My Favorite Family Tradition

Summer is and will always be my favorite season. But my favorite family tradition we have is going to the pumpkin patch. 

Normally we try and go to Carmichael Pumpkin Patch in Bixby. It's awesome and I highly recommend it. But this year we were running out of days, and Ainslee isn't a huge fan of riding in her car seat. So we opted for something local, and by doing so we were able to support one of our favorite local churches in the process.

We took the kids to Park Hill Baptist's pumpkin patch. They had plenty of pumpkins, it was a short drive, and they have been so good to our family. 

Deacon is always so serious

Me and my babies

Mama, can I please hold her for a picture?

Which one shall we choose?

Hayden with her final selection

Deacon loving his choice

I realized while snapping pictures of the kids that I did not have hardly any pictures period of Kerry with Ainslee! So we took this one below. I have to get better at getting daddy in the pictures!

Ainslee and Daddy

this boy

Hayden's freckles are one of my favorite features on her. I love getting close-ups of her.

A Hodge Podge Halloween

A few months ago I thought it would be cute if our family dressed up as Duck Dynasty for Halloween. I had it all planned out, Hayden and Deacon could be Willie and Korie. Kerry and I could be Mrs. Kay and Phil, and Ainslee could be a duck. Adorable, right? However, Deacon wasn't willing. He was dead set on being a ninja turtle. Then Hayden went through a new phase where she was fascinated with mermaids and she wanted to be a mermaid.

Since Halloween is about the kids I gave up on my Duck Dynasty dream and let the kids be what they wanted. As long as I could eat some of their candy, we both still win.

My children plan what they want to wear for Halloween months in advance. I'm certain it's their attempt to drive me crazy. We'll be in the car in December on our way to see Santa and I will hear, "Mama, I want to be such-and-such for Halloween." Then again each month after that until we actually get the costumes.

Anyhow, we bought Hayden's costume in August. So when my very talented sister asked me if I had anything specific she could crochet for her new niece about to be born I told her I would love a mermaid costume. Oh and did she deliver! 

My littlest mermaid

Deacon the "minja" turtle...I have to admit, I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles growing up. My brother was obsessed with them so we always watched the show, the movie, and played with his million ninja turtle toys. So I think it's awesome that my son loves them. Although, right now he thinks Splinter is a fox. Not sure if I want to tell him he's really a rat. (We really hate rats, one day I might be brave enough to blog about our rat incident...maybe.)

Deacon as Michalangelo 

We wanted to find a modest mermaid costume for Hayden. There are several out there for little girls that are not so modest. That's a tangent I will not go on for now, but seriously, have you seen some of the costumes they make for little girls these days?!

Okay, back to my Hayden. We found her costume on Amazon and ordered it immediately in fear that we wouldn't find one that we approved of if we waited til October. She loved it and she did look very cute.

My eldest mermaid

mermaid sisters

An hour before we were to leave for Trunk or Treat at our church, Kerry decided to dress up. He had enough items around the house to pull of the lumber jack look. I dressed as a tired mom who had to get three children ready for Halloween, and I nailed it.

our hodge podge

Before the Trunk or Treat started we rushed over to Shelly's house to trick or treat. Shelly's grandson got to pick out her costume this year. I think he did well.

mrs. shelly

Halloween 2013 was a success. Our church hosted a trunk or treat and we saw so many families that night. It was a lot of fun and such a great way to meet families living in your community.

My sister makes all kinds of crocheted baby items and sells them. Let me know if you are interested and I'll give you her contact info.

Deacon and the Great Pumpkin

A few days before Halloween, Deacon's Pre-K class took a field trip to the pumpkin patch at Livesay Orchards in Porter. I actually debated on whether or not I should go. I didn't really want to get the baby out and carry her around the entire time. However, I didn't want to miss out on Deacon's first field trip. I always enjoyed going with Hayden on hers. So, after deciding that I would indeed regret it if I didn't go, I chose to go. 

The weather was actually pleasant. It had rained that morning, and there was still an overcast. It didn't rain while we were there, and the temperature was perfect. I put on the baby carrier and strapped Ainslee in. She loved it and conked out pretty quickly. She ended up sleeping the entire time which made things sooooo much easier for mom! I was able to give all my attention to Deacon. :)

They had plenty of activities and stations for the kids to play at before the big hayride to the pumpkin patch.

After playing at all the stations they rang a bell to let the kids know it was time for the hayride. We all loaded up on the trailers to head to the pumpkin patch where each child got to pick out their own pumpkin.

Deacon excited about the hayride.

