Ty - 3 Years Old

My sweet Ty boy. 

 You turned THREE years old on September 14th. I can't even believe how fast these three years have flown by. 

I am so, so glad we had your birthday party early since your little brother made an early arrival. 

 But, we still wanted to do a little celebrating on the actual day. 

 

The 14th was a Sunday and after church Honey & Boss and Pops & Gram and Alex came over to eat, have cake and open a few presents. You were so excited about every single gift you opened. 

 

Family of 5 pic! 

 

Aunt Minnie made you this amazing shirt on her new monogramming machine. 

 

You were especially excited about your spiderman bicycle from Honey & Boss 

 

Not so sure about the helmet though

   

We took rice krispie treats to your school to sing happy birthday with Ms Lisa and your class. 

We went for your three year old check up with Dr. Scott and Dylan joined us too for his 2 week well-check. 

 This was the first of your yearly well-checks that you brothers will have together from now on.

 

You are 34 pounds 50th percentile and 38 3/4 inches tall 70th percentile. 

 I started the annual birthday questionnaire with you this year and your answers are so right on with what you are in to right now. 

 1. What is your favorite color? BLUE 

2. What is your favorite toy? THOMAS 

3. What is your favorite fruit? STRAWBERRIES 

4. What is your favorite tv show? PEPPA PIG 

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? BEEBELL SHELLS AND CHEESE (velveeta) 

6. What is your favorite outfit? THOMAS SHIRT 

7. What is your favorite game? HIDE & SEEK 

8. What is your favorite snack? FRUIT SNACKS 

9. What is your favorite animal? BELLE & BOWIE (baby elephants at the Zoo) 

10. What is your favorite song? PARTY IN THE USA 

11. What is your favorite book? THE GIVING TREE & THE BIBLE 

12. Who is your best friend? KINLEY....(as my mom heart melts into a pool on the floor) 

13. What is your favorite cereal? THE BLUE BOX (Toasted Oatmeal Squares) 

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? RUN 

15. What is your favorite drink? LEMONADE 

16. What is your favorite holiday? CHRISTMAS 

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? TWILIGHT TURTLE 

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? CINNAMON ROLLS 

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? PIZZA 

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? BATMAN 

 A few things about you right now..... 

 - You are still a great eater. You will pretty much try anything at least once. Your favorite restaurants are chickfila, chipotle and chilis. Your favorite meals at home are spaghetti, sandwiches, and all things breakfast (cinnamon rolls, pancakes, waffles, etc) and you LOVE fruit. All kinds of fruit and eat it with every meal without fail. And you still want to have a turn to pray at every meal. Even if dad or Kinley or I say the prayer, you want a turn too. 

 - You are still an amazing sleeper. You go to bed about 8:00 and wake up around 6:45 or 7 when Kinley is about to go to school. And when you get out of your bed and come to see us in the kitchen you smile and announce "Here my am!." On days you are home, you still nap about 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day. 

 - You are very in to all things motorized. You love cars, trains (obvi), planes, motorcycles, fire trucks, etc. If it has an engine and moves, you like it. You can still play for a very extended period of time with your train table and you are beginning to enter that make-believe world that Kinley is so fond of. You create scenarios and make up stories and make up different uses for toys and it is so fun to see your mind work.

 - This pretend world is starting to include playing dress up more and more. You like spiderman, buzz lightyear, hulk and stuff like that...but, if you could pick what you wear everyday, you would pick pajamas. All day, everyday. Right now you are obsessed with your captain america button down pjs and your yo gabba gabba and ninja turtles zip up footed onesies (seriously....and all hand-me-downs from Maverick) Sometimes you put on clothes just for an hour or so to go out of the house and come right home and put on pajamas again. 

 - You also LOVE bugs, insects, lizards and anything that crawls and you want everyone around you to be as excited about them as you are. If you see one roly-poly you come get me by the hand and take me to it to see it. If you see another one a minute later, I must see that one too. And so on and so forth for every bug you might see. Even if you spy it from inside the house. 

