Blessed

I haven't been able to post for awhile because Don and I sold our computer. We decided to cut down on our gadgets and gizmos for a little bit. Lots has happened since I last posted!
We spent Thanksgiving with Don's family and a few of his cousins. Which meant TONS of food and lots of kids for Carter to play with. I love this time of year.
At the beginning of December, Carter and I spent a week at my mom's in Idaho. My sister also came and I got to meet my new adorable nephew, Levi! It felt nice to squeeze on a little baby that doesn't crawl or run away from you. My little brothers loved playing with Carter. We had lots of fun goofing off. I also got to spend time with my best friend, Kasey. I would like to post our trip with pictures some other time. Hopefully soon!
This Christmas season I have felt especially grateful for everything that I have. Going to Idaho and seeing my old friends and loved ones who helped shape me into who I am today made me feel so blessed and loved. I also recently had a friend who's husband passed away suddenly. She wasn't a close friend, but once I heard I immediately fell to my knees bawling and praying for her. The next day was the Conneticut shooting which also brought me to my knees. I was in a daze for a few days. These incidences just put me in shock of how precious and fragile life is. It's times like those where I feel so selfish like what do I have to complain about?
I have the world at my feet.
I live in a beautiful, free country.
I have a loving family.
A sweet husband.
A son who I get to squeeze and love everyday.
I have awesome, fun friends.
A healthy body.
A roof over my head and food on the table.
I've got it good. I am blessed more than most people in the world and often wonder what I did to deserve it. I just want my friends and family to know how much I love them and want every happiness for them.
Merry Christmas!

Happy Fourth Anniversary!

On our fourth anniversary I'd like to do something a little special for the blog and write our story...however long it will take. We'll see how well I remember everything...

August 2007: I moved to Thatcher and started school at Eastern Arizona College. There was an opening social held by the institute at the ball fields which included food, music, and dancing. It's also the same day Sophie and I started hanging out. Our anniversary is sort of our friendship anniversary too with the Weech's. Anyways, Don was not going to school that semester yet. He was living in Mesa at the time, but came to visit his parents that weekend and crashed the party. He told me he saw me and said I was cute and wanted to date me the next semester.

Snowboarding

January 2008

Later that semester, Don and I "technically" met even though I didn't remember him at all. His friend, Aaron, was sort of dating Sophie (I say sort of because she was just waiting for Phil to get home from his mission). Aaron convinced Don to go to Thatcher one weekend with him to see Sophie even though Don really didn't want to go. The only reason he went was because Aaron told him that Sophie was friends with me. And when they came to Sophie's apartment there I was sitting on my boyfriend's lap being all smoochy. Yeah, you can say it, I was a hussy. That was why I didn't remember meeting Don. Don did not have a good weekend.

So Spring semester came and Sophie and Don were in a class together. We "officially" met at a dance. Sophie introduced us and I told her I thought he was cute. Later, Don told her he wanted to ask me out and she gave him my number. (This is so high school, right?!) I get a text from Don saying, "Can I have your number?" He didn't want to be creepy having my number without asking for it. I was thinking who is this weirdo? Don was really nervous to ask me out on a date and let me tell you our first date was so AWKWARD. It started out with Don saying, "Man, it's cold out tonight..." then wonderful awkward me says, "Well, I hope you brought a jacket cause I'm not keeping you warm!"

Going to a dance

April 2008

Surprised we made it to a second date? Me too. Don was good at creating fun dates. We went on Mount Graham with a bunch of people and watched a scary movie and had a bonfire. And this was another awkward moment. We were sitting on camp chairs and I wanted to make a cuddling move and put my head on his shoulder, but the camp chairs were too far away and wouldn't allow it so my head pretty much just rested on my own chair. So Don tried to put his arm around me, but it was uncomfortable. Then on the way home he told me all about his recent ex girlfriend and how they were going to get married and she all the sudden broke it off on Christmas over the phone. A little much for only a second date, but we both were getting over bad break ups so it was nice to have him to talk to. And that's what I instantly loved about Don. I could be completely honest and say anything without being judged or anything. I felt completely myself around him despite all that breaking the ice awkward beginning.

Other dates included going snowboarding, going to Red Knolls, making tin foil dinners, and he took me to a special secluded spot, played music in the car and danced with me. Don didn't kiss me for two weeks after we started dating. Funny thing was that Phil and Sophie and Don and I had our first kiss the same night. The four of us watched a movie together that night and Don and I kissed on the floor and Sophie and Phil kissed outside on the front step. So romantic haha.

(Yes, we're matching again.)

