the post you've all been waiting for

little jack

well- this will probably take me a few days to actually post since my days- and nights- now consist of feeding my little man and then trying to sleep when he sleeps. except when i just need a break and need to hear from the real world- i get on the computer.

i am letting you know, as a reader of this blog, that probably 99% of my posts will now be about little Jack.

This last week has just been crazy. We went into the hospital on Wed the 8th and I was induced by Thursday morning. I got an epidural by Thursday night around 7 when I just wasn't getting anywhere with my labor. By Friday, I was more in the active part of labor but his head was just too big and around 1100, the doctor told me his head was turning into a cone and that i would need a c section. the c section was extremely uncomfortable. not painful- because i was numb- but i have never been more uncomfortable in my entire life. they ended up giving me the gas stuff because i couldn't stop tensing my body. I don't remember much of what happened after that. They let Matthew go over and take video and pictures of him right after he was born. They rbought him over to me and that took my mind off of the pain. He was (and is) beautiful. I didn't realize how much I could love him right away. I've felt like his mom for a while now but it made it so real to see him, to touch him, and to feel the warmth of his skin. they took him away then to get him all finished up and moved me into recovery. I wasn't able to feed him right away because I was far to weak to even lift my hands; let alone hold him. When I first held him, Matthew had to put his arms under mine because i was so groggy.

Nothing went as planned with the birth of our little guy. I knew that my birth plan was flexible but things came and went so differently than I had expected. I hadn't even ever considered being induced or having a c-section. None the less, all of the pain, frustration, hunger, and everything in between was so worth it once i saw his little chubby cheeks.

Jack and I both received many blessings during this time. It made me really grateful to know that Matthew has the priesthood and could bless us and let us know what Heavenly Father wanted us to know. Jack probably didn't understand his blessing but the comforting words definitely calmed him. The words in his blessing were definitely more for us than for him anyway. He's such a little angel.

i love holding him, feeding him, knowing that he loves me so much even if he doesn't understand. being a mom is the most wonderful feeling in the world. it's comforting to know that I can take care of him. He's mine and I am already smitten by his cuteness.

our first family photo

in his car seat ready to come home

family before leaving hospital

his cute little hand

with his great grams

first tummy time. He loves it!

with his Bachi

coming home.

oh- we won't be posting any of his videos on the blog but if you'd like to be able to see them, please let me know. :)

9 months...

well- the day is here. i'll be going into the hospital in 3 hours. i'll some meds tonight and more tomorrow and then it's up to him....

hello little one- we've been waiting for you!

pictures to come soon :)

40 weeks

Well, the date that I have waited for for the last 9 months has come... and gone.... I know most people go late with their first but I really thought our little one would come a bit early. They estimated my due date as November 11 at first, and then switched it to Dec 5 and stuck with that. But I guess I thought that since they guessed earlier first, he'd be here at least a little before 12/5. Nonetheless, here I am. Still writing, still walking, still waiting to hold my little one...

I went to the doctor today and they would like to schedule an induction by the end of the week. Right now "there's no room at the inn", but she said to hold tight until tomorrow when they will call again to see if I could get in. When they call, they could tell me that I could be coming in tomorrow night to Thursday night or, I guess if there's no room they'll put it off more. I'm really hoping that Jack comes on his own but

I'm open for whatever. I was really against being induced until I found out that a lot of people in my family were induced with their little ones. I trust my doctor's and I trust that they will also help me to know what's best for me.

Even though I thought he would come early, I still feel so

unprepared. I have everything ready and I'm not scared about anything but I know that I will feel unprepared as soon as his little self enters this world. Life will be so different for Matthew and I and

as muc

h as I know that I know it will still be a huge shock. Our lives will revolve around th

is little child in a way that neither of us can expect or prepare for. That is a crazy thought. I am going to be a mom. I will have someone else that is 100% dependent on me. He will be dependent on me for food, cleanliness, happiness, and everything else he can think

of! It'll be hard- I'm sure harder than I can even imagine, but it'll also be worth it- I'm sure more worth it than I can even imagine...

I'm ready for our little Jack to be here. I'm ready to see his cute little squished face. I'm ready to bundle him up in the cute little clothes and blankets that we have for him.

Hopefully, I won't be posting for a little while but while I'm here- I'll keep you updated!

