When the house gets really quiet...

Hay was playing in her room, so we thought... Really she was playing with a purple marker in the computer room. She uses the old computer tower to climb on top of the desk to get what she wants. In this case a marker... must not have seen the 3 different pads of PAPER on the desk that she could have colored on.

Gates, party of 4!

So, it's been a while since I posted and we have welcomed baby Riley Kathryn to our family!

So, I went to see Dr. Putterman on June 17 and as usual he asked how everything was and as usual I replied with ready for you to let me have this baby. He joked with me and said that he was working this weekend, how was Saturday for me. We laughed and I said that it was perfect... wishful thinking! He had been telling me for weeks prior that if I started dialating that he would induce me since we live so far from the hospital, but unfortunately in weeks prior I had not been dialating at all. BOO! By this point I was pretty miserable. So, he checks me and I am 2 cm dialated and 50% effaced. YAY! So, he tells me to meet him in his office. Last go round when he said meet me in my office he scheduled me to be induced with Hayden. So, I go meet him and he says that we could come in very, very early Saturday morning. This is different than with Hayden where we came in at night and had her the next morning. I asked about that and he said that if that worked for us then we could repeat it with Riley.

About to leave for the hospital

So, we went in to Methodist the following night, got the same pill that I got with Hayden, Cytotec. I labored through the night, but nothing too terrible. At 6:00 am, Dr. Putterman came in and checked me and I was 3 cm, so he started Pitocin which took my contractions and pain to a whole new level. So, I asked for the epidural. What felt like an eternity later, I had the epidural. It was not as effective as it was with Hayden. I was still feeling a lot of sharp contractions that were very close together. The nurse informed me that I was probably dialating so fast at this point that the epidural couldn't keep up. Turns out she was right. Only minutes after getting the epidural I was 10 cm and ready to push. Riley was born after 5 pushes. Chip and I were a little concerned when she wasn't out after 3 like her big sister :) She weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces. My dad guessed her weight! She was 19.25 inches long. She is such a laid back, sweet baby. We are so lucky! Big sister is so proud and not jealous at all. She loves to hold and kiss baby Riley. She is always putting the paci back in her mouth the second it falls out. It is so fun to watch Hayden with Riley.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Chip and I have been married for three years now! My how time flies and how quickly life can change in three years! We celebrated by going out to eat and exchanging cards. We ate, for the first time, at Fogo de Chao. We would totally suggest going there if you have never been, but go hungry since it's all you can eat. The service was awesome and so was the food... well worth the money for a nice dinner out.

Hay Hay wanted to be in our anniversary pic :)

Wedding party

Chip said I was pushing him out of the way with my big dress ;) It did take up most of the aisle.

Finally a bump pic

I went to the doc today and my blood pressure was a little high with trace amounts of protein in my urine... I suspected this since my feet have started swelling pretty badly. Dr. Putterman did not seem concerned. So, I guess I am not either. He did not check for dialation because he is going out of town this weekend and didn't want to stimulate labor, so I guess we have to wait another week... I don't want to wait until July 1, but of course will deal with it if that is what is best for Riley. Hay Hay and me at 37 weeks.

37 weeks

This was at 35 weeks with Hayden. I can't tell which baby I am bigger with... more swollen for sure with Hay.

It's officially SUMMER!

Hay Hay and Maddie jumping off the rocks.

Hayden loves playing with her big cousin.

Hayden took all these bows down from her bow organizer and made me put them in our hair :)

One of her many swimsuits.

Hay is loving getting to stay up late. Here she is laying of a soft blankie playing with Daddy's phone.

Another swimsuit and her cool shades.

Hayden loves bath time. She says "bubbies" for bubbles. She knows which bottle is the bubble bath, so she acts like she is pouring it in the tub and squeals, "Bubbies!"

Daddy frequently has to "babysit" Hay's baby doll :)

She likes to pile things on Daddy when he falls asleep on the couch.

34 weeks down, 6 to go!

I can't believe Riley is going to be here so soon! I feel like we have so much left to get ready for her arrival. It is much harder to get things done this time around... huh, wonder why? Maybe it's our little 16 month old shadow :) We have made some more progress, though.

Ash finished painting the tree... We are still going to put a few fake, pink flowers in the tree. I just can't bring myself to pay $8 per flower... need a Michael's coupon or some cheaper fake flowers

The crib is put together, but not ready for a baby yet... two screws left to screw in and no mattress. The crib skirt we had made arrived... I can't tell if I love it yet. I need to see it with the mattress and sheet, so that it will be held in place. Right now it just sags and looks stupid.

