My First Boy Pages!

Trysten is now one week old and he already has his first pages done! This is the first month of his baby calendar - I have to wait until I get the rest of my Stardust paper (I only have the bulk paper so far) and a full calendar (I only have this partial one left from when I did my friend's baby calendar) so I can finish the rest, but I'm really excited! I'm probably just going to copy what I did with hers, just to make it easier, but hey, there's nothing wrong with that, right!

I used some Stardust papers, and the white frame and letter 'T'came from the Dazzling Die-Cuts. I also used some DE stars (covered with Honey Textured CS and stamped with the background stamp from Rustic Flowers), some Moonstruck Waxy Flax, the Building Block Alphabet for his name and Classic Caps for the month. So how am I doing with the whole boy scrapping thing so far ;-) It's a whole new world to me but so far a lot of fun! Thanks for looking!

Our New Family Member

For those of you who don't know yet, I had the baby on Saturday - it's a...

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BOY!!!

We were so excited to welcome Trysten to our family - all 8 pounds 5.4 ounces and 21 1/2 inches of him!

Here is a recap of what happened. My contractions started being a little more consistent on Friday night when we went to bed around 10:00, but I thought it was just because of the busy day I'd had. I had a hair appointment, my dr. appointment, taken the girls to play practice, gone shopping, cleaned the house, and had the missionaries over for dinner. At my appointment that day, she had offered to check me, but I said, "Nothing's happening, don't worry about it" and instead we discussed when we were going to induce. David and I actually went to bed talking about whether to induce on the 11th or 12th. So at 1:00 a.m. I was unable to sleep anymore and I finally woke David up at 3:00 and told him we needed to get to the hospital. He said, "Can we wait two more hours?" because we had absolutely no plan on what to do if this happened in the middle of the night ;-P Luckily, his parents were home for the weekend, but he didn't want to call them so early in the morning. I told him that I would call the hospital to see what they said. So I called and the nurse asked how far apart the contractions were, how long I'd been having them, etc. and then she asked me, "Is this your first or second baby?" and as soon as I said #4, she said, "Well you need to get up here right away - the sooner the better!" So David called his parents and about 1/2 an hour later they showed up. As we left the house, David was sure they were going to send me home, he didn't realize that I was serious ;-) We got to the hospital about 5 minutes later around 3:45 and they started getting me ready and set up. Then they checked me to see where I was at - I was fully dilated! Not too long after, my water broke and then I just had to *NOT PUSH* until the CNM got there. Once she showed up and was ready, it was just one contraction and two pushes and he was here - born at 4:28 a.m. - just 45 minutes after getting to the hospital!

So here I am with Trysten, about 20 minutes after he was born - just like Brailee, I had him completely natural, no pain meds! It was really great not spending much time at the hospital before - I liked getting the longest part over with at home, I was so much more comfortable!

Here's the proud daddy and big sisters. They all absolutely adore him! He is such a good, content baby and just so much fun to cuddle.

Check out that hair! Not as much as Brailee had, but it's a good head of hair ;-)

Everyone is doing great - my blood pressure has just been a little high, but I feel fabulous. We got to come home on Sunday around noon, which was the best - I've always spent at least 3 days at the hospital, so it was nice to get to come home so soon! I did have to take him up to the hospital for a weight and color check yesterday and he's lost almost 1 pound, but we're hoping he comes back around. He didn't really start nursing well until Sunday night, he's always just too content, but I'm sure that will change. Thanks for all the congrats and well wishes - we're so excited to have a new member of our family. Now I need to 'learn' how to scrap boy pictures ;-P

Could Today Be The Day?

So here's a little update - I *think* I lost my plug on Thursday and right now, I'm sitting up at 2 in the morning, unable to sleep because my contractions have finally gotten stronger and more regular! I had an appointment yesterday afternoon and I mentioned the show to my midwife. She offered to check me, but at that point, my contractions had been just the same as the last month or so, I really didn't think I was progressing. Plus, just before she came into my exam room, I heard the hospital call for her that there was a baby needing to be delivered. Then as she was finishing up with me, the hospital called again. My contractions didn't really start hard until around 9:00 last night and have been waking me up all night - now I'm wishing I'd let her check me!

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The baby has also had quite a growth spurt in the last 2 weeks - at my last appointment on the 9th, I was measuring at 35 weeks, but yesterday I was measuring at 39 weeks!

