of. So, here is a quick sum up of the last 38 weeks.


38 weeks with Baby Girl


38 weeks with the twins (this is right before we got into the car to go and be induced because they were late (37 weeks is full for twins). Just a little perspective for you). I was about 10 centimeters bigger. I was extremely uncomfortable.

First trimester: I was extremely food and smell sensitive, which is something I didn't experience with the boys. I couldn't even think of breaded chicken, something I love, without getting queasy. The smell of garlic, something else I love, almost made me sick all over our stove (luckily not, because I wouldn't have been able to cook on there again). For several weeks I carried a large hunk of ginger around in my pocket to smell, for when I got queasy. But I only got "sick" a few times. One of which being a memorable trip to Costco. And I was tired. Tired in a way that I could feel in my bones. I slept for very long periods on the couch and the boys watched way too much TV. I guessed, correctly, that it she is a girl and there is only one.

Second trimester: Awesome. Besides some general tiredness, I was almost a normal person. Zach makes pasta for practically every dinner because I'm too tired by that time and he is too busy for anything more elaborate. He is awesome.

Third Trimester: Bleh. I've gotten big enough and swollen enough and awkward enough that I feel generally miserable. All this is accompanied by fits of energy that make me scrub our cupboards and vacuum all the baseboards and sew ruffles on onsies. And then collapse in a heap afterwards. Everyone keeps telling me how cute I look, but I don't feel cute at all. And my back hurts a lot. And everything else, too. I am both super excited to meet her and feel extremely unprepared to go back to the baby days, which are all a bit of a blur with the boys. I'm glad we took pictures.


A picture Sam drew for me of our family

You may be wondering how the boys are handling all this impending change. Well, they could not possibly be happier. They kiss my belly and say hello and ask her what she is doing. They talk about what she will do and what they will help her to learn (laughing is a big one). I don't know how their expectations will match up with reality, but to be fair, I don't know that about my own expectations, so that's pretty standard.


Picture with Subtitles

Sam Speaks

These are all pretty Sam-centric. I'm not sure why, but here you go.


Katie: Share with your brother, Sam. It's nice to share with people.
Sam: I don't like to share with people because it makes me want to punch the people.

An effect of my attempts to keep the boys language clean:
Ben: Mom, Sam said "butt"!
Katie: Did he say it like, "I was going to do that, but...?"
Ben: No! He didn't!
Sam: I said, "My butts a cheesemaker!"

After Sam found the toy he though was lost
Sam: At first I was like, "what?" and then I was like, "yippee!"

Sam: I'm wasted on food. But not on drink!

Ben: Do you know why I want a cat?
Katie: Why?
Ben: So, if we have any rats or mice in our house it can chase them.
Katie: Sounds good.
Sam: You know why I want a dog?
Katie: Why?
Sam: So it can chase Ben's cat!

Sam: (yelling from the upstairs down to me) Mom! I want my crystal box!
Katie: (In a loudish voice) Okay, sweetie, be patient. And stop yelling.
Sam: What!?
Katie: Be patient and stop yelling.
Sam: What!?! I can't hear you!!!
Katie: Stop yelling.
Sam: I can't hear you, Mom!!!
Katie: (definitely yelling now) Stop yelling!!!
Sam: .... but you yelled!!!

After he got in trouble for being too wild with Ben, Sam came over and started giving me kisses all over my arms and face.
Katie: Thanks for the kisses, Sammy.
Sam: No, I'm kissing you so I won't be in trouble anymore.

Visitors and New Years 2010!

This is how you may be feeling about my shabby efforts at recording the awesomeness that is our lives.

All I can say is, "I'm sorry. But, really, you should probably calm down. There is no need for faces like that."

Now. Let's move on. A few days after Christmas Zach's family (Scott/Grandpa, Shauna/Grandma, Hannah and Emma) came for a lovely visit. It was much, much fun.

