Who's Your Mommy?!

Gwenyth is changing everyday and starting to look more and more like me (I think!). So I thought I would post more pictures from today. She is such a good baby and really only gets grumpy when she is hungry and by hungry I mean STARVING. She doesn't wake up until she is 100% starving, which makes it oh so easy to nurse her. She is probably the coolest baby I've ever met and by far the cutest! HA!

And then there is our first daughter, Stella. Our awesome neighbors and Stella's best friend Chicken is watching her while we are at the hospital. They sent us this picture of her yesterday. It makes me laugh every time I look at it!

Who's Your Daddy!!!

This whole pregnancy process has taught me something about myself. I've come to the realization that I'm psychic. Don't think I can use my ability to help you, because the spirits that talk to me are liars!! I can't accurately predict anything. In the past 6 weeks, you'll need more than 2 hands to count the days I was completely convinced that we were going to have her. And, these premonitions are pretty specific, too--down to the minute...except, it's wrong. Turns out, I should have just listened to the doctor instead.

We were told to come to the hospital at 7:40 in the morning on the 27th. They broke the baby's water at 9, and then started the petosin a half an hour later. Everything started out so quickly, we thought for sure, Tara would deliver under 6 hours. The spirits lied.

Tara wasn't dilating as quickly as she should have been, and the baby wasn't dropping. That's when the doc dropped a bomb on us. "Looks like were looking at close to a 9 lb. baby!" She must not have remembered a week ago when she told us she wouldn't be surprised if the baby was under 8. Since no progress was being made, they made the decision to do a C-Section. Some other soul had a scheduled C-Section at 4:30, s0 we had to wait till that one was done. We could wait for that. The skies darkened a little when we got word that a woman was being flown in from Idaho so they could do a blood-transfusion on her baby--which took precedence. We understood the severity of this woman's situation, but were a little annoyed that we weren't going to be the next ones in. We didn't actually get into the OR until 9:45pm.

The baby was out 7 minutes after I got in the room which meant the procedure was underway as I was walking in. Had I been more squeemish, I would have missed everything after that moment. Gwenyth Lynn Shirley was born healthy and with all the appropriate digits and parts. She was 8 pounds even, and measured 20.5 inches. We're pretty excited that she's finally here.

Ready or not...

We are just waiting around now until it's time for us to leave for the hospital. We have to be there at 7:40 this morning! I can't believe this day has finally come.

The last photos (for Ashleigh)... I'm freaking huge!

One more day

Guess who couldn't go to church today because she didn't have church appropriate shoes that still fit her swollen feet? Yup, my last Sunday before the baby comes and I had to stay home because I couldn't fit into any of my shoes. Totally lame.

Yet another and possibly the last, baby update

Brett and I just got home from the doctor, for our regular weekly check up. Lots of people have asked why we haven't updated the blog... because nothing had changed! But there has finally been some progress! The doctor said I was on the verge of going into labor. But she still schedule me to be induced on Tuesday, the 27th. I don't think I will go into labor without the doctor's help, so I'm just planning on Tuesday. I'm nervous and excited and terrified of the recovery.

Oh, and other good news, the doctor doesn't think she will be 9 pounds, she is guessing the high 7's, and I am holding onto that hope with all my strength!!!!! Don't anyone burst my bubble by telling me the doctor's can't really tell that. I want to believe that our little girl will be LITTLE and maybe not hurt me so bad!

year in review

I thought I would post something other than baby info. So Brett and I came up with the best or worst things of 2008.

February- For Valentine's Day we made chocolate covered strawberries and hung out around the house.


March- in Idaho- the most snow I've ever seen. It came up to my knees.


Easter- The gold old days when I could bend at the waist and wear cute clothes.


March- Brett was able to go to Virginia/Washington for a print conference.


May- Brett graduated!!!!


To celebrate Brett's graduation, we went to Moab and Arches National Park.

AND we found out we were pregnant!!


AND we went to Zion National Park with our neighbors. We hiked Angel's Landing, which was amazing and VERY high up!


June- Brett took out the carpet and linoleum and put in wood floors downstairs.

