Amanda, Derek, Hudson and Charlie ♥

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Charlie Cash Harris

Our littlest man joined our family a little over 2 months ago and I wanted to record his special birth story while it is still fresh on my mind. Dr. Chasan, my obgyn had me monitored closely throughout the last few months of pregnancy with Charlie because he was growing so fast and was measuring about 3 weeks bigger than normal!. She told me that a c-section may be in the cards if he was over 10 lbs at my due date, so that made me super nervous! As I entered my last 2 weeks before my due date, we decided that Charlie was probably still small enough to deliver naturally and that we would plan for an induction on August 14th unless he decided to make his arrival sooner! ;) ... Trust me, I did EVERYTHING to go into labor naturally for the next few days! Pedicures, massages, eating beets, eating pizza, (lol), long walks, lots of squats, prenatal yoga, you name it, i tried it!! Well, the 13th of August arrived and I came to terms with the fact that I was probably going to have to be induced (I don't like the idea of pitocin), and I decided to get a blessing from my Father in-law, my Dad, and my husband. In the blessing I was told that I would have a smooth delivery and that my fears would not come to pass. I felt a lot better and at peace with my decision after hearing those words. So at 5:30 the next morning I was up and getting ready and packing last minute hospital items! I was excited and scared all at the same time. We arrived to St. Lukes Downtown Boise at about 6:45 a.m. Once Derek and I got up to the labor and delivery unit I started to get really freaked out! It was a totally different experience when I went in to have Hudson because I was already in the the middle of all the pain and I didn't have time to be scared or nervous, I was already breathing through contractions! I got all signed in and the nurses took me back to my delivery room to get started. It really hit when I dressed down to the hospital gown and they had me get up on the bed to get iv fluids started! Both of my nurses were so sweet and helpful, they explained every single question I had in great detail and really were good about helping me stay calm. If I would have been dilated past a 3 when they checked me that morning, they could have just broken my water and see if that started things enough with out pitocin, but unfortunately they checked and sure enough I was still just at 3! So we finally got the pitocin going on the lowest level at about 8 and I was all hooked up to the monitors.

By this point I had really calmed down and just being able to hear my baby's heart beat on the monitor was so comforting to me! I was praying my hardest all night that I would be confident and focused for the delivery, and I really felt Heavenly Father's strength and guidance with me through out the day. My Momma arrived at about 10:00 and my contractions were barely getting to a point where there was some sort of feeling to them. I was on the birth ball when she walked in and it must have looked funny because it made her laugh and snap a quick shot!

hahaha As my contractions got stronger I walked around the halls, sat on the birth ball, and continued breathing through the pain. At around 11:00 my Dad and sister Natalie arrived. My sister Nat is also expecting her first baby in November, and I wanted her to be in the room with me when I delivered Charlie so she could see what it was like first hand to prepare her a little more. At about Noon Dr. Chasan came in to check me and break my water, my labor and delivery nurses kept checking me to see how dilate I was getting. I had been at a THREE the whole day!!! Even though the nurses were turning up the pitocin levels through out the day about every 30 minutes or so. Once my water broke however, the contractions got real!! They were stronger and harder than anything I remembered from Hudson's birth. After trying to deal with them on my own and be tough by just walking the halls for another 20 minutes, I told my nurses I was ready for the epidural. Of course the anesthesiologist was with another patient and I instantly wished I had requested the epidural right before I had my water broken! My Dad and Natalie decided to go get some lunch while I was waiting for the epidural since it was getting pretty intense. There was no screaming or crying, just deep breathing and clenching the bed!

lol. I was so focused on getting through contraction after contraction that I barely noticed the next 30 minutes until the Anesthesiologist finally arrived!! What a moment of relief! He got me all set up after placing the epidural needle TWICE into my back. It was a painful epidural, but once the juice kicked in it was ALL worth it! I was finally comfortable and completely numb. I fell asleep soon after the epidural, and woke back up at about 3. The nurses checked me again, thinking (and hoping) it might be about time to push.. but I was still only at three centimeters. They told me that we had to move to the other wing of the labor and delivery unit because no one else was going to be on that side past 5, so unless I delivered within the next 2 hours, we would have to switch rooms. They also informed me of the possibility that if my son wasn't progressing down, and if I wasn't dilating, we may have to have a c-section after all! At this point, I was still scared of having surgery, but I was honestly just ready to have my baby. Five o'clock rolls around, and they told me that we were moving to the other new room. I guess in the hustle and bustle of things we forgot to check my progression before we moved over to the other side. The nurses wheeled me in my hospital bed and all of my monitors to the new labor and delivery room. They decided to double check my progression to see if there was anything new... I was at a nine and a half! I literally did a little cheer I was soooo relieved and excited. They called Dr. Chasan and told her to get over so she could deliver little Charlie. As soon as she arrived I was ready to push, so she and the staff geared up.

