Allie's Birth Story

I'm hoping that the notes we took during this whole experience will help me fill in the fuzzy details, but I figured it's about time to write about Allie's birth story!

I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday (the 19th) and was at a 3 and about 50% effaced and was so excited to hear that I had progressed to that point, but really wasn't sure how anything was going to go since my labor experience with Peyton was so unique. After talking about everything with my doctor, learning that she was going to be out of town part of the next week, knowing Chase's schedule was open the next few days, but would be busy the next week, and with how I was feeling about being pregnant and labor in general we decided to schedule an induction for Friday morning.

My mom flew in Thursday afternoon which was awesome to get some time with her before Allie arrived, and to let Peyton warm up to her a little bit ;). We packed our bags, got everything ready, and hung out, hoping that my body was progressing more on its own. We did some walking around and I played with Peyton more actively than I had the few days before. It was pretty surreal to know when Allie was arriving. It's also really weird to not know when they're coming, so I think it's just something you're never quite prepared for if I'm being honest haha. I was equally excited and nervous, and also a little sad to be ending my time with Peyton as an only child.

We got to the hospital at 5:40am, there had apparently been a pretty busy night the night before, so after they did my check in and got things ready we got back to the labor room at 7:15am. My nurse checked me a little bit later and I found out I was still at a 3. I was honestly kind of bummed to hear that. I had been having more contractions than ever before on my own and wanted to progress more, but it was ok. Getting pitocin didn't make me nearly as nervous as it did with Peyton since I knew how my body reacted already. We started the pitocin around 8:20.

We forgot to get a picture of my 40 week belly... so here's the best we got haha.

About 45 minutes later Dr. Haun came in and checked me. I was still at a 3, but 75% effaced. She broke my water and said she'd be back to see us in a few hours. I also asked for an epidural at this point just knowing that my contractions would get worse and closer together and not be very comfortable.

By 11, my epidural was in and I was at a 4. They doubled the pitocin they were giving me because my contractions started spacing themselves out. At this point it was just waiting for baby girl to decide she was ready and make her appearance! At 12:15, we increased my pitocin again trying to keep my contractions as regular as they needed to be. By 1:30 I was at a 6 1/2! I was pretty excited to be progressing pretty quickly.

Around 2:15 my nurse and Chase helped me sit up (instead of just rotating side to side) and I started felling really bad contractions even with the epidural. It wasn't great especially since I hadn't expected it. But I think the epidural was preventing back labor and still kinda working. I knew the doctor was coming soon so I decided to try to tough it out until she got there, knowing it was supposed to be helping me progress more.

15-20 minutes later I sent Chase to go get my nurse because I was so uncomfortable to see if we could turn down the pitocin. The nurse came in to check me and was surprised to find out I was totally complete. She was almost here! They called Dr. Haun and told her to hurry. She got here at 2:45, and we got ready for me to start pushing. I pushed through 3 1/2 contractions with great encouragement from my nurse, Dr. Haun, and Chase, and then she was here! Allie Jo Trejo arrived at 2:56pm. She was 7 lb. 4 oz. and 20 inches long (same weight and a 1/2 inch longer than Peyton).

They put her on my chest right away and I was pretty overwhelmed with emotions. I couldn't believe that she was finally here and we were parents of two. I was so glad to go through the whole experience with Chase next to me. He was extremely supportive through the whole pregnancy and I couldn't have done it without him.

Next, we got to introduce Peyton and Allie and I was so excited! I had no idea how this moment would go, but was really excited for our whole family to be together for the first time.

Peyton brought in a bear for Allie, which I think was good for her to have a specific job to do. I had used the bear to tell Chase I was pregnant, and Peyton has loved playing with it for the past couple months. She was pretty hesitant to get close to Allie at first and was nervous about mom's "owies" (all the bracelets I had on my wrist). She kept nervous giggling, but warmed up faster than I expected and even helped hold her that first day. She's just warmed up even more since then and really loves to help with her as much as she can. Peyton is an awesome big sister and we're extra grateful for that.

I'm so amazed at how my heart has just grown to fit all the love I have for an extra person, and also for the extra love I feel for both Chase and Peyton. It was such a special experience again to get to bring a baby into this world, and even though it keeps not being exactly how I would have planned, I end up being grateful for every part of it.

