My Big Two and a Half month old!

This blog and I have a definite love/hate relationship. I love when I can look back and see what I've written before. I hate it because when I don't write a post about every little stage in my life I feel guilty and then I feel like my computer just stares at me until I write a post about it. This hate part of the relationship has only gotten 1000 times worse since having Emmett. I haven't even documented the first two months of his life! Its terrible. Well...heres a resolution to get better cause I know one day I will want to read these.

Anyways, I have NO idea how my little boy has gotten so big! I know every mom says this but...I really can't believe how much I love this kid. He has the absolute sweetest personality in the world. He really is such an easy going and relaxed baby which has been a HUGE blessing. I remember being pregnant and praying all the time for a good baby. He is definitely a prayer answered. At about 4 weeks we got to see his first real smile. And he hasn't stopped smilin since! He laughs all the time and Loves when his dad makes his ooooooowwwww sound :).

 Last week he had his two month check up. The doctor said I must be making milkshakes cause he is a big two month old. my milkshakes bring all the babies to the yard. wait whaa? He was in the 90th percentile for height and weight so I was really happy to see him growing well. Then..of course the worst part of the apt. Shots. Makes me never wanna go back. I felt so terrible but he only cried for a minute after they gave them so that made it a little better. Well from now on I'm going to try and post...maybe every other week. No more blog guilt for me. Till next time!

Emmett Lanier's Birth Story

Our little boy is 5 weeks old tomorrow!! Where has the time gone? This past month has been an absolute blur but has been probably the most amazing month of my life with my little family of three. I feel so blessed each and every day waking up and peeking at my little boy sleeping in his crib. He is perfect in every way and has strengthened my testimony of the love our Heavenly Father has for each and every one of his children. I thought I would share my birth story because 1.) I love reading other people's birth stories. 2.) I want to remember it in detail 3.) My friend Carlee was able to come and photograph the birth and all the little tender moments that followed. So...brace yourselves. Its a novel.

On Monday, March 4th I was exactly 39 weeks and 1 day. I had my midwife apt at 2:00. Danny and I were so happy and giddy to find out if I had progressed at all from the week before. The Tuesday before, I was dilated to 2 cm and was 80% effaced. We got there and as we talked to my midwife, I asked about her stripping my membranes to make labor come faster. She said that she could do that if I wanted, but there would be a good chance I would have the baby within the next 24-48 hours. I looked at Danny and with a smile we both agreed to have her do it. So, after the apt. Danny and I headed home to get our gym clothes on! We headed over to the BYU-I center and started walking to get things progressing. Little did I know, that in about 2 hours I would be hating myself for trying to make the pain come on faster. HA.

As we started to walk around the track, I finally found out what real contractions felt like. Ya. They sucked. They were coming about 3 minutes apart and lasted for 45 seconds. Obviously not the super strong ones but still pretty uncomfortable. We finally headed home to finish up some last minute nesting and make some dinner. My midwife told me to not go to the hospital until my contractions were at least 4 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, and having contractions for at least an hour. So I was all of those but one...the lasting 1 minute part. We waited and waited as my contractions got consistently stronger. By 5 o'clock I was hunched over just trying to get through each one. I wanted to go to the hospital sooooo bad but was afraid they would turn me away since my contractions were only lasting about 50 seconds. After about an hour I gave up and said we needed to go. I wanted my epidural! After all...I thought that my midwife would let me get one when I was in labor...which I was. We get there and the nurse gets me into a gown and checks me. 3.5 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I was SO happy! I would be admitted! Oh wait. Just kidding. My midwife is a little intense and after calling her, she said she wanted me at a five before admitting me. I just about died. All you "all-natural" mommas who are laughing at me right now thinking I'm pathetic, need to remember I had absolutely noooo intention of doing this thing without pain meds. Most doctors will admit their patients when they are dilated to a three so thats what I thought would happen. I had taken no pain management classes or read any books on dealing with contractions and pain. I just wasn't prepared. The nurse told me to go out and walk around the hall for an hour and she would recheck me. After bawling through the hallways holding onto Danny and making several asap trips to the bathroom to throw up, we went back to be re-checked. By then it was about 9pm. I was praying praying praying that something changed. But of course...nothin. I almost broke down knowing we would have to go home and I would be on my own going through the contractions. I was so mad too. My contractions were coming so quickly I couldn't believe they wouldn't admit me.

