Something to Celebrate

Last week was an awesome week for the Lockhart Clan.  On Tuesday Becket kicked off birthday season by turning two!

He was anything but cooperative for this pictures...or anything else for that matter.  We had some cake and frozen pizzas.  BOOM, he's two!  He doesn't seem to be slowing down.  I am hoping that he will follow in Simon's foot steps and mellow out a bit by age three.  But this mother is not holding her breath.

And though a child's birthday is a wonderful thing to celebrate, Chris completing flight school was a close second...if not a tie.

Wednesday Chris' parents arrived around lunch.  Chris took Amelia and Becket to family day to see the helicopters.  Becket is obsessed with helicopters.  Chris said he was so excited to be there.

That evening we had the ball.  Chris has been in the Army for almost eight years and I have never attended a ball.  There is a lending closet on post where I was able to borrow a dress for the ball.  All that I had to do was have the dress dry cleaned.  Done and done!  My mom lent me the wrap.  A friend was so kind to come over and do my hair for me.  I had black shoes in my closet.  So, I was winning on being cost efficient.

The ball was fine, but I didn't know anyone there other than Chris.  So, I made the most reasonable decision and went to the bar to order a bottle of wine before going through the receiving line.  We eventually made it through the receiving line were we shook hands as they welcomed.  We returned to our table to pour our glasses that we would need for the toast and made small talk with the other couples at our table.  There are some formalities that we had to remain standing for like presenting of colors, prayer, and the toast.  I don't like saying "formalities" but I couldn't think better way to put it.  And I don't remember all the details.  Please forgive me.  I really do enjoy the traditions that come with military events.

Then it was food.  The high ranking officers went through the line first and then the started calling table numbers.  Table one and eleven were called first, and we were at table eleven.  So Chris and I got up and went to get food at a completely normal pace.  We were almost to the buffet and realize that everyone from our table were taking their time.  So we tried slowing our stride so we didn't look like fat kids.  But our efforts were worthless because in true fat kid fashion we were halfway down the buffet before any other couple entered the room with the food.  We did wait for the others to get to the table before digging in, but dang.  Our table was right beside the "important people".   I kept joking that it was the adult table and we were at the big kid table...clearly I deserved the little kid table.

Sneaking a picture of the "adults" as we waited for the others from our table. And the sweet potato casserole was bangin'.  Just sayin'. #wearefatkids

Another tradition is presenting the spouse with a set of wings.  A necklace we bought. Side note: the owner of the jewelry store was a super sweet German lady.  Seriously, Ingrid needs a little shout out! ;)

Remember that bottle of wine we bought...Chris only drank the sips for the toast to be responsible.  So I had to do the responsible thing by not letting the Merlot go to waste. 

They concluded the event and welcomed us to dance.  I have never seen a room empty so quickly.  Chris turned down my request to dance as he always does and we headed home.  

The graduation was at 10:00 the next morning.  We got ourselves ready and out the door my 9:20.  My mother in law had had surgery on her foot so we needed some time to get from the car and to a seat.  The graduation was quick.  I stood in the back because Becket insisted on yelling at me if we were at our seats.  

Chris's dad pinned his wings.

And then we had a brand new Army Aviator. 

After the graduation we went home a hung out with his parents.  He graduated on Michaelmas, the feast of the Archangels.  We specifically celebrated St. Micheal since he is the patron of soldiers.  I made chicken and angel hair pasta and devil's food cake that we stabbed with "swords". 

 We are extremely proud of Chris.  When I wrote this post graduation seemed soooo far away.  It's crazy how long it felt even though it went by quickly. Now we are waiting for the next step.  He has another course to take.  It's a special duty course for equipment inspections or something.  Anyway, that course and some briefs for our upcoming move is all he has left.  Then we head to Hawaii. 

Becket Roger Lockhart: The Birth

For some reason I love to write out my children's birth stories years later.  If we have anymore I will try do it while I'm in the hospital or something.  Then again, I may not.  I am full of the best intentions and lack follow through.

For those of you reading two years ago you may have remember that Chris was out of the state for the last two months of my pregnancy.  He was taking an Army leadership course and graduation was on Becket's due date September 26th.  My mom flew up to New York a few days before my due date and stayed a week.  All of my kids prior had been three to four days late so I felt like it was likely I would have the baby while she was there.

Muma arrived!

I had an appoint that day and was four centimeters dilated. She said I would likely have the baby in the next 24 hours.  And sure enough I did.  After the appointment I was having contractions, light and manageable.  We went home to wait it out.  I napped while Mom took the kids for a walk.  

