Picaboo Book

Do you Groupon? I do! Every day, in every city, there is a special deal that offers awesome discounts on everything from food, to lodging, to classes... and beyond. It's fantastic! A month or so ago, Picaboo was offering $100 worth of their product for only $25. I hit the "BUY" button and excitedly downloaded the software to get started on Kate's first year album!

I had every intention of doing an amazing, elaborate scrapbook for her. I have the paper. The stickers. All the knick-knacks. And.... no time or energy for it. So, I thought this would be a good compromise- and Picaboo did not disappoint! They have all kinds of "scrapbook" looking backgrounds and great layouts for the photos. The flat fee goes up to 20 pages- well, her book was over 80 pages, so there was a little extra cost involved, but with the Groupon it was all good!

I was SO pleased when our book arrived! Here are some photos- they don't do the real thing justice!








There was recently another Groupon for Picaboo- $35 for $100 worth of product. Guess who will be making another book soon???

Dropped the blogging ball...

Ok, I've been busy... but nonetheless- I've been a blogging slacker. I was so much better at this when Kate was my newbie. But here we are- Will is fast approaching 3 months old and I haven't posted anything in months!

Let's see... catching up...
Things are going well and still, every day, I feel truly blessed! The fall has been awesome! We've spent lots of time pumpkin patching and enjoying the very unusual cool weather we've been having! I can't remember an October that it has been so cool and rainy- and I have loved every minute! Though I did get a new jogging stroller and am itching to take the kids out for a good walk!

Will is doing great- getting so big and sweet! He isn't much for sleeping... we're still up about every two hours at night. Yikes. Right around 3 months is when Kate started sleeping through the night... I don't have such high hopes for Will. But oh well- I've recently had such a change in attitude when I think about how very fortunate we are to have a healthy baby!


Kate is growing up so fast. Her third birthday is less than a month away and I don't even know what to think. She is such a big girl.


Soon we'll be celebrating Will's baptism, as well as Kate's birthday party, on the same day! Can't wait for such a doubly blessed celebration!

In other news, I've given notice at my job! Yes... it is hard to leave, but I am feeling so lucky to have the opportunity to stay at home with my beautiful babies. I know so many mommies who would give a limb to have the opportunity to stay at home. Being a mommy is a full time job and it has been tough to balance both of my FT jobs and feel like I am giving my best to both. So, come January 2011, I'll be working as just a mommy! I can't wait to do all the things with my kids that I've wanted to do, but haven't been able to dedicate time to. I'm also looking forward to chasing my photography dream, as well!

I'm wanting to start another blog about recipes, cleaning, 'mommyness' and whatnot to 1) inspire myself and 2) get tips from others about these things. Keep an eye out for that!

One last photo opp before I shove off to bed: we had a blast doing our Halloween sugar cookies last week! It was a perfect fall day!

Back tracking...

So, I never posted Will's one month photo. Whoops!

Here is our guy with his bear at one month:


And now, at two months!


Three months is just around the corner!

Glad that's over...

Remember that book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? I could relate yesterday.



On Friday night Matt went up to be with our Andrew and the other groomsmen before Andrew's wedding on Saturday. He rode with a friend, since I'd be driving up Saturday, and was staying the night up in Torrance, so I was on my own with the two kiddos. No biggie- the night went smoothly and I was super excited to see one of my closest friends marry the love of his life.

Well, here's how my day started: as Kate is shoveling apple sauce into her mouth and I am holding Will feeding him, Kate casually looks at him and says, "He pooped." I look down, and there is a poo-spolision all over him, me, the blanket... nice. So I pull Kate from the high chair and we go upstairs to get him cleaned up and bathed. As I am attempting to clean up the poo disaster, my once almost potty trained daughter proceeds to follow suit and poop in her pull up- while sitting in the Bumbo seat that hasn't been put away yet- which causes quite a mess. So now there are two babies to clean up. I run downstairs to the trash can that desperately needs to be taken out to toss the pull-up, knock it over and a glass bottle shatters all over the kitchen floor. So at this point, the bath is running for Will, Kate has no pants or pull up on and I've got to get all the glass cleaned up.

It was at this point I thought to myself, "Today sucks so far... hope nothing else goes wrong." Whoops.

