Day after Christmas

I'm getting worse and worse at blogging. Day after Christmas and I remember to add our Christmas pics. argh. This Christmas was amazing! We were incredibly spoiled. :) Hopefully I'll get a chance to update more on Christmas and the New Year. Bug's awake from her nap which means it's her time now :)

Cloth Diaper-a-go-go!

I knew I had wanted to try cloth diapering to see if it was something that would work for us. While we were registering for our showers I had told Taylor that. Char came and cloth seemed something of the past. I didn't have a whole lot of info on them so I didn't pursue it. I had some friends that did it with their kids and loved it. I still didn't know if it was going to be for us. Brooke had read more about it and started clothing M. Now I had someone I was close with doing it... maybe it was time to look into it some more. My friend Kirstin brought one of her diapers to her shower so I could take a look at it. Seemed simple enough. The snaps galore on the front scared me until I realized what each one was for. Brooke gave me and Nizel a tutorial on the diapers she had. Still was a little skeptical. Babysteals had a deal for some Blueberry Minky OS Pocket Bamboo diapers. Confused yet? :) I looked at the price they were offering and then looked at the Blueberry's website and saw the great discount they were at. I bought 3. I got em prepped and ready to go. Still a little worried on how this was going to work. Low and behold, I loved em! I started looking into other brands and types to see what would work best. I decided I really liked the pocket diapers. These diapers are SOOOO different then just a few years ago. No more plastic pants. These diapers are awesome! They have an outer which can be made with just about any fabric then a layer of PUL which is the waterproof material then a layer of moisture wicking fabric. There is an opening at the back, front or both where you insert and insert. Inserts can be made of microfiber, bamboo, hemp, cotton, zorb... there's a few more I don't remember. The insert pulls the moisture in and leaves the bum dry. When it comes time to wash you just pull the insert out and throw it and the diaper in the wash. Since going to cloth I have become slightly... ok ok.. VERY addicted to them! they are just so cute! I've tried out a few different kinds as well. There's AIO, AI2, Fitted, Covers. I haven't gone into prefold territory yet... don't know that I will. Maybe as an insert down the road. I've found WAHM's that make the cutest diapers. Bug has one cute bum!

Taylor at first didn't know what to think of cloth. He said he'd change her out of one and put her in a disposable if he was changing her... odd... putting one on is the easiest part. But since then he has completely come on board and likes them. We went to Park City for our anniversary a few weeks ago and we had been still using disposables at night. Well he was changing her out of a disposable into a cloth and said "I hate disposable diapers." YAY!!!!!! Since that point we've been clothing full time, day and night with great success!

I've been able to help a few friends with info about them as well. I really like that people can ask me a question about them and I feel confident in my answers. I also became friends with the lady that runs Cloth Diaper Utah, Anita. She helped me at a few more snaps to a couple of my diapers. I've been able to refer some friends to her to help get them started. They also hold monthly meetings where fellow clothers get together and talk diapers. I love it! I love seeing all the different kinds these ladies make and use.

So if you know anyone that needs help with cloth, send em my way! If i don't know the answer I will definitely go looking for it!

Our Stash:

6 Bumgenius

5 Bluberry

5 Oh Katy!

6 Wild Mountain Mommies (3 pockets, 2 covers, and 1 fitted)

6 MotherEase

5 Modified Mommas Creations (3 still being made)

2 Bonnibuns

2 Meagan's fitted (still being made)

1 Happy Heiny

1 Bumware

1 Itti Bitti (for sale)

2 GDiapers (going to Xela)

6 months!

I haven't posted in forever! I'm bad, I know. I've just been too busy playing with my beautiful little girl to worry about posting on here.

6 months! can you believe she is already 6 months! She is the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen, the sweetest little girl I've ever known... and she's all mine! I wouldn't trade a single day, even the bad ones, for anything in the world! It has been so much fun watching her grow and seeing her personality come out. She is such a happy baby. Always smiling or talking. Her little voice is the sweetest thing I've ever heard. She loves her jumperoo. she is constantly bouncing even when she's not in it. She's pushed up like she's going to crawl but instead of going forward she goes backwards. :) She'll get it soon. She rolls over like a champ! back and forth. She sleeps through the night, and has for nearly 5 months. She loves to eat people's faces, hands, noses, anything she can grab. She started pureed foods and so far loves sweet potatoes the best. She LOVES her ladybugs! Thank goodness since she has so many! we have a vinyl one on her wall that she loves to look at and try to grab. She loves her daddy. He can always get her to smile and laugh. oh the laugh! SO cute! i wish I could get her to laugh like he can. oh I could keep going on and on about this little girl. I love her so much!!!