After picking up and inspecting around 20 pumpkins, Deacon finally found his perfect one. Once the kids picked out their pumpkins we loaded back up onto the hayride and headed back. On the hayride back, some of Deacon's classmates were singing Halloween songs they had been learning at school.  So Deacon's teachers decided to get them to all sing their Halloween songs. It was adorable. With big smiles and giggles they sang their Halloween songs for us to hear. I try so much to soak up moments like that. I know they won't always be little and happily singing songs together.

Once the hayride was over it was time to go home. Deacon had a great time, and I was so glad I got to be there with him.

One Month of Ainslee Blake

This is one month post of Miss Ainslee Blake White. While I am behind (imagine that) on getting this posted, the pictures are all from her first month.

Already getting a belly on her

Carl and Ainslee

Ainslee is fascinated by Carl. I couldn't get her to look at me at first because she was checking him out...I don't think she trusts him.

Ainslee's Likes:

Ainslee loves her mama. She is a huge mama's girl. During this first month she would be crying, and as soon as mama held her she would stop. I have to admit that I love it.

Ainslee loves her sleep. For the first few weeks all she did was sleep, waking up only to eat. Which she also enjoys doing.

Seriously though, how cute is this?

Ainslee loves to snuggle. This girl is a big cuddler. Is there anything better than cuddling a baby? No...the answer is no.

cuddling with Daddy

Ainslee likes her Aden & Anais blankets. I swear she sleeps better when we wrap her in those versus her other blankets. I now understand why they are such a big deal! Ainslee wants to take this opportunity to thank her Aunt Kelly for giving them to her as a gift.

Ainslee's Dislikes:

Ainslee hates being cold. This means she will scream during each diaper change, change of clothing, or getting lotion put on after a bath.

"I'm fine right now, but the second you take me out of this bath I will scream."

Ainslee does not enjoy being hungry. Even if she only has to wait a few minutes, she is not a happy girl. One day I took a few minutes too long to feed her. She was belligerent. Once I started feeding her she was still angry. The picture below is her glaring at me while she ate. She might have some serious attitude as she gets older.

Ainslee's angry eyes

Ainslee does not enjoy the car seat...*sigh*. I was hoping big brother and big sister would not pass this trait on to their baby sister, but it appears she hates it just as much as they did.

A shopping trip gone awfully bad.

One day Ainslee and I were home alone and I was dying to get out of the house. I decided to load her up and go to Muskogee to go and check out this consignment store a friend had been telling me about. When we walked into the store the owner was working behind the counter and asked me if she could hold Ainslee while I shopped. Since the store was little and I could see Ainslee no matter where I was I very happily took her up on her offer.

It wasn't one minute after I handed her to the very nice (and well dressed) lady that my sweet Ainslee let out a horrible noise. A noise that sounded like it came from a very large grown man. I looked at the lady and she very sweetly said, "Um, I think she is leaking." I walk back to the counter to retrieve my poopy child when I notice the sweet lady has poop on her shirt. As I take Ainslee from her the poop continues to leak and gets on the counter, then on me, then on the floor.

I immediately grab the diaper changing pad out of my diaper bag and lay Ainslee on the floor. With her wipes I wipe off the counter...dying inside. I'm apologizing over and over to the poor lady with a stranger's child's poop on her clothes. She insists she is fine and it's no big deal--yeah right.

Ainslee is now screaming at this time because she is covered in poop--front to back--and thinks she is now starving. Her outfit is nasty, I take it off clean her up with wipes--she is livid. I reach in the diaper bag to retrieve a spare onesie and guess what? Apparently, I had taken it out at some point. Why? I do not know.

So with Ainslee screaming I apologize to the store owner and explain that I must now go back to the car to feed my naked baby. We went back to the van, I fed her, wrapped her in a blanket--thank goodness I at least had that, and went back inside. I was determined to do some shopping despite my embarrassment.

To my surprise the lady asked to hold her again. After going back and forth several times of, "No, you really don't have to," I reluctantly handed my naked Ainslee back to her.

Luckily, Ainslee kept all her bodily fluids to herself after that. I hurried and found three clothing items, purchased them, and thanked the wonderful store owner for not kicking me out. She was an awesome lady. Back to the Rack is the name of the store by the way.

Now just a "few" more pictures.

And that is the short summary of the first month of Miss Ainslee Blake's life :)

The Arrival of Miss Ainslee Blake White

My official due date was Monday, September 23rd.  September 23rd came and went, and I was showing no signs of labor.  How in the world does someone go past their due date on their third pregnancy? But Little Miss wasn't quite ready to make her grand debut...despite all my walking and spicy food attempts.

