The Life of Lou

Lillian - 1 Month

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Catching up... I have a feeling I'll be running behind for the next 18 years.

Sweet Lillian-- we love you and can't imagine our family without you! At your 1 Month appointment (which was at 5 weeks... 2nd child problems I guess), you were 9lbs 13oz and 21.25 inches long.

August 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Early August trip to the boat with Bunny & Bear. This was the weekend before Lillian arrived. Little did Andy & I know that we needed that extra time and sleep because Little Miss Lillian was about to make her speedy arrival!

Only two August pictures before Lillian and then we were a family of 4!

Getting ready for Lillan's newborn pictures.

Snoozes for Lillian. Special lunch for Thomas (maybe this little sister thing isn't so bad!).

Mommy & Thomas lunch date.

And then we finally started to make it out of the house again.

Dinner on the front steps while we wait for Daddy to get home from work (hurry home!).

Fun at the park with Tata.

And back to the boat with Bunny & Bear.

Park & Tumbles with Tata. She always captures the best pictures of Thomas!

Life with two littles...

Lillian Wilder

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Lillian Wilder joined us on August 3, 2015 at 3:32am. She had her own plans for her arrival and came into this world on her own speedy timeline.

**If you're not into birth stories, just skip the words and look at sweet Lillian's pictures**

On Sunday, August 2, 2015, my parents joined us at our house for dinner. Little did we know that they'd be coming back just a few hours after they left! I woke up around 11:30pm to go to the bathroom. Nothing unusual for 9 months pregnant, but something felt different. I didn't think I was in labor but wasn't sure.

I laid in bed until 12:30, not able to fall back asleep, so I went to the kitchen to do the dishes. At this point, I was starting to think that I might be in labor (maybe those are contractions!) but also wasn't convinced it wasn't just the aftermath of eating too much for dinner :) I got back in bed and started timing my "contractions" and at 1:40am when Andy rolled over stirring, I took that opportunity to alert him. I was clear that I wasn't sure they were contractions but at some point, I snapped at him for talking to me. He took that as an indication that it was go-time. Andy called my parents who scurried over in record time (even though Andy told them to mosey over!) to our house to be with Thomas. He told me to call the doctor, which I did at 1:50am. By my timing, my contractions were 7-12 minutes apart and that's what I told the doctor. He told me to wait until they were 4 minutes and then go to the hospital.

I took a shower at a leisurely pace, and Andy took my list to finish packing my hospital bag. When I got out of the shower, I told Andy that I was either having an appendicitis or a baby. Either way, we were heading to the hospital. Mom and Dad arrived, I got ready to go, Andy went to pack the car and pull it into the driveway. I was doubled over in pain in the living room and when the contraction subsided (I think by this point, I'd faced the facts that I was in labor), I walked to the car with Dad's help. By the time I got to the car, another contraction was starting. As Dad told Mom when he returned to the house, it doesn't take more than 2 minutes to get to the car! Thankfully there's no traffic in the middle of the night and we made it to the hospital in no time. I did tell Andy to run 2 red lights but told him to slow down as we were approaching the speed camera (I knew it's placement from prior experience...).

We arrived at the hospital around 2:45am and the ER attendant could read the pain on my face and came to get my in a wheelchair. Andy went to park the car, and they wheeled me up to Labor & Delivery. The nurse checked me into my room and then told me I was 7cm. Excuse me, what?! When I checked into the hospital before Thomas was born, I hadn't dilated at all (they gave me a pity 1/2 cm) and wasn't having contractions. This was the complete opposite, and I didn't know what to think. She asked me if I was planning a natural childbirth to which I responded "no, I'd like an epidural immediately, please". She just looked at me and smiled.

Before Andy made it back from the parking garage, 3 more nurses had descended upon my room, lights were on bright and it seemed pretty chaotic. That was the scene when Andy arrived (oh and to add to the chaos, I forgot to have on my packing list-- ID & Insurance Card! Dad had to come to the hospital to bring my wallet.). He said that he knew immediately, that this was happening fast. I hadn't really come to terms with it.