So...fast forward a little bit. We are at home and I decided to get in the tub to try and relieve some of the pain. The next two hours were by far the hardest and most painful hours I've probably went through in my life. I was moaning and sobbing through each contraction. My poor husband felt so helpless. He is always trying to make me feel better when I'm hurting and for the first time in our relationship, he realized he couldn't and needed to just sit there and watch. He was still so supportive and loving and I couldn't have done it without him.  After two hours, I had Danny call our midwife. She, sleepily, answered the phone. Danny told her I could barely breath through my contractions and asked if we should go back to the hospital. She said "I know its hard for her but she should take some benadryl and try and get some sleep"...UM seriously!? I was fuming. Who the heck can sleep when your going through the worst pain of your life every three minutes!? She wanted me to wait until I couldn't stand it anymore. AKA she was too tired to get out of bed and wanted me to wait until her shift ended at 5am. So, I had in my mind that I would try and wait another few hours. But then, they got worse. I was having a really hard time breathing through them. Danny called the hospital and told one of the nurses what was going on. I got on the phone and sobbed to her that I couldn't handle it anymore and told her who my midwife was. She immediately told me to come in and she would help get us set up and get me something for the pain. I think the hospital nurses know that my midwife had a reputation of waiting a long time before admitting women. We jumped in the car and headed back to the hospital

They checked me and I had progressed to a 5! yay! I cried because I was so happy. By this time it was about 2am. The epidural guy finally came. Blessed man. and got me my relief that I foolishly believed I would have gotten eight hours earlier. My midwife then came in and broke my water and then her and the nurse left us to get some sleep. Danny, after almost fainting from exhaustion while I was getting my epidural, fell asleep right away and I was left laying there with a racing mind on what lied ahead. I couldn't believe we were there and I was going to meet my little boy soon.  I finally was able to fall asleep until about 5:30am, when I heard the nurse come in. She whispered to me that my contractions had slowed down to five minutes apart and that my midwife wanted to give me pitocin. By that point, I didn't really care and she hooked me up. My contractions quickly sped up and were coming every 2-3 minutes. At about 6:50, the nurse came back in to check me. She seemed surprised...I was at a 10! That pitocin sure worked. She said I was ready to push when I felt the urge too. Soon after this point my awesome friend and visiting teacher, Carlee, came to photograph our birth story. I feel forever grateful to her for offering to do this. I cry every time I look at these photos and will cherish them forever. Thank you so much Carlee!!

At this point the nurse started getting the room set up for delivery and called my midwife in. They coached me through some pushes and I could already see his head coming out! It was such an amazing feeling. 

 After only about 15 minutes, little baby Emmett was almost there. I gave a few more biggg pushes....

...and out came the most beautiful baby I'd ever laid eyes on. The next few moments were such a blur. I honestly don't really remember them clearly but what I do remember was that amazing world-rocking moment when they laid him on my chest. I remember the nurse saying that he knew me as his momma. He knew my smell. He knew my voice. I was instantly in love with this tiny human.

 I love love loved my hospital experience. The nurses didn't touch Emmett for an HOUR. Not to even put a diaper on him. He just laid on me and slept. I loved that hour with my two boys. It was so much different than what I thought it would be. You always hear about hospitals these days shipping your baby off for hours to do testing and what not. This was nothing like that.

Favorite picture

7 lbs. 11 oz. 20 inches long

Mesmerized by his boy (:

Those first few days of Emmett's life were ones that I will never forget. Although I went through the worst pain I've ever experienced, I would have done it a million times for him. I know every mom says that but it's true. I can't wait to continue to watch this little guy grow. He is such a blessing to us and we don't know what we would do with out him! We love you Emmett Lanier!

37 weeks + 5 days

Fulllll termmmmm! I've been having one of those weeks where everything just seems so surreal.  Like this isn't my life. That could be from all the drugs I'm on but who knows. As some of you may heard I've been pretty sick this past week. Nothing too serious just a lot of little things stacked on top of each other to make one giant problem. It started out with getting the flu. Which is always so much fun. As I started to recover from that, I got a terrible ear infection. And a cough that made me sound like I was birthing my baby out of my throat. So we decided on President's Day that we needed to go to the walk in clinic. I was fighting tears for a while that day because the ear infection made my entire face hurt including my jaw and teeth. The Doc took one look in my ear and said yep thats definitely an infection! Then he took my blood and realized I also had a bacterial infection which was causing my cough and lack of speaking voice (no joke...i could not even say a word). Soooo I got a shot in my bootay and some prescriptions to get filled and we were on our way. I've just been recovering the past few days and am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

