Happy 1 year!

Tyler and I celebrated our first anniversary last Sunday. I cant believe it's already been a year. Or, I can't believe its ONLY been one year with how much has changed in our lives. It's crazy that we already have Hallie..there are times when I find myself wishing we had enjoyed married life together longer, but I would never change having her here with us. I know she was sent to us for a reason, and although sometimes Im not sure why or how, I know she will bring us many blessings having her this early. At least Tyler and I have now been together three years, so we have had our time to be just us, and to learn about eachother..because there is no time for that now! Please dont get me wrong though, I do NOT regret having Hallie, I love her more than life itself!

We celebrated our anniversary on Saturday. We slept in, played with Hallie, and got the house cleaned! Then my mom came over and watched Hallie so we could go out. We first went to Cantina Laredo at the San Tan Mall. We split a steak and chicken fajita platter. It was very filling, but I was saving room for dessert. MEXICAN BROWNIE! If you have not tried this, you need to! A huge chcolate brownie with pecans and walnuts comes out on one of the fajita platters so its nice and hot. Then they scoop vanilla ice cream on top and then pour a vanilla creme sauce over it so it sizzles and carmalizes the brownie. Sooo good.

After dinner we went to the pet store to of course look at all the cute boxers that we wish we could have, but definitely could not handle. Then we went into Helzberg, just to see if they had my ring. The San Tan store was the place I first saw my ring two years ago, and I have never seen it since. I love that Ive never seen anything close to it, because that means its unique! After we were bamboozled to buy everything we saw, we headed over to the Disney Store just for fun. We were actually just killing time.

I have been asking, no begging, Tyler to go ice skating for a few years, and Ive always been told no. He broke his wrist once roller blading, and has been scared to try ice skating ever since. I have never been ice skating as a couple, and Ive always wanted to because I think ice skating holding hands is just so cute. I finally talked him into it, and then we found out we get in free being military! Score! Tyler was a little nervous, but as soon as he got onto the ice, I realized that my vision of us skating off into the distance wasn't much of a reality. I have gone ice skating about five times, and I still have to hold on to the wall for the first few rounds. Not Tyler I guess. He got on the ice and skated off! He was a pro at it! But we had so much fun, and Im glad he liked it.After ice skating, we went to Blockbuster and got some movies. Then we came home, and we snuggled with this little one

Speaking of little one, she is two months old this week! We went to the doctors, and she's now 10 lb 10 oz. 24 inches long! Her jaundice is gone, and she's looking good. For her stomach issues, the dr. suggested that we give her apple juice. I was so excited that she gets juice! I was telling the dr. that hallie is always upset and crying. She was asking if she smiles on command, and just after I told her Ive only seen her smile in her sleep, SHE SMILES at the Dr!!! I was so frustrated! I didnt get the first smile! The person that was soon going to give her shots got the first smile! And I havent seen her smile since...So the dr. thinks her communication skills are slow, but not a worry until she's four months. But she thinks she'll catch up soon. Her gross motor skills are beyond what they should be at her age, since when she's on her tummy she can push her chest up and look around, and grab something when its in front of her. So she's doing good, I just hope that she starts getting happy soon. She did so good getting her shots, and afterwards she slept the whole day snuggled up next to me. I want to give her shots more often, because she was such a peaceful happy baby...which I never would of thought.

Sigh...

Well, Hallie is now 8 weeks this week. I love her sooo much, but I wish so badly that she was more of a happy baby. The only time she's happy is when she's dreaming, and Im starting to get discouraged without any sign of happiness from her. Now that she's almost 2 months, she's supposed to be alert more and sleep less throughout the day. Ya..Im seeing that..but instead of a happy alert baby when she's awake..we get nothing but screams. She has this ear peircing scream that makes it sound like she's in pain. She does it when she's put down, when she drops her pacifier, when she's wet...it just goes on all day long. Its getting so overwhelming to have this unhappy baby just screaming at me all day long. I feel so bad for her..because I dont want her to be unhappy, but I have absolutely NO idea what she wants. She even cries when she's held. I was not very good at following the no dairy rule, just because I had such a strong feeling that it wasnt the dairy that was causing her problems..but now Im rethinking that. Or she might just be a crying baby. Tyler had cholic until he was 6 months, and Ive heard the chances of a baby getting it if one of the parents had it is pretty high, so Im not sure. Her 2 month appointment is next week (like shots will help to this crying madness) so we'll talk to the doctor then and see what we can do. I would give anything to have a happy Hallie. I want to see my baby smile!

