Quick SURPRISE Trip to Washington!

My sister, Danielle, decided to try out for Junior Miss this year. I was so excited for her! There was no way I was going to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to see her in her pageant, that was until I found out I'd be almost 35wks pregnant when the pageant took place. I decided it was still very important to go and support her so I took this dilemma up with my doctor who pretty much told me that it wasn't a good idea, but that we'd wait and see how I was doing when the time got closer. At my 34 wk appointment my doctor checked my dilation (1/2cm), my swelling (very minimal), and finally gave me the okay to go! YAY! The thing was, due to me not knowing if I'd be able to go or not, and just for fun, we decided not to tell Danielle that there was even a possibility of going to her pageant. The result was amazing, but I will get to that in a minute.

We left for Washington on Sunday, March 6th. The agreement I made with my doctor was that we would stop every hour to use the restroom and/or walk around (this is to prevent blood clots in my legs. A major concern after 34wks gestation and the main reason why they suggest no long trips after one is that far along in her pregnancy). We stayed the night in Boise while we visited Great Grandma and Grandpa Winston. We met them at Chuck-A-Rama in Boise and ate and visited with Aunt Linda too. We then made our way to their house and after rearranging a couple of bedrooms to accommodate the air mattress we brought, called it a night. We then ate breakfast with them that morning and continued on our way to Spokane, but not before snapping a couple of photos:

Ella and Great Grandpa Winston

 All of us minus Daddy

The whole group

We arrived in Spokane at about 8pm. We ate dinner (super oatmeal) and spent time with Grammy, Grandpa, and Auntie Caity. Tuesday Grammy was supposed to come home early from work and we were going to go shopping for Daddy some new pants and visit the Temple, however, right before Grammy got off work she threw her back out. Sigh. We spent our time watching T.V. and hanging out instead which was just as nice. That morning I went to lunch with my friend, Katie. It was so good to see her! Tuesday night Uncle Nathan and Aunt Andrea and Cousin Jack came over to spend the night. Ella was already in bed when they arrived so when she woke in the morning it was a great surprise for her to get to meet her new cousin! These photos were actually taken Wednesday night.

Wednesday evening we got the opportunity to go to the musical, Fiddler on the Roof, of which Aunt Caity was performing in the orchestra. It was a great musical! I loved it! I had never seen the musical before and I felt that the high school actors/actresses did such a wonderful job. Ella loved it too and was very good throughout it despite it being 3 hrs long.

Thursday we got up and said goodbye to the Winston family and headed to see my friends at Learning Is Fun. It was nice to see my old manager and for them to see how much Ella has grown! She was only 3 months old when we left for Utah. They, of course, have seen her since, but it was fun to reminisce.

After that we headed to Moses Lake to visit Grandma Pam and to see Aunt Tressa and meet Cousin Hollie for the first time! It was so nice to see all of them, and before leaving for Royal City we got to enjoy a yummy dinner of Lasagna, Garlic bread, Caesar salad, and corn. We then met Grandma Smith in Othello before heading to the grade school to surprise Aunt Danielle!

Like I said, the outcome was AMAZING! We were shewed back and forth trying to avoid her seeing us until finally she was on stage to practice her talent and we snuck in and sat in the front row. The lights were so bright that even after Danielle kept turning around and talking to some people in the audience, she didn't spot us. Finally, we sent Ella up to the stage to stand next to Danielle. Danielle looked down and said "who is this?" as she looked again she realized it was Ella. She immediately dropped to her knees crying as she said "oh my gosh!". It was glorious! I went up to the stage and gave her a tear filled hug as well. When Danielle came off the stage she noticed Tressa as well and started to cry again. My mom did well. Danielle was so surprised and despite some swelling in Washington and discomfort in the car, I'd do it all over again just to see that reaction once more.

