We're Surviving!

Week one down, and a life time to go! I've had so much help from friends and family, so I'm feeling really good! I'm lucky to have a mellow baby. Aubrey is sweet and so lovable! I know everyone always says this, but it's amazing how much you can love someone you just met! I already can't imagine life with out her.

She loves to eat, and looks several pounds bigger already. I tried putting on an outfit on her on Sunday, and there was no way it was going to fit, so I know she's bigger. Nights are going well, she's up between 2 and 3 times but goes to bed right after, so I feel fortunate for that as well. Parker is our crappy sleeper! He's up multiple times a night and wakes up ready for the day by 6:30. It is in sane.

The best part about having a girl, is the cute outfits you can change her in to daily! She was wearing the cutest outfit this morning, and she pooped through the first one, so DARN! I had to change her in to another CUTE outfit!

Thanks Amy! I couldn't wait any longer to put her in it!

Welcome Baby Aubrey!

She is here! Shortly after my last post, we headed to the Dr. and I was checked again, and he stripped my membranes. The chance for induction was looking slim, so he suggested I walk around to try and go in to labor on my own. He said not to eat anything because I'd most likely go in to labor in the next little bit. I was starving though, I didn't eat breakfast thinking I'd get in that morning. Anyway, so Matt and I left and went to eat some lunch. At lunch, the hospital called and said they had room and to come on over. We ate fast and got there by about 1:30. She started the pitocin around 2:00, my Dr. broke my water around 2:30, and then we waited. The anesthesiologist was super busy that day, so my constant requests for an epidural were unsuccessful, and he didn't get there until close to 4:00. By then I was at an 8 and dying. I was in so much pain (you ladies that go natural, way to go...it's not in the cards for me. I don't know how you do it!). Anyway, by 4:15 I was feeling great, and she was born at 4:56. I pushed just a few times. It was a great delivery. She is super cute, and reminds us a lot of Amber, but she has a lot of differences too. She's super chubby, which I LOVE. She weighed 8 pounds 8 oz., and was 20 inches long. She so far is super mellow, loves to eat and suck her binki. I had a great two days at the hospital, but am happy to be home. I'm feeling good now (however, Grandma still has Amber & Parker, so chaos will arrive soon!). Matt has a few days off next week which will be very helpful. Anyway, we're loving this new baby. We named her Aubrey Joyce.

Parker isn't too sure of this new addition. Amber is in heaven though, and loves to hold her. She's already made a set of rules about Aubrey (one of which is she eats only milk).

One Last Look

Here I am, the last picture before this baby is born! I'm supposed to be induced now, but they are backed up at the hospital, so I may have to wait until this afternoon, or maybe even tomorrow! Yikes! But I'm going in to the hospital now, my Dr. will strip my membranes, and we'll see if that gets me started on my own. How depressing! I had the whole weekend mapped out with who was taking my kids when. It's just my luck! Anyway, here is one last photo of me, the next post will be tons of this new baby! Hopefully she comes today!

More of the Belly!!!

I have to post these pictures before it's too late! I can't believe I only have two weeks left! Christmas/December was IN SANE! There is a ton to post about, so hopefully over the next few days I can get caught up. So for now, all who are interested in the size of my belly...enjoy!!! As I've said MANY times before, these pictures are more for me than anyone, I love to document the size by week. I only wish I shrunk as fast as I grew!

35 Weeks

36 Weeks

38 Weeks

Happy Birthday Matt and Parker!

Matt's birthday was over a week ago...I'm super behind. Happy 32nd Birthday Matt! We celebrated Saturday by putting bunk beds together and buying mattresses. We put Amber and Parker together and got the nursery mostly ready for her to come. We just need a crib and we're set. Parker is sharing with Amber, but is still in a crib. Putting him in a bed this soon would make me crazy. He still naps 3+ hours a day, and I know if he had a bed those would disappear! Anyway, so their room is a little crowded, but super cute. I'm so happy about the bunk beds we found. I LOVE them! We got such a good deal on them too. We just need a new rug and bedding and that room is complete. Right now it's a mix between Amber's princess bedding, and Parker's red, blue, and yellow comforter and rug. It still is cute. Thanks to Matt for being willing to get all that done. It literally took all day. Between cleaning both rooms, moving Amber in with Parker, doing about 20 loads of wash (I had to wash all the baby clothes and put them away nice and neat!) it was the longest day ever!

That night Steve and Mandy took our kids over night so Matt and I could enjoy a fun date. We went to Bonsai (a Japanese Restaurant, it's SO yummy) for dinner, then to the new James Bond movie. It was a fun date. We celebrated Sunday with Matt's family, and had them all over for dinner at our tiny little house. It made me realize we seriously can't have anyone over until we either move, or add on. Our kitchen has to be the smallest kitchen on record. It definitely wasn't made for entertaining. We had a great time though, and it was fun to celebrate at out house. Matt got a ton of new clothes for his birthday. He and I have such different tastes in clothes, but he always finds such great stuff in the end. I loved all the new clothes/shoes he got.

