I am still learning how this mom business goes. Sometimes dinner doesn't get made, other times the house remains a mess for days and we often don't have clean socks. But we are learning and slowly figuring out the best schedule for mom, dad and Emmett. I apologize for neglecting the blog... but some things are just more important!

Emmett is doing fabulous. He is just growing, growing, growing! He had his 2 month doctor appt this week and is 11 lbs 14 oz and 24 1/4 inches long. He is healthy and developing just perfectly! He laughs and smiles at us all day and really only gets fussy when he is tired or hungry. He is constantly kicking his legs and arms... which if you remember from previous posts was exactly what I described him doing while in the womb! He has started to sleep through the night every once and a while and naps really well.

I need to upload all the many pictures we have taken of our cute little boy but for now enjoy this video! Emmett LOVES his baths!

Today Emmett and I are celebrating our birthdays together! I can hardly believe that I have been a mom for 3 whole weeks already... It goes by so fast and I am loving every minute of it! Here is photo documentation of the last 3 weeks.

Yesterday I was induced. I had been having regular contractions for 3 days but they weren't doing anything. I asked my doctor on Tuesday when I could come in and he scheduled me for the next day! It was a wonderful feeling knowing I would have a baby by the end of the day! Dr. Kirkman broke my water at 0900 and the nurses started me on pitocin at 1000. I started to have some pretty serious contractions and got an epidural at 1130... I love epidurals. I can honestly say that I partially enjoyed having a baby. It was an amazing experience and I am so glad that it went as smoothly as it did. Following the epidural I went from being a 5 to a 10 in about two hours. At 1400 I was completely effaced and at a 10. My nurse told me not to tell anyone... but from there I only pushed for about 35 minutes. She had me do a couple practice pushes and then we waited for the doctor to come. Little Emmett was born at 1505. He is perfect, not kidding. We love him. He hardly cries. When they put him up on my chest right after delivery, he whimpered a little. I said I would post a whole bunch of pictures... So here they are.


Preston was so excited! He is such a good dad already and little Emmett LOVES him. He calms down immediately when dad is around and loved doing some skin to skin today.


Emmett was a good eater right off the bat. I am lucky to have a lactation consultant for an aunt, Julie. She came up yesterday and helped me through the hard contractions, took some excellent film footage and then helped me breastfeed as soon as we got Emmett cleaned up. Thanks Julie!

We are down to 3 weeks folks... that's right 3 weeks. This pregnancy has gone by so fast and now with the end fast approaching it's hard for me to say I feel 100% ready. Even with the back aches, contractions, puffy feet, sciatic pain, nasty belly button, sleepless nights and overall uncomfortableness (is that even a word?) I can honestly say I am outright scared to have a baby. It's not even the labor/delivery part that scares me... though it probably should. It's the growing up part, the becoming a mom part, the having another life in my hands part that really gets me. Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited to meet this little guy and have him become a part of our family... but wow, me and Preston being parents? When all is said and done I know we will be fine, and I don't write this fishing for any sort of compliment, I am just stating the the simple fact, becoming parents is a scary thing! I have so many wonderful examples of parents and parenting skills around me and I hope to live up to them.

Speaking of fabulous parents, my wonderful mother laughed at me as I tried to buy a HUGE bottle of hand sanitizer this last week. Here I thought I was being a good mom, providing hand sanitizer for all the people who will want to hold and touch my beautiful baby... So, what do I REALLY need? What was the most useful item you had with your kids? What is vital that I have at the hospital, for me and baby? ADVICE!

This hit just a little too close to home for me not to share it. I am so thankful for the "good things to come" after the trial of our faith. I know the Lord blesses us as we endure through challanges in this life. "It will be alright in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come" -Elder Holland

Preston and I celebrated 2 years of wedded bliss just yesterday. It has hard to believe that two years has passed already and that we just continue to love each other more. We spent a fabulous day together, mostly comprised of nothingness. We made breakfast together and spent some time wondering at Summerfest and listening to awesome bands, eating delicious food and finished the night off right... that's right, watching the Lakers win the NBA finals. The things I do for my husband.

