Our Baby Journal

Hospital scare: August 29th

2009-09-01T15:23:00.001-07:00

So it may have been all the excitement from the baby shower, being in the heat and not drinking enough water, or I'm just a wimp, but on Saturday night I had the WORST contractions and back pains I've ever had. I was bawling for over an hour because of them and I had a serious feeling something was wrong. So around 10pm or so (can't remember) Garrett and I headed to Jordan Valley Hospital. (Slight digression: I was planning on delivering there while I was on Medicaid but I'm getting on Garrett's insurance so now I'm planning on delivering at the IMed hospital in Murray since that's where his insurance goes.) So we get there and I'm still kind of crying during contractions. They hook me up to the heartbeat monitor and contraction monitor and I'm having contractions about 2-3 minutes apart. Baby is fine and I'm still dilated to a 2. The nurse says I need to drink two of those huge hospital mugs of water in an hour or I'll need an IV and that she'll check me again in an hour to see if there's any change. I finish the first mug in a half hour and press the nurse button and tell her I finished it and she says she'll bring more but she never did...oh well, whatever, I had to pee really bad anyway. She comes back about 45 minutes after that and checks me again...no change :[ I wanted so badly to be more dilated! I want her out (as I've said many times before). She said I was still contracting every 2-3 minutes but sent me home with a list of reasons to come back. Conclusion: disappointing evening but could've been worse.

Baby shower: August 29th

2009-08-30T14:01:00.001-07:00

Garrett's mom, Kay threw me the most beautiful shower! She even ordered online these custom pink and green M&M in jars as party favors-half say "Asher Kaylynne" and the other half say "2009 Arrival". They were so cute! The shower had lots of yummy food and was lots of fun. I got to meet a ton of their family- Kay's side, Garry's side (Garrett's adoptive dad), and the Jardine side (Garrett's biological dad). Everyone was so nice and I really appreciate them coming and all the wonderful gifts for Asher! I am extremely grateful for Kay and everything she does for Garrett, Asher, and I. She worked her butt off throwing this unbelievable shower and it sure showed! A million thanks to Kay for always being there for us and caring so much! I am so lucky to have the best mother-in-law ever! I love her so much!

Here are some pics from the shower.

Welcome baby Xander Aiden Harward!

2009-08-30T13:59:00.001-07:00

This is my friend Shay's baby. He was born on August 24th, 2009 at 6:04pm and weighed in at 7lbs. 13oz. and was 20 1/2in. long. He's so cute! Poor little Shay had to have a C-Section though because his umbilical cord was in a knot. But he's doing well and is perfectly healthy. Congratulations Shay and Matt on your beautiful baby boy!

Appointment and breastfeeding class: August 25th

2009-08-25T09:39:00.001-07:00

Woo hoo! I'm dilated to a 2!

Breastfeeding class was very boring and pretty useless. The lady was just saying everything for my benefit (she kept saying so) because I was the only new mom in the class. Everyone else already had kids. I'm sick of hearing about how it doesn't come naturally or it's so hard and I need a lactation specialist or whatever. I think I'll do just fine thank you very much!

Baby shower: August 23rd

2009-08-25T09:38:00.003-07:00

It finally happened! My very much anticipated baby shower! Thrown by my mom and grandma at her beautiful house in Holladay. It was so much fun and the food was delicious!

Thanks to everyone who brought yummy food, thank you everyone who came (and even those who couldn't make it and dropped off a gift for Asher). But most of all, thank you to my mom and grandma for throwing me such a fabulous party and working your asses off! I really appreciate it and love you sooo much!

Here's some of the many pics! Hahaha thanks Steph, Mom, and Gamama for letting me steal them!

