Emilia Belle

It's been a week since we had our little girl, and I thought I would sit down and write about her special day, while it's still fresh in my mind.

I felt pretty prepared, or as ready as you can feel before a life-changing event. I was caught up on laundry, the house was clean, bags packed, even all the Christmas baking was done! About a week before my induction date I caught a cold, which I in turn passed onto my son and husband. By baby day I was pretty much over it, but Wesley was still sick, and Jake wasn't 100%. Not the ideal conditions for bringing home a newborn, but I felt grateful that I had already beaten the illness, so our baby would be born packed full of antibodies. Sydney slept over on the night before the induction, because Wesley and I had to be to the hospital by 5 AM, and she was watching Jake. Wesley's parents drove up to relieve her in the morning so that she could join us at the hospital and be there for the birth!

I think I went to the hospital running on about 3 hours of sleep in the previous 48 hours. Between being kicked by a giant baby, and my nerves running full speed in anticipation, it wasn't much of a surprise. So when they hooked me up to my IV, and put in my epidural--ohhh it was heavenly! I spent my relatively short labor just dozing and relaxing. (Mostly I just felt bad for Wesley, who was sitting in a chair feeling sick, and trying to be so tough!) I got my epidural around 7, my water broke around 9:30, and somewhere between 11 and 12, I was complete!!!

In the 20 minutes preceding delivery, I actually got super panicky. I knew that my Doc was in the next room delivering another baby, and that as soon as he was done, it would be my turn to push!! When I heard that neighbor baby start crying, my nerves went into overdrive. I started thinking a million things at once--What if my baby isn't healthy?? What is she gonna look like? do I really want 2 KIDS???? and also, how hard will this delivery be?? how long will it take to get her out?

Ridiculous I know, but I definitely suffered from a small bout of cold feet. I didn't have too long to worry though , because before I knew it, the Doc and his crew were rolling into my room to set up. As they were getting ready, my nurse started coaching me to begin pushing through a contraction--the Doc looked down and said "No, no pushing! Don't even laugh". Apparently my body was doing its job well, because our little baby was already on her way out! It was 12:27 pm, and two coughs later (seriously, a cough..thats what the Doc told me to do instead of pushing) Emilia Belle Hurst was here!!!

Once Sydney, Wesley and I got over the initial shock of such an abrupt and quick delivery, we watched as they took her away to be rubbed down and suctioned and weighed. I remember hearing someone say "Whoa, she's a small one!" I was surprised to hear this, since I had been gearing up for another 8 to 9 pounder like Jake. When they announced her weight, my jaw dropped--6 pounds!!! and only 18.5 inches! If I'm remembering it right, I think that the first things I said were "is she ok?" and then "holy cow what a little shrimp!" Probably not the nicest description of my newest child, but I was in shock at how small she was.

She cried out maybe 5 or 6 times, and then was very quiet. When they gave her to me for the first time, I felt so peaceful, and overwhelmed with gratitude that this darling little bundle was mine to keep! There is no feeling that quite compares to holding something so pure and fresh from Heaven. All my anxiety seemed to melt away, and was replaced with a great sense of rightness--this sweet little spirit was now a part of our family.

I was able to spend the next couple hours getting to know our little Emilia. When I had my epidural and IV taken out we called Wesleys parents to let them know we were ready to introduce Jake to his little sister. I had been nervously anticipating this moment pretty much ever since we got our positive pregnancy result. When Jake climbed up on the bed and leaned over the bassinet, he was so excited to meet his "baby sister Mia!!!" (We nicknamed her Mia a long time ago-Wesley actually prefers the name, and Jake can actually say it, so the name is probably here to stay. But I still wanted to give her the beautiful full name that I'd been dreaming about.) Jake sat in my lap, and I helped him hold his little sister for the first time. He must have sensed how delicate she was, because he was so gentle, speaking softly and patting her. I felt so overwhelmed in that moment. Even now, a week later, remembering how it felt to sit on that bed with my husband and two sweet kids makes me cry. I don't think a lot of things could top that feeling.