18 Months

Where did the last year and a half go? Peyton is looking like, acting like, and seeming more like a toddler than a baby every day (it probably helps that we added a newborn to the house which made Peyton seem HUGE overnight). We love her and her ever-growing personality.

These days she:
-- has stopped doing baby sign language
-- learns new words on a regular basis (even if it takes us a few tries to decipher them)
-- insists on using utensils every chance she gets
-- loves to help when she's asked, and loves even more to be told she's a good helper
-- gives us lots of practice taking turns at her command ("mom turn, dada turn, Payties turn")
-- loves cars, helicopters, and airplanes
-- loves the pool even if she doesn't always love getting in - it's also 10x more exciting if Preston is there (her neighbor friend that's 6 months older than her)
-- has a new favorite food: "faffles and ceem" (waffles and whipped cream)
-- has to have her drink and "cerrul" (cereal) for car rides and helps us remember to put them in the diaper bag when we get to our destinations
-- has learned to put on her own shoes, and constantly puts them on the wrong feet no matter how many times we put them on the correct way for her
-- still loves shoes and is always willing to help get mom or dad's shoes for them, especially if it means going outside
-- LOVES to eat fruit
-- sleeps cuddled with a stuffed lamb and a bear every night
-- has started helping say prayers
-- has figured out what the word fast means and likes to try to walk fast and help other people walk fast
-- likes to help put on lotion and do her bedtime routine especially if she gets bubbles in her bath
-- loves to kiss mom, dad, and "Baby Owie" (Baby Allie)
-- has her canines mostly in on the bottom, and only needs 6 more baby teeth!
-- loves animals and going through what they say, but is still nervous to get close to very many of them
-- her favorite time of day is when dad gets home, she yells "daddy!" over and over and goes running to him!
-- has learned most of her letters thanks to a puzzle she loves to do 10 times a day
-- is totally fascinated by bugs and always points them out, but never gets too close
-- loves to play with her "laylows" (Legos), especially with dad
-- hilariously tries to help people stand up by grabbing their hand and lifting it as high as she can (sometimes even up onto her tiptoes) and saying up and then grunting as she tries to help lift them up
-- is already the cutest big sister

Things putting a smile on my face...

-- Facebook memories coming up of things Peyton was learning last year
-- Peyton asking me to sing her a song before every nap/bedtime (she must be tone deaf)
-- Sleeping in later thanks to daylight savings
-- Feeling baby girl kick and wiggle (especially in response to Peyton's voice)
-- A clean apartment
-- Checking things off my to do list
-- Sunny afternoons
-- General Conference happening so soon!
-- Pretty flowers on my kitchen table
-- Holiday candy/treats
-- Generous friends
-- Peyton's curls at the bottom of her hair that just get better as she gets sweaty
-- Making spring break plans
-- Post-nap snuggles from Peyton
-- Planning trips to see family
-- Still being able to work out at 34 weeks (even if it's modified and slow)
-- Random days Chase gets off of school and spends with us
-- Peyton saying new words or answering questions we didn't know she knew
-- Family dancing time
-- Peyton giving kisses to baby sister (my belly)
-- Long phone calls with Julia

15 Months

I still want to do periodic updates about Peyton and the ways she's growing, if only to write them down so I can remember. The past few months have flown by! I can't believe that Peyton is already 15 months old, but I also have a hard time remembering how little she was when I look back at pictures from a year ago. I feel like I keep saying this but her personality gets bigger and bigger the more she grows. Most days I can't get enough of it ;) She's a fireball and I'm sure will keep us busy for the rest of forever, but I really wouldn't have it any other way.