I know this picture isn't very clear but I just had to put it out there! The arrow is pointing to "boy" and yes, that is a stream of urine... The nurse was just laughing when she showed us this on the ultrasound! "Wow, look at that! Sure is a boy! Next thing you know he will have his little hands down there..." We are getting so excited about having a little boy! He is certainly a squirmer and is constantly kicking me. Preston was able to feel him move a few weeks ago... So now he KNOWS I'm not faking it! :)

Rainbow Bridge. Notice the beer belly... Preston made the comment "You look like those white trash girls who dress skanky and don't care that they are fat." Thanks babe.

Yep, a little boy. Preston was so proud and will be forever. We are both so very excited to have a little guy in October, and I have already started shopping. I'm sorry I can't post pictures right now but I will VERY soon! Promise.

The time has come. Is it a boy or is it a girl? We find out in a week and a half... What vibes are you getting?

I graduate in a week. Yep, 1 week.

I have decided to forgo all graduation events at Weber State next Friday. You see Weber is not the school I attended. I may have been a Weber student but I am an Aggie through and through. Also, purple robes. Really? Talk about a fashion mishap. I am really sad about missing out on the handing out of the fake diplomas... now that's something to travel down there to get. My family will be joining me for my small class graduation. It will be much more meaningful to me then joining my fellow students in the purple robe parade. I am struck with mixed feelings about graduating. I have worked my butt off for 4+ years, am only being awarded an associates degree and still haven't decided if I will ever get a job as a nurse. Being a mom and wife are much higher expectations for me than a capable nurse ever was. I have been blessed with a husband who sees things the same way and wants me to stay home with the children, well child for now. My family comes FAR before my career and I hope that financial situations will allow that to remain the goal. I will be taking my boards this summer (blowing $400 is a better way to put it) to officially become an RN. Am I vain to want the title? :) And if I feel so obliged I will maybe look for a part time nursing job in the Spring of next year. I am happy to be done with school though and am VERY proud of myself for completing the hardest 2 years of my life!

I did hear today that Pres. Monson is speaking at the ceremony... is this reason enough to gallivant down to Ogden?

I had some requests for pictures . . . So here is our first ultrasound from March 17. I haven't taken any "pregnant belly" shots but I shall post them when I do. I am getting a little belly that I am very self conscious about!

Many of you have probably been wondering to yourself: "Huh, Amanda is kinda starting to look like a square." or "Is she seriously eating AGAIN?" or "I wish she would stop walking into class 20 minutes late every thursday morning!" or my personal favorite "Did she just complain about missing her afternoon nap? I swear she just woke up!" Well . . .

I can't hold it in any longer . . . WE ARE PREGNANT!

We went to the doctor yesterday for our first ultrasound and everything is going perfectly. The little guy was bouncing all over the place and waving his little arms and legs. (I say "he" because Preston claims he only makes boys!) We also got to see his and hear his little heart beating! It was the coolest thing I have ever seen. We were so excited to know that everything is going well and that the little guy is just growing and growing!

With that being said, Preston is totally carrying the next one. I can't eat what I want, I can't cook, I can't exercise, I can't stay awake for a full day, I am getting chubby and Preston claims I am making it all up! AH! For rude. So he will be pregnant next time.

We are really excited though and hope October comes quickly! :)

So I found this picture of Preston and I from back when we were dating... barely dating. Look at little and cute he was! All gap-toothed and everything. It's no wonder I fell for him after one date! For those of you who don't know our dating story . . . well you are in for a treat. Back in Nov 2007 I sent the love of my life off on a mission, promising that I would wait. Now refer to the date on the picture . . . yeah, just a few weeks later. Well, actually I met Preston the SAME WEEK my missionary left. The Lord works in mysterious ways. We were seriously in love after the first day and saw each other at least 2x a week during the months of Nov and Dec while he still lived in Kaysville. He would often drive up to Logan after working a full day, stay till 5 or 6 in the morning and then drive home and go back to work without sleeping. My parents insisted they KNEW we were the real deal when I spent my 3 week vacation in Hawaii on the phone with this boy from Kaysville, Utah. And it's true. We were engaged in February and married in June 2008. I can hardly believe that it has been almost 2 years since we were married. I love him more than I ever thought I could love anyone. He is truly who I was supposed to be with for eternity. So here's to crazy love stories! If you got one that can top that . . . let me know!