One More Makes Four: The Completion of the Gutzwiller Family

One More Makes Four: The Completion of the Gutzwiller Family from Krista Tacey on Vimeo.

Patience

On Wednesday, March 17, 2010, two day old Alexis Renee Gutzwiller receives her first big sister bath from older sister Isabella (right), 6 and new big sister, 2 year old Adrianna. As mother of four, Melissa Gutzwiller tends to Alexis and helps the other girls with the bath, 4 year old Gillian (back) proceeds to trap the family cat, Ashley in between the window and the screen. According to Melissa, the key to being a good mother is patience. During the 15 minute bath, Melissa dealt with a trapped cat, having her faced washed by Adrianna, soaked carpet, changing all four girls clothing, all the while bathing Alexis and keeping her cool demeanor and calmly asking Gillian to free Ashley.

Assignment 3- Moment

Looking at the daunting task ahead, expecting parents Bill and Melissa Gutwiller try to remember where the baby swings and car seat are at in the garage rafters. Bill has to get the baby's stuff down so Melissa can clean it. "This is nesting...cleaning or as husbands say crazy," Melissa said. Melissa is expecting newborn, daughter Alexis on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 and to be completely ready and be able to relax the next couple weeks the Gutzwiller's thought it would be best to get as much done as possible on Tuesday, February 23, 2010.


Nesting

On Tuesday, February 23, 2010 expecting parents, Melissa and Bill Gutzwiller finish up the last few preparations before the arrival of their fourth daughter, Alexis. Since Melissa’s due date is Tuesday, March 16, 2010 the Gutzwiller’s thought it
would be best to finish up the remaining loose ends before the two weeks prior to her due date.
Some of the loose ends the Gutzwiller’s had to finish include cleaning stored baby items like swings, a car seat, and toys, completing hospital registration papers, backing the hospital bag, and talking about the possibility of saving Alexis’s cord
blood.
While Melissa packs her bag, she takes a moment to write a list of items she will need during her stay at the hospital. As she writes out her list, she remembers one last item, “I need my makeup,” Melissa said. She added she still wants to look
good while she has visitors at the hospital.
As the afternoon went on, Melissa asks Bill to take down the stored baby items from the garage so she can clean them. “This is nesting…cleaning or as husbands say crazy,” Melissa said.
Towards the end of the afternoon, the Gutzwiller’s accomplished several things during the day, making themselves and their home completely ready for the arrival of Alexis. Melissa added all they need to be finished is Alexis.

Preparation

Expecting mother, Melissa Gutzwiller, thinks about what else she needs to take for the delivery of her newborn, daughter Alexis. As she thinks out loud she says, "I need my makeup!"



Expecting parents, Bill and Melissa Gutzwiller of Freeland, Mich. share a quick kiss after Melissa asks Bill to get down a car seat and swings down from the rafters in the garage on Tuesday, February 23, 2010.



Looking a the daunting task ahead, expecting parents Bill and Melissa Gutwiller try to remember where the baby swings and car seat are at in the garage rafters. Bill has to get the baby's stuff down so Melissa can clean it.



"This is nesting...cleaning or as husbands say being crazy," Melissa Gutzwiller says. In preparation for the arrival of Alexis, Gutzwiller sits in a circle of baby gear as she scrubs everything down well.



Discussing whether or not save Alexis's cord blood, Bill and Melissa Gutzwiller try to decide if it would be worth spending the money on saving it. They are considering saving the blood for diabetes however, at this time there isn't much use for cord blood to treat diabetes. The Gutzwiller's older daughter Isabella has diabetes and the cord blood may be able to be used to treat medical issues Alexis may be prone to develop later in life.



Having a slight contraction, Melissa Gutzwiller takes a breath and a little break before she begins painting the baby bed she designed for her soon to be daughter, Alexis.

Warm Winter Glow

One More Makes Four

On Wednesday, February 17, 2010, Bill Gutzwiller plays with his three girls, Gillian, 4; Isabella, 6; and Adrianna, 2 (top to bottom) in their Freeland, Mich. home. The four of them enjoy the time they have together as they await the arrival of one more little girl. "I knew this last one was going to be a girl...I just knew it," Bill said. He added he loves having a house full of girls and can't wait for newborn Alexis to come.

Growing Baby

On Monday, February 15, 2010, expecting mother, Melissa Gutzwiller of Freeland, Mich. awaits to hear how much her belly has grown since her last prenatal checkup. According to Gutzwiller, a pregnant women's "fundal height," is the measurement from the top of the uterus to the top of the pelvic bone. She added it helps to determine how far along the mother is and what the expected due date will be. From pervious prenatal care, Gutzwiller is expected to have her fourth daughter on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. However, Gutzwiller says she feels like she could have her future baby girl Alexis at any time.