4th of July

I know it's late in coming, but here's what we did on the 4th of July. First we had breakfast at my In-Laws. After hanging out there for a few hours we went to Lindon, Utah and had a BBQ with my Uncles and Aunts. Then we went to a park in Provo to watch the "Stadium of Fire". Of course we couldn't see the whole program (you need tickets to see that), but one of my cousins who was at the stadium texted us what was going on. Once it was dark the Fire works begain and I got, I think, some pretty cool pictures of them.









Here's Ethan loving the sparklers we brought to the park with us. Eric opened a whole bunch at once and just kept lighting them one after another for awhile until they were gone. All the kids loved it.



Xander and I just hung out on some blankets while we waited for it to get dark.



Eric's being a copy cat and doing a very good job of it actually. He's so funny and loves playing with the boys, whenever he can.



Accross the street from the park there's a Hospital and they have a Life Flight helicopter there. It was a slow day (thankfully) and they let the boys have a look in it and around it. Poor Ammon was so upset when Eric made him leave. He wanted a ride. Trying to explain to him that he really wouldn't want a ride in that helicopter just didn't compute with him.

Scentsy

I am now a Scentsy Consultant. I just love all the scents and the fact that it requires no fire (with 3 boys you just can't light candles)!!!!

Check out my Web Page:

www.scentsy.com/35913

Updates

Things that have happened so far this month.

1) Xander's 2 month well baby check up. He's now 13 lbs 2 oz and 24 in long, that puts him in the 77 percentile. His Doctor says he's ahead developmentally and very social.

2) Father's day was yesterday and Eric got a T-shirt that had the boys' hand prints on them.

3) My milk never dried up (after 4 weeks you'd think it would). So I've started nursing again. I was sure that Xander would've forgotten how or wouldn't want to, but he acted like he actually missed it. Xander is allergic to Dairy (lactose) and if I eat it, it gets into my breast milk and makes him sick. Hence the reason for trying to switch to a soy formula. Now that I'm nursing again. I'm going through dairy withdrawals and trying to get use to soy milk.

4) Ethan broke Xander's bouncy seat by sitting on it and blamed it on Ammon. After Melinda (my sister) got him out of time out I asked him if he'd sat in the bouncy seat and he said Ethan did it. Ethan eventually admitted to lying about it and was punished.

5) Ammon climbed in Xander's crib to try and give him his binky. Xander didn't want it and started wailing when Ammon didn't take the hint. Mommy came to the rescue and all is well.

6) We tried to walk to a park via directions from a neighbor and my husband to go the the play group with our ward. Didn't find it went to another park. Discovered they do free lunch for everyone 18 and younger every Thursday. We walked over 2 miles. Melinda pushed Xander in the stroller, Ethan walked (what a trouper) and Ammon was on my back in a hiking backpack. You'd think I'd lose some weight from doing all that, but NOOOOOOOOOO!

Pretty much all of that happened in the last week.

As The World Turns

As the world turns time seems to go with it and now two months have gone by and my baby though still very much a baby is getting so big fast! And not just Xander all of them! Not many nights ago I was changing Ammon's diaper (potty training is coming along, but slowly) and realized just how big my 2nd baby was getting. "He's so big!" I lament to my husband who thinks my disbelief is funny. Then there's Ethan who will be starting Kindergarten this fall. All ready my 1st baby is in school. Not only that, but he's even done soccer and scored a goal. Where does the time go?

Here's some pictures of the last 2 months

Ethan holding Xander

Ammon holding Xander And
Ammon fell asleep standing up!

Ethan playing soccer

Ammon with Cocco Puffs in his ears!

Ethan playing air guitar on his foam sword. It was very cute to watch though hard to capture on film.

Baby Xander

Okay here's the update of Xander or as Ammon calls him Baby Xannar. He's a good baby he loves to eat and if he had his way he'd be permanently attached to me. At his one week Dr's visit he'd already gained some weight (only an ounce and a half but still). Unlike his brothers his hair doesn't seem to be falling out and changing color. Instead it's growing in and staying dark (like mine was when I was a baby). He definitely was born with the most hair.

His brother's love him and are always asking to hold him. Ammon doesn't seem to be jealous of him at all. He just wants to be helpful and loving. I think this is a very good thing. I haven't been pushing the potty training with him because I thought he might regress like Ethan did when he was born, but he's actually taken himself to the bathroom a few times (not consistently, but hey I'll take what I can get). I'm hoping once we get Xander use to life on the outside I can start working on the potty training with Ammon.

Ethan has been getting to be a very big boy and likes that he gets to do things that he hasn't been allowed to before. He's gotten to get things for Ammon as well and help him down out of his high chair. He's discovered that Mommy doesn't have to get everything for him and I'm happy (though sometimes worry about what he's getting into) about that.

This is an obvious before picture. After losing my lap Ammon developed this way of snuggling with me instead. He just sort of wrapped himself around my belly and used Xander for a pillow. Here he is obviously asleep.