Other than that (which pretty much consumes our lives), things are going good. Tyler is really liking his new job at the apartment complex, and is so glad to be done at UPS. And we'll be enjoying the higher paychecks once they start coming in regularly. Our 1 year anniversary is this next week, and weve been racking our brains figuring out what to do and gifts to give and all of that. All we know is Hallie is going to my moms for a much needed break!

One Month!!

HAPPY ONE MONTH HALLIE BUG!! We finally made it thru the first month. Im not sure if I should say its gone by fast or slow. It feels like forever that shes been home with us, yet I feel like we were just in the hospital! We are so in love with this little girl, and it overwhelms me how much people adore her. Its been eventful getting used to having a baby in the household. But right now shes doing good, sleeping 4-5 hours at a time during the night. We do have a hard time with her tummy problems, she gets really bad gas. So at her one month doctors appointment I was asked to cut out all dairy to see if its effecting her sensitive tummy. NO DAIRY?! Ugh! The sacrifices of being a mom. She was also sent right away to the lab after her appointment for blood draws to check her jaundice levels cuz the doctor thinks its back and in full force. Were still waiting for results. I still cant believe we made such a beautiful baby tho! I cant wait to get her newborn pictures back! My good friend Jess took some, and did AMAZING! Seriously..if you havent checked her out..http://www.jrousselphoto.com/index2.php#/home/ heres a preview

Shes so perfect! We also got the opportunity to have her photographed for modeling headbands. My moms best friend works for a online boutique and she has SO many headbands that I am so in love with. If you want some cute headbands, check out Banner Boutique on Facebook or Etsy. So Hallie was able to go model for their new website. Here's one:

AHH! So excited to have her decorated all throughout my house!

Also in the last month:

-I turned 22!

-Tyler got invited to test with the Gila River Police Department, he missed the written test by 3% but I am still so proud of him, and I think its great practice for testing with future departments. Hes sending in his application to Mesa this week, so we'll see if he gets a call

-I became ADDICTED to Pinterest

And ya..were just living life right now and I cant think of anything else :)

Before I forget!

The last week has all seemed to blur by now, and so I figured I should write this sooner than later so I don't forget (maybe I'm trying to??)

Sunday, we woke up early and figured we would give our new ward a try. I made it through Sacrament and then wasn't feeling up to sitting for two more hours so we went home. An hour or two later, I thought my water broke. I called my mom and she just said if I would feel better knowing if this was it or not, just to go in. Of course I was so anxious for her to be here that I knew the only way my nerves would be calmed was to go in and check.

We went in and got checked into triage around 1:30 that afternoon. They checked the fluid, and couldnt read any of the results, so they had me walk around for 30 minutes and then they planned on getting more fluid to test. Just before they tried taking more fluid, they said they found the fern pattern on the last slide, and that it was indeed amniotic fluid. We were admitted. And sooo excited knowing that soon we would have our little baby in our arms. Plus, this was the 24th, and my family and I had a pool going on the date she would come and I just so happened to pick the 25th!

So we were moved to labor and delivery and I started walking. My mom came soon and met with us, and then we had a few other visitors. I was hooked up to two different kinds of antiobiotics for my heart and me being GBS+. I was put on the monitor, and they said that I was having steady and strong contractions so they wernt able to give me anything to speed up labor. I was still dilated to a 1 at this time. Around 10 they came in and said nothing was going to happen for a while so they gave me some sleeping meds and I was out for the night. They started me on pitocin at 3 the next morning. When I woke up well rested, they started upping my dosage every few hours. I was up to a 22 ML/MIN drip. But I still wasnt having any pain, so that was good. Hours and hours passed and I still hadnt dilated. The doctor FINALLY came in and I got to meet him (my doctor was of course out of town all this week) and he found that my water still hadnt broken all the way so they did it again. He also started talking about the possibility of a c-section because I just wasnt progressing at any rate. I started having some painful contractions, and I knew because my water was broken now they would continue to get worse..so I gave in and got an epidural around 6 that night. It was heavenly not knowing the difference between my legs and the pillows :)


