Isabel Emily Rahn

i'm an aunt.  he's an uncle.  he's a cousin.  life is grand.

Allison was scheduled to get induced on Friday, February 10th. My sister loves multiples of 5. She was loving the idea of February 10th. Her birthday is also on the 10th, and hey, it's a multiple of 5 :). I had plans in place for CW that Friday. Oh sure, I knew she could still go into labor any day, but she'd just been to the doctor and there were no real signs of baby coming. So, the 10th it was going to be. Sounds great :).

4 am Wednesday morning. My cell phone rings. It's Allie...."want to come to the hospital and become an Auntie??" she says. My heart starts beating faster than I can recall in recent history. I am officially a mess. A mess the way I made fun of her for being when I called her with my news two years earlier. A mess the way I didn't think I would be. Silly me. Of course I was a mess. My sister was about to become a mommy. My brother a daddy. Me an Auntie. Jared an Uncle. Caden a Cousin. All for the first time. Duh, BIG DAY!!!

Allie had joked from the beginning of the pregnancy that this little girl was me. Long long legs on the ultrasounds. Never stopped moving in Allie's tummy. She was her auntie. Ridiculously long legs and can't stop running around! Well, it should have been no suprise then that this sweet baby girl was right on time for her important arrival. See, she was due Wednesday, November 8th. And Allie started having contractions at 12:15, fifteen minutes after midnight, on that very day. My niece indeed :).

We knew it was a little girl that we would be welcoming into our family. We wondered if she'd look like Allie. Or look like Bryan. Be a huge newborn like Bryan was. Or an average size like Allie was. We also didn't know her name. I had a guess of Isabel, as Allie has always loved that name. But I didn't know. And I was spelling it wrong in my head. We had no idea honestly.

 I was with Allie the whole day, up until they said it was show time and she could start pushing. Then 3 (looooooooooooong) hours later I was welcomed back into the world to meet my niece. It was the most incredible experience that day. Next to the birth of my own son, it was the most wonderful day I've ever experienced. And I got to witness it all this time and be involved in it all. See, when I had Caden, I don't feel like I got to 'witness' it all, know what all was going on, and feel really involved. Sound weird? Well, I was driving the train of that delivery if you will. No time to look out the window on the train and see what the view was like. No time to go to a different car on the train for some food. No time to soak it all in, honestly. I was in action mode when it was my turn. Focused on the end, in complete action mode to get there. 

I enjoyed the day Caden arrived immensely, don't get me wrong, I had an unusually fabulous experience with labor and delivery. Surrounded by loved ones, playing cards, joking, it was great. But I guess what I'm getting at was this was a completely different experience, next best thing to having my own. It was incredible. I will never forget it.




He came towards us and gave us the news.  He told us her name.  Isabel Emily.  Isabel Emily.  Isabel EMILY.  Wait, that's my name.  Her middle name is my name.  I started to cry for the 100th time that day.  This time it was a different kind of cry than earlier.  Every time earlier was worry at times, joy at times, anxiety at times.  This was joy.  Honor.  Love.  Humbled.  I can't really describe my sister and I's relationship.  As I look at the world around me and get older in life, I realize that our's is quite unique.  We are so close.  She is my best friend.  There is simply no such thing as life without my sis.  Life without my sis living within miles of me.  Life without my husband and brother being best buds.  Life without telling my sister everything important.  Life without telling my sister everything not important.  It just doesn't exist.  This middle name was telling of that.  Wow.  Wow.

When it was my turn to go in and meet her, I was sobbing so hard I think the nurses at the station outside Allie's room thought I was a nut job.  There she was.  She looked wonderful.  I could not wait to hug her.  And then, there was the baby too.  Haha.  No but seriously, I was so glad to see Allie, smiling, knowing she was okay.  And to meet my niece for the first time.  And to hear from my sweet sister why she wanted her middle name to be Emily.  Ah, it was just a beautiful moment.  I will never forget it. 

Isabel was 20 1/2 inches long just like Caden.  Their head and chest were exactly the same size.  She was exactly a pound heavier than Caden, at 8 lbs 4 oz.  allie was in the same delivery room as me.  Same nurse.  Same doctor.  On a Wednesday.  Kinda wild :).

I thank God for the wonderful day of February 8th, 2012.  That Isabel Emily was right on time.  That I was there with Allie for it all.  And that I started Isabel's life off right outside the door waiting for her, just a step away :).  May I always be just a step away from my sweet niece, for every dance recital, school play, first book she reads, broken heart, and slumber parties with Auntie. 

Yes, life is grand. 

