Merry Christmas!

Here's our Christmas card to those I didn't get a chance to send too. (Sorry its been crazy and I might not have gotten your address). Thanks Ashley for putting it together!

Snow!

An unfamiliar sight in St.George brought a new experience for Charlize and a day off of school for Mommy, SNOW!

It just so happened that she had on an outfit that matched a hat I got her for Christmas. It was a perfect opportunity to have her wear it so I gave her the present early. They are also a little big for her still, but we've got all winter to grow into them.

I just loved these thick yarn hats and ordered them from lovelyknits.com .

She loves to be held and usually I can get a few pics before she's unhappy, but it didn't take long.

NFR 2008

We went to Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo last weekend with Nate's family. I need to get a picture of all of us, but here's one of Nate and I at the Rodeo.

My Mom was in Vegas the same weekend and it worked out great so she watched Chalize because we thought the rodeo would have been too loud for her. We love shopping a Cowboy Christmas (huge convention centers full of western/cowboy stuff) and when we took a break from shopping to feed the baby I took this picture of Daddy and baby. I know the red-eye looks a little demon-ish, but I wanted to show that she got the red-eye from her dad. I hardly ever get red-eye in pictures, but Nate gets it in every one ( I already fixed his, but I couldn't change hers). So now I have two people to fix red-eyes on pictures taken.

Happy Birthday James!

My little brother James (who's actually taller than me now) turned 15 on the 1st so we went to Olive Garden to celebrate. I got drenched when the waitress accidentally dropped three glasses of water on me. BRR but James gave me his sweatshirt so I could warm up. What a nice guy. We forgot to get a pic in the restaurant so we tried the "do it yourself" method of holding up the camera at arms length. Kelby has the longest arms and look - it worked. It doesn't make for the best picture ever, but hey we got it. Charlize was in the truck and we missed Nate on the first so we tried it again.

Happy Birthday James!

My little brother James (who's actually taller than me now) turned 15 on the 1st so we went to Olive Garden to celebrate. I got drenched when the waitress accidentally dropped three glasses of water on me. BRR but James gave me his sweatshirt so I could warm up. What a nice guy. We forgot to get a pic in the restaurant so we tried the "do it yourself" method of holding up the camera at arms length. Kelby has the longest arms and look - it worked. It doesn't make for the best picture ever, but hey we got it. Charlize was in the truck and we missed Nate on the first so we tried it again.

Cousins Part 2

The Friday after those other pictures were taken we tried again and got some cute ones of the girls! I wish that I would have remembered to uncover her hands, since that was like the last day that they were covered, but o well you just have to imagine little hands under there.
Addi is so cute with C and can't wait till she can play with her.

Cousins Part 2

The Friday after those other pictures were taken we tried again and got some cute ones of the girls! I wish that I would have remembered to uncover her hands, since that was like the last day that they were covered, but o well you just have to imagine little hands under there.
Addi is so cute with Charlize and can't wait till she can play with her.

Sorry I'm really late getting these posted.

Cousins

Addison and Charlize had matching outfits and we wanted to take some pics for Charli's 3 week pictures. This one with the pacifiers was the last one where they were done with the pictures (sorry I don't know how to turn it)

How cute! We put Charlize on Addi's lap and she gave her kisses.

Cousins

Addison and Charlize had matching outfits and we wanted to take some pics for Charli's 3 week pictures. This one with the pacifiers was the last one where they were done with the pictures (sorry I don't know how to turn it)

How cute! We put Charlize on Addi's lap and she gave her kisses.

1st Roping

We went to watch Nate rope and let Charlize experience her first roping (she enjoyed it of course - lots of good sleeping time). My friend Meghan went with me and we had a nice visit since I don't get to see her everyday while I'm out on maternity leave. Nate took 8th and won some money! We love supporting him in his hobby!Daizy and Charlize finally got to meet! They'll be great friends when Charlize gets a little older.

1st Roping

We went to watch Nate rope and let Charlize experience her first roping (she enjoyed it of course - lots of good sleeping time). My friend Meghan went with me and we had a nice visit since I don't get to see her everyday while I'm out on maternity leave. Nate took 8th and won some money! We love supporting him in his hobby!Daizy and Charlize finally got to meet! They'll be great friends when Charlize gets a little older.

2 weeks Old

It's been just over two weeks since our princess made her appearance and changed our lives forever. Time just seems to fly by (even in the wee hours of the morning when it feels like I didn't get any sleep between feedings.) O the new appreciation for what our parents did for us!

