Life With Two Children

It's been almost two weeks since Claire has joined our family and life has been hectic to say the least, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

It all began on the Monday before Claire was born. I had been having irregular contractions for about a month and knew there was nothing to be concerned about, but on Monday they started to get a little more intense and more frequent, but again nothing to be concerned about. On Tuesday the contractions were still coming and I remember even telling Neil that it was only a matter of days before she came, I just had a feeling. On Wednesday it was the same thing, until around three o'clock and they started becoming extremely regular, so I decided to see if I could walk them off. I packed Emma up and we went to Walmart because I needed to pick some things up so I walked around Walmart for a good hour seeing if it would help...and I guess it did in a sense, the contractions got closer and stronger, although they still weren't hurting me yet, just really uncomfortable. I went home and walked around the house for yet another hour and around five I called my mom and asked her what I should do because I didn't know if I should go to school or not. She convinced me to go up to Heber for an NST because I was scheduled to have one the next day, so I woke Neil up and we left.

When we got there I wasn't feeling them as much (of course) so we went out to eat with my parents and went back to my parents hosue so I could do some more walking. I walked around for yet another hour and then all of a sudden I felt extremely sick and I barely made it to the bathroom. After that I still wasn't sure about going to the hospital but my mom convinced me to go in. When I got all hooked up I wasn't having any contractions and I pretty much told my mom that I told her so. But after about ten minutes they started and were about 2-3 minutes apart. And they were getting more and more intense. My doctor thought that maybe I was just dehydrated so the nurses pumped me full of fluid, but that didn't help.

Around 11 pm Neil decided to come and see what was going on and as we walked into my room he gave me a really funny look and a nurse walked in right behind him and informed me that we would most likely be having a baby that night. I was completely shocked. I really didn't think that I would be going home with a baby. I had packed a few necessities, but I really didn't have anything. Shortly after my doctor came in and confirmed that I was going to be having a baby.

That's when it hit me...I was going to be the mother of two now. And I was at 12:40 am. When Claire let out that first scream I just started crying and couldn't stop. My baby girl was healthy and here with me! I was totally fell in love all over again.

She melts my heart and I love her so much. She is such a good baby, just really impatient. She's been sleeping pretty well at nights too. Emma is in love with her little sister and she tries her hardest to help, which can be very hard on me, but I try to tell her thank you for being such a great big sister.

Neil is totally in love with his two little girls and is the best dad in the world. He went back to work on Sunday night and I've missed having him home, but it has been a pretty good transition. He can't wait until April when he can go back to swing shift and have a more normal work schedule.

And I'm doing wonderful. I have been healing wonderfully from the C-section. I swear by them. They are AMAZING! And I love my family of four. Claire has been the best addition to our family. She fits right in and our world is revolving around her for the time being.

She looks just like her daddy!

Bedhead

Believe it or not, this is the face she makes while she's pooping.

Emma loves her little sister and loves laying next to her.

She's Here!!!

Baby Claire decided to make her debut three weeks early! She was born on March 11th at 12:40 in the a.m. She is abosolutely perfect weighing in at 6 lbs. 6 oz. and 18 inches long. She looks just like her daddy and I can't stop staring at her. She makes my heart melt. Here are a few pictures...

less then a day old

Our family of four?!

Emma loves her little sister!

just a few hours old

Happy Birthday Emma!!!

Thursday was Emma's third birthday. You heard me, Emma is now three flipping years old! I can't believe how big she's getting. She is so smart and says the funniest things. When I woke her up on Thursday she informed me that she was two for a couple of hours, but now she's three. I couldn't stop laughing. We didn't have much planned for her birthday on Thursday because we had a princess party for her today and tomorrow we are having family over for cake and ice cream.

Thursday I woke Emma up nice and early so we could open up presents with Neil and then Emma and I got to run up to Heber for a doctor appointment. She loved all her presents, but the only thing she was really enthralled with was her princess umbrella. The rest of her birthday was spent in the hospital as the baby was being monitored, it wasn't fun and I felt bad for Emma. She did, however, get to open her presents fro Grandma Sue and Bomps, and she loved everything they got her, but who wouldn't love princess books and princess jewelry. After everything came back fine Emma and I left and headed down to Provo to meet up with Neil and eat and California Pizza Kitchen, because out of all the places Emma could have chosen, she wanted to eat there for her birthday, Neil was excited, I was less than excited. But she loved it and even got an ice cream sundae after she ate her food.

Today was her princess party with all her friends and she LOVED it. She got more princess stuff, and she loved running around playing with everyone. All in all, Emma has had a great third birthday so far, and she has gotten a lot of presents. Here are a few pictures to entertain the masses:

Emma and all of her friends.

They LOVED running around with their balloons. It was cute to hear them yelling and screaming.

Emma's Princess cake. Neil is making one for her for tomorrow.

She was so ready for her party to start. She would sit at the table asking when her Princess party was going to start.

My Ode to Pregnancy....

