Little ones.

3 months! He looks huge. We had a great thanksgiving in Cali but are happy to be home. They are all getting so big.

Quinton's Birth Story- It's a birth story, so if that sort of thing weirds you out, don't read :)

Birth Story of Quinton Aaron Montez

8 lbs 7 oz 20 1/2 “ long

 head and chest 13 ¾”

Quinton was born Aug. 27^th, 2012 at 8:15 p.m., 1 day before his due date. He came fast and furious, after a long, long slow beginning. J I started having a lot of braxtons about 2 months before he was due. Since this was my 3^rd baby it seemed normal based on what I’ve heard. Around 36 weeks they started getting stronger and more consistent. I had them check me at my appointment because Mike was considering going on a week long trip to visit some offices in Portland and Kansas. I was dilated to a 3 at that point, and about 60% effaced, head down low.  We decided he shouldn’t go.  I continued to have braxtons and around this time one night I woke up to the strongest contraction I can remember having. I didn’t even have a chance to switch my light switch off (hypnobabies) and it lasted for what felt like 2 or 3 minutes. I just tried my best to breathe through it. Afterwards I got up to use the restroom and felt super shaky, not cold though. It was so weird and I thought that he was coming. I had one other mild contraction, then nothing the rest of the night.

The next week at my appointment I was about the same as before, but now at a 4 instead of a 3. So I still expected him anytime. The days and weeks dragged by as nothing happened, even though I tried my best to enjoy the last few days I had with just my girls and Mike, as well as trying to get everything done I wanted.

Week 38 at my appt. I was still at a 4. About 70% effaced, but my cervix was still far back.  This week Mike had a training meeting in Utah for 3 days. I had still been having braxtons giving me false alarms. After a lot of discussing/praying we felt like it was ok for him to go on the trip since nothing was happening at the moment and they were still fairly inconsistent, mild pressure waves.  He left Monday night at 8 or so. After getting the girls in bed I started noticing braxtons getting stronger and closer together. I started timing them and they were pretty consistent. They would go from 2-3 minutes apart then to 5, then to 1 for a few times, then 10, then back to 5. After looking online we found that that was a sign of false labor. So I went to bed. Around 3 a.m. I woke up to a strong contraction. 2 more followed, 2-3 minutes apart, so I called Mike and he headed home. (he had gotten to the hotel around 1, so 2 hrs of sleep and he was back to driving 4 hrs. right back home. Poor guy) I called my brother and sis in law to come watch the girls, once they got here things just stopped. Mike was already over an hr. into the drive and said he was just coming home anyways. I had absolutely no braxtons the rest of the night. 

Two days later I woke up at 2 to strong consistent contractions. I got in the bath and they kept coming, so we called the midwife and she was already going to the hospital for another birth, and she thought we should meet her there . We called my brother again, and he headed down. We were afraid we needed to leave sooner since I was so far dilated, and they were getting stronger. So we called our sweet neighbor who ran right over until he got there. Once at the hospital I was at a 6! I had 4 hrs. of labor, then things just stopped. The midwives checked me and I hadn’t dilated any more. Still a 6.  The contractions weren’t that strong, but I thought it was my hypnobabies working. They were stronger than they were before with just braxtons tho. The midwife wanted to break my water, but I was afraid that if things didn’t start up and I didn’t progress that I would be faced with induction with pitocin, or worst-case scenario a c section.  So we chose to go home. I was so frustrated. And Mike and I were exhausted with two nights close together with no sleep. When we got home the girls were expecting a baby brother. We tried to enjoy the time we had and be patient.

