Santa Claus Was In Town...

Awhile ago...at least I'm getting this in before next December.  Noah and I were still doing a lot of sleeping and not leaving the house much because well...we were sleeping cause it ws cold and dreary outside so Nick's birthday was low key.  Jack wanted to bake an Easy Bake Oven cake but after Bebe's we know that it isn't quite enough for sharing so Nick made a pan of brownies...Noah and I were asleep.  Jack helped him blow out the candles while Noah was...asleep and it didn't take me long to finish off his pan being at home all the time.  Don't be mistaken though, Noah now doesn't nap much at all during the day, but is a TROOPER at night.

Once Nick's birthday passes is when the holiday festivities began...but with Noah being so young we divided and conquered this year...can't wait til next year although he is growing up way to fast for me!  We started with Jack and I stepping outside the box and decorating a rice crispy house from a kit that we turned into an ornament.  Once it was finished we turned out the lights, flipped on the Christmas tree lights, and watched Frosty the Snowman with hot chocolate and of course, rice crispy treat.  Why make the gingerbread house when no one eats them at our house....we ate this for sure. Another night we continued the craft streek by making a holiday house that Bebe sent..it was peel and stick and Jack loved making it.  Put it with his train table and it was hard to sneak it out....we agreed to put it in the Holiday boxes in the attic...not sure if Nick followed through with this...but I bet Jack will remember next year that it is supposed to be in there.  Another movie with cookies this night.  The other activities that we did this year were that Jack and I went to Santa's Village in Richardson, Spaghetti with Santa with Olivia, and ICE at the Gaylord-the ice slides while getting our family pictures taken with Chantel.  The Clampetts party was very intimate this year with hot dogs...we'll be back up in full swing next year-I just couldn't mess up our annual aspect of the tradition so we threw a little something together.

 School was out for Nick and Jack so it was time to load up to go home for the holidays.  Well as the picture below show...we were delayed a bit by Nick coming down with the stomach bug.  He was just too weak, the house was a mess, and none of us wanted to be in the car with him for over 7 hours.  So we postponed our departure by a day.  Our first stop was New Orleans.  Jack loves to play with Nana and Blake so Nick and I had sometime to rest while we had extra hands.  Family gatherings were great- lots of tasty food, family, and fun!  Christmas Eve we went to Domini's house where the kids played and the boys...played with their iphones.  Before bed we opened up one present for Jack and Noah--matchingish pajamas that didn't fit Jack and Noah would have been too hot so Jack slept in an alternate pair I brought (which came off shortly after waking up Christmas morning.  He was really into wearing a Daddy shirt to sleep so I had to bribe him to keep the cute holiday pj's on for Santa presents.  Next year I'll be better prepared for this.  Back to Eve...only Jack Relle would want to put a fork and wrap the carrot ends so Santa didn't get his white gloves dirty....what can I say- He might look like Nick, but he sure acts like his Mom. 

 Santa did a good job at getting the boys great gifts this year. Jack had asked for a bike, changed to itouch, and then robot. His original robot was something not in existance, so with some ad persuasion we got him turned onto Alphie. His gifts included Alphie, Duplo Toy Story, Lama Lama Holiday Drama book with Lama stuffed animal, Trio pieces, Don't Spill the Beans, and a few other odds and ends.  Noah got a lot of things that "his brother had when he was younger-wink, wink) and a Sophie giraffee that I have wanted since before getting pregnant for my next baby...and he loves his Sophie.  In the end thought the scooter from Nana and Gramps was the favorite for Jack this year.  We cleaned up as the family started making their way over for turkey and spaghetti.  Jack played with his cousins hard...that afternoon it was time to head to Baton Rouge for the steak dinner and more gifts. 

It is so sweet how Jack and Gab pick up where they left off like no time has past or distance is between them.  They all looked so cute in the matching initial reindeer shirts (onsie) from Aunt Betsy.  Dinner was great, Jack enjoyed playing with Nicholas & Joseph, and the hit from the day in Baton Rouge was the Hot Wheels radio from Mary Beth that we just "love" that Jack blares the music often to do his dancing.  Bebe was under the weather so the day was a bit chaotic without our director...but we managed just fine.  Lots of lazy days in Baton Rouge and Nick relapsed so our departure was much like or original departure...delayed. 

 

We made it home after a long drive (which Noah was a trooper but was done with the car about half way- bless his heart) and unsure where all the new loot was going to go.  Not long after being here I ended up getting the stomach bug and life was difficult feeding Noah while Nick held the garbage can for me.  I feel like the whole holiday was spent taking care of someone and cleaning up to avoid spreading the germs...which didn't work because Jack ended up getting sick too.  Good thing Noah was spared the stomach funk of Christmas 2010.  It was overall a nice holiday and was great having Noah in the Clan to celebrate, but hoping that next year has no illness, a better car ride, and just as much fun as this year.  Merry Christmas in April.

