Happy, Happy Birthday Mother Dear!

Today is my mom's birthday! We celebrated last night with a BBQ and swimming and with a yummy chocolate cake made by Jamie.

I love my mom to death and I am so grateful for our relationship, and the relationship she has with my children. I really feel lucky to live so close to my mom. It is comforting to know she is basically down the street! I am also appreciative of the support she gives to me with all of life's lessons! I couldn't ask for a better example of selflessness and unconditional love then my mom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I LOVE YOU :)

Then & Now

I thought it would be funny to post these two pictures of Mike and I. The first was back in March of 2003 when Jamie came to Utah and took our engagement pictures. The next one is just from last night. Jamie was trying to get some recent pictures of Mike and I for my mom's birthday present.

It sure is amazing to see what four years and two kids can do to you! I definitely don't look 20 anymore!

Explosion at Ross

Today Mike, Lyric, Paxton, and I went to lunch and the mall for a fun little Saturday afternoon. Mike headed off with Lyric to the video game stores, and I headed off with Paxton to the clothing stores! My last stop was my favorite store in the world-ROSS! Paxton had been sleeping the whole time, but started grunting and moving around. I just thought he would, at the most, start crying for a bottle. I saw his nostrils start flaring, which only means one thing- a big poop is on the way. I heard it, but didn't think a ton of it.

Mike and Lyric came and found me, then I decided I better change Paxton. He is still so tiny that changing him in the stroller is doable. I picked him up and to my horror saw bright yellow poop EVERYWHERE! All over him, the car seat, and it had even seeped down into the stroller! So, in the middle of Ross, with 3/4 of the store staring at me like an abusive mother, I stripped his clothes off and cleaned up the mess. Paxton's cry definitely does not sound muffled by any means, so I know people were wondering what was going on! I wrapped him in his blanket and used it as an excuse to have to buy him an outfit!

Of course, I had to explain the whole story to everyone that looked at me. Mike was like, "Why in the world to you have to explain the whole story to everyone?" Well, I didn't want people thinking I was some negligent mother that took her 3 week old baby out in nothing but a diaper, despite it being 100+ degrees! I get it from my mom, I notice myself telling full stories to strangers in the store! So, needless to say, our trip was cut a little short and we headed home!

Birthday Keepsakes

A few days ago, I received Paxton's Birthday Keepsake in the mail. I also got one when Lyric was born. I really enjoy having them. They are only $12 and give lots of information about the day your baby was born. Their website is www.bkeepsakes.com/ .

Today was one of those days where I didn't make it past my front door! Paxton has not want me to put him down without crying hysterically. I am hoping this is just a one day issue and not a new faze!

First Sunday

Today we took Paxton to church for the first time. I was going to take another week off, but today was Kristy's last Sunday before leaving for Utah, so I decided to go. I thought I got up with plenty of time to spare, but we were still late! Oh well, I am pretty proud that I actually even made it! Of course he had to do what every baby does and have a huge, loud blowout during sacrament meeting! I tried to get some pictures, but Lyric can get into certain modes where she does not want to take a picture! These are the best I could get.

I had to take the one of Mike and Lyric today. Mike is always trying to find shows that he and Lyric can both get into. His latest is called "Avatar." I find it terribly boring, but they both seem to like it. Good bonding time for them! Pretty soon Paxton will join them!

18 Months Pregnant

If it were humanly possible, this is what it would be like to be 18 months pregnant! This picture is hilarious. While Jamie and I were in Utah last month, Tiffany's mom took some pictures of me, Lyric, Jamie, and her girls. She did a few belly shots of me, I was 36 weeks at the time. The angle obviously exaggerates my size, although it does a good job of showing how big I FELT!

Real Life Now

Today Mike went back to work. He has taken the past two weeks off to help and spend time with Paxton. Although I have been through a lot of adjusting these past two weeks, I knew the true test would come when he went back to work! No more having him go on the couch at 6:30 in the morning to be with Lyric while I sleep, no more having him hold Paxton while I shower or run a few errands during the day! As nice as it was to have him take the time off, I have felt ready to get into "my new routine." I am ready to see what my days are like on my own. I am even starting to feel like I can venture out into the real world soon with two kids! At this point I have made it to my mom's and Jamie's, but hey, that is something!
Paxton is two weeks old today! With each day, I see how I have adjusted just that much more. I try to keep telling myself to just enjoy this tiny little human because one day I will be recalling newborn stories to him as an adult! I love just looking at him during his little bouts of awake time. I always wonder what his little brain is doing. Tonight Lyric was laying on the floor talking to him and playing with him. It was too cute. Every time I tell her to sing him a song, she sings "I am a Child of God." I love it!

Poor Guy!

Right before the first explosion!
With daddy after the procedure

Poor guy!

So today Paxton had a doctor's appointment to get circumcised. I have not been looking forward to this because throughout my pregnancy I though it was going to be done in the hospital before we came home! I found out while we were there that they are done at the pediatricians office, and to top it off my pediatrician does not even do them! So, Friday he had the check-up with his pediatrician, and today he had the circumcision with another doctor in the office.


When we got there, the nurse told me to take off his clothes and his diaper to be weighed. I did this and then picked him up. As soon as I did, he let out an enormous amount of poop onto the floor! I started laughing hysterically while Mike was freaking out! I handed him to Mike so I could clean myself and the floor. Again, he let out another load! I was in tears laughing wondering how he had that much in him! He must have known what was going to happen! By the way, he ended up weighing 10lb 6oz.


So, the nurse came in and took Paxton and Mike to another room with the doctor. I waited in the waiting room because I did NOT want to be in the room while the procedure took place. Mike just had to describe all of the details to me and I about died! I feel so horrible for the poor guy! As if being born wasn't traumatic enough! I am so glad that is done.


