Gordon Charles Kidder

We are thrilled to announce that 

Gordon Charles Kidder

Was born on November 4th, 2013

8lbs 15oz, 20.5in long

Contractions started at 3:15 on Sunday, the 3rd. They were different than the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been experiencing for the previous two weeks and remained about 6 minutes apart as I got up and began to do some chores around the house. "If this isn't labor, at least I'll start the week out on a good foot." I thought to myself as I folded three loads of laundry, put it away, decluttered, washed dishes, tidied and made the guest bed in the basement. I was afraid to hope that this was really labor and had told myself that the contractions were going to stop when I went to bed, like they had been doing.

So, chores were completed, house was tidied, kids fed and put to bed. As we sat down on the couch to watch TV, Brad and I looked at each other and he asked, "Well? Are we in labor?" "I have no idea!" I responded in a pretty exasperated tone. "Let's just continue with our evening, as usual, and if things continue, they continue." Well at 8:15 the contractions changed in intensity from light to "Ok, we're in labor." They weren't super consistent, but were coming anywhere from 3-7 minutes apart. We called Dad Kidder, who had offered to come and watch the kids when we needed to head to the hospital. He arrived at 11pm and we headed to the hospital - the contractions were coming to 2-5 minutes apart and we had no idea how far I had progressed (I had been at 2cm at my appointment three days earlier). My midwife had said we should head to the hospital when contractions had been less than 5 minutes apart for a few hours and Brad did not want to deliver the baby at home or in the car.

I was trying to keep my expectations low. Trying to not let myself hope that I'd be holding my son within 24 hours, but there was a part of me that thought, "This is my third baby! This has gotta move fast right?"

We arrived at the hospital, got signed in and were brought to a triage room. The nurse checked me, 1-2cm... wah wah wah... I was able to choke back the tears until after the nurse left the room, but I felt so deflated. Only 1cm?! What?! After walking the halls for two and a half hours, I had progressed to a "good 2cm." My midwife didn't want to admit me until I was at 4, I knew I would need to keep walking if I stayed, I was tired - it was 1:30am - and emotionally not prepared for labor. I knew I needed to try to sleep. So we headed home. I was embarrassed. I felt so dumb. I was exhausted.

Because Dad Kidder was sleeping in our bed we crashed in the guest bed (I was so thankful I had put the clean sheets on earlier!). I slept/dozed in between contractions and woke up at one point thinking, "I think things have changed." At about 5:30, Brad asked me how I was doing. "I'm ok - Definitely still in labor." I answered. After listening to me breathe loudly and moan through a few contractions, he said, "Things have changed - you didn't sound like this earlier. We're going to go back to the hospital."

(Brad was remembering labor with Lucy, I finally was able to sleep after 32 hours of labor and progressed from a 4 to an 8 in an hour)

They admitted us right away. I cried again when they told me I was at 7cm. I was so glad I was actually moving forward!

They called my midwife and she arrived, contractions continued, my water broke. I lost track of time and had to really focus through contractions. They were so intense. Brad was amazing. He was calm, held my hand, stood by me and helped me breathe through the pain. He kept eye contact with me during the really strong contractions and reassured me that I "could do this." Toward the end, I thought about Lucy reciting Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid for the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go." during the strongest contractions. The nurse came in and told me, that there was meconium when my water broke and so they were going to have a pediatrician in the room and would need to clean up the baby as soon as he was born." I really appreciated how she communicated with me, I had wanted to wait to cut the cord - but I was ok with not doing that anymore. They were going to make sure my son was ok and I was glad we were in good hands.

I really wanted to push, but was only at 9cm so they encouraged me to wait. It was hard, but with Brad's support, I was able to do it.

Gordon was born at 7:35am, after less than 10 minutes of pushing (I think it was less than 5, but Brad says it was closer to 10 - and because he was more aware of our surroundings, I trust him). He didn't have as much hair as Lucy and Michael but he had some! Brad cut the cord and they quickly took Gordon to the warming table to get him cleaned out. He had a really strong cry. It was difficult not to be close to him right after he was born, he felt so far away - even though I could easily see him and knew he was ok.

And then I got to hold my boy!!

