Utah Vacation

We just got back from our Christmas vacation in Utah. We had such a great time! We were able to visit and spend time with both of our families. It was a trip we will always remember. Of course everyone was so excited to meet Charlie and I think they were a little excited to see us too :)
A few highlights from our trip:
*Charlie met his cousins
*His Aunts and Uncles

Aunt Chloe was nice enough to put on her swimsuit and give Charlie his baths
*and his Grandpas
(not all are pictured...that would be a little much)

*Dates with just Tony and I
*Temple Square Lights
*Family Home Evening's with Tony's family

*Charlie's Blessing
Tony was able to bless Charlie with both of our families present. The blessing was so beautiful. It was a very special day for Tony and I. We are so grateful for this little guy.
*Christmas
It was just a great vacation and we had such a great time visiting our families. We were so sad to leave them,
but are happy to be home.

Our Christmas!

There's nothing better than Christmas morning!
Here's some of our pictures....

Charlie waiting to open presents...the suspense was killing him :)

This is my favorite picture! He's smiling and rocking that bedhead.
Whoo hoo a new bottle!

Finding age appropriate toys was a little challenging, so we got a few things he can play with in the future. Pretty sure he didn't know this toy was there haha

Tony with his stocking presents

Charlie actually liked this present! It has dancing lights that captivated his attention

We're obviously first time parents because every present needed a picture! This one cracks me up because after about 15 minutes Charlie was just ready to go back to sleep. I think Christmas was just too exciting to enjoy longer than 20 minutes :)
So we let him sleep and opened up the rest of our presents.

We had so much fun! Now we get to look forward to two more Christmases with family!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Our Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Tree
Tomorrow we are getting on a plane and flying to be with our families for Christmas. We are so excited to see them! We're also excited to have lots of eager hands to hold and help with Charlie.

Since we'll be away for Christmas, we decided to have our own Christmas a little early. Last night was our Christmas Eve!

We made cookies, watched this...

and just enjoyed our time together as a family

We knew Charlie wouldn't understand the concept of opening presents, but we were still so excited to see him with his presents the next morning.
It was a great night!

Surgery

Right now I'm laying on my couch, sipping cranapple juice while Tony is taking care of Charlie. Yesterday I went into the hospital and left without my gallbladder.
When I was around 30 weeks pregnant I started getting these awful pains in between in my shoulder blades and under my rib cage. It was just constant pain lasting 40min to a few hours. Poor Tony would rub my back while I was throwing up or just laying down. Neither of us knew what on earth was going on! We called the doctor on call and was told it was probably just something I ate and I needed to take antacids (that made me feel like the biggest wimp ever) When the pains kept coming back I thought these were those false labor pains you read about so I just dealt with it.
After Charlie was born and I could feel the pain coming on again one day I was really surprised. I thought these pains were what was making me dilate and getting ready for labor. I asked the nurse about it at my six week appointment and she said gallbladder problems were common in pregnant women so eat a low fat diet to avoid flare ups.
Yesterday the pain came back again. It was so sad because Charlie was crying and I couldn't pick him up or anything, We just cried together. Tony was at work and he called and convinced me to call a doctor. I called a specialists office and the nurse said I could only come in if I was referred by my doctor. But she said if I really was having a gallbladder attack I needed to go to the emergency room...what?! That was first time anyone mentioned that! So Tony came home from work and we went to the emergency room. The pain had been going on for three and a half hours by now and I just wanted someone to do something!
Holy cow, the story is almost over. I promise.
We had an ultrasound and turns out I had several gallstones. The doctor said I needed my gallbladder removed so we stayed there and I went into surgery.
So in the end, I've had 10-12 gallbladder attacks at home and I could've had this taken care of a long time ago! I was too afraid of looking like a baby so I never went in to have it checked. So if you're pregnant and have pains like I described, don't listen to people telling you you're having braxton hicks, heartburn, etc.
The recovery should only be 2 days. The problem is that the incisions on my body are right where I hold and feed Charlie. Luckily, Tony is staying home and taking care of him.


phew... that was probably more info than you ever wanted to know!

Nativity

Last night our stake hosted a Christmas celebration that included a concert, nativity displays and a live nativity. Our family participated as Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus.

(I thought his bright green pacifier might be a little distracting so I opted for my finger instead)
I'm so glad we were able to be a part of this. It made me think and wonder about what it was like that first Christmas night. I can't imagine how special and also how scary that night must have been for Joseph and Mary. I wonder if they fully understood what that night meant for all of creation. I don't think you could.

We had a great time and this definitely put us in the Christmas spirit!

Our Little Helper

We sat Charlie down and had a heart to heart. With the messes he makes & the cost of diapers, he needs to start pulling his weight and help out the family.

