The Stewarts

time for big girl pants...

2012-02-09T10:30:00.001-08:00

I guess you can say big girl pants OR a BIG GIRL BED!!! YEAH!!! After 3 and a half years of marriage with my husband done with Law School and working full time we are finally taking the plunge. We got a bedroom set... and it's BEAUTIFUL! I mean... Jaw dropping PERFECT over the moon PAST THE START just what I've always dreamed.. beautiful.

now.. I need to pick out my bedding... I've been scouring the internet for days and days... I'm not sure yet BUT I THINK I FOUND IT! in my mind... so I still have yet to actually lay my eyes upon it..

BE mine.. PRETTY PLEASE VALENTINE?

2012-02-06T20:50:00.000-08:00

Yes.. I love my husband everyday.. But I do love Valentine's Day. He has always tried to make it special. Our first Valentine's day he made me breakfast and delivered chocolates to me in the bathtub (he said I was supposed to eat them in there even at like 9am) and every year he gets me my favorite flowers. NOT cut. Fresh in the pot calla lilies. I love them...

And I can't wait to do something special just for my men!!!!

I'm so excited for this year! We have a TINY valentine and I am so excited!

diamonds are inspiration...

2012-02-04T20:33:00.000-08:00

this is my inspiration for my bathroom... Yes Diamonds can inspire many things.. tears... joy... and now my master bath. It will be centered all around this beautiful little piece I found when shopping a few weeks ago. It has a belt of diamonds.. A BELT. (ok.. not real ones.. My mom called these summer diamonds.. Some are.... some aren't. These aren't.) Of course I fell in love instantly!

5 month photos

2012-02-03T11:37:00.000-08:00

Home decor...

2012-02-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

ok I'm just getting ready to decorate my new space!!!!!! I've started with our guest bathroom and my baby's bedroom. Pictures to come this week!! It's going to be beautiful!!!

I took Chase shopping today and we picked out new colors for our living room! I can't wait to get it all put together! Sage green with some blue and a touch of orange and lots of shimmery gold/creams. CAN'T WAIT!!

now.. just to pick my master bedroom... I'm going with an off-white bedroom set all super chic with a touch of shabby. Now.. I'm thinking light blues?? with some yellow and cream.. BUT i'm not sure.

Master bath... CREAM and diamonds.. i know.. a little fancy.. BUT I CAN'T WAIT! it's actually going to be more french bistro.. you will see. Accents of deep red and navy with gold.

CAN'T WAIT FOR IT ALL TO COME TOGETHER! Wish me luck on finding the right pieces

it's enough

2012-01-29T22:07:00.000-08:00

I try and pay attention at church.. I really do. But when the baby is tossing his cookies all over me and I'm trying to dodge the throw up and he's pulling my hair out with all his little guy mite.. It's a little hard. BUT I did manage to pay attention in my favorite hour of church today. Relief Society. I love sitting together with a bunch of women (i'd prefer to know them a little better just so I can say I have friends there but soon I'm sure) and hearing that their lives are similar to mine. OF course not all mom's experience the same but they love the same and wish for the best for their little ones. They strive to be honest and to learn from their mistakes. It's comforting to hear others talk of trials, that they are willing to share so I might be able to learn from them is such a blessing. Of course I don't catch everything because i'm running out to change my son's blowout and get the throw up out of my hair. BUT what I managed to hear was just what i needed.

Sure, it's hard to think about some of the things I have struggled with and know I will always struggle with... Pride.. I don't want to have to rely on anyone else to help with my happiness... but of course when I admit that i'm Prideful.. the Lord has a way of reminding me that I need him. And I need the ladies in my life to be there to talk to and to have friends.. I need them too. And Drs... for so many things i need them.. And my husband. I couldn't continue my daily life and routine without him. As much as I act like I'm Ms. Independent I'm not. (but in a good way)

Faith. I like to think my faith can move mountains.. but I've never actually moved a mountain. Sure.. I packed up my stuff one day on a feeling.. (The story is pretty remarkable actually. I'll have to share it one day) and moved to Utah and met my husband the day I got here. He was the first person I met. Literally. I moved here to meet him I know that.. Sure for months and months I injected myself with steroids, all the while gaining weight and just HOPING for faith to have a baby, But still.

Hope. that is something I know somedays i'm in short supply of. Not as much now as before.. But I remember praying everyday to have hope that i might someday have a child. A little bundle of joy all my own. But I didn't really believe it. It took a lot of time on my knees for it to hit me that I was supposed to be a mom.

Patience.. hmmm Yep. that's in short supply sometimes. But i guess the fact that I'm still alive and so is Sean says I have some.. and for now thats enough.

I guess today what I was reminded of was actually that "it's enough" it's enough to try my hardest and still fail sometimes. I learn more that way. "It's enough" to pray, hoping the faith and hope will come, as long as I'm still praying. "It's enough" to move a metaphorical mountain and not a real one. "it's enough" that I made the leap and I'm still falling... As long as I know SOMEDAY he will catch me with one of his angels. I guess "it's enough" to know I'm not the perfect mother for every baby but when I see Chase, and he stops crying just because he sees me, or hears my humming or singing, I know right now? I'm the perfect mother for him. I guess even when I don't think I'M enough.. "it's enough" I'll keep trying.

my son in photos

2012-01-27T19:19:00.001-08:00

ok.. who would not love to wake up to this?? Every morning my son is the happiest boy I've ever seen. When I walk into his room I say "where's my baby!??" and it's instantly followed by squeals and laughter, sometimes even snorts. And by the time I get to his crib to look at him he is looking all around to try and find mom and a smile lights up his face as soon as he is looking at me. (I think it happens when he hears me but I can't see it. All i know is for sure when I'm looking at him he's already 100% committed to his 100,000,000,000 watt smile. I LOVE MY BABY.

to resolution or not to resolution...

2012-01-23T17:06:00.001-08:00

I know the title doesn't make grammatical sense but you know what I mean. New Years has come and gone and we are nearly done with January 2012. I can't believe where the time has gone.

Resolutions for me this year? Actually no. I didn't make a single one. I don't like the thought that i'll set these fantastic goals then fall short and give up.

BUT i will continue to do these things I've been doing.

Working out!!! yep! Since Chase was 4 weeks old I've been doing p90X and running.

Being the best mommy I can! I pour my heart and soul into that baby 24/7 and I will continue to do these things. He's my little angel.

Reading good books! YEP! I read everyday.

Crafting and making my house a home. I GET TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN! I did lots last year but this year I get to do a WHOLE house makeover not just baby Chase's room

Spending time with my husband!

yeah... I'll always have things I need to do and want to do! So i'll keep on doing them! I believe the saying "keep on keeping on" applies here.

PICTURES!!!! of my loves!!

2012-01-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR!!!

2012-01-22T21:00:00.000-08:00

My big boy screaming at the sun!! he was giving it a piece of his mind and mine. Love that little boy! This was just the other day and it's out of order in this post... BUT i wanted to put it on! Couldn't resist!!!

way too long since my last post! thanks for the reminder TAB!!! Totally miss you and big boy Sawyer! How is your baby bump coming???

We had many things happen since our last post! Thanksgiving! Christmas! NEw Years! and we MOVED!!! We are now residents of Bountiful! This is the first time we have moved off of State Street in the Provo area! We have moved 5 times in the last 3 years and it's been pain every time! But let me tell you.. All of them were a cake walk compared to this one... moving with a baby

changes EVERYTHING.

Lets start with Thanksgiving!

We spent it in Malad Idaho with Sean's family at his grandma's house. it was great! we got CHase's first christmas tree and we came home and decorated to the nines!! it was fantastic! We put up our tree on Saturday and it was beautiful. We had cut it down from the mountains (it was my first mountain tree) and it was BEAUTIFUL!!!!! The best tree we've had yet

Now.. Christmas! it started out so great! We spent it in Farmington with Sean's whole family. Dane and Cassidi even came home from richmond and got to hang out with us! Baby Chase has a thing for Cass so it was great. And Dane was loving the boys. That was so fun. AND THEN IT HIT!! Chase got a yeast infection on his face. BAD.

We did take Chase to his FIRST Jazz game!!!! HE WAS TERRIFIED!! but he's okay now with loud noises. It just really scared him at first!

it covered his whole face... For 3 weeks. THEN Christmas Eve Chase got the 24 hour flu.. He threw up and threw up.. It was so sad. Every two hours that night he would whimper and whimper then just heave... I had to have him drink water so he wouldn't dry heave. It made me cry... That was awful. So.. needless to say he didn't care one bit about his toys on Christmas. It took him over a week to get back to normal.

BUT since he got better he has been the happiest baby around. He laughs and smiles and talks to himself and rolls all round.

New Years! We went to bed early!! YAY!!!! Chase started sleeping really well. He was going to bed at 7 and waking up at 7! I have been in heaven!!! (it's changed now.. He goes to bed between 8 and 9:30 and sleeps till 8 to 10:30) it's been such a great change.

MOVING!!! We decided over Christmas it was time. We packed everything up and moved up to Bountiful. We now live on the top floor of these brand-new, nice condos in Bountiful. It has been quite a change but so far its been really good!!!! We love our new ward (there are TONS of sweet little old ladies and they love my baby so of course I love them) And Chase loves the attention so it's been fun for him... and TONS AND TONS of brand new babies. It's been so fun for me. AND for Chase!! he loves being the big baby!!

Chase and his activity!!:

AND AS OF YESTERDAY!!! HE IS A BACK TO TUMMY ROLLER!! not just a tummy to back.

AND he loves Skype! He gets to talk to his grandparents in California!!!! and they just eat it up!!!!! They love it!!!!!!!

He screams (with happiness) and laughs all the time.

He thinks its funny when he rolls to his back and plays when he is supposed to be sleeping.. THEN when you come in and catch him he LAUGHS and LAUGHS!

he can get his toes up to his mouth but he quite get them in his mouth.

He LOES his bouncer. JUMPS and jumps... using only his right foot.

He has made friends (BEST FRIENDS) with his reflection.

HE LOVES sitting in his highchair!! he thinks he's really big. The first time i put him in it he LAUGHED the WHOLE time. he couldn't even eat.. it was so funny!

AND he is a complete 100% mamma's boy. He is happiest when i'm playing with him and holding him BUT if I'm not he at least wants to be able to see me. He will twist and turn and nearly pull himself out of Sean's arms to watch mommy.

Chase has turned into a little cheerleader lover! His Auntie Megan Cheers for her Junior High and after the shock of the screaming and cheering he can't keep his eyes off them!

WE LOVE OUR LITTLE BOY!! who is not so little anymore!!! he's 5 months old now!

at his last check up in December he was only 12 pounds 6 ounces and in the 3rd percentile. my pint sized baby!!! He's PERFECT!!!

the last couple weeks!! in photos

2011-11-28T21:17:00.000-08:00

life as a balancing wife/mother

2011-11-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

I'm working my very hardest each moment of the day trying to be the best mom I can to my sweet tiny angel, baby Chase. I jump and run to him when he needs me and I feed him and I love on him all day long... Then my husband comes home! and I think.. hmmm I need to be such a good wife to him! Dinner should be done.. But... it's not! I should be dressed!! (not in workout clothes) and the house should be spotless! Chase should have on perfectly clean clothes and be fresh out of the bath!! AND I should be able to run and meet him at the door.. OK.. Well... All of those things do not happen. Sometimes I can fit in one... maybe two. Dinner can be done! but I don't have the house vacuumed! or I'll be dressed but there will be laundry needing to be folded and put away and the dishes are not done... the list of possible outcomes goes on and on. Oh, and don't forget that much needed grocery trip!!! If I even make it to the store I forget something... I can't remember everything of course! even with my list in hand! O dear... All I know is that I have a blessed life to have been given so much... And I guess somewhere deep down I know I don't need to do it all to show my husband I love him and that I'm thinking about him. Luckily he's so kind and patient. He has never once come home and said "um... Lauren??? what the CRAP did you do all day? and why is dinner not done???" or any one of those things I needed to get accomplished that day. He's so supportive. I just want to be better for him and my baby boy. And even when not even half of that list gets done? I know at the end of the day my baby knows he is loved and he is safe here... SEAN!! I hope you know I love you and I'm trying to be a better wife to you!!!!

growing baby boy!!!

2011-11-09T12:55:00.001-08:00

Some recent images of my growing baby boy!!! These were last week on his 11 week mark! I can't believe he's already that old but it feels like I've had him forever.I can't even remember life before him!!!! I love this baby boy!!!

family pictures!!!!!!!!!

