Our Three Musketeers

Out of 20 pictures taken, this is the best I could get of our three musketeers together!

Sweet big brother, Peter, with his "baby sister." He refuses to call her by her name. I do not have any pictures of Rigby with her yet because he is still in the ignoring stage.

Here are some pictures for comparison:

Adeline - 2 days old
Rigby - 1 day old

Peter - 1 week old

Introducing Adeline Afton Flamm

Adeline was born Monday, March 26th at 5:16 p.m. CST weighing in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. and measuring 20 1/2 inches long.

She is a little swollen in these pictures, so she is actually not this chubby now.

I thought this warming table was interesting. Right after the nurses cleaned her up, they placed her on this table. The little heart on her tummy senses her temperature and keeps the air around her at a certain temperature.

Birth Story

Monday morning I started to feel some contractions that were a little more regular and stronger than usual, but I was not sure if they were just braxton hicks or the real thing. I called Scott and let him know that he should probably come home just in case. Since Rigby's birth was a little fast (I started feeling contractions a mere 2.5 hours before he was born), I was a little paranoid about making it to the hospital. As he was heading home, I decided that my water had officially broken and I was not just sweating a lot or wetting my pants. My water has broken with all 3 kids, but every time has been so different that I am never sure: 1) with Peter I never clued into the slow leaking of fluid over a few days; so by the time contractions began, Peter had very little fluid left--not good; 2) with Rigby I think it broke while I was sleeping and gushed out during the quick shower I took before we took off for the hospital; 3) with Adeline it was little gushes of liquid every few minutes.

Anyway, I called my friend from the ward, and she came to pick up the boys. A few minutes later, Scott arrived home and when we reached the hospital I was mostly effaced and dilated to a 4. Unfortunately, it took another 1.5 hours to dilate to a 6, so no super fast delivery this time. I opted for an epidural, but started to freak out when the anesthesiologist was ready to stick me. I associated epidurals with Peter's delivery which was very traumatic and hard for me, and I associated a natural delivery with Rigby's birth which was extremely painful, but also amazing and easy (if you can call labor easy;). After 10 minutes of thinking it over, I pulled myself together and got the epidural. During the next hour pain was at a minimal and life was good; I was glad I had gotten the epidural. However, within less than one minute I went from feeling great to feeling very nauseated, dizzy, and almost ready to loose consciousness. Several nurses came into the room and started to give me medication and help me get on my hands and knees to boost my blood pressure and Addy's heart rate. Scott said my BP got down to 60/30 and Addy's HR got down to 70 bpm. The medication quickly fixed the problem, but I am now permanently terrified to get an epidural ever again. Although I know it is not my fault, I still cried and felt so horrible about my desire to not feel pain at the expense of my baby's health. On the other hand, I am terrified to feel the pain of natural labor again! About two hours after that drama (7 hours of labor), I pushed for 5 minutes and our sweet little girl was born!

My Mom was planning to come one week after my due date, but since Addy decided to come 10 days early, she bought a last minute ticket for the next day. Scott and the boys picked her up at the airport and began heading to the hospital when one of our tires decided to fall apart on the freeway.

They spent one hour along the small left shoulder of the freeway. Every time a large vehicle passed by the car would shake, so they were unable to safely put on the spare. Thankfully, they were safe until the tow truck came and dropped them off at a gas station where Scott could put on the spare tire.

Scott and my mom were frazzled by the time they reached the hospital, but the boys were still extremely excited and wound up about riding in the big truck. A 4 and 2 year old in a hospital room is a little stressful, so they only stayed for 30 minutes before heading home.

Sorry there are no more pictures at the hospital. Things were so crazy that we did not have the time or presence of mind to remember. In the end, I am just thankful that the tire incident did not cause an accident and that everybody arrived home safely. We have decided it was also a blessing that my mom was there to help out rather than it being Scott or I alone with the kids.

I am also so thankful that our baby girl made it here safely as well. We all love her so much already, and I am excited to see her with her Daddy and brothers. We love you "Sweet Adeline!"

Boys and Their Toys

Scottie, Rigby, and Peter with their toys.

Scott ordered some custom saws for his Christmas present this last year and they finally arrived! I think Peter and Rigby were just as excited to open and look at them as Scott was. Peter was so excited that he grabbed his plastic play saws and insisted I take a picture of them as well.

