While the big kids go to school, the littles take it easy...

School started last week!  We were all excited.  Avery started kinder with Ms. Poor.  There's another kindergarten teacher in their school named Mrs. Fortune, which I find funny.  Tate began 2nd grade with Mrs. McCollum.  Both teachers seem really awesome, as does the school, which is really big on technology.  When they start 3rd grade, each student gets an Ipad!  Their school building only houses pre-k through 2nd grade.  Avery has had no trouble adjusting and enjoys playing with her neighbor, Hope, at recess, as well as her friends she has met at church so far.  Tate is happy to have the same teacher as his friend across the street, Mercy.  She has his exact birthday!  He is about 6 hours older than her.  He also met a neighbor down the street who sits by him in class.

I feel like we have made it and can breathe!  We have found a home and moved, replaced our broken down car, made some friends and received callings at church (I get to play the piano in Primary and Eric is executive secretary), most importantly Finley was born healthy, and now school is in session!  Phew!  I kept thinking that if we can just get those older two in school after baby is born, I can relax.  So, things are looking up =) 

I still really miss our friends, and our favorite grocery store (Winco!), and am so sad to not be in Kennewick while mom and dad are moving in.  Travis has visited the folks in their new place, and Tyler is going to visit them this weekend and go to the rodeo.  I'm so sad that we can't be there to visit with everyone, and so are the kids.  But Eric has a job and we have our health and this is a beautiful town so I better stop complaining =)

Big Brother

Henry loves being a big brother to Finley and loves on her every chance he gets.  I just have to keep an eye on him because when he's done snuggling he'll drop her without a second thought!

Sisters

Avery loves her baby doll Finley and is always picking her clothes, and matching, and begging to hold her.

A Splattering of Baby Finley Pictures

Finley's Birth Story

Finley was 5 days past her due date, and since our babies tend to be large, we didn't want to go too far past the due date.  So an induction was scheduled for Monday morning at 7am.

Sunday evening after the kids were put to bed, mom and I were watching Project Runway on the laptop and I was feeling some light contractions.  After the show we went to bed, only I never went to sleep because the contractions grew stronger.  Eric and I timed them starting at around 10:30, and then I had diareah!  So then I questioned whether this was even labor.  However, soon after, ahem, taking care of that, the "waves" grew stronger and at 1:30 we decided that we should go to the hospital.  Thank goodness mom was already at our home to stay with the kids!

As we headed out the door, I felt a gush and knew my water had broke.  Eric drove 65 down Reserve, which is usually a super busy road where the speed limit is 45.  There's a blessing for rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night as opposed to daytime-no traffic!  Even at his speed, I was thinking "why is he driving so slow?!!".

When we arrived at Community Hospital, the nurse checked me and told me that I was dilated to a 9, and my water had torn, but not broken completely.  I was feeling the pain during contractions, and Eric recognized that once I am feeling it bad, delivery is close.  He kept telling the staff that I was really close and that they should get me to a delivery room soon.  The nurse seemed pretty chill and in no rush, but they got me in a room.  My doctor got there really fast, and he, along with the male resident doctor both helped deliver sweet Finley.  Eric and a lady nurse coached me, too.  I remember thinking, "Why are there so many men in the room?!".  I have been spoiled in Kennewick with the last 3 births with a great team of women nurses to coach me through the delivery.  We also missed Dr. Morrison who took charge and gave me a little pain shot during pushing, just prior to giving me an episiotomy due to those large babies.  Anyway, Dr. Wyman told me that he would be waiting in the hall and I was to tell him when I was ready to push.  He also broke my water.  I told him to come in so I could start pushing, but it wasn't quite time so he left and I labored a couple more minutes.  Then, it became very obvious that I was pushing whether I wanted to or not.  I told Eric, "I'm pushing!!" and he rang to get the staff in to assist.

Finley Jane Hibbert made her arrival on Monday, August 17, just before 3am.  She's so precious and perfect.  I love the pictures that mom got at the hospital. Avery was so very excited to finally have her baby doll.  Note her hovering over Finley in nearly every picture.  Tate refuses to hold her.  Maybe he's afraid of newborns, I haven't figured it out yet.  Henry is sweet and kisses her all the time.

When Finley was born, the doctor put her right on me.  They didn't cut me this time, so it was a completely unmedicated birth.  It was painful, but recovery was fairly quick.  Eric and I looked at her and said "We finally got a small baby!!"  Dr. Wyman thought otherwise.  The staff was in no rush to weigh her, but we were curious to see how she compared to our first three babies so we asked that they bring in the scale.  We were shocked that she was 10 lbs.!  I guess we got another big beauty =)  Of course we are smitten with this new little beautiful baby and she is worth all the sleep deprivation.