Birth Story

 The last trimester has been hard for all of my pregnancies. I itch all over. Not normal pregnancy itchiness, but tear off my skin itchiness. My previous OB doctors all had me take blood tests to see if anything was wrong, and every time the results were normal, so when my doctor suggested I get a blood test I was skeptical. The initial results looked to be the same as previous pregnancies, but a more in-depth blood test took quite awhile to come back. On Sunday night I got a call from my OB telling me that the test results were in and that I tested positive for cholestasis. (Wiki link provided) They told me to come in the next morning to get evaluated. I came in Monday morning and there they decided that I needed to be induced the next day. Panic mode set in, and Nick and I hastily prepared for a baby. Luckily Nick's mom lives a short 3 hour train ride away, and said she could come up the next afternoon. A friend volunteered to watch my girls get on the bus, and watch Jack until Abuelita arrived. We got the carseat out of the box, and packed for the hospital.  

 I took this picture in between packing, because I knew it would probably be my last preggo shot. The next morning, at 6:30 we left for the hospital. It had been a busy night at the hospital because they didn't even have a bed for me until around 8am, and I didn't get a nurse assigned to me until 11am. (they had to call her in) That meant that the pitocin didn't get started until around 11:30. Since I wasn't even 37 weeks, it took longer for the pitocin to really do anything. My labor didn't really start until 4:30pm. Around then I asked for the epidural because I had begun to feel the contractions. Then there was a lot of sitting around and napping, oh yeah, and debating about names, since we still didn't have a name for our little guy. At 10:40 it was time to push, but as they put me into position to push he just sort of came out on his own. The doctor did have me push once to get his shoulders out, and then they gave him to me.

He was so little! and kind of blue, and really screaming!

After a few minutes they weighed him (6 lbs 13 oz) and measured him (19 in), then they gave him to Nick.

 I think we are both in love with this guy.

Later the next morning, they bathed him (he hated it).

 We had a few visitors while in the hospital. Abuelita came to visit; I think she fell in love very easily

 I love the love in this picture!

 Kat was won over very quickly too.

 I think Jack loves him too much, which kind of scares me.

 So much adoration!

 Going home!

 Look how small he is!

Oh brothers.

Newborn smiles are the best!

What's in a name?

Now the story of his name. I know you all are asking and so here it is. His name is Maxwell Nicolas Pulham. While sitting around waiting for my contractions to do anything, Nick and I were poring over baby name lists. I pretty much like most names and Nick pretty much hates most names, which is why we hadn't found a name yet. I had firmly decided early on in my pregnancy that his middle name would be Nicolas, so we were trying to find names that fit with that, when Nick came across the name Maximus. Maximus Nicolas has too much of a rhyme to it, so we were laughing about that when Nick said that he actually really liked the name Max. I liked it too, so we decided that it was a legitimate option. Nick wanted the name Maximilian and I told him I liked Maxwell better. Two things decided it for us. 1. I told Nick that if he could spell Maximilian (without looking it up) then it could be his name 2. Our nurse's son was named Maxwell (fate) 

The morning after he was born we still felt good about the name, so it went on his birth certificate. And that is the story of Max.

6th birthday party

 

This little beauty turned 6 last Sunday.

  

So this Saturday she had a birthday party. She chose an oreo ice cream cake,

 Cheese pizza,

a cupcake pinata,

and candy.

 Of course there were presents too.

 

 Just to end this post, a pic of my two beautiful girls. I am one lucky mama.

Cali trip

 Most of July we have been in California. The beach was one of our first stops.

It is almost like we never left. (searching for crabs)

 

 Looking at all these rascals, I don't know how I used to watch all of them! These guys were all siblings for so long that my heart hurts when I think about how far we live from them now. It was kind of a band-aid to see that they still love each other so much.

Ah California! I miss you already!

  The main reason we went to Los Angeles is for my sister's wedding! 11/12 siblings were able to be there, which is kind of a big thing since we live everywhere.