2011-11-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit @ Erica Stewart Photography

since Halloween!!!

2011-11-07T20:04:00.000-08:00

Lots going on at our house these days. With a small baby the work load has gone up tenfold and the laundry has multiplied in such a way I can't count. But I love it. This last weekend we again were able to spend some time up in Farmington with Sean's family and we had some exciting visitors!! Sean's younger brother and his wife Cassidi few in from Richmond, VA where he is in medical school. It was so fun for us to see them with baby Chase. We show him pictures daily but he hadn't ever met them till Saturday morning. He was in love with his sweet Aunt Cass. When he saw her it was love at first sight. Smiles from ear to ear lit up his face and stayed for a full 24 hours. It was fantastic! Photo Credit @ Kara Elmore Photography

Lots of new developments in the Chris Stewart household. My sweet father-in-law is running for congress. He will be a candidate in the newly re-zoned 2nd district. There will be more to come on this! This is just a quick note!

Photo Credit @ Kara Elmore Photography

More exciting news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?? My baby brother Elder Trevor Floyd will be home TOMORROW! He will be putting his feet again on American soil after his 2 year mission in Ukraine!! We can't WAIT to have him back. He left October of 2009 and we haven't seen him since! It's crazy how much has changed since then. We hadn't even been married a full year when he left and now?? We will hit our 3 year mark in a couple weeks and we have a son! It's Trev's first nephew! And we can't wait for the boys to meet. I'm flying with baby Chase this Friday out to California to see my family and surprise Trevor. oooooo I'm so excited!!! AND TERRIFIED to take my baby on the plane. ANY TIPS WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!!

This is a picture of myself (WITH REALLY BAD RED HAIR) and my baby brother and daddy. This is the day Trevor went into the MTC. Here he is again!! Out of all my family Trevor and I have always been told we look alike. Twins, just born 4 years apart. I miss this brother of mine!!!Mom and Dad with their boy!! Such a proud and hard day. I know even now when I hear about missionaries going out and serving the Lord, thinking of my baby boy leaving kills me. I actually made my sweet mom stop singing missionary songs to him when he was about 2 weeks old because that thought nearly killed me! But what a humbling day, when your son is just about grown and he has made that decision to go and do what the Lord commanded of him. Two years of that young man's time in the service of our Lord completely. Forgetting himself and putting his schooling and "real life" on hold. Serving with all his might, mind and strength, then when he is about to fall short the Lord compensates for him, making his work go forth no matter what our ability is. He will help us do that great work. I'm so blessed to have grown up in a family where we were taught to love our Heavenly Father, and yes, it won't be an easy road we take but it will be worth it. I'm so proud of Trevor. He has been able to serve with Honor. And tomorrow? He will return with honor, having grown into a man through his service, struggles and willingness to let the Lord work through him, thus shaping the man Trevor has surely become. Such a neat thing for my parents and Trevor actually, my mom and dad went to Ukraine to pick him up! They did the same thing with my older brother Randall when he was done with his mission in Pusan, South Korea. (I actually got to go with them on that trip) And it was such an eye opening experience, I wish I had been able to go again this time to see where Trevor had served. But as a young mother with a tiny baby and a husband just out of law school that just wasn't possible. But I can't wait to hear all the stories and see Trevor talk about his mission. Here is a picture of my sweet parents in Ukraine with Trevor and a family from one of his areas!!!

hi SEan

2011-11-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

hey husband who is reading as i'm doing this... LOVE YOU

Happy Halloween night 1

2011-10-29T21:48:00.001-07:00

the many faces of Chase

2011-10-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

at the Stewart house

2011-10-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

With a tiny baby things change every day. His little personality comes out more and more and I fall in love a little deeper every day... and I thought my heart was already full to the brim. Not true
Amazing milestones:
Rolling over: YES. He actually has been since he was 6 and a half weeks. The first few times he was in his crib and we found him on his back. And now?? He rolls over anytime he is placed on his tummy. He hates tummy time... So... he gets off as fast as he can.

HOW DO I MAKE MY VIDEO's WORK???
Talking: my baby gabs baby talk all day long. He LOVES to tell me about everything he does. He confides in me when he's having a bad day and i love it! He is my talking and singing angel!

Crawling? UM HELLO!!??? CHASE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A TINY LITTLE BABY WHO DOESN'T REALLY MOVE! On Sunday, a few days ago, we were up in Farmington again to see the grandparents and I was stopping Chase from rolling over so his Grandpa and Dad could watch. It's just so fun! And he was getting mad. So my little man pulls his legs up underneath him throws himself forward. Well... he doesn't know how to use his arms to move forward so he lands headfirst about 6 inches ahead right on my ankle bone. It happened so fast and we were all in shock. Sean's whole family saw him lung ahead! My little one is certainly ahead of the game and gaining. He wants to be in control and he does what he wants. He will let us know if he's not happy and it's pretty funny.

Smile: of course my son is a smiling machine. He loves to show off his dimple on his left cheek and his gums. His smile is big and bright and so happy.

Pouting: He does this like a professional. His bottom lip comes out fast and furious and the waterworks follow very quickly. It's adorable. I LOVE his bottom lip pout. It's my favorite sad face... it's just SO sad. He gets me every time with that lip and I love it.

My baby is amazing. My baby is growing. My baby is happy. My baby is handsome. My baby is MY BABY.

Petting zoo and Pumpkins!

2011-10-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

This was really fun for us! Here are some pictures all taken with our new iPhone 4s. We had such a blast!!! Thanks for coming Lance and Erica and baby Ethan!!!

marathon training!

2011-10-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

Run Run, as fast as you can

you can't catch me!

I'm a marathon wo-man

As of today my sister-in-law and I are training to run our first 5K. We decided that it's time! We have both wanted to do it for a while! So we're pretty excited!!!! We don't have much time it's November 5th! We decided that we'll train and train but since we only have a couple weeks that we won't give ourselves a finish time goal till it's a day or so before!!! I can't WAIT for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 month stats!

2011-10-17T19:42:00.001-07:00

We had baby Chase's two month check up today!

And BOY is my son growing! Here are his stats:

weight: 10 lbs exactly = 13th percentile

length: 20 inches = 6th percentile

head circ: 38.99 cm = 26th percentile

He also got his shots today... That was sad for him and his mommy. But it felt good when I picked him up and he stopped crying almost immediately. That's one of my favorite things. He is definitely a mamma's boy. I have waited so long for a baby of my own and he makes me feel like the best mom in the world. He looks at me like I'm an angel and he makes me feel like I'm superwoman. I can and would do anything for my son. And he has decided to reward me with smiles even through those tears. It melts me heart when he smiles for me... And I love the quality time we get as mother and child. He is my little mad and I love him with all my heart.

2 months old today!!!

2011-10-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

HAPPY TWO MONTHS TO MY BEAUTIFUL SON!! CHASE WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! YOU BRING SO MUCH HAPPINESS TO OUR HOME!!

We spent the day up in Farmington Saturday with Sean's parents and little brother and baby sister. It was really fun for us. Chase has really started showing off his personality. He just barely figured out (like FRIDAY) that if he smiles at you, you will always smile back. So.. he spent Saturday working his charm on all who would look at him. It was really fun for his mommy and daddy to show him off like that. We got to meet Sean's cousins little one and just really have some good family time. Here are some pictures from that.

AND he has decided he LOVES to be naked. And he finally started peeing when his diaper comes off. He didn't for so long. And now he's almost 9 weeks old and he peeing EVERYWHERE on EVERYONE. And he loves it. Here he is spending time with Grandpa Stewart... AND just loving it. He sat there smiling up at him for a good solid 5 minutes. Only blinking, but his smile never faltered. PARK TIME WITH THE PARENTS!!!

I'm sure mom and dad enjoyed it more than Chase did...

It was so fun to watch Sean run all over the playground with his little boy.

8 weeks!!!!!

2011-10-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Son

2011-10-11T10:49:00.001-07:00

My husband is so fun to watch with his son... Chase is always so happy when he gets home. And it's been really amazing to see how much Sean loves his little boy and how they interact. Here are some pictures of the two of them!Chase falls asleep when Sean burps him...

He's passed out in this picture!Playing on the floor! I found them like this.

O I love it!!!

tiny little fighter

2011-10-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

My son is sick... Poor little guy. He has whooping cough and has been feeling rotten. Luckily the DR got him on antibiotics right off so we're hoping he kicks it very soon.
But I need to say something! As a mother I am making a request! If you are sick or have been around someone who is sick DO NOT VISIT A NEW BABY!!! And if it's impossible to avoid the visit WARN THE PARENTS SO THEY CAN MAKE SURE TO KEEP THAT CHILD AS FAR FROM THE SICK PERSON AS POSSIBLE. It's not fair to that child or the parents to expose that child to your cold/flu/ANYTHING possibly contagious.
Now with it being flu season, RSV season and whopping cough is running rampant wash your hands whenever possible... after going out of the house, getting the mail... ANYTIME you come into contact public high traffic areas or objects.! and if you are out and about with lots of people don't come to my house please. I won't have that around my child if I can prevent it. He hasn't been vaccinated yet because he's still not 2 months. So... lets make this real simple. We can skype but we won't have you in our home. Thanks.

back in the saddle

2011-10-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

I'm back behind the camera! After taking a break to have my son and recover I'm up and running again! Check out my latest shoot!

FALL SPECIAL!!!

Family pictures (2-10 people) usually run for $150 and that includes a CD at full resolution is available from now till December 1st for only $75. Book your appt now!!!

Send me an email @ stewartlaurenf@gmail.com

BellaClassico.Blogspot.com

my little sweetie pie

2011-10-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Chase... my funny boy. His little personality is really coming out. He loves when he does something that makes us laugh. He will continue to do it over and over till he's tired of it. It's really one of my favorite things. Here are some new pictures of him, my little love.

TUMMY TIME! Chase doesn't love to spend time on his tummy when he's awake

BUT it's how he sleeps. The ONLY way he'll sleep.

Here are his little shoe/socks! Converse for my son.

Pictures don't even begin to show you how cute they are. Fresh out of the bath and smelling so clean!!!

He's warming up here and getting dry before he gets all lotioned up!

a little me time

2011-10-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

While trying to get pregnant Sean and I tried a few different methods. The one that finally worked caused some unwanted weight-gain. Well.. I've always been really small so for me that was a really hard thing to accept. I've always been in really good shape and happy with my figure. That weight, plus what you gain from pregnancy, was of course all worth my beautiful son. But now? It's time for that to come off. My wonderful dad gave me P90X right at the end of my pregnancy so that I could do it once the baby was born (he knew I would have NO time to make it to the gym) So doing that 3-5 times a week has been great for me. I still have 20 pounds to go. BUT I'm finally feeling better and my clothes are looking more like they used to when I put them on.

I had gained 20 pounds doing our fertility treatment and then 25 during my pregnancy... So I'm down all my pregnancy weight and I've just got that fertility weight left to go. WISH ME LUCK!!!

Here I am the day we found out we were pregnant,

20lbs over my normal DR recommended weight.Here I am at 39 weeks, this is 2 days before I went into labor.

My belly really popped that last week. This is me at 25 more pounds from pregnancy.

Here I am 3 weeks ago, this was 4 weeks after giving birth.

Still a little more to go here

before pre-pregnancy weight.

I still have more to go but I'm getting there. With Chase finally starting to sleep better because his reflux and allergies are under control I have more time during the day and I'm loving it. I have one happy little baby and he's finally adjusting to life outside my belly and he's happy to see everyone. He smiles and he laughed for the first time for Sean the other day. I still have yet to hear it. He's my little angel! More pictures in the next post. ALL of my baby!!!!

FINALLY!

