Al Turns 30

Al went all out for my 30th so I wanted to do something special for him.  I ended up buying him 30 different kinds of Root Beer from an amazing soda pop shop not too far from where we live.  I wrote down 30 different memories or things I love about him and tied them to the bottles.  I saw this idea on Pinterest but with Beer and spruced it up a bit.  When he walked down stairs he saw a big 30

Alex loved it and wanted to run around in circles around the Root Beer.

Al's birthday fell on Memorial Day this year and he ended up working.  We did the things we normally do which is watch Alex play and Cole get closer and closer to crawling and messing up what Alex is doing.

Later that day we took Al to hit a bucket of golf balls.  We brought Alex's plastic clubs too:)

How cute is this picture.  Al will love it when he has 2 little friends to play golf with.  This is why I need to have a girl someday.

We went swimming and had a BBQ at our friends.  Cole loooooves the water even if it's not warm.  He is seriously the best baby EVER!!  I would have 4 more if they were like him.  

Al pushing Alex and Hazel on the Alligator.  Pure joy going on in this picture

Alex, Hazel, and Sienna chowing down.

and that night we met a big group of friends at the Dodgers game.  

Right after this picture Al stood up to go get food and all 40 of us sang Happy Birthday to him.  

Alex and Sienna.  Sienna thinks she is Alex's mom and Alex listens to everything she says :)

An amazing birthday sunset.

Cole in his jacket I scored at the Splendid sample sale.  I've been waiting for him to be big enough to wear it, so cute!!

I'm not sure how we did it, but we made it to the end which was about 9:30PM.  Alex and Cole must have known it was their Dad's birthday or they share the same love for baseball that he does.  Either way it was a great day. Happy Birthday Al, we love you!!

Zimmer

How nice of Al to FaceTime us while he was golfing.

I decided to go back blonde.  Hopefully the girl that does my hair in LA never reads this, but it took 3.5 hours and I left with wet hair.  Talk about painful.

My hair is still not blonde, more like an brassy orange.

We went with some friends to the Zimmer Childrens museum on the West Side.  Nothing is easy to get to and parking is insane.  Zimmer is in a business building and it is also owned by the Jewish community. Mezuzahs are in every room you walk into and the Jewish star was on every toy.  Next time I might buy a yamaka for Alex so we don't feel left out.  

 Playing with Saige in the water.

Alex loved the ball pits. He was doing back dives off the boat into it. I feel like public ball pits are hard to find these days with all the germs and weird things associated with them.

If there is a kitchen near you will always find Alex in it.  He's obessed.

Our fun group with 4 2 year olds and little Cole :)  Afterwards we had a yummy lunch at Chick fil a.  It's probably one of the only Chick fil a without a playground.

Mother's Beach

Alex has a little kitchen my mom bought him for Christmas that is his favorite toy.  If you're watching TV he will set the kitchen right in front of you or on your feet.  I finally figured out what he was doing and he wants you to ask him to make you something.  

I finally got the courage to take away Cole's binky.  I was so nervous the first 2 days I wouldn't really go anywhere to far from home.  Nap time and bed time were a little painful the first few days, but he started sleeping so much better. Fast forward to 2 weeks later and he is sleeping through the night and taking 2 hour afternoon naps.  Best decision ever!!

Cole graduated to the hip hold.  This is my my favorite age with babies.  I just want to freeze him and squeeze him.

Al had a meeting for church one night so Alex got to hang out with Elle.

I told Alex to look at the camera and Elle jumped in front, love her.  She also thinks my name, Al's name, and Alex's name is all Alex.

I meet my friend Ashley a few times a week to run at the RoseBowl and I've started noticing regulars.  This is one of my favs right now.  

These 3 love to play in the back of Ashleys car before and after our run.

Alex is usually pretty good about going to the store with me, but this day he wasn't having it.  I had Cole in the Bjorn and Alex wanted me to hold him.  I finally broke down and bought him an ICEE which he didn't know what it was until I forced some in his mouth.  He was quiet the rest of the time.

I think he is deficient in sodium because I found him inhaling tortilla chips with crumbs everywhere.  He also loves Miso soup

We met some friends at Mothers Beach in Marina Del Ray.  Horrible picture and that's why I'm keeping it small :)

This beach isn't right on the coast but it's still really pretty and perfect for kids.  Alex could run in and out of the water and they also have a playground on the beach.  

On The 6th Day Of November

I've had these photos pending in a post just waiting for me to actually sit down and write something for the past two weeks which means Cole will be 3 weeks tomorrow.  I swear we just brought him home from the hospital yesterday.  The day before I was induced we went on one last walk around the Rose Bowl as a family of 3.  I wanted to try to speed up my induction so I thought walking 3 miles couldn't hurt.