He was/is beautiful and perfect. The Pediatrician told me as he handed him to me, "He's a big one! I bet he's 9lbs!" "No," I told him, "I don't have 9lb babies." Haha - they weighed him later and sure enough, he was 8lbs 15oz!! As you can see, I was emotional but so thankful. I couldn't believe labor was done and that he was here!

He latched on well and we were able to nurse soon after he was given to me.  As things calmed down and everyone cleared the room Brad and I kept looking at each other and saying, "He's here!" "We did it!" "Can you believe it?"

Gordon Charles, 

We are so so so happy you are here! We can't believe how much we love you. You are truly a blessing and we are thankful, so thankful you are healthy and doing well. 

xoxo, 

Mommy and Daddy

Preparing for Gordon

All of our Gordon-Preparations are done (with the exception of packing a hospital bag). I've sewed my heart out, crocheted until I felt like my hand was going to fall off and enlisted Brad's help to move some furniture. :) 

 Our room has been rearranged to accommodate the rocking chair, and bassinet. We - well - Brad, stacked our nightstands in the closet and pushed the bed against the wall to make this possible. I'm pleasantly surprised by how well it all fits! 

 We'd like to find a little table or set of drawers to put between to the bed and rocker - a place for phones and nursing/baby stuff. 

 The rocking chair used to be in the kids room - we switched it out for another chair and changed the corner in their room a bit. 

 Brad went to Detroit for a day to visit a church plant there and was able to stop at Ikea on the way home, he got this great "map" rug for the kids and new feather pillow insert for me(Baxter demolished one of mine - long, but kinda funny, story.). It has helped this corner not feel so bare - plus the kids have enjoyed it!

Here's a view from the rocking chair across the hall - I like that I have a (small) line of sight into the space where Lu and Michael play. I'm hoping this is helpful while nursing, time will tell. 

 Onto all the details on this adorable basinet!

 We are the third generation of Kidders to use this basinet! I love family heirlooms. Grandpa Wayne slept in it when he was a little baby and so did Brad and Aunt Amy! :) Lucy and Michael both slept in our pack-n-play during their first weeks but I am so thankful to have a smaller bed for Gordon in our smaller space. We're still hoping to utilize the pack-n-play though, the plan is to set it up downstairs in the dining room so we have a place to set Gordon up off the floor and out of reach of his siblings (Haha - that's probably wishful thinking!).

 To soften and freshen it up a bit, I made a liner from left-over boy-bedding fabric (this is what the crib skirt and curtains were made out of for Michael's nursery) and few custom mattress pads and sheets to fit the mattress of the basinet. 

 Here's Gordon's finished quilt! I wanted to use blue and green, like Michael's, but pull in some red (instead of orange - like M's) - I'm thrilled with how it turned out. :)

 I can't make my babies a quilt without green polkadot backing! :) 

 Matching pillowcase for me to use at the hospital and for Gordon to use later when he graduates from the crib to a big-boy bed. :) 

 I used the zig-zag fabric as inspiration for coloring for Gordon's afghan. 

 Granny Square Afghan 

 This is actually the same type of yarn I used for Michael's afghan - I even used three of the same colors (but added red)! (To see Michael's afghan, click here.) I knew I wanted red in Gordon's afghan and wanted to incorporate white with green or blue, but blue/red/white reads "americana" and red/green/white reads "christmas" - so I decided to use all four colors. :) 

 Customized Burp Cloths (I made 6, two of them are in the "put in hospital bag" pile).

 Mamma-Made Swaddles, two flannel and two gauze - I'm excited to try the gauze ones! I've never used them on my kiddos but have liked how they "wrap" when swaddling friend's babies. 

 My mom sent Gordon's "Grammy Blanket" and pillow a bit early! I love them! Lucy and Michael cuddle up in their Grammy Blankets with their matching pillows all. the. time in the living room - I'm excited for Gordon to join in the fun too! :) 

 Isn't that ABC fabric amazing? LOVE IT! 

 Here's Gordon's coming home outfit - I'm so excited about it! We are fans of the show Project Runway and this darling "suit" is similar to one of the "design a baby outfit" winners from a few seasons ago. I especially like that the zipper doesn't go all the way up the neck - zippers on new babies, in my experience, tend to be scratchy. 

