It's been SIX amazing, adventurous years together. Who would have thought we'd be living in Switzerland with two precious children at this point? And still love each other? The fact is, all our experiences up to this point have brought us closer together. We practically know each other better than we know ourselves. Well, at least with most things.
This year our birthdays and anniversary were overshadowed by a new birth, the best present we could give eachother/ourselves/our family. You can overshadow me every year, Aiden. You're worth it.
Tal will be posting more about his birthday when our friend Rob sends pictures of their trip.
For my birthday, Tal took me out to dinner at a really nice restaurant in Zurich. We were going to see a movie, but I was too tired! Yummy food and a nice "work out" walking in high heels. Still didn't help induce labor.
For our anniversary, my mom insisted that we go out and she could babysit for us. But since we just went out on a nice date night and had a new nursing baby, we decided to all go out together. We took my mom to Rapperswil and we had VERY yummy pasta. The chef actually hold several world records for the making the most different kinds of sauces in the fastest time. Fun little fact.
Most likely, we'll celebrate our anniversary when we're in the states and go to Flemmings (we always say it's our anniversary when we go now, since we're never in the states for it). What I wouldn't do for a lava cake right now!
Tal, I just want you to know how grateful I am for you. You are an amazing man, husband and father. I love how you always jump in and help me when you get home: making dinner, playing with Kelsey, changing a diaper, vacuuming before Stefan gets home (our downstairs neighbor) - whatever it is. I love how you care about your body and have taken up doing triathlons. It inspires me. I love watching you interact with Kelsey. When you make her laugh, make up a song and sing it to her, melt when she asks you for something, and laugh when she does something random. I can't wait to see yours and Aiden's relationship develop and grow - I know you two will be great pals. I love that you make family prayer a habit, and show Kelsey how important it is to you. I love that you take care of me, and lighten my load so I can rest or do something for myself. I love how you take care of us all. I know you work so hard to provide and save for our family and our future. I love how you make me a better person and inspire me to reach new heights. I love you, Talmadge Layton.
I love that look he's giving me, it still makes my heart flutter. This is us grabbing a bite in the kitchen before our reception.
It wasn't until after my mom put Kelsey in her 4th of July outfit and I checked the date to make sure it wasn't the 25th (our anniversary), that I realized it was Pioneer day in Utah. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. This is a fun day for Utahns and I'm a bit sad we wont be taking part in the festivities. I put Aiden in his red, white & blue (thanks Kelleyn) and we took a few pictures. Not that RWB are the colors of pioneer day, but it was the best we could do :). Kelsey loves holding and cuddling with her baby brother. I'm not so sure he feels the same way. I have more of Aiden and the hospital on the way, but here are two from today (unedited). I forgot how time consuming it is to breastfeed! Especially when you're using the pump for some of it. My mom has been on the computer more than me this week - my world is turning upside down! I am loving my cuddly baby boy. Can you see his right dimple? His left one is more pronounced. His bracelet is the hospital bracelet which says "Price." He slept for 3 hours in a row tonight, too bad it was from 7-10pm and not 2-5am or something.
I just have to add something I don't want to forget. Tonight, right after publishing this post, little man woke back up. I fed him and then burped him. He fell asleep on my shoulder and I kissed his little nose. He gave me this cheek to cheek smile, dimples and all. I laughed and almost cried at what a sweet moment I was given. I kissed his nose a couple more times and it evoked the same reaction. I tried to get the camera, but I couldn't get the shot from my vantage point. Guess we'll have to try to recapture the moment later. I love you baby boy!
More to come, but tomorrow we're taking my mom somewhere fun.
Aiden and I finally came home from the hospital on Wednesday, July 22nd. It was fairly uneventful. We took pictures as we left the hospital and then pictures when we arrived at the house. Now this may sound silly, but in the baby books there is a spot for a picture of the baby's first house, first room, etc. Kelsey's even asks what the weather was like on the day she came home! Who comes up with these things?
Unhappy to be home? Double-click on the picture to get a closer view of his face! Let's just say he was having a bad dream.
