Winder Family

Recent Projects

2012-01-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

I have been quite busy trying new things the past 6 months. These are a few of the projects that have taken up my time. They keep me sane and my creative juices flowing!

Fabric tutu: This was so easy and kids love wearing them.

I have been needing something to hold all my jewelry, my jewelry box just wasn't doing it anymore. I love this! Nothing gets tangled anymore.

Mirror frame w/out mirror $15.00 at Graples in their clearance warehouse & Blessings sign was $15.00 (not on sale) but a great deal. I bought them separately and put them together. I get a lot of compliments on this. It fits perfectly in this corner.

My first every pillow cover. This is one of my favorite fabrics so I figured why not do something with it. It was a super easy sewing project! I think it turned out pretty good for my first time.

Some baby shower gifts. I had all the fabric & the elastic was about $1.50 for a huge roll. Great inexpensive gift & these go with the fabric tutu I made.

I had a vision in my head of how to separate my dining room & living room. It works!! It cost about $45 for the tin container, foam to hold the sticks in & 3 rolls of sticks. (All from Graples) I love that store!!

The living room...

I made this last Fall. It was pretty simple & I can use it for all seasons.

First ever curtain project. I loved this fabric. This is in Ronan's room.

I distressed his changing table I bought on Craigslist for $50.

We can't paint, so I put up a border to add a pop of color.

A fun piece of artwork for Zoe's room. I believe these are originally fabric/sewing circles. I repurpose most things that I buy!

Our little bully

2012-01-25T15:21:00.001-08:00

Zoe has turned into quite the little bully lately. I know that most kids that are reaching 2 yrs old go through this. Ronan will stand up on something and Zoe will grab his hands & push him off. She likes to pour water on him in the bath, as you can see. He doesn't mind it so much & laughs most the time, but it drives me crazy.

No you cannot play with my toy! haha. What a little stinker...

more pics

2012-01-17T11:23:00.000-08:00

Dancing in the kitchen (one of the girls favorite pasttimes)

Grandma Higley & Ronan

Craig & Ronan (they were such good buddies)

Ronan wrestling once again

Our family at the skating rink in Moses Lake

She wanted on the ice so bad!

Playing at the batting cages on Christmas Eve

Grandma Higley's Christmas party (this is the book from the family that I scrapbooked for her)

Ronan & Ty's cousin Janette

Right before we all got pedicures! So nice to get away for a few. (Me, Mandy, Joette & Stephanie)

Mandy's son Jaron & Ronan

Zoe & Mandy's girls Brielle & Mikenna

Christmastime 2011

2012-01-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Kid's didn't like Santa this year!

Ronan wrestling with Grandpa Herrud

Grandma Winder & Zoe

Ronan & Capriel (Winder cousin)

Zoe & Sissy (she played with her the entire time she was at our in-laws house) I always knew where she was!

Landon, Brecklyn (Winder cousins) & Ronan

Ty & his brother Craig fixing their parents treadmil

The cousins enjoying a movie on the IPad!

Zoe, Brecklyn, Capriel, Landon, Rhyse & Talia (All of Craig & Sabina's kids)

I let Breck & Tali dye my hair, I think they had fun!!

A small preview of Christmastime

2012-01-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

Our computer is getting worked on so I'm working from Ty's laptop. I don't have access to everything that I do on our computer at h0me, so this is all I've got. These photos are of my husband's side. It was such a special thing to have everyone home for Christmas, to catch up and share memories. We have missed them all so much.

The Winder Family (minus 3 cousins). It's crazy that we got a family shot. I can't even remember the last time we were all together in one place. So much fun!!

Sweet Grandma Higley & our family. She has a Christmas party every year. This one was so special because every single person was there with their family. We love her so much.

Higley Family Christmas 2012

Mandy, Stephanie, Craig & Ty

(sibling love)

I love this picture!!

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

What a year it has been. 2011 was full of many new and exciting things and so many changes. We added another little one to our family, Ty is back in school & we moved to Boise, Idaho.

Ronan Miles was born on March 28th. He came 3 weeks early, just like his big sister. If you are thinking that we just recently had Zoe, you are right. Ronan & Zoe are 12 months and 11 days apart. Ronan is such a mellow and easy-going little guy. He is so happy and loves that he is finally able to get around on his own. He is now 9 months old; it wont be long before he is walking. He is so fascinated with Zoe. He seems to be progressing a bit quicker than she did, I think because he has someone to watch and learn from. He is definitely a mama’s boy. A few of his favorite things are baths, his pacifier, feeding himself & wrestling.

Zoe will be turning 2 in March. She is definitely showing signs of being a toddler. She is becoming more and more independent and a bit more stubborn. She can also be the sweetest thing. She loves being a big sister; she will hold Ronan’s hand in the car and share her toys (sometimes). She loves anything that has to do with technology (I-phone & I-PAD). She enjoys being around other children and can’t wait for nursery each Sunday. If She could stay up late every night, she would. She never wants to miss out on anything. She is so much like her father!

I am busy, busy, busy. Having Ty in Grad School has been a huge change for me. Thank goodness his program is only 2 years. I am a stay at home mom. If I’m not taking care of the kids I have my hands into some sort of craft project. I have recently been getting into decorating and home decor, I also just bought a sewing machine and am starting to experiment. I love finding inexpensive treasures and creating something with it. I think those tend to be my favorite pieces. I have come to realize that these projects help me stay sane while Ty is gone at school or study-sessions. I am so blessed that I am able to stay at home and experience all I get to with my 2 sweet babies. Moving to Boise has been a big change as well. I have made some good friends with people in the ward and also with some wives who also have husbands in PA school. Our ward is amazing and we are so lucky to have moved in where we did.

Earlier this year, Ty received an acceptance letter from Idaho State University for Physician Assistant School. He just completed his first semester with a 3.5 GPA. I don’t think either of us were expecting how much time he was going to be away from home. It has taken about 4 months, but I think we have finally come up with a system that will work for our family. Ty is still employed with Executive Security and sells and installs ADT home security systems. Although he has had to work a bit over his Christmas break, he enjoys working with his hands and says it’s a relief to have a break from sitting in a classroom for 8 hours a day. We are so proud of his dedication and hard work, and although it is trying at times, it will pay off.

We are so lucky to have so much love & support, from our ward family to great friends and family back home. Being close to our Heavenly Father has been a vital part of our happiness this past year. We look forward to what 2012 will bring and although we may not be able to visit you all as often as we wish, know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We love you all.

All our love,

The Winders

Ty, Janessa, Zoe & Ronan

So much is changing so fast

2011-12-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how fast things are changing with Zoe. I have been watching her close these past few weeks and it seems that every day she is learning something new, whether it is a new word or action. She is really starting to talk. I almost felt like she was in a little talking rut. She just didn't want to talk at all there for a while. She knew words and what they meant but wasn't using them, she would whine or grunt when she wanted something. It was getting quite frustrating. All of the sudden, this week, she has started to ask for help and say please on her own without me having to help initiate it. I'm so excited!! She is telling people bye-bye without my help. She is truly starting to understand. I feel a bit emotional. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is because I am able to witness all the changes or steps & I feel so lucky to not miss out of her firsts.