Monday was Parker's birthday. Matt took the day off which was so fun! We had such a fun day together. We had breakfast cake (coffee cake) in the morning, went to a movie in the early afternoon (Bolt), and then to Chuck "E" Cheese for dinner. We had such a fun day together. That night we had all our family over for cake and ice cream. When we sang to Parker, he looked a little bashful, but as soon as the song ended he didn't waste any time and blew out his candles. His face was priceless. At that moment, I realized we have a two year old. He's not a little baby anymore. I didn't even know he knew how to blow out his candles, I thought he'd need help for sure! Here are a few top memories or fun facts about Parker from his last year:

• Knocking his front tooth out just a month after his first birthday


• Walking up Millcreek Canyon one evening and never getting tired (Amber had to be carried after only a few short minutes)


• One time we pulled in our driveway and Parker started crying "NO!!!" so we asked if he wanted to keep driving and he said "YES!" so we pulled back out and went around the block a couple times...I guess he wasn't ready to come home


• When we went to get our Christmas tree a few weeks ago, he fell as he was walking in the snow and totally got white-washed, but he barely cried and wanted to keep hiking


• Loves to eat cereal


• saw an antelope at a friends house and said "antelope" clear as day (but he can't say something easy like bath)


• Loves candy of all sorts, and went ballistic at Halloween


• Is a TOTAL morning person


• LOVES to take naps, and can be transported from car to crib without any problems!


• Loves to sing


• Is very stubborn


• Loves all the Christmas lights and freaks out and yells "LIGHTS" when he sees them


• Parker doesn't talk a lot, but one day I pulled a pot out of the cupboard and it made a loud sound, and Parker said clear as a bell "Oh My Goodness!" He hasn't repeated it since, but it made us all laugh


• Sucks his Binky upside down


• Loves to take drives or be out of the house


• Loves to sleep


• Gets new bumps and bruises daily


• Loves Libby and all other animals

Christmas Tree

Since Matt and I were married we've gone up to the Uintahs every year the day after Thanksgiving to cut down our Christmas tree (even 2 years ago at 9 months pregnant, and this year at 8 months pregnant thank you very much!). We LOVE this tradition and look forward to it every year. The kids were SO excited this year to go up. They were both such good sports. This little adventure requires a lot of hiking and cold weather, because we have to find the perfect tree, and those trees are not right off the road. So this picture below was taken right when we got to a good parking spot. The kids couldn't wait to go find a tree. They were both laughing the whole time. Parker did a face plant within seconds and his face was covered with snow, but he barely cried. As soon as the snow was off his face he was ready to start running again. He looked a little like Randy from "Christmas Story" all bundled up. We had several layers on him. One can never be too safe.



So here we are just before we left, of course Libby has to come. She loves this tradition more than any of us!







This is our "perfect" tree.
Amber was not in the mood to hike, and complained that she was tired and needed to rest. Every tree stump we came across Amber said "I want to rest on that spot." After our trip was over and we were returning home in our warm car, we asked Amber what her favorite part of the day was, and she said "um, getting out of the snow, taking a break, and eating pretzels." Matt and I laughed so hard.


And here it is lit...thanks to Matt. I don't have the patience to decorate it. I just want it done, so Matt has decorated it the past few years. Thanks babe!

Fall Fun

Yesterday I attempted raking the leaves in our yard. You can't get a whole lot done with two little ones because they LOVE to play in them. I forgot for a moment what it was like to be a kid. At first I wanted to get upset like "come on, I JUST raked up that pile!" but then I remembered very quickly LOVING this time of year and doing the same thing over and over again.

Growing up, my neighbors had this gigantic tree in their yard. Each fall millions of leaves would fall from it. I was always so jealous of the HUGE piles they'd get to play in. One year, I must have been seven or eight, I took our rake over there, and raked a huge pile together, and then proceeded to rake it over to my house. These neighbors were two doors down, so I had to rake them on the street. Once the task was done, my pile was MUCH smaller (thanks to the asphalt shredding the leaves in to tiny pieces) and I had a very distinct trail leading from our neighbors

to my parents house. I bet my parents were so embarrassed!

Here I am at 32 weeks. Not too much difference. I am purposely in the same place wearing a similar shirt so I can easily see the difference! Abby just had her baby today, so it's making me realize how close this is! We have so much to do still. I keep thinking I just need to get through the holidays and then get stuff ready, but after that I'll only have a couple weeks. This is going to fly by!

I'm feeling pretty good though. I'm surprised I haven't had as much heart burn with this baby. In the past I've easily gone through a giant sized Tums bottle by now. I've only had maybe 4 this entire pregnancy.

My core strength is weakening daily. I still go to the gym a few days a week, but it's not helping the ab area. It takes everything out of me to sit up.

Congrats to Abby though! 7 pounds 2 oz., 22 inches long, born at 1:22 AM. He was 3 weeks early! Everything went well though she said. I can't wait to go see him. She said he has lots of hair. I'll get some photos to post later.