New Year... New Life

Where has the time gone? I can't believe it's 2009 already! New Year's Eve this year was probably one of the most laid back, boring New Year's Eves I've ever had but it was one of the best. Chad wasn't feeling well so we just stayed home and watched LOST (so addicted) and spent time together, just our little family. It was fantastic!
As the new year starts, I can't help but think about how different our lives are from last year. We're parents now! I love being Mommy to this beautiful little boy. Haha even if it feels like he's eating 24/7. Tristan is so sweet and happy. I melt whenever he smiles at me. I thought I would be going stir-crazy being on maternity leave but I never did. I started back to work yesterday and really didn't want to. It was so hard! And I work from home! I can only imagine how hard it is for women who don't work at home, like my sister. We tried putting Tristan in his crib for the first time last night (it only lasted a few hours) and I could not fall asleep. I cried myself to sleep finally. I missed cuddling him to sleep and it just felt weird to not have him sleeping next to me. He's currently sleeping in his bassinet that is sitting next to my desk. I'm hoping that if he gets used to sleeping in there and I can let him fuss himself back to sleep without worrying about him waking up Chad, then I can transfer him to the crib soon without too much stress on either one of us.
We took Tristan to his 2 month check-up last Friday and the kid is a tank! His whole first month he didn't gain weight, we were fighting to get him back up to his birth-weight. He's definitely made up for it now. He was 13lbs, 2oz and 24 inches long. He's in the 95th percentile for both height and weight. The pediatrician told us to try and hold off until 4 months before giving him cereal but she said we'll probably end up having to start supplementing next month. He is hungry all the time and eats between 4 and 6 oz. each time. He's in 3-6 months clothes already and almost into stage 3 diapers. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though, it's not like Chad and I would have a small child since we're both so tall.

So excited for the Utes Bowl Game

Rocky loves him just as much as we do... sometimes too much! Sorry the pic's so bad, it's just from my phone. There was no camera available at the time and it was too cute to pass up.

Look at that toothless smile and the chubby cheeks! Gotta love it!

Formal Pics

Ryan took some fantastic photos of Tristan last weekend. Here are a few of my favorites. I can't wait for him to take our family pictures now!

Tristan!!!

Just a quick post with some pics of the munchkin. Tristan arrived on 10/31/08 at 12:44 am (yay I got my Halloween baby). He was 8lbs, 4oz and 21 1/2 inches long. He's beautiful and wonderful and I'm loving every minute of being a mommy!

Our Little Pirate

So stinkin' cute!

Heading home from the hospital

Sleeping with his Daddy

In Response to...

A few days ago I wrote a blog about my feelings about California's Proposition 8 and also on my opinion about homosexuality and gay marriage. I've recently received a couple of comments to that blog that I would like to respond to, so here it is.

First off, I asked for respect of my opinion when posting comments which I don't feel I received. I fully understand that there are many individuals that disagree with my opinion, including many of my close friends. I respect and welcome that. However, accusing someone of not following the prophet because I disagree with a stand that was made, is extremely offensive. Unfortunately, it seems to be a tactic that is used quite often by members of the LDS church, more often in Utah than elsewhere. Heavenly Father gave me this brain to think, question, analyze and wonder with and I'm grateful for that. I fully believe that he wants us to question everything; it will only make your testimony stronger, as it has mine.

I was not always of the opinion that people are born gay, though I've always thought that everyone should have the same rights as anyone else. It is through questioning, study and prayer that I've come to the realizations that I have. It is also through knowing and caring about people who have come out. I've noticed that many people who are so against gay marriage and homosexuality have not been a spectator to the agony that many go through before accepting who they are and coming out. A family member of a close friend recently came out after years of self-hatred, depression and anger about the feelings they'd ALWAYS had. Now that this individual has accepted that they were born this way and loves themself for who they are, they are happy. This person is also a strong member of the church and have one of the strongest testimonies I've ever seen. If it were your sister, brother, best friend, child, whoever, would you deny them happiness because you were always told that they were wrong? Would you shun them until they "decided" to live up to your standard of "normal" again? I certainly hope not. If so, I pity those individuals around you.

I'm not one who likes to debate (that would be my sister Halley). But I will always stand up for and defend those that I love and those that I feel are being treated unfairly. I will also fight, tooth and nail if I am attacked for my beliefs. Stating your opinion and attacking someone else because you disagree with them are two very different things. Please sit back and think about your approach before commenting. The only MORAL issue here is that we need to treat everyone the way that Christ taught us, with LOVE and without JUDGEMENT.


The last point I would like to make is this: I know that living in Utah, I'm most likely in the minority with my opinion. However, I had the courage to post a blog with said opinion and will happily voice that same opinion if asked and often, even when I'm not asked. My name and face are all over this blog, so that anyone would know who is stating her opinion. If you have such a strong belief about this (or anything else), have the courage to tell people who you are! By hiding behind the title of "anonymous" you just show that you are afraid. If you truly believe something, don't be a coward about it. State it proudly and stand by it! I would respect you and your opinion completely. Currently, I think you are a coward.

