Random Gabbie Pics

Since my day to day routine isn't anything to brag about (i.e. holding Gabbie, feeding Gabbie, finally getting ready for the day at 2 pm, etc) I thought I'd post a few pictures of her from the last few weeks.

New Moon

I'm so excited!!!! Who's with me?

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=58185785

AHHHHHHHH!!!!

Catching up!

SHEESH! It feels like it's been forever since I've written. Life with a baby is busy and I spend most of my day holding her, playing with her, or catching up on sleep. For the past couple of weeks, Gabbie has been super fussy and it's been pretty frustrating because we haven't been able to figure out what she needs or wants. Finally I decided to take her to see her doctor and our little girl has acid reflux! We feel so bad! Every time after I feed her, she screams and screams and nothing helps. Her doctor prescribed her some baby Pepcid AC and I hope it works! Fussy babies aren't fun to be around as much as you love them.

We do have some good news! Gabbie is smiling and she looks so darn cute. She started smiling at 4 weeks-yes, you read that right, 4 weeks and now she is slowly becoming very attentive and interactive when you talk to her.

Gabbie is doing pretty well at sleeping through the night and I don't feel like a zombie anymore. According to every baby book I've read and Gabbie's doctor, we can start working on a sleep schedule when she's 3 months and I can't wait. I just hope she's not a stubborn little diva and won't budge when we try to help her learn good habits. The lack of sleep has been the hardest part and biggest adjustment we've had to make and you're never prepared for how tired you are in the first couple of weeks.

We love her with all our hearts and enjoy making her smile.

So you think you can dance!

In another life, I was a big time dancer and at times I am very sad I quit. If I had continued, I would have loved to have tried out for this show (only to have been cut, but hey!). I love, love, love it! Since now our lives are consumed by our little baby girl, the TV has become "date night" and this show will be our best friend for the summer. Anyone else watch this as obsessively as I do?

Gabbie's Blessing Day

Gabbie was blessed on Saturday, May 9th 2009. We decided to hold the blessing in our clubhouse to make it a more intimate setting and we had about 30 family members show up. My uncle has always blessed all his children in his home and I've always wanted to carry on the tradition with my family. That way, no one ever feels like they have to stand up and give the obligatory testimony about being thankful to be new parents. Quite frankly, that isn't our style and secondly, there are tons of families in my ward who are having trouble getting pregnant and I did not want to make them feel bad by going up and saying how blessed I am. I know when we were having trouble getting pregnant, I used to get kind of mad when people did that! I guess I am brat! :)

Todd did a wonderful job of blessing our little girl. He blessed her to always remember the significance of her name and always look to God for her strength. He told her that many people love her very much and she will always have people to turn to for help but ultimately she would need to look to the Savior for help and guidance. He told her she would someday be an advocate for those searching for the gospel and she would help many in their struggle for a testimony in Jesus Christ. Gabbie was blessed with the opportunity to marry in the temple someday and have a family and she was blessed with good health and a long, happy life if she lived righteously. She was also told to have patience with her parents as we have had patience with her. I hope and pray that Gabbie has a happy, long life and that we can teach her right and give her many happy memories.

Gabbie wore the blessing dress I wore when I was blessed as a baby and so that was very fun and meaningful and maybe someday her daughters will also wear the same dress to carry on the tradition. Gabbie is still pretty small and the dress was huge on her but she looked beautiful and behaved pretty well for a 3 1/2 week old baby!

We love you Gabbie and are so thankful you are a part of our family!

Andrea, Dustin, and Avery Miller

This is such great news that I had to post something on my blog about it. I have a dear, close friend that I went to college with and have stayed tight with ever since. My buddy Andrea have gone through a lot together and we have become very close because it took us both a long while to have a family. Andrea and I both went through miscarriages together and cried over our disappointments. Andrea and her sweet husband finally felt prompted to look into adoption through LDS Family Services and shortly after, a dear birth mother picked them to be the parents of her child. It's been such a great experience to watch Andrea as her dream unfolded before her eyes. Finally she was receiving her chance to become the thing she wanted to be the most, a mother! She and her hubby had suffered for far to long and her time was long overdue. I have watched as their daughter finally joined their family and I have seen Andrea become an excellent mother and I have seen her life shine with happiness as her little Avery has entered their home.

