A wedding in Wisconsin.

We found out Dave's niece, Sarah, was planning her destination wedding in Wisconsin about six weeks after we found out we were expecting. We were optimistic about making the trip, but realistic that it may not work because of how close the due date was. When Piper arrived and there were no surprises, we proceeded with our plans. We traded cars with the Olivers so we could drive a minivan and hit the road. A 6 hour trip took 8 hours due heavy rains and three kids who had different needs. We just kept moving, although at times, it felt as if time was standing still. By the time we arrived, it was dark and the kids were hysterical, all three of them. In fact, all three of them puked up arrival for different reasons. And this is our new life!

We spent the next two days being pretty lazy. We rented a little cabin on a lake which was really charming and cozy. I felt like I had two really good days of maternity leave, lots of baby time while Dave kept the others busy exploring and playing.

The rehearsal was Friday evening and the wedding was Saturday. Both events were busy and we had our hands more than full keeping the kids in check. The wedding was charming, they got married at a venue called The Enchanted Barn and that is exactly what it was. It was the loveliest day, very mild for Wisconsin in November (54 degrees and sun, we thank the mother of the bride, Julie, looking down from above for that). There were hundreds of twinkling candles and beautiful dresses and even a barn that had a rescissible back wall making the wedding backdrop a lovely field complete with a couple of mules. Are you kidding me!? Dave was honored to say a reading during the ceremony and I was sweating bullets keeping the kids in their seats ;). We are so happy for you Sarah and Troy, you make a lovely couple!

We hit the road first thing on Sunday morning and made it home in 6 hours with only one stop. It seemed like a breeze compared to the drive out. We needed that! We are happy to be home and to stay put for a few months.

Dave went back to work on Monday and the transition has been better than I expected, it is nice to get in my own groove. I took Piper in on Monday for a well baby check and Im happy to report that she is already 9 lbs, 8 oz. So, she is doing everything she needs to do. She is such a chill baby, what a relief!

Fun at the cabin.

Exploring with daddy. 

GG, traveling in style. 

My cozy cabin view.

Fam photo.

All dressed up for the rehearsal dinner.

Sweet kiddos. 

Rehearsal dinner photo. 

The Munce family with the bride and groom.

Greta turns 2!

Greta girl turned two this week! She is silly, sassy and is not about to suffer from middle child syndrome. She was goofy and kept us on our toes before Piper was born and since Piper's arrival she has completely ramped it up. She loves to do anything for attention and has no problem putting Dave and I in our place saying "NO DADDY/MOMMY!" when we interfere with her plans. She is also the sweetest girl, she snuggles and kisses with the best of them. We lucked out with this girl.

We celebrated with both of our families last evening and were thrilled with a great turn out. We went ultra easy and had Qdoba cater, which turned out to probably be my best idea of the year (considering we also have a one week old). We were all singing to her and she yelled to the crowd "BE QUIET!," and that is just the tip of the ice burg for the amount of sass she has.

We are also one week in with Piper. She is an ultra chill baby and has even had good nights. I do recognize that it is early, but she has been up about two times each night and is pretty much up and right back down. I hope the streak continues. Greta loves to snuggle on her but will also give her the occasional poke or swat (we are working on it), while Sully is gradually warming up to her. He is so sweet and tender hearted. Today he came up to her and said "I'm your big brother, Piper" followed with a kiss on her forehead. I live for those moments. We had an appointment with her this week and she was 8 lbs and 6 oz, almost back up to her birth weight. We are getting the hang of things around here.

Family photo on our first day home. 

Sully and Piper. 

Sisters.

Full lap at story time.  

The three Munce kiddos. 

Piper 6 days. 

Piper 8 days. 

Maggie and the birthday girl. 

Greta and her cupcakes. 

Birthday photo.

Piper Connelly Munce

My induction was scheduled for Friday morning (10.30.15), Dave had to work so my mom came to watch the kids and Maggie was my ride to the hospital and my number one person until Dave could get relief. When my mom and Maggie arrived, we all found out we were up most of the night for various reasons, all related to the excitement of the day ahead. Like mother like daughters. My fears have changed so much with each delivery: the fear of the unknown with Sully, the fear of managing two kids with Greta, and this time, the fear that everything would go ok knowing I needed to be able to get home to my two, soon to be three sweet little kids. 

Everything went according to plan at the hospital, I was checked in and the pitocin was started by 8:20am, Dave popped in from time to time and Maggie and I hit the hallway for laps. My goal was the equivalent of 2 miles (32 laps), and I think I got about 26 or so in by the time all was said and done. Dave was relieved from work around 10am and my doctor broke my water at 11:30 and I was at a 3. I hit the halls again for more laps until some prep work was done for my epidural and then returned to get it at about 12:30. I have not had the best track record with epidurals, so I had a bit of anxiety related to getting one. Much to my dismay, I had issues again, it started out as an excellent one, doing all of the right things, and then it got too good and went a little too high resulting in blood pressure issues which the baby tolerated just ok, so we decided to turn it off all together to give my body a chance to recover. All was well with the world when my nurse checked me before her lunch break around 1:10pm and I was at a 3.5. A half an hour later, I could feel pressure. The epidural was restarted and a nurse came in to check on me at about 2:10 and realized I was complete and ready to push. Panic set in for me as I wasn't ready! I wanted just a few minutes to watch HGTV or something ;). That wasn't the case. They scrambled to get the room set up and three calls were placed to my doctor who arrived just in time to coach me through about 3 contractions and 10 minutes of intense pushing before Piper was born at 2:24pm. My nurse said, 'daddy was right, its a girl!' I was so distracted by the intensity of it all that I thought that  I had misheard her as I was CERTAIN I was having a boy. Oh and her size! She had chubby cheeks and even a few rolls, she was 8 lbs and 11 oz! Who knew! Its no wonder my body has been so sore these last few months. Maggie and Dave were just what I needed to get through the day, it is such a relief to be on the other side of things. 

Sully and Greta came up that evening to meet her and they were so sweet. Greta raises her little voice whenever she is talking to her and Sully is still warming up. I didn't consider how much it would rock his world as he is actually starting to get things. He missed us terribly while we were at the hospital. I was so ready to get home to be a family again. 

Piper met many of her cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents while we were in the hospital. She is already so loved. 

Daddy and Piper

Dave and I with Piper.  

Mag and I with Piper. 

First family photo. 

Piper Connelly Munce. 

Halloween fun, neither of them would let her sit on their lap ;).

Fun with the Oliver kids. 

Being discharged and walking home from the hospital,
it was a gorgeous day.