June- My dad graduated with his PhD from Pepperdine. Most of the family was able to go. It was a delightful 100 degrees with zero shade. But we still had a great time!

July- 4th of July we spent in Idaho with Brett's family. We went to the parade the town always has, this year's was worse than most, but still really fun.

July- Stella went swimming for the first time in the canal at Brett's parent's house. She hated it.


July- Brett's sister and her family came to visit. Brett thought it was a good idea to give little Holland a RED popsicle.
July- I went to Chicago for a trade show with my company. It was a TON of work, especially being 13 weeks pregnant, but it was a great time. Chicago was a fun place to visit and the pizza was AMAZING!
August- Brett's dad came to help us re-tile our shower. It took a long time, but it was so worth it!

August- Brett went backpacking in the Uintas with my brothers and dad.
August- Brett's 10 year high school reunion in Rexburg. We were able to see his old friends. Things haven't changed much. They still act like teenagers when they all get together.

September- Brett turned 29
September 10- We found out that we are having a GIRL! I thought my belly was HUGE in this picture. This was the day we found out what we were having, I think I was 22 weeks here.

September/October- My grandpa and Brett's grandpa both passed away. They had bagpippers and three gun salutes. I wasn't able to go to Brett's grandpa's funeral, because I was at my grandpa's funeral, so I don't have any photos from the day.

October- One of my best friends from high school, that I hadn't really seen since high school, came to Utah for a visit. I met her and her friends in Park City for a fun filled day of shopping.
November- I turned 29 and went to bed around 8:30.


December- I was put on bed rest as a result of going into preterm labor at the end of 32 weeks. Christmas was spent alone at our place, with very few presents. I didn't get a chance to go shopping before I was put on bed rest. It was lonely and kind of sad, but still ok, because I was able to be with Brett.

December- The end of December I was finally taken off bed rest! We were able to go to my brother's house and Brett's cousin's house for New Year's Eve. Brett played the Wii with our nephew and Brett's brother brought tons of fireworks to his cousin's house for an awesome display in the snow.



It was definitely an eventful year that we enjoyed deeply. We are even more excited for what this year has in store! Hopefully soon our little girl will be joining us and and we will be able to share all these fun activities with her.

Still pregnant

We had a doctor's appointment today and after a full day of contractions on Sunday we thought for sure there would be some serious progress today. Yeah, we were wrong. The doctor said she would say I was a little further than last week, but not much. So here I am, after worrying we were going to have this baby too soon, worrying about having this baby too late. I know I still have 2 weeks left, but after all the drama we had to go through it would be nice if we could have her sooner rather than later. Not to mention my comfort level could use some relief. The doctor said she might induce us next week if there is enough progress after she sees us on Wednesday, but she can't guarantee anything. Whatever. My guess is she will induce me on my due date or maybe later. Whatever. That describes my attitude right now... whatever.

THE CRIB, THE CRIB

The crib my brother and sister-in-law bought us finally arrived, after a lot of drama with the shipping. It is beautiful and so exciting to have it all put together. We just absolutely love it! We got it this afternoon and Brett put it together tonight.


Now we are just waiting for the dresser that my awesome friends and co-workers bought us. They surprised me on Monday, my first day back at work, with an impromptu baby shower. They were sneaky and talked to Brett to find out what we needed. They settled on the matching dresser for our crib! I can't wait to have the room all put together.


Speaking of impromptu baby showers, my CMYK girls and I went to dinner the other night and it turned out to be a mini shower. They are so sweet and bought me and the baby all kinds of stuff.

Everyone has been so kind and generous. I'm so grateful for all of you!

No baby...

I had a doctor's appointment today and I was hoping that I would be in labor and they would have to send me down to Labor and Delivery, but no such luck. There was more progress from last week, but the doctor doesn't think I will have the baby this week, which sucks! I was really hoping it would be this week. My new guess is January 27, her due date. And then I will die because she will weigh 9 pounds and it will kill me to give birth to her. I'm feeling very optimistic about this whole thing, in case you can't tell.