On a side note, Lyric absolutely loves her brother! She is so gentle and sweet with him. Every night she has to give him a goodnight kiss. She loves to talk and sing to him. She is always so concerned with his emotions and how he is feeling. She is also a good little helper!

Rewinding a Bit

Here are some pictures I've been wanting to post but my memory card was acting up. Jamie was able to get them off for me. The morning Mike and I went to the hospital all I had to eat was a Slim-Fast! By the mid-afternoon I was absolutely starving and knew I was not going to make it throughout the day without food. I had an extremely nice nurse that let me sneak some food for lunch!

Mike also wanted a picture of the TV in our room because it was so antiquated! It is so weird to look at the picture of me and think that I was just there 10 days ago. When I look at Paxton, I wonder how in the world he really fit inside of me!

Spit Bath

I absolutely love how fresh babies are when they are first born. I wish they never had to be bathed and could keep that newborn smell forever! I definitely got this from my mom. Well today I decided to give Paxton his first spit bath. He did quite well and actually enjoyed his little bum in the warm water. Another thing I got from my mom is loving a naked little butt! Nothing is cuter on a baby.

Clock Watcher

Since becoming a mom, I have noticed that my life revolves around the clock. This is especially true with a newborn! When is the last time he ate, pooped, peed, etc. In the middle of the night the clock can feel like my enemy, "Are you kidding me, it has only been one hour and you need to eat again?!?" One feeding runs into the next and times starts mushing together. There is nothing quite like those delirious nights of nodding off while trying to nurse and at the same time trying to not suffocate my baby with the same part of my body that is trying to feed him!

Paxton is quite the eater. He must be determined to not loose an ounce of his birth weight! He is a champ nurser, so I can't complain about that.

Anyways, you can tell what my life has revolved around lately! Tonight Mike, Lyric, Tucker, Jordyn and Lexi went to see Ratatoullie. It was Lyrics first time at the movie theater. Mike said she did ok, besides trying to keep her shoes on so she wouldn't get permanently stuck to the filthy floor and then having to go to the front of the theater to catch a rolling sippy cup. Afterwards they went to McDonald's for dinner and played at the play land. I am so glad that Mike is able to spend this time with her! He's getting a chance to do the daily things that I normally do while he is at work. He also got to take her to dance class today.

We're Home!

Mike and Lyric came and picked up me and Paxton at the hospital
This is Lyric's first time holding Paxton
Mike likes to start the video game training young!

Well, we've actually been home since Saturday, I'm just a little late getting to this post! I am so thankful Jamie posted on her blog for me! I have been thrown into "two children life" with no looking back! So far, well, it's pretty good. Definitely more to it than I could have imagined. It is amazing, and unfair I might add, the tricks your mind can play on you! I know for a fact that the last few weeks of my life I just wanted him out more than anything, and lately a little part of me thinks it HAD to have been easier with him inside! Who knows, hormones can sure play tricks on you too!!!


I have to say that Thursday went very smoothly. The day lasted a little longer than I was planning, but then again you can't really plan how labor will go! We got there at 7:00 am and he was born at 10:07 pm. Somehow it did not feel like 15 hours! Granted, I was not in labor that whole time! My doctor tried taking a little more natural of an approach rather than starting everything at once. I would say that the real intense stuff started at about 4:00ish. Once again, epidurals are amazing things! I was so glad that Mike, my mom, my dad, and Jamie were all able to be in the room while he was born. There is nothing like that first moment when the baby is placed on your stomach. Time stands still for those few seconds.


I want to remember that day so clearly, but with each day I forget a little bit. I just love the whole process and must say that it was perfect ending to my pregnancy and the most perfect beginning to Paxton's life. I have been very fortunate to have two extremely smooth births, in fact, I think I would have to say that they have been my favorite thing about the whole pregnancy.


Now, if only Paxton would be an extremely unusual baby and get his days and his nights right! HAHA :)

I Think I'm Ready?!?!?!

Today has been so so busy with all of the last minute "to do's." I think that I am as ready as I can be for tomorrow. We started of the morning with breakfast at Denny's. I have not been there in years, but it sounded good for some reason! I spent the rest of the day just going over my list- car seat in car, laundry, bags packed, getting Lyric situated, and so on. My goal is to be in bed at ten, although I know I will be tossing and turning for a while! I am going to try to have Jamie post for me tomorrow, if all goes smoothly and as planned :)

We celebrated the Fourth of July a little early yesterday with some friends in the ward. I am so glad we were able to do that, because I just could not fit fireworks into my schedule today! Lyric had so much fun with the sparklers and the poppers.

The Last......

Today I went to church for the last time being pregnant and uncomfortable. The next time I go I will have Paxton and probably be just flat tired. This evening I also had my last family dinner being pregnant. I know, I make it sound like I am dying on Thursday or something! Like I said in a previous post, I just have so many crazy emotions running 100 miles a minute in my head right now. Once he is here, I know life will just go on and I won't even have time to stop and look back.

I just think this is one of those times in life that it almost seems like the whole world should stop for. It is hard to fathom everyone just living their normal day to day life while you're at the hospital giving life to a new human being!

I wanted to take this picture with my mom and Jamie tonight because on Jamie's "last Sunday" we took a similar one, except obviously she was the pregnant one!

Happy Birthday!!!

Today is Kristy's 18th birthday! As I sit here and type, she is having an awesome weekend at the coast with my dad and Ryan. In my mind I have Kristy stuck at like the age of 9! It is so weird to think that she is now officially an adult! It will be so weird when she leaves in August, but I am so happy for her and the decisions she has made. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTY :)