Taggart Craig Pace

Tyler received the greatest birthday present ever today!

Welcome Taggart Craig Pace.

Born (on Tyler's birthday) Sunday, November 25 at 2:15 p.m. Weight: 7lbs. 2.4oz. Hair: TONS!

My doctor had suggested being induced over the weekend since she was on call, so we picked Tyler's birthday as the big day, and Tyler was so happy about it. We arrived at the hospital at 7am to check in. After getting settled in to the room, hooked up to the monitors and a few other standard procedures, the nurse started the IV with penicillin since I was Strep B positive. It had to be going for about three hours before they could start the pitocin to induce labor and get contractions started.

My mom spent the night at our house so that she could watch Holland for us and they both came to the hospital as soon as Holland woke up. Dad was at home in Salem with Tina, Emily, Wyatt and Zach. They needed to catch a flight out that afternoon. They all drove up in order to stop by before heading to the airport. Tina told me that she hoped I could have the baby before they left. Pressure!

Around 10am Mom took Holland home to give her a nap just as they were adding the pitocin in to the pic line. A little before noon the anesthesiologist came in and put in the epidural. It went so well! Night and day from my first epidural experience. Thank goodness!

Dad, Tina and kids were in and out visiting with me and Tyler. Tyler's Aunt Shauna stopped by to visit for a while - she and Dee are serving a service mission at a ward near the hospital.

As the contractions started to get harder and closer I started calling my mom telling her to hurry and get to the hospital, but her phone just kept going to voice mail. I was getting so stressed that she was going to miss it. I called. Tina called. No answer. I was starting to get worried. And at this point, it was not about her missing the birth, but just about her in general - I hoped everything was okay with her and Holland. I couldn't figure out why she wasn't answering. I said a little prayer.

As I started to realize that my mom was not going to be there for the birth, I realized that Tina was the only one in there with me and Tyler as the nurses were prepping me for the actual delivery. The doctor came in. I told Tina that if she felt comfortable with it, we would love to have her stay in the room for the delivery. I think she was totally surprised. But I could tell she was not so sure about the offer. But then it was go time and she really didn't have a chance to escape.

I pushed three times in five minutes and the darkest head of hair appeared! I couldn't believe how easy and how fast it all happened. Heaven!

Welcome to the world...and to the Pace Family little man.

As soon as the doctor handed the baby to me, Tyler said (just like when Holland was born), "So...what's it going to be?" Taggart Craig. Only, Tyler told the nurse it was spelled Taggert. We had to change that later.

Here comes LOTS of pictures...

In Taggart's nursery right before we headed for the hospital.

The birthday boy...waiting patiently for his gift to arrive.

 

Holland meeting Tagg for the first time. She's a little unsure.

About To Pop

I'm being induced tomorrow morning...and I seriously can hardly wait. I do not like being pregnant, and then the final weeks and days are the worst! I'm so tired of being tired and so sick of feeling sick.  People keep telling me to "get your sleep now." Ha! Seriously? How am I supposed to sleep with a bowling ball in my stomach? With this constant feeling of nausea? With a sore back? With a little person doing flips inside of me? Get this baby here already. I'll take sleep-deprived newborn stage over being pregnant any day!

Today was spent doing final "nesting" things, but mostly finishing the nursery. My mother-in-law, "M," was adamant that we get the nursery finished and she made sure that happened. Thank goodness! I was so happy to have her help and love that she is so talented at decorating. I'm now completely ready to welcome this little man home...well, I still have to finish packing my hospital bag. Sigh...

"M" helped me all day - painting, sewing, hanging artwork, shopping, and organizing. And then, we went to Buca di Beppo for my "last meal" as a prego lady. Check out that huge tummy! Our final family photo as a family of THREE. Bring on #4!

And then, a bitter-sweet moment for me: putting Holland to bed for the last time before this new, little man joins our family. I've been so torn lately with feelings of guilt. I burst into tears now and then (read: OFTEN!) with such mixed emotions and my heart literally aches! I question a lot of things: Did I get pregnant too soon? Is Holland going to be jealous? Will she like her little brother or resent him? Is there anyway I can love another child as much as I love this little girl of mine? Is Holland going to feel replaced and/or left out? Is she going to be mad at me? Am I forcing her to grow up too fast? Will she still let me rock her to sleep...?

As I sang and rocked my little girl I cried and cried - some of the tears were sadness and some of them were joy. I never imagined I would love motherhood as much as I do. And, I never imagined I could love a little person as much as I do. I feel so unworthy of this amazing blessing and responsibility. I hope I don't mess up!

This Girl...always makes me smile

Giving Thanks

This year was a small Thanksgiving...and I loved it!! Those that we spent the day with: My parents, my sister (Tina) and her three kiddos (Emily, Wyatt and Zackary), Tyler's mom, and Tyler's brother (Josh).

Tyler, Holland and I loved that everyone came to our house...so we didn't have to drive and chance it being away from the hospital if I were to go into labor. Of course, I didn't go into labor anyway, but you know had we been an hour away I really just might have.

My family came up the night before, so not only was it a fun-filled Thanksgiving, it was a fun sleep-over and getting-ready-for-Thanksgiving as well.

Here are a few (A LOT!) of pics of our day.

Making the food... 

Eating the food...

Being silly...

Taking a tubby...

Saying "cheese"...

This Is How She Rolls

Early morning walks with dad happen several times a week. She sometimes looks a little cuter than this...and usually seems as though she she actually enjoys herself on the walk! It was a rough morning...

Happy Halloween

This was Holland's first year Trick-or-Treating. It did not take her very long to make the correlation between  ringing a doorbell and receiving a handful of candy. It was so fun to watch her learn about this fun (Tyler's Fave!) holiday!

We left to go Trick-or-Treating pretty early so we could get back to hand out candy at our house as well. Holland even enjoyed that part, but would stash a few pieces of candy down her shirt (of course!) every now and then as we sat on the porch waiting for the next group of kids. She cracks me up!

Side Note: We had a few weirdos come to our door! Like full-on adults in regular clothes (a couple of them were actually in costume at last) with plastic grocery bags that they would hold out and say "Trick-or-Treat." I was so shocked with the first guy that I actually found "For Real?" coming out of my mouth. His wife/girlfriend (who knows?) responded with, "I know, right? Kind of different." I couldn't even respond. Seriously people???

Anyway, It was fun for all of us to dress up (even though I've never seen a farm-girl quite so pregnant before!) and the weather was PERFECT (almost too perfect!)

We love our little "cow"...and I think she is for sure already a fan of Halloween!

1st Door - The Turley's

2nd Door - The Halliday's (Jane)

3rd Door - The Wells' (No Answer...darn the darn!)

Getting a move on! I get what we're doing now...

Final Door of the Night - The Done's

18 Months - She's Growing Up

This all happened way too fast! I'm shocked that this little baby of mine is 18-months old and is going to be a big sister in a month!! And, she officially started nursery today - I'll post of pics of that not-successful event separately.

She's tipping the scales these days at 22 lbs - skinny little thing (95th% for height and 15th% for weight). She talks A LOT, and although it may sound like just gibberish at times, she really does know quite a few words. We thank Baby Signing Time! I'm not sure if she knows more signs or more actual words at this point, but needless to say, she communicates really well and let's us know exactly what she wants/needs/thinks! Her favorite word is "CAR" and anything with wheels (except a bike), in her mind, is a car.

This little girl literally runs everywhere, loves to watch videos on dad's computer, is still obsessed (literally!) with Baby Signing Time, has finally learned to snuggle (a little!), is a happy camper in the car (since we turned her car seat forward-facing!), and is the center of our world. We can't get enough of her smile and cute little giggle. We love her so much!!

Here is Holland's progression over the last six months (I need to locate month 15 and 17 pics...ugh!)

Where did our baby go??