Introducing Charlie David Kippley!

Just in time for the Olympics and Valentine's Day....Charles David Kippley made an early entrance into the world on 2.12.2010. He weighed 6 lbs 11 oz and was 20.5 inches long (4 of which I'm convinced were from a massive conehead.)

The last time I posted I mentioned that I hoped the baby the would make an appearance very soon. I think Charlie was confused that what I meant as "very soon" was around February 28th...just a few weeks before my due date. But as I've quickly figured out in the last week, this baby stuff has nothing to do with my plans..it all revolves around Charlie!





I'll try to write the condensed version of his birth story. On Wednesday I thought I had a doctor's appt but apparently it was scheduled for Friday and the super rude receptionist sent me away crying (hormones) saying they didn't have any openings and I would have to wait until Friday. I called the nurse's office on the way to work because I was having really bad gas cramps and wanted to know if I could take mylanta. Note to self and all pregnant moms: you CAN take mylanta..no need to call. If you call, you could end up with a baby instead of a mylanta recommendation. Anywho - they wanted me to come to the hospital for monitoring because I don't know the difference between gas and contractions. When I was hooked up, they realized that it wasn't contractions (duh) but my blood pressure had skyrocketed to around 175/105. They monitored me for a few hours but all my other tests came back fine and we thought I'd be released in time for our reservations at Wildfire for our anniversary. My doctor came in around 6 and told me that instead of bed rest or medication, my blood pressure had put me in the "severe preeclampsia" category and they would start inducing me that night. Brian and I just kept looking at eachother and then I burst out into tears (second for the day) and kept saying how I wasn't ready.



We must have been a sight walking to our labor and delivery room. I was carrying my shoes and bawling and Brian was in his suit and trying to calm me down. They must have been talking about us on the floor because all the nurses that came in wished us a Happy Anniversary and joked that their food wasn't going to be as good as Wildfire's. One nurse even joked, "That's what you get for complaining about some gas." So we settled in thinking he would be born Thursday.



Again..Charlie was on his own schedule. Because everything was stable except my blood pressure, they let us take the slow and steady route of inducing me and letting my body do as much of the work as possible. Mentally, this helped us really prepare as I was in the hospital 48+ hours before he was even born. All day Thurs and Fri they gave me medication to get things going. The doctor broke my water at 9 AM on Friday and the contractions came on hard and fast. I held a nurse hostage until they brought the doctor in for my epidural. He was rambling off all the risks and I'm pretty sure he could have told me that there was a chance I could lose a few limbs and my eyesight and I would have signed on the dotted line! Thankfully the epdiural worked like a charm and we just hung out and waited the rest of the afternoon. I was finally ready to push a little after 8 PM and at 9:09 PM (just as the US Olympic team came out on the floor) Charlie was born!



How do I know that this was the moment the Olympic team walked on the floor? Well my nurses and Brian were watching the Olympics inbetween all my pushing. We LOVED all of our labor and delivery nurses at Abbott. The 2 that helped us deliver were super funny and even had that sarcastic humor we love. The opening ceremonies were going on and I swear, after each contraction, the nurse and Brian dropped my legs like a hot potato and turned around to keep watching. So as I'm recovering, all I hear is "What sport do you think Ethiopia particpates in? Oh look at those outfits. Who wears shorts/crazy pants/fur like coats." At some point I started shooting Brian dirty looks. Let's keep our eyes on the prize people! I was even telling them "Umm I think this is a contraction. Should I be pushing?" And all 3 of them would turn around and refocus. It's funny in hindsight but not as much during the actual delivery! :)

Snuggling with Grandma Paula and Grandpa Dave


The big things we were worried about before Charlie was born was his weight and breathing - at 36 weeks, babies aren't considered full term and could have complications. Apparently measuring 2 weeks ahead this whole time did mean something because Charlie was a great size at 6 lbs 11 oz and he had no complications at all. He's a champ! I couldn't wait to use my "72 hour labor" to my advantage over the months and years to come. Scenario: Brian asks me to do something and I say, "remember when I was in labor for 72 hours with your son?" Well a nurse was happy to point out (in Brian's presence) that they only count labor as starting when you're 3 cm dilated and I wans't to that point until 4 PM on Friday. So technically I was only in labor for 5 hours. I almost punched her in the face but the IV made it hard for me to get out of bed!!



The name is a combination of 2 family names. We honestly didn't have our name until after he was born. (We thought we had more time to decide!) Charles is Brian's grandpa's name who passed away shortly after we started dating and David is my dad's name. Brian said he looked like a Charlie because he has an old man look about him!