Around midnight, I was just barely dilated to a 4...I was starting to give up and had started freaking myself out. Tylers grandpa came and gave me a blessing. Within the next two hours I had dilated to an 8..and 15 minutes after that I knew it was time to push. With Tyler and my mom being the best support team I could have asked for..I pushed for 30 minutes. I finally had my baby girl here at 3:32 am on Tuesday, July 26th. I was 3 hours off of my guess, but the other part of the pool was guessing the weight, and I had guessed 8 lb 2 oz and thats what she measured! Cha-Ching! She was also 21 inches long and beautiful. We decided to change Hallie's middle name from Kate to Rene at the last minute. Partly for it being my middle name, and also because our favorite nurse was named Renee, and she had so much to do with getting Hallie here that we will forever be grateful to her.

We were moved to the postpartum room and the visitors just started piling in. It is crazy and a little overwhelming to see how much this little girl is loved by all of our family and friends. We barely got any rest the first day, and unfortunately felt the affects later that night when Hallie refused to sleep if one of us wasnt holding her.

Wednesday Hallie was tested and they found her jaundice levels high. She was eating very well and having lots of dirty diapers, so we figured it would pass soon. She was tested again early this morning and they were still too high. Although I was supposed to be discharged today, they told us Hallie still had to stay overnight. It was sooo hard for me dropping her off at the nursery and knowing other people are taking care of her now. I just am so beyond ready to take her home and have her be ours. But the hospital has been great and Im feeling much better. They are slow tonight so they let us stay in our room for another night even though Im technically not a patient anymore, and they're letting us take her off the lights every 3 hours for 30 minutes to feed her. I cant begin to explain how much I enjoy going over there to feed and hold her. I miss her being next to me all the time, and we constantly have a prayer in our hearts that she will be able to pass this today and be able to come home with us tomorrow morning.

Thank you to all of those who have offered services, or who have sent kind words and thoughts are way or have come to see us. Tyler and I are so grateful for the support from our family and friends, and we know how much our little girl is loved. She is a beautiful and sweet spirit, and I cant wait to see how she will grow and what she will become in this life. I feel so honored and blessed that she was given to us, and I cant wait to have her at home and start our little family!

Last Minute Trip!!

Well, it is finally that time. Tyler is in Colorado for annual training with the army, and things have already been crazy. He left early Saturday morning, and the poor thing had a 22 hour bus ride. But Im so glad he arrived safely and he's enjoying the nice weather. Saturday I pretty much slept all day again. I was supposed to get packing done since we were moving the next morning, but I was having a lazy day and didnt get anything done that I was supposed to. I swear when Tyler leaves he takes my motivation with him. Thats another reason why I know it was a good idea marrying him, he pushes me to not procrastinate and to get things done. I need that! Saturday night I went to the movies with my dad and brothers and then picked up the keys to the new house! It started storming on my way home. Of course the first night with Tyler being gone and its a huge storm including power glitches and no cable! I was already ready to give up and quit. Things get so bad without him..it never fails. Sunday morning I woke up to an EXTREMELY humid day. I took the girls over to the new house, Lacey was in love at first sight and acted like she had lived there all her life. Chloe, stood by my side shaking..she really doesnt like moving and the poor thing is confused now that Tyler left and were in a new house. But theyre getting used to the idea of a backyard and warming up good. I had my family come help me move and we got it done in a few hours. It was so nice being able to rely on their help! I got some things put away and then we went and cleaned out the apartment. My dad invited me to come to Cali with him and the boys for the week. I told him if things worked out I would. So this morning, after my doctors appointment, I dropped the girls off at Grandma and Grandpas (thank you for watching them!), did the final walk thru on our apartment to be DONE, and left boxes and boxes full of crap in the house to join my family on what will be my last vacation without a baby for a while. We left around noon and now were in Ocean Beach, my absolute favorite. My mom is real nervous about me being away and being due so soon, she doesnt want me to go into labor and her to miss something if she doesnt get here in time. The doctor checked me this morning and said I wasnt dilated at all but I had almost thinned out all the way. I asked him what he thought about me going and he said chances were very small anything would happen this week so it would be fine. He said just stay near a city in case my water breaks. So who knows. I feel great, but I am nervous. It is absolutely crazy to have waited this long and have the doctor say "probly not this week, but maybe next week". Its finally hitting me. I could have a baby next week?! We have so much to do still, so lets hope she takes her time for a little bit longer. But now that Im wishing that instead of wanting her here right away, karma says she'll come. So were playing by her schedule, and we'll see how it goes. Most of all, I just want Tyler to be there. He deserves it with how much he's done for me during this pregnancy. He's been the absolute best support person and I could never have asked anything more from him. So as for now, Im just going to relax on the beach like a beached whale and see how everything goes!

