First Day of School

Tanner started junior high last Monday. I was the mom who embarrassed her kid to death by taking his picture before he left to grab the bus. Actually, I have a vivid memory of my first day of junior high and my mom taking my picture on the steps of the school. In the picture I have a dirty look on my face and I was NOT happy! So I looked up and down the street to make sure there weren't any kids out to witness our little photo session. And maybe it's that Tanner's a boy, but he didn't seem too bugged by me and my camera.


Luckily I spent the week before Aidan was born getting Tanner ready for school. We went shopping for school clothes, with Katelyn and Carter in tow, and Aidan in my very pregnant belly. (Talk about being thrown into the fire!) My memories of school shopping aren't too great, so I really dreaded doing this. Thank goodness that boys are way less picky than girls, and the only real downside to the whole thing was the sick feeling I had in my stomach for the following week because of how much money the venture cost us. We also registered Tanner for school. Throw in an orthodontist appointment and haircuts for all of the kiddos and it was a busy week, but I'm glad I got it out of the way before the baby came.

I was really nervous the whole first day of school, wondering how it would go for Tanner and worried that he would have a bad experience. In reality, his backpack got jammed in his locker and he had to have the janitors open it for him, and he almost missed the bus home in the process. I watched him as he relayed the details, and I was amazed that he never lost the ear-to-ear grin on his face or the enthusiasm in his voice. He is really liking school, and making friends amazingly fast. He already had pals at the bus stop after the first day, and girls have been coming to see him nonstop for a week now. (Don't even get me started on that. It's a subject that needs its very own post!) I'm impressed with his good attitude and I hope he can hold onto it--he really needs it right now.

So I survived my first "first day of school." I'm just doing it a little bit out of order. I wonder what sending kids off to kindergarten will be like?

Announcing...

...the birth of Aidan Phillip Bell!


I am sitting at the computer, trying to type with one hand while I hold the newest addition to our little family. Aiden was born at 11:01 p.m. on August 16th. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long. The labor went so smoothly! Once they got us into our room at the hospital, they had to give me 2 bags of IV antibiotics, so they didn't want me to deliver until those were in. If it hadn't been for that, I think the whole thing would have been over in a flash. As it happened, it took about 8 1/2 hours from the time I started having regular, painful contractions (at Costco) to when Aidan was born. But it only took about 6 minutes from the time I started pushing! John and I were amazed at how easy the delivery was!

Here are some pictures from the hospital:

Mom and baby about an hour after birth. Aidan swallowed some meconium,

so they rushed him away and we didn't get him back until he was all bathed and

perfect. His face is puffy and slightly bruised from the super quick delivery.

Katelyn and her new little brother.

Carter and Aidan.

The new and improved Bell family, minus Tanner, who hadn't joined us yet.

On his way!

I'm in labor! I could kind of tell all day that things were happening, but I've only ever been induced, so I wasn't sure what to expect. John was working, and I took the kids to Costco, trying to get my last minute errands done. That was where the contractions started getting harder and closer together. By the time I got to the checkout, I was pretty sure I was in labor. Luckily, my brother-in-law was close to my house, so he met me there to pick up the kids. (Thank you, Cory. I don't know what I would have done without you!) The contractions were getting closer and closer, in the 2 to 3 minute range, so he drove me to the hospital, where John was working. (I don't think he's disappointed that he had to call someone to cover his shift.)

Now we're in the delivery room watching the Olympics. I've got my epidural going. I always have one spot that doesn't numb, but I feel so much better than I did when I got to the hospital. I don't have any idea how long this labor will be--it's a whole new ball game without the pitocin.

We are so excited to meet our little baby Aidan! We'll post pictures when he arrives. Wish us luck!