Everything from there was just cloud nine for me. After pushing for six, painless contractions, my sweet 8 lb, 21 inch Charlie boy entered this life!

It was perfect and spiritual, and my Momma was able to capture so many beautiful moments on camera.

I just remember how warm and soft he felt on my chest as soon as he was born. We were skin to skin immediately and his tiny fist grabbed my finger.

I got to hold him for a long time before they took him to weigh and do the tests. I don't remember a time when I felt happier or more fulfilled than that day. After almost losing my little Charlie at 25 weeks of pregnancy, I will always feel extra gratitude that Heavenly Father let him join our family, and brought him safely to us.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

~ Baby bat Halloween fun ~

My baby bat flapping his wings! He loved his costume, very fun!!

Playing dress up a few days before Halloween ♥

Halloween night at my Momma's halloween party! Derek and Hudson were cool in their bat costumes! ... Candy corn?

Such a fun night!!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A growing babe

This boy is HUMONGOUS!! I don't know how it happened. Seriously.

Every year we go to the Berry Ranch and pick out pumpkins while doing a little photo shoot. Its tradition. A la my momma :)

The fact that there were tractors there made for a perfect photo op since Hudsie has a slight obsession with them. Otherwise known as "Tactor." ;)

I'm officially a soccer mom! Ha. No but seriously. We started Hudson in toddler soccer because we thought it would be a fun Saturday morning activity for us, and would be great for Hudson's coordination and motor skills. His little team was called the "Ponies." So cute! His last "game" was this last Saturday where all of the kids were given soccer certificates and other little prizes. Hudson loved it and got much better at kicking the ball into the goal at the end of the 6 weeks!

Love this precious boy!!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Hair removal adventures ... ;)

Ok, so I originally wanted to start blogging so that I would have a family "journal" for my kids to look back on. Life has gotten away with me since April, my last post, and I feel really guilty not keeping some sort of a family record. So although I don't know where to start, I guess I'll start fresh and HOPEFULLY blog something, even small, once a week. That's my personal goal. I had a journal all through middle school and I love looking back and reading things that I never would have remembered! A lot has changed in my life! I never thought that I would work once I had kids, and I still don't have to, but an amazing opportunity fell into my lap. I was actually going to get Laser hair removal at simplicity myself, and Jackilyn, the manager there, and I clicked and we ended up talking about me being an Esthetician. I said I wouldn't mind working a part time schedule to practice esthetics again. She highered me for 2 days a week which I was ok with since I still had most of the week to be with Hudson. My mom watches Hudson for me too so I don't have to worry about a daycare or anything. Jackilyn and I worked together at Simplicity from June until now, when we decided to branch off and do our own thing!!! :) We bought a Laser, leased a space out of a Doctor's office, and are working out a lot of final details! We decided our company name is "Precision Laser Esthetics." I LOVE it! So far everything has been running on time, and smoother than I could have ever imagined. Owning a business is a gamble, and a rush at the same time! Derek has given us so much advice since he is also an entrepreneur and has supported us the whole time! We definately couldn't do this with out him. Next week we are starting the remodel in our space, and hopefully the week after getting signage up and furniture in! I am so excited to get pictures up and see how this adventure continues! I am such a blessed girl and love my friends and family who support me and encourage me to be my best! <3

Friday, April 20, 2012

Hudson isn't such a baby anymore... he's turning TWO! :)