Turkey Month

The month of November seems so far away and is very blurry.  Between my last days at work, Noah coming a bit before scheduled, and adjusting to the life of a family of 4 was a lot for this Mama.

My sweet boys.  Crazy how Noah looks nothing like this anymore.  My thought is all those Route 44 waters with lemon and extra ice slowly took away his puff.

And here is a great way for new parents to combine house work with entertainment for the new big brother while mom tends to the baby.

Glad him and Nick had fun (and hope Noah does too) because I'm not much into yard work.  Looks like I have a great crew to take care of it for me. :)

The Saints were playing against the Cowboys so GG and Mac came in town to meet Noah...oh I mean for the game. 

Noah better watch out.  Jack is pretty protective of his GG and Mac...hope he is willing to share the love with his little brother.

All clean and chillin'

Our original plans for Thanksgiving were to host my family at our house (a major part of the couch purchasing decision) but things didn't work out (thank goodness we had the couch already when they fell through).  But now that Greg and Stacy live in Dallas and the Fayetteville crew were in town...it worked out PERFECT.  We didn't have to clean, cook, clean, and we still have a new couch!

Jack loved playing his new Curious George Game with Aunt Leslie.

Savannah got some snuggles in with baby Noah who shares her birthday of November 5th

And this is about what Noah looked like the entire day without even eating the turkey to make him this tired.  He slept through prep, lunch, and us hanging out after lunch while the boys were at the game.  Thanks Greg and Stacy.  And Fayetteville Crew....it's our turn to come to you...this summer I promise. :)

Happy 1st Thanksgiving my little turkey!

Happy Birthday Noah!

We're getting there...just slowly.

Mama Relle in Noah's nursery Thursday, November 4, 2010-the night before he was born.
Since my blood pressure had been acting up, my contractions had gotten stronger, and TMI-I had lost my plug--Papa and Bebe headed to town earlier than planned (like Noah) so to not miss his arrival.

Here is where earlier than planned continued. The plan *was* to wake up, shower, get myself all celeb beautiful, and head in at 10 for my celeb scheduled section at noon. Before heading to bed my contractions started to get closer together and worse, but I went to bed for a good nights rest...which didn't happen. The contractions were terrible and close, but not 100% consistent. Although the discharge instructions on Halloween were to call if I had any contractions...my obsessive self wanted to have Dr. Campbell deliver, had the scheduled birth photographer, and wanted to shower so I suffered through it. At 3:00 I woke up after the contractions had slowed down to get some water and Captain Crunch snack before the 4:00 AM cut off before surgery. Then at 4:00 when I got out of bed to go to the restroom-my water broke. We called Paul and Kerri to head over and the on call doctor. She told us to head in and the new plan was to hopefully hang in there until Dr. Campbell came in for the day and she'd do the surgery. Not looking celeb at all-Nick and I kissed Jack good bye while he slept peacefully and got to Presby Plano as fast as we could. Getting in and admitted took longer than this laboring mother would have liked, but I focused on holding out for Dr. Campbell. Here I am large and in charge before robing up and not getting any meds til the surgery which was after pre-op--OUCH!


Not a big fan of plans changing.
Did I mention there were no meds in pre-op--OUCH!!

Here is the first of the many, absolutely wonderful birth pictures that Ceci Jane took for our family of Noah's big day. She headed to meet us soon after we called to avoid traffic and luckily she did because she walked in just minutes before we headed to the delivery room. None of us expected to pull up to the hospital and it still be dark outside.

I'll just say here how grateful we were to have Ceci there to capture our hearts on film so that we could live in the moment and not behind the lens...Thank You Ceci-Can't wait for you to capture Noah growing up over the years for us too!

In between contractions.

Contractions. Here are all of the nurses and doctors looking through my heart records and figuring out who will finish out my delivery since it was shift change time. See...Noah didn't only mess with my plans.

Nick working communication duty and scrubbing up.

Off we go-both anesthesiologists joined us in the OR to help monitor my monkey heart. So nice of the first one to stay past his shift ending to follow through with us.

This experience, as I knew it would be, was polar opposite that of Jack. Not only going into labor on my own, no medication, but knowing and being fully functioning when entering the operating room. And I must admit I was worried about my heart this go round since last time the defect was either not there or it was but we didn't know about it.

Nick capturing a little video.

Noah Charles Relle entered the world at 7:12 AM on Friday, November 5, 2010

I couldn't see Noah like everyone else but got super freaked out as the room filled with people saying, "Oh my god. Holy cow. Wow!" I instantly started requesting to be told what was wrong-it was their reactions to Noah being such a huge baby. Next time...let's not react that way when I'm laying on the table unable to see or move. (Yes, I said next time-and Nick I know it means, "We never know what the future holds.")

Checking out our newest little boy, I mean BIG boy.