 This isn't the shirt the outfit came with - but I'm sure you'll see it in other pictures on Gordon. It has monsters on it and I wanted something a little more "sweet" for his coming home outfit - not than an electric guitar falls into the "sweet" category ether though haha! The sentiments are "sweet" right? :)

Last but not least, my Uncle sent Gordon's "buddies!" Meet the "Gators" - aren't they adorable? I love their texture! Michael has his Moose and now Gordon has some Gators to keep him company. :) 

Ok Gordon boy, we're ready! Come whenever you'd like.

Our Little Lad's Name

We are happy to let you in on a little secret - our new son's name will be:

Gordon was the name of my paternal grandfather and Charles, the name of Brad's paternal grandfather. This little boy is getting a big name - I'm so glad that both Gordon Addington and Charles Kidder loved Jesus and left a legacy of faith for their families. We pray the same for our Gordon, that he would love Jesus with all he is and that a love for people would flow out of that. Both of these men also loved popcorn and reading, so naturally, we're hoping he loves those things too!

Here are a few other fun memories/facts about our grandpas:

Grandpa Charles hated cheese (with a strong passion) but loved peanuts, he served in Europe during WW2 as a medic and made a living farming in Hastings, MI while driving a school bus during the school year. Brad would follow him around as a small boy and ask, "What doin' Grandpa?"- this is a favorite story for Grandma to tell. :) Another favorite story: Brad, as a young boy (around 3 years old) was so proud when he "tricked" his Grandpa into eating a cheese puff, he recounts that "Grandpa didn't want to eat it but I told him he would like it and that he needed to try it and finally he gave in. After tasting it he made a disgusted face and spit it out! I thought it was hilarious and tried to get him to eat more over the course of the evening." :)

I've written a pretty extensive post on my Grandpa Gordy, which you can read here, but I wanted to write down a few fun things I've been remembering lately. He loved riding bikes - really anything that had wheels was intriguing to him. He had a special affinity toward trains* and loved to ride them. He had an amazing reading-out-loud voice and would read a favorite book to all the grandkids as he and grandma would travel to see everyone (my favorite was Summer of the Monkeys) over the course of a year. I think I remember his favorite animals as ducks. According to my dad, Grandpa didn't like eating Sloppy Joe's and wasn't a huge fan of mexican food. :)

*Completely off topic, but Michael has shown a love for trains developing too! We're excited to make him a train "table" for his birthday. Shh - don't tell him though. :)  

We, or I, hit the 30 week mark yesterday! 3/4ths of the way done - wow! I keep telling people that I'm trying to keep my expectations in check with reality, which can be difficult to do toward the end of pregnancy. I'm thankful for the experiences I've had with my first two kiddos and so I'm trying to live and learn with some of those lessons in mind (example: preparing for Gordon to come AFTER his due date).

Brad took some head-shots (for the shop) for me this morning before church and snapped a 30 wk, 1 day picture for me too!

Gordon,

We can't wait to meet you! Your sister keeps trying to talk me in to buying things because, "Gordon really likes this!" or "Gordon needs it mom!" We hope you can develop your own tastes and likes despite her strong opinions, she's already decided your favorite color is orange - but I want you to know you're welcome to change your mind on that topic. I hope you're not offended by the fact we've called you by a number for quite some time - I may still call you #3, affectionatly, just for fun sometimes. It makes me happy I have an ultrasound picture of you as a "girl?" from the day you were being stubborn and wouldn't let us see your gender - I also have some clear images of you as a "boy" but you can be confident that I'll embarrass you someday with the "girl?" picture. :) We love you already little guy, I can't wait to hold you in my arms, but now - even as I type this and feel you move like crazy - I'm content to wait until you're closer to 40 wks.

Love you,

Mom

Our Mysterious Little One #3

Well my friends, this morning was the day of our Anatomy Ultrasound and we had hoped to find out this baby's gender... but baby was very active and kept itself in positions that made it difficult for the ultrasound technician to find out sex.

