Recent pictures

I've been trying to take pictures but haven't been doing the greatest keeping up with it. I took a ton of pictures of Katelyn during her first year and filled up two photo albums and plan on doing the same with Mitch. So I am keeping the camera handy if any opportunities come along. Here are a few recent pictures of Mitch...

Hanging with daddy.
Sleeping in my swing!

Relaxing with mommy.
Katelyn invited me into her bed, but it didn't last long!

Hello world!

Mitchell Bradley

Mitch was born August 20, 2011 at 4:41 pm and was 7 lbs. 13 oz. 21 inches long.

On Friday I remember having only a few contractions late in the day and how they were very random. I woke early Saturday morning, I think around 3 with some more random contractions. I tried sleeping but when it was about 5 am they started getting consistant for the first time. I waited it out as long as I could and Brad finally woke up at 6:30ish realizing that today could be the day. At 7 Katelyn went to grandma and grandpa's so that we could go to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital and I was checked and the nurse said I was 3cm and would be staying for the day! Not long after being admitted I was able to get the epidural which was fabulous considering I was in a lot of pain! I don't have any more specific timed details but I do remember going from 3 to 6 pretty quickly but then stalling at 6. The doctor decided to start pitocin to get things going again but it didn't seem to help. She checked me again and realized my bag of waters was stopping him from dropping any further so she broke it and I remember that things started progressing again and pretty quickly too. The nurse said he would be here by 5pm...

I'm not entirely sure what time is was or how long I pushed for but it was definitely quicker than 2 hours. It felt quicker and easier than Katelyn's birth. I will say that it is instant relief once that baby is out! Brad is such a wonderful support and was my motivation to keep going. He held my hand through every push and counted down for me. Once Mitch was out the nurses whisked him away to do whatever it is they do and I remember hearing that his apgar's were 8 and 9 which I know are really good. He started crying which is a great sound! And continued to cry until he was warm! I am doing well, just a little sore and tired. We are happy to be home as a family of 4 now.

Katelyn has so far been great with Mitch and loves to look at him and 'pet' his head as she says. It is adorable. She even helped feed him today and at one point wanted to hold him. She will be a great big sister.

Here are a few of the Bella Baby shots that they take at the hospital...we have the cd if anyone wants to view any of them.

39 weeks

How your baby's growing:
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

Fair 2011

This is a little later than I planned on posting but we've been a little busy as of late. Anyways, over the weekend Kevin & Hillary along with Jack came home and with Grandma & Grandpa we all went to the fair. It was of course hot but fun. Here are some pictures of that adventure!

Congrats

We want to congratulate my sister Laura and her fiancé Josh on the birth if their daughter Lakyn. She was born today and was 5lbs 1oz and 20 in. She was adorable!

PUPPP

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP), is a chronic hives-like rash that strikes some women during pregnancy. Although extremely annoying for its sufferers (because of the itch), it presents no long-term risk for either the mother or unborn child. PUPPP frequently begins on the stomach and spreads to the legs, feet, arms, chest, and neck. It affects about one in two hundred pregnancies and is the commonest of the dermatoses of pregnancy. Certain studies reveal that this condition is more frequent in women carrying boys, although no formal research has been conducted. Statistics cite that 70% percent of PUPPP sufferers deliver boys. The cause of the condition is unknown, but the distension (stretching) of the skin is thought to play a role. In the majority of cases, PUPPP resolves spontaneously within a week of delivery. However, a few women continue to experience symptoms long into the postpartum period. (info from Wikipedia)

So today I officially found out that I have PUPPP. It started around last weekend on my stomach in my stretch marks. I initially thought it was a heat rash...until I noticed redness and bumps starting to show up on my arms and legs. Thats when I did research and had a feeling it was PUPPP. I saw my OB on Friday who recommended a dermotoligist which is whom I saw today and confirmed my suspisions. PUPPP is not a fun thing to have and I am above and beyond over it! It is the itchiest I have ever felt and absolutely hate it. I am trying so hard not to itch but it is so difficult!!! This is all the more reason for Mitch to come right now! :)

Happy Anniversary

Today is our 6 year anniversary. Its hard to believe its been 6 years already! We have accomplished so much and yet have so much more we want to do. We have each other, we have Katelyn, we have a beautiful new home and soon, we'll have Mitch.

38 weeks

How your baby's growing:
Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after he's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)



I went to the doctor today who told me that I was a little over 1 cm dialated. Hopefully soon Mitch will make his arrival!!!

37 weeks

How your baby's growing:
Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.