And... Another Road Trip!

I might be crazy to be traveling so much and so often after having a little one, but I think that since we moved back from Idaho we are eager to spend time with family when we can. This past weekend we traveled up north to attend my cousin Janell's graduation from Graduate School and for a surprise birthday party for our sister in law Nikki. The surprise was a success and our kiddos got to spend time with grandparents and aunts and uncles again.

With the Graduate!

Greg and his dad keeping an eye out for the birthday girl

The birthday girl/expectant mommy celebrating with a Virgin Strawberry Margarita

My babies with their grandmas and Uncle Brandon photo bombing

With Grandpa and Grandma Teune

4 Generations of Marlows

Greg's grandparents' home is filled with gorgeous antiques and beautiful furniture. I couldn't resist capturing our precious girl hanging out and exploring their home.

 We are so thankful that God had plans to bring us back to Oregon at this time in our lives. How special to have family within driving distance so our children can really know their grandparents and other relatives.

Road Trip!

Two weekends ago we took a road trip to Tillamook to visit Greg's mom and family as well as attend a bridal shower for his sister. Alexis had a blast at Nana and Papa's and Ryder got a lot of snuggle time in with loved ones.

I had some anxiety about the long drive (it only ended up being two hours) because I didn't want a screaming baby in the backseat or to have to stop on the side of the road to nurse. With coffee in hand, we started our drive and both of our children decided to sleep the whole way there. Praise the Lord!

Riding Cooper around Nana and Papa's house

Snuggling with Uncle Brandon

Getting into trouble in Nana's bathroom

Spending time with Great Grandma

It was a great day spent with family. The ride home went well until the last 45 minutes when a little boy decided to scream bloody murder the rest of the drive home. But it was nothing a pit stop at Burgerville and listening to the Blazers beat the Rockets couldn't fix.

Ryder at 1 Month Old

 Ryder at 1 Month: Our 12lb "little" guy has had quite the month! He had a thrush infection in his mouth and needed medication which wasn't much fun, but he has been very healthy ever since. Ryder has a very strong set of lungs and uses them to cry and scream often, especially when we are in the car (not a lot of fun for anyone). He grew out of newborn diapers within his first week of life and is now wearing size 1 as well as 0-3 month onesies and 3 month sleepers. Alexis has been adjusting well to life as a big sister. She didn't want to be left out of the photo shoot, which I imagine will happen each month. She doesn't seem to be too jealous or bothered by little brother. I think the sweetest thing  so far in this first month is that she has found out how to say her own version of his name, "Rydee". It seriously melts my heart to hear her say his name!

18 Months Old

On April 8th, 3 days after becoming a big sister, Alexis turned a year and a half old! As if the age itself doesn't make her seem more grown up, looking at her in comparison to a newborn proves that she is not my baby anymore... not sure how I feel about that :( We had some professional photos taken of her to capture her in her "18 month-ness".

 Alexis at 18 Months: We have noticed in the last 6 months or so that Alexis is a very strong willed child.

She knows what she wants, and more importantly to what she doesn't want. She is a very happy girl for the most part and loves to give hugs and kisses. She enjoys watching Sesame Street, particularly Elmo's World. Alexis likes to drink from Mommy's Starbucks water cup. No matter how many cups of her own that she has available, she wants Mommy's. Whenever she hears a sound outside of our door she yells, "Daddy!" and runs to the door. Sometimes she will take Mommy or Daddy's keys and walk to the door and try to put the keys into the door handle while saying, "bye bye!" She knows how to turn on the TV as well as Daddy's PlayStation console (she knows this is how to get Netflix started). Alexis also loves to video chat on the phone with anyone, but gets especially excited when we get a call from her cousin Macie. Alexis likes to unload the silverware from the dish washer and hand it to me to put away. She helps Mommy do laundry by sitting on top of the dryer and throwing items into the washer, then later Mommy hands her items from the washer to put into the dryer. She is a great helper!

Words Alexis can say: yeah, no, uh oh, Elmo, Macie, Mommy, Daddy, Nanny(Nana), please, thank you, no thank you, all done, more, up, down, sorry, hot, hush, dog, yummy, ball, baby, hi , bye, eyes, nose, head, toes.

Favorite foods/snacks: strawberries, apple slices, grapes, animal crackers (or any type of cracker), fruit snacks, hot dogs, cheese quesadillas, macaroni and cheese, Puffs, yogurt melts, yogurt, and Cheerios.

Favorite books: anything with Elmo, Goodnight Moon, and Eric Carle books.

Favorite songs: Jesus Loves Me, The Wheels on the Bus, Sesame Street theme song, any song with Elmo. 

Mommy wants to remember...

• When I go into Alexis' room in the morning or after a nap, she is almost always standing up in her crib with a big grin on her face and she greets me with a "Hi!" 
• Sometimes she will come over to me, lean in, and give me a hug and a kiss "just because". 
• When we read books at bedtime she has started chanting "hush" until I give in and read her Goodnight Moon... "the quiet old lady who was whispering hush". 
• She still has a difficult time with separation from us when we drop her at the nursery for church or when I am at Mom's group during the week. However, I'm told it only takes her minutes to calm down and she always enjoys herself. 

We sure love our sweet girl. Is 2 years old really less than 6 months away?!