I don't think I've written anything about it but we've been cloth diapering for a little over 2 months now. I wish more people did. I didn't know in the beginning if it would be something for us but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. it's so easy, better for her bum, and it's CUTE! I've gotten some really cute diapers for her and sadly i think i may be addicted to them now! :)

We had her 6 month check up last week and she is doing great! 55 percentile for height and 45 for weight. We also got some pics done and they are amazing!! FotoFly you've got a customer for life!!!

moving and a blessing

Well we got all moved last weekend! Sorry Cassie I just saw your comment on my last post. Thank you though! :)

We moved back to West Valley to be closer to Taylor's work and Family that are out here that we see a lot. I found the place, previewed it, submitted our applications, placed the deposit, signed the lease, paid our first month's rent and picked up the keys all before Taylor had even seen the place! I had shown him pics but that was about all. He left it up to me to decide since I'm the one who's home the most and know what we need. The place is small but it's just right for us. It's 2 bedrooms 1 bath with a YARD!!!! decent sized kitchen and a laundry room instead

of a closet, LOTS of storage space and a good sized living space. The yard is currently a combo of weeds and grass but with a little work I think it will look great! and the biggest plus is being able to just throw Dean outside and not having to worry about him running off :) currently Charlie's crib is in the front room where our table will go, it's too big to fit through the doorway without being taken apart. Right now her room is the catch all for laundry and other junk we need to go through and put away.

I found the cutest saying for her room and I can't wait to get it!!! "Butterfly kisses and Ladybug hugs sleep tight my little one like a bug in a rug"

Yesterday was Charlie's blessing. It went perfectly!!! She was happy when she woke up, was great on the car ride to the church, let me put her in a huge frilly dress, and was amazingly calm when they gave her the blessing! It was a great day!!! a good amount of family was there and were able to participate in the

blessing, My Uncles Gene and Dee, Cousin Mathew, Taylor's Uncle and My dad, and one of my favorite parts!!! My high school Det. was there and was able to participate as well! Det. Randall was a huge part of my high school life and I've been very blessed to have kept him in my life. It was so great to see him!!! I only got a few pics of Charlie at the blessing since it was so hot we got her out of her dress pretty quickly. I'm gonna have to put her in it again to get more pics! It was

so great to see good friends and family that came to support us and her. :) Thank you all who came!!!

Me. Torrie, Det. Randall and Kirstin

Charlie bug and her daddy

Charlie and Grandpa

too long

I haven't written for WAY too long. I've been having too much fun playing with Char bug that I don't really have time to write a whole bunch. Being a mom to this little girl is the greatest thing I've ever done. She's amazing! She smiles all the time, she's started "talking" to me all the time! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the sound of her voice! watching her grow is what my life was meant to be.
She's almost 12 weeks old... 12 weeks! where did the time go? as she gets older and more loving I just know that I have the sweetest little girl.

Lots of changes coming our way. Our lease is up the end of this month and well... we don't really know just yet where we are going. We know we don't want to stay here... and can't since we turned in our papers. We need to get this figured out asap!

how do you love a bug? by kissing her silly, of course!

7 weeks

I've been slacking. I've just been enjoying being a mommy that I didn't have the time to sit and put into words how much I love this little girl!

She makes everyday amazing!

I've been co-sleeping with her, Dean and Taylor are on the couch. Dean needs to learn not to get on the bed anymore so this has been the best solution for now. I love falling asleep nuzzling her

neck and love even more waking up to her nuzzling mine. She is the sweetest baby, when she's in a good mood. She's had a rough few days here and there but I think she's going through a growth spurt. She was so upset the other night, she had soaked the neck of her jammies from

eating so I had stripped her down and just laid her on my chest to keep warm. She snuggled right up to me and fell asleep. We cuddled all night :) I mainly didn't want to wake her to get her dressed. After she calms down from being upset she nuzzles her face into mine and just stares into my eyes. It's like she's saying thank you for making everything ok. It gets so rough sometimes, I just wish I knew what was wrong to make it right.

