Welcome Levi

Our third son, Levi Jesse Robbins, was born 19 days early on April 6th at 9:59 pm. He weighed 7 lbs, 11 oz. He has plenty of hair, which looks red in some lights, and light brown in others.

The labor started off with my water breaking at 3:40 pm while I was at the park with the boys. I squatted down to help Noah, and then I felt a trickle. I thought, "either I peed my pants or my water broke," but since it was just a trickle with no immediate contractions, I remained calm for another 20 minutes until we got home and I could figure it out better. Still having just occasional trickles at home, I called Kyle and told him to come home right away. Not long after I called Kyle, I had no doubt that my water was broken because it was coming out in gushes, but I was blessed to still not have any contractions because that helped me to stay calm while I arranged for help with the boys, waited for Kyle, ate some food, and packed my bag. Kyle came home and helped me straighten up the house, and then we headed to the hospital at 6:00. It was strange and nice to stroll into the labor and delivery room without any pain. We were in the delivery room for another hour and a half before I felt contractions strong enough to ask for the epidural.

Grandma Diane, Grandma Linda, and Kyle were with me all through the delivery. I was so grateful for their love and support. It was very helpful to have one on each side of me, and one helping from behind.

My neighbors across the street, Grandpa Jesse, and Aunt Megan were so awesome to watch Noah and Jason while we were at the hospital.

Like my other boys, Levi wanted to come out seeing everyone, that is to say, face up. He was far down the birth canal before the doctor realized this, so there was no chance to try and turn him. The doctor gave me an episiotomy to make more room for this presentation. It took about 30 minutes of pushing and then he was born! Levi let us all know that his lungs were functioning well and that he was not happy to be there. He was quite ornery for the first couple of hours, but he was a natural at nursing, which helped calm him down.

It's always a special moment, introducing the older siblings to the new baby. Both boys have been interested in holding Levi and touching his hair. But they quickly figured out that visiting us at the hospital was super awesome because they could get a slushy each time they came, so they visited 3 times! So far Noah has accepted this change better than we expected. He hasn't been at all upset by Levi sleeping in his old crib, even though Noah got emotional when I mentioned it a few weeks before. I know the real test of acceptance will come when no one is around to entertain the boys for me.

Recovering from the delivery has been fairly routine. I was more swollen after Levi than I was with Noah because of the episiotomy. We are so blessed to have lots of help from family. I don't know how we'd survive this recovery period without them.

Happy Easter

April Fool's Prank

Kyle and I enjoyed pulling an April Fool's prank on our family members. At 7:30 am on April 1st, Kyle sent out a group text that read, "The Easter Bunny delivered our egg early! He arrived at 4:40 this morning. Stats and pictures to follow." Kyle formatted the group message so that only he could see the responses so no one would spoil the joke for everyone else. About 2/3rds fell for it, while the other 1/3 saw right through it. We had fun reading all the responses.

Monkeying Around in March

Jason taught himself how to do the monkey bars and he is so proud of himself!

Noah's first ride on the ferris wheel at Scheel's.

Jason drew these awesome instructions for Kyle so Kyle would fix the remote control.

Heather and Max came into town, and we had a fun outing at Tracy Aviary.

Getting Ready for Baby to Arrive

The weekend after Noah's birthday was potty training weekend. That weekend also happened to be Valentine's Day. It was my decision to do it that weekend because I feel the baby countdown moving quickly. I let Jason take my place as Kyle's date to the BYU basketball game that night. Kyle informed me that I am a much better date than Jason is; Jason was asking to leave the game after consuming his pretzel, and then he lectured Kyle on the way home about how he had chosen a bad date. Why couldn't they have gone swimming or bowling instead, Jason wondered? 

Unfortunately, potty training weekend totally tanked. Noah was totally against getting potty trained, and so we will wait and try again in the summer. Fortunately, I got a Valentine's date two weeks later to a Jazz game, and I didn't complain at all :).

Again feeling the baby countdown, we just moved Noah into the bottom bunk (his first big-boy bed) in Jason's room. Double cold turkey. The first night was totally wild. Noah didn't get much sleep, and neither did we, but we've had progress and are hopeful that this will actually work out faster than potty training. Jason loves sharing a room. He's been waiting for it for a couple months now. Hopefully he won't get tired of it too soon.

Noah Turns 3

This cutie just turned three! To celebrate his big day, we went to Arctic Circle for lunch. After lunch we went with our friends, the Mayers, to Jungle Jim's Playland, where they have rides just for kids. Noah loved going on all the rides, including the roller coaster. I was sure grateful we had eight-year-old Joaquin along with us to help Noah because I was far too pregnant to go on the rides. After spending 2 1/2 hours there I was ready to go home and get ready for dinner, but Noah was sure sad to go.

Kyle and Grandma Linda were able to celebrate with us in the evening after work. We did pizza, cake and ice cream, and presents. Noah was thrilled with his Lego Duplos, craft sets, and play dough sets. This birthday was a smashing success. Jason is already talking about how he wants to do the same things for his birthday, but time will tell if that actually happens.

Dear Noah,

You are growing into such a big boy. Turning three signals big changes coming for you--big changes which will move you from being a toddler to a little/big boy. Very soon you will get potty trained, move to regular bed, share a room, become a big brother, and start preschool. Thinking about all those changes is both exciting and sad for me. I have sure loved having you as the baby of the family.

Right now your imagination is fantastic. You love to pretend we are so many different people and creatures throughout the day. An idea will strike you and you will say, "Let's play a game. I am (blank) and you are (blank)." If I forget who we are pretending to be and call you by the wrong name, you are quick to reprimand me.

Jason and you are still good buddies. I love it when Jason takes your hand to help you around church or to get across the street. And it is always fun to have a built-in-friend when we go to the park. But you and I are the best buddies. You are quite content to stay at home with me as long as you can get me to participate in your imaginary scenarios.

Your favorite toys to play with are trains and legos. You can play for hours with your new legos, and you are constantly building long trains of toys throughout the basement. As soon as I get one cleaned up, you start a new one.

Once you get focused on a fun activity, it is very hard for you to leave what you are doing, whether it be to get your diaper changed or to get in the car. I have carried you out kicking and screaming many times. Sometimes I feel quite exasperated with your stubbornness, but then you turn around and tell me, "I'm so happy"and it melts my heart. You are a good example to me of how we should express our happy feelings out loud because it helps others feel good too.

I know that getting a baby brother will be a hard adjustment for you, but I know you will grow to love him as much as Jason has grown to love you. I love you so much, and I am grateful to be your mom.

Love,

mom

Jason Loses His First Teeth

Jason lost his first tooth December 26, 2014. The next tooth fell out two weeks later, so now he can stick his tongue through the bottom center gap. Although Jason was anxious to lose his first tooth, he was not willing to yank it out. It fell out onto his lap when it was good and ready. Same with the second. Grandma Diane gave Jason a special tooth-fairy pillow with a velcro pocket to put next to his bed. Jason feels so grown up now that he has lost some teeth (and earned a dollar per tooth).