Ivy Kathleen Seymore joined our family  on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at  2:09 in the morning  weighing in at  7 pounds 12 ounces and 19 inches long
Ivy was born exactly on her "due date" (the day before our wedding anniversary)! I had been having contractions months before and still nothing was happening so I just went on thinking I was going to have her past 40 weeks. 
Friday the 13th, was just like any other day. We had just moved to an appt in Oceanside and we were barely getting through boxes to unpack. Chris was having his car shipped from Virginia and it was being delivered to our old location in Riverside that day (about an hour away from Oceanside). So I drove out there to sign off the paper work and pay the guy. To kill some time while we waited, my mom and I, and of course my active toddler duo, went shopping at a few of our favorite places then met up with my sister and her boyfriend for lunch. Time past when I finally heard back from the shipping company saying they are running behind and will be getting here tomorrow morning instead. So rather than driving to Oceanside that night and then back to Riverside again the next morning, I decided to spend the night at my mom's house then drive back home early the next morning. 
We spent the rest of the evening at my grandparents house when I started having some pain with my contractions. I wasn't having very many contractions but they were starting to feel different than the ones I had been previously having. Still so far apart, I wasn't going to get my hopes up and think that it was the night (because truthfully, I had been thinking every night was going to be the night for the past month). I went to the bathroom and noticed I was bleeding, not just spotting but actually bleeding. That was really unusual for me so we decided it would be best to go to the hospital and have things checked out. We got the kids together and dropped them off with my sister so that my mom could stay with me at the hospital. It was about 11 pm when we got to the labor and delivery. I sent Chris a text message about 15 minutes before telling him what was going on and that I would let him know if I think he should drive out from Oceanside (he was in the field the night before and was exhausted so I didn't want him to drive out so late at night if it was nothing serious). This whole time I was barely having any contractions and they were far apart without any pattern and the bleeding wasn't as bad any more so I was feeling kind of bad about setting off a "false alarm".  After filling out all the paper work and finally getting into a room the nurse comes in, asks me a ton of questions, checks the consistency and intensity of my contractions, and checks to see how dilated I am. Turns out I'm only ONE centimeter dilated, the baby is still really high and she says it doesn't even look like I'm having any contractions and apparently the bleeding is just from my cervix thinning and opening. Then Chris walks in the door and said he couldn't sleep so he drove out to be with me. The nurse said they couldn't admit me into the hospital unless I was at least 4 centimeters dilated. She suggested I walk around the hospital for an hour and see if I progressed at all. My mom went home now that Chris was with me and we were all thinking it was going to be a long night of labor...if it even was the real thing. 
As I was trying to get out of bed, I was having such intense pain I couldn't even stand. I've had two babies before and I've never felt this kind of pain before. It literally felt like my insides were going to fall out. None of my previous labor contractions felt like this so I had no idea what was going on. It was a little past midnight when I was finally able to get myself out of bed and start walking around with Chris. We talked and joked around a bit with more of those painful episodes. And like a light switch, I was no longer in a joking mood. With every contraction I thought I was going to die. I really thought my insides were all just going to come out. My contractions didn't have any kind of pattern to them, all I know is that they were long and very intense. I would hold on the Chris and just shake with pain. It got to the point where I just couldn't walk anymore and I all I wanted to do was rush to my bed to lay down. Now it was constant pain, no break in between contractions, and I was just holding onto Chris crying. I don't even remember how I got back into the room and back on the bed. I was greeted by another rude nurse with more rude remarks like "well you didn't get far" and "you're going to have to do better than that" referring to not walking for very long and thinking I'm just exaggerating my pain. Just 30 minutes ago I was only 1 centimeter dilated so I'm sure they thought I was exaggerating. Chris told her I wanted an epidural and she came back with, "we'll she's going to have to wait an hour because the doctor is busy with another patient." That was the worst thinking I'd be in this intense pain for another hour! She repeated herself and said, "you need to walk around more..." Chris told her to just check how far along I was so she did. Thats when she started believing that I was in a lot of pain and quickly admitted me and offered me some other pain medications.  I was ready to push! They told me that there wasn't a doctor available yet but I didn't care. I felt the urge and I was confident that I could deliever my own baby if I had to. Thankfully, the nurse seemed experienced and she didn't try to stop me. She just stood by my side letting me do my thing, and I really appreciated that.
With only a few contractions of pushing, my precious baby was born. The nurse laid her on my chest and I just felt so much joy and relief. The doctor walked in not much later and then I heard faint comments about how blue she was and Chris was asking why she wasn't crying. I didn't think too much of it at the time. Everything felt right to me and just so natural. I was at ease with my baby laying on my bare skin. She brings me so much joy. Words can't express the love I have for my beautiful little Ivy.

the Latest on Ella {12 months}

 