In honor of Hudson turning TWO YEARS OLD tomorrow, I wanted post an update on all of the new things he is up to lately. Since we took the binky away last month, he has developed so quickly! Some of his favorite things to say lately are: "Flay" for flower, "Bapa" for Grandpa, "Fy" for fire, "feesh" for gold fish (his favorite food) lol, "baby", "bear", "kick", "boww" for ball, "what" "go" "bye bye", "woof woof" anytime he hears or sees a dog. ha :), "ready to go", "no!" whenever he knows he is doing something naughty, "mamma", "deh deh" for daddy, "aside" for outside, "all done" he will say this in sign language or verbally, "all gone", "more" in sign language, "bubble" he LOVES bubbles!, "watuh" for water, "oh bwayed" for more bread, "two" when we are counting he will say two and try for three. So cute!, "hi" he loves enthusiastically saying hi to complete strangers. It really makes people happy!, "hey you" for hello, "kuh" for kitty, "wow", "whassatt" for whats that, Some new things he does that we love! feed himself with a fork. Although he has become much more finicky in the past few weeks, (something we don't love so much.) Still loves drinking his green smoothies! His favorite foods currently are fresh strawberries, avocado, tomatoes, grilled cheese sandwiches, fish crackers, capri sun, cheese, French fries, and CANDY. haha He still goes to sleep by rubbing his bears tail on his cheeks, and sucking on it too (yuck), I sanitize the tail weekly! lol... He is in a size 5 diaper, and we think its about time to start potty training in a few weeks because he wakes up dry from his naps and bedtime. He is also curious about mommy and daddy going on the potty. So we will see in a month or so if he wants to try. He already went poop on the big boy toilet last week at Grandma LaRae's house. He was a little nervous, but I think he will be ready soon! His favorite movies are Finding Nemo, Megamind, Rio, Sesame Street and anything Pixar. :) He loves to dance, especially in front of our full length mirror in mommy and daddy's room. It really cracks him up to watch himself dance and talk in the mirror. One of his most amazing developments is the way he swims. Since he has been in swimming lessons since he was 17 months, he has learned to swim to Mommy and Daddy, swim to the stairs, flip and float on his back when he needs to rest and breathe, and he loves going swimming everytime now! It started off a little rocky since he cried so much at first, but now swimming is probably his favorite activity. Every time we take him to the pool, people gather around to watch him and ask how we got him to swim like that. haha. His swimming teacher, Anne, is amazing and has given him a gift that he can use forever, and make me feel safer about swimming and boating with him in the summers. Hudson loves doing anything outside, he loves spending time with Grampa and Daddy, his two favorite people at the moment. He is such a sweet spirited little boy. Everyday he makes us laugh and brings a lot of love and fun moments into our home. We are so blessed to have him and we can't wait for more memories to come!!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

No more pacifier!!

Bye bye binky!

Well, its official! Hudson can go to bed without a binky and without crying or fussing for it. I have been dreading weaning him from it for months now. Derek and I had actually weaned him from it during the daytime about 4 months ago. That was easy enough, but two weeks ago Hudson got a little cold. Since he was extra fussy and not feeling good, I gave in for the week he was sick and let him have his binky all day long.... that was a mistake! Hudson had been attached to it ever since that week. He wouldn't even eat without having it in his sight. Lol! So, we decided together that since we had to re-wean him from it again any way, we might as well just do it all the way this time. I told Derek I was fine with doing it this weekend because Derek was home with me, and I wouldn't have to listen to him cry alone, and deal with him being tired and cranky alone. haha. Derek agreed that it was good he could be home with me for emotional support. So, last night we put him in his bed after bath and prayer time. He was in a really good mood. So I thought we might get lucky and just have him go to bed without missing his bink. HA! He was silent for about the first five minutes of laying down. Then we heard him wrestling around looking for it. After he realized it wasn't in his crib, he lost it. Broke my heart :(. Trust me, it was very hard to let him cry in his room knowing that I could easily make it stop by giving him his binky. But Derek kept reassuring me that it was for his own good. To help him develop his speech better. So reluctantly we let him cry himself to sleep for about an hour last night. I was sooo relieved when he finally fell asleep! He slept through the rest of the night perfectly. He was a little cranky at church today without his binky, and refused to go to nursery. When we got home, he was sooo tired and we fed him some lunch and put him down for a nap. He cried again, but only for about 15 minutes this time. That was a relief! ..... So tonight was the big test. I was worried that he would cry for another hour, but to our surprise, he didn't make a sound... we waited for him to start searching again, but nothing. Now it has been 2 hours since was put him down, and he has fallen asleep all alone and with no fuss. It took ONE night to wean him from it! I am so happy, and relieved, and proud of my baby boy! I can't believe how fast he is developing and growing everyday. He says so many sweet words now, and does new things all the time. I am so proud to be his mommy, and am glad I get to continue to watch him grow and learn. <3 <3

My Birthday ~ big 25!

My Birthday. ♥

Well, I'm a half a century old! lol. And I was especially spoiled on this birthday because Derek knew I was sad to be half way through my twenties already. Sounds silly, but I really was because it feels like I literally just turned twenty! Any way, we all went to Barbacoa on my Birthday night, and a few days later again with Rachel to celebrate our Birthdays together. Derek got me my pink faced, bling Fossil watch that I had been wanting for a while now. A Victoria's secret gift card, and Express gift card. Shopping, and all my favorite stores! He really knows how to make me happy. PLUS, the new Adidas gym shoes that I wanted too. Glad he knows my taste, so sweet! So... a couple weeks later Derek and I headed up to Cascade to go snowmobiling with the Birthday gift card my parents bought me for an all day rental with the sleds up there! It was so nice having the whole mountain to ourselves that Friday. We left early in the morning, and started up the trail at about 9 a.m. We went up to this hot springs about 45 minutes up the trail. Right in the middle of the snowy forest. It was so awesome changing into our swimsuits and taking a nice hot dip to relax in the middle of our day snowmobiling. We ate lunch after sitting in the hot springs, and then headed back down the mountain after warming up by the fire for a while. It was a perfect day!