January through March

This year has been pretty packed for our family, as evidenced by our lack of posts. I wish I would have made the time to post about January through March before Max came, but I'll just have to do so now.

In the two pictures above, Peter and Luke were playing basketball with a new Christmas present from grandma Ce-Ce. Below is Luke making his huge snow-wall/fort, and Peter peeking through.

January was my sister Samantha's birthday. Her roommate made her two gorgeous cakes! One to share with the FAM, one to share with her apartment!

Peter being his cute and funny self.

Peter at his friend Jane's house. Jane's mom' Han is so cool, she made a fort out of a bedsheets for them in Jane's room!

There's nothing quite like a sleeping baby.

Luke's brother Caleb's birthday was in February. Their dog K.C. was celebrating hers too!

Me and my two cousins were all pregnant and due within weeks of each other. This is at my cousin Amanda's shower. She's on the left, Lizzie's in the middle, and I'm on right.

The bumps up close. Each has since turned into a healthy baby boy! Thank you, Heavenly Father!

Again, my perfect boy, kicking back and getting some shut-eye.

January through April several moms with 2 1/2 year olds in my ward decided to do a little preschool group. We met once a week and each of the moms took turns teaching. It was so fun!

My sister-in-law, Lauren (Caleb's wife) was also expecting their first little boy. Due just a week ahead of me, she had him a day after her due date, and 10 days later our little one arrived. Best cousins for life!

This is at her shower. The wreath she's holding is made of crayons, in memory of Lauren's grandma.

Here's Peter playing on the swings with his friend Brigham.

Luke's parents got us a family zoo pass for Christmas! We tried it out in March, I believe.

There's a little cave area where you can view the rhinos up close while they're eating. They're so huge!

The enigmatic lynx.

A tiger. I couldn't believe how close you can get to the animals! The zoo has changed a lot from what I remember as a kid. They're currently working on an open Savannah area where the elephants and giraffes and such will be able to roam free with each other. Due to be finished next summer. Sounds pretty cool to me!

Peter loved watching this monkey. It kept walking back and forth in front of him, right next to the glass.

Peter and Jane having tea. Ha ha! This should be with the fort pics.

Me, big and pregnant in my bathrobe, feeding Peter his breakfast.

For Valentine's day Luke got me roses and put them in this dressing jar, having designed the labels himself. So awesome! Love that boy. Man. Guy. Whatever.

Another of Luke's snow creations, this one a tunnel, created at his parents' house. We got so much snow this year!

Adorable boy in his toy box.

Sorry, these pictures are all jumbled. Here are a few more of the snow wall.

Me and my boy.

Peter was my little buddy! It kind of makes me cry sometimes to realize that I don't have as many of these moments anymore. We still try to get them in when we can, though.

Peter liked to pretend he was having a baby too, sometimes. Amazing how much the real tummy does actually resemble a balloon...

Probably the coolest moment at the zoo. The polar bear kept coming and nosing all the way up the glass wall in front of Peter.

Peter and Luke holding the newest addition to the Perkins clan--Cache!

A lovely loaf of sourdough bread.

Peter happily watching his movie, now that it's finally the weekend!

up to 7.4.2013

Max's blessing day

Max fresh out of the tub

My parents bought Andrea a bow, and Caleb made her a set of arrows. 

Peter gave it a try.

Max relaxed with Grandma CeCe.

Sunny morning breakfast at Grandma Perkins' house.

It's so cute how they arch their backs like that. 

No pajamas; it's been hot lately!

4th of July at Liberty Park with the Williamson cousins!

This is the funnest park I've ever been to and it's completely free and open to the public. We had so much fun watching the kids play!

Peter loves getting soaked.

Alanna has worn this swimsuit for the past 3 years apparently. She's a cutie.

Paul has a great smile.

Little Blaze

Jackson playing the giant chime things

Paul rocked out as well.

Andrea and Sarah on duty.

Sarah is very loving to her newest nephews. 

Blaze getting ready for a water fight

Peter got right into the action

Jackson vs. Peter

James jumped in to help.