With Grandma Pat


We are settling in and adjusting to being sleep deprived! It has been so much fun having Brian home too and we can't believe how fast the days go. I don't know how single moms do it..Brian has picked up right where he left off in being probably the most helpful human being ever and has just dived right into fatherhood. Our pediatrician even asked if he'd been around babies before because he seemed like such a natural :) I have so much more to post about: how Sasha and Stella are getting along with their brother, why the nurse came in to wake up Brian at the hospital, our first date post baby, etc but Charlie is ready to eat so I have to get going! I will try to update with pictures as much as possible. And sorry for this marathon post!!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Tomorrow is our 3rd wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been 3 years since we were in Mexico exchanging our vows on the best day of my life. I went to Target today to get Brian a card and I think they are really missing out on a niche market called "crazy pregnant women who need cards." I was looking for a card that said something like "Honey, I'm sorry that I've been a hormonal crazy bi-atch for the past few weeks (or months). I'm sorry for going crazy and having a melt down in the car on Saturday night when the chinese restaurant was closed because the electricity was off on that block. I'm sorry that I told you I wanted ice cream but didn't give you any direction forcing you into Cub to buy the largest assortment of ice cream treats (including 10 small Ben&Jerry's pints) just because you were scared to come back with the wrong flavor. I'm sorry that I started wearing granny panties at 8 weeks just because they were comfortable. I'm sorry that I make you rub my cankles every night to get the sock lines out. And I'm sorry in advance for what the next 4 weeks will bring to your life if your son doesn't make an appearance very soon." BUT Target didn't have a card even close to all that so I just picked up the generic Happy Anniversary, blah blah, Love you blah blah card.




Our big plans for tomorrow include breakfast at Hells Kitchen (no this is not a nickname for our kitchen when I cook). It's a fantastic breakfast place downtown Minneapolis. Then I have an OB appt where I'm hoping she'll confirm what I know - that this child is already about 8 lbs and she will induce me next week. Then tomorrow night we're heading out for dinner if I can stay awake past 6:30! Fun stuff!




But seriously, Brian has been such a trooper these past 9 months. He always has been great about doing stuff around the house and splitting all the household chores with me without having to be asked but he's really stepped it up a notch since I've been pregnant. He probably is bordering on sainthood these days for all he puts up with but I appreciate it more than he knows and can't wait to venture into parenthood with him. I'm pretty sure he stopped reading the blog a few months ago but if you do read this today Brian - I Love You!!

Oh what I would give to be on a beach drinking a mojito or miami vice right now.....

A shower extravaganza!

As of last night, my showers are all done. I can remember registering and thinking that everything seemed so far away still. Now I had my last 2 showers and all I have to do is finish up on a few things and....wait. I had my 35 week appt yesterday and I'm still measuring exactly 2 weeks ahead. My doctor said it doesn't mean anything except that the baby "could be big." God help me. I think it means she should induce me 2 weeks ahead but apparently we are not on the same page. She doesn't realize how determined I can be and she has to see me every week now...

My shower on Sunday was hosted by Brian's aunt's Anne and Deb and his cousin Karen. Anne had asked me what I've been craving (other than sugar) and I said Mexican food. I didn't realize that was a reason behind her question but they had fajitas, taquitos, guac and chips, etc! So delicious!! We played the dirty diaper game where they put a crushed up and melted candy bar in a diaper and you had to guess what candy it was. It was completely disgusting and hilarious! We also played this game where they had to guess and cut a streamer length on how big my belly was. Some people (Colleen) were very nice and had very small streamers. Some people (Julie) are just cruel and I could have wrapped that streamer around me twice! Some people may be off the Christmas card list :) Brian's grandma won the game - which is very fitting since she had 8 kids of her own to know how to measure this belly by looks!


The amazing cupcakes - some had a filling and they were all differnet flavors. So good.



Me with my hostesses.



With the grandmas (my mom and Brian's mom)



My shower last night was held by my friends Teresa and Leah and was a "co-worker" shower. They had it at a restaurant and even Brian put in an appearance. They had little cups of conversation hearts (my favorite candy) that had baby sayings on it. I didn't do a very good job at taking pictures at my work shower so hopefully I can add a few when poeple share.

For some reason all the homemade gifts really send me into tears at the showers. I was pretty much a mess at the family shower but I blame the crazy hormones. Brian's aunt Deb made the gorgeous quilt on the right and she always sews in the sweetest messages too. She also made a bib and burp cloth and another blanket. My mom made the afghan in the middle and it is so soft. And my co-worker Jan made the elephant on the right. It is so huggable and I know will become a lifelong favorite for the baby.

Brian's grandma also gave us the christening bib that all of her kids wore at their baptism. That sent me into tears too. I want to find a shadow box and hang it on the wall of the nursery. It's really delicate!