I picked up our friend, Steph, from the airport around 10:30, we had some lunch and went back to the house to get ready. That was a little more difficult than expected with an attention hungry little girl and a milk hungry little boy. We got out the door, got Kate to her grandparents (later than I wanted to of course) and went on our way up toward Torrance for the wedding. As we headed for the freeway, we saw a woman driving on a flat tire and let her know she had a flat. We're both like, "Aww man, that sucks!" and proceed to tell our stories about getting flat tires in the past.

The wedding started at 4pm, and its 3:15 as we're cruising in the carpool lane on the 405 in Irvine. Out of nowhere, it starts. Ca-thunk, ca-thunk, ca-thunk! My first thought was, "Are you freaking kidding me?!" Steph and I were both in denial at that point I think. The car wasn't driving any differently, so I didn't think it was a flat, but who knew. So we pulled over, all the while saying that it was probably just something we were dragging or something. Couldn't be the tire. I've never wished to find a small animal hanging from my tire up until this point.

It was the tire. Left front. Not flat, but with the rubber completely peeling off and the threads showing. &%@*!! Called AAA, called my husband, crying of course, because I knew we were going to miss the wedding of one of my dearest friends since high school. Not too long after, 'Frank' rolls up in the tow truck to change my tire. He takes a look at the right front tire, then the left front and let's out an, "Ohhhhhhh, that's not good." Basically it came to that the right front tire was also in such poor shape that if we put the spare on the left front, the right front would go, too. It was totally unsafe to drive the car. We needed brand new tires for the front. Also, tow trucks are not equipped to carry more than three people, so since we had Will with us, we had to drive 30mph to the tire place with the tow truck close behind.

Matt had called his brother, who became our knight in shining armor by coming and giving us his car to use while the van got new tires. When we finally made it up to Torrance (after the phone call from the tire place that the two rear tires needed to be replaced as well), it was the cocktail hour. I went to give my hungry boy a bottle so I could at least relax for a minute and not need to breastfeed right away, but of course the bottle liners were in the van (along with the Baby Bjorn I'd intended to have on hand). Perfect. We'd decided to leave the van overnight and pick it up in the morning, so Matt's brother could get picked up and not have to wait around for it.

The reception was fun- our good friend's mom held Will for most of the time that he wasn't eating, which meant some fun with friends for us. We headed out around 9pm to go pick up Kate from Matt's parents. Guess what else was in the van with the bottle liners and carrier? Her car seat. Fortunately for us, his parents have one sitting in their garage. Phew. Disaster averted. So about half way home from their house, Matt breaks the silence with an, "Ohhh!" of horrified realization: "Did you grab the house key when you left the van?" %^&($^%#^%$&^&*!!!! Seriously?! We were locked out of our house at 10:15 at night, completely exhausted and with two little ones. Luckily, I remembered that I'd left one window unlocked. Matt would have to do some climbing, but it might work. And it did. I half expected the police to show up the way things were going at this point. But we got in the house, got the kids to bed and completely crashed.

I have to say, that amid all the crap of the day, I was so thankful for good friends and my sweet, wonderful husband who never fails to make me feel better when the poo hits the fan. Phew! What a day! Glad that today is a new one!

Today, now that it is all behind me, its actually all quite funny... glad I can laugh about it now!

I Was Wrong...

While I was pregnant with Will, I was secretly terrified that I wouldn't be able to love Will like I loved Kate. Not that he wouldn't be loved... but that I love her so intensely, so completely and so deeply that it would be impossible for my heart to double that love. I was scared about the boy thing, too... would it be different? Would I connect emotionally with a baby boy like I did our baby girl?

I am relieved to find that what they say is true- your heart grows. I'm wildly in love with my daughter AND my son. Last night was a sweet one. Will was a rockstar sleeper, and Kate stayed in bed until about 6:30am when she came in to our bed. I spent the 4am hour nursing little man and swooning over his perfectness, which meant he was back in his bed when Kate came to snuggle and I was able to dwell on her sweet blonde curls, her long eyelashes and her snuggly personality. Heaven.



The past three weeks have gone by lightening fast. Will had made it back to birth weight at 2 weeks (woohoo!) and judging by the way he's been eating this week, I'm betting he's far surpassed that by now. His umbilical cord stump fell off at 10 days old (5 days more than his sister's) and it was far less terrifying for me than it was when Kate's fell off. Guess its that second child thing. Sadly, I can tell his hair is already thinning out- I don't want it to go! It's so cute... especially right out of the bath.



