Miles Nathan Whitney

We finally have our baby boy here and love him to death! He has already brought so much joy to our lives. Here is his birth story...

After trying about everything to get him here on his own (even running stairs and doing squats with my mom), I ended up having to be induced. I was a little reluctant to the idea but it ended up being great. We went to the hospital at 11:00 in the morning on Friday, November 19th. They broke my water and started the pitocin at 11:30 and I was dilated 2 cm. After working through contractions until 3:00 I decided it was time to get the epidural and see what I was dilated to. My contractions were 2 to 3 minutes apart and pretty strong so I thought I'd be at about 5 cm based on my previous experience with Tessa. When the nurse checked me at 3:30 I was disappointed to hear I was only at 3 1/2 cm! We all thought at this rate it was going to be a long night. About 30 minutes later the nurse checked again and I was at 8 cm now! We were even more shocked, but very excited. 15 minutes later Dr.Terry was getting everything ready for delivery and said I was ready to deliver. At 4:34 I did two pushes during one contraction and little Miles was out! It all happened so fast and easy, it was amazing. He came out handsome and healthy. He weighed 7lbs 4 oz and 20 in long. It took us a few minutes to decide on which name we were going to use but both Nate and I just felt like he looked like Miles. I was worried we wouldn't know for awhile, but we just did. Everyone thought he looked just like Nate right away. Which made me happy cause I've always said I want a little Nate.
Tessa came to visit a few hours later and was so excited. I thought she'd want to see me first so I got all ready and excited waiting for her and she marched in, looked at me, looked around, and said "Where's my baby brother?" It was so cute! She told Nate to put him on the floor so she could see him and of course she wanted to hold him asap. It took her a minute to get adjusted to me in the hospital bed but then climbed in and got cozy with Miles. She kept calling him baby Lucas at first, but luckily that didn't last too long. She was great with him that night and couldn't wait to see him the next day. She loves him so much and is very proud to be his big sister!
We are home now and getting into a routine. Miles is a perfect little baby and so good, so far. Tessa is a big helper but a little too much at times, she means well though. It's so fun to be a family of 4 now! We love having our little girl and little boy, life couldn't be better!

Here are a few pictures Bobbie took from the hospital. If you want to see all of them go to...
http://gallery.me.com/whitneyphotography/100060

Miles Nathan Whitney
11-19-2010
7 lbs 4 oz
20 in long

39 weeks and counting...

Well our little guy is finally due to be here any day now. We are so excited to have a new baby added to our family. We are especially excited to be having a baby boy! Although he still doesn't have a name, it's between Chase, Lucas, and Miles. Nate and I just feel like we need to see his little face to decide. Tessa calls him Conrad most of the time (a name we talked about in the beginning) , and she can't stop talking about becoming a big sister. The other day she told me that we have to take turns changing his diapers! I wish that was true! She is constantly saying how she's going to teach him to walk, paint his finger nails, and dress him up in her princess dress. Sounds like this little boy is going to be well rounded... ha ha ha. Nate tried to explain to her that boys don't do that sort of stuff, but I said we still could when he gets bigger. I can't wait to see Tessa interact with him. I'm sure it'll be a bigger adjustment than she's expecting. She is definitely a mama's girl and requires a lot of attention. I just hope I can manage being a good mom to both of them.
This pregnancy has been very different than my first one with Tess. In the beginning I was just nauseous all day instead of throwing up in the morning and then feeling fine the rest of the day. I also got a really bad pregnancy mask with Tessa but not this time, thank goodness! It still hasn't completely gone away from my first pregnancy. I luckily haven't had any charlie horses in my calves either, they are the worst. The one thing that has been harder for me this pregnancy is being pregnant while taking care of a two year old instead of sitting at a desk. My back, hips, and legs all ache in pain a lot more from chasing and carrying Tessa around. Although I can't complain much, I know I have pretty good pregnancies compared to a lot of people. I overall feel really good still, but itching to have him here!
Bobbie took these pictures of me the other day in Eden at 39 weeks. I probably should have taken them a little sooner, but I still love them. We were hoping to get some with Tessa too but she was being a little stinker! Thank you so much Bobbie for the beautiful pictures to help me remember this pregnancy, you are amazing!

