Matt: Hard Core?

You know... sometimes it scares me that Matt was told that he'd make an awesome Drill Sergeant from his platoon during his Basic Training. My husband is hard core, but could he be this hard core? (click link)

GEICO Commercial  

Matt loves this commercial. And right now, he is going on and on about his basic training Drill Sergeants. He loves them. Weird... 

(The guy in the commercial was actually a Drill Instructor--meaning a Marine Corps Drill Sergeant. He is also the voice of the main Toy Story military guy, is in Full Metal Jacket, and lots of other stuff. Name: R. Lee Ermey. Check out his bio here.)

Here are two of Matt's favorite basic training photos. Taken in 2002.

And just so you know, Matt has a softer side. He loves most works from Lady Gaga!

My Angel

Titus slept for 5 hours last night. Thank you Titus. You proved, once again, that you are an angel!

Dealing and Loving

Eli is jealous. I mean very jealous. But he's slowly coming around... 

Trying to be nice

Niceties last for about a second. Eli is just not sure about this little guy. 

Learning how to walk is making becoming a big brother a bit easier.

Along with exploring.

Isaac has no problems with being a big brother twice. Loving LEGOs may have something to do with it.

Matt is very excited about Isaac's love of LEGOs. For he loves LEGOs too! (Spent an hour constructing this for Isaac. It's a double decker "Jet Ship.")

And of course Isaac loves Titus. Really, he does. Talks to and about Titus all the time. 

Longest Post in Studly History

As stated in the title, this will be one long post. We have a lot share with yall!

Here is what it will high light:

• Labor Story 
  
• Hospital Pictures
  
• Home Info
  
• Home Pictures 

Labor Story (no worries, not graphic):

Wednesday, June 9th: Went to Labor & Delivery at 8pm to try and figure out what was causing my back pain. Kidney stones? Kidney infection? Labor? Pulled muscle? Tests inconclusive. 

Friday, June 11th: Feeling a little weird. Tired, hungry, and nauseous all day. 

Saturday, June 12th: 
3 am I go and use the restroom. I notice a drop in my stomach. Think nothing of it.
3:20 am almost asleep, feel a little *pop,* and notice some warmth... HOLY SMOKES MY WATER BROKE! 
I run to the bathroom to grab a towel. Tell Matt what just happened. Both of us can't get our minds around that idea. Matt's parents are out of town, so who to call to watch our kids? Is the baby going to be okay 4 weeks early? How am I supposed to get to the hospital? 

We get in touch with Kara, Matt's aunt who lives just outside of Boise. She says she can come and watch the kids. Hooray! 
Water coming fast, but not really any contractions. I know I need to get the hospital, cause I am a bit worried... never have I gone early before. Solution: drive myself to the hospital and Matt waits with the boys till Kara arrives. (Hospital is only 2 or 3 miles away.) 
On the way there I call my parents, waking them up at 4:40 their time (Alabama time). Bless their hearts.

I get checked in around 3:50am. I wait for Matt. I cry a little bit to the nurse. And I'm only 1 centimeter. 
Matt arrives at 4 :15.
We move to the labor and delivery rooms, and an IV is started with a light drip of pitocin--cause I'm not contracting regularly on my own, even with walking.
Contractions pick up and really start to take effect around 8am.
I walk around the room, Matt rubs my back, I throw up, I rock on a labor ball.
9am, that's it. I need an epidural. Now please! I am at 3.5 centimeters, so no problem, epidural is given. HEAVEN! 
Doctor comes in at 9:20 to do an assessment, still at 3.5 centimeters. Matt goes and gets some breakfast. 
I sleep some, laying on my right side. 

9:50 a friend of mine calls to make sure I am okay, and to see if I need her to come and help. "That's okay Dana, you can stay in Rexburg. My mama has decided to fly out today and stay with us for a week." Was a great little chat--which lasted about 13 minutes.

10:05 the nurse has me move to my left side and I know something is way different. Holy smokes I feel a ton of pressure and pain all down my left side! A contraction is starting, is that the baby's head I feel? Nurse checks and says, "Your ready!"
Nurse runs around trying to get the room together, I am trying not to push and I am squeezing the life out of Matt's hand. Each contraction is way hard and is sending the baby farther down. Ouch! These contractions hurt, hurt, hurt. 
Doctor is in the room. Where have you been?! 
Everything is set up and... 
10:21am Titus comes in one small push. 

Hospital Pictures:

Home Info:

We came home on Monday. Isaac is all about Titus. Eli is jealous as heck! When ever I try to feed Titus in front of Eli, Eli has a fit of rolling all over the floor. Wow, it's gonna be an interesting summer...

Titus is maintaining weight, which is wonderful! And is nursing well. So thankful. 

My mom is a great blessing to have here. Helps with the boys a ton, and is making wonderful dinners every night. I love her. 