Okay here's some labor pictures. We've gotten some interesting reactions from people when we've told them we were planning on a home birth and so I wanted to include some pictures to show what it was like. Here we see me in the birthing pool resting between contractions. Eric's my main support, next to him starting from the left is Cathy my midwife and on the other side Camille she is another midwife. Midwives usually work in pairs. Some people think that we were going back to the dark ages by using a midwife, but this just isn't so. Every 15 min or so a midwife would put the Doppler on my belly and check Xander's heartbeat. They use all sorts of medical things and have oxygen at the ready just in case. They bring today's technology to yesterday's way of birthing.

Here's Eric helping me through a contraction and next to him is Briana. She another midwife and the main one who works with Cathy.

Afterwards...here's the thank goodness he's out. As painful as it was without any drugs. It's so much more full filling...for me...and for Eric. Eric felt like he was useful like he was apart of it. With Ammon it was just sitting around and waiting because I was numb and couldn't feel anything I didn't need his help getting trough it, but this time I don't think I could've done it without him.

The continued high of "WE DID" Ethan's not amused though. Ethan by the way was there at the end. He wanted to be and I promised he could. I know he's only 5 and all that, but we feel that it's important to begin young with our kids so we can shape their attitude about the whole process instead of letting friends and school do it. He now knows how babies get out of the mommy's tummy, but not completely how the baby gets in there (he hasn't asked). We waited until Xander's head was crowning and then I sent Eric to go and get Ethan. Eric said that was the fasted Ethan has ever woken up.

One major difference with delivering at home is that the cord isn't cut immediately. I delivered the afterbirth and then it was put in a Ziploc bag and we just sort of carried it around with him until it was done pulsing. There's a lot of baby's blood in the cord and we wait until the blood has gone into him and he's "done using it" as they put it before cutting it. Notice how pink he is. He's less than an hour old.

Here's my team of supporters: Vanessa my Doula, JoAnn a midwife student, Cathy my midwife, Briana my other midwife, and Camille my third midwife. It was suppose to be just Cathy and Briana, but Cathy was getting ready to go on a well deserved vacation (she left later that day) and she didn't want to leave me without a group of great people to help me while she was gone. As it turned out she got to be there and she was really relived too she wouldn't have been able to enjoy herself if she'd left me still prego.

At about 8am the boys crawled in be with me and had some lovely snuggle time with Xander to welcome him to the family.

Proud Daddy gets to snuggle his newest boy.

Close up of Xander Morgan Clive Romney, not even 24 hours old.

Xander is here!

Xander is here. He was born at 2:44am His stats are: 9 lbs 2 oz 21 3/4 in One word to describe the labor was intense because even though I'd been having contractions off and on all day I didn't hit active labor until 12am for those bad at math I gave birth 2 hrs 44 mins later. I'll write more later when I have two hands. I just can't put him down ^_^

I want some cake Amen

Okay as we all know I'm late in having this baby. My midwife has been wonderful and has been trying to help me in anyway she can in going into labor with this stubborn little boy. I only have one more week to have him if I'm going to have him at home. If I go over 42 weeks by law she has to send me to the hospital to be induced. So tonight she and two other midwives, a doula, and a midwifery student who is also a massage therapist are coming over and pulling out all their tricks to try and get me going.

For the last two weeks she's been telling me to do what I can to relax, but I'm also suppose to avoid sugar. How's a person suppose to relax if she's not allowed to have dark chocolate?! Anyway not the point. Last Saturday, March 28th (and Xander's due date) Eric takes me out to dinner, and I bought Xander this cute Easter outfit, I also colored my hair (something that *really* needed to be done). Nothing.

This Saturday while we were shopping I saw a blue cake all decked out with baby bottles and stuff. I talked Eric into getting and freezing it until Xander gets here. We even had the lady write "Welcome Home Xander" on it. Then I told my belly that he couldn't have any until he came out (yeah like that's going to work, but I'm desperate).

When we get home and are unloading the van. Ethan undoubtedly asked if he could have some of Xander's cake. I told him we're not eating it until Xander comes out. If he wanted some cake he better tell Heavenly Father to make Xander come. On the way to get more bags of stuff Ethan says this "Heavenly Father make Xander come out, I want some cake. Amen." That made my day!

Nothing Yet

On Monday the 23rd we thought I was going into labor. I had consistent contractions from 10pm Sunday night that lasted all night and continued all day Monday. They started getting longer and stronger, but still stayed about 10 min apart. My midwife came and checked on me and suggested trying to get some rest and calling her when they got closer together. That night they started getting stronger as I was trying to sleep, but still were 10 min apart then at 7 am they just quit all together.

The next few days after that I'd have random contractions throughout the day and contractions all night so I couldn't sleep. Now I just have random contractions and still no baby. My midwife says every time she checks me I'm progressing. The last time she checked me I was 50% effaced and 4 cm dilated, but she couldn't feel his head anymore and he's started putting his back to my right or left side again, so I'm back to holding up my belly when I do have a contraction, and doing the Stink Bug when I can (it's when you get on your hands and knees and put your chest down and bum up).

