Kindergarten Graduation

It seems like yesterday Maddi was starting school and I was weeping. :) First grade, here she comes!(which I think will make me weep more since she'll be gone all day. *sigh*)

Here she is with her wonderful teacher Mrs. Shannon.

Happy Birthday to me....

31 - here I am. :) Matt spent the day before "prepping". Come to find out, he spent it all making my birthday cake. His sister Sarah advised and guided him through it, but he pretty much did it! It turned out great and was good too! The day was a good day. I was in a low-key mood having had a baby the week before, so Matt planned the day accordingly. He made me my favorite breakfast using my own new waffle maker. (wow, check out his serving size. I must have looked hungry.)

My mother-in-law dropped by with a gift - a small pressure cooker! I'm excited, but a little scared of it. There's just something about the word "pressure"...I picture things exploding. But anyways, off this tangent. Later, Matt, Charlotte and I went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. (thank you Hannah for watching kids!)We then hung out at home with the kids until dinner when my family and some pals came over for a BBQ. Everyone showered me with gifts which embarrassed the daylights out of me, but made me feel uber-special at the same time. My mom got me the sweetest Willow Tree statue

and my sibs got me a cute bag (always needing accessories, right?) Bonnie got me aplenty of books, and Olivia totally cracked me up with the SWEETEST bag adorned with the logo I created for us as a joke.

Not to mention the stylin' cleaning rubber gloves. I loved them!

As for Matt, he got me the glass and stainless steel measuring cups I wanted as well as Zumba Fit for the Wii and a new bike! I had requested Zumba Fit...the bike was a surprise but it's super fun! I am anxious to get these baby pounds off!
Here I am, riding off into the sunset (well, rather, through the garage, out into the cul de sac, where there was some sun)


We had a great time hanging out with everyone! Here's some of my favorite pics from the day....
Keith, Kenny and Dallin, chillin' on the hammock with some chips. (That sounds like a rap - or a cool country song)


Adorable Eli who is so cute I want to squeeze him constantly Hm. I guess I get that feeling with all my kids, but seriously - look at him. TOO CUTE.


Maddi and her hot dog. She's so photogenic. (Is that how you spell that?)


Eli and his "girlfriend" Lucy. It has been a love-hate relationship. This was one of the "love" times. We told them to "give kisses" and woo! Lucy was enthusiastic.


Sammi and her chips

The kids and I on our bikes

Good times. Thanks for the Birthday Matt! (and Mom!)

One week later...

We made it through the first week...and it's been pretty good. I've loved getting to know this sweet little girl. Yes, there have been some overwhelming moments (mostly in regards to how wonderful this whole experience has been and that I'm sad parts of it are over), but most of all, it's been so humbling. I'm so grateful.



As of this week, Charlotte is gaining weight well, she's a good eater and sleeper (especially if I sit and hold her while she sleeps. THAT'S been a little rough at times) and everyone in the house is in love with her. The kids have been wonderful - helping and understanding - with Eli melting my heart each time I see him. He literally just walks around the house all day, doing things with his big smile on his face. He cracks me up.

Anywho, I figured what better way to commemorate the one - week mark than a flashback of the birth itself? :)

As most of you know, 3 of my 4 kids were born early: Sammi at 4 weeks early, Keith 3 1/2 weeks early and Eli 3 1/2 weeks early. We don't know why and none have had any problems - they were just early. And so, my doctor advised me to be cautious and aware. My labors tend to go very quickly too, so that made him more nervous. Anywho, to make a long introduction shorter, I was very excited to have passed the 37 week mark, and to have NOT had to take any terbutaline. Woot! Woot! Although very uncomfortable at this point, I wasn't in any hurry....the pregnancy had been a good one.

Last Thursday, I cleaned the house and caught up on laundry. All was feeling good, but I was having some irregular contractions. That night, I started to think we might be going in...the contractions were more regular, with just a slight "bite" to them.I was undecided until about 10:30 at night, when instincts felt like I should call my sister and head to the hospital to at least check it out. I got ready to go and once my sister arrived we were on our way.

We got to the hospital at about 11:45. They checked me and I was already at a 7! My goal has been to have this one natural, so I was stoked that I was that far already.
They admitted us at midnight and we were ready to go! I wasn't attached to an iv - I got a hep lock so I could move around as I needed to. It was awesome - Matt did WONDERFUL. Those who know of my first birth with Sammi (that one was natural too) remember how the poor guy was in shock and not much help at all. He completely redeemed himself with this one. He thought I was crazy to do it without medication, but supported me and helped so much...even when I started weeping (yes folks, weeping) and bewailing how stupid I was to do this. He encouraged me, said I wasn't stupid, that I COULD do this and I was almost there and then massaged my back. Well, we did it. One hour and a half after being admitted, at 1:15 am, Charlotte was born. It was so cool and amazing. I was SOOOOO glad the labor part was over, but so grateful to have experienced it. Amazing. Grateful it was fast, because the intensity was rough.


Charlotte is by far my biggest baby - 8lbs 1 oz and is a beauty. I find myself feeling major de ja vu...she looks so much like Sammi and Maddi! She's a sweetheart and I am so thankful. I look forward to feeling more "normal" again, but am in no rush to have her "older". It's all going by too fast already.

The kids all adore her and we have time every day where they each get to hold her without the others in the room. Eli likes her, but only wants to hold her for about 10 seconds.








Going home!



Sammi made this sign for us...



We are so grateful for these sweet people that are our kids! Time is going by so quickly, that it makes us realize how precious our time with them is.

Here's baby Charlotte at one week old:

Charlotte Rose Swenson

She's here! And she's BEAUTIFUL! Charlotte was born June 3, 2011 at 1:15am. 8 lbs 1 oz, 19inces long. She's such a good baby! I have lots more fun pictures and stuff to share, but for now, here's the sweet gal. We're both doing wonderful...just tired. :)

36 weeks + some (a.k.a. 37 weeks if you go off of OTHER info that we won't get into...)

Yipee! I did it! And with NO terbutaline! I've now set my sights to 37 weeks, which is estimated to be next Tuesday. (I have my arguments with THAT. I think that I reached the 37 mark yesterday - Friday - but according to the "blanket system" that is used, 'tis Tuesday I must aim for. Hmph) According to my last appointment on Friday, (yesterday) I'm already gearing up to go. So - who knows? It could be this weekend, it could be not for awhile, but signs are showing it will be soon! We'll see! (Seriously, though - can you imagine if I've got 3+ more weeks of this how big I'll be THEN? It boggles the mind...)