Home Pictures:

Many know that Titus was probably the biggest surprise of mine and Matt's marriage. But my word, we love this little one. He seems to complete this family of ours. Thanks to everyone for the support--near and far. We are excited and nervous for our future, but know that no matter what we have each other. 

Welcome to the World!

Introducing the newest Studly Boy

Titus

5 lbs 2 oz

19 inches long

Born today at 10:21am

4 weeks early 

 

Never have I delivered early, so this was quite unexpected. 3:20 this morning my water broke. It was one of those: "What the heck!" moments in life. Everything worked out though, and my mama--Miss Annie--is flying in tonight to help. Thanks to Tim and Kara for watching the boys today... we love having family around! (Matt's parents are out of town this weekend.)

I'm doing well. Had a very easy, fast delivery once the heavy contractions started (more or less around 8am). Titus is doing very well and is so dang cute! We should all be home in the next day or two. 

Labor story to come, but right now I need a nap.

Joined the Club

Yup, we own a van! 2004 Kia Sedona... learn more about it here. 

We traded in our Toyota 2008 Rav4. We wanted to keep it and make the Rav4 work, but let me tell you that Rav4 could NOT fit 3 car seats across. Definitely a 4 person family car, not 5. (But we loved that thing.) 

 

After weeks and weeks of searching, and working and working with loan officers and credit unions and banks and multiple car dealers, we finally got our van! Wasn't our first choice (like a 2011 Toyota Sienna or 2011 Honda Pilot), but you do what you have to do. 

It has under 60,000 miles, so it will be with us for a long, long time. *hopefully*

Now we have room for these cute, crazy boys + the one on it's way (4 more weeks!) 

Owning this van is making us realize that we are a family. Like a big family. With kids. Soon to be going to t-ball and little league soccer. Weird and cool. The middle seat is a bench, so the two boys are right next to each other. Already they are hitting each other in the face and smiling at each other and sharing snacks. Weird and cool!

Poem of the Month

Last night I went thrift store shopping with a friend. It was fabulous! (To go shopping and hang out with said friend. Thanks Helen.) I picked up a new literature text book--I love to collect those things. I turned to the poetry section, and this was the first poem I read. It brings me to tears... I'm crying now... 

Ballad of Birmingham 

By Dudley Randall (1914-2000)

(On the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963)

"Mother dear, may I go downtown 
Instead of out to play, 
And march the streets of Birmingham 
In a Freedom March today?"

"No, baby, no, you may not go, 
For the dogs are fierce and wild, 
And clubs and hoses, guns and jails 
Aren't good for a little child."

"But, mother, I won't be alone. 
Other children will go with me, 
And march the streets of Birmingham 
To make our country free."

"No, baby, no, you may not go, 
For I fear those guns will fire. 
But you may go to church instead 
And sing in the children's choir."

She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair, 
And bathed rose petal sweet, 
And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands, 
And white shoes on her feet.

The mother smiled to know that her child 
Was in the sacred place, 
But that smile was the last smile 
To come upon her face.

For when she heard the explosion, 
Her eyes grew wet and wild. 
She raced through the streets of Birmingham 
Calling for her child.

She clawed through bits of glass and brick, 
Then lifted out a shoe. 
"O, here's the shoe my baby wore, 
But, baby, where are you?"

.................................

Image of the aftermath of the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing 

The four young girls who lost their lives

I grew up in a small town 25 miles south of Birmingham, AL, but the Civil Rights movement was hardly ever talked about. It wasn't till I moved out West and enrolled in college history classes untill I realized the scope and magnitude Birmingham played in US history. I wonder why this wasn't covered in the 4th grade Alabama history curriculum... maybe too dark and too recent of a past?

The lives lost and the fight of the underclassmen and women is powerful.  I am grateful for all those who have ever fought to change their situation for the better. But sometimes I wonder why this needs to happen; for, in the words of the Beatles, "All we need is love," then "Come together," and just "Imagine all the people sharing all the world."  

Learn more about the bombing here.

Teefers, Light Sabers, and Stick Knifes

We are so happy! Eli is getting teeth! Finally. He got his first tooth at 8 months old, and slowly, ever so slowly others have joined. Big teeth are coming in the back, and his front front teeth are starting to cut through. Yeah, we are dealing with the runny nose and attitude--but soon this guy will be able to eat and eat and be free from our help, HOORAY! 

  

This silly boy's teeth have been like this for the past while. So silly. 

Want to know a benefit from having a dad in the military? He gets to bring home sweet stuff to play with:

In the bathroom practicing long exposure shots. (Shutter open for a few seconds or so.)

Also, want to know a benefit for having Matt as a dad? He carries a sweet knife with him where ever he goes, so he is very able and willing to cut and make "stick knifes" for the 3 year old! (Matt is very handy to have around.) 

Isaac has about 7 of these stick knifes--which are sticks with their ends slightly carved down to make an "edge." Isaac LOVES them, and has been carrying them around in his pants pockets for the past day. I think he is going to grow up to be a lot like Matt.