Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year. Obviously the highlight was having Gavin with us! We kept our schedule as low key as possible, did most of our shopping online. Hooray for Amazon!

We made gingerbread houses

We decorated sugar cookies

And delivered them to our neighbors

Had loads of Christmas spirit

We saw Santa (I KNOW him!)

Made snowman crafts with family

Enjoyed giving and receiving gifts from family and friends 

And talked 374,369,673 times about the true meaning of Christmas - that Jesus came to earth in human form to bridge the gap between man and God. 

On Christmas Day we had plans with my family but sickness struck so about half of our family was able to come. 

On Christmas morning, it was just our little family. Owen was up first. He got to open his stocking and play with it while I prepared breakfast. I made monkey bread for the first time. It was so yummy, I think this might have to be a new tradition!

Here's Austin snuggling with Uncle Jesse while we watched The Santa Clause. He and Dad drove up from Gilbert to spend Christmas evening with us! This is the only picture I took that night because I was too busy playing hostess! 

I can't wait until next Christmas! It is absolutely the most wonderful time of the year!

10 on 10 - January

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month!

{Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

7ish

I have company while I cook breakfast

8ish

Good morning Chunky Monkey

9ish

Owen wants a marshmellow shooter like his cousin Drew so he's doing extra chores to earn

 the money. Here he is cleaning up the backyard :)

10ish

Grocery shopping at Trader Joe's - this is the best shot I could get.

11ish

My new best friend brewing some hot tea

12ish

Progress

1ish

Tired boy finally gave in

2ish

Boy #2 down

3ish

All the kids are down, time for some "me" time.  (Parenthood is my faveorite show!)

6ish

Old friends over for dinner!

Gavin's Birth Story

At my 40 week appointment I was happy to hear that I had progressed from 1 cm the week before to 3 cm. I allowed myself a little hope - this is the most I had ever been dialated at 40 weeks pregnant. Maybe, just maybe, this baby would come before my traditional '5 days past due' babies? (Ha.)

40 weeks

40wks1d

Walking walking walking at 2 days past my due date

I spent the next few days walking and staying busy (even going to my Zumba class!). 5 days past due came and went. I still felt good, was pretty comfortable and was toying with the idea of allowing myself another week to go into labor. After careful consideration though, Ryan and I decided that we should schedule an induction at 1 week overdue, Tuesday November 12.

Zumba-ing at 5 days overdue

Last picture as a family of 4

Eeeeearly on the 12th at 1am we received the call to head in to the hospital.  We arrived around 2am and got settled in. Around 4am I was checked and found to be 4 cm and 80% effaced AND was having mild contractions 7-10 minutes apart. However, Gavin's heart rate was dropping during contractions so I was given oxygen and rotated laying from side to side. We proceeded cautiously and I just rested for the next few hours.

Around 7am I was given a low dose of Pitocin. Around 8 I received an epidural from a very nice anesthesialogist who really hit it off with Ryan. He also had a med student with him so the whole process was painfully slow while he explained in excruciating detail what he was doing. The epidural itself wasn't too painful, thankfully. I think it was 9 or so before Dr. Grier arrived and broke my water (6cm now) and I dialated steadily over the next few hours. I was ready to push at noon on the dot and Gavin Micah was born at 12:16pm! He was 9lbs 14 oz (!!!!!) and 22 inches long. I held him on my chest for the longest time just talking to him and looking at him and letting it all in. Ryan and I were thrilled that he was finally in our arms!

(Taken by Tara!)

Ready to go home!