The Birth Of Alta June

I am finally getting around to writing about the birth of my beautiful new baby!

I went into labor at 3:30 in the morning. My contractions were 15 minutes apart for the first 2 to 3 hours. It took me awhile to know if I was in labor for sure because I was progressing so slowly. At about 6:00 I called my midwife and told her I was in labor. There was lots of snow from the huge snow storm we had the day before so I wanted to be sure she made it in plenty of time and I was thankful we had decided to have the baby at home so I didn't have to drive anywhere in such weather.

I labored in the tub most of the morning. My midwife arrived at about 7:30 and a neighbor came and picked up the kids at 8:30. It is funny, Troop woke up, saw me and wouldn't come give me a hug. He did not know I was in labor but he sensed something was different. It made me kind of sad to send my baby off with out some luvs.

This labor was so different than my last. I expected it to go super fast because Troop, start to finish was 4 hours. I progressed slowly and my contractions were not getting intense. I kept saying, I hate to complain, it is nice that things are not intense but come on lets get this show on the road!!

I get back labor and Jathan is usually pushing on my lower back super hard with each contraction. Well I was given a Navajo Sash from Jathan's Uncle Julius when we got married. It was used back in the day when Navajo women would labor. Jathan got an idea to tie it around the post of our bed so that I could use it for a back support and push against it to relieve some of my back pain. For my intense contractions Jathan still had to push on my back but it worked wonders for most of my contractions!!

I was in and out of the tub a few times, walked around the house, used my Navajo sash, went back in the tub, and so forth. Finally I was at a nine and thought things would surely start moving but still, I was not ready to push. I got back into the tub and I think the baby moved positions a little because finally my contractions started getting stronger.

The midwife broke my water and after about 7 minutes of pushing my little baby was born. Oh this time around pushing was crazy! Troop came flying out of me after one push so I was totally spoiled with that labor. She had a much larger head than he had and she must have been in a funny position as she mad her way out because the poor little honey had bruised blood shot eyes and her face was all purple. But man when she came out she was ticked at the world for taking her from her nice warm home! She was just a screaming!

Here is my wonderful sash I used for my back labor.

Here I am practically swinging on it. I just pushed against the post and laid all my weight into it. Jathan was thankful too because usually he is exhausted during my labor, pushing on my back as hard as he is physically able. He got a little break.

And there she is! Totally ticked!! Sweet thing!

How cute is this? This is how they weighed her, hanging in a blanket over my bed connected to a little scale. She was born at 11:57, weighed in at 8 lbs 2 oz. and was 20 inches long.

The kids were so funny when they came home. Troop wouldn't come into my room for a while. When he finally did he asked me "What is that thing?". Zanna was excited to meet her new sister but her hair still had vernix in it and Zanna was not pleased that she was "dirty". But after a little while they were both smitten!

Having the baby at home was so nice! I really loved it! It was so calm and peaceful and comfortable. I loved not having to go anywhere after the baby was born. Loved being in my own comfortable bed and especially loved not having to go out into the crazy snow with my new sweet baby. I think the biggest thing I missed about not being at the hospital is simply not having my kids crawl on me all day long ;)

Oh here is a fun little fact about Alaska. The national average for births out of a hospital is less than 1%. In Alaska over 30% of births are at home or in birthing centers. Interesting eh?

Zanna Turns 4!!

My little girl is 4!!!

We let Zanna open her presents on her birthday, then had a party for her a few days later.

She loved her horse... she loves anything that has to do with horses. Mostly she likes to try to ride her new horse. I am amazed it has not broken yet.

She also got a cute little doll that can ride on top of her horse.

Jathan is always teasing these kids! Here he is pretending he loves the doll and Zanna is fighting him for it!

Zanna had a few of her little lady friends over for a butterfly birthday party.

It was s fun day! I got online and found some cute ideas for activities to do with the girls.

We did the life cycle of a butterfly, so first they pretended to be caterpillars and squirmed all over the floor. Then each girl got a turn getting wrapped up in toilet paper to become a chrysalid, after they were all wrapped up they broke through the toilet paper and became a butterfly and flew around the house. Once all the girls had a turn we made little headbands with antennae and they each got those little party favors that curl up and then blow out. This was suppose to be like the butterflies curly tongue.

