Happy Halloween (well our pre-Halloween celebration!)

Last weekend, on what feels like the last nice day of the year after the weather we have had this week, we ventured to the pumpkin patch for a tractor hayride, followed by a horse drawn hayride, pumpkin picking and animal looking. We of course had our chicken and giraffe in tow!  This is the pumpkin Lillian picked out for Rowan.

Giraffe is in the Ergo!

"Mom the sun is in my eyes."

Someone slept through her first trip to the farm.  For all of you worry warts out there don't worry- hands stayed off the baby until they were washed!

One of my patient's gave this giraffe outfit to me as a thank you.  She had NO idea about our obsession with giraffes in this household.  Doesn't every house need multiple giraffe costumes?

Lily carved her first pumpkin this weekend.  When it came time to get the insides out (the part I think is the most fun) she said, "no I don't want to get my hands gross."  (Yes she is clearly Colin's daughter)  So Colin had to step up to the plate and get his hands gross instead.

Banging the eyes out!

Yes my daughter has a pumpkin carving knife in her hand, perfectly safe.

Someone else celebrated her first pumpkin by grazing at the all you can eat buffet!  

Aunt Megan brought Lillian her very first pair of light up sparkly shoes.  They have not left her feet since.

Sweet baby girl.

Happiest chicken ever with the goats in the background.

This picture seems so wrong coming from the vegetarian of the group.  But Lily loved it.

Two of Us

Colin has spent some time singing with Lily and playing to Rowan.  This particular song is so special because Lily and Colin sing it all of the time in the car.  Click on the link or copy and paste to watch the video http://youtu.be/9bZwy8v_LS0

Rowan Marie Simpson

Rowan Marie was welcomed with open arms and a very tired  body to our family in the great wide open world on October 21, 2012 at 9:45 pm.   She weighed 7 pounds 9 oz and was 21 inches long.  She came out with her eyes wide open and looking around.  As many know we have been planning, hoping, preparing for a vaginal birth after cesarian (VBAC).  The rate of VBAC in the US is somewhere around a 10-30 percent success rate as many OBGYN push for repeat c-sections.  Our desire all along was to make this as natural of  a birth as possible.  We selected a mid-wife group for all of the pre-natal and post-natal care, a group that works in a hospital and has a 70% success rate for VBACS.  There were many other things we did along the way to make this successful and I am so happy to let you know that we did have a successful VBAC thanks to the support of the mid-wifes, our AMAZING doula Erin Barnes www.erinbarnesdoulaservices.com, Colin, the ever amazing strength of this body and the ability to find a place of zen through it all.  I know many are hoping for a birth story but I am still processing the whole experience and do not feel ready to talk about it in its entirety yet. I will write it soon and in the mean time I am happy to reflect and share some of the memories along the way.

Many have asked where the name Rowan Marie comes from:  Colin came up with the name Rowan weeks or maybe a month or two ago when driving around.  It came from some research he was doing for a band name (yes, it always comes back to the band).  Rowan is a type of tree, it was a tree branch that people put in their homes to protect the home, and in Celtic mythology it was named the traveler's tree because it prevents those on a journey from getting lost.  Marie is for my mom, Mary.  Marie is one of a few Irish forms of the name Mary.  We had a few names we were discussing and when Rowan was born and Colin said within minutes or meeting her, "she is definitely a Rowan Marie."  For many reasons this name is absolutely perfect for her and for the road this family has travelled so far and the journey that we will continue.  We are so blessed to have her in our lives.  We are already so in love.

Proud grandparents!

My birthday was the day after Rowan was born.  I actually woke up craving pumpkin pie for my birthday.  Well wish and you shall receive: unknowingly Aunt Megan had already made me pumpkin pie and brought it with flowers, plates, napkins and all to celebrate #34!  Best birthday EVER!

Proud Mimi and Poppie.  Mimi and poppie had the fun and challenging job of  caring for Lily while we were in the hospital.  Colin's brother and sister-in-law were due October 13th and throughout this entire pregnancy I had prayed that we would not be having these babies on the same day for Mimi and Poppie's sake.  I wanted them be able to be a part of both births.  So low and behold the morning we thought we were headed to the hospital I texted them first thing and said, "come now, if you cannot Kalie can stay here for the night!"  Sure enough it happened Carrie and I went into labor at the same time.  Dave and Carrie had headed to the hospital that same morning.   So Aunt Kalie came to our rescue and stayed with Lillian.  Mimi and Poppie anxiously awaited the arrival of Nolan until the wee hours of Friday morning so that they could meet their grandson and quickly come to our rescue in southern Michigan.  So by mid-day on Saturday they relieved Kalie and stayed with Lily, watched Roxie and Chev (no small feat) until we got home from the hospital days later.  I have NO idea what we would have done without them.  Lily had an absolute blast!  Colin and I did not worry about one thing at home and we came home to a spotless house and a full fridge.  Days before going into labor I thought I would get all of these things done- clean to the toilets, get food in the fridge, clean the floors, do more laundry and get a few fun toys for Lily.  Well turns out Rowan had a different plan.  I was pretty miserable and was unable to do much of anything.

Lily does this new thing where when she sees something or when something happens she almost catalogs it and says,  "I have to tell so and so that."  So she reluctantly walked into the hospital room and said to Colin (after giving him a big hug), "where is mommy? where is baby sister?"  walking over to me, "mommy I got a sticker to ride the alligator (aka elevator)!"  "Where is baby sister?"  She wanted to hold her immediately and got the biggest, proudest smile on her face as seen here.  She still lights up the second she sees her.  She has to be reminded that Rowan does not like to have so much close face time.  Lily is a BIG cuddlier and needs to be in your face when cuddling.

