Talmage is 13 months

The day of Talmage turning 13 months he decided to walk 6 or 7 steps.  He has done more.  I thought he would be really walking by today but he's had a cold so I'll cut him some slack.  :-)  This video was that day.

Talmage at 12 months

Happy first birthday little buddy! Some things about Talmage:
-I nursed him completely until 12 months.  Hooray!  I'm very proud of myself.
-He loves solid food.  He is NOT a picky eater.  He even likes tomatoes.
-  Within a week of turning 1 I weaned him and he is doing great w/ whole milk.
-He likes to play peekaboo
-He is kind of cranky at home.  He doesn't like being downstairs.  If downstairs I have to hold him.  He likes to be upstairs w/ all the toys and usually breaks out in a grin while walking upstairs.
-His brothers still adore him.
-Somewhere in his 11th month he decided not to slither on his belly to get around but started crawling on hands an knees.

19 lbs 10.5oz (7%)

29.75 in (44%)

I decided that we would attempt taking his 1 year pictures b/c I didn't think he'd smile for anyone else.  We are very happy w/ how they turned out.  (These tracks are broken and are not in use)

He did alright w/ his cake.  I wanted to make him a healthy cake. It was gross but he still ate it.  :-)

Talmage at 11 months

Talmage had his first stomach bug and vomitted on our last 6 ours of our drive home from Utah.  He also mananged his first cut by walking alond the furniture.  He hit his head on his eyebrow.

Talmage at 10 months

Holy teething!  His 7th and 8th tooth came in.  The are on the bottom, on the outside of the two middle.  He had his first long drive to Utah to meet all the family and he did pretty well.  He likes holding on to our hands and walking.  He has finally starting grinning big for other people.  He does however, start fussing when strangers hold him.

Talmage at 8 months

At 8 months Talmage has 6 teeth. Holy cow. The other boys didn't get their first tooth until 7 months so to have 6 teeth at 8 months amazes me. Thankfully he doesn't use them on me very often. That is another thing. I feel so blessed to have been able to nurse him exclusively this long. The longest I did was Luke until 6 months and then one time daily until 9 months.

Talmage is giving the boys more smiles which they love. He is much like Douglas was as a baby. It was near impossible to get Douglas to smile and laugh. I can get Talmage to smile and laugh easier but other people have a much harder time. It's almost impossible for someone outside the family to be able to. He is an even tempered baby.

 When I first introduced some solid food at 6 months he wasn't interested and made lots of faces. These last few weeks he is way interested. He only eats solid food once or twice a day though. He likes avocados, pears, green beans, sweet potatoes, prunes, peas, carrots, and apple. At dinner he has to be eating w/ us or he is not very happy. He'll watch our food intently. For a few weeks he's been waking up at 3-4am and I ignore it. The last couple days he's slept through that and wakes around 5:30am to eat. He is no where near crawling. He doesn't like to be on his belly. We LOVE our Talmage.

Talmage at 6 months old

Talmage turned 6 months on February 20, 2014.  It was a rough few weeks for us.  He was cranky and waking up more at night and it was killing me.  I started worrying I wasn't making enough milk.  (I don't believe that anymore).  I'm still not quite sure what the deal was. I'm guessing it started w/ his 6mth growth spurt and he got stuck in the rut of waking up so much at night.   He sits up now.  It's nice to sit him up and put toys around him.

He looked great at his checkup.  His percentiles continue to slow but we all expected that.

15lb 15.4oz (16%)

27.5" (78%)

I LOVE his pointy tongue.

Talmage is 4 months

Talmage is 4 months old, as of December 20th.  He was still drooling like crazy and Grandma discovered his first tooth (bottom middle).  He decided sleeping 12 hours was overrated and went back to waking up once or twice in the night.

At his 4 month checkup he weighed 14lbs 5.3oz (37%) and was 26.5" long.

Talmage, 5 months

Talmage had his first cold this month.  Luke got it and of course can't stay away from Talmage so he got it.  It's so sad to see a baby stuffed up.  We elevated his crib a little and are running the humidifier in his room.  Poor little guy.

Also, his second tooth appeared just after his 5 month mark.  I also saw him roll over from his belly to back for the first time.