I'm pretty sure this baby is set!!! Brian doesn't even know where we're going to put all of the awesome stuff that we have now!

Best.Present.Ever

My girlfriend Kris couldn't come to the shower a few weeks ago because it was her parents' 40th wedding anniversary. She sent her gift and I got it in the mail yesterday. I think I actually got light headed when I saw what was in the box.

It's a WIENER DOG BLANKET! Are you kidding me?!?!? Cutest blanket ever! I guess she has a girlfriend who makes all kinds of baby stuff and Kris picked out the fabric and then her friend made it. Her friend's etsy site is http://www.etsy.com/shop/kampies and I highly recommend her. The blanket is so soft and well made :) Thanks Kris!!



Brian and I also had our baby prep class at the hospital last weekend. I don't know why but for some reason we turned into 5th graders attending sex ed class and everything made us giggle. You would have to pay me MILLIONS to be in a video of me in labor that would be shown to other people. This one lady obviously didn't have a shred of modesty left. She had an epdiural wihtout a stitch of clothes on. Then the other lady was bouncing on an excercise ball with her bare butt hanging out. All I ask of Brian is that if I'm on an excercise ball and my gown parts in the back, throw a blanket over that. But maybe at that point even I won't care who sees what. I doubt it though.

6 weeks left and feeling good. Overall tired and slightly more emotional (although Brian might have a different take on that) and my hands have swollen up to the size of hams (it's pretty attractive).

My best friend Erin is going into the hospital tonight for her induction. She waited to find out what she's having and the suspense has been killing me so I can't wait to hear from her tomorrow!! I've always had someone else due before me so once Erin has her baby, I'm next. Oh boy.....

Under 50!

As of today, we have 49 days left. It really hit Brian this weekend when he realized that the orange juice in the fridge expires March 17th and we'll most likely have a baby by then! Kind of crazy.

This weekend was my first shower hosted by my amazing friends Kortney and Allison. They were such great hosts and troopers for hosting a shower with 22 people!! I was completely overwhelmed and appreciated all the wonderful gifts people brought for Baby Kippley! My friend Kary even travelled all the way from North Carolina to surprise me! We definitely feeled much more prepared now that we have so many of the necessities!!

Apparently being the center of attention makes me sweat like a linebacker so please don't judge me in the pictures. I'm only posting the less sweaty ones...


Me before the flurry of tissue paper starts...

We didn't plan it this way but Sara, Karen, Jess and I were all pregnant together. Eloise can't wait for March to have some new friends :)

And here's a pic of all the pregnant gals at the shower. Kortney and Corissa are both due in June with their 2nd!

All the Gamma Phi girls that could make it!

The entire group! I'm so glad someone suggested we do this before people started to leave.

So excited for Brian to put together the swing and the pack and play!! A group present from the UNI girls!! Thank you all! And the adorable diaper cake that Allison and her sister put together!

I put everything on the table when I got home and Brian just kept going "where do we put all this stuff?" Umm...sorry babe but this is just the beginning!!

Every gift was amazing but this is probably the cutest. It's a Tickle Monster book and it comes in a box which you open and on one side there are these fuzzy gloves that your fingers stick out through and then when you read the book, it tells you where to tickle. It it so cute in person!! Love it Kary!

The girls also put together a cute photo album of everyone's kids or their own baby pictures because apparently babies like to look at other babies. Some pictures included some words of advice to Baby Kippley so I have to share a few.

From Eloise Thompson: Here is what I know, milk is good, sleeping in the crib is ok but in mom's arms is better, bottles suck, and looking in the mirror is cool. :)

From Drew Dorsey: If you are tired, hungry, or just bored - cry and give 100%. I promise they will come. Be nice to Sasha and Stella, they will become your best buds. Save a little pee until a diaper change and then aim right for mommy. And remember - you're in charge!

They both just make me laugh :)

My Biggest Fears

With all the excitement of getting the nursery ready, my first shower this weekend, buying our first pack of diapers ($23..yikes!) – I’ve been thinking a lot about the actual delivery of this child. And by thinking I mean freaking out.

Here is a list of my top 5 biggest fears about delivery. (Warning – may contain too much information. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)

1. That they will all of a sudden realize that he is breach and the doctor will try to manually turn him back so he’s head down. I saw this on an episode of Private Practice and it looks incredibly painful. Side note – I have taken a hiatus from watching Private Practice since EVERY episode has something to do with either the mother dying in labor, the father dying during labor (yes that happened), embryos being placed in the wrong mother and then one of the babies died, a baby being CUT OUT of a mother for the love of God. Plus, every time I watch I get a headache from crying so while I’m DVR’ing them..I haven’t watched in a few months.

2. That I will poop on the table. Everyone tells me that this is normal and doesn’t even phase the nurses or doctor but this is terrifying to me.

