Better Late Than Never

I am a little saddened at the frequency I have posted since Coen was born. I am sad because I do love to blog. I love to write and I love having my thoughts and feelings put into words. We all make time for the things that are important to us, I suppose this has just fallen to the bottom of the important list.
Since my last post much has happened, Coen is now 19 months. He is the light of our lives. He is such a smart, fun boy and we love being parents. We are loving our "new" house and our ward. I am serving in the Young Womens as Laurel adviser and have a great group of women and girls to work with. Brook moved in with us in May... we just can't get rid of her! Ha yeah right. We love having her company and help. She is such a great aunt to Coen and my best est budd!!

Brook and I at Downeast, supporting one of Brook's good friends. Also, baby bum at 23 weeks. :)

And... We are also expecting baby #2!

This pregnancy has been much different from my first. Not that it is not exciting and fun, it's just very different with the second, as most moms can fully understand I'm sure. We are still so incredibly thankful and blessed that everything has been going good so far. Baby boy is healthy and strong and everything is on track for June 7th!
I am 25 weeks right now, about 100 more days to go. I can't believe it. Time is flying, I know he will be here before we know it.
In the mean time I am in school, doubling up on classes so that I can student teach in August. I will have baby EZRA PAUL, in June, take as much leave as I can then I will have to quit University of Phoenix to student teach. I am so excited for this next chapter in my life. UOP has treated me well, but I feel I have gone as far as I can go there. There is no longer room for me and I am much better fit somewhere else. Somewhere with crayons, glue, construction paper and textbooks. I can not wait to be Mrs. Franco!

I'm a MOM...

and I've been busy loving on my new baby for the past two months. I've been avoiding my blog because I feel there is so much I need to catch up on. Since the last time I posted we welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Coen Anthony Franco. I was due on July 9th and thanks to the Rogers/Crandell genes was overdue by almost a week when we went in for an induction. Thursday morning the 14th of July, we went into the hospital. It was so surreal sitting there in the lobby seeing couples walk out with their new babies. In one way or another we would soon be that couple and our lives would be changed forever. The fear and anticipation was setting in fast. What is going to happen in the next 24 hours? I only thought that I knew.                                                                                
 They started the pitosin shortly after we checked into the hospital room. Our Dr. came in and broke my water around 12 pm, and told us he had a movie to get to that night, Harry Potter, lol. I sure didn't mind though, I was ready. We thought for sure we'd have a baby that day. 8 hours later, around 7 that evening I was given an epidural, thanks heavens! I progressed very slowly through the night, it wasn't until 5:00am on July 15th, the nurse decided it was time to start pushing.  I pushed for an hour and a half before our little fur ball arrived. Everything I've ever heard about labor and delivery had been confirmed. It was truly the hardest, craziest, most exhausting, amazing, beautiful thing I have ever experienced. I will never forget the moment they laid that sweet, (heavy) baby boy on my chest. He cried for about 30 seconds then in my arms he relaxed. That sweet moment will never forget.

Coen Anthony Franco born 6:25 am 7-15-11 9lbs 9oz

  My recovery was hard, I think another reason I avoided writing. But I'm now feeling great. In the hospital I couldn't imaging going through the process again. I am completely amazed by all the women that have given birth. My own mother, four children, overdue with all but one, induced and with no medication. She's amazing, I now understand when they compare hard things to childbirth. You men got nothing on us! ;) So yes, I couldn't imagine something, someone else coming out of me again! So quickly we forget... lol. The older Coen gets, the more he smiles and the more he sleeps, the more I think about having more, someday.

Coen is two months old tomorrow. I can't believe how fast it's gone. He's just amazing. Again, everything I've heard about motherhood is completely and absolutely true. You give up your body, your sleep, your size 7 1/2 shoes.. lol. But you are given so much more. I seriously melt inside when his face lights up with a grin. The past few days I've been greeted with a smile when I find him fussing in his bed. He is happy to see me! He knows I'm his mom. He knows I'm food... lol. If any of you have seen pictures or met this little chunk you'll know he knows how to eat. Not getting enough nutrition has never been a concern of ours. I always though I wanted a small baby. They're so sweet and tiny, and easier to pack around. But now, I wouldn't trade this little chunk for any thing! He's been so healthy and happy. We are truly blessed to be the parents of this "little" guy.

Last 2 months... Lots to cover

31 weeks, back when my feet weren't tempurpedic! lol

Brooke's last day at work. :( I'm so sad she left me. But how lucky we were to have had the time we did together. When Brooke returned from her maternity leave we were sat right next to each other, even though we were on different teams. We coordinated our meals, bathroom breaks and some would think even our wardrobes. That however was unintentional, but seemed to happen very often. lol Though I still get to see her, it's not the same. She's become one of my very best friends.  I MISS YOU BROOKE!