Talmage is 3 months old

Talmage turned 3 months old on November 20th.   What can I say about sweet Talmage.  His percentiles continue to drop. He's about 13.5lbs.   He's been waking up on his own in the middle of the night and I'm fine with that.  Sometimes he wakes around 3 and others 5 or 6am .  He loves to have people pay attention to him.  He has started giving short laughs.  He smiles more than laughs but I sense a belly laugh is just around the corner.  He keeps losing his hair and its driving me crazy!  He will sleep anywhere if he's held.  He loves to be held or in a wrap.  He's such a great baby.  We are working on his head/neck control.  I hold him outward now and sitting up so he has more time to hold his head on his own. 

Sweet Tally-wag 2 months

Oh we love our sweet Tally wag.  I started calling Talmage that in the hospital.  I got it from scally wags, arrhh matey.  Anyways, Talmage just turned 2 months old.  The logistics first.  He dropped percentiles in weight.  SURPRISE!!!  No. Not really.  All the boys start out big and then percentiles drop by 6 months to the 5% and then head up from there.  The doctor isn't concerned and neither am I.

12lbs 8oz (69%)

24 in long (82%)

 

Lets see...some things about Talmage.  He is an amazing sleeper and has always been.  At 2 weeks he was doing 4-6 hour stretches at night.  At 4 weeks he was consistently doing an 8-10 hour stretch at night.  And at 2 months he sleeps 11-12 hours at night.  He only cries when hungry or tired.  He is a peaceful boy.  If I had to describe Talmage with one word it would be Peaceful.  He's just beginning to consistenly keep eye contact.  It's not all the time yet.  And he's just beginning to smile more.  Again, he is a content, even kill baby.  Not happy, not sad. 

 

There's not much else going on b/c he sleeps most of the day and night.  I cherish the rare moments where I get to hold him while he's sleeping, ie Travis is home and busy w/ the older boys.  I commented a few weeks ago that one of the VERY best things in life is baby breath. I love it's slight sweet smell and the little puffs of cool air from his mouth while he sleeps as it hits my cheek.  I love baby breath. 

 

Talmage's baby blessing

September 29, 2013 was Talmage's baby blessing.  He wore the outfit that Douglas and Harrison wore that Grandma Hill made.  I asked Grandma Hill to bring down a hat because poor Talmage's hair pattern is that of an old man's right now.

 

 

Talmage and his grandparents.  Dean doesn't like holding babies and since he positioned himself in the middle he got the honors.  It made him even more uncomfortable taking pictures than usual.  ;-)

 

Talmage and Grandma Hill 

 

Let's take a moment to truly appreciate the next picture. 

Grandpa had to hold Luke to contain some of his bubbling personality. I love his facial expression b/c he gives faces all day long. (click to make larger)

 

Me and my 5 guys.  I'm a lucky lady to be surrounded by such good looking men.  :-)

Wanna be photographers

I wanted to see if we could get decent newborn shots before I paid for a professional.  I only want them for his baby book and I think some of these will work.  Which ones do you like the best (top 3)? We might try to do an indoor shoot to.  So honest opinions.

1

1b (same as 1 but color variation and crop)

 

 

 2

 3(same as above, just diff coloring)

 4

 5

 

6 (same as above w/ different crop) 

 

7

 

8 

 

9 (same as 8 but diff color)

 

10 (same but diff color) 

 

11(same but full color) 

 

 

 

 

Talmage Rexford Hill

I went in Tuesday the 20th to be induced.  My due date was the 21st or 22nd.  I went in before my due date because my labors are so fast and we wanted to make sure I had plenty of time at the hospital.  I was very uncomfortable and irritable the last couple weeks, more than I was with the other 3. 

We were there by 6am and I was 4 cm dilated.  I wanted my water broken to start labor.  I wanted to avoid pitocin (which I did).  So the doctor broke my water at 7:35am.  When she did her exam she said, "The head is small.  I don't think he'll be very big, maybe 8.5lbs".  I said, "Really?  I feel like he's big, like he takes up the whole space."  She said he probably was then b/c she trusts the moms feelings.

The anesthesiologist gave me a combined spinal/epidural.  I'd never had one before and it was uncomfortable.  After that I laid down on my back.  They wouldn't let me turn and I got nauseous and dizzy fast.  So the nurse waved the salts or something under my nose and the anesthesiologist put some other medicine in my iv.  After a couple of minutes I felt good, real good.  I was warm and sleepy and perfectly fine.  The contractions came fast and were like 1.5 to 2 min apart and I didn't feel a thing.  After about 30 min they slowed down to 2.5 min apart.  The nurse was helping in another room and it seemed like she was hardly there.  I wanted this baby by 9:45 so it could be another 2 hour labor but I felt so good that I also though, "oh let me enjoy this a little longer." ;-)  It was probably at 9:30 that some feeling came back and I became aware of the contractions.  Travis and I were wondering what was going on, how dilated I was etc.   At about 10 the contractions were uncomfortable but not painful and they moved down so it was heavy in my bum so we called her in.  I was a 10 and she had me do a test push.  She said she'd call the doctor.  The doctor was coming from another hospital so we had to wait about 10 extra minutes and by then I could really feel it and thought I probably should be pushing.  Then the doctor came in ready to go.