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Kaylee and Brianna are in the Missoula Children's Theatre Play tonight, so I really don't want to miss that, but I'm excited to meet this new little one! The great thing is, I tested negative for the GBS so I hopefully won't have to stay in the hospital as long as I have before - I'm always SO ready to go home! I tested positive with Brianna, so we had to stay at least 48 hours after she was born. Then with Brailee, they didn't test me because they said, "We'll treat you anyway" so I didn't see the point of getting tested if they were going to treat me anyway. What I didn't know was if it had been negative, I could have gone home at a decent time instead of staying the 48 hours...again, so Brailee and I got out on New Year's Day - not a fun place to start the New Year! So, here I sit, wondering what's going to happen today! Stay tuned...

Flower Child

Here is a page I did yesterday. I used a January 2009 PageMaps sketch - I love Becky's sketches! These pictures were taken the same day as the last 4 pages I have done - I must have been really camera-happy that day! But I think that day is finally done ;-)

For this page I used all CTMH Products: Dazzling Die-Cuts for the scalloped frame and the frame around the title, Sunflower Garden stamp set (retired), Flower Child stamp set (which I've had for a while now and have never used), Ritzy Ribbon stamp set, Cupcake Sprinkles for the stitches around the edge, and for the cross stitch marks, I used the 'X' from the Moments In Time stamp set (January Stamp of the Month). I also used Olive Buttons with Sunflower Waxy Flax, a Circle Window Charm on the Flower Child title, and 3-D foam squares and Liquid Glass on the flowers and leaves to make them pop. I love the new Big Circle Coluzzle template - I used that for the circle around the middle pic.

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Thanks for looking!

January Imagine Challenge

Here is the layout that I did for this month's Imagine Challenge - I kept it really simple, just using the Magic Moments paper pack, and I also have the Magic Moments Scrapbook Kit, so I used some of the Stickease from that since I haven't touched it yet ;-) I also used the HodgePodge Alphabet stamp set and the HodgePodge Color-Ready Alphabet letters, stamped with the Spot On Background stamp set. I used a large window charm on the button on the left page, threaded with an Indian Corn Blue Sassy Strand - for the buttons on the right page, I just covered them with Liquid Glass. These pages go with the other pages of Brailee and T that I did here for one of last month's challenge - I will probably put them on a True Fit Folio to create a hinged page.

Thanks for looking!

Last Day for Baby Predictions!

If anyone still wants to take a guess at the details on our upcoming addition to our family, today is the last day if you want to get entered into the drawing for the stamp set! Check out the original post here for details on the guessing game - it's been fun to read everyone's predictions, I'm interested to see how close everyone is!

BTW - I still feel great and you have all been too kind with your comments - most people who see me in person, they tell me I look like I'm about to pop, and then I tell them I have 3 more weeks and they look like they feel sorry for me ;-)

More Brailee moments...

Here are some things that I left out of the last Brailee post - click here if you missed it before. I wanted to get them down so I never forget.

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Brailee insists that this new baby is going to be a boy - no matter her mood, she always answers boy. The other night I asked her "Are you going to have a Baby Brother or a Baby Sister?" and she answered me "It's a Boy!" Her Nursery teacher told me that she asked her on Sunday and she said "Baby Boy" and so she asked her if she's been talking to angels and she said "Yes!"

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When Brailee and I are snuggling and the baby starts moving, she will say "Baby's kicking me!" and then she'll start tickling my belly and say "Kickle, kickle, baby!"

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We often ask the girls 'Who loves you?' and Brailee used to answer, Mommy, Daddy, or anyone else she can think of - but now she likes to answer with non-living objects, like the table, or her carseat, pretty much anything she can see at the moment. Like the other night when I asked her, she said 'Couch love me!' and started laughing.

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The little boy that I babysit likes to copy just about everything anybody will say. Sometimes Brailee doesn't mind, but other times, she gets a serious look on her face and says "Don't copy me!" but then starts giggling.

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This one she has done since early November and who knows where she originally picked it up - she likes to shake your hand and say 'Nice to meet you!' Unfortunately, it's only with people she is already comfortable with, but we're working on that ;-)

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Last weekend, SV came here to play basketball, and Gpa T and Shelly came to watch since Shelly's daughter is on the SV team. So we're sitting in the bleachers watching the game and Brailee kept going up and down the stairs, pausing at each hand rail - she would stick her head in the middle and say "Cheese, mom! Click!" So either she was trying to take my picture or trying to get me to take a picture of her ;-) Here is her cheesy smile...

Emporium Clock

Here is a clock I made for my SIL Sandy - using the NEW Emporium Creative Basics Paper, my absolute favorite from the new Idea Book!

I ordered the clock through Oriental Trading - they also have square ones. Here are a couple more clocks I have done before...

Thanks for looking!