The next Monday I went to my appt. and was dilated to a 7! My favorite midwife was on call and mom and dad were coming that afternoon to spend the week with us, helping hopefully with a new baby! So I decided that I would let them break my water after she reassured me that if they did they would give me more time than 24 hrs. before they took further steps if things didn’t go on their own.  My parents had just gotten in town and I headed home to pack up for the hospital. Mike and I ran to taco bell first because we were so hungry. Crunchwrap supreme!!  But my midwife said she would meet me there in an hr. or so. So we were hurrying. Once we checked in and got monitored, etc etc. We waited. We had to wait at hr. at least for the midwife to get there. There was a midwife in training that did most of the birth and check-ups. I really liked her! They broke my water and stepped out of the room while I did some nipple stimulation.  Then things really got going! We walked the halls for a while to keep them coming. I decided I wanted to use the jacuzzi,  mike joked to the midwives that I would prob. Have the baby before it was ready! Haha..yeah right. They checked me and I was at an 8 at that point. Well, I got into the room to hop in the tub, and I had a really strong wave and had to hold onto mike. I started to have those weird noises that come out when I push, and Mike and I both recognized that this was it. Back to the room and they got the squatting bar set up. They didn’t even check to see if I was fully dilated or not!  I chose to stand facing the bed with thesquatting bar set up to the height of my chest. When I was having the strong contractions with the urge to push before I had wrapped my arms around Mikes neck and hugged him/hung, and that felt the best, so I did that same sort of thing on the bar, hanging from it by my arms, then I could lean on it to rest in between waves.  I had asked him if I could push the baby out while holding him, but he wasn’t thrilled. Haha, j/k, we did joke about it, but there was no way.  Especially since he had gotten splashed when I was pushing Mae out just standing to the side of me!  (that sounds really gross, but my water typically breaks as I push) Anyways, I think it was 2 or 3 contractions and his head was there. The midwives helped me ease it out while trying not to push. Then I expected instant relief I’d had with the girls as they slid right out. But I had to repeat the whole thing with his shoulders!  They handed him up to me and I lay back on the bed.  His cord was pulsing awhile, but I delivered my placenta before it had stopped pulsing, and so before they had cut the cord! I held him for a long time and he started nursing.  He had so much hair! It was amazing to finally get to meet him. Once he was finished eating the nurse took him for his first bath and weight and measurement. His face was very bruised, they said because he came down and out the canal so quickly. Poor little guy! It was purple and blotchy for a few days afterwards. He had lots of dark blonde hair. His eyes were a murky grayish color and I thought for awhile that he would have Mae’s and Mike’s hazel eyes. But they have turned a gorgeous deep blue. The nurse told me she thought he looked like he was a pretty big baby. When she told me he was 8 ½ lbs I was shocked! I didn’t even tear, thankfully. Recovery was great, I was feeling so good, until he was a week old I got mastitis, and it was so bad I couldn’t treat it on my own, so I got antibiodics. We are now doing so well, he is getting super chubby, I love it. He definitely grunts a lot more than the girls, and we have had a lot of pee accidents at the first, but now we are getting the hang of having a little boy. I am so grateful for him and that he is healthy and everything went well, that I was able to have the birth I wanted after all was said and done. Mike timed me, they broke my water at 7:17, so I had him in 58 minutes! A part of me Is curious to see how things would have happened if I hadn’t had them break my water, but being at a 7 I didn’t really want to risk not making it to the hospital in time. And I was at the end of my patience. And my parents were only there for 1 week because of their work schedule so I was feeling the pressure. J  Maybe if we have another baby I will see what happens. J

Real fast before hes hungry again!!!

Introducing Quinton Aaron Montez:

born: Monday night at 8:15 p.m., aug. 27th (54 min. after they broke my water and contractions started.)
weight: 8lbs. 7 oz.
length: 20.5 " long

he is so precious, and is as different from the girls as they are from each other. Where do these kids come from? I am recovering from mastitus, so we are still laying around/no routine yet. :( :(

 We are all busy loving on this sweet little guy! the girls have to be there for every diaper change/feeding. I'll post more details soon!

