Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Guilt
Sophia is making her First Reconciliation in a few weeks. I explained to her its purpose-to be forgiven for things we do wrong or thinking bad thoughts about someone./something Well, since then she has shared random things with me, among them that she was brushing someone's hair and they asked her to stop so she did, she had a hula hoop by the monkey bars and was asked to take it down so she did and that when she was swimming last summer, the lifeguard asked her to stop doing something. I had just told Erik about this when we were at the park one day when she ran by and shared one of these things with me. When I asked her why she was telling me about something that had happened months ago, she said that she just didn't want to be thinking about it. I'd love to be a fly on the wall during Reconciliation to hear what she shares with the priest.
Update
I've written a lot about Alex but here's what the other two have been up to.
Sophia-
She has become a big reader and when I come downstairs in the morning, she is usually on the couch reading a book (having already watched her morning tv, of course). She loves mysteries and is working her way through Harry Potter right now. Today she got a dictionary to help her with the more difficult words (this series probably is above her level) and she enjoyed looking through it on the way home. Lately, she has complained of feeling dizzy and after consulting the dictionary, she told me she's feeling dazed but not stunned. At least she had fun looking through it.
She also still enjoys writing. One day, she asked if she could write a family newsletter. A few days later, Erik found a piece of paper with her headlines on it and it was too cute not to let her do. I set up a newsletter template for her, put in the headlines and left her to do the rest. The final product was pretty entertaining. It included headlines like: Dog Steals Pancake, New Baby Boy, Sherlock Holmes in Eden Prairie and End of Soccer Season. The girl has a way with words!
Her school year is going pretty well and she seems to love second grade. We had a few incidents early on-talking in the hallway (no surprise) and making fingernail imprints on a few boys' arms. This one had us stumped and apparently her too because she claimed not to have any recollection of why she did it.
Soccer has ended for the season but she continues to love it and is proving to be quite talented at it too. She went to many Gopher women's soccer games with her grandpa and us and even took in an Eden Prairie high school game as well. Several of the EP players have gone on to play for the Gophers so who knows where Sophia will end up if she continues.
Andrew-
Andrew loves kindergarten! The first week, we struggled a little with forgetfulness. He came home with his towel (for naptime) and art shirt. When we asked him why, he said he was supposed to bring it home every day. Of course when I asked his teacher about it, she confirmed for us that it should stay at school. One day his jacket didn't make it home. Another day he left his backpack in my dad's car and when he dropped it off, his lunchbox was missing. Luckily, we seem to have gotten into a rhythm now. He has made a good friend named Connor who rides his bus. When the bus pulls up in the morning, Connor is ready to greet him as he gets on. Andrew's backpack pocket is full of post-its. It started as something they needed for a club and he's got quite the stash of them in there now. Andrew surprised me the other day by counting all the way to 100!
Andrew has taken quite an interest in reading and as a result, we were at the library a lot this summer. Some of his favorites are Berenstein Bears and Arthur. For awhile he was on a Mercy Watson kick.
She has become a big reader and when I come downstairs in the morning, she is usually on the couch reading a book (having already watched her morning tv, of course). She loves mysteries and is working her way through Harry Potter right now. Today she got a dictionary to help her with the more difficult words (this series probably is above her level) and she enjoyed looking through it on the way home. Lately, she has complained of feeling dizzy and after consulting the dictionary, she told me she's feeling dazed but not stunned. At least she had fun looking through it.
She also still enjoys writing. One day, she asked if she could write a family newsletter. A few days later, Erik found a piece of paper with her headlines on it and it was too cute not to let her do. I set up a newsletter template for her, put in the headlines and left her to do the rest. The final product was pretty entertaining. It included headlines like: Dog Steals Pancake, New Baby Boy, Sherlock Holmes in Eden Prairie and End of Soccer Season. The girl has a way with words!
