Baby Bonner #3 is a .......

We had our big ultrasound this afternoon.  Todd took work off early and we brought the kids along, so it was a big family affair.  We were in the room for over an hour, so thank goodness for goldfish and games on the iPhone, or Hazel and Jack might not have made it. 

Sticking with tradition (see here and here) we planned to go out to eat to celebrate after finding out if the baby's a boy or a girl.  Hazel has been totally gunning for a sister since she found out I was pregnant, because she "already has a little brother."  But when we told her we'd get sandwiches and salads and cheesecake if it was a girl, and steak if it was a boy, she totally switched teams!  That girl loves her red meat. 

She only slipped once in the past three days.  Last night, she put her hands on my belly and said she hoped the baby was a girl.  Then she said, "Wait, I mean I want it to be a BOY!  Because I really, really want to eat steak!!!"  She had a major short term/long term battle with herself this week! 

And so, it is quite funny to announce that Hazel was seriously disappointed to find out that the baby is a....

GIRL! 

 We celebrated at The Cheesecake Factory.  I had my favorite food, a chicken salad sandwich (and an enormous salad that will mostly be tomorrow's lunch).  The kids had sliders and corn dogs - kid food doesn't really count.  

Todd had an Asian cashew chicken salad.  (Also, he never seems to know what to look at when I take his picture...)

We finished it off with a knock-out divine German chocolate cheesecake. 

 We are stuffed, and pleased. 

Mr. Jack

Introducing Jack Todd Bonner!
Stats:
Born at 10:36 am Tuesday, January 4, 2011.
9 pounds 9 ounces
21 1/2 inches long
Details:
I spent all night Sunday and all day Monday having irregular contractions. We went into the hospital Monday night and had nurses telling me I probably wasn't really in labor and should go back home until my contractions were coming more regularly and I was no longer smiling and friendly. Boy, did I want to shove it in their faces when a doctor checked me and I was dilated to a seven!

I got an epidural around midnight, and everyone thought we'd have a baby in a few hours. Not so. I stalled at that darn seven for a few more hours until they broke my water at 3:30. Even still, I progressed slowly. It was 10 am before I was checked and at a 10. Fifteen minutes later, I was pushing, and 20 minutes after that we had our little man!

Overall, it was (incredibly) longer than my 22 hour labor with Hazel, but much easier. And I would never survive without an epidural.
Hazel was loving, gentle and soft when she visited at the hospital, but since we've been home she's had an enormous case of sibling-itis. She's majorly Mama Clingy and has boycotted her nap two days in a row now, doubling the fussiness in the afternoon. Wish us luck as we adjust to being a family of four!

Easy Baby Book

When Hazel was born, Todd's sister Laura gave me one of the best gifts ever thought of - a beautiful and simple, ready-to-fill baby book. It had a cover page with Hazel's name on it, and then each two-page spread after that was dedicated to one of the first twelve months of Hazel's life. Laura had already done all the cutesy paper/sticker/doo-hickey decorating and had it all ready to go so that all I had to do each month was print out one 5x7 picture of Hazel and fill in a 3x5 card with sweet details of Hazel highlights. It was so easy for me to stay up to date, despite being a tired and sometimes sad single mom with a husband overseas and a baby with a clubfoot that required so much attention. I am so thankful for that gift! It was all done a month or two after Hazel's first birthday, and now she loves to look through the "Hazel Book."
Another great thing about this baby book being so simple, is that it's completely do-able with the follow-up children. I just finished making Jack's. (I knew it had to happen before he comes for it to remain an "easy" project.) Not counting the time I spent shopping for supplies, I spent a grand total of about 4 hours putting the book together. Now it's ready to go when he gets here, and I know I'll be able to keep a record of at least the first year of his life. ;) I had to spread the news because I think these baby books are revolutionary!

She's Here!!

The Marathon of Labor has finally ended.

After 22 hrs of waiting (for me, Angie would probably use a different word)
Hazel Deon Bonner was born last night at 11:36pm,
was 8lbs 14oz and is totally healthy.