I've started calling what's been going on Prelabor because it is accomplishing something, so maybe when I really do go into labor it'll go fast. I'm just getting so sore that it's hard to move let alone do anything. Stupid hips!

House

Yesterday we closed on the house! It's great to have that finally over and done with. As of 4:11pm today we are the official owners of it and Eric should have the keys by now! Very exciting! Now we can start moving and we have a place of our very own!

Other exciting news. My midwife just left. I had her check me just because I wanted to see where he is and if my cervix has done anything. Good news his head is now where it's suppose to be! YES! AND he's turned mostly with his back to my belly! another YES! My cervix though isn't dilated, but it's very soft and she says once I go into labor she thinks it'll open right up!

I was sort of hoping to go into labor today because it's my mom's birthday and the first day of Spring, but no such luck. That's okay I've had loads of good news today. My mother-in-law is all for having him on Sunday. Eric has that day off and if I did then he'd take the whole next week off and we'd get moved in, in no time. We'll see.

The Waiting Game

*sigh* so we're coming to the end of the pregnancy and I can have him at any time. He feels bigger than my other babies and I'm hoping he comes soon. My midwife isn't thrilled with his position though. His head isn't in my pelvis where is should be. He's hanging out around my pubic bone. Which explains why I feel like he's going to fall out through my gut. He's also turned sideways with his back either on my left side or right depending on his mood.

My midwife has given me exercises to do to help turn him and she showed me how to hold up my belly and wrap it so that I'm supporting his body and lifting his head in an attempt to get it to drop into proper place. I hope all this works. I'm so sore in my hips and my lower abs where his head is currently.

I keep having contractions, but not the labor kind. I keep hoping that they're helping to get him in the proper position. My midwife believes that once he drops into place I'll go into real labor. I hope he cooperates soon, but he's a Romney and Romney men tend to be stubborn. *sigh*

Things I find interesting

Sorry no pictures for this one.

I just wanted to write somethings that have happened recently that I find funny.

Ethan puts his head on my belly to feel his little brother kick. Xander (who kicks almost constantly) obliged. Ethan then exclaims "He likes me mom!" It's got to be the only time in life when kicking someone means you like them.

Middle of the night last night I'm trying to roll from my left side to my right so I can go to the bathroom. It takes me a good 30 sec of effort to do this. I find that humorous all in itself, but what happens next is great! Eric rolls over and looks at me then starts laughing "Sorry, but that's funny." He says

Funny that I look like a turtle on its back? Whatever, so I take his hand to show him why it takes me so long. See Xander is head down, but he likes to put his back and settle in on which ever side I laying on. Since he's so far out there when I go to roll over I've got to lug however much he weighs back to the center of my body.

Anyway I put his hand where Xander's bottom and back are "Feel that?"
"Yeah"
Move his hand to the other side "Feel the difference?"
"Yeah"
"I've got to lug what ever he weighs back over and he always follows last."
"huh" and...he goes back to sleep.
This morning he has no memory what so ever of this event. I didn't think he would he never seems to remember things that go on once he's gotten to sleep.

Yesterday the sky was lovely and it wasn't that cold. Today it's snowing! What's up with that?

Yesterday at Church I'm sitting on the couch in the Foyer. I do this because the chairs at too uncomfortable in my classes. It's okay though because we have more that one ward I get to hear the talks given in Sacrament Meeting for the other ward. Anyway I see the Primary President (I subbed for Ethan's class last Sunday). "Oh I was hoping you weren't here today." Meaning of course that I'm having a baby. I got a few more comments like that through out Church and a couple of "Hope we don't see you next week" Must be the only time when comments like that are considered kind and friendly.

9 Months

I know the moment you've all been waiting for....how big am I now? Well I'm huge! He's sitting way, way out there. He's also dropped. I'm not sure if he's gone all the way down, but I use to have no space between my belly and chest. It's down right painful to roll over at night because my belly follows last. It's been interesting.
I've also started retaining water in my hands, feet, and face. Just as I usually do.

Side View

Front View

Okay I know I'm a slacker. It's been crazy for awhile. Namely we're buying a house right now. We've been sitting on our excitment until we were sure. We're closing in the next few days and then moving in. Yes, I know I'm really pushing it. We're hoping I won't go into labor until after the move. Cross your fingers for me.

Anyway, here's some pictures.

Pano of the front our soon-to-be House

Pano of the backyard

Side yards

Living Room (sorry didn't really get any really good ones)

My Kitchen

The is Technically the Formal Dining Room, but we are going to use it as a Play Area

Laundry Room (nice and big)

Bathroom #1

Bathroom #2

Hallway from Living Room to back of house

Hallway from Master Bedroom to front of house

Boys' Room

3rd bedroom/ Melinda's for the Summer

Master Bedroom (my room)

Nathan's Room