The BIG 30

I am 30 today. I am 30! I AM 30! Even though it is sad to not be in my twenties anymore I have so much to be thankful for: I have Jesus, I love my job, we live in a great community, I have wonderful friends and I have the most amazing family.

Since college I am usually not around friends and family on my birthday to celebrate. So my wonderful husband surprised me last weekend with bringing in my best friend from college (Cara) from Arizona and when an Italian dinner with friends that drove in from all over California. And if that wasn't enough he booked a night in a hotel in Avila Beach with my close girlfriends (while the husbands watched the babies). Isn't he thoughtful and so sweet?
I was overwhelmed with all the sacrifice everyone made to make me feel so loved. It was so much fun and truly life giving to spend quality time with good friends. Thank you Kevin for making this happen. I love you! And Happy Birthday to me!

Big Girl Bed

Usually kids start climbing out of their cribs but not Abbey. Last week we found her climbing into her crib so we thought it was time to pull the trigger on a toddler bed. Found this bed on craigs list and bought it that day. That night she insisted on sleeping in her big girl bed. She loves it and she especially loves jumping on it!

David's birth story

David James Lamb was born on May 6th at 4:15 in the morning. The day before was a normal day. Friends from the Berkeley staff team were in town so we walked downtown for dinner at Moe's and ate pulled pork sandwiches. By the time we walked home I wasn't feeling well so I decided not to go to Bible study. Instead I got Abbey to bed and rested on the coach where I fell sleep till Kevin came home around 11pm. I got up to go to the bathroom and then I felt a pop. I thought I was peeing but that would have been a world record for the longest pee. I definitely knew then that my water broke and this was it. I called for Kevin and we both wondered around the house in circles anxiously gathering all the things we needed.
After Caellin Douglas came over t o watch Abbey we made our way to the hospital. I still wasn't feeling any contractions at this point and didn't for another hour. Then they started...at first they weren't too bad and I thought I can do this. I was planning on not getting any drugs, I figured my labor with Abbey was short, I can do it natural again.
I labored for 3 hours through intense contractions on one of those exercise balls. I was feeling proud of myself because I was much more relaxed then with Abbey but then the contractions became long and hard with little rest in between. I wasn't dilated any more then when I came in and that is when I thought, what if this labor isn't short, I can't do this any more. So I asked for an epidural. I was frustrated that I asked for one but I didn't think I could make it. I didn't know then but when you get to the "I can't do this any more" stage that is when your body is in transition right before you start to push.
Well, by the time the anesthesiologist got there an hour later, I felt like I had to push. My doctor hadn't been called, I was so scared and in so much pain. Kevin and the nurses convinced me to relaxed and then I pushed this little baby out in 3 pushes. My doctor never made it and the nurse did the delivery and yell "It's a boy". The nurse placed a boy with a full head of brown hair on my chest all goopy and it was love at first sight. I looked at Kevin and he was a mess, weeping with happiness. I found out later that He came out with one arm out (ouch!) and with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. It was lose but still scary. David is healthy and gaining weight like crazy. We feel so thankful to God for two beautiful and healthy children.

It's a BOY!!

On Thursday May 6, 2010 at 4:17 in the morning David James Lamb was born. He was 8lbs and 21 inches. He beautiful and perfect! Birthing story to come but for now I am sleeping whenever possible.
CLICK HERE to see more hospital pictures!
CLICK HERE to see more pictures of Davids first week!

A grandma and a mom but no baby

So, it has almost been 3 weeks since my last post where I thought the baby was coming any day based on my doctor. Well, here we are in May and no baby yet. All this extra time has been great to get the house ready and spend more time with Abbey. But I am as big as a house and ready to have my body back. The saddest thing is my grandma and mom came out from Arizona and New York to help when the baby came. But the baby never came and eventually they had to go home. We did have lots of adventures and made really fun memories while they were here.

We "played" bocce ball.
Had a photo shoot in front of the beautiful vineyard around here.
Spent time reading and relaxing.
Went to the beach. It was cold but Abbey didn't notice.
More books being read. Cat in the Hat became a favorite that week.
And we snuggled in bed.
It was a great week of four generations spending quality time together. Thanks grandma and mom for coming all the way out here.

About to Pop! Is it a Boy or Girl?

I went to the doctor today and she said that the baby could come any day. She said she might see me this weekend! What! That sent Kevin and I into needing to take a couple deep breathes. This baby is definitely coming early and no wonder, look at how big I am.
The last couple weeks Abbey has really taken an interest in the baby. She wants to see the baby and hug the baby and kiss the "baby". Slightly inconvenient when we are out in public when she starts lifting up my shirt. The whole thing is so cute and special. And I am praying she likes the baby as much once he or she is here.
Speaking of he or she, what is your vote on if we are having a boy or girl? Abbey is insisting baby is a girl. "I want a small sister", she says. So there's one vote for girl.

Tell Mommy when you have to use the Potty

I am proud to say that our first child is potty trained. I was nervous about the whole thing and definitely had my doubts going into it. But I thought I had to try before this next baby comes. So, I asked the facebook world for any tips and a friend, Amanda from our old Sunday school class in Tucson told me about this 3 day method that she swore by. You throw away all your left over diapers, you use no pull ups, only underwear(even at night and naps, yikes!) and it is all positive reinforcement (no consequences or hinting that you are frustrated). Oh, and you never ask if they have to use the potty. You just keep saying over and over again, "Tell mommy when you have to use the potty" that way they learn when they have to go and to tell you. The whole method made sense to me and I felt more confident. But the first day Abbey went through 30 pairs of underwear and I thought she would never get it and I wanted to give up. But Amanda encouraged me to keep going. So, we were home bound for 3 days drinking lots of juice, putting lots of stickers on the little potty (especially veggie tales stickers), enjoying chocolate covers raisins after any success and singing a made up potty song over and over again. But at the end of 3 days Abbey had no accidents during the day and after 5 days none at night and naps. Complete success!! Great job Abbey!!