September '12

I feel that days have become slower, lazier, and longer.

It's all downhill from now.

With this pregnancy I feel much heavier, slower, lazier.

Going out just isn't my thing but I wanted to get some pictures.

We can't afford a professional just yet but my cousin-in-law (?)

Volunteered to take pictures for us.

They came out really pretty.

We went to several locations different days.

But that was as much as I could take.

The weather was quite warm at times.

But here are some pics.

During this month I also went on a sewing frenzy.

Guilty.

I can't help it.

I love it.

Self-taught.

I have had many projects just to get practice.

I made myself a diaper bag, car seat cover for a boy to cover the girly stuff.

I also made myself a skirt and a cardigan.

As well as other things but the reason I wanted to learn was to make Eliana some dresses. (I'll come back to add the pictures when she wears them.)

I made her a pink shirt

Dress out of my skirt 

 

Blue cardigan and yellow dress

And her snow white costume to wear for halloween.

I had so much fun

And I am happy to know that she will be wearing them for her birthday.

I look forward to making more.

And if someone was wondering.

I made my own pattern.

I used the same one for every dress I made.

I just used one of her dresses to make my own pattern.

 

Do your research!!

So with this pregnancy we have the same Doctor.
Correction...
HAD!!
Why?
When I had the C-section with Eliana
we thought it was because I really needed it.
We found it I didn't .
On August 13. We had our last visit with Dr. Gourley.
The visit was horrible.
We are wanting to try having a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section)
So we asked Dr. Gourley if we could have a trial.
It was as if we had pushed the wrong button.
He didn't make sense.
He couldn't explain to us what exactly went wrong.
In the end he said "You can't have a vbac. You are too small. But if you think that I don't know anything even though I am the doctor than that's fine."
We just said "Ok well thank you for letting us know if we had the option or not."
We left the office and only went back to pick up our records.

I was 27 weeks pregnant and no doctor.
We did our research and found an office in American Fork.
Before we asked for our records we met a midwife at the American Fork office.
We  loved her! We loved the office, the people, the environment.
We went home afterwards and prayed hard.
We had the feeling that we were making the right choice.

On September 5 we registered and on the 6th we met Dr. E William Parker.
He went over the whole "uterine rupture" and asked if we wanted him or the midwives.
We discussed the differences and what would work better for me.
Casey and I went home and we talked about it and prayed.
We switched to midwives.
At this point in the pregnancy they explained that I needed to come in every week in order to meet every midwife.
So that is the plan.

We have such a great feeling and we can't wait to get this baby here safe and sound!

Eliana's Second Steps

For the longest time Eliana has been standing on her own.

Probably since about 4 months.

She stands while holding onto things.

We've been looking forward to the day she'd take her first steps.

She began walking while holding onto things since about 5.5 months.

She began army crawling at about 5 months but was better by 6 months.

She's a fast one.

Then she decided to crawl on all fours at the baby shower while I opened gifts. (8.5 months)

Everyone was more excited about that. Even I was!

That same day she finally stood up and let go of the furniture and stood on her own.

Since we got back from Texas, Eliana walks everyday but she has to hold on to one finger.

Why?

No idea. 

She just does.

One finger.

She even walks just by brushing the walls with her hands.

But she will not walk on her own. 

I knew it wasn't  going to take long before she started walking on her own.

Then today.

It happened.

Casey was studying at the table, back turned to us.

I told Casey I was taking a nap on the couch.

I closed my eyes.

Seconds later....

I opened them and caught Eliana walking towards me by herself!!

No wall

No couch

No finger.

Just air.

I yelled "Casey she just walked by herself!!!"

We took the camera out and told her to walk again.

So here it is! Eliana's second steps. (Click Here)

Brigham Temple

Casey has been wanting to visit his mission field area for quite some time.

The last time we went was when we were engaged.

It has been almost two years now.

I am 6.5 months pregnant with a 10 month old.

And even though this pregnancy has not been the best,

You know all the nausea, lost appetite, and all that great stuff,

I still wanted to drive about 2 hours to visit the area.

