a month old today...

baby blessing

Miss Evie's baby blessing was yesterday, December 2nd.

She wore the blessing dress that I was blessed in as a newborn.

Mom was the only family who made it, and we were so thankful for her presence.

"mom, are you really taking more pictures of me?" 

I had to multitask while it was going on because this little guy is having jealousy issues and was upset that his daddy was holding the baby at the front of the chapel and not him.

But everything was beautiful and Evie was a perfect angel.

And now my mom is back home and I get to figure out this two kids to one me thing.

I am so lucky.

(not being sarcastic)

big brother

Baby Evie

Evangeline Melody Hostetler (Evie) made her debut at 1:14am on Friday morning (11/16/12).

 My water "broke" either sometime Wednesday or Thursday morning (I say "broke" because really I just sprang a pinhole leak).

 The UM Birth Center Triage had me come in Thursday afternoon, confirmed that that was the case, and admitted me.

 Contractions would come for me when I walked around (for hours), but stopped as soon as I stopped.

The doctors and nurses wanted to start me on pitocin, which I have in general been against because I think hospitals a lot of times push it to keep people on some artificial schedule and because in my opinion inductions have increased rates of c-sections and go hand in hand with people thinking they can't do labor without an epidural.

 But, I agreed and they started me on a low level drip of pitocin at around 10:45pm.

(and, at least for my body, I didn't think it made the contractions any more intense, it just got labor going...and fast.  So, my soapbox stance may need some modifications.)

 About an hour and a half in, the nurse said to let her know in a few hours when I felt any pressure, etc...I called her back in 5 minutes later feeling kind of silly doing so...but they checked me and everyone started hopping because apparently I was in delivery mode. A couple of pushes later she was here.

 I'm so thankful everything went well. I love this little being so much already, and I know I'm biased, but I think she's pretty cute.

I'm also thankful to have my mom here (she arrived on the 10th).

I think it made all the difference to Des to be able to stay at home in familiar surroundings while we were at the hospital.

He has moments of anxiety at sharing his momma (and daddy), but overall is doing so good and loves to kiss and hold his little sister. 

Don't mind the picture overload...I just can't help myself.

I think she looks like Curt's sister, Megan, and a lot like Des looked when he was first born.

We'll see what the next few weeks hold...babies just change so very fast...I have to drink it in while I can.

38 weeks

 

 

We are now to the point where I could theoretically have this baby girl at any time.

Yes this top gets worn frequently.

No, it is not technically a maternity top, but a mini skirt dress.

Works for me though.

 

 



shopping for kids clothes

 

I was so pleased with my haul from the consignment shop tonight.

 

 

That is 17 onesies, 4 pairs of pants, 3 footie pajamas, 3 shirts, 3 sweaters, 2 denim dresses, 2 pairs of shoes, a skirt, a dress, and a swim suit.

37 items.

 

Total: $24.80

 

That's an average of 67 cents per item.

 

 

And these are not worn out clothes at all.  Several still had original store tags.

Some people try to tell me that they do just as well shopping sales in the malls...but I just don't buy it.  For less than one hour of my time spent I found this quantity at this price.

 

 

Granted, this was notable, thus the blog post.

...but I typically average around $1-1.50 per clothing item.

 

 

Budgets are sexy, spreadsheets make me giddy, and shopping like this is deeply satisfying.

 

 

Life is good.

 

 



Basement Update: Insulation & Hanging Drywall

 

Well, things are going about as planned in my last update.

 

I had the basement insulated and inspected by end of day last Thursday, drywall was delivered yesterday, and three guys showed up today and hung it all in between 9:00a-3:00p.

A guy is showing up at 8:00a tomorrow to start taping and mudding.

 

The following are views from this morning and then {roughly} the same views this afternoon.

It really is amazing the visual change of making the walls solid.

 

...standing in the bathroom looking down the hallway...

 

 

 

...standing in the alcove in the bedroom looking into the closets...

 

 

 

...standing in the bedroom closet looking at the alcove...

 

 

 

...standing in the storage area looking toward the hall {on the left} and the bathroom {on the right}...

 

 

 

...the bathroom...

 

 

 

 

 



a Fall walk

 

 

It was a beautiful day outside today.