Lions, Tigers and Bears

We took a trip to the Zoo while Matt was home on maternity leave - it was so fun just the four of us on our little outing - VERY HOT though! I was telling Matt, why do we always visit the Zoo when it is freezing cold or blistering hot - we need to maybe come in September or something. It was still a fun day though - especially watching Ashtyn get so excited when she would see the animals. I took her last year, but only being 1 years old she was really only interested in the elephants because that's all she could see - but this year she knew what all the animals were by name and would try to imitate what sounds they made. She loved watching the seals - she said they looked like snakes in the water! She also loved the hippo, although she thought it was very smelly. We saw a baby billy goat which was so adorable and he would hop on his mountain like a little bunny which Ashtyn found so entertaining!

But Ashtyn's most favorite were the penguins - which are mine too! They were so cute and especially Maddie who is a little penguin which was raised by one of the Zoo Keepers and has quite a personality...

We of course had to enjoy some Dip-n-Dot ice cream since it was so hot and that is one of Ashtyn's favorites! It melted very fast though, so Ashtyn ended up drinking most of it!

Eli enjoyed his trip to the Zoo hanging out in the wagon sleeping - I was worried about the heat, but the hotter it is the more comfortable he is! I guess it reminds him of being in the tummy!

We had lots of fun touring the Zoo as a family - I loved that Matt could join us since it's not something we typically get to do together! It will definitely need to become a yearly summer outing!

Fourth of July

Fourth of July this year was a bit quieter then usual - I am sure it was due to the fact that we had a 3 week old! We typically go camping out at the lake but that was just not going to be all that practical this year - but I guess we have many years ahead of us to enjoy the 4th camping with our kids! On Saturday night we went to the firework display at Vista Ridge in Erie with Grandma Sandy, Butch and Emily- it was Fantastic! I had never been to this show and was quite impressed when it was all done. It was short - but very entertaining and the best part was we had great seats and didn't have to sit in traffic to get them! Ashtyn loved the firework show and talked the entire time - she had a comment for every firework there was! She didn't even mind the sound which I thought for sure might scare her but she would just smile and say "Loud!" Eli didn't mind the fireworks at all - he slept through the entire thing! The evening was wonderful watching the fireworks with the family - next year we just need to bring a cooler of drinks!

On Sunday we headed over to Aunt Pammy's for a BBQ with the other family. It was fun hanging with the family and we had great food as usual. Even though the weekend seemed quiet we were still all exhausted...

We were supposed to head to the lake that night to watch the fireworks all around Boulder and surrounding areas, but with the major thunderstorms our evening was cancelled - so instead we went home and watched all the crazy people who were setting off fireworks in our neighborhood - Ashtyn thought they were very entertaining - I guess next year we may have to invest in some sparklers or something! Happy 4th!

Sand Box

While Matt was on maternity leave for 4 weeks he completed many things on his "honey do" list and one of them was building a sand box in the back yard for the kids. Ashtyn can occupy herself for hours playing in sand, so we thought it would be great to have a place for her to play right in our back yard...and later once the kids grow out of this phase we can turn it into a planter for tomatoes - eventually!

Ashtyn has been enjoying her new sandbox and hopefully Eli will enjoy as well next summer. Let's just hope the sand stays in the box instead of all over the yard and my house! Matt did a great job for his first time building a wall out of stone! Thanks Babe - your children love you for it - and so do I!

Big Sister

On June 14th, Ashtyn became a Big Sister and wasn't too happy about it at first. Ashtyn was not happy at all to find both Matt and I gone that morning she woke up and when she came to the hospital with Grandma later that morning she was very quiet and distant. I definitely expected some type of reaction, but I wasn't prepared for what it would really be like and how sad I would feel looking at her face. When we got home from the hospital she opened up a little bit with me, but still was very quiet and had an attitude towards anything I said or tried to do with her. After a couple of rough days - to say the least - and some heart to heart talks, she began accepting the new "idea" of having a brother and is getting back to her normal self. She will now kiss Eli on the head and will report to me if he is crying or if he is sleeping, so it looks like things are getting better...

I think Ashtyn will be a great Big Sister once we all get adjusted, and hopefully our relationship which I love so much will get back to normal. I was finally able to lay Eli next to her without her protesting for a picture, but still no smile...

Birth Story

This picture pretty much sums up my entire pregnancy and delivery...exhausting - but TOTALLY worth it! My pregnancy with Eli went just fine, not much to complain about, except for the fact that I really don't enjoy being pregnant - but all in all I was blessed with a trouble free pregnancy. At 36 weeks I started having contractions - nothing consistent or very painful, but they were there so I thought for sure my little boy would come early - all I was hoping for was he would come in June because I really wanted a June baby - be very careful what you wish for! At my 36 week appointment I was already dilated to 3CM and effaced 50%, so I had no doubt that I would probably meet my baby in the next couple weeks. Well the weeks went by one by one, then I passed my due date, and then another week went by - needless to say I was SO tired of being pregnant, anxious to have this baby and frustrated that it was taking so long....!