2011-09-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

We haven't had internet in our home for 2 months! I've been using my phone as a wi-fi hot spot and our neighbors! AND WE're BACK UP AND RUNNING! I'm thrilled. Now I can update my blog and get all my pictures on here and show off my baby is true mommy fashion!!! LETS GET THIS GOING!

my beautiful son

2011-09-26T20:46:00.001-07:00

Now that the medicine has kicked in and he's a little older Chase is doing much better. He has started smiling daily and crying less and less. The constant throwing up has almost stopped as well. That is... As long as he's not laid down after he eats. Also because of that diaper changes need to be fast and furious to get done before food comes back up. This happens no matter how long it's been since he ate. Dumb acid reflux. We will get rid of you someday!!! We've got medicine and lots of prayers backing me up on this. My little angel will kick you. Chase has been the light in my existance I have been waiting for. He has been the largest blessing in my life, second only to my wonderful husband who is the perfect father to my baby boy. I wake up every morning ready and happy to see that baby of mine. And since he's started sleeping in his own bed I really miss him when he wakes up, even at 2 or 4 or 5am. I am always happier than I was last time I got to see him. He is a special little boy. He brings such joy to our home and I can't imagine our life without him here. He lights up the lives of his parents in such a way neither Sean or I ever though possible. He is my gift straight from Heaven. I needed this little one in my life. I am so thankful he's finally here.

Now.. Time to show off my little guy!! Seriously. Get a load of these pictures. He's perfect!

baby Chase's birth

2011-09-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, August 16, 2011. What a day this was. It started really early for me. 2am bright and early.. OK not bright at all. It was still dark and we'd only been in bed for a couple of hours. I woke up with some really severe cramps. O boy did these hurt. I stayed in bed for a little bit but finally it was too much for me. I started walking back and forth in our upstairs. This did not help the pain one bit. So finally I got out my phone and started timing them. Sean was sleeping so I called my mom and she talked to me for the next half hour or so till I decided Sean shouldn't be asleep. He needed to be awake if I had to be awake.
O dear... Those cramps just kept on coming. Finally after timing them and seeing that they were only 1 minute to 3 minutes apart we decided to head to the hospital. (We called the DR first to ask) This was about 3:30. So... in we go and it takes a bit to get registered and all signed in. So around 4:30 the nurse was able to check me. HOLY CRAP. This was the worst so far! Nothing hurt me this bad. Apparently my son had drooped so low, AND all my parts are in my back pretty far, they had to do some serious digging to see where we were at. Nothing. To make me feel better she told me I was at a 1. nice... All that and NOTHING. They had to send me home. Dang dang. The sweet lady that she was gave me a shot of morphine in my butt and sent us on our way. That was about 5:30.
We got home right around 6 and went to sleep. 7am rolls around and those contractions are coming right through that morphine. O dear... So up again and walking. FINALLY around 9am when I was talking to my mom she says "LAUREN! why are you not timing your contractions!??" UM HELLO!! they just SENT ME HOME! I HAD NOTHING! But I started timing them anyways.. They were about 48 seconds apart... O great. my goodness. OK.. That's very close. So I go downstairs to tell Sean we need to head to the hospital. His response? "Why?? Are you hurting again? or.. are they closer together?" I informed him he wasn't allowed to ask questions. And Sean's little sister who happened to be spending the night let him know all he was allowed to do was say "Yes dear, lets go to the hospital." So we left at about 10:30 am
Upon arriving to the hospital (I couldn't talk at this point.. and walking?? I think I crawled) In I go and GREAT NEWS!! I'm at a 4!!! Fantastic! So immediately I asked for my epidural. Yes yes they tell me! We just have to empty half a bag of liquid into you first. So in goes my IV and I had to wait a little longer. About 20 minutes longer. They moved me to my room where we were delivering and checked me again while waiting for my very favorite person alive, the anesthesiologist, and I was at a 6. O dear.. 4 to 6 in that short time.. and BOY did that not feel good. But Luckily I had just met my nurses and they were fantastic. We got two. Michelle and Becki. (SHOUT OUT TO MY LADIES! I TELL EVERYONE HOW GREAT YOU ARE!) We got two because Michelle was transitioning to Labor and Delivery from the ER. I'm so glad she was.
SO.. Epidural. FANTASTIC! Who is wonder woman and pushed out a baby!?? Me! O yeah.. Because I had an epidural. Yep. I'm certain I couldn't have done it without. In comes the man of the day and gets me all set up and pain free in no time. I was still waiting for my epidural when they said "ok you're ready. Go ahead and lay on down." um? HELLO! I still wanted my epidural. LUCKY ME HAD ALREADY GOTTEN IT! Great news!
So I went to a 10 in next hour and a half or two hours I think. Maybe longer I can't remember. But I was really enjoying my time with the girls. We were so blessed to have them. I was able to talk and share my feelings and excitement with them. And after hearing about our road to babyhood, they were excited with us our our day.
4pm, I started pushing. My DR has the baby slide down naturally for 2 hours before you start working on getting him out. I was only able to push for a few contractions. Baby Chase's heartbeat was dropping pretty steep. So we had to wait for the DR and when he came I no longer had the option of pushing. He immediately took the necessary actions and pulled Chase out. I saw my son! His head of course out first, he was beautiful! Even all covered in the birth goo. He had a little rough start, fliud in his lungs and really fast breathing. Also his heartrate was low for about the first 24 hours. But he was here!! O my goodness he was perfect. A little blonde hair and a mineature of my husband. I was the happiest girl in the world! I had my husband and my son! Everything I could have ever wanted. And the best birthing staff ever put together. My DR, his nurses and my nurses. Sean and I can't say enough about those wonderful ladies who took care of me and my son. They even made sure Sean was fed.
Even when we changed nurses the service level stayed the same. We were so blessed those two days in the hospital to have their care and compassion. Our dreams of parenthood had finally come true. Great great. I love my son.

pictures

2011-09-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

learning at a young age, life's not always easy

2011-09-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

My dear little Chase was born three weeks ago tomorrow. I haven't had time to update anything since then. His birth was up to this point the highlight of my life (aside from finding then marrying my best friend) Chase had a little rough entry, trouble breathing, low heart rate and eating... That was hard for him. The first few days with him after we came home were very surreal for us. We couldn't believe he was finally here. And we were enjoying every minute!
Soon after we came home he started having trouble. He was miserable. Throwing up every feeding BIG TIME and soon it became throwing up every 5 to 10 minutes 24 hours a day. My poor son has been to see his DR 4 times in the last week and we ended up in the ER once. He was projectile vomiting across our whole room. Like.. 10 feet EASY without losing height. And he was crying all day long. He chocked when he ate and couldn't get any air. My poor son was really struggling. We were told he was probably allergic to my milk right off. We changed him to formula, that seemed to work for about 15 hours. The throwing up then started again. Not near as bad as with my breast milk but really bad. You could tell he was in constant pain. He was only 2 weeks old at this point. So again, we headed into the DR and they changed his formula again. This formula seemed to calm his belly. So not only was he not throwing up he had nearly stopped crying. Till that next morning. He was again throwing up just this last Saturday so off to the after hours clinic we went. It seems he has very severe acid reflux on top of his extremely sensitive stomach. My poor son.
Interesting this about this is Sean and I both said this was the problem at the first DR's appt. So... Finally the DR we saw Saturday (he was not the regular one Chase sees) had us feed him then he held him to feel his back and belly while he was trying to swallow. Immediately he said this was the problem. Chase was diagnosed in 5 minutes... After nearly a week of the run around from our other pediatrician. So needless to say we'll be switching. BUT FINALLY!!! my son is on medicine that is helping! He's still on the special pre-broken down formula for his tiny tummy. BUT he's also on meds for the acid reflux. There has been a night and day difference for him. He has been awake without crying!!! This hasn't happened for him since he was about 6 days old.
We've got two very happy parents. I have never hurt so bad watching another person as these last 3 weeks watching my son suffer. It has been the very hardest part about being a new parent. I don't mind the late night feedings, the sleeplessness, the diapers, the spit up or the crying. It's the pain he's been in. On the night we went into the ER I held him over the tub while he threw up. It was the worst thing I've seen in my life. My tiny little son, barely 6 lbs at that point throwing up so bad. It was awful.
Of course there have been many, many good things as well. And the good outweigh the bad. My son is so sweet. When he's not hurting, he laughs in his sleep. Not a little baby laugh. A big person laugh. It scared me the first time. But it's so funny. That laugh is always followed by a smile for about a whole minute. It's the cutest thing. One of my favorite things???? When other people hold him and he fusses... THEN mommy gets him back and he stops instantly, the quickly looks up towards my face. I love that my son knows who I am and wants to be with me. He's already a mamma's boy.
Another thing, everyone has said you fall in love with your husband all over again when you watch him become a daddy. True true. I love seeing them napping together... Or Sean trying to change his diaper before Chase cries. And how he talks to our son and plants those kisses all over his little head. It's sweet as sweet can be. So yes, Chase learned nearly immediately that life is not always easy, he has brought love and happiness in a way we never imagined into our home. Right now while I'm typing this up my son and his daddy are napping on the couch. I'm in love. LOVE LOVE LOVE with those boys. I'll never get enough.

Presenting our son!

2011-08-24T18:17:00.001-07:00

Chase Christopher Stewart
5 lbs 15 ounces

18 1/2 inches long

Born August 16 @ 5pm

nothing....

2011-08-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

So far.. here is what my body has done in the progress of labor:
1. NOTHING

and I'm due in 4 days... I have another appt today to see if any tiny little thing is happening... But so far no dice. no luck.. no hope of the end.. we're still very pregnant. dang dang.

Well... it's given me time to do some "me things" before his big grand entrance so I can't say all the waiting is all bad. I have gotten my toes done! and gone swimming and laid out by the pool! And I took my time cleaning everything like I have wanted to! AnD I have been able to spend some quite time at home reflecting on the last couple years and months and time I've been able to spend with my sweet husband.

When we got married and wanted kids right off I had no idea what I might be missing out on if they had actually come when we wanted them to. Sean and I have spent the last 3 years (well.. 2 and 3/4) playing house and getting to know each other. We have become better friends and great loves. It's been wonderful. Of course being a newlywed is fantastic but can I say IT GETS SO MUCH BETTER!! I love my companion... my husband... my very best friend... and I love that he knows me so well. I can't put anything past him. And he thinks I'm funny.. Even still. He is a great man and I love the time we've had as just husband and wife. Don't get me wrong in any way I would have LOVED to have children instead of the emotional roller coaster we had in trying for so long.. BUT i have been very blessed to have my husband to myself for the last few years. And now? I'm ready to share him with our son!!! I can't wait for baby Chase to finally grace us with his amazingly sweet presence. Sean keeps saying "It's finally our turn!! Its OUR turn!!" He's so excited to be a dad and I can't wait to be there to see that day!!! So.. Mr Chase... PLEASE ARRIVE SOON! MOMMY IS SICK OF BEING A HOUSE! (the throwing up and passing out and not being able to sit even until the sacrament is passed is getting old!) Hurry up and arrive... We can't wait to see that face!!! LOVE YOU SON!!!!

all ready!!!!!!!!!!

2011-08-05T12:05:00.001-07:00

So this morning I got up bright and early I couldn't sleep... So It started. I went through every single room and my entire house is now ready and done for my son's arrival! Now.. if only he would decide to come see me. My DR said there was maybe a 5% chance of him coming anytime before my next appt. So I'm not really hoping for a birth before next Wednesday,... BUT I'm hoping it will happen very soon after that. I have a shopping trip planned for today to pick up the last few things I need for his arrival. I just got my breast pump ordered and so that should be here next week!! Then... HOPEFULLY SO WILL MY SON!!!

arts and crafts!

2011-08-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

my sweet sister in law, Erica, and I have been working on some things for the home and this was our first project! more to come... don't you worry!

