These are a few pics of Cooper and Avery a month or so ago. Just trying to get caught up before I drop the computer off and loose all my pictures again! Just kidding! I am backing them all up now. But just didn't want the grandparents to miss out on any pictures that had been taken. It is so hard trying to get a picture of these TWO together.
Well....... what a story. I can tell you delivering in another country is definitely different.
We were suppose to have an appointment on Friday but somehow got the time or something mixed up so we missed it. I had been very dizzy that day and the day before so the doctor said for me to come in and see her on Saturday. So we all went to the appointment to hear her say that I was at 2cm and contracting. So she sent me home to get my stuff and get the kids packed and over to the Haynes house and then to meet her right back at the hospital. So we got to the hospital around 3:00 or so. They put me on some fluids and then "prepped me!" I was told by Darin's mom that is how it was for her when she delivered. So as soon as I saw bandages, a razor and an enema I was terrified. But the Lord got me through it. Around 8pm I was at 5cm and she broke my water. Around 8:15 I got the epidural and around 8:45 I was feeling major pressure like I had never felt before. So Becky gets the doc, she checks me and says yes it is time. So in run some people roll me onto another table and take me up this ramp into a room that is only a little bigger then two beds. There is rollers in between the two beds to transfer me yet again. I felt like I was a cafeteria tray getting rolled across. Then there is a gentleman at the head of me that takes me to another room with all these bright spot lights to roll me onto yet another bed. But then around 9:15 little Ashlyn entered the world.
This is me and D waiting for the arrival of little Ashlyn.
Becky was such a trooper staying there with us the entire time helping us understand everything that was going on!
Here is Little Ashlyn right after delivery!
We were so excited but little did I know that they were going to take her away from me. I would have held on even longer.
Here she is with Daddy get weighed. She weighed right at 6 pounds! Just like her brother Cooper did. She even looks just like him. Hope that doesn't mean she is also going to act like him ;)
Darin said she was so alert and looking around at everything.
They put her in a little incubator that helps regulate her temperature. Then after three hours they give her some kind of drink. Then they have to give her formula twice after that. I guess to see if she is eating alright. I don't know. It was very strange. But I did not get to see her until
11 am the next morning. Talking about hard. I was not use to that at all. Any nursing mom especially would have a hard time with that. Really, any mom would have a hard time with not seeing their baby for so long. So is how it is done here in Mexico though. Just different!
Can you tell Daddy loves his new little girl?
Darin was such a huge help. It was hard not having the family there but Darin really stepped up to the plate and treated me like a queen. He was incredible!
Not sure what this face is about. I was told though that Darin always made a face similar to this.
Such a beautiful blessing from the Lord!
Aunt Becky finally got to hold her. We really could not thank her enough for all that she did during this crazy, chaotic, beautiful and wonderful time in our life.
Here is Lil' Bit in her big sister's car seat. We are borrowing an infant car seat from some other missionaries from here but just weren't planning on needing it then. So we had to use this one that is also for infants but just looks a little odd.
The Haynes brought Cooper and Avery home so they could all meet baby Ashlyn! Bowden was having to keep his guard up having all three of them!
Landri was amazing! Avery was still trying to figure out if she was real or a baby doll.
Susie just looks like a natural!
We are so blessed with some great babysitters!
What a proud big brother. He is more interested now then he was with Avery. I think just him being older and being able to help out more makes him excited.
We are so excited to be home with all three of our little blessings!
Thank you Lord for the healthcare provided, the health of our beautiful baby girl and transition of the family.
Cooper decided to lock the bathroom door. The only way to get it unlocked is through this little window from our front porch. It goes to the very back of the bathroom behind the toilet and a little piece of wood. So Darin had to help Cooper in there and then try to lift him up and over that piece of board.
I have to say I thought it was hilarious watching Darin trying to fit somewhat in that little window. We were teaching Cooper a lesson making him do it since he is the one that locked it, but after seeing this I am pretty sure he would have had to be the one to do it anyways!
Oh Darin, you always crack me up!
Finally Cooper comes out. He thought it was the neatest thing that he decided to do it again. But we didn't find it as amusing that time. Only the first time was it cute!
Cooper's new favorite way to go to the bathroom is through the little window! Trust me, we don't let him do it.
Well try and excuse our messy house full of toys, but I had to show the grandparents our little diaper hater. We always have to make sure that she has a onesie or something on covering her diaper. If not this is what happens.
She will pull and scratch until it is below her bottom. The redness is literally from her scratching so much to get it off of her. The girl is crazy!
Maybe this is a good sign that she will potty train earlier than her brother! There is always hope! We love our little non diaper loving girl!
Friday, October 9, 2009
I can't believe our baby boy is 4!
The time really does pass by so fast. He was so excited to have his birthday party. We had a joint party with another missionary family at Carl's Jr. It is like a Hardee's. The kids loved it though. McKenzi turned 6 and had Hannah Montana and Cooper of course had to have Spider Man!
Can you tell he was a little excited?
Here are a few of the girls playing!
Here is Avery's new little buddy Sophie. They are only a few months apart. Avery is older but Sophie just towers over her. I can't believe how tall this girl is. Or maybe Avery is just really small?
Here is Cooper's Spider Man table. He now has that big Spider Man hanging on the back of his door in his bedroom.
Bowden didn't want his picture taken obviously.
Here is the cake that Kandi made Cooper. Even though it melted some on the ride over it was still adorable. Thanks again Kandi for being such a Martha Stewart.
Uncle David was trying to protect Avery during all the piñata hitting! She loves her Uncle David so much!
This is all that was left of poor little Spider Man!
Cooper still doesn't like loud noises. This is how he was when everyone else were getting their turns in hitting the piñata.
All of the kids getting their candy. Including the "big kid" Darin. He says that he is helping Cooper. I think he means helping Cooper get the candy that he wants to have. Also you can see Avery to the side where Uncle David is putting the big princess hat on her. She wasn't scared to get in there with the other kids and grab as many suckers as she possibly could!
The two goobers! Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday!
Cooper's favorite but also his most shy part.
Cooper and Aunt Tiffany. She had to wear both party hats to make both of the kids happy!
Here is the birthday girl.
Cooper with his two favorite girls, Landri and Susanna!
Happy Birthday Coop!
Here they always smash your face in the cake but Cooper did not want to do that. So daddy happily stepped in to get a big bite of cream cheese icing. Avery started crying though when she saw them do it to her daddy. Cooper thought it was pretty funny. I believe he was just happy that they didn't do it to him.
Here are the girls showing Coop what they picked out for him.
After the party we went home to give Coop his presents from us and from Baga.
He was so happy if you can't tell.
He had to model and get a picture with his presents.
I was trying to just get a picture of him opening his presents but when he would see me with the camera at him he would just smile so big.
Cooper even let Avery play with his new toy for a minute. That was only because he had others to open though!
Thanks again Baga for the cool Spider Man toys. I think you can tell how much he likes them!
I don't like to take pictures but I had to get one of me and my big birthday boy!
Daddy had to get one with his big 4 year old too! They are so much alike. Both adorable.
Happy Birthday Cooper!
We have enjoyed the past 4 years so much! You are such a blessing and we love you!
Oh the reason why everybody is called Uncle and Aunt is because when you are in missions they are your second family. So even though they are blood family they are our mission family. So the people on the blog are our mission family! Just wanted to make that clear because we love and miss all the aunts and uncles back home very much. But we also have our mission family here that we love dearly!
We would love to have you as a prayer partner in what the Lord is doing in Costa Rica and Guadalajara, Mexico. You can email us at darinmercer@hotmail.com to get on our email distribution. With Love, The Mercer's!