I spent a couple days in the hospital, and came home on Wesley and my 5 year anniversary! Being home with my family for the first time was such an awesome way to celebrate! My recovery has been so fast with this second baby, and so far she has been really good, sleeping lots, not fussing too much. I just felt bad for Wes and Jake, who were still pretty sick--probably Mia and I were actually feeling better than they were. It was a huge blessing that everything went so smoothly for me. In a couple days my mom is flying out here for 2 weeks, and my dad will be joining us for the second half of the trip. I'm so excited to have them here!

It's definitely going to be a big adjustment having 2 kids at home, but I'm so excited for the challenge. I remember worrying in the weeks before Mia came, about how I would be able to love anyone as much as I love Jake. But I feel sort of like the Grinch--On December 15th, my heart grew three sizes. And it's growing more and more everyday. I love my family so much, and I'm so grateful that my baby girl got here safe and sound. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I don't think there is anything I want Santa to bring me--and it feels wonderful.

Can't believe it's December.

I just thought I would post up some photos of the last few weeks. Even though we are getting extremely close to baby time, I've been trying to take full advantage of the season. Also--I have an official "induction" date and I will tell you what it is at the end of this post!

We have had the ground "dusted" with snow a fair few times since October, but never enough for Jake to go out and play in it. He would get so excited every time it started to snow, and then was totally let down when he wasn't able to do anything fun with it! So when we finally got a few inches, I sent the boys out. (I would've gone too, but I don't exactly fit into my snow clothes right now ;) ). I just sat on our deck and watched them play.

This is Jake's "I'm being put on the spot" face. He does it all the time...when strangers talk to him, when I ask him to smile for the camera..etc. so funny.

Jake admiring his "Charlie Brown" tree.

Sugar Cookies--Yummm.. I should probably be baking something more useful (like making/freezing casseroles for the weeks ahead)..but it's Christmas, and I'm keeping my traditions alive! In the past two weeks I've baked several "Stollen" (a german christmas bread), chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, and tonight I'm doing "Lebkuchen" (another german one). I love that my mom had so many wonderful Christmas traditions and recipes that I can continue with my own family now! and besides--who doesn't love a little extra sugar this time of year? (And no, I don't feel bad at all--I've been working out everyday to burn off all the yummy goodness)

Quick story: Jake is a little bit of a neat freak, and panics when he spills or breaks anything. I've been trying to help him relax a bit, and will always say "It's ok Jakey, it happens." Well, while we were cutting out cookies, Wesley came over to join in, and broke the cookie he had just cut while transferring it to the pan. Jake looked up at him and said "It's ok Daddy, it happens." What a sweetheart!!!!!

This year we finally purchased an artificial tree of our very own! When we first got married, I told Wesley I would always want a real tree each year--I love the smell and the fun of going out to pick one. The last couple years we went to VA for Christmas, so we didn't end up even doing a tree. And this year, with a baby coming, I decided that I didn't want to deal with vacuuming up pine needles, and worrying about remembering to water it..so we decided to finally go artificial, and I LOVE my new tree!

Jake loves it too! he will turn off all the lights about 6 times a day, just so he can go "OOOOOOOO!!! Christmas tree!!!!!!"

Another quick story--Jake loves to go see the Christmas tree display at Costco, and has been watching a lot of Christmas cartoons lately. During Thanksgiving week, I put up the first of my decorations (a garland on my deck rail, and my little forest of fake mini trees) during Jake's nap. When he woke up, I carried him outside so he could see the new decor. He stared in wonder for a few seconds, and then said in this little voice, "Wow, my own Christmas tree in my own home!" I love watching Jake discover all the magic of the holidays!

Since half the ornaments on our tree are fragile and off-limits, we thought it would be nice for Jake to decorate his own little tree. We let him do it exactly how he wanted, and he has been rearranging his ornaments every single day. :)

I just loved Jake's outfit last Sunday--He picked out his own "christmas tie" at the store a few weeks ago, and actually kept his hat on too!

Thanks for reading, and if you got this far on the post, you get to hear my baby updates! I went to the doc for my second to last appointment on Monday, and he decided that baby girl is pretty much ready to roll. So we are forgoing the last checkup, and just scheduling my induction for next week instead! Unless I go into labor on my own in the next few days, we will be welcoming baby girl hurst on wednesday December 15th! I'm feeling so anxious/excited/relieved/nervous/all around emotional--but I think mostly I feel ready :) Stay tuned for more updates!

Thankful

I just got done putting Jake to bed. The routine went so smoothly--Wesley carried him to his room, and we all knelt down next to the bed for prayers. Wes said it nice and slow so that Jake could attempt to repeat each line, citing all the things he was grateful for (among which included mommy and daddy, snacks, and his blanket). Then as usual, he kissed daddy goodnight, and said "lay down, mommy!" Then we spent the next few minutes singing his favorite song (twinkle star) repeatedly. He is getting so good at singing along! As I laid there cuddling with my little buddy, listening to him sing almost all the words (slightly off-key), I couldn't help but feel so lucky.

Being Thanksgiving weekend, I decided that now would be a great time to write up a little blog post for posterity. I have so many blessings in my life, and I want to write about some of them. Small warning--this post is more for me than for you, so if it gets too wordy and rambling, you don't have to read the whole thing.

I'll start with my obvious "gratefuls" and go from there ;)

1. I'm grateful for my awesome husband Wesley. In less than 3 weeks we will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary. 5 years!!!!! The last 5 years have been the best of my life. We continually work to strengthen our relationship, and we've of course had our ups and downs, but I still feel just as strongly as ever that Wes is the right man for me. We help each other become better people each day, and I feel so thankful to have him by my side. We trust each other, and love each other--and I feel so safe with him. He is such a loving dad to Jake, and I love knowing that we are a team, and are united in our trials, failures, and successes. :) I love you honey!

2. JAKE--what a cool little kid!!! When I think about Jake, I feel overwhelmed with joy that Wes and I get to raise such a special little spirit. He is a very unique person. Some words that I could tag him with would be--sensitive, sweet, clean, cautious, and friendly. Jake loves other kids, but hates to be teased. He can't stand being dirty, and will freak out if he has one drop of food on his hands, face, or clothes. He loves to play and wrestle, but will run to mommy and get each and every boo-boo kissed better within 2 seconds of injury. He will push mom's buttons, and experiment with power struggles, and can throw epic tantrums, but seems to genuinely care if his parents lose patience with him. In fact, when I give him "the look" he will almost always go send himself to his room (crying) until he can find his "happy face" again. Jake gives the best hugs and kisses--you just have to watch out for the occasional great big lick on the cheek (this happens when he is pretending to be Pluto). I love seeing his face light up with pure joy and gratitude when he receives a present or treat, and is very good about saying "please and thank you". It's an amazing privilege to be able to watch him grow up. I feel so lucky that I get to be the one to help him discover new things.

3. Baby girl--Although we haven't yet met, there are so many things related to our upcoming daughter that I'm grateful for. First of all, I'm so thankful that I was able to get pregnant after only 4 months of trying. And since then, I've had a healthy textbook pregnancy--I've known a few friends who couldn't say the same about their own pregnancies, and I know how lucky I am that I haven't had any complications so far.

I'm grateful that I was able to stay home with Jake instead of working on my feet 40 hours a week like last time, and that I've been able to exercise throughout my 9 months. I've gained a lot less weight in this pregnancy than in my first, and I know it is partly due to those two things. (the third reason being that since round one, I've actually learned a thing or two about reading the nutrition labels on my food--thanks jess!) The point is, by gaining less weight and staying in shape, I've been sleeping better and feeling a lot more comfortable as my tummy has expanded.

