He's Here!

I feel like I have been pregnant forever! My sister informed me that I was like an elephant. I don't think she meant my appearance so much, although I felt that way. She quickly noted that an elephant is pregnant for two years. I almost made it that long. 2 pregnancies in 2 years. What a ride!

After 10 hours of labor this second time around, feeling everything no thanks to the epidural that didn't work, I am happy to present Porter Rigby Armstrong!

Porter weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. He was born on Monday, January 25th (four days after Kadence's first birthday). We were surprised by his blond hair and big lips. Both of which have changed over time. He is so precious and a good baby. We love him so much. Kadence is even affectionate with him as she gives him kisses, hugs and pokes him in the eye!

20 seconds in my head.

So...Here are a few random thoughts I just had.

• Besties - Is that the new term for BFF? If so, when Paris Hilton is ready to find her new BFF/Bestie what is the name of her reality show going to be called?

• When are you to old to use words like, Threads, Sick, Wicked, Rad and my personal favorite, adding the word Right to the end of every sentence? And when I hear a new word can I use it right away or is there a right to passage?


• And lastly, what's in a name anyway? I mean when we name our children should we really worry about them getting teased, or whether or not it is trendy or modern? Does it matter if all of our family hates what we kinda like? And can we just name our child Boy, because that is what he is? It may come down to that.

Maybe I should have more intelligent thoughts...but I don't.

WHAT A MESS!

Just getting ready for Thanksgiving!

Gobble Gobble!

2 Years!

A lot can happen in 2 years! You could be married...with a kid, a kid on the way, a dog, a mortgage and on and on and on...Yep, and that is how it is. I can't believe Brandon and I have been married for two years. Isn't that a long time? Boys serve missions for two years, it takes two years to get an associates degree, in the military you move every two years, and elephants are pregnant for two years. I'm glad I'm not an elephant. Let's be honest though...by the time baby number two comes...I will have been pregnant for 20 months!! I did have a little break to recover from delivery in between, but not much! Two years might be a long time for a two year old or maybe for a woman waiting for her husband to come home from a war, or to wait for a package to come but man, for me, these last two years have flown by!

I still like to consider Brandon and I newly weds...look at us so happy two years ago today!

A couple of our greatest accomplishments in the last two years:

Baby # 1 Kadence Toni Armstrong

And Baby # 2

IT'S A BOY!!!

I love you Brandon!!! Thanks for the best two years! I look forward to more! You are the BEST

Precious Moments

We went camping a few weekends ago. It was really fun and really cold!! We kept Kadence warm by giving her lots and lots of kisses! How could you resist those cheeks? I love this picture! Oh geeez, I love my Family!

You Can't Eat Just One!

You know the old Lays Potato Chip Saying, "You Can't Eat Just One?" I often have this conversation with my co-workers. Daily trips to the Maverick across the street don't help. Apparently we all have our snack of choice. I personally can't just eat one Cheeto...and if I buy a bag of Peanut M&M's you can bet that they are gone by the end of the day. I wasn't even strong enough to stay away from them while I was breast feeding. Poor Kadence, I'm sure I gave her an M&M tummy ache. What do you have a hard time staying away from????
Oh...and on that note (and to be a little cheesy), I apparently Can't Have Just One...Baby!! Yep, you read that correctly! Baby number 2 should arrive around Kadence's 1st Birthday!!!! I could call myself Crazy, Nuts, Psycho, a rabbit? But I like the name my Doctor gave me, "The Miracle Mama." Who knew birth control was only 99% effective?


Here is a cute pic of the excited big-sister-to-be. Brandon has already given her the talk on becoming a little more responsible and pulling her own weight around the house. I think she got it, she is all smiles! Can' you believe she is already 6 months?

Yummy...Cereal!

MMMMM....Doesn't this look appetizing? I really don't think so, but Kadence sure likes it! I think she especially likes it all over her face, and for some reason I thinks it makes her fingers taste better.

She sure did sleep well after!

Often times an earthquake, I mean a rictor nine is gonna tell you it's coming. You get some seismic activity before a little shaking of the walls and such. A volcano erupting same deal, a spewing of smoke--a cloud before the storm if you will. Kadence was simply all smiles, no warning, and no rainbow. I suppose we can expect more floods!

Just some updates!

It is so easy to fall behind on things when life kicks in a takes over, i.e. house work. Yep, I did scrub the kitchen and bathroom on Friday, but you would never know it. I guess it isn't so bad that you would be afraid to use the toilet. Brandon and I have been super busy and with a new little one, it just takes longer to get anything done. I have however, pulled out the swing and it is a life saver! I can enjoy Kadence and get some things done at the same time. I don't even feel like I'm ignoring her when I put on Frank Sinatra and sing to her while sweeping the floors. She actually finds it quite amusing!

Lack of motivation doesn't really help either when I should be picking up the bedroom or staying on top of laundry. Where does the lack of motivation come from you ask?! Well, I hesitate to say anything too prematurely but I'm no longer invested in my current, dark, gloomy, blue, tight, basement apartment. I much rather spend the time imagining how I am going to decorate my new home!!! It is not a done deal yet, but Brandon and I feel pretty good about it. All we are waiting for now is the approval from the "underwriters" to come back. Who are they anyway and why do they take so dang long!? Once we get their stamp of approval, we are good to go, as soon as the carpet and counter tops get installed. We are really excited!










Ours is an end unit, as above and those colors too. The inside is beautiful and open! This is obviously a picture of the model, but ours will be just as nice. Some day we will have the beautiful railing, but for now we have a pony wall. We hope to move in by early May. Wahoo!

Just another quick note, with a really cute picture. We were able to go to Price for Easter. I love going home to Price, and running in to familiar, friendly people. It has been a long time since I have lived there, but it always feels like coming home. Kadence got a really cute Easter outfit and this is how she felt about it...

Once we got the Binky in her mouth, she liked it a lot better. OH, SHE IS SO CUTE!!!
I have beautiful blessing pics of her, but the computer won't let me put the disk in the machine...so, to be continued.

This blogging thing is beyond me!!! I try to change the background and I screw everything up. At one point the entire page was blank! I don't know how I got it back!! I need lessons if I want to enhance my blogging abilities!

Windmills, Smartcars, and Idiots

Before I really get this diatribe going I wanted to throw out a couple tidbits which one might consider contradictory to the meat of this post. A.) I think that we need to be responsible caretakers of the planet. 2.) I don't think that everyone who recycles or hauls around fabric grocery bags are dopes. I do think they are feeding a machine with desires more monetarily driven than environmentally concerned. i.e. Al Gore or as I like to call him Satan. Just kidding I think that's a little cruel....To Satan.

That said, I am not a fan of regulations in general but this idea of 'climate control' comes across as a little pompous and foolish. Also I don't believe that a small sampling of climate data much of which is suspect due to human error and bias is enough to concur that the Earth is heating up because of us.
There is a lot of power to be had and money to be made by convincing the world that climate change is our fault, and that it indeed is real.

WWF (environmental group not the worldwide wrestling federation) was backing this Black out hour last week in an effort to rally the troops against global warming. Basically supporters all turned their lights off at the same time for an hour to feel all fuzzy and warm. They asked that people share their plans for this scheduled unplugging, I obliged. Julia asked me to put my email here:


Title: Hooray the world is finally going to be saved!

WWF,
I have been so concerned for so long about the sad scary state of earth's health. One hour is not enough! Can't we lobby for a week, I'm sure that if every soul on the planet would give up just a month, maybe then we could reverse this thing! Obama please make this happen! Imagine if we could get a global cessation of all carbon fuel power for just one year, we might be able to cut the cancer out of the globe, and give mother earth an extension on life…If Obama could get everyone to live like the Amish, or the bushmen…perhaps then the sun would stop scorching the fragile crust of our home. Maybe that doesn't go far enough. No, indeed it does not. If we all swallowed laced punch like Heaven's gate--If we could hold a giant concert with all of earth's heroes like U2, Yoko Ono, and Hanson as a final shout to our mother proclaiming our love for her before making the ultimate sacrifice. We could then give her the biggest gift of all. All so that the globe can keep turning and evolution can reset. Then maybe that will be enough to save our favorite piece of the universe for an additional, what? like, ten minutes. I really don't buy it, and I disdain you, your lobbyists, your bunk science, your blind sheep, and your influence for infringing on my liberties.

