Everett is here!

Well it's been FOREVER since I've updated the blog... and 2013 has been a HUGE year for us... 

we hit san diego for a family vacation for my 29th birthday... the zoo, animal park and beach were a hit! Then shortly after the trip we found out our landlord wanted to sell... well in february we had an offer in on ONE house we loved and the SAME DAY we heard news he wanted to sell... we found out our offer was accepted!! (short sales take FOREVER! but it was worth it!) during the loan application time, Ryan went to scout camp (and LOVED it!) and I was dealing with the paperwork of getting approved (not fun!) all this while packing up and pregnant. We had to close on our house in 30 days, so pressure was ON! THEN we finally closed... and the renovations began. We had about 2 weeks before the end of august to tear out old carpet, install new carpet, tile, mask and tape the house, and install baseboards and patch a dog door- AND pack and move all of our things... oh and I was about 25 weeks pregnant too :) I was also promoting twice with my company so I had an August 31st deadline to get a $10,000 bonus so it was a tad crazy! THEN we also had Ryan's captain's wedding in California so we moved our stuff, cleaned the old house, did the inspection and left for a seven hour drive for three days. Over labor day- we were EXHAUSTED after renovating and moving and cleaning and driving and traveling and promoting and being pregnant. It's been a few months... we had hailyn's fifth birthday (post coming soon) and halloween and Thanksgiving in Flagstaff. Then Christmas and a baby... but for now we will focus on the baby... because it is fresh in my mind and I'm trying to be better about family history and updating ect. SO here it is...

I had been having contractions since 35 weeks... but nothing major- I started the red raspberry tea leaf caspules and those are AWESOME (started at 34 weeks) on our drive to California, Ryan and I settled on a name for baby boy... Everett... we felt it was 'right' but the middle name was up for debate... I worried on our Flagstaff trip I would have the baby my contractions were so intense at night... but they didn't last long. So I had been contracting all through thanksgiving and Christmas (Christmas came a week early at our house.. santa made an exception;) I was dialating and that was exciting since with hailyn I was at a zero at induction! Then at my last drs appt on dec 19 they said i was still a 2-3. I was crushed. I had been there for a while. So they told me to get things going and I forced them to schedule an induction date (so I wouldn't have to go back on the 23 a monday and be induced on Christmas day or Christmas Eve) well they set the day for the 23 (my due date) 730. Ryan was working the sunday before so he raced from work to come meet me at the hospital (poor tired man) and Brandon came and picked me and kids up at 630am to drop me off and the kids to ryan's mom. Well hospital called on our way and pushed me back to 9am- so Brandon drove straight to Ryan's mom and Ryan met us there. (thanks Brandon!) 

Then we left kiddos and walked around walmart, (near Christmas! yikes! it wasn't too bad still early in morning) and then went to fry's, went to the outlet mall, called at nine and they pushed me back to noon. So we ate lunch at chillis and I could barely touch my spicy chicken I was contracting hard. 

At noon we went in, they pushed me back to 700pm. I was crushed. I felt I was putting everyone out, everyone and Ryan was tired and I was having contractions. I was so sad. Everyone was so supportive though. Ryan and I drive home, I slammed castor oil (after Hailyn I swore I would never again) but I did it with 32 ounces of OJ and it wasn't bad. Then we napped and when I woke up my contractions were 4 minutes apart! We went to the hospital picking up KFC on the way (since I learned my lesson about not eating- I need food to push people!) and the charge nurse tried to say the dr doesn't want you to deliver at 3 or 4 am- I said well tough my contractions are four minutes apart now soooo... they admitted me.:) I was at a four- YES! most I have ever been on my own (thanks red raspberry!) 

They got me going and had to break my water (but luckily it wasn't as bad as with Silas) FUN FACT: I delivered Silas and Everett in the same hospital room :) 269!! 

Ok tangents... 

