Movember

Kurt participated in Movember for the 5th time this year. Movember is a charity in which men grow mustaches during November and get donations for man cancer research (I'm not sure if it's testicular or prostate, but some kind of cancer only men can get). I don't exactly love the stache every year, but it's for a good cause. And, I'll admit it, it can be fun. This year he bought mustache stickers and fake mustaches to give to people who donated. We had some fun with the leftovers at the end of the month. Some of the young men in our ward got in on it too. (Kurt's the young men's president, so they're over at our house often.)

Thanksgiving!

We had a quiet but fun Thanksgiving. Collin hitched a ride down from the Y of I on Tuesday to hang with us boring old folks slash new parents. I think he had fun? He and Kurt saved Thanksgiving dinner by making just about everything because Lincoln was being a needy little munchkin all day. He even made the sweet potato souffle all by himself! Impressive, no? Shelley surprised us by driving down last minute on Friday to hang for the weekend. On my birthday (Saturday) we got our very first real Christmas tree from a real tree lot. No King Soopers tree for us! Lincoln gave me the best present ever--his very first social smile! I am now 28 and that's kinda crazy but enough about that because Lincoln's cute!

The days are long, and the weeks are short

My mom told me her old principal used to say that. I think it applies perfectly to these first weeks as a new mom. The days are long because you're constantly breastfeeding and then up all night, but when you get to the weekend you can't believe another week has flown by.

Anyhow, here is a smorgasbord of pictures from Lincoln's first 7 weeks of life:
Grandma's Visit

Halloween:

More of Grandma's Visit:

Random pictures:

Celebrating Movember:

Kurt is so cute. He's always coming up to me with the camera and asking me to take pictures of him and Lincoln. Melts my heart.

One Month Old

Lincoln is 1 month old today.

Where did the time go??

It's been pretty amazing, I can say that. And stressful at times, too. But that's a given.

I've still loved every minute of it.

At 1 month Lincoln:

-Is the noisiest baby! He growls, coughs, squeaks, whistles, grunts, hmm's, and has even started to coo.

-Laughs and smiles as he's falling asleep. Adorable.

-Is so very, very close to smiling!

-Loves floor time so he can kick his legs.

-Loves his swing.
-Weighs 11 pounds 4 ounces--packing on close to 2 ounces a day

-Is pretty good about his schedule and improving on putting himself to sleep.

-Gets the hiccups a lot, poor kid. Just like his mom.

-Gets terrible gas at 5:30 every morning that wakes him up.

-Loves bath time. Hates getting dressed afterward though.

-Can hold his neck up for a good while. He's been able to lift it since the first week. Apparently my siblings and I were the same way.

-Loves staring at the kitchen chandelier for some reason.

-Loves looking at any light.
-Has really started to fill out. His thighs are nice and chubby and he's got a little belly.

-Stretches one arm or both over his head whenever he finishes eating as if to say, "I'm done!"

-Still lives cuddling on my chest. He'd probably be better about putting himself to sleep if it weren't for the fact that I let him take at least one nap a day while holding him. It's so sweet and I know he won't love cuddling like that for much longer.

I know these are all very small things, but I also know in a year and beyond, I'm not going to remember them.

Baby Boy

On Lincoln's seventh day of life, my friend Wendie generously took some beautiful pictures of him. She was a real patient trooper too, because someone mistakenly drank a (small) caffeinated beverage that afternoon and Lincoln would not go to sleep (the nerve of that person)! So he was awake and not loving being naked and handled constantly in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar smells and sounds.
Still, the pictures turned out beautifully. And to be honest, I love newborn photos with their eyes open. Just a little different from what you always see, yanno?

I may or may not have teared up when I saw these pictures. I blame the hormones.

Lincoln's almost a month old and, in addition to wondering where the time has gone, I'm amazed at how much he's already changed. 

I done had myself a kid.

Lincoln Emory

Born October 19, 2012

6:07 pm

21.5 inches long

7 pounds 14.8 ounces

I'm not going to post the whole birth story here, mostly because I'm sure the general reader doesn't care about all the technical labor details. (I am going to write it in my personal journal, because I want to remember as much of that day as I can.) So here's the gist:

On Monday, the 15th, I had my final prenatal appointment. I was due on the 16th and my mom was flying in on the 20th, so I asked the doctor if I could be induced on the 19th. However, I really didn't want to be induced. Most people I know who've been induced haven't had good labor experiences--pitocin made it much harder and more painful for them. So, I tried lots of things to "encourage" him to come on his own before then. Nothing doing. On Thursday morning, I woke up and felt okay about the induction. Kurt and I got a lot done that day. I took a sleeping pill and went to bed early that night. Friday morning, we woke up early and headed to the hospital at 7:30. I was a little nervous, but tried to remain calm. 