So Much, So Fast!!

Suddenly it's March and I'm behind on everything.  My son has officially been 2 for four months now.  (Slow down, Mr. Time!!).  I can't believe how much he has changed in the last couple months.  Heck in the last month.  The last week.  It's nuts.  He's more grown up by the day.  I guess that's the idea :).  Well anyhoo, I wanted to share some stories I've jotted down over the last month some adorable words CW is saying these days.  Mind you, he can say anything if he wants to, but there's lots of words he says 'funny."  And I love it :). 

Some of his words.........
"Wakey down" (Get up).....says to us in the morning
"Hetty me" (Help me)
"I'm too cold" (his reasoning for EVERYTHING)
"Sorry you" (when he is saying sorry.......usually for hitting.......nice)
"Whatcha too" (Love you too.......says it all the time.......precious)
"Knocky Aw" (Knock it off)......mimicking how mommy yells at Barley when he's barking outside.  Has unfortunately used it at Mommy and Daddy, in context, a time or too.  Eeks.  That went well.
"Sitty her" (Sit here)
"Way too you me too" (Means he wants to lay on top of me to fall asleep :))

I'll think of more later :).

Some favorite stories from the last month.......

AUNT. DOG. CHASE.
My wonderful Aunt Linda took care of Caden for me a few days in February.  He LOVES Aunt Linda.  She is such a blessing to us........I remember playing at her house when I was little, and love that Caden does the same now.  Almost every time I ask him where he is going, he says "Winna hone"  (Linda's house).  He also loves Uncle Jack, "Jacky", and "Seee."  (Sadie, the dog).  Well, on this particular day "Jacky go worky momma!" (Jack was at work).   It was Sadie, Linda, and CW.  Linda told Caden they would go on a walk.  Linda went to get Sadie's leash, and in that time Caden went and opened the front door to start the walk.  He didn't go out of the house, but Sadie did.  Well, once Sadie starts running, it's a chase game, I'm told.  My poor Aunt Linda couldnt' get Sadie to come back. Didn't have Caden's carseat.  Got an elderly neighbor to look for Sadie while Linda and Caden waited.  Neighbor couldn't get her.  Neighbor and Linda hop in car and put CW in back with a seat belt to go slowly through the neighborhood to find her.  Find her.  Linda gets out to get dog.  Dog runs more.  Caden wants to help.  Sweet little neighbor takes Caden out of car and holds his hand to go find Linda.  Long story short (sort of :)), they all got home in 1 piece.  Linda felt bad for putting Caden in car even though they didn't go far.  I felt bad for her.  Sounds like a nightmare!  CW will keep you on your toes :).

MONSTIES.  DADDY PICKY ME UP
Caden is Mr. Square Pants, as we like to call him :).  Everything is just like so.  He always has to know who is going to pick him up from school, me, Daddy or Grammy.  And he remembers all day and tells his teachers.  Well, one day before school we turned TV on to find the end of the Monsters, Inc. movie.  Caden has seen it before.  We don't have the movie, but Grandma and Grandad do and we've borrowed it before.  Well anyhoo, Caden was besides himself wanting to watch it.  I explained to him that we didn't have it and he could maybe go with Daddy after school to get it from Grandma's (just to pacify him, you know.....didn't really intend for them to do that).  Well anyhoo, Jared picked him up from school, and he said, "Dadda Monsties!!".  Miss Cassie asked Jared what he was saying.  Jared explained what had happened that morning to her, and she laughed.  She said ALL DAY he'd been telling them that Daddy was picking him up, then saying something "monsties."  Haha.  And the second he woke from nap that day, "Dadda, wheh aw you.....monsties?"  Where are you daddy, monsters?  Haha.  Needless to say they went and checked out Monsters Inc from Grandma and Grandad's after school.  That boy :).

HAIRCUT TOMMOROW
Caden' hair was getting shaggy.  He needed a haircut.  Jared and I have this unspoken battle going.  He would like to buzz his hair himself.  I think a 'big boy real' haircut looks so much nicer.  Well anyhoo, I usually get him into the Lollipops Salon before Jared buzzes his hair.  One morning on the way to school I said, "You're hair is messy maybe we should go get it cut tommorow."  Jared picked him up from school that day and said, "Caden should we go home and buzz your hair?"  Caden panicked on him......."No dadda, tommorow, momma takey me.....tommorow!!"  Jared called me to ask if I had an appointment for him or something, haha.  I laughed, then remembered what I'd said that morning.  Yep, I'll take him tommorow.  Can't get a THING past him these days :).