She giggled out loud the other night. She was again sound asleep on me and she usually does a

silent laugh but this one was the sweetest thing I've ever heard!!! I cried. Every little thing she does that is new, I cry over. I real smile not in her sleep? I cry. A little coo? I cry. I just love her so much!!! I hope she knows that and knows I will do anything for her. She's my world and I

wouldn't change it.

My little bug.

3 Weeks

My baby is 3 weeks today... On one hand it feels like there is no way it's already been 3 weeks! Then on the other it feels like she's been here so much longer! She's getting pretty good at sleeping through the night and only waking to be fed and changed. She's generally happy except when she's messy or hungry. She's such a sweet snuggle bug! I hope that as she gets older she will still like to snuggle with me. I absolutely love it!!!

How Charlie got here...

Well, Monday we went to L&D because I thought for sure she was coming. I had what I thought were horrible contractions. We got there and nothing more happened. I had my normal Tuesday appt where my Dr indicated that my induction was set for the following Wednesday :(

Wednesday I started having mild contractions in the morning, nothing too bad. I had been mildly spotting since Monday but it was pale pink. I w

as exhausted so I went to take a nap. I was woken up with some really REALLY bad contractions! I had one where I swear I felt my hips separate! I got up and told Taylor that I was hurting pretty bad. I went to the bathroom and noticed my spotting had turned to bleeding, still mild. Common I assumed with the contractions I was having. Taylor was running me a bath while I called the Dr just to make sure I didn't need to go in. The Dr on call said she wanted me to check back in in a few hours but to relax in the bath. I was standing in the bath tub getting ready to sit down, talking to Taylor in the hallway when suddenly whoosh! gush of blood came and was running down my legs. I looked at Taylor and just said "time to go!" He started panicking running trying to get everything ready. I just kept saying relax!! Everything is packed and ready to go! I was squatting in the tub rinsing off and kept telling him "see, it's not that bad." the

re was very little blood in the tub. He looked at me confused and said "look behind you." Oh! the tub was full of blood! lovely! We got in the car and headed to the U. I thought for sure I was going to die from the contractions!! We got there and got checked in to the L&D ER area, have to go there first to make sure we are actually in labor first. They checked me and said I was at a 4 and fully effaced. We weren't leaving without a baby! By this point I was dying! My contractions were hurting so badly!!! They got us admitted and got me my epidural. SOOOO ni

ce! I thought for sure i was going to freak out at the epidural and it was the easiest thing ever! After that I was watching the monitor and started having some very strong contractions. I was so glad I couldn't feel them anymore. The Dr on call came in a little bit later and broke my water and they started me on pitocin. After a while they weren't seeing the peaking of Charlie's heartbeat that they wanted to see. They put me on oxygen and had me roll on my side. They also connected a monitor straight to her head to keep a better track of her heart rate. The nurse hadn't left the room for 30 seconds when all of a sudden her heart rate dropped so low. So low that I knew the Dr would be in the room in a matter of seconds! Sure enough about 4 nurses/Dr were in the room very quickly. They did some stimulating of her scalp to see if that would make her perk up. It did a little but

the Dr wasn't satisfied. She informed us it was time for a C-section. I was so sad that we had to take this route. I wanted her here on her time now that we had begun. They started getting everything ready and threw Taylor some scrubs to wear. I was crying, frustrated and scared. It wasn't an emergency C-section but it was rushed. They wheeled me into the room and had to move me to the operating table which was weird.. never had a surgery before so feeling helpless was odd. The drugs had completely knocked out my body from the ribs down. I could feel a lot of pressure but no pain. I was shaking uncontrollably from the drugs. The anesthesiologist assured me it was normal and gave me something to stop the shaking. Finally the Dr said ok here we go and I suddenly felt this weird emptiness, like I was a balloon that had been deflated. She wasn't crying at first and I kept looking at Taylor asking what was going on!!! The anesthesiologist

assured me again that she was moving around and doing well just not crying yet. Once she let out a cry Taylor and I both started bawling! My life changed in that second. They brought her over so I could see her after they had cleaned her up a little bit. She was absolutely beautiful!!! I wanted to hold her right then but couldn't :( They took her and Taylor to the nursery while they got me put back together. It was the most uncomfortable 20 minutes or so of my life. Laying on my back not able to move having this weird feeling going on was awful! Finally they got me to my room again and brought her in. Again, Beautiful! Taylor and I got to be alone with her and get her fed. Jaime and my dad were both there so they came

in for a little bit and got to see her.

