Love Paternity LEAVE!

Can I say how much I love my husband's company for giving him paternity leave? 2 weeks and it ROCKS. It's so nice having him home and starting life as a family of 4 together!!! I don't have time to share about my labor, but hope to do it soon. We are doing well and can I say how much easier a baby is than a toddler? WOW! And I thought 1 was hard when I had Max. It's funny how things change once you have been through something. We are loving having Cole around. He is a good baby and is eating and sleeping very well. He sleeps most of the day and I forgot how much they do that in the beginning. I haven't been taken a ton of pictures but hope to do that more this weeks. He had his circumcision on Friday and oh am I glad to have that behind us! OUCH! Poor boy! He did OK and I had a few tears, but all in all it went well. He has already passed his birth weight by an ounce as of Friday. In 2 days he gained 1/2 pound...so I guess he is getting enough food. I'm really cherishing the little baby stage because I know it will go by before I know it and I don't think we will be having another so I'm enjoying his littleness while I can.


Well I'm off to give Cole a bath and some other things. More to come soon...sorry for the delay!

COLE LOREN ELLINGSON

The new challenge...getting the ENITRE Ellingson Family to look for a picture!Max running to see baby Brother!
Great G&G Gordon
Megs, Cole and I Cole being a cutie! Grandpa Gordon
Me enjoying my sweet baby boy!
Max giving loves to his new baby brother...love it.
The Gordon crew...some of them. My parents and grandparents
Sleepy baby...priceless.

Just wanted to post some pictures that Beth, my step-mom took this morning so you could get your first look at Cole! We are thrilled that he is here and are enjoying these first few days. We are going home tomorrow and our crazy life as a family of four begins.

More updates later...

Mothers Intuition is RIGHT!!!!

COLE LOREN entered the world June 20th at 7pm! We are thrilled that he is here and labor is behind me! Wheww...that hurt! He is a cutie and I will post pictures when we get home Sunday or Monday! He was 8 lbs, 4 oz like his brother and has brown hair. Thank you for all your prayers and I'm still shocked that the day I thought he would come...he did. The tough labor went pretty quick...3pm to 7pm but there is a little more to the story. Can't wait for you to meet him. Max is doing well being a big brother!

Nothing, Notta, Zero!

Not much to report! I wish that was not the case but obviously Cole is feeling comfortable in his womb right now. I have had some contractions but nothing painful, just a little uncomfortable. I feel like a broken record to Loren because I keep saying I'm having some contractions and then they go away. We are just waiting and hoping something happens soon. Its been very nice because I have had nothing on the calendar and have been taking each day easy and slow and it has been LOVELY. I love that anytime I call someone and I'm ready to say "I'm not in Labor" they answer the phone "Are you in Labor?" Hopefully that will all change soon. He has to come out sometime though, I can't be pregnant forever, even though right now it feels like it!

Thanks for all your prayers! Can't wait to introduce you to our newest little boy, COLE!

An update...

Hello friends!

I have some belly pictures but my camera is upstairs in the hospital bag and I really don't feel like going up to get it. Maybe tomorrow that can happen. And no this isn't Cole, but a picture of what I'm hoping the next week will bring. (This is a picture of Max on our way home from the hospital!!!) Either way just know that the belly is getting bigger and any day Cole could grace us with his presence! We are excited and are just curious when it's going to happen. I had my weekly doctors appointment today and was happy to have some progression from last week...YIPEE. And I do have to brag because I lost a pound and to some that might not sound like a big deal, but to me it's HUGE and I love it! Not that I'm counting...yah, um right! Bags are packed, plans have been set...people are in place to help us carry out our departure to the hospital when labor starts...we are READY!

We had a wonderful Fathers Day hanging out with both families up at Lake Tapps...2 separate family functions which was a little tiring but fun to be able to see both of our dads. The weather was AMAZING and I so hope we have more of it in the future. We have been going on walks which have been great...figure that can only help move things along right? Yeah...just trying to help Cole along...that's what mom's do right...

I have been EXHAUSTED! I am for sure getting up more in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom which is probably making a difference, but I also just think being 39 weeks pregnant has something to do with it. I get up and feel good if contractions haven't kept me up all night but after a few hours I'm so tired. It's weird how you can do nothing and still feel tired. I keep thinking this is how I'm going to feel when Cole gets here...lack of sleep and the pure exhaustion. It's weird how you feel like you are going to be pregnant forever and labor is never going to happen. I do know that he will come, but at a certain point you do kind of wonder. It's just this cruel mind, and body game...oh is this the beginning of my labor contractions? Will I be holding him this time tomorrow? Should I call the hospital? Do I have everything packed...oh and then contractions stop and I realize nope...not happening right now! Cruel, cruel game and exhausting.