 - You also love yourself some TV, ipod, ipad time too. It is so strange for me because Kinley has never been into the ipod or ipad really. You are a different story, you can play games, navigate it, look up your favorite you tube videos and amazon prime shows all without my help. It is a little disconcerting and amazing at the same time. You are proving to definitely be a child of the technology age and I forsee many years of limiting your screen time ahead. 

 - Your absolute favorite thing to watch on you tube is thomas the train videos. And I don't mean episodes of the show. I mean videos that other kids or parents create of their actual thomas the train cars. Videos of them crashing into each other, naming every car in their collection, trains just going around the track to thomas songs, etc. It is such a strange thing. I often ask you why dont you just actually go play with your own trains rather than watch some other kid play with their trains. But, even Ben, after watching it for a few minutes couldn't deny its pull. And I guess they aren't alone because these videos have like 5 million views. Crazy. (all you need to do is search for thomas the train on you tube and you will see what I am talking about) 

 - You love, love, love your siblings. Kinley is still your BFF (as you said in your questionnaire). You miss her terribly on days she is at school, even though I think you do secretly love some more attention from mom. The minute she walks in the door you want to play with her and run around like crazy. But, you can switch gears on a dime and be the sweetest, most gentle big brother to Dylan. You ask to hold him multiple times a day and it is probably the only time you sit absolutely still all day and the only time you talk at a normal decible. 

 - On that note, you still only speak in a shout. It's seriously like you can.not. talk in a normal speaking voice. Everything is loud and exciting...all times of the day.

 - Although a majority of the time you are obedient and have great manners, you are definitely exerting your independence. You want to do "it" (whatever "it" is) yourself. When you get your mind set on what you want to do, or eat, or watch, or play with, you want it right then and it is almost impossible to get past that thought without some sort of meltdown. Kinley is amazing with you right now regarding this. She pretty much gives in to you constantly. I am teaching her that she does not have to give in every time and teaching you that you don't always get your way or get to pick first. 

 - This includes preferring mommy to do everything with you / for you. You still prefer mom to help you with almost everything. Putting your clothes on, pouring your juice, turning on a particular show for you, buckling your car seat, whatever it is, you want me to do it. You are slowly learning, especially with Dylan here, that dad is totally capable and loves helping you with those things too. Kinley learned it when you were a baby and now you are too, even if it elicits a small meltdown.

 - But, one thing I LOVE as your mommy and that I don't want to end is that you still love to sit and cuddle with me. I treasure it. When my lap is open, you crawl in it and I can still just hold you. You are not too big yet. 

 - My favorite time of the day with you is putting you to bed. Even though there are times it is a little difficult to wrangle you in bed, once I get you there it is my favorite. You want me to sing to you every single night. Even if I am busy with Kinley or Dylan while dad puts you in bed, you always, always request a song. It is a tradition that we have done since you were an infant and I would walk around your room singing and praying and holding you until you went to sleep. You still love it. We almost always sing Jesus Loves Me and Twinkle, Twinkle. Sometimes you want me to sing twinkle, twinkle three times in a row. Lately, you have requested songs that Kinley likes to jam in the car like Taylor Swift or Party In the USA and sometimes you even make up a song. Like the "moon song" you made up. When I tell you I don't know how that goes, you sing it to me and then ask me to sing it back to you. The whole time we sing I lay down with you and we cuddle and hold hands and I kiss your face and hands and you let me. It is the sweetest thing. I never want it to end. 

 TyTy, you are the sweetest, funniest, most full of life three year old. 

 You are a constant source of joy and fun and laughter for our family. 

 I love you and your brother and sister and dad so much that sometimes I think my heart might burst. 

 I praise God everyday for my four greatest blessings. 

 I pray daily for you and for your future. I pray that you continue to have an unfiltered, sweet and innocent heart. 

