Pictures of Charli

Words can't describe how much we have loved having this sweet bundle of joy come to our family. My dear friend Ashley took these pictures.

Charli's Story

I love to read birth stories and for Charli's sake here is her birth story.

I was feeling really lucky having the last few weeks of my pregnancy over the Holidays. I was so busy and with so much going on I didn't have any time to sit and feel sorry for myself that I was huge and pregnant! I went to my Dr's appointment on the 21st and was dilated to a 2. I had a little bit of anxiety of being in the hospital over Christmas and did not want that to happen. I told Brenden if this baby does not come by the 22nd I do not want her coming until after the 25th! After going to the Doctor on the 21st I felt pretty confident I would make it until my induction date on the 30th. My doctor told me to get some contractions coming because he would be on call the next day and then after that he was on vacation. Ya right I thought. He had me schedule another appointment for Monday after Christmas and said I could hope the Doctor I saw would be concerned that I was still measuring small and not growing and maybe induce me. I held onto that hope and went home and continued to get last minute stuff ready for Christmas and wash some baby clothes.



Sure enough I awoke to some pain around 1:00 AM. You know when you are so tired that you don't know if you really feel something or not? Yes, that was what it was. Sure enough more came. I got up and started doing some house work, because who can really stay in bed when you have that much adrenalin running thinking you maybe going into labor and thinking about what your body is about to go through? I wanted to make sure they were for real, but didn't want to wait too long. I had a short labor with Cason and was very worried this one maybe short also. I wanted to make it to the hospital! Once I decided they were for real I called Brenden's sister Krissy to see if she could come stay with the boys. Luckily she answered right away and came right over. I ran got dressed and threw my clothes in a bag and clothes for baby! By the time she arrived I was in pain and knew for sure this was real! I about died the whole way to the hospital and was so afraid I was not going to make it. These contractions hurt way worse than with Cason. FYI: My contractions never really hurt with Cason and I had him extremely fast once I made it to the hospital, so you can only imagine what was going through my head. Contractions 1 min apart and they hurt!



We made it to the hospital and I ran as fast as I could all the way to the birthing center, which is pretty far! Once we made it up there and they put me in an exam room. I was pretty much freaking out since I had my last son very quick in that same exam room! Once I told the nurse that she kicked it into high gear and wow, they went to work fast and told me I was dilated to a 3! A three! With Cason I was a 7 and the next thing I knew he was born! I felt kind of stupid but was in so much pain I knew I was not going anywhere! The contractions kept coming stronger and stronger, shorter and shorter apart and I thought I can not do this natural again!! They had to get some antibiotics in me because I had Group B Strep. That took awhile to get going all the while the contractions never stopped. I asked for my epidural, but they would not give me one until I had one dose of antibiotics in me. You are supposed to have 3 doses of antibiotics, but the way I was contracting that was not going to happen. Finally I couldn't take it anymore I demanded Brenden go get my nurse and tell her I need an epidural now! I was still in an exam room, because as they stated, "there was no room in the inn!" They were cleaning a room for me! They wanted me to wait until I made it to my room to get an epidural. Well, my room was cleaned and my antibiotic in me and they wheeled me down to my room and I was ready for my epidural! A friend of my parents gave me my epidural and it was pure heaven after that! I was dilated to a 9 after my epidural! You would think I could have just done it natural, but oh no! It is amazing to me how each labor can be different. If this one was like Cason's I for sure could have done it natural again, but oh no, I don't think I ever could have! The rest was just like a vacation..sweet memories of little Charli Lyn entering the world at 4:49 am. We were trying to convince Brenden to cut the cord. He didn't think he could, but then Charli came out with the cord around her head so the Doctor had to hurry and unwrap and cut it! He got off the hook. I do have to say the 3rd times a charm. He was a great coach this time! We thought my mom would probably be there to help, but unfortunately her and Hayley were both gone for the night and next day to Oregon to a funeral. I had a great time trying to get them to answer the phone that morning to tell them the baby was here! Needless to say they were shocked. We didn't think little Charli would come two weeks early, but it was amazing and so exciting to have her two weeks early. We have been having so much fun having this sweet little girl in our family! The boys were shocked to wake up and find out they had a new baby sister. We told them she would be here after Christmas, so they were beyond excited. The excitement hasn't dwindled either.

She's Here!!

Charli Lyn was born on December 22nd at 4:49am weighing 6lbs 8oz and 19 1/2 inches long. We were excited and shocked she wanted to come out before Christmas! A nice quick delivery and Charli was here!



She looks like muscle man here with her sweat bands! She had to have her blood drawn right after birth because I was GBS positive and she did not get enough antibiotics, so they had to make sure her blood count and stuff was okay. With small veins it took a few times

And here are her proud brothers. How could I leave them out? We made a snowman last week with a cute snowman kit some neighbors brought by and Cooper decided ours needed to be a deer snowman. He was so proud of the antlers.

I will post more pictures later.

Taking the plunge

We're taking the plunge and adding to our family!! We are all so excited and still in shock that a baby girl is coming to our home! Here's a sneak peak of the little cutie.





She did not want to move her hands away from her face.

Now, the real question is what do we name her? She can't be named baby girl forever, but I am at a loss for names. We'd appreciate any names you have, I am a little worried. Funny thing, when I was in high school I remember I had a list of 7 names for boys and girls, because that was how many kids I was going to have. You would think after all these years and wondering if I would ever get a little girl I would have some names, but nope not any!!