Plus, we NEEDED to go to the Brigham Temple Open House.

Last Saturday the 18th

We picked up a friend of Casey's (Colby)

who wanted to join us.

From there we went to a parking lot near the temple 

where buses picked people up to take to the temple.

Eliana enjoyed that ride.

The Temple was beautiful.

But what Temple isn't ?

Eliana has never been that reverent.

The spirit was so peaceful and sweet.

Now we can say we have been in at least 5 Temples in Utah.

There were so many people.

Members and non members.

After the Temple trip we dropped Colby off, ate, and headed home.

This past Saturday the 25th we headed once again to Brigham/Ogden.

We were able to meet people he served around.

I could see the great love that they have for Casey.

Not only could I see but they let us know.

Eric was baptized while Casey served and as he told me the story he began to get emotional.

It was nice to meet someone that joined the church and see how they change.

His wife gave me a handkerchief that they got in Relief Society with the Brigham Temple on it.

Quite lovely.

That night we stayed at Casey's cousins house where his Aunt & Uncle Woody live also.

They enjoyed little miss Eliana.

Surprised at how quick of a crawler she is.

The next morning we attended church at their ward and headed home afterwards.

These were trips that we were excited to make and really enjoyed them.

The Lord has blessed us with such great love from people that I just met but love because of who Casey is.

I was very blessed to have met and married Casey.

I am glad that he has taken me to meet the area he served and the people there.

Summer Blast! 2012

So this summer we had the great opportunity to spend it in Texas!!

Oh how we miss our family and would love to see them as much as we can.

It was so much fun!

It was a hot summer but we went out more than we ever have in Utah.

During our summer in Texas 

Eliana got her first haircut (by me of course)

She played a lot on her play station where she just about ran around the whole thing and would slide.

We got to spend a lot of time with my grandma 

who walked for an entire day just to be in Laredo, Texas in time to meet our little girl.

Eliana just loved her!

She picked at her teeth and a mole she has on her neck.

We visited family in Laredo, Texas.

We were going to stop by San Antonio but Casey had to work.

Luckily Casey was able to find a job. He's friends with the owner of the Bahama Bucks in Rockwall.

I got free BB like every day.

We went to the zoo with my parents.

That was fun.

Eliana was in love with the black sloth bear.

She kept blowing kisses at him.

We celebrated Casey's birthday by going to get an Ultra-sound and found out we were expecting a boy!

It was a great birthday gift!

We ate a restaurant and spent the evening at chuck e. cheese.

We went over Kristies (FW) home and went to a water park close by.

We went to the Firewheel Mall.

We took her to Build-A-Bear Workshop for the first time.

As soon as we walked in she was overwhelmed with so many stuffed animals.

Maybe she'll be a Vet one day.

We were able to be in town for Peters birthday (which also had a water park)

It was fun!

And we ended the trip with a baby shower for our little man.

While I opened gifts Eliana began to crawl perfectly.

Oh the joy.

My parents helped us return home.

On our way to Utah we took a different route and visited Anthony, April & the kids in Kansas.

That was a nice stop.

We stayed there a night and we were off again the next day.

We had a little problem an hour from home, that got us home later than expected.

But, we finally made it home safe and sound.

It was truly a great summer.

Casey's Birthday

Today was the most exciting day of the year.

It is Casey's birthday.

We scheduled a sonogram in a place near by to find out what the baby's gender is.

About 4 years ago I had a dream.

I was at Lake Ray Hubbard with my mom.

It was as if we were having a picnic.

It was a pretty day.

We were at a picnic table.

Sitting on a picnic table was a little girl.

She was about 18 months.

She was cute with little pig tails.

Dark hair, dark eyes, light skin.

Her eyes were a mixture of almond/round shaped. Bright eyes.

Next to her on the picnic table was a carseat.

There was a baby.

I couldn't tell the gender but I felt like he was a boy.

About 6 months old.