So then th contractions came hard and fast... They finally gave me an epidural and had to go back and give me the real good drugs :) then I slept and so did Ryan. They had to wake me at midnight and tell me it was time to push. NEVER had that happen I knew with both kiddos and I certainly didn't SLEEP in labor! I asked them... PLEASE let me sleep another hour? they laughed. So we started pushing. My nurse Chrissi was awesome and gave me BEST push advice EVER and after nine pushes he was here. No screaming, no scaring other hospital patrons. I pushed 25 minutes- that's it. AWESOME SAUCE! I remember saying to Dr. Pack- that's it? He was there maybe an hour start to finish. They let him stay on my chest for a while and he latched on right away- easiest delivery, latching to date! 

Here I am on the 22, the day before induction (SO glad I went on my own!) getting ready to chase two babies at church 40 weeks preggo :) Christmas program! 

Welcome to the world Everett Van Paul Tidwell! Born 12/24/13 at 12:49am. 8lbs 14 ounces and 20.5 inches long. 5.5 hours of labor at hospital- easy peasy! 

Here is Ryan feeding him. Because he was big they needed to do some sugar level testing. I knew he was fine I have big babies but after his levels dropped a little after breastfeeding they encouraged us to flush out anything with some formula so Ryan got to feed him quickly after birth too (he's such a good daddy:) 

I got NO sleep in the hospital- maybe two hours each night- ryan 'slept' but those couches....

Here he is snuggling me in the middle of the night- I just held him.... he could hear my heart beat- it was heaven!

Morning loves... My view Christmas eve morning... smitten

We had a hard time choosing the middle name and finally settled on Van Paul. Ryan loves Van and I wanted Paul because it's a family name on both sides and it is Silas' missionary companion in Bible and I love the brotherly connection. It felt right. We got down to the wire though- Everett was easy to settle on. :)

I know it's a long post but I wanted to document the story... a few other FUN FACTS:
My discharge nurse Jodi was my labor nurse with Silas and a dear friend of our best friends mom Cathy York (Brandon's mom!) and was our nurse with Hailyn. So that was tender. She remembered me too :)

Our hearing test with Everett the first time did NOT go well- he made it 80% of the way and ripped the cords out- then he got another one- the gal who did it is the daughter in law of Ryan's mom's best friend. And this is why I love delivering at San Martin :)

Ryan left on Christmas Eve night to have dinner with his family and play with our other babies :) My sister Mel came to the hospital (no pics) and then Christmas morning we were discharged. We left, found the only open CVS on Christmas day, filled prescriptions and then went to his mom's for breakfast and to pick up the babies. It was quite a sight to see all three kiddos packed into our little Saturn :) We came home, slept, woke up and ate a casserole (thanks frozen meals!) the kids had presents from awesome friends for being a good big brother and big sister- so we opened those. I will also post about the kiddos Christmas Eve fun with the grandparents and our own Christmas day we did- it was the best Christmas ever. I loved being pregnant during this time, I thought a lot about Mary and how she must have felt carrying our Savior and I reflected a lot on the kind of woman, wife, and mother I want to be. I also felt slightly connected to her as they kept turning me away from the hospital... nothing in comparison to Mary but just the tiredness she must have felt and how Joseph made her as comfortable as possible- that was my Ryan :)

UPDATE: we've been home a few days... we took down Christmas on the 26 and that night I think I over did it- woke up with severe chills and aches and could barely walk. We packed kids and took them to grandmas in morning and took Everett to his first check up hoping I could see the dr after. The Drs was closed they were at henderson office so we drove there. With my milk coming in and my four hours TOTAL of sleep my body didn't respond well. We went to get kids from his moms and Silas was sleeping so with no supplies or diapers for Everett, I took a nap, and we finally got home at 3pm. It was a long long day. Ryan forced me to rest and I am doing much better- my labs came back ok (they rushed them to make sure it wasn't an infection like with Hailyn). So Ryan has been taking GOOD care of us all :) and I'm trying to not do TOO much and rest.

A catch up...

I really do need to be better about documenting life on this here blog... especially since it's our only form of a family journal... ahhh with that being said...

life is as usual crazy as ever! Ryan has been working a ton and trying to get a class done in a short amount of time so it's been a lot of me and the kiddos hanging out... a lot.