Blog Candy

Laurel is celebrating her Blogoversary and giving away some sweet Blog Candy - click here to check it out and enter to win!

Hooray - doing the happy dance!

I just checked the CTMH Artwork winners and I won twice!!!

I got 3rd place for my Christmas Ornaments for the December Make It From Your Heart contest.

I also got 2nd Runner-Up for my Congrats baby card for the Exclusive Color Contest! I didn't plan on entering this one, but I didn't have anything else ready to enter, so I just sent it in with my entry for the other contest - I'm glad I did!

All of the artwork is always so fabulous, I'm honored to win - thanks for letting me toot my own horn ;-)

First Page of the New Year!

It felt so good to finally get a page done this year! I've had this picture sitting on my desk with this paper for at least the last 6 months, just never got the inspiration to do anything with it. Anyway, this month's PageMaps sketch contest is using the following sketch...

I've used this sketch before on this layout, but wanted to try it again since it's one of my favorites. So as I was flipping through my pictures, I came across this one and knew it would be perfect! I didn't notice until now that both layouts using this sketch are swim/water themed ;-P I didn't add as many layers/papers as there are in the sketch since I didn't want to cover up very much of this paper, but I am really pleased with the results! I also flipped the sketch upside down. I didn't plan on the folded corner thing, but when I finished the LO, I noticed some pen scribbles up there (I wonder who the culprit is...) and had to cover them up, and I really like how that turned out, even though it was just an afterthought. Here are my sweet girls - I just love the looks on their faces here - so full of love!

Anyway, enough rambling, here is my layout. I used some paper from We R Memory Keepers (Frenzy - Dither) along with some Summer Celebration Textured Die Cuts, Ocean textured CS for the corner and the scallop circle frame (I cut this with the new Big Coluzzle Circle and then added the scallops using my corner rounder), Orange CS, Summer Carnival Bigger Brads, Love Letters Rub-Ons, white brads, and Today's Date stamp set. Here are some close-ups of the Rub-Ons and folded corner.

Thanks for looking!

March Word Puzzle Workshop

Here are my creations for this month's Word Puzzle Workshop - we are using the March Word Puzzle, January SOTM (Moments in Time), Emporium Creative Basics paper and ribbon, Stickstock Twill, and Pewter Designer Brads. Click here for complete workshop details.

12x12 Option

6x6 Option

Card Option

Mini Calendar

Here is the project that I made for my club that is meeting today - it's a mini calendar on a 4x4 coaster, using this month's Stamp of the Month, Moments in Time, and the NEW paper pack Unforgettable. I also used the numbers in the small Friendship Alphabet set for the year. There are six 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 squares for all of the months (one month on each side) and they can just pull it out when that month is over. These were inspired by those mini calendars that you get from various businesses each year. The clip that holds the months on also serves as a hanger.

Thanks for looking!

January Cherish Challenge

So I've had these done since last year ;-P and I was going to post them on the 2nd but totally spaced it! Here they finally are - these are my pages for this month's Cherish Challenge. The right page is also the 12x12 option for this month's Word Puzzle Workshop. I will get the rest of the options posted soon - I promise! I used the NEW Emporium Creative Basics paper, StickStock Twill, NEW Pewter Designer Brads, March Word Puzzle, and this month's Stamp of the Month, Moments in Time.

Thank You Cards

My hubby needed Thank You cards for those that helped with the Stake YM/YW New Years party, so I whipped these out really quick. Since he needed 15, I didn't put a lot of time or any embellishments into them, but I think they turned out okay. I used a June 2005 PageMaps card sketch, just changed up the papers for each one.

Thanks for looking!

My baby BUMP! Any predictions?

Okay, so it feels more like a mountain than a bump, I don't know if I can take 4 more weeks of growing - I feel huge! For a glance back, here I am at 20 weeks and then 28 weeks. Here is a quick pic that Kaylee took (I'm about 35 weeks) - I really wish I would have done belly pics of my previous pregnancies - I only have one of my Brailee belly, but it would have been fun to compare them all. Does anyone have any predictions for this baby? I did this special when I was pregnant with Brailee and it was fun to see all the guesses - I'd love to hear what you think!

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As the due date (February 9th) approaches, I decided to repeat my 'Baby Special' - from now until January 20th, post your predictions for a chance at some fun discounts! Plus, everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set from my stash! If you correctly guess...

baby's weight, you'll get that percentage off your next order!

baby's date of delivery, you'll get 10% off any calendar items

baby's time of delivery, you'll get 10% off any My Acrylix Number Stamp Sets

baby's length, you'll get 10% off any cutting accessories

baby's gender, you'll get 10% off any baby themed stamps

What was I thinking?