To help the globe I will up my carbon footprint as much as I possibly can during your ridiculous hour. Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum burn all the oil from every oil drum!



Brandon Armstrong

Mommy Loves Her Baby!

It is amazing how fast my little girl is growing. It makes me want to cry. Not because I am sad, I just want to cry. Sometimes just looking at her makes me want to cry. I guess it's because I love her so much. She is changing so much everyday. When I got home from my first day back at work I looked at her and was amazed how much bigger she got in just 10 hours! Look at this comparison...She does like to eat!

4 Days Old

Eight Weeks Old

Kadence has been such a good baby. Poor thing has had some digestive problems but is getting better everyday. She is smiling more, ofcourse not when I look at her and say "Smile for Mom." I think she will do what she wants when she wants to. We'll see if I have any influence on her in the future. She responds well to Brandon. Maybe because he makes more faces. He can raise one eyebrow. He taught her how. I love when she does it. She is really good at furrowing her brow like me. I just hope she doesn't get the wrinkles I have between my eyes.

Kadence will be blessed on the 29th of March. Let me know if you would like to come and I can get you more information. I love being a Mom and can't imagine life without her.

Does anyone else play with their food?

This was just a little something I did for my sweet husband. He really deserves the best and I know how to give it to him!

Look how BIG I am!

For the last four weeks Mom has not allowed me to live up to my full potential as a fashionista! (Excuse the spelling errors, I'm only a month old;)) She, my Mom, has been dressing me in the same three outfits and onsies since I was born. But look at me in this pic! I finally fit in to this adorable white one piece with flowers and ballerina slippers. Two weeks ago at 5.9 pounds I was wearing the outfit to my left a couple times a week. I'm growing though and my Wardrobe options have totally doubled. I think I fit in to like, 6 outfits now and have said "sianara" to the pictured outfit above. Mom will probably do something dumb...like keep the outfit forever to remind her how small I once was. Of course she'll cry everytime she looks at it and say something like, "My baby is all grown up." I already have to remind her I just turned one month on Saturday. Time has flown by though. I'm getting used to this "Out of Womb" experience but I hate late nights when Mom gets mad at me for not sleeping and wakes Dad up all upset and stuff. Duh, she should have known that I was going to control all aspects of her life including when she can and can't sleep. I did do her a favor the other night and slept for 4 solid hours in two intervals. She seemed to be really grateful and there were no tears. I don't want her to get picky though and expect things from me so I haven't done it since. Let's be honest, I don't want there to be any confusion of who is Boss.

So Mom reads all this stuff on line and in books about parenting and what babies need. So she read that Baby's need tummy time. It is a rediculous way to help strengthen neck musles and stuff. Have you seen me move my neck around and lift my head? I'm a natural at it. I awed the nurses in the hospital. So, I don't know why she insists on torchuring me with exerises that I am way over. So, I showed her. I have displayed the before picture. This is before I got really mad. I like to humor my Mom, she trys hard.


And here is a picture of me rolling over!!! Yep, that is right. I did it. I rolled over and when Mom and Dad thought it was a fluke I did it again...and not just as I did before. I switched it up and rolled the other direction. Get me mad enough and who knows what I will do. I'm a pretty amazing kid.

Stay tuned to learn more about how awesome I am and all of my cool tricks. Mom and Dad are pretty proud.

Apple of my eye

So have you ever been to Grove Market Deli? I swear the sandwich is bigger than my girl, weighs more, and at times is much cleaner in the palms of my hands than this little thing. I do have to admit, I'd take her over a club on sour dough at least seven out of ten times though!

Side note: Those other three out of ten times have really caught up with me (see picture below) Time to hit the treadmill!

It is worth a try...

