Cosette

All I had to do was have a baby to finally do a post! As you know I had another little girl just over 2 weeks ago. I had a home delivery this time and wanted to share the story! Cosette Madeleine was born on Wednesday June 22nd, at 8:48pm. I had originally decided to do a home birth because Mercedes labour and delivery was so great that I knew it would have been that much better if it were at home, oh and if Gabe had been there! So I found my midwife Sherri Price when I was about 12 weeks pregnant and she was awesome. I was looking for a midwife that had the same beliefs and ideas as me about pregnancy, health and delivery so she was perfect!

Being pregnant is not one of my favorite things but as far as MY pregnancies go, this one was the easiest, but still not easy! Needless to say I was happy to be in labour 2 weeks early! The Friday before we had her, I was having contractions all evening and was praying that I could just have another week to prepare so my prayer was answered and I got a few more days. So Wednesday morning about 5:30 am I was woken up with contractions and I knew that this might be it. So I spent the morning tidying up and had to run to the store to get a few more items for the delivery. Meanwhile I was having contractions but only every 30 mins or so. Around noon I decided to call Sherri and ask her if she could check me out to see if anything was happening so I stopped off at her house on my way home and she told me that I was about 6cm dilated and 95% effaced and that I would in fact be delivering today! So we had made plans for her to come over around 8pm, after her last appointment unless I called her sooner.

My final hours of being pregnant

So I spent the afternoon relaxing as much as possible because I really wanted my girls to be in bed before I had the baby so I wouldn't have to call someone or worry about them. Around 6pm my contractions were getting worse and I knew that I had to call Sherri. Sherri and 2 apprentices came over right away and set everything up. Gabe and I put the girls to bed around 7pm so I could now just focus on having the baby! I had the tub filled and ready to go but didn't want to get in until I was ready to push. By this time I was 9.5 cm and Sherri told me I could start pushing anytime. So I jumped in the tub around 8pm. The water was fantastic and helped a lot with the contractions. It was very different being completely in charge of what was going on. I pushed when I wanted to, for how long I wanted to and that was very different from Mercedes delivery. So after about 5 or 6 big pushes she was out, Gabe had the opportunity to catch her on the way out so that was special for him!

Daddy cutting the cord

I was in the tub for a while after she was born until I delivered the placenta, which felt like it took forever! I just wanted to get out of the tub already. But eventually it happened and I jumped in the shower to rinse off and then into bed to breast-feed Cosette. She latched on right way and was a nursing champ from the start. Another thing that was very different with the home birth is how long Cosette remained attached to the placenta, they were waiting for it to stop pulsating before they cut the cord and that took about 45 min. I kept my placenta just in case I came down with any post partum depression but everything has been good so far. Cosette was 6lbs 10 oz and has been a wonderful little baby. She hates being naked and when she is hungry, she is hungry NOW, which I guess is most babies. She really doesn't cry much except to warn you that she needs attention. Kayla and Mercedes can't get enough of her and love holding her and kissing her cheeks all day long.

Morning after the birth

Warm Fuzzies

So the other day I am waiting for a friend in the Mount Timpanogos lobby and there were a few missionaries there and as they were entering the temple one of the sister missionaries looked at me and told me that I had a pretty smile. Now I don't think that she necessarily found my smile out of the ordinary but I do believe that she is one of those people that like to compliment others. And I was really surprised at how it affected me, and as a result I was looking for people to compliment all day long so I could let someone else feel how she had made me feel.

A simple act of kindness goes a long way. President Monson taught that these acts bless both "the giver and the receiver," with even one good deed having the power to affect many people.

We invite you to join the Warm Fuzzies Movement by doing acts of kindness and service, and then to represent your service. Visit http://www.deseretbook.com/warmfuzzy to enter your name and the act of kindness or service you have or plan to do. In January, we'll send your Warm Fuzzies to President Monson.

Here is a little video that you will enjoy!

Last night I went to my friend Miriam's place who is Veteran Mommy on Wholefoodmommies.com. Her mom met Sherri Hall the wife of Kevin Hall who wrote an amazing book called Aspire-The power of words. Kevin agreed to come and speak to a small group at Miriam's house free of charge! It was amazing! I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. His is big on discovering your purpose and your passion in life and inspires those to reach and exceed their potential, very neat guy.

Halloween Party

On Friday night we went to Grant and Emily's for a Halloween Party and it was great fun! Gabe and I dressed up as Cleopatra and Caesar!

Jasmine and Chase playing the "Apple Game". Couples had to hold an apple between their foreheads while Gabe called out commands, hilarious game!

Me, Emily, Jasmine and Samantha

The boys had to go through a plate of whipping cream and look for little spiders, the Milk Man won!

Family Pictures

So I finally decided to jump back on! Thanks to Becky ;) We took some family pictures last week and as Heidi knows it is hard to get "normal" pictures of my girls because Mercedes has the cheesiest smile and Kayla LOVES to pose and make faces. So out of about 100 pictures here are my favorites! The editing is thanks to Laura Taylor!

Family Vacation!

Last week Gabe, I and the girls went to Cancun! Gabe won a trip with work so we went as a family. We had a blast and I wouldn't say it was a "relaxing" holiday but it was great getting outside with the girls and swimming and playing!

Kayla's "boyfriend" Travis

We went to Xcaret one of the days which was a bit like sea world.

They had these tiny little baby turtles that were adorable!

We probably saw about 100 Iguanas on the grounds, and when Kayla saw one she said to Gabe, "His head looks like yours dad, because he lost his hair too!"

Gabe swimming with the girls!

Little did we know it was spring break so the hotel was packed but luckily we were in a different part of the hotel then all the students!

The resort had a ton of restaurants and this is us at the Thai restaurant having some lunch

Playing on the beach!

In Your Name

I have been immersed in helping my Mame out with her genealogy lately and it is easy to forget the importance of what you are doing as you are going through the motions. But every once in a while you are reminded. As I was flipping through the February ensign today I came across a poem by Sharon Price Anderson that read:

Descending

below all things,

bleeding sorrow

from every pore,

He was fully

bathed in grief

that we might be

cleansed,

rescued from

death and hell.

I descend marble

temple steps, enter

baptismal waters.

Completely immersed,

bearing His name

and yours,

I hold my breath,

emerging, rising.

May you inherit

everlasting life;

together may we

dwell in heaven.