Brand New Mariann

Daddy, Mommy & Mariann on her 1st Birthday

Mariann & her Best Friend(and brother) Daniel

Big Sister Mariann &  Little Sister Sarah

Mariann with all her brothers & sisters

Here are some stats about you currently:

-You love to sing your ABC’s, and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star(and many times the 2 are combined into 1 song)

-You love playing with your 4yo brother Daniel, and make many yummy “meals” together

-Your favorite book is “Goodnight Moon”, and Daddy reads this to you @ night while rocking you

-You went into your “Big girl” toddler bed almost 2 weeks ago, and seem to like it now.  You are even staying in your room at night : )

-No more “Paci” for over a week, and this has been challenging for you, but you are doing well.  You  barely ask for it anymore

-You love markers, and draw on yourself with them almost daily : )

-You are always running, and on the go

-You are a wonderful big sister.  You get upset when your little sister is crying, and you love holding her hand.  It is so precious to watch you 2 girls together

Looking forward to seeing you change, learn, and grow every day….

We love you Mariann.!  Happy 2nd Birthday

Love Always,

Daddy & Mommy : )

At 12 noon my midwife asked if I wanted to be checked, and I was pretty curious, then amazed to hear I was 8cm!  Contractions were about the same in intensity, but seemed to slow down unless I was up, and moving.  I was pretty wore out, but walked up and down the steps.  Around 1:30-2 Daddy put the two little ones down for their naps, our oldest was hanging out in her room, and Joshua our 6 yo was down stairs with us.   I remember having a really strong contraction, and leaning over the top of the couch, seeing my 6yo, and asking the Lord to give me help.  Joshua went off to play his DS, and I went upstairs. Leaning over my ball, on the bed, I asked my midwife to pray with me, and she did.  She also told me “Next time we should do this sooner.”  I then got on the floor, leaned over the ball again pushed once, and broke my water.  There was meconium (baby pooped inside for those who don’t know what this is).  Normal again for me, as 3-4 of my other babies also had this.

Baby’s coming….

I knew the baby was coming, as I started to get that “I cannot do this feeling”, and told the midwife ” I need to get in a good position.” I got up on the bed, then on my side, and began pushing @ 2:55.  I remember feeling somewhat scared as my midwife told me to stop pushing, and breathe several times. I wanted to keep pushing, and I told my Midwife I was scared.  All along she was the midwife I hoped would deliver me from the practice (5 midwives total), and in this moment I knew the Lord chose her specifically for me.  She said to me “It is ok to be afraid, but it is not ok to panic, so you need to listen to what I tell you to do.”  She asked me at least 3-4 times to stop pushing, and breath.  Next thing I knew baby’s head was out, then body, into my arms.   She suctioned baby out for a few minutes, and I then began asking “Is baby a boy, or a girl?”  She told me to look, and see.  I was elated to see we were blessed with our 3rd baby girl, and 7th child.  At 3:23 pm we welcomed Sarah Jean.  I was given a shot of Pitocin to help with bleeding, but baby was well, and so was I.  Alice later told me she had to help Sarah out, as she was stuck, sort of how Daniel was.  I was so thankful that I had her to keep me calm, and her 34 years of experience to know how to get our baby girl out without injury.  God is good, and we feel so incredibly blessed.  Our oldest came in right after her sister was born, then shortly after the two little ones were up from naps(again God’s timing is perfect, since Nana couldn’t be here), and Josh came up to meet her as well.  We skyped the older boys that night as they were still in FL.  So thankful for technology : )

Sarah Jean is now 9 weeks old, and we are enjoying every minute with her.

With baby #’s 1, 4, , & 6 I was over my estimated due date, so I knew I had a 50/50 chance of once again going “late.”  I also wasn’t 100% sure of my timing on when I conceived, and had just 1 cycle this time.  I should have never told anyone an actual due date, as the inevitable “Are you still walking around?”, or “You haven’t had that baby yet, huh?”  started about a week before my due date, which was June 22nd.

Well June 22nd came, and went, and no baby.  My Mom came into town on June 18th my Aunt Joanne, and then my sister, her husband, and 3 girls all on the 24th.  I had some good contractions on the 25th while out to dinner, but they fizzled out.  I continued to have them pretty much every day from there on.  On June 29th I went for an ultra sound.  The Tech said how “BIG” the baby was, and how she had a “little peach fuzz” for hair (boy was she off on both).  July 30th we went to the midwives, and had the Non-Stress test done.  Baby was doing great, and so was I.  At that point there were 2 other ladies overdue, so they didn’t want to put all 3 of us into labor at the same time (both of the ladies had their baby’s that night)  Nana had already planned to take our older 2 boys, Gabriel, and Andrew back to FL with her for 2 weeks so I reluctantly drove them to the airport on July 2nd.   I called the Midwives that day thinking it could be the day, but the Midwife on call wanted to break my water, and I didn’t feel it was time.  July 4th we had a nice family day(sans my older two boys).  We went to Lowes, and got some mulch, and new flowers to plant.  I still had contractions, and I even thought “Yay a 4th of July baby would be cool.”