Baby Boy Showers

One of the benefits of a having a baby of the opposite sex for your second child is I guess you get more baby showers! My cute friends put together a little get together at Danielle's in honor of our upcoming baby boy. Danielle made the most delicious food ever! We all wanted to stay and eat it for dinner too. I got a variety of things such as blankets, clothes, a hooter hider, and so much more. Thanks for taking the time to come celebrate friends!

Sarah, Annie, Danielle, Me, Priscila, and Brooke

Getting ready to open some goods

Cutest shoes ever! Little teeny tiny pumas

A couple weeks later my Daybreak friends had a shower for me as well. We went to lunch at San Gelato Cafe, a cute little place in our neighborhood, to celebrate. My friends were a little weary of having a shower at 39 weeks, but I knew my little guy would still be baking in my tummy. We had so much fun chatting it up and eating some good food. This little guy is going to be stylish in all the cute clothes I got from everyone.

Melinda, Kim, Mallory, Sarah, Keri, Abby, Me, Tibett, Kylee, Laci

There's just something about little boys shoes that are so cute and fun!
Probably because it's their only accessory.

Cute homemade bibs

We had to finish off with some yummy gelato ice cream

Me and my bestie Sar

October Activities

October was filled with so much fun! We stayed busy with all the Halloween and fall activities. Tessa learned about Halloween from a Dora video and became very excited for the holiday. Of course Dora dressed up as a cat for Halloween in the video so all Tessa could talk about the whole month was being a black cat like Dora and going trick or treating. How could I say no to such an easy costume!

Bobbie took the cousins over to this field in their costumes to take some cute pictures of them. They turned out so good!

Ella, Tessa, Sophia, and Addison

Playing and dancing in the field

Every year Annie and I host a Halloween party at her parents with our friends. This was our 5th year doing it! This year we had dinner and after Annie and I put together a Minute to Win it contest (basically funny, stupid games that you try to complete under a minute). It was very entertaining and so much fun!

The whole group

Nate went as the milkman and I was the knocked up housewife this year.
Trying to find a costume at 9 months pregnant is not so easy!

Here are some of the other couples
The Situation & Snookie, Popeye & Olive Oyl, Buttercup & Wesley, and Ninja & Geisha

My HS girlfriendsAnnie's girlfriends

Here are some funny pictures of us playing the games...
trying to get pennies out of tights, getting penne noodles on a spaghetti noodle,
putting together a puzzle, eating an Oreo on your face, dropping a tic tac through a racquet,
and hitting an orange into a hoop with a banana hanging from your waist

This year Tessa got to make a few trips to the pumpkin patch. Here are some pictures from our visit with just the 3 of us. Of course it was freezing cold the day we decided to go when the whole month had been beautiful!

Off to find the right pumpkin to carve

We found it!

Tessa was giving us the fake smile for the pictures of course

Time for pumpkin carving! Nate is definitely the artist in the family and always has a good idea on how to carve a pumpkin. This year he took Tessa's interests into account and decided to make a Dora pumpkin! Tessa was thrilled with the idea.

Before we got started Tessa received a package in the mail from Mark and Teri and couldn't wait to see what was inside...

They sent the most delicious popcorn in the world! Wow it was good! We all chowed down while we carved the pumpkin.

Cleaning out the pumpkin. I don't think Tessa could decide if she liked the feeling or thought it was disgusting.

The finished product, doesn't it look great! I don't know who was more excited, Tessa or Nate! He was pretty proud of his Dora.

Halloween night we went over to the Franco's with some Daybreak friends for homemade pizza and treats. It was so fun to have the kids together and eat yummy food before heading out trick or treating.

Here is Tessa with her cute friend Liz

Ready to hit up her first house

Tessa was not afraid at all to go knock on the doors. She thought this was the greatest night in the world! Knock on a door, say trick or treat, and get free candy! What more could a kid ask for.

We eventually made it back home, but I think Tessa could have stayed out for hours. Too bad it was so cold and rainy this year.

What to do with all the candy now...