3. Hemorrhoids. Nuf said. I don’t want them and I’m tired of reading the warnings about them in my pregnancy books.

4. That after 24 hours of pushing my doctor will decide that I should have a c-section. I’m not even someone who is against a c-section but after all that work of pushing I might slap someone if they tell me it was all for nothing and they’re just going to go in and get him.

5. Many of my friends have heard me “joke” about asking for the epidural mid February. The joke is on them. I’m not joking. I prefer as much pain medication as possible and as early as possible. I have a fear that by the time I get to the hospital it will be “too late” and they won’t give me any pain meds or an epidural. I’m not above ordering from Canada and bringing my own stash to the hospital. Hopefully this will not be necessary.

All jokes aside (although I’m dead serious about the hemorrhoids) my biggest fear is that there will be complications or that the baby won’t be healthy after delivery. I think when you are pregnant (and super emotional) you tend to notice all the scary stories of what has happened to other babies. Ultimatley I know that I’ve done everything I can to get this baby here healthy and happily and the rest is up to God.

I don't have any pictures that really go with this post (lucky you) but this one is pretty funny.

Stella is very protective of the baby stuff already and doesn't even really like it if Sasha comes in the baby room. This is when Sasha got a little too close to the car seat and Stella attacked.

Happy New Year!

These last few weeks have flown by with visitors, holidays, and lots of Christmas snacking! I'm a little worried to get on the scale at the doctor's office on Friday! We hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. We thought a lot about how different next year will be compared to this year. We are definitely in the home stretch. I will be 31 weeks on Wednesday so 9 more to go! Baby Kippley got lots of fun new outfits, stuffed animals, and ornaments for Christmas. Spoiled already!

We got all of our furniture up in the nursery (and by we I mean Brian.) The room looks A LOT smaller now that we have furniture in it!

While we were sorting things in the nursery a few weeks ago, Sasha found this pacifier on the floor and apparently it looked good to her. She put it in her mouth exactly the right way and when Brian went to take it from her, she ran downstairs and laid in her bed. We were dying laughing and had to take a picture first but then Brian went down and told her "no" and gave her a dog chew toy. The bad thing is when you put some of the baby stuffed animals next to the dog stuffed animals...even I can't tell the difference. So that should go well in the future!

The dogs enjoyed celebrating Christmas with lots of extra treats and bones. You would think we could get Stella a smaller bone but she has to have EVERYTHING that Sasha has or she will just want Sasha's so we get them the same size. Maybe it's good practice for when we have kids because these 2 behave just like sisters.

They really do love eachother and snuggled all day on the couch yesterday while Brian and I watched a marathon of NCIS. Hey - there isn't much else to do when it's -15 degrees out!! Sasha uses Stella as a little pillow and Stella appreciates the extra body heat that Sasha can provide.

My mother-in-law went out to visit Brian's sister of the holiday and I knew she was sending "a few" things back for us but I never could have imagined what she crammed into this HUGE hockey bag. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. She sent stacks and stacks of baby clothes (all 0-12 months), some adorable toys, and a bouncy seat. Our nephew Micah will be 2 on Feb 29th (yes a leap day baby!) so he is seasonally the same size as our boy will be. I wish I could take a picture of all the cute hats, socks, shoes, and outfits that Molly sent but I just took a picture of the bag...busting at the seams and a few of my favorites. Molly even put all the tops and bottoms together so that I could see what went what. So sweet. I can understand how she would be worried after an unfortunate incident last week. Molly had sent a bundle me snuggle thing along with this net thing. I honestly thought it was something you put on the mattress. So I emailed her thanking her for the bundle me and "mattress pad." Molly emailed me back that it was not a mattress pad but actually a mosquito net thing that you put over the stroller!! Oops!! :) Good thing she told me before I attempted to put that on the mattress!

Two wiener dog outfits...so cute!

This one is a dinosaur ensemble and it kills me. There is a little stuffed dinosaur that comes out the pocket and it even has dinosaurs on the hem of the overalls. It also came with a hat but I didn't get a picture of it.

Thanks again Schneiders!!

Overall I've been feeling pretty great! Definitely can tell that I'm more tired and a few aches and pains. I can tell that my belly is growing everyday. Brian told me, "You look 10 times more pregnant this week than last week." Then over the weekend I was changing my shirt and Brian walked by and asked "What is that?" I looked down to see what he was referencing and it was a stretch mark on my belly!!!!! Are you kidding me Brian?? Two very bad things that you should never say to a crazy hormonal wife. There are no pictures in this post of Brian because it's hard to cover up the bruising. :)

Here are a few pictures of me a few days apart but I feel like the 2nd I look bigger just 2 days later..yikes.