I Seriously Love This Kid

Random Spencer Pictures

My sister really wanted me to post a bunch of pictures on the blog since I live so far away and they haven't been able to see him. Skip this post if you don't like looking at newborn baby pictures. Can you see the progression of how he's been changing?

About 5 Days Old...

About 6 Days Old...

He covered the flash...hehe...

...About 9 Days Old



He looks a little scared, huh?...About 10 Days Old..

THE NEW ARRIVAL

Well, I know I owe you ALL an apology for not posting about this earlier. It's a good thing Amber posted some pictures for me. I have no other excuse except that I have been extremely partial to spending all my time with my new little "boyfriend". He's so amazing and I'm so amazed that I actually like him. Most of you who know me pretty well know that I've never really liked the "newborn" stage. I didn't get to enjoy it with the girls and have never been baby hungry for new babies. But somehow I've become so gushy and weepy over this little boy. It's all I can do to make myself stop staring at him or talking to him, or holding and cuddling him. I'm in love all over again. (Don't tell Brian :) )

So, here are some pictures of the new little guy from the first day. The first four are the ones that were sent around to the family, so I'm sorry for those who have already seen them. But for the next set I'll post some more for you guys to have something to look at. :) He's changed so much and changes every day. I'll post some more pictures in the next couple of days. The details of him are below. And I'm sorry that it's such a long post but I'm writing a lot for "journal" purposes.

So...details...

Name: Spencer Shayde Pethel

Arrival: 12:15 p.m. on Monday 6-16-08 (only 15 minutes after my scheduled time...how quick was that! :) One of the many reasons I loved my C-section).

Weight: 9 lbs. 2 ozs.

Length: 22 inches

Mom's Health: Doing great! Better recovery than the c-section with the twins. Doctors were amazed at how fast I was able to walk the hospital, tolerate foods and be really functional. This was the best C-section. I'm so glad cuz I was getting really nervous towards the end. Can you believe I was walking around Target only two days after I was released from the hospital?

Baby's Health: As you can tell from his weight, he's a very healthy baby! I'm so happy/relieved. And we figured out that he weighs more than the two girls put together at their birth. :) (Xanthe weighed 4-2 and Xoe weighed 3-15).

Funny Delivery Story: During the delivery when they were trying to pull him out of the little incision they made, all I could hear from both doctors was the sound of surprise and, "Wow! Big boy. Okay, we need to reposition. Oh wow. Everyone! Big baby! He's gonna be really big to get out...Try this...turn him that way..." And they kept going until they finally managed to get him out. For a minute there I was starting to get worried they didn't make the incision big enough and were going to have to cut again. :)


It was almost as if it was odd to the doctors that everything went so well and so according to the textbooks. You all have NO idea how thankful I am that it was so "textbook." I was sure something was going to go wrong since everything up to that point had been so good. My doctor's visits were always only 5 minutes, and I never had any problems. I was sure something was going to go wrong. I also wasn't used to healthy pregnancies since the girls were so high risk. But everything down to the minute-est detail went perfectly.

Things I Loved About the Delivery:
1) Our pediatrician. He's this little old man who looks like a really cute nice version of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons. He kept telling us, "You both made such a beautiful, wonderful, perfect baby. No health problems. He's in perfect condition." He made me choke up every time he came to check on the baby.

2) The Nurses. All the nurses doted on me. They went so overboard with me and took the baby to quiet him down for me when I was just so loopy from the Morphine that I couldn't put two words together to form a coherent sentence. They would even let him kick-it at the nurses station for hours. :) And I had a couple of nurses come in to see and hold him cuz they had "heard that he's so cute from the other nurses". Maybe it was just cuz I was the ONLY patient on the floor that day. Bonus for me though! :)

3) My doctor. What can I say? He just delivered my wonderful baby boy with no complications AND I during the surgery I actually heard him from behind the sheet THANK those that helped him with the delivery. What doctor thanks those who help him? Most of them are really callous...believe me, I've had my share of contact with jerk doctors...(or maybe that's cuz I only dealt with doctors who were being sued. And probably lots of doctors who get sued are jerk doctors). ANYWAY. that was just the kind of doctor he was...always cracking really funny jokes and just making you feel really special.

