Family time in a fort.

After dinner, daddy and Callie built a fort. Callie ran, danced, and played in and out of the fort while daddy made a cool light for it. Madi and I watched and enjoyed the sight. We had fun being very silly in the fort--love Callie's hair!

Sisters

Having a sister myself (love you Cindy!), I know how special that relationship can be. Here are some pics of Callie and Madi--very sweet sisters. I am very proud of Callie and her sisterly help these past weeks. She is a very sweet girl eager to keep Madi comfortable and to please mommy too. My girls are such a blessing!

Callie and Madi
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Madi needs comforting.
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Callie gives her a kiss...(not prompted)
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...and a joopies (our special word for pacifier.)
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Sweet sisters. I pray their bond grows and stays strong for a lifetime.
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"Growing up, sisters weave a unique bond that ties them to eachother with silken skeins of love, laughter, and memories." ~ Anonymous

Me and my sister, Cindy.
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Baby-wearing

I LOVE wearing Madison whenever and where ever I can. My friend, Tori, has been wearing her boys for years and has helped me figure out how to wear Madi too. It is so beneficial for both mommy and baby. And it's not expensive to make your own. You can buy ready-made wraps for $40-$60 or you can make your own with jersey knit fabric from Joann's for about $5 each (with a sale and a coupon.) Here's what we looked like this morning as I was vaccuming the house. Callie also wore her sling with her baby in it and helped me with her little vaccum as well, but for some reason did not want me to take a picture of her. (And please excuse the not-so-flattering picture of me.)
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing What's that? You want to see if Madi's content in there? See for yourself!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing Madi-wearing is a great thing and makes it easier to keep up with a toddler when you have a newborn. (I wish I would've caught onto this when Callie was a newborn.)

Madison Louise Andes

Our newest girl, Madison "Madi" arrived on Tuesday, October 27th at 12:23 pm! This day was already very special because it was our 8th anniversary and my grandmother's 90th b.day as well. Madi is beautiful and healthy and we are so excited to welcome her into our family. Jamie picked out her first name and her middle name is after my mother's middle name. Turns out my mom and Madison both have October b.days too! How special!
My labor was awesome and my midwife, super-awesome. It definitely was not without pain, but it went as well as I expected and for most of the labor, I felt very in control of the pain. One thing I did differently this time was to pray on every fear that I had about this labor and delivery weeks before it started. I would've never thought to pray on some of these things until I read a post from a blog called "Passionate Homemaking." My good friend, Tori, sent me a link to the post and it made a whole lot of sense to me; that I give my fears to the Lord and ask specifically for what I want. I already knew that, but just didn't think about asking for the "little things" in this case. I basically told God that I was afraid of not getting any sleep before labor started, afraid of the pain that comes with labor and delivery, afraid of how long labor would last, afraid that Callie would be very confused when everything started, (depending upon when it started.) I knew Callie would be well taken care of, but I wanted to say good-bye to her and explain a little before we left for the hospital. God came through in each of these petitions. I got a good 4 1/2 hrs. of sleep the night labor started (labor started at 3:30 am), I was able to manage the pain of early and active labor well, had a relatively quick labor and delivery, and was able to see Callie before going to the hospital to briefly explain to her that we would see her later with Madison too! She was very excited that grandma had come to her house so early in the morning to play with her.
The hardest part of this labor and delivery was the transition labor. Those contractions were so intense with little breaks between. I was in transition for almost an hour--very draining. My water had not broken yet and I was stalled at a 7-8 for a bit. I was quickly running out of energy so my midwife and I decided to break the water so we could move labor along. About 15 after breaking my water, it was all over and Madison had arrived. I only pushed for 8 minutes this time and since I did this drug-free, I delivered on hands and knees after starting to push on my back. One reason for this was that Madi's heart rate slowed once she dropped so quickly after the water broke and the other reason was that position was more comfortable to me anyway. I nearly did my entire labor half-way bent over or on my hands and knees. I tried other coping strategies too, like laboring on a birthing ball, back massage, and laboring in a jacuzzi tub. They were all helpful and I really enjoyed the freedom of being out of bed. I'm not sure I spent 30 minutes in the bed. I was up and about the whole time.
This birth experience was wonderful and what I wanted it to be. My recovery so far has been easier and quicker as well. I am so thankful for Kimberly, my midwife too. She was awesome at handling the staff of nurses so I could have the birth I wanted and was very encouraging and calm, but excited through the whole experience. And now I have two precious girls to care for and watch grow. I'm so blessed! I think daddy is getting used to all of us girls too--he was awesome through this birth and a bit more laid back as well. If you are familiar with the cartoon "Thundercats," ask Jamie sometime about how that cartoon played into my labor. :)
We thank God for our healthy girls and the people that have helped us bring them into the world with love.
Finally, here are some pics of the big day!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingYes, I'm actually smiling while in active labor!

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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingBlood pressure was good.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingHard transition labor time.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingResting in between the intensity.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingHer she is--7 lbs. 9 ozs. and 20 inches of Madison!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingVery happy mommy with new baby girl.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingCallie meets Madi for the first time.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingAnd gets a special present from her new sister.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingGetting warm and pink!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingShe is very healthy and beautiful!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingKimberly and Madison.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingDaddy with his girls--one of my favorites.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingMommy and Callie eating breakfast together the day we went home.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingComfortable at home with daddy.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingSweet Madi, we love you.

Birthday Tea & Pumpkin Patch

Callie turned 2 on September 29th. We had a few gatherings to celebrate. One was a "Tea for Two" party held on the 26th of September. It's a very intimate gathering that I enjoy putting on for her. I'm excited that we will have another girl to share in the tea party fun next year too!

Yesterday, we met some friends at Sibley Orchard for a Parents as Teachers event called "Meet me at the Pumpkin Patch." We watched a demonstration on how apple cider is made (Callie got to crank the apple press), tasted the apple cider, took a hayride to the pumpkin patch, picked 2 pumpkins to take home, then had a picnic with our friends for lunch before going home. Glad we fit it in while the weather was perfect yesterday. It was fun indeed!

Hopefully, one of the next posts will be introducing our Madison who is due to arrive any day now. Can't wait to meet her myself. Take care!