Santa Baby

My dad bought this Santa suit 10 years ago, when Brayden was a baby. It was a little bit big on Brayden, but Justin fills it out quite nicely :o)

I can't believe that Justin is four months old already!

At four months, Justin:

-weighs somewhere between 14-15 pounds

-wears size 2 diapers (but not for much longer)

-wears size 3-6 mos. clothes

-absolutely LOVES pat-a-cake, and playing the "up down game" with Daddy

-is still sleeping in a pack and play in Mom & Dad's room--and neither of us has any desire to move him to his crib

-is starting to grab at the toys on his bouncy seat

-likes to be where he can see what's going on so he doesn't miss anything (I wonder where he gets that?)

-wants this for Christmas so he can match his boys

His nickname is Justinator-tater.

Three Months

Justin is a Daddy's boy. Every night before bed they have a "playdate" and both Dad and Baby are all smiles. I found Todd's high school football jersey for the background here. I wish I had gotten a picture without the pacifier, but Justin wasn't about to give it up.

Here he is, next to one of his newborn pics. Oh how I miss his hair! Everyone said he would lose it, and they were right.

Dillon has a hard time understanding what it means

when we say Justin is 3 mos. He keeps asking if Justin is still zero.

I told him that Justin was 1/4th.

Todd thought we should celebrate with 1/4th of a cake.

Luckily, we already had that on hand.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

When Dillon was a baby, I bought some black fleece to make a spider hat.

I finally made it...today. It only took me five years. I started it at 10:15 this morning, and Justin wore it to the costume parade at the elementary school at 11:00 (minus the eyes).

One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I had made a little fleece jacket as well.

I only had to call my mom once. And my friend Marsha once. And Mike at Bernina once. It's been YEARS since I tried to do a buttonhole, and my machine was giving me fits, but I finally got it to work.

I ran out of fleece before I was able to make pants, but luckily Andrea gave me all of her son's baby clothes before she moved, and there were some black sweatpants included. I found some red felt, and...

...sewed an hourglass on his bum!

(I know it's supposed to be on the underside, but I thought it was cuter on his bum)

Hibernating

Big Brother

Dillon is such a good big brother. He is constantly fussing over Justin, making sure he's 100% comfortable at all times.

Here's Dillon's crazy hair. He asked me to make it crazy, but when he saw it in the mirror he got worried and asked, "Are you SURE it's crazy hair day?"

Two Months

Justin turned two months old yesterday, and already I can't imagine our family without him.

He smiles when we call him J.T.

When he smiles, he has the most adorable dimples (both are on his left cheek).

Yesterday I bought SIZE TWO diapers, 'cause he's "blowin' out" of his size ones (daily).

Sometimes he'll sleep 6 hours at night, and other times he likes that 3 AM feeding.

He LOVES his pacifier.

His brothers think the sun rises and sets just for him. (well, maybe Mom and Dad think so too)

Justin's Blessing Day

Justin was blessed last Sunday, September 19th, in my Mom and Dad's ward.

I am amazed at how many family members were there to support us. Todd's Mom was there from Washington, and two of his siblings who live in Cache Valley. Grandma and Papa were there, even though Grandma had surgery the week that Justin was born. All of my Dad's siblings were there, and both of my Mom's sisters and their husbands. Several of my cousins (on both sides) came as well. I don't think I had seen my cousin Cade since Thanksgiving 2005!

Thank you to all of our family who were able to be there.

It means so much to us.

Brayden, Caleb, and Dillon were all blessed in a white tux with tails. I wanted to do something different this time, so Justin got this simple little knit romper. Todd thought it was a bit "girly" but I loved keeping him "little". No big boy clothes for this baby...

Oh how we love this little boy!

Todd and I argue every Sunday over who gets to

keep him during Priesthood/RS meeting.

Four generations.

I wish we'd have taken one of these with my mom and Grandma/Papa,

but I didn't think of it until they'd already gone.

Todd's family

Our boys couldn't be bothered with another picture, but Lydia was happy to join us!

I don't get to see Grandma and Papa enough.

I'm so glad they were able to make it.

Our family of SIX!

Say what??

Last week I went to my six week postpartum check-up.

I was lying on the table, holding onto my beloved sheet, when Dr. Heath started coming at me with the "duck bill" tool.

As he got closer he said, "Do you mind if we take a picture today?"

I must have had a puzzled look because there was a moment of silence before he continued "...of you, me, and the baby?"

And I replied, in a relieved voice, "I wasn't sure what you wanted a picture of!"