Ella's 12 month Well Baby visit height - 28 inches tall (15%) weight - 16 pounds 4 ounces ( < 3%) Today we went in for the usual one year check up. Ella has always been so easy to take to the doctor's even with all the vaccines they give her. I'm trying not to worry too much, but... the doctor said that she had a little heart murmur. I guess that can be pretty common in babys and Chris said he even had one when he was young that just went away on it's own. She also said she was still worried about her anemia and her growth pattern. Ella's weight and height levels have slowed down quiet a bit. She definitely is a petite little girl, but my mom's side and Chris' mom's side of the family are both pretty small, so I'm trying not to worry too much yet. We do have to take Ella in to the lab to have some more blood work done just to see how her iron levels are and to see if there might be a thyroid problem. Besides all that, our little Ella is growing smarter each day!*   *UPDATE - good news:  Ella's test results came back normal! YAY! So, I'm sure genetics is playing a large part in her being so tiny. not so good news:  Her iron levels are extremely low even with me giving her an iron supplement everyday. (the doctor said that can also be a reason for her heart murmur and low growth rate.) She's being put on a much higher dosage of iron and she has to drink 1-2 cans of Pediasure a day, then we're back to the doctors again to see if her weight and iron levels have improved.   

• My little big girl is still wearing size 6 month clothes! Although 9 month clothes do seem to fit best.
• her hair is growing! YAY! It's a very light, golden brown color and she's got the cutest little curls! I was able to put in a little clip for the first time!
• She has 8 teeth! (4 on top, 4 on bottom) and she's showing signs of more teething!
• Right now she wakes up only once or twice a night! (huge improvement) and she actually sleeps better in her own crib, but her crib is still in our room.
• She is starting to nap closer to the time her brother naps which is great for me!
• Ella still loves all kinds of food! (Which is another reason why it's so odd that she hasn't gained much weight).
• She is the best cuddler ever! (when she wants to be)
• Ella also gives the greatest wide open mouth kisses.
• She's climbing on everything - the couch, ottoman, even the table!
• She's a very social girl and smiles at everyone.
• She's always playing with cars and GI Joes. I did just buy her her first baby doll that she constantly kisses and takes everywhere with her.
• She's a great dancer!
• She waves and says "haa" (hi)
• She says uh-oh, please, down, baby, mama, dada (of course she has her own version of saying these but I understand her)
• Some other new words: "na-na" (banana) "by" (bite) "wahwah" (water)
• Did I mention she's a screamer. She is loud, VERY loud!
• She also throws the BIGGEST fits when she doesn't get her way. Chris and I are already dreading her teenage years! 

 

photo time!



Ella loves eating berries!

I think she was 9 months old in this picture

She is always throwing down my boxes and climbing into the shelf!

she climbs up on everything all by herself!

bed time stories with Daddy and Lincoln



She found daddy's dog tags

They're best buds!

Family Home Evening activity... I found crayon chunks in her poop! LOL

Loving the FHE brownies before bed!

My messy eaters after they're cute photo shoot

She loves bananas and our little friend Charlene from church

 

My Little Lady's 1st Birthday!

Our little cupcakes turned 1

  Yesterday we celebrated Ella's birthday along with two other babies turning ONE. Little Gerard turned one on August 8th, Makai's birthday was August 9th, and my little Ella is one on August 15th. It was such a last minute combined party but it turned out so nice. It was a fun evening with our military family!  



I had so much fun crafting for Ella's table!

Fallon did a great job on Geradrs table too!

She was so delicate and dainty with her cake...

...then she started really digging in!

There's Gerard enjoying his yummy cake!

and my Linc-a-dinc with his chocolate cupcake!

Happy 1st birthday to our beautiful Ella-Bella!

cuddles with Dana!

with our pretty Camille and Marie

Girl time with Kim, Addie, Kerri, Bella, and Dana!

               

Jon, Kim, and baby Addie

Click here to see some more of her special day!  

home sweet home {Riverside, CA - Riv. Plaza}

{home #2.5}

Riverside, California

(Riverside Plaza area)

((Staying with grandma and aunt Andi))

June - October 2011

After finding out i would be caring for 2 babies then moving across the country for Chris' military trining, we decided to move in with my mom for a few months. She helped us so much with the babies and we were able to save up so much while we were there.

this is the house I mostly grew up in so it was nice to be back in the heart of Riverside near all of my friends. This is were my little Lincoln learned to walk. It was in our daily routine to walk around the block and observe everything nature had to offer. He would stop and stair at all the ants and other insects. He'd stare so intently at the neighborhood dogs and bark back at them. We'd talk to the tree with the face (I'll post a pic of that). We had a lot of fun there and I just love the memories I have of my curiously growing Lincoln.

We had our pretty little Ella in August and I don't think I would have been able to survive without my mom there to help me. She would stay up ALL night with me and my crying newborn. Just having her by my side, supporting me through the night, was the best help. Then she would wake up bright and early to take care of my early riser, Lincoln, and let me sleep in. She helped me during my challenging time breast feeding and transitioning from being a mommy of one to two babies.

