For our daddy/daughter dance, we danced to "Carol of the Bells", specifically picked from our years going to Silver Dollar City & our love for Christmas. While we were there this time, we decided to do our dance with the tree. It was so fun and truly a memory I will never forget. I love you dad, & thank you for the dance! 

The original:



The re-make:

Thanksgiving

For the last five months, my mom & dad have been planning an extraordinary trip for our whole family, to Branson, Missouri. We grew up going to Branson, sometime multiple times a year! We houseboated in the summer and sometimes would return that Thanksgiving for Silver Dollar City's "Christmas in the Park." Branson holds a lot of Birkeneder memories (some of my favorites). It was amazing to not only be with our whole family, but to introduce Michael, Tyler, and all of the boys to our childhood memories. It was such a phenomenal trip and I am so thankful that we could all go. Living far away from family is so hard, so these rare times we have together are so special! Tyler, Cayden, Dad, Mom, Jenni, Michael, Elli, Trevor, Elliott, & Simon...ya'll are so special to me and I am so blessed to call you family. Thank you for making my Thanksgiving wonderful, and for all of the great memories!

We left around 6am Wednesday morning and drove the 10 hours to Branson! Cayden was such a trooper. We're thankful for a great traveler...

It's always so fun to have all of the boys together! All of their personalities are so unique and add so much to our group :D Thankful they have each other...

My brother in law is an amazing chef. Really amazing. He did a test run on our turkey the week before, so this one was perfect. So moist...yummmmm I want some again! Thankful for so much delicious food...

We went and saw The Haygoods, a Birkeneder tradition. They are a group of brothers (and one sister) who play so many instruments and do amazing harmony. Their Christmas portion of the show was just what we needed to get the Christmas season started (but does ours really stop??) ;) Thankful for music...

The first day we went to Silver Dollar City, it was freezing!! Okay, not literally freezing, but it was in the 40's...and this Texas child was NOT accustomed to the cold. I had him all bundled up! Thankful for warm clothes...

The first morning, my dad arranged for us to do "Lunch with Santa". It was so fun for the kids (who am I kidding...and me)! Thankful for parents who make special things even more special...

Had to take a picture of the original 5 in front of the infamous tree!! Thankful for these people...

We arrived at the park around 9:30am and stayed until around 8pm. Throughout the day we would go to shows...Trevor got a little tired during one! I snuck in a picture of him snoozing. Thankful for the laughs my nephews give me...

One of the main "villages" of the park. There are over 4 MILLION lights! Thankful for Christmas lights, which reflect the joy I feel inside at Christmas time...

 One of the best traditions at Silver Dollar City are all of the Apple Cider/Wassail/Hot Chocolate stands. Of course we all got mugs & re-filled them all day, both days! Thankful for tasty drinks that help keep us warm...

Even Simon got a mug!

The boys meeting Santa! Trevor would like an iPod, Elliott would like an iPod and a bat cave, Simon would like puzzles & toys, and Cayden would like diapers & wipes. Thankful for Christmas traditions...

Exploring the park! Thankful for fun times...

 

Jenni giving Cayden a cookie. He was in love with the chocolate! Thankful that Cayden has three wonderful aunts...

Hangin' with my nephews! Thankful for the quality time I got to spend with them...

Mom & Dad loved being with their grandsons. Thankful for Grandparents who truly love unconditionally...

Spending time with my husband and son was priceless! Thankful for my two main men...

Last night at the park, soaking up as much as we can!! Thankful for this trip...

This trip wouldn't have happened without these two! So thankful for my parents...

Cayden was just a tad worn out after the two days at Silver Dollar City. Thankful for sleep...

...catching up

Today, the weather is:

... makes me want to drink hot chocolate, play Christmas music, & bake cookies! For now, I'll just put on my new mocassins and enjoy the cooler weather!

...I'll totally fit in in Branson.

This will be the first Thanksgiving the Birkeneder family will all be together again in many many years! The Birkeneders (Bob, Julie, & Elli), the Zielkes (Michael, Jenni, Trevor, Elliott, & Simon), and the Hobbs' will all meet half way, in Branson, Missouri, for Thanksgiving! Growing up, my parents took us three girls to Branson for Thanksgiving almost every year. While in Branson we would go to Silver Dollar City, where you celebrate Christmas at an "Ole' Time Christmas" theme park. I have made so many incredible memories there, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to create new memories with Cayden & Tyler! This is why I love it there:

...seriously Birkeneder style Heaven.

This week Cayden will be 11 months. Where or where has the time gone?! My sweet little baby is now a crusin', cheeseburger loving, rocking horse riding, whole milk drinking, stair climbing, sloppy kissin' baby. It is so fun to watch him grow and is incredibly bittersweet thinking about the last 11 months and all that I have seen a little human being accomplish. I love him so much and am thankful for every day I get to spend with him and watch him grow! He brings us so much joy and gets more and more fun with age! :)

...can you see why he brings so much joy? :) 

Meanwhile, in the backyard, my other babies continue to have a blast. Wrigley & Maddy have become outdoor dogs. I miss having them snuggle with me all of the time, but it has been a blessing in disguise that my house doesn't smell like dog, my floors aren't full of hair, poopy diapers are still in the trash, and none of Cayden's toys are chewed (rewind to six months ago). They absolutely love it outside and when I look back there, they are either playing, snuggling, or sun bathing. 

