38 weeks

Tuesday, May 21st started off like any normal day.  I got Ethan off to school and Landon and I got ready to go to my weekly Doctors appointment.  I was seeing a new Doctor because mine had her knee replaced the day before.  I was a little nervous, but had heard great things about Dr. Bierer.  The appointment went great and I had expressed my desire to have the baby sooner than later.  So Dr.  Bierer and I decided to strip my membranes.  Sometimes this gets labor started and sometimes it doesn't.  It worked for me.

Labor started about 5pm.  Landon and I took Ethan to his baseball game at 6:45 and by the time we arrived home I knew this was it.  I told Aaron that he should get the kids ready to go to his brothers and I finished up some things for Ethan's party and wiped the counter and table down.  Once all that was done we were off to the hospital.  The boys were excited, but a little nervous for mommy too.  It was very sweet at how concerned they were for me.  

 Once in my room I was able to get my epidural right away.  It was the best epidural so far.  My labor progressed and at 4:29am on Wednesday, May 22nd I had our beautiful baby girl Lily.  It was a very easy delivery.  I only had to push twice and she came into this world.

 She didn't cry to much and has been a great sleeper and eater.

 Lily has been our littlest baby.  Aaron was so excited to meet her.  She weighed 7lbs 1oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.  I forget how small newborns are and I have loved every moment of snuggling with her.

We are truly in love with our little girl, and we can't wait to see all the amazing things she will do.

Spring Soccer

 We have started spring soccer and boy are we having fun.  I purchased Ethan some soccer shoes to help him run even faster on the field, it took a little getting used to but he decided that he liked them.

 Ethan has really come a long way since he played in the fall.  Aaron has been helping to coach his team this season, and I think it has really helped Ethan.  He loves having his Dad out there on the field and you should see how proud Aaron is.

 Aaron has a huge smile on his face the whole game while watching Ethan play.  And at the quarter mark and half mark Aaron comes over to me and asks me if I have seen all the great things Ethan has been doing.  It is so cute.  Aaron loves that Ethan has very powerful legs and can run very fast.  Aaron was also a very fast runner at this age.  He also loves that Ethan can kick the ball very far, especially when everyone is surrounding it.  

We have loved going to his games and are excited for more to come.  His little brother can't wait until it is his turn to be out there.

Kathy's Baby Shower

 We have all been so excited about Kathy and Dan's pregnancy.  Kathy is having a baby girl,Just like me, and I can't wait for our little girls to become great friends and cousins.  Kathy is due in July about 1 month after me and since it is her first baby we, Grandma Stout and I,  knew she needed to have a baby shower.

 Carolee and I got things organized and invited the family from both sides to join in this exciting time for Kathy.  (I made Kathy a diaper cake, and if I do say so myself it turned out pretty well)

 We met at the club house, in Carolee's neighborhood, and had Kneaders bring in food (one of Kathy's favorite places to eat).  We wanted to keep things nice but simple at the same time.  I think we accomplished that and everyone seemed to have a great time celebrating this joyous occasion.

 Carolee had the same lady who made Kathy and Dan's wedding cake make her baby shower cake.  It was delicious and beautiful.  There was even some left for Kathy to take home to Dan.

 Marion, Kathy, and Suzie

 Shana and Carolee aka Grandma Stout

Kathy received some very nice gifts to help her and Dan on this chapter in their lives.  We know they will do an amazing job at raising the beautiful baby girl that God has entrusted to them.  I can't wait for our girls to meet.  Love ya  Kathy, and I hope you had as much fun at your shower as I did.

Freezer Meals

Today Kathy and I got together to make some crock pot freezer meals.  We are both trying to get things ready for when our babies come.  I was really excited to make them because on the website I used it said that it only took an hour and a half to assemble everything because there is really no cooking involved.  Needless to say it took us about 4 hours to do ours and we even ended up not doing two of the recipes because we were both so exhausted.  Next time I will plan things out a little better and I think things will go a lot faster.  I am really excited to eat them and I hope my family likes them too.