Mom & Dad adoring their new baby, making sure he's all settled in his crib. Yep, he's in our room in the pack and play, no cute nursery folks. Maybe someday.
She quickly learned that if she was going to get in on the action, she needed to get her stool. She can now get up on the bed, reach things on the counter, and help me change him - in addition to reaching the sink to brush her teeth. She likes to hand me the things from the pockets of the pack 'n play. It's because of her that I remember his vitamin D drops!
We bought blue toilet paper to celebrate our BOY.
Jet-lagged grandma + Newborn = Guilt-free naptime
Saying hi to grandma - for a one week old, he can really hold his head up!
Both of my kids were born really strong.
The Family Bed
Cuddles with baby brother
I was in the kitchen and I didn't hear Kelsey for a little while. I grew suspicious and thought the worst when I found her on the bed with Aiden. But this is what I saw. She was just petting him and watching him as he slept.
Kelsey asks to hold him about 10 times a day. Here they are watching Dora together.
Baby Aiden's First Bath
He wasn't a huge fan
I love how he just folds over like a sack of potatoes.
And I love this little sleeper I found for him.
I couldn't resist seeing if he would fit in Kelsey's doll stroller. Tal was giving Kelsey a bath (I didn't want either one of them to see what I was doing) so I went with my childish desires and then took pictures. My mom and I had a good laugh. The first one is as if Aiden is saying, "No pictures please." The second one I turned B&W and took it from the football angle. My dad picked this outfit out for him. By two weeks old, he outgrew it! This is Aiden's present to Kelsey. She got so many presents from Mimi (one every day for two weeks) that I don't know how much she cared about it. Actually, she really likes playing kitchen - for a whole 3 minutes.
A sweet video of Kels, Aiden & Grammie
The Shontz family came to visit before their big move to London. I love that Aiden's trying to nurse off of Ashley in this pic and that her kids are all excited to see the baby. Well, not so much Andrew but definitely Brooke! And Matthew was so cute with him too!
First Photoshoot
Here's my favorite from the mini-shoot. I just love the little hospital "bracelet." I had to hurry and take these before Tal cut it off (not that it was girly, they just put it on too tight for our chubby little man).
I know it's been awhile since my last post, breastfeeding takes a lot more time than I remember. Plus, I've been napping when Kels does and spending time with Kels when Aiden is asleep. Oh the juggling act begins! Slowly but surely, I'll post all the pics I've got. Even Greece.
Five days is the standard time for women to stay in the hospital here for a normal birth - longer for C-sections and complications. They like to wait until the mother's milk comes in and both mother and baby are well. For me, this was a nice chance for me to get to know my baby, have some alone time, and enjoy the food. I had some great conversations with the nurses and got to see a few visitors. This was all thanks to my mom and Tally who watched Kelsey. I think Kelsey got to go to the lake beach almost every day. My mom made friends with some of our Swiss neighbors that are always at the beach and now we are best buds. Funny enough, they don't speak very much English and my mom doesn't speak any German.
Leaving to go to the hospital on Friday, July 17th at 10pm
The Birth
I have lots more pictures of the actual birth (never knew my mom was such a shutterbug - like mother like daughter) but none that I'm sharing on the blog
Tal holding Aiden for the first time, moments after his birth
Aiden with mom & dad, moments after his water birth
Dr. Behrens (who was five minutes too late), Tal, Aiden, & Anita (the awesome midwife who delivered him)
Anita, the midwife who delivered Aiden - without the doctor there!
The other midwife who helped deliver him. This was the first birth she had witnessed and was so excited to be a part of it. When Anita, the midwife who delivered Aiden, knew the doctor wouldn't make it in time, she had to call on another midwife to come help/be a witness. The handsome pediatrician that also saw Kelsey after she was born. He's weighing Aiden, who was 4.030 kilos, or 9lbs.
Grandma dressing her new grandson. Notice his footprint on her arm.
One of the first of millions of kisses to come
What just happened and where the heck am I?
My cute baby boy, in my arms after more than 9 months of waiting
My biggest supports. We were all relieved, so happy he's finally here and all went great
Kelsey meets Aiden
Here's Kelsey's first encounter with Aiden, about 8 hours after he was born.