We showed them around town a bit, and saw a movie, and ate a lot of delicious food. I forgot to take pictures of these things, so you'll just have to use your imagination. And make sure to imagine them as being loads of fun, because that's what they were.

On New Years Eve we went down to Monterey to go to the Aquarium there. We've never been there and everyone was very interested in going. It did not disappoint.


This is a sea lion (or a seal? I can never tell the difference) That was just out on a rock off the aquarium.


Sam and the aquatic mammal. Sam showed just how much he appreciated seeing this amazing creature so close by using the telescope to look at the buildings behind us. It was free, so I don't mind.


Ben and Jelly Fish. He really enjoyed these.


Actually we all enjoyed these. They are very mellow when they are behind glass. Unlike when you see them at the beach and are constantly wondering if you are about to be stung. Not like that at all.


Scott/Grandpa, Sam and Ben at the touching pools. Sam tentatively touched several of the creatures and enjoyed himself thoroughly, and then went to play a game.


Ben managed to get pretty wet. He was very vigorous in his touching (and got the attention of some of the aquarium employees).


Ben and Sam under the wave window. They could have stayed there all day.

Also, while we were looking at the penguins, the electricity all went out and a barrier came down over the glass. It was pitch black. Luckily I happened to be kneeling by the boys, because they got a little freaked out. Then it all came back on and the barrier went up. All the penguins were out of the water walking towards their keepers, who had been feeding them at the time. Then later there were two penguins swimming around in the exhibit for the San Fransisco Bay. With sharks and seaweed and everything. They had no business at all being there. I think, and everyone will back me up on this, the penguins were up to something. Something mischievous.

Thanks for the visit, guys! We had tons of fun! Come back, soon!

Christmas 2010

Oh, ya! Christmas! You may have been wondering about that. Well, in a word, wonderfulness. We all really enjoyed the whole season and celebration.


The Tree


On Christmas Eve we had a dinner of ham, potatoes, carrots, green beans, rolls, and several bottles of sparkling cider. I love that stuff.


We also finally used the Christmas crackers that Mom gave me forever ago. That's why we're all wearing those paper crowns. Zach seemed kinda confused by the tradition, but they boys thought they were awesome.


King Sam


King Ben (with green bean fangs)


We let the boys open a couple of presents on Christmas Eve. Mostly those that we knew were books. And one I thought was a book, but was actually a puzzle. Usually the tradition is to open one present, but between the two grandparents the boys cup's overflowed with presents.


And they were extremely grateful for the surplus. (Thanks Grandparents, all!)

The boys actually went to bed fairly well on Christmas Eve and slept very well. Zach and I, on the other hand, woke up constantly, wondering if it was time to wake up yet. And when I was asleep, I kept having nightmares in which all of the boys toy presents had turned into church clothes and they were crying all day. I'm completely serious.


When the boys finally woke up we opened up all the stockings on our bed and then headed downstairs, having each already consumed enough sugar to keep us going through the present opening.


The boys as they came down the stairs (Ben likes to get dressed first thing in the morning. He is not one to linger in his pajamas, even on Christmas.)


Present opening

A few weeks before Christmas I asked the boys if they wanted to get Daddy a present for Christmas. These are the presents they made completely on their own.


According to Ben this is a rocket car. It's a regular car with a piece of the blinds from their room taped onto the top, which serves as a rocket booster. Utterly awesome.


This is a Sam's Christmas tree. It is made out of Legos. And it is fabulous.


Zach and the boys putting together their robot play ground from Grandma and Grandpa.


Zach loves this part of Christmas, by the way, the putting things together part. Especially if he can manage it without instructions.


Sam, laying in a heap of wrapping paper and empty boxes after the presents were all opened.

It was so much fun. We loved it. The boys are still talking about Christmas and pretending Christmas stories and today they toasted the holiday season with their glasses of milk. And baby Jesus is a regular figure in their play games. So, all in all, it was wonderful.