4 Months Old!

Whoa! So it's been a while! Been busy I guess! So where I don't have everything memorized I'll just combine it all into one big post.

Chloe is getting so big! Double her size from birth in fact. She's Laughing and smiling, and rolling over. She just turned 4 months old yesterday. Which meant a doctors visit and shots. I hate it seeing the nurses give her shots. I start crying as soon as I see the needles, because I know what's coming next. And where Chloe isn't a huge fan of the binkie, it's hard to soothe her!  So while its been a moody couple of days, she's pretty happy when your attention is given to her. We started her on cereal yesterday, and I'm not sure what she thinks of it lol. Her face looks so disgusted with the spoon. She'd rather have it in a bottle, but what baby new to the spoon likes it?

Blake's taking a huge course load this semester, so we can get out of here in December. He's applied for graduation and we are just waiting for him to finish! We are so excited to be getting back home and away from Rexburg. Based on when Blake will be graduating and still needed a couple of courses for Medical school pre-requests, we are going to be behind a year in getting into medical school. So he's looking to be Medical School Class of 2018!  Or at least that's after the initial 4 years of medical school. Here we go!

I had the opportunity of working for an amazing salon for the last couple of months. But where it was a struggle to be away from Chloe, and since we are moving away so soon, it was by mutual agreement between me and the owner that I leave. It makes me sad that I had to go, but I know it's for the best. And I know that the Lord has his plan for my family and I. So in my free time, I'll be cleaning and taking care of Chloe. I'm going to pick up a hobby like digital scrap booking on the computer, and I'm excited for it.

Upcoming adventures include, Blake's brother Andrew and his wife Danielle coming down at the end of June to meet Chloe, 4th of July weekend trip to SLC for a family reunion. And after that it's all up in the air, but moving home just before Christmas is an absolute definite!

1 Month old

Ok, So Chloe is really 6 weeks old now but I'm thinking at least a monthly update with her doings and her monthly picture on here will be awesome! So as for milestones... I don't know what ones count and what ones don't because quite honestly, they're all milestones when its you're kid. So a few notes:
-Chloe does wonderfully on her own (When she's not fussy) at 6 weeks we are just getting over the fussy weeks (says the pediatrician). And Blake and I are really noticing. She's easy to put in the swing and leave her be for 15-20 min. Same goes for her bouncer. She's so content with studying her surroundings!
-On the note of studying everything around her. We're noticing she loves to see new peoples faces. She'll just stare. It's actually quite funny. She's so incredibly alert.
-She's got smiling down! Last night at 4:30, she needed to be changed and to eat. So I get her out of her crib and put her on the changing table. As I start talking to her about changing her diaper and how she's not going to like the cold wipe, she smiles. Haha, it was the biggest smile I'd seen yet.
-Chloe is picking up on her schedule. Come 7 o'clock, She's dozing. And for sure, within the hour she's sleeping.
-She gets the hiccups at least 2 times a day. The nurse at the doctors office says it's totally normal. But is it totally normal that these hiccups are violent like Blake's? Who knows, I just hope that they don't hurt her when she's grown up like they hurt Blake.
-Sleepy Laughs aren't all too common, but when she does laugh while she's sleeping, it's a good one! Still only a couple of giggles while she's awake.

I think that's all I've got for the 1st month... But now that I'm done being the mother that talks her baby way up, I'll update you on us parents.

Blake is still at Dairy Queen. He was promoted manager the week that I quit, and although he hates the job, the pay is good. There is talk of him changing our course for life, as he's decided that Medical school is not for him. He's come across so many personal revelations to ignore now, and is considering Nursing or Epidemiology (disease control).

I just got a job here in Rexburg at Tami's Salon. I am so stoked people! Finally leaving my days at Dairy Queen behind permanently and I assure you that I will NEVER look back. I am sad that I will be leaving Chloe at home, but I know that she will be safe with her dad, as we have been fortunate enough to work out our schedules so that we may never need a babysitter. However, Lacey will be in town, and if the time comes that she does want to babysit, I'm sure we can come up with something so that she is able to.

Life is so good right now! The only thing that would make it better would be that we were closer to home. 8-10 hours away just isn't close enough.

Life As We Know It

It's still surreal that Chloe is finally here! I can't believe life has changed, but OBVIOUSLY for the BETTER! :) Here's the Story:

So sorry if it may be a little more than you bargained for, I'll try to keep it as PG as I can.

Friday morning 5 am I woke up, just because I couldn't sleep, went to the bathroom to find blood on my toilet paper. This left me slightly worried because this pregnancy had been textbook. NO blood at all since my previous period. So I thought, "Well good thing I have a doctors appointment at 10, I'll just talk to him about it then". 8 am rolls around and I go to the bathroom again, and there's a little more blood. "Hmmmmm, well, I can last 2 hours to talk to the doctor". 9am and I go to the bathroom AGAIN, and even more blood. I call the doctor and they have my come in for my appointment early. I went in and was monitored, and everything looked good. Doc came in and said, "it just looks like you're showing the early signs of labor, but they can come and go for days before you actually have the baby" Well goodie, or maybe this could be a bad thing.

