Being a mommy

I cannot believe Quinn has been here a month!! It felt like being pregnant dragged on and on especially near the end. Now time has been flying by and I swear every time I pick Quinn up, she's heavier. 

Motherhood has been good. It is definitely an adjustment, but it is amazing to know that this little girl is mine. I feel pretty lucky. She is a good eater and has pretty good temperament. She smiles at me all the time. Is that normal for a 3-4 week old? She is super active. Her legs and arms are constantly moving and she often works herself up because her arms are flailing all over. If I hold her arms down or swaddle her, she calms down.

I've been able to get her to sleep four hours at a time. So I feed her and put her down at 12:30 am and she'll sleep until 4:30 or 5 am. She'll eat again and then sleep from 7-9 or 10 am. So I guess I can't complain. She is so loud when she sleeps. She's a major grunter. I makes me wonder if she has an upset tummy. She grunts for hours! But she doesn't seem bothered by it so I just ignore it and try to sleep. 

I think the hardest thing for me so far is losing my freedom. It's hard when I can't even shower or eat or go to the store on a whim. But giving up my freedom is totally worth it when I look at my cute little girl. 

I can't wait to workout!! I should be able to start in a week or two. It will be interesting trying to balance getting back in shape and breastfeeding. 

Motherhood has been everything I've imagined and more. I feel so blessed that  Heavenly Father entrusted me with a healthy baby girl. I hope I can be the mommy she deserves! 

My new favorite picture of her.

Cole is such a great daddy. 

This picture makes me laugh. She's like yo yo...doing a gang sign

Chubster

Can't kiss her little cheeks enough

One month postnatal. Can't wait to get this body back in shape. I haven't been sweaty in a long time and I can't wait to get my sweat on!

Quinn

Quinn Geneva Seamons was born June 15, 2013 at 4:22am and weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and was 21 inches long. She almost made it on her due date, but decided to come a few hours late. She has already been here a week and I can't believe it. She has totally changed our lives! Less sleep, less freedom, but totally worth it. We love her so much! She is our little gift from heaven.

I wanted to share my labor story because I always love reading other blogs stories and hope to turn my blog into a year book. 

I had a doctor appointment June 10 and was only dilated to a 1. My doctor was going on vacation June 18 so we scheduled an induction for the 17 which I was not happy about. I didn't want induced at all especially on my first. I woke up on June 13 at 5 am and was having cramps and soon realized they were contractions. I didn't realize that contractions would feel like really bad menstrual cramps. I started timing them, and they were only 10 mins apart all day and until about 3am the next night they ran from 4 to 6 minutes apart. So I called the hospital to see what they thought. They said that because it was my first, I had to wait until they were 2-3 minutes apart. Ugh. I was in a lot of pain. I didn't get any sleep. I tried to pass the time, by staying busy, but it was hard when every 6 minutes I had to bend over and "he he haw" breath. I sat in a hot bath a couple times and just waited...

Cole had decided to go to work

since I was progressing so slowly, but when he called me to check on me, i started crying because I was scared. He said he was going to just come home so I didn't have to be alone. He was sweet and brought me some flowers. 

I knew I should just call my doctor and see what he thought, but I am so stubborn, I didn't want to sound dumb because my contractions weren't being consistent. Cole finally just called our doctor and he was so nice. He had us meet him at his office even on his day off. So we went in and he checked me. I was dilated to a 4. He said, you guys wanna have a baby today?! I was so excited especially since it was her due date and I wouldn't have to be induced. He told us to grab some lunch and head over to the hospital. Yikes! Cole and I couldn't believe it was time. 

So we went home and hung out for a couple hours. I'd rather do most of my laboring at home than at the hospital. 

We got to the hospital around 4:30pm and they had me change and got my IV started. They had me start my antibiotics since I tested positive for Group B Strep. I had to get two doses of that before the baby got here. Each one had to wait 4 hours. Sheesh! Now it was just more waiting. It wasn't what Cole and I expected at all - lotsa waiting. Lotsa walking to get things moving along. I was still only having contractions about 6 minutes apart. 

Coles parents were so excited, they came to visit and wish us luck. They ended up crashing at our house because it took a long time. 