I know that Ty has been having a hard time not being able to spend as much time with the kids as he wants. Finals are next week and he has been studying 5-6 hours a night and sometimes doesn't see the kids or I for days. It's hard, I know it will be worth it, but it's hard. I think Zoe is starting to understand that she isn't seeing her daddy as much. When she sees him leave she starts to cry almost uncontrollably and wants him to come back. She's young and doesn't understand that Ty would so much rather be home than in that classroom. Hopefully she is young enough that she wont remember these 2 years.

On a happy note, once finals are over, Ty gets 3 weeks off for Christmas. Hallelujah!! I'm so excited and I know the kids will love having their dad around for a few weeks. We will definitely be doing a lot as a family to make the time count. I love Christmastime. It is truly my favorite time of the year. Although I don't like the cold much, I love the atmosphere all around, the malls, decorated houses, the smells, everything. People just seem to be happier and more willing to help others. I hope that I have the opportunity to help someone this Christmas season. We don't have a lot of money right now, but maybe my talents could come in handy.

Buddies

2011-12-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

Zoe & Ronan are starting to play together. Zoe loves teaching him little things & I find Ronan starting to copy things that she does. The play peek-a-boo (he loves that), & he just giggles so loud. I love watching them play, it is the sweetest thing.

Ronan is starting to stand up on everything & thinks he can one hand it all the time. He's a little daredevil already. I don't think it'll be long before he starts taking some steps.

One of Zoe's favorite things to do is sneak into our room and play with the computer & mouse. The mouse is wireless and small so it fits right in her hand. Little stinker!

"Whatcha doin?"

They both love their bath!! I turn the water on and they both haul for the bathroom.

This is my life! Two babies all over me almost all the time. They love to snuggle & watch tv. We spent last night watching America's Funniest Home Videos. Zoe is really starting to understand what she is watching. She reacts when someone falls and giggles or says "oh no!" and covers her mouth. It's pretty amazing to watch her learn and mimic Ty & I. Oh, I love my babies!

Traci's Baby Shower

2011-12-05T07:06:00.000-08:00

I threw a baby shower for a new friend here. She is the sweetest person & has been so helpful and kind since we've moved here. She has a daughter Zoe's age. We just love their little family. We had a good time; we played games, ate cake & giggled...a lot! What fun!

A few ladies from her work, she's a nurse at St. Lukes.

Her good friend Alisha & her baby.

Chugging the apple juice! Can the baby take it home?!!

The gal in the middle won! Nice job.

The special guest, Traci Gluch. One of her husbands friends made this adorable cake. We all loved it!

And there is me! Alisha tried to snap a picture of me, this was all she got. hahaha

No Thanksgiving for us this year!

2011-11-27T19:35:00.000-08:00

This will definitely be a Thanksgiving I will never forget. The day before Thanksgiving, Zoe woke up screaming, I ran into her room and there was throw up everywhere. The flu spread from Zoe to me, then to Ronan and Ty finished it off. So, you could say most of our week/weekend plans were a bust. We were supposed to be spending Thanksgiving in Yakima, WA with some friends & then Friday were going to travel to Blackfoot, ID for my nephew's baby blessing. We did not make either. :( We weren't all sick at the same time, which was a blessing. At least we were able to take turns taking care of each other. I sure hope that we will be happy and healthy for Christmas & New Years. I can't wait. Ty gets 3 whole weeks off from school. I know that he is so excited too. Well, we are all starting to feel better; the kids are in bed and Ty is finishing up some last minute homework for school tomorrow. I will probably be working on a scrapbook project I was asked to do by Ty's mom. I've been loving putting it all together. It's so fun to give sentimental gifts to others. I can't wait for everyone to see it. I hope they love it as much as I do. This post was a bit negative, sorry! It was just a rough week and I needed to get out a bit of my frustration.

I love my family and am so blessed they are in my life. I am thankful for the little bit of time we all get to spend together. I am thankful for Ty and the hard worker he is. He amazes me everyday with his determination and drive to succeed in PA school. I'm so proud of him. I am thankful for my 2 babies. They are what I live for. They make me laugh all day. The both have such character and personality already. I am thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know with all my heart that the principles I read about everyday are true. I love my Savior, and am amazed at his love for all of us. I am so lucky to have been raised by wonderful parents. They have always been so willing to teach & help make whatever situation we are in, better. I love them so much. I am also so thankful for my in-laws. Lamar & Joette are always there for us, whenever we need them. We are so blessed to have so much support around us. Thank you, all of you! We love you with all our heart!

Family Photos 2011

2011-11-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

We spent Saturday morning in Kuna taking family pictures. We haven't had a family photo since Ronan's blessing and that was just a quick snapshot. He is already 8 months, so we figured we better get these done. I am so thankful for Tori & her awesome photography skills! Thanks cuz. I love the pictures. Hopefully I'll get these out for Christmas cards, if not, enjoy because this is all ya get...

Ouch!

2011-11-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

So, Zoe is a bit on the clumsy side. I have no idea where she gets it from. haha. If anyone knows me at all, they know that she gets it from me! I am always running into things, tripping, and finding bruises all over & I can never remember where they came from. Zoe was running from the kitchen to the living room and I hear a thudd & then a scream. She tripped where the ceramic tile meets the carpet and I run over thinking I'm just gonna find a bump on her head. I wish that would have been all I had found. She had bit her lip so hard there was blood all over in her mouth. I almost thought she was going to need stitches. Thank goodness Ty was home to help me. Whenever Zoe freaks out, Ronan thinks he needs to freak out and cry too. It was a crazy 30 minutes. We got her cleaned up and pulled off the skin she bit through & she was all smiles. She was having fun sticking her lips out. It was kind of funny. She is a character for sure.

Ronan loving on his daddy!

Halloween: A Hula Girl & a Monkey

2011-11-03T21:52:00.000-07:00

This was at the ward Trunk or Treat. We had a lot of fun. It was the first ward function we have attended since we moved into the ward. There was a chilli contest, dinner, a kid's costume parade & of course, trunk or treating. Zoe couldn't quite say trick or treat, but she has just learned to say "thank you." Everytime someone gave her candy, she said thank you. It was the cutest thing. I was so proud of my little girl. She even did a little hula dance for some candy. haha. She loves to dance.

Ronan fell asleep after dinner. He was exhausted; I think he was just so warm and toasty in his costume. I'll have to remember that next time he doesn't want to fall asleep!

Play time

2011-11-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

Zoe & Addison enjoying some popcorn and watching a movie.

So Sweet!

Linder Farms

2011-11-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

We went to Linder Farms a few weeks ago as a family and had a blast. It was mid October and still fairly warm. This beat the heck out of "The Country Mercantile/Chocolate Factory" we used to go to at home (Tri-Cities). They had hayrides, fun rides and games for kids, pumpkin picking (of course), horse rides, a small petting zoo, and the kids favorite: a huge pit full of corn kernels & beans to roll around in. This will definitley be a must visit for next year. Thank you Linder Farms for putting this on. You bring a lot of people joy!