AND I am still running my crazy wrap business- it's awesome!! If you haven't tried a wrap yet. TRY ONE! they are life changing people! So that's keeping me preeeeety busy!! I also have a busy calling with visiting teaching coordinator and I LOVE it!

Hailyn is in this 'super' phase- everything is 'super awesome' or she's a 'super sister' or it's 'super great' basically it's my favorite thing ever and I want to record every single thing she says because she is so dang funny these days. Love her personality. She is kind, caring, but holds her own in a good way- like she won't be pressured by boys in high school kinda way- I like that about her. She is smart as a whip and just plain funny! She is staying busy in dance class where she goes once a week to Ms. Stephanie and she loves it, speech twice a week (although she is speaking so much more clearly these days we think she just loves Ms. Shaylee and Ms. Dana- hahaa) and preschool which is twice a week- at Ryan and I's former high school. So bizarre.

Silas will be one in 11 days and I wanna cry when I think about it. He is the easiest, happiest, smiley baby ever. Such a joy! no one can make him laugh quite like his sister and I love seeing the bond they have- I hope they always love each other like that (one can dream right?)

So there's a brief synopsis... I need to post pics... I have some good ones. In the meantime time to answer emails!

oh and check out my new website www.wonderwrapgirls.com

happy thursday!

A New Year... a NEW resolution!

ok, I am OFFICIALLY horrible at updating my blog- and considering this is our 'family journal' well, with how little I update it, it's an abomination! So, one of my new year's resolutions is to update our family history a little bit better... soooo in the spirit of 'catching up' and the fact that I need to download a million pictures from my iphone to the computer... here are some pictures of this little beauty at dance class!

She goes once a week (during naptime- so on mondays- we don't nap!) but she LOVES it! A friend of mine Stephanie from our old ward (we miss you Southern Highlands ward!) teaches and she is AMAZING! Hailyn LOVES it and not to brag she has a killer turnout and she practices all the time at home :) I always said I wouldn't force my kids to do an activity but she loves it and it's just fun! Life as usual has been CRAZY! I have a million pictures and updates to do- maybe one a day til I get caught up- wouldn't THAT be revolutionary?! I also need to PRINT THIS BLOG and make it into a book- thoughts on how to do that? In the meantime I am going to go work on my work website (oiy!) and get Hailyn ready for preschool as we leave in 40 minutes and we are both still in pajamas...

Hailyn turns 4! (and updates)

I am TERRIBLE about keeping up with my blog these days! SO much has happened- we moved, I started a business, two kids... Hailyn in preschool... it's insane! But wonderful... This little miss

Ok, so here's little miss turning four- and a family pic of the four of us- to show we are here too:) haha! Hailynn at 4 is AWESOME!I want to freeze both kids at this age and just keep them this little. We did a taco night for her and then another celebration at Aunt Jen's house complete with in n out and cupcakes and toys galore (Jen spoils us:) and Mimzy got Hailyn some sweet clothes (my kid is dressed super well in the winter months:) We plan to take her to a movie (Frankenweinee or Hotel Transylvania) this week too. LOVE this baby girl... Silas is six months old and melts my heart every day! EVERYONE notices how HAPPY he is- he is just happy- all the time! I love it! Plus he snuggles me a lot! He is into carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, he will eat pears and applesauce but those aren't his favorites- he also doesn't like peaches:) He is SO my kid! haha!He has been teething FOREVER and we are waiting for them to show through... Watching Hailyn and Silas together is the sweetest thing in the world- if he cries, she goes over and comforts him and he starts smiling at her! I swear this baby RARELY cries- he is so GOOD! Just a GOOD baby! So lucky! I love BOTH my babies like CRAZY! Ryan is good- he is in school right now too so we see him maybe one day a week... it's bananas. Excited for December to come just to ease up a bit. He's serving in scouts now and loves it! I started my own business selling skinny wraps and I swear I am MEANT to do this- these products- this wrap- changed my body and my life- LOVING it! I have been traveling, wrapping, partying, working out, having conference calls... making money! we are hoping to buy our dream house soon:) loving it! loving life! I promise I will be better with updates... up next... HALLOWEEN!