4 minutes after the first check, she checked again and I was at 8cm. I think it was around this point that she told me that I wasn't getting an epidural. Andy said the look in my eyes was a look he's never seen before and hopes to never see again. I was more scared than I've ever been. Next check, 9cm. My doctor still wasn't there ("he's on his way" they kept saying). They had to give me oxygen because Lillian's heart rate was dropping. Andy said they really just couldn't get a good read on her heartbeat because I was writhing in pain which was disrupting the monitors and the oxygen was really for me because I was nearly hyperventilating (uh, of course!).

The hospital doctor came into the room just in case my doc didn't make it but thankfully, he arrived literally in the nick of time. He pulled on his scrubs over his clothes, checked me and then said it's time to push.

3 quick pushes later he said he needed 1 more. I didn't believe him. I pushed for 3 hours with Thomas. I had heard the "one more push" line before! I couldn't give him "1 more push" over and over for 3 hours! But he really meant it, one more push and there she was!

At 3:32am Lillian Wilder made her entrance in quite the memorable way. She wanted to make sure we knew who was calling the shots now. It took me a few minutes to realize what had happened. I remember the nurse saying "it's ok, she's just in a bit of shock" as I just stared. Hadn't we just pulled up to the hospital 45 minutes earlier? Is this really possible? But it was. Lillian had arrived, weighing in at 7lbs even and measuring 19.5" long. She is perfect.

July 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Well, I almost got caught up before LouLou arrived! Here's July and LouLou's arrival post next!

Some family fun over 4th of July weekend.

Snuggles and sillies in Baby Sister's room.

Mommy & Thomas trip to the zoo.

Nature Center with Tata (I think Tania will forever be called Tata by Thomas. Thankfully she finds it endearing.).

Big trip to the Building Museum with Tata! They took the "Metro Choo Choo"!

At the end of my pregnancy, I couldn't bend over to do baths so we moved them to the sink!

It's been the summer of ice cream!

Sprinkle for Lou Lou

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:00:00 +0000

I could not be more blessed! Thomas, Bunny and I headed over to Stacy's for what I thought was lunch with her mom, but I was wrong!

Thomas spotted everyone around the corner first and then I realized what was going on... a surprise sprinkle for Lou Lou!

Beautiful party, wonderful friends and generous gifts for Baby Girl!

June 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 09:00:00 +0000

More fun adventures with Tania! Splash Pads, Nature Center, Tumbles, and the park!

Snuggles with Mama. Thomas is not a snuggler, but recently he's been a bit more agreeable to snuggles, especially if I let him watch a TV show (Dora being his current fave).

More time with my sweets... Whit's Baptism Brunch, park time, breakfast in the stroller while I got some exercise, trip to the paint store for Baby Sister's room and a walk with super-chill Baby Whit!

One day, which was blissfully cool for late June, we joined Bunny and Bear on Dalliance for the day. Thomas loved it!

Thomas got a 12 hour stomach bug (which thank goodness, no one else caught!) which meant lots of snuggle time and Mickey Mouse pancakes when he was all better!

May 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 09:00:00 +0000

May was another great month in the life of Thomas!

Tania took Thomas to the zoo for the first time, and he loved it!

The next day, Bunny and I took him on the Metro-Choo-Choo to the National Air and Space Museum. He got to fly an airplane! Another successful adventure and I was very grateful that admission was free as a toddler's attention span (and a pregnant and hungry mom's) isn't very long.

Thomas' first night in his new bed! He did great and never asked about his crib again!

During his first week in his new bed, I was still on edge about how he was going to do. So when I looked at the monitor one night and he was missing (!!), I freaked out, went in his room to check. He was passed out on his Big Blue Bear :)

Jumping!! It must be pretty cool when little ones learn to jump because Thomas was obsessed with jumping when he mastered the skill.

Morning walks with my buddy, lots of park trips, a cookie date, books at the library with Tania.