She sure loves her daddy!

Her first ever carnival ride. Ty was a bit nervous, but I knew she was going to love it!

WEEEEEEE!!!

...and we're done!

Ronan was such a good sport watching his sister have fun.

"Don't eat it!" I don't know how many times we had to say that.

Naked Ninee

2011-11-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

Zoe loves to be in the buff! After her bath I can barely get her diaper on.

She runs from me and loves the chase.

A little something for everyone

2011-10-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

We have been trying to explore Boise, to see what new fun things we can find. We decided to go to one of the huge parks a few weeks ago. We had so much fun!

Zoe loved looking at the ducks & geese! Too bad there was poop all over the ground; we couldn't let her down.

Beautiful.

Caught them both smiling behind a sippy & a binkie! Priceless.

Officially legal for Nursery 9-17-11

2011-09-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

Zoe is officially 18 months old. Woohoo! She absolutely loves nursery & I love that she loves nursery. She loves playing with the other kids & of course the treats.

Finally Updated

2011-09-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I keep getting an earful from my cousin Tori about not updating my blog. I'm tired of hearing about it! haha. So, I'm gonna try my hardest to update this every few days or at least every week. It is good for me to do this though. I love reading old post and looking at old pictures and see how I've grown & my kids have changed.

We are living in Boise, ID. I wasn't so sure about moving here, but once we found an awesome place to live & saw how awesome our ward was, I was happy. Although it was hard to leave WA, this has been a great move for us. The weather has been a bit hot, but we have a pool just across the street that we can use for free. I love it & Zoe loves it too! She is a little fish. Most of the time I can't get her out. We live in a little community of Townhouses. Each house has a patio in the back and there is a large grass area that stretches the length of the houses & a huge grassy areas spread throughout the little community. It's not gated or anything, but we get little perks. It's part of a HOA, so once a week someone cuts the grass & trims everything up. We have a large 2 car garage, which is a disaster right now. I'm working on getting that organized. We all share the pool & have a code we have to type into the keypad to get it. (WE ARE SO IMPORTANT)! Although it's a bit more than an apartment, it's so worth it. We have 3 bedrooms & two full baths. Everyone gets their own room. The other thing that I love is that there is a fireplace and tons and tons of storage. I can't believe how much stuff we have accumulated after only being married for 6 1/2 years. Enough about the house!

Ty is working on his master's at ISU to become a Physician Assistant. They are actually thinking of renaming a PA to a General Practitioner, because it seems to confuse people when they come to the doctor and think they are seeing the Doctors Assistant. I have to explain what a PA is A LOT! It's mostly the baby-boomer generation that seems to have a hard time with this. Ty is in his second month of classes and from the first day it has been intense. He goes to school from 8-3 or 8-5 depending on the day, he works out, comes home for a few hours and then leaves again to study for another 2-4 hours. I rarely see him, and when I do I'm so exhausted that all I want to do is lay down. I have sorta taken on the role as a single mom, at least throughout the week. The first week of school was a disaster. There was no routine & I didn't think I was gonna make it through 2 years of this. After a few weeks, we all figured things out and it seems to be going better. It's not perfect, but it is working.

Zoe is 18 months & she is a ball of fun! She is busy from the time she wakes up until she goes to sleep. She's into everything & is starting to mimic things that Ty & I do. It's hilarious! Before I give her her sippy cup I shake it over the sink to make sure there are no leaks so it doesn't spill. Now, every time I hand it to her she looks at it and shakes it just like I do. When she's satisfied and done shaking it, she chugs it. She loves being outside & has discovered sidewalk chalk! When I'm in the garage doing projects she grabs her chalk and draws all over everything (boxes, suitcases, totes) you name it, she has drawn on it. She loves the nursery at church & so do I. I have had both kids with me for the last 6 months. It has been interesting at church; I now understand why parents of little ones are up and down & in and out all throughout church. She is a little social butterfly, wherever we go she is trying to make a friend. I think she takes after her mom in that!

Ronan is 6 months. He has been sleeping through the night consistently for about a month now. I sure am glad we are through that stage! He is the happiest baby I have ever seen. He loves to watch his sister & try and play with her. He has started to get up on his knees a few times. I don't think it will be long before he is crawling. Although it has been a bit hectic with 2 kids 12 months apart, I couldn't imagine my life without my sweet baby boy. He is the most precious thing & I know he came here when he did for a reason. He has definitely made me a better mother & person.

I kinda feel like this is our Christmas letter! haha. I am writing so much. I promise it's only because I took such a long break from blogging. UGH! I'll never do that again. It takes way too long to catch everyone up.

Ty has started to speak only Spanish to the kids. We have thought about doing it for a while and felt like it would be hard for him, but once we started & were consistent with it, it has been easy. Zoe is starting to understand phrases and even says 'mas' when she wants more. Ty was so lucky to have gone on a foreign mission and to be fluent in another language, we knew we wanted our kids to be bilingual & be able to speak it too!

I am hanging in there. It's busy 24/7 here, but I kinda like it. The weeks are going by fast & I seem to be getting a lot done. I have been doing all sorts of different crafts and meeting tons of new people. There are quite a few LDS guys in Ty's program so I'm able to hang out with their wives & kids. I started to coupon & lasted about 2 weeks. It is just so dang time consuming and exhausting. I may start up again, who knows. I have discovered that I'm pretty good at decorating. In most of my spare time I am always rearranging or adding to something in the house. I have lost about 20 lbs since we moved her in September... Wohoo! I'm down 50 lbs since having Ronan and am a few lbs lighter after having Zoe. I still have a ways to go, but it's going good!

I miss blogging and sharing things about our life & our many experiences. I'll start sharing more often, promise. Love You All!!

I'm still alive!

2011-06-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

I finally feel like I have a few minutes to sit down at the computer & share some of our last few months. Ronan is 2 months now and Zoe is 14 months. We just had check-ups for both of them yesterday. They are both so healthy! What a blessing it is to have healthy babies. Ronan weighs 12.5 lbs & is in the 62nd percentile & Zoe weighs 21 lbs & is in the 32nd. Pretty soon they are going to look like twins if he keeps growing the way he is.

As for me, I am hanging in there. Honestly, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I have rough days, but I try and stay positive. Having a good attitude always helps, no matter what you are faced with.

This post isn't going to be extremely long; I just wanted to share a little something and some photos. We are always up for visitors and play-dates.

Our little man is here

2011-04-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

Although my doctor said it was very unlikely, I developed preeclampsia around 37 weeks once again. It luckily didn't get as bad this time, but I still felt the effects. Starting the week before I delivered I developed a horrible headache (dr's call this the preeclampsia headache). It felt like a migraine and it lasted until I entered the hospital and they could give me medication. My blood pressure was high, about 150/102 for a steady 4 days. I was put on bed rest for the weekend and we scheduled an appointment for Monday the 28th of March. I woke up Monday and felt worse. We made the long trip to Sacred Heart in Spokane and after checking my urine, blood and bp my doctor decided I didn't need to go any longer. I delivered Ronan Miles Winder at 6:56 pm that night. I was on Magnesium for 24 hours to make sure that I didn't have any seizures. That definitely made me feel weird. I was so hot and felt incredibly lethargic. I was glad to be done with that.