Oh and did I tell you that my best friend and my dad and Beth are going to be leaving shortly after Cole's due date? Yeah my dad is leaving June 28 for 3 weeks to Jerusalem and Andrea is leaving July 2 for California so please, please PRAY that he comes early so they will all be here for his birth. Max was 4 days early so I'm hoping that will happen again. June 20th is a day that has been sticking out to me, but who knows if that will mean anything??? We will see! I progressed as far as dilation goes in 5 days so I'm hoping that means something...a girl can hope.

Ok, this is getting long...I always ramble! Just wanted to update you all on life at the Ellingson house. Hope to be posting soon of our newest addition! Can't wait...

I love to LAUGH

My mom and brother, Andrew were here this weekend. You know how there are certain groups of people who get together and you just end up laughing...the whole time? Yes, well that is the 4 of us. I seriously laughed the whole weekend. We didn't do that much but just sitting around and talking was great. We relaxed, ate and just enjoyed their company. I get a little depressed when my mom leaves because we have such a good time when she is here. We are a lot a like and could really do nothing but sit and talk and relax and that would be plenty for us. The nice thing is Loren and Andrew have a good time together and they end up going out to do something so they aren't totally bored. As they left today I realized that I wouldn't see them again pregnant and that when my mom sees me next time I will be holding Cole and that was really crazy and kind of sad. It's the last time my mom will see me pregnant...I know that might sound kind of weird?!?!?

On another note...can I say THANK GOODNESS for ELASTIC? Yah it's the best when pregnancy jeans get uncomfortable! I have to keep washing my black, sweat pants so when I go into labor they will be clean to bring them to the hospital. I'm trying to stay on top of it. But really when your belly is getting bigger and bigger you need something that won't make you feel contained.

We finally got a couple little things done around the house that we kept putting off, like hanging pictures and a rod to hang Cole's quilt on...yah it really takes us forever to do some simple things that end up taking us minutes, but still we put it off. Anyway...it is done and I think that was the official last thing in Cole's room...whoooo hooo...I'm ready.

I'm going into my 38th week and have been thinking how strange it is that I'm waiting for some SERIOUS pain to start and anxious for it...hmmmm, how often are you waiting for pain and your excited? Strange...I know! But I also think how many times are you in intense pain and get an amazing gift at the end? Not many so it's nice to know that the end brings GREAT JOY! I have been feeling major pressure, pain in the pelvis, cramping and gas like pains which I have read is a sign of labor too...so stuff is starting I think. Of course I always doubt myself and wonder if my mind is playing tricks on my...I am in total self denial with stuff like this. I keep thinking it will be a few days and than think I will be pregnant for another month. Who knows when it will all REALLY happen, but I'm trying to take a day at a time and not be so anxious and not be disappointed if it doesn't happen when I think it should. It's times like this when you feel so close, yes so FAR away!

I have told Loren to bring his wireless card to the hospital so I can post when I deliver...I know that most people wait, but of course I'm always dying to know details for others so I will try and post when things start happen and when it does actually happen. We will see how that works out...I could always have someone post it for me too. Either way I hope to let you all know when Cole gets here.

Please pray for my labor and delivery and that Cole will be healthy. I always pray for the moment he is delivered that it will be an enjoyable moment and not a pain staking one...I prayed that with Max and I was able to enjoy it and totally remember it and LOVED it and am hoping to experience that with Cole too! I hate the idea of saying "Just Get Him Out"... I don't want to do that if I can help it. So please pray that everything goes well and that it will be a healthy, wonderful, amazing experience. Also pray that if things don't go according to MY PLAN that I will accept that and not dwell on it...it's so easy to have a plan in your head and with this kind of thing you can't plan and surprises happen. Lots of prayers!

Cole, you are officially INVITED to our HOME anytime now...

I'm in my 37th week of pregnancy now and had an exciting ultrasound! Well just seeing him is the excitement. Good news is he is head down and his approximate weight right now is 8lbs, 5oz (give or take a pound either way). Max was 8lbs, 4oz so Cole could be bigger than his big brother. Everything looked really good which is so reassuring and makes me feel really good if he came early. He is still a he...had to verify that again for peace of mind, why not if we can? I have a picture but don't think it will come out well enough for you to see...I might try that tomorrow. He looks like he already has chubby cheeks, his dads nose and even some hair...I will be anxious to see about the hair??? Weird to say but I do think he is already a little cutie, but I guess I'm a little partial to him. So anyway just wanted to update you all and also Welcome Cole into our home so he knows he can come anytime...please don't stay in too long, a 10 pounder isn't my idea of fun, but whatever happens...and he is healthy...I will be one happy MAMA! Can't wait to meet him!