Olivia's First Laugh! June 7th, 2010

Livie,

You truly have blessed my life so much! I can’t express how grateful I am to be your mother. I love all the small and tender moments you bring. I love how the moment you see my face smiling at you; you smile the biggest, most loving smile back at me. I love to stare into your dark, big eyes. I feel like my soul is connecting with yours. I love to snuggle with you and daddy. I just feel so blessed and adored. I love to tickle your ten little toes, and to see how excited you get when I help you stand up on your legs. I love to watch you interact with daddy. He loves you so very much. I love how you get so excited to have bath time! You just kick around and get these huge smiles on your face! I love your little “bird feather” hair. I love how soft it is! I love to rock and sing to you in your little room. I love to dream about our future together!

My angel Olivia, I want you to know that your mommy loves her Savior, Jesus Christ, with all her heart and soul. She knows that He made it possible for our family to be sealed for all of the eternities. My heart would be broken if I didn’t get to have you and daddy forever. I want you to know that I know that Jesus Christ can always be with you. You will never be alone. He will be your best friend and support. He loves you and understands every hardship you will go through.

I testify that our Heavenly Father loves you with every piece of His heart. You are His beloved daughter. He dreams of the joy’s you will experience in your life. He knows how much you will grow as you go through your trials. There will be times were you will find yourself on your knee’s begging Heavenly Father for help, Livie, I promise that He will always answer your prayers. He will always be there.

You are my greatest blessing. I love you with all my heart my little Olivia and I always will.
With Love,
Your Momma

Olivia-

Your blessing day was so special on April 11th, 2010. I felt the spirit really strong as I got you ready for your special day. I felt so blessed that Heavenly Father has trusted me with such an incredible little angel. We had so many people come to support our family. The blessing circle was huge! Heavenly Father spoke to you through daddy’s blessing. They both love you more than you will ever know. Your daddy, Grandpa Finnegan, Grammy, Auntie Evelyn, and I all shared our testimonies of the Savior and the Love He has for you. We will always be with you to support you through all your dreams! We had desserts set up at our little house for everyone after. We felt so blessed to have such a wonderful family and examples for you. You will always have someone to turn to.

My Dear Little Livie-Bee-

How much joy you have brought into our life! Before you were born, your strong and amazing spirit would come visit me during the special and quiet moments in my life. I felt your spirit many times as I sat in the temple. I would feel your spirit sitting next to me and holding my hand. I felt your spirit comfort me as I went through trials. I have felt your spirit guide me through the important choices I have made in my life.

I loved to feel and watch you kick and move around in my belly. There was many times where daddy and I would put our hands on my belly and talk with you. You always seemed to respond with a huge kick! We loved to watch my belly grow- it meant you were coming soon!!

The day you were born was such a beautiful day! Your daddy and I were so excited that you were finally coming into the world and going to be such a wonderful part of our family. I had been having high blood pressure so we were scheduled for an induction in the morning of 3/2/10 (we felt like your birth date fit perfectly with the countdown).

Your daddy and I got up early and headed out to LDS hospital. I was so excited for you to come that I had everything ready for at least a month before. We got all checked in and set up in my room. Then the doctor came in and broke my water and found that I was dilated to a 3+ already. An hour later (9:30 a.m.), they started me on a medicine to make my contractions stronger and closer together.

We were given such a great nurse. Her name was Lynette. She was so sweet to mommy and helped encourage her with everything. At about 1 p.m. they checked me again and I was only dilated to a 4! I felt like it would take forever before I got to see you! Then they told me that I could have an epidural. Twenty minutes after the epidural, the nurse checked me again and I was dilated to an 8! We started to get really excited! We were so close!

The nurse called the doctor and checked me again at 3 p.m. I was now dilated to a 10! The doctor wanted me to just hang tight and relax for an hour while we waited for you to come down lower. The nurse gave me some oxygen and started to set everything up. She set up a mirror so that I could have the chance to see your head too! I had both your grandma’s and your daddy in there with me. Your daddy was up by my head holding my hand, and your grandma’s each helped support my legs. We had the phone on speakerphone too. The grandpa’s, your uncle Kyle, and auntie Kaity were all listening.

After a while of pushing, I started to get a bit worn out. Your wonderful daddy kept encouraging me. He started to tell me all the fun experience’s we soon would be having with you! He told me to just think about the times were we would walk to the park and have a picnic. He reminded me of the times we would get to hold you and kiss you. I started crying because I was so excited! Daddy kept kissing my cheek and telling me how much he loved me and how proud he was of me. After another half hour of pushing, I started to cry. The nurse was worried that something was wrong, so she asked me if I was in pain. I said, “No. I am just so excited to be a mom. I have wanted to be a mom for my entire life, and I am about to be!” The grandma’s were both crying now too. It was just such a beautiful moment.

Finally, we started to see your head! The nurse called the doctor again, and she said she would be over soon. The nurse had me just wait there and hold my legs up until the doctor came because you were going to come out with just a few pushes. After about 20 more minutes, finally, the doctor came! The nurse was right! You came out in about two more pushes! You were born at 5:47 p.m. They immediately put you on my chest and started to rub you clean. Everyone in the room was crying. You were finally here! This was truly one of the greatest blessings of my life!

With love,

your mommy