Ronan was 8 lbs 4 oz and 21 in long. At about 2 1/2 weeks early he was a big boy.

It's been a week and 2 days since my cesarean and I feel amazing! I cannot believe how quickly I have recovered. I rarely have any pain at all. I just have to remember that even though I feel great, I still need to take it easy and not do too much.

Ronan is a sleeping champ. He sleeps about 3-4 hours at a time and is getting better at nursing everyday. We have an appointment to get him circumcised. I am a bit nervous; I just don't know what to expect.

Having two children is going pretty well. I have had a lot of help, but I think it's going to be doable! Ty and I are living with my parents for a few months until we head to Boise to school. Thank goodness we finished moving the weekend before Ronan was born.

We are so blessed to have two beautiful healthy babies. Zoe loves her little brother. Every time she sees him she either smiles or giggles. She wants to touch him all the time. She is starting to understand what "be soft" means. I have to say it every time she tries to touch him. I never thought I would have children 1 year and 11 days apart, but I am loving every minute of it.

Let her eat Cake!!

2011-03-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

Birthday Weekend

2011-03-21T17:35:00.001-07:00

Zoe's 1st birthday was St. Patricks Day, March 17, 2011. Thursday for her birthday we went out to breakfast. Zoe & I shared Sausage & Gravy Biscuits. She loved them & couldn't get enough. We didn't celebrate her b-day until Saturday. We had a big party & there was about 25 people there! It was definitely a bit overwhelming, but I'm glad she has so many people who love her!

Testimonies

2011-03-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday Ty surprised me as he got up and walked to the pulpit to bear his testimony. I have not heard him bear his testimony for a long time, probably since Zoe was born. I was so excited to hear what he had to say. Zoe seemed excited too! All she kept saying was 'Daddy, Daddy' as she pointed at him. He talked about how blessed we have been this last year. As he talked about Zoe he began to tear up, I was so touched! He is the most amazing, hands-on father. I love to watch them together. I love that Ty isn't afraid to share his feelings and emotions with me. We have such a strong physical, emotional & spiritual bond! I sure do love my man!

Why I chose to do it again

2011-03-08T17:22:00.000-08:00

I have been reading a book called 'What If I Have A C-Section?' I am not a big reader, but I got this free in the mail from my health insurance company and I can't seem to put it down. Probably because I will be going through this again. It focuses on the preparation prior to surgery, how to decide & how to recover quickly. I am mostly focusing on the part that talks about recovery. I wasn't as concerned about this with Zoe because she was all I was going to have to take care of and it was an emergency; I didn't know I'd be having a C-Section. Now, I have time to plan and prepare.

My doctor has actually told me that I could try to have a V-bac. To be honest, I think that trying that would stress me out more than going through a major abdominal surgery again. I know that it's going to hurt & it'll take a bit longer to recover, but I am more stressed out of the unknown. With Zoe I was in labor for 36 hours and they ended up having to take her Cesarean anyways; I did have preeclampsia & was only 37 weeks, but it was so hard to recover from labor and a surgery. Knowing that I'll only have to go through one is actually a relief.

I have had some friends & family a bit confused about my decision, but I have always done things my own way & haven't been easily swayed by others opinions. I think that each woman should be able to choose the way the want to have their baby, even if it's their first. If you don't want to have to go through labor & all that pushing you aren't a wimp!! You may just want to experience having your baby a different way. A quick procedure and the baby is here. That is a bit more up my alley!

It is a blessing that I am even able to have children. I have PCOS (Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome) & Endometriosis; having one of these makes it difficult to conceive, but both it is not very likely. It took us so long to conceive Zoe. We got pregnant the second time while Zoe was 3 months old. It is amazing the way the Lord works! I don't know how many babies we will be blessed with; I would have truly been happy with just the one. Ty and I have been so blessed & love that we have an opportunity to raise these children.

And she is off...

2011-03-07T18:03:00.001-08:00

Zoe is walking! She started taking a few steps about a weeks ago, but would stop whenever she realized what she was doing. She is now walking about 60% of the time. She is so stinkin' strong and is so proud of herself. I love these little moments that I am able to share with her. Although being a stay at home mom is challenging and exhausting, I love it! I couldn't imagine not being able to share in her excitement as she learns new things each day. It's amazing how fast they change.

A surprise in the Tub

2011-03-05T12:07:00.001-08:00

I knew that I had to tell this story as soon as it happened. About 2 days ago Zoe was in the bath. She seems to be getting in the habit of pooping in there. Any suggestions on how to get her to stop?? I'll take any advice. So, I leave her in there for a second to get some bags to clean it up and just as I walked in I see her bite down on something. She looked up at me like, 'Check it out mom, I found a surprise!' I screamed and Ty came running. I couldn't believe what was happening. I scooped it out of her mouth without hesitation and gave her to Ty. He would never be able to clean the tub out. He would probably end up throwing up and I'd have to clean up 2 messes. He has the worst gag reflex. It was a crazy morning and thank goodness Ty was there so I didn't have to handle it all myself.

Lesson learned: Don't leave your kid in the bath with floating poop, they might just think it is food!

PA school here we come

2011-03-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

After a few weeks of anxiously awaiting the results of Ty's interview, we have good news! Ty has been accepted into ISU's PA program for this fall. It almost doesn't feel real. We have applied 3 different years for grad school and this time it finally took. 3rd time truly is the charm! We have loved living in Moses Lake these past few years, but are looking forward to moving on and accomplishing some goals we have had for a very long time. Thanks to all our family and friends for the support throughout these past few years.

New favorite toy

2011-03-01T17:37:00.000-08:00

Daddy's IPAD

Baby Shower & Boise Trip

2011-03-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

Best buds! Dani & I playing a game at my baby Shower!

Jerica was the winner.

She loves climbing into her carseat backwards.

Our trip to Boise. We stopped at my cousin Tori's and Taylor and Zoe got to play. We discovered she loves dolls! I better get her one when this baby comes.

Watching her favorite show, once again on the IPAD. She's addicted!! (She's even on her tippy-toes trying to get closer)

January & February

2011-03-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

She's growing up!

2011-03-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

2011-02-28T17:12:00.000-08:00

Ty & I have started to pack up boxes. We were going through the downstairs and I came across my craft & scrap booking stuff. I haven't had a lot of time to do anything crafty so I pulled it and started making cards. I made Zoe's 1st birthday invitations (I can't believe she is almost 1). Time has flown by. Now I am on to making Thank you & B-day cards. It's amazing the money you can save when you make your own. Cards are ridiculously overpriced!

My stinkin' photo uploader isn't working and I haven't been able to put up any new pictures. I have taken a ton. I'll be buying a new one soon so I can share what's been going on.

Boise Trip

2011-02-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

We headed out to Boise on Wednesday, Feb 9th and got back Friday the 11th. It was a short trip, but we had a blast. First we stopped at Myca Frogley's and spent the night. Myca and Ty were best buds in high school. We stayed up late laughing so hard & almost peeing our pants! We had a really good time & her house is gorgeous. She has 3 little boys, so Zoe was in heaven. She loves playing with other kids.

Ty had an interview with Idaho State University at their satellite location in Boise on Thursday. He took off a bit nervous, and came back so happy! He killed it. He is extremely positive about how it will turn out this year. :) I am so proud of him and all that he has accomplished in the last few years.

Thursday night we met up with my cousin Tori & her family. She has a 2 1/2 year old girl and her hubby was there too. We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. What a cool place. They gave you peanuts to snack on and you just threw the shells on the floor. It was very freeing! haha. We had great food & great company. Thanks Tori & Nick for such a good time. We left the next morning. Zoe traveled very well. We plugged in the IPAD & let her watch her favorite show "Strawberry Shortcake." She was pretty much quite the whole ride, until she got hungry. She always is good about letting us know when it's snack time or meal time. ;) That's my girl.

It was such a fun trip. I look forward to going back again sometime soon. Although next time I wont be 8 months pregnant. I had contractions about once a day down there and a bit more often when we were driving. I definitely am ready for that to be over!

One of those days!

2011-02-03T19:35:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has definitely been one of those days where all you want to do is go to bed early and forget it ever happened. I have been battling a horrible sinus infection for the past few weeks. I was up for a while early this morning coughing so hard I literally peed. Luckily, I was in the bathroom. I have been exhausted all day long and I feel like this pregnancy is finally kicking my butt. Zoe only took one nap. She's so crabby when she doesn't take two. Ty has been gone the last few days working, so it has been up to me to do everything around the house. He usually has a flexible schedule, but since we are moving soon and this baby is coming soon, he has been working extra hard. I got Zoe in the bath around 7 and she decided that it was the perfect time to poop. Oh my goodness! This is the first time she has done this and it had to be today. I literally almost threw up. She fought me while I tried to lotion her up and get her ready for bed. She just wanted a bottle and sleep. I feel like that's all I want right now too. A bath & sleep, maybe not a bottle. I got a call from my husband who is in Cheney finishing up an install & he informed me that our car wont start. He is getting the car towed to a friends house so they can work on it. I feel a bit better getting all this out. I'm off to jump in the bath and then to bed. I hope you all had a better day than I had. Tomorrow will be better! Tomorrow has to be better!!

Turning 25

2011-02-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my 25th birthday. I woke up at about 1:30 to go to the bathroom (a regular occurence being 7 1/2 months pregnant). Ty was pretty out of it, but he was with it enough to wish me happy birthday, then we both fell back asleep. Zoe & I went to Shari's for a yummy french toast breakfast. She loved the hashbrowns & loves to feed herself. I'm sure the waitress appreciated the mess we made on the floor. I went out to dinner with my family that night and had a good time.

It's doesn't feel much different being 25. Maybe once I hit 30 it will start to feel different. All in all, it was a great birthday!

New Years 2011

2011-01-20T16:29:00.000-08:00

Their girls: Brianna, Mia & Kaitlyn

Dani, just love her!

Ty shakin' his money maker!

We spent New Years with our good friends Dani & Leonard Alvarado & their girls. We had a blast! We had a huge sit down turkey dinner and then tons of games. Zoe did great & went to bed about 9.

Reading & Growing

2011-01-13T10:05:00.000-08:00

2 months ago, I started having Zoe watch 'Your Baby Can Read' DVD's. She seems to love them. It took me a while to be consistent with it, but once I did it's been great. I sit her down every morning while I make breakfast and most of the time she doesn't move. She has already learned to clap and wave. It is exciting to watch her learn. :) She also loves Strawberry Shortcake! haha. I think she's seem in about 10 times.

This little boy is moving around so much, he is up in my ribs a lot. Mama is definitely starting to get tired. I just hit my 3rd trimester & I'm starting to feel it. It doesn't help that I have a UTI and a sinus infection. Thank goodness for Anti-biotics.

These past few weeks I have noticed that I've been feeling a bit sad that Zoe isn't going to be the baby anymore. I didn't know how being pregnant this fast would affect me. I snuggle with her longer than normal & try and spend as much quality time with her as possible. I have also become much more patient with her. Going from 1 to 2 babies is going to be a big change, I know. Although I love my babies, Ty and I will definitely be more careful this time when it comes to birth control! haha

Where has the time gone?

2011-01-05T15:48:00.001-08:00

It feels like this month is already starting to go fast. I am 26 weeks pregnant and next week I'll be in my 3rd and final trimester. This pregnancy has definitely kicked my butt! It is nice that it's going by fast!! I am loving the age Zoe is at. She is exploring & into everything, but it's fun to watch her learn and grow. She has been standing up by herself since she was about 9 months and I can tell she wants to walk, but she's just not quite ready.

Ty has been so busy with work. He has made some great new year's resolutions and has been doing awesome at following through with them. With sales, you have to be motivated to make money because you are pretty much your own boss. He doesn't have anyone telling him he needs to go out and work (well except me) haha! This second baby has definitely lit a fire under his butt and he has been doing an amazing job at making sure we will be prepared for it.

I have really been trying to be positive throughout this pregnancy although it was unplanned and very fast. It's hard to be around others who are not as positive or try to share their crazy stressful stories with me. I just try to tune them out! Good friends are a definite must while enduring life's many challenges.

3 Days of Christmas

2010-12-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

Christmas was a little different this year, but still a lot of fun. We always split it up so we spend the same amount of time at the in-laws & my parents house. My parents decided to go on a Mexican Riviera Cruise this year for Christmas, so we spent Christmas Eve with our little family at home & Christmas with Ty's parents.

Although Zoe is only 9 1/2 months, it was still exciting watching her open her presents. She got a little princess wand and a keyboard she can rock out on. She loved them both and played with them most of the day.

Every year, Ty's Grandma Higley has a Christmas party for the family. This year it was on the 26th. We had a huge lunch and lots of exchanging of gifts. We made out pretty good this year with a bit of cash & a Quesadilla Maker. :)

We spent the 27th with my family at mom & dad's house. Zoe got an adorable authentic Mexican dress that I need to take a picture of and put on here & a fun toy to help her walk. Her & her cousin Adyson had a blast walking around the house & play with them. The older boys liked them too and definitely tried to steal them.

All in all, it was a great Christmas. It was the second year in a row of me being pregnant. I sure am getting tired of this!! I just can't wait to have my body back. It is hard enough recovering from a C-section without being pregnant, but getting pregnant 3 months after Zoe was born has been a bit rough.

We have been immensely blessed this year though. Zoe is an amazing little girl. She makes me laugh everyday. I cannot explain how much I love her. We have great friends around that are so good to us. I have a wonderful husband who provides for our family and works so hard to make sure we are happy. I couldn't ask for a better 2010. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what 2011 brings! I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and an even better New Years.

