Introducing...

Halyn Lael Hulse

October 14, 2009

9 lbs

19 1/2 inches

The obligatory post delivery pic. By the way, I have no idea why the quality of my pictures are so bad for this post. Perhaps the photog's assistant (Abram) made some unknown adjustments to the camera?

So the story is this: Considering I'd been having contractions for the previous eight weeks, I was going to be darn sure I was in labor before I rolled my giant self out of bed. So we went to the hospital about a quarter to 4am and she was born at 5:52am. It was practically a drive-thru delivery. I was stoked to get an epidural thanks to the speedy go-go-gadget nursing staff, but I freaked out when I started to feel a little more than I would've liked during the actual delivery. The anesthesiologist's explanation: when you deliver such a big baby and go from such and such station to such and such station, there's no guarantee for pain relief. Um, information that would've been helpful... yesterday! Oh well. She's here and her perfectly round head was worth all that discomfort (to put it lightly).

The biggest shocker is just how swollen she was. The doctor explained that she'd been so cramped in there that her little head was pinned against my pelvis (nice thought) for who knows how long. I do. I know for how long -- since I was seven months. Thanks doc for validating my continual remarks that it felt like she was practically peeking out to check the weather. Though this is the doc who reassured me that there was no way I'd be having another 9 pounder. "High sevens -- tops," she said. High sevens my...

The other shocker was that this little girl sucked on her hands with such determination that she had a couple blisters on each hand. One had even scabbed over! My goodness she sounded like a little vampire. Her bloodsucking tendency aside, she is a healthy and beautiful little girl who has given us yet another reason to rejoice in our blessings. Far too many to number.

The Big Kisses...

Halyn dressed to leave the hospital. Aunt Emmers embroidered this onsie for little Halyn. Oh, does she look like a two-month-old baby? That's because she's as big as one at just two days.

A funny story...

Bri and I were in the hospital with a fussy newborn and we're looking at each other trying to figure out how to appease her. "She just ate, but it's like she just wants to suck (and I'm not having that)." And then we remembered the wonderful invention that is the modern pacifier. Marin was our last child to have taken a pacifier, and that was ten years ago. Again, the blisters on Halyn's hands should've given us a heads up. And they sent this baby home with us? You'd think we'd have it down after four kids.

Going home.

The proud Biggest Sister. Emmer's made sibling shirts too! Aren't they sweet? It helped compensate for the fact that the children weren't allowed to visit the hospital due to the Swine Flu scare. Brian brought them to the window of my recovery room so they could catch a quick glimpse of their new sister.

Three sweet sisters. Santi is pleasantly pleased to have a little sister. Poor thing has earned it. She'll find caring for a little sister to be easy as pie compared to wrestling a little bro, I think.

As usual, Marin admiring the small details in life, noticed Halyn shares her long and agile toes.

Ambivalence is the best way to describe it. You can tell that Abram wants to be OK with all this. Fortunately, his acting up as been projected onto other things (like taking Sharpies to walls, and "drumming" on any hard surface within reach). He shows affection to his little sister but I can tell it's going to be a process.

Halyn hanging out at home. We're loving this girl.

Marin loving her some Halyn. Nice quiet moments like these make me think (however briefly), "I just may be able to do this after all." Please don't tell that to Social Services. I'm just grateful for such an unplanned and precious moment that is a respite from the chaos of everyday life. Thank Heaven for little girls. And big sisters.

Perfect 10

Marin's 10th

Marin wanted to go to the American Girl store in L.A. and pick out her very own doll. She was proud to save up birthday money and buy it herself -- which I thought was quite a feat. She ended up picking Rebecca and is looking forward to reading more about this character and her Jewish heritage.

The girls absolutely enjoyed the girliest of all girly style brunches. The menu was darling and the girls had so much fun eating, ever so dramatically, the tiny little finger sandwiches.

And they were tiny. Dad and I could've downed the entire menu on our own. Well, I would've been able to eat up the scones and tea cakes by myself anyway. Maybe not, since I can really only eat a tablespoon of food at any one time. Preggers is Blah.

And what will you be having my dear?

I LOVE chocolate malts (YUM) and I LOVE Marin! That alone made for a perfect day.

Beautiful Santi. Our beautiful Santi.

When Dad is with his girls, he's always the luckiest guy in the world. I hope he can handle one more when the baby's born.

So what was it she wished for? If only I could see half of Marin's imaginations.

The girls at the Salon with their dolls.

Brown. Blue. Blue.

It seems a great big world out there when you're a little girl.

Marin took the picture above. After much convincing, Brian kissed me and Marin snapped this photo. Poor Brian was so embarrassed.