4) My husband. He was amazing through the whole thing. Always helping me walk, helping me get comfortable, and helping comfort me through the two meltdowns I've had so far (give me credit...one of them was cuz my pain medication had run out and the pharmacy was closed for the night...and the other was when my baby was starving cuz my milk hadn't come in). I can't say enough about how wonderful he is. He takes the baby til his 1:00 a.m. feed so I can sleep and has taken two weeks off just so he can "enjoy the experience of the whole thing." He's made a little area in the office next to him while he works so little Spencer can be close to him. I could go on and on but maybe i'll not make this post so much longer than it already is and post more as I go. : )

5. My mom, dad and sisters. They have been so amazing too. My mom and dad came into town the day before the surgery and my mom stayed for a week just cleaning, making meals, making sure I had a balanced meal (I always had fruit, vegetables, protein, etc. on my plate and she always kept the food coming), taking the baby when he wasn't happy that he was so hungry, and most importantly...entertaining and nurturing the girls when I couldn't. And my sisters...for comforting me during my meltdown too, for all the advice, and for calling so much to check on me. It really is nice and comforting having them only a phone call away.

the arrival- I just posted this picture so you can see how big I was at the end. I just stuck straight out. No wonder. I had a huge baby. I kept saying to people, "Now do you believe me when I said I was so uncomfortable and not just making it up?"
the big sisters-they absolutely LOVE this baby. I have to set time schedules for them so they can have equal time holding him. They hold him ALL THE TIME. They put him to bed for me, help me change his diapers, make bottles, etc., etc. I couldn't have asked for better kids.
flowers-thank you to everyone who sent me flowers. I didn't get pictures of all of them, but I was able to get a picture of the flowers my sisters sent me. How beautiful, huh! I was so surprised. I LOVE getting flowers. And to my friends and dad who got me flowers too. Thank you thank you! the kid-here are a whole slew of pictures of spencer. my sisters have been asking me for a bunch, so here they are! :) No worries if some of you get bored after awhile. I totally understand. Even though I love looking at pictures of him, I don't expect everyone else to. :)

Anyone have any guesses as to who he looks like? Brian and I can't really figure it out. Not only does he change every day but neither one of us are good with matching baby faces to families. Let me know if you guys have any clues.

Some Last Minute Thoughts Before I Welp

There are a couple of thoughts I've had that I thought I share with you all before this baby comes out. Some are updates, some are advice, and some are just randomness. Here goes...

#1. Update on Nursery...So here are some latest pictures of how far we got with our nursery. There's still a bit of clutter (in the crib, on the changing table, etc.) as I was pulling stuff out to pack a bag, or because I haven't found a place for stuff yet..just try to ignore it...What do you think?

Imagine a big white wooden "S" in the middle of these two shelves. I don't have a Michael's here and forgot to get one the last time we were in Tucson. Does it "kinda" look like a bit of the same "look" we were modeling it after? (See the picture right below it).

#2. This kid has no idea how much his world is going to be rocked tomorrow. I don't think I do either.

#3. Don't ever ask a pregnant woman 8 months or more if she is gonna have another one...it's like your catering supervisor telling you right before your shift is through and your feet are aching and it's all you can do to last another half hour, that you have to work a double and start the whole work all over again...I don't even want to THINK of starting this process over again (and yes, I know many of you won't relate to the catering analogy...but for those who can, I know you have a vivid picture). It's just unimaginable. I hear all these women talk about how they still have 14 weeks to go, or even 6 weeks to go and I don't even want to imagine being back at that stage. I'm so ready!

#4. Both Puffy feet returned... (See previous post), but this time it was tenfold. I couldn't even bend my toes upwards, and my ankles actually hurt from the crease. I almost took a picture to put on here but it was so offensive that I just couldn't. I really hope they go away soon.

#5. If you're ever pregnant, ALWAYS use an electric cart when you're shopping. At first I was REALLY embarrassed... especially when I was at Walmart and X1 asked me, "Mom, aren't you really embarrassed?" The minute I said, "No, if I'm not embarrassed then no one else will be either...and I don't really care actually" she was stoked and asked if she could ride WITH me. (Little did she know I was mortified, but at that point I got over it cuz it was the only way I was gonna make it through any shopping trip). Okay, so Home Depot has them...Walmart, Target, Lowe's, grocery stores and I'm sure lots of other ones too. It saved my life and all the workers were so much more amazingly helpful when they saw me cruisin around. The first time is embarrassing, but GET OVER IT and then you're life will be so much nicer and you won't care the next time. Cuz then remember also...once the baby comes and you're lugging around the same weight, but only double cuz you're carrying a car seat also, no one will even care about you anymore. You'll be left to your own devices. (I only wish I had a picture cuz it still makes me laugh at myself that I actually did this.)

#6. If I was mayor, or any kind of politician that could pass laws, I would pass a law that any pregnant woman 6 months and over should automatically get a handicapped parking pass.

