Alice Elizabeth Sokolowski

Well it's better late then never and I want to have it documented so here it goes, Alice's birth story....

It was a Sunday evening on August 4th, 2013 when we were celebrating my mom's birthday at my parents house.  We had just finished singing happy birthday when I felt some water leaking.  I went downstairs to go get Doug.  I tell him that I think my water has broken, and as I tell him more water comes!  Luckily we have my bags packed and in the van and we are able to leave the boys with my parents.  We just have to make a quick stop at home for a couple of things and then we will be on our way to the hospital.  By this point it is about 6:30 pm.

When we arrive at home me and Doug go inside, even though Doug tells me to wait in the van, and we get a couple extra things that we hadn't packed yet and then we head to the hospital.  As soon as we arrive at the hospital and I start walking toward the entrance I experience another huge gush of water.  As a side note this is the first pregnancy in which my water has broken.  They take me straight up to the birthing center and my doctor, who had been waiting for me to go into later that night, laughed seeing me in my state.

They hooked me up and confirmed that in fact I had broke my water, lol.  They also said that I was 2.5 cm dilated.  It was about 7:15 pm at this point.  They gave me the choice of walking around before they hooked me up so that maybe I could get some real contractions coming, since I had only, up to this point, had very mild contractions.  So Doug and I walked around about 5 or 6 times before going back to the room and Doug decided to get some rest before the baby came.  It was about 8:00 pm now.  

The doctor wanted to give me some pitocin since it didn't seem like I was progressing, but I told the nurse that I would like to put it off for a little longer and see what happens, my other two pregnancies I was induced and I really didn't want to be induced for this one either and my water had already broke on it's own so I just wanted to go with it.  

At about 9 pm my contractions started to get a little stronger and I requested some pain medicine.  Then at about 10:30 pm they got a whole lot stronger so they came to check to see how far along I was.  I was at a 5.  They said I could get an epidural so I decided to get one.  While I was getting my epidural I told my nurse that I needed to push.  By the time they were done doing the epidural they had to rush to get Doug because I had gone from a 5 to a 10 within that time period!

After not much pushing Alice Elizabeth Sokolowski was born @ 1:47 am weighing 6 lbs. 2 oz and 19 3/4 length.

Here are some pictures:

Alice freshly born!

Sleeping...

We had pictures taken two weeks after she was

born and they turned out so well!

Alice with her big brothers!

So happy to finally have you here!

My baby boy is growing up

I can't believe it will be three years since I gave birth to my Tristan this Sunday. Time is flying by way too fast and I wish I could hit the slow motion button so I could savor every second I have with these precious souls I have been blessed with.

The things Tristan gets excited about or upset over are so simple for instance today. He got a sponge bob bandaid at the doctor on his finger and he literally wore it all day. He did not want to take it off. So when it came off at bath time you can imagine the sadness that followed.

Another cute thing he does is ask me to carry him like a baby. I LOVE it when he asks me this. It makes me so happy inside.

I am not ready for them to grow up. I am always going to want my kids to want me and to hold them and to kiss their boo boos.

Lessons in Patience 101

Today I took Erik and Tristan to the Library for Toddler Time.  The theme for this week is apples.  Before leaving to go to the library I explain to Erik some rules for when we get there, such as:  We listen to the stories.  We sit quietly.  We listen to mommy.  We went over these rules a few times before and on the way to the library.  We have some friends from church that take there children to Toddler Time as well, and Erik was excited to see his friends from nursery.

We arrived at the library a few minutes early and waited for the doors to open.  Erik proceeded to press the handicap button to automatically open the door into the library.  I explained to him that we don't push the button unless mommy asks him to.  He continues to do this and we go over the rules again.  Tristan, my youngest, is sitting in the stroller being very content to sit and watch the people come in.

At last, it is time to go into the room.  We go in and put our things down.  Everyone sits down and Erik protests and wants to play with the craft items that are for after story time.  I explain to him that we have to wait patiently for the stories and then we will be able to work on the craft.  The librarian has us stand up and do a stretching activity, and Erik participates happily.  Then she proceeds to introduce and read the first story.
Again he proceeds to go back to the craft table and play with the glue and craft items.  At this point Tristan's happy demeanor is gone.  He starts crying and stretching to get out of the stroller.  At the same time I am trying to calm Erik down and explain everything to him again.

Erik gets very disruptive and parents and children start to look in our direction.  I grab Erik and our things and try to push the stroller and carry Erik out into the entrance of the library.  He gets upset and gets even louder and I calmly explain to him why I took him out and tell him that if he continues to act like this that we will have to go home.  He immediately calms down and says he wants to try again.  We go back in and at this time I take Tristan out of the stroller, bad idea, and Erik tries to push the stroller through the area where everyone is sitting and listening.  He has another tantrum and I pull him aside again and explain why he couldn't do that.  Some of my friends offer to hold Tristan for me and I gladly accept their kind gesture.