Here's the 40 week pictures!

update

...we're still here... and jack is not. i know we still have a few days til his actual due date but i am so ready!!!! keep your fingers crossed he comes soon :)

Parenting Advice

So, I found this on another blog and it made me laugh. Of course, it's common sense but some of the pictures are hilarious! haha. can't wait for our little one :)

Day 30-Your favorite song

Only 1! this is actually tough!!

i love just about anything by Something Corporate, Relient K, Dispatch, Counting Crows, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Rascal Flats.

My favorite song would probably be Out of My League by Steven Speaks tho. I know- sappy as it is- it's my song with Matthew, the one we danced to at the wedding, and the one that always brings good memories. I associate a lot of my life memories with songs and so as much as i LOVE all the bands above they all come with different memories- good and bad- that no matter how hard i try, the quick thought of that memory comes into my head.. With Out of My League, that memory is of when I first heard it. Jan 11, 2008 when Matthew told me this was one of his favorites on the CD he made for me when he proposed. i then think of how we danced at our wedding receptions and it was just perfect. wonderful memory + wonderful song= my favorite..

and I'm done with the 30 day challenge! WOW! I can't believe i actually did the whole thing :)

Day 29- What have you learned in the last month

I have learned a lot as I often do. Life is full of learning.

But most of all, I learned to not be afraid. As i looked back for pictures of old friends, or me a year ago, or who i wanted to marry, i remembered that before some of those things happened or worked out, there were some tough scary patches. i didn't know if i'd meet friends when i went out to college or if i'd find a good room mate, or my best friend, i didn't know if i could be happy with one person the rest of my life. and now, at times i felt scared or worried about having a kid, but this is just like those things above. it's going to be crazy- i know that. and i won't do everything right- i know that too.. but i know that i love him- i know that i can raise him to be a nice young man- and i know that i have my matthew to be by my side helping and supporting me the entire way...

life is going to change. things in the future might seem scary or huge but it can always be learned from and overcome. It's the way that God intended it to be.

Day 28-A picture of you from last year and now-how have you changed?

i've changed a lot in the last year.

Last year I had just graduated from college, just started my first full time job, and was enjoying life in utah. then my current position opened and after a conversation that surprised both matthew and i, i decided to apply. i got the job and we packed up and moved across the country in about a month. it was a crazy busy time in our lives... and here we are, a year later-- about to have our first baby and living a busy life....

last year to the left and this year below.

Day 27-Why you are doing this 30 day challenge

haha.. well, i started because i had nothing to blog about and thought it would be fun. i haven't really enjoyed it very much but i'm glad i've done it.. just a few days left and i'm glad that i stuck it through. hope i can keep up the blogging! i've gotten into a good habit :)

Day 26-What do you think about your friends

Well- I think this is a silly question!

My friends are AWESOME! duh. If they weren't awesome than I wouldn't be friends with them. Sure, I'd be "friendly" but we wouldn't hang out!

Anyway, my friends know who they are but they really are great. I have great friends from high school that even tho I don't talk to them as often as I'd like- I miss them and think of them often. It's the same with those I met and loved being with in college. Now that we're out here in MD, Matthew and I have made some great friends that we hang out with often..

Life is better with friends and I'm glad I have so many of them.

:)

Day 25-What I would find in your bag

Well- the basics

wallet, pen, gum, and some medicine (headache, tums, etc)

a bag for my little brush and some light makeup.

cell phone if i'm out with my bag and my badge...

My HOSPITAL papers :) just in case i need to go to the hospital asap...

that's about it! i'm pretty simple!

Grateful Post

I love thinking of all the wonderful things that I'm blessed with in my life!!

-I'm 38 weeks today! i'm healthy and Jack is healthy and he'll be here soon. We're so excited!

-I took Friday off to enjoy a day of rest in case baby came early. It was a perfect day. We slept in, saw Harry Potter 7, and went shopping for baby! I had so much energy all day. I didn't feel sick or tired or really crampy. Best of all, I got to be with Matthew the whole entire day.

-Jack's room is just about finished. It's so dang cute!!

-I love seeing how excited Matthew is getting for Jack to come! He's gonna be such a cute dad!

-I'm going to be a mom soon. I mean, Jack is real and moving so I'm technically already a mom. but a real mom. one that stays up worrying and feeding and loving my little boy. it's a bit scary but so dang exciting.

- as i've been thinking a lot about being a mom- i've thought alot about my parents, matthew's parents, and those that influenced my life. i've been so blessed since i was little. i'm glad to know what i know and know that i can be confident in teaching those things to jack.

- it's thanksgiving this week! i love turkey day! i love being with family, although this year we'll be with our friends since we decided it best not to travel. but we're so excited for that too!

Day 24-A letter to your parents

Dear Mom and Dad--

Life is good. I know that growing up things were different then I'm sure you imagined. I don't think you thought you'd be raising us on our own- driving back and forth to bring Anton and I to visit the other. Sure, sometimes, we didn't like it but we made out alright. You taught me good values. You let me choose for myself the things that I know to be right. You'll know these things one day too. Thank you for giving me that freedom. Thank you for letting me be me all the time. As I get older, the more I realize how important you are in my life. Now that Matthew and I are starting our own little family, I realize how important it is to be strong and to know what I believe in. My little boy might be crazy like I was but if he grows up having learned all that I did, I'll be a proud parent.

Thank you..

Love, DeAnna

Dear Mom and Dad C--

You are wonderful! I am so in love with your son and he treats me better than I ever could have imagined possible. He wouldn't know how to do that if you hadn't taught him so well. You taught him to be strong in the gospel, to treat his family right, and to have passion about whatever it is he's doing in life. He's going to be such a great dad and that is so comforting. Thank you for raising Matthew to be the man that he is. My life is amazing because of it.

Love, DeAnna

Day 23-Something you crave for a lot

I ALWAYS crave pizza and even tho I have my favorites from the valley I can at least satisfy my craving by some other places around here..

however, Costa Vida chips and queso is my favorite queso I have ever eaten and they don't have it out here. i've tried others but the craving does not go away. When I went to Provo for 2 days in May, I ate chips and queso twice. I loved every minute of it!

:)

Day 21-A picture of something that makes you happy& Day 22-What makes you different from everyone else

There are many things that make me happy :)

I could keep going but you get the idea :) family, friends, the fall, the temple, food. i really do have a good life :)

What makes me different:

well, many things. i'm tiny- aka fun sized and i love being this small. i have very independent, some say stubborn, personality. i am very forgiving. i want to see the best in people and try to let that be in front of everything else. little things frustrate me and tend to put me in a bad mood quickly. i'm in love like i never knew was even possible. i love my life.

Day 20-Someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future

Best day of my life. matthew is my bestest friend and this picture i think describes it best. we had fun then. we have fun now. and we'll have fun forever <3 i love you baby!!

Day 19-Nicknames you have and why you have them

De: many of my friends and family call me this. pretty simple reason though- it's shorter than DeAnna!

Sweetie- my dear hubby calls me sweetie all the time :) because he likes me..hehe

Goober- my matthew also calls me this too. we don't really know how we started this but matthew says he calls me goober because it denotes cuteness :)

Peanut- family use to call me this all the time, although it's fading now. but it's because i'm tiny just like a peanut :)

i'm pretty sure that's all my nicknames!

Day 17-Someone you would want to switch lives with and why

So- I posted day 18 instead of 17 yesterday so here's 17 :)

You know- I know this is probably a lame answer but I dont think I want to switch places with anyone. I am married to my very bestest friend and we're getting ready to have our first little boy. However, if I could take them both with me when I switched places, I would choose someone who has enough money to support their extended family,  has a house paid off, and doesn't have to work full time. I wouldn't do it so that I could be lazy. I would do it so that Matthew and I can travel to the different sides of the country(and the middle!) to visit our family! Plane tickets are so expensive. I would do it so that Matthew and I can just stay home together and raise our little boy and neither one of us would miss a first of anything. I would do it so that I could serve those around me and give them gifts and things when they are in need.

But- I would never do it without my Mathew!

If I was switching for just the day- i'd switch with someone rich in Italy and I would eat at the best authentic places and I would go on a little boat in Venice and fly to all the other big cities!

November Picture Post

I know! My 3rd post of the day! Be sure to check the last few :)
October was busy and November isn't slowing down any. There are a bunch of pics to post and baby will be here end of December so I didn't want to wait to post. I'm at 37 weeks now and officially "full term". We're excited for our little guy to come. Life is good and I know life will be so different when the little one is here but he'll be cute :) You can check Facebook for more :)

 gifts from SPASMs

food

handmade choc covered pretzels that have little feet or BABY!!

favors

sarah

tana

amy and risa

our family :)

my momma!

one of my favorites!

hehe.. i told him he's always talking to my belly I should talk to his so it doesn't get jealous. haha. i guess there's a baby in mine tho!

another favorite!

normal

matthew trying to make his equal to mine! HAHA

that's all for now :) hope you enjoyed them!