Yesterday Todd and I had the awesome opportunity to witness Andrea, Dustin, and Avery be sealed together for eternity in the Draper Temple. I have never been to a family sealing and by far, it was one of the most touching things I have been a part of. To see a little family be sealed for time and all eternity was one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed. Finally Andrea and Dustin are whole and now Avery can receive the blessings of an eternal family. I hope someday little Avery realizes how lucky she is! She was blessed into a home where she was wanted dearly, where she is loved, where she will always be free from abuse and neglect, and where she will be taught the gospel. I am so thankful we have temples and for the plan of our Heavenly Father. This life is truly all about families and I am thankful to have witnessed something so sweet and precious. I am so happy for the Millers and that they are finally a family forever!

Life with a baby

It's amazing how much you can love your child. Already Gabbie has both of us wrapped tightly around her little finger and both of us would do anything for her. Gabbie is a typical newborn sleeping about 3 hours and then wanting to eat and then not sleeping at night. I know we will get used to this and this is only temporary so I'm trusting what everyone keeps telling us that things will get better. Already there are a ton of things I love about her and I know as she gets older, we will find more and more things about her that will make us smile.

What I love about Gabbie:
-She loves to cuddle and be held very tight and close to me.
-When she wakes up in the morning, she and I have staring contests. I love looking into her big blue eyes.
-She hates to fart and poop and makes the funniest sounds when she is pushing
-She HAS to always have something to suck on and always has to have her hands by her face.
-Most often, when I'm changing her diaper, she pees all over me
-She smiles in her sleep and I think she is trying to smile at us sometimes
-I love kissing and holding her
-I love her skinny, little spindly body
-She loves to be close to me all the time. This can be hard to get things done so I just put her in a sling across my chest and she falls right asleep.

Life is busy, hectic, and tiring but life with a baby is well worth it! Todd has been amazing to both me and Gabbie and he honestly deserves the husband of the year award. He is always helping out around the house, runs errands, holds Gabbie when I need a break and even gets up at night to change her. He is wonderful and I am so thankful we have him!

Getting the hang of it!

Thank you all for your great suggestions and feedback. It's weird, everyday I wake up with a renewed sense of dedication and commitment to getting breastfeeding down and for the past three days, it's worked! Gabbie is doing great and getting the hang of it and I am definitely more at ease with the whole thing. Thank goodness! No one tells you how frustrating the process can be!

We're doing great and we're all getting used to the new schedule Gabbie has brought to our lives. She sleeps pretty well throughout the night and since she has started to master breastfeeding, life is so much easier! WHEW! We're still pretty tired but that's to be expected. Todd goes back to work next week and I am a tad nervous about being alone but Gabbie and I will just deal with it and develop our own schedules together so we can make it work. We are totally in love with our little girl and are glad she is ours!

Question for all you mothers

I realize that Gabbie has only been alive since Tuesday, but I daresay, breastfeeding is the hardest thing to do! I went to classes before she was born and met with a lactation specialist in the hospital and Gabbie and I still can't get it down. She latches on fine, and the milk factory is producing but it's almost like she hates breastfeeding. She fights with me and will turn her head away when I try to feed her. In a worried and desperate attempt to make sure her belly is full, I have pumped and then fed her a bottle. I know lactation specialists and some pediatrician's would say that is a no no, but what am I supposed to do? She takes a bottle soooo much better and sleeps like an angel when I pump as opposed to breast feeding an hour later she is cranky and still won't feed. What do I do? I wanted so badly to breast feed but everytime I try, Gabbie is mad and I am exhausted. Suggestions anyone?