Ryder Allen Teune

After waiting 41 weeks for our little man to arrive, he finally came into the world. Here is his birth story...

I had been uncomfortable for a few weeks before the birth and was very anxious to go into labor. I even thought I was in labor a couple of times, but nothing happened. Around 4am on Saturday, April 5th I woke up to what felt like contractions, however with having experienced what I thought were contractions during the previous weeks I was paranoid that I would "cry wolf" about going into labor. By 4:30am I knew it was the real deal so I woke Greg up to let him know (and can I just add that he had stayed up until 3:30am playing video games online with his brothers!) At 5am we called our parents to let them know I was in labor and I got in the shower to wash my hair and shave my legs, because all you moms know it was probably going to be a while before I could shave again. I was only in the shower for a couple of minutes when I realized things were progressing very quickly.

Our friend Sara came over to stay with Alexis until my parents came through to pick her up, and Greg, my sister Brittney, and I began the 45 minute drive to Springfield. While laboring in the car was not ideal, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. We arrived at the birth center just before 7am and delivered our baby boy at 9:45am.

Labor was intense, to say the least. We wanted a natural birth like we had with Alexis, so pain medication/epidurals were not and option. I had terrible lower back pain the whole time and I wanted to throw in the towel several times (as if I had the choice). But seriously, I had moments throughout labor where I thought, "maybe they will need to rush me to the hospital to cut him out so I won't have to keep pushing..." Amazing what the pain of labor can do to a person. I was hooked up to oxygen for a while because I could not inhale through the contractions. The pain was so bad I could not get a breath in. Our midwife told us that baby boy was not turning, which caused me to have such painful back labor. With each push I gave, our midwife tried to help turn him. Unfortunately he did not cooperate and would later be born "sunny side up".

After laboring for an hour in the tub and another hour or so on the bed, our midwife suggested I move to the birthing stool and let gravity help things along. After my first push on the stool she asked if I wanted to reach down and feel his head, which I did, but all I could think was "we could see Alexis' head for three hours before she was finally born. I can NOT do this for another three hours!" Thank goodness that was not the case with our little man, after about five minutes on the birthing stool and a few good, solid pushes, he was born! I cannot even begin to describe the relief I felt when I pulled him up to my chest and into my arms.

Ryder Allen Teune was born on Saturday, April 5th 2014. He weighed in at 9lbs 6oz, 21 and 3/4 inches long, with a head circumference of 15 inches.

Snowpocalypse... yes, I used the word snowpocalypse

A couple of weeks ago we were hit with a huge snowstorm. And when I say huge, I mean 14 inches of snow. I honestly can't remember ever seeing that much snow outside my window. It really was beautiful to see the constant flakes fall from the sky day after day.

Our backyard with the snow coming down

By the second day of it, Lexi and I were getting cabin fever and were rescued by friends. This is snow in their backyard. The pink you see in snow there is the top of a ruler.

Lexi and Lily were snow buddies that day, although we didn't take them in the snow.

My car, the reason I needed rescuing if I wanted to leave the house!

On Saturday, Greg took Alexis outside to explore and play in the snow for a bit. I wasn't too interested in that so I bundled up a bit and took pictures of them.

She was eager to get out there and explore.

"Hurry up Dad!"

Hope all my Northwest friends enjoyed the snow. I have a had my fill, I'm ready for summer!

Recap Post #2: Back to Oregon!

After a short 8 month season in Lewiston, Idaho we were blessed with the opportunity to move back to Oregon. Originally, Greg was to work as the General Manager at The Holiday Inn Express in Lewiston for a minimum of 2 years, but when an opening came up at the HIE in Corvallis, Greg threw his name in the hat and was transferred! God works in such incredible ways and always knows the desires of our hearts, whether or not we ask him for certain things or not.

Once we were home we celebrated Christmas with my side of the family. Macie and Lexi were very excited to be reunited!

Greg's grandma made darling, matching Christmas scarves for Lexi and Macie

Grandma and Grandpa are thrilled to have both grand babies around!

Alexis and I have been very happy to find many weekly activities to keep us busy. We meet friends at the library each week. This particular time, Alexis and her friend Lily were matching :)

We are also thrilled to be able to deliver baby boy at the same birth center we had Alexis at. I had to snap a picture of the waiting room because I always feel so relaxed when I go there for appointments.

After a week of being back in Oregon, Greg's side of the family came to our home to celebrate Christmas.

Hanging out with Nana and Papa

Alexis was VERY spoiled by her Nana, Papa, Aunts, and Uncles!

My most memorable gift from our gift exchange. Ben had picked my name and my list that I had given prior to knowing who would be shopping for me had "nursing tops/shirts" along with other things on it. He took it upon himself to make me this incredible nursing shirt! As if that wasn't enough of a gift,  he also included a Starbucks gift card for me.

I had to add this because it's very typical for our home, especially when Greg's brothers are around. Grown men playing video games... But hey, they were having a good time while the girls drank coffee and talked so it was a win win for everyone!

While writing these "recap posts" I can't believe how quickly time has gone by! I mean seriously, February is almost over. How can that be possible? Personally, I'm ready for Spring. More daylight, only one season away from summer, and oh yeah, I'll get to meet a pretty special little guy!