Wesley Byron Clinton

Here's our new little man!

Born May 31st at 8:53AM
6lbs, 14 oz
19 inches
He came two and a half weeks early--which I had been fervently praying for!

Here's the labor story--skip over the next paragraph if you're not interested:
For the last week and a half I've been contracting spontaneously and have been very uncomfortable. I had an appt on Friday afternoon where the midwife told me I was 3-4 cm and 70%. That night we had mexican for dinner (spicy foods) and walked around Target for 2 hours (no joke!) to try and induce labor. By 10:30pm, my contractions were regular. We went to the hospital at 1:15am (Saturday the 31st) and they told us that they were doing a system wide computer update and that they would have to do all paperwork by hand for the next 3-4 hours. (this kind of stuff always happens to us!) The nurses and staff were fantastic though and worked really hard and efficiently to get me my epidural ;) After an hour or two of waiting, the anesthesiologist came in and started taking my history. As he began to get his stuff organized to administer my epidural, a nurse ran in and told him that they were doing a crash c-section and needed him. He was the only anesthesiologist on and that meant another 1-2 hours for me to wait for him to be done. What I have learned from my two previous labors, was that I don't need to be a hero, so I gladly accepted the narcotics every time they were offered to me during my extended wait. Now after three labors, I have also learned that epidurals just don't work really well for me. They take away the pain in a lot of areas but also miss some crucial areas. After hours of extra boluses administered by the anesthesiologist I was still crying and whimpering in pain. The anesthesiologist offered to try again with another epidural to see if they could hit the right nerve. I sat back up (at this point I was 10 cm but still a 0 station) to get my second epidural. When I laid back down, I still had pain in my lower abdomen, but my back pain was moderately better. The nurses decided to check me again to see if I was ready to push. (Exit anesthesiologist) I pulled my legs back and both nurses quickly said "DON'T PUSH! DON'T PUSH!" Wesley's head was right there. They called the midwife in but I had to wait another 20-30 minutes as there was a shift change of all doctors and midwives. (See what I'm talking about? Always happens to us!) The midwife came in told me to put my legs up while she got dressed. I asked if I should push, I could feel a contraction coming, and she looked at my crotch and said "DON'T PUSH!" She quickly finished getting dressed and told me to push in between contractions with small little grunt pushes and to relax through the contractions. I did little grunts, relaxed through one contraction, did little grunts again, relaxed through the second contraction, but that second contraction pushed his head out and I was done.

Here's some pics from the hospital.



I like this one. "Please! NO cameras!"




Lacy and Anjali love their baby Wesley. When Lacy first saw him, she timidly walked up and said "That's a cute baby." I then told her that he's her baby brother to help her gain a sense of ownership and after that she smothered him with affection--hugs, kisses, tickles, and sharing of toys. Anjali only says "Baby! Baby! Baby!" and points and jabs at him. She's very curious and excited but seems so far that she has loving intentions.

Wesley is a very mellow baby so far. He doesn't really cry, he just kind of squeaks and whimpers a little. He nurses well, and sleeps well. And he's very gassy. I think he looks just like my girls did when they were born except he doesn't have the long feminine eyelashes. His hair is dark, but his eyebrows are blonde. His eyes are dark, but look like they could go light. So his physical features are still to be determined. He's a cutie and we are all enjoying having this tiny little baby join our family!

A couple more pics:

Family of 5!

View from the brand new hospital (Girls silhouette)

Getting ready to leave the hospital (I love how baby Wes looks like an accessory. He's so tiny!)

Hand-Me-Downs

This is Lacy's halloween costume from two years ago. It's a little big on Anjali, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Here's some more cute pics.

Both girls dressed up.

And in their true form---I have to document it somehow!

TP War

This fun game needs a background story. We buy our toilet paper in bulk from Costco. It is stored under the sink of the bathroom downstairs--but we have 2 bathrooms upstairs. So, every so often, Cliff takes a bunch of tp rolls and chucks them up the stairs so he can stock both upstairs bathrooms next time he goes upstairs. When Lacy sees the toilet paper at the top of the stairs, she likes to kick them back down the stairs. It then becomes a fun game of war, throwing toilet paper rolls at each other. I got some cute action shots and videos too of the kids.