This is my first official post! I don't really know what I am doing. I'll do my best to get pics on here and stuff, but it just might not happen. You would think that I was more capable of blogging, living in the technology generation and all. It takes me some time. Don't expect poetry and creative use of words with my postings either. I passed English, but I didn't dominate English if you know what I mean. I also have a dictionary for a husband and a dictionary/encyclopedia for a mother in law. I'm not to worried about keeping up with them.

Now that I have completed my disclaimer...Look at my beautiful family!

One day I will learn to flip the pic before I post it. Aren't they cute though? Daddy and daughter sleeping. This is Brandon's favorite thing to do with Kadence. Maybe because she doesn't do a whole lot.

I love to try and take pictures of all of Kadence's many faces. She is so animated. The flash on the camera usually messes up the original picture, but here are a few of her silly faces...

I love the pucker!!!!

The flared nostrils are also priceless!

This doesn't look like a happy look, but it is still cute! How could you not just love her!!!

Kadence was very strong during the Bilibed days to conquer her war with Jaundice. Here are some pics of rest and relaxation. You decide which you would prefer!

Bilibed!

On the couch!

I hope you enjoy the pics. I will do my best to post them often. I love being a Mom. It is hard work and I appreciate my mother more and more everyday!

Grandma's point of view

The following is a little ditty written by my mumsy, at the request of others I paste it here:

Yes, Brandon and Julia had their baby daughter Kadence this very morning (January 21, 2009) at 3:07 a.m., weighing in at 5 lbs. 5 oz., and 19 inches long. Due to high blood pressure and concerns of pre-eclampsia, labor was induced. It was an arduous 16-hour labor. Julia was admitted to the hospital on the evening of the 19th after she and Brandon enjoyed a dinner out with her mother, Toni. Some tests were run and Julia was administered pitocin (sp) at 9:00 a.m. the following morning, had her water broken at 12:00 p.m., just three hours later, and was dilated to 1.5.

At 6:00 p.m., labor for nine hours resulted in an additional half centimeter dilation. Also, about this time Julia's dad and sister had to return to Price. Kimball (Julia's father) teaches obstetrical nursing at CEU and he had clinicals this morning at 5:00 a.m. at the hospital in Castleview for their morning report. Julia derived a great deal of comfort from her father's presence and knowledge -- he was with Julia for the administration of her epidural and kept telling all of the women folk what he understands and knows from his training. I look at childbirth in a new light. His sense of humor and calm was assuring to the family. My heart fell for my dear daughter-in-law when her father and sister left. It was a great disappointment to her.

At 9:00 p.m. (12 hours into labor) Julia was still dilated to 2. Crestfallen but determined, a young mom labored on.

There were new whisperings of concern Julia would need a C Section. She was becoming very discouraged and having a great deal of pain. Her blood pressure, if I remember correctly, at one point reached 189 over 93. Julia confessed afterward that she had been praying for all she was worth to just be able to hang on -- she just wanted to have things move forward so the baby could come. I choose to believe God heard her prayers (and the silent ones of the grandmothers, grandfathers and extended family members elsewhere). Concerns of introducing infection blocked further checks for a dilation status update until midnight.

The presidential inauguration and its related celebratory events may have concluded for the nation, but introductory events were about to deliver some desperately needed welcome news for Brandon and Julia: at the midnight hour, literally, word came that Julia had dilated to a 9.5. So, yes, in three hours she moved from 2 to 9.5. One half centimeter to go! The nurse advised Julia that they would administer yet more anesthesia (I believe this was the fifth round of anesthesia), and they were going to have a "rest and descend period" of one hour, hoping that now that the cervix was nearly prepared the baby would advance toward the birth canal and that this downward pressure would complete the dilation. The lip of the cervix apparently still needed to completely open and that this resting period would provide the time for the baby to advance into position for delivery. Hallelujah!

Well, that one hour extended to two hours. At least Julia was able to get some rest and had relative relief for that period of time. Shortly after 2:00 a.m. (we had all dozed off a bit), the nurse entered and indicated that the doctor was on his way. She set up the room for the delivery.

Breaking news: it was the doctor's belief that the baby was in a posterior position and this was preventing the baby from descending. The doctor would need to assist the baby in turning.