Shortly after midnight two days later I woke up with contractions. Not wanting to wake Kerry (because I knew he'd make us leave immediately), I got out of bed, took a bath, watched some TV, and ate a bowl (or two) of cereal all while continuing to time my contractions.  Around 2:30 a.m. I knew they were the real deal, and I decided it was time to wake Kerry.  

After waking Kerry out of a dead sleep, we loaded the kids up in the van, and headed to Vian to drop them off with Mr. Randy and Mrs. Shawna.  Randy and Shawna are so awesome to have done this twice for us now!

We arrived at Sparks around 3:45 a.m. and got checked in and were given a room around 4:00. Another doctor was on call that night, but as soon as we got to the labor and delivery ward I saw my doctor standing at the desk. I was so so happy to see her there. She delivered both Hayden and Deacon, and I do not care what anyone thinks about their own doctor...my doctor, Dr. Householder, is the very best.  I love her so much.

She examined me once I got in my room and I was at a four. I was really surprised I was already that far along. The nurse immediately got my IV going so that I would be able to get the epidural soon.

Between contractions, before my epidural

This was my third time around in labor and delivery so I wasn't surprised to hear some ladies yelling in the rooms next to mine. But...oh my! There was a poor teenage girl in the room next to mine yelling the same very harsh profanity each time she had a contraction...which was often. Once while I was having my own contractions we hear "MOTHER-bleeper!!" I actually began laughing even though I was in a lot of pain myself!

I think after having each of my children I completely blocked out how much pain contractions actually cause. Geez, they hurt, they hurt, they hurt. (Not enough for me to scream M-F-er, but they are awful.) Now, for those of you that refuse the epidural, good for you, but I am not that kind of gal! I'm convinced that epidurals are a gift from God. The moment it kicks in and begins working is such a beautiful thing. I was able to relax and visit with Kerry and my parents from that moment on. Oh yeah, my parents arrived at the hospital around 5:00 a.m. My mom is very serious about being there BEFORE her grandbabies arrive. All thanks to not making it on time to Hayden's birth...she was a tad angry at my dad for that one.

Around 6:00 a.m. my doctor checked me again and I was at a seven! "Holy cow, this is going fast," I said. An hour later I was at a 10, and at 7:09 AM on September 25, 2013, Ainslee Blake White was born.

Our new baby girl

After her first bath...which she HATED

Ainslee weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 20 inches long. I couldn't believe she was actually that big. My other two were tiny babies. Ainslee came out crying and didn't stop until I held her. The second I saw her my, heart opened up a little more and made room for the overwhelming love I had for this precious child. The feeling in that moment when I first held each of my children is indescribable. What a huge blessing from God.

Daddy smitten over his newest girl

A few hours after Ainslee was born Mr. Randy brought big sister and big brother to come and meet her. As soon as they came in Hayden demanded, "What's her name?!" We waited until the baby was born to reveal her name. This proved to be a very unpopular choice amongst most of our family and friends, but we didn't care! I loved waiting; it was a fun surprise.

Hayden is an amazing big sister

Sisters and hopefully one day best friends

I love Deacon's face, he was so excited and proud :)

The moment Hayden and Deacon saw Ainslee for the first time they were both smitten. I loved watching them fall instantly in love with their new sibling.

This will forever be a favorite picture of mine. So proud of their new sissy.

Despite me looking a little rough--I did after all just have a baby--I love our first picture together as a family.

Ainslee had several visitors. Shortly after my parents left Bear came in...bringing donuts! Aunt Jill and Uncle Blake came around noon. Poor Mimi had a horrible toothache and had to go to the dentist that morning, but she, Bear, Meemaw, and Papa came later that evening.

After everyone got a chance to hold the newest member of our family, they all took Kerry to dinner and Ainslee and I got some precious alone time to bond while they were gone. I spent most of that time holding and kissing my new baby girl. Marveling over what a gift from God I have been given.

The next afternoon Ainslee and I both got the okay to be discharged from the hospital. However, before we left I took advantage of the free postpartum massage they provide for mamas at Sparks...another reason having a baby there is so awesome. It was so great and so needed! Thank-you Sparks!

Ainslee Blake all buckled up and ready to head to her new home.

Again, I know I have already bragged on her, but I do adore this woman. Dr. Householder is amazing. She works incredibly hard to be there for her patients and to provide them with the best care possible. I am actually always sad after my deliveries knowing I won't see her on a regular basis anymore. I'm so thankful to have had such a wonderful OB-GYN. I could never tell her quite enough how amazing I think she is. Dr. Householder, you are a rock star!

Dr. Jean-Marie Householder