Here's her two week pictures. She eats every three hours and is awake for over an hour after she eats. She doesn't like to hold still - a very active baby. She has been working on her acting skills with a fake cough.

Here's Charlize at one week (11-4). She likes to hold her head up for short periods of time and when she's awake, she's always moving.

2 weeks Old

It's been just over two weeks since our princess made her appearance and changed our lives forever. Time just seems to fly by (even in the wee hours of the morning when it feels like I didn't get any sleep between feedings.) O the new appreciation for what our parents did for us!

Here's her two week pictures. She eats every three hours and is awake for over an hour after she eats. She doesn't like to hold still - a very active baby. She has been working on her acting skills with a fake cough.

Here's Charlize at one week (11-4). She likes to hold her head up for short periods of time and when she's awake, she's always moving.

Cousins

We finally got Addison and Charlize together! Here's Addi in her cute helmet and Charlize looks tiny! I missed Addison smiling (which is rare because she is always smiling!) but she loved looking at her cousin and can't wait to play with her.

Look at my sister Sonrisa's blog if you're wondering why she has a helmet. We love her and think she's just a cute with it. It's better to get it fixed now and people who have an opinion against it are simple minded.

Cousins

We finally got Addison and Charlize together! Here's Addi in her cute helmet and Charlize looks tiny! I missed Addison smiling (which is rare because she is always smiling!) but she loved looking at her cousin and can't wait to play with her.

Look at my sister Sonrisa's blog if you're wondering why she has a helmet. We love her and think she's just a cute with it. It's better to get it fixed now and people who have an opinion against it are simple minded.

Happy Halloween

Yep, I caught a smile! I'd been trying but so far was too slow. Fianlly on day 4 I got one.
My friend Meghan gave her this BOO onesie in hopes that she'd come in time to make it and she did!

Aunt Elle dressed up as a Who from Whoville with all the girls at the hair school. Pretty cute!

Nate couldn't wait to get Charlize on a horse. He wanted it to be the first day home, but it took a few more to get us out and about. She looks pretty content on her horse Zima.

Happy Halloween

Yep, I caught a smile! I'd been trying but so far was too slow. Fianlly on day 4 I got one.
My friend Meghan gave her this BOO onesie in hopes that she'd come in time to make it and she did!

Aunt Elle dressed up as a Who from Whoville with all the girls at the hair school. Pretty cute!

Nate couldn't wait to get Charlize on a horse. He wanted it to be the first day home, but it took a few more to get us out and about. She looks pretty content on her horse Zima.

Charlize

A calmer mommy-to-be.

Ready for baby to arrive.

Charlize Connie, born 10-28 @12:03, 7 lbs, 18 inches long.

Happy Birthday!

We stayed in the hospital over night and were ready to go home by noon on Wednesday.
The newborn clothes are still big on her.
Charlize hanging out with Dad. We love seeing those big eyes!

She's Here!

This is going to be a long post just to warn you. . .

Over the weekend, I'd only get strong contractions at night and I'd always have a bad headache with them. Sometimes the headache was strong like a potential migraine but most of the time just strong enough to need Tylenol. Well, my mom got thinking and worrying about it and was persistent that I go to Labor&Delivery to get monitored since it was a Sunday and no one was open, that immediatly sent me into cry mode since I didn't think it was that bad. One of the sweet MA's at the DR's office met Nate and I to take check me out; a trace of protein and a consistantly high blood presure, but we'd been watching it.

Monday I was at school and was uncomfy but ready for another day with the students when I got a page to the office that I needed to call my husband. Turns out it sounded sevier enough to need to go to L&D and Nate was coming to get me to take me. Instant cry mode since it was 9:00 and all my students were just coming in through the door and a complete change of plans. I got there and wished I'd have bet someone because I knew they'd send us home - no consistant contractions and no headache (again only at night). Yep, I was frusterated, peeved, irritated and emotional all in one.

That night I went to bed, starting to have contractions and a headache, but then they woke me up at each half hour and finally at 1:30 I realized that my entire belly was hard-as-a-rock and I couldn't get my baby to move. I tried to remain calm (and get my eyes completely open so I could think) and thought "I'll get in the shower, that'll loosen it up". It did a little but still no movement. Nate was worried, cause I was worried and we figured if we were to go now and they were to send us home, we'd still make it to work on time.

