Thursday, July 30, 2009

drum roll please

His name is

Huck

But on anything official like a birth certificate or resume or presidential placard it will be

Harrison Webster Wiley

Huck is a name we've liked for a long time, but certainly recognize it is unconventional and slightly controversial. Harrison is distinguished and interesting and starts with 'H', so Huck could be used as a nick name. Webster is Scott's Dad, Grandpa, and Great-Grandpa's name.












We are home from the hospital now, much to the relief of June who thought maybe I was moving there without her. Not unexpectedly, she's having the hardest time getting used to the idea of having a new one move in on her territory. Over the past few days she's been in tears saying, "I'm the baby. I'm the baby.", stealing his pacifier, wanting to sit in his carseat, and sealing his blankies. She wanted to know where her bed was in the hospital room, and answered a vehement "NO!" to the question "Should we bring the baby home with us?"


But she's starting to come around. Finally she was willing to hold him. Today she gave him kisses and offered to share her blankies with him. She liked helping to rinse his pacifier and give it to him herself. It will take some time, but I suspect they will become good friends and she will be very protective of him.

Thank you Thank you to Rachel & Christine for taking over mommy duties while we were in the hospital. They are reliable and capable and willing and for that I am eternally grateful.

Thank you Thank you to Scott for doing extra daddy duties over the past few days. He drove back & forth from the hospital so many times to take care of everyone's needs, did laundry, errands, and even spent a full 4-hour day sitting with Oliver at Chinese camp to help him get over his anxiety on his first day. And I am especially grateful for his guest blogging to not only keep everyone up to date, but also to fill in the holes and catch up after my great absense.

Scott's mom Laurel is here now to help us. She's already cleaned out our fridge, washed all the baby's bedding, played games with the kids, and proven her self willing and anxious to help out however we need her to. We are so glad to have her here!

I am feeling really great. Better than I have after any of my other babies. I am so grateful for a body that can do something so amazing and tramatizing as birth a baby, and then virtually bounce back 3 days later. It is remarkable.

So things are good and we have much to be grateful for.
(I'll need to be able to look back and remember that over the next few weeks when we are getting no sleep and feeling beaten down.)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Meet Baby What's His Name

Sarah and I drove to the hospital at 2am, we were told they were sending us back home at 4:30am, they said 'stick around instead' at 5am, they started the IV and Epidural at 7am, and baby whatever his name is was born at 1:10pm. 7lbs 10oz, 20 inches.





Rachel brought the kids over around 3 or so. June immediately set to work proving why she is still number 1. I think it's pretty clear she's right.



Oliver will never admit it, but man oh man, he sure loves babies. He couldn't get enough.




Brenden was first to hold little whosit.




Here that guy gets his first bath and shows off his skills at turning bright red when exposed to water!!




Finally the current list of names. June came up with one on this list, as did Oliver. Here's a hint how to figure which ones - June was eating some Lays and Oliver is just a dork sometimes.

Out of Time!

hi, scott here.
well believe it or not, this blog has been on sarah's mind a lot, and she's been really stressed out about not finding time to update. unfortunately, time has run out as we are currently in the hospital awaiting baby number four.




so, in the interest of removing this burden from her mind, here is a very broad update on the last 7 weeks or so.

mid-June we went to capistrano beach for the zackrison family beach week




4th of July saw the return of Provo's Freedom Festival. In addition to getting to see the Jonas Brothers at the Stadium of Fire, we also headed down to Center Street to eat funnel cakes, corn on the cob and go on some of the carnival rides. Brenden tried out the super bungee trampoline bounce thing.




One day while over at Grandma and Grandpa Z's new townhome the boys spotted a Nascar that was for some reason across the street for some sort of photo session.
Here's Oli checking things out.




I just like this picture, but I suppose it also shows that for some reason lately, June always ends up in our bed late at night.




Upon our return from Capistrano Beach, we discovered that we had a pipe break and had a flood in the house. The unfinished basement was very flooded, and we had some damage to the drywall, baseboards, and floor of the main floor. To add to the misery, we had to have these big pumps and dehumidifiers in our house for 2 weeks. They were so loud we had to yell at each other just to be heard.
Here's June standing amidst the water removal equipment. Also, she has no pants on; not an uncommon site around here.




The kids enjoyed the hot weather by breaking out the slip and slide.




Here June and Oliver really live up to their stereotypical roles as a 2 year old girl and 6 year old boy.




In mid-July we drove across the middle of Nevada to Mammoth Lakes for a Wiley family vacation. In case you haven't had the privilege of driving Highway 6 across Nevada, let me just inform you that the same enjoyment can be had by sitting and staring at a photo of the bleakest, most boring desert landscape ever, while a 2 year old yells at you for 8 hours. Oh, and good luck finding somewhere to eat, or a bathroom for that matter.

Despite the desolate drive, we had a great time in Mammoth. Aunt Stephanie actually managed to get a photo of Oliver smiling.




getting a picture of June smiling like a maniac has never been too much of an issue.




we visited a train museum outside of Bishop CA on our way into Mammoth. It was only about 105 degrees so Sarah was very comfortable.




here's Oliver back in his more traditional photo role.




we drove out to Bodie, which, in its day, was the 2nd largest city in California. Now it is a well preserved ghost town and National Park.
The boys loved it once they figured out there weren't actually ghosts around.
This might not have been the ideal vacation for someone 8 1/2 months pregnant. Most of the time we were outside walking or hiking. Good thing Sarah packed her hiking flip flops.




While in Bodie, Sarah fell down while holding June. This had many consequences -
First, Sarah got a huge cut and then scab on her knee.
Second - June decided then and there that Sarah would no longer carry her on this trip.
Third - although this has not been scientifically proven, it is certainly within the realm of possibility that Sarah/June's fall caused June some sort of brain damage that subsequently led her to choose this particular outfit.




Here is a photo showing Sarah to be the only super pregnant woman brave/crazy enough to hike to Devil's Postpile National Monument.




Sarah's second fall, onto the same knee, opening the cut, etc etc, happened at the park near the condo where we were staying. Luckily, she had been having a conversation with a women who happened to be a nurse with a first aid kit on-hand. I think at this point it is safe to say that Sarah will no longer be endorsing this particular brand of high-country flip flops.




another picture proving that Oliver has the ability to smile in front of a camera lens.




Grandma and Grandpa Wiley with the 4 (all too soon to be 5) grandsons.




We left Mammoth at 5am and on our way out of town, on the two largest streets in town, we saw 3 huge bears! Here is one enjoying leftovers in front of the Pita Pit.



Baby update to follow soon....