Precious skin to skin time.  A very tired mamma and baby.

Peace!

So happy to be with mommy.  I have to say that it was so hard to be away from Lily.  This little girl has been the light of our lives.  She makes us laugh, cry, cringe, and grow.  I cried when I talked to her the morning after Rowan was born knowing that her world was about to change and all I wanted to do was hold her for her dear life to let her know how much we loved and her and how proud of her we are.  While she sat with me on this bed, Rowan was crying and Lily said, " she needs her mama."  and I thought she sure does, and Lily you have no idea what that means.  Now having to share mama.  I asked Lily "who is her mama?"
I think there is probably a series of moments that every mom goes through when having a second.  A sadness for the first child, a question of how will I have more time and energy for a second and an excitement for the family, for sisters to have the joys that I have with my sisters.    

Aunt Kalie!

Our new family.  I think about it and it brings me pure joy.  There have been many moments of wow, now we are complete.  I have thoroughly loved the last few days of just the four of us, it has given us time to bond, heal and just love.  Many have called, texted and emailed this week and I want to thank you all so much for the well wishes.  We are all doing well I just have not had the emotional capacity to talk on the phone for longer than a minute or two.

So sweet, Mimi and Poppie walking Lily and Roxy to daycare.

The latest, sweetest addition.  She is absolutely perfect.  We have loved telling Lily all about when she was born and recalling the moments of the last week.  We are learning more about this little one every day.  

Sisters!  A bond that will never be broken.  A gift from Colin and I to our little ones.

Look what 2.5 years will do to you.

Crafts, baking and band class!

Our little Lilybean is getting so big.  It has been amazing to watch some of her more recent changes.  She is putting together a few different halloween animals here.   She peeled the stickers, placed the glue and copied the examples of where the eyes, wings, feet went and did an amazing job.

So happy with her Owl.

Spider, bat and owl.  She recently went through a growth spurt and did that thing that all kids do.....you put them to bed looking one way and she woke up looking so much older.  

I am trying to soak up every last moment with just one little girl before life becomes a little more fun with two.  Last weekend we made Halloween cookies.  As Colin said we both did a good job, Lily baking and mama being extra patient.

Day two....decorating.  She would pour the sprinkles in one hand, lick them and then put them on the cookie.  Those are the cookies we saved for us.  The others went to everyone else.

Lily goes to band class every Monday and it is the MOST adorable thing in the world.  They work on rhythm,  melody, counting, the alphabet, and other gross motor skills.  She is getting so good at keeping a beat.  She is the student that hangs on the teachers every word.  The second she says to do something, she is there doing it.  She loves to be challenged.  I have some cute videos I will try to attach. 

Ben and Lily playing the drums and counting.

This Monday we celebrated the coming of this new little girl in my belly.  We neglected to get a full group picture but it was my mom, Kalie, Megan and Laura (due in Nov).  They made lunch, we got our toes done and many friends and family wrote the most amazing and inspiring stories of motherhood, birth, sisterhood and being a women.  Thank you all for such a moving and inspirational day.  You all contributed and added to the positive energy and love surrounding this new little life.  We are due on Sunday and awaiting this little girl's entrance into the world.  We are all very anxious to meet her but know that she will come when she is ready.

A little fun and baby sister's room is done!

As we have been moving boxes and unpacking boxes Lily finds the best thing in these boxes and plays with it, wears it, or carries it around until she is board with it....everything but actually putting the items away.  Super helpful!  On this given day she discovered her wings and HAD to wear them for the entirety of the day.

Ok a little out of order.... we have made two or three trips to the orchard to pick raspberries (very little apples in Michigan this year secondary to a HOT spring followed by a freeze), play on the playground, see the animals, ride the tractor and get doughnuts and cider.  Here she is raspberry in hand.

Lily scored big in this house purchase as now she has her very own play structure in the backyard.  Everyday when Colin and Lily get home from work she asks to be swung.  Colin typically has to call it quits after thirty minutes of swinging.  I guess everyone needs to unwind from their day, even when you are two.

After many weeks, days, late nights of work and worrying, the baby's room is finally done.  We still have to put a few pictures up on the walls, get curtains and transfer the infant books from Lily's room to this room but otherwise we are done.  I have spent countless hours worrying and stressing about removing the wall paper, Colin finishing the painting, moving Lily into this room while we finish her room, then moving the rest of the house into this room while it was being painted and me having enough time to unpack the infant boxes, wash the laundry and put it away for this little one before she arrives.  Now I can officially say I feel much, much better.  I will not be pulling a Colleen and breaking the diapers open with scissors whilst changing my little one that just arrived home from the hospital.  My nesting hormones have been crazy for the last two to three months and I/we are finally feeling like we can take a breath.  We always knew it was going to be just fine no matter when this baby arrived and people deal with much more  and we are really blessed but I just WANTED to have this done.  Now it is and I am sure my mind and body needed that. 

The room before hand....baseballs line the ceiling.  We took all of the stuff off the walls before we took the picture.  The color of the room was a dirty beige and with green carpeting it was way to dark.  The lighter color (though a little lighter than we initially wanted) actually opens this small room up.