Jess and Steph made these yummy chocolate balls for my shower! Half are filled with red velvet cake and the other half with crushed oreo cookies! They were really rich and delicious!
The food table at the baby shower...so many tasty dishes!
Thanks everyone who contributed :]

Me and Jess
Present table early on (shower hadn't really started yet)
My belly cast that Garrett and I made-guests were supposed to sign/draw/write a message to Asher
Lol with a streamer tube top...
Advice cards my grandma made-guests were supposed to give their advice to new mom to be (me!) and on the sides put their guesses for Asher's weight and due date for a drawing to win gift baskets from The Creekside Creations (my grandma and mom's company) www.thecreeksidecreations.com and write "diapers" on the top if they brought diapers to also win a gift basket.
Party favors from The Creekside Creations-room mists and soap.
Me and Jess
Annette and Renee

Opening gifts
From Jess-handmade blanket and burp cloths, so cute!
From Jess-handmade modge modged letters of Asher's name for her room. Damn my aunt is crafty! Lol they are seriously sooo cute!
From my great grandma Summers (who couldn't make it, she's sick)-beautiful handmade blanket and embroidered burp cloths. Tradition to bring baby home in her blankets! Asher will be brought home in it then I'm totally saving it for when she's older!
Falisha, Shay, Mom, and me
Me trying to eat between opening gifts.
The four pregos! Falisha, Kassi, me, and Shay...maybe there's something in the water?
Toni, Steph, my grandma, Kay, and Beverly
Kay and Beverly-Garrett's mom and grandma. I love them!
From Renee-this thing is so cool! You put it in grocery carts or high chairs.
From Shay-so cute!
Renee, Danielle, and Toni
Gift cards, yay!
Deja, Renee, Toni, Steph, and Tayler
So soft!
Isn't it cute? So many cute clothes! I love baby girl stuff :]
Gift table-my grandma insisted on taking everything out and displaying it.
Asher sure did hit the jackpot...
From Donna-handmade hat by her mom
Falisha, Kassi, Jess, and Shay
Mmm! The desserts are on now!
Roya, Mom, and Sherron
Renee, Cali, Steph, Marie, Kaylee, Jodi, Natasha, and Heather
Soon to be 4 (5 if my great grandma Summers were there) generations! Can you believe it?
My grandma, me, and my mom (being weird and obsessed with my belly as usual).
Shasta wants in...
Me and Sherron
Gift opening is tiring...
Jess re-decorating my belly cast.
This is what Jess and Steph ended up with-they took off my streamer tube top and decided to make me what they called a bikini. Lol very creative...
Me, Steph, and Jess-the favorites!
Baby Shower is over and the men can return! My grandma, me, and Garrett (being a dork as usual...can't he smile normally in one single picture?)

Belly pic taken: August 19th

2009-08-25T09:38:00.001-07:00

Woah, I'm huge!!!

That's all the catching up for now. Next one will be about the baby shower my mom and grandma threw me but I'm waiting for pictures. Come on mom, hurry it up and email them to me!

Peace!

Blog catch up: Ultrasound August 18th

2009-08-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know. I've seriously been lagging on the blogging. So sue me.

Last Tuesday was the start of my weekly appointments. I started the day at my great grandparent's house with my mom. We went to visit my great grandma (who has just recently become very sick with cancer) and eat lunch with her so my grandpa could go outside and do yard work and not have to worry about checking on her. The sweetest thing was when we were all helping her out of bed and into her scooter and my grandpa grabs a comb and starts combing her hair. He says in his sweet and slow raspy voice, "Gotta keep my girl looking pretty." I just about died it was so romantic! In their 80's, they are in love now more than ever! I hope Garrett and I will be just like them.

When we were settled in the living room we decided to open some baby presents! From my grandma and Aunt Cher, since they weren't going to be able to make it to my baby shower. So first off, in my family, Cher is the queen of yard sale finds! She keeps track of all the grandkid's, niece's, and nephew's sizes and is constantly finding clothes for them. So there was no surprise she hit the jackpot with cute baby girl clothes! There were sizes newborn to like 2 years old. And that's not all-TONS of cute shoes! If you really know me, you know how shoe-crazy and obsessed I am. :]

Next my grandma had something REALLY special for Asher. It's tradition for her to make the baby blanket they go home from the hospital in. She had been making it since they found out I was pregnant. It is so gorgeous! I started tearing up when I received it. She had worked so hard and carefully on it and boy did it show-the detail is amazing! I am so grateful for it and can't wait to bring Asher home in something so special. Then I am going to save it for her when she's grown up and won't ruin it. She had also done some beautiful embroidering around some burp cloths! Those will also be saved.