I'm not sure exactly what time my Dr. came in our room, I think it may have been around 10pm and said let's get things moving. So he broke my water. I was so nervous for this. I though it would hurt, but it didn't hurt at all. It did increase my contractions though. My contractions became much more intense and hurt sooo bad. I practically squeezed Cole's and the nurse's hand off every contraction. I made it to a dilation of 6-7 and decided to get the epidural. It was kinda hard to be still getting the epidural and having an intense contraction at the same time. But boy was that epidural heavenly. I know all I kept saying was why doesn't everyone get this, it feels so much better!! 

They turned off the lights and let us sleep, checking on me every hour. My dilation was progressing I think because my body was finally relaxed. The nurse came in I believe at about 3:30am and said okay, are you ready to push? I was so nervous and excited because it was time for by baby to get here. 

The nurse said this will probably take 2 hours and in my head I thought, I am no way taking 2 hours to push this baby out. I pushed and pushed hard. I pushed so hard it made me throw up. The Dr. kept saying she has dark hair. i could believe it. Cole looked so nervous, but he did such an amazing job coaching me along. It only took 45 minutes and she was here. They set her in my chest and she squealed. She was the most beautiful little thing I've ever seen!! 

We had to stay in the hospital for 2 days because of my Group B Strep. It was probably a good thing because we were able to get more sleep. 

She has been such a good baby. I could just hold her and stare at her even when she is awake through the night, I am so content holding her in my arms. We love you so much Baby Q!! 

Cole holding her for first time.

Grandma Marsha and Quinn 

Second day home

Such a good daddy

Nap time with mommy

Cousins Quinn and Cameron meet - only 10 days apart 

Funny faces

1 week old!!

What's going on?

Life has been busy and has gone so fast since we've moved here. I was so lucky to have my company in Boise let me work remotely in IF until just last week. I think that I might have gone a little crazy with out working a little each day. Especially since Cole has been working really hard and long hours at his job everyday. We like Idaho Falls. We miss Boise because of the weather and all the stuff going on there, but we are happy to be closer to family. And it always takes a little while to get used to a new city and new people.

We made a ton of updates to our house and we are sick of painting!! Well, Cole is. I didn't really paint. But I got sick of watching Cole paint. :)

The baby is going to be here anytime now, but I'm due in exactly three weeks. I can't believe we're going to have a little human being to take care of in less than a month. Yikes! I'm so excited to meet her and see what she looks like.

I have felt so good this whole pregnancy except this week has been miserable. I was hit with a cold and it hurts so bad to cough with a big preggo belly. And I've been having some horrible hip pain to the point where I can't even walk...I guess it's my body telling me that I need to slow down. I've been so used to just go-go-going. I had to go to the chiropractor to get adjusted and it scares me so bad. I hate being popped. I feel so bad for the baby being twisted at the chiropractor today and me coughing so much. She's probably wondering what is going on out here. I hope I feel better soon because this has been a miserable couple of days.

I know I've been bad at my blog. But I've really wanted to keep it going because I wanted to keep the whole "Health" part up for after the baby comes. I'm really excited to track my progress about getting back into shape after having a baby.

Here are a few pictures of happenings since we've moved here.

Right after we moved to IF, I actually flew up to Portland for two weeks and watched my sister Molly's kids for a couple weeks while they went to Hawaii. Her kids are so great. I was nervous to watch four kids by myself, but I don't know what I was worried about because they are the best four kids I know.

I attempted to be an entertaining aunt by getting stuff for making jelly bean and toothpick creations. I think they like it. 

Calvin and I went to the dump truck graveyard at least four times. This place is sweet. People brought their old toy dump trucks to this sand pit at the park and left them there for other kids to play with. There was probably 30 trucks and Calvin loved it. We would always pack a picnic and then walk to meet Campbell and Jack at their elementary school afterward.

 You close enough to the TV, Calvin?

We made a little sign for Molly and Lee to welcome them home. The kids were so excited to see their Mommy and Daddy and hear all about their cool trip.

Back in IF, I used to spend a day or two working at Starbucks just to get out of the house. But then this "regular" started showing up with his cat so I put an end to that. Who takes their cat to Starbucks?

We have been working so hard on redoing our kitchen and we finally got it done. We repainted all the cabinets and got new hardware. We got new appliances and also tiled the floor.

Here's the before

Here is the after

There was wallpaper everywhere. We had a heck of a time trying to get it down in the bathroom. Here is the before of my mom trying to take it down in our bathroom. 

