Meet Torv

Torv Steven

6 lbs 14 oz

Here I am the day before he was born.

We had set up an induction date to have Torv on his due date.  I had been having some contractions for a few days before that day.  The day before his due date I woke up at 1 am to a pretty good contraction. I dozed til 5:30 having some decent contractions about every 15 minutes.  Then I finally got up for the day and paced around the house.  Branson woke up at about 6 and I told him it might be the real thing.  We arranged a babysitter and got the kids up at 7.  Then the contractions started to slow down.  Brans decided to go to work and I was going to wait and see what would happen.  I was so bummed when they  slowed to only about every half an hour.

That afternoon I was feeling worn out and very disappointed.  I had this vision of me going to the hospital and them telling me I was almost there and half an hour later having the baby without an epidural.  It looked like I was going to have to wait and be induced the next day.

Brans brought my mom home from the airport at 5.  He was going to leave to go to a temple trip with the youth but I asked him to stay.  By this time the contractions were getting a little stronger.  We made some dinner and decided to take the kids to the park.  My mom and I walked around the park and it got to where I was waddling pretty slow and having to stop and take deep breaths during the contractions.

We went home and started putting kids to bed.  I couldn't finish, I told Branson it was time to go to the hospital.  As we were driving I was thinking I sure hope they don't just send us back home.  I casually told the nurses I was there to have a baby and felt kind of silly I didn't look more in pain.  They took me in and checked.  I was dilated to a 6!  The nurse said they could call the anesthesiologist back or we could just go for it and have a baby in the next 20-30 minutes.  I said let's go for it.  Yay for no epidural.

About 30 minutes later and a few strong pushes baby Torv entered into mortality at 10:03 pm.

I was so happy it all went so well and quickly.

My beautiful little guy, a wiggler from the start!  Look at him trying to roll off that scale.

One proud papa, I sure love that man.  He really is the best Father ever!  And he even let me squeeze the blood out of his hand with every contraction.

I felt so good after labor since I wasn't drugged up.  They let me go to the nursery to watch him get his footprints and first bath.  I've never been able to do that before and this is baby #4.

The next morning the troops came in to meet their new little brother.  They even brought him presents, toys from around the house.

Nana had to unwrap him and check out all the little fingers and toes.

We had fun watching his funny faces.  Such a cute guy!

I loved how much they immediately loved their little brother.  No one was jealous at all.  Even more surprising to me is that now, a month later, they still can't get enough of him.

He was really mad when we were getting him dressed to come home because a nurse had just removed a sticker ID tag from his leg.

All packed up and ready to come home.

Caden's Culture Fair

At the end of the school year (the day before I had baby Torv) the 1st graders put on a culture fair for their parents.  Caden's class did the continent Africa and his groups' country was Zimbabwe.  First they sang some songs for us. (Notice how Caden is a good 6-8 inches taller than the rest of the kids)

 Then we went to his class where they told us more about Africa.  Caden did a great job speaking his part.

 The kids had their desks made up like safari jeeps.  They had posters that they made all about their country.  Each student also had a button in front of them.  When we (the parents) pushed the button the student would tell us facts about his country.

 Caden was so cute with Lana wanting to hold her and show her everything.

 Caden was so excited about the jeeps they made, we had to get a picture of him driving it!

Caden learned a lot and did a great job.

I noticed these flowers on the wall outside of his classroom and had to take a picture because it was so cute.  He really has learned a lot in first grade.  He struggled with math a little at the beginning of the year but is great at it now!  On to 2nd grade.

Bumble Bee Lana's First Dance Recital

Lana had her first Dance Recital on May 19th, 2012.

I was kind of hoping I'd already have the baby by then, but I was really glad I didn't have to miss the recital.  Lana was so excited for her show, and that Grandma and Grandpa were coming to see it.  She wasn't in the least bit shy or nervous.

That morning was the dress rehearsal.

And then pictures.

It is not an easy thing to get twelve 18 month-3 year olds to all smile at the same time.  I love the nose pickers, floppers, and screamers!  Lana was pretty chill about the whole thing.

Twirling her tutu:

We got some pictures outside but it was so bright.

A smoochee bumble bee.

As we were driving home from the rehearsal she said, "That was fun but where were grandma and grandpa?"  I had to explain that, that was just a practice and the real show would be that evening.

Lana playing with her friend Kaydrei, waiting for the show to begin.

Dancing up on stage!

Lana did such a good job.  She remembered her dance moves and went the right directions.  We are so proud of her!  Dancing is Lana's favorite thing to do ever!