Although I'm getting very excited to meet my baby girl, I'm not bursting with impatience for my 9 months to end. I'm still feeling pretty good even though there are only 3 weeks left!!! I know that in many ways my life is about to get a lot harder, but I'm feeling hopeful and ready for the challenge. After all, as hard as parenting can be (especially to a newborn), I'm going to love her the way I love Jake, and I know from experience that those feelings make everything worth it.

(Belly shot from around 32 weeks)

4. FAMILY-- my sisters and mom are truly my best friends, and being able to pick up my phone and call them anytime is so wonderful. My dad gives the best advice and is always a soft spot for me. I feel so lucky to have been raised in a family with a handicapped brother--David is such a sweet kid, and in all our struggles with him growing up, our family stayed close. We were always a team, and I truly believe that it was a major factor in helping me stay strong in the gospel. It helped me find a better perspective on life, helped me survive high school and everything that goes with it--and helped to prepare me for marriage, and for raising my own family. Mom and dad--you guys are amazing, and I'm sorry none of your girls live nearby anymore to help out with David. :/

I'm grateful for Wesley's family--a couple months ago his parents retired from their jobs in Thailand and moved to Utah. It's been wonderful for us to see them more often, and for Jake to get to know them. Wesley's sister lives around here as well, so we have all of them within a 40 minute drive now. I'm happy to have them here, and a little jealous that my parents don't live closer too. But at least I do have one sister living close by, and I'm thankful to her for the girls nights, for coming over once a week to do her laundry, and for babysitting so much! Thanks Syd!

(old photo, but the only one I have of the whole family)

5. Although there are lot's of little things that make life challenging, there are also a ton that make it sooo much better. I'm grateful that Wesley has a job, and is back in school (and doing really well too!) I'm thankful that he works less than a mile from our apartment--which reminds me--I love our apartment. I love that we have so much space for Jake to run around, and that we have a third bedroom for the new baby. I've had a lot of fun creating a frilly pink nursery, and I can't wait to bring her home to it!!! I'm thankful for my wonderful friends--for the phone calls, support, play dates and girls nights. You guys are my bread and butter ;)

Even though it'll be lame for baby girl to have a birthday at Christmas, I am actually loving my due date. The Christmas season has always been my favorite time of year--and this year is no exception. I have every intention of spending the next 3-ish weeks baking cookies, spending time with family, and reflecting on all the wonderful stuff in my life. I want to "savor the moments" and really feel the season. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I hope I can always take time to slow down and appreciate the good things. Since this is pretty much my Thanksgiving post, I'll end it with a couple pictures from the actual holiday. We spent it with Wesley's family, and it was a lot of fun. Happy Thanksgiving!

Scott and Jake...aka the mischief makers, and the life of the party..never a dull moment with these two!!

4 generations of Hurst men! :)

love my jakey!/36 week belly shot.

Baby Shower!!!!!!!

***Just so you know--I am finally all caught up on my blog, so if you want to catch up on my life, there are actually 3 new posts from today! so keep reading after this one ;) ***

A couple weeks ago my sister Sydney and my sister-in-law Melanie threw me a baby shower!! Thank you SOOO much for all the hard work you put into it! The food was soo yummy and the decorations were adorable! I felt so special seeing all of their efforts, and then being able to see so many good friends at one time. Thanks to all of you who came out, and brought me so many nice presents too!

Melanie hosted down in Salem, and she and her mom handled all the food. They made so many tasty things, and ordered a cute cake too!

Sydney designed the invitation and sent it out, and brought decorations, party favors, games and prizes. Thanks Syd!

We saved the pink puff ball things and hung them from the nursery ceiling afterwards. It was the perfect finishing touch to the room!

I love having an artist for a sister. From taking the fabulous photograph, to re-covering old books--she does it all.

Prizes!!! so cute!

I felt so spoiled.

33 week tummy! Thanks again to everyone who was involved :) I'm now approaching 35 weeks--the time is flying by! Can't wait to meet you baby girl!