Oh pregnancy, why do I continue to do this to myself over and over? You're not a nice person and you stay for nine excruciating months. But yet every time I welcome you with open arms and a wide smile. I cry for joy when you arrive, but the cry for joy when you leave is ten times more, not just because I'm glad to see you go, but because you may not have be nice to me, but you give me the most wonderful gift of all, maybe that's why I do this again and again....the world may never know.

The Little Secrets About Pregnancy:

• They say morning sickness is only in the morning…HA! I still believe a man came up with that name, I’d love to meet a pregnant woman who only had morning sickness in the morning.
• Morning sickness only lasts for 12 weeks, yet again….HA! Try 20 plus weeks, yes that’s half the pregnancy, and yes it’s miserable, and no nothing you do seems to help.
• Every pregnant woman gets a wonderful glow. Maybe if the people who said this looked a little closer they would be able to see it’s not just a glow, it’s sweat!
• A pregnant woman is beautiful, I mean she’s carrying a baby. Yeah whatever, just because you don’t have to dawn the newly ordained stretch marks for the rest or you life, or the newly widened hips, or the varicose veins, oh and let’s not forget about the new pouch of fat on your abdomen that will never go away…real beautiful.
• Nesting, every pregnant woman gets a burst of energy and cleans the house top to bottom to prepare for the baby. You seriously think it’s a burst of energy, when said pregnant woman is carrying 20 plus pounds of extra weight around all day long….WRONG! It’s the feeling of “Oh shit, the baby’s coming and the house is a disaster. If I don’t clean it now I’ll never have time when the baby comes…” Trust me, it’s not a burst of energy, you will never have energy again until the baby’s at least one, but you do things because you have to.
• After the whole miserable morning sickness debacle you’ll feel wonderful for the rest of your pregnancy. BWAHAHA! Until morning sickness decides to rear its ugly head again the last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. So now are you not only huge and tired 24/7, but now you’ve got the lovely bathroom as a daily guest again. Yes, only two to three months of the pregnancy will be bearable. I’ve heard of some women who seem to escape this last bout of morning sickness, and to you I said job well done, now leave.
• Some women tend to have a bit of swelling towards the end of pregnancy. Yep, we sure do and it sure sucks. Especially when your wedding ring no longer fits your finger and it takes you a good 10 minutes to get it off your finger because it’s cutting off the circulation. Oh and shoes feel like they’re squeezing the life out of your feet. Your duck feet to be exact, it goes perfectly with the waddling you will now start to do constantly because it feels like there is a watermelon between your legs.


Now, in all seriousness there are women who actually have it worse than this. At least I haven't had to go through bedrest, diabetes, or any other of the more fun things that can go along with pregnancy. I laugh because I paid quite a bit of money to go through this a second time. And the second Claire is born I'm sure I'll forget all about how miserable I am and pay to have it done yet again...and then I will ask myself why...why oh why? But it truly is worth it. To hold that precious baby you just endured nine months of hell for, it all melts away. Four weeks and six days left of this for me...then a whole new chapter begins.

I know I know....

I know I haven't posted since July, but what can I say, things got a little hectic around here. School started up for Neil and I and Neil's work picked up ten fold, so he was working like a mad man and I was lucky to see him for two hours a day. Plus, I started watching my grandma three days a week, needless to say our weeks are very interesting, but it makes the time go by fast so I can't complain.

I would feel extremely ungrateful if I didn't post today and talk about what I'm grateful for, because honestly, there is so much to be thankful for. I'm so thankful for Neil, he truly is the love of my life. I still get that butterfly feeling in my stomach when I see him, especially if I haven't seen him in a few days. I miss him terribly when he's at work or sleeping, he does so much for Emma, me, and our soon to be addition. He refuses to have to make me work, and for that I am thankful, I love being able to stay at home and take care of Emma, and watch her develop and grow everyday. I'm so thankful for the financial stability he provides, I'm never worried about where our next meal will come from, and even though money can get tight at times, we always seem to make ends meet. I love Neil and I'm so thankful for him and his love and support.

I'm so thankful for little Emma, she's seriously the cutest girl in the whole world. She makes me smile everyday and everyday I think to myself how lucky I am to have her in my life, she's so beautiful, and she knows it, while at Walmart with Neil, a lady came up to Emma and told her she was cute, Emma's reply was, "I know, I'm butiful." When Neil told me this I couldn't stop laughing, I'm glad she knows she's beautiful and is loved, it seems like that is too rare in children these days. Emma's new thing lately is telling stories, and they are to most interesting stories you will ever hear, and they are LONG! but I love listening to them and hearing what words she has picked up on, I'm baffled by her vocabulary, she's too smart for her own good. I've also come to discover that she is the class clown in her little preschool class (three neighbors and I take turns teaching the kids twice a week for two hours...it's HEAVEN). this week while they were at my house Emma was definitely the class clown, making all the kids laugh and getting into trouble. It was hard for me not to laugh, especially when she would tell the other kids, "It's not funny guys!" when she was getting in trouble. I love you Emma T., E.T., Emma Lou, Emma Love, Ems, Emma T. stinker p....

