Susie's Leaning Tower of Chocolate for 2015 November

'Bout time you showed up. I just stepped outside and it's sprinkling. The temperature dropped. It's pleasant. Yay.

Not long after I posted my last blog post about the rain, John suggested a swim. I forgot it was raining until we went to get in the car. Hah. It turned into more of a hot tub jaunt, though everyone but me did get in the pool. Another successful swim in the rain!

We are watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

John: There are the grandmas and grandpas!
Dalton: But there are four!
...

Walking along the boardwalk at Newport Beach tonight, I got offered a beer for the first time in my life. By a shirtless guy in a cowboy hat, no less. I related it to John.

John: But you're pregnant.
Me: Obviously it was a joke. A drunk joke.
John: I guess my sense of humor is too dry for that.

Today started off with a stuffed my little pony getting her leg ripped off in a fight. By the time we got home from church, Dalton and Sienna's stuffed was switched (John was home sick). John convinced Dalton it was a girls room and a boys room, so hopefully he isn't mad if a baby girl ends up in there with him. Sienna didn't nap but seems to be ok with the move in general. She's been on a mattress on the floor, so we'll see if she falls out of the bed now!

We've decided a December baby would be nice. And reasonable. That's 10 days after my due date, which was moved back 7 days. Surely an extra 17 days of baking is enough?

A friend offered to watch our kids so we could have one more date night before the baby comes. We went to Stonefire Grill, and not only was the food amazing, it was sooo nice to eat without the kids around. Especially because, after a day of listening to Dalton whine at sea world, and on the way home, and then both of them fighting for an hour when we got home, they were on my nerves!

After dinner we went to Target to get the few baby things we needed: crib sheets, newborn diapers, baby wash. That's about it. We are pretty much set now.

We celebrated Sienna's birthday early today. We had a play date party for her with our usual preschool friends, and lots of other little church friends at the park. I brought ride on cars and sand toys and the kids just played for several hours. I also made My Little Pony cupcakes that turned out adorable. All Sienna wanted for her birthday was for her friends to sing to her. We did round one with John before he had to work, and before Dalton and the other kinders went to school. Then she had more friends join us at the park and we sang to her again! We also gave the kids the last three cupcakes after dinner and sang to her a third time. And it's not even her birthday.

I think her gifts tell a lot about her as she turns three.

Rainbow Dash sweatshirt
Four pairs of socks, especially needed since she won't wear any she has. Ariel, Minions, owl, and Rainbow Dash
Snoopy shirt
That's Not My Penguin book
Dr. Suess book
Princess Anna plush doll (bought by grandma and grandpa... Looooves it)
Play mat that came with the tiny ponies we used on her cupcakes

Love my Nenna Girl.

As I was tucking Sienna into bed, she looked out the window and said, "my dreams didn't come true. I want to be and my dreams, and they didn't come true." "I want to be" is a phrase she goes around singing over and over (and over). John says the kids watched a My Little Pony episode this morning about dreams so maybe that's where she got the idea.

I was cleaning out my desk today and found a birthday interview. I figured I'd try it with Sienna since it's actually her birthday.

Favorite person in the whole world: Grandma
Favorite color: Anna and Elsa (That's not a color: Purple)
Favorite Show: Jack (Nightmare Before Christmas)
Favorite Clothes: Snoopy
Favorite Song: Pumpkin King
Best Friend: Aubrey's my best friend. And Aubrey needs a time out.
Favorite Book: Penguin
Favorite Food: Toasties (frozen french toast sticks)
Favorite Ice Cream: Pink
What do you like to do with your friends: Someone hit me in the eyeball.
What do you want to be when you grow up: I want to grow up with my blankie.
Favorite Animal: Hippo (this one is actually accurate)

These basically reflect her thoughts at this exact moment. Lying on her blankie, wearing her new Snoopy shirt and reading her new penguin book and obsessed with Grandma who bought her an Anna doll for her birthday and asking to watch Nightmare Before Christmas.

A Chadwick baby is never late. Nor is she early. She arrives precisely when she means to.

(This post has been saved as a draft on my blog since November 20, 2012. Seems applicable today as well.)

Turkey breast tenderloin (pre seasoned)
Rolls (store bought)
Mom's sweet potato casserole
Mashed potatoes (the only thing I made)
Gravy
Brussels sprouts with bacon
Cranberry raspberry smoothie
Fresh raspberries
Canned cranberry jelly
Turkey cheeseball
Peach jello jigglers
Dried snap peas
Banana boats for dessert

Unfortunately, Maggie is sick and Sienna was ready for s nap so neither of them enjoyed the meal much. But the rest of us did!

I really wanted to go into labor on my own with baby #4. Other than that wish being granted, this birth was very similar to the others. I could tell for the previous couple days that I was dilating and things were moving along. Stronger contractions etc. I woke up at 2:30 Black Friday morning feeling like I was having constant painful contractions. I timed a few at 4 minutes, then we headed out to the hospital. My awesomest neighbor came to stay with the kids.

By the time we got to the hospital (3:30 ish) my contractions were really hurting. Luckily I was dilated to a four and they admitted me. I got an epidural (yay) pretty soon and we tried to sleep. I went through three doctors this pregnancy (one retired, one had a baby) and two more at the hospital since it was a holiday. Oh well. The first broke my water. Around 7:45 I was at a 6 and the nurse said she'd be back in 20 minutes and start a tiny bit of pitocin if my contractions weren't more regular. She came back an hour later and said I was at a 10. The next doctor came in for a trial push and I kept saying, "seriously, don't you want the ped nurses in here?" Sure enough, 1 1/2 pushes later they were scrambling to get th baby birth team in there.

Baby boy came out nice and easy. Other than being 6-13 days late and swallowing lots of thick meconium. He had his stomach pumped and kept spitting more up, but that hasn't stopped him from being a champion eater.

11/27/15 9:09 am 8 lb 7 oz 21 inches long

Minutes after John walked out the hospital door to pull up the van, Sienna fell off the chair in the lobby and hit her head on the wall. I was sitting in a wheelchair holding Arthur and couldn't even get her. Luckily the "grandma" nurse was good enough for some hugs for her.