That was the end of the dream.

I didn't know what it meant.

When I had Eliana we planned on waiting 2 years. 

That was not the Lord's plan.

It just didn't match the dream lol.

After Casey finished his shift.

He came home, got ready, and we headed to the sonogram appointment.

When we were going to the sonogram with Eliana I kept saying 

"Are you ready to find out it's a girl?"

This time I kept saying

"Are you ready to find out it's a BOY??!...That would be a perfect bday gift!"

We saw it.

It was indeed a boy!

We could tell lol

He just wanted to flaunt it.

They took a picture of us afterwards.

Casey and I are obviously excited...Eliana is just trying to be cool about it

but she's excited :)

We celebrated by eating at Kyoto.

Eliana enjoyed watching the guy cook our food.

We had a great time.

Then we headed to Chuck E. Cheese. 

Eliana played along with us.

We took pictures and Eliana was pooped at the end of it.

Afterwards I gave Casey his gift. (Madden 12)

Then we announced the baby's gender on Facebook.

It was a great day!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE!!!

HOPE YOU REMEMBER THIS DAY FOREVER!!

March & April '12 Report

March month brought me a great surprise!

Casey said he knew all along that I was pregnant.

I did not...

On March 2nd it was my birthday.

I felt terrible.

I felt like I had a stomach virus.

I hardly ever get sick so I was sad.

It was my birthday.

So we had pizza and cake that I made (both) 

Casey gifted me with the Twilight books and movies.

It was a fun day even if I was ill.

Although Casey did take me to Cold Stone later that week.

My favorite. Mmm

On March 17th we got The Big Positive.

I was surprised.

I even took another one to make sure it was right.

I also had to look close and count the lines make sure I was counting right.

When I showed Casey he wasn't surprised.

He said he knew.

Well then it hit me.

That explained my "sickness."

I didn't have any symptoms like this with Eliana so never did it cross my mind I was.

On the 23rd Melinda and her fam came to visit, so we had dinner at Aunt Katherines.

It was yummy like always.

Eliana kept rolling over. Didn't want to be on her back.

One of the times that I went towards her to roll over, she wailed away trying to crawl.

It was cute and funny.

On the 30th we went to Casey's mission reunion.

Everyone is so nice and just tell me how great Casey is.

I already knew that though. 

That's why I married him.

That night we wanted to tell the mission presidents but no one in our family knew so we held it in.

April 1. April fools day.

We sent an email blast to the family with a this picture of Eliana.

We wondered how long it would take.

Guess no one believed us because we didn't get much of a response.

Some asked "are you serious?"

Some just didn't bother.

I had to call my parents and tell them it was real.

We were given advise when we had Eliana to wait years for the next one.

Guess the Lord had different plans for us because this was not planned.

We are a thrilled couple though.

On the 17th we picked my dad up from the SLC airport.
He came to help us drive down to Texas.

stopping to eat. awesome hair.

The next day we had dinner at Aunt Katherine.
They asked Casey to say the prayer.
During the prayer Casey said "...and bless Crystal and the baby that we are expecting...."
After the prayer Aunt Katherine said "Oh you got her huh?" (Laughing)
We looked at her and said "No it's true."
And that is how we told Grandma and Aunt Katherine.

On the 20th we drove to Texas after Eliana's 6 month checkup.
Poor baby got shots.
Now she was going to have a long drive.
She did great though.
Slept just about the entire time.
It's now the drive back that worries me.

The last week of April was the first we spent in Texas.
Casey got a job at Bahama Bucks but
I convinced him he needed a break between school and his first week there.
During that week we went to Laredo, Texas.
My grandma was the reason I wanted to go but we didn't know if she'd be there.
She walked a day just to meet our sweet little girl.
She fell in love with her.
My mom's bday is the 30th and my dad the 28th so we had a little bday party for them there.
Since Casey was going to work we couldn't stop by San Antonio.
Oh well, one day.

We look forward to the rest of the time we will be spending in Texas.
Feels good to be with family around.