Bella Classico

2011-08-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

So I have been slacking on updating my pictures online. I have them done and edited.. I just didn't post them. Check out my blog they're up now! www.bellaclassico.blogspot.com

what to do what to do

2011-08-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

Today was quite eventful. Lots happened and it just added to my to do list that is a MUST before baby arrives. First, we had a DR's appt and it looks like baby is down and so ready but mom's body isn't quite ready to let go of the little dear. Nothing. No dilatation, no thinning of the cervix. Nada. Dang dang. BUT I guess that gives me more time. So I got to have my first day home today from working full time. I am now a stay at home mom (just waiting on my son) and a house wife. Wow. What a weird feeling. And now after spending a whole day at home I have lots of projects I found that I want to do. I decided to rearrange each one of my cubbards.. This will actually be a long process. You see, Sean, my very helpful husband puts things in different places from where I do. So... I'll just be fixing that. THEN after all those things are done?? I want to clean my carpets. And on top of all these things??? My brand new car we bought just for the baby's arrival?? Was side swiped BIG time tonight. It was a hit and run actually. I was parked at my brother in law's house and I was inside doing crafts with his wife and sometime during this time someone really did some damage to the drivers side rear door.. I mean.. it was really bad. The dent was so deep and long you could see it when you were walking up to it in the dark from over 30 feet away. Let me just tell you I was livid. We looked for a note.. There was none. SO... we walked around the parking lot and looked at all the cars till we actually found the one that hit us. So we got pictures of both cars and called the police. While we were waiting for the cops the person who owns the car? His roommate showed up and told us who's car it was and called him to come home to take care if it. So we called the police back and told them we'll take care of it and don't need them to come out. So We waited over 20 minutes for them to show and apparently it was his girlfriend who hit the car. She said these words upon walking in the door " WHAT HAPPENED!!???" um.. come on lady. You tell me!!!! YOU FREAKING SMASHED AND DENTED AND COMPLETELY RUINED MY ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR! I was so mad. SO i just waited for her to tell the rest of the story patiently. Finally she says "so I was pulling in, and like.. i couldn't tell if the car was in reverse or drive cause like.. it's broken, so I thought I smashed something but I didn't think I did so I just drove away and parked down the street" um.. yeah... you THOUGHT you SMASHED something?? AND conveniently you drove away and parked so that you were not by my car!???? HELLLLLO!?? The damage to my car is so bad and DEEP there is no WAY you didn't feel that when you ran into it. AND the funny thing is? When his roommate called him to come home his roommate asked him if they had hit a car and they were like "yeah. why?" and when he told them we were waiting at the house that didn't get a response... so... they finally came home. We got all their info and called in the claim tonight. But now I have to take my car in and get it fixed and we don't know how long that will take. I'm just hoping we have it back before the baby is born. But we have to wait for them to talk to the insured and hear them admit fault. So... hopefully this goes smoothly or we'll be going to court. BUT we have been to their house we know where they live and have all their insurance info and their roommate will testify on our behalf if we need him to.. So... This just went on my long list of things to do before the baby comes. But it looks like we have time since as of right now my body wants to keep him a little longer.

August????

2011-08-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

So yes... the end is drawing near and soon my sweet baby will be here. (that rhymes) It's becoming surreal for me as a women and wife that soon I will not only be taking care of the needs of my husband (and dog and cat) I'll have a son. Sean and I spent so much time waiting and wishing and praying that I can't believe my sweet little boy has finally decided he's nearly ready to join our family. Years of tears and watching everyone else's joy, then months of waiting and enjoying being pregnant and not having to share my son with anyone is all coming to a head to the big "D day" that is just around the corner.

Fears:

1. my baby being healthy

2. not knowing when or if I'm in labor
3. having a fast hard labor and not making it to the hospital or a 48 hour labor...
4. the unknown of labor and delivery (i don't know much so.. that's quite a bit) (PLEASE don't share horror stories with a first time expectant mother)
5. my epidural running out or not working....

Exciting moments I can't wait for:
1. Seeing my son for the first time
2. Holding him and introducing myself to him for real and not just through my belly
3. Looking at his little hands and feet
4. Becoming a mother
5. Watching Sean with his son for the first time
6. Sean becoming a father (he was born to do that)
7. Seeing my family together for the first time as father, mother and son
8. Introducing my son to his grandparents and aunts and uncles.
9. Learning how to breastfeed
10. Getting to wake up at night with MY SON
11. Being the one he cries for (cause you know baby boys love their mama)
12. Bringing Chase Christopher Stewart home
13. Changing MY baby boy's diapers
14. Sean getting peed on.... (hAAAAAAAAAAA can you just imagine!?)
15. Looking at my son and knowing he is mine and Sean's and he made me a mother and Sean a Father.
16. The baby blessing... It will be so fantastic and also the 1st time my dad and siblings will meet my son, and to hear what Sean and Heavenly Father say to my son
17. My mom coming to stay with us (Sean, myself and baby Chase)
18. Giving my baby baths (he might not be excited about this but I sure am!)
19. Showing off my little one to everyone I love
20. Being a family for the first time.

So obviously the exciting things WAY outweigh the fears. So at this point i just cant wait to my son's safe and timely arrival (I'm hoping...) I just want to see his little face!!!!!!!

baby Chase's bedroom!!!

2011-07-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

pregnancy thus far...

2011-07-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

has been... a long ride! But I have enjoyed it so much. I was really luck to not be sick at all in my first trimester. Yet... now that seems to have come back to bite me. Lots has been going on the last couple weeks. So the last few weeks I have been getting light headed and dizzy and that has turned into passing out and throwing up. It turns out that my baby cuts off my blood flow to my brain and there's nothing i can do about it. So... I pass out and then wake up throwing up... so fun! And I was put on bed rest, yet... sitting or laying for too long is what causes this problem. So.. walking is the only thing I can do to help it. But I can't walk 24/7 so... it seems i just end up getting sick. Sean has been great. Really willing to help and worries about me like any good husband. So I have been told NO TRAVELING. NO SITTING. NO WORKING. NO ANYTHING. So... I have one more day of work after today then i'll be done and I'll be able to follow DR's orders. Then I have an appt on Tuesday to see if I have started progressing at all so we may have the baby early!! YAY!!! We shall see. So that's all!!!

baby's room!!

2011-07-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

DR's appt updates!

2011-07-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

So met with my great DR yesterday and everything' is looking really good! Baby Chase is head down and ready to fly on out. Or... crawl out at a snails pace. We shall see. We have no idea. But he's about 5 lbs and right around 20 inches already... so.. DR did mention that we're going to be looking at going early since he has so little room to move. He's been extremely uncomfortable in my belly since about ... week 33 so we'll know more the beginning of August but he'll probably be here soon after that! Can't wait to meet my little monster/son!!!

Book club... yes I'm in a book club

2011-07-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

I have officially joined a book club and I purchased the first book for a group read! Funny thing.. I love to read. I read maybe 3 to 6 books a week depending on how fast I can get my hands on them. So... I'm excited and so is Sean. I'll finally have some lady friends to get together with! AnD I'll be able to talk about the books I LOVE and hate and my kid that I'll have soon! I can't wait. The first book we're reading is The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I can't wait. I have been running out of things to read so I am really looking forward to not having to pick every single book I read. So I think I'm going to start doing a book review on each one. Not that I'm qualified! BuT I do know if I like something or not my mom taught me how to be picky but to really give it a chance! So here goes NOTHING!!!

packing plan for the pregnant lady

2011-07-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

So I know I'll need to be careful and do this slow so I really need to use the time I have left for packing. Here is what I came up with
Friday 7/08
Picture frames
Hospital Bag

Saturday 7/09
Chase's bedroom
Dining room

Saturday 7/16
Family room
Food storage
Laundry room

Saturday 7/23
Master bedroom
Upstairs bathroom
Downstairs bathroom
Kitchen
dry foods
dishes (leaving only a set for Sean and myself till we actually move)
Under the stairs boxes
Attic boxes down

THEN 7/30 CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN

and pack up the animals

hospital MUST list..

2011-07-05T18:22:00.000-07:00

what do I take with me to the hospital??? Because we're packing and moving I want to have that done BEFORE I pack away all my things.. HELP!!!

Thanks!!

pregnancy up to this point..

2011-06-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Well life seems to be flying by as does this pregnancy. I mean... 10 months is a long time but I feel like it's going by really fast. I don't know if I'll be able to get everything done I want to! O dear... I hope I can. Maybe I'll have some extra help (any lady volunteers to help a 8 month pregnant lady pack and clean before the move!!!???) I know Sean will try and I love him for that.. HAA
baby is now?? over 17 inches long and about 4 and a half pounds. He is super healthy and very active. My DR did say at this point with how small my torso is and how close my ribs are to my hips I have a very uncomfortable baby and the rest of my pregnancy will be even harder than it is today. I can't imagine that. I've been hurting pretty much 24/7 for the last 3 weeks and my ribs on the right side are really sore and sleep is not happening. And breathing?? I guess I don't need as much air as I thought because I'm sure not getting it. Bending?? Who needs to bend. If I drop something that's where it stays. Right there on the floor. Unless I have a willing do-gooder there to rescue my pen or phone or anything off the floor. Let's see here.. Lowering myself into the bathtub?? O dear... haaaaaaaa. I'm sure that's funny to watch and if only you could be a fly on the way (IF it were appropriate) to see that art of bending and breathing and hard work in action... it's pretty funny.
Baby acrobatics. My child keeps me up and he wakes me up and he plays games all day. You can see just about every move he makes at this point and I love watching that. He's so funny and cute and I can't wait to see what he looks like.
Moving.. yes we should be the last weekend in July. Any men who have availability to come to the house to help!!??? I'll buy you pizza and pop for the help!!! July 30th!! lend your trucks or trailers or hands and backs!! whichever you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and of course you'll be showered with blessings for helping the pregnant lady out!!!
here goes the packing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

news news news...

2011-06-28T09:42:00.001-07:00

so... after waiting to hear back we did end up going under contract on that house!!!! so exciting. AND it's all coming together. This last week we had the inspection done and only a couple things needed to be fixed.. The water heater, the master bedroom sink and a broken window in the garage. After waiting for 4 days to hear back because of the weekend we finally heard back that they are paying for everything! And that was what needed to be done we're just glad they didn't put up a fight. So now we're waiting on the appraisal to make sure it's worth what we're paying (and FOR sure no worries there) Because it's been on the market for so long the price came down from 210,000 to something we can now afford.. It was quite the drop. I guess 145 days on the market with no movement will do that to you. Price was dropped 5 times and of course like a good buyer we offered less and got it for less. So if all the pieces keep falling into place we should be homeowners soon!!!

offer in PLACE!

2011-06-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

so.. we found a house yesterday. It was the 2nd one we looked and probably the 30th house we've seen. We still went and looked at about 13 houses yesterday but we just loved this one. So.. We put an offer in. We're waiting to hear back now. BUT if all goes well we will be the proud owners of this 2004 BEAUTIFUL family home!! the wait is going to be terrible I think... o dear!! we're praying it works out the way we feel like it should!!!

house hunting... again

2011-06-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

ok.. we started the search again. We shall see what happens. If we do decide to buy we'd like to move in the first week of August. We're going to look tomorrow morning.. I wonder what that will bring. For right now.???? We're both just hoping we can find that home that will be perfect for us. Wish us luck

30 weeks and one day pregnant

2011-06-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

only 9 weeks and 6 days till baby arrives here!

69 days till he makes his grand entrance

1656 hours till his debute!

We cannot wait to meet this little boy growing in my belly!

Yay!!!

we cannot wait to be parents!

Fighting against the cycle-Stop the abuse

2011-06-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine came to me today with something quite amazing. Melissa is one girl in a family with 5 brothers. She and I have become great friends here at Pinnacle where we work. Her oldest brother Nick has put together a program to help the Women's Safehouse in Denver. He is riding his bike from coast to coast in order to earn money to help women who are being abused and need help. You can find his site (which he'll update every chance he gets) www.anticycle.blog.com
Here you can find more information on what he's doing and why. Hope you get a chance to check it out.

big big BABY

2011-06-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

my kid is huge... therefore my belly is ENORMOUS. I'm just growing and growing. Cars stop and people stare at me out their windows. And people double and even triple take as i walk by. I love my belly. I love my baby. I can't wait to be his mother!
Hurry up baby Chase!!! Your mommy wants to meet you!

car shopping...