I think they all had a fun little time. I wish I would have taken photos of the girls all wrapped in toilet paper and photos of them making their headbands.

Happy Birthday my beautiful Zanna. We love you SO MUCH!!

No training wheels!

Zanna graduated from balance bike to her two wheeler this summer.

We got a nice neutral color so Troop doesn't have to have yet another pink hand-me-down from his sister. It took some persuading for Zanna to want to ride the yellow bike. She had her heart set on pink but now she thinks it's the bees knees!!

We kept the training wheels on for about two weeks. We took the training wheels off and at first she was unsure but after a few days there was no stopping her. Now she gets all tricky and tries to bunny hop (the neighbor boys are teaching her these fun tricks) and she stands up on her pedals while she coasts.

It was SO FUN to go on bike rides as a family and have her on her own little pedal bike. We went to a friends house for dinner one sunday afternoon and she and Jathan decided to ride bikes there. It was about a 2 mile ride and she did awesome! I was so proud of my little lady!

Troop LOVES BIKES and now cruises around on the balance bike like a little pro. I will post some photos of him soon!

Just for the Hal-i-but.

We had the most wonderful oportunity to go Halibut fishing in Seward with a Gregg Stephenson, a guy in our ward. Gregg and Jathan are hilarious together. It was so much fun to get out onto the open sea for a full day. The weather for the most part was overcast (welcome to Alaska). But the views were absolutely breathtaking (welcome to Alaska :) !!

The kids had such a fun time playing on the boat and watching the water. Zanna liked to stand out on the deck and let the water splash up and hit her face. Poor little lady got sea sick about half way into our journey and was threw up a few times. She was such a good sport though. She kept saying her throw up hurt. She laid down on the couch and fell asleep for about three hours.

I was getting a little sea sick myself. My stomach was just a little un-settled and since it was time for Troop to take a nap I snuggled him on the bed they had below deck. We both fell asleep for about three hours as well!! Something about the rocking of the boat made me sleep like a baby!

While we slept Jathan and Gregg enjoyed fishing and caught two good sized Halibut. It was a slow day for fishing but I am thankful we caught some! And let me tell you... they are delicious. Jathan prepares Halibut much better than I do, and he whips some up for us about once a week. We are almost out and I want to cry!

I took about a thousand photos!! Here are about 3o of them ;)

Zanna being a silly lady!

I LOVE this photo of her!! She had a blast hanging out on the bed below deck.

"Captain Willie"

Jathan Cheesing if for me!

Jathan falling asleep... instead of Troop!

Jathan was making the kids laugh SO HARD. All over a water bottle. I don't even remember what he was doing with it but they found it hilarious!!

There is the water bottle...

There was the most beautiful rainbow. It was breathtaking!

I Love this shot

The fam

Troop looks so handsome in this picture. I love his pouty lips. This poor little boy fell while he was walking up the steps in the boat, tripped and smacked the corner of the step right between the eyes.

Jathan's catch! Mmmm.

There was a seal eating on an octopus. I wish the zoom on my lens was a little bette.

Here it is again.

Try not to be jealous of my large pregnant booty! Isn't it just beautiful... the scenery that is ;)

Jathan getting artsy with the camera. He thinks to take photos of things I would never think to.

The wonderful Tamy Lynn! Named after Greggs wife.

I am a total poser! I did not catch this fish... but had to have a photo with it!

Troop hanging out in the cart while we get all our stuff off the boat.

Gregg teaching Jathan how to process a halibut.

I love this photo of Jathan toting the kids around. They were having a ball.

We had such an amazing time on this trip! I am so thrilled we were able to go. I must admit... I was feeling a little lazy and tired and wanted to just let Jathan go. Waking up at 4 AM for the three hour car ride to Seward after having a late night of setting up for a holiday bazaar did not sound all that enticing to me but I am so SO glad Jathan made me cowgirl up!!

THANKS GREGG!!!