Anjali at Kiddie Gym

Today was Anjali's last kiddie gym class before the summer. We have had so much fun at these classes--especially since our friends Jack and Tyler took the class too. It's so fun to watch her grow and develop--esp. so differently from Lacy. These are my observations from this go-around of Kiddie Gym:

Anjali's baby babble is slowly getting clearer. As we pull into the parking lot of her Kiddie Gym class, she excitedly starts saying "Bubble! Bubble!" (They blow bubbles at the close of every class.) Anjali is still an independent player. She loves playing with balls, climbing, and singing songs with hand motions. Every week she attempted the trampoline--her body moves, but her feet stay firmly planted. And her all time favorite activity was definitely the gymnast swing. Its just a wooden dowel hung from some rope--but she always would run to that first. I was surprised how strong she is--she could just hang and swing forever, but I couldn't resist tickling her in such a vulnerable position;) then she would let go but always got right back up to try again!


Thanks to Laurie for the pictures. I, of course, never got around to bringing my camera to document my cutie. I'll blame it on the pregnancy while I still can.

Our Pet

This is our "pet" lizard. Every day we see him walk back and forth along the top of our patio fence. I first noticed him, because of his bright shade of green--but he also puffs out his throat into a pink bubble which regular wild lizards don't do. Cliff thinks he must be someone else's escaped lizard pet, but this little guy has made himself a home in the tree right outside our front door. Today, as we were getting ready for church, Lacy yells from the top of the stairs, "Dad! Look! A Lizard!" We were impressed with her keen eyesight! Since we were good on time, Cliff got the camera out and the kids had fun trying to keep an eye on him for a few minutes.


P.S. These are the girls "Easter Dresses" that I have yet to document...

A Quick Cliff Update

As most of you already know, Cliff will be graduating from residency at the end of June...YAY! What makes this even more exciting is that Cliff already has secured a job and begins in August! YAY! for real income and no more loans! Last month, Cliff did a rotation in the building where he will be working and was excited to see that they have already started making his office! Here's his placard outside his office:


Here's a shot of his office--it looks like its currently being used for storage, but exciting nonetheless!



And for giggles--here's a picture Cliff texted me when he was at "Scout-O-Rama"

The BOY Shower

My dear friends, Kristen and Laurie, threw me a great baby shower. Since this is my third baby, (BUT my first boy) the atmosphere was more of a girls hangout with yummy desserts and fruits and then some opening of presents at the end. It was perfect. Relaxing. Good friends. Good food. And I made out with some really cute outfits for baby boy! Thanks everyone!


Also, thanks to Hailey, who was the only one who remembered to get her camera out and take pictures! What would I do without her!?

Lacy's "All About ME" Poster

Last week, we put this poster together for Lacy's preschool class. In case you can't zoom in on the picture, here are the facts:

• Lacy is 3 years old.
• Her favorite color is PINK.
• Her favorite animal is a MONKEY.
• Her favorite food is NOODLES.
• DISNEYLAND is her favorite place.
• When she grows up, she wants to HAVE LONG HAIR, LIKE A PRINCESS. (my favorite thing she said!)
• Her favorite thing to do is GO SWIMMING IN THE HOT TUB. (this was just following our trip to big bear)
• If she had one wish, it would be for CANDY.
  

Mother's Day Recap

We started off the celebrations with a "Mommy and Me Tea" at Lacy's school. Lacy's teacher did a great job making the tables look really nice and putting together snacks and finger foods that the kids could make for us. Here's the spread.

Anjali enjoyed a chocolate kiss and ran a muck all over the place. (Note to self: next time leave Anjali with a sitter!)

Here are my two cutie pie girls!On Friday, Lacy picked out a bouquet of flowers for Grandma Clinton and when Cliff got home we drove over to Rose Hills. The girls did their usual irreverent running around, but also found some pine cones to leave by Grandma's stone which has become, I think, a nice tradition of ours.

On Sunday, Lacy sang with the primary during Sacrament meeting. My parents drove up for the occasion as well--this was Lacy's first primary 'performance.' After church, we had a nice lunch with my folks. The kids played with the grandparents and when they went down for naps, my parents left. Both girls were very upset when they woke up and Halmony and Grandpa wasn't there. We sure wish they'd move closer to us!

I'm so glad that we have so many grandmas and great-grandmas around for my girls to know and honor. I am so thankful to be a mom. I love it. I cherish it. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Our Disney Passes Expired :(

We took one last trip to Disneyland on Cinco de Mayo. We decided to take some funny hat pictures to commemorate. Lacy loved all of the pretty hats. Anjali was clueless.
These are my absolute favorites though...
Here's Anjali in the Cheshire Cat Hat

This one's of Lacy pouting about wearing a Goofy hat--its not pretty OR princess.


Other random pics.

Pics from my Detox Weekend

Here are some pictures from last weekend.

A cute picture of Cliff and I at dinner after the temple.
(FYI: Cliff and I probably weigh the same in this picture :( It's a good thing babies are so darn cute--they make it worth all the 'fantastic changes' to your body.


Anjali at my parents house.