Chris graduated from his course and hit the road.  He did take a detour to DC on his way home.  We were texting here and there as he drove home and overall he made pretty good time.  He showed up at the house around midnight chatted briefly and headed to bed.  I got in the bath and timed the contractions I was having.  They were still weak but closer together.

Waiting for Chris to get home...so a dressed up!

About 1:30 am there was a significant change.  All the prior contractions felt like Braxton Hicks these were stronger (not terrible just stronger) and about five minutes apart. Chris didn't get any sleep.  We told my mom we were leaving and headed to the hospital.

Unlike my other pregnancies, I had zero pain between contractions this time.  For a solid five minutes, maybe more I was able to talk, walk, and breathe without a problem for a pregnant lady.  So in the labor and delivery room I was telling the nurses at the nurses station that I was a little bummed because I'm use to coming in and 30 minutes later having a baby.  It didn't appear that was going to be the case this time. 

It was about 2:30 am and I was taken into the delivery room.  The nurse was a lovely lady, but super chatty and seemed to be taking her time with the normal procedures.  I went the bathroom to change.  As I was walking to the bed I had a contraction that was painful and I knew we had just entered the last phase of labor.  

I was check and only 7 cm dilated.  I was bummed since Amelia was 9 on her first check and Simon was 8.  Though it was still better than Owen's 4.  There was that.

The nurse tried getting the monitor on my belly and I smacked her hand away.  My belly was more sore than normal, apparently.  I reacted.  It's not usually like me.  The doctor offered to break my water and I agreed.  Contractions got worse, and within minutes I was able to push.  

The doctor directed me to push more efficiently and I did.  I pushed five or six times and he began to crown.  It was a circle of fire!  All I could think was this next contraction was going to be the last because OMG Becky, that was terrible.  And sure enough it was!  At 3:20 am the doctor put him on my belly and waited to cut the cord like I asked.  He waited there gleefully because he could not wait to weigh Becket.  He said his biggest vaginal delivery was 10 lbs 6 oz.  I was like, dude I broke that record...that was the weight of my smallest kid.

Chris was quiet, supportive, and tired.  I know I had just delivered a baby...but he had been up for nearly 24 hours.  We admired Becket and they did all the measurements in the room.  Becket Roger Lockhart was 11 lbs 6 oz and 22 inches long.  It was after 4 o'clock and Chris was trying really hard to stay awake.  I told him to take a nap since I couldn't.

Becuase, I felt it should be documented

Eventually we were moved to a maternity room where we both slept.  Around 9:00 Chris headed to the house to pick up my mom and the kids.  The stay was relaxed.

I promise, Chris smiles sometimes...

I could have stayed an extra day (and I would have) but I wanted to get home and visit with my mom before she headed back to NC.

I would like to add that I LOVE the newborn stage.  After having a baby I want to have another one because I know that the new born stage is so fleeting.  It took 24 hours for me to recover from the "circle of fire" that I experienced with Becket.

Welcome to the world Becket...2 years later.  We are so glad you're here!

He's wearing a diaper!!!!

Owen's birth story.
Amelia's birth story.
Simon's birth story. 

Say My Name!

You guys!!!! I am still kind of freaking out about the news we got on Thursday!  The kids manage to keep me busy, but I have fleeting thoughts throughout the day that remind me it's happening.  We do not have any dates about when Chris will be classed or when we will PCS, but we will have that information soon enough.

AIT graduation almost 5 years ago. 

He took me flying after he got his private pilot licence 6.5 years ago.

Chris is still going to ALC in Virginia August 3rd-September 30th.  My due date is September 26th which is always a great twist.  I'm blessed with some great friends here so I'm sure I can get to the hospital.  As much as I don't want another October baby, I guess it won't be the end of the world if he waits to show up until Chris is home from ALC.

I'm sure you saw the 30 week pic on FB or IG, but whatev!

Speaking of this baby, I guess it is as good a time as any to announce the name we have chosen.  Waiting until the baby actually arrives to announce some think would be best, but I really like calling the babes by their name evening through social media on the trusty and not so trusty interwebs.  So why wait?

So as you know we had that little online poll.  I just checked 52% for Becket and 48% for Sebastian.  Neck and neck for sure.  The poll wasn't going to sway our decision, but as close as this one was we definitely weren't pushed to reconsider.

Anyway, unless we have a huge change of heart when we see this little guy in real life he will forever be known as.....

Becket Roger Lockhart.

And if he is anything like his siblings he will arrive September 29th or 30th, weighing over 10 pounds, and labor will be fairly quick.  But who knows, maybe he will be early, under 10 pounds, and I will labor for days.  Time will tell.