Harry Potter and the Sorcerers stone
Unbroken
The Princess Bride
The one & only Ivan
Wonder
Life is short (no pun intended) Jennifer Arnold & Bill Klein
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The life changing magic of tidying up
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Hollow City
Dead Boy
Library of Souls
More than the Tattooed Mormon Al Fox Carraway
My Story Elizabeth Smart
Focused Noelle Pikus Pace

So this is my list of books I read in 2015 ^^^ Michael suggested ALL except 4 of these:) My favorites are the true stories. (Elizabeth Smart's was very hard to read...ugh!) 

The birth of Sia

I woke up on December 19th with light, super easy-to-talk-through contractions that lasted all day and the next day AND the next😣 I was more than prepared by the night of the 21st when we left for the hospital .

Same basic idea as with Noelle's birth...super fast!!! 

Laying in bed around 11 I woke up (wait already awake! Totally hadn't slept well toward the end this time!) I felt them get slightly more intense yet still manageable at this point so I still doubted I needed to move BUT I had promised Michael I would tell him when things got any more intense because he wanted to be ready. 

For me there is a point when I definitely know that it's happening and I get extremely CALM and in that same instant my husband becomes so incredibly nervous and jittery:)

 I actually made myself get up and go to the bathroom because I recalled how quickly my contractions progressed when I stood the last time in this state...and of course they did get stronger.  I grabbed my boppy, backpack and purse and said to Michael (also already awake because of me-contracting past couple days) "OK I think we can go now. They are getting harder and they are real...we have time but I know you don't want her to be born in the car:)" When we got downstairs he ran back up because he needed to get ready and the contractions changed again, ever so slightly stronger and I laughed when my mother In law was trying to reassure me that everything was going to be OK. "Oh Isabel...see how calm I am? It's your son that needs the reassuring." (truthfully though I think she was trying to calm herself too). 11:40 PM when we left.

We listened to Christmas Beach Boys songs on our rainy drive to the hospital. I pointed out to Michael that Gwinna was born in a sunny spot, Noelle with snow on the ground and Sia in the rain. I guided Michael and texted Stephanie and Sophia on the way.  Michael kept getting nervous because I couldn't talk through contractions  at this point and he worried we would miss a turn. Silly man. We made it around 12:17ish.   

As soon as I was in my gown and almost done answering the annoying list of questions they have to ask Sophia and mom arrived.  At this point they told me I was at a 7 and I was wheeled into the delivery room. Soon after 

being in there I met my very white Doctor.  My mom commented that he looked more like a farmer:) I won't lie I was slightly disappointed. I promise I'm not racist (against white people) but I really hoped my black doctors might be on call.  Dorsey and Clare were my favorites throughout my pregnancy.  

Because I recalled Noelle's delivery happening so quickly I decided to really get into the pushing as I felt I needed to.  I remember hearing myself saying "oh come on!" at one point. My mom made me aware I was gritting my teeth and then told me I was amazing and such a natural. I told Lil the other day that having good cheerleaders makes a big difference.  A voice in the midst of chaos telling you you are the greatest gives a bit of extra energy to get through it!  Something that I did NOT appreciate (and actually didn't realize until the end) about my white farmer  doctor is that he cut me! He did redeem himself though when he let me reach down and pull Sia out of me the rest of the way!  

Very unique to her birth and I loved that:) 

I was able to pull my baby Sia Nie into this world at 12:58 A.M.

 December 22, 2015 (her actual due date!)

9lb 9oz big bubba!  

We have fallen in love all over again!!!!!!!

Sia Nie

Sia - 

Pronounced "see-uh"

A few different meanings of the name include: "victory", "helper" and "one who brings joy"

Yes we are inspired by Sia the singer. But no, our Sia is not named after her.  I loved the name as soon as I heard it.  She sings "elastic heart" and "chandelier" and Gwinna loves dancing to all of it.  Michael was showing me her videos one day in September and I loved the modern dancing and combination of her voice and the stories she tells.  I did not even know her name yet but when he said it I immediately wanted to use it.  Another thing about Sia is that she is not about the fame, she actually hides her face and has stayed completely behind things in performances so that it is not about her.  

Again, we love and appreciate her music but our baby girl is not named after her;)

Nie - 

Now this name we did decide on because we love nienie!  It is a nick name for her blog nieniedialogues because her first name is Stephanie and her last name is Nielson.  I love this woman.  She is such a grateful, beautiful, strong, amazing human being!  I will  be more than happy when Sia follows in her footsteps of being awesome.