Welcome Collin Gene Cappert

Born 7-7-11

3:12 PM

9lbs 11ozs

22in

So we arrived at the hospital at 7am and by 8:30 I was officially hooked up to the IV with my "make this baby come out" meds running through me.  Dr. Frank wasn't messing around this time around.  He wasn't going to let this go past Thursday.  He's got places to go and people to see. 

To my beautiful baby boy Collin:  You arrived at 3:12pm on a Thursday.  Your perfect in every way.  You look EXACTLY like your brother Benjamin.  (I have a feeling people are going to think your twins as you grow up.)  Your peacefully and calm and a true gift from God.  Your my biggest baby, but my easiest delivery. - Go figure.  You already smile.  Some people will say that's just gas, but I don't believe that.  Today you are 5 days old and I am writing this as you are sleeping in your bassinet.  I just took the picture above.



Your first picture.  I knew you were going to be big.  I called you my Ninja when you were in my belly.  I talked the doctor into inducing me a week early because I just knew you were ginormous!  It was either that or there was more than one of you in there.  Thankful it wasn't that.



Your first picture with your big sister and brother.  Would have loved to have the picture include Ben too, but he was being a butt.  He was a bit tired from everything going on.

Our first official family picture.  What a motley crew?!?!

I tried to take your and Ben's nuk out of your mouth's, but your brother Benjamin is a bit protective of you already.  He wouldn't stop crying until we put your nuk back in your mouth, even though you didn't want it.  I have a feeling you two will be best friends for life.  I hope I'm right. 

The Calm Before The Storm

• The house is clean.  Check
• My house never looks so spotless as when I am about to go and give birth.  There's just something about bringing a new baby home to a dirty house that does not appeal to me.  I have made myself, and all those around me, crazy with this task over the last 3 days.  I even may have broken one of my little toes in the process.  But now I can sit in peace - and pain - while I wait for the clock to strike 6am. The bewitching hour.  The hour that we get in the car and start our journey towards baby #4 coming home.
• The kids are at my moms. Check
• One last night of peace, quiet, and tranquility.  The original plan was to go to my 1:30 appointment and go straight from the doctor's office to the hospital.  This was my plan of course.  The doc knew nothing of it.  Then the doc's office called and wanted to change my appointment until tomorrow.  I begged (not really - but did have a nice conversation with the nurse about how this is my 39th week and Dr. Frank said he would induce me in the 39th week) and still got in today, but had to wait until 3:15. 
• Dr. Frank didn't send me today - BUT he is sending me tomorrow!
• Bags are packed. Check
• I went to the doctor's office with my packed suitcase in the back seat of the car.  I think I have everything.  We'll find out tomorrow. 
• Date night with my husband. Check
• Due to the set back of not going to the hospital today, but being completely prepared to do so, the kids are already at my mom's ready for a sleep over AND as previously stated - house is clean and bags are packed.  What's left but to have a date night with Jason??? 
• We had dinner at Friday's - Yum.  Then went to see Larry Crowne at the Fox Lake Theatre.  Great Movie!  I really wanted to see that at the theatre, but figured there was no way.  Funny how everything happens for a reason - Big and Small.  (Speaking of big - you should see the size of my legs from sitting in those theatre chairs for 2 hours.  I have tree trunks where my ankles used to be.) 
• At home relaxing. Check
• Just about to try and get one more nights sleep in my own bed.  I'm starting to feel a little nervous now.  I know this is my 4th go around, but it's still a little nerve racking when your just waiting for the time to come.
• Tomorrow - 7am - It's Baby Time!
• I am staying syked though.  Keeping my eye on the prize.  I got a little teared up before the movie started tonight just thinking about tomorrow when the kids come to the hospital and get to meet their new baby brother for the first time.  They've been praying for this and talking to my belly for quite some time and are super excited that it's finally time for Mommy to go to the hospital and get the baby out of my belly.

 

Let's do this! 

Collin Gene Cappert -

Here We Come!

Riley's 5th Birthday Extravaganza!

Jason and I took Riley downtown on the train to Navy Pier today. 