After surprising Danielle, we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house to surprise Grandpa. His reaction wasn't anything like Danielle's but it was still nice to see his smiling face. That night we just hung out and the next morning, Friday, we went to the store to pick out some 'Good Luck' treats for Danielle. On Saturday I worked with Danielle on her interview questions and preparing her for interview. I was also able to help her get ready for it which was so nice. I felt so privileged that she would ask for my help. I loved it! That evening we got to go to the Junior Miss Pageant. I felt that Danielle did really really well and it was so nice to see her confidence shine through! She looked gorgeous and it actually brought tears to my eyes. We are so proud of her! She was awarded the "Be Your Best Self" award and a $500 scholarship! Great job sis! Here is a picture of her in her dress:

She just looks so happy! The picture does not do her dress justice. It was gorgeous!

We went to dinner Sunday after church at a Mexican restaurant in Royal City to celebrate Danielle's accomplishment. It was yummy! Here is a picture of Grandma Smith and her two Granddaughters:

Hollie looks so much like her daddy!

On Monday, Jared got his hair cut, and then we headed back to Boise. We had such a good time in Washington visiting family! On our way to Boise we got some hamburgers for lunch. Ella went to town with hers:

Yum!

We enjoyed another breakfast with Great Grandma and Grandpa Winston and then headed home. We arrived back home to Utah on Tuesday the 15th. It was so good to be home! Our house smelled so new and was so clean as I had made sure to clean it extra well right before we left. We are so glad that we made this quick trip. It made time go faster as far as waiting for baby. Any day now!

Prenatal Appointment: 36wks 5 days

I had my 37 wk prenatal appointment on March 24th. I found out that I gained 6lbs in nearly 3 wks (yikes), but the more I thought about it, the less I think it is very significant. I usually have my appointments in the mornings, this one was in the afternoon, I had some swelling this time, and I had just eaten. I think my weight gain was fine :) Baby's heartbeat was good and strong. For some reason I forgot to ask the exact measurement this time. Darn. Doc swabbed me for GBS (Group B Strep) and I actually got my results on Sunday (they state: no beta-hemolytic streptococcus isolated) which I assume that because it has the word 'no' in it, that it is negative. I will find out for sure on Thursday. Baby's head is still very low and in the down position. Doc showed Jared how to tell if the baby is still head down! I also found out that I am dilated 2cm at less than 37wks (at that time).

I probably should add the story of the night we got home from Washington, here. While in Washington I had been having surges every night. Nothing big, but enough to make me want to hurry home just in case. When we got home I was relieved. That night I was still awake at 12:30 AM for who knows why and I started to have surges every 2.5-3.5 minutes. I woke Jared and we stayed up together until about 3 or 3:30 AM. I was still having surges that close together. They hurt into my back which made me believe that they were not braxton hicks. I then was able to finally go to sleep and they stopped. That hasn't happened since. All I could think during that time was "I am not ready!". I had so much to do! Let's just say everything got finished within a couple of days after that and I once again could feel relieved.

Doc thinks that I was in labor that night and that I was able to stop my labor. She said that is where I most likely went from 1/2 cm dilated to 2 cm dilated. She said if that happens again I need to come in. Now I don't necessarily agree with her on that sense because even at 35.5 wks they wouldn't have stopped my labor, so now that I am nearly 38 wks I will just stay home until I feel like I need to go in.

I was also able to share my birth plan with my doctor. She was completely fine with everything that was on it. It was nice to learn that they do not administer pitocen to facilitate the detachment of the placenta but rather to prevent hemorrhaging after the placenta has been delivered. At that point, no part of the baby will still be inside of me, so I have no problem with being given pitocen to prevent something from happening. I also was able to request not having my membranes released artificially and it was nice to hear my doctor agree with me. She said that with women doing natural childbirth it is actually preferable to leave the membranes intact as the labor is much more intense when they release.  We did agree, however, that if labor stalls when I am at or past 7cm dilated, that artificial rupture of membranes would be an okay thing to do. She also told us a story of a baby that was born still in his amniotic sac! He actually ruptured the sac as his arm was being delivered. AMAZING! This is very rare though. She also told me of a lady that was having a natural childbirth and whose labor stalled at 7 cm dilated. She was asking for an epidural at this time and my doc and the nurses actually talked her out of it! Finally, she is okay with delayed cord clamping but Utah has lost its funding for donation of the cord blood. Sad.