All my Love,

Janessa

Christmas Pictures

2010-12-09T21:54:00.001-08:00

Mamamamama!

2010-12-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

Zoe learned to say Mama 2 days ago & it is the sweetest sound to my ears! She woke up this morning and said it to me and I melted! :) I love my sweet baby girl!

Black Friday

2010-11-29T18:39:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Our Thanksgiving was definitely a little different this year. My mom & dad went to Baltimore to visit Joelle & Ty's parents were in Utah, so we had to fend fore ourselves over the holidays. Thank goodness we have relatives close that were kind enough to have us over. We spent Thanksgiving dinner with Aunt Sheila & Uncle Dan & some cousins, it was a lot of fun. After dinner we headed to Mandy (Ty's sisters) & Toby's house in Pasco & spent the rest of the weekend there. Stephanie (Ty's sis) & Dave & their new little one came up for a few days too. Zoe loved having a playmate.

So, my first time ever attempting Black Friday was this year. Stephanie, Mandy & I started at about 5:30 am and went until 2 pm. Being 5 months pregnant definitely had it's challenges, but I did pretty good considering. I definitely will be doing it again! I can't believe the deals I got. I'm sure I spent a bit too much money, but I had a blast doing it. I hope you all had a great Turkey Day and were able to spend it with your loved ones!

It's a Boy

2010-11-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

Just went to the Dr. on Friday and we are having a little boy. We are thrilled! Ty actually high-fived me. haha. It was cute! Everything looks great and he's growing perfectly in proportion. I'll post some ultrasound pictures soon!

Halloween!

2010-11-03T16:11:00.001-07:00

Can you see her first tooth!?

In the 5 1/2 years we've been married, this is the first pumpkin we've carved together. I think we just wanted to see how Zoe liked the guts. It was pretty cold, so she stayed away for the most part.

Grandpa & Grandma Herrud. Zoe wasn't afraid at all, it was kinda funny she just wanted to grab the hair.

Our cute little Halloween Fairy!

More Fall pictures

2010-10-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Babies, Babies & more Babies

2010-10-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

We find out what we are having next Friday. We both feel like it's gonna be a boy, but who the heck knows. We are excited to find out. I have definitely felt different throughout this pregnancy, way more nauseous & grumpy. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I have a 7 month old always all over me and needing me.

Speaking of needing me, Zoe has never been so NEEDY! She always has to be either touching me or be able to see me. She even has a hard time with Ty sometimes. I love that she loves me, but I'm assuming it's a phase that she will continue to repeat over and over. She's also teething & I'm sure she doesn't like that. Anyone else out there know what I'm talking about? Have your kids gone through this. I'm just trying to figure out what to do & how to stay sane at the same time. Ty has been extremely helpful, but he works all the time so I'm left to entertain my little one most the time.

I have been trying not to gain as much weight as I did with Zoe. I think that will be easy seeing that I gained 70 lbs with her. Yes, 70 lbs! I look back at pictures and think oh my!!! What was I thinking??? I was so happy to even be pregnant I didn't have a care in the world. I just ate and ate & didn't worry one bit. This time around is a lot different. It was so hard to lose weight after I had Zoe & I don't want it to be as hard this time. Thank goodness I lost 50 lbs before getting pregnant. I'm 16 weeks and I've only gained 8 lbs. Hopefully the rest that I gain will just be the baby and fluid. The joys of getting pregnant when your baby is 3 month old. AAAAHHHH! Sometimes I just want to scream, but this is why I'm here, to make babies & bring them back to their Heavenly Father. We are blessed! I really shouldn't even be able to have babies (say most doctors). But, miracles happen! We have 2 babies that prove this to be true.

Fun in the Fall

2010-10-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

Zoe & I were able to go to the Country Mercantile (just on the outskirts of Tri-Cities) on Saturday. We had a blast. They had a carnival with rides, a pumpkin patch & hay rides!

I made her hairbow & a tutu for the occasion. It's definitely fun making new things & saving some money.

Zoe also got her first tooth. I found it on Saturday. What an exciting day we had...

Afterwards we met Ty at the TRAC at the Women's Expo where he had a booth set up for ADT. It was definitely a successful weekend!

My grandma hasn't been doing very well these past few months. Right before our trip to the Coast this summer she was in the hospital for a few weeks & we didn't know how long she was going to have. She is so stubborn & such a fighter that she has made it until now. She is 85 years old. It still seems to be touch and go with her but we are glad to have her here for as long as we can have her. I know she wants to be with grandpa. He passed away in '93; I can't imagine being separated from your spouse for that long. I love her with all my heart & pray for her everyday.

Fall is in the Air

2010-10-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

It seems like this year has flown by. Our little family is growing and we feel so blessed. We are expecting another one in the beginning of April. If this one stays in as long as he/she is supposed to our kids will be exactly 12 months and 2 weeks apart. I am still a bit overwhelmed by it all, but am trying to get as ready as possible.

Zoe started crawling at about 6 months. She is so strong and so tiny at the same time. She loves watching her daddy play video games; I think it's because of all the bright colors.

I have all the sudden got the urge to do a bunch of crafts! I used to scrapbook a lot before I had Zoe, but I just stopped it all together once she was born. Now that she can entertain herself a bit I am able to do a lot more. These are some foam pumpkins I bought at walmart. I spray painted them with a metallic finish. They turned out really cute. I am been blog stocking a bunch of craft blogs for some good ideas. Here are a few that I love...

The Idea Room

Craftaholics Anonymous

Shanty 2 Chic

I Heart Naptime

Crawling

2010-09-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks, Zoe has been trying to crawl. She gets up on her hands and knees, rocks back & forth a bit and face-plants. She is a determined little one though. She is so intense (just like daddy). I am amazed at how coordinated she is. I can't wait to see what she does next...

Bummer news!

2010-08-31T16:50:00.000-07:00

This post is supposed to be about how awesome I did in my triathlon. Unfortunately, I wasn't even able to do it. All last week I was feeling dizzy and lightheaded. It kept getting worse and worse. By Thursday morning I was barely able to stand up and get ready. My hands were shaky and vision was kinda hazy. I tried to get out of the house and run some errands but by the time I got in the car and started driving I felt worse. I went to the walk-in and, of course, they wouldn't even see me. They told me I needed to go the ER. Ugh! So I packed Zoe back up and went to the hospital.

They ran a bunch of tests and determined that I had severe dehydration. I felt a bit better after they pumped 2 bags of fluid into me, but still felt yucky. I think the worst part was knowing how close I had gotten to my goal of completing a triathlon. All that hard work and this is what happens... Well, I'm sure you guessed it. I didn't get to compete after all.

If my body allows, I will definitely be competing in not just one but a few next year.

Wish me luck!!

Summer Fun!

2010-08-25T10:03:00.001-07:00

Well, we just got done with the Moses Lake Fair! Actually, Ty just got done with it. He had a booth in the Vendor Building for ADT and worked 12 -13 hour days. He is so glad to be done. It's extremely exhausting but definitely well worth the hard work. I'm thinking I'm gonna be a single mom for the next few months because he is slammed with appointments. I love the money, but miss my honey! haha.