We end up making it through story time and now it is time for the craft.  There were relatively no issues here.  I am very happy with the way that I handled myself and even though it would have been so easy to get upset and take him home I opted for being patient and rational.  I love what Julie B. Beck says in a talk given at the last session of General Conference.

"Revelation can come hour by hour and moment by moment as we do the right things. When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed. For instance, mothers can feel help from the Spirit even when tired, noisy children are clamoring for attention, but they can be distanced from the Spirit if they lose their temper with children. Being in the right places allows us to receive guidance. It requires a conscious effort to diminish distractions, but having the Spirit of revelation makes it possible to prevail over opposition and persist in faith through difficult days and essential routine tasks. Personal revelation gives us the understanding of what to do every day to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek those who need our help. Because personal revelation is a constantly renewable source of strength, it is possible to feel bathed in help even during turbulent times."

  She says it so well and it helps me put things into perspective.  Since I teach 4th Sunday lessons in my ward I have been reading the General Conference talks a lot more than I normally do and I have been able to gain so much from studying these talks.  I am very excited for this weekend when we will be able to listen to our prophet speak to us. 

Finding myself through motherhood

I remember playing with my dolls when I was little and always thinking about the day that I would be a mother.  Thinking about the day I would marry in the temple to a worthy priesthood holder.  Sometimes I thought that it would never happen, but it did.  I have been happily married to my husband for five years and we have two wonderful boys who are growing up faster than I can record. 

I have always struggled with "finding myself",  "finding" my talents, my source of creativity, or what I could give to my fellow man.  I have struggled going to college and not being able to find a career path.  I would love to go back to school one day, once I figure out exactly what I want to study.  But as for now, my passion in life is being a mother.  Am I perfect at it?  No.  Am I learning and growing each day?  Yes. 

I love being able to teach my children their letters and numbers.  Sometimes I feel like a superhero when the power of a kiss on my child's scrapped knee suddenly makes it "feel all better".  I am grateful for the patience, slowly but surely, that I am learning through being a mother.  A lot of times I find I am giving my self a time-out so that I can take care of my child in a rational manner.  It's hard.  Very hard sometimes, but I am learning and growing and I am grateful for having the Savior as my teacher. 

My oldest is almost three years old and my youngest will be turning one in the next couple of days.  Oh, how time flies!  I don't want to miss a single moment!  I want to be there for them and help them understand that they can always come to me.  I have a blog I like to read here.  This whole month of September has been devoted to The Family: A Proclamation to the World,  I have been reading it daily and I have been uplifed and inspired by the entries that have been posted daily. 

Lately I have been thinking about my role as a mother and I have been thinking about this part of the proclamation.

Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. 

I know that the First Presidency and President Gordon B. Hinckley were inspired when they put this proclamation together.  I am grateful for having this sacred duty.  I am grateful for my children and for a loving Father in Heaven who has entrusted me to be their mother.  To teach them, guide them and help them on there way back to him.

Here's what we've been up to this week

Sunday- I gave a talk in church on how the temple can strengthen us.  I was also called to be a Relief Society Instructor for the Teachings for our Times.  I am excited to take on this new calling.  So far my only call in church, up to this point in my life, has been as a teacher in Primary.  I am a little nervous since this upcoming Sunday will be my first time teaching, yikes!

Monday- I folded clean laundry from the week before, and proceeded to wash the newly accumulated laundry.  Played with the kids and made dinner.  

Tuesday- Finished washing and folding clothes.  Later in the evening I was able to go to a friends house for Culinary Delight Night.  This is a group where we learn different things about baking and cooking.  We learned how to make amazing Clam Chowder.  It was delish!  

Wednesday- I attempted to make peanut butter playdough for Erik and I to play with.  We used cheerios and raisins to make smiley faces.  The rest of the day I can't really remember what we did.

Thursday-  We watched Super Why!, and Dinosaur train and then we made lunch bag puppets.  I made a super delicious dinner of chili.  When Doug got home we watched "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow"  ( I didn't finish watching it, but Doug seemed to like it.)

Friday (today)-  We were up before the sun, after a FULL nights rest, yay!  We were able to go over to friends for a playdate.  Good food and good friends make for a fun visit.  We then came home and Erik took a 45 min. nap, (falling out of bed during nap time :( )  Played with the kids and took pictures, which I plan on sharing a little bit later, since Tristan wants to eat now.

Overall the week has been good so far and I look forward to a great weekend!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend as well!