We went to L&D at about 3:00 and my blood pressure was something like147 over 111, but once I hear her heart beat, it started going down since that was all my worry. Turns out, the nurses were worried enough, and my contractions strong and consistant, that not long after I was admitted to stay and we'd have a baby that day. I was still a 4cm and 80% effaced, the Dr. broke my water at 5ish and WOAH! did that change the intensity of the pain. Crazy what I thought I was prepared for took on a different road of pain than I had ever known. I was on Potocin and after an hour or so got that drug (can't remember the name) that helped me relax in between the contractions. By 8:30 (almost 4 hours of hard labor) I couldn't get a grip on the pain anymore and was wearing down, yep I got an epidural. I didn't plan on it but I know my limits and knew I wasn't in control anymore. Over the next four hours I only gave two pushes on the meds, could still move my legs and felt everything but the contractions. When it came time to pushing I just tried to focus it in the right direction but could feel all the pressure, and release of pressure as she came.

Amazing! Unlike anything I tought I'd feel. Here's this little person, a part of our family that everyone can see (outside of my belly). She's perfect and healthy. Came out bright eyed and crying.

Thanks to all thosee who helped along the journey: nurses, Dr.s, parents , friends. Another leg of the journey has just begun, and this time we'll all see how she changes.

The Waiting Game

I have really tried to be a patient pregnant lady, and for the most part I've just wanted more time because I felt like I had so much to do before she got here. But since I got most things covered at school and am glad that Emily's ready to take my class, I've had the 27th in my head as the first day I won't be at school. However, first babies are hard to tell when they'll come and the Dr. wont induce me until I'm 41 weeks. I understand the risks and precautions to take, but I lost some of my patience when I realized I could still be at school next week.

When I was checked yesterday I'm dialated to a 4 and 80%+ thinned. Urgh! They say you have to be at least a 4 to get an epidural and yet still nothing else seems to progress. He stripped my membranes yesterday (which was uncomfortable but I was expecting worse) and I had alot of pain in my lower back and cramping the rest of the night, but nothing today.

I'll just keep munching on my crushed ice, (since that has been my craving for the last couple months) go for a great walk tonight and see if things get put into motion. I have regained some of my patience to wait since I've been at school all morning, its just crazy that I could teach school today and tonight have my baby in my arms instead of in my belly. Well, time will tell and I'll let you know when it happens.

Diaper Cake, Pictures and Hunting

I didn't get a picture of the adorable diaper cake that Karen made for the baby shower they threw for me with the Young Women, so I took one at home. Isn't it cute?!

On Saturday I was working with my mom and Sonrisa brought Addison so we could spend some time with her. She is soooo cute! Seven months old and her rosy cheeks are from a tooth that's just starting to come up. Since I only have a week left till my due date, Mom wanted a picture with Addi and the soon to arrive Charlize. We're so excited!

Ever since we found out we were pregnant and due at the end of October, Nate has worried he wouldn't be able to go deer hunting (because of all years he got a tag) but he's gotten alittle hunting in. He went Saturday morning and hunted most of the day and yesterday we went on a little drive expecting to end up at my Mom's house to visit my family, but ended up elsewhere. Oops! He did get to see some deer, just some does and fawns. He looks pretty focused in these pictures (and again didn't care to have his picture taken). He's got three more days so were hoping for some hunting fun for him.

Pregnancy Pictures

There's only two weeks left and I'm definitely feeling uncomfortable pregnant (mostly in my swollen kankles) but Brooke Seely is in my ward and we're both in Young Women's together, she offered to take some pictures of me and then again of Charlize after she gets here. I was a little hesitant because I'm feeling like a chunker, but I probably won't ever do it again so I went ahead with it.

I was a little nervous about doing some bare belly shots, but they turned out pretty cool. I don't have any stretch marks yet so thanks mom for the good genes. Nate was a trooper and jumped in with me. He is so excited he can't hardly wait for her to arrive.

Thanks Brooke! I love them and am grateful that you'd take my pictures!

Pregnancy Pictures

There's only two weeks left and I'm definitely feeling uncomfortable pregnant (mostly in my swollen kankles) but Brooke Seely is in my ward and we're both in Young Women's together, she offered to take some pictures of me and then again of Charlize after she gets here. I was a little hesitant because I'm feeling like a chunker, but I probably won't ever do it again so I went ahead with it.

I was a little nervous about doing some bare belly shots, but they turned out pretty cool. I don't have any stretch marks yet so thanks mom for the good genes. Nate was a trooper and jumped in with me. He is so excited he can't hardly wait for her to arrive.

Thanks Brooke! I love them and am grateful that you'd take my pictures!