On tuesday we went in for a midwife apt so they could check on the baby and make sure everything was going okay since I was sick. She checked me and the first thing she said was "whoa his head is right there!" SO he is extremely low which is awesome cause that will help things get going. I was 1.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced! At first I thought "yay! he might come early" Now...Im kinda thinkin I would be perfectly okay with this baby takin his sweet little time. Its funny how for nine months we've been counting each day and wishing everything would go faster. Now Im getting nervous so I want everything to slowwwww dowwnnnnn. I just can't imagine we will be parents in a couple weeks! Its insane. But I still am so excited.

belly that is exploding.

Quick little weekly update:

How far along? 37 weeks + 5 days

Total weight gain: 22 lbs

Maternity clothes? Even some of those are gettin a little uncomfortable. Sweat pants and leggings from here on out! Sorry honor code.

Stretch marks? No new ones

Sleep: Since I was sick and couldn't really breath, its been interesting. But the Doc gave me something to help me rest which helped a tonnn.

Best moment this week: Just spending time at home with Danny. I can't get enough. I know this will be the last time we get to be so care free!

Miss Anything? Mmm not really.

Movement: Actually...a ton! They're supposed to slow down in the end but this little guy is more active than ever. Or it might just be that he's gotten bigger so I can feel every little thing. Seriously. Even those precious fingers and toes.

Food cravings: Water and fruit. Still really dehydrated. Whoops.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Yes actually. A lot of different foods. I kinda feel like Im back in my first trimester. NiGhTmARE. 

Gender: baby boy

Labor Signs: On Valentines day I started having contractions that for the first time...hurt. 6-8 minutes apart but I got them to slow down by moving my position a few times. Lots of Braxton Hicks. And occasionally more crampy/painful-ish contractions.

Symptoms: back pain, fatigggggue to the max, nesting in between the fatigue, just overall uncomfortableness.

Belly Button in or out? In...but a very strange looking inny.

Looking forward to: Meeting this little guy who has grown from the size of a poppy seed all the way to a watermelon. ALL INSIDE ME! Still can't quite wrap my mind around it.

Also, I've still been sewing some last minute things. I've gotten Everyyyything done. Except my boppy pillow cover. But that should be pretty quick. I finally did my carseat cover. I liked how it turned out but it was actually more of a pain to make than I thought it would be. Oh well. Glad its done.

Lets see what else...Valentines day was so much fun. We cuddled and relaxed all day and then got ready for our date. For the past month or so I've been talking about Outback steakhouse like every other day. I have been cravinggg it. So Danny made reservations and it was mmmmmmmmazing. He got me a Sage day spa gift card for a massage and pedicure. Can't wait to use that. Then, Sunday was our anniversary! I CANT believe its been a year! It feels like time has flown. But at the same time, I look back to where I was a year ago, and realize how much I've grown and changed since then. So, in that way it kinda feels like its been forever. Anyways, I had a nice dinner planned but since I was sick, Danny came home from church and started making it himself while I was asleep. He somehow googled the recipe I was talking about making and I woke up to the best smellin dinner in the world! He's such a chef!

The cute view I walked in on ;)

Apple stuffed chicken breasts. Seriously amazing.

So anyways thats whats been going on in the Hatch household. Hope everyone has a good weekend! Love you family!!

35 Weeks!

...and 34 days to go. WHAA. Im dying at how fast these past few weeks have flown. I had a BIG growth spurt and I hear these last few weeks he just about doubles in size so I'm a little nervous at the changes my body will go through in this next little while ha. Things are going well though and we are just keepin busy getting ready for this little guy to come. I've finally finished most of the blankets I wanted to make which is a big relief and I'm pretty happy how they turned out!

I still need to make one more using these two fabrics...

...and then we should be pretty set on blankets since I have some more that my mom gave me. I also made this SUPER easy nursing cover that I love. I'm not a huge fan of normal nursing covers because they dont have a back to them, so if you have a shirt that you have to pull up you're pretty much showing your back to everyone in the room. So, I turned to pinterest and found this awesome tutorial, bought some fabric for $4.00 and made this beauty!