I am relieved to know that my doctor is completely on board with all of my requests. It makes me so excited for the big day which can actually be ANY moment! Yay! Here is a current belly picture:

36 wks 5 days

And here is what our car looks like now:

As you can see, we are ready! I just want to clean the house one more time and we have to attend the Temple for April which we are doing on Friday. Come on out Baby Mango! We can't wait to meet you!

Prenatal Appointment: 33wks 5 days and Preparing for Baby

I had my 34 wk prenatal appointment on Thursday, March 3rd. It was a pretty good one! I am measuring right on, have only gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks, and baby's heartbeat is about 137bpms. The doc checked to see if I was dilated any (I was dilated 1 fingertip which is completely normal for someone that has previously had a baby), and also did an ultrasound to make sure baby is head down! This was the fun part! She felt my belly and said "Whoa, that baby's head is low! I bet you can feel that!" (the only thing I can tell from the head being so low is I am sore down there sometimes, and it is very difficult to cross my legs :) ). She then did the ultrasound and confirmed that the baby is head down. We got to see his/her little eye, and lots and lots of movement. This is why the heart-rate was an approximate. We also got to see the baby practice breathe! Amazing! My doctor also showed us the baby's heart and the aorta. I can't believe how big the baby has gotten! In just 6 short weeks he/she will be here! I am so excited! Here is a pic of my belly:

33wks 6 days

Oh and Jared now thinks my doc is the coolest ever because next week she is going on vacation to Costa Rica to surf! Lol!

I've also been preparing for baby a little bit differently than I did with Ella. I've been learning how to use my sewing machine! I'm pretty good at it now! I decided I wanted to make gender neutral burp rags (you can never have enough of those), so I made 8 of them!

I also decided that I wanted one of those car-seat canopies that are so popular here in Utah, especially since this time I have a car-seat that you can take out of the car and carry. So Jared helped me a lot, but we made one!

 front

 side

 top

 back

inside

It is actually a really simple project that we made a ton harder than needed as we decided we wanted to piece the fabric. I love the outcome though!

Jared also found a diaper bag he really likes, so we bought it!

It opens wide with metal around the outside, like a doctor's bag! (I must add that I've had the hospital bag mostly ready for about 2 months now).

Finally, here is a picture of the crib all dolled up (We did this February, 10th, only about 6 months before baby will use it :) )

And my sweet Ella to finish the post

Family Home Evening: Murray Indoor Water-park

We decided to go to the Murray Indoor Water-park for family home evening on a Tuesday, February 22. This place is great! It has a lazy river, a swimming pool, a waterslide that you can take your kiddos down with you, and a play area for the kids with a mini slide and lots of waterfalls!

Ella absolutely loved this froggy lifejacket that Grandma Smith gave her. She was so confident in it!

The lazy river

The big waterslide

Ella just floating along the lazy river

After the water-park, we at lunch/dinner at Applebee's. It was very yummy and actually our second time in less than a week. Thank goodness for a gift card!

We had so much fun as a family this day! It was well worth it and I got to try out my maternity bathing suit!

February 2011

Here are some random pictures and videos from February.

 Ella LOVES jumping on our bed!

For Valentine's Day I made heart shaped french toast for breakfast and heart shaped pizza for dinner. These are pictures that I sent as texts because we didn't end up seeing Daddy on this day as he worked 2 call shifts and his regular shift. That's from about 1 am V-day morning to about 3 am the day after V-day :(

Ella was playing with the camera and had Daddy take a picture, silly girl!

We played at the park and had a picnic in February! However, we didn't wear coats and got cold quickly. It was a nice day, just much warmer on our porch :)