 I pray that you keep your sense of humor and your ability to make people laugh. 

 I pray that you are a good friend and have a solid group of friends to walk through life with. 

 I pray most of all that you seek and find Jesus and make him Lord of your life. 

 I pray you have a hunger for learning and digging deep into God's word and a passion for prayer. 

 I love you so much TyTy. 

 I am so thankful God let me be your mommy. 

 Happy 3rd Birthday!

Ty's First Day of 2 year old Class

Ty's first day of school was supposed to be before Dylan was born but, instead Dylan was a week old. 

 So, we didn't get a full on photo shoot with Kinley or pics outside or anything. 

 But, I took a few and here they are. 

 

Your teacher this year is Ms Lisa and we were SO excited to have her. 

 She was Kinley's aide in her 4 year old class last year and we love her and know her well. So helpful for me with Dylan being such a new baby and me missing so much right at the beginning of school. 

 She also asked me to home room mom this year and it will be my first time. 

 I have purposefully avoided it but for Ms Lisa, I am happy to do it. 

Dylan Lee Harrison

We are over the moon excited about our precious new arrival! 

On September 2, we welcomed (a little early) our precious BOY, 

Dylan Lee Harrison. 

 But, let me backtrack just a little bit to post the last couple baby bump pics I got to take. I intended on doing one last baby update prior to delivery but, that didn't exactly work as planned :) This is my doctor's office selfie at my last dr appt with Martin (6 days before giving birth) where I was not effaced or dilated AT ALL. 

 Just sitting tight and looking good to deliver 2 weeks later (as scheduled)

   

35 weeks

   

36 weeks

   

37 weeks (4 days later I had a baby) 

 

 It was like God was helping me prepare for an early arrival because for some reason, in the midst of Ty's birthday party prep I felt like I needed to work on the nursery a little bit. 

 I needed to go through and organize all the diapers we got at our diaper shower and just put something on the walls since we were about to have a lot of people at the house for Ty's party. 

 So, here is the nursery as it is now. 

 Since Dylan is a boy, we will add some more boyish stuff soon and Ben thinks we should get rid of the polka dots. But, I haven't decided yet. 

 

Ok, if you don't like labor and delivery details...just skip to the pictures 

(or just skip this post all together). 

 But, I want to write down the day while I remember it so fresh on my mind because I am likely to tell it over and over again on Dylan's birthday every year. :) 

 We had just wrapped up Ty's train party and put the kids in bed and cleaned up a bit when I really started feeling heavy. 

 It felt like the baby had dropped finally, like that day, and I remember telling my mom at the end of the night...I am just feeling tired and heavy and I can't wait to lay down. 

 I got ready for bed and all night long didn't sleep too comfortably. 

 It felt like I was having one long continuous contraction all night long. Every time I would get up and go to the bathroom it seemed a little hard to walk and my stomach felt super tight. 

 I didn't think much about it at the time. 

 I just thought I really needed some rest and that my blood pressure was probably rising and I needed to keep my feet up. 

 I have never actually gone into labor on my own. 

 For both Kinley and Ty I was scheduled and admitted to the hospital before my water broke and I delivered. 

 I woke up early in the morning with the plan to get Kinley up for school a little early and bathe her. She had run around like crazy at Ty's party the night before and was sweaty and sticky and had bug spray all over her and I wanted her to take a bath before school. 

 By the time I got up to bathe her, a bath sounded really great to me too so I ran us both a warm bath and we relaxed for a few minutes. 

 Then I dried her hair, got her ready for school and finally woke Ben up around 7. 

 I told him not to panic, that I wasn't in labor but that I really needed his help with Kinley to feed her, get her teeth brushed and take her to school because I was having some slight contractions and needed to lay down. 

 He, of course, told me to call my mom and he called Martin. 

 I called mom and immediately told her not to worry, I was not in labor but, that I was having some slight contractions and I might need her help with Ty today. 