Life with two kids...

Everyone has bee asking me 'how is life now with two kids?' I honestly don't know HOW to answer that... See we have been on fast forward mode since Hailyn was born... moving then (ugh) a short sale (ugh) a new career for Ryan, me opening a school and working with H beside me for three years... it was tiring... to say the least... So having little man here, we immediately started to look for a more affordable home so I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK!!! (YAY!!!) then right as we moved Ryan's little sister Kylee got married and well I went into wedding planning mode (yuuuup!) So after three am feedings I was trying to finish favors for the shower and unpack a box... But sleep deprivation? I've done it for YEARS so I was trained for that... multitasking? BRING IT I am super great at that too (not to brag but hey I can't sew or cook so I need SOMETHING people) Honestly adjusting to the new ward is the hardest part for me. They are great and I know some people- I just really really really miss my old ward...and stake... a lot... I'm sure when we finally meet the bishop and people it'll be good- I am nervous there is a nursery teacher vacancy... Now we are in June... it is still busy... but oh my I LOVE life with two kids!!! It helps Silas is a super sweet easy baby... I'm so smitten with him it's not even funny- and Hailyn is an amazing big sister- that helps a ton!! Also Silas only scoots right now- I am sure when he is a toddler I will be singing a different song... So I never had a chance to 'adjust' to life with just one really, Hailyn was always around kids, so having two is pretty manageable (for me) so I am happy with two for now... hope that sticks :)

throw a wedding in the mix...

Wow, in true 'Lacie' fashion let me update my blog... once a month. Sheesh I need to be better about it (especially since this is the only family 'journaling' I do) yaoza- family history... scrapbooking... yep should get on that... except life has been truly INSANE! from my last blog post that was a short novel, life has been crazy. We moved and all, our anniversary (Panda and packing, we DID get to go out later though:) moving and then I planned Ryan's little sister's wedding... yep. In all the craziness let's toss a wedding in there:) so why did I plan it? Ryan's mom is yw presidnet and camp director basically and she was SWAMPED with things- it was a super short engagement (She got engaged when Silas was born- well that weekend before)I said 'hey I'll plan your wedding!!' thinking it would be in September...(not to brag but I am a great planner- thank you student council) nope- MAY!! ok then!! oh have I mentioned I love this girl? a ton! I wanted her to have a wonderful and beautiful day... so as we celebrated our anniversary date- I went to walmart at 11pm to buy stuff for her bridal shower the next day. Up at five am feeding Silas and making bridal shower games and favors... so sleepy. Then the wedding planning craziness ensued. There was a dress fiasco. She borrowed my friend's dress and it fit perfectly no alterations! It looked amazing!! We borrowed a chandelier-we borrowed uplights- Ryan built a gazebo- one friend ran the chocolate fountain and the other catered. Another friend took pictures- despite her having the flu... (she loves me) I have amazing friends. The day was beautiful... it was the best sealing I had ever been to- yep ours the sealer kept calling Ryan Aaron- pretty sure ryan and I aren't even married... So I still have three boxes to unpack and my house needs some organizing... but wow- I am pretty amazed we accomplished this feat- a move- anniversary- 30th birthday- mother's day- Silas's baby blessing (on mothers day:) and a wedding- oh and a newborn... I hope the summer is mellow..

It's BANANAS!!!

