Back to School Feast 2016

This last Sunday was our second annual Back to School Feast!  I'm loving this tradition so far!  Avery planned out our night this year.  Earlier in the summer we were at Dollar Tree and she saw some Hawaiian Luau party items and so we got a bunch of stuff.  Avery also wanted all the girls to do a hula dance so she spent the week before making bracelets to match the grass skirts we had gotten at the dollar store.  The menu for the night was also picked by Avery, she chose hot dogs, cheesy Pringles, veggie straws, and grapes with strawberry ice cream for dessert.

We started out the night with our delicious dinner all decked out in our Hawaiian luau outfits!

After dinner we did our hula dance, Avery was adorable about it!  

Once the dancing was over we sat down so I could talk about our theme for the school year.  

This year I chose a section of scripture in Jacob 4:3

We talked about how exciting it was going to be to go to school and how much Avery was going to learn!  Avery told us that she was most excited to learn how to read!  I told her that even with all of the great things she is going to learn this year that even more important are the things she learns in our home and at church.  Then it was time for Avery to get a blessing for the start of the school year.  At this point Mary jumped up, ran over, and put her hands on Avery's head!  I cracked up and snapped a picture before we talked a little bit about the priesthood.  

It was a fun night together and I'm so excited for Avery's first year of school!  

I know she's going to love it and she is going to learn and grow so much.

Wyatt Jack Brandley-Birth Story

I always like to get these out early while things are still fresh in my mind.  Our second son Wyatt was born early this morning.  Here's the story:

At 1:27 AM I woke up feeling some pain in my lower abdomen.  I thought I probably just had to go to the bathroom so I got up.  When I stood up there was a gush of fluid!  I thought "well I bet that was my water breaking!"  I headed to the bathroom and a bit more of my fluid came out.  I woke up Louis and told him that I thought my water had broken, but I was going to lay down and see what happened.  He pretty much just rolled over and snored!  At this point in the night we had only been asleep for about 30 minutes so I don't blame him!  I laid down and tried to sleep until some contractions started.  That only lasted about 15 minutes until the contractions started though.  Once I started getting contractions they weren't unbearable, but I knew with my record we should head to the hospital anyway.  We put the last minute things into our bag, got our shoes and  I went in and told my niece Madison that we were heading to the hospital.
We got in the car and headed out!  My favorite thing and something that helps me stay the most calm during labor is watching Louis.  He gets so excited!  On the drive he was speeding a little bit and I kept telling him we're fine.  We're really fine you don't need to speed.  I think he was just too excited though!  He also was singing a made up song about having Wyatt and going to the hospital.  We got to the hospital and stepped into the elevator at 2:15 and got checked in at 2:18.  On the way to the room I was very blunt with my nurse.  "I have very fast labors.  My last two were only 2 and 3 hours long.  I have my second 12 minutes after getting to the hospital and my third an hour after getting to the hospital.  I have never had an epidural and I want one this time so please check me right away and then call the anesthesiologist."  She was so great and told me I deserved to get an epidural this time and she was determined to make that happen!
I got into the room and changed then I was able to get checked.  I was dilated to a 5 and she left to call the anesthesiologist while a second nurse got my info put into the computer and a third nurse got my IV started so we'd be all ready when the anesthesiologist came.
At some point after this I was checked again, I'm not sure how long it was after I was checked the first and I was dilated to a 6.    Then a nurse named Cazlyn came in and let us know that the anesthesiologist was in the building!  I was so excited!  I couldn't believe he was here and I was actually going to get an epidural this time around!  I'm pretty sure I gave Cazlyn a high five and asked if she was serious and that he was really there.  Since the anesthesiologist was in the building they had me sit up on the edge of the bed to get ready for him to come in.  I sat up and they were having me scoot over and that is when I think gravity got me from the 6 I was at five minutes before to a 10 and I could feel Wyatt making his way out!  I told the nurses what was happening and laid down on my side and asked if he really was coming.  Wyatt was indeed coming!  The nurses kept telling me just breathe, don't push!  Well I ignored them and pushed anyway.  I'm sorry the on call doctor wasn't there yet, but Wyatt was coming whether they wanted to be the one to deliver him or not.  It was at this time that I started pushing that Dr. Nelson the anesthesiologist came into the room.  Louis jokingly said "You're late!"  He stayed in the room for the whole 1 or 2 minutes I was pushing.
Wyatt came into this world at 2:50 AM, delivered by the nurse Cazlyn.  He was pink and crying and it was wonderful!  Mary and Ethan were both not crying when they came out so to have a baby be born and cry right away made my heart swell!  Dr. Nelson (the anesthesiologist) came and gave me a hug and said sorry he didn't get there in time and that even if he had gotten there 15 minutes earlier I wouldn't be getting numb until after the baby was here anyway!  So it did all end up working out for the best.
Louis was able to cut the cord for the first time since Avery.  Wyatt was able to be laid on my chest which also hasn't happened since Avery!  It was perfect.  The on call doctor, Dr. Olsen, didn't show up for a long time it seemed.  I think it was 15 minutes after Wyatt was born.  He delivered the placenta and made sure I didn't tear.  Then he was out the door!
Start to finish my labor with Wyatt was 1 hour 20 minutes with only 35 minutes in the hospital before he was born.  Wyatt was 7 lbs 15 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.  He has a decent amount of brown  hair and barely has a Brandley chin dimple at all!  He has been doing well and we have enjoyed cuddling him!
I was so so excited when it seemed like I was finally going to be getting an epidural, but things turned out the way they were supposed to.  For weeks I had been praying and praying that I would be confident in my body and my abilities, that I would be able to handle the things that I would need to, and that I would be able to stay calm.  Heavenly Father answered my prayers.  Throughout the whole labor I was able to stay calm.  With each contraction I would just close my eyes, lean my head back, breathe deeply in through my nose and blow it out through my mouth until the contraction was through.
Later in the day I discovered another blessing from our Heavenly Father.  The night before Wyatt was bor my mother-in-law Annette had asked what to pray for, that the baby should come tonight or the next day etc.  I just told her I was fine with him coming whenever he came.  Later that night though I texted her saying she could pray that I would have confidence in myself and I'd be able to handle what I needed to.  Annette had left her phone in her car, but around 1:30 (aka when I was going into labor) she felt like she should go out and get her phone.  So she listened to that prompting and saw my text and prayed for me at almost the exact moment that my labor was starting.  I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and a wonderful mother-in-law who listens to the promptings of the Spirit.

