Her second day.

My baby bump/birth story.

I realized after looking through some of my old posts (I swear I'm not narcissistic) that I NEVER posted any pictures of my wonderful baby belly!!  It was the coolest thing ever.  SO.  Here is the last picture taken of me before I went to the hospital to have my babe.  I'm *pretty* sure this was taken at 36 weeks - she was born at 37 weeks thanks to my wonderful doctor for breaking my water FOR me (please note my sarcasm, she was almost a preme, I can only thank Heavenly Father that I make babies quickly - I'm pretty sure she would have come on her own at 38 weeks)  Ugh, I would have to SO ticked off if she had to be in the hospital for any amount of time longer than I needed to.  BUT, I don't like to think about that because it just makes me mad.  Next time I'd r e a l l y like to have a home birth and just skip over doctors and have a midwife for attempt number 2 at having a natural birth.

Okay, this is just turning into my birth story, I can feel it.  Well here is what I looked like BEFORE my dreams of having a natural childbirth were shattered.

36 weeks.

SO, my birth story goes a little like this.

On the afternoon of the 22nd of March I went in for my weekly doctors appointment.  It was the second time that the doctor was going to "check" me - like, my dilation and stuff because I was 37 weeks along.  4 days before this appointment I was at 1 cm and at this appointment I was 3 cm and *probably* would have had the baby at 38 weeks IF the doctor didn't accidentally strip my membranes (aka break my stinking water).  So we went home a little frazzled calling our parents to let them know I was going to have the baby sooner than we all expected.  (Slash give our moms time to fly out here to help us out for a couple of weeks).  Six hours and one tasty Mexican meal later we arrive at the American Fork hospital to have our natural hypnobirthing childbirth.  But I was having some high blood pressure, and that was just the beginning of our misfortune.  Because of my blood pressure they wanted me to stay laying down in my bed hooked up to this machine constantly.  And to make things better I was told that if my blood pressure got any higher that they'd have to put me on some "nasty" medication to keep me from having seizures.  Boy, that totally just helped my blood pressure stay exactly where it was, high.  So in an attempt to lower my blood pressure, Joseph and I did a hypnosis (I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING A HYPNOSIS TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, YOU WILL JUST STOP YOUR CONTRACTIONS COMPLETELY), while my blood pressure remained at "high" levels my contractions stopped all together!  That's not really something you want to happen when you're trying to have a baby.  So 3 hours later I was induced with Pitocin - a horrible drug.  Did I mention that it's horrible?  6 hours after that I'm having my drug induced contractions that feel about as natural as eating pennies for nourishment.  Aaand I get an epidural - because Pitocin is evil.  3 hours after some glorious drugged sleep plus 1 more hour then I feel pressure, down there.  And I just can't help but push.  And when the serious pushing comes, it only lasts for about 10 minutes and there's the baby!  Oh and who was it that delivered my baby?  I can't remember his name because it WASN'T my doctor - he had to go home after being at the hospital all night.  When it comes down to it, the only thing that was actually successfully followed on my birth preferences list was the "please do not cut the cord immediately, once it begins to kink then it can be cut" part.  Other than that, I did not receive an episiotomy (like my birth preferences requested) but I DID tear in 4 places.  If I actually had my doctor deliver my baby like he said he was going to, then he would have given me an episiotomy, like he said he would if I was going to tear in several places.  

*ugh*

My suggestion for a happy, comfortable, ENJOYABLE birthing experience?  Have your baby AT HOME using the Hypnobirthing method with a midwife who will not touch you.  Hospitals are whack - and I didn't get anything I wanted all because my doctor stripped my membranes.  

I guess I should clarify that my experience was not the worst thing ever, I did come out of there with a 7 lb 7 oz baby who was healthy.  But next time, I plan on having a birthing experience that is natural and normal and what a birthing experience should actually be like. 

My two sleeping babes.

They're just so darn cute!

His heritage.

Yesterday was a fabulous Sunday filled with Church, meetings, "Pirates of the Caribbean" Munchkin (a combination of Munchkin Booty and Zombies), and Dominican foods!  It was my first shot at a traditional Dominican meal that Joseph's mom makes and it turned out fantastic!!  The beans were a tiny bit sweet - but I didn't have the right kind of tomato sauce.  Oh and it took me FOREVER to figure out how to make rice right. That's one of the more frustrating things.  Ever.  Seriously.  Whatever you do, do NOT follow the cooking directions on the rice package - they're wrong, and your rice will turn into a slimey globule.  P.S. if you're not into mixing all of the food on your plate then this is not the meal for you (or you need to get over your weird anxieties about your food touching).

It's pretty easy to make, just make some NOT sticky rice, drained pinto beans with a tomato sauce and onions (and probably about 1/2 a can of water, and any kind of delicious seasoned roast - thinly sliced.  BEST MEAL EVER.  

The best part is that we have some serious left-overs.  

My love.

