Happy 2nd Birthday, Boston!

Happy Happy Birthday to our little puppy, Boston!  I can't believe he is already TWO.  I can no longer say that I have 2 kids under 2.  That was short-lived :)  Since we have had a lot of family in town, he has had a few celebrations.  I'll post from all the birthday love he got from the past couple weeks!  And of course, I'll sneak in a few of Elise and her visitors.  I have to give a shout out to both of our families for all their help since Elise is born.  Thank you guys for coming in and cooking, keeping my household running and spending time with Bo, while we all get adjusted be being a fam of 4 :)

Here's birthday party #1 with the Bern's.  

 BUZZZZ!  (as Boston would say) from his JoJo and Norby!

 Faith and Bo

 Plasma Car from Aunt Ninny

 Billy and Jennifer meeting Elise for the first time

 Boston trying to dig into his cake before he even blew out the candles

 Clapping and Smiling - what a cutie pie!

 Bo and his MaMa. (and his blue mouth)

Now we switch to the Cassidy's trip in town and Jan and Scott came in for the day on Saturday. 


Jan and Elise 

 Scott and my Dad

 Omi and Elise

 Omi and Boston watching a movie - too sweet!

 Dun Dun Duh Duh!  Boston got his very own trampoline! Thanks Omi and Papa!

 PaPa and Elise

 Papa, Omi and Elise

This is from today on Boston's actual birthday.  He loved his birthday balloon.  I sent mini cupcakes to daycare for their snack time.  His teacher said the kids sang Happy Birthday to him 10 times.  Too funny!

 Then at home he got a celebration with an Elmo cookie!

Elise's 1st week

Elise was a week old yesterday and today was my actual due date. I have a bunch of pics on my phone, so I thought I would do a quick post full of pics. This little love bug is so sweet. She barely cries, which is pretty amazing. I think she's also already used to how loud it is around here. This morning (at 6am) Boston was poking his head over the top of the pack n play we have set up in our room, yelling BABEEE, BABEEE! This chick didn't even flinch!  I'll do another post soon with more pics I've taken this week with my actual camera!


1st Doctor appointment and 1st time to wear a BAB (big ass bow).  She got a great report at the Doctor.  At 6 days old, she has already exceeded her birth weight at 8lb .5oz.

Sweet big brother giving his lil sis a kiss!

I LOVE this!  I forgot how great it is to have a tiny bundle of joy all curled up and asleep on your chest!

Smile or Gas?

Silly big brother saying hi after his bath!

I LOVE this pic!

Elise's 1st bath at home!

Elise Cassidy Bern is HERE!

We are proud to announce the arrival of Elise Cassidy Bern!  God has blessed us with the most perfect healthy baby girl.  It truly is amazing how your heart grows when you hold that new bundle of joy for the first time.  Big brother Boston is doing well!  It will take some adjusting to being a family of four, but I'm sure we'll get the hang of it.  Yesterday he gave her a few pats and said 'Hi Baby'!  It was really sweet.  Today he wasn't quite sure what to think when he came to visit.  He really didn't want much to do with her.  I think it will get a little easier when we get home.  Little sister bought Boston a present today.  It was a Bus with Elmo and The Count.  He LOVES's buses.  Every truck/bus/18-wheeler (basically anything really big) is a Bus and he yells it "BUUUSSSSSSS".  


Here are our love bugs birth stats:

Born: 2.15.12 @ 1:17pm

Weight: 7lb. 15 oz.

Length: 20.5 in.

This labor/birth was WAY easier than last time around.  They are almost the exact same size (Boston was 7lb. 13.oz and 20.75 in. long).  You can see Boston's birth post here.  I think they look a lot alike.  Ok...back to a short version of the birth story without TMI :)  With Boston my epidural wasn't working quite like it should at the end, so I felt EVERYTHING.  And folks, it didn't feel good.  This time I learned my lesson.  I was given Pitocin at 6am and my doc came it to break my water at 7am.  I was feeling the contractions pretty good as we were getting close even with the epidural, so I asked for more meds (about noon).  The Anesthesiologist came in and gave me a higher concentrated dose about 30 minutes before I started pushing and then I gave myself an additional pump of meds about 10 minutes before it all started. I really hate the way my legs feel so numb, but the alternative is a whole lotta pain, so I'll take the numb legs!  And on to the best part...I pushed for maybe 10 minutes and our sweet angel was here.  I couldn't believe it and I didn't feel a thing.  I know someone wants to slap me in the face right now for bragging about this, but trust me, it was way different with Boston, so I feel like I deserve to brag this time around :)

So, finally to the good part!  Enjoy some pics of our sweet Elise!

Getting measured!

 Giving her footprints

 Daddy and Elise

 Mommy and Elise

 Just after bath time

 Hanging out with Daddy

 Elise and JoJo

 Bro and Sis (and Boston's BUUSSS)

 Boston and Elise, again!

 Boston being silly 

 My angel and me

 I love this one!

 Yawning

 This one is right after she was born and she's got some junk still on her face, but it's too stinkin' cute not to share :)

The Burkharts came to visit!

 Mama kissing her baby girl

 1st ride in the car coming home from the hospital!

Last Post as Bern. Party of 3.

I can't believe sweet Elise is almost here!  I thought I would give a little update on my pregnancy since the next time I will post will be with the announcement that Elise has made her big debut to this world! 

We will be checking in to the hospital tonight and I will be getting induced early tomorrow morning.  About a month ago, I was put on moderate bed rest due to high blood pressure.  The same thing happened at the end of my pregnancy with Boston and all was fine.  This time around, I have been diagnosed with another condition called Cholestasis.  We figured this out because I have some crazy itching going on all over my body and this is the main side effect.  It's pretty miserable.  I have all kinds of medicine and none of it really works.  It happens in 1-2 of every 1000 pregnancies.  Basically, your gallbladder filters bile acid through your body and in this case it stops doing that properly. The result is that it ends up in your blood stream which can then affect the baby and baby's kidney's.  I know these are worse case scenario, but the effects are pre-term birth or even still birth.  That's pretty scary!  So, my Dr. has decided to induce a week early.  I have been going in for fetal monitoring every few days and I'm supposed to make sure she is moving around a lot each day.  That is also scary!  I don't like being in charge of that, so it will be a big relief to check in to the hospital tonight and be monitored by the pro's :)  I believe they will give me Cervidil tonight (that ripens the cervix) and then break my water and give me Pitocin in the morning.  Please say a prayer for a seamless (and painless would be amazing) delivery and a healthy baby girl!  Assuming all goes as planned, she should be here tomorrow!

We're ready to meet you, Elise!  Bring it on!!

This is Blake and I out for our last hurrah dinner this weekend and a sweet pic of Bo.  He has no idea how his world is about to change!

I almost forgot!  Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!  Blake and I will be spending a romantic evening in Labor and Delivery, ha!  We will be getting the BEST little Valentine EVER (just a day late)!!