  

Here is the after

Here is the little forest decoration I put up in the baby room. It turned out really cute and only cost $20 on Amazon.

Cole's sister Jill got us this Notre Dame baby blanket which Cole loved. That girl is a fan of ND even though she isn't even here yet.

Jill also threw me a baby shower. It turned out super cute and fun. This was the only pic I got. Doesn't Cole look thrilled?

A few weeks ago we went to Salt Lake City for a "Babymoon". We had a really great time. This is us at a Salt Lake REAL soccer game. 

We went to temple square and went to Music and the Spoken Word. 

We also got to hang out with my Brother Kyle. It's always fun to visit him.

And...here is me at 37 weeks.

The preggo belly makes for a nice snack shelf.

I think I'm ready for the baby to come. Everything is set up, the hospital bags are packed, and I am uncomfortable so in about a week you can come okay baby girl?

 Well next time I blog, it may be a post about our baby girl's arrival. Stay tuned!

Changes are coming in 2013

A lot of changes are coming to the Seamons Family. A lot of big life changes. Cole and I both struggle with change, but I keep telling myself that these are wonderful changes about to happen in our life. I'm really excited for the next chapter of our lives.

First of all, we are having our first baby! Due on June 14. That makes me almost 20 weeks. My pregnancy has been really good. I haven't gotten sick and have felt pretty normal for the most part. I'm starting to get more tired and my lower back has been hurting a bit, but I've been able to keep up on my exercise and that makes me feel 100 percent better! I've been doing everything I can so that I can be strong for labor and be able to bounce back quickly after the baby comes. We went in at about 17 weeks and the doctor tried to tell if it was a boy or girl, but she couldn't tell. So now I have to wait until my 21 week appointment on January 31. The suspense is killing me! Here are a few pics of my growing belly. I haven't noticed a ton of change yet. But I'm to the point where I want it to be noticeable that I'm pregnant because I feel like a just looker thicker and chubby.

13 weeks

19 weeks

The next big change is that we are moving to Idaho Falls and Cole is starting a new position at his company. I have had the hardest time with this big change as I will have to give up my job here in Boise. I love my job so much and have felt like I've learned so much about the business world. I just wasn't quite ready to give it up yet. I also don't know what I'm going to do with myself until the baby comes in June. I like to be active and busy. It just makes me happy to have a lot of stuff going. I want to find another job, but don't know who will want to hire a girl about to have a baby in a few months. I do feel that this is the best choice for our family though. The hard part too is that I'm in Boise by myself for a month because Cole has already started his job in Idaho Falls. I decided to stay here and work until we could find a place to live in I.F. while Cole is just commuting from his parent's house in Poky. It has been lonely here. My Mom came and stayed with me for a week which was wonderful. We picked out fabric for a baby blanket, watched movies, and went out to eat a lot. It was really fun and so nice to have the company.

The next big change is that we bought a house!! We are so excited to finally have a place of our own with a yard and a baby room to fix up. We close on February 4 and will hopefully move in on February 9. It will be nice for our baby to be so close the grandparents which is another plus to moving to I.F.  Here is a picture I stole from the Internet of our first home!

So between a baby, a new city, a new job, and a new house, we have a lot to take in in 2013. It should be a great and eventful year. I'm so grateful for these blessings! We have both worked really hard to get here and it will be nice when this whirlwind of changes settles down and we can get into a routine again.

Oregon

Cole and I had the chance to go to Portland and the coast a few weekends ago to see my sister, her cute family, and my brother. It was so fun to see my nephews and niece. We just love them to death!! One thing we always realize when we go up there is how dry Idaho is! It's so pretty up there. We always get lucky and have sunny warm weather. I wish I could have gotten more pictures of everyone. Here are a few, okay a lot of pictures from our trip.

The Olympics are making me lazy

The Olympics are making me lazy. I love watching them, but all I've done since they've started is sit on my booty. I keep telling myself after this event I'll go run, walk, grocery shop, prepare my young women's lesson, clean the kitchen, fold the clothes, and the list could probably go on and on. It doesn't help my guilt that these athletes are so fit while I'm living a sedentary lifestyle for two weeks. But they only come around every 4 years so I guess it's okay right? I'm building up my motivation to work toward an Olympic-fit body...

Some of my favorite things to watch have been: Missy Franklin's swimming, beach volleyball, and women's gymnastics.

Have any of you watched track cycling? Now that is craziness!