Al's mom flew in that night to take care of Alex for us and before we went to the airport we got sushi.  I figured it was ok since I was being induced the next morning.

I was scheduled to get induced on November 6th at 5am.  I woke up at 4am so I could shower and do my hair.  Around 4:30 I had a voicemail that I luckily listened to and it was the hospital letting me know they were full and would call me when they had a bed that opened, worst ever.   I was so anxious it took me awhile to fall back asleep, but we slept in until 7:30 when the hospital called me back and told me that I could come in.  We got there around 8am and it took them until 10am to start me on Pitocin.  I was a little bummed because I didn't like my nurse that much.  She was all business and didn't know how to put an IV in.  It was more painful than my epidural and my wrist was bruised for a least a week after.  When my Dr checked me at 10:30am I was dilated to a 2 and that's also when she broke my water.

They gave me a time frame of when I could get an epidural which was until 11:30am. Otherwise I would have to wait until after a c-section was finished around 1:30pm.  I was a little annoyed because I think you should be able to get an epidural whenever you want.  I was also nervous so I chose 11:30am which ended up being around 11:45am.  Al and I relaxed for the rest of the afternoon and watched a lot of election tv while I ate jello, drank chicken broth, and water.  Side note all the nurses and Dr were amazed with my hospital gown.  Apparently customized gowns aren't a big deal in Los Angeles.  Must be a Utah thing :)

Around 4:00pm my Dr checked me again and I was still only at a 2 which was super frustrating.  She told me that it could be a long night and to try and get some rest.  I started to get anxious and a little emotional and that's when I started feeling contractions.  They started to get really really painful so we asked the nurse if the anesthesiologist could increase my epidural.  He was in a surgery so I had to breathe through them for a bit.  I kind of felt like I needed to push so I told the nurse and she decided to check me.  She told me I was dilated to an 8, she had me try to push and that's when she called my Doctor. The anesthesiologist showed up just before the Doctor and made the pain a little more bearable before it was time to push.  My Dr started telling me to push and I remember thinking I refuse to push for 2 hours again.  I pushed really hard the first time and then she said something like ok let's just do a few half pushes.   I pushed maybe 5 times and the last few weren't even full pushes and then Cole was born.  What an amazing feeling to see your baby right after they are born.  I don't think there is anything more beautiful.
  Right when Cole came out he peed on Dr Morrissey and had a really loud cry.  The experience was so much different than with Alex. I didn't have to deal with contractions for an entire day before I went to the hospital, I didn't feel pressure like I did with Alex before I had to push, and the best thing I didn't have to push for 2 hours.   If I had the choice I would get induced with every baby, loved it.  Al was supportive and amazing through the entire labor.  I couldn't ask for a better husband and I'm very thankful to have him by my side.  There was not a dry eye in the room and I think we were both in shock and extremely grateful at how fast and smoothly everything went.  We have truly been blessed.

Cole Ryan Cameron was born at 5:55PM and weighed 7lbs 80z.  Alex weighed 8lbs 5oz but was born at 41 weeks.

After Cole was born we had Shelly bring Alex to the hospital to meet Cole.  When they walked into the room he wouldn't look at me.  It was like he caught me cheating on him...lol  He finally decided he wanted to sit by me and Cole's foot brushed his side and he swatted it away.  Does this mean the  brother fighting already begins?  We had Cole give Alex a Pillow Pet Dream Lite which he loved.  We even turned out the lights in the room so Alex could see the stars.  He is still a little young to understand it all, but it was about how I expected.

Right after Cole was born Obama was re-elected, boooo.  Al and I told each other if Romney won we were going to name Cole, Cole Mitt or Cole Romney.

Cole's first bath.

1 Day Old with mom

Grandma Cameron

Our second night at the hospital was a little stressful when Alex came to visit.  I was a little relieved when he left so I could breathe again and try to understand how I was going to do this at home.

We had lots of fun visitors.  The Dannels family came to visit and brought yummy cupcakes from Dots.

Laura came who is also pregnant. I'm sad we couldn't share our cravings together.

The first day at the hospital Shelly brought Alex and we all had lunch together.  This is one of my favorite pictures.

Alex warming up to the idea of having a little brother.

Al changing the first diaper.

Sweet little Cole.

Skyping with Grandma Ranes so she could meet Cole.

Ready to go home.  He already outgrew his newborn onesie and is on his way with the pants.

This was my favorite nurse Utah who I also had with Alex.  I requested her both days I was there.  She brings you extra diapers and wipes to take home.  She also brings huge cups of pebble ice with lots of juice, love her.

We are very blessed to have two healthy little boys in our lives.