Locked and Loaded

We went to the doctor today for my (now) weekly checkup. I'm dilated to not quite 3 centimeters (she said somewhere between 2 1/2 and 3) and 70% effaced. The doctor also stripped my membranes to see if we can kick this into gear. So apparently I could go any time now. :) My doctor leaves on Nov. 3rd to go to Texas for 3 days so she can take her boards, which means she gets back the day before my due date. I'd really like it if she was the one to deliver Tristan since we've been through everything with her. I go back Monday (if he hasn't come that is) and she'll see if I've advanced any further and will try stripping the membranes again. If he hasn't come, we'll most likely schedule an inducement for November 1st. Wow! Haha I just knew when she checked me that I wasn't even going to have started dilating yet... guess I was wrong! The doctor said I've probably been laboring for the last couple weeks and just didn't notice. The most I've had is some minor cramping. I keep expecting for something to really hurt and let me know that it's labor pains but so far... no go.

We're as ready as we'll ever be. His bag is packed, the carseat is in the car and ready to go, his nursery is all finished (see the pics below). I have my bag basically ready... it's all together, just not in a bag yet. I'm not nervous yet... but just wait until I'm in labor and I'm sure it will be a whole other story!

Strange creature

This dog cracks me up... I just had to share. She's looking at the camera but she was sleeping just like this just seconds before. Does this really look comfortable? Rocky started out by being curled up next to me on the couch, then stretched out a bit and leaned into me, then slid her head down the belly to rest in my lap and last this position. I don't know how she sleeps like that!

Notice how spoiled the dogs are... we call them the Queens of Sheba because if they have the choice, they will A: sleep on the couch, B: find pillows on the ground and lay on those (they even dragged one of the couch pillows all the way upstairs to sleep on) or C: lay on the pile of cushions on the couch.

Proposition 8

I've seen a few blogs lately and heard comments that have really bothered me. And I feel like if I don't say something, that I seem like I agree with those statements. So here it is... I'm FOR gay marriage. Now I know that this makes me a "bad mormon" in some people's eyes. However, if being accepting of all people no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation makes me a bad mormon than I'm all for it! The fact that the church is encouraging people to vote a specific way in the California elections really pisses me off. First off, the church has always said that they DO NOT tell their members how to vote... well I guess that's not so true anymore is it? I know a lot of non-members who are convinced that members of the LDS church all vote a certain way because the leadership tells them what to do and until now I've been able to say no that's not true. The fact that the church has so openly encouraged the members in California to vote for Proposition 8 and told members that do not live there to encourage people they know in CA to vote for Proposition 8 will just make people think that we do in fact vote the way "we're told".

I do NOT believe that allowing two consenting adults to choose to marry is somehow going to destroy the family as it is considered today. A family is someone who will love and care for you. That could include a number of individuals, not just mom, dad and 2.5 children.

I do NOT believe that giving someone the right to spend their life with the person they love and cherish even if they are the same sex will hurt anyone else. It wasn't too long ago that inter-racial marriage was against the law in many states. Looking back, how stupid was that?

I DO believe that we are all God's children and it is not our place to judge anyone. We are told often that it is not up to us to judge anyone for the life they live.

I DO believe that teaching our children to be accepting and respectful of all people will make the world a better place.

I DO believe that we are born wired the way we are. Some of us are attracted to the opposite sex and some the same sex. That doesn't make anyone a bad or evil person.

All this Proposition is doing is pushing fear, hate and intolerance. Three things that we do not need in our world and should be fighting against, not for. So I would encourage anyone that I know in CA to vote AGAINST Prop. 8 on election day.

I do not mean to offend anyone with this post. If you disagree with my opinion, that is your right and I respect that. I simply felt the need to make my view known. Feel free to leave comments, just do so with respect to myself and others.

Cranky!

I've noticed I've been rather cranky lately. Or I just don't have the patience I did before. The littlest things are annoying me right now. :) But I can blame it all on the hormones right? I can't wait to get back to normal... althought I'm not sure that what I once considered normal will ever be the same again.
Today's latest thing that made me cranky: There's a couple in our birthing class that already drive me crazy. The husband especially! He's very opinionated about how the birthing process is supposed to go and what should or should not be done. And if he's contradicted, he gets condescending and snotty. A couple weeks ago, the teacher was discussing all the medical stuff involved in having a baby which included covering Epidurals and other drugs offered. When she was done she asked if everyone was planning on having a "natural birth". He scoffed and very snidely said, well I would think so if we're in this class. I of course had to say ummm actually... I'm not decided. I just want to be prepared as best I can for whatever happens. He looked at me like I was the devil and that I was going to burn in hell for even considering an epidural. So at today's class, the teacher brought in the empathy belly for the dads to try on and see how it feels (even though they'll never completely understand) and everyone BUT this guy tried it on. His wife kept trying to get him to do it and he flat out refused. He leaned over and told his wife that he didn't need to understand since he would never have to go through it. I about chucked my birthing book at his pin-head. Haha that would have been fun! Fortunately I only have one more week of class to contain my crankiness towards him. Hopefully I can make it! ;)

He's almost here and it's getting real!