I don't know why stores don't make more like this. They seem so much more practical and they are surprisingly cute for just being a big piece of knit fabric. It seriously took ten minutes and is really easy. Here is the tutorial for anyone who is interested:
http://www.thecoterieblog.com/2012/05/dyi-modern-nursing-shawl-sew-one-line.html

Until Wednesday, I'll be done with sewing projects because Im waiting for my carseat cover fabric and rocking chair slip cover fabric to get here in the mail. I found an awesome sale on ALL premier print fabrics (ilovethem.) so I bought both fabrics from then. I'll post next week on how those projects are going! Anyways, as far as the pregnancy is going, things are....well. Just well. Not terrible, not great. I definitely don't think I'll be sad to not be pregnant anymore. Anywho, heres a little update.

Haha I thought this was a funny view

Ready to POP

How far along? 35 weeks

Total weight gain: 22 lbs
Maternity clothes? Seriously? 
Stretch marks? None on the belly. Five more weeks to go, I can do it!!
Sleep: Between the potty breaks and racing mind I haven't been getting great sleep. I wake up and usually feel like I just got hit by a train. And its only gonna be down hill from here...
Best moment this week: Just savoring these last few weeks with my hubs. Its so weird that it won't be just us anymore! But we're excited for the change.
Miss Anything? Sleeping through the night with out b-room breaks. Rolling over. Standing up without assistance. oh and fitting into my clothes.
Movement: Yes. I wouldn't call them pleasant movements. More like elbow jabs which is really comfortable when I'm trying to sleep.
Food cravings: Water. Water. Water. I can't get enough. I know I'm dehydrated but its hard to keep on top of it and drink as much as I need!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Thankfully no.
Gender: baby boy
Labor Signs: Occasional braxton hicks 
Symptoms: back pain
Belly Button in or out? In!
Looking forward to: 35 week midwife appt. on Tuesday! Hopefully they will check me even though I doubt Im dilated to anything. But ya never know!

31 weeks and 5 days!

Finally I can update! It's so crazy to think I have only 8 weeks left. It's starting to get kinda scary knowing how soon I'm going to be a momma but I still feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas to get here.

 Preparations are coming along and we finally bought a crib and stroller. I did a TON of research on strollers and we just got ours in the mail today and loveeee it!

Cute model huh? ;)

I also got a ton of fabric to make blankets! Two weeks ago when we were in California I got to go to L.A. with my mother and sister in law to the fabric district! It was SO fun. We scored biggg time on getting good deals on minky. 5.99 a YARD. no joke people. I was so excited. I got a lot and now I've just got to get sewin. I also want to finish the chevron quilt I started before I even found out I was pregnant. For some reason I just felt like I should make them boy colors and I'm glad I did.

This was before I sewed the strips together and Danny 

just tucked in the sides to make it look finished. 

Danny and I will be moving only a month after the baby is born so Im not doing a nursery here. Sad, because I really want to do one now. I already have all of my colors picked out though (oranges and browns) and most of my fabric for crib bedding so it should give me some stuff to do! I'll keep updates on here on what I finish and the little projects I'm doing...including recovering a glider. Yikes. Anyways heres a little update on the pregnancy...

How far along? 31.5 weeks
Total weight gain: 19 lbs. THANk YOu HOliDAYS!
Maternity clothes? Ya and I love them. I may just never go back.
Stretch marks? still none on my tummy. I finally gave in and bought some Palmers Coco butter even though I heard that theres really nothing you can do to prevent getting them. So...I dont even know why I use it cause the smell is nastayyy.
Sleep: Actually sleeping pretty well! It feels nice to be in our own bed after a long month of traveling.
Best moment this week: Getting to hear our little boy's heart beat! 140 beats per minute which is just dandy. Also got to figure out his position in my belly...head is down and his butt is jutting out by my belly button. I knew it! Lets just hope he stays that way for another 8 weeks.
Miss Anything? Hmm not too much actually. Im more than anything just getting uncomfortable as I grow bigger. Its amazing how much you take for granted the small simple things....tying my shoes or even just curling up in a ball on the couch...it just doesn't work too well anymore
Movement: He's a little squirmer! its not so much kicks anymore but more just moving and rolling around
Food cravings: anything and errrrrthing. Especially carbs. Which happen to be the one thing I shouldn't eat in access or else I will gain a ton of weight. Great!
Anything making you queasy or sick: no
Gender: baby boy
Labor Signs: Occasional braxton hicks but nothing consistant. I actually get excited when I get them. 
Symptoms: NESTING. Its just beginning. And I can tell I'm gonna get a little carried away as my due date gets closer. 
Belly Button in or out? In!
Looking forward to: Sewing all my little projects!

