Friday, September 28, 2012

Nicole's Newborn Pictures

I had newborn pictures done when I had Lucy and loved them so I wanted to get some of Nicole. I am so glad that I did. She is such a sweet little girl and I fall in love with her more and more each day.
Nicole -2 Weeks Old-














We also got some fun shots of the girls with Nicole and some family ones as well. I am pretty happy with the way they turned out.






I sure do LOVE my family!
Makayla-4, Lucy-2 (almost 2 that is), Nicole- 2 Weeks

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Cousins and BYU Girls

My cousin Brooke and I were due two days apart with our cute little girls. Well Brooke decided to go and have her little girl 3 weeks early! (Not going to lie I was a little bit jealous!) 
When the two finally met Hallie was a month old and Nicole was about a week old. Looking at the pictures you wouldn't have guessed it! I still can't believe how big Nicole was!
Neither one of them was happy until they were wrapped up in there little blankets!
I hope these two can be as good of friends as me and Brooke are!
I also had to include pictures of my girls in their BYU shirts! We sure do love the cougars at this house, even if they are having a rough year! 
We were so excited to find a three pack of BYU onesies at Costco so that even sweet Nicole could be support them.
It is so hard to get Lucy to look at the camera sometimes! She will smile but look in a totally opposite directions.
Anytime Lucy puts on her BYU shirt she asks to go to the game. I think Caleb will have a football buddy as she gets older. Makayla on the other had hates when football is on. I don't know if she will ever like!
I just love this little girl!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Baby Nicole!

Well our sweet baby girl has finally arrived! Nicole Marci was born September 14, 2012 at 12:59 PM. She weighed in at.....get ready for this 9 lbs 5 oz and 22 inches long!!!!!! Yes you read that right she was a big girl! No wonder I was so huge!
Isn't she a beauty!
I want to write her birth story down so I don't forget it, so here it is....
I went to the hospital Friday morning at 7:15 AM to be induced. I had decided to be induced because I was starting to swell really bad and my blood pressure was starting to rise. I wasn't in the danger zone, but I was higher than I normally am. With how big she turned out to be I am glad I decided to get induced! I was dilated to a 4 and was pretty thinned out when I got to the hospital. When I got there they got me all checked in and hooked up to the machines, and it was about 8:30 AM when I was finally getting pitocin and my doctor broke my water. My doctor told me he thought I would have her between 12:45 and 1:00 PM. That sounded good to me! Since I had really wanted to try and have this baby all on my own and that hadn't happened since I was induced I decided to see how long I could go without an epidural. Remind me next time if I get induced to just get the epidural! The pain is so intense with pitocin and so not worth going through! Three inductions and with each one I have ended up with the epidural after enduring pain that I didn't need to! Anyway after about 2 hours of intense pain I finally asked for the epidural. I had to wait a little bit for it because he was in doing another epidural. I finally had my epidural in place at about 10:45 AM and then it was a lot better. At that point I was dilated to a 5 and fully thinned. They were just waiting for her to drop a little more and put some pressure on me. At about 12:00 PM they checked me again and I was a 6. I thought at this rate it will take until 4 to dilate fully, yes I was wrong!  At about 12: 30 I started to have some real bad pressure. Oh side note this was my best epidural by far! I could move my legs but couldn't feel any pain. Completely different from my other two. I told Caleb about the pressure and he told me to call the nurse, because it was probably because she was ready to come. We argued over calling the nurse for like 5 min. I finally did and she checked me and I was a 9.5 and she was right there. She went to call my doctor and he was at lunch. Seriously!!!! He was the one who said I would have her at this time! I had to wait for him for like 15 min. It was so hard not to push so they gave me extra of the epidural medicine. There went my perfect epidural! Now I couldn't feel my legs at all! Oh well when the doctor got there my nurse had me do a practice push and then she stopped me because she was starting to come out and my doctor wasn't quite ready! Her exact words, "Ok stop, maybe we should wait for the doctor to get his gloves on!"  I finally stared to push, and it took only a few min. to push her out. I think it would have taken fewer pushes if she hadn't have been so big! Her shoulders got stuck and he had to pull her out! Poor girl was bruised on her face a little nipple, but nothing was broken! She was also posterior which made everything a little harder. That position explained why I was having such bad back pains before the epidural! Again I was so grateful I had decided to get the epidural!!! 
Look at how long she is! I seriously can't believe she was ever inside of me!
With how big she was they were worried about her blood sugar levels. They had to test her three different times to make sure her levels were high enough. It was very frustrating when they were trying to get the readings. They poked her several times and couldn't get their machines to work. I was a getting anxious and just wanted to hold my baby. Finally they gave up and said they would try later and I finally got to hold my sweet little girl. It happened again I fell instantly in love with her. I am so glad she made it safely and that she waited to come so that I could attend my Grandpa's funeral. I feel like she waited to come so that she could meet him because he was so special to me.
When the epidural finally wore off, because of the extra they gave me it took a little longer, we moved rooms and the girls were able to come and finally meet her. They had been asking all day if it was time to come. It got worse for my sister-in-law, who was watching them, after we told them that Nicole was here. They asked her every few minutes if they could come. They were so exited to meet her and we were exited for Nicole to meet them.
Makayla with her newest sister. She loved her from the first time she saw her. She was such a big helper when I had Lucy and I know she will continue to be one with Nicole.
Dad and Lucy with baby Nicole. I don't think Lucy fully understands what is going on. She wants to hold her all the time, but only for a few seconds and then she is done. I think she will love her, but only time will tell. I am praying that smile is telling me she is going to love having this little one around!
Daddy with baby girl #3! Good thing he is so good with girls. His girls love him so much and  I am sure this one will as well!
Mommy and her three girls! It is hard to believe I have three of them!
Don't mind how horrible I look in this picture. I am sure I was drugged up.