After we left, we met Jess at my mom's house to take me to my appointment. Dr. Burgett wasn't there because he was in a C-Section so I met with his nurse Brooke, who I also absolutely love. I weighed in at 109 (can't remember if that was the same as last time or if I just gained a pound. Either way, I was disappointed! I've been eating like crazy!). Brooke thought I was measuring a little small so she suggested I get another ultrasound to check how Asher's measuring. Luckily the tech was available in a few minutes so soon, we were in! The tech was having a very hard time measuring her because she is very low and very squished. Her head was measuring normal in weeks but the tech couldn't even get her abdomen. She is seriously running out of room in here! It's way cramped. No wonder my ribs kill! Anyway, another interesting thing she said was she guessed Asher's weight was 5lbs. 6oz.! That's huge! Big enough to have her that day at least. Next she took the fun pictures. First she showed us Asher actually has hair! Couldn't see the top of her head because she's so damn low but we saw it in the back, like above the nape of her neck. Then we saw part of her face. I was tearing up she's so cute! She has the CHUBBIEST cheeks ever! Just like her daddy! Isn't she just a doll? Ooh I love her so much! I can't wait to see her!!!

Hospital scare: August 1st

2009-08-03T16:25:00.001-07:00

So Saturday was my best friend, Kassi's baby shower. I've been looking forward to it for a while and was really excited to get in baby mode! That feeling was was interrupted however by some unexpected bleeding. I got really scared and called my aunt Jess to ask about it. She said we had to get me to the hospital and check it out so she dropped everything, came and picked me up, and we went to Jordan Valley. They wheeled me up to the Woman's Center and I had to fill out some paperwork (fun!) and they hooked me up to some monitors to check the baby's heartbeat and look at contractions. Everything looked great but this doctor said she needed to check my cervix or something and she did (it was freaking painful and that jelly stuff was cold and burned!). I wasn't dilated, luckily and she said the baby was posterior. Doctor's final orders: no sex, drink plenty of liquids, and empty bladder at least every two hours. Yeah and then she said my job from now on is to basically drink and pee. Fun stuff...

Belly pic taken: July 23rd

2009-07-29T12:44:00.001-07:00

Yeah it's been a while since my last post-been kinda busy. I am very pleased to announce Garrett and I moved in our new apartment with NO ROOMMATE (Yay!) on July 17th . Let me say something about moving when you're pregnant: it sucks. You can't help lift anything. You get exhausted/nauseated while packing, and it's even worse in all the heat. Damn Summer. If I ever get pregnant again, it will so not be a Summer pregnancy again!

Kassi (my best and pregnant friend that's 3 weeks ahead of me) and I also decided to apply for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). It's kind of a nutritional program for moms that helps out with food, formula, baby food. Apparently I have to take classes every three months though. My first class is a breast feeding class on August 25th. I'll blog about it later. The nutritionist I met with was saying my iron was a little low and kept bitching about my weight and how I need to gain like 10 lbs. ASAP. Whatever, so annoying. I feel like I've hit my peak and can't possibly get any bigger. Asher feels way too big for my belly. And no matter how much body butter I slather on, my skin still feels tighter than ever. Also, at my last doctor's appointment on July 21st, I weighed in at 108 lbs.! From now on I will be going every two weeks. Sweet!

