Silent Nights

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Everett's first Christmas was filled with family, and joy, and so much love oh and sleep! 
Sleeping through major first time events seems to be the theme with our son.

Our Christmas started over at Auntie Angie's on Saturday for a Striley family dinner... The food was delicious and Everett never touched the ground, he was cuddled by every member of the family (while he slept).  Christmas Eve was celebrated at a wonderful family service at church.  The preacher was quite boring so Everett of course slept through the entire thing.  Then off to Grammi's for dinner and some presents, and Everett slept.  As the cousins ran screaming through the house back and forth Everett slept.  Christmas morning was celebrated by mommy and daddy exchanging gifts while Everett, you guessed it, slept.  Off to Auntie Lori's house for Christmas dinner, games, and presents...  All in all I would say Christmas was a great success, and even though Everett won't remember a thing about it it was our best Christmas so far because we got to spend it with him!  

Here are a couple pics of Everett seeing "Father Christmas" (do NOT call him Santa)and other seasonal photos.  More pictures of Christmas day to come!

He was sleeping 15 seconds before this picture.


Everett in his Santa hat.

The Day the World Changed

Well, wouldn't you know that the day that I write a blog about being overdue I go into labor!  The evening of December 2nd was the beginning of the end, here is the story...

Sunday evening around 6 PM I started having contractions.  I had been having contractions off and on for a couple weeks but they always went away when I changed activities so as I showered, walked, and ate I waited for them to go away and the didn't!   They began to get stronger and closer together, and when I could no longer talk during them we decided to head to the hospital (about midnight).  We arrived at the hospital with 5 bags, just in case. We were ready to stay and thankfully they admitted me!  I was dilated to 4 cm with a "bulging bag" and my contractions were 2 minutes apart.  From there everything went textbook!  Dr. Keller broke my water at 7cm and the real fun began...

*WARNING* *GRAPHIC*
I went into transition labor immediately and began throwing up, a lot, which I 
welcomed because it distracted from the nightmare contractions.  This lasted for a couple 
hours and then it was time to push!  14 total hours and Everett Raymond made his debut at 9:03 AM on December 3rd!

**Interesting facts about December 3rd:
Everett Huffman (Everett's namesake) died on December 3rd 32 years ago, we did not know this until after his birth and long after we chose his name, crazy!

This is grandpa Striley and our neice Cami's birthday!


I was lucky enough to not only have Doug who was my rock and such a support but my sister who is a Labor and Delivery nurse and our Doula.  With these two people at my side I was able to have my unmedicated labor... that's right people, no drugs!  Am I glad I did it?  Hell yeah!  I felt like a warrior, like Mother Earth, like I finally achieved what my body was created to do, what I was meant to do my entire life.  It was incredibly powerful.  Will I do it again?  I can resoundingly say, HELL NO!  Give me a fatty epidural next time!  Here are some photos from Everett's birthday.


Weighing in at 8lbs 11oz!


Daddy cuts the cord


Our little smurf! The purple went away pretty quick!

Everett is now over 2 weeks old and each day is an experience.  Sometimes I feel like I cannot get off the couch and am covered in milk... but I do believe it is the best thing in the entire world.

Fashionably Late

Here we go! I was hoping to begin this new blog by announcing the birth of our newest family member. Of course he has decided that he needs to make some sort of dramatic entrance like his daddy, and is now "fashionably late"! Much to the chagrin of mama here! So for all the thousands of people who care... ha ha... Here is the latest (note: I will continue to share way too much information... I have a problem with social boundaries.):

• Today I am 40 weeks and 2 days pregnant

• My cervix is dilated to a "solid" 3 (sorry for those who are now picturing that)

• Bambino is at -2 station (still a little high)

• I am now the size of a blue whale and would make a great linebacker.... If you want to part a crowd get me in there. Please reference the picture below and note that it was actually taken about a week ago.

39 weeks, Get Out!!


My doctor will not let me go past 41 weeks so there is hope! Yes Bambino will eventually come into this world, hopefully not resembling a middle aged man. His cut off date is December 8th (a scheduled induction).

So! This is the latest Bambino news! Please, read on if you are even more boring than us and would find enjoyment from reading about our daily life.

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In the hopes that Bambino will arrive this coming week Doug and I have been little elves working on our personal north pole. I have apparently become a freak about Christmas and want Bambino's first impressions to be exciting ones! So, we (and by we I mean Doug, with me supervising) hung the retro C9 multi colored lights with great care, picked the best tree the tree farm had to offer, and have almost finished the gift list! This is what boredom and anticipation do to a person... Its quite scary. Check out the pics of our winter wonderland. I really hope our kid doesn't develop some sort of neurosis or tick or something from the overwhelming cheer!