I took his newborn pics at 9 days- though I tried at 6 days and failed- and it was fun to shoot my own little guy. Now I'm fighting the battle to pick/ design his birth announcement. I'm so much pickier since taking up photography and I want something unique... I just can't create anything I am thrilled with right now. Oh well... guess I'll find something!



As far as post-partum stuff goes, I am feeling great. Some pre-pregnancy clothes; but certainly not all, are fitting again which feels good. Breastfeeding still hurts a bit, which is a bummer... I thought for sure it'd be a piece of cake this time. Its liveable, though. Emotionally, I've got it together and am really enjoying this time in my life. Matt is doing well- going back to work this coming week and we're feeling pretty confident in our life with two!

Party of Four- Will's birth!

Its official- the Conrads are a foursome!

So my last post touches on just the beginning of the many phone calls I made to Hoag on Sunday. I called, as instructed, at 5am... was told to call back at 8am. The nurse didn't sound stressed and I assumed she'd give us the green light to come in after the next call. That was where I made a fatal error: assuming it would all go my way. I called at 8:00 sharp, to be told "Call back at 11:00- we're just busy." At 11am, I figured 'third time is a charm'... FAIL. Was told to call again at 2pm. And at 2pm- guess what?! "Call back at 5pm." At that point, I was in tears calling my mom to tell her, yet again, to keep waiting. I was emotionally drained and so tired from being up at 5am! Matt was getting antsy and wanted me to start calling every hour instead of waiting until 5, which really just got me more upset... so I called a little early at 4:20. Sweet success- kind of: she said they wanted me to come in at 8pm! BUT- I needed to call right before we left to be sure. Yikes.

Since they'd be watching Kate anyway that night (assuming 8pm stuck), we went down to Matt's parents' house and had some yummy dinner. I went outside and called at 6:30pm, with the rest of the family crossing their fingers and staring at me through the window. "Come on in!" YES! A little later and we gave Kate 100 kisses and headed out.

We got to L&D at 7:50pm and checked in, signed papers, changed into my ever-so-attractive hospital gown. I was 3cm dilated and 60% effaced at that point. I joked with our nurse, Kristen (who was fantastic!) that I was more nervous about the IV than anything else... my IV experience with Kate was no bueno. It hurt like no other! She, however, said she'd give me a shot of linocain first so I wouldn't feel a thing. That was the beginning of a beautiful relationship with my L&D nurse! We got that all done and then since I had tested positive for GBS, I needed a couple of bags of anti-biotics before they'd start the pitocin. Did you know penicillin BURNS?! Yeah, oww. It hurt all the way up my arm. I even asked if I was having a heart attack or something because of the intense stabbing pain in my arm... no fun!

They started the pitocin at 10:15pm and I could feel the contractions start, but they weren't painful. At 10:40pm a doctor came in a broke my water. Even though I remember this from the first time, it still shocked me just how gross it felt! Ugh! I cannot imagine that happening in public! Once my water was broken, the contractions picked up quick and started becoming painful. Matt and I tried to rest (he had no problem...). I was checked again and was 6-7cm dilated at that point. We flipped on the TV, but as it turns out, there isn't anything good on at that time of night on a Sunday. By midnight, I was hurting, nauseous and ready for that glorious direct line of relief in my back. Bring me the epi! The anesthesiologist, who I am fairly certain was the same one I had with Kate, came in and took good care of me. Matt came to hold my hand, but casually walked away at a certain point- playing it real cool for a guy who thought he might pass out. Doc got the line in, made sure I was well numbed up and went on his merry way. Now it was resting time!

I tried to sleep as much as possible, but the nurse kept coming in, checking my progress and making me move around and switch sides, since Will's heartbeat would suddenly disappear from their monitors. Turns out he was much happier when I laid on my right side. My OB, Dr. Grouse, came in to say 'hi' and after that I think I got some sleep. The nurse came in somewhere around 2:30am and said she was going to give me a straight catheter to empty my bladder- she thought that would help him move down the rest of the way. She was right.

Almost immediately after she did that, I felt a ton of pressure. She checked me and said I was 9.5cm and still had a little bit to go before it was push time. She said if I felt lots of pressure to call her and then left. Not even 2 minutes later I told Matt I thought I needed to call her back... it was all I could do NOT to push. She came back and checked me again and I had made it to 10cm and ready to start pushing that quick! She and Matt started me pushing. Poor Matt. He is the sweetest man in the world... I just love him. But I know the whole thing made him a bit queasy.

