Oops

Happy little baby!

He is discovering his hands...they are making their way to his mouth on a regular basis now :)

GO PACKERS!!!

And of course Buck deer pajamas!!!

...its been awhile, sorry about that. We have been busy getting ready for Christmas. Brad and I set up Christmas lights outside and then we decorated the Christmas tree. Henry now has his first ornaments (one that says Baby's first Christmas and one that says Grandson's first Christmas). Henry has been growing like a weed. We did a unofficial weighing and measuring and he is up to 14 pounds and at least 25 1/2 inches long! We can't believe how big he is already. He is only 3 months old (3 and a half now).

Thanksgiving

We made the trip to Idaho, by pickup ride, for Thanksgiving with Kate's side of the family. It was exciting for Henry to meet his Great Grandmas and Grandpa, see his Great Aunts and Uncle and meet some cousins, plus see everyone else :) Jeff and Camille (who are finally engaged) Grandma and Grandpa Berry, Aunti Manda. Amanda was able to see the real difference between Henry now and Henry when he was born :p Will post pictures when the camera comes home (Brad took it to work to get some photos off).

Henry did AWESOME in the car, not really too fussy until right before we got there (about 15 minutes away) and right before we got home (about 5 minutes away). We took our time getting back, stopping at Cabellas so Brad could dream. It was fun until we looked outside and saw the storm starting...so we had to feed Henry and change him and then up Donner we went. Brad was glad we took the pickup...just in case there was snow. We made it home safe.

We put up Christmas lights outside and are decorating the tree sometime this week. I am excited. Christmas is my favorite time of year for decorating :) making goodies and spending time with the ones we love. I am making pumpkin pies and an apple pie. I have never made pies before, from scratch!! I am excited!!!

2 month check-up

Getting ready to cheer on the Vandals as they were about to play Fresno State...GO VANDALS!!! (Unfortunately Henry didn't help the Vandals win)

Red and Henry hanging out...Red wants all of Henry's toys (they are more fun than his own)

BIG smile!! 2 MONTHS OLD

SO once again Henry has surprised us on his weight and height. He is 24 inches long (75-90 %), 12 lbs 9 oz (50-75%) and his head circumference is 40 cm (50%). Overall he is in good health. He did fairly well with his shots...only cried hard for about a minute. It was heartbreaking for me because I couldn't warn him that it was going to hurt...and then the nurse gave him his 1st shot and he took a very long breath, which let out when she gave him his second shot. It was definitely a cry I had never heard (hurt). Then I picked him up and he started quivering his bottom lip while crying...then he stopped. We made it through and now Henry is sleeping off the pain.

I can't believe its already been two months!! He has changed so much from the first day of meeting him.

1st date...

without Henry! It was so nice to go out on a date with Brad again. It was weird leaving the house without Henry but we made it through dinner without calling Eric/Trisha...we trusted they could figure out Henry, plus its great practice for them...given they want kids someday :) They said Henry was a little fussy but then had a bottle and fell asleep.
Henry was really concerned about us leaving him with "strangers"...

Henry relaxing with "Aunt" Trisha...he loves his babysitters!!

Hanging out

We went pumpkin picking...Henry was hanging out with the pumpkins

Henry's first smile on CAMERA.

About to fall over...just can't quite keep himself up all by himself yet.

Staying warm :) not that he really needs to here right now...with the weather being in the mid 70's to mid 80's.

Henry has been waking up very happy...all full of smiles. He is so cute when he smiles. I just can't wait to hear him laugh, hopefully in the next month or so...is he going to have the Kate laugh where he laughs with his whole body or the Brad laugh??? Henry goes in for his immunization shots on Monday the 9th, along with his 2 month check-up. I am not looking forward to the shots and Henry wouldn't either if he knew what was coming.