So:

The technician worked so hard for us to see if she could get a good angle and see. One time she thought girl and when we tried to confirm from another angle she didn't know if she saw boy "parts!" Baby even crossed his/her legs at one point! This was very different from past experiences for us - on both Lucy and Michael's ultrasounds they were able to tell us immediately, with confidence with the baby's gender was - we witnessed how this baby was being "difficult" and saw, clearly how the technician tried to see, to the best of her abilities. From everything we saw, baby looks healthy - but we will confirm Anatomy results with our Doctor on Thursday. Baby measured at 20 weeks exactly, so due date according to the ultrasound has been bumped three days to November 5th - pretty consistent with results from our past pregnancies (both previous ultrasounds pushed my due date back a few days).

 Here's a foot!

And a hand/arm - love that you can see the definition of bone in this one! God is so amazing. 

I had thought I'd spend the evening perusing fabric sites and looking for individual but coordinating options for this baby - but I guess that will have to wait! :) I'm not a gender-neutral person - I know some people can pull it off really well, but I really really like to know. The process of sewing/crocheting and preparing for the baby, specifically and with a name in mind, is so fun - and maybe even emotionally helpful - for me. 

I've been feeling really surreal about this whole "find out the gender" day - it seems to have snuck up on me. I can't help but wonder now if the Lord was protecting my heart from the disappointment of not knowing yet. I'm a little bummed I can't start planning projects but I'm okay with waiting (right now - that may change in an hour). 

Some dear friends recently thought they were having a boy and then another ultrasound revealed "GIRL!" Walking along side them as they've processed the change has made me think differently about expectations and I'm thankful we got an honest, "I have no idea" from the ultrasound technician and not a guess - even if it may have been an "educated" one. :) 

I've never had a 3D/4D ultrasound, so maybe we'll try it out with this baby!

39 Weeks: A Journal Entry

A special thanks to my sweet, talented husband for the pictures in this post! He was both my photographer AND editor for these! What a treat to upload pictures that are already edited! :)

I didn't mean this to be a Sarah-centered post - but that, now that it is all done, is kinda what it became. These are my thoughts from today. 

I'm 39 weeks today (these pictures were taken a week ago at 38 weeks) and at the current moment, I'm resting happily comfortable on the couch - blogging, while my husband watches Sunday Afternoon Football next to me and my daughter naps (really well actually, she's been down for over three hours!). 

I am not often comfortable these days, so this is a rare treat. :) 

It's been an interesting month. It's been an interesting pregnancy. I've been much more emotional and hormonal this time around. Maybe, due to the fact that this baby is a boy? Or maybe because I've had more on my plate this pregnancy? I don't know - but this past month has been a bit better (on my end of things - if you ask Brad he may disagree haha!) I still haven't been "myself" but I feel like I've been more capable at handling life. I came to the realization around 7 months along when I was feeling very overwhelmed about having a new baby and an 18 month old, "the way I will feel then is not the way I feel now." I know I'll probably have a few weeks/months of transition, but knowing and remembering that the hormonal shifts become less after having a baby makes me more optimistic about the future. 

I've realized something. I've been over-thinking, over-analizing, over-planning and over-anticipating. This has caused me a lot of stress that simply wasn't/isn't necessary. And it has been a sin.

I haven't been "trusting in the Lord with all my heart" but have instead been leaning on my own understanding.

I just finished a study on Ephesians with some of the ladies at church, By His Wounds You Are Healed: How the Message of Ephesians Transforms a Woman's Identity by Wendy Horger Alsup. I can't recommend this study enough. It has helped me so much in my thinking and application of the gospel in my every day life. Jesus didn't die just to save me from hell. No, his death purchased so much more for me. His death on the cross has made it possible for me to live differently, growing from who I am now to who He wants me to be. Practically, the gospel influences how I should parent my daughter and son, how I should view my role as Brad's HOT(don't let you husband edit your blog :) ) wife. The gospel equips me to stop in the midst of a frustrating situation and change the way I'm about to respond. I am so thankful for this gift that I've been given through the gospel and I'm coming to a much fuller understanding of all that it entails.