Up close. I'm so glad that they let me hold Noah this time. Since the OR was FREEZING he was wrapped up but being able to look into his eyes, hold his hand, talk to him, and kiss his sweet face was important to me and meant the world to me.

I'll never forget this moment...his sweet chubby cheeks, bright blue eyes, holding my hand, and blowing bubbles out his mouth which he continues to do non-stop today (3 months).

It was time for him to warm back up and then he headed to the recovery room with Nick and Ceci while they finished the surgery.

So much better than seeing Bit behind the glass wall...Papa and Bebe were able to get a hands on first view of their 3rd grand baby.

And Daddy got some good quality time with Noah too since they wait to bath until you are in your postpartum room. I'm telling you...so much happier this go around-Presby has really come a long way with their procedures since Jack was born a few years back.

Nana and Gramps brought Jack up while I was still in the recovery room to meet his Baby Brother (mainly because Ceci was still there and we wanted her to capture the first pictures of the Relle Clan-Family of 4).

Back in my postpartum room Jack presented Noah with his Build a Bear Owl gift.

Nana and Noah

Gramps and Noah

Noah Charles Relle-8 lbs. 15 oz.-19.29 inches

We spent 4 days in the hospital while Nana and Gramps stayed with Jack. Papa headed out of town and Bebe came to take over the care of Jack, Noah, and I. Of course Bebe cookies were made to eat and have leftover after Bebe had to go back to Louisiana.

Noah's 1st bath at home.

Papa came back from his work trip and spent some time with his first grandchild. Don't they just look like TROUBLE together?!?!

Visitors came by here and there to meet the newest member to the group. Karen & Brandie.

Planning our photographers went down about like the "scheduled" birth. Originally The Birth Photographer-Nicole was going to shoot Noah's birth. She was unable to so I found Chantel Hayes and booked her for the birth. Then I started obsessing about what was more important- birth photos or newborn/family photos. I decided to go with newborn/family and contacted Chantel to let her know of my service change request. She understood, agreed to do the newborn/family, and gave me Ceci's information as she was starting up her birth business and was a "back up" for Chantel. Since I wanted both birth and newborn/family I contacted Ceci and she offered us a great package. So...Ceci did the birth, Chantel was to do the newborn/family but something came up and she had to cancel that day, and we called in Ceci. Noah was a terrible model so 4 hours later it was getting dark and Ceci left with plans to come back on another day to do shoot only Noah and we'd get together on another weekend to do family pictures. I was obsessing about Noah changing and Ceci was stressing about how uncooperative Noah was so in the end Chantel came over one afternoon to shoot Noah's pictures. She too struggled with Noah but ended up shooting some wonderful pictures. We met up with her a few weeks later for family pictures (another post). So that is the tangled photographer web we weaved. Wanted to get it down to remind myself and Noah what all I went through to get his birth documented.

The pictures from both Ceci and Chantel were perfect to create Noah's birth annoucement with:

I can't say enough about how wonderful the birth of Noah was despite the change of plans. Presbyterian Plano truly has become family friendly with them allowing Ceci in the operating room, letting me hold Noah soon after birth, family allowed in the recovery room without too many distractions with Noah, bathing him and running tests in the room later that afternoon, very breastfeeding friendly-they don't even have pacifiers to offer parents, and daily nap time from 1-4 with no interuptions from anyone so you can bond and rest with your baby was my favorite time of the day. The food as before was delicious (including the pudding I had OFTEN at all hours). Having Ceci and Chantel capture the arrival for us was the icing on the cake especially since poor Noah as you can tell by the lack of blog posts hasn't had the equal momentos that I swore I would have for all my children.

A few other dit dots to help me later relive this special time in our lives: Nick walking in circles after my water broke rather than helping me out, Nick turning on the flashers and running a light...likely just for the thrill because it wasn't an emergency, freaking out when Dr. Campbell mentioned rupture in the OR but luckily it just meant water breaking, having duck cookies wrapped and labeled by Bebe to pass out to visitors and staff, LA a great nurse, Sylvia Noah's great nurse that made breastfeeding possible for us with her hard work, using Jack's horn to hit and wake up Nick at night, Noah peeing on everybody all the time (this doesn't happen nearly as much now), LSU vs. Bama, Dad eating onions in my tiny cell of a room, Jack loving the rocks out the window before but not so much a fan of the hospital overall, being high maintence requesting Campbell to perform Noah's procedure, enjoying Dr. Tylavazch the weekend on call OB, code words with the nurses, Mom saying the code word and causing LA and I to fess up to her, wanting to steal the Classic pump, loading up the car with hospital goods, stalking Mother's Gift for Classic & getting it, buying Noah his loved Kicky Pants pjs and animal blanket, the Zoloft times, and I'm sure there are more. As much as I complained I love being pregnant, the amazement of delivering, and all the tiring and trying times that come with a newborn. I LOVE BEING A MOM!

Welcome to the family Noah. We think you are just perfect and can't imagine our lives without you in our family. We love you!