Here he is doing laundry :)

Tummy Time Photos

Charlie loves holding his head up! He's constantly trying to look around and see what's going on. I've just started placing him on his stomach and he loves it.

I love the string of these photos!

This last one makes me laugh every time I see it

Thanksgiving in Kansas

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We took a little road trip up to Kansas to spend the holiday with my aunt's family and my grandparents. I'm so glad we were able to go! I hadn't seen them for years so it was really fun to catch up--plus I had to introduce them to Tony and Charlie!Charlie & Great Grandma Messer

Charlie with Great Grandpa Messer

Charlie loved Aunt Keri!

We can't wait to visit again!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!!

My Two Loves

Nothing makes me happier than seeing these two together.

Playing with mommy

Don't even try to tell me this smile is just gas!

A Few Thoughts

1. Tomorrow Charlie will be 1 month old! We have his 1 month check up this afternoon. I really hate going to the doctors office. I don't want some kid breathing on my precious baby and making him sick!
2. I went to the gym Monday night. It felt soooo good to be back, blowing off some steam and having nothing but the songs on my ipod to worry about.
3. Tony is so great. He brought me daisies last night-- I love them.
4. My dream of having a big family now scares me to death. I wonder if I'll ever be able to take care of more than one kid. I am so exhausted with just one! I feel like I can barely get anything done. And honestly, I don't want to go through labor again
5. My breast pump is priceless. I only pump once a day (twice at most). Just having one bottle in the fridge gives me relief knowing that I can take a break if I need/want to...like a break to go see New Moon :)
6. Next week is Thanksgiving! I'm so excited! We're going to my aunt's house in Kansas. I'm so glad we have family we can spend the holiday with.
7. My brother Brian comes home from his mission this Friday! I'm really sad I won't be there to see him in the airport. It feels like it has been much longer than two years.
8. I can't wait to put up our Christmas tree and nativities. I love Christmas!
9. I could hold, stare and kiss Charlie all day long...and I pretty much do just that. I love him!

That's it...just a few of my thoughts at the moment

Our Little Cutie

Well, we're getting in the groove of things around here! We're trying to find a routine that works for the three of us. My life pretty much revolves around changing diapers, feeding, burping and trying to catch a nap...all in that order and then repeat. I wouldn't have it any other way. I feel really blessed to be able to stay home with this little guy.



Charlie is just over three weeks old and I can't believe how fast time has flown by! It seems like he's been with us forever, but at the same time I'm still shocked we have a baby. I can't really explain it.

We're just love our little guy!

We're On Our Own

Tony's mom came out to visit and help with Charlie this past week. She left this morning and we are so sad--she was such a big help! I'm glad she was able to come spend time with Charlie and frankly I enjoyed the extra set of hands so I could catch up on sleep, showers...all those things that suddenly become a lot harder to do once a baby comes along. Plus it was great for us to spend some time together.

We loved our time with Grandma Gibson!

I love this picture!

Charlie has had a tongue thing going on lately

It's just the three of us now...we're on our own!

So Sweet...

How could you not love this face?

He's Here!

It has been just over a week since Charlie was born and it has been a whirlwind of happiness, late nights and pretty much everything else you can think of! It's amazing how much your life can change in a moment.

Here he is!

Charles David

Oct 22, 2009
Born 1:38 PM
8 lbs 3 oz
18-3/4" long

Our handsome boy Charlie!

I just LOVE his hair!

Here's the story:
We checked into the hospital the evening of Oct 21st.

We were being induced so I was put on cervidil to start the labor. My doctor really did a great job. The labor started very slowly and progessed wonderfully. It went as smoothly as I imagine it could have. I'm not saying it was easy...oh no, but we got through it without any complications.

My expectations for labor were this: I will be in so much pain I'll think I'm going to die. Right when I think I can't take it anymore, the baby will be born. Yep, that's pretty much how it went! I got an epidural so most of the labor went by easily. It definitely helped with the contraction pains, but I was surprised at how much I felt once I was almost fully dilated and while pushing. But it was all worth it once Charlie was here.

First few moments together
Daddy & Charlie

Our hospital stay was wonderful. I loved the nurses and it was definitely nice having staff bring medicine, food, etc whenever I needed it.

Hanging out in the hospital

But by the end of our stay we were ready to be home!

Getting ready to leave

Heading out!
My mom was able to come out on the 20th and left on the 28th. It was a HUGE help having her here! She cooked, cleaned, stayed up during the night...I'm so glad she came out. Thanks mom! We miss you!

Isn't he beautiful?

I can't believe he's ours. I keep staring at him thinking, "was he really inside me?" It's just a miracle. I've been waiting for this time my whole life and am so happy it is finally here!