Don't you wish

you got to go to church with these two?

Yes, you should definitely be jealous of me.

Just me and my girl

This past week was my first week home alone with Jillian.  We LOVED having my mom here for the first week- I really don't think we would have made it through that week without her.  Then Bryan was able to take off all of Thanksgiving week so that was a lot of fun.  I was very nervous for this week, but Jilly and I had a great time.  I learned that the key is to make a list of the things I think I can accomplish during the day then cut it in half and if I get that much done, it's a good day.  

When I do get anything done it's because of this marvelous invention.  Jilly loves her swing, and I love that it allows me to take a shower every once in a while!

I was delighted to find that my daughter is a champion shopper.  She loves riding in her stroller and never makes a peep.  She's already been to Target and Jo-Anns four times each in her three weeks of life!

Jilly also loves her bath (now that she can have a real one.)  I love cuddling her in her cute towel afterward.

We love listening to Christmas music together.  I'm enjoying this time when she can't get mad at me for singing along- I'm sure one day she won't enjoy that as much.

Taking naps together is another one of our favorite things.

Jillian also got to spend some time with her dad this week while I went to my Relief Society Christmas party.  I think they were secretly sad when I came back home.   

(She's yawning, not crying here, and her shirt says "Daddy adores me" which is oh so true)

Altogether it's been a great week.  I think this little girl is a keeper.

Prudent Advice

This book was written by Jaime Morrison Curtis who blogs at Prudent Baby.  She is also Bryan's boss' daughter-in-law and that is how I obtained a signed copy (there's something magical about having a book signed by the author is there not?)  Jaime compiled 500 pieces of advice for her baby daughter Scarlet Jane.

Here are some of my favorites:

#24 Don't lie, except to comfort people.

#82 Anytime you are debating whether to shower or not, take the shower.

#157 If you want to leave a party and you don't have a good excuse, spill something on yourself

#213 Create a sense of family wherever you are.
Find people to love and love them unconditionally.

#241 Your future together is not a great subject to discuss on a first date.

#484 Know that I am proud of you.
Every halting gesture bursting from your inexperienced limbs, every novel expression crossing your upturned face, every syllable escaping your throat- every moment of every day I swell with joy at the very idea of you.  And I always will.

There was something very tender about reading this while cuddling my own baby daughter.  It made me think of all the hopes and dreams I have for little Jillian.  There are so many things I want to teach her and share with her.  There is so much ahead of her and I can't wait to see what she does with her precious life.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful time celebrating Thanksgiving with Bryan's family.  I was nervous to travel with Jillian but she did very well.  It was a little startling to see how much stuff such a tiny girl required for just 3 nights away from home!

I braved Jo-Anns for 50% off fabric (yea for finally having curtains!),
Bryan went on a bike ride with his brothers, 

Jillian met her Uncle Trevor and Aunt Kristen.

We all ate some delicious turkey.

But mostly we just sat around talking about how much we love this girl.

Jilly's first Thanksgiving

Grateful

We have much to be thankful for around here:

Our wonderfully supportive family

Bryan's job

Health/Doctors/Insurance

No snow (sorry Utahns)

Our new home

Being able to eat cookie dough again

Our faith

Good Books

Mountain biking trails 

And, most of all, for this tiny girl for making our little family complete

Happy Thanksgiving!

Success!

I'm writing this primarily so we can remember the details of Jilly's entrance to life.  But, my second reason is to provide hope for all who are nervous about labor.  I was blessed with what I think was the easiest labor and delivery known to womankind.  I don't know why I got so lucky because in case you haven't noticed I also got lucky enough to have the most darling baby (but I may be a little biased.)

On Friday night we went to Skipolini's for the Prego Pizza.  I really wasn't expecting much, just a fun way to end what had been a long and depressing day.  The pizza was intense- every topping you could imagine and more garlic than I normally eat in a year- but it was pretty good.  Before going to bed at 11 I told Bryan I was disappointed that I felt great, no labor signs at all.  

At midnight I woke up with contractions and I was surprised to find that they were coming 2 minutes apart.  This was not what I had expected at all so I waited a while to make sure it was real.  At 1:00 I woke up Bryan, who immediately sprung into action throwing things into the car while I saw to the more important details like putting on makeup and finding some earrings to wear (and hunching over in pain every 2 minutes.)  Bryan gave me a much needed blessing of comfort then we headed off to the hospital.  

By 2:30 we were at the hospital and I was hooked up to a variety of monitors.  The nurse said the beautiful words, "You're dilated 5 cm, we're having a baby today!"  At 4:00 I got my epidural and after that it was smooth sailing, I couldn't feel a thing.  They turned out all the lights in the room and brought us warm blankets.  We both dozed from 4-7 as nurses came in and out checking on things.  

(looks comfortable, right?)

At 7am they told me it was time to push.  This was a little difficult and interesting since I could still feel absolutely nothing.  But everyone coached me and at 7:32 my little Jillian Kate arrived. She was absolutely perfect in every way.

Jillian Kate

Born November 13, 2010 at 7:32 am

7 pounds 11 ounces, 19 inches

We could not possibly be any happier.