I'm so thankful that God is bigger than my hormones. I acknowledge that hormones and emotions are real but I don't believe that they can be an excuse for me to sin against my husband, my children or even the cashier at the grocery store. Realizing that my actions and my speech have large implications on those around me has been humbling and motivating for me to "get it right!"I don't have time to simply meditate on these truths of the gospel - they must become flesh as I work them out in my life. My daughter is watching and my son is on his way.

I have been so humbled the past few months by the actions of my husband. He has shown me, in a very real and tangible way that "a gentle answer turns away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1a) as he has responded kindly to my angry and frustrated words. Seriously - it is like a slap in the face or a splash of cold water! His kind responses caused immediate shame and regret, which I believe was the Holy Spirit prompting me to stop my current projection of conversation - sometimes I listened, sadly others I did not.

I remember after Lucy was born how shocked I was at how my love for Brad grew. I anticipated that my capacity to love would grow because of my new daughter but had no inkling that I would love my hubbie more too. I've heard moms talk about how crazy it was to have their second child and realize that they were capable of MORE love. As I've been coming to a fuller understanding of Christ's love for me and what it means for the way I live my life, I've been challenged to love better. To not just love in words but to follow the instruction in 1 John 3:18, "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

I want the love I give my family to be based on truth, not fake or given begrudgingly. I want the love I give my family to be genuine and Christ-like, not selfish.

I've realized it's easy for me to be a "good Christian" at church, with friends and even with extended family. But the rubber really hits the road in my home, and THIS is where I want, more than anywhere else, for Christ to be seen in me.

I want my children to grow up with a healthy picture of what it means to be a gospel-centered Christian and to see a realistic picture of what life in Christ looks like, with all it's highs and lows.

So this is me at 39 weeks. 

Vulnerable but willing. 

Scared but learning to trust. 

Amazed and excited about the future. 

Getting Ready For Michael: The Quilt

Michael's quilt is finished! With only 8 weeks 6 days until his due date - I have been feeling a bit short on time to finish some projects, both sewing and around the house stuff. I am really happy to have the quilt done - one more thing crossed off the "To Do Before Michael Arrives" list. :)

 How we started.

 All the individual quilt squares done. 

 Ta Da!!!

 I LOVE the fabric I found for the back! Lucy's quilt has green polk-a-dots on the back too - I like things to coordinate.

 The orange fabric ended up being much "louder" than I anticipated - after I was done piecing the top of the quilt I looked at the whole thing and my heart sank a bit. The orange was so "hello!" and seemed to me to be the focus, it was calling all the attention to itself (selfish fabric!). I hadn't bought fabric for the binding yet, so I looked for something bright that would help meet the "volume" of the orange and tell it, "You're not the only bright fabric at this party, tone it down!"

 I think my plan worked well - I love the results. :) Everyone is now having a great time at the fabric party and no one is dominating the conversation. :) 

(Don't you love how the fabrics talk in my mind? haha!)

 This quilt makes me happy. I can't wait to cuddle up with my son. :)

Something else that makes me happy: 

 The fabrics match up to form the flamingo! :) 

 And again here to form the parrot. :) Neither of these were intentional, but a happy accident nonetheless.

 

31 wks 1 day

Pregnancy Update: 

Michael continues to grow, turn and kick! He is so much more active than Lucy was - "Get ready mom and dad! I'm an active boy!" - and has already expressed his love of his daddy's chocolate chip cookies (it felt like he was doing somersaults)! :) He is measuring right where he should be and we are counting the days until we can see his sweet face. :) 

As far as how this mamma is doing, well I've been much more uncomfortable in the past few weeks as the third trimester has hit - achy and sore.  Trying to stay chipper and upbeat has been a bit hard - why do pregnancy hormones have to be so stinking strong? We are taking one day at a time and looking forward to 4 months from now when I will feel like myself, physically and emotionally. I've been trying to have more realistic expectations of myself, spreading the housework out over 4 days instead of trying to hammer it all out in one and forcing myself to sit for a little while in the afternoon - that's how the quilt got done! So it's been a good change.

That's it for now, I washed and ironed fabric and made the ties for Michael's crib skirt this afternoon. I'm looking forward to seeing his bedding take shape. Hopefully later this week there will be a Lucy/Family update! :) There is a lot to catch you up on!