She changed her opinion and said the head was big and that she was going to have to cut.  Anyways, I probably pushed for 10-15 minutes.  I did have a mirror to watch but between my legs, the doctors shoulder, and closing my eyes during the pushing, I didn't see his head come out.  I saw his head in the opening but that was it. He came out sunny side up.  The doctor said his chin was pointed up and his head was the only thing that kept him in. He was born at 10:37 am so overall a 3hr labor. When she pulled him out the doctor and the nurses were commenting on how big he is.  I held him for a little bit and then they took him away.  They first announced his length which didn't surprise me b/c it felt like he took up the whole area.  Then they took guesses on the weight.  All along I was thinking maybe he'd be 9lbs 6oz.  The doctor guessed 10lbs 2 oz and then they announced he was 10lb 3 oz and I was shocked. 

The below picture is my face when they announced it.

He nursed the first day really well.  30 min on one side and 10-15 min on the other.  Today has been bad b/c he just wants to sleep.  I hope he wakes up more to eat.  I'm a little worried about his weight loss.  The boys love him.  My back is sore and I'm tired. 

He didn't have a name the first day b/c we weren't sure if we wanted it to be Talmage Rexford or Rexford Talmage.  I tried calling him each and Talmage felt better than Rex.  Why Talmage?  When I was 9 weeks pregnant I was at church and heard a quote from James E. Talmage and had an experience unlike any I've had before. Rexford is Travis' grandfather's name.
 I know many people don't like the name Talmage.  I don't quite understand why.  It's like Harrison to me.  It's a last name as a first name.  Travis says, "Its not like it's 'Apple' or something like that."

Talmage Rexford Hill

10 lbs 3oz

21.5 in long

10:37 am  

 

 I only include this picture because when I look at this picture I can't believe all that was inside of me.  Well, of course I can b/c it was very uncomfortable but geesh it's weird to think that all of that baby fit inside me.

 

 

 

Great news

So much has happened since the last post and I don't feel like reliving it all so I won't.  ;-)  The following picture will explain the most important update.

We are expecting baby number 4 August 21st.  Okay, so I'll be induced sometime in the days before.  This little fellow was happy to say hello to us today.  Look closely.  He is waving at us and smiling.  I swear you can see his little smile.

So yes, it is a boy.  I had an experience at church about 3 weeks ago and I KNEW it was a boy.  The last 3 weeks have been preparation for me to except the "official" news today.  The sonographer came in and asked if we wanted to know the gender and we said yes.  She started the sono and as soon as the baby came into view she said, "Boy.  Without a doubt.".  The doctor came in later and did a sono and confirmed it, not that I expected any different.  I knew when I walked in what they would say.  I have no earthly idea why I must have 4 boys, in a row nonetheless.  I'll find out one day.  I've decided that since this is "old news", as far as the nursery, colors, clothes, etc, that I am going to change it up.  I'm going to give him a new nursery and I'm boycotting blue as the main color.  I'm also going through ALL the boys clothes I own and giving away any clothes that I don't LOVE.  I have pinned lots of fabulous boys clothes and I plan on making at least 20 different things for him in different sizes.   

Let me answer the standard questions I'm sure I'll get.
1.  Yes we tried for a girl.  CLARIFICATION:  we wanted a 4th CHILD but were physically trying for a girl.
2. Yes I'm a little disappointed but really, I'm fine.  I tell you, Heavenly Father has been preparing me for 3 weeks. 
3.  I'm 90% sure we are done after this baby.  The thought of having 5 children makes me ill.
4.  I still maintain that we make the cutest boys EVER.  ;-)

So, here's to 4 little boys.

Oh, we had cupcakes with a blue filling to announce the gender to the boys.  This morning we told the boys it would either be pink or blue.  Douglas all day would say, "I know it's a girl.  Why would Jesus give us another boy."  Poor kid was a little dispointed when he bit in and found blue.
We told Douglas to give us a thumbs up.  Poor little guy looks like he might cry.