2 Weeks Old

Kate is 2 weeks old today! I thougth I'd give a recap of her first 2 weeks for those of you who don't live here...its been pretty busy! More has happened than it should have - we've been pretty busy for having a newborn around!

Eric has learned to ride his bike without training wheels! He actually did it on the 9th, which was the night before Kate was born. But, here is a picture of him having a great time, finally able to ride without those training wheels! As he was learning, he kept trying and trying, convinced that the only way to get started was going down the driveway of a house behind us - it was his magic charm that he used to get going. By the next day he could get started without the driveway, and he's riding all over the place now.
When Kate came home from the hospital, she brought the boys a present. They were so excited to get sparring gear - now they can really fight in the dojo! Here are the boys trying on their new gear! (Yes, it was right after they got home from church that they got to open the present, so enjoy their church clothes with sparring gear. Do I sense an internal conflict here? war or peace? hummm....)Eric had his turn for show and tell on Tuesday the 14th, so at 4 days old Kate went to school so Eric could show her off. He was so excited to show the class his new sister! After he showed her to the class, the children were allowed to ask Eric questions. My favorite was "Why do you like her so much?" The answer "Cause she's cute!"Grandma and Grandpa came to meet Kate on the 15th. We had a nice time, and Grandpa seemed to be especially proud to have a grandDAUGHTER.The 15th was my birthday! Yes, I am the big 3-0! I had a pretty relaxing day, and it was the first time I've had my mom around for my birthday since my 17th! She even made me my dinner of chicken devon and ice cream cake the real way - baked Alaska! Yummy! Thanks mom!This outfit was from Aunt Jenny...and gave the Dr. and his nurses quite the chuckle. As of today (when we got her checked, again, to see if she's Jaundice), she's had her bili levels checked 5 times, which means that she's been back to the lab quite a bit - and I've been out and about more than I ever intended to be after having a baby. Thanks again to Mom-O for her help getting where we needed to be. And, yes, Kate, you are not a boy!Kate at a week old.Here she is with Mom-O, right before Mom-O had to leave. Mom-O was such a lifesaver for us, I cried the whole way home from the airport shuttle stop. I don't know what we would have done without here here. Thanks for coming Mom-O!The other thing that has happened is that I can fit back into my clothes! This is an amazing thing for me, I'm so excited to have a "new" wardrobe to wear! I'm not back into my pre-Eric pants yet, but here I am in my pre-Kate clothes already! My body is doing much better after Kate than I did at this point with the other kids, it has made quite the difference in my life! I've been able to do things that I really shouldn't have at this point - I've been to Wal-mart, Costco, Target, etc...and I didn't feel faint every time I stood up for a few days after giving birth, which had happened with the boys. Yeah for feeling better than expected!

Also in the first 2 weeks of life, Kate met Uncle Doug and Aunt Layne. They came for a visit and even took the time to winterize our sprinklers for us! Kate also met her first friends - the Farnsworth family.

Kate is a very quiet, peaceful, and not demanding little girl. She doesn't cry when she wakes up to eat! She quietly looks around for food, and I wake up to little baby sounds. The baby monitor doesn't really work for her because she is so quiet I can't depend on hearing her through it! She has just in the last few days started to get a little loud when her body is struggling with gas - but even at that, she doesn't cry or scream as bad as her brothers did! She is the sweet, little, child that I deserve! And, despite being in pink clothes and sometimes pink blankets, Jim has taken to loving her just as much as I do (well, not just as much, but almost...I am the mother, after all!)

And now, a few more pictures of Kate - since I know that is why most of you were probably checking the blog today anyway. This one was taken at 12 days old.

I took Kate outside today for a 2 week old baby photo shoot. I didn't get "the picture" I was wanting to get, but I did get some pretty good ones. I think she enjoyed being outside, until the wind started to softly blow.So cute!Open wide and show the Dr. your tongue! ha ha ha I thought it was cute! How could it not be, she's an adorable little thing!

Baby Kate

Here is the not-really-so-long awaited, but very much asked for, blog about our baby Kate! She is only 5 days old today, but I have been harassed by everyone to put pictures up of her. I decided that I would send an email with pictures to my family memebers who did NOT bug me about it, and as everyone called and bugged me, I checked them off the list. ha ha ha The prize goes to Chris and Nicole, who are the siblings that did NOT pester me about the blog--so they can check their email for an exclusive peek at the baby! My dad (Papi) even started asking me "Aren't you proud of your daughter? Is something wrong with her that you don't want to show us?" ha ha ha Funny, dad. Of course I want to show you all the baby, but HELLO! I do have 3 children now, she's only 5 days old, we've been a little busy taking care of her, and I'm trying to do what I can to get by with the help of Mom-O. Mom-O has been a HUGE lifesaver as I try to heal my body and care for Kate all night, as well as take care of "normal life" with the boys. Thanks Mom-O for coming to take care of us all!

Ok, now what you're all waiting for...Kate's story.