I received a copy of the picture in the mail today:

As I look at it I can't help but be grateful for technology. For my thyroid medicine that I think may have prevented another miscarriage. For a vehicle that allowed me to travel 2 1/2 hours away to deliver with an OB/GYN. For the blood tests that monitored my platelet count. For the knowledge that a low-fat diet would ease my gall bladder trouble. For the ultrasound that showed me that faint heartbeat at six weeks along. For the epidural that allowed me to rest so I didn't have to begin this new journey completely exhausted. And for a webcam, a laptop, and wireless internet that allowed us to introduce our boys to their new baby brother from miles away.

An elderly couple in my ward recently saw me with Justin and asked, "What have you got there?"

And I replied, "I've got a miracle."

And I truly believe it.

One Month Old

Buttermilk

I just got home from a WIC appt. where I found out that my baby has gained an entire pound in a week.

He's 9 lbs. 1oz. today, and according to the health department computer he's at risk for being overweight.

Apparently I'm producing buttermilk.

Todd and I both noticed that he felt heavier yesterday, but I never expected a whole pound. Sigh.

They grow too fast...

Pushing Pause

I found myself laying awake last night, worried that if I went to sleep I'd miss my baby growing. Hormones will do that to you. It is absolutely unreal to me that he was born a week ago today. The week before he was born seemed more like a month!

So, even though I have ZERO photography knowledge or skills, and I own the crappiest camera on the planet, I tried my best to do a photo shoot with Justin today.

They turned out better than I expected, but Vanessa is coming over tomorrow with her really nice camera, and a lot more photography knowledge/talent, so hopefully we'll get some better pictures. I feel terrible that Dillon's ONLY professional picture was taken when he was 3 mos. old. It's just SO expensive...but now it's too late and I can never go back and get those pictures.

I wish I could just push pause and keep him little.

he was a good sport...for most of the time

I could not get a clear picture of our rings to save my life. It's just one of the reasons I don't like my camera. I have to use the "kids and pets" setting to take a picture of a bowl of fruit.

The day after Christmas

I've done a lot of pondering today.

My mom left this morning. The house is clean (even the blinds...thanks Mom!), the boys are playing Wii, and all is calm.

It feels like the day after Christmas.

You spend so much time and energy preparing for one day, and then it finally comes and it goes by so quickly...while you're in a dreamlike state, and then just like that, life moves on.

There's almost a sense of sadness, and yet...Would I go back in time to last week if given the chance? No way!

But I already miss the anticipation.

It truly is a miracle, how a doctor can hand you a crying, purple, bloody baby, while three complete strangers are running around with towels and gloves and staring at your crotch, and in that one single instant it makes up for all the morning sickness, constipation, hemmorrhoids, mood swings, weight gain, crotch pain, and heartburn.

I have fallen head over heals in love with this dark haired little boy. When he rolled over from his tummy to his back this morning, I wanted to cry because I know how fast he'll grow up. And I'm not ready for it.

My mother-in-law swears that I will just "know" when I'm finished having kids, but I still cannot fathom NOT doing this again.

Perhaps in a couple weeks, when I'm helping one kid with homework, while nursing the baby and listening to another kid plunk away at his piano lesson, and dinner is burning on the stove, and I'm behind on laundry, and I realize that we're out of dog food and I have to run to the store before they close in ten minutes...I might change my mind.

But for now, I sure love having this new little spirit in our home. And even though I got the perfect gift, the anticipation is over and it's time to move on...and grow up...and I can't help feeling a little bit sad at the thought that he might be my last baby.

I don't want to think about it. So I guess I'll try my best to enjoy every minute, and I hope that when I have "one of those days" I will remember my feelings today.

Cooking and cleaning can wait 'til tomorrow

For babies grow up, I've learned to my sorrow

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep

I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep

Labor and Delivery, Hospital food, Todd's TV debut, Visitor's, and Big Brother Dillon

We started our induction at 1:00 AM on Aug. 9th. I had been having regular contractions (10 mins) for a few hours, but like all the others I'd had all week, they just weren't strong enough.

I started out at 3 cm. and 50% effaced, and after all the paperwork, IV, and monitors were in place, we started the pitocin at 2:15.

My contractions quickly went to 2 minutes apart, but still weren't strong enough because when the Dr. arrived at 7:30 AM to break my water, I hadn't progressed at all. I tried to sleep, and listen to my Ipod for a distraction, but the contractions were painful enough that I couldn't get comfortable.

Dr. Heath broke my water and inserted an internal monitor to measure the strength of my contractions, and by then I was ready for my epidural.