Her school year is going pretty well and she seems to love second grade. We had a few incidents early on-talking in the hallway (no surprise) and making fingernail imprints on a few boys' arms. This one had us stumped and apparently her too because she claimed not to have any recollection of why she did it.
Soccer has ended for the season but she continues to love it and is proving to be quite talented at it too. She went to many Gopher women's soccer games with her grandpa and us and even took in an Eden Prairie high school game as well. Several of the EP players have gone on to play for the Gophers so who knows where Sophia will end up if she continues.
Andrew loves kindergarten! The first week, we struggled a little with forgetfulness. He came home with his towel (for naptime) and art shirt. When we asked him why, he said he was supposed to bring it home every day. Of course when I asked his teacher about it, she confirmed for us that it should stay at school. One day his jacket didn't make it home. Another day he left his backpack in my dad's car and when he dropped it off, his lunchbox was missing. Luckily, we seem to have gotten into a rhythm now. He has made a good friend named Connor who rides his bus. When the bus pulls up in the morning, Connor is ready to greet him as he gets on. Andrew's backpack pocket is full of post-its. It started as something they needed for a club and he's got quite the stash of them in there now. Andrew surprised me the other day by counting all the way to 100!
Andrew has taken quite an interest in reading and as a result, we were at the library a lot this summer. Some of his favorites are Berenstein Bears and Arthur. For awhile he was on a Mercy Watson kick.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Special Delivery
Friday, September 14, 2012
12:50 p.m.
7 lbs. 10 oz.
21 inches long
Those are the dates and stats on our beautiful baby boy, Alexander Carvel Hansen. I (we) are in love with him and are quickly adjusting to becoming a family of 5.
Times have changed. When Sophia was born, I kept a journal of the first two years of her life. When Andrew came along, I started a journal but changed over to this blog shortly after he was born. Alexander will have a baby book like the others, but no journal so I want to make sure that I write everything down while it's still fresh in my mind. Actually, I already did write this all down but then deleted it by mistake. So, Alex, here begins your story.
Thursday, September 13-
I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for that morning. At the appointment the week before, the doctor said we could schedule an induction at this appointment for as early as the next day. We called over to the hospital to see if they had room and they did. We scheduled it for the next morning and I then called your daddy to decide for sure whether to go ahead with it or wait for you to come on your own. After thinking it over, we decided to go ahead with it-we'd be meeting you in a day! Sophia and Andrew were very excited and we went out that night so Sophia could buy you a gift (a book). Then we went to Dairy Queen one last time as a family of 4 to celebrate what the next day was to bring.
Friday, September 14-
Your birthday! I got up and called the hospital at 6:30 to make sure they still had room for us, which they did. Grandpa came over to take care of your brother and sister and we left for the hospital. We were supposed to get there at 7:30 but there was traffic so we arrived closer to 8. On the way over, we went through more baby names but didn't come to any decisions if you were a boy. Our girl picks for you were Karina Charlotte or Maya Isabelle.
They showed us to our delivery room right away and got things going. They broke my water and started the IV for the penicillin to treat the strep. Even though my doctor hadn't been overly concerned about the full 4 hours they want you to wait before starting to push, today they said they did want to wait that long. So, daddy and I hung out, played cribbage and talked a little more about baby names (still no decisions). They did give me pitocin to get the contractions going and even though they weren't very strong, I had an epidural around 10:30. After that, I didn't feel anything!
Around 12:30 the doctor came in and said she was going to lunch and we'd get things started after that. Almost as soon as she left the room, she came back in with the nurse and said they were going to check me one more time. Then she said, "No cervix. I think it's time to have a baby!" And just like that they started getting everything ready for your arrival. We texted the family to tell them it was time. I pushed through one contraction and got to feel your head. Two more contractions and you were out! They said it probably would have only taken one but your hand was up next to your head. All said and done, it was three contractions and 20 minutes for you to make your arrival. They put you in my arms right away. You were beautiful! We called your grandma and grandpa and let them listen to you cry as our way of letting them know you'd arrived and then they headed to Sophia and Andrew's school to pick them up so they could meet you. We texted everyone else and didn't want to say that you were a boy but no one was very happy about that, so we ended up telling them.