She, of course, told me that I was probably in fact in labor and to go get it checked out.

 Ben and I talked to Martin, who was dove hunting out of town for opening day, and he told me that third pregnancies often feel much heavier and braxton hicks can feel very real but, that if my contractions were consistently about 5 minutes apart to go to the hospital and check into triage and let them determine if I was in labor or not. He subtly let me know he was 3 hours away and that my labor tends to go very fast and so if they got to 5 minutes apart, I really needed to go in. 

 So, we waited about 20 minutes, and with contractions steadily 5 min apart, we dropped off Kinley at school and Ty at my moms and headed to the hospital. 

 After some initial questions and paperwork the nurse asked me when my last check up with the dr was and if I was dilated at all (6 days ago, no).  She told me that if she checked me out and I was at a 1 or a 2 she would probably send me home. 

 After the exam, she told me I was 90% effaced and 4 1/2 cm dilated and they admitted me for labor and delivery.

   

I put this picture on instagram

   

and immediately got a text from Leslie telling me she needed a picture of me with a shocked face because we were so surprised that we were actually going to have a baby today.

 

After this is when the panic set in. 

 They moved me to my delivery room and already I was a 6. 

Progressing very quickly. 

 The hospital then called Martin to tell him, yes, I was in fact in labor. 

 I panicked some more. 

 I have never, nor did I ever intend to deliver with anyone other than Martin. (and for those of you who don't know...he is my doctor and a very close family friend...basically Ben's 2nd dad because he grew up next door to him) 

 I cried to Ben that this wasn't supposed to happen today, not with Martin out of town. He prayed over me and read me scriptures in the hosptial room just trying to get me to be peaceful and rejoice in the moment. 

 It helped so much. 

 And just a few minutes later the lead nurses came in and told me Martin called and he was coming! 

 He was on his way from out of town to deliver the baby! 

 He was about 3 hours away and they were instructed to slow down my labor. He gave strict instructions to give me a heavy dose of an epidural, not to check me unless absolutely necessary so as not to break my water (which was still amazingly in tact), and not to give any pitocin. His regimen worked though and I pretty much stopped progressing for those 3 hours he drove in town. 

 At one point a nurse had to check my dilation and she said; I quote "I am going to be extremely careful because I do not want to break your water or I will have one angry Jamaican on my hands!" 

During this waiting period we had lots of people arrive at the hospital and it was so fun. Mom had gone to Kinley's school to pick her up and bring her to the hospital so it was great to see Kinley and Ty before the birth.

   

We all took last minute votes on what we thought the baby's gender would be.

   

Aunt Jan brought a cookie cake before the baby was even born especially for Dylan. We were going to name the baby Dylan whether a boy or a girl so it was fun to have a personalized cake either way! 

 I was starving after I delivered and I am pretty sure I ate half of that cake myself. 

 

At one point, I got a second concoction from the anesthesiologist for my epidural. 

 I was still feeling every contraction on my left side and so they pumped me with a little more and whatever it was literally made me pretty much paralyzed from the stomach down and I could not.feel.a.thing. 

 I did not like it. 

 Plus, I was super out of it after that...very woozy and even got a little nauseous from the medicine. It definitely helped with no pain and my water didn't break but, I did not like it at all. 

 At about 2:15 Martin walked in the room. 

 We were all so, so happy to see him. 

 I am not in any way exaggerating when I say that he walked in and within 5 minutes he broke my water and I was dilated to a 10 and pushing out the baby. 

 I pushed a total of 9 times; 3 sets of 3. 

 It seemed like forever, even though the whole pushing was maybe 5 minutes. 

During that time it was very scary. 

 The baby's heart rate was dropping and dropping and dropping. 

 We could hear the heartbeat monitor go from a strong horse-like running sound to just a small beat. 

 I had a room full at this birth. 

 In the room with me were Ben, Mom, Cheryl, Kristen and Mendy. 