It was a perfect epidural. The pain was gone, but I could still feel the pressure, and I could even move my legs and roll over by myself.

After I got the epidural, I finally started to dilate. At 9:00 I was 4 cm. and at 10:00 I was at 5.

This is when things started to go fast. I could tell by the pressure that I was dilating with every contraction. When they finally checked me at 10:50 I was a 9+ and they called the doctor who arrived in record time.

It only took three pushes, all during the same contraction, and he arrived at 10:59 with zero complications. It was by far my easiest delivery. I asked the doctor if I had torn, and he said, "Not a scratch" which made things even better.

They placed him on my belly, rubbed him down with a towel, and I started nursing him. After that, they weighed him, and I got to hold him for an hour and a half before the nurse gave him his first bath, right there in the delivery room.

While Justin had his bath, Todd and I got lunch. I had to take a picture of my food because it's not like any hospital food I've ever had. I got shrimp over fettuccine, and

Todd had steak. The next day I had grilled chicken with artichoke and sun-dried tomato sauce over penne pasta. It was better than the meal I had at Applebee's on Saturday night!

We stayed in the delivery room until my epidural had worn off enough for me to walk to the bathroom (about 3 hours). Then I was wheeled into a regular room. It took another hour before the epidural really wore off. I can't believe how long it took! I'm glad I didn't get a second dose.

Our experience at the hospital was wonderful. Aside from the "Anaconda blood pressure cuff" that left my arm bruised and battered, I don't have a single complaint. We were pretty much left alone for the rest of the day. Justin spent a total of 40 minutes in the nursery the entire time we were there. They took him once to check his weight and do his PKU test, and once for his circumcision.

I don't know if it's just how this hospital does things, or if it's because he was my fourth baby, but there wasn't anyone telling me how long or how often to feed him, or asking how much he or I had peed. It was really nice. After having Dillon in NICU and having to weigh every diaper and report every detail, I appreciated the "normalcy". We dressed him in his own clothes, and just "did our own thing".

Things were so calm that we had no idea they life-flighted seven people out of the hospital that night after a Japanese tour bus rolled on I-15. We did hear sirens, and Todd heard one helicopter, but that's it. When we left the hospital there were Japanese news crews everywhere, and they caught Todd on camera after he took luggage to the van. Too bad we won't get to see his TV debut.

My dad has a cousin who lives in Cedar, and even though Todd and I have only met them twice, I tried to get in touch with them during the week we were "waiting" so we could go visit. It turns out they were on vacation, but they arrived home on the day Justin was born, and she (Debbie) called me. They had been driving for 12 hours, but still took the time to come to the hospital and visit. When we checked in, I didn't even bother to listen to the visitor rules because I didn't expect anyone to come, but there's just something about having family around that makes everything better, and I'm so glad that Debbie and Rusty came to see us.

So far Justin is eating and sleeping great. I only had to get up once to feed him last night, and he went right back to sleep afterwards. I know he's still a tired newborn, but I sure hope this continues! My other babies all cried for the first few nights.

I never planned on having a 5 1/2 year gap between my kids, but I have to say that it's been a lot of fun. I've been able to spend so much more time preparing and pondering, and now enjoying this baby. The older boys can pretty much take care of themselves, and have already been a big help.

Dillon is thrilled to be a big brother. While we were in St. George shopping last week, I found a "Big Brother" shirt at the OshKosh outlet for $6. I bought it and Dillon has worn it for two days in a row now. I think I'm going to have to pry it off of him! Whenever he's holding the baby and you ask if he's finished he replies, "No! My baby."

Justin Taggart (J.T.)

He's here!

I will have to write the labor story later, but wanted to post a few pics in the meantime. Todd sent a mass e-mail, but there are a lot of addresses we don't have in our laptop, so if you didn't get one, that's why.

He was born on 8/9/10 at 11 AM with lots of DARK hair.
So far he will take a pacifier (hooray!) and he's a very good baby. He hasn't cried since the delivery and just makes cute little squeaky noises throughout the day.
We're getting ready to take his "tags" off, so I guess we can't return him :o)

He's a keeper!

Ultrasound pics

Here are our most recent ultrasound pictures of baby Justin. I go in every week to check the level of amniotic fluid, and now the head size. The ultrasonographer has made it really fun for the boys by finding and printing these "cute" pictures after she finishes with the Dr.'s orders.

The head/hair shot is at 32 weeks.

The legs/knees are at 33 weeks.

The foot is at 34 weeks.

The arm/fist AND nose/cheek pics are at 36-37 weeks.

I hope he makes that fist and punches a hole in the sac during my Dr. appt. next week... :o)