Wow, life as of lately... insane. Absolutely CRAZY!!! And it's not the two kid thing- that's been pretty manageable (sure there are a few scarce moments they both cry but overall THAT'Sa piece of cake... The day we brought Silas home I had books- at my door ready to ship (I also have to tweak some things actually it's a whole ordeal and get the website up and I haven't had a spare second to breath) so that is a whole enchilada right there... then there's the newborn- I SHOULD just be spending all of this precious time snuggling him and loving on him yes? It's flying by- lack of sleep- I'm used to it. Really the two kids and one newborn thing isn't so bad (for me- knock on wood)It's this extra stuff called life... then we moved. Out of the house we have been in three years and thought we would stay in til we bought. When we had Silas we both felt I should stop working so the preschool got packed up and we offloaded thousands of dollars in materials. So packing a whole house and a school was umm a lot. Plus we purged a ton. It was hard to get my teacher brain to let go but watching episodes of hoarders helped a lot(my biggest fear and no I am REALLY good at throwing stuff out it is a phobia I still have- I like simplicity and organization) TANGENTS! Sorry! But yes, our entire downstairs we filled with donate and trash and it felt amazing. It was hard to let go of some teaching materials because Hailyn is at that age but I justified super important stuff to keep and realized my three year old doesn't need EVERYTHING. So yeah packing was a huge ordeal as we took breaks to feed the baby purge and pack. Oh FINDING a house- a nightmare. I REALLY wanted to stay in our amazing ward, but the ONE house we found (and was PERFECT I could've lived there 30 years renting no joke I would've been fine!) got taken 5 minutes before we got to it. We had no luck. Oh on a note...we celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on april 24!!! We spent it eating panda express and packing like crazy (moving day was thursday). On friday we did sneak out for a movie and dinner (and then errands to run... more on that in a minute)so yeah we are in our new house we can afford now that it's a one income family :) and we LOVE it! The layout is amazing! If it was a three car garage and a bigger backyard I'd stay here forever no joke- The house... has two masters- one upstairs one downstairs. We claimed the downstairs. At first I wanted my babies close to me but Hailyn is sleeping SO much better now! She has the biggest room in the house and a bathroom attached to her room- potty training DREAM!! There is a HUGE closet all her toys go in so our house is no longer over ran with toys like the old house and there is a loft so she can watch a little einsteins or a movie and we can be downstairs (it sounds like she is never around us I assure you that isn't the case. It's just an awesome layout and she loves it and so do we!) Silas is still close by so that isn't an issue and the house is small enough (really for me the perfect size especially for cleaning) that we can hear him easily (and hello monitors) it's awesome... we still have a ton of boxes to unpack windows to cover, kids rooms to put together addresses to change.... bills to pay... life to live... insane THEN I said I would plan Ryan's little sister's wedding. To be fair I thought she would get married in like Sept. NOPE! MAy 26. For reals. So the errand running we did on our anniversary date was me getting stuff (so last minute) for her shower. So the sat after we moved I lost a day to her bachelorette and bridal shower. It was a blast!! But wow I was exhausted. Three hours of sleep (which I am used to with rookie school training years ago) I just think I'm getting old too... THEN that night we had a surprise birthday dinner for Ryan's 30th birthday... yup... it was a busy day (week really) To be fair I planned the dinner before the move... Then we had to get the old house ready to go... bananas. And as of now I am playing catchup on our finances, unpacking a house, and planning a wedding. In between life (preschool for h, speech for h, ect). It has not been a relaxing six weeks. I have to give MAJOR props to my amazing hubby- he's incredible. I am SO grateful he was able to take time off to help with me and take care of the kids, and pack a house and find a place for us to live (five minutes from my old ward- different stake and ward but still close!) and I am so so so blessed!!! So it's been busy... and will be the entire month of may. We have mother's day when we bless silas and hailyn gives her first primary talk we ar working on now and then the wedding. I also have to say I have AMAZING family and friends! my sis drove down to help with kids so we could pack... my friends have taken my kids for playdates ect so we can move and clean- I have had friends MOVE our stuff, help me pack, clean my house, bring us meals. I am soooo blessed. Another reason I am so sad to leave our amazing ward. AWESOME people!! Many of them are helping me with the wedding. I am so blessed. i have one friend doing the pics because she loves me... another is catering because she is amazing. I am so lucky to have such awesome people in my life:)THANK YOU ALL (if you are still reading this novel) So... I am looking forward to a 'relaxing' june where I get caught up on the past three years of crazy... meaning lots of editing, writing, scrapbooking... catchup time... wish me luck... SILAS UPDATES COMING SOON (he's amazing btw:)