Party Time

Lila, Hayden, Zoe, Avery, Eliza, Cole

A couple days after Hayden's birthday, we had a friend's party for her. She picked a Hello Kitty party.

We kicked off the party by having each of her friends decorate 2 bows. Then we used them to play pin the bow on Hello Kitty.

The kids thought it was fun and teased each other about peeking :)

Hayden decided she wanted Grammy to make her cupcakes instead of a cake this year. So, Grammy made some yummy cupcakes!

Hayden got spoiled even more at this party with lots of fun presents! She has a great group of friends that she loves to be with.

Ryan and I gave her a new Hello Kitty shirt to wear for her party. She was very excited about it.

Her are some fun facts about Hayden at age 5-

favorite color- red

favorite activity- ride bikes

favorite food- cheese pizza

favorite place- church

favorite movie- tangled

favorite person- Daddy

what she wants to be when she grows up- a dancer

We love our (usually) sweet 5 year old Haydie Babe!!

5!

Hayden turned the big 5 on June 17th. It was also Father's Day and Grammy, Grampa, Aunt Stacey and Makensie were all here to celebrate with us.

Hayden was so excited to open presents and loved being spoiled!

She couldn't wait to get outside and try her rocket launcher. She was getting some good air.

Cole was also excited about all of Hayden's presents. Aunt Stacey was super thoughtful, and got Cole his very own monster truck. He has a thing for monster trucks :)

After presents, we had key lime pie and enjoyed the day.

After the celebrations, I got on the computer for a little bit. When I came out, this is what I found. Everyone, except Grampa, sleeping or about to be asleep, on the couch, even Brooklyn!

It was obviously, a very relaxing evening, and Hayden had a very happy birthday!

Scrub a Dub Dub

Brooklyn was not a fan of her first bath at home.

There was lots of crying and screaming in those two minutes it took to get her clean.

But we made it through :)

There's nothing like a clean baby!

Going Home

After 2 nights in the hospital, we were ready to take Brooklyn home. We got her dressed in her cute outfit from Grammy and packed up our things. The nurse was impressed with how ready we were to go.  We were the first to be discharged that day, because we just wanted to GO!

That is one tired Daddy!

 

I always forget how extremely tiny newborns are until they are in a big carseat.

When we got home, Hayden and Cole were outside swimming in their little pool with Grammy. They quickly ditched that for a chance to hold little sister. They're so proud of their baby!

Hayden and Cole picked out some pink flowers for me. My parents also got me flowers, and Ryan's work sent us a huge balloon and a fruit bouqet. We definitely felt the love :)

Brooklyn had a little jaundice. We had to take her to the lab to get her heal pricked a couple of different days after bringing her home, but then it went away and she is nice and healthy!

Brooklyn Holland

Brooklyn Holland Woodland

was born on June 13th at 2:38 pm

8lbs 10oz, 20in.

Lake Forest, IL Hospital

After much anticipation, we had our baby girl. At 37 weeks I was dilated to a 3. At 38 weeks I was dilated to a 4. Then at my last checkup, I was just over 38 weeks. I was scheduled to be induced on Thursday 14. I went to my appointment on Tuesday and was dilated to a 5. I wasn't having any contractions in my stomach, but a lot of sharp pains and pressure in my groin. My doctor couldn't send me to the hospital with no contractions. So, she told us to go walk the mall for a few hours and go back to be checked again. We did, and nothing!

She told me to call if I had any changes at all. Nothing happened that night, but the next morning I had some bleeding. I called and was told to go to the hospital, because Dr. Oh didn't want me to have a baby in the car. 

I got ready and we headed to the hospital. When we got there about 10, the nurses hadn't heard anything from Dr. Oh, and didn't really believe that she sent me. One of the nurses said, "She probably meant for you to go to her office." Like I was a complete idiot. They ended up sending us to the waiting room for a while, while they tried to check with the doctor. I was not happy. I was scheduled to be induced the next day so it wasn't a huge deal. But I was so uncomfortable, didn't want to have my baby in the car, and I was just ready to be done!!

Half an hour later, they decided to take us in and wait for the doctor to come. She came and I was dilated to a 6-7. I asked the doctor if that meant we could stay. She said, "Yes! I would be the worst doctor ever, if I sent you home again!"

 I still wasn't having any stomach contractions. I hung out for a while. Nothing happened. They were waiting for me to have my epidural before they broke my water or started the pitocin. Unfortunately, all of the anesthesiologists were busy in surgery. I had to wait over an hour for the epidural. They broke my water, gave me the epidural (which I had been DREADING, but thankfully turned out to be nothing), and my contractions started. I ended up not needing pitocin. Doctor Oh came in to check me and Brooklyn bit her finger! I love it!  I ended up pushing for about 4 minutes, through 2 contractions, and Brooklyn was born. The reason she hadn't come out much sooner, like we all thought, was because she was "sunny side up". Her face was facing up and she was wedged in. Thankfully, it didn't cause any problems.

At 8 days early, she was 8lbs 10oz. Thankfully she was early, or she could have been a 10 pounder!

 

With Dr. Oh

I look so old!

My mom was in town to watch Hayden and Cole. They were excited to come see their little sister. Everyone took a turn holding her. My friend Melissa came with them, but somehow she managed to escape without a picture!

Me and my girls :)

Our first family picture. Cole was being a stinker and had his tongue sticking out in every picture. He's a funny little stinker boy. I love our not so little family!

Here is our little chubbers on day 2. 

With my mom in town, Ryan was able to stay at the hospital both nights, which was so nice!

 We're so thankful for all of the love, support, and well wishes. We are also so thankful to our Heavenly Father for sending us this sweet angel girl. We love you Brooklyn Holland!

**We named her Brooklyn just because we loved the name. Holland is because Ryan served his mission in Holland. We would have used is as her first name, but we didn't want her nickname to be Holly. Then she would have been HollyWoodland.