2011-06-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

So for the last 3 weeks all I have been doing is reading about cars online... And then?? traveling all over to dealerships looking for the "one". (Also, I have been talking to private sellers) Holy cow what a process. I mean... YES buying a car is a huge deal and it's very important for the next few years what kind I get, the money we decide to spend or NOT spend... and safety? That is my number one. Well... I have placed an offer in on hmmmm I think at this point 4 cars?? BUT they just were not willing to come down to the point that first of all, we felt the car was worth, and 2nd of all the what we wanted to pay and 3rd of all... it's fun to talk price and get it for the dollar amount I set. And not a penny more. That means, NO dealer fees, NO ANY OTHER FEES. The price of the car WE AGREE on and tax. No more.Well... after spending 3 very stressful weeks driving a car that shuts off WHILE I'm driving it I was finally just done and ready to feel safe in my vehicle. Especially while being so pregnant? I couldn't even imagine getting into a car accident at this point. So nope. I was not willing to compromise our saftey. But also as a couple, we were not willing to spend anything CLOSE to what the banks said they would lend us. And we wanted to make sure our monthly payments were low.. VERY low, while still getting a really good car for our money and efforts.
So?? After talking to dealers about a Pontiac Aztek (which I liked) and a Volkswagon Passat (which I also liked) and a Audi Quatro (which I liked) I finally found a car i LOVED that was in perfect condition, safe and much newer than the other cars I was looking at. Also... less miles. We found a Nissan Altima that we both really love. It's a great looking car and it has a large backseat for my child and car seat and another couple passengers. Also.. it just was well kept! The dash looked great with the CR player and not old like the other cars that had been in our price range and someone took great care of it when they owned it. That I appreciate. Since becoming a mother to be I have taken a whole new outlook on the word 'clean'. Yes.. I like things put away and the house vacuumed and everything in its place.. But BOY do i discenfect on a whole new level. When I clean out the tub and the sinks and even the toilet I clean them. Then I clean them again. (Rinsing and drying in between so I can check for ANYthing that's not perfectly done) and then I clean them again. And believe me there WILL be a white glove inspection when I'm done.. or when Sean's done... And so I just wanted my car to be the same. Very VERY clean. I don't want to put my child into a 'clean' car. I want to put him into a mother in her crazed nesting phase CLEAN car. So I was happy to find that this great, Maroon Nissan Altima 2003 that was low on miles and had a clean title and new breaks was the car for us.
WE get to go pick it up on Monday. It'll be detailed this weekend (just needs some vacuuming) and they were checking on thing on the car for us and then??? We get to leave with our car and I can drive it SAFELY to work every day till August 1st when I quit my job and then after that? I can use it to drive my little lovey baby around wherever he needs to go! YAY!! Can't wait to be a mommy!!! (And my car seat will look FANTASTIC in there! and the Trunk had lots of room for his stroller. WOOOOO HOOOOO! What a day it was.

post 200

2011-06-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

this is my 200th blog entry. So I decided to go back to the beginning and read through a few every month or two and just see what I was doing over two years ago. What a journey this has been for us.
I met my husband three years ago on June 1. The day I moved from Washington down here I met Sean Stewart. And o boy did my life change. We started out as friends (that didn't last long) and then dated for what... 5 days?? before we decided to get married. And then wanted to have kids right away. That's where it gets interesting. Of course we enjoyed being newlyweds before we really started worrying, having our first holidays together and settling into our first home together and making it our own. Really getting to know each other. Of course I was expecting for us to become parents soon but we were content to be together. Soon we were REALLY ready... About 5 months after we got married we started our journey towards pregnancy. And we fought against my body for what seemed like forever till we found away to work with it. After all... we needed my body if we were going to have kids. So work work work work until we got to where we are now!! only 10 weeks and 6 days left till our baby gets here. Two and a half years later we are now looking forward to meeting our baby and expanding our family to include him. Our hearts have been waiting to welcome him for a long time and we can't wait!!
Now our to do list before the baby gets here...
1. Get mommy a car. (Sean is driving my old car because his truck engine blew and he commutes) So we'll be car shopping most of the day
2. Get the fish tank out and the changing table all set up and ready for baby.
3. Buy a mattress for his crib and a a changing pad for the changing table.
4. Finish decorating the baby room!! (which I'm really enjoying)
5. Take care of myself so the baby continues to grow healthy and strong
6. A couple baby showers to celebrate our little bundle of joy
7. Enjoy my husband for the last couple months that it will be just him and I.

baby/pregnancy UPDATE!

2011-05-24T21:50:00.001-07:00

i'm growing. my baby is growing.. and getting much stronger. He has found not only the right side of my ribs but my left side as well.. Dang. I was hoping one side would stay a little safe but no... it won't. People now stop and touch my belly.. And honestly?? it wouldn't be so bad if they didn't push on him so hard!!! COME ON PEOPLE!!! MY BELLY ISN'T A BASKETBALL OR BEACH BALL! it's got my VITAL organs inside it AND a BABY! I didn't want people to touch my kid .. and by my kid I mean... my belly at ALL to begin with but now I just find myself wishing they would be gentle. Seriously. Holy crap. I didn't know people could be so dumb. But of course they just don't know and they don't mean to hurt me. So i just smile and say "if you just put your hand there and press a tiny bit he'll kick you" my son STOPS kicking when you throw him all around. but if you just give him a little pressure in one spot he will nearly 100% of the time kick you in response. So please.. Don't shove my belly out my back. There's no need. Thanks!
Also.. getting ready for the baby to get here.. his STROLLER AND CAR SEAT ARRIVED!! It took a while to get the stroller put together and it was a little hard... And it took longer then we thought it would.. BUT IT'S PERFECT!!!!!! I can't wait to use it! yay yay yay!!!

DIAPER BAG HEAVEN!!!

2011-05-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

ok... So I found it.. Loved it.. and ORDERED it! I can't wait for it to get here! AND I got it 25% off... check out this website: https://www.bellatunno.com AND if you sign it up for their newsletter that's how you get the discount... LOVE LOVE LOVE them.. So I can't wait for my bag to get here! FANTASTIC!

emotional mommy!

2011-05-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

O dear... this last week I haven't slept much... It's been getting harder to breathe for me and so I wake up lots... and rolling over?? doesn't happen. And if it does?? I have to wake all the way up and sit up to get it done. (Sean thinks that's funny) And if I drop something... it's staying on the floor. No questions asked.

And tears?? They seem to just be a flowing! Two nights this week I have gone to bed crying.. And not just a little bit. I can't seem to stop it... Dang it. Poor Sean. My sweet husband of course wants to help me stop... he can't. it seems no one can. And the sleeping (and by sleeping i mean not sleeping) is not helping at all...

And of course weight gain. Of course... I'm not fat. I never have been. I haven't ever been overweight.. But the weight gain has been a little hard. I gained 20 lbs before I even got pregnant from the fertility meds... And now?? the baby is getting bigger and so is my belly... and I have a little hard time with the numbers on the scale. But My baby is healthy and I'm healthy and my DR said the weight gain is right on track and I seem to be doing well.. I'll just have to lose everything from before baby and of course baby weight after my kid gets here. Sean promised to help lots so that I can have time for the gym... I'm lucky that I have my sweet sister in laws to talk to about all these things. One who just barely went thru this and one who has been thru it three times. so i'm in good hands.

BUT .. I say all these things but none of the are enough to take away the joy of our little boy! We cannot wait to meet him. i just thought it would be good to get a few of these things out of my brains and down on paper! (or on the computer!) We have been getting closer and closer to having everything in his room in order and all those big things we need are nearly here! The only things we have left to buy are: Pack'n'play for at our house, (my sweet mom gave us one that we'll have up in Farmington for when we go up there so we don't have to bring it every time) bouncer, gliding foot rest to go with our gliding chair and a diaper bag! and that's all I think! but I could be wrong.. We shall see!!!!

baby in the RIBS!

2011-05-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

today my son found my ribs. And needless to say... YEP he loves them. It didn't hurt but it was WEIRD! He was in my upper right side for most of the day today. Little boy Chase makes me laugh most of the day. He is a very active little man and he enjoys all his free time to do whatever the crap he wants in my belly. O how I love my little monster!!! I can't wait to meet him. Seeing our nephew, Ethan, come and join the family has made me all the more anxious to meet our little lovey boy. And I'm sure he can't wait to get here and change our family forever.
Just thinking about his arrival brings a flood of tears to my eyes. I can't believe it's finally happening! And it's getting closer! We only have BARELY 13 weeks left. I remember when we thought this would never happen.. And then everyone of course kept getting pregnant and having babies. I am pretty sure I cried for about a week solid when I heard the news of 2 of my very closest friends or family (won't say) told me they were expecting... And we were still trying. Giving up seemed like the best thing... and now??? Our little bundle is really coming! He's growing and getting ready for his big debut!!
The day Erica and Lance let us know she was ready to deliver I broke down and cried from excitement! I can't even imagine what it will be like when that day arrives finally for us. YAY! the countdown is really on now!!! Less the 95 days till Chase Christopher Stewart arrives!!! Can't wait!!!

Stroller?? CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-05-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

So every month Sean and I have been making one large baby purchase. Saving up and spacing it out.... Well So far we have gotten, his bassinet, his crib, his rocking chair, LOADs of fabrics for blankets, burp cloths, and then FINALLY today we got his stroller and car seat travel system ordered. I can't wait for it to arrive!!!!! I have been doing research and combing the Internet for the best deals on the best baby products. We picked Britax for the brand and we got it when it was on sale! The whole thing was 60% off PLUS we got free shipping and they paid tax on it... SOO... we got a great deal. AND it's exactly the colors I wanted to which I was happy about. Of course I wouldn't have cared if I couldn't get it in the red and black I wanted it in.. BUT I was just that much happier to see that it was in fact the color combination I wanted!! I can't wait to push it around the neighborhood with my little boy inside it!! August?? HURRY up PLEASE!

99 days till baby day!!!

2011-05-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

We are at less then 100 days FINALLY!!! Don't get me wrong.. We still have while. And in the words of my Dr "Don't get to excited you've got while and it's all downhill from here." He was so funny at this last check up. I went in and he says "Let me just see this baby" with that funny voice of his and then just grabs my belly and pokes around. Next he says, " Well, I hope you enjoyed last month and probably part of this next month will be good. But after that? All down hill. And let me tell you, you're not exactly tall so..." and he leaves it at that.

HAAAAAAAAA I really enjoy my visits with him. He's a good Dr, delivered over 25THOUSAND babies and boy is he funny. The office I go to is fantastic. The ladies he works with, the nurses and the ultrasound techs, are all wonderful. MY ultrasound tech calls me sis. For example she says "ook sis pull on up that shirt and hop up on this table." or " sis! how are you!!? How's the baby??" It was a little funny to me at first. I'd never had anyone call me that. Not even my little sister... So. but!! I love it. I'm very thankful we don't have to change DR's and OB's and offices like we were going to. I am thankful for all the help we were given to make this baby happen..

And I can't wait to meet him.
Our little nephew, Ethan, is so cute and so sweet and such a content baby. He decided when he came, and didn't come till he was ready. It makes us SOOO excited for the baby to get here. I think Chase will look lots like Ethan since their dad's look alike and firstborns tend to look like the dad. It's a nature thing. It was so fun to see Sean with the little guy... ah....... can't wait to see him with a child that's actually OURS!! a part of Sean and a part of me!!! YAY for babies and nature!!
Yesterday we added to the nursery!! We had taken about... 7 months to find the perfect gliding ROCKING chair that was COMFY with no exposed wood to that heaven forbid if I bumped my baby's head it will be all soft!!! And we found it.. Problem.. It was out of our price range.. BUT with a sale at babies and a 20% off coupon and the rest of the chair as a gift from my mother-in-law we were able to buy it!!!! So we got it all ordered yesterday and it should be here in like... 7 to 14 days! I can't WAIT to get it into his room! The room where he will be till at least January possibly longer! We're staying in our current house till we find something perfect for us. AND till we are ready. So house hunting will start up again after the new year. Which we both think is the perfect idea. YAY!!!

we have a nephew!!!!!!!!

2011-05-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

Here he is! Our first nephew! And boy is he so handsome.
Ethan James Stewart

We went in and saw him about 5 hours after he was born. And he was the most conten,t happy to be alive baby i've ever seen. He was just looking around watching everyone that came close enough to be by him. We got to hold him for like half an hour then we left pretty mommy and daddy to spend time with their little boy and get to know him a little better. and.. he got hungry... He was beautiful! And it made me so excited for our little one to get here. Anyways.. Here are some pictures!!! Hope you love him!

lots and LOTS of things

2011-05-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

since I posted last... well life keeps moving and it's hard to get caught back up once you miss out on your journal for a bit.. So I'll just do the things that have been happening these last two weeks... Sean graduated. California dreaming...hitting 25 weeks....

So Friday April 21st my wonderful husband graduated from BYU-law school and is now a JD. I am so proud of him. He has worked so hard the last three years to be able to put on that cap and gown and walk across that stage with his head held high while his wife cries up in the stands. And it was great. I won't forget that day. He looked so good in that black cap and gown. What a great day that was for both of us.