 

Almost all of the grandchildren were there too! Just missing one. Perhaps we should photoshop Arabella in the picture.

Us.

 I love that Jack has cousins his age. These two boys are just so adorable!

 Me and my "little" sister with her new husband. Welcome to the family Andrew! I feel so short next to these two.

My littlest sister just found out she is pregnant! I am so excited for her. She is such an amazing aunt, she is going to make a great mom.

 My niece who lives in Hawaii was able to come too, which was so awesome, especially since these cousins are best besties! Aren't they so beautiful!?!

 While there, Nick's mom and aunt threw me a baby shower. It was so sweet and thoughtful! Plus it was wonderful to get together with some great women that have celebrated all the great moments since Nick and I got married.

 Later we went to Hurricane Harbor with some family.

 10 kids and 2 adults... yeah, we got this.

Tired. This is how we ended almost every day there. I love these little guys.

School's out for Summer!

Last week was the last week of school, and it was kind of crazy. I feel like the communication to parents at this school is not that great. One morning Ali asked me if I was going to come to her presentation. A presentation that I knew NOTHING about of course. Luckily I only had to cancel a day full of laundry (which I was happy to do).

Ali is such a smart girl. She made a diorama of a seahorse habitat, and she did a report as well. When did she grow up!?!

 Kat had a birthday celebration on Friday, and I took Jack with me, and he kind of dominated the spotlight. All the kindergarteners thought he was hilarious, which, of course, made him act like a nut.

After singing Happy Birthday to the summertime birthdays they had some brownies and fruit. Jack was a big fan of this part. Such a pretty girl, but I am not ready for her to be a first grader!

 She is also very popular. Later in the day they had the wedding of Q and U. (This school doesn't have a kindergarten graduation)

It was really cute, they gave each of the kids a puppet with a letter of the alphabet and then Q and U got married.

The kids sang some songs and read a  poem. This is them reading from a script that all the kids followed. It was all real cute.

 We also got to make a short trip up to Boston.  We visited the temple and our friends, the Jones' and Jim. I really need to take out my camera more, because these little guys are just so adorable. I managed to take a picture of them in front of the temple at least.

 It is a rare treat, but we also got to go the movies as a family! We saw How to Train your Dragon which was really great.

Update: Our garden is super crazy awesome. Even our landlord was impressed with its growth. Those huge plants (that is Ali behind the plants to show scale) are snap peas and it is really productive. We get a full bowl of snap peas everyday, and they are seriously delicious.

vox box

I am part of Influenster, which is a web site that allows us to try new products... for free! I am so excited to try out these new products!

Jack skills

Here are a variety of Jack's skills. Enjoy.

Hershey

 

Nick had a week off of work, so we went down to Philadelphia and picked up Malena and then headed to HERSHEY!!!! They have the factory tour there, and a theme park. At the factory they have a ride/tour where they show you how they make chocolate. We were all in heaven.

 

The factory also had a 3D movie which was a lot of fun. Mostly I think these girls (and Jack) loved the fashion statement made by the glasses.

As soon as we got to the theme park the girls found maps and began to plan their day. Even when the ride was about to start they were busy planning.

 They soon put their maps down and just enjoyed the rides. There were about 50 of these type of rides. The kind that little kids sit in some contraption and go in a circle, pretty much their favorite type of ride.

 Kat was really excited to go on this ride until the ride started, and then she freaked out. Jack, next to her, is perfectly fine, but she was screaming and holding on like death was coming after her. I was laughing so hard. Does that make me a bad mom?

 Jack was weary of Mr. Hershey. He liked most things in the park, but this guy scared him. Not the girls though, who are happily posing.

 Rare selfie with my little guy on a train. Isn't he so handsome?

 

 Family shot in front of the zoo. Hershey has a small zoo that is right next to the theme park, so we made a quick run through the zoo to see all the animals there.

 Then we went back to the theme park and rode a few more rides.

 Okay, so maybe selfies aren't that rare. Here is my 20 week belly. I am halfway through!!!