Meet Mr. Brylen Daely!

He's here and is now 12 days old...Yes time flies!

My baby boy was born Saturday April 21, 2012 at 10:20am. Weighing 8 lbs, 5 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches and we love every last bit of him!

We spent 3 long nights in the hospital, mainly for my recovery and I have to give a HUGE shout out to Clayton and my mom! They took shifts, helping so much as I was unable to get out of bed quickly or sometimes at all. Clayton took on the daddy role like a pro, changing diapers and learning to swaddle our little toad perfectly ( I actually didn't change my first diaper until he was 5 days old). For this I am grateful and it makes me love him that much more, he is such a wonderful daddy and Brylen loves when they get to snuggle after he gets home from a long day at work.

We got to leave the hospital when he was 4 days old, it was a Tuesday and for April, it was HOT! The drive home was short, but I still sat in the backseat watching that little bundle the entire way.

Our first week went great. Yes we were tired and all of this was so new, but everything just fell into place and I don't know how we ever lived without those coos and cries. My mom and Dad both stayed with us and helped out around the house & Clayton's Mom, Dad, Sisters and Brother in Law's came to visit daily and fell in love a little more each time.

Brylen is now 8 lbs 12 ounces and 23 inches long and growing. He eats and sleeps like a rock star (knock on wood) and really is the perfect baby. He is always so content and only fusses if he's hungry, needs a diaper change or a burp. He loves his swing and his bassinet and his puppy. He makes the cutest faces and noises and each day we see small changes in the way he looks and acts.

Mommies hand and Brylen's large foot!

Clayton and I are settling into this new life as parents, the best job in the world and to quote my favourite song (see side note at the bottom) "We'll make mistakes there's no doubt, but loves one thing you wont live without...cause you own a place in our hearts now".

Side Note: When I was first pregnant with B and before most people even knew, I was lucky enough to see the CMT Tour live at the Esplanade where I work. Deric Ruttan, Dean Brody and Aaron Lines. At one point, during a very intimate part of the show, Aaron Lines dedicates the next song "to anyone out there who may be expecting right now" and OH MY GOODNESS, I felt like he was talking directly to me and that the entire theatre now knew my secret. As I sat at the back of the theatre, I listened to him sing that song for the first time ever and it took everything in me not to start crying. That moment will be with me for life and that song is Brylen's song, I sang it to him daily throughout my pregnancy and to this day. If you haven't heard it, go to itunes and check it out! I'll warn you in advance though, have a Kleenex handy! Aaron Lines "Haven't Even Heard You Cry"

The Journey to meet you-Part 2

This post comes to you from the comfort of my own home....ahhhh! What a difference a week and a half makes. As you can probably tell by the tone of the last post, I was not yet in active labor. Let me tell you, a few hours later things were a lot different.

I spent that afternoon watching tv and walking, or trying to at least. At 4:30, Clayton returned to the hospital with Subway, yum... (little did I know, I never would eat that sandwich). I was feeling the contractions, but still not to bad. We settled in for the night and I got up to use the washroom before dinner and BOOM....my water breaks! I actually found it slightly funny but Clayton turned white as a ghost and started pacing around freaking out while I stood there laughing....and so it began, the journey to meet you part 2.

From 5pm until close to 11, we sat in that room and dealt with the contractions as they started to come stronger and stronger. Clayton tried to stay distracted by watching hockey, while I made my way to the shower 3 different times, the only thing that seemed to give me any sort of relief.