Pregnancy - Full Throttle

It was about this time when I was pregnant with Anjali (34 weeks) that I reached my breaking point. And here we are again...short tempered, uncomfortable, and tired.

A week ago Monday, I noticed that I was becoming much more short tempered with the girls--quick to yell, and no calm explanations.

On Tuesday, as I was getting ready to leave to meet up with a friend at Chick-Fil-A for dinner, I ran into a kitchen cabinet door that I had left open, and nearly through the casserole dish I had in hand and started cursing up a storm.

On Wednesday, we went to the park for lunch with some friends from preschool, like we usually do. I am not one of the originators of the group--I've been tagging along for the last few months and was just starting to feel comfortable around the moms. We arrived late and Lacy took off for the slide right by my seat. I soon heard a little boy yelling at her "Get out of here. What are you doing here, etc. " just kind of picking on her. Lacy came to me afterwards crying and I told her to calm down, I'm sorry that boy wasn't being nice. Stay away from him and find some other nice kids to play with.
Lacy soon runs off with another friend to the next slide over, and I watch the little boy follow her over and again start yelling at her. This time there's a bunch of kids around. One little girl screams out "Lacy's mom, Lacy kicked (said boys name) in the stomache!" I start to get up to walk over there, the kids disperse except for yelling boy and Lacy. He continues to yell. I say to yelling boy, "Stop picking on her or I'm going to tell your mom." Except it came out like this:

"STOP PICKING ON HER OR I'M GOING TO TELL YOUR MOM." (all caps=yelling mad woman)

Then yelling boy says, "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT MY MOM LOOKS LIKE. YOU DON'T KNOW HER!"

Surprised with the attitude that was given back to me I respond "I'LL FIND OUT WHO YOUR MOM IS, I'LL ASK (little girl)'S MOM WHO YOUR MOM IS!"

I then snatch up Lacy and walk away. Lacy of course is crying. And I am immediately feeling the shame and guilt of getting into a yelling match with a 4 or 5 yr old boy. I don't know why I let that kid get my goat, but anyhow...the response I get back from little boys mom and the rest of the moms in the play group was loud whipserings and dirty looks, which of course made me shy away from a quick apology as to how inappropriate it was for me to raise my voice. Hey I know I was wrong to yell. And I should have made Lacy apologize for kicking the boy. BUT, I know that I'm totally hormonal cranky pregnant. I know that little boy had it in for Lacy and followed her around. I know I would have said the same thing in the same situation but in a much calmer tone, if I wasn't on the verge of throwing my own version of a 2-year-old tantrum.

As I drove home, I realized that I needed to take a break and ask Cliff for more help. I was able to schedule a temple appointment for some calming spritual meditation and a dinner date with Cliff. My parents were able to take the kids Friday night. Saturday, my mom made dinner for us. Sunday, Cliff gave me a priesthood blessing.

Monday: I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and renewed (but still tired and heavy!). After dropping Lacy off at preschool we went to Kiddie Gym. Class was over, and I threw Anjali in the car to play while I talked with my girlfriends. Anjali was having the time of her life playing in the van, which I think is a safe alternative to the parking lot. As I'm finishing up my conversation I hear my car honk. The honk that says that the car's locked. And yes, everything is in the car. Keys, wallet, cell phone. You name it. Kristen and I are trying to coach Anjali (my 18 month old monkey girl) to press the unlock button on the car. "press the button, Anj...no that one....yes press it." Anjali presses every single button EXCEPT the unlock button. Then we try the alternative "Can you unlock the car? See that stick? pull it up." Anjali responds by sticking out her tongue licking the lock and the window in front of us. Ok its time to call AAA--I opt NOT to have the fire department show up. AAA is very helpful--they put me on high priority, offer to call Cliff for me. The guy should be there in 10-15 minutes. We wait. In the mean time, Anjali has put on the hazard lights, I'm sure she knew this was an emergency situation and was of course very appropriate. She also pulls out all the tissues from the tissue box and "blows her nose" on every single tissue. As I said earlier, Anjali was totally clueless to the panic of the situation, and was really enjoying herself. The AAA guy shows up in less than 5 minutes. It takes him one minute to unlock the door. Anjali seems a bit startled by the alarm going off, but I quickly reset it. All is well. BUT I didn't flip out. I was actually laughing the whole entire time I'm talking to AAA over the phone. I wasn't angry at Anjali for locking the door. I wasn't angry with myself for doing something so dumb...Its moments like these that renew my faith in the power of the priesthood. I'm thankful for good friends (Thanks Kristen for staying with me through all the drama!). I'm thankful for Cliff. (He also didn't get mad at me, he just laughed with me.)