Coming Home

I was so excited to go home from the hospital. I was looking forward to the comforts of my own home, and to having my family together. 

 That bulge in her left side is actually her knee. The outfit was way too big for her.

 She didn't like being put into her car seat, but once she was in....she was happy!

I was so happy to have her home. I just sat on the couch and stared at her for hours.

Two hours after we arrived home, Daniel's mom arrived. It was such a blessing to have her there. 5 days later his dad came by to visit. 

Lyla's Birth Story

I have thought about this story everyday since it happened. Replaying it over and over in my head. When you wait so long for something, and you finally get it, it seems very surreal. I still can't believe she is actually here. 

Before I got pregnant, I decided that I wanted all the pain medication that the hospital could offer during labor. Once I was pregnant, I ended up doing a lot of research about the pro's and con's of pain medication, including an epidural. I had read several blogs of friends who recently did home births, and how much they enjoyed the experience. So I made the decision to try go un-medicated. We signed up for a Lamaze class, and found a wonderful midwife. These midwives will only deliver in the hospital, which is exactly what I wanted for my first. I didn't want to risk anything going wrong. Due date: Sept 10th.

Aug 24th - 12:02am

I woke up for my usual potty break. When I stood up, I felt some leakage. I didn't know if I had just wet myself, or if my water had broken. After 10 mins in the bathroom, Daniel asked if I was okay. I told him I thought my water had broken. He very calmly got dressed, and started gathering our bags. I told him I wanted to wait at least an hour, to make sure my water had actually broken. 

1:10am

We arrived at the hospital. They checked, and confirmed that my water had broken, but that I was only dilated to a 1+ and 90% effaced. They hooked me up to an IV for some fluids while they monitored the baby for 20mins. Then they unhooked me from everything, and we went to the labor room where I changed out of the terrible hospital gown. 

2:20am

Since I was only dilated to a 1+, I figured I had a long night/day ahead of me, and decided to get into the jetted tub. By this time, my contractions had started, and were close together. The warm water really helped.

3:45am

My contractions were really intense, and I decided I couldn't be in the tub anymore, that I needed to move around. I asked my midwife to check to see how much progress I had made. I was now at 3cm. Still a long way to go. My midwife recommended taking something to help with the pain, so I could get some rest. Most first time mom's labor for up to 18hours, and she didn't want me to get tired out. I agreed to the medication. This helped take the edge off the contractions, but I still felt every single one.

6:05am

My contractions had become unbearable. My body started to involuntarily push. I started to question whether I could go through with this or not. I kept telling Daniel, "I don't think I can do this", "I don't want to do this anymore". When I told my midwife that I felt like pushing, she found that I had dilated to a 7, and 100% effaced. That's when Daniel said to me "This is the worse it's going to get." In our Lamaze class, we were taught that at 7cm, that's when the pain is the worse, and it eases after that. I knew then, that as long as it didn't get any worse, I could do this.

6:25am

My midwife told me to just push whenever my body felt like it. For me, this was my favorite part. Being able to just listen to my body, and not have someone else telling me what I had to do. The pain of contractions had completely disappeared, and all that remained was a desire to push. It was just Daniel, the nurse (Vicki), and my midwife (Melissa) in the room. The lights were off, and the room was quiet. It was everything I had hoped for. 

7:08am

Melissa told me to open my eyes and look down. When I opened my eyes, I saw my daughter for the first time, her eyes open and arms outstretched towards me. I held her in my arms under a blanket. She just lay there quietly. I couldn't believe what I had just done, and that she was finally here. She was perfect in every way.

I am so grateful to Daniel for being so amazing. The Lamaze class really helped him learn how best to help and support me during labor, and I'm so glad we took that class. There is no way I would have been able to go through labor without him. He stayed calm during the whole thing, and helped me to relax so that I could have the best experience. 

 With my midwife - Melissa. She was amazing and really helped me stay focused throughout my labor and delivery.

 We feel so incredibly blessed to have Lyla in our lives. It makes everything we went through to get her, absolutely worth it. 