 Here was how our trip unfolded:

• (For big pregnant me - bathroom break)
• Took the train from Libertyville to Union Station
• Riley thought this was so cool.  She couldn't wait for the train to roll in the station.  "Is it here yet?" "How many more minutes?" are the only 2 questions we heard until we were rolling out of the station. 

• (Bathroom - If  your looking for some really cool hand dryer's Union Station is the place.)
• Hopped in a cab to Navy Pier
• Riley thought this was so cool.  Her first cab ride.  This meant she got to sit in a car WITHOUT a car seat.  How exciting!
• (Bathroom)
• Went on the Ferris Wheel in the rain.
• This was definitely NOT the highlight of the day.  Went slow, couldn't move around, and was over to quickly.  Riley really wanted to go on the big swings, but she was to short, I was to pregnant, and they closed the ride because of the rain.  Guess it wasn't meant to be.

• (Visit yet another public restroom)
• Watch Variety Act inside Navy Pier
• (Stand in a super long line and let a little girl who was about to pee her pants go ahead of me.)
• Go inside the Children's Museum
• This was Riley's favorite part at Navy Pier, although she was a bit lost without Wyatt.  She couldn't stop and play at any station, just kept running from room to room.  I couldn't keep up with her, that was Jason's job.

• (Are we sensing a theme?? - Bathroom)
• Children's Museum Store
• Riley got to pick out her own present here.  She picked a dress up outfit - Hairdresser of course.  And to accessorise her outfit she picked princess slippers and a crown.  That's what I always wear to cut all my client's hair too. 
• Candy Store
• $34 frickin' dollars at the candy store.  What is wrong with us! 
• Margaritaville
• Food was ok.  Not as good as New Orleans or Las Vegas.  Would not recommend going there, but it was nice to sit for a bit.

• (Bathroom - Switched  it up a bit.  Made it 3 stops before: Gotta Go. Gotta Go. Gotta Go Right Now.)
• Take a taxi back to Union Station
• Riley tried to get a window seat by telling me she was going to get car sick.
• (I bet you'll never guess - Oh you got me - Bathroom)
• Get on the train.
• This was the highlight of the day!!  We found another little girl on the train named Riley.  She was sitting across from us on the train.  She was 6.  She had a little brother.  They were both wearing pink, both had bows on their shirts, both were getting off at the Libertyville stop, etc. etc. etc.  The similarities never ended - literally. 
• Make it all the way to my mom's house to pick up the boys.
• (Bathroom)
• Go home AND.....
• (Bathroom)

Strawberry Nesquik In The Face

Time for bed.  Lets get pj's on.  Ben walks over to me with the tub of Strawberry Nesquik that he pulled out of the cabinet.  Ok.  Lay Down.  Let's change your diaper and get your pj's on.  Shorts off - working on changing his diaper - Ben opens the container of Nesquik ALL over his face.  3/4 of the container is all over him.  I start FREAKING out.  I'm stuck on the floor, can't get up, trying to get the powder out of his eyes, and there appears to be blood coming from his mouth.  Thankfully my friend Sarah was here.  She comes over, assures me it's not blood, but strawberry powder that's getting wet.  She grabs Ben and takes him to the bath.  Ben is deathly afraid of the bathtub all the sudden so he is screaming not only because he is in the bathtub, but also covered in Nesquik.  I finally get off the floor, run into the bathroom, get down to my bra and underwear (because I am covered head to toe in strawberry powder as well) and jump in the tub with Ben.  Poor Sarah is doing the best she can with a screaming baby and bad back.  Now Riley and Wyatt are there.  Riley grabbed the vacuum to clean up the living room and also grabbed me a bowl to rinse Ben with.  Of course we have no clean towels in the bathroom so Wyatt ran downstairs and grabbed two clean towels from the basement.  Sarah grabbed the baby wash for me to soap him up while having Ben cling to me.  After Ben was clean Sarah took him out of the tub to dry him off.  Riley finished vacuuming and Wyatt came upstairs with the towels. 

Both Riley and Wyatt were so scarred because they were so worried about Ben.  As he was crying the strawberry powder turned red all over his face and it looked to them like he was bleeding out of every orifice of his face.  We finally were able to reassure them that Ben was fine and it just looked scary.  As we were all in the bathroom we just looked at each other and started laughing at the total and complete chaos we just went through. 