For Halloween, (the day before) Henry and I went to a mommy & baby party...where Henry slept the whole time because it was during his regular nap time (11-1)...but woke up just in time to meet some other babies (girls ooohhh). It was fun, and nice to meet some other mommies with babies and hang out with Chandra Vines (she is due at the end of December). Then on Halloween Henry and I went to the Witty's house to hang out. Henry was a little fussy, Brad was on his way home from Boise (he went with the Spartans team for his fly away trip with a client...the Spartans didn't do too well)...Brad came over after he got home and we hung out, played a game and then headed home. It was a very nice Halloween. Next year Henry will be big enough to dress up :)

Meeting Grandma & Grandpa Berry

Proud Grandma Berry holding Henry for the 1st time.

Proud Grandpa Berry holding Henry for the first time...and he was awake :)

Diana and Don were finally able to swing by on a trip to meet Henry. It was so exciting. Mom held Henry and then Henry spit up on her...and anyone that knows mom knows she doesn't do well with spit up or anything that smells...weak stomach. Other than that, Henry was sleeping on Don while Don patted his back, and Henry liked it. Don is very good with babies :p Now they will get to compare how big Henry is at Thanksgiving.

Henry in his own room...

for almost a week. Henry has been sleeping in his own bedroom, just down the hall and mostly sleeping through the night. According to the doctor 6 hours is sleeping through the night and he has been (most nights). Its glorious to be able to sleep those six hours except our other kid, Red, likes to jump up on the bed sometime during the night and causes us to wake up to either move over and make room or to kick him off the bed and back to his bed.

Henry has been exploring the state a little bit. We went to Fresno last weekend to watch the Spartans play the Bulldogs...wasn't a pretty sight for the Spartans. We, Henry and I, left at halftime. We stayed at the Gerlach's home where Henry got to visit with a 7 month old. Henry played with his toys and read his books. It was great fun! It was also very exciting to where Henry might be in 5 1/2 more months. Lucas was much more active and playful. We are excited...but not rushing the time we have with Henry at almost 7 weeks old. Red went too and got to run around their backyard...drinking the pool water because it was there :) even though there was non-chlorinated water about 10 feet from the pool.

This weekend we are headed up to Reno to watch the Vandals take on the Wolf pack, hopefully winning. It will be a tough game and Brad is excited to be able to wear Vandal gear and cheer on the Vandals with all his might! Henry will too! okay, he will probably sleep through the whole game...but in his heart he will be cheering for the Vandals.

1 month check-up

Getting some belly time...

Just hanging out...with my new toy from Matt and Kathy Witty

I am getting too long for my Newborn clothes

Such a cute little face!!

SO...Henry is a chunky monkey. He is now 10 pounds 2 ounces...already!! He is 21 1/2 inches long...grew a whole inch in a month. He also got his second Hepatitis B shot...which he didn't like. I am not looking forward to the next appointment because thats when he gets his first immunization shots.

Go Vandals!!

So the family...the Poe's & Grandpa Pat & Char all came to San Jose to visit, meet Henry and go to the Idaho/San Jose State football game.

Pat & Char, Les & Karen, Stefanie & Delilah, Ray & Tannya, Dave & M.A. were all here. We hung out, everyone got to watch Delilah and Henry hang out together for the first time. They were so funny! We really should have put them together before this...but we just kept running out of time. We went to dinner at Original Joe's...Italian. It was the best Italian food most of us had had.

It was so exciting to have everyone at the football game. Henry and Delilah both went to the game and did very well. They both had to eat during the game...Delilah didn't like the loud cheering but other than that she and Henry did great. Brad had to work the game so he couldn't sit and cheer on the Vandals. He did very well containing himself to not cheering for the Vandals and cheered for the Spartans. The Vandals ended up winning the close game at the end...29-25. It was a great game...nail biter at times. After the game, we waited for Coach Akey to come out so he could sign Henry's little Vandal outfit but it was just taking too long and Henry was hungry. So we went back home, started the firepit up...Uncle Mike, Aunt Kim and Rachel came over to hang out. It was a great time!

Grandpa Pat and Char stayed til Monday so we got to hang out a little longer. We played Yatzee and Marbles...it was fun. Henry was a little cranky because he didn't sleep much all day Sunday...too busy hanging out with family. He slept well Sunday night. He said his goodbyes to Grandpa Pat and Char then went to the doctor. It was so good for Grandpa Pat and Char to come down and meet Henry. He is so small and it will probably be March before he gets to see him again!...besides in pictures.