Julia graciously invited Chelsey and myself to attend the birth -- we had planned on waiting in the waiting room. So, this was an unexpected and joyful invitation, and we joined Toni (Julia's mom), and Brandon for a long-awaited event.

There were multiple episodes of "push, Julia, push," while the doctor literally grabbed ahold of Kadence's little head and twisted the positioning of her little head. This went on for a half hour. I have to admit some degree of incredulous amazement and alarm at the extent of physical wrestling the doctor undertook to reposition this little baby. It's incredible how giving the flesh in lower quadrants can be. Cheers were heard by all -- especially those of Julia -- when the doctor, with great happiness and smiles, announced that Kadence had turned. And then, miracle of miracles, Kadence was delivered. The doctor's announcement was, "She's a peanut." Kadence is a very, very tiny little girl. She is only two or three ounces larger than my daughter Tandy's twins were. She is healthy in every way!!!!! Well, she does have some bruising of her head from the doctor's valiant struggles to get her turned but this will heal. For now, her beautiful dark brown hair disguises much of the bruising.

Julia's birthing pains were not yet over. Though family had all oohed and aahed over this newborn, shared hugs and expressions of affection and love, and left for home, Julia spent the next two hours with a doctor, a resident and five nurses who had to attend to hemorraghing, removing massive clots and getting bleeding under control. The extent of her pains may be slightly more appreciated when we all learned this morning that she had been given morphine to subdue the pain. Even Brandon, fatigued and worn out from his role as supporting husband and father, had fallen sound asleep on his bed in the room, oblivious to the efforts being expended in support of Julia just four feet away. I have fought off thoughts of self-condemnation all day for not having stuck around to continue my support for Julia. In all fairness, however, if the doctor was aware of these post-delivery complications at the time we all left, he didn't make them public. If these problems arose after we had departed, then he certainly would not have invited us all back to the room where they needed to stabilize and ensure the well-being of a new mother who had given everything she had to the miracle of birth. I'm grateful for calm and level-headed medical staff that offer reassurance and expertise. We have a very happy family today due to their training and support.

Welcome to the world, Kadence Armstrong! You are a beautiful baby and we look forward to sharing life with you. Congratulations to Julia and Brandon and best wishes all around for your happiness and success in every way!

Julia, you did do it "basically natural." (This is an inside joke but it is a tribute to beautiful women who are empowered with a sense of their possibilities and purpose -- I an blessed to know so many of you!)

Hugs and love,
Lisa

Yellow Fever?

While both the untrained eye, and the ignorant might think Comanche Warrior Princess painted for battle against The Crow. The truth is Kadence is waging war against Jaundice. She thrashes and fights against the bili-bed light while the rest of the tribe reminisce about the peace of yesterday and perform mysterious dances beckoning to the gods of baby,"please release this child from the demon's yellow curse."
Kadence howls and shrieks forcing bizarre bowels, and foreign fluids to bleed across the field of conflict.
Expelling the enemy is a tiresome act, and while she claims victory with every step, she is fatigued and spent...She is slow to seek nourishment while the foe lingers close, she rests when able, but the day is long, and the night is far.

War on sweet child! War on!

Benvenue Kadence

At 3:07 AM, January 21st 2009 In the year of Obama, Every mite of Kadence Armstrong's 5 lb. 5 oz. body descended down the vast chamber of Amniotica. Though only nineteen inches tall, the heiress sojourned 'cross sixteen hours of unmapped roads before finally landing at the feet of Julia the fearless, Julia the strong, yea even Julia the comedian.

Proclaiming her birth natural.....at least basically natural, while pleading for stronger drugs, Julia the adamant, inspired more tears and awe from the weary watchers than she could ever know as they applauded the fortitude of their hero. The weary watchers whom stood vigil, oft caught so unawares at the cagey one liners spewing forth like so much ash from the fiery alps of yore, as to find them tireless against arrows of fatigue.

Alas, victorious, and home, the youngest now roams the plains among them, ever bouncing from arm to arm spreading the joy of her serenity and her tales both past and future.