The delivering nurse

Ethan's birth story, click here
Mary's birth story, click here
Avery's birth story, click here

How I do it: Hospital Bag

It gets asked all of the time "What do you pack in your hospital bag?"  Seeing as I just packed my hospital bag a few weeks ago (I probably do it pretty early compared to others) I figured I would make a post about it.  Here is what works for me:

1.  The number one thing I always get together is toiletries.  I buy travel size toiletries because they are small, cheap, and I can have everything I need together and don't have to remember to grab things when we're trying to head out.  And let's be honest, I don't have much time to be grabbing last minute things when the time comes.  Here is a close up picture of what toiletries I bring.

Make up remover, body wash, face wash, shampoo and conditioner, razor, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, and a toothbrush.  Not pictured is a few make up items, chap stick, and hair ties.  I have all of this packed in a make up bag and, for the shower things, a Ziploc bag.  Lotion and chap stick may seem unnecessary, but seriously bring them.  

2.  Don't laugh, but I'm bringing depends!  I have heard that they are great postpartum!  So I'm trying it out!  

3.  Nursing pads and Lanolin.  Nursing pads are not necessary for everyone to bring.  With my first baby my milk didn't come in while I was at the hospital so I didn't need them.  With my other two though my milk came in within the first 24 hours.  The hospital does have nursing pads they can give you, but I didn't like them so this time I'm packing my own.  As for the Lanolin, they also have some they will give you.  I teeny tiny little tube that they will charge you $15 for.  So since Avery, I bring my own.

4.  Comfortable yoga pants and a loose shirt.  With my girls I stayed in the hospital gown the whole stay, with Ethan I brought some comfortable pajamas to wear while I was there.  It was great!  I didn't have to worry about my bum hanging out whenever I got up and it made me feel better.  Also, don't forget the socks!  They do have those hospital socks, but they're always so big and floppy. 

5.  The baby book!  In our baby book there is a spot for the baby's footprints.  If you bring your book with you the nurse will do footprints in it for you!  Plus if this isn't your first baby you can start filling in some of the book while you don't have your other kids running around you.  

6.  A few movies or a TV series.  You are going to be spending a lot of time sitting in a bed.  Even though you're so enthralled with your new baby it can get a little dull.  I always bring a TV series or movies to entertain us for a bit.  When Avery was born the movie Elf was playing!

7.  If you remember a while back I posted a picture on Instagram and Facebook of a swaddle sack that I made.  I thought it would be really cute to bring to the hospital to get some pictures.  Laying on top of the swaddle sack is a binky.  With Ethan I brought my own binky because I hate the hospital binkies!  I prefer the MAM brand.