I was in and out of labor for 2 1/2 weeks, which started to be too hard on my body and the family as a whole. So, on October 10th I was induced. It was time for baby to finally come! It was such an odd feeling, knowing that today was the day. I woke up, showered, did my hair, had time to take pictures before we went, and got the kids to the neighbors peacefully and calmly. Labor is much better if it comes naturally, but it was nice knowing when time was finally going to be up. So, despite having mixed feelings about being induced, but in this case it was just time. Here is the "before" picture:Here is the "after" picture. Baby Kate, officially named Katherine Nicole. The pitocin was started at 8:30 am, contractions were 2 minutes apart and I was at almost a 4 by 1pm, so the Dr. decided we could finally break my water to help things along. The Dr. was going into surgery and would be back to check on me around 1:45. By the time she got back I was ready to push baby out. The only problem was that the anestesiologist was busy too, and didn't make it until we were ready to push...no epidural for me! This was NOT the plan, but things moved along so quickly that I didn't have a choice. I do not recommend "going natural" to anyone, it hurts! But, here she is! Born 10/10/08, 6 lbs 9 oz, 2:03 pm, 13 1/4 head. Her first "bath" - as close as she will get until her cord falls off.How cute she is! I haven't decided who she looks like. She has long eyelashes, and I think her hands look like Mom-O's hands. But, other than that we have yet to determine the rest of her characteristics. I'm sure we'll figure them out as she grows and we have more time to study her! Cute Kate!Meeting her brothers for the first time! "She's cute" is what Michael thinks.What a good, experienced, big brother Eric is!
Kate and I had most of the day on Saturday without anyone around. It got a little lonely! But, we had a little photo shoot while we were "hanging out". Here are a couple pictures:

A full-body, almost naked picture.
Here we are, ready to go home on Sunday the 12th.Her first car ride, going home. She is such a small baby in a huge chair!
When Jim and I got home with Kate, the boys were at church with Mom-O. This is our first family picture, when they got home (they both fell asleep on the way home, so they look a little tired).
Before we left the hospital Kate looked a little jaundiced, and her levels were a little high, so we had to take her to the lab for another test on Monday. By Monday at 5 she was in the bili light, being "cooked". Poor baby. She came out of one oven to go into another! We had to do this with Eric, but it doesn't make it any easier to see your baby under the lights instead of in your arms! Here she is in her "suitcase oven"
We were also brought another kind of light to use while we hold her, so she can (theoretically) be under the light 24 hrs a day. It is a little box, with a tube similar to a vacuum tube, that has a little paddle on the end that we put up against her back. It makes her seem like she's glowing...notice the blue ET-like glow under the blanket as Jim holds her.Michael wanted to play with Kate, showing her some of the baby toys we have. This is as close as he could get to real interaction with her for a while...cute kid.

We'll go to the Dr. tomorrow to see how she is doing, get her weight, and hopefully be told that she is not jaundice anymore. Other than her being jaundiced, things are going pretty smoothly with Mom-O here to help. I'm worried about when Mom-O leaves, but I'm sure we'll adjust to life eventually. At least my body is healing and feeling better after Kate than it did with the boys, which has been a blessing. Thanks to everyone for all of your well-wishes and prayers for us as we went, and go, through this! We'll post more updates and pictures, sometime!

The Vinton Family Dojo

Jim finally finished the dojo in the garage! It was quite the project! It started with the garage floor, and finally finished with the paint, mirrors, punching bag, soft floor mats, art, bamboo blinds, and the first family lesson in the dojo. Here are some pictures!

The dojo is in the 3rd car tandem part of our garage. So, what you see in front is where the 2 cars go, and on the left side at the back is the tandem part where the dojo is.This picture isn't the best, but it gives you a feel for the dojo. Punching bag on the left, window on the left with bamboo blinds, mirrors on the back wall, blue mats on the floor, and in the back left corner are the tumbling mats and punching pad.

This is the art Jim made to decorate the wall. You can't tell in the picture, but the art wall is a light green color while the other 2 walls and the ceiling are a light brown. The boys, ready to start their first lesson in the dojo. They don't always wear the headbands, but Grandpa found them in Japan on one of his trips, and they've taken to wearing them.
The inagural cleaning of the mats. They thought this was pretty cool.
Here they are listening to the instructor (Jim, dad). Eric seems to be checking out the art on the wall, and Michael may have been staring at himself in the mirrors.
Eric, during stretches, watching himself in the mirrors. Michael, taking stretching way too seriously - typical Michael fashion!Jim really doesn't want pictures of him posted, but I had to show that they did some kicks and punches.

They had a great time! It was the first of many family dojo moments. This will be a great thing as the boys learn from Jim and have that bonding time. As I watched and took pictures, I could see the excitement that I felt in the air. The boys have been waiting and waiting for their chance to finally go in the dojo and do karate in it with dad. Eric knows what karate lessons are like, and knew what to do. Michael has started to figure it out from watching Jim and Eric have class in the living room, but I could see the excitement in his eyes as he was out on the mat with them. It was one of those magical family moments.

