Look what Santa Left in Our Stocking!

Sorry this post is so late. Things have been kind of hectic as you can imagine, especially with family in town and the Holidays. Here is our little peanut in all his glory as promised (more pics on the video at the end). He has been such a joy in our lives and Doug and I both love being parents! Here is how it went down:

The day after Christmas, my water broke around 11 p.m. We decided to wait and see if I would start having contractions. With no luck, we ended up checking into the hospital on Saturday the 27 at 11 a.m. I was 70% effaced and dilated to a 1+, which is apparently really good for being so early. Doug and I decided to continue to wait rather than be induced and try to get contractions going on my own. Around 7 p.m. that night, we knew there was no other option but to be induced since I had only dilated another centimeter in the hours we had been at the hospital.

The HypnoBirthing techniques were extremely helpful, but I was so exhausted by the time they induced me, I was worried I wouldn't have what it took when it came time to push. Once I was dilated to 7-8 I decided to get the epidural which only worked on my left side. The anesthesiologist came and gave me another dose to try and catch up with how fast I was dilating, but it still wasn't taking effect on my right side. He pulled out the needle a bit and gave me another full dose. Still nothing. By this time I'm in the transition phase and not very happy. So he pulled out the needle and made a new site and gave me another dose. FOUR FULL DOSES plus the drip! Needless to say my left thigh was numb the entire next day. They called the doctor in when he was crowning. A few pushes later, Dallan joined our little family.

Although three weeks early, he was perfect in every way and had no complications, other than being a little jaundice. He is such a mellow little guy. As long as he is fed, changed and burped, he is so content. In the hospital it just felt like we were playing mom and dad! It was crazy to actually put him in the car seat and take him home with us. We still can't believe sometimes that he is ours!

Down a Birthing Companion

So last week Doug and I started a Hypnobirthing class to get ready for our new arrival. But alas, the second session is here and Doug is not. He's apparently too busy protecting and serving in Malaysia to be able to make it (that slacker.) So I'm down a birthing companion to say the least.

So if any of you feel so inclined to see what Hypnobirthing is all about, please do let me know. Don't worry, you won't have to hold my hand through any breathing exercises and such...unless you want to. The catch is, it's tonight (Wednesday) from 7-9:30. I thought I might have a sub but it fell through.

I'm not going to lie to you, the teacher is a little "different" but the concepts are sound!

He's Gonna Be a Big 'Un!

On Saturday, Doug and I are gonna be eight weeks-and anxiously counting-to greeting our little goober. He finally decided to pop out and say 'hey world!' Don't worry, not like Freddy Baby. Let's just say tying my running shoes is getting pre-tty tough (not to mention the running) and I'm seriously considering getting one of those long levers to help me pick up stuff I drop. Doug and I have bets on whether my cooker (aka bellybutton) is gonna pop or not. It's getting there. If I flex my abs it pops out, so I think I'll call a victory.

Here he is in all his glory.

My favorite is when the little kids at church or the store say "Mommy, she has a baby in her tummy!" I find myself proudly sticking him out as far as I can manage and patting him lightly. That'll do Dallan, that'll do.

Holy Crapola....

It's been awhile since I posted eh? Let's see, Halloween, our 2008 Convention, the Election and the beginning of my third trimester have come and gone...so much great content to work with! Alas, how time flies! I will try to do better. I promise.

I can't lay to rest Halloween though until I have properly given kudos to those at XanGo that went above and beyond. (We have the BEST freakin costumes ever there.) Observe:

Umm...homemade. Song and dance included. Emily, you are da bomb!

The Geico Caveman...ingenious! He looked just like him.

Haha! People in public didn't know if they were for real or not. Erin, you are da bomb!

Barbie herself, complete with a blow dryer and brush. In mint condition.

Homemade again...and ah-maz-ing. 8-9 feet tall.

Umm...Awesome...Tailor Maid does awesome Halloween makeup apparently.

And last, but definitely not least, Freddy Baby. I'm pretty proud of this one I must say. It was too much fun. Plus I got $100 bucks for it! Yeah, I went there.

Quirk Tag

I have been tagged by Kelsey.
Rules:

Link the person who tagged you
Mention the rules on your blog

Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours

Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them

Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers blogs

letting them know they have been tagged.

Quirk #1
Eating on Trays
I cannot eat on a food tray. It makes my eating area seem cluttered and makes me feel claustrophobic. Don't ask me why. This also applies to others near me eating on trays. I've had to learn throughout the years to control the urge to just grab their trays. Now I try to politely ask if I can remove it for them. If they decline, I just have to deal with it.

Quirk #2
Plaque on my Teeth
Ugh! This totally grosses me out. I cannot handle it. I got in a bad habit in my late teens of scratching it off my teeth, which I realize is just as gross as having it in the first place...but I cannot stand the feeling. I've been trying to break that habit by making sure I always have a toothbrush handy. I'm much better now than I was. But if you catch me picking at my teeth, don't be surprised.

Quirk #3
A Car Behind me for too Long
I'm not naturally a paranoid person. But if I notice a car behind me that has been taking all the same turns as me for too long, I start squirming. My imagination goes wild. More than a few times, I've wandered through the neighborhood till I was sure they weren't "following me" anymore before pulling into my driveway.

Quirk #4
Spongebob Squarepants
I've gotten into a bad habit of not being able to fall asleep without Spongebob on. I really need to break this one. It may help me fall asleep, but I'm sure it doesn't help with my current sleep deprivation. I'm sure that the little goober is going to come out knowing the theme song. Seriously.

Quirk #5
The Smell of Spit
The smell of spit is completely nauseating. Just thinking about it makes me sick. This was a pre-pregnancy problem too, so that's not it. I have my lovely brothers to blame for this quirk. One in particular. Don't ask...

Quirk #6
Candle Smoke
Candles smell so good, until you go to blow them out. Then all I can smell is smoke. Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of the candle? You can put the lid on and let it die out, but then you have this nasty looking candle. I have to blow them out outside.

Tell me that you still love me....

A Bit Sleep Deprived

Between my several nightly trips to the bathroom, constant adjusting all night, waking up to blow my nose because I can't breathe and moments of extreme thirst that I have to quench (although they will no doubt lead to another trip to the bathroom), I'm feeling a bit sleep deprived.

And it's showing.

Seems like unwanted dark under eye circles have become a constant companion, and I don't see it getting better anytime soon. It's really detracting from my "pregnancy glow". Anyone have suggestions for an under eye cream/makeup/concealer/technique/trick to help clad the evidence of restless night after restless night?

Take...

...one zuchinni from garden and put it in a gallon freezer bag.

Take one crookneck squash from garden and tuck it into bag snugly with zuchinni.

Throw in a couple of ripe, juicy, garden tomatoes

and

add a small bag of freshly cut basil and rosemary.

Seal and deliver with love.

VOILA!

August Visting Teaching is done.

I know, kind of a cop-out, but the secret ingredient that tied it all together was love.

I get an A for effort at least right?