We really planned on having the girls moved and adjusted to their new sleeping arrangements BEFORE school started again on Monday, but that just didn't happen ;-P So this week, between me babysitting three extra kids, David working, and the girls' schedules and activities, we've been trying to get things finished up before my dad comes to visit this weekend. Then David had to go out of town yesterday and didn't get to come home last night. Since there were just a couple of last minute paint jobs to finish up so we could start moving Kaylee into her new room, I decided that the girls and I could tackle it. What a mess!!! The pictures speak for themselves - luckily we managed to NOT get RED paint on the newly painted white walls, or the carpet, just all over ourselves - the girls had fun, though!

New Year Goals

Yes, it's Resolution season! I didn't make many goals last year, and the only ones I remember are scrap/stamp related, but this year since I have a blog to actually keep track of myself, I've developed a few more! If anyone is interested, I read an article yesterday about Resolutions - click here to view. My favorite part said, "goals are stars to steer by, not sticks to beat yourself with" so then I didn't feel so bad about the simple goals I make.

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I was very pleased that I passed my scrapping goal of 104 pages for 2008 - it may not seem like a lot, but for me, it's almost 3 times as many as I usually do in one year. Here are two slideshows of all the pages I completed last year...

So for 2009, I set the same page goal of 104 pages (2 pages per week) - I would have increased my goal, since I met last year's goal by June, but with a new baby coming in just about a month, I didn't want to set that one too high. My other scrapping goals for this year include using up more of the pics that I already have printed BEFORE I get any more printed. I am so bad about that. I'm thinking I need to do at least 5 pages with pics I have stored before I can do any pages with newly printed pics. I just re-organized one of my scrap cabinets and most of the space in there is taken up by boxes of pics I have printed and organized, I just haven't done anything with yet, so my goal is to free up a little bit of that space.

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Last year another goal was to enter the CTMH monthly contests each month - I didn't quite get every month, I missed a couple, but I was very satisfied with the results - I won 3 Runner-Up awards! This year my goal is still to enter each month, so we'll see how it goes this time!

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While we were cleaning and re-organizing, getting ready to move the girls around during the last couple of weeks, David kindly pointed out how many unfinished projects that I have stored. I am VERY bad about that! I think that's why I like scrapbooking so much, because there is no guilt and no pressure - I know I will NEVER be done and probably won't ever get caught up, but that's okay! I can add a page here or there and just let my books keep growing, and enjoy the memories while I'm doing it! So, this year, my goal is to finish at least ONE unfinished project ;-) No, that doesn't seem like much at all, but most of the projects are crafts that I haven't done for a while, since scrapping is my passion right now. So if I get some free time and can drag myself away from the stamps, paper, and ink, then one project should be good!

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Anyway, now on to my more personal goals. Of course, every year I strive to be a better mother/wife/friend, etc, I just don't really have any specific targets for that one ;-) Another one is to lose this baby weight after I have the baby! When I was pregnant with Brailee, I gained over 50 pounds (the most I have EVER gained) and never lost all of it. With this pregnancy, I haven't gained as much, but since my starting weight was about 20 pounds higher than normal, I'm about where I was with Brailee. I will be getting a new bike trailer this spring since my old one finally gave out, so I hope to put it to good use!

Happy New Year to everyone and good luck with your own goals!

Where does she come up with this stuff?

I've said it before, but Brailee has the funnest personality and she is always making me laugh - I'm sometimes surprised with some of the stuff she comes up with, she's barely 2. Here are some of her recent funny moments...

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This one I have NO idea where or how she came up with it - she will walk up to me and push her finger into the top of her eyelid and tell me my head is broken (I'm assuming it's because of her blurred vision from the finger/object in her eye) - then she takes her finger out and says 'I fixed it!'

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Sunday night as we're enjoying our dessert, she drops her spoon and asks Brianna to pick it up for her. I tell her that she can pick it up herself and she says "No, my belly's too big!" which is what I'm always telling my girls lately as I ask them to pick stuff up for me ;-)

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Then here she was over Christmas Break - we were cleaning up toys one morning and she decided it would go faster if she had a way to carry more toys, so she started stuffing them in her jammies! She's just too funny, I tell ya!

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Here she is all loaded up...

Unloading the goods...

And I just loved her little jiggle dance in the video here ;-)

Aren't these the cutest little bags!

My mom made the girls these darling little bags for Christmas. She also covered a matching set of scriptures to go inside - the girls looked so cute taking them to church on Sunday. Thanks, Gma Nae - the girls LOVE them!