Love at first sight
First kiss
Family photo on my hospital bed
I love the way Kelsey is looking over at me. She's been putting her hands in her mouth ALL THE TIME and we're trying to break her of that habit. Aiden just looks like he's putting up with her.
So curious about every bit of him
Mother of TWO!? Love that Aiden is yawning. Kelsey wore him out!
Photo Ops of Aiden
He's already a binky baby
Sweet dreams, little one
His headboard stats
praying?
Can you see the little wound in his hand? Here it has healed a bit, but looked pretty bad when he was first born. It's from sucking his hand so hard in the womb! He also had a lot of dry skin/peeling on his hands and feet. The midwives said they think he was more than 5 days overdue - more like 14 days.
I'm going to eat you!
intrigue?
confused? full? stretching hungry? sweet.
yawn
Aiden sucking his thumb. I always feel bad for my babies who act like they are starving for the two or three days before my milk comes in.
Gotta love the outfits they put them in in the hospital
So you're that other voice I heard all the time...hi dad
Visitors
The Wunderbar Todd family. They were so great to watch Kelsey while we went to the hospital. She loves them so much.
Kelsey's best friend "Emma-dee" and her new brothers, Dominic & Liam. My BRAVE friend Jennifer took the train with all three in tow to come visit us at the hospital. It seemed there was at least one kid crying the entire time. We marveled at how our TWO suddenly became FIVE.
Daddy with his little babe and baby - not that he's a visitor, but just to note that he came by on his way to work, on his lunch break, and on his way home. He has 2 weeks paternity but it must be consecutive and so we're using that to go home for Christmas.
Anita came into my room one night (with another baby "attached" to her) and we chatted for at least an hour about everything from relationships to religion. I didn't get much sleep but we sure had fun talking! Plus, it's not like I was going to get much anyways.
We also had three of our friends/Tal's co-workers come by and hold him and I forgot to get pictures! They picked out the cutest outfits and got me a nursing boppy. Thanks you guys!
Hospital Perks
Our family walk around the hospital grounds
Our newest addition is so fun to watch
A bit uneasy with Kelsey running around and poking/touching/hugging/holding him
A sweet kiss, but he's not so sure what to make of it
Grandma or "Mimi" has her hands full with two grandbabies!
Koo-koos! Peek-a-Boo!
A tantrum thrown when it was time to go back inside
Look mom! I love how excited she gets about even the little things
Dinner for Two
Our date night at the hospital. They gave us a complimentary dinner and free babysitting (of Aiden, my mom took Kels). With Kels we ate it up in my room but this time, we decided to "go out" (to the hospital restaurant downstairs). We tried "tar-tar" for the first time.
Good Eatin'
The top right is my favorite thing and I ordered it every day for breakfast: Birchermuesli. It's a Swiss yogurt with cereal and fruit. Hard to explain, best just to try it.
Going down in history
These charts hang in the Labor & Delivery room and show the cycles of the moon on the days of the year. For every baby that is born, they put a pink or blue tack on the day on this calendar. Here is Aiden next to his and Kelsey next to hers. We're responsible for a pink and a blue tack on the wall ;). Isn't that a cool idea?
Amazing Staff
I'm drawing a blank on her name, but she was a hebamme or midwife that was doing a rotation on the wochenbett or after labor care side. She helped me a lot and went the extra mile for me. Or shall I say Kilometer ;). In this hospital, I never had a bad nurse, or even an unfriendly one. Every nurse, especially the midwives, were exceptional. That's why I chose it - never met a midwife I didn't like. Everytime I met one I thought, "I hope she's working when I deliver."
Going Home
A half-smile, or a little gas perhaps? I think he's just glad to be in daddy's arms
We have a similar picture with Kelsey here when we brought her home from the hospital
I love that look he's giving me, it still makes my heart flutter. This is us grabbing a bite in the kitchen before our reception.
I love that look he's giving me, it still makes my heart flutter. This is us grabbing a bite in the kitchen before our reception.