The beginning of labor….

July 5th I had some contractions, but again they went away.  One of the midwives called, and we decided I would come in the next day to strip membranes, then follow-up at home with some caster oil.  That night around 6:50 Andrew and I were watching “True Grit”, and I was starting to have some stronger contractions.  I went up to relax in the bath tub.  Around midnight I called the midwife.  I wasn’t sure that it was time yet, so I said I would relax, and call if they got stronger.  I was up all night pretty much with them, and had Andrew call again around 4:30am.  By 5 Lori, my midwife assistant arrived.  Alice, my midwife around 5:30.  We chatted, and I sat on my ball, for maybe an hour to 90 minutes.  Around 6:30-7am, Andrew & I decided to take a walk.  I had some strong contractions on the walk, and seemed to be progressing.  We went home, and our oldest Alisha was up, and soon after Mariann, Daniel & Joshua were up.We took another walk, this one longer, and had a good 2-3 contractions.  Somewhere around 8 am Andrew went to get bagels and coffee.  We sat around laughing a lot, enjoying breakfast together, with some contractions in there(every 5-10 minutes).  Heartbeat was great, and I was handling contractions by getting on my ball still.  I noticed this labor I tend to tense up my shoulders, but the sweet reminders from my Midwife/midwife assistant really helped me to relax.  I spoke to my Mommy, and sister, then later my niece Arianna.  This was great, since they weren’t able to be here, I still had them on the other end of the phone.

My wonderful daughter Alisha brought me something to eat

Daddy & his newest baby girl

Getting weighed

Footprints

Daddy putting her 1st diaper on

Me & Sarah w/ 2 awesome ladies,  my midwife Alice(left), and my midwife assistant Lori(right)

Daniel meeting Sarah

Oldest and youngest girls

Skyping with Gabriel & Andrew so they can see their new baby sister(They are in FL for 2 weeks)

Daddy washing Sarah

Look at those long nails from staying in so long

Daddy with his 3 girls

Daniel & Mariann looking @ Sarah

A nap with Daddy

1 day old

Alisha is an awesome big sister

“Yay, another girl”

Pretty baby girl

Mommy & Sarah

Daniel getting to hold Sarah

3 youngest

Big brother Daniel w/ his 2 little sisters

Sarah wearing a gown that has been worn by all 7 Yturaldi babies

Daddy, Mommy & Sarah

Mommy & her 3 girls

Check-up with Lori

Our family missing our 2 oldest boys, Gabriel & Andrew

Daddy & his baby girl

Sarah getting ready to go to the Dr.

Big brother Joshua hold Sarah

Mariann getting to hold her baby sister

Baby doll

Daniel & Josh are both on the “Pirates”.  This is just before the game started

Alisha and the “Lady Hawkeyes.”  It was low to mid 50′s so a little chilly

Baby girl in her princess chair

“Brrr!”

Alisha playing goalie, no action yet(her team won 4-0)

Go Josh!!

He’s got the ball

Coach talking to Daniel

Daniel & friend

Pretty baby girl running off energy

Josh kicking

Daniel throwing the ball in

Goal kick

That’s my girl, Go Alisha!

Good shot!  Almost a goal.  These girls played hard, and were missing at least 4 players today

Another action shot

Josh(not sure what he is doing, hehe)

Daniel trying to get the ball

“Good game”

Daniel really enjoyed this part. He is not even 4 yet, and already loves Soccer as much as the rest of the kids

Best of the 3 soccer players this season(Josh didn’t want to put up his DS)

Mom you have always been there

Taught me life isn’t always fair

You also taught me to look to him, the one that will carry us in good and bad

and that he is our “Heavenly Dad”

When I look at you I see a strong Christan women who has never given in

You held your head high though thick and thin

Thank you for always being a listening ear

and for drying my every tear

I love you so much Mommy!  Hope this little poem blesses you, and that today is an extra special day for you : )

Me and my Mommy Feb’12

Nana w/ our family @ the Baltimore Aquarium

Nana w/ her Grand kids in November ’08

All the Grand kids Nov ’09(since then Mattilyn has joined our family, and our newest baby is due in just 2 more months)

A big Thank You to my Mommy & Aunt Joanne for helping Alisha.  Thank You Michelle, Katelyn(Hannah& Lily), Vida, and Emily for  blessing us with being here, and cute presents for our newest blessing. I wish my Mom could have been here, but it was very nice having my Aunt after many years of not(since she was a military wife).  My kids LOVE when she comes to visit.