Our new Home

We were able to re-finance on our condo, and decided to start renting it out. We don't know our future plans all that well yet, so decided to rent ourselves for now. There wasn't really that much on the market when we looked, so we didn't get our fenced back yard, or our garage we'd wanted. But I think we are lucky to find what we did on such short notice. (we had renters moving in and we needed out pronto!) We have almost 3 times the space we did before, and are loving it! We almost chose this old home (survived the teton dam even!) and it had so much potential, such cute details....but the kitchen was almost unlivable and I was not putting my babies in the peeling tub! I am relieved we found such a move-in-ready home where I feel safe while Mike is away. Here are some pictures! Sunday is my official not make the bed day, so I'm not showing pics of the bedrooms. And of course I'm not going to make the bed just for the picture! We are waiting on a large painting of an agave plant that Mike's mom did for us, but it is too big to ship. So that's why our living room wall is blank. 

 the stairs down to the unfinished basement.

 we still use it and love it though! Exercise/movie area

 and storage/sewing/craft area

 the view from our front door

 another view from the front door-ish

 a sunday view of the couches and our office area/girls toy area

 the upstairs bath and the girls room and quinton's room are on the left. laundry area directly to the right and master all the way to the right. There are nice closets in all rooms

 downstairs bath.

 37 weeks!

 there's a big-ol boy in there getting ready to come out! I feel way bigger this time than with the girls.

His head is doooown and I am dialated to a 3 as of last tues. so it could come anytime! Or I should say anytime in the next month.  You know how it goes. :)

I have been working on a cookbook! Just something I've wanted to have: my favorite recipes all in one spot, with pictures.! It is almost there...

I really wanted to put up Mae's and Mikie's bday post...here it is!

Mae had such a great day! I stayed up late the night before getting everything ready. Hanging up ribbons on her bedroom door (they are still there 3 months later, kinda cute actually!) Getting balloons set up around, wrapping and setting up the humongous dollhouse we got for her. I LOVE bdays and always get so excited about them. I think growing up it was always a big deal, getting to choose my bday dinner, begging my mom to wrap my gifts days early so I could shake them and stare and them and smell them. (I think wrapping paper smells so good!) Mae chose rasp. filled doughnuts for breakfast and pizza for dinner. It was super easy for me. I made her a cherry-chip cherry ice cream cake. It was delicious! I want to try different flavors next time. chocolate mint? chocolate chocolate? 

 Mae woke up first as usual, and had a blast playing with her balloons.

 And eating her doughnut...i promise she was happy. :)

 They had a blast helping me decorate the cake.

 Mae's bday fell on a friday, which is traditionally our pizza party movie night anyways! We watched puss in boots. not that awesome.

 She wanted a princess cake.

 Trying out the new dollhouse. it came with the cutest furniture!

Mike was gone for work the week before his b-day, and got home on his actual bday. We kept it simple and just had his fav. dinner, Chicken parmesan. He chose a DQ  cake. And I wasn't offended! You just can't beat their soft-serve and that fudge filling. The girls and I had fun decorating the house while we waited for him to get home. Each of the girls chose a little gift for him and helped me wrap it. Happy 35th bday Mike! 

Funny Lately

These two sweethearts are sure getting big! Some funny things that have been happening lately: Nia: We overheard her talking with her friend Nona. Nona said "if you get hurt you could die". We hear Nia say "no, you don't die if you get hurt! you die if you lay down and fall asleep forever." I guess she's never been hurt that badly before. :) haha. she sounded like it was the most ridiculous thing she's ever heard. Mae is a little parrot and repeats everything Nia says. She is a great talker though, so she is smart to learn from her.

We are just hanging out getting ready for baby Quinton's arrival. I have everything essential ready, but still am working on my "bucket list" as mike calls it. Here is whats on it still:
*wash baseboards and walls (we have really wide baseboards and the dust is collecting! just one of those things that bugs me)
*wash my windows
*decorate baby's room. The crib is set, but the walls are bare! We are just renting, and I need some inexpensive ideas...
*finish up some toy bags I've been making to organize all of our toy sets!
*get our water storage buckets filled and set aside.
*I really want to get a couple new plants for upstairs.
*find a baby boy blessing outfit.