TOWEL IN THE SHOWER
I was in the shower one morning and had just shut the water off.  I opened the door to grab my towel and didn't see it there.  Then I realized Caden was behind the shower door with my towel.  I asked him to give it to me.  He kept jabbering something and I wasn't sure what.  Then I realized.  He was wanting to throw the towel over the top of the shower door, like he sees me do for daddy sometimes.  So I helped him throw it over the door for me.  haha.   So cute.

BALLOON UP HIGH
Caden got a balloon from Grammy for Valentines day.  It still had lots of helium a few days later but had broke off of its weight and was up in the ceiling in our entry way.  Caden was almost ready for bed one night, and started panicking about the "buh-yoon" (balloon).  He went downstairs and we didn't know what he was doing.  Pretty soon his adorable little self comes up the steps with his little stool from his kitchen.  He puts it down in our entry way and start reaching for his balloon (2 stories up).  "Me getty buh-oon".  He didn't want any help.  It was adorable and breaking our hearts all at the same time.  We started 'coaxing' the balloon down towards him so that he stood a chance at getting it.  Finally he did.  We had to tell him we were just blowing on the balloon, not helping him, or he melted down, haha.  So cute.  Love him.

Helping me make little pizzas

Tied boy.  Passed out on the couch (Like the quilt, Liz :)??)

His Buzz Lightyear Go Fish game he got for giving up bink.

(Love the mess in the background??)

14 inches of snow!!!

Dance party!!

Always fixing something.....using his screwdriver to

fix the wall.  Said "cheese" for the first time....

this boy usually avoids the camera when he can.

Duh :).

Helping daddy fix the sink

The balloon incident.  Melt my heart.

Loves to play play doh and paint.  Love that boy.

Playdate. Lexi, Asher, and Lizzy over.  Busy :).

Lizzy and Lexi.

Chillaxing eating fruit snacks.

Exactly One Month

"Ya, I might have overcommitted a bit.........I'm more of a 6 dog person."

If you've seen Bridesmaids, you're laughing.  If you haven't, you are missing out.  And, I sound nuts.  At any rate.  It's been exactly 1 month since I posted.  Remember when I was (and hoping to keep) posting every day??  Oops.  Gonna have to shoot for once a week instead.  I was finding myself STRESSING about being sure to get something posted every day.  Kinda silly.  So weekly update it is.  If there's major events/stories we can't live without to add amongst the week, so be it :).  Not that I should make excuses, but a virus on the laptop, working lots more, and my niece being born  are the things I'm going to point a finger at for why I'm behind on everything!!

I will give a story for each week to update you over the last month soon.  Yes, I have stories.  Yes, I've been writing down.  So, no, I haven't forgotten about this blog.  Rather I chose to ignore it for a month, sorry :).  More coming soon.......I promise!!

If you shall wake.....

Me:  Okay buddy, if you wake up tonight, you need to find your bink and go back to sleep, okay?  No coming to get mommy.  I need to sleep tonight.  Got it?

CW:  (with a very seriously look, getting close to me & looking out of the top of his eyes....) I get my daddy.

Me:  No, you're not going to get daddy either.  We all need to sleep.  No getting up 3 times tonight.

CW:  I call my gammy!

Me:  You're going to call Grammy?

CW"  Ya, call my gammy.

Me:  No, you can't call Grammy if you wake up either.....she'll be sleeping.

CW:  I wakey her.

We've got a ways to go before this house sleeps all night again I'm afraid.  This too shall pass & I'll miss it someday, right :)??

This is the sight I came home to tonight....adorable.

Wonderful Evening with a wonderful Lady :)

I love this lady to pieces.  We first met when I worked at Three Eagles the year and a half before Caden was born.  She watched me grow (and grow and grow :)) throughout the pregnancy.  We have stayed friends ever since.  She moved from Nebraska City this fall and we couldn't be happier about it.  We plan on having lot's more Liz time in 2012 around the Meyer house.  Today was her birthday.  Caden and I made her a cake, some pizza, and we had ourselves a little party :).  Then her and mom and I went to a movie.  It was a Wonderful Evening with a wonderful Lady indeed :).  Happy Birthday, Liz, we love you!!

(And she suprised us with a present that night......on her birthday.....go figure!  More on that later :))

Shower for Sis.

It was lovely.  Her mother-in-law is a photographer and took tons of pics.  As soon as I get those from her I'll share.  I love my sis to pieces and simply cannot wait for this baby girl to arrive!  It isn't real to me yet that I'm going to have a niece.....in a few weeks there will be another member at the Sunday dinner!!  Glorious.

Caden helping wrap T's presents