Here are some pictures from the Baby Shower…..

The pretty sign that was made

How many do you think are in here?

Some of the food(that was the “Small” fruit tray

Aunt Joanne

Alisha made these wonderful Snicker Doodle cupcakes. and they were very good  : )

Me and Alisha.  She is the best party planner out there : )

Mother/Daughter : )

The 2 youngest party guests.  Aren’t they precious?

Michelle trying to guess how BIG I am

She thought I was REALLY BIG

The real measurement

Alisha & Emily(she won the M&M guessing jar)

A game of telephone

About to open presents

Yellow is good, since we don’t know yet  : )

Pretty basket with lots of goodies

Everyone, except my friend Vida who was taking the picture

Mariann LOVED the fruit tray

Daniel & Mariann

Cute decoration that was personalized

Me & Vida

Daddy & Mommy

Look at that face : )

Daddy & his babies

“Weeeeee”

“My Turn”

Cute gift bags

Alisha had some gifts for me, just from her

Love the card

She is so talented

Shell necklace with our whole family on it

Candle that everyone went home with(personalized as well)

Hugs

“Yummy”

Daniel enjoyed his

Aunt Joanne making Sandwiches( we had so much leftover we had it for dinner)

My Uncle Chas(Aunt Joanne’s husband) was close by in DC for business, so we even got to see him

Mariann loves wearing everyone’s shoes : )

Cruisin’

Gabriel showing Daniel how to work the Jeep

Off roading

Gabriel is such a good big brother.  He insisted on helping with the little ones, even though the neighbor kids were asking him to play : )

Alisha playing on the piano with Daniel & Mariann

Daniel & Mariann in Daddy & Mommy’s shoes

Gabriel putting together his poster on President Lincoln

His finished product

Daniel & Mariann hugging

Showing off his cute baby sister

Excited

Daniel was “Old King Cole” in his Beginning Readers class

Proudly wearing his crown

Getting his Diploma

“I did it!”

Daniel w/ his treat bag

Daniel w/ his buddy

Andrew & his friend racing

Happy Daniel riding his bike

“Who me?”

Waving “Bye-Bye” to Daddy

Mariann is loving her purse

Gabriel by an ambulance

Andrew by the Firemens’ gear

The firemen were very kind to suit up, and get up close to the kids so in case we ever need them they will not be afraid(oxygen on and all)

They did a great job explaining about all of the equipment, and even took much of it off to show us

Daniel loved getting to sit in the Fire Truck

Joshua w/ his Fireman Hat

Daniel with his

Andrew wearing his hat

Mariann watching as they showed us the truck up close

Alisha, w/ her friend Lexi watching as they showed us some of what the truck can do

The kids in front of some pretty Tulips, before going into the museum

Gabriel & Andrew in front the Museum Of Natural History(they thought this looked like the Olmec Heads that we studied in History)

Gabriel

Andrew

Daddy talking to the kids about some Dinosaur eggs

Gabriel on the upper level looking down

Daniel in the “Discovery Room”, using binoculars

Gabriel listening to the ocean

Joshua getting ready to look @ some things through the microscope

Andrew checking out Daddy’s teeth

Gabriel w/ a replica of the human skull

Daddy & Josh with the skull of a Hyena

Andrew using the magnifying glass to get a closer look

Gabriel looking @ different toys from around the world

Mariann getting to try the binoculars

Josh thought these were handcuffs

Papa, Daniel, & Gabriel next to a giant squid

Hard to believe, but this giant squid was a 2-3 yo female, and 36 ft. when alive

Alisha in an exhibit about bones.  Perfect timing as she was putting together a report for her writing class on bones

So cool that we were @ the Aquarium days before, and looking @ live Sting Rays, then here you can see the skeleton of them

Daniel in the  Insect Exhibit.  He really enjoyed this interactive area.  You could touch something, and it would show you where that insect would be located in the home.

Daddy & Gabriel reading about Termites

We got to see an “Australian Walking Stick insect” up close, and she was even laying eggs(look closely in the lady’s hand and you can see one)

A “Madagascar hissing Roach”

There were a few people there that day

Papa & kids

Mommy, Gabriel, and Mariann, w/ a giant Quartz behind us

The famous Hope Diamond

The Monument

Papa, Daddy, and kids in front of the Monument

Yturaldi’s in front of the Monument

Daddy & his boys by the Monument, with the Capital in the background

Papa & boys by the Monument

Papa, Daddy, & the boys(yeah it was a little windy)

Andrew up close by the Monument