#7. Happy Father's Day to everyone. Especially my own father who is here in town for the bebe, and to my husband for being so wonderful! I've posted a lot about him the past couple of days. Hopefully he feels special enough (even though I don't think he ever reads this. :) )

Are You Proud?

Look what I did a couple of nights ago...

I HATED our front flower beds that I always would weed but would never plant anything in. I just couldn't catch a vision of what to do, mostly cuz we live in Arizona and colorful flowers just don't seem to "go". But Brian made me go with him to Home Depot, ride in an electric cart and go get some flowers to plant...just to get it out of my system. So, here they are. And I'll have you know that I also had to do a "mix" of new soil to native soil, etc., etc. so I was digging and mulching for awhile until I could finally put flowers in there. Well, I hope they last and the heat that's here today and for the rest of the month doesn't kill them. But at least Home Depot has a great return policy (return any plants for a year if they die and you did everything they said). So I may be asking Brian to dig them up and take them back if they wilt in the next week. :) But are you proud, since I'm delivering on Monday? :)

Okay, so now that you're impressed with me....you'll soon think twice when you now see all that Brian has done in the same amount of time I planted a few flowers in some puny potting beds.

Front Yard (See below)

1. Dug out (roots and all) two large bushes (can you see the big hole in between that row of bushes at the front of the house?) and created a whole walkway up to the door. (The best thing of all is he got all those stones for FREE!)

2. Patiently dug a hole that took at least three days to do (you can see it to the left of the palm tree) through hard tacky Arizona clay (he had to dig a little then soak it...to then be able to dig a little more) and then plant a palm tree.

3. Trimmed back all of the bushes in the front (we have about 12)

4. Re-piped (whatever it's called) the drip system for all the plants in the front

5. Pulled up all the weeds poking through the (stupid) rock garden we have to call a front yard.

Back Yard (See Below)
1. Mowed the lawn twice (in a three week period) and then continued to re-seed the lawn, and put some weed killer down.

2. Hand-dug all the big weed bushes in the grass (leaving big holes in our lawn...but that's a-ok with me...as long as the weeds are gone).

3. Trimmed back the plum tree that was hanging over into our next door neighbor's lawn

4. Trimmed back all the weeds growing around our plethora of rose bushes.

5. Trimmed a huge tree we have that hangs over into our yard (it's our neighbors).

6. Completely cleaned and hosed off our patio.

This was all while it was between 95-100 degrees outside. Dude, where did I find this guy?

In Other News...How do you like how our plum tree is faring? I know Ruth asked me to send some back with mom...I think they might be ready by then. And the nectarine tree (I thought it was lemon...it's nectarine) is starting to get some fruit! Do you see the little yellow fruit below? Cool, huh?

So, all in all, our outside is looking pretty good, which makes me very happy. It makes the hot Arizona weather bearable when you can be "tricked" with lush green all around you. :)

Arrrr Matey!

What better way to spend the summer than as pirates? (I can't' stop laughing at Piper's glasses.)

X&X's Filming Day

X&X were able to film an episode of YoGabba last night. They had such a great time and we feel so lucky that their uncle is always so great to keep them involved and write them in. The girls told me they felt so special being given so much attention: when their hair was all prepped by a professional, when they got to eat tacos and snacks, when the director did the "take two snapper thing" in front of them, and when DJ Lance Rock proved he could tell them apart and even gave them an autographed picture. hahaha. You'd think they'd have caught on by now that he's not real. But they love the show and really get into it. They've got everyone here in school and church watching it, even though the kids who they've persuaded into it are beyond the age target. The kids don't care. They love it cuz X&X are in it and cuz X&X LOVE it. The girls promote it all the time with t-shirts, drawings, the games from NickJr., etc. Here are some pictures of their filming. Oh, and thanks Auntie Heather for giving them so much attention as their costume designer and to Grandpa for being their legal guardian that day since I couldn't be there.

On a side note, Congrats to the show for being nominated for an Emmy! A bunch of them are all taking a trip out to the awards show! Good luck! How fun!

I'm definitely Prego

Here y'all go. I've been asked so many times by everyone in california to see what I look like pregnant. I finally made brian take a picture of me. It's not the best one but you can see how large and in charge I am. :) and check out the difference from St. Patrick's Day. Remember when I thought I was so big? :) hehehe. Oh, and I DID have makeup on. this was just at the end of the night and I didn't feel like waiting til tomorrow to take a picture. I'm afraid I'll forget. :)