 

Not the cutest picture... but, non the less, the first picture of us in our NEW HOUSE! We really know how to celebrate. haha

Work Baby Shower, how adorable is this cake!?

Great friends Tara and Denyse put it together for me. Everything turned out great. Thanks girls!

Opening gifts, not sure what Crazy is doing in the background. lol

We had a Pinewood Derby and UOP high a few weeks ago. ;) and this is my team's. My manager cut it down and I did the art work. We weren't too fast, but we won Best in Show! Heck Yeah!

Brook and I painting the kitchen, had to crop the photo, no one wants to see prego bum crack! lol

I just had to add this picture. Kade worked so hard to get this fan up for us. I think we were all a little doubtful, even Kade. But he got it up and working, and it's still spinnin! Thanks Kad-e-O.

Huge thanks to all of our family and friends who have helped Ricky and I get moved and get ready for the baby. The Brimhalls were a huge help moving everything from our third story apartment loading it and driving across the valley. Also, thank you Johnsons and Reidheads for unloading help! Ricky's sister Andrea also helped in the move, maybe she was just ready to have us out of her house! ;) Thanks again Andrea for letting us crash your place for a few months. Brooke and Jay, thanks for the help with the back porch, you can't even see the paint spill anymore! haha Thanks for help moving as well! Aunt Ann and Uncle Karl... Thank you, thank you thank you! I don't know what we would have done with out you guys. They were able to help us finish all of our trim work in our house. It looks amazing! I hope I'm not missing anyone. We really do appreciate everything. I'm so thankful for my wonderful family (that includes my amazing friends, you are my family too!) I don't know what I would do without you. We're so excited to be closer to everyone and have the chance to have you all in our home. Please feel free to stop by anytime.

Pat's Run

I know my last post said I wouldn't be running this year, but I couldn't resist!

This race is quite the event and such a fun run. I'm thinking Baby Coen and I may have started a tradition!

My time was much slower than usual, but I kept a steady pace throughout, only stopping for a drink of water. I'd say that's not to bad for a pregnant lady. 

My next goal is PF Changs half marathon in January!

Countdowns

23 days till we move in                      
       52 days till baby shower
          (June 4th, mark your calendars)
                   & 86 days till baby Coen should be here!!!

Life is changing fast, and I know even faster it will go when I'm not wishing the days away, but holding on to each moment because with my little man I know days will go by as minutes.

The other day Ricky and I took the bikes out. His sister lives very close to Kiwanis Park so we rode over there and he let me watch an inning of girls softball. Oh the memories. It was funny because I did not wish to be playing, but imagined sitting in the stands cheering for my children. I can't wait... there I go again, wishing time away. I can wait.. and when it come it will be fun. But there are many years of scraped knees and catch in the backyard before that.

Other happenings... today my team from work volunteered at the Pat Tillman Run. It was a lot of fun. I wished I was running the race this year. I honestly feel up for it, I am just too cheap right now to pay the late registration fee. I have been running after work and during my lunch breaks still, not my typical length, a smaller loop. It's pretty funny the looks I get. I'm sure more funny to the on lookers than to me. ;) Oh well, I can't quit it just yet.

Most of the Cube-hood... Just missing Chris

Best egg sandwich ever! They were making fun of how fast I ate it. Who cares, I was starving! lol

Manager Jeff, Brooke and Retta

Demo of the shoe chip... got it?

Double Digits

House update- We've gotten the approval and we're shooting for a closing date the beginning of May! We are officially out of our apartment and living with Ricky's sister Andrea and brother in law Trent. We're having fun with our new roommates, but of course looking forward to the day we can finally be living in our own house. 

Baby is growing, growing, and I subsequently am growing as well! This week I hit my 100 day mark, we're in the double digits now. :)  I know he'll be here before we know it. Especially with everything happening with the house. We're so excited to meet our little boy. Though I love feeling him kicking and moving inside me, I just can't wait to have him in my arms.

Here is week 26 picture

Happy Birthday Daddy

Today is Ricky's Birthday. I am getting him a windshield for his car, which is much needed as some of you may know, but not the most exciting present ever. So I wanted to do something special for him. A friend of mine told me how cool the 3D ultrasounds are. We weren't planning on getting one, but I thought it would be a good present for Ricky. I surprised him, picked him up for lunch and took him to our 12 o clock appointment. We got to spend about 30 minutes watching little Coen. It was amazing. He's already so handsome! Ricky was glad he got to spend his birthday with his little boy. :)

We thought he had the Franco nose from the videos, but I think this picture looks a lot like his mama! The tech also kept talking about how perfect his lips are. Going to have to watch him with the baby girls!

This one is actually my favorite. If you look closely you can see his little face in the background. His legs are up around his head and yes those are his little boy parts. lol But look how adorable his little legs are. I just love him already!

The picture doesn't even do the cuteness justice. We got to see him actually yawn. Technology is incredible!

Happy Birthday Daddy Ricky. WE LOVE YOU!