And, Jim told me I could use the dojo with the mirrors for my dancing, too - and I said "what, for when I put up a ballet bar in front of the mirrors or something?" He was referring to me wanting to clog or tap again. Oh. I'm looking forward to the boys and dad spending time together while Kate and I take naps this year!

If you're ever in town, come and drop on by - you may get a free lesson if you're lucky!

Shower! and Mountain Meat!

This is all about one day - September 27, 2008

My friends in Longmont threw me a baby shower! It was so much fun! We had practically NOTHING girl, and after the shower we were set to go. It was such a nice event. The food was wonderful (as always, if Cheryl Burrows' name is involved), the presents were so generous, and the company was even better! It was so good for me to "go home" and see all of my friends. Especially after the last few weeks - where we've thought I've been in labor practically every day - and even went to the hospital thinking we were going to have a baby - the trip to Longmont was really nice! I was glad I could make it to the shower, and grateful for all of the good and wonderful people who love and support me. Thanks everyone for coming, it helped lift my spirits - and gave Kate some clothes and diapers to wear!

Here is a picture of me with some of the cute stuff! The line got heavy, and its kindof hard to hang bags of diapers up, but you can get the idea of all the wonderful things we now have for Kate! Thanks Cheryl and Holley for the shower, and thanks everyone for coming!While I was at the shower with Grandma, Jim went to karate. Grandpa was so nice to watch the boys while we were all gone - and even turned on the BBQ to grill a few hot dogs for them. I still think the boys like to BBQ, not for the food, but for the soda and the time spent on the picnic table out back while Grandpa grills.

The boys went out back and picked raspberries from the garden, too. They were good! I can't wait to have our own berries growing one of these years! I attempted to plant some canes this summer so they would grow roots for next summer, but the neighborhood kids just didn't understand why I kept getting upset at them for walking through the "weeds" and pulling the "sticks" out of the ground! We're getting a fence soon, so that problem should be gone for next year's attempt. Here is Eric picking a raspberry.We all went "to the mountain" as the boys say it. The Vintons are very "ritualistic" about what we do as we go to the mountain, so I decided I would document it all for posterity. And, in case anyone forgets, we can refer to the blog to know what to do next. ha ha ha Yeah right!

On our way up to Rocky Mountain National Park, we get some KFC. This is what we refer to as "mountain meat"! I don't remember who started that, but the kids know KFC as "mountain meat" not as KFC. Eric's favorite part is the chicken, Michael's favorite part is the biscuits and honey. We always eat at "our table" (except someone was there, so this picture is actually taken while we were at "our other table" - the alternate)The next part of the tradition is feeding the ducks. We feed them our scraps normally, but this time Michael decided to give them HIS food. Oh well. Its always entertaining watching the kids and the ducks interact. The boys like walking on the logs across the water. There is one large tree around the lake that we usually walk on, but this time we let the boys try it on a small one by the picnic table. Eric was doing really good, and didn't fall until he was just barely a step away from the dirt again. In fact, Eric had a paper at school the week right after this where he had to complete the sentence. The sentence was: Rick walks on the log and he ____. Eric finished the sentence to be "Rick walks on the log and falls off into the water." Brian and Michael, being mountain men, after eating mountain meat.After we eat, we always walk around the lake. Sprague's Lake. Sometimes we go to the left, sometimes we go to the right, but we always go around the lake. This particular time we went to the right. Part of the ritual is to sit on the "sitting tree," a tree that has grown crooked and is like a little bench. We all had a good laugh when Michael accidently called it the "sh***ing tree." Where did that come from?
Next, we climb the rocks. They look really big in the picture, and they are, but not as big as they appear. The boys are such boys - and they enjoy being in the mountains with the fresh air, rocks, sticks, etc.
This time I actually got Jim and the boys to sit for a family picture. See how cute we are! Can you see the fall colors changing behind us? That was what I really enjoyed this trip - I wanted to see the fall colors changing so bad this year, thanks Gma and Gpa for taking me up to see them!
Another part of the ritual is to skip rocks. This is about 1/2 of the way around the pond, where we stop and skip rocks. All the way here the boys and Grandpa collect good skippers, and this is where we all watch them go.
Jim usually protests pictures, and this one is not "approved" to be posted, but here it is. I took probably 15 pictures of him this trip, and this is the best one. He's getting pretty good at dodging my pictures, and giving me shots of his hand instead. But, here he is! I got him!

We usually head home from the mountain as it gets dark (and you can tell from the pictures that it was getting darker as we went on). Dairy Queen is usually a stop on the way home - or at least McD's for a soft serve. By the time we got back to Longmont the boys were asleep, so we skipped that this particular time...although, as we left the lake they did ask if we were headed there next. Its ok we didn't make it this time - it leaves us a reason to go back soon! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for all the memories of trips up the mountain!