Cutest damn thing

2009-06-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

Garrett was being all sweet and lovey dovey last night, kissing and rubbing my belly. He goes, "Ugh I just want her out! Like right now!" I ask, "Oh yeah? Why is that?" and he replies, "I just really want to be a dad." Awww...my sweet hubby. It was like heart meltingly adorable. You had to be there. I love him so much! And I love moments like those. Thanks again for being my prince charming, hunny! You're perfect and we're so lucky to have you as Asher's daddy :]

Finally broke 100!

2009-06-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment and was pleased/horrified to find out that I tipped the scale at 102lbs. I've never been over 100 in my life so this moment was kind of depressing. But since I'm pregnant and gaining weight is inevitable, I suppose 4 pounds since last month isn't that bad.

Belly Pic taken: June 5th

2009-06-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

So a few things have happened since I last wrote on here. On Monday, May 25th, aka the No Doubt concert day, I passed out in the concession line. I thought I'd pass out from seeing my favorite band but this was before the concert even started. Luckily my aunt Jess was there to catch me and keep an eye on me. The rest of the concert was awesome though! No concert will top it, Asher loved it. Then we attended the 2009 Maverick Big Ass Show the following Friday with no major incidents and she loved that music as well. Then I think it was like June 1st or something, I started to see her dance around in my belly! It was the coolest thing. Better yet, she was dancing to X96! I can see her move all the time now. I was trying to show my aunt Jess like last week but she wasn't moving, then Jess put No Doubt on her phone and on my belly and Asher immediately started dancing to it! My baby's got such great taste in music already, it makes me so proud!

Belly pic taken: May 19th

2009-05-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

To me, I look huge. Like none of my clothes fit. Even elastics hurt me sometimes. I have to push them down super low. I think I'm going to have to switch to all drawstrings Lol. All my shirts are too short/tight, my bras are a lost cause since I'm just falling out of them anyway, and the bottoms thing...yeah, thinking I'm needing some drawstrings. It's really depressing. I feel so fat. Grrr...and stupid Blogger pissed me off today. Like all of my photos that I've posted were all gone...so I had to go back to each post and reload the pics up >:[ It is also waaayyy too hot. I can barely sleep/sleep in because it's so unbearably hot. I need a fan right next to the bed. Robert (the roommate) has a habit of turning the AC off. Which is like the worst idea to me right now since...I don't know...PB&J. Ew.

Belly pic taken: May 11th

2009-05-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

Doesn't look too much bigger than the last photo but I can assure you, I feel bigger. She seems to be moving closer because I can clearly feel the hardness on the outside. The kicks are endless. I swear she kicks for 45 minutes straight sometimes. I felt the coolest thing the other day. I think she flipped or somersaulted or something! It was like my stomach was churning. I didn't see it yet, but I've felt it a few times. New cravings: I've been eating cereal like crazy. I mostly eat Reeses Puffs and Golden Grahams. Yum!

Our little brat

2009-04-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Taking after her daddy...I think we have a soccer player here. Well at least, that's what it feels like. I feel her kick all the time. And the timing usually isn't so great. Like I'll already feel super sick and in pain...then she kicks. Oh, and when I'm sleeping or falling asleep. That's awesome. I get these pains from her moving or kicking or whatever. And I'm wide awake! I've also discovered sometimes when I'm up for too long or something, I'll start to feel super weak (like I'm going to faint) and I'll get all hot (I feel like I'm burning up) and if I keep walking or whatever my vision will start to go out and eventually like go black. It's really scary and doesn't feel good at all. It scared me really bad when it happened at Wal-Mart last Thursday (April 23rd) when I was shopping with my aunt Jess and the kids for my cousin's birthday. She made me go sit on one of those benches at the front of the store until she was done shopping. I felt really bad because I was supposed to be helping her after her surgery.

Next thing, my appetite is starting to really change. I eat like all the time now. It's pretty scary. And I'm always trying to get Garrett to eat with me because I feel like such a fatty now. I had an appointment this Tuesday, April 28th, and I gained 3 pounds since last month. Yay, my doctor wasn't mad this time! So my weight now is 94 lbs. Big change since last time they weighed me I had only gained 4 oz. in that month. And lost 5 lbs. the time before that.

