October Came

After 39 weeks our little bug finally made her appearance. 

Isn't she wonderful?

Here we are, a family at last.

It was a surprise, being that i thought she was going to come late. Her due date was Oct 7 when October 2 rolled around, i wasn't planning on anything special. I got off work early, went home and cleaned the house, and my friend Kayla came over to visit me. We spent the evening catching up and she brought me a gift since she couldn't make it to my shower. She left and i told her i'd let her know about baby. 

That evening at 8:28 i had a small contraction. Thinking it was a braxton hicks i didn't think about it. i had another at 8:36, weird, two that close together. 9:34 and another one comes. then nothing. so Joe and i watch some netflix, and we went to bed about 11. At about 1130 i got up to use the bathroom. i was super uncomfortable, but just took my time and breathed. Then at 11:50 i had a real contraction. i went in and woke up Joe. Poor guy, only an hour of sleep. I kept track of my contractions at 12:04, 12:14, 12:26, 12:33, and 12:42. i called my doula, Annalaura, who told me to keep her posted as i progressed. Joe was an amazing support and my contractions started to become more intense. I spent a lot of time on a yoga ball, which was wonderful. i got in the shower and we had several contractions there. The most comfortable, oddly enough, was on the toilet. ha ha. 

We labored until about 2 at which point we decided to go to the hospital. My body wasn't coping well with the contractions, meaning i was throwing up with every one. Then as we got on our way, of course we got stopped at the long light on Center Street and State. ug. i almost told Joe to run it. we made it to the hospital though and i only have about 4 contractions in the car. :s As i got out of the car, Joe helped me out and i started to have a contraction so i had to sit down on the retaining wall outside Utah Valley Hospital. A nurse who must have been finishing her shift, brought me out a wheelchair. Joe wheeled me upstairs and i got settled in my room. 

I had my epidural just after Annalaura arrived. They had me rest while the baby descended through the stations so once i got comfortable i got to rest for a while. I started pushing about 6:45. Baby came at 10:31 am. We couldn't have been happier. well, maybe if i hadn't had to push for so long. haha. 

The Garden

Our big summer project was our garden. A wonderful man who lives across the street from us offered his property for anyone who wanted it for garden space. Of course i had to take advantage of it. Here's how it started out

A few starts, empty cages and string showing where seeds lay hidden in the ground. 

We worked hard picking out rocks, pulling weeds, tilling in compost and watering the plot. 

All summer we worked and boy our fruits were plentiful!

Here's when our corn came up! Too bad we only got to eat a few. a Storm blew them over. 

Here everything is, just a bit bigger!

We made stuffed zuchinni. yum!

Zucchini, kohlrabi, cucumber and tomatoes. 

Much bigger, look at those tomatoes!

My swisschard.

Huge harvest! tomatoes, beans, peppers, and cucumbers soon to be made into pickles!

These tomatoes all got canned into spaghetti sauce!

Dinner with corn and chard from the garden.

First corn and carrots. 

Hils Wedding

Happy Wedding Hilary and Sean!

 They are sooo happy!

Trudy toddled around.

Goofy guy. 

At our wedding Joe and i never got a picture with Grandpa Hogge, who sealed us. We decided to get one today.  

Here's the whole family, with Spence photo shopped in.

We are in love. 

Giants Game

Joe and i went to California a few days early before my sister in laws wedding for a Giants baseball game. We had such a great time! Walking through the city on my pregnant tired hips was slow but i really enjoyed taking the train under the bay.

Our seats were good. I really wanted to see a Splash Hit. No luck this time, i'll just have to hope for the next Giants game we go to.

It was a pretty hot day, and i got a little sunburned. I was glad we had a hat!

Pappa, Bradford, and Joe.

The Giants didn't win, but we had a great day.

Alaska Cruise part 7 Ship and other random pictures

We bought matching watches at the dollar store. You there are no clocks anywhere on the ship, cell phones don't work, and if you are in port and the ship leaves you are out of luck. We thought it was a good investment.

 More cool towel animals

We did a survey with the head chef and he sent this to our room as a thank you, two swans made our of pancake batter and chocolate mousse, and half a chocolate dipped strawberry.

This was our last day on the ship, we got a little sunburned even though it was cold.

Breakfast in our favorite outdoor restaurant on the ship.

Joe kicking back while we sailed.

Me enjoying the view after enjoying a cherry filled crepe. 

Another picture of be being silly with a bear.

Joe and a bear, this was in the Mount Roberts visitor center after we watched the film on Alaskan native culture.

Another crazy steep staircase.

Are you sick of me and bears yet?

Sarah Palin? 

I thought this was a cool statue, it was in Skagway.

The grand rag in the main theatre. Pretty cool peacock.

Me enjoying another crepe on another beautiful evening on ship.

Alaska Cruise Part 6 Last Stop Victoria

By the end of the cruise, we were tired. Stopping in Victoria ended up being fun though. We wanted to see Butchart Gardens, they are pretty famous and supposedly amazing. What we didn't know is you go from your ship to the town, then the gardens are 45 minutes away. No thanks. We walked around downtown, shopped, and enjoyed the harbor. Here's some proof.






Cool street preformer. we also saw a violin playing Darth Vader, and a man juggeling fire.

Neat old hotel.

House of Parliment in think. 

Pretty harbor.

Street artist drew this screwball on the sidewalk. looks like joe is standing on top of it huh? 

way cool!

this was supposedly the smallest alley in Canada. 

Way cooler at night! 

Canadian Royal Mountee Bear!

Giant lemon? heck yes!