At 11pm the nurse decided it was time to move us into the "birthing room"...dun dun dun! We must be getting close if were moving to the room where it all goes down! By the time we switched rooms and got settled, I decided it was time for shower #4....and when I came out the nurse asked again if I wanted to take something for the pain. I guess the anesthesiologist was there and if I was thinking of an epidural, now was the time. We discussed it and I decided to go for it. It had been 12 hours and I was getting tired. By the time he came in and finished, it was after 1 and although it didn't take 100%, the relief of the pain was wonderful and I drifted in and out of sleep every 5-6 minutes. During this time, the drip was started to try and get those contractions back on track. By 5am, I was starting to feel the pain again and asked for a top up. Lucky for me he was back and in no time I was 100% pain free, finally sleep, a solid 1.5 hours. I woke up and found my doctor back and the sun rising...back to reality! I still had no pain and had to ask if I was still having contractions. I thought for sure after all this time we must have progressed enough to start pushing and I knew I could do it, after all I couldn't feel anything!

I was checked again at 8am and was told not much had changed and that the babies head was still not engaged. That is when the first mention of a c-section came up....a c-section? really? I never expected to hear those words. I had spent the past 6 months working out 2 times a week and prepping for this birth and now they wanted to do a c-section? She decided to wait 1 more hour, check again and if nothing had progress to move forward with the surgery. That was the longest hour of my life and as the pain slowly started coming back, I was on board with this c-section idea...get this baby out of me!

Was I scared? beyond! But not as scared as I was at the thought of those contractions coming back!

Before I knew it, it was 9am and she was back. She checked and nothing had changed, so off we were. Wheeled into the operating room and prepped, which included more epidural! Ohhh how I loved the feeling of....nothing! Clayton came in, all done up in scrubs and looking about as scared as I felt. We sat there together for 10 minutes before they announced "You are about to become parents". The next sound we heard was pure joy, our little boys soft soft cries, and with tears in our eyes, there he was.

I never expected to go overdue, to be induced, to have an epidural or a c-section. My entire birth plan was turned upside down....but in the end, everything that happened lead me to you and you are worth all of that and so much more.

Mommy and Daddy love you more then words can say Mr. Brylen Daely. Welcome to the world!

The Journey to meet you-part 1

This post comes to you LIVE from my hospital bed! Today is day 2 of the dreaded induction process! Day 1 went not so well, basically meanin I felt no pain. As the old saying goes, no pain, no gain!

This morning we were back up here for 8am and the doctor decided to try cervidil instead of a stronger dose of the gel! This was a good thing because it's one step stronger but it means we are stuck here over night and there goes my plans for spending the first few hours laying in my amazing bath tub in the comfort of my own home! Oh well! It started off slow but around noon the lovely back and stomach cramps increased. As I write this, Clayton has just ran home for a rest and to pick up some items that I've requested and I am laying in bed watching the Calgary news, and staring at the awful looking hospital food that's just arrived. Who wants to eat Tuna Salad and Salad, from a hospital?!? Thank goodness there's a Tim Hortons in here :)

I plan on spending the next few hours sleepin and hope when I update this post I will have more exciting news!

Someones Mommy

Have you ever had the chance to go through a day, knowing that same day will never, ever be the same again? Probably not! Its rare that you know something like that ahead of time and even if you did, you probably wouldn't think about it until its to late.

Well, I have...today and tomorrow and the next day (if I even get that far). These are the last few days that I will ever be know simply as, Krista. Next Monday and every Monday for the rest of my life from this point on I will be someones mommy. That thought alone makes butterflies dance in my stomach with excitement and amazement.....someones mommy, words can not explain the feeling!

Its been a wonderful 9+ months and I have to admit I have had a more then ideal pregnancy. No morning sickness, heartburn, swelling, aching, nothing! I was able to work throughout, take 2 prenatal fitness classes a week until the end and basically live my normal life. If it wasn't for those kicks (and well, very large tummy), I sometimes would forget I even was pregnant. I feel lucky and blessed and I'm ready for part 2 of this journey to begin. I'm ready to meet my little man and show him this crazy but beautiful world.

It still shocks me that next week I won't be pregnant. Its been so long that I forget what that even feels like. To toast the end of this chapter, Ive created 2 lists-what I will miss and not miss after giving birth.