Beautiful Belinda and Lyla

I (Daniel) felt like we needed some more pictures of Belinda one Saturday morning, so on our way out of the house I grabbed the camera and started snapping pictures.  I love this sequence, I started taking pictures really fast and pretended to be a photographer in a photoshoot.  Belinda thought it was funny and started laughing.  I can't get enough of that smile!

This one I love so much.  Lyla, we can't wait for you to be here!  Less than 5 weeks to go!

How to: Pit BBQ

Daniel here.  Just wanted to post a "how to do pit BBQ" post.  We had such a good time at the family reunion and the pit BBQ has been a tradition for as long as I can remember.  It was in Cle Elum, Washington, which is in the cascade mountains. More pictures to come from the reunion later.

 My parents with my nephew Parker setting up their giang GP-Medium tent.  My sister Katie-Beth in the background.

  Step 1: Dig a hole, 3 ft deep-ish.

Me in the hole.

Me not in the hole.

Step 2: Line the hole with big rocks and build a fire in the hole.

Uncle Mike, Nathan, Aunt Maurine, Briane, Megan

Watch it burn.

Belinda, watching it burn.  Isn't she sooo cutely pregnant!

Step 3: Wrap up an enormous amount of potatoes and meat in tinfoil.  Season it well.

Step 4: Wrap the meat and potatoes in wet burlap sacks.

Step 5:  Take out the burnt wood, leaving behind only the rocks (they should be very, very hot).

Step 6: Place the meat and potatoes in the pit, on top of the rocks, they will sizzle nicely.Then place extra wet burlap bags over everything.

Step 7:  Dump 15 gallons of water over everything (creating the steam that cooks the meat).  Have everyone possible next to it throw all the dirt on top as fast as possible to trap the steam.

Step 8: Make sure there are is no steam coming out, if there is cover it with more dirt.

Step 9: Let it cook for about 5-6 hours.  Take out the food and enjoy!

My dad enjoying a piece of the BBQ pork.

Also, ripsticks are cool.

Mid-South Baby Expo

On Saturday, Daniel and I went to the Mid-South Baby Expo. There were a ton of booths set up, all giving information about babies like dental care, bottle vs nursing, SIDS awearness, tummy time, car safety, furniture for the nursery...etc. We were there for about an hour, but the best part was all the free stuff we walked away with. I can't help but get excited!

Visit to the Dr

Yesterday we went to the Dr for an ultrasound. We had a 'trainee' doing the ultrasound so it took a really long time. She really wasn't very experienced. But the nice thing was that I got to lie there and stare at our lil baby for 45 mins. Our baby is a major wiggler and made things very difficult for her.

But in the end we found out that we are having a GIRL, and we are absolutely thrilled. It makes it so much more real now. I still wake up and think to myself 'I can't believe we are actually having a baby'.

Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and I

October 2007, Daniel and I had the privileged of attending the Saturday morning session of General Conference. There was one talk, that I still remember by Elder Spenser J. Condie.

He spoke about faith and the blessings of the Lord. He told a story about Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel that touched me so deeply, that I have never forgotten.

Sarah had prayed faithfully for a child. After 25 years, Sarah and Abraham were blessed with Isaac. Isaac grew up and married Rebekah, who too struggled with having children. 20 years later, and through their faith, they were blessed with Esau and Jacob. Jacob grew up to marry Leah and Rachel, the daughters of Laban. Leah bore 10 children, while Rachel's heart was broken, as she was barren and cried unto the Lord. “And God remembered Rachel” (Genesis 30:22). And she was blessed with the birth of Joseph and later the birth of Benjamin.

He finished his talk with:

'When heaven’s promises sometimes seem afar off, I pray that each of us will embrace these exceeding great and precious promises and never let go. And just as God remembered Rachel, God will remember you.'

I have thought about that last line a lot over the years. When Daniel and I first got married almost 7 years ago, we knew we wanted a family right away, and we wanted a big one. The more we struggled, the more my heart broke. This talk brought me comfort during those times, knowing that the Lord knew me. And just as He remembered Rachel, I prayed that He would one day remember me too.

And He has!!