Funny list, huh? What do you like to get done while in "nesting" mode?

Super-Date!

Ok, so I had created this post and wrote tons of details, tons of pictures, and scheduled it to be published a few days later. Well, a few days later I noticed it hadn't posted, so on my ipad I tried to just post it. Somehow I deleted it! AHH! I think I just haven't had the heart to post since I was so frusterated by that! Plus, we have had a move and things are just now getting back into a somewhat sort of nomalcy again. (post of our new place coming soon!)
This was such a fun time. Back in March we were lucky enough to win a free trip to Salt Lake City! Ok, well, Mike earned every bit of it. They had a competition at work that whoever got the largest % of their guys to training in march would win. He worked so hard for it! We were in suspense till the day before if we would win or not, but I knew he would do it! Our fav. co-worker won as well, so we got to hang out together, yay!

We dropped the girls off at my sisters house on the way down, so they had a blast as well playing with the cousins. (don't i have the best sister ever to watch them for us?)

(they're both wearing scarfs Nia made in pre-school)

Then Mike and I continued our drive and tried to decide where to eat to spend our $100 for dinner! It was originally for Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, but we heard it was waaay too easy to spend more than that there, and we wanted to try something different, cuz I'm a foodie wanna-be. :)

First we stopped at our hotel and I of course ran straight for the b-room in the lobby. Oh, btw, here is where we stayed:

We've been lucky enough to get to stay here once before, on a previous Pinnacle bonus trip several years ago, and loved every minute of it. My fav. part had to be the ice-cold citrus water they served in the lobby, I couldn't get enough! mmm...

While Mike was checking in, he saw some players from the Heat meandering around before the game. I guess the NBA has a standing contract with Grand America or something. Sweet! (don't remember the players he saw, it wasn't lebron, so I don't know, ha)

We relaxed a bit and freshened up before we met our friends, Ben and Jen, to head to dinner. We decided to go to the Copper Onion. I had never heard of it before, but Mike's boss, who is an actual foodie reccommended it to us.

It didn't dissapoint. But at first we were a bit...lost. Our waitress was terribly snooty, and didn't deign to take the time to explain the menu to us. Excuse me for not knowing that you have a starter before the starter! She really was awful, but the food was so good I didn't care! We started out with a cheese board with some cured meat and bread. I am still craving that cheese...mmm! Then we shared a short-rib patoon, or something like that:) and some asparagus. I would have been happy with that, honestly. tender short ribs with an amazing sauce over crispy crunchy potatoe wedges. And the asparagus had a sauce with lemon...best veggie I've ever eaten. We each got an entree and shared them all around to taste. Mike stuck with a good thing and ordered the short-rib stroganoff, I got sea bass, Jen got a steak, and Ben got meatloaf. Mike's was by far the best, but I think it was all good, we were all getting full by this point tho! This was so much fun, I have never spent so much on a meal before. (still came in under our $100, so some to spare for snacks at the game oh yeah!)

p.s. Don't you hate it when you think your hair looks really good cuz you spent so much time on it, and then you see a picture and your like, what!?...oh, maybe that's just me. :)

On to the GAME!!

Jazz vs. Heat

A great game!

We had awesome seats, I was surprised how close we were. Of course, we nabbed them off of craigs list, and ben had to go to some random place to buy them, let's just say he had his gun. Thanks Ben!!

It was a super good game. I was naughty and cheered for the heat. they lost by 1 point in the last few seconds. :(

After the game we went back to the hotel, and were so tired we went right to bed. AHHH....a whole night of guranteed uninterupted sleep, are you kidding me? This may have been the best part of the whole trip! I didn't sleep in much, I had an appt. at the spa!

I decided to splurge and try something I've been wanting to try for a long time, eyelash tinting. It was fun, and relaxing. :) Here I am, all prissy after the spa (trying to lift my pinky, not say hang loose! haha...get back thumb!)

We spent the day shopping and driving back home. It was a short, but wonderful trip! I really need to plan more super-dates in the future...