Names-we decided to choose between Alexander and Benjamin. I really liked Maxwell but your dad didn't and he really liked Isaac but I didn't. We'd tried many times this summer to come up with names we agreed on but never did. Alexander was actually a name we'd considered for your brother and when we went to Duluth this summer, both these names were ones we thought we could maybe agree on. Your daddy really wanted Carvel as your middle name in honor of his grandpa and I liked Alexander. So Alexander Carvel it was! The ironic thing is that I didn't want to give you one name and then call you by a shortened version and that's exactly what happened-we named you Alexander and more times than not, I call you Alex.
I was feeding you when your grandma, grandpa, brother and sister arrived at the hospital. I told them to wait a second but referred to you as a 'he' so I gave away what you were to grandma and grandpa. Sophia and Andrew ran in and asked what you were. Sophia slumped her shoulders and gave thumbs down to the camera but she immediately fell in love with you. Once all our visitors were there, we all sang 'Happy Birthday' to you!
And that, Alex, is the story of your birth. We are so glad to finally meet you and welcome you as a member of our family!
Friday, September 14-
Your birthday! I got up and called the hospital at 6:30 to make sure they still had room for us, which they did. Grandpa came over to take care of your brother and sister and we left for the hospital. We were supposed to get there at 7:30 but there was traffic so we arrived closer to 8. On the way over, we went through more baby names but didn't come to any decisions if you were a boy. Our girl picks for you were Karina Charlotte or Maya Isabelle.
They showed us to our delivery room right away and got things going. They broke my water and started the IV for the penicillin to treat the strep. Even though my doctor hadn't been overly concerned about the full 4 hours they want you to wait before starting to push, today they said they did want to wait that long. So, daddy and I hung out, played cribbage and talked a little more about baby names (still no decisions). They did give me pitocin to get the contractions going and even though they weren't very strong, I had an epidural around 10:30. After that, I didn't feel anything!
Around 12:30 the doctor came in and said she was going to lunch and we'd get things started after that. Almost as soon as she left the room, she came back in with the nurse and said they were going to check me one more time. Then she said, "No cervix. I think it's time to have a baby!" And just like that they started getting everything ready for your arrival. We texted the family to tell them it was time. I pushed through one contraction and got to feel your head. Two more contractions and you were out! They said it probably would have only taken one but your hand was up next to your head. All said and done, it was three contractions and 20 minutes for you to make your arrival. They put you in my arms right away. You were beautiful! We called your grandma and grandpa and let them listen to you cry as our way of letting them know you'd arrived and then they headed to Sophia and Andrew's school to pick them up so they could meet you. We texted everyone else and didn't want to say that you were a boy but no one was very happy about that, so we ended up telling them.
Names-we decided to choose between Alexander and Benjamin. I really liked Maxwell but your dad didn't and he really liked Isaac but I didn't. We'd tried many times this summer to come up with names we agreed on but never did. Alexander was actually a name we'd considered for your brother and when we went to Duluth this summer, both these names were ones we thought we could maybe agree on. Your daddy really wanted Carvel as your middle name in honor of his grandpa and I liked Alexander. So Alexander Carvel it was! The ironic thing is that I didn't want to give you one name and then call you by a shortened version and that's exactly what happened-we named you Alexander and more times than not, I call you Alex.
I was feeding you when your grandma, grandpa, brother and sister arrived at the hospital. I told them to wait a second but referred to you as a 'he' so I gave away what you were to grandma and grandpa. Sophia and Andrew ran in and asked what you were. Sophia slumped her shoulders and gave thumbs down to the camera but she immediately fell in love with you. Once all our visitors were there, we all sang 'Happy Birthday' to you!
And that, Alex, is the story of your birth. We are so glad to finally meet you and welcome you as a member of our family!
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