Top 5 things I will miss:

1. Those butterfly feelings and constant kicks letting me know someone is in there
2. Having my baby with me always (work, a pub, the shower). Places he will no longer be able to go.
3. Holding my hands on my stomach and feeling all those movements.
4. Listening to his heartbeat each week at the doctor.
5. Our trips to Dairy Queen- unfortunately those go when the baby comes! :)

Top 5 things I will not miss:

1. People's comments! I could write a "what not to say to a pregnant lady" book, seriously.
2. Having to pee in a cup every time I go to the doctors (although I have to say, I'm kinda an expert now)
3. Getting up 5 times a night to use the washroom!
4. Struggling to get off the couch, roll over in bed and get outta bed! Motivation to never get out of shape!
5. Not being able to walk for longer then 20 mins!

OMG, This picture cracks me up BUT, I can still see my feet!

41 weeks and counting!

Maternity Pictures

Well today finds us 4 days over due (that is if your going by what the doctors say). If you prefer to go by mothers instinct, then technically I'm not due for another 3 days, Monday the 16th. After all, that was my original due date and I've stuck by it all along, so we could be in for another week or so of waiting.

In the mean time, here are some shots from my 3 maternity photo shoots, taken by 3 great friends and edited of course, by me.

The first couple we took in Feb when I was 8 months. We had a quick hour and took well over 100 pictures.I think a handful turned out, here are a couple of my favs!

Courtesy of D.Hanna

Courtesy of D. Hanna

The next ones were taken during Kailey's (Claytons Sister) photoshoot in the middle of March. The sun was shining in the window and made for some pretty pics. We are due exactly 1 month apart, both with little boys!

Courtesy of K.Sprunger

Courtesy of L.Sprunger

These last few were taken at 40 weeks, when my dear friend Claire decided to visit from Calgary and cook for Clayton and I! Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, it sure was nice and of course being the wonderful photographer that she is, she snuck in some pics!

Courtesy of C. Masikewich



Courtesy of C. Masikewich




Courtesy of C. Masikewich



The Nursery

I had visions in my head of how the nursery would be before we found out the gender of our baby. I envisioned it off white, simple, antiquey and that I would bring in subtle hints of blue or pink. I didn't want a set theme and I didn't want it to be to "babyish".

We started off by clearing out what was once our spare room that we dubbed "The Futon Room". The least desirable room of our 2 spare rooms (the other one has a bed). Here is a before picture, although its from when we first moved in 2 years ago, so it was slightly nicer then this.

I picked out an off white (although it turned out to look pretty darn white) and Clayton painted! Side Note: If we ever decide to paint any room again, we will be hiring someone. We just do not have the patience or desire to ever do this again, as simple as some may think it is! This was completed back in November and from that point until now, I have been adding, moving and taking things in and out of that room.

Although he will spend his first few months sharing our room, his is for the most part complete. I enjoy going in there each night and just sitting and thinking about all the good times that will come, in that once plain and lame futon room.


His bassinet in our room.

  



The Abstract Mobile & Picture I made (thanks to Pinterest for my inspiration)

 

Don't mind the chair, the cushions are in being recovered!

Hospital bags and Toms!



Crib, Change Table & Blanket Ladder.

 




 





  

Blue Birds & Bubble Baths

I've created this blog for one main reason-To keep our family and friends up to date on what is new in our lives and to hopefully (although I promise nothing) avoid turing my facebook page into a "baby" book page! I hope to use this blog to post pictures and updates and to create memories.

As I write this first post, I find myself 2 days overdue with our first baby, a boy (so they tell us). I have been done work for 3.5 weeks and have finally found the time to sit down and get started on this project that I've been wanting to do for some time! With that being said, depending on how the next few days/weeks go, it could be a little while until I post again, let's hope not!

I hope you look forward to reading my posts, the same way that I look forward to reading the blogs that I follow. I hope to bring you happiness and lots of laughs as we start this journey and next (HUGE) step of our lives as parents. Sit back and enjoy, Our Life.

Our Famila! Mom, Dad, Baby B and our first born and fur baby-Koda Bear!