Oh how I can't wait until my Joseph gets home from work!  I think my favorite thing is to hang out with him.  He's my favorite person ever!  I can't believe that he's the one I get to spend eternity with and make babies FOREVER with!!  I love eternal families and I love the temple where everything starts!  Some friends of ours are getting married in the Timpanogos Temple this month and I am so happy for them.  I recall the moment Joseph and I walked together through the temple to be married while Saoirse was watching us from heaven and it makes my heart feel so full.  I was so excited to begin my eternity with Joseph and everyday seems to be the best day of our eternity together.  I love going to sleep and waking up next to my best friend in the whole world.  Dang I can't get enough of it!  Anyway, for our friends, I can't wait until they can experience the happiness that I've had having the most perfect eternal companion.

Who would have thought that reality would be happier than my dreams?  I certainly didn't.

Our Midwestern adventures.

We just returned on Sunday from our trip to the good old midwest.  We drove to Iowa first in our friends' car.  They're moving to South Dakota soon and that's where Joseph's parents live so it worked out perfectly for us to drive it out there for them!  However this trip was different not because the change of vehicle but this time we had Saoirse with us!  Fortunately at 8 weeks she was more than willing to sleep almost all of the 18 hours it took to get there.  And she was so happy upon arrival!!

We ended up spending a ton of time over at my brother's house so I got to see my darling little niece Scarlet a lot which was nice because I used to spend everyday with her for the first 3 years of her life!  She's 4 1/2 now and still remembers me, which I greatly appreciate.  

Oh I really do miss that kid!

On a side note, my brother Jherek introduced us to this game called Munchkin while we were out there.

(this is the version we bought before we left Iowa)

  

IT. IS. SO. FUN.  It's essentially a short card game version of a role playing game like Dungeons and Dragons.  WAIT, before you stop reading this, it is really fun, for real.  Once you get the hang of it, all you do is just mess with everyone and try to make them lose.  It's the best game for anyone who is even slightly competitive.  Once we got to South Dakota we played it with Joseph's little brothers who ended up buying it before we left.  It's like the plague, minus the actual death part.

Haha, I love this movie.

Anyway, Vincent is huge.  He's only 1 1/2 but he looks like a 12-year-old.  Practically.  He also looks more and more like his mom.

My mom couldn't get enough of little Saoirse.  She got to hold her and change many of her soiled diapers.  Yay for moms!!

My dad and step mom were able to spend lots of time with their granddaughter as well!  I'm so glad we were able to see and spend so much time with them.  Hopefully when we're done with school out here and move back to the midwest we'll be able to see everyone much more often.

"Dang, they are so much like the same person.  You ask them if they want ice cream cone, they both say yes.  Wow. How in the heck?"

Anyway, after a week in Iowa we hauled our cheeks on up to South Dakota.  It was so GREEN there.  The grass was practically florescent and the trees neon.  It was great.  It made me slightly depressed to come back to Utah where there are a few trees but mostly anything that has life out here growing in the ground is a weed.  An ugly weed.  BUT while we were enjoying the wonderful humid weather of South Dakota we went with the fam to the zoo!  I hadn't been to a zoo in a long time but it was fun!  Even if I was a little sad for the lethargic African animals stuck in a South Dakotan cage.  But I did get some sweet rays. (from the sun, not sting rays, those are gross).

Rhino.  There was a sign saying that despite the massiveness of the fence (and the 10 feet between that and another smaller fence) that the rhino can "spray pee on you" if it looks like it's backing up to you.  Gross.  Oh yeah, this guy smelled horrible.  Not that good lookin' man, but the large prehistoric looking animal to his left.

Look at those freaky little monkeys.  They look like they would try to eat my brains.  *shiver* ehhh.

HOWEVER this little bambino was ADORABLE.  Just like a real baby except he was eating grass and I'm sure his mother would have tried to kill me by removing my flesh if I tried to love that baby.

At one point after finding a secluded place to feed my baby (which was beautiful by the way, a random hut at the dead end of this trail looking over a huge forresty field with tons of momma and baby geese) we come back to find Mark (one of Joseph's little brothers) riding a metal cow.  The weird thing is that I guess you used to be able to actually milk this thing.  But I did laugh seeing him ride that.

What are the boys looking at?

Oh just some alligators.  And despite there being a fence between us, they made me very uncomfortable. They were just pretending to be asleep, I'm sure of it.  

Well the zoo was fun.  We got a good walk in.  Saoirse had her first experience smelling a Rhino and some monkeys.  And I saw a bear stare directly into my soul.  A pretty good day!  And upon leaving South Dakota we were able to get a picture with Joseph's grandma and his great grandma.  Once we photoshop his dad in there it'll be a 5 generation picture!!

Let's be serious for 2 seconds.  We had Saoirse's baby blessing in South Dakota and guess who didn't get any pictures?  Me.  I'm super sad about that.  So hopefully Joseph's grandma will send some to us so I can remember just exactly how cute my baby is in a bonnet!!  Speaking of not getting pictures, I NEVER get pictures of Joseph's family!  What the heck is with that?!  Well maybe next time.

Our miracle!!!