We're down to 8 weeks until Tristan's due date and it's finally starting to sink in. I had to go get a new bassinet this week since ours was recalled. For those of you who don't know, Chad and I have had some baby stuff for about 2 1/2 years now. He likes to be prepared and we had some extra money to spend at the time so we bought some of our big stuff. We have a portable crib, swing, car seat / stroller combo and the bassinet. I really liked our bassinet but a couple weeks ago it was recalled because a couple of babies had essentially hung themselves in it. Yeah, definitely don't want that in our house! It was a Simplicity 3-in-1 Bassinet and oddly enough, Simplicity has yet to issue a safety recall. However, Babies-R-Us and a couple other stores have recalled it thankfully so we were able to return it and get our money back. I was fine with that until I couldn't find a bassinet that I liked as much. I had wanted one that would hook directly to our bed but I haven't had much luck, especially since our bed is so tall. I was finally able to settle on one that I liked. Though it doesn't hook to the bed, I love it. Here's a pic of it:

Isn't it cute! And the best part is that it matches our newly refurnished/decorated bedroom perfectly. The colors are an exact match! Notice the handles on the sides? Simply push the buttons in and the whole basket pops off for easy transportation around the house. Definitely a selling point for me! And my other favorite thing is that we'll get more than a couple months use out of this product because once Tristan moves into his bedroom to sleep, it converts to a baby bouncer. See:

I love it! Such a good idea! I came home and put it together right away (haha and have yet to move it upstairs out of the family room). As I was watching TV with Chad the other night I just kept looking at it. It's the first thing that we've bought that I'm really excited about and it made Tristan's arrival seem very real.

On another note, we started our birthing class last week. It lasts for 7 weeks, with the last 2 weeks being a class on breastfeeding. So hopefully he doesn't decide to come early or I may be calling those of you who have breastfed for pointers on what to do! Last week was pretty much a review of stuff we already knew and Chad said he felt like he was in Kindergarten because it was kind of boring and nothing new to us. This week should be a bit more enlightening since we will be going over labor and delivery. We are definitely the black sheep in our class though... we're the only ones with an actual doctor. Everyone else has a midwife. We also have the closest due date but I'm like half the size of the other girls in the class. Let me tell you... that got me a few dirty looks when I told everyone when we were due. It's not my fault I'm tall and have a long torso! Sheesh! ;) I haven't decided yet if I'm going the drug-free route or opt for the epidural. I'm leaning more towards an epidural but I do want to have the option to not do so. Hence, the birthing class. How many of you have had an epidural? Any suggestions or opinions on the matter?

Lastly, I had my first shower last weekend. My sister-in-law, Jennifer threw my "family" shower. It was fun and we got a bunch of cute stuff! This kid will be well dressed! :D Thanks Jen for the shower and to everyone that came!

Stretch Marks and Flintstone Feet

Wow, it's been over a month since I last wrote. I'm such a slacker! In my defense it has been a bit crazy the last couple of weeks. We went to Missouri to visit my family (and then go to Nauvoo for my sister's wedding). I don't mind Missouri in the spring time when it's rainy and comfortable but I don't know if I EVER want to go back in August. Hahaha at least not pregnant. It was around 100 degrees the first few days we were there (which I can handle) but on top of the heat was the 95% humidity! Ugh! My hands and feet were so swollen and no matter how much I elevated them they would not go back to normal. My new brother-in-law, Johnny, nicknamed me Brittany Rubble. :P The picture does not do justice to just how swollen they were! Now that we're home, back in the lovely dry desert weather my feet have gone back to mostly normal. Phew! I was worried they'd stay that way until November! I've also begun to get stretchmarks. Nothing horrible, but a few are a little random. I'll just lotion the belly up and hope for the best but I'm not super worried about it.

Now that I've whined a bit, I thought I would write my top 10 favorite things about being pregnant (I've only got 80 days to go until the due date so I better enjoy them now):

10. Now that I'm finally showing people are a lot more courteous, ie: they hold doors open, ask if I would like to go ahead of them in line, etc.

9. Complete strangers smile at me when they notice the belly.

8. Expectant Mother's parking at the mall! Normally I park in the back for the walk but my feet hurt enough as it is without adding walking across hot blacktop to it. ;)

7. Registering for all the cute baby stuff.

6. Envisioning Tristan and the nursery in said baby stuff.

5. Checking the pregnancy book every week to see where the baby is at in his growth and what he's up to in there.

4. Putting our nursery together.

3. Chad talking to his son via the belly. Makes me smile every time.

2. Tristan kicking/bumping/punching Chad's hand when he's talking to him.

1. Feeling Tristan move around at any given moment or watching my belly jump as he changes position.

I'm sure I could think of more things to add to the list but I think this is sufficient. It definitely makes the few inconveniences that come with being pregnant seem very minimal. Especially with how difficult it was for us to get here. Here's a more recent pic of the belly... 28 weeks along.