At 9, they gave me pitocin to get things started, and around 10 labor started. Things progressed relatively slowly until 3, when I asked for the epidural. After that, with my body able to relax and allow the contractions do their job, it sped up considerably, and 3 hours later, at 6:07 pm, Lincoln was born.

My labor and delivery experience was so uncomplicated and smooth and I couldn't be more grateful. Did it hurt? Of course it did. Am I ready to do it again? Not tomorrow, but in a couple of years. The moment they placed him in my arms made all 8 hours and 9 months (and 3 days) worth it. Lincoln is an absolute joy and we are completely in love. Not only does he look like his dad (who adores him), but he also has his dad's mellow, even-tempered personality. So far not living up to his nickname Turbo--but I'm okay with that.

Time for pictures. Yay!

 I just love this picture.

Heading home from the hospital.

His "Turbo" onesie, made by a friend. Although it looks like it says "Urb" in this picture, which wouldn't make much sense.

Full Term

Yep, today I'm officially 37 weeks.

Full term.

As in, baby could come at any moment and they wouldn't stop him.

Personally, I'd prefer him to stay in for another 3 weeks (or 4 ...), but my body's been sending me signs that might not be the case.

We're hurrying to finish everything for his arrival.

Kurt's painting the room (yay!).

I'm buying last minute items and washing his clothes.

And trying to get as much sleep as I can.

My life's about to change forever.

When anyone asks me how I'm feeling, I tell them good.

Because I am! I've had a great pregnancy and I really can't complain.

But if you ask me straight up, being pregnant is not my favorite thing in the world.

I get frustrated by my lack of ability to do normal things.

Like lift more than 20 pounds 

Or turn around when I back out of a parking spot

Or eat sushi.

But there are some things I'll miss:

Feeling the baby move

My quiet, peaceful mind

I've told close people frequently during the last 8 months:

"I don't love being pregnant, but I love that I am pregnant."

And so it is.

Even if I'm never blessed with another pregnancy, I'll always be grateful for this opportunity.

But I am so ready to meet little Turbo.

And see my toes again.

Lotoja Yet Again

The Kurtstanimal did the Lotoja again this year. I supported him (at 34 weeks preggers!) and we avoided any trips to the hospital! In fact, despite a flat tire, Kurt ROCKED it--meeting his goal of sub 10 hours (total time 9 hours and 49 minutes) and getting 17th out of his group of 50 (he raced up a cat this year, which means the guys he raced with this year are faster than the guys from last year ... the winning time in his cat this year was 9 hours and 6 minutes, I think. It was an insanely fast year).

So, we returned from Seattle on Wednesday morning. Collin flew in that night, and the next afternoon, we drove to Utah. We stopped in Laramie to get him some Rocky Mountain Oysters, which he ate willingly. We got to my grandma's around 2 am on Thursday, then had to take Collin to Ogden at 8:40 the next morning to catch the bus up to BYUI. Kurt spent the day doing Lotoja things and I spent the day shopping with my grandma (of course). We were up bright and early on Saturday morning, leaving the house at 4:40! Kurt's mom joined me in Afton. The drive was really nice and I was so organized and on top of things as Kurt's support. Way to go, me! Oh yeah, and Kurt was awesome fast too. He got a flat just outside of Afton, but luckily the wheel truck was close by to swap him out (but I had to run back to the radio guys to send the wheel truck to him--have I mentioned that I'm awesome yet? Because I am). It was super hot on Saturday--I caught 85 degrees on our car thermometer! We drove by a wildfire just outside of Jackson, which was pretty nuts and of course I got pictures. When Kurt finished, we had to stick around for a bit to wait for his wheels to return. The three of us stayed in Jackson that night, and headed over to Teton National Park for the morning. Kurt and his mom hiked to Hidden Falls while I took a nap in the car. I was probably more tired than Kurt! Then we drove home, arriving around 10:30. And now we are DONE with traveling for the foreseeable future! Right now that makes me happy, because I'm pooped, but I know I'll get the itch later this winter--as I always do. What can I say? I have the wanderlust.

I'm so proud of Kurt. At 31, he's in the best shape of his life, and says he hasn't weighed this little since middle school. Yeah, cycling takes up a lot of his time (and mine too, often) but he loves it and it keeps him healthy, so I'm all for it! 

 Gotta love those Tetons.