The pain from this C-section has been horrendous. Getting up to move hurt like hell! I was so glad the nurses where there to help with everything. Charlie stayed with me in the room pretty much all the time. She went to the nursery maybe a total of 6 hours in the 5 days we were there. I just couldn't put her down! Over the days we were there she lost a bit of weight but was able to gain enough back before we left that the pediatricians were happy with it.

I've never been so in love. She's absolutely amazing! I love you Charlie bug!!!

Just really quick... She's HERE!!!

Charlie is here!!! She was born by unexpected C-Section 2/16/11 10:46 PM 6lbs 7oz & 19.2 inches long! I am SO in love!!!!

Induction set

Well we were in L&D again Monday. I thought for sure she was coming. I counted contractions for 2 hours before I woke Taylor up at 6:30 and said we needed to go. I contracted the entire way there and wouldn't you know it, as soon as we get hooked up to the monitors... NOTHING! They checked and I was still at 1 cm but 60-70% effaced. I've been spotting since and in constant worsening pain.

At my appt today they said I'm still the same. I don't know how that's possible with the contractions I've been having. They gave me my induction date of the 23rd. 5 days past my due date :( I'm so not happy about that. I think/hope she comes before. This pain needs to be over.

I'm to the point where if someone says something dumb to me I'm going to snap!!! If one more person mentions having sex to get Charlie here I'm going to scream!!! I AM IN PAIN!! Let's scar my husband for life by me crying through sex from pain... cause that's worth it!!! good hell people... That and telling me to go running... Pain and running doesn't sound like fun to me! I nearly snapped at people at the hospital yesterday morning and today. Yesterday, while contracting, we had 2 people jump into the elevator as the doors were closing. I told Taylor when we got off that if one more person had jumped in I was gonna yell at them! Then today while trying to get off the elevator there was like 6 people trying to walk on! How about you let the people off before you trying getting in eh? Not to mention that I had to squeeze through them to get into the freaking hall.

I'm so frustrated that everything is really starting to piss me off. I've been holding back for so long I'm afraid I'm gonna SNAP!

Brookie's Baby

Brooke had her beautiful baby Saturday afternoon! After a long 34 hour delivery gorgeous Morgan Mae Patterson was born at 12:14 PM 7lbs 10oz and 19 inches long. Congratulations Brooke and Steve!!! I can't wait for Charlie to get here so they can be fast friends! :)

Dilated?

So our last appt on Tuesday I was hoping and hoping for a little bit of progress! Well the nurse had said that with what I was feeling I should be something. And that if I was far enough to have the Dr strip my membranes. Sounds so lovely doesn't it? Well the midwife came in and was talking to me and I had mentioned stripping and she said that it could either be the thing that pushes me over the edge and sends me into labor or I could just be really uncomfortable for another week. I looked at her and said I don't move all day from pain, I doubt this will make any difference. I had also told them times before that Charlie gets herself into some weird positions and that If i didn't know better she was doing cartwheels! They said it was all normal. I wanted them to see what I was talking about but of course she was never in that weird spot when they looked. Well this time the midwife has me lay back and sure enough, She's all weird in there. The nurse looked at me and goes does she do this a lot? I said YES! all the time! The midwife (she was newer) said she wanted to bring in another opinion just to make sure Charlie was indeed head down and just being weird. The other Midwife came in and confirmed she was just being weird. :) I was glad they were finally able to see what I've been dealing with! to try and explain how she's laying is put your hand up near your ribs on the right side and you'd feel her shoving her feet there, at the same time put your hand near your waist on the left side and that bump is her butt, oh and she's having a rock star head moment on the bladder all at the same time! I have a feeling she's gonna be a long little one. So after that they checked her heart and she had the hiccups :) it was cute to hear it on the doppler. Then they check for dilation. I was at 1 cm and 50% effaced! Thank you for some progress! Although if I would have been at a 2 I could have been stripped. SO CLOSE!!! Maybe next Tuesday there will be more!

Lately she's been kicking and holding it, instead of a swift kick. I'm just waiting for the time she does that and my water breaks. It feels like she's gonna bust through each time.

I've been contracting more since Tuesday but nothing time able :( It wakes me up some times at night. I'm about to start trying every old wives tale there is... except Castor Oil. YUCKO!

I've been getting extremely irritated with people. I don't want to be, and I try to realize they are just offering help and advice but I can't help that it annoys me. I haven't lashed out at one, yet. But I fear if Charlie doesn't get here soon it's only a matter of time. Although, I'm sure after she's here I'll get more advice about post partum. ARGH!

