My Baby Story

A different sort of tag that I thought was good because I've never written down these kind of things.


1. Where were you when you first found out you were pregnant?
1st: At home in my bathroom in Utah
2nd: At home in my bathroom in Virginia
3rd: At home in my bathroom in Virginia


2. Who was with you?
1st: I was with Tom. My sister Erin was visiting so I came out and told her right away.
2nd: By myself and then ran out to tell Tom.
3rd: Totally by myself because Tom refused to believe that I was being serious. So I came out laughing and said something like "I told you so" and we told Samantha (and Tommy who didn't understand) too.

3. What was your first reaction?
1st: Totally thrilled
2nd: Excited and kind of "whatever" too because I pretty much expected it.
3rd: Shell-shocked and kind of giddy/crazy acting.

4.What was your husband's reaction?
1st: Excited!
2nd: WAY excited!
3rd: Dubious that I was playing a trick on him and kind of shell-shocked himself. More immediately excited.

5. Who was the first person you told?
1st: My sister Erin
2nd: Our real estate agent (seriously-but that was kind of an accident). Um...our parents.
3rd: Our kids, then my mom I guess.

6. Were the pregnancies planned?
1st: Totally
2nd:Absolutely
3rd: Yes! Maybe for later-but definitely planned!

7. Was everyone happy for you?
1st: Yes!
2nd: Yes!
3rd: Everyone was thrilled for me and they understood how I could be overwhelmed at the same time. I have the best friends and family.

8. What was the sex?
1st: Girl
2nd: Boy
3rd: Didn't find out through ultrasound but a sweet little girl.

9. What was the nursery theme/colors?
1st: A blank cinder block wall in the dorms. You can't put nails in cinderblock and we didn't have the money for a crib set. She had pink sheets and that was about it.
2nd: That popular Jungle Malawi. Totally pretty color of green in his bedroom taken right from the bed set.
3rd: A gorgeous pink and green floral set from my mom.

10. Did anyone throw a shower for you?
1st: Yes, my mother-in-law and sister-in-laws at Tom's Aunt's house
2nd: Yes! Glady, Amy, Megan, and Krista in Virginia.
3rd: Nope-I moved and didn't know hardly anyone. I had everything I needed plus my mom and mother-in-law were beyond generous.

11. Did you get any outfits you wouldn't use?
1st: Some things for Samantha I pulled the tags off for Eliza because they were in completely different seasons.
2nd: A ton because I received so many wonderful hand-me-downs. I almost literally couldn't use them all.
3rd: I put everything she was given on her immediately.

12. How much weight did you gain?
1st: 25 lbs.
2nd: 27 lbs.
3rd:30-35 lbs. I stopped paying attention, I was upset.

13. Did you get stretch marks?
1st: Um YES!!
2nd: Not too many more over the old ones-they just restretched.
3rd: I couldn't see below my belly to be able to tell.

14. Did you crave anything crazy?
1st: Pringles!! I made Tom go out and get me some immediately upon seeing an ad for them, ate the entire can and then...well you can guess the outcome.
2nd: I don't remember....maybe orange juice.
3rd: I just wanted peanut butter toast and hot chocolate all the time (comfort foods), macaroni and cheese-and I hate that normally.

15. Who or what got on your nerves the most?
1st: Residents who bothered me
2nd: Samantha
3rd: Anyone who spoke to me or looked at me funny.

16. Where were you when you went into labor?
1st: Hard to say since I was in labor for days (seriously) but at my house. I went to lunch with Tom, took a test for my statistics class, went to my sister's Women's chorus concert and then headed into the hospital at about 3:00 AM
2nd: In the hospital for a planned induction
3rd: Ditto!

17. Did you have any complications?
1st: Not a one, they were very surprised by Samantha's size.
2nd: The medical community might not consider it a complication but I certainly did-my epidural wouldn't work and I felt every single contraction badly. The doctor finally came and wiggled it and it flooded into my system right before I had to push (so that was lucky!)
3rd: Nothing too serious thankfully but they kept losing Eliza's heart rate and had to keep putting the oxygen mask on me.

18. Did your water break?
All three they broke for me.

19. Who drove you to the hospital?
1st: Tom
2nd: Tom
3rd:Myself-in Arizona they start you on gels at night before, then the pitocin in the morning so I was there overnight by myself. I couldn't sleep and basically it was the worst night ever.

20. Did you go early or late?
1st: 3 days late
2nd: 3 days early (induction)
3rd: 10 days early (induction)

21. Who was in the room?
1st: Tom and my MIL for a while.
2nd: Tom and my MIL and FIL for a while.
3rd: Tom and my mom was shopping so she got there like 10 minutes before the baby was born. I was sitting there knowing the baby was coming and not telling anyone so that she would be there when it happened.

22. Did you video tape it?
Yes for all three. I only allowed Samantha to be taped afterward but as long as Tom was "modest" about it I allowed him whatever for the next two.

23. Did you have any pain medication?
1st: Best epidural ever.
2nd: Stupid stadol that makes you crazy and then a lousy epidural.
3rd: An epidural from a very funny doctor.

24. Did you have a c-section or natural?
Natural

25. What was your reaction to the birth?
Everything as you'd expect-loving, happy, weepy, thrilled. I was always more sick and shaky then I expected/remembered.