I am also grateful for the opportunity to be a mom again, and to another wonderful baby girl. It took a while for the news of it being a girl to sink in, but when it did, I was so excited. Emma gets a little sister! I get another princess to dress up and cuddle with. I love being a mom, it's what I was made for, seriously. I can't wait for this little girl to join our family, only a few more weeks and she will be in my arms. I can't wait. We are closing in on a name, it's between Claire, Chloe, and Hazel, although I think Neil and Emma are set on Claire. Emma actually came up with the name Claire. Neil and Emma were in the car and the song Claire de Lune came on and Emma asked Neil what the song was called, Neil told her Claire de Lune, and she said, "Oh, Claire." When they got home Emma ran up to me, rubbed my belly and said, "Oh mom, I love baby sister!" I said, "Oh really, what do you think we should name baby sister?" and her reply was, "Baby Claire." I had never thought of that name before but I really liked it so I asked Neil if he liked it and he said that he thought it was really cute, and hence Baby Claire, but who knows it may be baby Chloe or Hazel.

I'm so grateful for many more things, for a loving family that support me in everything I do, etc, etc. But for now, I think this will do.

SO MUCH EXCITING NEWS!!!

I have so much exciting news I don't even know where to start! I guess I will start with the most exciting of all....Emma's going to be a big sister!!!! You heard me right I'm pregnant! It seems so long waiting that it isn't true, but trust me it is. I found out on July 21st, three days before I was supposed to test, but I couldn't bare to wait any longer, and it was a positive, it was too good to be true that I took another test the next day just to make sure, and it was another positive so I know for sure. The baby is due the very end of March or very beginning of April, and I REFUSE to have this baby on April 1st, no if ands or buts about it. I'm feeling wonderful, which is a very pleasant surprise, with Emma I was sick for three weeks before I even got a positive pregnancy test, so to say I'm 4 1/2 to 5 weeks along and I'm not sick yet is wonderful! I know it's coming though, don't you worry.

Emma is convinced it's a baby brother, she even told me that she was going to have a baby brother before I found out I was pregnant, so it better be a boy or Neil and I will have a lot of explaining to do. She tells me all the time that she's going to be a big sister, I think she's more excited than I am about it. She's going to be the best big sister this world has ever seen.

On to more exciting news...on Monday Neil and I bought a new car! WOOHOO!!! We've been wanting one for a while but have been putting it off to build up our savings a little bit more, and it paid off. My only demand was that it had to have four wheel drive because I drive to and from Heber at least twice a week during the winter, and that canyon gets pretty scary, and so that's what we got. We purchased a Jeep Patriot, it's brand stinking new (something I didn't think we would be able to afford, but we apparently can), and I am in love with it, even though I haven't driven it much because the Hyundai gets such good gas mileage that we drive that instead of the Patriot to save money of gas.

So that's our good news for the week. We're loving life and waiting ever so patiently for baby number two to come into our family.

What's Going on in Our Lives?

So it's been over a month since we last posted and updated everyone on what is going on in our lives, so I will try to update everyone. We do have pictures but they are either on the other computer or on Neil's phone, so no pictures with this post, but hopefully next time.

June started off with Neil and mine's third anniversary, yes we have been married for three whole years. We didn't do a whole lot for our anniversary because we were planning on going down to Manti to do a session there because that's where we got married. But Neil did get me breakfast and roses, which was really sweet because we told each other we weren't going to get each other something for our anniversary. I still can't believe it's been three years. I wouldn't trade them for anything. We've been through so much together, and I can't wait to go through more with Neil. Manti was wonderful. I've never done a live session before so to be able to do that was amazing, we're already planning our next trip down there.

After our anniversary it was time for me to try artificial insemination. I was nervous to say the least, not really because I didn't know anything really about the procedure, but I was preparing myself for the roller coaster of emotions that were about to ensue. Well artificial insemination didn't work...this time. And sure enough it was a roller coaster ride. Excitement, anger, frustration, sadness, worry, etc. all came to visit me, and sometimes all in the same day. I found out for sure on June 24th that I am not pregnant, I cried for a few good hours that day. But all is well and we'll keep trying until something works.

Emma's been loving summer. All we do lately is play outside with all the neighbor kids. I actually love being out there too, it's so relaxing...most of the time. I don't want winter to ever come back, there is so much more to do during summer. Emma has been little miss chatter box lately, I can't get her to be quiet for more than a few minutes, but I love hearing her talk and tell me step-by-step what happened during her day. She's so fun.

The fourth of July was fun this year because Emma was so animated about the fireworks. She kept saying, "WOW!", "MOMMY! FIREWORTS!!!", and she couldn't stop laughing every time one would go off. I was just glad she wasn't scared of them.

Well that's pretty much the low-down of our lives so far this summer. I don't ever want it to end, but on the same note I can't wait to start school again, I'm missing it so much. I'm trying to enjoy every day though. Neil's been sleeping through most of the summer. I feel bad for him and I know he hates it too. This too shall pass.