On a lighter note, everything else is GREAT! When she sleeps, she sleeps and she is so beautiful and observant of everything around her. I love staring into her eyes when she is awake and I am glad to have her. I feel great and I have been up and about cleaning and moving around fine without any pain. Hopefully I will be able to go back to kick boxing in a matter of time when I am fully healed!

Please, suggestions, comfort, reassurance from anyone! I am sad this isn't working out and I am physically tired after trying so hard to get this down.

She's Here!

Gabriella Ray Crane made her entrance into the world on Tuesday, 4/14/2009. She weighed 6 lbs, 4 oz, and was 19 inches long. She has her mommy's fair skin and blonde hair and her daddy's facial features. She has 10 fingers and 10 toes and we are so in love with her!

At 10:30 on Monday night, I started having irregular contractions and by 12:30 am, they were then regular, intense, and 5 minutes a part. Todd was so excited the entire time everything was progressing that he got up, showered, put our suit case in the car, and watched me as I was lying on the floor, withering in pain. Since my contractions were regular and not too long a part, we headed up to Alta View Hospital. I was dilated to a 4 1/2 and was immediately admitted and everything went underway.

I had to wait about 1 1/2 hours for my epidural and I tell you, I have a new appreciation and respect for those women who do natural birth. What troopers! During my contractions, I wanted to die and there is no way a big whimp like me could handle the process of natural birth. Holy crap! Once I got the epidural, the process was smooth. My doctor had to break my water because I wasn't dilating very quickly and once he did, I dilated to a 10 in an hour and after pushing for 45 minutes, Gabbie came into this world. Todd and I were both crying and we are so thankful for this opportunity to be a mom and a dad.

I'm healing well and I don't have any pain. Gabbie is eating well and she is such a mellow, sweet baby. She scored an 8 on her Apgar test and she passed her hearing test. We get to come home tomorrow and I am excited to be in the comforts of our home, with our little one.

Here are some pictures of her big arrival, ENJOY!

The Waiting Game

Last week I went to my doctor for my weekly check-up and he told me I was dilated to a 2 and that I was 50% effaced. YAY! He also stripped my membranes for me and hopefully that'll speed things up. He said by doing that, most women on average go into labor earlier and it decreases time being pregnant. BRING IT ON! Nothing has happened yet that would cause me to go to the hospital but I'm hoping this baby makes her appearance soon. I'm fat, uncomfortable, I can't breathe, and I can't sleep. Someone get this kid out of me!

For you Twilight fans....I hate to say it!

As many of you know, I am a huge Twilight fan. I love the story and I have a huge crush on Edward. When the movie was being filmed, I was super excited and some gals at work and I would scour websites on line to see photos from the set. When the movie was released, my mom, cousin and I went to a special screening and I convinced myself that I loved the movie. If some of you are as obsessed about the series as I am, you too already have the DVD and have watched it a couple of times. I have to say, this time around, I am a tad disappointed in the film. The acting is horrible, the screen play sucks and the special effects are far from anything spectacular. For instance, how about the scene where James bites Bella and Carlisle tells Edward he needs to suck the venom out of her to save her life. Edward closes his eyes and really dramatically says, "Caaaaarrrlllisle!" WHAT? Or how about the scene when Edward tells Bella he is a vampire and he's jumping from tree to tree-the effects are horrible! Alice can't act, Bella is very dark, and half the actors look like they're wearing wigs. I am surprised that Catherine Hardwicke (the director) didn't cut the filming in some parts and ask the actors to tone it down a bit. I am very glad there is a new director filming the sequel who has had more experience with special effects on big films. In my obsessed opinion, in order for New Moon to be a box office hit, the following points need to be taken into consideration during filming:

1) What's Edward doing while he is "away"? Let's face it, the thing that makes these books so good is Edward and I thought New Moon was the most depressing book in the series. What is he doing? I hope the director shows him in pain for leaving Bella and also hunting down Victoria.
2) Alice and Bella's relationship needs to be expanded on. In the book, they are very connected and the film needs to show how "tight" they are to each other.
3) The werewolves better bring it! I sure hope this new director is as good as everyone says he is with special effects. The werewolves better dance the pants off of the vampires.
4) Volturi-are they going to be as creepy as they are in the book?
5) Edward's return. Okay, the best part of New Moon for me, is when Edward returns to Forks. The emotions he and Bella feel better be real and none of this, "I'm sorry, let's make up!" It needs to be heart felt and REAL...minus the corniness that some scenes in the Twilight movie had.

Anywho, yes, I know I am a weirdo for both writing a blog about this and being so dedicated to Twilight but come on! Make the next movie something to write home about!

Catching up!

I am very lucky to be blessed with such great friends in my life. A dear friend in my ward, Amberly Green, threw me one last baby shower at her home last week. Because I have worked full time for the past 4 years, I haven't really gotten to know the girl's in my ward really well and I thought only 3 people would show up. I was greatly touched to see that almost everyone who was invited made an appearance. I can't believe how lucky I am to know so many kind and caring people. By far at this time in my life, I have stronger, closer relationships with my friends than I ever have had in my life.

On another note, I only have 3 1/2 more weeks until this baby is supposed to make her first appearance in this world. I am very excited! People keep asking me if I am nervous but unbelieveably, I'm not! Todd and I have waited a long time for this little girl to join us and I can't wait for her to get here.

Clint Layton

This past week, Todd and I found out that one of our very best friends was diagnosed with cancer. About a month ago our dear friend, Clint Layton, started feeling really sick and went in to the doctor to figure out what was going on. At the time after many blood tests, nothing showed up in his system to suggest that he was developing cancer. About two weeks ago, Clint was feeling even worse and scheduled another appointment with his doctor. After doing the same series of tests, the doctor finally found some irregularities in his blood and drove Clint, in his own car up to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Immediately the staff went to work on Clint and by last Tuesday, they were able to diagnose Clint with a condition called, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

It has been pretty devastating and surreal for all of us to receive this news. Todd and Clint have been best friends since they were born and Clint married one of my favorite cousins. He has lived an amazing life serving the Lord and free from the evils of this world. He and his darling wife have two beautiful girls and all of us are shocked to learn that Clint of all people has received this shocking news. On a positive note, this type of cancer is curable and Clint has received two blessings from both his brother and Richard G. Scott (a general authority of the LDS church) that it is not his time to go and that his body would heal and that he and his little family would be fine. We all feel strongly that Clint will get through this like a champ and will be blessed tremendously. It is just heartbreaking for all of us to watch Clint go through chemotherapy and suffer. What's more, his wife Kelly is pretty overwhelmed with the situation. She is now the breadwinner of the family and also has to act as a brave, supportive wife and a mother to their daughters. As family and friends we are all rallying behind this little family to support them. They can use all the help they can get and any positive energy, thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

So Grateful! Part 2

I have been very fortunate to work with the coolest group of college students at the U. For the past 3 years, I have been one of the advisors to the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). SHAC is composed of a highly dedicated group of students at the University of Utah, whose main purpose is to promote physical, mental, and spiritual health on campus. When I first arrived on campus as a Health Educator, I was immediately welcomed with open arms from these students and I have become great friends with all of them. We have a lot of fun and serious memories together. About a year and a half ago, my predecessor left his position to become a director at another institution and there was some concern from him about me not being able to hold the group together. I was very hurt and offended because I had worked very hard and often ended up doing this person's job many, many times and I felt stabbed in the back. I am beginning to realize now that he was worried about letting this group go because he had built it up and didn't think anyone could do as good as a job as he did. My students supported and had faith in me and together we were able to gain 30 reliable members of the group who come to meetings each week, were responsible, and who have produced some of the best work that SHAC has ever done. It has been a huge self-esteem boost for me and I am thankful for the relationships I've gained with them.