So I started feeling real contractions, but I was in the mindset that She was going to stay there till I made her come out at our induction on Tuesday the 7th. But come 1pm I decided, that maybe I should start timing these, just to see what's going on. The times were pretty consistent, all within 10 min of each other. But until they were 5 min apart for an hour and growing with intensity, I knew I didn't need to go to labor and delivery.

3 pm comes and Blake gets home from school to see that I'd started hurting and didn't want to go to work, but I was still feeling like I was going to be fine for the night, and I never would have thought that I was going to have her by the next morning.

So Blake goes to work at 5pm, and 2 hours later, I had decided that these contractions were growing with intensity and they were seeming pretty regular, so I called Blake and had him come home so in case we decided to go.

8pm and we get in the car and head to the hospital, just to get checked out, and see what they think. They checked me, and I had little to no progression to what doctors had been saying at previous check ups. 1 1/2 cm dilated and 80 % effaced. The nurse says to me, "on a scale of 1 -10 of pain 10 being hit by a car, how bad is your pain level?" "oh about 7-8" "well honey, I've got news for you" She then says she called my doctor and he said to let me go home, and to come back when contractions were 2-3 min apart and so bad that I can't walk or talk through them.

Well, that pain came at about 11pm. 11:30 I was admitted, and 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I got in and they gave me my epidural. (Medicine sent from Heavenly Father!!) I was able to get some sleep, and Blake was able to get ahead on his homework. Later on (I can't recall the time) The nurse came in and checked me, all that we were waiting for now was for my water to break.

4:30 am, my water broke. Man oh man, like a water balloon popping between my legs. I couldn't believe it!

5:00 am start pushing. 5:15am Chloe is born! As a first time mom, the staff was impressed I got her out so fast. They told me that women usually push for an average of 2 hours with their first. Doc said, "the next baby you have, I will give you my call schedule and I will be your doctor" haha. Chloe Lynn Anderson was born on Saturday February 4th, 8lbs 7.9oz, 20 1/4 inches long, and sooooo beautiful! Friends, I am sooo in love with her, and I cannot wait for you all to have one of your own so you can feel this way for your little ones also!

Notice of Eviction

This one is for you Chloe...

Doctors got your father and I excited about how you were measuring 2 1/2 weeks ahead, a week and a half ago. The only thought we had was, "We will get to meet her sooner!"... Especially when Doc said, "If you're still pregnant by next week we will do an ultra sound to get an estimated weight". If I'm still pregnant you say eh? You can come this week!!! ... WRONG.

This last Thursday, they checked me. And you might remember because the nurse poked your head. We had the ultra sound that said you were weighing in at about 8lbs 6oz. I know these things can be wrong, but our family has a history of big babies. Sorry, you were not blessed with petite genes. (Well maybe, if you're anything like your dad). Let me make note here that the nurse also told me, "I don't think you'll be pregnant another week". YAY! I WANT TO MEET YOU!

Well little girl, it is Saturday night of January 29th 2012. You're due date is just a week and a day away. Which means you're coming out soon, whether or not you like it. It may be cold here, especially in Idaho, but mommy can not have you using her bladder as a punching bag and ribs as a soccer ball anymore. It's time for you to come out. So on Tuesday, if the doctor gives me permission, you have till next Saturday to come out on your own. If not, I'm making you.

Love, Mommy

Optimism

WELL, December was a fail! As far as blogging goes. But this year is going to be better! My explanation for Decembers lack of posts. Dairy Queen. We were working our tails off to make sure we'd be able to take the holiday off and still be able to pay bills. Also to add 2 doctors appointments, and my Relief Society calling + a little thing call Pintrest kept me off this lovely website, to update all that read.

We were able to go to Utah for Christmas, where we were able to see 2 of Blake's sisters and his brother and wife (my good friend!), as well as my whole family from my mom's side. It was really nice to be able to get away from Rexburg for just the little bit. And I've got to say, this winter has not be nearly as bad as in the past! There still isn't a foot of snow on the ground! (Knock on wood). I'm so incredibly happy for this because I would rather it not snow till after Chloe's born so that maybe the ride home from the hospital wont be stressful. But I am really becoming grateful for this warm (for Rexburg) weather.

But as it is the beginning of the year, we have new years resolutions. One of mine is to be more kind and optimistic. Blake's got a full year of school, difficult classes, job shadowing, and the MCATS ahead of him this year, and while I barely see him while he's taking regular classes at BYUI, I know this year will be particularly difficult for the both of us. I never liked loosing to school with him, but this is one that really counts. Luckily I'll have our new baby to keep me distracted (I'm sure she'll keep him distracted too). But he'll be able to pull through. So for mine and Chloe's sake I need to be more positive and kind.