Are we there yet?!

UGHH! We've reached 36 weeks...just one more month and my body will be vacated!! This last few weeks has been going soooo slow. I have had such an easy and laid back pregnancy, but now Im finding all of the "fun" things that is having me ask myself WHY?!?!?! I honestly feel like in the last few weeks my pregnancy has been a whole different one, its been so weird. I dont know if some of these things are just me and I have issues, or if pregnancy is just really weird. But Im ready to be done! Let me share a few of the new prego things that Ive been batteling with as of lately:

ICE: I can not get enough of Sonic Ice. I usually can not stand the thought of someone chewing ice, it usually makes me get goose bumps and my teeth start hurting. But now, I can eat cups a day. I dont know if my iron being low has anything to do with this, or if its just so hot my body needs to find ways to cool down. Either way..thank you Sonic for having the best ice maker in the world

CRAMPS: Before I got pregnant, I didnt think you would get the same cramping sensation like you do when you are on your period, if you had a baby growing inside of you and your body didnt have to put up with the crap that it usually does when theres nothing there. Boy was I wrong! I dont know if I mentioned in an earlier post but Ive been having braxton hicks contractions since my last appointment. YAY! Those just felt like strong muscle cramps. Now..almost every night, and probly 2-3 times during the day, I get to experience the lovely pain of menstrual cramping that I used to..except now its ten times worse cuz my uterus contracts while its happening. Not fun. Baths have become my best friend once again.

SMELLS: I havent had any weird cravings during my pregnancy..a lot of not knowing what I want but knowing that I have to eat to keep me and baby healthy. But as of lately, I have been craving smells. And weird ones at that. Lets see..car fumes, the smell of autozone, new purses in the mall, modge podge, home depot, cleaning supplies....weird! I cant even explain what it does to me to smell these smells. Driving my a gas station, my mouth almost starts to water when I can smell the gas fumes..it makes me the happiest I ever am. And yes I know, these things obviously arent the best to be inhaling while Im pregnant..but I just cant help it! Again, Im wondering if this has anything to do with my iron deficiency, since that can most often lead to PICA..but for right now, I just feel like a freak

ITCHY: THIS IS THE MOST FRUSTRATING ONE OF ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My belly itches sooooo freaking bad, all the time! I cant sleep at night because I wake up itching. I have tried everything...baths, cold compresses, lotions, anti-itch cream. Nothing works! I have been trying so hard not to itch, because Ive heard they make stretch marks pretty bad, but its almost impossible. I feel ten times more itchy when I did when I had chicken pox! Its so lame!