Hanging out with family

Hanging out with my Aunt Stefanie!

Grandpa Pat finally came to meet me! And he loved me so much :)

My Great Aunt M.A. came down from Santa Rosa to hang out. I soon fell asleep in her lap.

My cousin Delilah and I finally got to hang out!! And we love each other. She was talking to me and I was trying to hold her hand (and punch her in the face. Her legs were going and my arms...together we could get somewhere :)

Henry was sleeping with Red (his brother) after everyone left. Finally, Red got his couch back.

Visitors

Uncle Homer came to visit...with Judy and Alila. They just didnt' want to give Henry up when they had to leave. It was great for them to meet Henry!!

Daddy and Henry at the Golden Gate Bridge...Henry's first trip and he slept the whole time :)

Grandpa Cudaback and Henry hanging out watching tv...we were so happy they were able to come and visit.

Henry hanging out in his jungle...crib :)

And finally, Red and Henry together...with help from Daddy

Paul and Rhonda (Grandma and Grandpa Cudaback) came from Casade, Idaho to visit and meet Henry. We had a great time hanging out. We went up to San Francisco to hang out and see the Golden Gate Bridge..but it we was pretty foggy...sorry Rhonda. We then went down to Pier 39 to look around and check out a submarine. Henry was awesome...he slept almost the whole time, almost missed the Golden Gate because he needed to eat. We then went to Santa Cruz to the beach where Henry only got to see for a few minutes because he was hungry and so we sat in the car eating while Paul, Rhonda, their dogs, Brad and Red hung out at the beach. It was so hot in San Jose, but when we got to Santa Cruz it was in the high 60's. We walked out on the pier and bought some candy. Henry slept the whole time and was plenty happy hanging out. We are so happy they came to hang out. It was fun. We made burgers, grilled pineapple, a cucumber salad, corn on the cob, and then sat by the firepit and roasted marshmellows...made smores.

Henry also made his first football game debut...the SJSU v. Cal Poly...SJSU won. Henry did awesome and is ready for the SJSU v. Idaho next weekend. He slept the majority of the time...woke up for halftime to eat and the whole third quarter then slept til we got home.

Henry also had Uncle Homer, Judy and Alila come visit from Cloverdale. We were excited to have them come down. They loved Henry and didn't want to let him go...Judy wanted to take Henry home. Alila was afraid to hold him at first and then didn't want to hand him to anyone else :)

Settling in nicely!

Henry is settling nicely into our family. Red is awesome with him...but I think a little upset with us because Henry gets to go everywhere (even when its hot out) and Red has to stay home for now...I am not comfortable taking Red with Henry just yet by myself. Red likes to have the backseat all to himself and now he has to share with Henry so we have to wait to see what happens when Brad and I can both take them somewhere.

Brad has been peed on, had Henry poop while he was changing the diaper onto the blanket :) we have experienced our first explosion out of the diaper (in the firefighter outfit just a few minutes after I took the picture)...and Henry lost his umbilical cord last night! So now he has a cute little belly button!

We have made adventures around the block with Red and he acts like he has been couped up for years: Running around like a spaz and whatnot (luckily Brad has ahold of him). Red is still enjoying his day time rituals with sleeping all over the house and out in the sun...so he hasn't really been affected since Henry came home.

Brad has been busy at work and also not wanting to be at work and be home with Henry and I. Henry and I went to visit Daddy at work and to let Brad show off his little boy around the department. Everyone thought he was just oh so cute! All we can think is DUH!!! Of course he is :p

Henry's jaundice is getting better...the whites of his eyes are turning the white they are supposed to be so he should be good to go!! No more GLOW WORM baby!!!

Couple more photos

Grandma and Grandpa hanging out in the hospital with Henry

Mom and Henry sleeping on the couch...Henry has a cord coming out because he has jaundice pretty bad and needs the phototherapy.