Dresser is full of newborn clothes, blankets, and burb cloths, but no handles to open when with. You have to pry them open, being careful not the break all of your nails off in the process. The problem is that the top four drawers need pulls with the holes 2.5 inches apart and the bottom two drawers need pulls with the holes 3 inches apart. I can't find any of the same pulls with different hole widths! even online! I want some that are that antique rust color... Any suggestions?

I got crafty, with Brianna as my inspiration, and decoupaged some wooden letters with scrapbooking paper. When I finally got the nerve to do it, I called Chip and said that we needed to decide how we were going to spell the baby's name, so that I would get the right letters. He quickly enlightened me that either way we would need the same letters: Riley or Rylie. That is how quick my brain is working these days. I have to laugh at myself! Anyway, I think they turned out super cute and I can't wait to get them up on the wall. You can see that we got the changing pad and the cover came today!

As far as Hay Hay goes, she is doing great! Walking all over the place and speaking her own little language! She had strep last week, but has finished her antibiotic and is much better! She is ready for the summer, so she can swim and play with her sister :)

Making progress in Riley's room...

So, thanks to Aunt Ashley and Aunt Emily, we have Riley's room painted.

We had a dresser, that was mine and Ashley's when we were little, refinished. I wish I had taken a before picture because you would not believe the transformation. It looks awesome. Aunt Brittany found this lady off Craig's List. She is in Katy and very reasonable. http://www.simplematters.weebly.com/

The crib is here, but not put together yet. We have to get all of the furniture that's in the room out before we can get the crib in.

The bumper is here. www.babybedding.com

I am having a bedskirt made from a lady I found on etsy. www.etsy.com/shop/tcwilson She is doubling the white, so it is fuller and putting a solid pink layer in the back, so there is a hint of pink coming through.

Just a few more things and we will be ready for Miss Riley's arrival...
- drawer pulls for the dresser

- paint wall mural
- curtains

- mattress

- sheets

- changing table stuff

- and the list goes on...

Guess I better get to shopping :)

Wow, second pregancies go by much faster! Less that 12 weeks til she is due and so much left to do!

Happy Easter!

What to do in Riley's room?

Figuring out what to do in Hayden's room was so easy... not so much this time. I can't make a decision and I am not sure I even love the options that I am thinking about. I need opinions :)

I love this crib! Of course it is $900 and not going to happen, but I hope I can find something similar out there for less.

I love this paint color and the tree on these walls, but these walls kinda lead to a shabby chic room, which I am not too sure about... Plus I have no idea where to find a bed skirt like that or where to have one made. I found just some cream colored organic looking bedding, but I don't know. I thought with the crib above and distressing an old dresser to antique-ish white would look cute... I am just not sure about this whole theme.

Here is something else that I like, but it would mean new wall ideas... I like this one because Hayden's room has birds on it, so it would be a different take on the same thing.

What do you think?

Happy Birthday, Chip!

Chip turned 30 yesterday!

Chip's newborn picture in the hospital

Birth stats

Look how old school the color of this pic is! He He :)

Doesn't Hayden favor him?

Baby Gates #2 has a name!

It's official... Riley Kathryn Gates will be baby #2's name!




When you ask Hayden where the baby is she lifts up my shirt and pokes at my belly button! It's so cute... I hope we aren't confusing her for when Riley is born :)

Baby #2 is a GIRL

We found out on Wednesday that #2 is a another girl. She is growing right on track and everything looks good. I can't believe that we are half way to meeting her! Now that we know she's a girl we can start doing all the fun stuff... naming, decorating, shopping!

You can see her face in all of these pictures!

The ultrasound was really neat. We saw her wave and at one point she had her little arm up by her face, just like her big sister did in one of her ultrasounds. For a minute there we didn't think we were going to get to find out if she was a boy or a girl because she had her legs crossed at the ankles and wasn't moving them... What a lady :) It's so crazy how much you can see on an ultrasound... She looked so squished in there, but Dr. Putterman told us that her forearm is only 2 cm long... She is still so tiny. Why am I so big then?

20 weeks

Party Pics

Party pics sure aren't what they were in college, huh?

Hayden's birthday party was so much fun! We had a great turnout and it was so great to see everyone.

Lollipop themed table

Hayden's cake all to herself

Cake to share

Party favors

Opening one of her many presents! She loves them all!

Hayden was such a little lady with her cake... She would just poke her finger in it and then just taste it.

We had to make her getting a little more into it... She was really tired by the time we did cake.