8.  I also bring a blanket from home to wrap up my babies in.  My favorite kind of blankets are the Carter's swaddle blankets.  They are some what lightweight and they are stretchy so they grow with your baby.  

9.  Nursing cover.  If you have family close by you're going to have a lot of visitors.  I know some people are fine just whipping it out and nursing their baby, but I am one who feels more comfortable covering up.  So instead of having to frantically look for something to cover up with when someone knocks on the door, I bring a nursing cover and keep it handy.

10.  Going home outfit for baby and me!  Seeing as this is my first summer baby I wasn't really sure what kind of clothes to pack for him.  I decided to just bring a long sleeve onesie and I'll cover his legs with a blanket for the drive home.  For myself I am bringing a beautiful and comfortable maxi dress!  I think a dress is a good going home outfit because if you're a little sore you don't have anything pushing on your stomach or back.

11.  Last minute things I throw in on our way out, phone charger and camera.  And I always grab my purse so I have all of my insurance information and all that stuff.

That's what I bring to the hospital!    It's probably a lot of things for some people and for others it's hardly anything.  This is what I have found works best for me!  I believe I did have someone bring me my own pillow with one of my babies and it was nice to have, but definitely not necessary.  If I really want it, I'll just have someone bring it to me again!  The perks of having family close by!  What do you pack in your hospital bag?  Anything I didn't include that you couldn't live without?

The Tickliest Wickliest Dad in the World!

Oh how these children adore their father!  Louis is such a fun Dad!  He is always being silly with the kids, tickling them, wrestling them, throwing them up in the air or holding them upside down.  He is also their protector.  The kids know that their Dad will always keep them safe.  

This year for Father's Day I got Louis a book called Tickle Monster.  I thought it was perfect because Louis is always saying tickley wickley!  It's just a made up phrase that he has been saying for a long time now.  The girls think it is just so funny!  Avery also thought we should get Louis some raisin cereal (Raisin Bran) to put in his present so we did.  Louis' present was also filled with little drawing the girls had done for him through out the week.  The kids love their Daddy and loved being able to celebrate him on this special day!  We love you Louis!

Emergency Preparedness Family Reunion

Louis and I were in charge of the Brandley family reunion this year.  Louis took over the planning and decided to make it a weekend of emergency preparedness!  He had a lot of fun planning different "classes" for the weekend, reading up on different topics, and getting supplies together.

Since we moved two or three weeks before the reunion and had a lot of boxes laying around Louis had the idea to have a car show and a drive in movie!  Everyone made a cardboard car and we lined them up in the gym.  After we all ate dinner and checked out everyone's cars we started a movie (We watched Cars of course) and watched them in our cars.

 Later in the evening we got to sing Happy Birthday and give presents to the wonderful Kamila!  

The next morning we all met up for breakfast and for our first official day of emergency preparedness training.  The first class Louis taught was on knives.  What different kinds of knives there are, what you use them for, and how to care for your knives.

Later in the day Louis talked about how to make a blow gun out of PVC pipe and how to make homemade darts out of a nail and duct tape.  When we were done with that he pulled out a bunch of blow guns he had made and several bags of mini marshmallows!  We headed over to the park and had a marshmallow gun fight!  

After lunch most of the group headed out to go shooting.  I didn't take part in this, but instead went home so Ethan could nap.  From what I heard though it was a lot of fun!  I think the highlight for everyone was getting to see Annette shoot a gun!  Apparently she never had before!  

On Sunday we all went to church and met up afterwards.  We talked about different kinds of emergency kits, bug out bags, car kits, and 72 hour kits.  We also talked about a family emergency plan.  Jonathan has some great bags prepared and he helped with this class.

Later in the evening Louis did a class on different ways to start fires!  One of his favorite subjects!  Did you know that a crayon will burn for 30 minutes?  He went over things you can buy and have prepared as fire starters, he also talked about what you can put together in an emergency as a fire starter.  After he was done teaching he had stuff prepared for people to make their own fire starters.

This is a crayon burning

Monday was mostly spend outside playing.  We met at a church that has a large field and a pavilion behind it; we BBQ'd and played games.  Of course since Kaileb was there we stunted a bit!  Mary wasn't a fan.

In the evening everyone came over to our house for dinner and family home evening.  I was in charge of family home evening and I talked about family home storage.  As part of the lesson we made our own butter!  This was something Avery did in preschool and wanted to do with everyone.  So she got up and told everyone how to make butter and during my lesson we all passed around the jar and shook it to make our butter!  After the lesson we all got to enjoy it on some bread I had made earlier that day.

That was the end of our reunion!  It was a busy few days, but as always fun to be together, the kids had fun running around with their cousins and hopefully everyone learned a few things!