SPONGES: This is probly the weirdest of them all, and I am hoping that it does have something to do with my pregnancy so I dont have mental issues. For some reason, I LOVE the feeling of sponges. I have a most prized possessed bath sponge that I crave to use all the time. For one, it just feels so good to rub over my itchy belly..but even just holding it in my hands ringing the water out..gives me so much satisfaction. And I crave touching more. Cleaning sponges, especially car washing sponges. I saw a commerical the other day where a person was washing his car with a sponge, and I yearned for it! I just wanted to touch it so bad! It is the weirdest thing, but I just love how they feel and ahhhh

There have been other things going on, but thats definitely the top picks right now. Pregnancy is just a weird process, Im convinced of it. But now the count down is on and Im starting to feel stressed. We had Hallie's baby shower last week, and are pretty much set on everything she needs (especially clothes, please dont make me hang up anymore!). And now we just play the waiting game..except for two things. Were moving..yet again! Long story short, were not happy with the apartment we just moved into, with Tyler getting his car broken into and then them finding out where we live it just hasnt been good and we got a real good offer on a house so were taking it! So we move the middle of July, hopefully Hallie can wait till we get settled in. And of course the big elephant in the room that I dont like talking about..Tyler is supposed to be leaving for two weeks with the army in the middle of July. And hes going to be in Colorado. We tried to get permission for him to stay home, but it doesnt look like it will work out. So, I think were going to talk to the doctor this coming Monday on the possibilities of me being induced, and Tyler will be sent back for it. Then we'll just pray Hallie doesnt choose to come before then. I cant imagine having Tyler miss out on this. I dont even let myself think about it, because I need him there with me so bad. He's the one person who can calm me down and make me feel safe. I NEED that pushing a baby out! And I know he doesnt want to miss his little girl at all. So everyone please cross your fingers that everything will work out! That Hallie will wait until we move into the house, will come when Tylers here, and wont make me wait till August :) not so much to ask for after all that Im going through right now right?!

Home away from Home

A few weeks ago, my boss from Camp (who also got Ty his job at UPS) asked Tyler if he would be able to come up for a week because they were short handed on guy counselors. He actually was able to get it off work and we planned on coming up! And of course I just had to come with. For one, I kinda like being around my husband a lot, and two, I LOVE camp! So my mom took the puppies (thanks mom!) and weve been in Show Low since Friday! Despite the rapid fire burning all around us and the smoke being enough to give my baby lung cancer..its been so great being back and seeing old friends! Tyler and I feel so at home here, add our girls and it would be perfect!

It's been weird for me not being a counselor this summer. Especially being up here now. I constantly have been having to slow myself down and reminding myself that Im 8 months pregnant and I cant do some of the things I was able to do. So its been tough for me, I feel so odd sitting back and watching other people do what I love doing. Tyler was thrown into this week with a blind eye and I could not be more proud of him. It may be hard sitting back and not being able to help, but it has given me a whole new perspective of my husband. He is so good with these people, which makes my heart grow more than you know. I am so glad he has been so happy being here. I think its definitly going to be something that brings us closer and helps us grow. He amazes me every day and I love him so much

Were heading back home tomorrow to pick up the girls and get some MUCH NEEDED rest. Then Tyler has drill Saturday and Sunday (hes gonna die), but luckily he gets to come home at night. Monday morning Tyler has off so were going to get Lacey fixed finally. After two heat cycles, Im done. But I know Im gonna be feeling sad for her when shes laying around the house pathetically. Monday afternoon I have a doctors appointment to check on little Hallie. Hopefully we'll get some good news that the end is in sight cuz I sure am ready to be DONE!! Then Monday night were gonna be meeting with my dad to check out a house for rent. Yes..I know, we JUST moved into another apartment. Buut, we havent signed our lease yet (a sign in my opinion), nothings out of boxes, and the house would be cheaper and is much more practical for us. So we shall see..I know my poor husband will hate to move again, but I know he'll do whatever it takes to make me happy. Plus, with his car being broke into and getting his stereo, ipod, gps, and registration stolen..I think he's pretty fed up with where we are living also.

Tyler was given another whole week off work (making me nervous...) so after Monday he's gonna come back up to camp to work again cuz we need the money and I dont think he wants to leave. I am so jealous because its going to be one of my favorite weeks, but with Lacey getting fixed I cant just leave her with someone so I'll be missing my husband. I hate that he's so easy to miss.

Its time for some much needed sleep. The altitude and walking around has been killing me this week, I sleep so good at night besides getting up a billion times to pee. We'll see how tonight goes though, cuz Im sleeping without Tyler. Good thing he left me some MASH, cuz that puts me at ease when he's not here. Night!