Ethan started spring soccer today.  Aaron took him alone, because I was still working on the freezer meals, and Landon was ready for a nap even though he told me that he didn't want to take one.  Aaron said that this is the best he has seen Ethan play and that he has really improved.  I love to see that boy running around and having fun with his friends.

Aaron worked on the pond today and added some beautiful bushes and a tree to help shade the koi fish.  It looks really good and I am glad he was able to get that part of his projects out of the way.  He is so busy and there is just not enough time on Saturday to finish everything.  Hopefully he will get some more things done this next weekend.

Only 7 more weeks till Baby Lily arrives!

32 Weeks

 WOW! I can't believe we only have 8 more weeks till we see our little baby Lily.  We have been getting the nursery ready for her and buying her some cute clothes to wear.  The boys are very excited to see their sister and have been super cute with me.  They love to give my belly/the baby kisses and hugs before they go to bed.

I am really starting to feel huge and a lot of my maternity shirts are starting not to fit me anymore, this could be a problem.  I am not sleeping very well, but I have learned to live with this for the most part.  It is all part of being a mother.  So far this pregnancy has been a little more difficult then the boys.  I was more sick this time (morning and night) and have been even more emotional, but it will all be worth it when we get to snuggle our beautiful baby girl.

Swim Lessons

 This year I was on top of things and signed the boys up for swim lessons.  Ethan and Landon both love to play and be in the water, and since their Grandparents and Nathan and Devanie all have pools I have really felt the need to get the boys to become better swimmers.
I signed the boys up at Layton surf and swim.  We have never been to this pool but it was very nice and the class sizes don't seem to be to big.

 The first day of swim lessons was very interesting.  Ethan was not very excited to go.  He kept telling me that he didn't want to take any swim lessons and was grumpy the whole way to the pool.  Landon on the other hand was so excited.  He told me all day that he was going to go swimming and was really excited all the way there.

When we finally arrived and were walking through the locker room to the pool area things had completely changed.  Ethan was starting to get more excited and Landon froze right in front of the doors that lead to the pool.  It was so sad to see him get so nervous.
Ethan did such a good job listening to his teacher and I can really see how far he has come.  He loves to put his face/body in the water and is swimming out to his teacher.
Landon on the other hand walked into the water with his class, but then cried the whole time.  It was sad and a little frustrating at the same time.  I wasn't sure if I should just leave him with his teacher crying or take him out so the teacher could focus more of the other kids.  I decided to take him out of the water so I could settle him down. After about 1 minute he was fine and smiling at me.  Then I would have to convince him to get back in and if you know Landon he is one stubborn little guy.  In our home it is usually Landon's way or no way.
For Landon our second day of lessons was no different.  He was so excited to go to swim lessons at the house, but as soon as class started the crying began.  I had him with me most of the time because he refused to get in the water until the last 5 minutes of class.  After that he decided that he would go with his class and he had such a big smile on his face.  Maybe by the end of all of his classes we can go to one full lesson.  Here's hoping.

South America / Antarctica Cruise

 In February Aaron and I had the wonderful opportunity to take a Cruise with his parents.  We went to places that we probably would have never gone to on our own.  What a fun adventure it was.  

 We visited Buenos Aires, Argentina and saw where the President works.

 Argentina from the ship.

 We were also able to see Cape Horn.  Makes you truly appreciate all that God has created for us.

 On the ship Aaron and I played a game of Bingo.  We were so close to winning, but someone else beat us to it.

 Aaron and his dad Mike went on an off road trip to see the penguins.  They are very curious animals and super cute.  Carolee and I stayed in the Falkland Islands and took a bus tour because I was pregnant and not able to go one the jeep tour.

There were many cold days and some very warm days just depending on where we were.  We all came prepared with cold and warm clothing so most days were very comfortable.
I didn't love being on the ship, but I was very excited to see all the places that we were able to because of being on a cruise.  It was so much fun being with my best friend for 2 weeks and to know that the boys were having fun with Grandpa, Grandma, and Josie at the house.
Thanks Mike and Carolee for the wonderful vacation.  We had a really great time.

I have a lot more pictures, but for some reason they are not loading.  Hopefully I will be able to get them to load later.