I am ready to watch the Packers beat the Bears!!!

Henry is doing great, slowly waking up on his own...the jaundice makes him very sleepy. He has had to be with the bilirubin blanket (phototherapy) since thursday but is getting better. Dr. said he should be back to normal in a few days. He was weighed on Saturday the 12th and he already weighs more than his birth weight. 7 lbs 10 oz. We have a chunky monkey on our hands.

Red is doing awesome with Henry. He likes to sniff and sometimes lick his feet but other than that Red is more concerned with what is in the car seat carrier or if he can have Henry's stuffed animals.

We took Red and Henry for their first walk together last night. Red had been couped up all week and was ready to be out of the house/his own backyard. Henry fell asleep and Red ran around like the retard that he is.

Pictures of our Henry

Sleeping baby after his "snip snip"..he was such a trooper. Didn't hardly cry and came back hungry and ready to eat.

Henry being checked over right after coming out of the oven :)

Weighing in at 7 lbs 9 oz.

Henry Dean Poe

Well, our little wonder finally joined the world at 5:17pm (1717 military time) on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. He weighed in at 7 lbs 9 oz and was 20 1/2" long.

We<> was in labor for 10 hours. We went in on Monday evening to be induced...they put some medicine up behind my cervix to help me start to dialate. I was experiencing pretty consistant contractions at 7 am tuesday...4 mins apart lasting about 1 min. The doctors gave me some pitocin to help get the contractions closer together. I was dialated 3 cm at 8 am...by 11 am I was dialated 5 cm, then at 1 pm I was dialated a full 10 cm. I was ready for baby to come out. We tried pushing then, but Henry's heartrate would drop too much so we had to wait for Henry to make his way down the birth canal by himself...the doctor suspected maybe the cord was wrapped around his neck. So about 4:45 pm the nurse asked what we would like to do...try pushing or wait for Henry to keep coming down on his own...I said "I want to see/hold my baby." So Amanda had one leg, Brad had the other and together we pushed...I could feel the contractions even though they gave me an epidural...I couldn't lay on my left side because Henry's heartrate would drop...so the right side was getting all the medicine. So when it came to pushing I knew when because I could feel the contractions. I had to lay on my right side between contractions to help Henry get his heartrate back up from pushing. We did it!!! Henry came out with a little help of the vacuum extractor but doesn't have a cone head or a bruise from it. He has beautiful blonde hair and very big hands!! He has such a grip and is barely 3 days old.

I will post pictures in a little bit. We are having lunch soon...and Henry will too :) Sorry for the delay...

Brad and I are doing great for first time parents...having only had Henry home for one night so far. He is the most beautiful baby boy! He was healthy and happy to join our family. We have been busy trying to figure out what to do with a newborn. Henry has been doing really well.

ONE WEEK LEFT!!

So, just got back from the Dr's office...I am still not dialated but still softening. We talked about inducing and when Brad and I would like to see our baby. Well, it looks like if baby doesn't make it's debut by it's due date then we are going in on MONDAY (LABOR DAY...go figure, being in labor on labor day :p) Sept 7th at 7:30 pm so baby should be born sometime on Sept 8th. Brad asked if we could wait one more day and get induced on the 8th that way baby's birthday could be 9-9-09...but then we would be home by friday and he would have to worry about work and all that. So needless to say I am very excited that next week I get to hold our baby...and our lives change forever.

Amanda is coming to visit for a week maybe, Les & Karen will be here probably Monday morning, Stefanie and Delilah will be here on Saturday...OH BOY!!! Its going to be so much fun!!
Nothing left to do but wait, so the week is going to go by slowly for me and not slow enough for Brad...seeing as he has to get all prepared to be out of the office for a few days.

Brad and I are going out on our "last date" before we are parents either tonight or tomorrow. We still need a little romance even though my belly is huge and I am very uncomfortable!! But it will all be worth it when baby comes out and Brad says "Its a ..."

Baby Delilah Jean Toews

Welcome to the world little darling!! I just wanted everyone to see Stefanie & Josh's beautiful baby girl! "She is growing so fast" by Stefanie yesterday.