Yes I was and have been California dreaming for a LONG time. I have been waiting and WAITING patiently for the trip out to CA to see my wonderful family. And the car ride finally arrived. And boy was it a long car ride. On the way out there we broke it up into two days. We left after he graduated and drove till about 1am then went to sleep and woke up at 7am and kept on driving. I drove about12 of the 14 hours out there. I was so excited to go I just kept on driving and driving. AND there are parts of the road where I cannot be a passenger. I'll get so sick. And we nearly ran out of gas... and we had to stop and potty lots because I'm pregnant... and our little boy Rush had to take bathroom breaks lots of times too. But we finally made it! We got to CA to see my family!!!! I went shopping with my mom... and to dinner with them all.... my mom and I made baby Chase a quilt from the fabrics I brought out there, and from some she added to my pile with some from her fabric closet. And let me tell you.. about 13 hours later?? His quilt is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It was lots of work, but I'm perfectly happy with it. I designed the whole things, and i ironed and my mom cut and sewed and we worked and worked and worked and worked and worked.. AND THEN... it was DONE!!! We also got to go to the hospital where my mom works and have an ultrasound done so she could see baby Chase in action. He was such a good sport. showing all his funny things he loves to do and making sure we could still see his face and little feet and all of the important things.

and NEXT??? this Thursday I'll be 25 weeks pregnant!! MEANING... I only have 15 weeks left! and it's all growing bigger and gaining more weight from here! I can't believe we're well over half way done and we're going to be parents soon! What a great thing. We have looked forward to this for so long and it seems now that we don't have enough time to prepare.. to find a house... get it all in order.. move.. Pack up the house I'm in.. Get our life RESETTLED before the baby arrives... THEN become a mommy. O dear.. Lots of things BuT we cannot wait. What a great year this will be.

Dear Mom,

2011-04-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to see you this week! The day after tomorrow... right after Sean's graduation (which i'm so excited for) we are going to get in the car and head your way! I can't WAIT yay!!! We'll do so many fun things! And play games.. and tell jokes! AND I can't wait for baby Chase to get to meet you and hear your voice!
And.. I'm excited to make Chase's quilt with you.. and i'm excited to have you do the arm thing.. and the hair thing.. And I'm excited to just relax at HOME with my family!! Who I really do not see enough... seriously. NOT ENOUGH. I'm even excited for the car ride out there because I know I'll be so happy the whole way! Even bad TERRIBLE awful drivers won't make me sooo angry that I'll scream... which is good. My road rage has gone up a notch since I've been pregnant!

cant wait to see you mommy! LOVE YOU!! see you soon!!!

love,
LAUREN... me your daughter out here in UTAH!! miss you.. o yeah!!

LOOOONG saturday

2011-04-17T21:09:00.000-07:00

So.. Saturday we met up with our Realtor, Jared Fields. It was great. And by great I don't mean we found a house, but we really learned so much. We saw about 12 different properties and I learned that I really want to stay away from town homes/condos. I want privacy, I want my OWN yard and outside gardens I can take care of. And at this point I no longer want to share a wall with my neighbors. We are going to be going back out to look some more, but this weekend we're taking a trip out to California to see my parents!!! So it will have to wait till we get back from there. So we're looking at starting really getting down to business in May. YES YES YES! We cannot wait.

So you can tell there was a big change in plans. Sean and I were getting ready to move to Washington DC right after the baby is born... Well... we got a better offer and are staying here! We both feel really good about it. Then we're not leaving with our brand new baby and taking him over a thousand miles from his grandparents! We're much closer to both sets of parents here in Utah. So we're very thankful and excited to be remaining here in Utah. AND we're very exciting to be moving onto life after school. I'm so proud of my husband. He'll be graduating from BYU-Law this coming Thursday. YAY!!!

first time home buyers???

2011-04-15T19:11:00.001-07:00

It is extremely possibly Sean and I will own our first house before the summer is over!! And before baby gets here! This all started when we began looking for rentals up in Davis county which is where Sean's job will be.. Well... There was not much. AND it was all really expensive! Way more than we're paying now. AND no where near as nice. So.. that brought up town homes... and possibility of looking into one of those. Then we did calculating your mortgage payments.. And we could pay the same in a mortgage right now for a beautiful home or town home.
So.. we started looking and we talked to a few Realtor.. then we talked to a lender... then we found some houses we wanted to see... so we called one of the Realtor back and also his lender. well... we had started looking within a price range we thought would be good for us. THEN we thought..um.. better check and see what we can qualify for. So we went ahead and got pre-approved today!!! And wow did they approve us. Of course we are not going to spend near what they said we can. BUT WE ARE PRE-APPROVED!! We can really start looking! And we can't wait! What a good feeling and such an exciting day for us.
Tomorrow??? Well, we gave Jared our Realtor a list of about 20 houses and he'll be showing us about 10 to 12 of them. We can't wait! yeah yeah!!

growing baby!

2011-04-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

o i love this baby!!! He's getting sooooo big. Kicking all the time.. doing tricks and playing games. I'm sure he's already telling jokes and planning tricks to play on his big brother and sister, Rush and Hannity. We just went in last week on Monday for our 20 week check up and BOY was our little guy bouncy. He was so full of movement that they couldn't even see him. It was just a black and white image bouncing back and forth... First I thought there was something wrong with the machine. Till the nurse says "wow you've got a mighty wiggly boy in there." It was our son. Flying back and forth across my tummy. The whole time he was just rolling and playing and kicking and BOXING!!!! Chase had his little fists up protecting his face then he was PUNCHING my tummy!!! I thought it was him kicking me i felt all the time but NOPE! My little kid has got a great punch.

I did end up getting sick during the ultrasound. I guess the laying on my back for that long makes a pregnant lady sick. I puked.. Yepp. Bright BLUE throw up. (my kapri sun that morning was blue water cooler) So.. that's what I threw up. Anyways. It didn't seem to bother the baby. He just kept moving and they did all his measurements and checked his parts, heart, liver, brain, legs, arms, and kidney.. ETC. You know.. all the important parts. And they were all there and healthy! Yay! My baby is such a growing machine!

THEN!! Today!?? I SAW him kick my belly! his little foot or fist or whatever he was using came up and pushed my tummy right out!! And I can even still feel him doing it now as I type.. He's just regular tough guy!! So strong!!! YAY! Can't wait to see him in 18 and a half weeks!

baby sister for Rush....

2011-04-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

We brought home a new family member this weekend... and what a doll she is. Of course she was a little scared at first and very shy with Rush but it's only been a day and she's already fitting in perfectly! We love her. She is very tiny, very soft and very much a girl. We had thought we were getting a boy and had a boy name picked out and now that we found out she's a girl that changes things. We were going to go with Beck, keeping in line with the theme Rush's name created. But... she's a girl.. a little princess and I think she should have a good girl name.. BUT i can't help wanting to keep with the theme. We're thinking Hanity. We'll see if it sticks. For now we've been calling her kitty... And she actually comes when you call her. (well... when I call her she does) Of course she figured out I was the mom in short order and loves to snuggle me and she puts up with Sean when he wants to cuddle her as well. Which only seems to be when I'm snuggling the little girl.. then he gets it into his head that it's his turn.

ok.. you are probably thinking.. wow a new kitten with your puppy RIGHT before the baby is born. Well.. don't think we hadn't thought about it. Here's what it comes down to. Rush was an order from the DR. When we couldn't get pregnant and I was so sad and angry with everyone I saw the DR thought something small to love and hold and baby would be just the right medicine for me. For me he was depression medication without a refill every 30 days which was the other option. And cure me he did. I had a baby. Yes.. I didn't carry him and he's not human and can't say mom and dad.. But he was my first baby. My baby while the Lord was refining my patience. And with a new baby coming everyone says "o your dog will be so jealous." "o your dog will hate the baby." and so on. So many things that sounded terrible for little Rush. I don't want him to be lonely when the baby comes. So... a little brother or sister he could actually play with seemed like the best option for us and for him. Getting rid of my dog was never an option. But pushing him our and making him sad didn't sound to good either. So here he now has little sister to play with and to occupy his time. And they really seem to love each other. Though... sometimes I think she gets him confused with a mom.. that she can nurse from.. He doesn't let that happen but it doesn't stop her from trying!!
I love my little family!! yes... 2 of the five of us are on four legs and one is snug as a bug in a rug in my belly but we seem to get along just great!!

a giant falls.....

2011-04-01T21:57:00.001-07:00

Grandma Shirley Mae Swank, may have only been about 4'9 and 65 pounds soaking wet but she packed a punch of someone much larger then her size. In the last month I have lost two of my grandparents and with that, memories that won't be made with mine and Sean's children. Of course they are happier and without pain now but when I think of them meeting my children for the first time, or even my husband who they never had the chance to meet it brings tears that sing to my eyes.

I have wonderful memories of my grandparents and I'd like to write a few down so that someday my kids can read about them. I'll got from recent to past.

A few months ago when we found out we were pregnant I was able to call my grandma (after calling her a few months before to share our fertility struggles with her) and to tell her we were having a baby. Of course she was getting close to the end and was really tired and this is how the conversation went

"Grandma? It's me Lauren." i said loudly into the phone pronouncing my name carefully

"O Hi Lauren. Glad you called. How are you sweetheart?" A thick accented reply came from my tiny grandma.

"Grandma I have some great news! We're finally pregnant! And we're going to have a baby. I want you to know we are planning on naming our children after you and grandpa Jay. We think that's really important and I wanted you to know that and tell you how much i love you." i tell her

"........................................................." Silence for a minute or so....

"O sweetheart, thank you so much. I'm so excited for you and I'm honored you would think about us to use our names. Well, I've got to go spread the word! I love you! bye!" she said.

"bye, I love you grandma." I tell her quickly.

"love you sweetheart, bye" she said and hung right up. This was actually the last time I spoke with her on the phone before she passed. Short but she knew I loved her. You could tell she was tired and needed to get off the phone but you couldn't miss the calm layer, over the soft grandma, trying not to cry in her voice.

My next memory I want to share is when I was about 15 years old. I had gone out to Georgia to see my Aunt and Uncle and their kids and my Grandma as well who was living with them. She was younger at this point and not as frail, but I really only remember her as tiny and breakable.( and her size 2 and a half NARROW shoe size) One day while I was out there she wanted to take me shopping and so we got all ready and went outside to get in the car and go. Well.. one tiny problem. My aunt and uncle lived on a steep hill and their driveway called for an E-Break on at all times when not driving. Grandma couldn't get the break down. We got in and got ready to go, I had no idea why we were still in the driveway about 5 minutes later. Finally grandma says "Sweetheart, can you please put the break down? I can't get it." I look at her, use my left had which was closest and put it down then off we go. She just smiles and said thanks. And we headed off... HAAAAAAAA I won't ever forget this.

The next one was on the same trip actually. I was upstairs and the phone rang. I grabbed it and they asked for my grandma. So.... I ran downstairs to find her and give her the phone. She was in the bathroom brushing her teeth.. Well her teeth were in her hand and she was brushing her gums... And she couldn't talk. I didn't know what to say... so I just tell her the phone is for her. This is her response "ust inute," I think she was saying just a minute???? I was startled. I'd never seen her with her teeth out before. OF course I had seen them on the counter in their jar when she went to bed... But I'd never seen her try and talk without them. That also I will never forget...

Those are just three of my favorite memories of my grandma. I love that women. And My grandpa as well. I didn't know him that well and really can't even remember how many times I saw him in my life. But I knew he loved me. And more importantly I knew he loved my mom and that my mom loved him. My child will grow up without ever meeting his great grandparents on my mom's side and while that hurts me, I know they were both very ready to go. My Grandma Shirley to meet her love Jay who died when I was in 6th grade and my Grandpa Bill who couldn't stand to be here without Shirley, the mother of his children.

And of all the things i love my grandparents for, I love them for my mom the most. If you have ever met her you know she is the best and strongest person you've ever met. You walk away feeling priviledged to have met her. She grew up in a home much different than the one I knew. She paved out a life for herself and her family. She's as strong willed as they come (that's where I get it..) and she gets that from her mommy. My mom's will to do what is right and stand on the ground she chooses comes from her parents. Her zeal and love of life and people is often described as "genetic". and it is... It's been passed down three generations already. I'm sure my children will have these traits. The traits of their Great Grandma Swank...

projects for the week....

2011-03-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

1. Baby name plate (NEARLY done... LOOKING for one more piece to put on it)
2. 2 car seat covers (one down, one to go)
3. burp cloths (1 down... about 10 to go)
4. receiving blankets (10 down, one more to go)
5. bibs (never done these before getting ready to start)
6. Organize my room... (put the clothes that don't fit in the back of my closet so I don't keep trying them on)

Pictures to come soon!! these things are cute cute cute...
I love doing things for my baby!!!

wiggly little monkey...