Before we took a motorcycle ride to Mesa

April 2008

I did break up with Don once before spring break. Anyone who knows Don knows that he is extremely sarcastic and I was not used to that. I also got offended way too easily. This may sound terrible, but I was used to guys groveling at my feet saying how wonderful and perfect I was (may sound nice, but it was annoying) and Don was not that way. I wanted someone that was real. Don told me when I was being a butt. I have never fought with anyone so much in my life! But it was good for me. Don appreciates my good side AND my bad side. That's when I figured out that he was the guy for me. We got back together a week later. I saw him at the institute and we started talking again and we ended talking for 2 hours on the curb just about anything and everything.

In May I went home to Idaho and brought Don to meet my family. When I dropped him off at the airport we sat and talked for awhile. That's when we talked about marriage. He said, "I could marry you." and I said the same thing. It felt weird saying bye to him. It just didn't feel right. I stayed home for a week and decided I had to go back to Arizona. Don's parents graciously let me stay at their house that summer.

In Idaho

May 2008

Our engagement...neither of us remember what day we got engaged! How sad. It was either the end of May or the beginning of June. After church we went up on Mount Graham and had a picnic. He took me on a four wheeler ride and I totally knew it was going to happen. I just wanted to reach in his pocket and say, "AHA!" But of course, I didn't. We were on this really pretty cliff and he said, "Woah! What's that?" I turned and looked, but nothing was there and said, "What are you talking about?" When I turned back around he was down on his knee. It made me laugh.

The spot where we got engaged

Mt. Graham

May or June 2008

Showing off the ring to the family

The next couple months of our engagement were the worst months of my life. Seriously. For many many reasons. It felt like everything was against us to get married, but we did it! We were married August 7, 2008. Right after we got married it started pouring and I wouldn't have it any other way. That's what made it so fun and so memorable. Don still carried me through the threshold when we were drenched and the ground was slippery. We had a honeymoon in Sedona and after hiking and exploring we went back to the hotel and watched the olympics among other things ;) so it's kind of fun watching the olympics now and remembering that.

The Big Day

August 7, 2008

Now here we are four years later, a family. The longer our marriage, the more I love my husband. He is fun and crazy and I have so much fun with him. We are COMPLETE opposites in just about everything, but that's why we go together. You...complete...me...

All ready for our hot date.

Don wanted to take a picture with out medals haha 

we're trying to look tough

And of course we did not take a normal picture

August 7, 2012

Love you, Donald! Happy Four Years!

Random Update

Remember when I started Insanity and pooped out after a week?
Well I started again and I finished the second week! Woo! This program whips my butt, but I have told myself every morning that if I just do it I'll feel great and I'll regret it if I don't. Maybe the olympics have inspired me a little bit. Since I started the program over I've already noticed a difference since the last time I started. There's a fit test you take every two weeks and I keep improving! Don's going to start Insanity with me when he goes back to school. Believe it or not his schedule will be less hectic when he's going to school and working rather than just working. He has been working like a dog, but he sure is tan! Mmm mmm ;)
As for Carter, has been taking more steps. One of these days I know he's just going to walk into a room and take me by surprise. He practices by himself all the time. He'll try walking from chair to chair or couch to ottoman or to his toys. He especially likes to practice in the bathtub which drives me crazy because he falls down all the time. He'll be so happy when he walks and so will I!! Yesterday he took about 5 steps by himself which is the farthest he's ever done.

This kid cracks me up. This is what he does when I water the flowers. I think he thinks he's a flower too?

Carter LOVES going outside. Sometimes it's the only way I can calm him down when he's upset. 

The other day when I was in the shower I had a little visitor sitting on the drain. I love those two front teeth.

Carter waves ALL the time and blows kisses. He can also sound like a monkey and when he's done with his food he says, "ah-duh" (all done). I'm trying to work with him on that one. It's amazing how much he knows. I know he understands more than he can say or express. It's only a matter of time. He's brilliant. Carter is also the sweetest kid ever. We go visit his granny at the nursing home and without even telling him he automatically smothers her with kisses. When we went to Sophie's he smothered her little baby boy with kisses too. I don't even have to tell him to be soft or anything, he just is! My boy is a softie and that's okay with me. Sometimes when we tell him "no" he gets his feelings hurt. It's so sad! His little bottom lip slowly comes out. I've got a nasty cold right now and he has been so good just playing while I bum on the couch and watch the olympics.