Oh Benjamin - What are we going to do with you?  Big thanks to Aunt Sarah, Riley and Wyatt for all working as a team to get Ben (and the living room floor) cleaned up as quickly as possible. 

The funniest part of all of this is that while kneeling in the bathtub - having Benjamin cling to me - pouring water all over him and in turn all over the front of myself - because my BIG OLE pregnant belly is so big - my underpants never got wet.  As Jason puts it, "Now that's talent."

P.S. I'm still rubbing powder out of my hair and ears.

Chasing Butterflies

While Jason was tackling yet another outside yard project the kids found their first butterfly.  Even Ben noticed her.  (The kids decided it was a momma butterfly.)  It was just the cutest thing ever watching all 3 of them walking up close to the lilac bush to get a closer look.  Riley picked a couple flower petals and was walking over to the butterfly with her hand out trying to get her to eat out of her hand.  Then of course that got boring so we had to chase the butterfly away.  So much for letting nature be and just observing. 

Here's some pictures of Jason's accomplishment today.  He dug out around the bushes my mom gave us last fall and put red mulch all around.  He also put new mulch around the bushes we planted last summer.  Looks great!  At dinner he said I'm starting to rub off on him.  Now he loves productive days and can't handle the lazy days, when before he used to look so forward to the lazy ones.  Hate it when that happens.  :)

Riley's 1st year of school . . . Pre-K

The first day of school.

The last day of school.



Riley is officially done with school for the year.  1 year down . . . lots more to go. 

Through out the year Riley learned how to write her name, become a better artist, count to 100 (almost), recognize and write almost all the letters in the alphabet, and many many more things.

Riley's school name was Gavin South in Ingleside, IL

Her teachers were Mrs. Mark and Mrs. Rutherford.

We went on field trips to the apple orchard, fire station, Caboose Park, and Hart Park.

She changed best friends almost everyday. 

Came home with a smile on her face all but 2 days of the year.  Really - only 2.  One day she was sick and the other someone "made" her spill her milk all over herself at snack time.  Rough day. 

She really enjoyed school. 

And now she can't wait for kindergarden to start.

Wardrobe Malfunction

The Belly Belt...

Let me tell you about the Belly Belt.  It's a great little invention that allows pregnant women to wear their non-maternity pants.  It works like this.  You pick your piece of elastic, thread it through the piece of fabric that best matches your outfit, attach the button in the button hole and visa versa, and make sure the piece of fabric is tucked INSIDE your pants.  Fabulous invention.  Really it is.  As long as you use as directed.

Not so fabulous when your walking around the store with the piece of fabric hanging out of the zipper part of your pants and your husband says, "I think your thing might not be on right".  You respond without looking down, "No, that's how it's suppose to be.  The zipper doesn't go up." And then he responds back to you totally straight faced, "ok".  And you go on shopping.  Finish your shopping.  Load up your van.  Argue with your husband about how to fit the 10 pounds of shit into a 5 pound bag (a.k.a everything you just bought into your van).  Have the cart guy stare at you and pace around you waiting for you to give him your cart.  Get in your car.  Drive to the nearest Starbucks.  Get out of your van and catch a reflection of yourself in the store front window.  All the sudden you realize that you have what appears to be a hanky hanging out of the zipper of your pants.  What would you do?

Me...  Well, I started laughing so hard I was crying.  I turned around and walked back to Jason waiting in the van.  I did this for 2 reasons.  1. To put the hanky back in my pants as discreetly as possible. And 2. To ask him WHY?  Why would you let me walk around with a hanky poking out of my zipper?  Why would you take my answer at face value and not ask me to look into the matter just a little more?  AND How could you not have noticed? 

Then on our way home we are talking about how great it is to shop in McHenry.  It's not that far away and the people are really nice.  Except the cart guy just pacing around waiting for our cart.  I said I do understand a little bit.  Obviously not everything was right upstairs with him.  Jason reminds me that maybe he was thinking the same thing about us.  A husband and wife arguing about how to load their van while the pregnant wife is walking around with a hanky sticking out of her zipper.  He was probably just wondering what the appropriate way and time was to interject, "Excuse me, mamm.  I think you may need to fix your pants."  To which I would have responded without looking down, "No, It's just my Belly Belt."