Finally on Saturday night, June 12th the contractions I had been having were finally 5 minutes apart and somewhat painful - so I took a shower, got ready and then headed to the hospital around 10:30 or so that night ready to have a baby - thinking this is it! When we arrived to the hospital I was 4CM dilated and 80% effaced - I was thinking - WOW! that is excellent! Well, the nurse disagreed and after walking around the hospital for another 2 hours we were told to go home because my cervix was not changing enough for them to emit me - Disappointed again, I left the hospital feeling hopeless - I decided right then that I would not return to the hospital until the baby was falling out of me...

Basically, I didn't sleep Saturday night because of the annoying contractions and when Sunday came I decided that I wanted to visit the mall instead of sitting around waiting for my baby to come. We all went to Colorado Mills to do some shopping and the entire time we were shopping I was having awful contractions - I would have to stop and breath through them, but they were still very inconsistent so I continued on with shopping. That evening we went to have dinner at my parents, and again I was just very uncomfortable and really hoping I wasn't going to have to live another week like this - Basically at this point I was just living for Friday when they would finally induce me...

I got into bed Sunday night and the contractions just kept getting stronger and more painful - but they were still so inconsistent - 10 minutes apart, then 7 minutes then 5 minutes - I was so frustrated and in so much pain thinking is this it? or will they just turn me away again if I go in? Finally, at 2:30 am I woke Matt up and said I couldn't take it anymore and we needed to leave for the hospital. While we were waiting for Matt's mom to show up to stay with Ashtyn the contractions just kept getting worse and worse, and by this point I could barely breath through them - Once Sandy got there, we RUSHED to the hospital running red lights and all - I was in some major pain! When we got to the hospital I couldn't even walk, so we had to get a wheel chair - that was a FUN ride - Matt zipped me around so fast I literally got sick to my stomach. Once we got to Labor and Delivery, I was having contractions every 2 minutes and they were extremely painful and all I kept saying was I wanted the epidural - I just want the pain to go away, a natural birth was never a plan for me! The nurse checked me and I was 7 CM, so they called for the epidural - while I was waiting for what seemed like an eternity for the anesthesiologist to show up the contractions just kept getting worse, so the nurse checked me again and I was 10 CM - so in a matter of 15 minutes I was fully dilated, and then just as I was finally getting the epidural I had the urge to push - the nurse almost stopped the epidural, but I pleaded to let me have it - there was no way I could possibly push with that much pain - I was able to hold on pushing long enough to get something to take the pain away - Not sure what I ended up getting for the pain, but 5 minutes later I was finally able to relax a bit and not feel so out of control. I started pushing and about 15 minutes later Eli was BORN! It was such a relief to finally hold my baby I had waited so long for! The delivery although very painful, went very quickly and I actually felt great after the delivery. Once again it was an amazing experience - but not at all what I had expected. By 6:00 am we were moved into our room so we could relax and get to know our new baby boy!

They gave Eli a bath in the delivery room about an hour after he was born. He didn't enjoy it too much...

Uncle Kevin stopped by before work to meet his new nephew...

Papa was a little tired after being called at 3:00 am to come to the hospital to meet his new grandson...

Matt looking a little tired after all the excitement...

So we don't have any pictures of Ashtyn with Eli or myself at the hospital. She didn't take the arrival of Eli all that well and refused to look at the baby and me while we were at the hospital - I felt so bad and just wanted to hold her. Matt was really the only person she would go to...

We of course had tons of family and friends visit us all day on Monday. We are so blessed to be surrounded by such loving people. Thank you to everyone for coming to support our family...

The two Trujillo boys, Robbie looked so big compared to Eli and they are only 4 months apart - we will see what these little monsters will be up to in about a year!

This is about as close as Ashtyn would get to Eli...

On Tuesday afternoon we were discharged - Now we had to go home and figure out how to juggle life with a newborn and a two year old. I am so thankful for having such a fast delivery and a healthy, beautiful baby boy. I couldn't have asked for more - My family feels complete now with Eli in my arms and I never thought I could love another child as much as I love Ashtyn - but it is possible! I am so excited to watch my babies grow and I just thank God for these two amazing blessings he has given me.

Eli Matthew Trujillo

June 14th, 2010 at 3:55 am

7lbs 7oz and 20 1/4"

Welcome to the world little man - We love you so much!

Still Pregnant !@#$%

That's right I am 40 weeks today on my due date, June 8th, and I am still PREGNANT! Let's just say I didn't plan on sitting at home on this evening updating my blog - I would much rather be holding my baby boy, but apparently he is just not ready to come into this crazy world. I had an appointment today and the doctor basically said everything looks good, just hang in there! Oh yeah! So after being anxious, then sad, then a little angry - I have now decided to just relax, be patient and let God decide when this should happen. I will just take it day by day and hopefully my little boy will decide to come out on his own - if not they are inducing me next Friday, June 18th - so there is at least an end in sight! It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't SO HOT, constantly having contractions, back pain and cramps - but like I said I will just remain relaxed and patient because there is not a whole lot I can do about it - I have already tried all the "home" remedies and each one has failed! I am very excited though to meet this little man and watch Ashtyn love on him - when will you arrive Eli? We are all waiting to meet you...