Bringing Home Baby

Sunday the 21st was Chris and my 12th wedding anniversary! Though we had had plans to go out to the Melting Pot for dinner and a movie the night before, we had a baby instead:). Chris took the kids to church and then they all came to see me later. Then later that night Maki and Sophie came to hang out and Soph just wanted to hold Charlotte forever. The hospital gave us a cute Santa hat for her to wear.

The next day it was time to come home! The whole gang wanted to be there to bring home baby. We got her changed into her little going home outfit and then waited for the nurse to bring the wheelchair. It was a rainy, cozy day.
Mom and her 4 little punkins!


Last little snooze in the bassinet.

Maggie checking Charlotte out in her carseat.

It was so nice to be home! My mom and dad had the house all cleaned and the fireplace on. We gave Charlotte a bath and everyone wanted snuggle time.


Feeding Charlotte has been a challenge. She had gone down to 6 lbs. 11oz. in the hospital and hadn't pooped in a day. So we were a little stressed. Breastfeeding has always been difficult for me and even though I wanted it to be successful, we were concerned that she was eating. So I started pumping and now she is doing great. I'm pumping every meal right now and it's quite time consuming. I'm not sure how long I'll be able to last with it, but it's working okay for now and I'm glad she's getting "the good stuff".

Charlotte is Born!

After what felt like a forever pregnancy, our little one is finally here! After that one night of false labor that thankfully brought daddy home I had mixed feelings about wanting to have her out. I wanted to meet her and not be pregnant anymore, but I also knew I had so much to do that would be a lot harder once she got here. And I'm funny about dates, I wanted her to be born on an even number day. So I had many suggestions on how to get her out sooner, but I decided she knew when the best day would be (though I didn't want to be in the hospital on Christmas!).

On the night of December 19th I had a contraction that woke me up at about 12:30. I didn't think much of it other than it kinda hurt. An hour later I had another one and then the next hour another. When I finally had another at 4:30 I decided to wake Chris up and let him know. I still wasn't totally sure because they were so infrequent, but they hurt pretty bad when they did come. I decided to shower and get ready and we left for the hospital at almost 6:00 so they could check me out. We left the kids with my parents and told them we would call when we knew anything.

We got checked in and they hooked me up to the monitors. I wasn't really having many contractions but they decided to check me and I was already 8 cm dilated!! I totally panicked because I so wanted an epidural and I was afraid it was too late. I did not want to do without again, it is no fun. Chris called my mom and she rushed over to be there too.

Luckily when they wheeled me into delivery the anesthesiologist was ready to go. The epidural insertion was actually the most uncomfortable part of the whole delivery. I think I put a permanent dent in Chris's shoulder I was squeezing him so hard.


But as soon as it was in the Dr. was there and said I was ready to push whenever I wanted. So on the next contraction I went for it and out came her head and in the next push she was out!

Charlotte Elizabeth Roberts

7 lbs. 5oz. 20 1/2"

December 20th, 2008 7:29 a.m.

So she came before Christmas, on a nice even numbered day and the delivery was easy peasy as far as deliveries go. I just had one little stitch and my recovery has been really easy too. It was the first time I was actually anxious to out of the hospital and get home.

Charlotte with delivery Dr. Hong

Maki got a Charlotte footprint stamped on her arm:).

Charlotte bonding moments with mom...

...and Dad

Charlotte loved her first bath, especially when they put her head under the facet.

New babies are so peaceful and it's such a sweet, spiritual experience.

The kids were so excited to come and meet their new sister and to see mom. And it was so good to see them.

It's been so fun to see the kid's reactions to her. They just love her. Sam who was so indifferent and not too excited, just adores her.

Sophie just wants to hold her all the time and not be away from her. At this point Maggie is fascinated watching her, but did not want to hold her yet.
It was a great day, I also got a visit with flowers and treats from my good friend Jane and her husband Jonathan. It was so nice.

Finally she was here.

Sophie's Piano Recital

Sophie had her holiday piano concert on December 13th. It was so nice because Daddy was home to see it and Papa and Maki were there as well.

This year she played "What Child is This" as a duet with her friend Brenna and solo she played "Queen's March". She did a perfect job.

Brenna and Sophie with their wonderful Russian teacher, Irina Fenessey.

It was a fabulous concert and we all went out to eat at Chili's afterward. Great job Soph!

Update....

Well life has a way....

As most of you know we have been planning for months to move to Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Chris has been working there since the end of August. I have been holding down the fort and packing and growing a baby. The plan was that the kids would be going with Chris and his mom so the kids could start school there and then I would come as soon as I could get the baby's passport in line.