We had some other visitors while at the hospital and it was sure nice to have them. The hospital gets pretty lonely at times. Thanks for all the support!
Grandma with Nicole
 Uncle Cory came to visit and hold his newest niece.
 Uncle Eric with Nicole. This was his first time visiting someone who has had a baby in the hospital and it was so fun to watch him with the new baby.
Aunt BreAnn also came. She is a natural with babies, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that she has a lot of younger siblings!
I am so in love with this little girl!
 
After spending 2 days in the hospital it was finally time to go home.
 Here is Nicole in her going home outfit. Look at how chubby her little cheeks are.
Can she get any cuter?
 All snuggled up in the car seat with one of the blankets I made.
Three little girls! Wow what am I going to do with myself and all the drama that will be filling this house soon! We are so glad you are here safe and sound Nicole and we look forward to making memories with you!
Love you Nicole!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Grandpa Hunter

Last Sunday the world lost one of the most AMAZING men I have ever met. My Grandpa was called home to join his wife and daughter on September 9, 2012. 
James Murdoch Hunter
(Wasn't he a handsome young man!)
Grandpa and Grandma Hunter
 
I don't think I can express in words how much I love this man. He has always and will always hold a special place in my heart. He is an example of strength and love. I am so happy that he is finally done suffering and is home with the love of his life, my grandma. He has been without her for 16 years so I can only imagine what that reunion was like. I have missed this man for the 3 years we have been in Iowa and looked forward to seeing him each summer when we came home. My girls loved him so much and he loved them. I like to think Nicole waited to come until after her had gone so that she could meet him and he could give her a big hug and tell her how much he loved her!
 
4 generation picture of the Hunter's
 
St. George in the summer 2011
 
St. George in the summer 2012
Makayla loved her Great-Grandpa so much. One night at dinner, back when he lived by us and would come to dinner all the time, she leaned back in her chair looked at me and said, "Mom, Great-Grandpa is cute!" I couldn't agree with her more he truly was "cute".
 
When my grandpa turned 90 years old I told him he had to live to be 100 years old so that I could submit his name to the Today show and get him on the Smucker's segment. I reminded him of that a couple of years later and he said in the most sweetest voice, "please don't wish that on me!" Right then I decided that I would  make my own Smucker's award and give it to him so that he could move on. Little did I know I would give it to him and he would leave us a little over a month later. I guess he was waiting to get that little recognition! Man I love him!
Grandpa was one of the most supportive people I have ever known. I could always count on him to come to my soccer games even if it was raining or snowing. He wouldn't miss any of them for the world. He instilled a love of ice cream in me and every time I eat it I can't help but think of him. He also showed me what it was to love someone with all your heart. I watched him take care of my Grandma through all of her hard times. He was always there for her. I think a little of him went with her the day she died and I happy to think that he is whole again!
Grandpa also had a great sense of humor. He was always making people laugh. I am going to miss that smile! I am so grateful for my knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and that I know I will see him again. I look forward the reunion I will have with him and others that I love.
Table at the viewing


Grandpa you raised a great man, my father, and he has passed what you taught him on to us, his children, and I hope to continue that legacy with my children! 
I hope you can be proud of us!

Grandpa I love you and miss you already!