2011-03-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

I already know I'm going to miss being pregnant... I have loved all of it. Everything. Of course it's not all comfortable but it's all been so exciting for us. I'm sure Sean is sick of me announcing each tiny thing. But each tiny thing makes me so happy I can't help it...

I am going to miss my little one getting a case of the wiggles. I have absolutely fallen in love with his little kicks and wiggly personality. Now I know as he has less room and it starts to hurt that won't be 'fun'. BUT I can't imagine I won't still be thrilled every time to know he's doing fine and still active and loving the life he's been able to experience already. I love sharing that part of my body with my baby. He lives right there in my belly... My tummy have turned into a living room/bedroom/dinning/playroom/gym and I LOVE IT. He's just right at home there and I couldn't be happier to provide that living space for my baby Chase.

i love my little monkey boy...

a few things!!

2011-03-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

FIRST!! I actually felt baby Chase on the outside this week as well as inside when he kicked me!!!! Of course Sean wasn't around and that was Sunday... AND THEN!! LAST NIGHT!??? Sean got to feel the baby too! Which was so fun. He'd been pretending all week that he could...

Second!!!!!!!!!!! We (meaning I) PICKED OUT THE BABY BEDDING!!! and theme... it's going to be dragon flies and bumble bees... Green, brown and yellow... I can't wait! I ordered his bedding.. OF COURSE the quilt is not as soft as I want to I'm going to make one.. And his WHOLE room is going to be like an outside GREEN garden with all the trimmings. Can't wait to really get started! His crib should be here the middle of next month.. and I'm already on the look out for the perfect decor for his room! I found paper mache bees for his room and they are fantastic! I've also decided to go with some real plants raised up on different levels and the big COMFY rocking chair is dark brown.. and we're going with a shag rug either in green or brown for the floor.. I can't WAIT till it's done. and of course.. i'm looking for some great art for his walls!!! ooooooo fun!

THIRD!! I'm going to see my parents with Sean next month!! CAN'T WAIT!!!! not even a TINY BIT. i'm so so so looking forward to that trip! YAY YAY!!!!

maybe i wouldn't be so mad...

2011-03-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook.

Today. well it really started fine. I'll say that much. Just the regular stress of hoping your husband has a job when he graduates.. then there's that health insurance and um... yeah HAVING it. THEN MOVING. I have no idea where I'm moving. It seems everyone else does. I don't even know if it has one or two bedrooms. Let's get real here. I'm a FIRST time mom to be. Not only a girl who is PREGNANT but one who struggled for two years and more shots then she thought she'd ever have her whole life... and MORE times with a down there DR in my business then ANY girl has a right to. THEN ad moving two weeks after the baby is born. FLYING with my newborn child that I just met. And lets just pray really hard nothing goes wrong. THEN lets pray a little more that baby won't catch anything on the plane and that mom is ok to walk.

Now... lets go to a few months before the baby is born... This is me today.. Trying to figure all these things out. AND lets ad a boss who decides to SPRAY paint 3 feet to me left in a closed space with no widows. AND even more fun, I had for sure at least 5 different MEN say "um.. Lauren you need to get out of here." And when I mentioned this to my other boss (the one whom I report directly to) she says " Oh it should be ok. We don't use lead paint now so it shouldn't be bad, although I'm sure it doesn't smell good." You've GOT to be kidding me.. I'm sure it doesn't smell good??? GOOGLE IT. The first thing that comes up is "Pregnant women should not expose themselves to spray paint. It is in the air and you ingest it immediately." o hmmm.. thanks google. So REALLY??? no way. I paid a freaking good penny for this baby and I will NOT expose him to that.
but perhaps.. maybe I wouldn't be so mad if someone (like my boss) just validated me on this. Saying yes... This is dumb. They should have thought a little more before they did that. Nope. That didn't happen. Thanks work. I would love to have my legitimate concerns completely brushed aside. Maybe someday that will happen.

............. CRIB YA YA!!...................

2011-03-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

FINALLY we picked out our crib...
and BOY did it help that it was 60% off?? YES IT DID!!!

I wonder!!!!!!!!!.....

2011-03-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

I have lots on my mind lately as I am sure for any new mother to be...

What will my baby look like? Who's nose will he have? His eyes... Or will they by my eyes?? And Sean's feet... Will he have hair like my siblings did? (LOADS of it) Or will he be cute and bald as can be.
I wonder what he will smell like. I have babysat and played with so many different babies lately I just really wonder. some smell little bad... Some smell so good you just don't want to put them down! And you can't help but sniff their little heads!
How will my labor be? Will it be long and drawn out, making out baby's entrance all the more dramatic for us? Or will it be fast like my mom and her mom's. Two hours tops and the baby was here...
Wondering about all these things makes me think of the reason we have a little boy on the way. Modern medicine that was inspired by our loving Heavenly Father. And lots and lots and LOTS of prayers and fasting. And of course it was more expensive then we thought and we couldn't have done that without the help of those who love us and saw our desire to be parents.
I never wrote anything about this... But about a month before Christmas, Sean's mom told us that a family that gave money as a gift to someone in need every year had given her money to give to us. They told her they saw our struggle to have a family and wanted to help because we would be good parents in a world full of chaos. We never got to look into their eyes and tell them what that money did for us and share our deep thanks.
I wonder who they were... But I do know it was inspired. I'm thankful everyday for all the wondering I get to do. It gives me something to do while I wait for my baby. And it reminds me to be thankful.

nesting..........

2011-03-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

No one said HOW deep I would be nesting... I'm not complaining one bit..

I've actually really enjoyed the nesting overdrive

I have plunged into...

I just had no idea how strong the urge would be.

Today I enlisted my husband for an extra EXTRA deep

clean in our bathrooms... Little did he know the

crazed witch I would become as he did not match up to my

white glove standards. Neither did I.

I took the upstairs bathroom, getting down on hands and knees

to use a q-tip in the corners and everywhere else it would fit.

I cleaned each sink 3 times.. Then did it a 4th just to be safe.

I then cleaned the tub out 3 times... And was starting my 4th

when Sean came to check on me. ( I had been in the bathroom

for.... maybe 2 hours??? ) Checking and rechecking.
And it looked beautiful.

I sent him downstairs while I finished up drying the sinks and

redoing the mirrors.....

I should have known he was done to quickly.

I went in and immediately spotted something in the sink..

THEN A FUZZ left on the counter... THEN.. and THEN.. and THEN...

It didn't stop... Sean finally says to me "Wow I didn't know

I'd have to pass a white glove test!"

I said "GO AND GIVE ME A WHITE GLOVE TEST!!! I'd PASS!"

He immediately started laughing... I took a minute... Working the next

thoughts I had to strangle him and flush him down the toilet out of my mind.

And said "Thank you honey, for cleaning the bathroom."

He smiles and replies "you're welcome."

I was not being serious when I thanked him... Poor Sean.

BUT I do realize he did put in a good few minutes of effort

when he should be doing his 30 page thesis paper for graduating

from BYU-Law school...

So I tell him "Well.. how about I go in there in the dark??

THEN tell you how clean it is..." He seemed to think that was a good idea.

AND I could honestly say it looked fabulous with the lights off.

I love my good and patient husband.

sharing the news......

2011-03-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

oo my... I can't even tell you. Life is so good. We are so excited about out little guy!! I always knew I'd have boys and I couldn't be happier. Anyways.. funny stories about sharing the news that we're having a little boy..

..................................................

calling to tell Randall and Gwen and the girls:

"We're having a baby............ BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!" I say

"SHREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKING SQUEALING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" says the girls

"Girls, Aunt Lauren is having a little baby boy like Kanga's baby on Whinie the Pooh, like baby Rue" Gwen explains to them

"Aunt Lauren is having a kangaroo?" Emma says (I think it was her)

"NOOOO a baby BOY like RUE is a boy" Gwen says quickly

"We're having a human boy" I tell them.

the girls can't wait to meet their little cousin Chase Christopher

................................................

calling my dad

"DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're having a baby BOY!!!!!" I tell him!!

"I knew it, can't wait to get him alone to teach him how to wrestle. Sean won't be able to ignore him when he puts him in a double arm bar." Dad says quickly.

This would be funnier if you knew the battle that's going on with my dad wanting our little guy to wrestle. He's coached for the last 14 years and all his sons wrestle, so of course he would want his very first grandson to wrestle too. One problem... Sean plays basketball and doesn't want our kid playing around in an infamous singlet.

.....................................

calling mom (we had her on the phone when the DR told us what we're having

"can you make sure to tell my mom please?" me to the ultrasound tech

"me!!??" she says

"OF course! I want my mom to hear it when we do." I explain to her.

"MOM ok we're here are you ready!!?" I say after I get her to answer her phone

"EKKKKKKKKKKK yes!!!" came the squeaky reply from my sweet mother

"IT's a BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" says our cute tech lady

" YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! I'm having a grandson!!!" my babies grandma says!!!

.......................................

after that we got lots of congratulations from Sean's mom and dad and my grandparents it was a really good day.

Same thing at work, they let me make the announcement then I got high fives all around it was fun to share that with everyone. I love my little boy... Can't wait to see him and hold him and call him my own!!

we are proud to introduce...

2011-03-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

OUR LITTLE BOY!

We finally got to see our little boy looking like a human today... and WHAT a cute human he is!!! He's definitely all boy and we couldn't be happier or more excited. His tiny feet and arms!! and that profile!! what a little angel he is. (For now!) We can't wait to meet him in 4 and a half short months!!!

boy and girl guesses

2011-03-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

Everyone who guessed girl:
My mom
Randall and Gwen
Sean's mom
Sean's dad
Brice
Veronica
Dane
Cassidi
Dani, Nick and baby Z
Megan Worsham
Sean (he changed his mind at the last minute to boy but when I took the vote last night he said girl)

Everyone who guessed boy: (THESE GUYS WERE THE WINNERS!!!)
my Dad
Blaire
John
Megan
Melissa
Erica
Kayla
Christine Kerns
and ME!!!

t.o.m.o.r.r.o.w.

2011-03-07T17:24:00.000-08:00

can't come fast enough... TOMORROW we'll have a fun/big/fantastic/enormous/wonderful announcement to share! Can't wait!!! off to the store to buy SUNNY D so baby has sugar in it's system tomorrow and is awake and then.......... I'll tell you!!!

o my goodness...

2011-03-06T21:51:00.000-08:00

Ask and ye shall receive!!!

BOOM!

baby Stewart kept my up with two swift kicks to my belly!

YEAH! I had woken up for my 3rd bathroom break and couldn't get back to sleep.

"SEAN!!!!!!!!!!! our baby just kicked me! TWICE!!"

of course I scared the crap out of him and he listened to me holler and squeal while he fell back asleep. I have been looking forward to this for so long! Since before we got pregnant! And now?? It's finally happened! I really can't wait till this is a more regular thing for me and my little one... AND FOR sure i can't wait for it to be strong enough for Sean to feel as well... O my goodness. O yeah! o Yeah !! O yeah yeah!!

pidder padder of tiny feet... on my belly!!???

2011-03-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

o how i WISH I could feel the baby!! I know lots of people have already felt their kids at this point. But I still am getting nothing when I sit there as quiet as I can just focusing on feeling anything in my belly.... I just want to feel the tiny little feet!! That have cute little toes on them! And know my baby is there maybe playing games with me!??? Or trying to tell me about his/her day!?? I don't know.. I just know that I am looking forward to my baby moving in my belly so so much. Can't wait.. But I guess until then I'll have to just wait. You'd think I learned how to be patient when I was waiting to be told we were having a baby! Guess I'm still learning.

FINALLY something to wear...

2011-03-04T20:30:00.001-08:00

I took Sean shopping tonight... it was fantastic. I have been thinking that nothing will fit me ever again.... certainly not right or well and tonight!??? I proved myself wrong. I wasn't leaving till I had tried on all the pants in my size.
AND ta-da!!!! too many perfect pairs. I had to limit it down.. I could have walked out with 4 pairs that were great... But pants are SO expensive there I only got two pairs and then two tops for me as well. FINALLY things that fit... And I'm really looking pregnant and not fat by now so that's great news! AND I FELT CUTE!! Not like a pig trying to squeeze into a person's clothes.
Thanks for my shopping trip Sean.. it was great.

music for by baby!!!!!!!!

2011-03-03T19:14:00.000-08:00

my kid can hear now! YA ya!! I had Sean talk to the little tyke a couple of days ago.. It went about like this

"Sean, your baby can hear you now. Talk to our kid" me

"um... what do I say to it?" Sean asks me...