These days she:

- knows animal noises for fish, elephants, dogs, cats, snakes, cows, owls, (sometimes) lions and can recognize a few other animals but doesn't know what they say haha
- vocally says mom, dad, please, food, car, truck, house, shoes, socks, shirt, pants, teeth, mouth, tongue, eyes, ears, head, uh oh, highchair, drink, diaper, book, movie, boo, church, baby, bear, dog, bird, spoon, bow, cereal, apple, up please, ball, catch, all done, outside, bubbles, belly button, church, Jesus, temple and probably a few more I'm forgetting
- still signs food, all done, drink, banana, apple please, and thank you
- her favorite things are shoes, socks, balls, books, cars, and going outside with dad
- is surprisingly good at brushing her teeth (she now has 9 and a half of them)
- is working on learning to feed herself, and loves to use utensils
- still loves to watch videos of herself but calls herself baby
- gives the best hugs and cutest kisses
- blows kisses to lots of people
- is as stubborn as ever
- LOVES cereal, it's probably her favorite food
- practices being a big sister with her baby doll and her bears
- gives "mom's baby" kisses and says hi
- nods or shakes her head to tell us if she wants something (sometimes it's incredibly helpful, sometimes it's super frustrating haha)
- rarely sits still
- just barely moved up into 12-18 month clothes haha
- loves reading, much to dad's delight one of her favorite books is the Star Wars LEGO one
- folds her arms and says amen for prayers (we've made it through about 2 prayers with her folding them the whole time)
- loves to go get the mail
- wants to walk up the stairs all the time and then grunts on each step, we think it's hilarious
- will reach for both of our hands when we're walking and goes into what we call "turbo speed" for about 3 seconds before she gets tired
- does great in her carseat as long as she has snacks and a drink
- is recently down to one nap a day :(
- is still fascinated by other kids, but mostly likes to watch from a distance
- loves bath time and tries to get away from us when we tell her it's time to get out
- sleeps surrounded by her stuffed animals that she insists have to be all around her

*p.s. officially less than three months until my due date! That's equally terrifying and exciting :)

1 Year

This post is so long overdue it's almost embarrassing. I think I was in denial for a while that my baby girl was officially entering toddler-hood. But she turned one and there's not really anything I can do to stop it haha. But no matter how I feel about it, it should be documented because she's so cute and so much fun!

The last month of her first year she:

- gained a little more confidence walking but still refuses to do it on her own
- loves to help unload the dishwasher, especially the utensils
- really likes looking at the pictures on the wall and pointing at dad
- will say hi and bye to the car and the house when prompted (usually accompanied by lots of waving)
- still rips bows out of her hair on a regular basis
- has 6 teeth!
- is loving her stroller and being pushed around in it
- loves to read the same books over and over again
- started saying mama! It was totally worth the wait
- still only remembers how to say please and will point and do her own kind of little grunt as she signs please to get what she wants
- for sure knows what and who she wants and is pretty stubborn until she gets it
- gets us stopped by lots of people at the grocery store saying hi and how cute she is
- loves her bear and will go get it out of the toy bin if she's asked
- finally fits into her 9-12 month clothes well :)
- has discovered a love for fruit snacks and mini marshmallows (yes they were used as bribery for this photo shoot haha)

11 Months!!

How is that real? I can't believe this sweet little girl has been a part of our family for 11 whole months. Every month really goes by faster and faster and I'm grateful for these posts as a reminder to slow down and write the things that have happened so I can remember them!

This month has been full of big milestones and little favorite memories. She:

- took her first steps! She can do about 3 at a time right now and only when she doesn't realize mom or dad has let go
- has totally embraced being a daddy's girl - she gets to him as fast as she can every day when he gets home and loves to be held by him
- points out people she knows in pictures (mostly daddy)
- can point out the picture of Jesus and say hi to Him on the wall (both in the living room and her room)
- loves being outside
- loves bath time, except when we pour water on her head
- can pull herself up on most furniture and cruises around (crib, couches, shelves, etc)
- occasionally will crawl like normal but still prefers army crawling and pulling herself around on her belly
- is the most unpredictable eater
- constantly rips bows out of her hair even if they're attached to a ponytail or bun
- has recently really gotten into books
- says uh oh (it's as adorable as it sounds)
- says her own version of dad, all done, all better, and buttons (still no mama)
- finds great entertainment in pulling every movie and book off of our shelves
- likes to "share" her toys but only if you give them back immediately
- signs please when she wants anything and has forgotten all of her other signs
- still loves stuffed animals and squeezing them (see the pictures)
- has 5 teeth and one pushing through her gums
- gets called stinker bug, stinkeroo, peyton lu, sweet girl
- constantly gets complimented on her eyes
- gets the cutest squinty face when she's smiling big
- is such a happy part of our family!