And below is exactly what I did in the parking structure while Bri and the girls waited for the Hollywood sign to light up. There I am in all my nine month pregnant glory. So glad Brian caught how I've been feeling for the last few months. I will show it to the new baby every day!

My very favorite picture of the night and so far, my second favorite picture of the temple. After leaving the American Girl store, we drove by the L.A. temple where Brian took the girls out for a picture. I'm so glad he did. I will always treasure this one.

The night ended with us driving on a balmy fall evening through Beverly Hills while en route to the 405 which prompted Brian to put on Weezer's "Beverly Hills." So we all sang along like we were in the music video. Because we think we're pretty cool.

Andi's Baby Blessing, and then some...

First order of business when we moved to California was Andi's baby blessing. We flew into LAX on Thursday, June 11 and her blessing was the following Sunday. It was so great to be at a family baby blessing. You wouldn't believe all the photos I took of sweet Andi in her dress. But then Bri and I lost them when putting them into iphoto. The stink! Luckily Laura and Michael forgave us, which was easier since more responsible persons were also taking photos. All was not lost, phew!

So this is the only shot we have of little Andi in her blessing dress. The one where she's playing London Bridges with Marin, Santi, and Grandpa Davis. Still cute.

Sadie enjoyed being locked up too!

Kimball wooing yet another unsuspecting beauty. He reminds us of his big boy cousin, Abram. Both Hulse boys have a knack for the flirt. We're in trouble for sure. We're all just positive that they'll help each other out and set each other up on dates with girls from their respective stakes. Those poor stake dances will never know what hit them. These two will be the biggest thing since "Rock Lobster." Maybe those two will video tape themselves dancing very succinctly choreographed routines to Bel Biv Devoe. Oh wait, I guess that was their dads. The tapes to prove it.

Here are the Hulse cousins while we waited to take those group photos you'll never see.

Hey, but we've got -- THIS! Check out me and Kathy. We are so unbelievably glamorous. I just try to hang out with Kath and hope the cool and chic will one day rub off. I can't believe I thought I was Big prego in this picture. I can hardly breathe as I write this in October.

Caught on tape. I don't know exactly what I caught Abram doing on tape anymore, but it was something full heartedly mischievous. I'm certain of it. Part of his charm I suppose.

A friendly game of trash talking. I mean backyard ping pong. I don't think I've ever heard the use of the word "school" taken to such extremes than when some of these boys pick up a paddle.

Ah, that's more like it. A friendly game of Uno. Can you see how much Marin enjoys being with Grandpa Finn and Aunt Squirts. I do realize that it is an unspoken rule in this family that no one is called by their Christian names. You do realize that Grandpa's name isn't actually Finn and heaven forbid Amy having ever been dubbed "Squirts." Just strange terms of endearment.

A big wheel traffic jam. Or to borrow Uncle Cam's term..."there's a sig alert on the 405."

It's a good thing Santi can use even the likes of measuring tape to tow poor little Sadie to safety.

How much are we loving this girl? Abram thinks the world of Sadie Pants and that everything she does is quite hilarious.

And how can you not love this face? See, I told you, these boys are bound to be trouble. Mothers, hold onto your daughters.

Uncle Cory (formerly called by Abram as Uncle Corn) and little Lila. It's crazy to think Andi, Lila and our Foursie will all be born in the same year. Isn't that called a triple threat. We'll have to rely on previously mentioned Hulse boys to keep an eye out on all these sweeties.

Oldest and youngest. Marin loves being head of the brood. She's a lucky girl, she gets to have memories of all the little ones who come after her. She's a good cousin.

Santi is in LOVE with the babies. She's an incredible nurturer. She's so gentle and kind with all her younger cousins. I think we've all depended on her to do a little babysitting here and there.

The evening closed with outdoor forts and tired toddlers. Abram would've been happiest snuggled up to Big Sis and his blankie right there in the grass. You can tell by the condition of his once white shirt that he played hard. Like he had something to prove. Cause that's what it's all about.

And this is one reason why we moved back to California. So like PeeWee, we don't have to watch it, we can live it.

Goin' back to Cali

Oh yes LL, I think so. Not for your black Corvette or the Sunset strip, but certainly for a "real good time."

It all started back in the spring when Brian was offered a different position with the Ensign Group that would bring us back to the motherland. After a lot of prayer, we decided it really was time to leave the Rio Grande. For Real? It was strange to think we would be leaving everything and everyone we'd clung to over the last four years in what seemed just the blink of an eye. One day we were there, running through our routines, and as soon as school let out in June, we found ourselves on a plane bound for LAX.