Karen (Grandma) pointed out that our kids may be the same age-off by a month or so but they might be in different school grades because of the state age requirements to start Kindergarden. That will be fun though because then we can celebrate Delilah's graduation one year and then the next our baby's. SO it might turn out to be a good thing that they are born when they are...unless baby decides to come out before the 1st of September.

Brad thinks Delilah has Stefanie's nose and ears :)...and Josh's eyes and mouth

2 weeks left...maybe

Well I just had my doctors appointment and she said that I am thinning (uterus is softening) but not dialated...which is still normal. I guess that just means that Baby Poe won't be coming early this week.

Brad and I are super excited. Brad and I have been getting the house ready...cleaning the carpets, mowing the lawn, getting Red brushed, trimmed, and bathed. I made some lasagna and chili to put in the freezer to help us when we come home and don't feel like cooking.

We are more than ready to meet our little one. Stefanie has been sending pictures of our neice Delilah...and we are ready to send some of ours back :)

3 weeks til the due date

OH boy are we ready to meet baby POE!!! Stefanie had her baby girl, Delilah Jean, on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 8:53 pm. 8 lbs 2 oz 20 3/4". Brad went up to visit her in Spokane this last weekend...I had to stay home because I am too pregnant to fly. Our timing on being pregnant at the same time wasn't the best because I couldn't be there when Stef had her baby...but she will be here shortly with Delilah to meet the new addition to our family!!

We now have to start preparing to go to the hospital...packing bags, making sure Red is taken care of while we are at the hospital. I have had a few Braxton Hicks contractions, that I know of anyway, and next week the doctor is going to measure me t see how far along we are :) in dialation/effacing. The house is mostly ready for baby to come home! I think I want to meet baby more and more with each passing day. I have had a great pregnancy and like being pregnant but I am ready to meet our baby.

When Brad came home from Spokane he said he is all the more ready to meet our baby!! He is ready to rock and roll (changing diapers and cuddling)...when we shall see when baby wants to make its debut to the world!

The 3rd baby shower

The last baby shower with my family in Payette in July. This was the Baby cake that Aunt Debbie made...it was so adorable. It was sooo good to see my family since it had been December since I had seen most of them.

We talked, chatted, gossiped...the whole 9 yards. Aunt Lori gave me the "Take the drugs" advice...which I might have to take her up on it. Then Amanda had all of the ladies draw pictures of the NEW Poe Family. They all felt like they were back in 1st grade...GOOD JOB Amanda! The drawing were very good, only a few remembered RED.

Baby got some more cute clothes and a very cool quilt from Great Grandma Patterson, a travel swing from Great Grandma Cudaback. We are super excited to use them all! Speaking of the swing, RED wants to figure out what is making that sound! He has been busy clawing it, trying to figure it out (which we then have to tell him NO, that is for Baby) and then he stares at it with a cocked head...its SOOO FUNNY! We are turning it on every day so that Red can get used to the sounds it makes and not want to claw it...for when baby is actually inside it trying to sleep :)

The 2nd baby shower

This baby shower was in Moscow in June. I had to put up the one with Aunt Snefanie measuring me because she couldn't cheat and put it around herself :) I had a great time visiting with all my friends and seeing them again...it had only been since March but I sure do miss them! They rubbed the baby belly and we had a great time guessing what physical characteristics baby was going to have from each of us...I think the best was 7 out of 20 (they had to guess what I thought baby would get).

We loaded up on watermellon because I don't have it at home much because no one else will eat it with me...but I had plenty that day! Lyndsay had had one of her friends make an adorable jungle cake which was quite tasty. Baby got more gifts...Jen and Colby got baby a couple Vandal things so that made Brad very happy!!

