While We Were Out

I found these adorable pictures of Laken on my mom's camera. They are from the time that she spent with her Grandma Ivy and Grandpa Rod while we were at the hospital! Special moments for the three of them I am sure:) We are so blessed to have them near and Laken is loving her adventures with them!

Welcome River Austin Simpson!

On September 5th, 2011 "Labor Day" at 3:57 pm, River Austin Simpson joined our family! He is absolutely perfect at 6 lbs, 12 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. His soft hair is brown and as far as we can tell he has dark blue eyes. He is very calm and spent his first hour of life on Mom's chest and was able to nurse right away. Dad cut his chord and was able to snuggle with him as well. River hardly cried and was very alert right from birth. It was very peaceful after he was born and we will always cherish how surreal those first precious moments were. He has very long fingers and toes, and the sweetest little face. He seems like a very mellow little guy so far. Shortly after he was able to meet his big sister, and grandparents. Laken just wanted to get a close look at him too! I just love the pictures of there first moments together and think that this was the beginning of their very special relationship as brother and sister so close in age! Welcome to the world precious River, we are so glad that you have come!

Laboring River

I was literally in labor with River for 6 days! Contractions came on strong and steady and at other times slowed down. I was admitted and released from the hospital three times during those 6 long days and I don't believe that I slept even a wink during the last three. At the beginning River had a hand in the way so it would have been risky to progress labor unnaturally. So yes this unhappy momma had no pain meds on the long journey from 3 centimeters to 7-8 centimeters over a period of 5 days. The whole time River was a champ and withstood labor very well! It felt like we were never going to meet him, and it was heart breaking each time we left the hospital without him in his car seat! Finally at exactly 37 weeks pregnant, having no sleep for 3 days, and 7-8 centimeters dilated they broke my water and let me have an epidural. And then it was a short few hours until we were ready to push! During this long almost week of labor, Laken hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Breen at our house. Here are a few pictures of us leaving the house for one of our many hospital stays that week;) The last pictures of River in the womb!

River's Registry

At the request of relatives we have finally edited River's registry. Click on the link if you would like to see the last items that we need for his arrival. It is comical how many emails, calls, and texts we receive daily asking if he has made an appearance yet! We promise that we will let you know when he arrives;)

The Next Chapter in Our Crazy Life

Study, wait, study, wait, study, wait.............study for the Anesthesia boards, and wait patiently for the arrival of River! That is what we do day in and day out now. Chase was incredibly lucky and was hired at Tri State Medical Center here in the Valley. This is were he completed his last residency, and the hospital has just transitioned to a new national anesthesia group called Ethos. Ethos hired Chase to work for them at Tri State! Yay we get to the stay in the location of our dreams. After moving all over the country....we can truly say that the best scenery is friends and family! And we feel so blessed to be back home for good! Now that Chase has graduated, he studies every day at a coffee shop in town to prepare for the boards later next month. Here is a picture of Laken stopping in for a visit to rescue Daddy from the books;) He is very excited to "start working for a paycheck" in the near future. But until then study, wait, study, wait......

He Knocks People Out ;)

We proudly announce the graduation of our husband and Dad, Chase Patrick Simpson! He now has his Nurse Anesthesia degree from Midwestern University. What at amazing feat you have accomplished, and we are so grateful for the sacrifices you have made to get here! Who has a quarter life crisis, decides to quit his job, sell his home, and move away just so that he can chase his career and family dreams? Chase that's who! Now his ultimate career goal is reached and we are able to have me stay home with the kids! It was a bumpy road but we made it! And not to mention this guy managed to get a 3.7 GPA in one of the toughest medical programs (while moving multiple times across the country and fathering two children). BRAVO! You are truly a Rock*

We now have a walking milk drinker!

Last week we decided to switch Laken cold turkey from formula to milk. She did wonderfully and is now an exclusive milk drinker! And the next day on August the 8th at 12 1/2 months old she started officially walking! I was lying on the couch beside her watching tv while she played, looked out of the corner of my eye and thought "Did she just take 3 steps?" Yes she did! So I quickly jumped down to her level and she did it over and over again.....so proud of herself! And then she practiced all sorts of new things and had a blast for an hour. She ended up taking the longest afternoon nap after all of this hard work. That evening we took her out to Mexican to celebrate and she noshed on rice and beans like she was famished! And she has been walking around ever since! Oh The Places She Will Go!