"Sean.. probably introduce yourself to it, our kid knows me already.. but has no idea about who you are." I tell him.

"um... ok. hi kid. I'm your dad." he looks up at my questioningly... I smile to reassure him. But nothing else comes out.

"Ok Sean.. nice try. Um... yep you are the dad as long as there were no mix ups at the Fertility Cent..." Sean cut me off before I could finish

"NOOOOO! Don't say that! The baby can't know!!!" He yells...

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Of course I'm kidding. They are so careful at the office I'm not worried. But it was funny to see Sean squatting down to talk to our baby then quickly run out of things to say.

Well... Today after tell my boss that my kid can hear now he quickly asked me what music I've been playing for the baby. uh....... Hadn't thought of that actually. Of course I sing when I get ready and sing in the tub.. and sing when I'm doing dishes.. And I have the radio on in my car and I listen to it the whole way to work and sing right along... But I've never played music just for my baby. Of course they say Mozart is the best.. but tonight in the headphones playing on my belly I've got oldies and goodies!!

Baby's first song played just for my kind?? Everyday by Buddy Holly and I LOVE IT I've got a headphone in my ear and one on my belly! Hope the little Stewart likes music like it's mommy and daddy. Later tonight I plan on Sean playing some guitar for my tiny baby. I can't wait! (have to wait for "The Office" to get done first."

I'm making my playlist for at the hospital when I'm in labor. It's Sean's job to make the list and I'll take care of making the baby!!!

We're going to be parents!!!! Can't wait to meet our baby! BUT FIRST??? March 8th... dun dun dun!!!!!!!!!!! We're going to find out what our little secret package is!

all things just keep getting better....

2011-03-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

just got the best news... we have a girlfriend and her husband that got married right after we did and they have been trying to have a baby the whole time.. They had just done their 6th IUI and were getting ready to do IVF... and when you've taken so much medicine they have you wait for a month to get it all out of your system.

and..

then...

BOOM!....

THEY ARE PREGNANT!!

due in the end of Octover or early November!!!!

I'm leaving names out because they are the ones who should be announcing their news.. and also they are going to wait till the end of the first trimester. but WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THEM!!!!
this kind of news makes my day.. I mean, babies are fun... It's ALWAYS exciting for a new baby to be on the way or to be born. But when someone has wanted it so bad and tried and tried.. it just makes it so much sweeter!!! YAY FOR BABIES AND WONDERFUL DR's!!!

quiz.................

2011-02-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

How far along? 15 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: +1 lbs (NOT counting the 20 I gained on the fertility meds)
Maternity clothes? not yet..
Sleep: Okay, I've always been a side sleeper but for some weird reason I've been waiting up on my back.. which is no good
Best moment this week: my new washer and dryer!!!
Movement:no... :(
Food cravings: SPICY, Korean, Chinese and Mexican foods.... LOVE THEM!
Gender: do not care! but Sean wants a girl
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Sleeping better... without weird dreams!
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the gender and meeting our baby!!!
Weekly Wisdom: EAT HEALTHY!! and have snacks in your purse, in your desk and cold water by your bedside!!!!

15 week belly

2011-02-24T19:11:00.001-08:00

by the end of the day i'm always sticking out WAY farther then in the morning. This was at like 11:30 last night... 15 week belly!

time go a TINY faster...

2011-02-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ok.. 12 days from today will be a bIG DAY!!! We are going to be finding out what we are having!!!! o my goodness. can't wait.
THEN we can really prepare!!!
and pick a name.. (yeah!!)
and get the room together! (ya ya!!!!!!!)
and tell everyone! (Ye HAW!)
and call our baby a HIM OR a HER! (GREAT GREAT!) not a kid or a child.. or the worst.. an IT.
o can't wait..
can't wait..
REALLY can't wait...
the countdown is on..

AND NOW THE QUESTION IS... what do you think we are having?? Sean says girl every time I ask him. My mom says girl and so does Sean's mom. Dad think's it a boy all the way and so does my boss Melissa... I HAVE NO IDEA.. yep. no inspiration for me with that!

my secret fears....

2011-02-22T19:16:00.000-08:00

I'm scared every day... Afraid I'll start cramping and bleeding..

I'm scared when I go in for a check up my baby won't be fine...

I'm scared with every tiny twinge of pain or weird thing that happens...

I worry daily.. I wake up at night.. I look at my belly most of the day.

Sean and I spent two years on our knees praying for a child. We went through medical hell to be told we are pregnant. I personally had to overcome my largest longest fear I've had, of needles. Not only had I avoided giving blood my whole life I passed out from fear of shots from the nurses since I can remember. I learned how to give an injection to a ball so that I could stick myself right into my belly. I also have always had a dislike for the DR's office. I just avoided it all together. With this I went in daily, every other day at the very least.

I learned how to love my DR and be thankful for what they do. Without their knowledge and hard work we wouldn't have had a baby. Without someone who cared as much as we did if we got pregnant, they wouldn't have pushed as hard and upped our doses like we needed. Without their compassion I wouldn't have overcome my fear a fast and as easily (if you can say easy...) without them pushing and showing understanding for me I would have probably given up on myself. I would have been the girl waiting in the lobby to have the nurse administer my shot when she had time. Or I would have been home crying, listening to all those around me get excited about their children and their pregnancy while i just prayed and cried. They helped me with my faith with their works and helped me show my faith with my works!!!

but even still having grown both in faith and person, I am scared. I worry every day and I guess that's normal. But after what we went through I'm sure it will stay this way till my baby is in my arms and then my fears will be gone... and replaced by a whole set of new ones!

so.. yes. I am scared everyday.

But mostly I am thankful everyday.

URGENT pregnancy question!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

ok............. my belly shrunk??? like I went to bed.. then woke up and it was TINY.. like real little.. is this normal?? no cramping or bleeding... but it is scaring me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was starting to show for real not just look fat.. and now??? flat (well... nearly flat) belly...

bigger and bigger!!!

2011-02-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

Baby is getting bigger and bigger.. that means mommy is getting bigger and bigger. Haaaa. I don't know how real it was to Sean that I actually have a child in my body. BUT lately since I have a belly already (which people keep telling me I shouldn't) BUT I do.. so guess that means I'm just fat. ANYHOW Sean has been so funny. Every day when I get ready and come downstairs he looks at my belly first. Then... his whole face lights up. And he says "o look at your belly, that's our baby." and I always respond "and baby is getting bigger and bigger." And then he grabs my tummy. (of course in a cute way)
Let me just tell you, this thrills me, straight to the core. When I was first pregnant and I would just stare and hold my belly (that was very tiny) and he wouldn't really react at all to my baby, well our baby. BUT I think it wasn't really very real to him yet. However, now he sees the belly getting bigger and he can put it in his hand, it seems more real to him. It's been such a fun thing to watch.
I can't wait to make Sean a daddy. It's what he was made for. You can tell by his activities and the fact that he always goes straight for the kids and snacks in nursery and at family functions. The adults (even though they all try for his attention.. yes he's VERY cool) he just goes to the babies. Well.. toddlers. He is a little scared of newborns I think. Anyways... Let me just say this is fun. Every day is so fun.
AND now that we're in our second trimester I can definately tell my body is getting settled into being pregnant. I don't have crazy CRAZY moodswings like before and some other things seem more regular with my body. AND I don't hate everyone!!! also.. not as tired. LOVING my pregnancy!!!!! It was more then worth the wait that we had. I will never forget those two years of tears and pain... But they have made this bliss for me.

brave soul...

2011-02-09T18:51:00.001-08:00

today... was the first time someone asked me if I was pregnant!!! I loved it... my response was "wow you are a brave soul for asking me that. (pause and wait a little more...) but YES I'm pregnant!"

I'm not going to lie. So far? I have loved being pregnant. I love everything about it. I think I was made for this. Being a vessel for my child has been the best experience of my life up to this point. BESIDES being married to my wonderful husband.

10 and 11 weeks

2011-01-31T19:35:00.000-08:00

Here I am back at 5 weeks.....
Now here I am at almost 12 weeks... getting BIGGER!!!

here is baby at 10 weeks:

We'll get to find out what our little package is March 8th at 10:30am and we can barely wait!! Sean keeps saying "That's too far!!!!!" But come on.. we waited two years to get pregnant and we're finding out at 16 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT THE USUAL 20.. I think we can wait!!! o but can we!! We CAn'T WAIT!!! We're very excited little parents to be!!!

crap

2011-01-29T19:38:00.000-08:00

it seems to me that everyone you meet needs to be involved. really?? is it not hard enough to pick a name that you and your husband agree on?? but really??? involve 6 more people or 15 more people?? or people from work or school?? no dice. that's where it stops for me. we'll have to keep this between the two of us and just have that be that. sorry we're not sharing any more.

baby things... small little tiny itsy bisty baby things...

2011-01-22T17:11:00.001-08:00

I can't help it... I've been sewing like crazy. Wish they were for me! But... I've decided to hold off till we know what we're having. I've been crafting for others, which I love. Today I made two mama nursing covers. ADORABLE! I love them. I wish one was for me.. (But like I said I'm waiting.. A little bit) Also... more rags for mommy and a car seat cover so no one can look at my baby when I don't want them to.. It'll be like a surprise! Can't wait to see my cousins faces when they get them!
Joint baby shower fun!!! Next weekend my cousin Kate and my sister Erica are having their combined shower for their little boys! O and it starts!! There will be about 13 more to come with all the cousins pregnant right now! Between now and August there will be lots of new babies on our ever growing family. Can't wait to meet them all!! And yes.. I will be the last one to have my baby.

GIFT IDEAS!

2011-01-13T20:11:00.001-08:00

I want to get our DR's office something for this gift of life they gave us!!!!! What should we get them!!??? any ideas would be GREAT!!!!!!!

our baby is moving... a lot

2011-01-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

SO we haven't felt the baby at all. In fact, I had no idea that the baby was really moving much at this point. But I was shown otherwise today when we went in for our last visit with our Fertility Specialist. Bye Ann Marie! And Marray!! We'll miss you. This was a sad but really exciting day for us. We went in for our 9 week and final ultrasound at the Utah Fertility Clinic.
We went into our little room, and got ready for our baby! We couldn't wait to see the little one again. So the ultrasound begins and we see little arms and legs!! and then... they start moving. SO FAST. Wiggling and curling up into itself! Our baby was dancing! It was so beautiful! I was in shock!! I could see it's little arms and tiny legs just moving so fast trying to build muscle and perfect his/her moves! It was amazing. I've never seen anything like that. Our baby is growing and growing! And getting bigger and bigger every day. I couldn't believe the difference from last time, just two weeks ago!
What a special day for us. We also got to hear the heartbeat. What a great sound. It makes a mommy to be relax a little. It was 168.98 today. Quite a bit higher then last time. He told us it would keep going up till about week 20. So we shall see on the 24th when we go meet our OB what the heartbeat is that day! We got 7 new pictures of our little bug and we love it. Can't believe all these feelings that have replaced the sadness and longing from before. Now we just want to know what our baby is so we can stop calling our little tootsie roll an "it". I hate that!! I keep calling "it" a boy and everyone asks if we know already! But of course we don't. It's just better then not being anything... Anyhow. We got our pictures and our good luck card from the office staff up there and we said our good byes.
On our way out our Dr says "Ok, we expect pictures when the baby is born!! If not, we do repo the baby!!!" haaaaaaaaa I about died. But of course we'll send pictures!!! This baby will have more pictures taken of it then anything else on this planet!! We are two really proud/humble/thankful/happy parents to be!!!!!!!!

baby baby baby!!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-10T21:08:00.000-08:00

I'm so tired... I sleep all day (except when I'm forced to work) and I just daydream about my little tootsie roll. But I'm not sick. So I will take tired any day. We've started setting up our baby's room and it's really coming along. Sean has agreed that I can pick out all the bedroom things, bedding. furniture.. you know. Things like that. Can't wait till it's all done. Funny thing though we were talking about yesterday, we probably won't even be living here when the baby makes his/ appearance. Maybe not even in Utah. We shall see.
Anyhow.. Everything is all about babies now a days and I love it! I love my sweet husband and it's been really fun to share all these things with eachother. We didn't know when this would happen. It's still a little overwhelming that we're actually finally going to have a baby Stewart in our family. We can't WAIT!!! August 19.. please come quickly!!!