I noticed I really like cheese. Or anything that has cheese, or cheese flavored. Cheeto Puffs... Parmesean Goldfish... cheesy pizza... I especially like string cheese. But the one thing I pretty much can't stop buying from the grocery store... the garlic flavored bagel chips from the Deli at Smith's. You know, those really yummy New York Style ones in the green bag? Yeah I carry them in my purse if I go do anything. Oh, and I'm getting completely addicted to Coca Cola. I just bought some of those cute mini cans. The ones you put in kid's lunches or whatever. I figured I shouldn't have too much caffeine if I'm having some in the first place. I never really liked caffeinated drinks before now. Jess said she didn't like Coke either until her first pregnancy...also a girl Lol. Here's a pic my mom sent me, she took it of the screen at the ultrasound.

It's a girl!!!

2009-04-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

No longer an "it", we saw little Asher Kaylynne Westley on Wednesday, April 22, 2009- Earth day...the day of my much anticipated ultrasound! I went with my hubby and the grandmas to watch the most amazing thing yet in this pregnancy. Watching her toss, turn, stretch, and even yawn in my belly truly brought tears to my eyes. We saw her little heartbeat, brain, and other organs. Her spine move and her cute little bum! Yay! Now I can start planning baby shower stuff, room ideas, and shopping!!!

Changes in belly

2009-04-08T12:37:00.001-07:00

I love how in this stage I look fat in clothes and pregnant when I'm naked. It's awesome! Hahaha

I also LOVE using rubber bands and hair bands to do up my jeans! Way cool...

At least I can eat whatever I want and blame it on my weird cravings. Garrett's so good putting up with it all. And so sweet getting all my cravings for me. Thanks love!

He proposed!!!

2009-04-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

On Monday, April 6th, 2009 at about 6:30 PM, the love of my life and the father of my baby, Garrett Les Westley, got down on one knee and proposed to me!!! It was such a shock and so unexpected that I must have looked pretty stupid sitting there speechless for a second...(poor Garrett was going crazy because later he said I had a look of fear on my face paired with the whole not saying anything...he was just hoping I'd say yes!) It happened in the bedroom, he led me in there saying he had something to show me. Then he had me sit on the bed. He took the box out of his little change holder thing and all that was going through my head was "Oh my god he's going to propose...oh my god he's going to propose....". I think that's when he said I had the look of fear on my face Lol. Then he said he was going to wait until May 24th (our 6 month), but he just couldn't wait any longer. And he got down on one knee and popped the question! I looked at him...it...him...it...I was speechless! I said "Of course!" and gave him a HUGE hug and kiss and later (when it started to hit me that I get to marry and spend the rest of my life with this wonderful man) I cried Lol. Hey they were happy tears! We lay together for a while and cuddled and talked then eventually made love... Since then, I can't stop staring at this beautiful ring! It's white gold (like my moms!) and total 14k. Here's a closer look.

Was that a kick I heard?

2009-04-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

Yep! Second time listening to the heartbeat and we heard kicks interrupting! Apparently it didn't quite like the nurse pressing on it's little body so hard... That was the highlight of the appointment (March 31st, 2009). I finally had to get my blood work done :[ I hate needles! But she let me lay down in the room and Jess held my hand Lol thanks Jess! I scheduled my ultrasound and I find out April 22nd! Everyone, I mean everyone keeps telling me it's a girl. Even some random lady in the waiting room. I desperately want a boy, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

P.S. For anyone who knows of my best friend, Kassi and her family history of girls...she's also having one! Yep, a little Melodee Miller with a cute butt just like her mama! I saw it in the ultrasound pics. I can't wait! She wants me to have a boy now so they can grow up and be together like in the movie, Riding In Cars With Boys!

I heard the heartbeat!