The Birthday Boy

 Happy Birthday to Mr. Carter Wade!!! He survived a whole year with Don and I as parents! That deserves a celebration! I'm probably going to be crying while writing this. I can't believe Carter is a year old. A year ago I became a mother. A year ago I finally wasn't pregnant anymore. A year ago I discovered what unconditional love really means. I love my baby boy more than anything in this world and it's crazy to me that I will love my next baby just as much as the first. Carter has done so much for our family. Even when he wasn't here yet. He has blessed us with so much happiness I never knew existed. I am so blessed to have this sweet, squeezable boy in my life. Happy Birthday, Bubba. Here are this year's highlights:

You were born! It was a rough trip here, but you were tough.

The first day we brought you home. We had fun playing with you.

5 days old

Newborn photos

1 month

 You smiled lots in your sleep.

2 months

We took you to Pima football games and took you camping for the first time.

3 months 

We moved into our new house. You helped me paint.

4 months

You were a parrot for Halloween. Thanksgiving we went to Pinetop to see your grandma and cousins. This month you started rolling over.

5 months

Your first Christmas was in Idaho. You got really sick for the first time on the way home.

6 months

You loved tasting new food and ate everything in sight.

7 months

You sat up really well and rolled everywhere real fast. You would get stuck in places and get mad.

8 months

Your grandma and Aunt Jessie came to visit. So did your grandpa and grandma Wade. You went to the park and swung on the swings for the first time. This is also when you started crawling.

9 months

You got into EVERYTHING and still do. Especially the cupboards. You got your first tooth this month.

10 months

You went to California to visit your grandpa and went to the beach for the first time.

11 months

We went to the pool. We also went to Bryce Canyon, Utah for the Smith family reunion where you went on your first hike.

And today it is your first birthday!! You are one cute kid. Your dad and I love you so much. We hope you have many more happy birthdays and that from here on your life will continue to be filled with happiness and adventure.

Insanity

right? RIGHT?

I just did something crazy and desperate.


Anyone heard of Insanity? Check it out. It's supposed to be a very intense at home workout/weightloss plan that helps you lose weight fast. My sister in law mentioned it to me the other day and Don and I know a bunch of people doing P90X that are getting into great shape. (Insanity is like the sister to P90X.)

So that is my birthday present to myself this year...getting into shape.

I know many of you relate: My friends and family tell me that I look fine and, "You just had a baby!" But let's get real here. It's hard for me to accept those compliments. I know that I look "fine" but I don't want to look fine. I want to look and feel great. I haven't felt that way since I first got married. I was always the skinny girl and thought I'd lose the pregnancy weight fast, but there's an extra 15 lbs that I just can't shake off. No matter how much I run. I've seemed to hit a wall. And for the past 6 months or so, I've just felt blah. I don't want to go shopping! That is so unlike me. I look in the mirror and say, "Eh, I look alright." I haven't been obsessing over it, but maybe it's time to be a little obsessive and make a real change. In a couple months, I want to look in the mirror and say, "Hey, good lookin." This is the new plan. We'll see if this program works and you, my friends, will be my witnesses.

To motivate myself I will be posting embarrassing before and after photos as well as a weekly update of the progress I've made. Encouragement will be greatly appreciated!

Cheers to being healthy and fit!

Sometimes the Smallest Things Take Up the Most Room in Your Heart

Last day being pregnant!

Eeew...

I'm so glad my mother in law was there to keep me entertained

Don's mom and sister waiting in anticipation

Don's SUPER excited

My little cone head :)

Cleaning and checking him

His smashed little face just melts my heart

Happy and tired Dad

Our first family photo

He loves pacis and so do we

Man, I love him

"It's been a tough day"

I'M A MOM!!!!!!

Carter loves Grandma

He is a boy despite the pink boppy in almost every picture

wide awake

frog legs

First time in his car seat

Really excited to go home

Our favorite picture

My nephews put a sign and streamers on our door

First time in his crib

He's meditating

Daddy Time, Carter sneezes every time Don holds him haha he must be allergic

This face comes from Don

Check out that freakish thumb toe!! I have no idea where it came from!

CARTER'S BIG DAY!

I hope this isn't scatter brained as I write this because I'm half awake all the time these days, but I have to write everything down before I forget.

Carter Wade Thompson

Born 6/29/11 at 5:34 a.m.

8 lbs. 10 oz.

20 1/2 in. long

I went into my doctor's appointment Monday morning, June 27th still disappointed that I hadn't had my baby yet. I had my membranes stripped the appointment before and tried castor oil and all it did was give me bad diarrhea and give me contractions that lead to nowhere. Everyone swears by castor oil, walking, and sex, but nothing was working. I quickly realized that babies really do come on their own time. Carter was sooo stubborn! He hadn't even budged. I was dilated at a 2 1/2 for 5 weeks!! It just about killed me. Since I was a couple days shy of being a week overdue, my doctor asked if I would like to be induced or if I would like to wait it out. And I quickly responded, "I want to be induced!!" I never thought those words would come out of my mouth because I heard horror stories of women being induced and ending up with c-sections. But we needed to do it because Don had to start up work again and I had family coming. So my doctor said, "When? We can do it right now, tonight, tomorrow, next week...." and I decided to start Tuesday morning at seven a.m. because I wanted to clean the house and do the laundry before he was here...plus I was a little nervous.