...sounds like the life.

CLH

On December 12 I went in for my last Dr.’s appointment for my 1st pregnancy. I had been a centimeter dilated for a week & 70% effaced and I was super uncomfortable. At this appointment I had progressed to 2cm & 80% effacement. (I always LOVED to hear if I progressed…I did NOT like when I remained the same!) At this appointment my belly was measuring 41 weeks and the baby’s heartbeat was strong & healthy, as was I, so both our doctor & us decided we wanted to be induced! I was not scared at all, I was just ready! For weeks now, I had felt Cayden trying to get out. The best way I can describe it is if you place his head on my pelvic bone and kind of do a twisting motion…that’s what it felt like and it hurt so bad. Both of us were ready to get this show on the road! We had two dates to choose from for induction, and we ended up choosing December 15…the same birthday as his cousin Simon!

The morning of December 15th, we woke up at about 5am. We got the dogs all set for their sitters, took showers, made sure our hospital bags were ready, made a stop at Taco Cabana for some breakfast tacos, and headed to the hospital. 

We arrived to the hospital about 6:30am but they were running behind on induction check-ins. After getting checked in we got settled in our room at about 7:45 am, and after all my IV’s and questions the nurse had to ask me, we got the pitocin started at about 9am! At 9:15am, my doctor came and broke my water and the party got started. Right away I started feeling contractions and they were 2 minutes apart. They hurt SOOO bad. For some reason, I wanted to wait until they were a minute and a half apart to start my epidural (note to self: ask for the epidural right away on my next child). The first two hours of labor were absolutely miserable. I think it is amazing when women do natural births but I am not one of those women. It hurt so bad and at one point I may or may not have thrown a little tantrum, kicking my legs and telling Tyler over and over again, “I can’t do it. I can’t do it.” Tyler was an amazing coach and helped me get through each contraction. Finally, I decided to ask for the epidural. At 11am the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the epidural. The epidural did not hurt at all, but I wouldn’t be able to notice since I had three huge contractions while I had to remain still. Worst. Part. Ever. Right when he put the epidural in, my pain immediately went away. They turned off the pitocin because I was actually contracting on my own 2 minutes apart. From 11:30-6:30pm I did not feel a thing! My parents, Tyler’s Parents, & Linda were all at the hospital and would trade out with Tyler every once in awhile. I was sleeping & watching netflix most of the day (thank you, husband, for bringing the playstation to the hospital)! They kept checking me throughout the day and I was progressing nicely. First I progressed from 2 cm to 4 cm in the first hour, then 4cm to 6cm, then I was at 7cm. Finally, at 6:30 they checked me and I was at 10cm!!! I was ready to push.

 I started pushing with Tyler & the nurse and his head started to show…I got really excited. Then, an hour passed…I was still pushing…then two hours passed…I was still pushing. The doctor came in and she said his head was right there and I was pushing so hard! They were wondering why he wasn’t moving and then realized his cord was wrapped around his neck. Tyler and I immediately gave each other a super concerned look and the doctor assured us it happens a lot but that she would like to help me a little with the suction. I agreed and told her to do whatever she needed to do to get him out safely! Finally, at 9:13 (2 1/12 hours after I started pushing), Cayden Lukas was born! His cord was wrapped around his neck which they immediately unwrapped, and he actually came out with the side of his head instead of the top of his head…which is why I had to push for so long! They said had his head come out normally, I would have pushed him out a lot sooner…but it’s okay, the minute they laid him on my chest the 2 1/2 hours of pushing and the 11 hours of laboring that day was completely worth it!! He was the most beautiful baby in the world (I am not biased at all)! Tyler and I finally had our son here with us. Our family was finally together.

My whole pregnancy my doctor kept telling me, “You’re not carrying a whopper. Your baby will probably be 7 or 8 lbs.” Well, they weighed him and when they said 8 lbs 12 oz I almost fell out of my bed! I was two days early and my baby was still huge! And thanks to his 6’5 dad, he was 22 inches long…a pretty long baby! His filled out face and length probably all contributed to his poundage! Thank you Subway, Chuy’s, & Taco Cabana, for supplying my baby with nutrients while I was pregnant.

I am so thankful for the doctor who delivered Cayden (she wasn’t my doctor). She was so calm & friendly & you could tell she absolutely loves what she does. My labor wasn’t too bad…the pushing was rough but there is no feeling in the world like holding your child for the first time. Whether it be after a two year adoption process, or a 13 hour labor…you forget about all you’ve been through the second you hold your new child. I am so thankful to be a mom, and my journey has just begun!

Cayden Lukas Hobbs, December 15, 2011, 9:13 pm, 8lbs 12 oz, 22 inches long

We are so thankful for our newest blessing!! Thank you for encouraging & supporting us this whole time!!!