Zoe spent most of last week with me at the fair too. She did so good in her stroller. It's so fun to watch her take it all in. So many colors and different people to look at. She'll definitely be a good people watcher just like her mom.

I spent some time with my friend, Alyson Keeley, yesterday at a photo shoot. I had a lot of fun. I love everything about photography and I like posing people. :) I'm glad she let Zoe & I tag along. I need to keep busy so I don't get too bored.

The triathlon is this weekend and honestly I'm looking forward to being done with it. The training has been exhausting & these early morning workouts are killin' me. I'm glad I have followed through with it though. I wanted to quit so many times, but when you are working out with 4 other women they kinda make you stick it out. It's funny, if one of us is late or doesn't want to workout that day we are all calling them or texting them to get off their butt and workout. It's definitely a good motivator when you know there are others counting on you being there. I would recommend working out with a group to anyone who needs a little extra drive. The tri is in Issaquah at Lake Sammamish. I hear it's beautiful there. I can't wait to see how my body will respond on race day. I miss competitive sports, and I know my adrenaline will be pumping. Wish me luck!!

Family Reunion

2010-08-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, but I ran 4 miles today. I had to take a little break after about three & walked a bit, but I keep running and finished. I have never ran that much in a single workout before, so I was pretty proud of myself. Tomorrow we are swimming about a mile. I'm finally starting to get used to these crazy hard workouts. It sure does feel good to sweat so much.

Ty finished up softball & we are both a little relieved it is all over. It was definitely a long season. They didn't place at state, but won a few tournaments along the way.

Zoe is 4 1/2 months & is totally trying to crawl. She hasn't figured out what to do with her hands and arms yet but her legs are movin' like crazy. She gets her feet under her and her butt in the air and scoots forward. She sucks on her toes all the time and gets mad when I disturb her while she's busy with them. haha. I think that is hilarious. She loves to stand also. Her personality is coming out like crazy & I love being around her. I'm not gonna lie, those first few months were pretty rough & dealing with postpartum depression wasn't fun. I finally feel like I have a handle on things and am able to enjoy the small things throughout the day. Yay!

What's new?

2010-07-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

This summer has been busy! Zoe is growing like a weed and she makes my heart smile every day. I'm definitely getting this mom thing down. :) Ty has been playing softball on a city league team here in Moses Lake with my brother, Josh. He loves getting out of the house and doing something active and competitive with other guys. I've noticed he's been so much happier since he's been playing. I love to go and watch and cheer him on. I'm probably one of the loudest wives there, it's the competitiveness in me!! My training for the triathlon in August is going well. Today I ran 3 miles. This is no little thing for me. I've always been one to workout but never have I ran that much during one workout. Even though I was exhausted at the end, I couldn't stop smiling. I was so proud of myself for finishing. I know that's how I'm going to feel when I finish the Tri. I never imagined I would be able to do something this big, but now I know if you set your mind to something and work hard, you can do anything! (That sounds totally cheezy I know, but so true) Ty got me an SLR Canon camera and I've been taking pictures like crazy. Here are a few pictures of what our summer has been like. Oh & I got some hair extensions put in by my friend Brittany Marlatt yesterday, I absolutely love them! She did an amazing job.

Crazy brother!

This is our babysitter, Makenna Hirz, Zoe loves her!

Summer 2010

2010-07-13T22:31:00.001-07:00

She's grabbing everything & putting everything in her mouth!

This picture was at Ty's softball tournament, she loves being outside!

I really don't know what to say about this one...haha

I love this picture! Zoe's smiling so big now.

Triathlon Training

2010-06-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start training for a triathlon to get back in shape and lose the rest of this baby weight. Me and 4 other girls from Moses Lake are training together every morning. I have really enjoyed it, even though I am still out of shape and sore most days. This type of training is definitely out of my comfort zone. I have always been one to workout, but never for endurance purposes. I'm excited to try something new and to challenge myself.

A big thank you to my amazing husband who watches Zoe in the mornings so I can workout. He has been so awesome! I appreciate his support and excitement about me setting new goals. I will keep you all posted on how training is going and when the triathlon is. I'm thinking about entering one in the end of August or September. Wish me luck!

2010-06-03T16:23:00.001-07:00

BATHTIME!!

Zoe loves her Bath. Especially when Dad joins in.

2 Months

2010-05-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

Today was Zoe's 2 month check-up w/ her doctor. What a crummy day! She had to get 3 shots and take something orally for the flu virus. I held her hand and kissed her forehead through the whole ordeal while Ty looked on. We both wanted to cry. It was so sad watching someone inflict pain on your child. I know that it will help her in the long run but it still was painful for all of us.

She is weighing in at 9 lbs 14 oz & is 21.5 in long. She's still so little! She's in approximately the 25th percentile in everything. So at least she's proportionate. Right? I did get a few smiles out of her today which was nice because she's not felt good most the day.

Here are a few pictures of her with her cute band-aids!

Today was also the first day I caught her just staring at the t.v. She wouldn't take her eyes off of it. It was the funniest thing! So, of course I had to take a picture.

My first Mother's Day

2010-05-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

I told Ty that all I wanted for Mother's Day was one night of like 8-9 hours of undisturbed sleep! In my dreams right? Hopefully that will come soon enough.

Being able to celebrate mother's day as a mother was very special. I felt very much appreciated all day long. I was able to snuggle up with my honey most of the day because when you have a little one and you're around family you hardly get to hold them. Zoe was passed around the room from person to person. She slept most the time barely fussed at all.

Ty and I went to church with my mom and dad in Royal. My mom is the new Relief Society President. She is such an amazing woman. Since having Zoe I have learned to appreciate her so much more. She had 4 kids within 6 years. I don't know how she did it without going crazy. She has always stayed strong in the church and been an amazing example of choosing the right. I love her so much.

Sunday was also my first full day of church. I went to all 3 hours. Yay for me! I know it might not sound like much, but after recovering from a C-section and Zoe having thrush for 3 weeks it's progress. I went to Relief Society and they put on a program about the importance of Visiting teaching. It was so good. I felt the Spirit so strong. The best part was that I was able to listen to it while snuggling with Zoe! It was a wonderful day.

I love being a mom & can't wait for the many beautiful moments to come!

Zoe's Blessing

2010-05-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of our little princess in her pretty dress and afterwards at her party! Enjoy

Zoe was blessed by her daddy on May 2, 2010. It was such a special day for all of us. We had so much fun having all the family come over to visit and to spoil her. It was a bit overwhelming trying to get the house ready for everything this weekend but we got it done. I woke up at 5:30 am to feed her and didn't end up going back to bed. I had way too much to do and church was at 8:30. Oh man, the things we do for our little ones! I am still getting the hang of being a mom. It's not easy. It's definitely a daily struggle, with the hormone fluctuations, caring for a sick baby & trying to have any alone time with Ty. It's rough. I would happily accept any advice anyone would be willing to give me.