 It was so tense you could hear a pin drop. 

 We were all crying. 

 Ben had to back away from me at one point and just hit his knees in prayer. 

 Mom was holding hands and praying. 

Kristen was crying.

The NICU was called and a team rushed in. 

It was very quick but very intense. 

 On the third set of pushes Martin said "this is it...the baby is coming out on this one" and Praise the Lord HE did. 

 Martin pulled him out and said "It's a BOY!" and Dylan cried and we all cried. 

 It was the biggest swing from terrified to elated in a matter of 30 seconds. 

 I am so, so glad Martin was there for the birth. I could not have stayed calm and done it with any other doctor. 

 He is an amazing, calming force in the delivery room. 

 I am so thankful for him. 

 

Here is Dylan...it's a BOY! Born at 2:26 pm on Tuesday, September 2. 

 

Getting checked by the NICU team but fortunately did not have to go to the NICU!

   

Dylan is my smallest baby yet: 7 pounds 4 oz and 18 inches long. 

 

This is me so relieved that Dylan was out and crying and ok and Ben wiping his tears and then kissing my hand 

 

I got lots of cuddle time with Dylan to nurse and just hold him. 

 

This is Ben walking out into the waiting room to tell Kinley & Ty that it was a BOY! 

 They were both SO excited. 

 

When they first got to meet him was pretty special. 

 

First pic as a family of 5 

The rest of the hospital time was filled with lots and lots of visitors and tons of cuddle time with sweet baby Dylan.
 I felt pretty bad about it on day 1 because I was on strict orders from all the nurses to have Dylan skin to skin until he passed 3 glucose tests.
 His glucose levels had to be above 50 three separate times before they would bathe him and until then, he had to be skin to skin.
 So, no one but me (and Ben a little bit) really got to hold him on day 1.
 That is why there are lots of pics of me with the baby on me and my sweet family and friends that came just leaning over us.
  These masks were hysterical.
 We were not really this quarantined. I am not sure if they got masks in the hospital or if Jeff just brought them but, they were a hit with the kids.
 Kinley even took hers to school the next day to show her class.
 
By day 2 he could be held by anyone and Kinley and Ty were itching to hold him. Kinley told my mom before going to school that morning that she couldn't wait to get out of school to go home and hold baby Dylan.
 It was such special sibling time.

Dylan passed his hearing test

More visitors
I just love the time in the hospital.
 I love lots of visitors.
 I love help from all the nurses.
 But, most of all I just love the night time when its just me, Ben and the new baby and we hold them and get acquainted and nurse and just have nothing.else. on our plate except to love on the baby.
 It's so focused and intentional and precious.

Day 3 we headed home!
 
We went the day after we got home to see our pediatrician, Dr. Scott, for a weight and bilirubin check.
 He weighed 6 pounds 13 oz and his bilirubin was right on the edge but we didnt need to do lamps or sun exposure for jaundice.
 I can't wait to go to his 2 week checkup to see what his weight is then.
 
Ty went with us to the doctor too


Dylan has not hurt for attention since being home.
 He gets held a lot.
 We have stocked up on hand sanitizer and it is pretty much in every room of the house.

Love this view

These are just the most fun times just sitting and holding and being together.
 
It's amazing how any baby gear that's new or we have gotten back out is now fun again for K & T too.
 
He had his first sponge bath and he did great. He had a little bit of an umbilical cord yuckiness and after cleaning it with alcohol a day or two it just fell off.
 
I love that we have the option of watching church online from home while Dylan is still little. I will be so ready to get back to singing and corporately worshipping when he is a bit bigger but is so nice to stay connected and know whats going on from home.
Feeding is going really well so far. He is eating every 2-3 hours and i love it when I can tell he is full and peaceful.

Overall, these first few days have been such a constant source of joy and overwhelming gratitude.  I am just humbled and and overwhelmed with thankfulness for my three children.  We love you so much Dylan Lee!