Someone squirt Max. Mommy had to comfort him

Peter was just LOVING that gun!

I remember doing this. I can still remember that new plastic taste.

Peter's turn

Dad and Sarah.

Max's Amazing Birth!!!

This is Luke writing. 

This morning at 2:00 a.m., I woke up to Andrea awkwardly getting in bed after a trip to the restroom. I had seen those movements before . . . "Are you in labor?" I asked. "Yeah, I think so," Andrea said, "but let's wait 45 minutes or so before we do anything just to make sure."

45 minutes later the contractions were still coming and we decided to ready the troops. I called the Wright home and Mom picked up and said "hello?" and I said "Good morning," and she said "yaaaay!" ---I'm doing a little too much detail here, I'll speed things up---

Around 4:00 Mom and Dad Wright arrived. Dad was staying at our apartment to take care of Peter and Mom was coming with us. Andrea felt like we should get on our way to the hospital, so we quickly gave her a blessing and headed out. 

We arrived at the hospital near 5:00. Andrea had been having contractions all the way there but hadn't made a peep, so I was worried that somehow things had slowed down. When we got to the parking lot I said "Do you think we ought to walk around a bit before we go up to get admitted?" She said yes, so we walked back and forth down a long deserted hallway for the next 45 minutes or so. I could tell that the contractions were getting stronger, but I still didn't think they were being very productive because Andrea was so in control. 

Near 6:00, she told me she would like to go up and see where she was at. I was doubtful that she was very far, but she's the one doing the work so I didn't argue. We checked in and as we were getting her into her gown before she was checked, she said "I can't do this. I want an epidural."

That was weird. Andrea is pretty pro-natural childbirth and all of the sudden she was ready to toss it out the window. I don't think I minded. Heck, it would be easier for me to watch if she wasn't in pain . . . but do you let your wife just give up her ideals like that? I asked her "so . . . what am I supposed to do, say "great" and get the epidural, or is this something I should be a tough guy about?" She said she didn't know and then we went out and got checked. 

Now get ready for this:

The nurse goes "Woman, you're at 8cm!!!"

aaaaahhhhh!!! Neither of us could believe it! How on earth could she . . . the last time it took like 16 hours to get that far . . . and now after 4 measly hours during which Andrea had not made a sound, she was at 8cm. 

Needless to say, that boosted spirits and we didn't need to talk about the epidural anymore. We moved into the delivery room and she labored on her side for like a half hour. She looked like she was sleeping. Then the midwife showed up and had her labor on a ball for another half hour. At this point, Andrea started to . . . breathe more loudly. After that, the midwife said maybe she should rest on the bed for a while. Then they broke her water. Andrea continued to make deep breathing noises . . . I was wondering if we had just plateaued or what. Were we just going to be at this stage for another 5 hours or something? It didn't seem like the really big contractions were coming from what I could see.

We helped her through some heavier contractions by pushing her knees/upper legs perpendicularly into her pelvis. She said that helped quite a bit. She still wasn't screaming though. 

After 15 minutes of this, the midwife checked her and calmly said "well, I think in three good pushes we'll be done."

Excuse me? 

EXCUSE ME?

You've got to be kidding me! She hasn't even screamed yet . . . 

Well, we leaned Andrea up on a squatting bar, and then she had 3-5 big pushes. She did scream at this point ;) We keep chuckling about how she screamed "HELP!" during one push (It's so sad, but for some reason it's so funny!)

Anyway, that was it. 

It was done. 

Max was out. 

After 6 hours it was all done. And here is Max:

Andrea is amazing. We have talked about labor and delivery a lot since the last time we did it. We even had one conversation where I talked to her about how she really needed to make a bigger effort to not show her pain because I couldn't handle it (I'm cool huh?). And look what she did! I love her so much. I can't help but feel like she did all of that for me, so that I wouldn't be scared, and so that I could have a good experience. And I did. An amazing experience!

And look at this baby! 8 pounds 9 oz, 20.5 inches, and completely beautiful!