DISNEY

Yay! We finally made it to Disneyland! We were all so excited. The first night we went for a walk down to downtown Disney and bought our autograph books so we were ready first thing in the morning! I think I am the Nazi Disneyland mom with an agenda of what we do where we go next what ride we go on first, yada yada yada. I get way too worked up over this stuff. I can feel the emotions just writing this. Peter Pan was first, though the boys wanted Dumbo. Mom won because Peter Pan always has such a long line. The last time we went they were a little scared on Peter Pan, but I think they over came it this time. FYI: There are a lot of pictures, but I LOVE Disneyland, so there you have it!






Dumbo! We looove Dumbo!!









Eeyore at Minnie's Breakfast.







Case, not so sure. Luckily he warmed up to the characters.

We were all stoked to see Daisy

Can you feel the excitement! We looove characters!

Casey Jr. Circus Train

I was the only one that wanted to go on Splash Mountain, so I went! The little boy behind me was four and when it was over he told his dad he wanted to go again! I was sooo glad I never made Cooper go with me, he would of lost it. I mean, I almost lost it!

Next we headed over to see Brother Bear! A must! We love Brother Bear. Can you tell?

Picture won't turn! One thing I love about California Adventure is they have the characters dressed up in different theme outfits, and usually their character lines are short.

Mater and McQueen a MUST!

Another favorite King Arthur's Carousel

The happiest place on earth!

Buzz finally! And Cooper not looking! We looove Buzz and his ride!

Giving fives

Buzz wanted to know what was in Casey's bag.

The longest line we waited in Toy Story Mania! Love that ride! We strategically went to get on that ride right when California Adventure opened the second day we were there, only to find that it was not going to open until noon. What a disappointment. We walked all the way over from Disneyland to the back of California Adventure to find that out! They need a fast pass for that attraction for sure!

Parade. The weather was threatening rain so all they did was drive the floats through. Major disappointment since we had been saving our seats for 40 min and it was freezing! Wish they would of announced that! Pluto here is giving a silent shout out to the boys for wearing their Pluto hats!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E !

Who wouldn't be happy with that big ol cookie!

On the last day Brenden went and saw some customers, while the boys and I went back to the park and did all the last things we wanted to do! On our way out of Disneyland I realized we never took a picture in front of the flowers, I was always too busy figuring what ride we were headed on that I never wanted to take the time. Cooper did not want out of his first class seat, aka the stroller so Cason was the lucky one! Yep he is excited with that sucker!

They looved Donald! He talked, or quacked!

Worse picture, but had to include it. Cooper loves dog collars. I mean loves, them! That is all he was interested with Pluto about. He wanted to see his collar. I am telling him to leave the collar alone and look at the camera.

Notice what his hand is touching!

What a fun exhausting trip! We had a great time and loved that Cason was tall enough for a lot of the bigger rides, so we could all go as a family! I don't know who loves Disneyland more the kids, or me? We had a great time and can't wait until we get to go back again, but I'm guessing Brenden can!

Road Trip

In April we headed out on a trip through California. Brenden had been talking about going to California to visit customers and if we drove he could visit them all along the way! We found a great deal on Disneyland tickets and a hotel, so we talked him into taking us there for a few days too! Our first day we drove all the way to Gilroy, just outside of San Jose. I think it took us around thirteen hours.


Cooper entertaining himself. He took a garbage sack made a hole for his head and then two holes for his arms to make a shirt!

The next morning Brenden went and visited a customer while the kids and I waited in the hotel. We then went to some awesome outlets. We both were able to pick one or two stores to go into. We wish we would of had more time, but we still had a long day ahead. We would like to go back. San Jose valley was beautiful!

We then headed back to the I-5 to visit another customer. I don't even remember the name of the town. The town was a little bigger than Paterson, but not much. By this time we were starving and by the way it looked there was no where in sight to eat. Brenden told me that this customer has the largest Cattle feedlot in the country and that they had a restaurant. Me thinking probably some small steakhouse right off the freeway. Boy was I wrong! Harris Ranch the name of the customer gave us a gift card to eat at the restaurant and stay in the Hotel. Hotel? They have a hotel, out here in the middle of no mans land? We decided to go to the restaurant and eat lunch. Amazing! Harris Ranch is located right on I-5, 4 hours from LA and 4 hours from San Francisco. We stayed in the hotel on our way home. Perfect location if you are trying to get out of LA. We had an amazing time at Harris Ranch and I would love to go back. If we lived even close, I told Brenden I would make him take me there every year for our anniversary.



The inside is very western. Beautiful! They are sporting their new Fox shirts they bought at the outlet. The boys including Brenden loved the Fox outlet!

Cooper loved the Gold Bear. Their garden's are absolutely beautiful!

Outside the front of the restaurant. When we came in they were roasting prime rib. It smelled amazing! After we ate we headed the rest of the way to Disneyland.

This is the hotel. This hotel is over 30 years old. I just never pictured this in the middle of farm fields.

The pool was amazing too!

Funny thing was, we knew we were next to a farming community when we left in the morning we noticed our gas tank was down to half a tank when we had filled up at the hotel gas station the night before. Not too cool, but luckily all our stuff in the back of the pickup was not stolen including the stroller.

Easter picture take

We tried for our Easter outfit picture....

Like I said we tried!