After the party, I stopped by our old neighbors...Eric, Cassie and Avery...we sure do miss them. They were always great neighbors. We visited for awhile and they showed me what their new neighbors had done to all Brad and I's hard yard work...it was depressing to see. After that, I headed up to Farmington, Wa to say hi to Jen, Cory & Charlie Lisenbee. It had been since Dec since I saw them. It was great to see them...boy oh boy has Charlie grown into a very cute little boy!! We visited for a couple hours and then I headed up to Spokane to hang out with Stefanie and Josh. We talked for a couple hours and then went to bed...got up the next morning to help Stefanie put together the baby crib (Brad and I have the same one and we had already put ours up). It was much easier the second time around :) Then I headed home to see my family! Brad and Red came to pick me up at the airport...Red's head sticking out the window with ears flapping. Red sure did miss me during the day.

The 1st baby shower

This was the one in May in Twin Falls...I just had to put up the monkey diaper cake. It was just too adorable. The shower was great fun because Stefanie and I shared the party. We had fun watching all the ladies guess how big we were...come to find out we were about the same size. We had plenty to eat, even though Auntie I dropped a HOT pan of food on the floor. Sarah made the cakes, a jungle for me and a ladybug for Stefanie. It was fun seeing all the baby stuff (Stefanie and I realizing how is all this stuff going to fit into our cars when we go home...and Brad saying, well if we had a pick-up we wouldn't have to worry about it.)

Brad, Red and I traveled from San Jose by car....whoa was it a long drive. Red was very good even though we made him cramped with some of the baby gifts in the back seat with him. We will do the drive again with our baby in December for Christmas. Brad is more excited about going hunting, skiing, and hanging out with his dad (Papa) than he is about Christmas...which may change once we meet our baby in about 5 weeks.

Pick-up truck family again

Well, Brad is back to being himself again...he grew out his facial hair and then we got a pick-up. He has been going through such withdrawals that it was getting pathetic. Brad is as happy as a clam now. We don't have to take things out of boxes to put them into the car, we can haul things around for people. Brad just couldn't be happier.

We are now proud owners of the F-150. It was kinda funny that we traded in Brad's pickup for a car and then my car for a pickup...who would have thought. I was sad to see the Red car go...it has been a good one for me...but the happiness of my husband is much more important than a red car.

31 weeks along now

WOW!! Its been a busy couple of months...I can't believe we only have 2 more to go until we meet little baby POE. We have been getting the baby room put together slowly. We are only down the the practical stuff left to get...and one more baby shower :)

We had the baby shower in Twin Falls with Brad's family and friends...sharing with Stefanie who is also due soon..August 5th. We had a great time. I got to talk about babies and all that girly stuff and Brad and Josh got to go golfing and shooting with Les and the guys. IT was a very much needed time away from San Jose. Red had a good time as well...even he and Riley got along great being at Grandma Karen and Papa's house.

Then, I flew to Spokane and had a baby shower in Moscow with all my friends. We had a great time. It was good to see my other family again. I miss them so much...and I got my belly rubbed many times :) something that doesn't happen here too often.

Next, I am flying to Boise to hang out with my side of the family (and the baby shower of course). I am very excited and Brad is sad that I will be gone for almost a week...Red and him can have time to bond :)

21 weeks along!

This last weekend we have put together the glider chair for the baby room. Brad was having fun using his power tools. We have finally decided on a crib and dresser/changing table and hope to order that this week.

The second trimester ultrasound went great! It was amazing to see how much baby had grown since the first time we saw baby in February. Its been so much fun being pregnant. I can't complain hardly at all. I haven't been sleeping very well lately but other than that baby and me are great! Brad got to feel baby kicking last weekend! He was super excited. His eyes lit up as the baby kicked his hand softly :) The baby moving inside me is the most amazing feeling! Baby has been moving a lot more, which is exciting!!

Pregnancy is great!

So far, I have not been that affected by being pregnant. I do have my occasional bad days of throwing up and just wanting to sleep. Brad has been very supportive of me...getting me water or crackers to have in bed.

We are 13 weeks along and can't wait to feel the baby moving.

When we went to the doctor last week, we were not able to hear the heartbeat but we did get to see our baby for the first time. It was amazing how small baby is. I cried when I saw baby and Brad was happy to see our baby.