Come on Charlie!!!!

Abbreviation trip

Well our trip this time wasn't to the ER but to L&D.

Yesterday morning at around 3:30 AM I was woken up with excruciating pain in my right pelvic area that shot up to my ribs. I almost screamed from the pain it was that bad! I held still until the pain went away and tried to go back to sleep. yeah, right! I was woken up again by the pain about an hour later. after the 3rd time of trying to go back to sleep I moved to the couch to watch TV and hope that I could fall asleep. I was sitting up and drifting to sleep so I started to lay down and the pain hit again! This time I almost passed out from holding my breath. I sat back up and got on the computer and held very very still. I started getting really light headed and felt very nauseated. I was going to try and take one of my Zofrans but was afraid to move and cause pain. Around 10:30 after a lot of advice to call my Dr, I called. I left a message with the Dr on call and she called me back almost instantly! She recommended we come in just to make sure everything was ok. We got there and they hooked me up to a monitor to track her heart beats and my contractions. Wouldn't you know that other than getting out of the car I didn't feel the pain the entire time we were there! ARGH! I laid on my back and was SO uncomfortable!!! but her heartbeat was fine and I had had a few mild contractions but nothing extreme. After about an hour they sent us home and said they think it could be more ligament pain. :( I had ligament pain around 22 weeksish and this was like the 3 days of ligament pain combined into 20-30 seconds of shooting pain. This also started a lot lower, nether regions, and came all the way to my ribs. The day before I had also felt 2 contractions up high that hurt like hell. But other than me being in pain, the usual, everything else was ok. The nurse gave me a belly band to help try and "hold everything in" so the ligaments weren't so loose. We came home and I sat on the couch and drifted off to sleep for about 30 min was all. Bed time I tried to lay down and almost died! The pain happens when I lay down!!! and mainly on my left side which is better for Charlie. Can't I get a break anywhere?! I tried laying on my right side and it hurt but not nearly as bad. Turning over is such a task... I get winded from holding my breath trying to move ever so slowly so I don't cause more pain.

I have another appt on Tuesday with my Dr's nurse midwife since he will be out of town. Not worried about that since I've met with her before.

The back pain this week has been killer as well! I've had back pain before but this is nuts! I don't even more and it hurts... and it's not just a "oh that hurt" it's an almost "drop you to the floor in pain" pain.

Again, I'm very glad she's still doing wonderful and growing but I'm very ready for her to be here and to be out of this constant pain!

nothing.. nada.. zilch... zero!!!

I was really hoping at our appointment today that there would be some progress to Charlie getting here! My hips have been killing me, and my back is aching so badly!!! I can't sleep, and I'm constantly in pain! I thought maybe all this pain meant that there was some dilating happening and we were getting close. NOPE! They checked my cervix and I'm not dilated at all!!! :( I know that keeping her in there as long as possible is the best, and that I shouldn't complain since it's so good that we've come this far... but it's hard to when I hurt like this! My Dr said with my condition that I was going to have more discomfort than what's usual but UGH... This sucks! :(

I can't wait for her to be here!!! her laundry is all done and everything is set and ready to go!!! I just need her to finish it all off :)

Jaime and Erica threw me a shower on Saturday and it was great! It was an open house so people could come and go as they pleased and I think it worked out great! We got some really great stuff for Charlie! Jaime made the cutest name blocks for her! I have it all set up for her :) Everyone has been so extremely generous to us and I appreciate it oh so much!!! It has been so great over the course of the showers to see all the friends and family I haven't seen in a while!

100th post! and 34 weeks!

40 days to go... 40! and that's if we go ALL the way! I'm honestly hoping for the end of January. I'd be happy with that. She'll be 37 weeks by then so she should be pretty much done cooking :)

My aunt MarDee and pretty much aunt Connie threw me a shower yesterday and it was amazing! I got to see a lot of the people I only generally get to see around Rodeo time and a few of my friends and family members. It turned out really REALLY good! Charlie is sure gonna be spoiled!!!! She's currently taking up more closet space than me and Taylor combined lol

I can't wait for her to get here and get to put on all these clothes! and then I can put what ever it is that I'm gonna need for her on a daily basis all put together and such.

She got 2 cute lady bugs to go in her crib, some adorable little Nike shoes, tons of clothes, amazing homemade blankets, and lots of goodies to last her at least a while :)