Here are just a few pictures of our little Saoirse (that's said "seer-shah," it's Gaelic and means "freedom") Lorelai from after she was born.  JUST ONE DAY OLD!  She's so little and cute I can hardly stand it.  And she used to LOVE sleeping on our chests whenever she possibly could.  Now she just likes being swaddled and staring at any light.  I guess that's not too terribly different than what she was like just a few weeks ago when she was born.  She's nearly 7 weeks old now.  I can't believe she's almost 2 months!  Sooo crazy.

I think this is one of my favorites.

She's a few days old in this one with my wonderful mother who came and spent a week with us, and Saoirse's face is hilarious.

We'll be leaving for Iowa City and Sioux Falls in a little under a week, and I'm SO excited!  I am excited for the family to enjoy little Saoirse and to be able to see them and hang out and laugh.. ah, I miss my family.  We will be getting Saoirse blessed while we're in Sioux Falls which I'm also excited about (a blessing is different than a baptism, we don't get baptized until we're at least 8 years old).  PLUS, she has a SUPER cute blessing dress with a bonnet.  I'll get some pictures up when the big day comes.  :)

My life has been a busy one.

It has been MONTHS since I've posted anything and it's been just over a month since my little baby Saoirse Lorelai has been born!  I still can't believe she's here and she's MINE.  And no matter how much poop there is on her or how much cheese she makes in her neck crevices she's still the cutest thing I've ever seen.  She gets a little less cute when she's crying for seemingly no reason in the middle of the night, but I still love seeing that toothless smile she gives occasionally and those chunky cheeks.  I think it's fair to say that you really can't fully understand love until you love a child.  They do nothing to deserve your love - they puke, poop, cry and occasionally sleep.  Being a parent to a puking, pooping and crying baby helps me to better understand the love Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father have for us.  It helps me better understand Christ's grace.  We do nothing to deserve His grace, but He gives us his love despite our imperfections.  I know that I would do anything for Saoirse but I know the best thing I can do for her is to be the best mother and wife I can be and to teach her the gospel of Jesus Christ so that she can know just how special she is and how lucky she is to be born into a family who has been sealed for time and all eternity in the Temple.

I love my little family.  I'm so blessed to be able to stay home and raise Saoirse (and any other children that come along).  I'm blessed to have such a wonderful and supportive husband who loves our family.

Coming up in three days is mine and Joseph's one year anniversary!  I'm so happy to be able to celebrate that with him.  I simply cannot believe how blessed I have been in the past two years since my baptism (which was two years ago on Monday), it has strengthened my testimony that if we follow the Lord's commandments then we will be truly blessed.  I know that I have been.

I love life!  I've never been happier, or more tired.  :)

Our December finale, sort of.

We FINALLY cleaned out what is to be the baby's room.  It's been "in the process" since we moved in.  It used to be filled with boxes with one little path that sort of led to the middle back of the room, then it was filled with Joseph's junk he got from Apple (thank you Apple for sending us so much paper), and now it is finally ready for a crib!!!  Just as soon as we get the crib of course all will be perfect.

Clearly the room is enormous.

As you can see, Joseph is working at the computer (at my sweet desk I got for $20 - WIN).  The crib will go where the TV and backpack are.  We will soon be getting rid of that TV because we got a new one and it's glorious - I love Best Buy.  Anyway, I LOVE nesting.  It feels so good to clean and get everything ready for little baby to enter into the world!  

I have been incredibly blessed by Heavenly Father with such a wonderful, helpful and thoughtful husband and to have this little baby on the way.  I can't even begin to describe my gratefulness to Him for such a blessed life.

I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT PROVO HAS FINALLY SEEN THE BEAUTIFUL FACE OF FATHER WINTER.  Yes, it's happened.  It snowed.  And I was here.  (I'll have you take note that the last and first time it snowed, I was out of the state and it all melted before I got back).  All it took was one wonderfully fantastic night for there to be tons of snow.  I love snow.  It's so happy.  I'm so happy.  And I love wearing snow boots.  

Yay!

Our Sunday.

Ahh, yes.  Sundays are quite wonderful - especially in December.  We get to sing all the Christmas hymns at church ALL WE WANT and when we get home Joseph and I make our Sunday dinner.  Which is really more like linner - since we eat around 2.  These last couple of Sundays Joseph and I made the same thing that I have named "Slow-Cooked Steaks".  The originality of my title is unparalleled.  Because we literally slow-cook some steaks, but only after leaving some potatoes in the crock pot for 3 hours (while we're at church) to cook in some water.  When we get home we stick the steaks in for about 30 minutes (an hour if frozen) after smothering them in olive oil and massaging (yes) in salt and some delicious steak seasoning.  After that we grill them for about 5 minutes and make some gravy out of the watery goodness stewing in the crock pot.  AND VOILA!  A delicious meal of meat and potatoes completely smothered in the most delectable gravy.  Unfortunately I don't have any photographic evidence of such a meal because it gets eaten too quickly by my ravenous husband and myself BUT I do have a picture of Joseph cooking the steaks in a pan....

...... isn't he cute?!  

By the bye, that's the apron he got me for my birthday.  IT'S AMAZING.