Tuesday, June 28th I was determined to have Carter. I called the hospital just before we left to make sure they had room and sure enough, they did and we started to get nervous and excited. As soon as I got there they hooked me up to the baby monitors and started me on a pill called Cytotec to soften my cervix. They used Cytotec instead of Pitocin because it's easier on your body and gradually gives you contractions unlike Pitocin which can hit you hard. Cytotec is a teeny tiny pill they stick up there. It took a little longer, but I'm glad I had it because my water broke on its own. I had the pill placed in there 3 times. After each dosage, I had to lay for an hour then I could get up and walk around and get my contractions going. I felt good and had regular contractions for a long time. And I was able to eat regular meals. 

Around 5 or 6 pm (yes, it took THAT long!) the next shift of nurses came in. I LOVED my first nurse. She hung out with us and was really informational and super sweet. The next CNA came in and introduced herself and on her way out of the door I felt something kind of pop and water gushed out and I said, "Oh!" She turned around and I said, "My water just broke!" I was so happy my water broke because I knew it meant he was coming soon! But man did the contractions hit! Don held my hand and I breathed slowly through each contraction. It meant so much to have him there by my side. I always thought I would want him to stay far away, but I felt just the opposite. Every hour I got more dilated and I was in more pain. When I was dilated to a 5 I asked the nurse if I could have my epidural. Man, there's no pain like it. I didn't want to feel the pain anymore and it felt like forever till the anesthesiologist came in. He had Don stand in front of me and I put my head on his chest. It didn't hurt at all. All the nurses were so happy I had a very high functioning epidural. I couldn't walk of course, but I could move my legs and shift my body when I needed to. At that time they also gave me an IV. I laid on my side for a few hours and when the nurse turned me over I threw up all over the floor. I threw up a lot, it sucked. 

I don't remember exactly what time I was dilated to a 10, but I was dilated at a 10 FOREVER!! Carter still hadn't dropped all the way yet so they gave me pitocin. At 3 a.m I started pushing. It took me a few practice pushes to understand exactly where I was supposed to push, but I got the hang of it. I pushed for 2 1/2 hours. They could see his head forever. My uteris is behind my pelvic bone so it was really hard to push him out from underneath. He would look like he was coming then suck back in. I just wanted to keep pushing him out even when I didn't have contractions just to get him out. The doctor finally came and I pushed some more and Carter's heart beat was dropping so my doctor helped him out with a vacuum. At 5:34 a.m he came!! The doctor immediately placed him on my chest, but he wasn't crying. He had had the cord around his neck and had Don cut the cord immediately. I held him for literally 2 seconds and they took him away to clear out his lungs. He was put on oxygen for a day, but I got to visit him in the nursery and feed him. He latched right on which was super nice. It was sad to see little tubes coming out of his nose. I had him in my room that night. He wasn't on oxygen, but he had a monitor which was a pain. Every time he cried it would drop and start beeping. When he slept and got into a good sleep, it dropped and started beeping. At one time it wouldn't stop beeping and his oxygen level wouldn't pick up so the nurses took him and hooked him back up again just to be safe. We stayed another day in the hospital and he was off oxygen all day. I just loved holding him and eating really good hospital food and ice cream and cake :) 

Friday morning Carter got circumcised and we took him home! It was such a relief to be home. The first night was really rough. He woke up every hour to eat. Now he sleeps for 3 hours then is awake for 3 hours then finally sleeps again. Needless to say I'm constantly tired, but he is so darn cute. I have the cutest baby in the world! Breast feeding has been horrible. I have sores all over and I cry just about every time he eats, it's super. He had his first doctor appointment today and it turns out he was tongue-tied so the doctor clipped his tongue so hopefully it will be easier. I love talking to him when he's wide awake and he just stares at me. I love when he's hungry and he sucks on just about anything. I love when he lays on my chest and his face is all scrunched up and chubby. He loves having his hands on his face and he constantly kicks off blankets so the swaddling thing ended real quick. He doesn't really cry, he squeeks like a taradactle and it's hard not to laugh when he cries. We're having so much fun getting to know him and staring at him all the time. We couldn't be any more happier and our lives couldn't be more full. We love our little man.