2009-03-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

So I know I haven't posted anything in quite some time... I'm prego give me a break. But I just got home from my second appointment. My mom and grandma took me and we were the first to hear my baby's little heartbeat. It was so amazing. Listening to a little something alive and growing inside me. I really feel like I'm having a baby now. As if the morning sickness (who the hell came up with that name anyway) and the sleepiness weren't enough. But it really hit me that this thing inside me that's hurting and making me so sick is soon to be an actual breathing human being that I will have to love and care for. It's just all really surreal and mind blowing. I am going to me a mom. Man I hope it's a boy.

Dr. Burgett was also kinda mad because I've been so sick lately I've lost five pounds since my last appointment (February 10th). I know I need to eat to feed this thing but it's just so damn hard to shove food down my throat when all I can think about is throwing up. I feel really guilty and will try to eat healthier more frequently from now on. More soon!

When will the drama with him end?

2009-01-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

So I told my dad (the one that currently lives in Florida) about my being pregnant on Sunday night, the 25th. He blew up on me, I cried, hung up, he called my mom and yelled at her, then texted me saying something like "I'm begging you not to throw your life away" and that was that for the day.

The next day (26th) he texts me again giving me a backhanded compliment. He's good at those.

Next day (27th) I get a text from my cousin in Massachusetts (where like all his side of the family is) and he's asking if it's true I'm pregnant. I confirm it and ask where he got his info. My grandma (dad's mom) told his mom who told him. I text my dad saying so why'd you tell the whole family? And he owned up to it and started giving me more crap. I decided not to take it and warned him that if he keeps this up he will not be in my child's life. Like at all. He doesn't seem to care and gives me more shit so I'm like okay, I may have not planned this thing, especially not so soon, but I will do a good job at being a parent and Garrett and I will make it work and I will definitely not abandon my child (haha like he did!). So that pissed him off for the day and he didn't text back.

Next day (28th today) he texts me at fucking 5:30 saying he will never abandon me (ha he so did, sooo many times!) but I shouldn't decide to do this because I have my whole life ahead of me...another backhanded compliment.

Then my grandma (his mom) calls me today to check up on me, asking how I'm feeling, and to send her LOVE. She's so sweet! She said she told my aunt Kitty (Leland the cousin's mom) and she said she's happy for me and I can talk to her whenever and am always welcome to stay with them and visit. I know, my family rocks, huh?

Then later today my grandma (that I lived with, my mom's mom) said my dad called my mom today and totally bitched her out some more. Lovely. He basically told her that having me so young was the biggest mistake of his life and the whole family (his side) is infuriated with me and pretty much wants to disown me. So not true! Since I got it first hand from my grandma! But my mom (the strong woman that she is) told him up and said I do not need anything but support and love right now so if he doesn't cut this shit out, he's not going to have a relationship with me or my child because I'm basically ready to write him out of my life. I love my mom!!!

So that's the latest...I'll write more if there is more!

First thoughts...

2009-01-27T20:29:00.000-08:00

Okay so I don't exactly know what to write yet so I guess I'll start on my eighteenth birthday...January 23rd, 2009. That was the day I found out I was pregnant. I took a test at my Aunt Jess's house with my best friend, Kassi at about one in the afternoon. I had been suspecting I was for quite some time...(even took two tests that turned out negative) but I was kind of doing that "wishful thinking" thing where I was trying to make believe I wasn't. Yeah...didn't work. So I was waiting in the bathroom not looking at the test (I had to wait like three minutes) and then when I decided it was time and looked, my heart just felt like it sank to my feet. I grabbed the test and walked into Jess's kitchen. They looked at me and I started crying! I was so filled with all sorts of emotions I didn't know what to think. It was my eighteenth birthday for fuck's sake. Who wants to find out they're prego on that day? Anyway Jess gave me a huge hug and told me it was going to be okay and I believed her for a bit. Kassi was super excited because we would be pregnant together. Yeah she's weird, I mean I don't know who would wish that upon someone who wasn't planning on having kids... But then we went on the computer and looked at how far I am and the due date and stuff and we figured I was about six weeks along and my due date will be September 20th, 2009.