Chloe's room and everything else of hers is ready to go! All that needed to be washed has been washed, and everything that needed to be sterilized has been sterilized. The crib and changing table have been set up, and her sheets are on the bed. Diapers and wipes are ready to go for when she's home, and even the diaper bag has been put together. All that needs to happen now? Get my hospital bag ready... She's already taking the priority over my life. I must say though, she is welcome to come anytime now, by all of us I'd say. Blake just wants to see our baby and no one elses, and I'm just about fed up with the right side of my ribs being her soccer ball (I'm pretty sure they're bruised underneath). And the constant stabbing pains in the lower region have got to stop. I'd rather not be sleeping at this point... which I also can't, I'm so uncomfortable. All for a good cause right? All of this will erase from my mind the second she's born.

So needless to say we haven't been too busy but we have had tons to think about with school, and Chloe coming. My days at Dairy Queen will end this Friday, and I am so excited! But really conflicted about what I do after my last day, and before Chloe comes. I definitely think I take after my grandpa Madsen, and am a workaholic. I'm a pacer, and I pace while I'm bored. The house can only be so clean, can it?

She Calls them Whoopies

One of my really good friends, Jennie, breeds basset hounds, and some of the cutest ones EVER might I add. I've had so much fun seeing litter after litter of her beautiful babies, and they get better and better with each litter. One of the first litters we really became friends during was her "D" litter. "Sunny Delight", or Delight as we call her, has always been my favorite. Then there's "Fannie" and "Francis" from the "F" litter. (I just loved Francis color) and she just recently, like Sunday, Dec. 18th recently had her "H" litter. Man, oh man! Poor Lovey (the prego dog), we were really wanting her to get pregnant this time around because when Chloe will be born in Feb. when these pups will be 7 weeks (at their cutest), so that we'd be able to take some dang cute pictures of her with the puppies. So Lovey was Artificially inseminated (only twice) but she gave birth to a whopping 13 puppies! (That's a lot). She went into labor Saturday night, and Jennie texted me this morning saying that there had been 2 puppies born and that she was about to take Lovey in to get the rest of them out by C-Section. (If I had 13 in me, I'd want to have a C-section too!) So I made my way to the vet, saw the 1st to pups, and they were so cute, and FAT! This is a good thing. So we are waiting for the vet to get some of his staff together, and while he was gone to change into his work clothes from church clothes, Lovey gave birth to her 3rd babe. It was breech! But it was an amazing process to witness. So on and so forth, they get Lovey down under anesthesia and another puppy pops out! Then she actually gets the poor dog cut open and the doc takes the rest of them out. Me, Jennies sister Shandi, and their cousins were all taking the pups out of their sac, and rubbing them dry and getting them to breathe. OMG, it was just like 101 Dalmations! But there were so many, I was rubbing two puppies at once, and everyone else had at least one other too, then the vet tech brings in two more, we all looked at each other like, "Holy Crap!" But it was fun! Definitely hope that I get to be part of another litter arrival in the future!

On another note, I haven't updated much. I just haven't gotten around to it. And I keep forgetting! Nothing going on here at our house otherwise though. Work, play, more work, and sleep. I'm getting tons of sleep, I can't fall asleep but once I finally do, I wake up anytime between noon and 1pm, a whole half a day... wasted. Better enjoy it while I can though! Chloe's room is all set up and ready to go. Her pacifiers and Bottles are boiled and sterilized, now I just need to manage some of her clothes in to the washer and dryer. (I'm slightly scared things will shrink though... hence the procrastination)

Blake and I's anniversary is Monday the 19th, so we will celebrate our 3 years together! Tuesday, we've got a baby appointment to make sure everything is still on track. And Wednesday we head to Utah! We are so excited, Blake has been long awaiting another break. (Even though Thanksgiving wasn't too long ago, haha)

Grateful

Ok... I said I was going to do a Thankful list on Thanksgiving. I did not do that but let me start off with things that I am grateful for so I'm not a total hypocrite:
1. My family
2. A job
3. a roof over our heads
4. a car to drive back and forth from WA to ID
5. nail polish
6. friends who support us
7. the opportunity to mother one of God's children

etc. etc.

Thanks giving was great! We went home to Washington on Tuesday. On Wednesday we spent time with both families, Thursday we spent with my family and had dinner with them, then on Friday is when Blake's family was having their dinner. So we were lucky and didn't have to eat 2 Thanksgiving dinners in one day. Then Saturday was my awesome baby shower! I got so much, Blake and I are figuring the only thing we really need to buy before Chloe gets here is wipes. How awesome right!? She got tons of clothes and Blake and I got our Christmas gift from my parents early, which happened to be Chloe's crib bedding which I know what not cheap. (That's why it was both of our Christmas gift). But that's ok, she's got beautiful bedding that I get to look at. Both her and I are incredibly spoiled. My dad also got her some awesome Harley Davidson outfits, which probably are my all time favorite so far.

As of today I am 30 Weeks 2 days along! Only 9 weeks 5 days to go! Woo hoo!

Time is going by fast this year!