A Memorial Day Weekend visit to Mrs. Moseley's pool with the big kids. Thomas loved it and probably wore out Andy with all the jumping (while I relaxed in the shade... pregnancy excuses come in handy sometimes!).

Thomas loves the hose and really water in general. Most afternoons we end up in the backyard with the hose and his water table. He thinks it's hysterical to spray me... "Thomas sprays Mommy! Mommy says 'AHHH'"

Summertime visits to Westwood-- putting with Daddy and post-swim snuggles with Mommy.

Farm Trip!

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 09:00:00 +0000

In late April, Thomas, TomTom, CiCi and I hopped on a plane to the Farm!

It was the first flight that Thomas got his own seat and that was a game changer. He thought it was awesome-- watching unlimited Mickey while eating Teddy Grahams? Pretty awesome day for Thomas (and when his Teddy Grahams ran out... there were Cheddar Bunnies!).

Our little city boy had a great time living the country life-- lots of dirt, learning to drive with Bear, a visit to see Daisy-the-Moo-Cow (Bobby Bob's pet cow who was summering in the city before returning to the country), morning snuggles on the porch, popsicles in the bathtub, jam sessions with Bear and a visit from Lissa! We didn't want to leave.

Easter Egg Hunt & Easter Day

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Loved the Easter Bunny (with candy!). Wasn't so sure about the balloon making clown.

The Easter Bunny also made a stop at our house and hid some eggs for Thomas on Easter Morning.

Attempt at a family picture but the two year old wasn't as into it as he was the Easter eggs.

So when all other methods fail, turn him upside down and tickle!

April 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

April's theme was definitely "yay for spring, let's go to the park!"

Cardinal's littlest banker found his daddy in the annual report!

Thomas loves to "drive mommy's car".

Enjoying lots of springtime outside!

Tumbles!!

Thomas accompanied me to the doctor to "check on baby sister".

Playdates, parks and walks.

Car Carts!

Thomas didn't want what I had served for dinner so he decided to hide.

Putting with Daddy!

2 Years!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 19:00:00 +0000

And just like that, he's 2! While I can't remember the specifics of what Thomas was up to when he turned two, I did manage to get his pictures... or at least I tried.

Thomas Turns 2!!

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Balloons and cupcakes on Thomas' birthday!

A small celebration for our favorite little boy!

Car Carts

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Thomas was staying with Bunny & Bear while Andy & I traveled to Arizona when we got this video...

Cute, eh? Well, later, I told my parents that they were "officially grandparents" as they spoiled Thomas and then returned him to his parents :) Thomas now refuses to go to the grocery unless he can drive a car cart. Needless to say, we know which grocery stores have car carts and which ones don't!

March 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

February 2015 - Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 19:00:00 +0000

February 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Winters with an on-the-go toddler are challenging! Lots of arts and crafts projects.

Playdates with little buddies.

My Valentine's Day Date. Sweet, eh? About sums up all pictures with Thomas around the age of 2.

Stickers! Thanks to Grandma, Thomas became sticker obsessed.

Thomas and Reeve celebrating their grandmother's birthdays.

Snuggles with Bunny and hoping for sunnier weather.

What it looks like trying to get a coat on a 2 year old... and he wasn't throwing a tantrum, he just thought it was hysterical.

Snow!

Baby Sister

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

January 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Breakfast date and dinner date with my little man.

Mommy vs Thomas at naptime. I won this one...

Breakfast at the Diner with Bunny & Bear.

Taking advantage of the mild weather for a walk before the snow.

Snow and my little snow sweeping helper.

December 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

December Dallas Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Fall Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 19:00:00 +0000

November 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:00:00 +0000

Grandma's 90th

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:00:00 +0000

Halloween 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Anyone still there? The Life of Lou is stuck in October 2014 which is a problem because Lou Lou is set to join our family in a few short weeks (2 weeks and 2 days if anyone is counting). So it's time to speed through time and get caught up before her arrival. And it's going to happen because I've already done all the posts and scheduled them :)

October 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Cameron) — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:00:00 +0000