26. How big was the baby?
1st: 9 lbs 14 oz.
2nd: 9 lbs 5 oz.
3rd: 9 lbs 1 oz.

27. What was the baby's full name?
1st: Samantha Anne
2nd: Thomas Daniel
3rd: Eliza Delee

28. Did your husband cry?
Yes, for the girls-but I guess he was teaching Tommy to be manly or something because I didn't see him-I think he did mention getting teared up.

29. When is the next one coming?
I just take them one at a time, not too soon I think.

30. If you could, would you do it all over again?
Oh yes, it's the best thing in the world. I have easy labors so I always kind of enjoy them. (that's crazy I know, but it's the truth). And to have my kids-I would have hard labor too!

Samantha

Tommy

Eliza

A Poll that I wish to know the answer to.

Today I had around 10 people visit me. If you didn't leave a comment-well that makes me sad. But...I understand because I don't always comment even though I enjoy reading people's blogs. But if you'll please excuse my bossiness for a moment, TAKE MY POLL! Every week. Thank you.

Sleeping Beauties

I took a 40 minute nap today so it's all over for me. After lying in bed for 20 minutes I got up and started snapping photos. I LOVE sleeping kids for many reasons. There is the obvious-they are not up to annoy me and the precious-that they look so peaceful and angelic.

I also have this confession of sorts. I don't like my kids to be sick of course but there is almost nothing better in this world then a child who doesn't feel well coming and up and falling asleep on your shoulder/in your arms. I love it and I love my kids.

Samantha and her many books that she "reads" before she goes to bed.

Tommy is my sprawler. He needs to have at least 3 cars with him before he can fall asleep these days. He also likes to include his bear, baby dolls, several blankets, and books so it can be a crowded little crib.

My little doll. I have to admit I was nervous to take this one but she slept right through it.

Our Year...in a hundred pictures or less

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Holly Jolly Christmas

Merry Christmas! We are loving our time in CA with my family. We arrived Saturday. We went crazy and decided to have a party on Tuesday. We made two enormous lasagnas, garlic bread and salad and more desserts than you could shake a stick at (as my father would say). We had about 40 people come. EVERYONE we invited. It was so much fun. I was able to catch up with lots of old friends. We played "I never" and a TRUE White Elephant. The most fun was this game my mom got in a magazine. She wrapped a 10 dollar bill (the players didn't know what it was) in like 10 graduating boxes. Then everyone in the circle would roll the dice really quickly and pass it along. Anyone who rolled a 6 would get to try to unwrap it really quickly. The catch was that you had to wear oven mitts while you were the one unwrapping. It was a blast, people were dying laughing. And apparently we've been ordered to have this party every year now-so there you go.

We spent Christmas Eve in a pretty traditional way. The kids acted out the Nativity and they enjoyed that. Samantha and Livvy were shepherds and really got into their part. Tommy refused to be one of the sheep, but that was okay. My dad was the funniest Wiseman you've ever seen. Then we had our almost annual talent show. I helped the kids do a rousing song and dance to Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Tom reprised the chorus of dead cockroaches. David and I performed the Beaver Dance. My dad played Jingle Bells on his comb wrapped in seran-wrap. It was awesome.

Today was Christmas, it was love and fun all around. Tom made a most wonderful dinner and we had a pretty spectacular morning. It is better to give than receive and all that, but I'll tell you the "Santa gifts." Samantha could open her own Disney store with her Princess paraphanalia and added to it with a Princess tent and Sleeping Bag. Tommy was the winner with the best reaction when he saw his track and moving cars (very awesome with hills, tunnels, gates, etc.) and he just flipped out. I can't describe it in words, but it was darling. Eliza got the most beauuuuutiful dress and a little swimming pool with swimshade for next summer. It was a great Christmas.

Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy these fun pictures.

I've never...actually yes I have.

I saw this fun tag on Heather's blog. This is pretty fun to see what people have done. All you do is bold any of the items that you have done.

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band (what about an orchestra?)
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. seen in person the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch-hiked (but Tom has)
23. taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden in a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or a sunset
31. hit a home run (in the park)
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagra falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied (when I was little)
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michaelangelo's david
41. sung karaoke
42. seen the old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (my mom did when I was little and I've never forgotten it)
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. received a prestigious award
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistine chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. got flowers for no reason
64. donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guards in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house (just the outside)
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone's life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person
96. swam in the great salt lake
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee
100. learned to play an instrument

YOU do it too. I mean it. I want to hear what you've done.

Blessed

We had Eliza's Blessing Day last Sunday. It was a nice day without much pomp and circumstance. Tom gave her a beautiful and simple blessing. Unfortunately I had to hear about it from others because Tommy was screaming about the fact that his dad had walked away. I heard part of it anyway. It's interesting what difference a year makes (a year plus really). It seems like just yesterday we were in Virginia blessing Tommy. Then it was a circle comprised of entirely friends and we had a great big luncheon later that day. Eliza had Tom's Uncle Quinn and two members of the Bishopric and later we went to Tom's Grandma's for dinner. (I know that doesn't matter, I just think it's interesting).
She wore the dress that Samantha wore. I also wore it in fact. My great-grandmother on my father's side made it for me. A lot of my cousins and all my sisters wore it as well, but I was the lucky one who got to keep it! Here are some pictures of my darling little baby. I think she's the sweetest, smartest, cutest, most lovable baby ever and I am so, so grateful to have her in my life. I was surprised when I found out I was expecting her but she's been the best little surprise ever! Indeed, we feel very blessed to have her.

To show the length of the dress.

At Grandma's house.

Four Generations (but not all pictured :))