Playing at the Astill's

A moment to brag...

I have the best in-laws a mother can ask for. Besides the fact I know they would do ANYTHING for us at anytime- I know Mckell loves playing at their house and they keep her entertained from start to end every visit. Kell has so much fun at the Astill's that she usually misses her nap and passes out the minute we put her in the car. She has their full attention while at their house and she definitely takes advantage and has them do whatever she wants from building towers for her out of blocks over and over so she can knock them down to running in circles for hours around the couches saying 'get you' and 'you got me'. I feel truly blessed to have them as in-laws and love the fact I know they just adore my kids and will play with them for hours on end.

One day Mckell had Allison help her make 'soup' outside- she was soaking wet after and had a blast doing it.

Allison was such a good sport and would try Kell's soup when asked.

Looks like her soup consisted of grass and dandelions- yum!

So full of curiosity..

Trying her soup for herself

Another day, Grandpa Astill had Mckell help him plant and do some gardening. He'll play with her for hours in the backyard- pointing to things and teaching her what stuff is and she just loves it. It's pretty dang cute to see how much she loves her grandpa and I'm pretty sure she has him wrapped around her little finger.

And this is what happens on the way home from playing at the Astill's.. She's so tired she can't even eat her corn (which is her current favorite food).

Getting bigger...

8 days old

Are you kidding me! Look at that cute little smirk- LOVE IT. Every once in a while he opens his eyes and gives us a smile or two.

He's for sure a sucker baby- loves his fingers, hands, and binki.

Such a wondering face

7 days old- 1 week, time goes by so fast

6 days old-

snuggling with mamma. Still insisting on holding and cuddling him all day long, just can't get enough of this newborn stage.

5 days old

I swear he changes more and more everyday. We can't quite decide who he looks like. At first we for sure said Courtland but now we're thinking he's more of a mix- what do you think??

4 days old

This is about all he does all day long- sleep, sleep, eat, poop, and more sleep. We're just loving being parents of two chitlins!

Proud big sister

2 days old

Home from the hospital and just 2 days old, so tiny. He already looks so different to me.

Proud daddy and his boy

Video of Mckell meeting Jason for the first time

Leaving the hospital

Getting ready to head home from the hospital..

When he is awake, he makes the most serious faces- but he does actually have some cute dimples when he gives a little smile, I haven't been able to catch a picture of it just yet.

Sucks on anything he can

We decided since Mckell was feeling a little better by Tuesday she could come meet her new baby brother. She thought he was so 'tute' and gave him lots of wet kisses.

But she only likes to hold him for about 5 seconds before she's done..

He looks so tiny in his carseat- and those chicken legs! I don't think Mckell's legs were even that small.

All packed up and ready to head home finally.

Funny name story:

So Courtland and I debated back and forth for hours Monday night trying to decide on a name. We finally decided we both liked Colter and that was going to be his name. Then last minute we looked at another list of names and really liked Tyson. So then we were undecided AGAIN. We are HORRIBLE at making decisions! So we decided we'd sleep on it and see what we thought in the morning. But then, we completely forgot we hadn't given him a name by the time we were all packed up and headed out of the hospital. We had to get our baby back out of his carseat and sat and debated for another two hours deciding. I woke up really liking Jason but Courtland was still wanting Colter, so it took some growing on Courtland but we did FINALLY decide and his name officially became JASON COURTLAND ASTILL!

More Pictures from the hospital

Just some more pictures from the hospital stay.

Because Mckell was sick, Courtland was gone a lot taking care of her so I got lots of alone time with just Jason which I didn't mind at all- I just snuggled him all day long.

Great Grandma Critchlow came by to visit

Love his ity bity feet

Seriously this kid sleeps ALL DAY LONG. I barely see his eyes for maybe 30 minutes TOTAL a day.

Introducing Jason Courtland Astill!

Jason Courtland Astill
05.01.11
7lbs 5oz
19.5 inches
born at 12:40pm

He was a bit swollen when he was born- I think he looks completely different now.

Grandma Astill

Aunt Natalie and dad

Grandpa Astill

Grandma Rabe

Grandpa Rabe and mom

So precious, you forget how tiny they are, I just hold him all day long- to the point where Courtland's getting a little worried I'm too attached and obsessed not ever letting anyone else hold him for very long before I have to get him back.

Pre-Labor Happenings:
So we had a busy week packing and cleaning our apartment in Provo. We finished everything Saturday and loaded up a Uhaul to move all our stuff up to Courtland's parent's garage (they're so nice to let us store ALL our stuff there this summer). After my mom and I finished cleaning the apartment we drove back up to Layton and I immediately changed and drove to Riverdale to eat dinner at Texas Roadhouse with my friends. After dinner we went to Ali's house and were just talking forever as we girls do (mean while the whole time Courtland and my dad were calling and texting me to get home, worried I'd over done it that day and I needed my rest). I finally left Ali's house just before midnight and headed to my parent's house (where we're living for a few weeks before we move to Jersey for the summer). I was ordered to go straight to bed without being allowed to shower- I was still gross and greasy from packing and moving because I didn't have time to get ready before meeting my friends for dinner.
Labor beginnings:
At about 12:30am, Mckell woke up crying with a temperature. No surprise, that girl is sick every other week! Courtland snuggled her for the first hour or so and then I took a turn. I got her to sleep about 3:00am and laid back down in bed. I thought I started feeling some contractions and only counted two that were eight minutes apart when...
GUSH!!!! My water definitely broke- and there was a ton of it. I changed my pants four times before I finally gave up on staying dry. I was trying to find my stuff I wanted at the hospital- but because we had just moved up and our stuff was everywhere (I was not prepared at all) I had to give up and just head to the hospital.
I was supposed to be induced the next day (Monday May 2nd) in Provo by my doctor when he was supposed to get back in town. And since he was gone, we just went to McKay Dee Hospital instead.
The Hospital:
We got to the hospital and got all checked in and settled in our delivery room. I wasn't really feeling the contractions at that point and actually asked if I could go back home and get ready- ha! But they of course said no even though I was only dilated to a 1.5. About a hour later I was definitely feeling the contractions (about 2 minutes apart) and asked for my epidural. But they always take forever- next time, I'm getting it first thing! I progressed much faster than with Mckell and was a 10 and ready to push at 10:30. I pushed for about 2 hours and out he came!
I was super exhausted from the week prior and not getting any sleep the night before. I wasn't sure I'd even be able to push him out, I was so tired. But everything went well and he is finally here! We are so happy and just eating him up!