Then, very sweetly Peter decided to share a toy saw with Rigby for the pictures. I guess Rigby was insulted because he angrily tossed it aside and grabbed a real one. As you can tell from the picture below, Rigby's eyes were riveted and hands were glued to the "real thing." It is so funny to see such stubbornness come out of our usually laid back little boy.

Grandma Stewart's Visit

My Mom was able to come help me with the kids and visit during part of the time Scott was gone on a work trip to Africa in February. It was great to have another adult to talk with after almost a week by myself with the kids. We were also able to accomplish a lot of things I have been wanting to do before the baby is born. We cooked about 5 meals to stick into the freezer and we were also able to tie and bind the jean quilts for the boys that I was suppose to finish at Christmas.

They were both in such crazy and goofy moods during these pictures.

This picture is such a typical Rigby expression. Peter usually communicates his emotions by his actions and verbally; Rigby, on the other hand, subtly communicates his emotions by facial expressions-especially through his eyes.(I LOVE this picture. The boys love it too because they think it is cool that they have red eyes:)

We were also able to have some fun and visit the zoo. Rigby has not been to the zoo since he was a baby, so it was a new and memorizing experience for him; in fact, we had a hard time getting him to cooperate for pictures because his attention was so riveted on the animals.

Rigby, Grandma Stewart, and Peter with the elephants.

Peter wanted to be like the grown-ups and take pictures with my cell phone. As you can tell from his facial expression, he was pretty serious about his task.

The anteater was one of Peter's favorites.
Here is Peter trying to restrain Rigby for a picture in front of Africa (very appropriate since Scott had just gone there for work).
Peter LOVED the noise and chaos of the drums in the Africa Forest.
Rigby enjoyed brushing the goats (these poor animals must be drugged or half dead to let kids do this to them day in and day out).

Rigby also LOVED playing peek-a-boo on the little playground.

We decided to end our zoo visit in the air conditioned buildings. Both boys LOVED the reptile building. Their favorites were the snakes (or "nakes" as Rigby called them) and the albino alligator.
Rachel, Rigby, and Peter with the albino alligator.
*Excuse my chubby prego face.

Rigby was absolutely fascinated by the fish.

One last zoo story: While we were watching the elephants, one of them started to do it's business and pooped for about 5 minutes straight. So now whenever we mention elephants, Peter talks about how the elephant was pooping while he was trying to take a picture. I know it is a gross story, but I think it is absolutely funny when my little boy talks about it. It is good we are having a girl next because I think my humor is becoming tainted by my silly boys!

Thank you for visiting and helping Mom! The boys also want to say thanks for their toys. Rigby has to find his "Nemo fish" and Peter has to find his white alligator before every bath.

Rigby's 2nd Birthday

Since Peter's birthday is on two weeks before Rigby's, Rigby knew what to expect and was very excited. My usually calm, non-expressive little boy (minus the 2 year old tantrums that have begun) grinned ear-to-ear the ENTIRE day; it was incredibly cute!

Here is Rigby with his sweet grin.

Rigby chose the fire-engine cake at the store and I attempted to decorate it. However, I had an emotional break-down because things were NOT working out (I blame it partly on pregnancy:). I begged Scott to let me take fists full of the hideously ugly cake and throw it into the trash, but he insisted the cake must be finished. So, he took the next 10 minutes to ice the cake while I switched between bawling and laughing because I was so upset and yet knew how ridiculously dramatic I was being. I'll admit my tantrum rivaled Peter's abilities (and I wonder where he gets it from ;).

Rigby loved his blue fire engine cake!
Things do not have to be perfect-lesson learned (for now).

Rigby also LOVED all of the attention he was getting. Usually Peter steals most of the spotlight. In fact, Peter told me he was going to destroy all birthdays (except his) because he was so incredibly jealous of all the attention Rigby was getting. Scott and I had a lot of talks about how he was not being nice and how sad he would feel if someone destroyed his birthday. Finally, I got him excited by letting him pick out gifts for Rigby: a little doggie pillow pet and bubble bath (that maybe Rigby would share); that seemed to work him out of his dramatic state.

Rigby got little Buzz, Woody, and Bullseye figurines. He also got counting cookies in a jar, money, and a book from grandparents/family.

He finished off with a fire engine that makes noises.

Sorry for all the drama Peter and I caused on your birthday Rigster. Good thing you are so sweet, calm, and patient like your Daddy. We love you sweet Rigby!