27 weeks!

I cant believe Im already here. Sheeeshhh! Almost to my third trimester. I remember only being eight weeks pregnant looking at girls as far along as I am now thinking "I will NEVER get there! Its so far away!" But I did it and am VERY happy to only have 12 weeks left. Pregnancy is starting to get uncomfortable (not like it wasn't before). But even more now. I find that my back is always aching and im just tired.

Well lemmmmme tell you....that is a huge blessing becauseeeeeee...

finals are just coming to a close so I will be able to rest more soon and that will be great. As this semester is ending I've had a lot of time to reflect about the past few months and everything I was able to accomplish. I KNOW that I had heavenly help getting my butt out of bed every day at 6:30 for class and then going to school all day and THEN work after that until 6 at night. I would come home so exhausted but the Lord still made a way for me to be able to complete all of my homework and study for my classes (which were some pretty difficult ones this semester I might add).

My sweet husband has been so patient with me and has helped out so much. There were more than a few nights when dinner wasn't on the table or laundry wasn't done but he neverrr complained. Im so grateful for that. It feels good to know that I worked hard this semester and can have a break in the winter. I will only be taking 7 credits to finish up my degree so I will have plenty of time to get ready for the baby to come. Wahoo! Well we are off on monday to CALIFORNIA! Sunny...warm... ahhhhh I can't wait. Especially after today when it was only 11 degrees outside. #death. All of Danny's family will be in town so it will be one big party and we can't wait! I will try to update those three weeks but if not...this one will have to do for this month.

How far along? 27 weeks
Total weight gain: 14 lbs. 
Maternity clothes? Yesssssirrrr
Stretch marks? nothing new
Sleep: I keep having to add pillows to my sleep routine. It started off with one my first trimester. Then eventually it became two. Now I am a three pillow woman. and CANT sleep without all of them.
Best moment this week: ALMOST done with finals. hallelujah.
Miss Anything? A back that was nice to me
Movement: constantly! He's getting so big!
Food cravings: mmm nothin in particular. whaaaa?!
Anything making you queasy or sick: ground meat actually. eek.
Gender: Little BOY!
Labor Signs: nope!
Symptoms: lower back pain. so much that I we went to the hospital one night. But thats a story for another time. HA
Belly Button in or out? In!
Looking forward to: CALIFORNIAAAA

24 weeks! Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi friends and fam! Happy Thanksgiving! Danny and I are having lots of fun in WASHINGTON right now! My mom has been trying to get me to come home for thanksgiving since basically September but we didnt really want to make the longgg drive from Idaho. We decided early on we were going to go to Utah to be with my sister in law Katie and her husband Jessie which we were really excited about. Last minute though, with all the stress and everything with school my mom caught me at a weak moment and convinced us to make the long drive home. I took three days of work off 0_0 so that we could leave earlier to make the drive. Its been so good to be here though and it definitely made the drive worth it! PLUS I had azteca last night. HElLoOO dream come true. ANyways heres a 24 (almost 25) week update!

How far along? 24.5 weeks
Total weight gain: 13 lbs. Lets be honest though. Todays thanksgiving. It wont be that number for long.
Maternity clothes? yup! Last night I tried to squeeeeeeeze into that little jacket you see above^....after watching me and erica chase each other around the movie theatre parking lot last night my mom says "Karla no more short jackets/shirts for you! Your gettin too big for that!" BO. hahaha. I blamed azteca.
Stretch marks? Nothin new!
Sleep: sleepin like a baby. But with really odd dreams...
Best moment this week: Coming HOME!!
Miss Anything? Honestly...no. My life feels just so complete right now. I feel so blessed!
Movement: AlllL the time. My mom and sisters hands have been glued to me.
Food cravings: Azteca..check! Alfys...still to come.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Noooo way.
Gender: Little BOY!
Labor Signs: nope!
Symptoms: feeling great...major heartburn last night though. That darn salsa. And the back pain is starting to creep back in except on the other leg. lovely.
Belly Button in or out? In!
Looking forward to: pigging out today! wahoo!