 Soon after, we would be moving to Virginia where I knew it would be just me and my babies while Chris was working hard training to be an officer in the Marine Corps.

the Latest on Ella {9 months}

 

 Ella's 9 month Well Baby visit

height - 27 inches tall (35%)

weight - 16 pounds (10%)

Last month Ella had her 9 month check up where she got a vaccine and finger prick and she didn't even cry!! Poor girl is still anemic so I have to be better about giving her more iron. Her last kidney infection was about two months ago so I'm hoping there will be no more of those.

Ella is 10 months old today! Where has the time gone!? I can't believe she's going to be a year old in two months. I always see her as such a little baby and I'm sure that's because she is so small. I love how petite and dainty she is though.

• Ella eats like a champ! She loves fruit, veggies, pasta, yogurt, sand, rocks, paper... EVERYTHING! (I call her my little vacuum cleaner because she's always eating whatever Lincoln threw on the floor from his meals).
• She is still wearing size 3-6 month clothing and size 1 shoes. (she's TEN months old! lol)
• I have her in size 4 diapers now only because Lincoln wore size 5's and she was in 2/3's so I decided to meet in the middle so that I only had to buy one size of diapers from now on. Ha ha!
• She has 4 teeth (two on bottom and two on top with a little gap just like her brother.
• She's been standing for a while now and for long periods of time. She cruises all the time, climbs up the stairs, and she even took THREE steps on her own twice!!
• She plays well with her brother (they are so cute together! I love it!) and I think it's cute seeing them fight. She pulls Lincoln's hair all the time (unintentional, I'm sure) and he's always taking toy's ways from her but she'll scream back at him!
• She is such a loud talker and always coming up with new sounds (she growls, screeches, makes funny founds with her tongue and hand...)
• We're still nursing but she's self weaning sooner than I had hoped. Lincoln self weaned around 15/16 months, so I was expecting to nurse her for about 18 months, but it's looking like it'll be closer to a year. We'll see...
• She likes bath time, the beach, cuddling with mommy, eating, being in the sling... Ella is so laid back, she seems to like everything.

I am so grateful to have little Ella in my life. I love her so much, life just won't be the same without her. She brings so much happiness into our lives, I love every second I spend with her. She is already such a "girly girl" but a tough one since she's got her brother to keep up with. She's got such a silly, sweet, mellow, happy personality, I couldn't ask for a more perfect daughter. (Oh, and she's got such a gorgeous smile!)

I Love you, Ella!!

PHOTO BOMB TIME!

(I'm warning you...)

 

 

 

 

the Latest on Ella {6 months}

Ella's 6 month Well Baby visit

weight - 14 lbs. 6 oz. (25%)

height - 26 inches long (50%)



I can't believe my pretty little girl is already 6 months old! She is the sweetest, happiest, calmest little girl ever! She is all smiles all the time! Ella has suck a big beautiful toothless smile and gorgeous big brown eyes. I love seeing how alert she is too. She's always reaching for things and always munching on her feet. She absolutely loves her brother...and he loves her SO much! She is so strong. She's been rolling over for a while and she can sit up all her own now! She's even scooting all over the place and just starting to rock on her knees!  She is such a talker...a loud one! She makes sure she can be heard by everyone. Every time I'm talking to stares at my mouth so intensely and mimics my mouth by moving hers. She makes so many weird sounds. Chris says she sounds like a little dinosaur. When she wants something or isn't happy with something she grunts really loud. In the car we all rotate making the "Indian" sound where you move your hand on and off your mouth, but she does it with her fist. ha ha.  Ella loves bath time with he brother, she loves playing with her feet, and she loves eating paper. I really don't know what it is with the paper, she could be surrounded by toys but she'll somehow manage to find some piece of paper and eat it! Which is odd considering she hates eating her actual food. She wasn't a fan of rice cereal so we didn't push it, we went right into bananas (which she likes to munch on), avocados, and sweet potatoes. She also loves it when she's worn in the sling by me or her daddy! She is just always so content. Oh and she's super ticklish! I love her laugh!!

"Baby girl" is still nursing like a champ! Her first tooth cut through on March 1st (I'm a little nervous about any biting). She wears size 3-6 month clothes, size 3 diapers, and shoes...well, she's mostly in socks right now. Chris wants to be the one to buy her her first pair of earrings so we might take her some time in the next few months to get them pierced.

Here are some of her cute moments caught on camera!

Scripture study with daddy



Ella and Eliza hanging out at the roller rink







My pretty girl after church



hanging out at McDonald's while her brother plays



This is how she plays with her activity mat



She started out upright in her chair and this is how I found her



Hanging out with daddy



Her brother put the hat on her!

Ella brings so much joy to our family!