Some Fun Candids

2010-04-29T16:50:00.001-07:00

2010-04-15T18:00:00.001-07:00

Personalize your own free photo slideshow

1 month old

2010-04-13T17:10:00.001-07:00

I cant believe how much she has changed so far.

She is putting on some weight finally!

She's already learned to pick her nose!

Check me out!

Whatcha lookin' at?

Life since having Baby!!

2010-04-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Well, Zoe is 3 1/2 weeks old. As soon as she came out of my belly she has been a good eater. At her two week check-up she weighed 7 lbs 15 oz and was 19.5 in long. She is doing so well for being early.

I have lost 37 lbs as of Monday! I can't believe it. For those of you who weren't able to see me at the end, I was huge!! I was retaining so much water. I can't believe it's possible to swell as much as I did. I am healing up pretty quickly, but I still have limitations. I'm not supposed to do any heavy lifting or vacuuming for another 2 or 3 weeks. DARN IT! haha... Ty has been amazing helping around the house, especially while I've been healing up. He loves being a daddy and can't believe we have such a beautiful daughter. I love and appreciate all the support and help he gives me with her!

Zoe definitely has & will continue to change our lives. I think the hardest thing is when she cries and I can't comfort her. I know it's healthy for them to cry every so often because that's how they get their exercise, but it's still very hard. She sleeps 3 - 4 hours at a time and only really fusses when she's starving or poopy. We are getting this whole parenting thing down. I think!

Zoe's Nursery

2010-03-31T14:29:00.001-07:00

Crib Bedding

Changing Table

Alyson Keeley helped me make this! It was so fun. She already loves looking at it.

I had so much fun putting her nursery together. I appreciate all the help I got too. When I first went into the hospital I still didn't have everything finished. My mom and sister (Joelle) put the finishing touches on it. Thanks so much!

Happy Birthday Zoe! (3/17/10)

2010-03-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

So Adorable!

Grandma & Grandpa Herrud with all 4 grandkids!

Zoe & her cousin Adyson. Can you believe they are only 2 months apart?

Workin' with Daddy!

Ty & Zoe (So precious)

She loves her binkie!

We are so excited that our little one is here and healthy. She wasn't supposed to be here for another few weeks, but mama's body just couldn't keep her in. Monday the 15th, I woke up at 4 am from a migraine that I had had for about 5 days. I was having contractions and in a lot of pain. My midwife told me to meet her at the hospital and get checked out. My blood pressure was through the roof & all my labs came back not so good (all signs of pre eclampsia). I had not had any problems throughout my entire pregnancy other than back pain, so I sure was glad we decided to go to the hospital. The contractions were Braxton hicks, but they still wanted to keep me over night to be monitored. They ran my labs again and they came back worse. The only real cure for pre eclampsia is to deliver. Although I was 37 weeks and considered full term they were still worried about Zoe's lung development.

We decided the best choice was to induce. Tuesday morning they induced me starting first with Cervidil and then were going to start the Pitocin that night around 9 pm. My body started to finally have regular contractions about 7 pm on Tuesday and continued throughout the night. They continued throughout the night w/ me on a slow drip of Pit and cranked it up in the morning. When morning came I had progressed a little. I was about 2 cm & 70 percent effaced. I got an epidural at noon (which was fabulous) & cranked up the Pit once again. I couldn't feel much of anything! The anesthesiologist did miss the first time he inserted it and hit a vein, but in the end got it right! By about 5 pm on Wednesday the 17th (St. Patrick's Day) I was still in labor and had only progressed to 6 cm. Her head sucked back up and it didn't seem like she was ready to come on her own. Her heart rate started to increase which happens when babies get stressed. At this point I had been in the hospital for 85 hours and in labor for a good 22 hours... I was exhausted! Flora (my midwife) came in the delivery room and told me we were going to have to get her out pretty quick or she could get very sick. They put me on oxygen to help Zoe while we waited for them to prep an OR and for the Dr to show up.

Once I was in the OR, everything happened so fast. The craziest thing happened as the anesthesiologist was strapping my arms down. One of the nurses passed out on the floor, and I saw the whole thing. Yikes! I asked him, "she's not going to help with this now is she?" The whole time this is going on, Ty is waiting patiently outside. The next thing he knows a nurse comes out of the OR screaming and frantic. Ty is totally freaked that something is wrong with me. Stupid nurse! You just don't do that. Finally it was time! Ty came in, held my hand and tried to comfort me as much as possible by trying to take my mind off of the fact that I am awake and having major surgery. It was definitely a trip! She was out in about 5 minutes. I kissed her and don't remember much after that. They stapled me together and the next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room. Thank goodness for medicine! I don't know what I would have done without it.

They wheeled me into the nursery to see Zoe. She was on oxygen and had an IV in. She was having a hard time breathing, but quickly recovered. They took her off of oxygen about 6 hours after delivery. The IV stayed in just until I was able to feed her.

What an insane and amazing experience!! It took a while to get her here, but she is healthy and happy and Ty & I couldn't ask for more.

36 Weeks (The Countdown Begins)

2010-03-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

I went into the Dr. today & things are looking good. I am dilated to a 1! I about jumped for joy when I heard this. I know people can be dilated for weeks before the baby comes, but it's progress & that's all I wanted to hear. I am not very nervous about delivery, more excited and ready than anything. We can't wait to meet Zoe. I will update with some photos soon of the nursery and my last baby shower. I can't believe it's already the middle of March. This year is flying by.

2010-02-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

Ty & his brother-in-law Toby Rasmussen just completed the 2010 Home and Garden Show at the TRAC in Tri-Cities. They set up a booth for Ty's business ADT Home Security. I couldn't believe how busy the place was. Joette (Ty's mom), Mandy (Ty's sister) & I spent the day there yesterday checking everything out. We could barely move through the isles without bumping into someone. The business is going incredibly well; we are so blessed!

Dr. Appt

2010-02-02T14:25:00.000-08:00

I went to the Dr. today for mine & little Zoe's 31 week check-up. We are both doing incredibly well. Her heartbeat was 156 (it's like she's running in there). She hasn't stopped kickin' me in the ribs. Ty just tells me to give her a spankin', Haha!! I've lost 3 pounds, which was definitely needed after Thanksgiving and Christmas! I'm feeling great & we are so ready to meet her!

Baby #1

2010-01-27T18:03:00.000-08:00

We found out we are expecting our first child due April 4, 2010. This has definitely been a long time coming. We are so excited! We will be naming her Zoe Claire (middle name is after my grandpa Clarence who passed away). She is very active already and loves to bounce on mommy's bladder. It must feel like a trampoline or something. Ty can't wait to be a dad, he about flipped when I told him the news. We are so blessed to be bringing her to our family! I think her profile already looks like mamma's! Alyson Keeley took my maternity pics. She did an amazing job & we had so much fun. Thanks Al! If you are interested in having some awesome pictures taken and having fun doing it, check out her work on her blog. http://alysonkeeley.blogspot.com/

Wedding 2005

2010-01-27T12:12:00.000-08:00

Ty and I were married on March 19, 2005. We came upon some pictures of the wedding that had been stored away & here are a few!