After a few sets of practice pushes, the nurse interrupted us in the middle of a push and said, "Ok- we better stop and call the doctor now." At that point it was so much pressure with every contraction... it was unreal. I didn't feel ANY of that with Kate! Dr. Grouse arrived and we got down to business. I pushed for three ten-counts. "Push harder!" With another push, he was crowning (ow), second push head was out (ow oww ow!) and third push (and I pushed freaking hard) William Robert was born at 3:22am! The doctor practically threw that kid on my belly to get him cleaned up and I met the new man in my life! He was so quiet! He really didn't cry, but the nurses weren't concerned at all... he was breathing fine and let out a squeak here and there and they were all saying how cute he was.

He weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces and was 20 inches long. He had all kinds of dark hair and had the sweetest little nose. So in love!



As the doc was pushing on my belly and doing that fun part, I could see Matt sitting there holding him and just smiling this amazed, joyful smile that I will never forget. It wasn't something I got a photo of, but it is a memory in my mind that only I will ever have- my husband and his son. So perfect. This photo was a little later, and still so sweet.


The stitching up part hurt. Kind of a lot. I don't know what was up with my epidural at that point, but I had felt a lot during the delivery. When he was crowning, it hurt so much... I seriously cannot believe that women can do that without any pain meds. It's incredible to me. Then I could feel every stitch at the end. Ughhh... makes me shudder even thinking about it again. But it wasn't all that bad; very minor tear below- and I came out of it with a beautiful son!

One thing that was lovely this time- having him in the middle of the night! No one else there but us. No one standing outside waiting to come in, no one to entertain, no one to pass the baby to. If and when we do this again, I feel like requesting that no one come until we call. It was so peaceful and wonderful. It was exciting with Kate to know everyone was there and we felt so loved, but it was a whirlwind.

The visitors that did come the next day were so welcome though- especially the big sister! I was so happy to see her sweet face walk into the room! I've never been as in love with her as I am now!




Poor Kate was showing some signs of a cold, so Matt's mom and sister took her home pretty quick, so we didn't get a pic of the four of us at the hospital, but at least we got one with daddy, mommy and Will...


Will is awesome and I feel great. We left the hospital a day before we had to because I just wanted to be at home! Emotionally, I feel 100% normal, which is strange. I was a hormonal wreck when I came home with Kate. This time I feel cool as a cucumber... it almost creeps me out that I feel so normal. My body is still a bit sore, but I am really looking forward to getting out and taking walks with my two children! Kate is doing so well. She loves to give him kisses and is so sweet. She is definitely acting up a bit with us, but nothing intolerable. Poor kid- it is a huge change in her life! Nursing is easier this time, but still painful for a bit, and the nights aren't as long as I feared they could be!

This morning I woke up to his tiny, pre-cry sounds and for a few moments was able to close my eyes and thank God for all of the incredible blessings I've been given in my life. I'm just in awe of my beautiful family and all that we have been given. Can't believe that just when I think 'my cup runneth over', it continues to flow! Amazing!

Induction Day is Here

Today is the day we meet Will! Well, hopefully. I was to call Hoag L&D between 5-6am this morning to check the status of my scheduled 7am induction. I was told to call back at 8am. It's now 7:50am and I am praying this next phone call doesn't end with "Call back at..." I had a dream last night that they couldn't admit me and finally around 1:30 in the afternoon they just sent me home and said they couldn't do it today. So, of course, the dream is still spinning around the back of my mind!

My feelings right now... I'm nervous and anxious, but excited. It's a struggle to eat breakfast right now- I'm hungry and won't be allowed to eat anything else after I'm admitted, but going into it knowing that more than likely I'll be looking at this food again in a little pink kidney shaped dish in several hours is a little tough on the appetite. I'm anxious about Kate- mostly about how she is going to react when I'm not at home tonight. Last night she woke up crying around 11pm and when I asked what was wrong, she said "I missed you, mommy." Sweet? You bet. But just a tad heartbreaking knowing that I'll be away the next couple of nights. I know she is in good hands with grandparents and daddy... it's just the mommy guilt thing.

I can hear that she just woke up, so I'll go snuggle her for a few more minutes then make call #2 to L&D. Let's get this show on the road!