On Monday it was my last SHAC meeting. I was a complete emotional mess because my students put together the sweetest, most endearing gift I could ever have asked for. They compiled a scrapbook of what they've learned from me and some memories we have together. Some of them were so personal and touching that I just cried the entire time while they were presenting the gift to me. I was so worried when my boss left a year and a half ago that I wouldn't measure up or that what he said would be true but my students goodbye to me was such a testimony that they do in fact love and respect me. My heart is overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude towards them!

I feel I am walking away from SHAC with my great lessons learned. If anything, I feel my students have taught me incredible things instead of me changing their lives. I will miss laughing and talking with them. I will miss our annual retreat and planning for our wellness fair. I will miss them coming into my office just to chat and I will miss seeing them on campus. I consider all my students "friends" and I am so proud of their accomplishments and I will never forget them. THANK YOU SHAC! I LOVE YOU!

So grateful! Part 1

This past week, I have felt extremely blessed and grateful for the people in my life. Last Saturday my biological father's family threw me a baby shower and I am overwhelmed with gratitude towards them. Why it touched me so much is because I have not been very close with his family.

My dad's parents, Nana and Gramps, have been the most incredible grandparents I have had. They are the ones who came to every ballet performance, and came to watch me perform at football games. I have very, very sweet and endearing memories with them and they are my favorite grandma and grandpa. They would always come up to Layton to take us out and let us sleep over. They would stay up late with us and watch any movie of our choice and then make us breakfast the next morning. Even now, as I am writing this, I am getting emotional and teary eyed thinking about them. I love them so much and I am so thankful to have had them in my life. Furthermore, their other children have been incredible as well. They always make sure we're invited to everything and in turn, they have tried to be a part of our lives. I haven't had the opportunity to really get to know them at a very personal level and so when my three aunts offered to throw me a shower, I was so touched that they would do that. Not a ton of my cousins know me very well and I am sure some of their spouses wonder who the heck I am but they came and supported me. I love the Mulvay family and my children will know them. I love them very much and they mean a lot to me.

7 days left and counting down

I only have 7 days left until I leave my job. WAHOO! This is a very bitter sweet experience and I am both very sad to leave the great people I work with but very happy to be moving on with my life. I have learned a great deal during my three years at the U of U and I have gained many good friends. I won't miss the long drive everyday, the higher-education philosophical bull crap, or the late nights. I will miss my "sisters" at the office, Elizabeth and Rachel S. and all my SHAC students. I feel I am walking away having learned something from all of them instead of me having a huge impact on their lives. My position at the U has been the best job I have held and I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked at such a great institution.

With that being said, I am so excited to become a mom! As the time draws closer and closer, Todd and I feel so positive and at peace about our decision for me to quit and be home with Gabbie. I go into her room every night and I stare at everything. I can't believe that in a few short weeks she will be here with us. I am not very nervous about the labor and delivery but I am more concerned about being a really good mother.

Lately I have been thinking about things I went through growing up and I hope to high heaven that my kids don't ever have to go through them. I think it's just the mama bear coming out in me and being very protective of my kids. If my children do experience similar situations, I do know that it's good for them to be stretched and tested and hard experiences help them in the long run. I just remember some very painful situations and I know it will probably hurt me as a mother to have to watch my kids go through the same things. I guess that is just why we are taught to teach our children well, how to communicate, and how to cope with hard experiences.

I am very thankful to have such a great companion who will be an incredible father. He is going to be a very loving and kind dad to our kids. He is very supportive of me and I appreciate that he cares so much about how I feel and what I need. I can't wait to start this new chapter in our lives together!

Gabbie's Room

Alright, we have finally finished Gabbie's room and I love the way it has turned out. It is really hard to take a good picture of the room because 1) my camera sucks and 2) the room is pretty small. Needless to say, I don't think the pictures do it justice! We have 8 more weeks to go and counting down!