It has been a bit precaurious as the company was trying to find us a house. The real estate market there is just insane with things being snatched up the second they're available with the rents escalating by the minute. Not to mention you have to pay for your rent a year in advance.
We were also trying to get the kids into a good school and we weren't having the best luck with that either.

But we have had faith all along that things would work out. We were so excited for this opportunity for our family on so many levels. We just knew things would fall into place the way they were supposed to as we really felt this was where we were supposed to be at this time.

Well....Monday we got a call from the company letting us know that they have not been able to find us a house and they we need to put off having the family come over.
So what does this mean? Well, for now Chris will be going back alone on the 30th and I will be here with the kids and now a newborn and we will be apart - again :(.

That's really all I can say for now as we don't know what the future holds. But we are not any different from many other families struggling at this time with work and finances. So we carry on with faith and prayers that our Heavenly Father is aware of us and everything that's going on. We have always relied on his knowledge of of our needs better than ours and things have always worked out in the end. Even if it's not the way we thought it would.

We so appreciate all the support, prayers, and love from everyone at this time. It is so crazy! We are living in a half-way packed up house, expecting a baby to come any minute and now not knowing where we'll end up. I guess we wait and see.....and maybe someday we'll understand all the whys. For now we are doing our best to enjoy the Christmas season and all the hope and love it brings.

Christmas Cheer

We had a nice family night visiting Fashion Island and the giant tree.

Best "sissies"

My handsome boy

I love my kids!

Baby Shower!

Another reason I'm glad I didn't have the baby is that I didn't miss my baby shower! It was Thursday night and it was so nice.

Me and my girls

My awesome party planners: Natalie Affleck, Jane Posner, and Rachel Westfall. Thanks friends!!

The darling bath favors that Jane made (with a "C" for Charlotte) and cute gifties from Natalie.

Natalie had it at her house and it was so cozy! She had her Christmas decorations up and had pink roses and candles everywhere. The colors were brown and pink and the food was fabulous!

I really appreciate all the work and effort, especially at this time of year.So glad my mom was here to share the festivities.

My friend Patrice and her daughter, Sophie's bestest friend, Amanda.

Kim, Patience, Elizabeth, Teresa, Abi and Pam :)

Sophie and Maggie loved helping me open all the cute gifts.

The darling diaper cake from Rachel.

Me and Kim Hunter

It was such a nice, relaxing evening and I'm so grateful for good friends. Thanks everyone!

False Labor = Hubby Home!

Wednesday the 3rd my mom and I were out shopping and I was having contractions for most of the day. I got home and realized if I'm having a baby there is so much I have not done! I went into nesting mode and cleaned and organized and packed my hospital bag and sent my mom out for some random baby stuff I needed. Then I resting and starting timing. The contractions were coming every 10 min., sometimes less and some very painful. But I still wasn't sure if I should leave for the hospital or not.
I called Chris crying because, well, he's clear on the other side of the world. He knows how fast I have a baby once I'm in labor. So he was telling me to go now! But I waited until from midnight 'till 1:00 they were 7 min. apart. So I called my doc and she told me to go to hospital and get checked out.
Ironically Chris had a plane ticket from when he was originally going to come home on the 5th (he had a new ticket to come home on the 12th) , so he decided to pack up and head home thinking he'd be coming home to a new baby.

Picture Jane took on our way out the door.

After a one in the morning call to my friend Jane who ran over to be with the kids (thanks Jane!), my mom and I headed to the hospital. I was still only 2cm when they checked me and the contractions got sporadic. So....my doctor told them to have me walk the halls for an hour and check me again. From 2:30 to 3:30 my mom and I walked in circles around the maternity ward. We actually had a lot of fun joking around and getting worried calls from Chris. I was still having contractions but they weren't getting worse.

A lovely picture of me hooked up to the monitors.

They checked me again after our time was up and I was still at 2cn and there were fewer contractions, bummer! There is nothing worse than getting sent home from the hospital when you think you are about to have your baby. I have never had false labor before, and usually when labor starts I have to move fast or I'll have my baby at home. So this was a new experience for us.

And....all things work out in the end. Chris was already taking his flight and so that meant he would be there for the birth. Plus I got to have him home a week early!
There would have been no other day that Chris would have been able to take that flight. If this had happened earlier in the week, he would have known not to get on the flight and if it had happened later in the week, he would have missed it. So we feel that it was meant to be that he was supposed to come home. And our new little one just didn't want to come until her daddy was here to greet her:).