I think part of the reason I avoided mentioning anything on the blog at that moment was because we were waiting for Ensign to send out a formal press release (per their directions). It turns out they opted against the press release, so all my anxiety of breaking some classified code turned out quite anti-climactic indeed. It played out for the better since my husband is not one for any sort of pageantry. One could conclude this about him based solely on his conviction that shorts and Rainbows should be the official uniform for life.

So work took him to Cali in May while I and the fam stayed back on the Texas border until June. And although I was alone with the three children and prego, I can't tell you how smoothly it all went (seriously). The children were complete angels (not kidding) and even helped keep the house pretty immaculate for realty showings. Oh no, we've all digressed to our normal messy selves since then, but it was blissful while it lasted. Probably never to be witnessed ever again by the human eye. Ah well. Plus, I was in the very good hands of very good friends.

Of course, time got away from me before I blogged again, not to mention the fact that I was trying to prepare our entire house for packing and moving. And then we were in heaven when we actually got to California, what with ALL of our family so close. The kids have so enjoyed spending every possible minute this summer with their cousins. It has made such a huge transition into a joy and an adventure. And have I enjoyed it? You betcha. It's like the kids would disappear for a good chunk of time before I wondered if they were OK. How could I not enjoy that while so over-preggers during the summer of heat waves? The big bonus -- I actually get to see my nieces and nephew grow up in front of my eyes instead of occasional updates on blogs and such.

The original plan was to stay with Grandma Nae (Bri's mom) for just a couple weeks while we sold the Mission house and bought out here. But plans changed when the sale of the house took a little longer than expected (bummer) and the realization that Bri is gone most of the time and we've a baby on the way. So we extended our "vacation" at what the girls like to call Nae's Summer House or Nae's Hotel, and are here for the fall semester. The girls LOVE going to their Dad's old school and they never tire of childhood stories retold by their aunts. I couldn't be more grateful that there are so many people around to look after our family while Bri is away, and now that the baby is due any day, I know I've got a ride to the hospital and my big kids are well cared for.

Going through this summer has helped me realize just what we've been missing out on while so far away from family. A few times a year just isn't enough. Hopefully after Foursie is born, we'll be able to get out to BNG more often and the kids can get reacquainted with that crazy clan. There's a lot of fun to be had with all those cousins!

It seems our little family has always thrived on change and how it forges us together. I'll always be grateful to Texas for that. I'm hoping we'll be just as blessed with this move. Hopefully the Lord has work for us to do and that we can actually rise to that call. And it isn't such a terrible thing to love being home again. It's been a long time coming.

Ch-Ch-Changes

"Look out you rock 'n' rollers

Pretty soon you're gonna get a little older..."

It seems changes really are taking the pace of what we're going through (and yes, I am fully aware that I have not updated the blog in almost 4 months, so the changes sound all the more whirlwind). I will desperately attempt to cover an entire summer, marked with changes so that our children, and our children's children, and our children's children's children (you get the idea) will not look back on this time as the summer that never was. Knowing the attempt to be futile, I continue to chant (only in my own mind, of course): "Something is better than nothing." That way, I feel less of a loser for not documenting fun and also important steps in our family's life.

Day One

First day of school for these girlies was harder for me than for them. I kept running through all the obstacles they'd be facing (like a new school in a new state, fifth grade girl drama, etc...) and hoping neither would come home in tears. However, it was I who left the school in tears, though I held it all in until I got to the car and half way down La Paz before I exploded. Brian, from the driver's seat, just sort of looked at me as if my body had now been inhabited by an alien being -- perplexed and curious. He was probably wondering what my reaction would be come the high school years. Maybe he'll be conveniently be out of town on business that day.

One of the coolest things about moving in with Grandma Nae this summer is that when the fall came, the girls got to register at Dad's old elementary school. In fact, all the Hulse aunts and uncles went there. What a treat. And come to find out, Mrs. Stratford, Marin's reading teacher was also Aunt Amy's fifth grade teacher! That sure was a delight for us all.

I'm so glad these girls have had each other through all these girlhood experiences.

Oh yeah, little guy wanted to come along with his very own lunch box. Poor thing thought he was actually going to stay for school. It has not been easy for him to be separated from his sisters for so long. He often goes to the door and asks if it's time to get the girls. He sure enjoys the attention when they come home. I suppose Aunt Squirts and Unkie Chrisses will have to do. And maybe a few visits from Woody too.

Disney and the Dudes

Being back in California certainly has it's advantages. Bri took the day off and he and little boy went to the big D. He's at the perfect age to be in complete and total awe.