Wednesday, March 20, 2013

One Month



Brady turned 1 month old yesterday!  He has changed so much and is learning quick.  Sometimes when I talk to him, he turns his head and looks at me and concentrates really hard.  Brady enjoys most of his bath time, not the getting out of the warm water part... but who does? 

We went to the doctor yesterday, when he was exactly one month.  These are his stats:

Newborn:  8lbs 3 oz  (he dropped to 7lb 8 oz in the first week); 19.25in long
One month: 8lbs 13oz; 21in long

My little boy is getting so big!  We love him to pieces!  We are excited because Will is coming into town sometime this week and Brady gets to spend time with his daddy!



Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Three Weeks Old

Can you see his hickie?
 Brady is now 3 weeks!  He is growing so fast!  He has lost his new born chubby cheeks already, which I am sad about, and is starting to look older.  I love to see all of his goofy faces when is is angry, or dreaming.  It makes me wonder all the time what his imagination is going through.  Brady is doing pretty good with sleeping during the night, he goes 3-5 hrs between feedings; the hardest thing is he makes SO much noise!  One night he just growled for 2 hrs straight!  He knows weather he wants his pacifier or just to suck on his hand/arm.  Brady gave himself his first hickie yesterday.  I was playing with him after his nap and noticed this big purple streak.  I knew he did it himself because there was another day where he was sucking away at his arm pretty good, and I took his arm out of his mouth because I didn't want him to get one, he had a HUGE red spot.  This time, he successfully gave himself a full one that is still showing a day later. 

Brady and I have been enjoying many visits from friends and family.  We were able to go for a walk with my friend and her son.  During the day I have a really hard time getting him to sleep by himself during naps.  I LOVES to fall asleep on my chest, which makes it really difficult to get things done, but he is just too cute I can't get mad.  Lately he is up for about 1 to 1 1/2 hrs after feeding so he only sleeps for 45-60min before next feeding which is when I take a nap with him because I can't get anything else done.  Some of my favorite faces he makes are really hard to get pictures of.  He likes to lay on my chest, fold his arms, then arch his head and back up to just look at me with a "I am deep in thought" look on his face.  Then, whenever I burp him, he looks at me like "mom, are you serious.  this is SO annoying" and as soon as he gives me a loud burp, he flings himself back to eat some more.  I am so bummed that I can't get pictures of these cute faces. 

I LOVE being a mom to this little boy!  I am so grateful for the opportunity!  I am especially grateful that Will will be in town next week and Brady and I will be able to move back to NE with him to be a complete family again!  Yay!
I tried so hard to get his "thinking" pose of his face on his arms, but he was just too tired

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Nearly 2 weeks...mile stones


Over the past week and a half Brady has been learning and growing so much!

*  He lost his umbilical cord at day 6
* Took his first real bath!  Enjoys it most of the time
* Mostly puts himself to sleep, sometimes without the pacifier, some times with
* Likes to stay awake for sometimes 4-5 hrs at a time
*  Loves playing with Grandma
* Loves to suck on his fist or arm, which ever is most handy
*  Starting to tolerate tummy time
* Manages to pee all over himself and whomever is holding him multiple times a day
* Taken a bottle and downs it like there is no tomorrow

Monday, February 25, 2013

Birth Story

As most of you know, Will has been living in Nebraska for the past month working at his new job while I have been packing up the house and trying to find renters.  Will had a stand by plane ticket which allowed him to hop on a flight, if there were availble seats, and come to AZ without having a set "date" to fly.



Friday the 22nd was my due date, and we were planning on Will to come into town the 21st if I hadn't gone into labor, so he could help finish getting the house ready for Renters to start the 23rd.  Monday, I started weeding the backyard because it needed done really bad before renters started.  At my Dr. appt on Monday, I was dilated at a 3 and 90% thinned.  I continued to finish with the yard work.  That afternoon, I was at my sisters and she helped explain to me what contractions should kinda feel like... so I felt more comfortable with that, and I had a couple I believe pretty close together at her house, but then they went away.  On my way "home", I was staying with another sister, my sister from Nebraska called telling me there was a big snow storm coming in Wed-Friday.  This left me a little worried that Will wouldn't make it in.  Monday night I sat on the Pilates ball for about 2 hrs, before doing some squats and jumping jacks and heading to bed.  Before falling asleep I prayed that everything will happen the way it was supposed to happen the way Heavenly Father wanted it.
 
I woke up around 11:30 to go to the restroom.. and realized that wasn't what woke me up, but that my stomach was cramping up really bad.  I realized "oh, this might be a contraction, lets see how far apart they are if it comes again, cuz it's really uncomfortable".  After an hour of contractions coming on the dot every 6 min, I called my mom to see what to do next.  She recommended walking around and to time how long they were lasting and far apart.  By about 2 in the morning, I called my mom again and contractions were still 6min ish apart lasting 45-60 seconds.  Mom suggested they would probably accept me to the hospital, and she was going to get Will on the 5:45am flight, landing in AZ at 8am.  I didn't want to wake up my sister to take me to the hospital till 3, so I straightened my hair, and chatted with mom; I didn't want to go to the hospital and them send me home.  Well, pushing 3am my contractions were just as long, but only 4min apart. I got my sister up and we headed in. 

I made it to Triage around 4am, where I was at a 4.  1 hr later I was at a 6 and they took me to labor and delivery.  We were very bless with Will getting the last seat on the flight.  My sister, Camilla, was very brave and helped me through labor.  The Dr. broke my water around 7:45am.  I knew there was a chance that Will might not make it, but we had discussed this before hand and were prepared to have faith and take what came.  Close to 8:15 Will called saying he was 5miles away and all Camilla said was "you better hurry cuz this baby is coming". 

Baby Merrill was born 8:35am and Camilla was able to cut the cord.  Less then a min later, Will showed up as they were measuring the baby.  Everything worked out so well it was such a blessing.  My sister was a great support helping me through labor without an epidural, and Will has been amazing support as a new father. We picked a name for him around 12:30 that afternoon.  We have been enjoying our handsome boy as much as we can and can't get enough of his chubby cheeks and goofy faces. 

Our new family of three






New Addition

Brady Kent Merrill
 

 
February 19, 2013
8:35am
8lbs 3oz
19 1/4 in long

Maternity Pictures 38weeks

I know, this is a long time in coming.  One afternoon, my Aunt Peggy and I went to go take maternity pictures at Lehi school.  It was fun taking pictures, but always more fun to chat with my aunt and see how grown up my cousins are who I babysat millions of times growing up.  I am always amazed with how quickly time flies and kids grow up.  I am sure it will go even more quickly with me becoming a mother. 
Here are my favorites (even though I really loved them all, I couldn't post    ALL of them).  Most of them have already been on facebook. 















I tried to rearrange them cute, but it wouldn't let me, so they are just scattered around. 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

35 weeks

Yay!  Almost there!  I feel like it has gone by so fast, and but is gong by so slow at the same time.  As of now... I have 2 1/2 weeks of work left, 4 1/2 weeks till Baby Due date, and about 2 months till moving till Nebraska.  I don't feel to stressed, but I am getting extremely tired.


 This past weekend I bottled 28pints of hamburger.  That was a LOT but it saved us from having to move frozen meat.
My co-workers from various areas in Arizona who drove long ways to come support me.

Two weekends ago I had my baby shower.  It was a BLAST!  I am so grateful for all of my friends and family who showed up!  I feel so blessed to have so many people supporting me.  It was really busy and lots of girl time.  I got so many fun outfits, blankets, bibs, toys, and lots and lots of other baby stuff.  I am ready for this boy to come!